CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great SafariExperience, despite the accommodations
We booked this private Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru safari online although it was a bit more expensive than others exactly like it, thinking the increase in price would upscale the experience just a little. But we had the same accommodation as others we talked to at our two overnight stops who paid less. The first, Manhattan Camp, in the Masai Mara, was very run down. Maybe thirty years ago when it was built it was a great place. All that left of ‘great’ is the gardens. The zipper on out tent did not work. The mosquito netting had holes in it. The bathroom was a shower I did not want to step in, a shelf mhammered together from old wood was hanging on the wall, and a toilet that had a lid but no seat! The camp entry/reception was a mud pit. This place has simply given up. The food was as basic as possible: either spaghetti, rice, mashed potatoes at every meal all served with the same ‘beef’ sauce. Over and over. The dining hall was big and uninteresting. It did however have a massive tv in the bar section which, when the electricity was on (rarely) was blaring soccer games. Pleasant-not! Hardly ‘dining’ experience. A safari camping experience is one thing but this camp has deceptive older photos and dares to call itself a ‘resort.’ Online it states that each tent has a kitchen. Not ours!
The second was a hotel at Lake Nakuru (City Max) in a very very sketchy neighbourhood. Secure but you don’t want to walk around here at night. Grumpy daytime front desk staff and manager. Night front desk was good. Restaurant with maître de and two uniformed wait staff. But, again, the food was miserable. I pushed away the dinner after a few bites as did a few of the other four couples in the restaurant. The room was good. The beds were good. But this neighbourhood is noisy, way into the night. Our room was directly above the kitchen early, so early mornings there was banging pits and pans, etc. I complained about this to the manager but all I got was a blank stare. As for the wifi, although this place claims to have it throughout - forget that. We just gave up on it. It does work sort of in the dining hall.
So, as far as accommodations are concerned, this safari is not just budget but very very budget.
The best part of the safari was Robert, our driver/guide. We had a safari van with openable roof all to ourselves. Robert was a great driver and an informative guide. He was sensitive to what we wanted and made sure we were always having a positive animal viewing experience. We saw almost every savannah animal you could think of . So that made up for the questionable acccommodation. Ask for him if you are still going to book after reading this review.
The owner of the tour company, Felistus, was quick to respond to our emails and even got us onward train tickets to Mombasa. So she is good. I am not sure however that she has recently or ever visited the two places we overnighted in. She and all others who use them should think again.
‘Budget’ does not have to mean ‘inadequate’!
MX
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good planning and help
The planning was good, and the recommendations were great. The lodges were very nice.
The communication could improve, on the planning, and the information could be more personalized, not only re sending information.
We had a problem with our visas, but they were really helpful managing a late pick up from the airport so we would be able to catch our Gorilla trecking, even though we arrive late, because of a change in our schedule.
excellent in every way
i went to tanzania with safarihub few weeks ago , ( with my family ) , we spent about a week there , everything was quite nice + the price was excellent as well
GR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice experience! Our salary quide was very nice!
The weather perfect, food not many chooses generaly, but great mangos! Local transport a bit difficult. We enjoyed Safari it was a special expirience and our safari guide was very nice!
FR
Lovely safari in Selous Game Reserve - but too short!
We had ordered a 3 days safari in Selous Game Reserve and the program was great except for the morning flight was leaving at 2.pm and the rivertrip started very late. The lodge was beautiful and the service excellent, but the stay was too short. The safari was top, but we didn’t se more than 2 of the great 5, because of the rain. The third day we had to go to the airport at 9 am because the plane was arriving one hour too early.
DK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mercury Zanzibar was a reliable tour operator, even thow there were some changes in the program.
We were picked up on time as prearranged in Dar es Salam. We felt always secure due to our very experienced driver, who was a knowledgeable safari guide. His english was quite basic, but over all sufficient. Accommodations were simple, but clean and for the price absolutely o.k. Unfortunately there was a lot of rain in January, what didn't allow us to drive the intended route due to a flooded road. We had to face a very long drive back to Dar es Salam and the next day to Mikumi. But everything was organized and we were housed in a good hotel. The really ennoying thing was, that for the last day our guide did not know that we were supposed to go to Udzungwa. So I recommend to check the program the first day of the trip with the guide. After some discussions and bargaining we found a good deal with Ndamungu from Mercury Zanzibar Travel for a compensation. All over it was a good experience with great game drives and due to the long drives we we saw a lot of the country.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Experience, wonderful guide, wonderful staff, wonderful accommodation.
Everything we expected and more, especially our guide Leo who was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. Weather was a bit wet, but it was the rainy season, and our guide was prepared. Food was great as was the camp staff.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing scenery with more wildlife animals you could wish for
Wildlife: amazing! We saw the big five and many more. Nearly every animal bit crocodiles.
Scenery : Ngorogoro Crater and surrounding area are breathtaking . Something you won’t see anywhere else in the world .
The Serengeti is very beautiful and unique itself . Tarangeri Nationalpark was nice , too.
Lake Manara was not my favourite, as you can’t really drive up to the lake , you only see it from a distance . Further up in “the jungle” we saw plenty of monkeys and elephants, which made up for it.
Weather: a little bit chilly during the night and early morning, afterwards very hot.
Accommodation- the tents were put up for us every night which was great, we just wished they would have told us to bring a pillow, they provide sleeping bags but it might be more comfortable to have your own for cleanliness reasons.
The campsite near lake manara , where we stayed the first and the last night of our 6 day trip was very nice (it’s called “Fanaka”) , the stuff was very friendly , you could even put your own drinks in their fridge, and there was hot water in the showers .
But! The campsite in the serengeti , especially the facilities where just terrible, so we didn’t have a shower for 3 days. I‘d recommend to pay the extra money and get a tented lodge .
Food was ok.
Our guide Moody was a very friendly.