The BEST TOUR OPERATOR AWARDS
Usambara Trails Expedition
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- TTB & TANAPA
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
IT
Email Diletta Cammelli | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience, good driver.
Accomodation (we was in Tanapa cottage) was good and clean, also food is good.
The first day we stop eating in a Resturant in Morogoro which is not clean and i eat just rice.
We are very lucky and we see all kind of animal in Mikumi.
The driver was really kind and helpful.
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari experience!
We got a very good safari experience. Our guide picked us up was very nice and good at their cause. The trip from Dar es Salaam to the camp would take about 6 hours, but it took almost 9 hours for us when it was very many stops on the way to buy various things such as food, fruits, etc. We were not informed about this, which pulls down the score a bit when it became stressful when we arrived.
The camp is very close to nature. We had paid for a "luxury tent", which had its own shower and toilet. However, very basic and no AC / fan. Are you prepared for this it works very well, but we got a slight surprise.
The safari was at all really good! We were ourselves in the car with the guide and got to see a lot of animals, such as zebra, lion, giraffe, buffalo, crocodile, wildebeest, hippos etc .. We are very pleased with it.
The food at the camp also get good grades. We had a private chef who cooked three course meal that tasted really good!
We want to add extra weight to our guide who made the experience into something extraordinary! He was very knowledgeable and could answer any questions we had.
Email Steffi & Mak | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
5 days 4 nights private Safari in Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park
We booked with Usambara Expeditions a couple of months before our trip in July. The communication was ok from the start and we booked a private safari with Alex - the owner of the company. We paid 30% deposit upfront and got confirmation on receipt of the money. We got picked up at our hotel on the morning of the safari and were introduced to our guide Afra who spent the whole 5 days with us. He is very knowledgable and explained a lot to us during the tour. We felt really lucky to have such good company and couldn't fault him in any way. We decided for a budget safari and stayed in two different cottages in the parks which were both absolutely fine and the food was good in both. The game drives in Selous Game Reserve were our highlight as you can go off-road to look for the animals whereas you have to stay on the roads in any National Park. We saw all the animals we were hoping to see and Afra wouldn't give up until we had seen it all :) I would definately recommend Usambara Expeditions. The only reason why I haven't given a 5 star rating is that the communication before the trip could have been more pro-active and responses could have been quicker - however, having been in 'the bush' now I understand that having access to mobile reception and internet access can sometimes take a couple of days. Thank you for a very memorable time!
Email Sion Morton | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An excellent value for money safari
We had a four day / three night safari in Selous Game Reserve for four people, staying at Hippo Camp. Although my wife and I had been on safari before and knew what to expect, my parents (who had never travelled to Africa before) were apprehensive. We selected Usambara on the basis of the best price being offered and equally importantly for the responsiveness of Alex at Usambara to the frequent questions and specific requests that we made. Usambara were very helpful and willing to make changes to suit our tastes.
The safari itself was well organisedand problem free. We had a full itinerary (two full days in the park, a boat safari and a walking safari), which meant that we were able to see a wide variety of animal and bird life during the time in the park. Hippo Camp was conveniently located near the park entrance and offered spectacular sunsets over the Selous river each evening. Accomodation was perfectly acceptable for our budget range, and the food and service were very good. The only downside was the fact that power was turned off at 10pm, making for a hot and sweaty night without fans. All in all, a very memorable holiday.
NL
Email Repke de Vries | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our safari with Usambara Expeditions: punctual, dedicated and knowledgeable
For our two week early March 2016 Kenya - Tanzania trip we wanted to see friends, do all travel over land by bus, get some safari feel in Tanzania's Northern Circuit but focus on Ruaha National Park in the South and wrap up with Zanzibar beach days. Bookings were done from abroad, choosing Tanzanian companies based on reviews: we had no prior experience with any of them. Ultimately this means trust and with Usambara for our Ruaha safari that played out very well. So much so that after the safari they also handled our getting from Iringa (town closest to the park) to Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar and eventually back to Dar's international airport: a company that also handles your getting from A to B in a tailor-made way proved a real bonus.
Given that our time of visiting was not the best to spot game - long grass, dense bushes - the Usambara guide being local to this part of Tanzania nevertheless tracked many: unforgettable encounters with lions. lionesses and elephant families in particular. Ruaha National Park is firmly on our list for next time - be it in a different season.When that happens Usambara Expeditions will be our choice of safari company again.
NL
Email Andor | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
7-day safari in Tanzania northern parks
We can highly recommend Usambara. People are dedicated to making your journey an unforgettable experience. Thanks to our driver we've seen all big animals species and also some more rare ones like a caracal!
They make clients feel special. Alex, with whom we've had most contact in advance, came especially from Dar to Arusha to Welcome us! We selected this tour operator as it provided best value for money, and we were not dissapointed. In the end what really makes your trip is the quality of the guide and the accommodations you stay in. These accommodations were carefully selected by Usambara. The Tortilis tented camp in Serengeti really stood out. We've had one hick-up when our car broke down, but this was generously compensated with a nice day trip after our Safari had ended.
SE
Email Mari | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Easy to contact, fast response and able to provide à safari according to individual wishes
Overall à very good experience with different experiences! Our guide Apollo was very experienced and central for our positive safari. We say most of the animals living in this area (Selous Game Reserve) and we were almost alone which was very nice!
DE
Email Nicolas F. | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent experience !
We booked a 4 days / 3 nights Safari with Usambara and it was an excellent experience.
The camp is very nice on the river bank and our guide was really listening to us and what we wanted to see and do.
We stayed in "tents" and expected to sleep on the ground in a small usual tent, instead of that their vision of the tent is a 15m² room with solid walls, your own bathroom and an exceptional view on the river.
CA
Email Mayam Abida | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
very comfortable and knowledgeable and full of respect.
Communication was clear , service was good the driver and guide (Mike) wz knowledgable took good care of us and treated us with respect, very patient and if we complained of anything like heat or food he would take immediate action.
we took two tours with them first was a day trip to Zanzibar everything was very well organised
I am 80 years 0ld and comfort is very important to me and I got lots of it on the tour
I will recommend this company to other people.
DE
Email Charlotte | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had booked a very special tour, because we visited some private people/places on the tour. 4 peop
We had a very nice Safari-tour with Emanuel -starten in Arusha. First day Tarangiere - it was very hot this day, we had enough water and good support. Evening/nigth at Panaramacamp nearby Manjara Park. Good meals from a Cook (Rama!) - he cooked only for us! Lunch packet for the next day in Ngorongoro - very nice day! We saw a lot of animals! Back to Panoramacamp; next day to Manjara-park - again a nice Safari-day! Eveline in Arusha, private hotel. Next day to Moshi, evening in Hai, private house. Next das Drive to Lushoto - a Tour Guide was waiting for us and we had a nice Walk to Irente-lodge. Nice Place, but we werde the only guests there! Next das Walk with the Guide Anna through the rain-Wood — very, very nice and Special! Anna is a very nice guide! Irente Farm was a good experience! We had lunch there. Evening at Irente lodge- next das Drive to Tanga - Airport. Emanuel Never has been there, but we found it! Very small plane to Sansibar! Everything was good and in time - Sansibar was nice, but very hot. Thank you for helping us to have a wonderful time in Tansania! See you again in 2-3 years!