50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Let down
We used Land and Lake to take us on a 3 day safari to South Luangwa and while there were no problems with the lodge or the safari drives, Land and Lake let us down on both transport and also failed to communicate with the lodge. 30 minutes outside of Lilongwe we broke down and had to spend over 2 hours by the side of the road while a replacement vehicle was brought out. On the way we met up with another Land and Lake vehicle that had broken down the day before. We arrived at the lodge after almost 8 hours after leaving and missed an hour of our afternoon drive. The lodge (not a part of Land and Lake) and the manager were superb but dietary requirements of half of our party were not passed on to them. Land and Lake have proved unreliable and although I would use the lodge again I would not use or recommend Land and Lake.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
low budget
First I want to say that our transfer driver, John, was great, as were our cook, David, and our driver, Marvin. This review should not reflect poorly on them in any way, as my complaints are out of their hands. Understanding and respecting that unforeseen circumstances do occur, the condition of our safari truck was ridiculous. The sides never stayed velcroed closed and we would have to stop and fix them continuously, and the bars they were wrapped around were rusty. One hour into our very first game drive the truck broke down. We were then sent separately and alone back to camp, with unknown tourists who stopped alongside us. Apparently the fuse box was broken. One of the other tourists in our group complained about the missed game drive and another company and driver, Oscar, came to our rescue and gave us our game drive. The next morning we needed to push start the truck and found out the starter was now broken. We again drove with another company and Oscar, thankfully! Aside from the inferior vehicle problems, I was so tired of eating porridge and beans that I will never consume them again! Out tour was only 3 days long and yet we ate the same thing over and over again. When I asked if we were having eggs I was informed no, because they hadn't been delivered. Oh great, more porridge! My idea of the "delicious brunch" that is advertised in my itinerary was not simply the bread, yogurt and Corn Flakes cereal, which was what was offered. I wondered if all of the African tours were like this, but after joining our Nomad tour and being given fresh fruit, juices, chicken, spaghetti, and a wide range of deliciously cooked foods I have concluded Wild Cherry Tours is an inferior company and we greatly overpaid for what we received. I am greatly disappointed but at least the wildlife we saw left us with some wonderful memories of Etosha camping.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beautiful scenery but specific tour was a disaster
Scenery of dunes was amazing
Weather was not that cold for desert and for wintertime , warm during the day
We didn't receive lunch on first day, other days the food was very little, others bought food .The vegetarians and vegans had much more limited options too for barbeque
Guide was not informative and we hardly received any info about sights we visited.
Transportation was a broken down game drive vehicle , some bumping there heads on the roof when we visited Deadvlei .Our specific vehicle broke down in middle of the desert without a spare tyre .
Camping facilities basic and okay
PL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Park Selous is beautiful only agency and terrible guide
The Selous Park is beautiful. And so many of our dibrtch memories from Tanzania. Afebxha was waiting for us by changing the number of employees in the contract. It was only after our intervention that she confessed to guilty and we received a compensation. The guide himself gave me that this job did not suit him and we were so tired with each other these few days.
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
tour is good,but food and companyis bad
Amboseli is not so good.
It has many elephants ,but others are not so many.
And my tour company is really really the worth.
They told me that I could pay all of price by cresit card,but actually it could do for only deposit.
And they did not tell me the fee of cresit.
And they said water was included,but actually not.
And food was bad, There were always flies around the dishes.
The guide of the lake Nakuru and Amboseli was also the worst.
He was often late ,and could not find the wild animals.
And,when he took me the next place,he dropped off many times because he wanted to buy goods.
So, I have less time to see the wild animals.
I appreciate my tour mates because they could find more animals than his.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Masaai Mara Safari
Let’s start with the Mara Lodge 5***** lodge service and 3*** food
The pickup was seamless
The drive took 8.5 hours as we got stuck in Mud after entering very rough Terrain in the Mara and it’s a single lane hi way with numerous stops for random construction
Every tour driver stops to help the stranded driver
Nice when we got stuck but after three others got stuck it wasted 2-3 hours of day1
Unfortunately the roads were so bad that in no time my back was out of sync
The rest of the two days was at the wonderful lodge getting pampered by the staff as the only guest on the premises.
The ride back was equally long but after complaining a lot I was given the front seat
Also asked for a refund for the 2 Nd day entry which was given unwillingly
Take the LandRover or Jeeps DO NOT take the MINI VANS
They are uncomfortable unreliable and the drivers are a clique
Ensure you enter the park all 3 days as the charge is for 24 hr entry from first entry
This tour Co only entered the park in the first 24 hours and pocketed $80 USD for 7 passengers
Would not use them again
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
No go Operator!!
I got offer from this company by email. On arrival in Kampala they changed the itininerary at once and gave me lower value als before. The guide Erick was lazy, almost driving to fast and not safe, coming late for departure, not want to stand up early in morning. I missing completly the knowlodge about how to make a tour with foreign guests.
May be other guides are better, but please never go with Erick!
Review about Shiwa Ng'andu Estate by Achim
A wonderful place for a one-day-visit.
CH
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
BE
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Mieke Verschueren, Belgium
Not a lot to see