Mr. Ibrahim Mruma, Managing Director
Luitours and Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2018)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $150 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Polly | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
They provided us with and outstanding experience!
We initially booked a 12 day southern circuit (Nyerere, Mikumi, and Ruaha) safari through Luitour and then modified the trip to include an extra 4 days of the northern circuit (Tarangire, Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater). We modified it again to add a balloon ride in the Serengeti. Ibrahim was on top of everything and we could not have been happier with our guide, Khalifa, the hotels/camps, the safaris, and the additional activities. We chose the southern circuit for a chance to see the wild dogs (we didn’t) and to get away from the hundreds of vehicles that crowd the northern parks. It felt a lot more authentic and the experience was fantastic. Each park has their specialty and I have a hard time deciding which one I liked the best, but I’m already thinking about returning (again!). We really enjoyed the visit to the Masai village outside of Mikumi and I don’t think I would have said the same thing if we had done it in the north. The pilars of Isimila were outstanding and I highly encourage a visit to the rock art north of Dodoma if you have a chance. This is a UNESCO experience.
The northern circuit was added because two of the three of us had never been to the Serengeti and the Crater, so we decided to brave the crowds and the dust and add that to our trip. And yes, it’s definitely worth it. Because there are so many vehicles, some of the more difficult animals to see are more easily spotted and that information is shared. But it also means you can have 20+ vehicles jockeying for position to see the desired animal. The Crater is special and one of few places to see the black rhino (we saw a mother and baby at the last moment before we left).
We wore our lucky underwear and saw over 74 lions, 9 cheetahs, 2 leopards, 1 serval, 2 black rhinos, hyenas, and everything else (but wild dogs, not complaining). We had lions on a kill, cubs, and a little bit of unsuccessful hunting. We saw a cheetah with 5 young cubs. Khalifa made sure that we all got quality time with whatever interested us as individuals or as a group. As a result, we had some amazing experiences. The vehicle is roomy and comfortable with optimal viewing for everyone. It is also maintained regularly, but also be aware the roads are bumpy and things can happen. We had flat tire, but it took 12 minutes to change. Khalifa was an excellent spotter, driver, and a joy to be around. The lodging was also very comfortable. If you haven’t done a tent lodge, it is like very nice glamping. The tents have real and comfortable beds, bathrooms attached with running water, and a chance to hear the lions in the camp at night. The food was very good, a mix of Western and African food. Most places have wifi, but it usually only works near the reception and restaurant, but you are on vacation, so put your phones and tablets away. Find some lucky underwear and book!
DE
Email Mohammed | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing experience without a the tiniest bit of doubt!
Our safari at Mikumi National Park was an amazing experience! We had a big time together with our guide Katuku.
Highly recommended tour, definitely cannot go wrong with that!
IT
Email Giuseppe | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
1 day safari to Nyerere park
It was a unique short but very intense experience .. we had a jeep all to ourselves with two fantastic guides who allowed us to see many animals in their natural habitat (lions, elephants, wildebeests, giraffes, monkeys, zebras ecc)
Email Jayesh Patel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!
Ibrahim, together with our safari tour guide Godlisten, are both very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I cannot recommend them both enough.
Ibrahim was patient with me whilst I asked a *lot* of questions and gave me advice throughout together with the help of Godlisten. Ibrahim arranged stays at impressive and comfortable lodges for reasonable rates, possibly on the higher end of midrange and what we planned to pay but it was an unforgettable experience. I booked a 5 day midrange safari for two people, which we ended up extending with an extra day. All accommodation and the jeep were accessible to my mum who has some slight mobility issues from her arthritis and knee issues.
Day 0: we arrived two days before our safari was meant to start but Ibrahim was able to arrange a transfer to Arusha by our guide, Godlisten.
Day 1: we left Arusha and visited Tarangire and stayed at Farm of Dreams Lodge. The lodge was beautiful and had great amenities, albeit we didn't get to use them much with just an overnight stay. Tarangire was a great taster for what we could expect to see on safari.
Day 2-3: we stayed at Serengeti Safari Lodge for two nights which was a very impressive and pretty luxurious lodge, including a private shower outside in the Serengeti attached to the room. The Serengeti itself is incredible, and in hindsight I wish we stayed a day or two longer. We managed to witness a lot of wildebeest migration but due to timing not too much 'action' from carnivores. I now understand why people can go on Safari for several weeks as there's really near infinite possibilities of what you might witness in wildlife. On Day 3 we did a balloon safari which Ibrahim was able to arrange at a slightly discounted rate versus what we would have paid at the booths.
Day 4: we stayed at Rhino Lodge which was in the cold/wet side of Ngorongoro, great amenities again. Ngorongoro is beautiful and will leave you speechless when you first enter. We had managed to see four of the big five in Tarangire and Serengeti but thankfully with Godlisten's eyesight we were able to see a Black Rhino in the middle of Ngorongoro from quite a distance. We had a really close experience with a lion and two lionesses taking a nap right next to our jeep.
Day 5: we sadly headed away from Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara. Ibrahim and Godlisten had suggested to me when booking that it might be worth skipping and spending more time in the Serengeti but I wanted to visit Lake Manyara as my mum had previously visited there with her school from Arusha. Sadly due to flooding and climate change it seems Lake Manyara isn't really worth visiting but nevertheless it was interesting albeit saddening to see. Midway through our time in Lake Manyara we decided we'd like to extend our safari by one day as we felt Manyara wasn't really worth it and we hoped to end our tour with slightly better memories/experiences. Unfortunately it would have been too expensive to return to the Serengeti so if you're thinking of extending try and discuss before leaving Ngorongoro! We decided to visit Tarangire again and Ibrahim arranged for another night at a lodge in Mto wa Mbu at Ngare Lodge. Before this we visited some souvenir shops, a tanzanite experience and some local art. We also visited a maasai village. We also stopped over in Karatu to visit a shop my uncle once worked at over 50 years ago which is now demolished. We then stayed overnight at Ngare Lodge, which is great!
Day 6: we visited Tarangire for a second time. Our main objective was hopefully to see Cheetahs but we knew it would probably be unlikely in the long grass. Cheetahs were the only animal we hadn't seen at all unfortunately and sadly we didn't see any - but it's a reminder of how 'random' wildlife can be. Godlisten tried everywhere and tried to discuss with other tour guides if they had seen any but sadly we didn't get to see any. But we did get to see some really unforgettable moments with elephant groups and families greeting each other and rolling around in mud. After a while we decided to call time and headed back to Arusha. Really was quite sad it ended on the journey back.
All the staff at the lodges were incredibly welcoming and food was really enjoyable at each venue and had great vegetarian options.
I would also like to give a huge thanks to our guide, Godlisten Williams. His jeep was very comfortable for two people and he was extremely knowledgeable and personable. He was able to spot animals from a distance and give us some information and history throughout the journey. He also made sure we had water and a packed lunch for every day and kept us entertained throughout.
The only thing I would've changed is spending more time in Serengeti and not visiting Lake Manyara - but it was nevertheless a flawless well-organised tour and one of my favourite experiences. If I were to do a safari again in the future I would also try and wake up earlier so there's more time for game drives as you might encounter more animals or situations that way.
Email Stephanie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Once in a lifetime safari experience
Ibrahim from Luitours safari company responded relatively quickly to WhatsApp and email. The process of safari and payment was smooth. The itinerary was flexible and tailored to our circumstances as we needed to fly from Arusha to Zanzibar on the last day at 4pm. However, we were only informed that our lodges from the original quotation/itinerary were no longer available AFTER we paid the deposit. Fortunately, the new replacement lodges were very nice and exceeded our expectations. The tour guide, Okuli was friendly and knowledgeable. He visited us for an in-person briefing the day before the safari started. He answered any queries we had and managed our expectations of the safari. He picked us up on time on the first day of the safari. He was a safe and calm driver despite some terrible driving and road conditions. He went out of his way to ensure we saw as many different animals as we could. He drove at a slow speed and stopped when required for us to take pictures and videos. He explained the differences and characteristics of different animals. He was honest about the river crossing was too early for the time we went. He received the latest information about animals location via radio with other drivers and fly safari. We had great conversations with him throughout the 4 days safari to learn more about the Tanzanian culture. I would highly recommend Luitours and Safaris.
NL
Email Zjarkova Elena | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything is very good organized, a good advice, the tickets on time and the best one driver Nurdin
We went to Mikumi! Many animals seen, The transfer with driver Nurdin
(automatic translation from Dutch)
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Email Kartikeya | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
We had a great experience overall. Ibrahim was easy to work with for planning the tour and was able to accommodate extra airport pick ups and hotel stays at a reasonable price. Everything was as described in the tour brochure, and the glamping tents after the first day of safari far exceeded our expectations.
Samwell was an amazing guide -- very patient and knowledgeable. He was able to optimize our time at the parks to see more animals.
CN
Email JAGGIE ZHANG | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The perfect guide and the perfect trip.Please feel free to choose them.
Our guide and driver, Mr. Okuli, he was a very gentle and patient person, we came here as two students, at first we were worried that there might be some problems, but we didn't encounter any problems or difficulties at all along the way, both the hotel and the food were impeccable, because there is a perennial shortage of water in Africa and some power outages, but we didn't encounter There were no problems and I think they are doing everything possible to give the customer the best experience possible. I must elaborate on the food, before I went to Tanzania I always thought the food might not be to my taste, it turned out to be the opposite, Tanzania both the chef and the other service staff, they did a great job thankfully. This travel agency also gave us the most perfect Serengeti experience, our guide Mr. Okuli drove more than 10 hours a day and took us everywhere to look for animals, we talked a lot along the way and became good friends, I am very grateful for not having any problems during this trip and making a kind, gentle and patient friend, I hope your travel agency gets better and better and I hope Mr. Okuli I hope your travel agency will get better and better, and I hope Mr. Okuli will also have a good time. Lastly, I want to tell you to feel free to choose this travel agency and I swear he will give you a great Serengeti experience.
NL
Email Nina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Reliable and flexible tour operator, created the best safari for us
We have been on a 3 day safari to Mikumi from where we live in Dar es Salaam.
Khalifa was our guide and he was very punctual and an excellent driver. We felt very safe with him in the car.
The place where we stayed in Camp Bastian was very nice, exactly what we expected. The rooms are fine (nothing luxurious but perfectly fine!), there was a pool, and every evening there is a 3 course dinner. Lovely personel and really in a 'safari' environment.
Driving through the park with Khalifa was amazing. He has great knowledge about the animals and we actually had a lot of fun with him. We were able to see many animals, and we were very lucky with the ones we saw.
Would recommend. Unique experience.
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Email Steven | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
DISAPPOINTING!
Embarked on a 4-day safari to Selous. On the way to the national park, the driver slammed into a curb. The impact injuring my wife’s lower back, hip and ribs. It was an unforced, self-accident and 100% fault of the driver. There were witnesses. He apologized profusely over and over again. My wife was in considerable pain and unable to continue the safari. We were forced to cancel the trip. I asked for a partial refund on the safari, but the tour operator refused, claiming it was not their fault and that he is out a lot of money! Not what you want to hear from your tour operator.
While accidents can happen on adventure trips, it’s how a company responds to such situations that separate the good ones from the bad ones. We did not feel safe with this company and are very disappointed.
In the end, no safari, no animals, no refund, just an injured wife and bad memories.
Reply from Luitours and Safaris
Posted on Jul 5, 2023Steven was our Client and he booked 8 Days Safari to Selous, Mikumi, Ruaha and Udzungwa Mountains
On 31st May 2023 (Few hours before safari) he called me that they will not be able to start the tour in the next morning because his wife got sick in Zanzibar and he wanted me to adjust the tour by one day which I agreed (To start the tour on 2nd June) with the same itinerary
That they'll fly to Dar on 1st June so they can start the tour on 2nd June. But on 1st June he then called and texted me that his wife is very sick and the Doctor in Zanzibar advised them not to fly
That day passed and he called and texted me on 2nd June informing me that it will be hard for them to fly as his wife is not doing well, but they wish to fly the next day (3rd June) to Dar es Salaam and just relax in the hotel for 3 days
He also asked if I can change the itinerary and do a small safari , I told him that according to cancellation policies there will be no refund for the booked accommodations, he then replied (I don't care about that, i only care for my wife now, we'll find other accommodations)
He asked me if I can book the hotel in Dar es Salaam for them. He picked the hotel (Mediterrano Hotel) and we booked, we also arranged airport pick for them (From Dar es Salaam airport to the Mediterrano Hotel)
On 5th June he texted me that his wife is still weak but they wish to go on safari the next day. And asked me if I can offer them a small safari for 4 days and they were suggesting Nyerere National Park
I said ok, I'll do it because they planned this trip since 2019 and I wanted them to have a really taste of Tanzania Safari
He suggested accommodation which is comfortable to stay and rest incase his wife won't be able to go for game drive as she was still sick and weak. I booked them Selous Safari Lodge for 3 nights
Then on 6th June the tour started and I gave them the best safari car with AC and a well professional driver/guide. The driver was driving very slowly as they've requested, as you all know that from Dar es Salaam to Selous after getting out of town there's a rough road and after a certain drive his wife stoped the car and complained that she broke her rib saying that the driver hit a curb
The driver asked to take her to the hospital but she refused. He then asked them if they are ok to continue with the safari to Selous and she said it's fine they can proceed with the drive. I'm wondering how someone with the broken rib continue with the safari and refused to go to the hospital