65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very caring
This was a fast-passed 4 day trip. I enjoyed it but the pace was too much. It would be better spread over 6-7 days. With overnights at the locations of the game drives instead of long road trips to and from the parks.
MY
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
cool
Papa John tour driver very patience,
very understanding client need
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My not so pleasant safari experience with Safari Link
I had some problems with this agency that I would like to highlight here.
I booked a three-day safari. It was agreed that they would pick me up at my hotel in Johannesburg before heading to Kruger. One day before the trip, I sent a message to confirm, and they told me that I should go to the airport instead, as we would be leaving from there. I sent them the previous message where they had mentioned picking me up at the hotel, but I did not receive a response in time. Because of that, I had to go to the airport just to be safe.
After this inconvenience, it took me an extra hour to arrive at my lodge because my name was not on the driver’s list. He confused me with another person whose name was on the list and initially took me to the wrong lodge.
After that, we finally arrived at the correct lodge, but they informed me that there was no tent available for me because the agency had not sent my reservation to them either, just like what happened with the driver. As a result, on the first night, I was taken to another nearby lodge so I would have a place to sleep.
On the way back to Johannesburg, I managed to arrange for them to drop me off at my hotel, but once again, nothing was easy. The driver had the wrong address and was going to take me to the hotel where I had stayed before going on safari. Fortunately, I checked it in time and was able to speak with him so he could take me to the correct address.
Despite all these issues, everything was eventually resolved, and I was still able to enjoy the experience in the best way possible. However, these were still unpleasant situations that nobody would like to go through.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari, bad timing
I want to first say that our guide, Rodger, was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and helped us find all the ‘Big 5’ and many other beautiful animals. The accommodations were lovely- the campsite was great to connect with nature, and the hotel was comfortable and clean with tasty meals. The game drives were fantastic.
The reason I gave this safari a 3/5 is not the fault of the guide. On May 18th, the 3rd day of the safari, there were massive protests over gas prices all over Kenya, which turned into rioting, blocking roads and stopping cars. This is not the fault of Axis. The issue was the way the company handled the situation (this does not include Rodger- he was calm under pressure and kept us as safe as possible). Part of the issue here is that Axis combines travelers who are on different tours without clarifying it. There were people on the tour that were only there for 3 days, while others booked for 4 or more. This means that our third day involved bringing the people who had to go back to the office to a drop off point near Nairobi. This is where we got stranded for multiple hours with very little communication or assistance from the office. We spent the whole morning driving, leaving at 6 am, arriving midday and then staying in place. When asked about a refund of some sort for the day that really only included 2 hours of activity, we were told ‘well, day 3 is always a travel day’. The itinerary does not disclose that. They make it look as if there’s multiple activities that happen on day 3. On top of that, guests on our safari had to pay to change flights, without help from the office or clarification on what would happen to help them. Two of the people who were split from the group eventually to go to the airport were hit with a bag of rocks through the window of the car they were put in, leading to them being covered in glass. Again, this isn’t something the company can necessarily control, but the things they can control were handled poorly in my opinion.
Again, this would’ve been a great safari. The issues I had were partially the situation but mostly the office’s handling of it. Rodger was an excellent guide.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Set and forget (Vic Falls Safari Lodge did it)
While the lodge staff and the experiences werefantastic, Safari.com provided no itinerary, luxury deck on cruise not honoured.
It was like a set and forget.
Once we had booked and paid there was little or no communication from them.
Hence we arived at Lodge not having an itinerary!
We had to take a photo of our itinerary from lodge to find out what it was!!
After I booked, did not communicate what she should have.
I had a good experience booking my trip, but after I paid, communication was lacking. When I was looking to book, the agent got back to me very quickly. Once I paid, it could be days before I heard from her. I've never used a travel agent before, but I expected to be told more. I was not given a detailed itinerary until a day into our trip by someone else on the ground, who was supposed to be available to me. Also had no idea we were flying into Zimbabwe (supposed to go to Zambia and Botswana). We needed a Declaration and $100 US dollars to enter the country. This was not communicated to me at all!!, and we almost didn't make it in. I assumed a travel agent would let know. Am I wrong?? Then I got very sick (got insurance with booking) and asked the person I was to contact on the ground what to do, and crickets. The actual places and things that were booked were wonderful and exactly what I wanted. It would have been nice to have the communication, especially since I was't sure we could continue in Zimbabwe and would have to return to South Africa.
FR
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Kruger National Park by Patrice Lequime
due to recent flooding lots tracks closed
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Too few activities
The overall experience is nice, you are welcomed, you get safari experience , you have breakfast and (if in tents) dinner, but you don’t have too much activities during the day, usually only half a day is busy, the rest you’re by yourself. You cannot go 100m from the tents, the coordinator will follow you even in walks and safaris (even though you’ve got a guide), which felt weird.. The mokoro safari actually means just a transfer from the shore to the tented camp.. Honestly speaking you’d see much more if you rent a car and travel by yourself, it will cost the same, but your days will be full. Anyway great thanks to our guides : Hipo, Tomly (despite frightening experience on hippos lake) , chef Gift who is really gifted to serve food made on fire better than in all restaurants visited. It was unforgettable experience. But next time we’ll take a car))
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Serengeti National Park by Sara Silvestri
The park is hugely overcrowded, safari vehicles are everywhere speeding at 50 miles an hour across the park, it is impossible to have any close sightings without going off the road and pay a bribe for it due to the noise from all the cars. The whole park is completely natural with no concrete roads which some people might consider positive but that also means that you will eat dirt all day due to the cars shooting across the park. Also you will barely do a drive a day cause you will be put together with people who booked a different tier than you so you will spend 2 hours a day driving around to drop on and off all the others cause everyone stays at different sites, often over an hour away from each other. I had chosen to stay at a resort and they put me in a place an hour away from the entrance so I only slept one night at the park and was mostly on the road to be dropped on and off. I have seen the campsites where the others were staying and the state of them was absolutely shameful. Charging foreign visitors $100 a day so shower in cold water in dirty shared facilities. Unbelievable.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Sara Silvestri
The only highlight was the accomodation overlooking the lake, the wildlife was extremely poor and we drove there in the middle of the day when it was probably too hot to spot lions.