20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Six day safari (luxury option). Pros and cons
Victor replied to my request for a quote very promptly. He arranged a pick up from Arusha airport for the following day. We discussed the details of our upcoming safari in his office in Arusha, and one day later we were on the road for our 6-day safari. After making contact with Victor, we researched a bit better and came across a few reviews about him which put us a bit off. In particular, what didn't convince us was the fact that he suggested to pay half the safari via card and the rest via cash - without giving us valid explanations as to why he preferred this option. We insisted and eventually we paid the total via card. There was a minor change in the original itinerary, which he told us about the day before departure, and which did not really change the quality of the trip. As mentioned, we were a bit concerned given the previous negative reviews (not of Care Kilimanjaro, but of other companies he managed in the past). I have to say, in the end we were actually very positively surprised. He threw in the price an extra night of accommodation (the first one in Arusha), the pick up from the airport, and upgraded us to a better hotel for two nights of the trip. He was also very kind to send one of his guys early in the morning to our hotel, two days after the safari ended, because we had realised we had forgotten our Tanzania travel guide in the car. This was really kind of him.
Our guide duirng the safari was Peter. A knowledgeable guide, but we had a few instances in which he wanted to impose his agenda over ours. In particular the first day, when he was pushing for us to go to a curio shop to buy souvenirs at the end of the first tour of Tarangire National Park. We politely declined and said we preferred to stay longer in the park, to which he told us that we wanted to teach him his job, and even accused us of manipulating the other couple that was in the car with us to agree with us on not going to the shop! We were all quite shocked by such an angry reaction. Also, at times during the trip, he was rude with my wife - to the point of telling her "I don't talk to you", more than once. Very unpleasant.
Besided these episodes and the lack of manners, he did his job and drove us safely to the Serengeti and back. Also, he was good in spotting animals during our game drives.
Overall, our experience with Care Kilimanjaro was good - in spite of all the concerns we had before the departure and despite the difficulty we all had in dealing in a relaxed way with our driver. The car was solid, and Peter solved quickly a couple of mechanic problems. The hotel choice was really excellent. The animal spotting was impressive: we saw 25 lions during the whole trip (some of them hunting), two leopards, three cheetas, a black rhino, and countless elephants. Well done Peter in spotting the cheetas and well done to me (Mr Lucky, as he called me) in spotting the second leopard in Lake Manyara Park ;-)
Victor means well but he needs to be more organised. He told us initially we would have been six people in the car. It turned out we were four (two couples). This meant more space, of course. But then why did he tell us six? On the second day a fifth person joined us. This person, and the other couple with us, also complained about the conflicting info we all received about the group. This is not a major problem, but makes people a bit suspicious and shows that the tour operator is trying to squeeze in different travellers with diferent packages into a single car. So in brief he should be more transparent and more organised. Also, the whole cash Vs credit card payment was confusing. One of our fellow travelers, who joined us for one day only, had to handle cash given to her by Victor to our driver, and then to another driver later in the day. She seemed (and rightly so!) quite stressed having to carry around about 900$ in her purse. This was, obviously, unprofessional of Victor.
Again, more tansparency is needed, so that people who have spent quite a lot of money on a safari trip can relax and just enjoy the scenery, istead of having to deal with all these issues.
IN
Kruger Park Travel is helpful and eager to please
The service was excellent but inter office communications were poor and therefore there was confusion and errors in the bookings . However, Kylie was more than willing to help make up for these errors. The safaris were excellent in terms of the lodge, the facilities and the food. However, the draught at Kruger was a huge shock and the websites of the park should be more informative regarding this
HK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had wonderful experience with the wildlife, even though we only have 3 days time Safari .
Daniel is reliable, always response promptly. He arranged a tailor made a tour for our 4 days safari with private car and guide, our tour guide was worked at the park for years very experienced. We had wonderful time.
NZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good experience
Our driver Phennie was very helpful with our questions, not only informative about the wildlife but also helped us to plan our next step of our journey once we left him.
The communication was quite good before the trip also, although we would have appreciated the option to pay online or credit card!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My experience was awesomely packed with adventure, fun, amazing wildlife and culture
Overall, the trip exceeded my expectations in many ways. The tour, the service and communications allowed for an awesome experience overall. The tour group was also small which was great.
Some room for improvement in :
- confirming optional activities and officially adding them into the final itinerary
- having other methods of payment for tour
- making sure an official and most updated itinerary is sent out prior to first deposit. That way travelers know exactly what they will be doing each day and it includes the optional activities the traveler wishes to participate in, like the Batwa experience.
- giving advice to travelers about types of currency needed in certain areas and where it is best to withdraw money.
- would also rule out going to Bushara island. Didn't really gain anything from being there.
- something else needs to happen at the boomu women's group. Getting travelers to participate in local community activities would give them a great insight to what life is like for a local family.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
3 days in the wildlife of Masai Mara
The safari booking process was clear and the price fair. The driver came to pick us up at the hotel and was excellent in driving along the unpaved road leading to the park. The three days were nice, and so was the tented camp. The bottled water was not present in the jeep in the quantity agreed.
Very positive experience.
BR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We enjoyed really a lot our safari in Kenya and Tanzania with The Destination Consultants
Now having returned to Colombia, we would like to say that we had a wonderful and beautiful time in Kenya and Tanzania. Thanks to Niko and Susan for their welcome, kindness and the excellent organization for the 9 days we had in total in the two countries.
We also apreciate a lot Ray ( Raymond ), our Guide in Tanzania . We can deeply recommand The Destination Consultants. They deserve it all.
It was a great pleasure to have been hosted there and shown the beautiful landscape and wildlife of enchanting Africa.
We went back to Colombia and Brasil with nostalgy but with plenty of photographs of this memorable safari . We are sure to return in the future. We have made good friends in Kenya and Tanzania and, we are convinced we can count on them when needed.
We let part of our souls and hearts there.
We wish Niko and Susan the very best for their entreprise full of adventures .
Hugs from South America .
Philippe and Patricia.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kruger Park 5 Day package
Very well organised with excellent service. Some areas of minor improvements would be the food catering in Kruger which can be a bit on the frugal side. But apart from that we had a wonderful time and the rangers were very good. We will use them again.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kili August 2016
I really enjoyed my experience with UBON. They did a great job making sure we were taking care of up to and including our climb. If there were any issues they followed up right away.
Overall I had a great experience and would use them again.
straightforward, flexible, it all works and that is all we need
and that is all we need to say, isn't it? and the rest of what I write here is just to fill the space remaining