NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional tracker, zero hospitality, think twice before booking
We completed two game drives (morning and afternoon, approximately 3.5 hours each) with guide Leone at Pridelands Private Reserve, Kruger Park.
Leone demonstrated strong technical knowledge of South African wildlife and tracking. From a purely observational standpoint, she performed competently. Unfortunately, the guest experience fell significantly short of expectations. Throughout both drives, Leone made no effort to engage with us as guests, asked no questions, offered no conversation beyond the strictly necessary, and made no attempts to create any sense of hospitality or shared experience. After several failed attempts on our part to initiate dialogue, we also noticed a growing irritability in her responses to questions.
We chose to address this directly with her, which we acknowledge is unusual, but the behaviour was that notable. Her response was that we perhaps did not understand her personality. We would respectfully suggest that if social interaction is a genuine challenge, the role of safari guide requires serious reconsideration, as making guests feel welcome is at least as important as wildlife expertise. We also encourage Matumi Destinations to reflect on whether this profile is appropriate for a guest-facing position.
If your sole priority is animal sightings, Leone may suffice. If you are looking for a memorable, warm, and enriching bush experience, we would recommend requesting a different guide. We hope this review helps future guests make an informed choice.
PL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We felt cheated, he accepted payments but did not carry out the safari.
Wild Hello Tanzania is not reliable from our experience. They defrauded and abandoned a group of 16 people on safari in Tanzania. The owner fled the hotel at dawn with all her money. She didn't pay for hotels, cars, or entrance fees to the Ngoro Ngoro and Serengeti Ndutu parks. Although they received full payment for the entire group, they didn't have the money to cover the fees. We had to pay for everything again—cars, hotel, game reserve entrance fees, meals. We had to organize everything ourselves.
They owe me nearly $20,000. They refuse to pay, cheat, and manipulate. I warn you against these people and their companies.
This case is from February 2026.
They have defrauded many people, and the police are investigating in Tanzania and Poland. They operate illegally under different names.
I'm not writing this anonymously; these are facts, not fabrications. I definitely don't recommend them. There are many other honest companies.
CL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
SURICATA SAFARI THIEVES
Tanzania is amazing. But sadly I travel with SURICATA SAFARIS. They ruined my trip.
DE
Poor experience
Honestly, it was a disastrous trip, very badly organized from start to finish. They ended up charging me more than what was initially agreed, and problems kept coming up one after another. It was clear they have very little experience. Denice was in charge of everything, but the situation was too much for his to handle.
Organizing safaris is not something you can improvise. This seems to be a very young company that has probably just rented a jeep and little more, but without the necessary experience to handle such trips. The whole operation felt too big for them to manage properly.
I would not recommend this company at all. And this is coming from someone who has traveled to Africa many times.
Be careful with new companies, they often appear only for the summer season and then disappear, like this one.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beware - they bankrupted :(
Never got the chance to go on our dream trip with them, they went bankrupt and kept all the money that we sent them
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wildside Kenya Safaris cannot be trusted
Having had the same excellent safari driver/guide for many years through a company that has ceased trading, we were anxious to retain him for another holiday. With our approval, he booked us with Wildside Kenya Safaris for a week in the Maasai Mara in early April. We paid the deposit and it was agreed we could pay the balance upon arrival at Nairobi airport. We duly handed USD4,048 to the proprietor of Wildside. We were spending the week at the same lodge and, when we were due to leave, were informed that the lodge had not been paid by Wildside. Our safari driver/guide was visibly shaken and upset - he was in no position to pay it himself. Both he and the lodge staff tried persistently to contact the proprietor of Wildside by 'phone without success. There was either no answer or the 'phone was turned off. There was no alternative to our driver/guide asking us to pay the lodge. We paid USD9,018 by card. We then realised that our driver/guide had also not been paid for his services and expenses for the trip. This was devastating for us all. All the money we had paid to Wildside Kenya Safaris had been retained illegally by the proprietor. We now need to investigate and find out what action we can take from the UK to get our money back. We are frankly disgusted and appalled by the behaviour of the proprietor of Wildside.
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Disappointing communication - Ghosted
A reputable tour operator should be available to reassure and guide their clients, but Great Lake Safaris just went silent. It feels very unprofessional and untrustworthy.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dishonest and money hungry people
Horrible experience. 2nights 1 day safari very unorganized and safari driver could care less that we spent only 2 hrs in safari and only 40 minutes was actual driving. Lodging had no power expect for 1/2 hrs each day. Waste of time and money
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Took our money and went offline
they stopped answering emails once the money was transferred.
the website went offline.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Gombe National Park by Sara Silvestri
Very poorly maintained accommodation, zero security provided for personal belongings, extortionate pricing for sleeping in the dirt. Over $2000 for 4 days in a 1-star hotel room with cold water.