IR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
the good experience
Francis was our tour leader, very experienced and friendly. He chose the best time and the best place. And because of his connection with the local guides, he chose the most pristine places for the safari
He drove with excitement and precision and had the best suggestions.
BR
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very wonderful experience
We had a very impressive trip along with our driver Dickson, he's very patient and kind, we saw many beautiful animals in Masaimara because of him. I sincerely recommend Dickson as the guide of safari.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable safari experience thanks to Kapande!
Kapande made our Nyerere safari absolutely unforgettable. His deep knowledge of Tanzania’s wildlife and nature is impressive, and he always shared it with enthusiasm. He drove us safely everywhere, making sure we spotted incredible animals, and kept us comfortable the entire time. His smile and positive energy made the journey even more enjoyable. Truly above and beyond!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Family Safari Experience - 6 nights/7 days
Ernest Magic Tour Review
I am turning 40 and wanted to do something special to celebrate. My mum (from Canada) has been wanting to go to Africa on safari and I realised this would be an awesome experience. Since my family and I live in Australia, Tanzania seemed like the perfect middle ground and safe country to do our safari in.
It was overwhelming when trying to pick a company to do our safari with. There are so many to choose from but after weeks of research, I learned more about Ernest’s background and decided to choose his company for our 6 night, 7 day safari with my mum and two children. From start to finish, the process was so smooth thanks to Regina who was exceptional with communication and ensured our trip was exactly what we hoped for in terms of our activities and accommodations. We could not fault her choices.
Whilst Ernest wasn’t our driver, Erick, our guide, was incredible. He is an Arusha local and has been guiding for over a decade. He was so patient, professional and was great with my kids. He made us all feel so safe and comfortable. Erick’s experience on safari had us spotting 4/5 of the Big 5 animals on our first day, within our first hour or two after landing (we flew into Northern Serengeti from Arusha - best idea ever with kids to eliminate some of the driving).
Erick made the trip a once in a life time experience for our family and something that we will never forget. He was a wealth of knowledge and answered the never ending questions that my kids had. We are SO happy that we chose Ernest Magic Tours for our family safari trip in Tanzania. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a small, tailored experience where the staff go above and beyond to ensure you have a great time.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Extremely Disappointing and Unsafe Rental Experience
We rented two vehicles from Kofi Travel Safaris this summer for a self-drive trip in Tanzania. Unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing and at times unsafe.
Due to mechanical issues, one of the two cars we had booked was unavailable upon arrival, so the company had to find another vehicle for us, causing us to miss the first day of our itinerary.
According to the company’s own Terms & Conditions, the vehicles were supposed to be “well-maintained”. However, the car that arrived late was in very poor condition and suffered from numerous mechanical and safety issues throughout the rental period.
Land Cruiser 78’s problems:
- Brakes weak, later completely broken
- Rear right wheel missing one bolt – then two – from the axle flange
- Rear right wheel deflated overnight
- Roof rack broken (welds detached)
- Rear tent unbolted
- Rear tent with broken floor + water leaking inside
- Rear right door could not be opened
- Gas stove not working (we repaired it ourselves)
- Power steering broken twice (we drove one week without it)
- Rear-view mirrors loose, right one broken
- Co-driver and right passenger seats unstable/moving
- Driver’s seat belt could not be pulled out
- Co-driver’s seat belt difficult to unfasten
- Faulty battery (hard to start the engine)
- Front headlight not working
- Reverse light not working
- T-belt warning light on
- Handbrake not working
- Drive belts frayed
- Excessive oil consumption (1L every 300 km)
- Water tank unusable
- Secondary fuel tank unusable
- Front tent ladder could not lock
- Starter motor not working correctly
- Windshield wipers not functioning
- Speedometer not functioning
- Battery bracket broken
- Windows hard to open and scratched
- Differential oil leaking from right rear hub
- Hood latch system broken
- A/C not working
- Radio not working
Land Cruiser 76’s problems:
- Radiator blown
- Missing lower bushing from rear left shock absorber
- Missing upper bushing from rear right shock absorber
- Front bumper detached
- Windshield wipers not functioning
- Ignition problems (battery terminals)
- A/C switched on made the engine stall at idle
- Handbrake not working
- Missing tourism permit
- Unpaid fine
These issues caused significant delays, additional expenses (e.g. we had to sleep in hotels close to the mechanics), and constant stress during our trip, putting our safety at risk.
We repeatedly reported these problems and formally requested a partial refund to reflect the poor condition of the vehicles and the inconvenience caused. Although the company reimbursed us for the mechanical repair costs we incurred (with a four-day delay), they refused to compensate us for the time lost due to the breakdowns and the vehicles’ repairs.
Vehicles in such poor condition should never be rented out, especially for long trips through remote areas where reliability is crucial. For these reasons, we cannot recommend this company and strongly urge other travelers to consider alternative providers if they value safety and peace of mind.
IT
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They’ve been attentive and always available to provide thorough answers.
The tour experience was amazing, the guide was very nice and gave exhaustive explanations about the Kenya National Parks. I chose a private tour, which, even though more expensive, was very satisfying, as was the accomodation.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Frauds. Took our money and did not book anything.
Our group of 14 people trusted Craig and Bianca with booking a full trip to South Africa, and we were completely deceived. They took full payment from us and never booked anything. After receiving the final payment, they stopped communicating entirely, except for a few inconsistent and suspicious excuses — ranging from family tragedies to personal emergencies. These excuses included:
A sister passing away
A house break-in
A mother passing away
An overdose
It's difficult to know what, if anything, was true. What is clear is that we were scammed out of our money.
Please do not trust the good reviews — we have no idea how they were obtained, but our experience was a complete nightmare. If you book with them, you may end up stranded with no reservations and no support.
We are pursuing all possible legal avenues and urge others to report any similar experiences. Don’t let this happen to you.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
William was great and very knowledgeable.
This was an amazing experience and it was thanks to everyone at Enjoyable Nature Safaris. To begin, the Food was incredible and I am very picky with my food. The staff were very friendly and everything was well organized. William was our tour guide and he was great and helped us see all the animals and took his time to make sure we got to see for however long we wanted. The camp site is in a good location and it was very clean and safe. Fanu was very helpful in organizing and making sure everything went as planned. One thing this company does very well is prioritize the customer and their experience. I was scared to book with a smaller company but it was the best decision I did. They made sure I got the most out of my trip and I would absolutely book with them again when I return to the serengeti and ngorongoro.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Steve was engaging,entertaining and well informed ,bringing every moment of the safari to life
We had an unforgettable experience visiting Shaba National Reserve with our amazing safari game driver Steve. Thanks to Steve, we were able to spot elephants, giraffes, Zebras and even a hard-to find lions family. He shared fascinating facts about each animals and made sure me and my fiancé felt safe and engaged.
