LB
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rwanda Safari
The safari was memorable, but the animals were few and far between, making sightings difficult, so I wouldn’t do it again. However, our driver Sharif was exceptionally gentle, helpful, friendly, and welcoming.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Charges 200 Dollar more when you are on the way to the safari
Not a serious company. The Guide wanted you to pay 200 Dollar more per person when you enter the bus. Changes in safari program.
We saw all but the big game--Lions--up close and it was amazing.
We had won this safari trip at a fundraiser for Room to Read and when we got there we learned that all of the other guests had also come through winning a charity auction from a soccer league to a Providencetown gay support group. while this game reserve was on a much smaller scale than the ones you hear about at Kreuger, Tanzania or Kenya, it was spectacular nonetheless.
Our guides were great in taking us out and finding all sorts of wildlife up close including the buffalos, elephants, wildebeest, zebra herds, giraffes, rhinos, nyalas and other type of antelopes. The waterholes were teeming with all types of animals and birds. We were glad to be in the big safari trucks as a herd of elephants with their babies brushed against the vehicle.
We did a bit of a walkabout behind our guide with a loaded gun as we rousted out several rhinos who were hiding in the bush. Good thing they ran away from us rather than charging.
The lodge was in a beautiful setting with vistas over the entire jungle area. One of the help at the lodge removed a green snake from one of our deck chairs. He didn't say whether it was poisonous or not.
On one evening we had a group of Zulu performers provide dance and singing while we had dinner. The same group plus other were in a made up village like you would find in Disneyworld who showed us some of the activities of daily living including a visit to the shaman, crafts, and cooking, and a bone throwing fortune teller. they also had samples of typical huts you would find in the bush.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari, terrible management
Our safari with "It Started in Africa" could not have started in a worst way... We had booked a 5-day safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro (plus 2 nights in Arusha, one before the safari, and one after it). When we arrived at Tanzania we had to pay the remaining 60% of the safari. A driver took us from the airport to our hotel in the outskirts of Arusha and told us that a representative of the company would visit us at the hotel for giving us a briefing and for telling us at what time would the guide pick us the next morning.
At dinner time no one had appeared, so we sent an email to the company using the WiFi of the hotel. They apologized and told us that there was a problem with the person that had to visit us, but that the next morning at 8 a.m. the guide and a representative of the campany would appear at the hotel so we could pay the remaining amount directly to him/her and start our safari right at that moment.
The next morning only the guide appeared. No apology and no explanation given. He took us to the office in the center of Arusha and we payed the remaining amount. While we were at the office, I saw by chance that the accommodation that we had chosen for the Serengeti was not the same that was written on the paper that was given to our guide. We had chosen Serengeti Heritage Migration Camp (not the Serengeti Heritage Seronera Camp), but they had changed it for Ndutu Savannah Camp. When we asked why, the office employee just told us that "it was better". As Ndutu Savannah Camp was not even an option for accommodation when we booked the safari, we had no idea if this was true, so we had to accept it and continue the trip.
Based on our stay and the internet reviews, now I can say that Ndutu Savannah Camp was of similar category that the one we had chosen, and that the location was probably better. But we spent the whole first day thinking that we were being scammed, because no one had tolds us that our accommodation had been changed, and we only learned it by chance.
Our guide (Elia) was good but maybe not great. He is a polite and nice person, a careful driver and a very experienced guide. He always found the perfect spots for wildlife watching and he was probably more experienced than most of the other guides. Also, one day, while we were returning to our accommodation, he saw some lions and we stopped to watch them. After some waiting, we watched a hunting scene while he patiently waited. Finally, we arrived at our accommodation almost 2 hours later than the agreed time, and he never complained.
On the negative side, he is not the most talkative person. When he sees an animal, he usually just points at it and says one or two phrases. If you want to know some details, you always has to ask. Not a big deal for us, but may be for others. Also, on the Ngorongoro day, when we asked him about the lunch inside the crater (as was clearly written in the contract). He said that it was not possible because of the 6-hour permit (we have passed the entrance gate at 7:15 a.m. approximately, so we had to leave before 1:15 p.m.). We asked him to have our lunch in the viewpoint outside the crater instead, but he said that it was not possible either, because we had to leave earlier. After finishing watching the wildlife of the crater, we passed the exit gates at 11:50 a.m., with more than hour left before the permit expired, and we had lunch on our way back to Arusha. Again, not a big deal, but then, why does the company write it in the contract if there is no easy way for the guide to comply with it?
Before returning to the hotel in Arusha, we were taken to the office to fill a customer survey about the guide and the jeep, while the guide and one office employee looked over our shoulders. Not the most comfortable moment of our safari. Also, as we were in the office, we asked at what time would the driver pick us the next morning to take us to the airport. No one knew that we had already booked the transfer, even as it was written in the contract, so they arranged the transfer at that moment.
While we were accommodated at Ngorongoro, a manager (Silvia) called me by phone to tell us that he wanted to meet us in Arusha. We thought that maybe she wanted to explain to us the problems previously described. After arriving at the hotel in Arusha, our guide told us that she would visit us at the hotel. Again, at dinner time no one had appeared, so we sent an email to the company. They apologized again but no explanation was given. We left Tanzania the next morning but she did not appear.
IR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
is responsible
I enjoyed this tour, and will choose them if I come to Kenya again
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good
Would like to thank Betty at the booking office. Our Driver Philip was one of a kind conversant with the Nairobi National Park, friendly and knows most of the animals characteristics as id working with the Park. Pick up w as on point. Thanks Philip and Betty. Thanks Bonfire adventures
DK
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Quick answers, fine contact, sympathic and good driver and guide
Fine safari to Mikumi National Park over the weekend. The communication with Isaya was easy and quick and our driver and guide, Mr Peter, brought us safe from Dar to Mikumi and back again. Many useful informations.
The cottages in the park were rather basic, but ok. The food was not ok.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge and Safari was amazing; Kanyezi not so much.
The Sabi Sabi staff and accommodations were absolutely amazing and first class. The ranger and tracker made our trip! We saw so much more than we expected - up close and personal! The food, service, and villas were 5 star. However, I would book direct rather than use Kanyezi in the future. Chris and Michael were with us only in Capetown. In Sabi Sabi, they had their "friend" act as our guide. We really didn't need a guide in Sabi Sabi because the lodge takes care of everything. In Victoria Falls, we were all basically on our own with a local guide who we had difficulty understanding. The accommodations in Vic Falls were far less than the 4 Star advertised.
Air travel was arranged very late despite emailing and calling on several occasions. We only received our international flight arrangements/tickets 2 weeks prior to our departure day! Given we were required to wire transfer the full payment months before the actual trip, this made us very nervous. Most all guests in our group had similar issues. Some did not get airline tickets until days before departure.
Lastly, Kanyezi threatened with legal action a guest in our group who posted a question online about their lack of responsiveness. They upset one couple on our trip and told them they should have booked the trip themselves! While generally nice people, they are highly unprofessional at times. This is marketed as a luxury trip of a lifetime ....
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
4-day safari was wonderful, 6-day safari not so much
Foot Slopes was wonderful about communication right from when I first submitted a request for a quote. They were very responsive and answered all of my questions fully. The first four days of the tour were wonderful--I was with a great group of people, and our guide Freddy was amazing and passionate about showing us Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorogoro Crater, and all the places in between. He was personable, knowledgeable, and seemed to really enjoy what he was doing. After the fourth day, the group I had been with finished their safari and I continued on for two more days to Lake Manyara and to hike in Kilimanjaro National Park. I was matched up with two different groups and communication between the tour guides and Foot Slopes seemed to be lacking. On the fifth day, we waited for the guide to arrive for many hours, and when we finally got started, the car broke down, the guide reeked of alcohol, and it took over an hour to fix the situation. The new guide was not friendly, barely commented on the animals and natural scenery, and rushed us through the park. On the final day of the tour, I was matched up with another group and we hiked in Kilimanjaro National Park. The hike was beautiful, but a lot more difficult than it had been marketed. I hadn't realized that I'd need hiking apparel and wasn't prepared for the terrain, so the hike wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been. If you're thinking about taking Foot Slopes four-day safari, you'll probably have a great experience as it seems like this is what the majority of travelers choose. However, if you're taking a longer safari, the experience might be more hit or miss.
DK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I was looking forward to the safari ending.
TL;DR: The safari is amazing; the accommodations were pretty decent; the company was not great.
My partner and I booked a four-day, three-night safari from Arusha in late December 2022. At first, I was pleased with the constant updates and communication from Marta, my journey designer. We made the first 50% payment, via credit card, and almost immediately we were asked for the 2nd 50% payment. It was a little awkward because we're talking about thousands of dollars here. We had been previously staying in Arusha, so we didn't require a pick up from JRO, and we expected to meet our guide in the morning on the start of our safari.
And that is where my qualms began. I had to reach out to SoT to confirm the guide would meet us at the hotel, I wasn't provided his or her name at all. The morning of the safari, we checked out of the hotel at 8AM promptly, and had to go searching in the parking lot for our guide - it seemed like he couldn't be bothered to actually meet us. In fact, the first thing he said after hello was how much he expected to be tipped at the end of the safari. Off-putting, to say the least.
The car was fine, it wasn't that updated and the charging ports didn't work. It certainly managed across the rough roads and terrain. There was water for us, which was great, but there was also no hand sanitizer or wet-wipes, which in a post-COVID world should probably be standard. Setting out from Arusha, we made a pitstop to "support the local community" and were basically asked to buy trinkets from folks at a roadside gas station. Moving on to Manyara, the animals weren't out but our guide was indeed very good at spotting them and highlighting them for us. There were several times, however when we had an opportunity to take pictures of certain animals (giraffes, for example) that we asked him to stop and he did not, saying we needed to be "kept on schedule". After blasting through Manyara, we made two - two - pitstops at gift shop tourist traps. We expressed our non-interest in doing so, and the guide told us that we would stop because he got credit for how many tourists he brought and would get a present at the end of the year. It was frankly a bit annoying that it seemed like we rushed through Manyara just to spend time at gift shops selling the same things, and yet another Tanzanite Experience, neither of which we wanted to do.
The first night's accommodation was fine. It was us and another solo traveler staying at the Mandhari Lodge as the original accommodation was booked up. The food was fine, nothing to write home about. The bed was comfortable and the coffee was strong. The staff was friendly and I really enjoyed chatting with them. The second day was a long drive to Serengeti which was fantastic. The guide was informing us about the great migration, and how we would see a lot of wildebeests and zebras. However we stopped at **two more** gift shops and were asked multiple times if we wanted to go to a masaai village and make a "at minimum" fifty-thousand schilling donation. We were exceedingly clear we didn't want to stop at anymore gift shops nor the masaai village and it seemed that it annoyed our guide.
The accommodation at the Acacia Central Camp was by far the best of the entire four days. The staff at Acacia was professional, warm, helpful, and just a great deal of fun to be around. We clicked more with the guys at Acacia than we ever did with our guide, unfortunately. The dinner and breakfast at Acacia was wonderful, and the bed and tent were sublime. No notes.
The third day was more Serengeti and the drive back to the Ngorongoro Crater. Ngorongoro was fabulous, however we were slightly disappointed at the accommodation when we arrived at the Pakulala Luxury Safari Camp. This was also the most expensive accommodation (at $740/night) and so I think we had a certain expectation that the food would be fantastic and the place would be comfortable. We were disappointed - the food was fine, but not great. And there was no electricity so we sat eating dinner with a high-powered halogen light in our faces. Not entirely sublime. We don't discount that the remoteness of the camp makes it more expensive, but the camp was also located between two permanent, luxury lodges, that were priced not that much more than the camp.
When we booked the safari, we contracted that the SoT would take us straight from our fourth day at Ngorongoro to JRO for our evening flight. We spent the entire safari reminding the guide that this was something we expected - he very clearly did not want to take us to JRO and in fact arranged for another driver to take us - he drove us to a mall outside of Arusha where another driver picked us up and took us to JRO. It was super awkward.
Finally - the lunches. The website goes to great lengths to say that your lunches will be the envy of other safari groups, with hot plated lunches and wine. We had three plated lunches, all variations of spaghetti bolognese and all stone cold, to the point that I was curious about food safety concerns. The wine was fine, it was incredibly inexpensive South African wine that was served room temp and in glasses that weren't cleaned. The lunch on the last day was a piece of cold pizza wrapped in foil and some cookies and juice. I was really not impressed with the lunches and I strongly advise a potential customer for SoT to manage their expectations.
My partner and I were happy with the animals on the safari and with the people we met - we had a fine time with the guide though it seemed like he was pre-occupied with other things, to the point of watching videos while we were stopped trying to take pictures of animals. We certainly don't discount that safaris are expensive, and that we were in an expensive country. However, we definitely did not feel that SoT, nor our guide appreciated just how much money we had spent to even do this safari - we felt a little like we were treated as an ATM, and it soured the experience a little bit. Our guide tried to even have us agree to stop at the same four gift shops we stopped at on our way out - it was a bit much.
I also got some insight from a friend in Arusha who runs another safari company (I didn't know this before booking with SoT, else I 100% would have). She informed me of the things that she does for their clients (provides a recommended list of packing, reminders for sunscreen, bug spray, etc.,) and I realized that SoT was only communicative when it came to getting the payments - I never received a recommended list of anything, a highlight of what to expect, emergency contact information, nor even the name or picture of the guide so that we could find him on our first day.
Do the safari - it's an incredible experience and you will want to do more. We do, but we will not go with SoT the next time