IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
6star experience!!! Highly recomended
3days safari in Mikumi NP with guide/driver Nico. We enjoyed easy communication, puntuality and profesionality of Sweet Memories Adventure staff. The safari experience was far over our expectations. We were realy lucky to see hundreds of animals .. we saw them all!!! Highly recommended!!! And you don't need much stuff with you.. fill up your luggage with some toys, pencils, dresses for local children.. they will fill your heart with heir gratitude ♡♡♡
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing experience
Great communication, help, support, trying to find the best according to my wishes. The accommodations and the safaris were amazing, the people in the camps/lodges also : unforgettable
Also amazing experience in the Vic Falls in an amazing accommodation, amazing scenery.
I want to go back !!
VN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Memorable safari with terrible ending
We have booked a 7-day safari with Shemeji. It was our first trip to Africa and the first safari experience, therefore we didn't really know what to expect therefore decided to rely entirely on a local provider. We found Shemeji on the internet and it caught our attention because it had an excellent rating as well the offer matched to what we were looking for.
We believed an experienced service operator would know exactly what they were selling and would assume responsibility for the events happening during the trip. Well, it appeared we were wrong about it.
Firstly, we would like to shout huge thank you and express endless gratitude to the guide/driver Elemes and the chef Isaack, who did absolutely everything and more to make our trip comfortable and memorable. These two gentlemen service was 5-star throughout our entire tour. Always smiling and always helpful, they made our trip successful within all their capacity.
However, what made us give Shemeji 1 start is the company management approach to the problems we faced.
We had to pay 100% in advance, which is understandable but they added 5% to the price if the payment is by a credit card. This is not a standard procedure as in the hotel we were not charged extra to the card payment.
As mentioned earlier, we relied on the local operators, expecting them to know the situation better than us coming from another continent.
Out trip didn't start very well, as the car was delayed on the first day already due to technical problems. The second day the car got stuck in the mud for over 2 hours on the campsite just before leaving for the safari drive.
Not only our trip was again delayed but also a car of another couple whose staff was trying to help our driver. The quality of the car we got was rather poor but we accepted it as we didn't mind the conform as long as the safety wouldn't be compromised. We trusted the company did treat the safety of their clients and the staff seriously.
One part of our adventure was the visit to Lake Natron going from Serengeti. Due to the heavy rain, the roads and bridges were cut off and we were forced to turn back, which resulted in driving again through Serengeti.
We did understand the weather unpredictability and followed the situation without complaints. However, later on, we have learned that Lake Natron, during the rain, is dangerous and we shouldn’t go there. I would think a local company would know that during the rainy season rain comes rather frequently and either shouldn't include this point in their itinerary or would have advised us on the potential risk beforehand. But instead, they have sold the trip without any notice.
Somewhere on the way, it happened that the car got a flat tire, which again we understood and didn't complain about it either.
On our way back through Serengeti the car got seriously broken. Our rear wheel fell off. The same wheel as the one which got a flat tire a day or two earlier. This was a very scary situation as we were driving at quite high speed and we realized how lucky we were that the car didn't rollover.
This accident caused a very long time delay and we have lost an entire day of our planned trip waiting for another transportation to take us back to some accommodation, in addition to quite a traumatic experience of seeing our car's wheel rolling ahead of the car.
Later on, we have also learned that after the wheel was fixed and the car was on its returning way it had broken again, which made me doubt in the technical conditions of the car. Is the company truly investing in car maintenance and the clients' safety or is purely focused on sale and profit?
The last day was entirely lost and the next day was too short to fill it with what we have in our plans. We had to return to the campsite and just spent last night in the same place we started, which was not according to our purchased package. The company offered a visit to Maasai Village, which was the only option to do, even though it was not of our interest initially.
We were never demanding and stayed the entire trip very understanding, knowing that the weather conditions cannot be planned, however, the plans we badly affected and we expected the company to take responsibility for the trip they have sold and at least correct the price according to what we have received.
To our surprise Emma, one of the owners (according to our understanding) rejected all the claims, stating that they did us a favor not requesting us to pay extra for the park fees which we had to drive again through, pushing all the responsibility to the weather conditions.
We were also told that the operator had to pay the accommodation booking fees in advance, even though we have found out that the accommodation places and the tour operator belong to the same corporate group.
This was a very disappointing end of our trip.
From 7 days safari that we paid for, we have received actually not even full 6 days. We experience a very dangerous incident and we were left with the impression that we should be grateful that we were not requested to pay extra. This was not what we have imagined from a professional, 5-star rated tour operator.
The safari was great and the guide and the chef service was top notch but if you consider buying a service from Shemeji you may think twice and pay for everything in advance regardless what the trip brings, as you will be charged and given responsibility for everything that happens during your trip.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
NO
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great guide, ok lodge and excellent experience of wildlife
Terrible roads into the Masai Mara NR, but stunning wildlife and acceptable roads and tracks inside.
Simon the guide and driver was very knowledgeable and and excellent driver.
The Miti Mingi Eco lodge had food and lodging that gave good value for money.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Tanzania in the Rain
Make sure about the weather when you book a trip to Tanzania
We were wet every day on Kilimanjaro!
We were wet camping in Serengeti and Ngorongoro!
The wet roads really spoiled some of the game viewing and some roads were to wet to drive on
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gorilla trekking and safari
Exceptional trip with very accommodating, professional and informative driver and guide, Levan. The gorilla trekking surpassed expectations as we got up close with the family and took incredible photographs. The accommodation was very comfortable throughout, with the Queen Elizabeth NP lodge a particular highlight. The stop off in Lake Mburo NP was arguably the best safari of our trip and was worth doing, while the Ishasha sector safari had very limited wildlife. If we were doing this trip again we would possibly leave off this part as the road down to Queen Elizabeth NP wasn't great from here. Overall, an incredible experience which did not disappoint!
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We had an amazing experience with such a variety of animals and nature experiences that you were com
We were really happy with everything! Nice and knowledgeable guide and nice accommodation when we upgraded and to a tent lodge.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our experience to Chobe National Park was amazing and funco
Communications were all on line with prompt replies. The coordination of different drivers/tour leaders all went smoothly and the activities exceeded our expectations. Once inside the park, the animal safaris were great and the number of animals sighted was terrific. The camping set up was well done and staff very friendly and capable.
BG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
5-star experience of a lifetime
I had a once in a lifetime experience!!!We booked a 3days-2nights Serengeti-Ngorongoro safari. Right from the start till the end out safari was exquisitely well organised and detailly planed in advance by Hillary, the awlays smiling manager, who arranged a pick up / drop off from the Kilimandjaro airport and a stay in a hotel in Arusha. Lenard, the driver, is a nice and quite guy, had to wait for us for like 4 hours because of a flight delay, and had to wake up in 4 am to drop us off at the airport. And now about the safari itself: we had the rare chance to see almost all animals and birds there is in Serengati and Ngorongoro - lions, elephants, giraffes, gazellas, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, even by far the black rhinos, except for the cheetah. Thanks to our amasing guide, Rocky, we were always first on the right spot to see the animals and every time he made sure our jeep was on the best possible position. He answered all our questions about wildlife, his skills of driving the jeep through the mud avoided us being stuck, he balanced well our desire to spend more time watching the animals and the need to press time, and last but not least he is funny and approachable. Also he put the tourists safety first by assessing correctly every situation. The top of top, and so unexpected for me, was the gourmet cuisine, prepared 3 times per day by our unique chef Ben. He even managed to cook us a pizza and some popcorn, apart from the delicious pancakes, all the beef stew, fish grilled chicken and variety of veggies !!! The public camps we stayed in were clean and well kept. In short all the crew of Suricata safari made our first safari an unforgettable memory !!!
