NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Ruined Honeymoon Safari: Expectation vs. Reality
I hesitated before writing this review, not because I doubted the validity of my complaints, but because I was so angered and disappointed right after our trip that I feared my emotions might cloud my judgment. Now, with some time passed and my sentiments cooled, I believe it's crucial to share our experience honestly and openly. When posting this, my anger and frustration is again boiling up....something I have never had before.
Our honeymoon was meant to be memorable, and indeed it will be, but for all the wrong reasons. We booked a three-day, two-night safari full of promise and excitement. The itinerary was detailed, and the experiences it described were dreamlike. However, our dreams were quickly dashed upon arrival. The first day, a highlight and crucial part of our adventure, was completely lost. What should have been our introduction to the wonders of the safari—a game drive, followed by a magical lunch on the steppe—was nothing more than a simple transit from the airstrip to our camp for lunch. The game drives? Nonexistent. The lunch on the steppe? Replaced by a mundane meal inside the restaurant at the camp, whereby we also got the question what we wanted to do. One of the main reasons for booking Honcho was the detailed itinerary, so it was super frustrating that all of a sudden we had to figure out what the plan should be. We pointed to the itinerary, but since we had already deviated so much, it could not be resolved anymore on the first day, which completely ruined that day... We paid $6000 for a 3 day trip, so losing one day, is just unacceptable.
The frustration was further fed when we had our first of many encounters over an issue as trivial as drink charges. Despite being assured that all beverages were included—indeed, this was confirmed several times in our itinerary— we got the message during our lunch inside the restaurant that they weren't included. Only after a heated discussion on the phone, thereby pointing to the itinerary which stated multiple times that drinks were included, they agreed to this.
Though our second day did include a lunch on the steppe, it was overshadowed by the previous day's disappointment and a continued discussions about drink charges... We had to advocate for ourselves repeatedly, an unnecessary stressor during what was supposed to be a relaxing retreat into nature.
Our final day brought the culmination of our grievances. After days of back-and-forth, the unresolved issues with the drink charges peaked again during our last game drive. Rather than savoring our final moments with the rhino's, we were again embroiled in a heated debate over the phone. Honcho had called our driver, asked him to put them through and they again started debating the drink charges... Honcho's representative not only failed to offer any apologies but also managed to ruin our last hours on safari by insisting we deal with a matter that we had been told was already settled.
But if you think the discussion ended there.... No it didn't. Upon arrival back at the airstrip for our hotel (Diani Beach), we were supposed to be picked up by a taxi, but there was no driver. Honcho had given the wrong information to the taxi, so we first ended up waiting before taking our own taxi. After finding out, Honcho instructed the taxi driver who would pick us up to go to our resort and offer apologies, which he did. But, he also gave me the phone and then somebody from Honcho started talking. He did make an apology for the taxi, but of course I was expecting an apology for all other things that had went wrong. Instead he again began a discussion about the drinks!!! So, then I hang up, again feeling frustrated and angry.
The troubles didn't end with poor communication or administrative errors; there was also a distinct lack of the small touches that were supposed to make our honeymoon special. The promised chocolates and tropical fruits? Never seen. And let's not forget the advice of our guide, in hindsight, about booking a camp inside the reserve for a more immersive experience—advice that came too late and only highlighted what we had missed out on due to a lack of transparency and proper guidance from Honcho. Our camp was situated about an hour and a half drive away from the park, thereby wasting precious time we could have spent inside the park enjoying wildlife.
In closing, not once were we offered a sincere apology, nor was there any attempt at a gesture to make amends for the multiple failings. Instead, we were met with deflection, blame-shifting, and an utter lack of accountability. This was not the dream honeymoon safari we had envisioned and paid handsomely for. It was a lesson in how a lack of customer care and service can turn a dream trip into a series of frustrating events that we are now eager to forget.
I share this not out of a lingering anger, but in the hopes that our story can serve as a cautionary tale for others seeking to embark on a safari adventure. The wild is unpredictable, yes, but the service around it shouldn't be.
AT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safaris with Vision - an unforgetable experience -17 Tage Tansania & Sansibar
This was my first Safari, and our guides Guides George and Halpha from Taswira Africa Safaris have made this an unforgetable experience, that exceeded any of our expectations. With their knowledge about Flora and Fauna and their keen eye sight they showed us unbelievable things. Their humour and good spirit all the time was catching. The social Engagement of this company is amazing. The accomodations (tents and lodges) were selected with care. An absolute highlight was the Maasai Lodge with a walking tour amongst zebras, and Kati Kati Camp in Serengeti, with animals near the tents. Wir were 5 friends and had booked this safari directly with Taswira . Other companies do Safaris, here you get Safaris with Vision . Just perfect.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
The safari with Meru Slopes was a great experience. Animals and landscape are stunning!
The five-day tour across Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro left little to be desired. The guide Andrew drove the jeep very safely and calmly through the roads of the Serengeti and was a pleasant guide. He spotted the animals immediately at long distances and told us interesting details about them, but also gave us the necessary peace and quiet to marvel at the natural wonders.
The cook, Moshi, was always in a good mood and prepared delicious food. I missed more traditional Tanzanian food, but "tourist" food is probably part of the activity and important for other tourists.
The tents were in very good condition, the sleeping bag warm and the mattress comfortable. The sanitary facilities were also good and very clean! Electricity in the car did not work, but there were always free sockets in the camp. The transportation back to Arusha worked perfectly and the driver was already waiting for us.
What was missing: Toilet paper, or rather I hadn't thought to bring any with me.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was like the garden of Eden
This has been a trip in the making prior to Covid so I wondered if it would ever eventuate. To say I was excited to reach Kenya was a big understatement!
I had such high expectations for my trip but was still completely blown away.
Kenya is so beautiful and to see the Maasai Mara was incredible. We saw so much wildlife. We loved our stay at Mara Eden and will always dream of going back there.
Jane our tour operator was so lovely to work with and so accommodating. Making sure we safely got to our destinations coming all the way from Africa.
This trip will be in heart forever
RO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
wonderful
First of all, people are very welcoming, warm and nice.
Second, the nature is amazing and very various, from the wonderful beaches of Zanzibar to the lush vegetation of Kilimanjaro. Also, wildlife is well preserved and masai culture in very interesting.
Hope we'll return in Tanzania!
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Land of beauty and adventure
Our 3-week trip to Namibia, organized by Lilly from Great Explorations Namibia, was an unforgettable experience that we would highly recommend to anyone with a love for adventure.
We contacted Lilly several months in advance, and she proved to be an outstanding organizer. Her first-hand knowledge of Namibia was invaluable in setting up a holiday for success
She listened to our wishes and put together a tailor-made package that exceeded our expectations
The accommodations Lilly booked for us, which included both campsites and lodges, were excellent. The food at most places we stayed was outstanding, and the accommodations were wonderful throughout the trip
Namibia's landscapes are breathtaking, with enormous sand dunes, towering mountain ranges, awesome canyons, and fascinating wildlife
We were able to experience incredibly diverse landscapes and locations
The wildlife of Namibia is composed of its flora and fauna, including a wealth of small mammals.
We were particularly thrilled to see the desert-adapted elephants striding along the dusty earth.
Lilly's support was invaluable throughout the trip. When we faced challenges, such as a cancelled flight, she helped us determine what to do around potentially rearranging the tour schedule, with good cheer and humour
Her proactive approach and efficiency in dealing with all our requests were highly appreciated
In conclusion, our trip to Namibia was a wonderful experience. The landscapes were stunning, the wildlife was abundant, and the people were kind and helpful. Lilly's organization and support made the trip smooth and enjoyable. We will definitely contact her again for a future trip to Africa. Well done, Lilly!
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Just a unique and beautiful country with such welcoming people wherever we went
We travelled to Namibia on a 16 night itinerary organised perfectly by Lilly Fleischmann from Great Explorations Namibia. The trip was just fantastic with a mix of Windhoek for a couple of days, then south to Bagatelle Kalahari lodge, then to the Sossulvelei area to view the amazing dunes. Next stop was Swapakomund for an overnight stay before leaving for Damaraland and a 2 night very luxurious stay at Camp Kipwe. Another 2 nights at Grootberg showed us another part of Damaraland before travelling to Etosha for 2 nights at Okonkuejo lodge and one night at Halili lodge right in the park. There was abundant wildlife esp around the waterholes and the floodlit waterholes esp at Halili was just superb with 10 rhinos coming down to drink about 10pm. Next was Onguma camp just outside Etosha with a memorable sundowner game drive. Finally a superb stay at Okinjima reserve with an upgrade to the Bush camp facility which is just perfect. We were self driving and the vehicle supplied by Namibia2Go was perfect for us and managed all the roads, even some pretty rough "african roads" with ease. To end we had a last night in Windhoek with a memorable dinner at the Stellenbosch restaurant where we had probably the best steaks you could find anywhere in the world paired with a fabulous bottle of red wine to complement the food. We felt totally safe in Namibia all the time and definitely recommend the country to any travellers looking for a combination of scenery, wildlife, food and culture. It has it all in abundance. Also we would completely recommend Lilly who did all our lodge bookings and car hire and furnished us with excellent trip notes to help us navigate successfully without getting lost once.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Can’t wait to see you again
I don’t even know where to begin. Our trip to South Africa was life-changing. We can’t wait to go back as we never wanted to leave. This was the trip of a lifetime for us. We made several great new friends, from several different countries, including South Africa. Our safari guides were the best and our guide at CapeTown and Winelands was also the best I have no complaints at all.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Adventure of a Lifetime
I went on a one-week Tuma Africa Safari with my family, exploring four incredible national parks with Tumaini as our guide. Tumaini is incredibly knowledgeable about the Tanzanian wildlife and landscape, and was able to answer every single question we asked, as well as provide us with lots of additional information and interesting facts. He is an extremely kind and thoughtful guide, and went above and beyond to ensure that my family was always comfortable. He speaks very good English, so we never felt that we were struggling to communicate due to a language barrier. He is passionate about what he does, and his enthusiasm is contagious. Tumaini is also a fun person with a great sense of humor, and we had a wonderful time getting to know him over the course of our trip.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Committed
The journey with Moran tours was good. We really appreciate that there was an honest commitment for us to have a great time and we did. We were super lucky to see many mammals and that the weather was in our side. Thanks