US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Easy to contact from the US side, but was hoping for more transparency and/or details of the trip.
Our experience was very mixed, starting with a guide (his name was Losioki) who made us feel very unsafe and dismissed. On the first day when he picked us up from the Tanzania/Kenya border, the car wouldn’t start from the parking lot, that should have been the first red flag. After trying for 5-6 times, the engine finally started. Then later in the day as we were making our way to Serengeti, the vehicle began making weird noises as we were driving through a rough road. He had to stop several times to check, but decided to keep going. When we asked what was going on, he repeatedly brushed us off with “don’t worry” in a very condescending tone, even saying it five times in a row at one point, as if we were overreacting. Eventually, two pieces of metal fell off from under the car while we are still driving, which was a clear hazard. Only then did he admit the vehicle couldn’t continue and arranged for someone else to pick us up. We waited in the middle of nowhere for an hour in a very hot weather condition. The car picked us up happened to be going to Serengeti as well with another couple who was on a private tour, so we hitchhiked with them and we did not hear from the guide the rest of the day.
After this experience, we contacted the tour operator when we got to the hotel to get a new car and a new driver the next day, but they did not end up making this arrangement. I fully understand how difficult it is to get a new guide when we are already in the park and there are some operating difficulty to make this work, however at this point I feel like our safari experience was already tainted by this bad start and we just didn't feel great about the guide.
The following day, he returned and insisted the car was now fine. We decided to give this another chance and went on to do our first game drive in the park. Only 15 minutes into the drive, we went across a three cheetahs sighting with heavy traffic (20+ vehicles), the car stalled completely in the middle of the jam. He had to get out and coordinate a bump start, which was extremely stressful and further confirmed our concerns. When we tried to calmly explain that we didn’t feel comfortable with him or the vehicle, he constantly interrupted us with “listen to me” and “calm down,” which only made things worse. We also explained that this is now the third time we had problems with the vehicle, and having just done the masai mara safari, we know that if this keeps happening during a traffic jam, which is very common when there are rare animal sighting, we cannot bump start the car every single time. It's neither efficient nor safe. Serengeti is a huge park and we are at the risk of being stalled in the middle of nowhere again.
At that point we asked to be dropped at the visitor center so we can contact the tour operator. When you are in a foreign country on safari, your guide and vehicle are everything, and we were supposed to spend the next 5 days with him, and this was absolutely not the experience we signed up for and we didn't feel like this arrangement would work and I felt extremely uncomfortable even staying in the same car with him. We obviously understand that this kind of accidents happens, the car gets broken down often during safaris. The problem is mostly coming from him not being transparent with us, when knowing that the vehicle had underlying issues, he continuously dismissed our concern. We waited in the visitor center (which was miles away from our lodging) for a couple hours so our tour operator could make some calls and get us a new car.
Thankfully, things completely turned around with Lawrence, who became our new guide. He was the exact opposite—professional, kind, and safety-focused. He checked his car often, explained everything clearly on where we are going, what stops we are making, and went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable in all aspects. On top of that, he was incredibly knowledgeable and helped us find amazing sightings, including leopard cubs and lion cubs. He also shared so many fun facts that really enriched the experience. In addition to the big animals, he is also passionate about plants and birds, so we learned so much from him.
While the first two days left us very disappointed, Lawrence delivered excellent service and saved our trip. Because of the contrast, we’re giving a two star overall. But if you do decide to book with this tour company, we strongly recommend requesting Lawrence (if it's an option)—you’ll be in the best hands.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip that was planned for us was amazing. What happened leading up to the trip was awful...
I have such mixed feelings writing this review, because the experience when we got there was a 10/10, but the execution/communication leading up to/during/after the trip was a 2/10. Although the beginning of the trip was an absolute disaster and we lost thousands of dollars, I am glad we went and trying to focus on the good. But, I do want to warn others.
Also, Kitawa agreed to pay us at least $500 for the visas we paid to expedite. They asked for our bank information and we have yet to see any money.... They DID upgrade some of our hotels, rooms, and added a free excursion for us (they said it was a cost of just over 3k). But that required a fight and lots of pushing from us.
Pros: The hotels picked for us were stunning. Hard to pick a favorite because they all had their individual charm. The staff at each hotel was so pleasant, warm, and kind. The staff/tour companies selected for our excursions were so nice and did an excellent job. And the tour guides provided to us were so fabulous. I highly recommend Cuthbert if you are in TZ. He was so funny, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond for us.
Cons:
After we booked our trip there was little to no communication. I found this to be a little odd as I have used other tour companies and they check in quite a bit leading up to the trip regarding how to prepare, sending FAQ, asking if you have questions, etc. Days before the trip we were like, “hellooooo. Anyone home? We are leaving in a few days…. What happens when we land!?” They also had no website all of the sudden, so I had a giant pit in my stomach that something was wrong.
I did research on my own on what type of shots and Visas were needed prior to travel (because I saw that visas are required for both countries online). We then confirmed with Kitawa as well to ensure we were getting and doing the right things. Because I know Visas can change from year to year. We were told that the only visas we need, we would get when we land in Africa. Fast forward to when we arrive at the airport and were denied boarding our flight because we were missing our VISA that is required for travel. We ended up paying $500 to expedite the visas at the airport to try to still make our flight. They were not approved in time so we missed our flights and lost $15,000 (mostly booked on points. Thank goodness!) on our airfare. Once our Visas got approved at midnight, we were able to book the last seats on a new flight that cost us an additional $7,000. When we communicated this disaster to the agent, he was in shock that we needed a Visa and was still telling us they are not required in advance for Kenya, and he doesn’t know why we couldn’t get on our flight.
Now, I am fully aware that some of this was on us. And I have learned a major lesson. I should have NEVER taken his word that a visa wasn’t required. I should have followed what I read and confirmed with the embassy and the airline (and will do this moving forward). I just have never had a tour company give me such incorrect information and then double down on it. If you are paying a company over $20,000 to plan a luxury trip for you, then you would THINK that they would be doing their own research and setting their customers up for success and not failure.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Francesca
The dense vegetation makes it difficult to spot many animals. After visiting the other parks, this is definitely the one we would recommend skipping.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointed with unprofessional handling
I booked a safari tour with Africa Keys based on a glowing recommendation from a friend, so my expectations were high. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t quite live up to the hype.
Local Knowledge: Surprisingly lacking one of the biggest letdowns was the lack of insight into the country itself. Our itinerary included Lake Manyara, which turned out to be a major disappointment. Wildlife was extremely limited, and the park felt more like a detour than a destination.
Food: The meals were consistently underwhelming—bland, poorly prepared, and lacking any local flavor. In a place known for vibrant cuisine, this was a real letdown except in one hotel during our stay. Even more frustrating was the complete lack of responsiveness.
Why I Booked: A Friend’s Recommendation To be fair, I can see how someone might have had a better experience—perhaps with a different guide or itinerary. My friend had a great time, which is why I gave it a shot. Sadly, my trip didn’t reflect the same quality. May be the tour company is only good in Kenya but not in Tanzania.
The Good Bits: The landscapes were stunning, and spotting wildlife in their natural habitat was unforgettable. That part of Africa never disappoints. But the tour company didn’t enhance the experience—they just got us from point A to B.
Overall If you’re considering for good safari experience, I’d suggest doing a bit more research. The magic of Africa deserves a team that truly understands and celebrates it.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not worth the money
We had booked a private tour. The number of game drives was not carried out as agreed in the service description. The game drives were shorter than agreed.
The accommodation was good.
I cant recommend the company.
KR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Driver: unpuncture and racist behavior
My driver Sal** was late for the departure in the morning. I had to wait 25 minutes in the morning and two other guests even waited for an hour.
After the tour, on our way back to the drop off (individual lunch), the driver kept on insisted that I get off the car and walk even before arriving the final destination because there is traffic jam and he was unhappy with it. It was a 10 minutes walk. I was okay with walking but there were 3 guests out of 4, including me, who were going to the same destination.
So I told him nicely, even if I get off here, he has to go through all this traffic jam anyways, since two other people are also going to the same place and they are not willing to walk.
However he kept insisting only at me to get off the car because apparently I was the only Asian guest. He kept making gestures showing complaints, kept turning off/on the car engine, and asked “have you made up your mind to get off here?”.
He was clearly discriminative because he didn’t say anything at two other Kenyan guests who were heading to the same destination. I was very upset that the other Kenyan guests even apologized instead for his behavior on behalf of all the Kenyan people.
This has been my third safari tour in Kenya/ fifth in East Aftica and he has been the worst driver ever.
John, who was in charge of the booking was trying to be helpful and was apologetic when I called him about this issue. However, I would like to hear clear follow up measures on how you would deal with this issue and the driver.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
confusing in communication
In the end, I did not book with this intermediairy/travel agency. Also after paying the 10% bookingfee.
- When I asked 3 questions in my email, I only got 1 answer. I had to go back and remind the operator about the other 2 questions. And then he sayd: which ones? This happenend multiple times, and worked very frustrating for me.
- At a certain moment, the travel dates were mixed up by him. This was the start of my doubt and confusion.
- I wanted a confirmation of the safari with the name of the tour organisation, pick up time etcetc) about 2-3 weeks before beparture. He couldnt tell me, it was unclear which one I would be going with, there was no official confirmation for me available. Only his words.
- He would inform me about the safari trip 1 day before the safari starts.
All together, for sure it would have worked out fine, for me this way of working was unacceptable; we didnot match.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Disappointing Safari Experience with Super Eagles
We booked a 6-day safari with Super Eagles Agency in August. While the trip had some highlights, our overall experience left us feeling disappointed and misled.
Pros
- Good itinerary: Covering Amboseli and Masai Mara in one trip gave us the chance for great game-viewing potential.
- Fantastic sightings: Our driver ensured we saw incredible wildlife.
- Accommodation: Comfortable beds with mosquito nets; simple but fine.
Cons
- Lack of guiding: Although the driver secured great sightings, he gave almost no explanations about animals or locations. He rarely communicated the plan for the day and answered questions coldly and with minimal effort. I have been to many safaris in South Africa that had fantastic guides, but this was nowhere close to the quality of previous experiences.
- Misleading itinerary: We were paired with travelers on different itineraries, forcing us to wait or pay extra for activities we never agreed to. This was never communicated beforehand. We ended up doing things we hadn’t planned for, while missing what we had actually booked. We felt cheated.
- Reduced safari time: We had paid for one full-day and one half-day safari in Amboseli and Masai Mara. Instead, the second day in each park was reduced to about one hour only, nothing close to what was promised. When we complained, the agency offered no compensation or solution.
- Meals: The food was repetitive—mostly cold chicken, the same meal across six days. Acceptable for a budget option, but still disappointing.
- Constant attempts to overcharge: Beyond the agency, nearly everywhere we went we felt pressured, manipulated, or overcharged. For example, being asked to pay $25 for a fridge magnet worth $3–4. This created a constant sense of being scammed.
Final Thoughts
While the parks themselves and the wildlife are breathtaking, our experience with Super Eagles Agency was deeply disappointing. The lack of honesty, communication, and respect for the itinerary made us feel cheated. We cannot recommend this agency and strongly advise others to consider alternatives if they want a transparent, reliable safari experience.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Crowded Safaris in a Corrupt place
During our 6 day safari, our guide, Stephen, alone, worked tirelessly, sometimes driving 7 hours in a day. His communication to the group could have been far better, clearer and louder, but he was friendly, very knowledgeable about the animals, tried hard and did his best to help us tick off the big five. We achieved this, but only managed to see Rhino at a distance, and did not see a leopard.
The Maasai clearly have a strangle-hold over all of these safaris that comes across as if it is a Mafia-type of situation. They control the gates to all the game reserves, it was their tourist camps we were taken to, and it was their shops with heavy-handed sales tactics and ridiculous prices that all the tourists were constantly taken to throughout the trip. The camps all serve the same boring tasteless food in bulk. Beef stew, chicken pieces, rice and mixed veg. This is what you will eat for every single meal, every day for 6 days. Left over chicken is packed up for bland tin-foil packed lunches.
Roads around the Maasai Mara are 100 times worse than you can imagine, even in a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep. My spine was killing from being sledgehammered after these two days of the trip, and I had cuts and bruises on my shoulders from being bashed into the jeep walls. Nokuru and Amboselli roads were far better. Book a Jeep. Do not book one of these safaris in a van, you will massively regret it!!!
Manjaro tented camp was a dump. Staff were unwelcoming, bossy and miserable. Our tent and mosquito net did not close, even though they stated that if it was not closed, baboons could steal your belongings. The camp smelt of raw sewage, and the tent toilet did not work. They kindly provided me with a bucket to pour sink water into the loo as a substitute. The bedside lamp did not work and the only lightswitch with loose visible wiring was about 6 foot from the bed.
Be prepared for lots and lots of driving, ..........like whole days of driving, on sometimes pretty scary roads, and pray your driver has good judgement while overtaking at high speed on terrible roads.
At all three parks, some beautiful scenes of animals together were spoiled by overcrowding of vehicles. Usually a pride of lions or Cheetah will be surrounded by 20-30 vehicles. Loud, stupid Kenyan vehicle drivers shout to each other loudly in Swahili, and truckfulls of ignorant tourists talk loudly, even by animals very sensitive to sound. On several occasions, this clown-show led to the animals being scared off, and missing out chasing down a meal. On one occasion, there were so many trucks (about 50!!!), the wildabeest could not even get through to cross the river.
If you go to the Maasai village, be prepared to be surrounded and sold heavily to. Also, if a bracelet is worth 100-200KES, they will price it at 2500-3000KES, to start any negotiation. On our trip, they were so focused on selling to us, they did not even let us meet the chief, which was supposed to be a key part of the visit. Also be prepared to be stopped by the police with guns in Ambosselli, for a short river walk with a bribe. As the police are all corrupt, and as Stephen did not properly explain or prepare us for this in advance, we panicked as we thought we were being robbed.
By the end of the trip, we had definitely had enough. The awful food and constantly being treated like a fool by the tireless heavy selling tactics of the Maasai had got a bit wearing. It was summed up by the Maasai children. You say 'Hi' to them, they hold their hand out for payment.
If it wasn't for the hard work of Stephen, this safari would only have been a 1 or 2 star experience.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible Wildlife, Unmet Expectations
This was my first time using a tour operator. I’ve done several international solo trips and usually plan everything myself, but I felt unsure about visiting rural Africa. I called VISA Infinite’s concierge to get a list of reputable, local tour operators—Off2Africa was on it.
Before arrival, I dealt exclusively with Claire via email due to time differences. She was incredibly helpful and everything looked lined up for a great trip. One star is just for the great email communication.
WHERE THINGS WENT WRONG:
I stayed at three lodges in Zimbabwe and Botswana. The first was Insika Lodge in Victoria Falls. Check-out was 10AM, but my transfer was scheduled more than an hour later. Reception kindly held my bags while I waited by the pool without a room (bar and breakfast area were closed). When the shuttle arrived, it already had passengers and made five more lodge stops, including a nearly 30-minute wait at Victoria Falls Hotel.
We crossed the Botswana border, and the group was split up. I was placed in a random taxi with three separate parties. The TravelKey app said the transfer would take “around two hours,” but I didn’t arrive at Kubu Lodge until around 2:15 PM. I was informed at Reception that the afternoon game drive had already passed. I had no option but to take the river cruise instead.
With a custom-made itinerary, at this price point, I expected private transfers. Instead, I got the profit-maximizing, theme park-style shuttle loop that cost me a game drive.
The night before checking out of Kubu, I noticed my next transfer was scheduled for two hours after check-out. Not wanting to wait around again, I asked if the morning game drive could start at 9AM instead of the usual 9:30. The guide agreed after some back-and-forth, but I didn’t appreciate putting the staff in that position because of poor planning. My time in Africa was limited, and it wasn’t respected.
Kubu was also labeled “Full Board Plus” in the TravelKey app. Assuming drinks at meals were included (as is standard), I had three bottled waters. I was shocked to be billed for them at checkout. Claire apologized for the “confusion,” but there was no confusion—there was misrepresentation. She offered no remedy. I contacted the Director, Beck Edwards, about getting a refund for the waters. He denied a refund and was snarky about refunding a charge that was less than the international banking minimum of $40.
To end the trip, I faced another transfer fiasco. My last lodge was Camp Kazuma. The TravelKey app said my airport transfer was scheduled for 10AM, but the interim GM said it was 11. At 11:20, no one had shown. I messaged Claire and was brushed off with: “Hi Branden it should all be on your Travel Key App.” I told her it said 10AM and no transfer had arrived. She eventually said Kazuma was supposed to arrange it. After coordination with the interim GM, I was driven in a game viewer to a highway pickup point and transferred by taxi. I barely made my flight with boarding closing 20 minutes after I arrived.
Claire sent a screenshot showing the original GM had scheduled an 11AM transfer. But that doesn't explain why the app showed 10AM or why Off2Africa didn’t confirm plans with the lodge the week of my stay. Communication breakdowns like this simply shouldn’t happen.
Final Thoughts:
Vic Falls, Chobe National Park, and Kazuma National Forest were all wonderful destinations and I whole-heartedly endorse them as travel destinations. However, the poorly-managed transfers and incorrect information included in the TravelKey app caused me a great stir and a lot of uncertainty. I would not recommend Off2Africa to others looking for a Tour Operator in the Vic Falls area.
As a solo traveler, I rely quite a bit on reviews from other travelers. If you're a semi-experienced traveler and are reading this, trust me: you don’t need a tour operator here. With Google, any reputable AI agent, and direct lodge bookings, you can craft your own itinerary with more control and fewer problems. I wish I had done just that.
I included a picture of my luggage on the back of a game viewer because I doubt I'll ever see that again!
