TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Poor communication, insufficient team spirit
We agreed on a 5-day safari package with Osnet. Our communication was very good beforehand and I had recommended it to many of my friends.
Although the tour started well, problems came one after another during the trip.
On the 2nd day, the Giraffe Center visit did not take place due to lack of communication between Geofrey and the guide. Although dinner was included in the price, I paid for it. The visit to the Masai village also did not take place again due to communication problems. The plan included a Tsavo West and Taita park tour. Our guide suggested to replace East instead of Tsavo West, and I said OK. Again, due to lack of communication between the guide and Geofrey, I had to pay the extra Tsavo East Park fee and fuel cost.
The hotel was not on our plan before the flight on the last day. I asked Geofrey and thanks to him he arranged. He asked 103$ for it and then said he paid himself for cover his excuse, I think.
In summary:
The communication between the team was very poor. Geofrey accusing them, guide and the driver criticizing him, telling he just sitting at the office.
Why I found myself in the middle of unpleasant arguments for no reason? Why did I pay for Park fees, fuel costs and dinner which should be included in the itinerary? Why we didn’t go to Giraffe Center and Masai Village which was also in the itinerary? I spent an hour to explain situations for Tsavo Parks. Why I had to do it on my vacation ?
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Did not deliver on promises
We went on a six day safari organized by Caren at Nashibe. The parks are of course very nice and one of the lodges we stayed at was excellent (Severin in Tsavo West).
However, In Amboseli we didn't get the accommodation that we agreed on before paying the deposit (one of the lodges were changed to one that we would not have booked if we had known). The pickup was two hours late (which we were told only after calling them from the parking lot). We felt that the driver, whilst driving safely, had very little knowledge about animals and it felt that he did not know his way around the parks. The radio in the car (used to communicate with other drivers) did not seem to work. The description of the safari days in the itinerary included things that were infeasible due to time/distance. For example, for Tsavo East the itinerary gave the impression that we would see the Galana River on our afternoon game drive - which turned out to be 120 km away. At the end of the tour, we had to wait for half a day for the train in Voi. Only after arguing with the driver we agreed that this time was to be spent at the lodge and not at the train station. The final drop-off at Diani Beach turned out to be four hours later than promised.
When providing this feedback to Caren after the tour, she did not respond.
GR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mixed Feelings
So me and my friend , booked a 10 days safari trip in both kenya and tanzania.
That included : masai mara, amboseli national park, lake nakuru and lake naivasha (kenya ) and serengeti national park, ngorogoro crater ( tanzania ) . Food , camps and hotels as well as transportation were all included . The total cost was around 1850usd . For starters, the kenya side was perfect, the driver-guide was always on time and did everything he could to make us have a great time and see as many animals as we could as close as possible.
Then it was tanzanias turn. To begin with , the driven wasnt on time as the hotel the first day when we were in arusha( before going to serengeti) . Secondly, we were supposed to do a 3 hours afternoon drive , before restinf at the camp. Not only didnt we do that but in addition on of the girl with whom we were having the safari , asked for a stop to see some hippos, the driver completely ignored her and continued going towards the camp. The driver-guide didnt seem to know how to drive, we stopped multiple times , during our 3 days in tanzania in order for him to find another driver and help him with his gear transmission. He also got lost multiple times going in and out of serengeti park making u turns every time until he finally finds the way. To sum up to this , at our first night at simba a camp in serengeti, regardless the fact that we have seen fire occuring at 17:00 when we reached the camp at 18:30 and we decided to inform the company( which knew nothing about the fire) we full understood the extent of the disaster. The camp was full of gas due to the fire and it was literally impossible to stay there ,beacuse we were only inhaling gas. After multiple messages and phone calls with the company , they told us that the lodge campa are way too expensive to pay(400 usd per person) and that all other camps were full . The result was that we werr forced to sleep there all night,putting our health at risk by the huge amount of gas he inhaled.
The company told ua that the tanzanian part wasnt run by them, but by another partner , the 7wonders, so they cant practically control all things
After returning back in nairobi, we told the office about how terrible the driver in tanzania was( he was a free lancer with 3 more times in the serengeti park as he told us) and about the fire etc and we demanded a compensation at least for the days we lost in Tanzania. They offered us either a day at the giraffe centre in nairobi or 50usd as a compensation.
Regardless the fact that the kenya part was perfect the real reason about this rating is that when you pay 1850usd for a safari in kenya you are hoping for better solutions when a huge problem appears.
NL
Several things didn’t went as promised, although we paid for it. We are not satisfied at all.
We got a very nice offer, that we accepted and paid all in advance. Tsavo East was skipped at the day of departure. Although that parkeer was paid. The lodge we paid for was, as they say, full. Allthough we booked in february, later us was told that in february that lodge wasn’t full, and we had to stay in another lodge, 18 km outside the park and very poor. Therefor we also missed the sunrise gamedrive. And our time in the park was also less. We had several times contact and asked for an explanation. And there were some more things. Untill now we didn’t get any compensation. We will never book at Jastro Safaris again.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The company could benefit from updating their equipment. Shop around.
Communication was quick but it was troubling that the lodges advertised, one of the reason this company was chosen, were suddenly unavailable once the deposit was made. Even after a change to those accommodations there was a further change. The first and last accommodations were phenomenal but the second was below the standard of any place I stayed in Tanzania despite being called a luxury lodge. I am not sure if the driver was skilled or just very lucky. The speed at which we travelled on dirt roads in my opinion far exceeded the capabilities of the vehicle and placed my safety at risk. It was difficult to appreciate the stunning animals and the incredible scenery while veering across the road avoiding oncoming vehicles who were in their own lane.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Nice but very dangerous
Group of four_ Good
The bungalows for sleeping are very adequate
Dinner and breakfast at the Camp are correct. Good
Not good
Driver's level of English / level of knowledge about the park is 2 about 5
Do not speak anything in the diner....
Very aggressive and dangerous driving on the road - Very
Impatient nothing from Pole Pole
Driving within the natural park is also too fast
Javiva Adventures not not the van, the van was for another company,,,,,
Not good
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Travelling in Tanzania is HORRIBLE
This was my second trip to Tanzania. I was there to watch the Great Migration. I was able to witness a small version of the migration in Northern Serengeti and was left with much to be desired. Tanzania charges an exorbitant amount for the visa and the taxes on tourists. However you get little to noting in return for the steep prices and cost of traveling in that county. The roads are a total disaster and guarantees total damage to your overall skeletal system specially your back. Where all the visa and tax money goes is beyond my comprehension. My driver told me that the roads are not paved since my country, the United States, asked the Tanzanian Government to keep things rustic. I have never heard such hogwash ever in my life. What interest would the US have in interfering with how Tanzania maintains or ignores its infra structure? I will never return to that country again. Besides Kilimanjaro and the animals there is nothing worth making the trip to expensive Tanzania.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Bait and Switch on the hotel rooms, lectured repeatedly about tipping from guides
First, let me say that the guides did a solid job. They were friendly and got my entire group up the mountain. Now for the other part. The hotel we were originally supposed to stay in (Kibo Palace) was swapped out at the last minute for a place called the Keys Hotel. Don’t be fooled by the Keys three star rating, it is a one, maybe a two star. It’s not even close. I stayed at the Kibo Palace as I arrived a few days before my friends. The Kibo Palace is nice, an actual 3 star hotel. We all thought we were staying there as that is what Kilimanjaro on foot told us. It wasn’t till after my friends landed and were taken to the Keys Hotel that we learned otherwise. I had to change hotels from one I was already booked in.
Second issue, before we started to hike there was a meet and greet amongst the guides and our group. The guide must have spent a half hour talking about how much we should tip each person, which was well above what Kilimanjaro on foot had already recommended we tip, it seemed way excessive from this recommended amount.
Third, the guides got us up and down a day early. Not the worst thing, but it ends up that you have to book another night at the Keys Hotel which is quite expensive for the accommodations they offer. I would have been fine staying up on the volcano for our recommended time and coming down when we were scheduled to. This seemed like it was structured because the guides wanted an extra day off, not for our benefit. If they are able to get you up and down a day early it means they get a paid day off.
Fourth, the tipping is done not at the end of the trip but about half a day before. They make such a display about it and also make it a point that you had better tip generously or else. It's be better of Kilimanjaro on Foot to pay their people more and do away with the tipping all together and I wouldn’t have this awful taste in my mouth from the way the guides and sherpas behaved.
I would not recommend Kilimanjaro on foot for the reasons above. If you are aware of all of these factors you may want to consider them.
CH
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Insufficient management of the Tour and inappropriate vehicule
My rate of this company is low coz there has been too many problems with Leisure tips and their response is not adaquate, as far as I am concern. All my statements are based on facts and I have all the exchanges with the driver in my Whatsapp as a proof.
1. When I paid the Tour with a secure link sent by them, my credit card was hijacked and my Swiss bank has to block it coz somebody tried to use it.
2. The vehicule that Leisuretips provided was in poor state and we encountered many problems after a few hours drive from Nairobi already. The destination was Amboseli National Park on a 3 Days trip, alone in the vehicule except for the driver.
3. The car had to be brought to the garage 2 times coz of the mechanical problems and I lost the second day Game Drive coz the time left was not sufficient.
4. I ve received the apologies from Leisuretips for that but this is insufficient coz the contract that they gave me stipulated all the services I ve paid for and they did not fulfil it actually.
The Amboseli Park is worth to visit and the Lodge I was in was good, that is why I give a 2 stars rate.
The Company has to improve its relationship to the customer and moreover improve its services. I paid the whole amount in USD in one time several months before the Trip, for information.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Tsavo East National Park by Filippo
Very touristic, very little animals, maybe it is too big, but compared to the others it's like being in the desert....