CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Reliable, experienced and flexible company
I went with Smiling Tours to Mikumi and Nyerere National Park and I can recommend the company in terms of organization and reliability. The staff is very experienced and Moshi was available any time to answer our questions during the trip. Everything was perfect, the lodges, the driver, we had a great time! I would definitely book with them again.
AT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good Tour
We had a good tour with lots of adventures. Communication with William was good from the beginning. Answers were swift and usually helpful. Were picked up at the airport without any troubles. Lodges/Camps were not high class but all well, clean and fit for the trip you're doing. Food was all fine as well.
The Land Cruiser was a somewhat older vehicle which had quite an amount of milage, but it ran smoothly. One car issue was dealt with, without any interferance to our tour.
Our driver was more of a driver than a guide. With the radio connection he was in contact with others and always tried to get us to the propper spots, however there was hardly any information about the things we see, about the animals and so on. So if you're looking for a guide as well, this might be a consideration
Overall we are happy and would return in case of coming back.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Reliable touroperator for a professional safari
We booked a safaritrip for two days to Selous with Telly Safari. It was very easy to come in contact with the office via Whatsapp. We got very quick answers on every question we had. They asked us to pay a deposit in front.
Just like they promised, the taxi-driver picked us up at the hotel at dawn to get us to the airport. We could have a drink there waiting for takeoff.
The landing in Neyrere (next to the safariparc Selous) was realy amazing. We came in another world. (where nature rules)
A very kind, professional, intelligent guide who knew a lot of the animals, the environment etc was waiting for us.
We just arrived in the reserve and already saw pumba's, lot's of monkeys, beautifall birds and an very impressing vegetation.
During the day the driver brought us to terrific places while we felt we were live in National Geografic. We witnessed lot's of animals in their natural environment and natural behavior. (monkeys, elefants, zebra's, hippopotamus, carnivor, hyena's, wildebeest, giraffe, ...)
We had a nice breackfast and lunch during the day en in the evening we stayed in a very beautifull lodge. The next day we had an interesting boattrip on a river with crocodiles, hippo's, beautifull birds and a visit to the village. We specialy like to thank the very nice, professional guide Omary for the guidance in de reserve and the village, the interesting information about the animals and nature and the open talks about life in Tanzania.
Very friendly and professional.
The guide, Joel, was very prompt and punctual. Furthermore he was very friendly and attentive. Overall the day was very pleasant and very good with the organisation.
BD
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Awesome
It was great. We recommend. We did the whole Kenya with the family. Trailfinders took care of us.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Comprehensive Tour Operator with Great Drivers
My husband and I along with a good friend and her husband had an eleven day safari and beach trip throughout Kenya. I went in knowing where I wanted to go mostly, and worked with Dennis at the front office. He was able to put together an itinerary that took into account what I had asked for, but also expanded it to address what my friends and husband would want to experience, considering this was their first time in Kenya and on safari. He put together a packed itinerary that hit so many things (Nairobi, Samburu, Aberdares, Naivasha, Mara and the Coast). We were always on the move with our driver, Alex. Alex was great - some amazing driving skills and good eyes. Also very sociable so always connecting with the other drivers to find the good spots and sharing perspective on life in Kenya.
The accommodations were great, the land cruiser was relatively comfortable and well stocked with water.
During the planning, Dennis was very accessible and communicative. He was willing to make small changes to the plans as I had some particular notions of what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. Having Whats App downloaded allowed me to connect with the front office while we were traveling around Kenya, which was helpful when we were at the coast.
We greatly enjoyed working with Morningstar! The only issue I would mention is that if you have questions or concerns, speak up clearly and early. It's not a bad idea to review the itinerary with your driver/Morningstar upon arrival to make sure your understanding of what is included and what isn't is still the same and has been confirmed with the driver and the accommodations. Especially if you are going off the regular tourist track (out of the major parks).
There were a few communications transparency concerns where I think the office had everything under control, but plans had changed and we had not been updated. There were some miscommunications at the end between Morningstar and the accommodation, that seemed to have been based upon expectations and not confirmed commitments from the accommodations.
When I spoke up or contacted the office or mentioned something to Alex, a fix was often figured out (or at least they attempted to figure it out) but you need to speak up early if you have questions or concerns and don't make assumptions that just because something is stated on your itinerary, everyone involved is aware of what the initial travel itinerary was and is and has the same understanding of what's included and what isn't.
The experience we had for the money we paid was a great option and Alex was there and ready for us on time every day. He had a great energy and was flexible with our irregular requests (finding a pharmacy in Nanyuki, going to my old house in Nairobi, visiting Sarit Center/Westgate in Westlands.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great
I really feel at home whenever in the mountains...I love the accommodation, transportation, Meals.....I can't just pen it down because the feeling is really good and cannot express it all in words ...thanks to safaris I find one reason why its pearl of Africa.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Edward was excellent.
Good communication until we arrived Fairmont. We were picked and dropped on time. They were reliable and the tour was great, we got to see 90% of the animals.
CO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good
The experience overall was good.
We made a tour in Kenya and Tanzania. The first part of the tour was with Alexander in a van. The tour guide was not that good as his English sometime wasn’t really clear. More over I don’t advise you to choose the van, as the roads are not suitable for this type of car.
The second part of the tour was with Bashir in a 4X4 and this was amazing. He was a great driver and guide.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing, brilliant sense of humor
Love the tour it was very detailed and got to see a variety of animals
High light was the lions and the giraffe, especially the feeding experience that was amazing. It's a shame we didn't see the big 5 but don't think the safari caters to that.
