CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointing and no follow up
7 months ago
TRAVELLERS BEWARE OF BOOKING
Where do I start? So we went on an amazing African Safari that we booked with another tour group . It was amazing. The flights the transfers the food the value. Everything was beyond our wildest dreams . My husband wanted a 5* Beach experience for 6 nights on a beautiful white sandy walking beach where we could be spoiled a little after the early mornings and long days on safari. As we hadn’t had a honeymoon after our recent wedding my husband Booked Dream of Zanzibar. Location was perfect for the excursions we wanted to go on , the beach was also what we were looking for ,premium food and drinks and service. After finishing our safari in Arusha we stayed the night before catching flight to Zanzibar. This is the email I received from Paradise & Wilderness -
*Trust this email finds you well,
Please be advised that we have just have just received word that some of our rooms are under maintenance this week at Dream of Zanzibar and have been closed, so we are unable to accommodate your booking at Dream of Zanzibar from the 12th - 18th Feb 2025, however we do nit want to leave our guest stranded so we have secured accommodation for you at our sister property - Reef and Beach resort, in our New Ocean Front Rooms for the duration of your stay.*
We booked it May 2024 and paid in full Jan 27 at which time I would think they would have had an idea the room was not available.
Upon googling the new accommodation the Reef & Beach was a 3*- we were less than happy. I spent the day researching other accommodations to no avail. We did appreciate they put us somewhere but it was no where compared to what we booked and paid $$$ for.
The resort was 20 min further from the airport and stone town. Upon arrival at reception it was old and worn we were not greeted with enthusiasm and that’s what began the downhill experience . There was no white sandy walking beach . It was a seaweed farm for a beach and upon the tide going out was all rocks. The room upon entering had a foul smell. They moved us to a recently cleaned room and after 6 hours it too had a nasty odour. Something with the new rooms. We met the manager Deborah -who I can give a raving review about she went above and beyond to help better our experience but at the end of the day you cannot make a 3* resort into. 5 * I can go on and on about all the things that transpired but there is no need.We spent more money elsewhere on the nicer beach, taxis back and forth and for meals at other restaurants as the food at the buffet was less then enjoyable ,after 11 days of safari 5 * food.
At the end of the day we were not compensated for the price paid and what we received and the terrible experience.. We both own companies and understand things happen however the person we were communicating with basically humoured us with some communication and made many excuses as to why the company had not gotten back to us, until she ghosted us completely. Not sure if the company even knew about our complaints. I did try different ways to write emails but have never heard back from anyone else in this Company. We were never rude or nasty in any of of emails but a-matter of fact that we expected some kind of compensation. Nothing. She even asked for our direct deposit info. This happened in Feb and we communicated until May 1 it is now July. We are very well travelled and have never dealt with a company that would treat it clients like it doesn’t matter. I have never written a negative review or had the need to, but decided I would let the company and future clients know of our experience . Needless to say our experience in Zanzibar was very disappointing.. Again I want to commend the Manager Deborah for going above and beyond she was the ray of Sunshine!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had a great time, my guide was professional, friendly and knowledgable
Had a great time, my guide was professional, friendly and knowledgable. He was also very fun to talk to. The lodge I stayed at was very nice. There were zebras grazing in the lawn. My guide had high quality binoculars on the trip for me to use, and whenever needed, he would find a way to be as close to the animals as possible. He communicated well about tour timings, and kept everything on schedule. Would recommend booking with Iyana, and if you get Samson as your driver-guide, you should know you're in good hands!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This tour was incredible! The guide was exceptionally kind and made everyone feel welcome.
Our decision to spend five days on safari with Lobo Africa was truly the best one we could have made, especially with Immanuel as our guide. The entire trip was seamless and perfectly organized. We felt safe, captivated, and completely at ease throughout.
Immanuel was constantly attentive to our needs. Calm, kind, and respectful, he made every moment enjoyable for the whole group. Traveling with him was a real pleasure. His deep love for nature and his impressive knowledge of Tanzanian wildlife made the experience even more enriching for all of us. We particularly appreciated how he treated the animals with care and respect, making visiting their natural habitats a responsible and ethical experience.
Each day brought new and unforgettable adventures. He had an incredible knack for spotting animals and ensuring we didn't miss anything special. The accommodations and meals throughout the trip were of excellent quality and added to the overall comfort of our safari. We are truly grateful for this exceptional experience and highly recommend your services. Thank you for making our trip so memorable.
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CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very knowledgeable and pleasant to be around
I had a great experience with Dav Safaris. They did an excellent job planning my accommodations, made it possible to enjoy a wide range of activities while staying within my budget, and took very good care of me throughout the trip. I also really appreciate Isaac for being such a knowledgeable and supportive guide. Highly recommended!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organized
Me and my girl, visited nyungwe, and honestly what we had to do was going there and come back to rest, without dealing with alot of things, cause it was already taken care of.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Couldn’t be better, they are so damn good.
Our six-day safari was truly unforgettable. From the very start, communicating with Johnson was great—both the price and his response speed were excellent. Our guide Festo was professional, patient, punctual, and extremely capable at solving problems. He knew every animal species and answered all our questions, helping us spot the Big Five. He kept saying we were lucky, and we really felt that way.
Every day, Johnson checked in on us and cared a lot. I could feel their sincerity and attention to detail. The accommodation in Serengeti was perfect for Chinese travelers—if we hadn’t been in a hurry, I would have loved to stay longer. One night at Ntudu, zebras were grazing right near the camp; it was such a unique experience.
In short, choosing Summer Winter Adventure Africa will definitely give you an unforgettable safari journey!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Northern Circuit Honeymoon
Our 6-Day Northern Circuit Honeymoon Safari (Nov 29 – Dec 4, 2025) with Safari Soles was the most extraordinary travel experience we’ve ever had.
From the planning stages, Oken ensured everything was seamless. He thoughtfully tailored our itinerary to align with our interests, honeymoon expectations, and pacing preferences. Communication was clear, logistics were effortless, and we felt confident and supported before we ever stepped foot in Tanzania.
Safari Monster Simon, our safari guide, elevated the experience even further. With formal training in tourism and African ecology, he didn’t simply locate wildlife - he interpreted entire ecosystems. He explained watershed systems, fire ecology, predator-prey behavior, medicinal plants, and conservation policy with depth and clarity.
As someone who works professionally in sustainability and conservation, I can confidently say this was the most impressive eco-tourism experience I’ve encountered. Simon’s tracking ability was extraordinary, spotting subtle movement at full speed and positioning us perfectly for unforgettable sightings.
As a newer birder, I logged over 100 new species thanks to his expertise. His passion also extended to photography - he brought professional camera equipment and generously shared breathtaking wildlife images with us at no additional cost. Many of those photos will be framed to hang in our home.
The vehicle was modern and comfortable, and each lodge offered exceptional hospitality, stunning views, and outstanding food. Our final day with Enock (also a rockstar of a guide!) for the Kilimanjaro hike, waterfall visit, coffee tour, and hot springs provided a wonderful cultural and scenic conclusion to the trip.
Safari Soles created an experience that felt personal, immersive, and flawlessly executed from start to finish. We are already planning our return and would recommend them to anyone we know for an absolutely amazing experience anywhere in Tanzania.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A fabulous tour operator, tailored the experience to our requirements and made it a special trip!
Kennedy organised our 7 day family safari for us and was very responsive throughout the booking process, tailoring it to our requirements working with the hotels and local guides. Daniel, our driver and guide was exceptional, he ensured we all had an amazing and fun experience, he adapted to our needs and helped us to spot so many different animals! Thank you for a fabulous holiday and allowing us to make some very special memoriesb
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
perfect and enjoyed,saw many animals especially big five
We had a wonderful trip throughout. We saw a great number of animals and managed to spot all of Africa’s Big Five. Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of interesting information about the wildlife.
We visited Tarangire National Park, Ndutu in Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and many other places. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The owner was also very responsive and helpful at all times. Highly recommended!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The perfect trip
We had a perfect 8 days in Kenya, seeing leopards on all three of our trips in the Masai Mara. Our guide, Jackson, was professional and passionate; he always seemed to find the animals. He also possessed a remarkable sense of discipline that most guides lack. He tried his best to adhere to park rules and his professional training (in fact, many people drive right up to the animals). He also proactively shared everything he saw, each explanation sounding like a lecture. I hope everyone will cherish this pristine land and that humans and animals can coexist harmoniously! I will definitely be back!
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