RU
mediocre experience
Overall, a very mediocre experience with a few main issues:
1. The company tries to find the cheapest tickets, which resulted in schedule changes that reduced the safari time in both directions, as well as long layovers. Also, the organizers didn't buy the tickets immediately after receiving the prepayment, but waited another 3 weeks (presumably hoping to find cheaper tickets), which in my opinion is an unfair practice.
2. An extremely lazy driver who suggested heading to the camp as early as 4:00 PM. After I refused, he drove around the safari for another half hour and then, without a word or asking, took us to the camp and dropped us off at 5:00 PM—1.5 hours before sunset. Most other drivers came back around 6:00–6:30 PM. Also, before our flight, he dropped us off an hour earlier than scheduled, claiming he was only paid up to that time.
Minor drawbacks: Various smaller issues, such as a 5% extra fee when paying via a payment link instead of a bank transfer, unexpected USD notes demands on the penultimate day, and at the airport, for some reason, they met us with website nickname instead of our actual names (even though they had passport details).
On the plus side: A good camp.
GR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Kenya trip and poor experience in Tanzania
We booked a 7-day safari with Mama Savana for August 2026, which included Nakuru Lake (1 night), Masai Mara (2), Serengeti (2), Ngorongoro Crater (1) and after we were supposed to arrive to Moshi.
As we had never visited Africa before, we had so many questions and so many options to consider (for example hot-air-balloon). Alex answered all my questions and made everything clear. Our payments were confirmed fast and generally during the preparation phase everything was okay.
Our journey in Kenya was excellent, we saw Africa’s Big 5. Our driver Sanita did his best, he was always discreet but there for us and did his best for sure. During our transportation from a location to another, he was stopping every 2-3 hours for WC and was careful while driving. Also, Sanita knew every single road in Masai Mara. He went us around the park and stopped for every single animal we wanted to see. Despite his English was poor, we could communicate and understand each other well.
The vehicle was in fair condition. The lodges and camps we stayed in Kenya were good, with kind and helpful staff. The food was delicious and the nature just amazing!
Unfortunately, as to Tanzania, I can’t say the same good words. There were so many things which made us upset. Initially, the vehicle was in a very very bad condition: the seatbelts were useless, the windows couldn't open, neither the doors (from inside), the screenwashers didn't stop working making that terrible irritating noise, the front glass was cracked, the roof was leaking after the rain and control panel was out of order. Altogether the vehicle was unacceptable and even dangerous for such trip like this one.
The day we crossed Isebania borders, we got a flat tire in Serengeti. This didn't happen out of the blue. Since we were trying to get to Serengeti as soon as possible, we were going very fast and our car was fishtailing in gravel road, which was really scary btw, given the condition of both roads and vehicle. Then I told to our driver Joseph to stop for toilet, in order to cool down the speed and because after borders no station was made for this purpose! After 10 minutes we reached Serengeti gates and then we realized that we don't know where we are going! Thus, we were driving back and forth across the Serengeti trying to find our place until we got that flat tire. As a result, we arrived really late and slept a few hours before our flight with hot air balloon and all-day safari! Many thanks to the driver of the hot-air-balloon office who showed us the road that night.
During all-day safari we didn't explore Serengeti at all but were driving around the camp the same roads again and again and again. I imagined that our vehicle was in such bad condition that our driver was afraid to move away and tried to stay near to the camp. Eventually we told Joseph to drive us back to the camp. The safari had already been ruined.
The day we left Serengeti the vehicle had another damage. This time it was fuel tank. So, we were late once again and didn't have enough time to explore Ngorongoro Crater.
The last day instead of Moshi we were going to Arusha despite I told Joseph a thousand times that we were going to Moshi! Still can't get those spontaneous changes in the schedule 🤷🏼♀️ As we were told, we were supposed to go to the office and then change the driver 🤷🏼♀️ If so, why I wasn't informed prior?
And last but not least. In Tanzania we ate privately with my husband just once in Coffee Lodge due to the lodge policy, while all the other days there we were having our breakfasts, lunches and dinners together with our driver. In my opinion, drivers should be discreet as people come to Africa for holidays and seek private time with their family.
All these things happened in Tanzania degraded the whole experience which in my opinion doesn't correspond to the cost of $ 7,240.00 for 2 pax.
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great driver but always late
Tiyani is great, but not sure how the agency arranges their pick ups with other passengers. Out of the two times I’ve been with Safari Link, they were late both times.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Pre-sale Enthusiasm vs. After-sale Silence
Additional review: Their attitude before and after the sale is completely different. After the sale, I needed them to provide some documents for insurance purposes. I emailed them several times but received no reply at all. The contrast is striking. It feels like they only care about making a one-time sale and have no interest in maintaining customer relationships or encouraging repeat business. If you are planning to book with them, please keep this in mind.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Overall, very average. Lacking atmosphere and not comfortable.
Rather expensive for what felt like a very average experience. Accommodation was as expected and quite nice. Food was also ok, nothing special.
Vehicle very old, rattly and not very comfortable. One of the oldest we saw. Which was a shame given how long you spend it it every day.
The driver was similar to an Uber driver, hard to communicate in English and lacking detail or any excitement at all. Gave up asking any questions.
The overall experience felt disappointing and lacking given the mid to high range price. Recommend keeping options open.
CA
Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Daneesha *********
After experiencing Tarangire and Serengeti, you get less exposure to animals. The stand outs were the Rhino and the flamingos
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Adequate
I have headed this review ‘adequate’ as I feel Big Apes should have prepared me more for my trip. It was by chance I found out when reading about Uganda, that I needed a visa. Thankfully these are very easy to obtain on line however if I hadn’t read this, there would have been a delay at the airport. Also, I had not been advised to take gloves for the trek because of the thorny shrubbery I would be walking through. My fellow trekkers were better prepared and I felt at a disadvantage. Similarly I did not know I needed a photocopy of my passport for each trek. Thankfully my driver Ben was able to sort this and I hope he was reimbursed. Being aware of these small matters would have been greatly appreciated. After the confirmation of my booking I did not hear anything until I emailed the company two weeks before my departure when I received an acknowledgment and advised of what time I would be collected from my hotel.
However, after the comments above I cannot praise my driver enough. Ben was polite, courteous and professional and looked after me throughout the whole of my visit. He made sure everything was sorted and even managed to arrange an alternative activity after I fell one day and could not trek the next. I cannot praise him enough.
JP
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The response is quick.
I was quite anxious about choosing a local tour, as it is difficult to determine whether a company is trustworthy. Given the circumstances—and despite the time difference between Japan and Kenya—I chose this company because they were incredibly responsive whenever I reached out and answered my questions immediately. However, the tour didn't use the company's own vehicles; instead, it brought together people who had signed up through various different companies. The members were staying at different hotels, which made the rounds very time-consuming. The driver often failed to arrive on schedule, resulting in a waste of time. Although an ample supply of water was supposed to be provided during the tour, it was not replenished for two days, and requests to have it restocked were ignored. I think the tour itself was fairly ordinary. However, the failure to provide a water supply strikes me as a major oversight. While I assume this was the fault of the subcontractor chosen by the company, it raises the question: what would the experience have been like if they had selected a provider that owned its own vehicles?
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Service could be improved, vague planning.
The driver was excellent, and the hotels, while simple, were decent.
However, regarding the 4-day Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru itinerary: it states that you’ll see Lake Naivasha from a viewpoint, but that doesn't actually happen—you drive past it on the road, but there isn't even a stop.
Also, we only spent three hours in Nakuru Park, even though the entrance fee is $95.
The picnic lunch provided during the safari is quite meager—just a piece of bread, a piece of chicken, and some fruit to last the whole day.
On the days we were scheduled to stop at a roadside restaurant for lunch, the stop happened at 11:30 AM 😅.
All in all, the parks were great and the staff were pleasant, but the service itself leaves a lot to be desired.
(automatic translation from Spanish)
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Accommodations issues, saved only by a great driver
If you book with Peak Season Africa Safaris, do not trust their "free upgrades"—it is likely a trick to cut costs and downgrade your stay. Check all their recommendations on booking and google.
Steven will be replying fast and confident but it's all a selling pitch.
We booked for 9 days, 11k USD safari, around 6months in advance. Right after sending prepayment, we were told our desired lodge was unavailable and were offered "upgrades at no extra cost". We were explicitly promised Deluxe Rooms at Mara Sweet Acacia in writing. Instead, we were dumped into their absolute worst, filthy tents (1-2 star quality at best). Only after aggressive escalation were we moved to mediocre cottages—still nowhere near the Deluxe standard we paid for and agreed on.
Mara Sweet Acacia is a total 3-star tourist trap falling apart at the seams: broken kettles, showerheads barely working at 30% pressure, towels on dusty shelves and overall walls looking like from third world.
Emayian had nice food, style and service, but the wind noise in the tents made sleep impossible. Only Kibo Camp in Amboseli delivered what was expected.
The Bright Spot: Patrick
The driver, Patrick, was knowledgeable, skilled, and worked hard to give us a great game-viewing experience. He deserves all the praise, but he cannot fix a dishonest agency approach.
Summary
The agency sold us high-end promises and pocketed the difference by booking inferior sweet accacia lodge while advertising it as 5* upgrade.
