Do NOT recommend - Book your safari elsewhere
I've recently completed a 5-day safari with guide Richard from Mashindiko Adventure and I cannot recommend them. While the landscapes and wildlife in Tanzania were incredible, the logistical and behavioral issues with the staff made the experience stressful and, at times, genuinely frightening.
The Good
The safari itself was a memorable experience, and the natural beauty of the region was stunning. Great animal sightings, including leopards. The guide explained a lot of things, but we needed to ask most of the time since he was not proactive. We had no car issues besides the refrigerator, which was broken.
The Bad
The problems began almost immediately and escalated significantly toward the end of the trip.
Inadequate Itinerary & Guide: Guide kept trying to make changes to the safari plan without talking to us. On the 4th day, what was advertised as a full-day tour in Ngorongoro Crater was cut short to a half-day (we left at midday when the plan stated we should have stayed in the crater until 3pm). When we contacted the operator to complain, they said that this was the guide's fault for rushing, which felt like an unsatisfactory explanation for a service we paid for and no compensation was provided or suggested.
Space: The car was very packed and we had almost no space to move as we had a full car of 6 tourists + guide + cook. On top of the 8 passengers and their bags, we had to carry all camping and food gear inside the car, which makes it very packed and uncomfortable. Not having an auxiliary car also meant loosing game drive time to pack the car on camping days.
Food Issues: The quantity of food provided was consistently insufficient. My dietary restriction of no fish was ignored, and the protein portions were too small for our group of six (or eight during lunch). On the last day, we were told there was no more meat, which is unacceptable given the price paid and the fact that staff had been in town earlier that day. The car refrigerator was broken, so most of the time no cold drinks. Also, no wine was provided, despite the prospect saying that there would be.
Hostile Staff & Safety Concerns: The most disturbing events revolved around the staff's behavior. On the final day, the cook uncomfortably demanded a tip, physically blocking our departure until we paid him. Later, the driver became extremely angry when he learned we would not be tipping due to the poor service. He stopped the car on the highway, screamed, drove erratically, and attempted to drop us off at an unapproved location with a different driver. His refusal to contact our operator and his aggressive tone made us fear for our safety. At some point we even thought he was scheming some kind of kidnap and we had to involve gas station security to ensure we were not being put in a dangerous position. Thankfully at the end we met our airport transfer that was able to finally get in touch with our office and take us away safely.
Conclusion
The unprofessional and hostile behavior of the staff, particularly the guide, was a major concern. The experience turned from a safari into a frightening ordeal, and it is a situation no traveler should ever have to face. My group and I were left feeling unsafe and neglected by the company. Be aware that we booked through another agency and ended up with Mashindiko, so make sure to double check while booking which company will be executing the...
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