CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Chaotic and not according to plan
Would absolutely not recommend doing a shared tour with this company or its sister companies.
Whatever company you book with (there’s a large number of them under the same umbrella), it doesn’t seem to matter, they all send you off with drivers where you’ll be flip flopped to different groups and drivers every day based on where they can fit you. Everyone in the groups were given different itineraries that were never followed. Usually you picture joining a shared tour where you and the other few passengers all get on the bus doing the same itinerary, for the most part. But no. I felt bad for the drivers having to juggle so many ppl with different plans and most ppl were frustrated as they didn’t get to do the itinerary they were given, and the drivers have to deal with all the frustrations when it’s not them who planned everything so poorly. And it got annoying being moved constantly to different vehicles and groups, sometimes twice a day, or waiting so long in roadside stop places to meet with other vehicles to switch passengers.
Your itinerary will change from what they tell you, and when you inquire about it they just say too bad you’re on a shared tour, no flexibility. Also they just seem to put random things in the itinerary that they must know are untrue. Like a few times writing “you will arrive at your next hotel in time for lunch”, yet the drive is double that time and lunch is on the road and we don’t arrive till evening. Unless the driver takes much longer routes than needed due to dropping different passengers off places etc. either way, receiving accurate info in the itinerary should be made a priority. Itinerary said arriving in Nakuru hotel in time for lunch then evening game drive. We didn’t even make it in time for game drive, and arrived at hotel at 7:30pm. No possible way with the route we took would we have made it in time for lunch at hotel. We left Masai around 8am. It also says this about amboseli but we didn’t leave till late morning and arrived at 7pm. And it said game drive in amboseli in afternoon yet we got no drive. Just drop to hotel. When I asked they said we’d make up for it by doing drive on last morning, since we paid $60 park fee, yet the “drive” was just racing from gate to gate lasting an hour and barely stopping for animals we briefly saw in our speedy exit.
They pack the vans to the max, despite website saying max 7 pax. It’s so cramped and sweaty, there’s not enough room for everyone to see out at the same time to see the animal sightings. So some will sit while others sweaty armpits are pushing into your face. One will sit in front with driver so not even having the option of standing to see out the pop up roof. The only way I’d do a shared tour again would be if the company guaranteed max 6 passengers.
The 12 hour days in the van are not ideal. Most lodges and everywhere I went in SA was sunrise, and sundowner drives. Leaving you some nice time at the lodge to rest and enjoy lunch. Even if your itinerary says different (like mine did), you will be doing 12 hour drive and not returning to lodge mid day. Mid day is so hot so it’s sweaty in that van with 8 ppl and the animals are often not out in the open when it’s that hot mid day.
There were a small amount of ppl I talked to on the trips that were happy with the way they organized. Well maybe not happy but they just were chill and didn’t mind. So if you’re very easy going and don’t really care about sticking to the itinerary provided, and don’t mind the constant change ups, and aren’t picky about personal space in the van and better viewings, then it would be fine for you! I know some backpackers and travellers who aren’t fussy and it would work out great for. I’m just not one of those people, as were many ppl on the trips. In one of the instances where we had to leave our vehicle to join another group as ours had to drive half the group elsewhere, we got into a Jeep. That was a much more comfortable vehicle, so I’d definitely recommend spending the extra to go in one of those.
JP
very friendly and professional team
We visited Arusha/Moshi for the Kilimanjaro Marathon. We used Deeper Serengeti Safaris last time we were in the area and we liked it so we decided to go with them again this time. I had already decided where I wanted to go, so I told them, and the trip went smoothly and I was able to have a safe and enjoyable trip. During the trip, I enjoyed learning about Tanzanian culture and life from very friendly guide Sadati. We were able to visit all the places we wanted to go before and after the race and were very satisfied. Highly recommended.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Reliable, versatile and fast.
Safedrive is a reliable, agile travel partner. They are always on hand should itineraries change and always very kind and polite in their interaction with their clients.
DZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator made my visit an unforgettable experience, their services are top notch.
To be honest I really loved the four days tour I had and I created lots of memories, I got to experience The magestic Serengeti in an amazing and extraordinary way, I would recommend everyone to visit without forgetting to give praise to Mercy Africa Serengeti Adventures because they will provide you with the tour experience in an extraordinary way.
PL
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good driver
Accommodation and food excelllent.
The driver was very efficient on the road and during safari.
From Tall Masai Safari we have got all what we had expected.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
10/10 safari experience with Serengeti Wakanda
We went on a 5-day safari with Serengeti Wakanda to Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro Crater.
We had a phenomenal experience with Benjamin as our guide and Dullah as our chef. We felt like a little family because the two were so welcoming and kind. We could talk about everything and all our questions were answered. Benjamin was the best driver, storyteller and guide. He also has a passion for photography and so he drove us to the best spots to take amazing pictures of all the animals. Dullah provided us with delicious food and always made sure that we had a big variety of dishes to choose from.
The campsites were in a very good location and the tents were very comfortable to sleep in. Overall we had an incredible experience and would strongly recommend a safari tour with Serengeti Wakanda and especially with Benjamin and Dullah. It was the experience of a lifetime - 10/10!
Asante sana!
EG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Company
The tour was amazing, the place is beyond amazing and the driver is excellent
CZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Comfortable and comprehensive 7-day tour in Rwanda and Uganda
We booked a 7-day tour with Bamboo Ecotours starting and finishing in Kigali, covering most of Rwanda's top sights and activities, with a quick detour to Uganda for the gorilla tracking. Our tour included visits to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Volcanoes NP, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe NP, and Akagera NP; we also made a stop at the Genocide Memorial in Kigali. Our guide Godfrey made sure we had a comfortable tour, with a friendly attitude, in-depth knowledge about the countries, and catering to our needs. During our tour, we always felt safe with our guide. I believe Bamboo Ecotours offers the best value for money for this kind of tours, as we managed to see and do a lot for a reasonable budget. Also, although we chose to stay at budget accommodation, most of the lodges were really nice and felt more like mid-range. Communication with Bamboo Ecotours was also very easy, both pre-tour and after our stay.
ES
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Knowledgeable, professional & good value safari operators
Excellent service from the first contact. Very prompt & positive communications. We loved each of the accommodations & the contrast between them enhanced our experience. Our driver/guide was excellent- very knowledgable, accommodating, flexible, a great driver & super nice fella. Superb experience, good value & highly recommended.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They are the best
Overall, I would highly recommend this tourism travel company to anyone looking to book a memorable and hassle-free vacation. Their professionalism, expertise, and dedication to customer satisfaction truly set them apart in the industry. I will definitely be booking with them again in the future.
During the my trip itself, everything was meticulously planned and executed. From accommodations to transportation to activities, every detail was taken care of and I was able to relax and enjoy my vacation without any worries. The tour guides were friendly and informative, adding an extra layer of insight and enjoyment to the experience.
This was awesome experience.