Imani Excursions

4.9/5 – 40 Reviews

$3,498 pp (USD)

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Imani Excursions

Imani Excursions

Imani Excursions

4.9/5  
(40 Reviews)
Office In:
Tanzania Tanzania
Size:
5-10 employees (Founded in 2019)
Tour Types:
Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
Destinations:
Tanzania TZ
Imani Excursions

Imani Excursions

Imani Excursions operates out of Arusha, Tanzania, the gateway to most of the national parks. Excursions take the form of Mountain Climbs and Safaris. Visit Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, the nation's two highest peaks or enjoy tours through Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park.

Reviews40

Wonderfully efficient and knowledgeable
5/5

Imani were fantastic from start to finish, it was our first trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar and we needed some guidance on how best to do our itinerary. Imani responded super quickly and came up with the perfect mix of safaris and beaches for us. Our guide David was brilliant, so relaxed and he knew everything there is to know. As well as being a very safe driver and all round lovely guy. The holiday was perfect, the places they chose for us to stay in were beautiful and we met such wonderful people everywhere.

Such a delight journey with Imani Excursions
5/5

It's been such a delightful journey and we are thankful to choose Imani Excursions as our tour agent.
On the first day, we are very excited to know that as found of this company Imani would be our guide for four of us. He has over 16 years over tourism and he is not just knowledgable on telling us anything about animals but also on Tanzania history etc. We were surprised to have welcome present(everyone has a mug with Imani company logo and our Chinese name on each mug/short celebration on our arrival with drinks/champions.
During the initial time we sent request to Imani company,Mike always replied us very promptly almost within 24hours and we got very fair offer after we compared with other companies(i sent our request to over 20tour companies).
Our trip was ultra-lux Safari one for total 7days(6nights) and started from Arusha-Tarangire-Ngorongoro-Centrel Serengeti-North Serengeti. We saw big five/ugly five and almost everything on wish list. Most exciting ones-Great Migration Crossing(4times within 2days).
Imani is very helpful and consideration on making us feel comfortable all the time. We were so lucky to have him and got our last chance for balloon Safari only with his effort to try to check with all options and we got our spot on balloon with last minute cancellation via Miracle Balloon Safari
We highly recommend anyone would travel with Imani Excurisons and definitely enjoy your stay at Tanzania

Our safari in Tanzania was unforgettable, thanks to Imani and their team.
5/5

I recently had the pleasure of traveling with Imani Excursion, and I would highly recommend them! Our trip through Kenya and Tanzania, including Masai Mara (Kenya portion under their sister company), Northern and Central Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Zanzibar, was amazing. Right from the start when we were enquiring from different tour agencies, Imani was one of fastest to response to our messages. Their prices were reasonable compared to the other quotes that we got back (but this also depends alot on the type of accommodation that you choose).

Imani, our guide and the mastermind behind this incredible journey, truly made our experience unforgettable. His passion for wildlife and deep knowledge of the regions added so much to our adventure. Not only did he know all the best spots for wildlife viewing, but his enthusiasm for sharing local culture and stories brought every destination to life. We managed to see all the animals we wanted to see, including the big 5 and the wildebeest migration across the river!

What impressed us even more was Imani's willingness to listen to our suggestions. We mentioned the idea of personalized water bottles and a simple pamphlet he could give his future guests, and he embraced it wholeheartedly. He just sent us a picture of the water bottles he had customise made (2 weeks later). It was great to see how that he actually took our feedback to heart and continuously strives to enhance the experience for his guests.

Overall, Imani Excursion exceeded all our expectations. If you're looking for a truly immersive safari experience with a dedicated guide, Imani is your go-to person. Thank you for making our honeymoon another unforgettable one.

Very good experience !
5/5

We were very happy to have done our safari with Imani! The guide spoke good French, the tour was very well organized, the camps very friendly.
We highly recommend contacting him for your safaris!

A DISAPPOINTING Safari Experience with a DISRESPECTFUL guide!
2/5

My friend and I chose Imani for a 7-day trip in July, hoping for a memorable experience. Unfortunately, we encountered a series of disorganized and disappointing events that left us questioning the agency’s professionalism.

The issues included accommodation and itinerary errors, lack of communication, a rush itinerary, and the disrespectful guide, Fred.

1. Accommodation and Itinerary Discrepancies:
(1) Downgrade of accommodation: On July 24, our driver informed us that our originally booked hotel, Mara Kati Kati Camp, was destroyed by a wildfire. We were left with no choice but to accept an alternative hotel they had arranged. However, upon checking in at the Untamed Migration Camps, we discovered that this hotel was significantly inferior, holding merely 3 reviews on Tripadvisor, compared to the initial booking's 1724 reviews. We reached out to the manager, Mike, hoping for clarification and a refund of the price difference, but his response lacked any apology. He simply stated that it wasn't his fault and that Untamed Migration Camps is better than Mara Kati Kati Camp, and then ceased further communication. Later, we met another group from the same travel agency who were upgraded to a better hotel (Baobab Lodge & Camp) due to the Mara Kati Kati being fully booked, not destroyed by fire as we were told. This discrepancy in stories left us doubting the veracity of the wildfire claim and feeling deceived.

(2) Mistaking us for the wrong accommodation: On July 26, we were mistakenly taken to the wrong hotel, Manyara Secret, and endured a half-hour wait and more unapologetic responses from management. Our eventual accommodation at Escarpment Luxury Lodge proved inadequate with issues like malodorous rooms and a leaking air conditioner, which necessitated a midnight room change. The staff then moved us to a standard room type—larger, cleaner, and more organized. Only then did we realize that, even after the hotel mix-up, the agency had initially booked us into the most remote and least desirable room in the hotel. We ended up having to pack and move rooms in the early hours of the morning.

(3) Meals not covered during the first-day trip: Contrary to our itinerary, meals were not provided on the first day. We had to cover these costs out-of-pocket, with the agency only reimbursing us for lunch after a discussion with the manager.

1. Unreasonable Itinerary Planning:
We booked a 7-day safari trip through Imani but were not informed in advance about the overly rushed schedule. In practice, we only had 5 days of actual safari, with a significant portion of our time spent in transit. Our time in the Serengeti was rushed, limiting our encounters with wildlife. On the last day, with almost no activities scheduled by Imani, we had to independently arrange a village tour and a visit to a Maasai village. The agency failed to provide a clear and flexible itinerary that would have allowed us to adjust or reduce activities to enhance our experience.

2. Communication Shortfalls:
Although Imani uses communication apps such as WeChat, they did not provide these contact details in our email exchanges, hindering effective communication. Besides, during our initial email correspondence when we expressed enthusiasm about booking their tour, they did not supply a final itinerary, leading to numerous misunderstandings and errors during our trip.
3. The driver Fred is a very unprofessional and disrespectful guide. We did not feel that he prioritized the passengers' experience, and we even sensed his disdain. His unsatisfied behaviors include but are not limited to:

(1) UNAUTHORIZED USE OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS: The driver Fred, realized his camera was malfunctioning, and I told him that if he wanted to take photos, he could borrow the camera from mine when needed. However, on July 25, he took my camera without my consent, inserted his memory card, and used it to take photos. He even posted Instagram stories of him holding my camera. This was done without any apology and is the most incomprehensible and infuriating issue I encountered.

(2) POOR COMMUNICATION and Lack of Consideration During Safari: Throughout the safari, the driver dictated all movements without any discussion—driving when he decided and only stopping when he chose to. When I requested a brief stop to capture better photos of the lion family, he declined, claiming that we were not allowed to linger in that area (why? and why cannot we get the permission?). This made every wildlife sighting incredibly tense, as I was always worried about missing the opportunity to take photos. Such an experience was profoundly unsatisfactory.

(3) Neglect in Customer Experience: After exchanging Instagram accounts, I noticed that the photos he took after spotting a group of elephants closely were from a much better angle than ours, which was taken from a rear perspective. The prioritization of viewing angles seemed skewed to benefit Fred’s own photographic interests rather than providing guests with optimal wildlife viewing experiences, as evidenced by the superior angles of his photos compared to ours.

(4) Uncommunicated Personal Errands: The driver often had his own errands, such as delivering supplies to his friends or buying personal items. We understand that these tasks might be necessary, but he never informed us in advance nor did he communicate his plans to us.

After expressing our frustrations, the agency offered a paltry $250 refund and a complimentary airport transfer. It hardly compensated for the multitude of issues we experienced. The trip culminated in an apology from the manager, but it was too late. This trip has left such a negative impact that I am disinclined to visit Tanzania again. I have traveled to more than 30 countries and have lived in several countries, but had never had such a poor travel experience.

It is crucial to share our story to help others avoid similar negative experiences. The level of service provided by Imani was not only disappointing but unacceptable, and I caution potential travelers to carefully consider their options when booking a safari in Tanzania.

Other Safaris & Tours9  – Offered by Imani Excursions

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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Imani Excursions, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
  • Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. If flights cost more, your quote will reflect this.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
  • If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.