CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The guide made our experience pretty disapointing
The organization and comunication with Karibu has been great. The lodge we stayed at was also very nice and price for the services was also fair.
We are disapointed at the guide. Was not explaining anything to us unless we were asking for something specific and even then he could be wuite rude sometimes. He did not explain what was our program, what we were doing that day, what were we trying to see....nothing at all. He was in the phone all the time and not cooperative at all. Even after the lunch break all the people would be ready and waiting for him to keep going and he would be talking to others, or just chilling or on the phone.
We gave him tip just because we were suppose to and was highly recommended to do so, not from the heart. If I would go back in time I wouldnt give him a cent. He did not do a good job and he knew it, and despite that he was acting quite arrogant. So sad that such a experience was not enjoyed to the fullest.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Can't trust Silas
Sadly I have to agree with some of the reviews about Apodiformes Adventures.
During the hiring process, Silas, the owner of Apodiformes replied to my messages right away, adapting to our needs and promising an exceptional quality of service.
Being our honeymoon, we hired a safari considered luxury (over 4000 EUR for 5 nights), requesting booking at very specific accommodations.
Until we formalized the reservation (transfer of 40% of the total) evething was fine. Once the payment was done the problems started to show up. The most wanted accomodation, Enkewa in Masai Mara, did not accept the reservation for not complying with their conditions (minimum 3 nights stay and take care of safaris in Masai Mara). Silas lied that they knew the accommodation and had previously worked.
The alternative was Olengoti Eco Camp, this accommodation has two types of room, tent and bungalow. The bungalow was requested (and paid for). Upon arrival at the Camp, the staff informed that our booking was at the inferior category and that they had no availability to manage the changeo of room. Silas lied again saying that the fault came from the camp (they showed me the booking made from Apodiformes) and that all rooms had the same price.
The third day of safari we had an incident with the car, we were standing 6h waiting for the repair. The guide asked us to take it easy and ask us to eat/drink in the cafeteria that the agency would cover. This never happened, not only that, Silas knowing the issue never got in touch with us in the whole week to check how things were going. We lost one day of safari and he didn't even care.
In the agreed itinerary, later that day we had a stop at Tompson Falls for lunch. We had to argue with the guide because Silas had not informed him and did not want to stop or pay the tickets.
With all the above being said, the overall experience was very good, thanks to John (our great guide) and the staff of the camps/lodges, but I would never hire them again for the lack of honesty and service provided by Silas.
It may be slightly cheaper than other companies but the price difference does not justify having to be constantly alert, feeling cheated and with the sensation that if there had been any problem the agency would not have helped or solved anything.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect safari!
My boyfriend and I went on safari to Tanzania with African masterclass tours and it was absolutely amazing trip we ever done!
Everything was well arranged and planned by Brenda and happened as planned from the day we arrived to the last day of our safari.
Livingstone who was our guide made this safari tour every enjoyable, he's very professional with excellent knowledge on animals and parks, we were lucky that we spot all the big five and other animals. Also he answer all the questions we asked about what we saw during the safari.
The accommodation and food were excellent too!
We would highly recommend African masterclass tours
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing, exceeding expectations
We had a wonderful private Safari to Namibia organised for four people.
Landed in Capetown, spent the day to visit with a guide, flying to Windhoek the following morning.
Also half a day on the way back.
Then our Namibian guide took over in Windhoek and looked after us for the next 12 days.
We had a very comfi 4x4 car, 8 seats, air conditioning.
Drove through the Namib desert. Our guide made the most of it. We were the first ones hiking the orange dunes at sunrise, then running down to the petrified trees.
We were the last persons climbing the Dune 45 at sunset, amazing colours and landscape.
We then drove through Namib desert to Swakop. Wonderful cruise experience watching Flamingoes, Dolphins, Seals....
Then a few days in Damaraland desert, watching wild elephants and learning from desert plants, animals, and engraving stones 4000 years old.
Finally a few days in Etosha park, watching so many wild animals : Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, Spring box, Cheetas, Lions, Rhinos, Oryx, Hyena,Chacal.....
Our guides were fantastic making the most of it, very attentionate, organised and knowledgeable.
We can't thank enough Darren and Kate who have organised our trip and given us excellent advices.
The Hotels and guesthouse were very comfortable.
We came from London and had a stop in Capetown. We then flied with Airlink to Windhoek.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Top notch service, the customer service was in matched, I highly recommended.
My family had a great safari, the tour guide was friendly and helpful, the package was family friendly and affordable. I can’t wait to return for my next trip.
FR
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Biwakwango with Kgato Safaris 1/5: To be avoided. Prices top of the lines for services down of range
Biwakwango associated with Kgato Safaris 1/5: To be avoided. Prices top of the lines for services down of the range, or even much less!
Namibia part, rather poor, ensured by Thierry Pagnot, owner of Biwakwango. Very old vehicle without any comfort (rough suspensions, no air conditioning and no comfort equipment available in the fleet of other 4x4s such as refrigerators, chargers, etc.). Very ordinary animal guide (by far the worst on the 4 safaris experienced previously) and does what he wants without taking into account our wishes (we completely missed sites like Swakopmund, according to the people we met at the end of travel). In addition, he is someone who saves money on everything, hence the daily hungry and tasteless picnics, bottled water distributed by droppers (we had to buy it several times) and a problem of Accommodation over the 3 days at Ngepi camp for which we had to fight to get something decent. Other accommodations in Namibia were OK.
But the worst by far was the Botswana part which he subcontracted to a structure with which he is used to working, Kgato safaris run by a pastor named BK. It was truly a nightmare. 4x4 with trailer out of breath, overloaded and with worn tires. On the vehicle side, 3 predictable punctures with, for the first on the 1st day, the need for a repairer waited more than 1 hour because there was no jack in the 4x4. Several getting stuck in the sand with our help to collect branches of tree to put under the tires (no sand removal plate) and to push and even once to transport luggage and equipment a few hundred meters to reach the camp, the 4x4 being in waiting for other vehicles to be towed and get out of this mess (safari on evening canceled due to the late arrival and our tiredness. A fire started in our feet due to the faulty power supply in a fridge and which could have ended very badly. An engine overheated several times which required several stops, culminating in the explosion of the radiator which put an end, before the end, to our journey with this unprofessional structure, to say the least, that is Kgato Safaris and its boss BK. After hours of waiting in full sun (40° in the shade), we were rescued by Tony from Tony Mobile Safaris who we can never thank enough for getting us out of this bad situation and who led us to Kasane is 3 hours of slopes away, despite the 3 clients he was transporting who were kind enough to accept that we join their team. Not from Chobe River but finally extracted from this hell.
The only positive point is that the cook and BK's aide-de-camp, very friendly and always smiling, did their best to make our stay a little less stressful (in particular, the food was very good). Note that the so-called purified water was in fact that of the self-service tap at the entrance to each reserve via a large plastic pipe lying on the ground (another lie from BK).
But the worst part of all that is not there. We could have accepted all these hazards tinged with amateurism if at least we had been able to explore the Okavango Delta as we dreamed of since it was the essential reason for this expensive trip. Instead, to save money, BK and his Kgato Safaris have set up their camps outside areas of interest. For example, for the Moremi Game Reserve, they set up camp for us at Xini Lagoon, more than 20 km of track from the Moremi area indicated on the “Tracks 4 Africa” map. The place was dry and uninteresting while the photos and videos taken by Tony Mobile Safaris clients testified to this magical place that we completely missed. Same for Khwai and Savuti. I didn't take any photos during certain safaris as the areas explored were so uninteresting.
We therefore completely missed out on our trip, particularly in the Okavango, and this, mainly because of Thierry Pagnot from Biwakwango who bears full responsibility for organizing this entire awful trip.
NZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Safari. Saw The Big 5
Excellent service. I did the 4 day, 3 night tour at Tremisana lodge and saw lions eating a buffalo at night, Cheatah from a far, 2 rhinos, and alot of giraffes, zebras and even a family of elephants. An unforgettable experience.
The team of tour guides, cooks, and ofcourse people managing the lodge were all kind, inviting and helpful.
Special thank you to Tuney, Smiley, Lucky, King George, Victor, George and other managers on site. Can’t forget the ladies that cooked, every dinner was tasty and you can tell they made it with love.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great experience - highly recommended!
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Ku Sungula Safari Lodge. It was our first stop on our honeymoon in South Africa and what a start it was. The staff are very friendly and helpful. We were very lucky to see the Big 5 during our game drives with Moses who is a knowlegdeable guide and just great fun.
Make sure to ask about additional tours which they provide. We spent one night in Kruger Park with Max and also had a one day tour of the Panorama route.
They organised a surprise private dinner for our honeymoon, sitting outside on the patio and hearing the lions roar in the distance was magicial. We highly recommend Ku Sungula Safari Lodge and hopefully in the future will return for a new visit.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Splendid least to say!
From the moment I arrived in Kenya, it was evident that HorizonHuesAdventures was dedicated to making our safari a memorable one. Their quick response to our inquiries and requests was truly remarkable. Any questions or concerns I had were addressed promptly, making me feel well-cared for and at ease before the safari even began. This level of responsiveness set a positive tone for the entire journey. The safari guide, who possessed a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife, landscapes, and local culture, played a pivotal role in making this experience exceptional. One of the most significant highlights of the safari was the sheer diversity of wildlife we encountered. His knowledge and keen eye allowed me to spot elusive creatures like leopards and cheetahs in their natural habitats. His ability to provide detailed information about each animal we encountered enriched our safari experience, turning each sighting into a meaningful learning opportunity. The accommodations during the safari were comfortable and well-located, ensuring we had a restful and enjoyable experience after long days of exploration. Meals were delicious, often featuring local cuisine, adding a flavorful dimension to the adventure. I highly recommend that you consider Horizon Hues for your safari.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It’s was a really lovely trip with the most matching Tourguide we could think of!
We were in Uganda for an internship and decided really spontaneously to do a safari. We found the Safari on SafariBookings and texted Peter. He was really kind and managed our trip, so we could start within three days! It was really awesome and we were really thankful, that it worked out so well. He also fulfilled our wishes we verbalized. Although we had some problems with the credit card and the bank back home, he stayed friendly and helpful until we managed everything.
Our tour itself we did with Noah, a really funny, young and chatty guy, who always listend to our wishes and was the whole time reliable. We had a really great time chatting, listening to music during the car rides and enjoyed listening to his story’s and knowledge of the country. He always managed our tours in the best way, even if we had troubles with the time/with the too bumpy roads/with the car/…
The route we did was great and I think the right amount of days, activities and National Parks and we got the chance to get in love with the country, the animals, the sceneries and also the kindness of the people.
It was a pleasure doing the tour with Noah and becoming friends with him!
One advice I want to give: look for a proper car! Even if it’s funny to get some „African massage“ like Noah called it at the beginning, the roads are bumpy everywhere and within the time, especially on the long rides it’s exhausting.