65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not reliable - questionable business practices.
If you only read the first paragraph of this review, we would highly suggest you do not book your next vacation with with Sunsets in Africa. Do book your tour through TourRadar and if you are searching for outstanding transportation, consider using Professional Safaris based in Arusha, Tanzania. For reference purposes, our trip was a 15 day safari to Kenya and Tanzania.
Why not use Sunsets in Africa? They are not reliable nor in our opinion completely honest. We just want others to not experience what we did while in Africa. A vacation should be a vacation not an anxiety filled and somewhat intimidating experience. Let me explain.
The good: Kenya and Tanzania are truly special and even though our original tour operator was on the edge of awful, the countries themselves were wonderful. We loved the people, the scenery and the animals we encountered. And the hotels in Kenya booked by Sunsets in Africa were the ones we asked for and were paid for prior to our arrival in Kenya. We are not sure about the hotels in Tanzania because we did not use them. More information below.
The Bad: We arrived and thankfully our hotel provided us with transportation to our lodge. However, once we were picked up by our safari driver in Kenya, we found out a couple days into our vacation that his company (Sunsets in Africa subcontracts out the transportation) had not been paid for our transportation and at one point our driver told us his manager said to just leave us in the Maasai Mara. Whether or not this was true is unknown. A call to Sunsets in Africa was answered by Gladys who said the transportation company can't do that and she would take care of the issue. Yea right. She texted me to not worry everything was fine. The next day or two we were told that Sunsets in Africa had not paid anything and more than more than 30 calls on WhatsApp to both Dexter and Gladys, co-owners of Sunsets in Africa, were ignored. Dexter was available but choose not to answer. At this point, we felt as if we were being mislead by everyone including the transportation companies in Kenya, Tanzania and Sunsets in Africa. I guess the breaking point was when I read a message sent by Dexter to the owner of the transportation company in Tanzania saying that I had agreed to pay for the transportation in both Kenya and Tanzania. I wrote to Dexter and told him I never agreed to this and why would I because I had already paid for transportation! He never reached out to me to discuss this and frankly, there was no way I was going to pay twice even if he promised to pay me back. At that point, I reached out to our planned transportation company in Tanzania and I asked if they were canceling our tour. Response, "I'm not canceling your trip. Just need some money to facilitate your program". I asked why he couldn't wait to be paid by Sunset's in Africa? Didn't he trust the company to pay him? His answer was, "I really trust him but I have no cash to facilitate your program". Doesn't this feel like a shakedown? We had it at that point. Between the two transportation companies, they wanted me to send them ~$4700. Can you imagine?
The Solution: Thankfully, we did a bit of research and realized we had originally paid for our trip through TourRadar. A quick call and TourRadar put in motion changes. They paid for the outstanding transportation bill in Kenya, they rebooked all our remaining hotels and booked a new transportation company (Professional Safaris). Thanks to Kristina at TourRadar, the rest of our trip was outstanding! And I can't say enough about Gerald our driver, Medcine owner of Professional Safaris in Tanzania and TourRadar who saved our vacation. These companies are outstanding and more importantly, honest. We would highly recommend both organizations and especially Gerald!!
Finally: Just so you think this just happened to us, we met another group that used Sunsets in Africa and they too experienced the same issues. Unfortunately, they ended up paying for all the unpaid transportation in both Kenya and Tanzania. I'm not sure if they ended up paying for their hotels as well. Their only recourse to file a report at the police station in Nairobi, and hope their travel insurance covered the charges or credit card reversing the charges. Sad. We heard of a third group as well but this can be construed as hearsay.
I know this review is long and it does not even cover all the issues we experienced before and during our trip. Do yourself a favor. Find a reputable company that pays their subcontractors before you arrive!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience with a great guide
We had a 4-day trip (Tsavo West, Amboseli, Tsavo East) with wondeful lodges and a guide (Yusef) who made this an unforgetable trip. All the animals, the nature - just everything was absolutely great. Our guide was just perfect, so much knowledge about nature, country, history and people in Kenya and a person that made us just feeling good. Even the driving, which is a very new experience if you are from germany, was fun with him.
We strongly recommend booking with Ultimate Africa Expeditions and ask for Yusef as a guide - i'm sure you will be happy with that as well!
Raven Safaris was professional, friendly and fair.
We had an excellent experience with Raven Safaris. We hired a Land Cruiser and driver to take us from Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater and drop us off at the Serengeti. The pricing was fair and transparent. We paid directly for our gas and, even though the park fees were prepaid, we were provided receipts from the parks so that we knew we were not overcharged. Although they preferred cash, they found a way to let us pay with a credit card.
Our driver, Steven, was the ultimate professional. He enlisted porters at the Kenyan/Tanzanian border to guide us through immigration and look after our bags. He gave us geography, zoology, ecology, anthropology, and botany lectures on the hour, every hour. He knew every nook and cranny of every park and negotiated each curve and bump of our journey expertly. As two women traveling alone, we felt safe and cared for.
Steven listened to our every whim and was the pinnacle of patience. He spotted every animal we ever dreamed of seeing and brought to our attention so many more we never knew existed. He watched specs on the horizon and predicted with prophetic accuracy when the wildlife would appear. Steven was not the only guide we had in Africa, but he was THE ABSOLUTE BEST.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simply the best
We recently had the privilege of embarking on an extraordinary safari adventure in Africa, and it exceeded all expectations. From the moment we set foot in the untamed wilderness, it felt like a journey into a different world.
The diversity of wildlife was simply awe-inspiring. We were fortunate enough to witness the Big Five in their natural habitat, and so much more. Majestic elephants roamed freely, lions lazed under the golden sun, and graceful giraffes towered over the savannah. The expert guide Simon, possessed an encyclopaedic knowledge of the animal kingdom, enriching our experience with fascinating insights.
The accommodations were nothing short of luxurious, seamlessly blending with the wild surroundings. Waking up to the calls of exotic birds and the rustle of leaves was a surreal experience. The lodges offered unparalleled comfort, and the attentive staff ensured every need was met with a warm smile.
One of the highlights was a night safari, a spine-tingling adventure that unveiled a whole new world of nocturnal creatures. Bathed in moonlight, we observed elusive creatures like leopards, hyenas, and owls going about their nightly rituals. It was a true privilege to witness the circle of life in action.
The landscapes were equally captivating, ranging from vast savannahs to lush wetlands and ancient forests. The sunsets over the horizon painted the sky with hues of gold, crimson, and violet, leaving an indelible mark on the soul.
In addition to the wildlife, the cultural experiences were enriching. Engaging with local communities and learning about their traditions added depth to our journey, fostering a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance between nature and human existence.
This safari was not just a trip, but a transformative experience. It ignited a profound connection with nature and left me with memories that will last a lifetime. I cannot recommend this adventure enough to anyone seeking an immersive encounter with the wild heart of Africa.
IT
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A special safari company
Our safari was perfect, we had an amazing time. Modern cars and professional drivers. Thanks to Martin and Mercy for the well organize experience
IT
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful time
The best trip of my Life! All the things went fine, all was good and very well organized. We are planning to do It again
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
unforgettable experience
We booked a 3-day game drive to the Serengeti National Park with our kids (7 and 9 years old) with wild pride safari and were more than thrilled. Our guide Deo explained a lot to us about the animals and their behavior. We had so much fun with him and he found the best spots. We saw 4 of the big 5 except the rhino. It was a great and unforgettable experience. We can only recommend it. Thank you!!
65+ years of age
Excellent for Kilimanjaro hike
Friends of ours had recommended Easy Travels, a local company in Tanzania for our mount killimanjaro trek. It was the best decision we made. The package for our group of 5 people was reasonably priced, and we got more than our money's worth. They gave us a support crew of 21 which included 3 excellent guides, cooks, porters etc all of whom were very helpful and caring. Roland, the head guide, Hemebi and Erick, the two assistant guides were our biggest support. Cannot praise them enough, they are not only experienced, they were also extremely caring and sensitive to our needs, they were always there besides you when they sensed you were struggling with something. Also have to mention Maina, one of the porters who was always with us and ever ready to help when needed. The tents and sleeping bags were of high quality as was the tent we dined in.
All 21 of them went out of their way to make sure we would make it to the top.
Voice Gerson our contact person and coordinator is also par excellence. She is quick with her responses, was always available and very patient with all our questions and concerns.
Future trekkers we would highly recommend Easy Travels
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable service, fun and adventure
Before booking, I had no idea what I would get. I found Lucy online and I just went with the flow. Well, I had a really life experience to be honest. The safari was great and the people I met were awesome, we had a blust! So much fun, I will never forget it. Thank you so much Lucy! Kenya is an amazing country!!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Trip, Great Guide
I loved my 28 day Birding and Wildlife Safari Uganda trip with Terrain Safaris. It was the perfect combination of bird watching and wildlife viewing. Every day brought a new adventure filled with unforgettable memories.
Paul KK is a great birding guide and wildlife spotter. Over the course of the trip, I took over 19,000 photos, some of which I will add to this review when the photos are ready. He has an excellent ear for bird sounds and was very knowledgeable of the birds in any particular area.
We saw almost 500 birds of which 347 were life birds for me. Of course, I was also thrilled to see wildlife such as leopards, lions, zebras, etc., but also wildlife that was totally new for me, such as a Blue Monkey and Red-tailed Monkeys, among others.
Our trip was well paced with more strenuous days ( for example, Gorilla trekking) alternating with more relaxed days (birding locally by vehicle). There were some days when we were changing locations/environments and that meant a lot of driving, but we always stopped for interesting birds and enjoyed the local scenery on the way.
We stayed in a variety of lodging, all well located for our birding and wildlife adventures. At one of the lodges, we could watch and hear the hippos and sometimes, the elephants, in the body of water that was down the hill from where our room was located. At another lodge I could sit on my porch and watch the birds flit around the trees at sunset.
I hope to return to Uganda to look for more birds and wildlife and I would definitely book again with Paul and Terrain Safaris.