CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Experience in Kenya
---Short version---
We did a nine-day private safari in Kenya and a one-day Nairobi tour organized by Monkey Adventures. We enjoyed every second of it and we are as satisfied as we can be. We totally recommend Monkey Adventures for their kind and professional staff, their flexibility, their punctuality, and their good prices.
---Long Version---
Planning Phase:
After sending the first inquiry, we received a reply very quickly from Arvind. He was a tour consultant at Monkey Adventures who helped us to plan the tour. The whole process took place via emails. The response time was low and some days we exchanged several emails. The planning was exactly as I wanted to be. The itinerary was flexible and up to us and Arvind provided us with the necessary recommendations regarding the order, the number of nights at each national park, etc. For choosing the accommodations, they provided us with several options. We were also free to choose any other camps, lodges, and hotels that we wanted. Generally, it was a smooth process and I was very satisfied with the resulting plan.
After finalizing the itinerary, we were communicating with Nyani. We paid the initial 30% and were about to pay the rest one month before the tour starts. Our tour was half in Kenya and half in Tanzania but unfortunately, our Tanzanian visa got rejected due to a new rule which we were not aware of. Monkey Adventures provided us with invitation letters and also tried to help us with our visa application from their Tanzanian office. Nothing worked out. Less than a week before our tour starts we had to cancel the Tanzanian part of our tour. Again Monkey Adventures helped us to extend our Kenyan part with three more days.
Safari Phase:
We met Fauziah from Monkey Adventures office and Richard our safari guide on the morning of the first day of our tour at the hotel we were staying in Nairobi. After finalizing the payment and having a short briefing session we hit the road with Richard. Richard was very experienced. He was very cool and patient and easy to communicate with and passionate about what he was doing and knowledgable about the wildlife of Kenya. We enjoyed the entire nine days that we were with Richard going to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Tsavo east and Tsavo west.
Beach Phase:
Richard dropped us at our hotel in Mombasa on the last day of safari. We planned the beach phase ourself without Monkey Adventures but if I would do that again I would ask them to plan this part too. We only asked Fauziah to plan our trip from Mombasa to Nairobi. She and also Richard recommended us to take the train. We accepted and we are happy with this decision. Fauziah arranged a ride from our hotel to the train station in Mombasa. She bought us the train tickets and arranged a ride from the train station in Nairobi to our hotel. Everything went as planned. The cars were nice and the train was as comfortable as they already told us. Fauziah was so caring that she called the drivers to check if everything was fine.
Nairobi day-tour:
The next day Sami (sorry if the spelling is not correct!) from Monkey Adventures came to our hotel and picked us up for the Nairobi day tour. He was a very calm and nice guy. He helped us to plan the day based on our limited time. We enjoyed the day and he dropped us at the airport in the end. Fauziah called us to get a feedback of the whole experience. We flew back home with lots of awesome memories of Kenya, friendly and kind Kenyan people, and their amazing wildlife.
Thank you Arvind, Nyani, Fauziah, Richard, Sami and the rest of the Monkey Adventures team that made this possible!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Magnificent
MAGNIFICENT!!
The 06 days safari was the best experience i ever had in Kenya with Citrus Tours. The game drives were just on a different level with very professional guide, Geoffrey was very informative and the stuffs were very helpful and very patient. I surely recommend this Company and am looking forward to be back!! Thanks!!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing customer service team on the ground
Their understanding of the timing and locations of where the animals were, was useful as we managed to see the big 5 animals, especially the leopard which is rear to see. Thanking you all for such a wonderful life experience we had. Tarangire and Zanzibar was an exceptionally historic for us.
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Safari is supposed to start on 29th August, trip got cancelled today. What is happening? What is there to be done? What are all of you doing now? How and where to apply for a refund and how can we make complaints at the police?
Shame and horrible treatment of tourists.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Diappointed and feel robbed
The company took money and disappeared. I booked in July, they should not take my booking if they had troubles, I should arrive on September 6. I was in contact with them about visum just last week, today got message that they got troubles. Terrible. I don not know if I got my money back. I see that there are many others in the same situation.
I do not know what to do.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Must be the best Tour Operator in Tanzania
We opted to go on our safari with Vervet Tours and Safari is a travel agency based in Tanzania because they had many positive reviews that they provided excellent services. I communicated with Rachel, with whom I made all plans prior to the trip. She was flexible and she tailored the trip to all my requirements and had Melkiot, our guide, waiting for us at the airport. Melkiot drove us from the airport to Rivertrees Inn where we spent our first night in Tanzania .
Our 6 days safari took us to Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti NP. Melkiot spotted a lot of animals during the game drives and was very flexible to our wishes and needs. My wife’s birthday found us in Serengeti, during dinner staff from Lemala Mara surprised us with a birthday cake and staff singing the birthday song, I later found out that our agency had paid for the cake!!!. That was an excellent touch
Thanks to Vervet Tours and Safaris for the incredible experience we had in Tanzania.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice safari with great guide
Communication:
They replied to my emails quickly, and the information was precise. I guess it is for all safaris, but one should know that when it is said 5-days safari, we only had 2 complete days of safari (because we had to do the journey from Dar to Selous, and then from Selous to Mikumi, and then from Mikumi to Dar).
Also, we weren't told that we had to pay only with US $ from 2009 and after. It is better to know, especially when you come from Europe, where we had ordered some $US, and some bills were even before 2000.
The tour operator was very convenient, we had agreed to pay for the safari when we would arrive in Dar Es Salam, but as we were lost in the city, they offered to come directly to our hostel the day before the safari to get our money. It was pleasant.
Service:
Good car, and our guide Matata (Leopard) was so nice. He was very kind, he knew everything about all the animals we saw, he was always on time, spoke English very well. he was the perfect guide for us.
Food: the food in the lodges was ok, but the food we had for the lunch outside were not tasty.
Water: sufficient water bottles were provided.
Lodges: the first lodge in Selous was ok, the water in the bathroom was cold and we had electricity from 6pm til 10pm. The food was good. The second lodge in Mikumi was great, I think we were upgraded. There was a swimming pool, a fireplace and everything you need. But when I made the booking, I was not really asked what kind of lodge I preferred. It would be better if I had be given all the options with the different prices, for me to choose the money and luxury I wanted to use for the safari.
Thank you again Matata!
NZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
How do you get a refund
Just received an email from the company saying that the tour won’t be operation , they asked for my bank detail in order to process the refund of my deposit, but I have a bad feeling that it might not happen and I worry that I’ll have to unfortunately face the financial loss. Does anyone here who is in the same situation have any suggestions what to do to get my deposit back ?! It’s a large amount of money that me and my family worked hard for, I can’t actually believe this is happening..
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Greates safari - Best guide
I can really recommend Safari Soles tour - my friend and I bought a private safari tour staying in tents. We had looked at MANY different companies with big difference in price range! We decided to go with Safari Soles as they had gotten a lot of great reviews and the price was good! There is absolutely no need to buy this safari from an expensive company, because this service, the guide, the tour and the chef which Safari Soles gave us was amazing! The guide Augustine was so good at telling us about the animals and Tanzania - we even got to see all of the big five and it was clear that he had a lot is experience!
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best experience with tanzania roadside expeditions
I booked a 6 Day safari luxury tour for me and my friend. first i had a lot of questions and i could ask through WhatsApp and Paul gave me all the exact informations, very good service. At our Arrival the driver was getting us at the Airport and bring us to the Hotel where Paul was already waiting for us. he explained day by day what we will see at the safari.
The next day , our safari guide James picked us up to start the safari tour. He is very friendly and knows everything about the animals,wildlife,safari & more. i recommend tanzania roadside expeditions because it was a perfect safari tour , the best service i ever saw with a safari. thank you very much for this Special experience. Kind regards Delaine & Milena