US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Best!
The tour for Mikumi and Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania was the best one in my travel experience life along with my wife, we had a quality time there. The communications for the trip was excellent. All questions were handled quickly. They were very good about creating an itinerary that filled our needs. From the moment we arrived at the airport to our departure everything went very smoothly. We had very nice game drive and a walking safari with wonderful breakfast and dinners. Their services exceeded our expectations. Our guides were excerptional!
IL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Kenya, and the SOLARIS the FRAUDSTERS
This is a genuine review about our trip (me & my husband) to Kenya during last month (5 days, End of January 2018).
Hope this will help you, if Kenya is in your bucket list also.
Kenya is an amazing place, with its scenic places, very friendly people, tasty food and the best tea.
There are many tour operators available online, please start doing the research a bit early and go for a reputed one.
I contacted many tour operators but got impressed with Solaris quotes and their flexibility which made us to choose them. The only and the biggest mistake I did in planning this trip. Now after the trip I understand, being flexible to any extend is the trick to make you fall for them.
The coordinator and the spokesperson from Solaris was Josphat.
Here is the list of disappointments by the Great Solaris!!
• Starting of our trip - Josphat cancelled the Amboseli NP plan without informing us. When we got ready with lot of excitement in the morning the driver took a turn towards Nairobi and said that you flight was delayed so the Amboseli NP is cancelled. We were shocked to hear this as we landed on time and got out of the airport as well on time, it was a lie told by Josphat to the driver.
We travelled all the way from Nairobi to Amboseli just to sleep in the Lodge...!!!!!!!! I must say the Kilimanjaro view we had from our lodge was spectacular, which kind of calmed us down.
And on second day travelling all the way from Amboseli to Lake Nakuru...
We reached late to Nakuru also...!!!!!!! 2 days wasted in our 5 days trip...!!!!!!!
Refund Number 1: Mr. Josphat then agreed to give us back the National park entrée ticket fee.
• We were provided with a safari van, which had a non-working radio. Only after reaching Masai Mara we got to know the importance of radio. The guides communicate to others over wireless when they spot something.
Our driver knew this radio issue from day one and he did not open his mouth until we were stuck inside Mara with no radio. If driver and Josphat had communicated properly, they could have fixed/replaced the radio when we had crossed Nairobi on the second day from Amboseli. But they did nothing...!!!!
We got to see the big 5, only because we were lucky...!!!!!!!
• The driver hardly opened his mouth and he is supposed to be the experienced safari guide too for us. He was more like just a driver who had already reached his retirement age. Every day we started on time, but never reached any destination on time...!!!!
He was very careless and sometimes rude too and never cared about our time.
Example,
After balloon safari (on the 4th day) he was supposed to pick us inside Mara at the agreed upon spot. When we returned he was already waiting there for us, but as soon as we got in, he said “I don’t see your lunch box inside and this hotel guys have forgotten to put it”, We had to go all the way to the camp from the national park to take the lunch box and after reaching there it turned out that it was in the vehicle all the time and he did not check it properly and just started blaming camp guys. This event made both of us very upset on for first wedding anniversary morning. First of all it is his job to make sure the lunch boxes are in before he leaves the camp and he did not care to check that while waiting on the spot for us too. Then at last he can’t search his own van.
Because of his carelessness we lost almost 2 hours in the morning, the time when we get to see more games.
Refund Number 2: For all the disappointments, Mr. Josphat wanted to correct his mistake by refunding some amount on the next day of our trip end.
Even after a month, follow up with lot of patients, we got zero Refunds!!!!
After one month, we did not receive any money, which explains us that was not a flaw which happened accidently, but all the plans and promises were just lies to get our booking.
When we are spending so much, his refund is not a big money. But still we wanted to give him a chance to admit and correct his mistakes.
So, guys after spending so much money, so much researching, expectations and planning, if you don’t want to end up with a feeling of being cheated, DON'T GO WITH SOLARIS.
Only 35 reviews in all these years tell what SOLARIS really is...
In spite of all these, it will still be a special trip with the magical view of Mt.Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, Flamingoes in the Lake Nakuru, Masai village visit, balloon safari and the big 5 safari in Masai Mara .
It would have been a lifetime trip if we would have chosen another tour. If we get a chance we definitely want to go back to Kenya, but definitely not with SOLARIS.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The best Tour Operator in Kenya.
Professional service was offered to our clients last month and I look forward to partnering with Oakland Tours and Safaris for customised packages and offers. The Head of Operations Felistus was very prompt to respond to my clients queries and concerns, level of detail was exceptional. My clients were more that satisfied with the solutions offered and I was pleased to have worked with Oakland Tours.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
if a dream could come true ... it happened on our safari!!!
From the moment we were picked up at the airport to the moment we returned, Chabo Africa Safari operated with enormous professionalism. Understanding that not all factors are within their control, our driver-guide Serafino and chef Salim conducted their tour with lots of courtesy, humor, and plenty of knowledge that definitely enhanced our experience. We visited Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro CA. We were able to see THE BIG FIVE and we drove through a countless number of animals: the migration. Our driver Serafino was responsive to our remarks and comments and if we happened to see something that we wanted to stop for. Being a photographer; Serafino stopped the jeep at the best possible locations. We camped in tents in the Parks where we were spoiled by our chef Salim. On the campsites we experience the true nature; animals close by and the beautiful landscape of the savannah. Thanks Serafino and Salim for all your efforts to give us a very good time!
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Just Excellent! Best experiance ever! No one could have done it better!!!!
We are a couple from Germany and usually do our own individual travel. But reading about Uganda we decided to do it this time different and do an organised tour. We wrote to different agencies comparing prices and itinary, but very fast Mushra Travel Agency stood out from all the others! Michael wrote back to me in a very professinal, kind, detailed, friendly and precise way. He answered all my questions, was very helpful and changed and modified the trip when i asked for changing the itinary slightly concerning lodges or the duration in a lodge. Everything sounded very trustful so that we had no problem of sending part of the safari costs upfront. When we landed early in the morning Michael, Sandra and our driver Jonan picked us up from the airport.
We were straight away very happy and relaxed when we saw them. Our tour was amazing and an overall sucessful and unforgettable experiance! For sure it was our guide Jonan which made our trip so special!! He handled our car so brilliant, was very communicate, funny, always looking after us concerning our needs i.e. coffee or coke ☺in between long journey or after tracking and he was always very helpful and smart. At the end of our trip we can say, we 3 become "a little family" and it was very hard to say good bye to Jonan......we even started crying
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best holiday ever!!
The tour was a lot more than we expected, we saw the big five and many... many more animals so close that we almost could have scratch their bellys( lions). We didn’t ;). The service on the lodges was excellent and our tourguide Edwin is the best!!<3
IE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Value of our money
We communicated with africa starpal when we arrival in Nairobi for or business trip in Kenya. The staff replied to our emails very fast which was better for us because we had very limited time.We organized a 3 day Masai Mara safari .The cost was very cheap and affordable for a private safari,the van very clean and very friend drive.We saw the for of big five at mara.Still thinking of travelling to Amboseli with them.Thank you to all staff.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful safari and service for a great price!
I had a wonderful experience with Meru Slopes. Everyone was incredibly responsive, service was great and exactly as described, and it was amazing value for the price. The safari was absolutely amazing, and all of the guides, drivers, and hotel staff were knowledgeable and helpful. I would highly recommend them!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Safari Adventure
We had a group of 10. We took an evening sunset game drive and an early morning sunrise game drive. Both were exceptional. We saw a lot of wildlife - elephants, giraffes, lion, lioness, hippos etc. Our guides did a good job of explaining different parts of the the trip. Our group has used this company and Twaha and we keep going back to them. This was my first time with this crew - I can see why we continue to use them. Their service is awesome! I would highly recommend them!
FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
Serengeti and Ngorongro are exceptionally beatiful places. Not only the animals, also to scenary in general