Paul and Everyne TRE Directors
Tanzania Roadside Expeditions
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2015)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, ASTA, TATO, TTB & TANAPA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $270 to $2,000 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
Email Jennifer | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Brilliant luxury tour - the adventure of a lifetime!
We booked the luxury Tanzania 9-day tour and loved every minute. Paul was great in planning and adjusting the trip to meet our requirements and answering questions in advance - it was extra important to us to have that contact and guidance given all the uncertainty of travelling during COVID. Our guide James met us at from the pick-up location as arranged and ensured everything went smoothly after that. This tour packs a huge amount in and we were left with so much thanks and admiration for James' hard work and friendly service which ensured we took in all the most wonderful highlights and saw the Big 5 at their best! The safari vehicle was high quality, clean and well maintained. All the hotels we stayed at were stunning and exceeded our expectations. This is a locally owned and run organisation and a great choice for your Tanzania adventure!
Email Igor | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing and unforgettable experience
It was our first Safari and also our first trip to Africa. The booking process was easy, Paul answered our questions promptly and we never felt like we were being pushed or "sold" anything. All interactions were very friendly and professional. The fluent level of english of everyone involved really made communication very easy.
We were quite impressed with the organization of the whole tour. Everything was carefully planned along with options and fallbacks. Every lodge had WiFi, porters, great breakfast choices and an easy check-in process. The car had 4WD, radio, shovel (which wasn't needed) and the driver really knew his way around the car. There were also device chargers, binoculars, a bluetooth speaker and a fridge available.
We were extremely happy with our driver guide — James — as he made us feel safe, comfortable and informed throughout the whole time showing deep knowledge of Tanzania, wildlife and and driving skills. This man had 15 years of experience and sharp vision that could spot wildlife that we wouldn't otherwise notice. He also went out of his way several times to give us access to animals and wildlife situations we would otherwise miss. We witnessed a live predator chase around our car, had a family of cheetas feasting just outside under our window, resting baby lions almost within touch distance and we were right in the middle of a family of elephants crossing the road. We left feeling very grateful for James.
After the end of the Safari we travelled to Zanzibar to have the most relaxing time ever.
We are very happy to have made this trip and would definitely LOVE to do it again!
Email Keri-Ann & Ben | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent communication and service from quote to safari. Incredible team and experience!
We chose Roadside for our first ever safari and were very impressed! Paul and the whole team designed and planned our days carefully and picked perfect lodges to stay at overnight after the long, incredible days.
Our guide Justin was so knowledgable about the areas, animals and of course has eagle eye vision to spot animals from a distance.
Day 1, we arrived in Arusha and were met by Justin and after a quick bag drop at the Melia in Arusha, headed out to see some local sights, in this case an incredible rainforest waterfall hike, local Masai coffee farmer showing us around his land & finally a taste of local cuisine. We would 100% recommend doing this to make use of the first travel day (not to mention the coffee was the best we’ve ever had)
Day 2, Tarangire it’s hard to put this into words but the area is incredible to be driven through, and while the only thing owner Paul would guarantee we would see was the Baobab tree we were incredibly lucky to witness a huge variety of animals this day with Justin expertly navigating the multitude of paths and spotting signs of animals. After the day was done we headed towards our lodge near N’gorogoro crater which also really enhanced the experience and was a great choice for a lodge.
Day 3 N’gorogoro conservation area, after an early breakfast & packed lunch from our lodge we headed out again. Rain overnight had made the routes here tricky but that was no issue for Justin who again expertly navigated us and was always keen to explain animals, landscape and the history of what we were seeing. After another very lucky day for animal spotting we headed back to the lodge for our 2nd and final night where we greeted by another great meal & some local entertainment.
Day 4, our final day of safari at Lake Manyara. By the end of this day we were sad to have to leave and head back on the plane, we managed to see so much but could easily have done it all again. After the park we chose to additionally visit a local Masai tribe who welcomed us with their traditional dance & showed us the village - something we will treasure forever.
Overall we will 100% be using Roadside again for our next trip and would recommend anyone looking for a great guide and package to do the same. Thankyou again to Paul & Justin.
LU
Email Carolyn and Paula | 65+ years of age
Dedicated and committed to their clients from start to finish.
My sister has taken Safaris in Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa many times (whilst this was my first Safari experience) and used tour operators both from our own country and from Africa. Her experience and opinion is that using a "local" agent provides a better service and value for money and we certainly made the right choice with Tanzania Roadside Expedition (TRE). We appreciated TRE' s trust in allowing us to make the final payment in cash on arrival. All offered and/or chosen accommodation was perfect except one where there was no Wi-fi or telephone in the rooms but this was due to the fact it was a recently opened operation. Hygiene and Covid regulations were fully practiced wherever we went and our Guide/Driver was also fully vaccinated.
In terms of timing, our advice would be to book a night flight arriving in a morning and plan to stay at least 2 nights on 2 of your accommodation stops. This will enable a good nights rest in-between long driving hours and a slightly later morning start on at least 2 days.
In our 8 day itinerary we made a round trip from Mount Kilimanjaro, to Tarangire National Park, to the Serengeti, then Ngorongoro National Park and Crater before returning via Arusha to Kilimanjaro. We profited from a Safari each day (whether on the drive between accommodation stops, or specific all day Safaris). At Tarangire our Luxury tented accommodation on a palm tree populated plain close to Lake Manyara boasted Giraffe, Mongoose, Elephants, Impala and magnificent views of the Rift Valley. This was an added bonus to start the trip with animals wandering around our accommodation providing super opportunities for photos.
Our driver, James, was an absolute delight. His knowledge was extensive but not intrusive given that he did not push information at us. He answered our questions and curiosity whilst still being able to concentrate on his safe driving and his incredible ability to spot even the tiniest of birds or animal whilst doing so. His spotting ability was admirable and we managed to see all of the big 5, plus much much more.
I had not realised that it would only be possible to alight the 4x4 Jeep at designated picnic areas (some of which were at the gates to each National Park) so dont expect to be able to stretch your legs every couple of hours! Our vehicle was adequate for the heavy pounding in the Parks. One or two seats were a little worse for wear; however as there were 6 seats to choose from it was not a problem. We coped with the heavy dust (thanks to our Covid masks).....and each day James had ensured the vehicle had been thoroughly cleaned.
Most days we were provided with a picnic lunch that varied as they were provided by the accommodation. Some were hot whilst others cold and on the whole good quality.
We were pleased we had chosen an individual itinerary and not traveled with others and can honestly recommend Tanzania Roadside Expeditions. It felt right from our initial contact, on-going communication, patience in changing some of our accommodation choices, value for money and their genuine desire to please their clients. A Big thank you!! We will be back.
SE
Email jonas | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Superbly organized safari and Zanzibar holiday
Our family of 5 (children aged 21,18 and 15) went on a 15 day tour in Tanzania with 5-day safari and a Zanzibar stay, organized by Tanzania Roadside Expeditions. We chose to book directly with TRE, rather than going via an agency where we live (Sweden), for two main reasons: higher flexibility and lower cost. (This was also after recommendations from a former tour organizer in Sweden who used to rely on the services of TRE for their safaris)
Communication during the planning process was smooth - Paul, the managing director - was always quick to iterate and take our requests into account, where we had any. For example we wished to add a hiking day and Paul suggested a Kilimanjaro day trip which we added to the program (this, for instance, was not possible with the Swedish operators I also discussed with)
We made the booking in January 2020, and were supposed to travel in June that year. Shortly after our booking, Covid hit and we had to reschedule everything. Here the company was very professional and easy to communicate with and typically replied to all emails within the day. We ended up re-scheduling two times before we finally could go through with the trip in december 2021.
Upon arrival, we were met at the airport by our guide, James, who was with us during the mainland stay (first 7 days). The safari program was very well organized. James was very knowledgeable with 12 years experience as safari guide, and expertly guided us to through Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro and was able to answer all our questions. During five days we saw countless animals - including all of the big 5, hordes of wild beast and zebras, giraffes and elephants. We even witnessed a chase where three lionesses took down a zebra right in front of our vehicle. All in all I must say it even exceeded our (high) expectations.
Our tour also included a day hike on Kilimanjaro (up to 2700m, accompanied by a mountain guide), before we transferred to Zanzibar. In Zanzibar we stayed in Stone town, where we also had a guided tour, and stayed on two resorts on the east shore.
Logistics of the trip was smooth - our safari guide and the safari vehicle (a Toyota Landcruiser) took us everywhere from arrival in Arusha until departure to Zanzibar. In Zanzibar the operator had arranged for a driver to take us conveniently between our destinations on the island.
Quality of accomodation was overall very high. The different lodges we stayed at during the Safari were all well run, clean and comfortable. This also included two nights in a tented camp (with in-tent shower/bathroom) in Serengeti. The Zanzibar arrangements also lived up to our expectations, in particular Tembo hotel in Stone Town and the Spice Island Resort which were truly excellent.
All in all we are very happy with the decision to let Tanzania Roadside Expeditions arrange our Tanzania holiday, and I believe we got good value for our money. Compared to some offers we got from Swedish agencies, our trip was both more extensive, more flexible and much better priced.
I would not hesitate to recommend Tanzania Roadside Expeditions to anyone considering a Tanzania holiday.
SE
Email Linda | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and friendly
Our experience of Roadside Tanzania is great! We especially liked our guides, Emanuel and Justin. Also the lodges Maramboi and Farm House were fantastic!
Overall a great experience with a very welcoming and professional comapany. I can recommend them to everyone.
We were 5 adults and 5 children (age ranging from 6-70 years old) and it was a great experienc for everyone.
SE
Email Linnéa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Camping safari: what a beautiful adventure!
My mother and I went on a four day (three nights) camping safari, tailored by Paul after our wishes. It was an unforgettable experience - thanks to our guide Justin. A camping safari is a beautiful adventure! We loved the feeling of being close to nature and the simplicity of bathing in cold water and sleeping in tents. Justin, our guide, was very professional and proved to have a lot of experience and a wonderful sense of humour. He spotted rhinos (among other animals), and we especially enjoyed how Justin took time to stop, so we had time to observe the life of the wild animals: a blessing. Apart from the game drive, it is nice to see the close collaboration and mutual respect between guides from different safari companies. Overall, we can gladly recommend a camping safari with Tanzania Roadside Expeditions to anyone who longs for a safari adventure. In addition to this, we felt it to be a true luxury that a private cook accompanied us, Eliot, who cooked us delicious food and took notice of our food requests. Thank you, Justin and Eliot, for unforgettable days in Serengeti and Ngorongoro!
ES
Email Marcelo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Native perspective without worries during adventures
We had a wonderful time during a full week of safari across different landscapes from the parks in Tanzania-Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, wrapping up with a couple of days in Zanzibar. Paul, Ezekiel and the crew were awesome in organizing the whole trip and giving as much of a native perspective such a trip allows. Unforgettable!
QA
Email Paul | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded our hopes!
We had the most amazing experience. So many up-close encounters with 4 of the big 5. We did see a Rhino as well, but he was further away. The 4 were within 5 metres of the vehicle. Our guide, Emmanuel could not go enough for us, and also took great care on the road. The lodges we stayed were amazing as well. A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
DE
Email Alan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great one day trip to Kilimanjaro mountain
We´ve been on the one day trip to Kilimanjaro mountain with our guide Godlove and Ezekiel. It was really a beautiful daytrip, our guide had lots of experience climbing the Kilimanjaro. A very friendly atmosphere. We had a great day!