CA
I lost trust in Cedarberg before the trip even started
I am a Luxury Travel Advisor in Canada and personally spend 90 days in S Africa every year. I have traveled to 100+ countries and l just love S Africa and all it has to offer. I worked with Cedarberg to arrange a trip for 3 couples, Golf, Kruger, Cape town and the Garden Route. I found the agent I worked with to be very difficult and lost trust during the planning stages. My clients are very important so I was very concerned with the supplier that I selected for their trip. In general their trip was good however there was a big lack of communication, overcharges and hotel downgrades which was never communicated to me until I met with my clients on the last week of their trip. My clients finished their trip and it took me 2 months to finally have Cedarberg refund the clients for the hotel downgrades which was over $600. In 20+ year of selling luxury travel I have never had such a difficult time with a supplier.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari Soles Tour guide was not good
I booked a 4 day private tour with Safati Soles. I booked with Safari Soles because my booking agent was incredible itherwise i wouldve booked directly with the lodge. I was a solo female traveler and this was my first BIG solo trip. I stayed at Lemala Impingo Ridge. The camp was beautiful and the staff was awesome. I enjoyed everything besides my tour guide with safari lodge. His name was Godlisten. This was not my first safari trip so I had something to compare it to. Your tour guide will make or break a safari trip and Godlisten was awful. The next morning I did a video with Godlisten to share on my YouTube with how he received his name. I decided not to post anythung regarding Gidlisten as it was not a good experience. Here Is everything I did not like about Godlisten as my tour guide
1) I was told he would be waiting on me upon my arrival in Arusha at the airport. As a solo female in a foreign area I want my ride to be readily available when I arrive and waiting. Godlisten was not standing out with my name. I waited 2 to 3 minutes once I received my bag as Godlisten had been sitting in the car.
2) On the way to Lemala Ridge Reseve we stopped for lunch. This picnic area was very crowded with tourist and kids on field trips. I advised Godlisten we could sit in the truck and have lunch. I personally do not being around alot of people. Godlisten was determined for us to eat at the picnic table after I stated we could eat in the truck. We walked to several different tables with him hoping someone was getting up from the table. He finally found a table and proceeded to set the lunch on the table. I told Godlisten I do not like being around alot of people. He stated that's good to know but still insisted we eat at the picnic table. He sat the food on the table and I ask was salt and pepper provided. He said we have salt and no pepper I told him wonderful. I proceeded to put salt on MY food on MY plate and he told me I needed to taste it first. I salted some of MY other food on MY plate and he says oh so you like salt. I had no response for Godlisten about MY food. I proceeded to eat my food even though it was not enjoyable with all these people and kids running. After eating I immediately told Godlisten I'm going to the truck to sit and put on bug spray. Godlisten did not listen to anything I said and did everything his way. It would have been better if Godlisten would have given me options on where to eat
2) Godlisten is the tour guide so as the customer I assume he is the expert. On a game drive the windows were down and the top was open. The jeep started to swarm with tsete flies. I stated I was just bitten and he then proceeded to close the jeep and turn on air. A good tour guide would've advised the customer (me) about the tsete flies in the area and asked me if I wanted air or the top open. Godlisten once again did things his way and as a result I was bitten and fighting flies in the enclosed jeep the entire time with air on. I was exhausted from fighting flies and no longer wanted to continue and asked him to return me back to the lodge.
I advisef Gidlisten several times I did not want to see any snakes. On this same game drive he tells me to look there is a small snake. Why would he do this??
3) The very next day I had a scheduled balloon ride that I cancelled and no longer wanted to go on. I called the reserve and told them I no longer need a wakeup call I cancelled the balloon. Godlisten called me from the reserve to ask why did I cancel. I told him I no longer want to do the balloon ride. We hung up. Godlisten then sent me a WhatsApp message asking if I was okay. He knew I had a bad experience from the tsete flies the day prior. I told him I was fine. The next day I see Godlisten to go on a game drive he is still asking me why did I cancel the balloon. I advised Godlisten we already discussed I advised I was fine please stop asking me the same question.
4) My departure morning Godlisten advised it would take an hour to get out of the park from the lodge. We were out in 30 minutes as Godlisten was speeding out of the lodge on the rough roads. We were going 50, 60 and sometimes 70 kil per his dashboard through the National Park. Godlisten advised the lodge gave him breakfast and to let him know when I wanted the breakfast. After so long riding I advised I needed to use the restroom. He advised it would be about 15 minutes and we could eat breakfast. We stopped I used the restroom and he has breakfast sitting out at a table that was at the rest stop. I got my breakfast and went to the car. It was cold and rainy. He went to the restroom came back and saw me eating in jeep. He asked me was it too cold outside. Once again Godlisten was determined to do things his was and not ask the customer (me). I proceeded to eat in the car and he came back to the car. It would've been nice for Godlisten to ask me where I would like to eat MY breakfast. I did not want to have my breakfast in the rain and cold and I was not.
After arriving at the airport Godlisten thanked me for choosing Safari Soles and apologized for my safari. He knew it was nor a good experience.
You pay too much money to have a tour guide thats inconsiderate of your wants and needs on your trip. Godlisten did not ask me one time what i wanted nor did he listen to anything I told him. My trip was ALL ABOUT HIM!
Godlisten did the exact opposite of everything I wanted the entire trip.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Did not execute, failed to remedy the situation
Serengeti African Tours markets itself as an ultra-luxury travel provider, which makes our experience all the more disappointing.
Despite paying a substantial premium, the reservation arrangements confirmed to our group just 1 day in advance, were not honored, resulting in significant inconvenience and the unnecessary separation of two couples traveling together. This created an avoidable and uncomfortable situation that should never have occurred.
What was most frustrating was that there was a simple solution available: provide the arrangements that had been promised and paid for. Instead, the issue was mishandled, no meaningful effort was made to resolve it, and the follow-up response consisted of little more than an unsatisfactory email explanation.
Our group entrusted Serengeti African Tours based on the expectation that the company would deliver the experience it sold. Unfortunately, it failed to uphold its commitments, and its response afterward demonstrated a disappointing lack of accountability and customer service.
Luxury travel is defined not only by the destinations and accommodations, but by flawless execution and responsive service when problems arise. In our case, Serengeti African Tours fell well short of the standards it claims to represent. Based on our experience, I would not recommend this company and will be sharing our experience with others considering booking through them.
A couple of highlights which kept it from 1 star:
Our Guide (Godfrey Maarifa) was very knowledgeable, engaging, and good to work with. If you can book directly with him, he's great.
The park overdelivers. I suspect that the guide had a significant impact on the animal viewing but we saw them all. Definitely recommend the trip, just not the tour operator based on the customer service and attention to details.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A safari operator whose guiding standards and handling of customer concerns fell below professional
I booked a shared Tsavo East safari experience through Kisite Discovery Safaris, which was operated by Jambo TravelHouse Holidays. The trip delivered did not match the itinerary and experience described to me at the time of booking, and the subsequent complaint process fell well below professional standards.
Issues:
• Location Discrepancy: The safari was marketed and sold as a Tsavo East safari. However, I was never actually taken into Tsavo East National Park. All game drives took place within a small private conservancy near the lodge.
• Group Status: During both the booking process and the safari itself, I was repeatedly told that I would be joining a group of French and German tourists. No group ever materialised. Only after I raised concerns following the safari was I informed that the booking had supposedly been changed to a private safari without my prior knowledge or consent. This explanation was later used to justify both the higher price I had paid and the fact that I was never taken into Tsavo East National Park.
• Guiding Standards: The guide spent significant portions of the three two-hour game drives on his mobile phone and speaking with the driver rather than actively guiding the safari. One game drive was cut short, and another was going to end early until I pointed out the discrepancy.
• Complaint Handling: After returning from the safari, I spent considerable time attempting to obtain clear explanations regarding what had happened. Kisite Discovery Safaris remained in contact with me, but the explanations they provided kept changing. At various points, responsibility was attributed to the guide, the booking agent, or the alleged “private safari” arrangement. Several pricing justifications also did not match the information I was able to independently verify.
• Refusal to Engage by Jambo TravelHouse Holidays: When I attempted to raise concerns directly with Jambo TravelHouse Holidays regarding the operational delivery of the safari and the conduct of their guide, they were dismissive and repeatedly referred me back to Kisite Discovery Safaris rather than engaging meaningfully with the issues raised.
• Staff Pressure: Kisite Discovery Safaris eventually offered $30 in compensation and explicitly informed me that the amount would be deducted directly from the booking agent’s salary. I was later contacted personally by the booking agent, who asked me not to accept the refund because of the financial impact it would have on him. No customer should be placed in that position.
Positives:
The Ngutuni Lodge was lovely, with many elephant sightings and excellent customer service. We did manage to spot a leopard at the end of the final game drive - much to the extreme surprise of the guide and driver. The daytime driver made an effort to improve the experience once I expressed dissatisfaction.
Overall, this tour did not deliver the location or group structure promised at the time of booking. Based on previous safari experiences in Kenya, I do not believe this experience met acceptable professional standards, particularly in terms of communication, guiding, and complaint handling.
I would not recommend either Kisite Discovery Safaris or Jambo TravelHouse Holidays, although Ngutuni Lodge is a wonderful place to spend a night or two.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Logistical Issues
We booked a 4-day, 3-night safari through the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park through this company on TripAdvisor. We paid about $1,750 per person for the mid-range lodging package.
Before the safari, John scheduled a briefing the day before departure. He was polite, but the meeting felt mostly repetitive since the information had already been covered in the materials we received. Communication was also difficult at times because he spoke very quietly. The other uncomfortable part was the discussion around tipping, which felt more expected than optional. Tipping should reflect appreciation for excellent service, not feel mandatory before the trip even starts.
There were definitely positives to the safari itself. The mid-range lodges were very nice overall — clean, comfortable, and better than expected for the price point. The food was decent overall, especially on day two, although day three’s meals were mediocre. Lunches were usually only warm at best due to the catering setup, but we genuinely appreciated that hot sauce and salt were always available because they helped a lot. Dessert was bananas all three days, which became repetitive quickly.
We were fortunate enough to see all the major animals, and some sightings were truly memorable. Our drivers, Adam and Steve, were both friendly and knowledgeable. Adam was easier to understand and drove aggressively to maximize sightings, while Steve was more cautious but equally professional.
The biggest issue — and ultimately the reason for the low rating — was the logistics.
Right from the start, our itinerary was changed. We were originally scheduled to visit Tarangire first, then the Serengeti, and finish with Ngorongoro Crater. Instead, the order was rearranged, which appeared to happen because the company combined our tour with guests on shorter three-day itineraries.
From that point forward, the trip constantly felt like a compromise between different budgets, tour levels, and schedules. Mid-range guests were mixed with budget campers, creating constant delays for campsite drop-offs, gear pickups, loading supplies, chef coordination, and other camper-related logistics. It honestly felt like the camping guests’ schedules were prioritized over the mid-range guests who paid for a different experience.
The issue was never the early mornings or long safari days — we expected that. The frustration was paying for very nice lodges and arriving so late each evening that we barely had time to enjoy them. Guests should ideally arrive at the lodges at least an hour before sunset to actually experience the accommodations they paid for.
One suggestion that could improve the experience significantly would be replacing the catered hot lunches with well-prepared box lunches. It would simplify the logistics, reduce delays, and likely improve the overall flow of the safari.
Another major issue was the constant focus on reviews. Both during and after the trip, it felt like there was a strong effort to manage and secure five-star reviews rather than simply letting the experience speak for itself. We experienced similar behavior on another East African tour as well. Multiple debriefings and repeated reminders about leaving reviews started to feel disingenuous rather than genuine hospitality.
Honestly, the aggressive push for five-star reviews became a turnoff for us and directly impacted our final rating. Companies should focus on delivering a seamless experience instead of trying to influence guest feedback afterward. If anything, the review pressure lowered our rating from what likely would have been a three-star review down to a two-star review.
Overall, we had some incredible wildlife sightings and enjoyed the lodges, but the poor logistical planning, mixing of incompatible tour types, and heavy-handed review solicitation left a disappointing final impression.
poor communication and unprofessional
Almost impossible to send funds to reserve from overseas. Wanted to charge more for the lodge reservation the next day. In experienced driver didn't know the importance of vehicle position for photos. Very frustrating and no possibility of phone conversations, only email . AVOID
Finally high pressure sales around your vehicle and Maasi village to purchase their overpriced trinkets AVOID
FR
Non-professional guide
We had booked a safari for two people with a French-speaking guide. We don't speak English. We ended up with five of us in the jeep, not with the guide from the company we had booked with, but five English speakers and the English-speaking guide who explained nothing and seemed to enjoy driving very fast. We didn't have time to admire the scenery. We left the camp at 9:00 a.m. Two stars for this beautiful country. But the guide deserves zero; he wasn't interested in us at all and preferred to drive fast. We were left out for four days.
Also, the first day of the safari was spent shopping…
(automatic translation from French)
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Accommodation did not match photos – only corrected after complaint
We joined the Sani Pass & Lesotho Stars overnight tour (19–20 February 2026). The scenery and concept are excellent, and we chose this tour based on consistently strong reviews, so our experience was particularly surprising.
On arrival around 15:00, we were given a key without the room being checked with us. The room we entered did not match the rondavel-style cottages shown on the tour webpage, while the cottage occupied by the guide did correspond to those images. The initially allocated room was also located in the same building as the kitchen, with noticeable noise during food preparation.
After this, the guide went to his cottage and was not available again until the agreed dinner time at 19:00. As a result, we could only raise the issue then. After our complaint, we were able to exchange rooms with the guide, and the new accommodation matched what was shown online.
After the tour, we contacted the operator to give them the opportunity to review the situation. Despite detailed communication, no acknowledgment or apology was provided. Instead, the matter was escalated to attorneys and their insurer, and responsibility was denied.
We waited several weeks before posting this review, but no meaningful resolution was offered. A goodwill payment was offered, but as no responsibility was acknowledged, we chose not to accept it.
For clarity, the first two photos show the building where we were initially accommodated, and the last two photos show the cottage occupied by the guide.
Based on our experience, future travellers may wish to confirm the exact accommodation arrangements in advance and check the room immediately on arrival.
Issues can happen during travel, but it is how they are handled that makes the difference.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not as advertised
The first 3 nights were at Kruger Shalati, which is the accomodation in the train carriages! This place is awesome and excellent value for money. Everything is included - 4 meals a day which is far too many, all free wine etc (you can pay for cocktails but they are cheap), 2 game drives a day, great staff, very attentive, great animal viewing right from the accomodation and one of the 3 pools. We highly, highly recommend Kruger Shalati and will be back for sure.
Our next stop was Rhino Post - don't waste your time or money! It's very dirty, has a very strange energy, feels very unorganised and none of the staff seem to know what is going on. Our booking confirmation also said that all basic wines, water and soft drinks were included but they tried to charge for it all. This then all got paid by the booking company for us as it was false advertising. I wouldn't return or recommend this place to anyone.
We then did 2 nights at Plains Camp (walking safari) the camp is wayyyyy nicer that Rhino Post, very relaxing, great food, nice staff. There is no wifi at all so be prepared to relax and unwind and watch the animals in the plains like Wildebeest, Baboons and Warthogs. You may also hear the lions roaring at night. PLEASE BEWARE, you will basically see no animals at all on the walks. Animals are frightened on humans on foot vs the safari vehicles. When we got on our first walk our guide informed us that walking safaris were not for seeing animals and that was pretty disappointing as it is certainly not advertised that way. You will track prints in the soil, learn about plants and do a hell a lot of walking through thick grass which was not good for my partner as she is terrified of snakes and there certainly are snakes.
The walks are long 2-3 hours, twice a day. So also be prepared for that.
Finally that brings us to 3 nights at Geiger's. This was by far the most expensive of all the accomodations. The chef is incredible but there is no menu, you are just served a 4 course meal as a surprise each night, drinks are included. Its hard to get food, drinks or service in the day (I think the staff take their rest then). It only hosts 5 villas, so its a very small group which is nice. You reason it's worth paying the money is because the game drives on the private reserve that connects to the Kruger are amazing. We saw Lion Mums on a fresh kill with all their cubs, A leopard in a tree eating its kill, a leaoprd walking right up to the safari truck, 5 Rhinos in a group and a baby playing with its mum in the mud, wild dogs and hyenas having a fight, huge crocs and all the usual suspects Elephants, Hippos, Giraffe, Warthogs, Antelopes etc etc.
But for off road viewing right next to the action, this place is worth the money. Our guides Josh and MJ were lovely.
IT
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Just adequate. Not up to the description on the web. Just adeguate
The company contacted us by email before departure, but then they never contacted us again. The driver/guide was very good, but he was a freelancer, not a member of the company.
The hotels were very mediocre (except in Bwindi), especially the lodge in the Queen Elizabeth, with inadequate staff and terrible food.