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Tours by Locals (aka Kiliholidays)
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2004)
- Member Of:
- TATO, TTB, KINAPA, MNRT & TPO
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
-
TZ
- Price Range:
- $50 to $400 ppper person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Benfedila | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just amazing!! Thank you
Thank you very much!! My wish came true !!
My guide Thomas and Mack, the director was very professional and passionate!
It's was the best experience in my life!
Email Margarita | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A horrible journey and attitude
I regret the day I got in touch with this company. It was my expensive and pointless sport in my life - walk to Mandara Hut. 380 dollars (for 2 persons) for bringing you to a place from where you can not see anything beautiful.
The terrible experience began when it was time to start a new day with new adventures. We got up early in the morning to have breakfast before Kili Holidays arriving to the hotel to pick-up us. They arrived instead of the time (at 7:00) with an hour's delay (at 8:00), and only when they were called. There were 3 men in the car: a driver, a guide and a person who was collecting money. Nothing was arranged. We all went out to lunch boxes. It was only then that the journey began (from Arusha for more than two hours until Mandarin trail).
When we get there, a guide was no money to pay for the entrance. I need to pay this, although it was included in the price (we get back money when we arrive, but it shows the attitude). Upon starting the route, the guide said that we could not get up to the end, because we had to be back in time (although they were the ones who delayed). We went up to Mandara Hut, because we climbed quickly (there's nothing to see). The guide does not even lead us to the magnificent waterfall 200 meters from Route (the Mandara waterfall). I only noticed this when we returned (watching a photo on the Internet).
On the way home, I heard that the guide told the driver about the company and then I understood that none of them was working at Kiliholidays. They have been taken from the edge at the last minute.
Upon returning to hotel, a man who at start of the day charged money from us, was waiting us. (To make sure about how we liked, but in reality - he did not care. He thought he would get some tip, or something).
No one spoke to us either during the trip or during the climb.
We paid a lot of money just to be able to climb the beautiful trail and see and find out exactly nothing.
This company is badly organized.
Email Virginie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A good experience with kiliholidays tours
There is a good agence. The communication is easy by email .They have a good driver Thomas , and The tour is very interesting. The lodges booked are very good , we always had a good welcome.
Email Seunghee Oh | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing!
We booked 4days safari tour via Kiliholidays Tour.
The manager of travel agency was trying to satisfy all we wanted and we were satisfied, too. He came to us, when we had just arrived at our hotel after finishing safari tour, to hear review from us. These kinds of efforts can be upgraded quaility of tours from Kiliholiday Tour.
We were also happy with our guide(driver) and cook because they were enthusiastic about their duty. Guide had a lot of knowledge about animals, plants, etc. and foods made by cook were really delicious.
I already miss my days in Tanzania. Hope to visit again :)
Email Gerard | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Intesting safari tour in the south of Tanzania during the rainy season
The itinerary of the tour is very good; well filled with a lot of variation. The driver / guide only joined us during day time (not at breakfast, not at diner) and did not talk too much. This way, our privacy was respected and we highly appreciated this behavior. Price / quality ratio of the offered tour is ok. Organization and driver both appeared flexible. Selected lodges were nice.
The jeep was good and comfortable but was not sufficiently equipped with tools needed to repair the car (inappropriate jack, no towline, torch etc.), this can be improved. The traffic in Tanzania is very slow; commuting from one location to the other takes a lot of time. It would be appreciated if the amount of commuting can be minimized / optimized. The driver could drive faster were permitted.
Email Mario | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great cultural experience in KIlimanjaro National Park and around
Good alternative to know Kilimanjaro NP, in case that you decide not to climb it. History about National Park and trekking n the slope of the mountain, in a cultural trip inside local people villages.
Email alla1510 | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our guide Thomas was great.
My husband and I booked a 3 day private tour into Selous game reserve from 02 to 04 February with Kiliholidays. We reserved by paying 1/2 down and paid the remainder upon commencing the safari. We too had trepidation about paying more than 6 months in advance, but the
company is honest. We kept in touch with Mack Kornelio by WhatsApp and arranged the pickup in Dar es Salaam thru this means as well. Mack is responsive.
Thomas met us at our hotel in Dar es Salaam on the dot at the prearranged hour. He was super throughout the whole trip explaining fauna and flora as we went along. He is a great driver and professional guide and I can recommend him hands down.
The negative portion of our trip was the nightly camp. Here USD 500 and 50,000 shillings were stolen from us by the staff at the Selous Jimbiza Camp from our locked lodge. We were the only guests, thus later the police ruled the theft as an inside job. Everything about this camp was negative - slow to react, simple breakfast not on time, food barely palatable. Simple hot water for coffee in the morning took too long despite stating the night before we’d leave at 0630h for the game drive. They would not even power on their generator because the camp had “its” schedule. I asked the ceiling fan at the restaurant to be turned on during lunch because it was very hot but got the response it would be at extra charge being outside generator hours! Jimbiza is not customer focused and contains thieves.
Kiliholidays subcontracted to Jimbiza and Mack promised to sever relations with them upon hearing of the theft. I hope relations will be terminated not only by Kiliholidays but all other tour operators for the sake of future safari participants. However with this incident, Mack showed support for clients. He and Thomas talked and agreed to involve the police. Thomas took the initiative to take the room attendant to the police station in our vehicle with ourselves. He knows how to deal with local procedure. Thus we had an unexpected adventure to see Mloka police in action.
All in all I can recommend Kiliholidays for safari tours.
Email Helene | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
We had a professional guide and they custom made our trip after our wishes.
Be careful of long and bumpy drives, but it’s worth it for the animals.
Good communication and good price.
I am very happy with the trip, I give 4 stars because one can always get better.
Thank you!
Email Michael | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best value for money and very accomodating!!!
Kiliholidays Tours & Safaris were always responsive to all my emails and questions, and got back to me very quickly. They provided a detailed itinerary of our safari and they come as advertised, as well as being flexible to meet our needs. I reached out to 10 different safari operators and Kiliholidays gave us a price in a 5-star luxury accommodation (the best hotel we've ever stayed at!!!) at a price that was cheaper than others in budget camping accommodation. I would highly recommend Kiliholidays and I will only use them when booking a Tanzanian safari in the future!
Email Leyla | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was excellent tour.
We were in mikumi park. We saw all animals even lions and gepard. Our guide was English speaking and he know everything about mikumi park and animals who lives there. We had good open safari car and very comfortable loudge - Bastian. It was clean and beautiful and colorful chilling area. Transfers were all in time. Strongly recommend
Disclaimer
- All corporate and/or tour info is provided by Tours by Locals (aka Kiliholidays), not SafariBookings