Team Shemeji Safari Tanzania
Shemeji Safari Tanzania
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2015)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $180 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
CH
Email Prisca | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
From start to end a great experience
Booking with Shemeji Safari was made very easy and the contact with people was throughout very friendly.
On the safari itself, we were well looked after and the lodges were all very nice and in stunning locations. It was my first safari and if I went again, I would use them again.
CN
Email Trevino | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We believe we are trapped and treaded unfairly
We are 4 friends and booked our trip to Tanzania from 09/24 - 10/4. And we’ve planned our trip like more than half year ago, we are so looking forward to have an impressive and unforgettable trip. But it turned out that we are just trapped and treated unfairly:
1) Request are neglected
during the book，we have highlighted that we need twin room(2 beds in 1 room), and the company had confirmed the request in our itinerary in the email. But it turned out that the company just ignored the request and there are always only 1 bed in 1 room.
During the Serengeti safari, we can overcome the difficulty as there is only 1 night and with the help of receptionist, we finally have 2 beds in one room. Although 1 is king size the other is baby size.
But when we arrived at Zanzibar, there are straight 3 nights! And when we turn to receptionist, he confirmed that there is no request for the room and it cannot be arranged. At the time I called Mirene, our customer service representative from the company, she just said I NEVER request!!!
2) forgot to arrange activities with payment
We booked dolphin adventure and but there no one knows the schedule onsite.
We check with the reception desk, they let us ask the excursions and taxi office. And the office asked us to wait at the front desk today at 6 am….
We just wait at front desk today at 6 am as we are told, but there is no driver, the receptionist tried to call someone to help. And we are waiting half an hour. The driver finally showed up and took us to the North saying the staff forgot to arrange the adventure to us. And because it is too late, cannot take us to the south, which list in our itinerary, he can only take us to the north as it is closer.
3) Payment change without notice
We are informed fully that the credit card payment rate is 2.5%, but when we pay it was updated to 3%. We find the balance is not right and reached out to the company and only when they told us that because the government changed the rate.
4) careless and time wasting
We have reported to the company on 10/1 and want to have a solution of the unhappiness, and till now 11/11 we don’t have the solution. And the reply just keep saying they are contacting accountant (don’t understand why need to contact the person) and asking the same question even though we have demonstrated exactly in the email of what we need and what happened.
the route of keeping letting us down in summary
A. the credit card payment rate rise from 2.5% to 3% without notice until we find the difference. And we accept it;
B. Full of lies: One of my friends reached out to Mirene to help know who is our pickup guy at airport. And Mirene replied she will contact me to confirm. And I never received her email so I have to write to her. And she wrote me back” she never got message from my friend” ( we have both WhatsApp and email record if you need). Again we accept it.
C. During the safari, the room is also only 1 bed. As you may know already. We accept it with the receptionist help.
When we back to Arusha, we immediately write back to Mirene that we are very happy with our arrangement as we want to know the time that pick up tomorrow! And of course, you may need to give credit to wild animals who help erase our unhappiness.
D. And finally our disappointment has reached to its ultimate level in Zanzibar when we step into our room. So I immediately write email to the company but they just keep pulling back and forth.
We truly want to know, the difficulty the company set for us is because we are Asian? or more specifically speaking, we are treated unfairly is because we are Chinese?
Reply from Shemeji Safari Tanzania
Posted on Nov 15, 2023Dear Trevino,
Thank you for your feedback. We want to clarify the situation by discussing every point you mentioned in your review.
1)You have booked a Camping Budget Tent Safari with us, these tents are always equipped with two single beds. As we were not fully booked in the camps during the period you were on Safari, the managers in each camp upgraded you to a Comfort Tent. Our Comfort Tents are all furnished with a double bed and a single bed. We do not have baby-sized beds in our Tents. In Zanzibar, you were also upgraded from a Luxury Room to a Premium Room. In these rooms, there is also always a double bed and a single bed. Our customer service was available for you at all times and you confirmed that everything was to your satisfaction.
2) The dolphin tour was scheduled for 9 am in the morning, as was communicated in advance. However, you were already at the reception at 6 am. For your convenience, our team organized a transfer immediately and a driver was there to pick you up 30 minutes later. As it is impossible to know the exact whereabouts of the dolphin at the time of booking the location of the tour was changed. This is why your dolphin tour took place in the northern part of Zanzibar Island. After the tour, you also verbally told our customer service that the excursion was to your satisfaction.
3)When you made a credit card payment at the beginning of 2023, the payment provider surcharge was 2.5%. This credit card fee has since been increased to 3%, which was also communicated via the last invoice sent to you.
This Safari group contacted us via E-Mail multiple times. They blatantly asked for a 20% refund of the total itinerary price and blackmailed the company, threatening to publish negative reviews on major internet platforms unless we complied with their demands.
As a multinational company with a diverse workforce from more than 25 countries and 4 continents, we reject your accusation of racism in the strongest terms possible. In this testimonial, you also specifically mention our sales team member Mirene. She has been working for the company for several years and there has never been a complaint about her - neither internal nor external. Mirene is a beloved and valued colleague and we strongly disapprove of your criticism and personal attacks toward her.
For your reference, we gladly provide the positive evaluation form filled in by this Safari group.
CH
Email Gabriella | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable and great Experience
We booked a 5 day Safari including Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Organisation was perfect. The lodges are very close to nature and really beautiful. The staff is very friendly and helpful. We saw a lot of animals and were compleately satisfied. We would recommend Shemeji Safari.
Email Peter | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent and helpful
We had a great Safari, great accomodation, airport pickup and drop-off was very helpful, communication was excellent with Monica on whatsapp to answer all questions promptly.
Email Richard Symonds | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience
We had a great time on our safari, from the outset we had great communications and all of our questions were answered promptly. Everything ran smoothly on the safari, all of the accommodations were amazing! Ezekiel our guide was great, very knowledgeable and we never felt rushed. Overall was 10/10 for us! Definitely recommend to anyone thinking of going
RU
Email Irina Beresneva | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of my life
Our whole journey from the first day to the last is a fairy tale, opening new and new pages every day. We just fell in love with Africa. We highly appreciated the comfort provided by the company. We understand that Shimeji Safari Tanzania has done everything possible for us to take away a piece of Africa in our heart. We will recommend Shimeji Safari Tanzania to all friends. and we would love to come back one day again. Our driver, friend, translator from/ to Swahili, defender Kosmas will always be in our memories.
DE
Email Philipp | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful holiday!
Wonderful holiday trip with a very friendly guide and excellent driver.
DE
Email Beatrice Metivier Kapteina | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything was realy good
The location of the lodge was ideal. The tents there were great, very friendly staff, delicious food and you could even see zebras, wildebeests and monkeys there. Our guide was always on time, knew his way around and had a lot of information for us.
NL
Email Nicole Van Rooij | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional organization with a lot of knowledge and flexibility. Unforgettable vacation!
Professional organization. Communication prior to trip pleasant, where the wishes of our family (2 adults and 2 teenage daughters) and any adjustments were picked up and incorporated into our safari trip. Our ranger (Herman) was great. He definitely made a difference, with his wealth of knowledge and he always had answers to all our questions. Also always felt safe. For us, a 4-day safari was enough, where we did the combination 1 day Tarangire Park, 2 days Serengeti and 1 day Ngorongoro. The lodges were fantastic. Great food and staff very attentive. So in summary with one word WONDERFUL! Thank you Shemeji and Herman!!
Email Hayden Jones | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nothing short of incredible.
We expected it to be good and it covered all that we could have hoped for. The experience itself was special but what made it incredible was our driver/guide.
I can't compliment Khalid enough, such an interesting guy with huge passion for what he does, friendly, excitable, attentive and an all round pleasure to be in the company of.
I would not hesitate to book again and would be sure to point any friends and family if your direction should they look to take a similar trip.