CA
Easier & more enjoyable than expected!
We loved our trip here! The country was easier to get around and more developed than we expected leading to a very comfotable and relaxed experience. The people are all generally very warm and helpful and hospitable, and also speak English as a national language there! It was a very international travel destination and we met people from all over the world on this trip which was neat!
Very safe as well, never felt unsafe or worried when we were there, although we didn't venture out at night very much.
We split our time 50/50 between safari'ing and adventuring around the country and capital city of Nairobi and the other half relaxing in Diani beach. Its great that you can have adventure and relaxation in the same spot!
Visit a masai village for one day
Hi,
I had an inspiring and humbling time in a Masai village with my husband. We just returned from a conference in Nairobi and had one day to spare and ISIA took us to a masai village for a daytrip. We asked for something not very touristic, a bit out of the beaten track and that's what we got. We learned a huge amount of stuff from the village leader, we understood how they got food, made medicine, healed the wounded, avoid lions and things like that. It is such a wonderful experience to see these people living with so little, having to walk miles to get water, while at home we just waste so many liters just washing our teeth. This is something I recommend to everyone who has the opportunity to do it and change their perspective over life a little bit.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Tsavo West National Park by Tom W
Abundance and proximity of large number of different wildlife and birds
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Experience with Tanzania Roadside Expeditions
We went on a six-day honeymoon safari with Tanzania Roadside Expeditions. It could not have been better. We hard that it might be hard to find wildlife in January, but we were constantly surrounded by elephant, giraffes, zebras, and more. We also got within 20 feet of several lions and witnessed an incredible leopard in a tree. We got amazing photos of all of our favorite animals...plus videos of hippos fighting out in the water. It was more exciting than we had ever imagined. Most of the credit goes to our guide, Justin from Tanzania Roadside Expeditions. He was informative and also just a nice, fun guy to get to know. We can't recommend Justin highly enough. It wasn't just his engaging personality but also his friendly relations with other guides who fed him information in real-time on where animals had been spotted. He was an incredible driver, and he also just knew when it was right not to talk or chat and to just bask in the scenery and the animals. The vehicle from Tanzania Roadside Expeditions was also luxurious yet rugged. I loved standing up as we sped across the Serengeti. The hotels were also perfect...just what we needed after an active day bouncing along the roads and taking in all of the sights and sounds. Thank you to Justin and everyone at Tanzania Roadside Expeditions!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
I have nothing but rave reviews for our guide and co-owner of viewpoint adventures, Idi. Very knowledgeable, always upbeat.. Flexible, all about doing what we wanted to do. Saw lots of all the big 5... Went during birthing season, loved all the babies. Wasn't as dusty as dry season, but be prepared for lots of dust!
MT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wildlife Overdose!
I spent around two weeks in Zanzibar which was a mistake. The island seems to be the place to go after a game drive / safari on the mainland. I wish I had given it a miss. Zanzibar is dirty, the shop owners in Stonetown just don't leave one alone, they have no prices on anything, you have to haggle ALL the time which is very tiring. There are some lovely handicrafts for sale in the souvenir shops but why oh why are there no prices on anything? It just makes you feel like you're constantly being ripped off.
We hired a car, you have to get a driving permit (?) which costs an extra USD 10, then police are just ready to stop you on the roads and hassle you for your documents, they lie about the speed you're doing in order to get a fine off you. It just doesn't make for a relaxing holiday. The beaches are dirty, I witnessed several hotel beach boys cleaning the hotel area of the beach on a daily basis then just wheeling down the wheelbarrow full of rubbish into the sea!! What's that about? Is there no rubbish collection in Zanzibar? The sandbanks are the same, piles of tourists over for a stopover, some including lunch, so piles of plastic are left behind along with hot charcoal. It's a dump, such a shame because it could be paradise. Zanzibar clean up your act. I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The only way to swim in clean water is literally to jump off a boat into the open sea, at the snorkelling spots, which is lovely.
As for the mainland, I went on a 3 day safari to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro which was absolutely fantastic, especially the latter. It truly is breathtaking. We saw lions feasting on a gnu, countless zebra, hippos, flamingoes, warthogs, amazing birds, elephants, buffalo, antelope and I've no idea what else. I wish I had gone on a five day safari rather than just three.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A chance to encounter the locals close up.
It was difficult to stop and get out of the car in some parts. At times it felt a little rushed. But the day was perfect. There were some great viewpoints and the views were amazing. We saw lots of wildlife so I felt satisfied on that front.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A memorable experience
Our first safari so nothing to compare it to but we had a lovely trip - enjoyed everything with no complaints
SK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Definitely worth
All know that Masai Mara is the gem, no doubt. But I was positively surprised by Tsavo West with almost no tourist, how nice it was. Tsavo East instead was quite crowdy. I liked very much also birding in Naivasha lake, many rhinos in Nakuru and hundreds of elephants in Amboseli. I did 6 national parks and 2 reservations and I still can not get enough. Kenyan national parks are amazing.
Poor experience
Probably the worst tour experience I had in my life. It starts with cheap hotels, even if we paid for the good ones. Then when you arrive at the safari’s gate, the guide tells you he has no money, so you need to pay again for everything, again, and he promises he will pay you back later. Of course Tanzania Joy Tour didn’t pay us back. We dealt with Emmannuel Mremi. He always said “yes” on the phone, then “sorry” in front of us.
Bottom line, even if it appears cheap at the beginning, they’ll try to rip you off. I strongly advise everyone against Tanzania Joy Tour.
It’s sad for the country, Tanzania is amazing, and having such a bad experience with local people ruined part of our experience there.
Go to Tanzania, to Kilimandjaro and visit the parks, but do not go with Tanzania Joy Tour… !