Zanzibar office team ready for your services
Soul of East Africa Safaris (Uhuru Travel)
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2007)
- Member Of:
- TATO, ZATO & ZATI
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Mid-range & luxury)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Sharon | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
TERRIBLE GUIDE
We started out with a great guide, George, bu the jeep broke down so we wasted a day waiting for the jeep to be fixed. The guide stayed with the jeep and we got a new guide. The new guide didn't tell us anything about what we were looking for, he didn't communicate with us, speak English, and was generally just kind of a jerk. It was exceptionally disappointing for the 4 day safari. Maybe Uhuru is fine but I hope they never use Jonas as a guide again or make sure you don't end up with Jonas.
Good value for money but chaotic communication
I booked a 7 day Safari to Tanzania.
Presales communication was promptly.
We agreed on travel plan.
Pickup was waiting for me at the airport.
That’s where the communication broke down. The original plan was changed with the night before notifying me that I have to be ready for travel instead of a day later.
Safari driver seems very inexperienced especially when compared to the second one when I changed cars half way through.
I had to talk to the driver to get the last 2 days rearranged since his itinerary didn’t match up with the trips I booked.
Eventually I covered all spots I wanted to go to but my 3rd and last driver didn’t even know I had to be dropped off in a Arusha again.
I also have to contact multiple people to get the drop off at the airport arranged which was part of the package.
The office in Arusha doesn’t exist (shown on their webpage). Another travel agency on that road never heard of them. It is a single person without office who is in Arusha.
Summary:
Price was good. At the end we covered every location. The driver can be a hit and miss.
Once you paid the communication becomes difficult.
Be ready to be proactive and check everything at least once yourself.
Email Kate | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Guide was fine. Tour was different to the itinerary. The mattress, tent & sleeping bags were gross
Advise if the tour is different to what is proposed . Advise us to bring sleeping bags as those were disgusting and we both had bed bugs
Reply from Soul of East Africa Safaris (Uhuru Travel)
Posted on Jan 14, 2019Thanks Kate for your personal reviews. About the Itinerary due to other clients you are sharing safari with starting their safari in Serengeti thus why the itinerary was changed by our partner to accommodate each client! We have been operating Camping Safari for the past 12 years we had never had such complain, explained by you as "Gross" Nothing like that in our Tents and Sleeping Bags. That have been exaggerated but its not the case. Our Gears are being washed after every trip for our clients comfort. And am sure also our partner Gears did not have such things! Anyway we shall make sure even our partner are free from such problem (Uhuru Travel Team)
IN
Email Abbas | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Average, not personal and providing misleading information.
Uhuru travels had given name and no. of person would be our guide and driver for 3 days. They changed the person without even informing us. It seemed Uhuru has sub contracted our trip to someone else. There was no personal contact. The driver himself did not know who he worked for.
Did not get value for money on this trip.
Reply from Soul of East Africa Safaris (Uhuru Travel)
Posted on Oct 26, 2016Dear Abbas,
Thanks so much for your reviews though its also misleading to the other clients about Uhuru Travel. Why misleading? We did provide you will all the details of your safari to Mikumi. Unfortunately you show signs of problem on the mid way when having lunch the driver guide called me and inform me that you do not have any information of about your safari. Why did you agreed to pay safari and be ready to enjoy it? What convince you to pay if you did not have any information? Mr. Nestor was together with the other driver looked into your phone and the program was in your phone!! They were 2 Jeeps on that day and all were our Driver Guides. I am 100% sure you did enjoy your safari and everything went well. We appreciate your business to us.
Uhuru Travel Team
Email Seppo | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Not what expected for 1600 USD/person.
Six nights in Serengeti. First night in Impala Hotel in Arusha was awful. We did'nt have electricity in the room and in the bathroom. Breakfast was awful. Never accept Impala Hotel ! Tour and guide itself was good. The standard was not what was promised. Luxory tented camp was far from luxory tent. I have been in a luxory tent as well. Arrangements in Arusha at the end of the tour were poor. 1600 USD price/person is far too high compared with the standard.
Email John | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A great Safari marred by a VERY poor quality vehicles - no satisfaction in getting replacements
Uhuru Travel regarding the vehicles provided for our recent safari with that company.
The vehicles advertised by Uhuru Travel were not provided and very inferior old vehicles were used despite our requests for replacements. We expected a vehicle similar to that in the pictures sent to us in an email but were transported in the sub-standard vehicles.
Apart from the age of the vehicle (manufactured in 1999, hence 20 years old), it had many unsafe features, namely:-
1. We were unable to open the one passenger door from inside the cabin - see pic 4 - jammed up against the seat and difficult to use
2. The seatbelts were difficult to attach and impossible to tighten
3. There was no left-hand rearview mirror - see pic 9
4. The seals were in a poor state
5. The bull-bar was dragging and had to be tied up - see pic 10
6. The seats were extremely uncomfortable - the backs were leaning uncomfortably too far whilst the seats all sloped making for a VERY uncomfortable ride
7. There was only one panic handle with considering the uneven and very bumpy roads further exacerbated the uncomfortable ride
8. The driver had to push up and down his window which was unsafe
9. Limited visibility through the windows
Finally, we paid extra for an upgrade of a vehicle which was not forthcoming.
We were given several promises to replace the vehicle with a better version followed by a number of excuses as to why we had to wait another day for one to be sent. No replacement vehicle was provided. Quote from a director "You don't need a Ferrari for a Safari".
We feel that this company has not been honest with us and has made what should have been a holiday to remember with pleasure and amazement to one of disappointment. We also feel that they have let you (Safari Booking Company) down. We can hardly recommend you or them as reliable sources for safaris in the future.
You may have noted our comments regarding our safari experience on TripAdvisor. I hope the above confirms our poor rating as being far from unfair.
Email Sandra Green | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Did not deliver on promises despite our constant concerns
We have just returned from a safari in Kenya and Tanzania. The accommodation was as expected as we checked the lodges online prior to booking to check the level. However the vehicles in both countries weren’t even road/safety worthy and did not look like the picture we received from Abdallah, the owner, prior to booking. To add insult to injury, we paid extra to ensure we had a comfortable vehicle. In both countries we had by far the worst vehicle seen anywhere. One was over 20 years old with lots of safety and comfort issues. When we complained we were told lies after lies and were strung along. Eventually they said all they’re required to do is give us a vehicle that works! I would strongly suggest you do not deal with this company as they’re not trustworthy.
NL
Email Nick & Anke | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari, poor organisation
The safari itself was great, beautiful nature and nice to see all the animals.
Unfortunately, the organisation and service of Uhuru travel was very bad and no value for money. There was no pick-up from our accommodation, the game drive started more than 2 hours too late, there was no breakfast on the first and third day, and the group size was larger than communicated. Moreover, we were placed on a campsite which we did not book for and we had to pay again to stay at the right campsite.
Reply from Soul of East Africa Safaris (Uhuru Travel)
Posted on Mar 20, 2019We are happy that safari organized by Uhuru Travel & Tours Ltd was "Great" And you fall in love with our nature and wildlife. We are very sorry for not being pick up in time at your hotel. Your hotel was outside Arusha Town. Normally we have free pick up and drop off in any hotel within Arusha Town. We were picking other clients from nearby Hotels but unfortunately you decided to come to Arusha Town-Meeting point by yourselves but my Operations Manager was coming to your hotel. I am not sure if you did not had breakfast on first and third day while the group is normally traveling with private cook! Its not normal. Why you did not inform the office the same time and you had all the contacts? Size of the group is normally 4 for small Jeep and 6 for extended Jeep of which are normally size. Its can not excide that number! Camp Site they are not hotels but just an open space to pitch Tents so it can be changed to suites the group needs. Thanks for coming with us to Safari and am sure you did enjoyed 98% of your safari. We promise next time all the clients will be well informed about pick up and drop off, Camp Sites, Size of the Group etc.
LU
Email Steve | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
What can you expect, not the extra mile.....
I made my decision for Uhuru because they offered the tour I wanted to do and their price was good. We had several exchange of mails and all went quite well. We realised after that the plan they proposed was unrealistic and the driver, who was excellent, told us it was always like that. Mostly by companies based in Zanzibar....
For the payment, keep some of the total with you. There are always, always, always changes...T.I.A
Still enjoy, beautifull part of the world.
Reply from Soul of East Africa Safaris (Uhuru Travel)
Posted on May 19, 2018Thanks for your mail and also the complements. The issue is Asilia Camps push up their last minutes rates and we had no options. The Issue of concession fees has been introduced from 2017. If you compare the price for last minutes and their real price then you still got the best price, i do not see any reason of complaining! The price per night in Sayari Camp you booked in was $900+ per night means its was like $1800 for 2 nights for accommodation only! But you got it for only $1500 for All Inclusive Accommodation and Return flights to Serengeti from Zanzibar. The above complains has been addressed and such things will never happen to any other client. In case of any increments we shall inform our clients accordingly in advance.
Yours Faithfully,
Uhuru Travel & Tours Ltd Team.
Email Dagmar | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Nice tour ... but appalling customer service
I must say, I am really disappointing by Uhuru.
The good organisation upfront promised a great adventure, but instead we got an old uncomfortable car that had to go to repairs 3 (!!) times during our tour. And it rained through the roof and I couldn't open my window. All in all not ruining a tour, as the game drives were fantastic and the hotels really nice. But as we reached out after the tour to give our feedback, the reaction was that we were accused to have made things up. Unbelievable!!!