IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Dream Safari Turned Into a Nightmare – Avoid This Agency
If I could give this agency zero stars, I absolutely would. An extremely disappointing experience, and an agency I would strongly advise anyone to avoid.
Unfortunately, we made the mistake of choosing this agency for our trip to Tanzania, and what should have been an unforgettable experience turned into a frustrating and deeply disappointing ordeal.
Our vehicle broke down repeatedly, leaving us stranded in the middle of the savannah, with a guide who appeared completely unable to handle the situation professionally. To make matters worse, the guide provided virtually no information about the wildlife, national parks, or the surroundings. There were no meaningful explanations, no insights, and no real effort to make the game drives informative or engaging. We were left wondering what we were actually paying for.
As if this were not bad enough, we also missed out on game drives in some parks because the agency combined our group with another group operating on a completely different schedule. This resulted in missed activities and a significant loss of precious time during a trip that we had carefully planned and paid for.
The level of organisation, professionalism, and service was simply unacceptable. A safari in Tanzania is a significant investment, both financially and emotionally, and customers deserve reliable vehicles, competent guides, proper planning, and a service that delivers what was promised. This agency failed on all these fronts.
Tanzania is an extraordinary country, with breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife. Sadly, our experience was seriously compromised by the poor choices and incompetence of the agency we trusted to organise our trip.
A beautiful destination cannot compensate for a badly organised safari, unreliable vehicles, an unprepared guide, and missed experiences. We would never choose this agency again, and based on our experience, we cannot recommend it to anyone considering a trip to Tanzania.
Do yourself a favour and look elsewhere. There are undoubtedly better operators who will treat your time, money, and expectations with the respect they deserve.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great trip to Devil's Pool!
We did the morning trip to Devil's Pool and loved it! The transfer from Zimbabwe to Zambia went smoothly. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and helpful. The trip to Devil's Pool was well run and the staff are very talented at keeping tourists safe! The meal afterwards was wonderful. A great experience not to be missed!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Efficient, helpful, and well organised
We booked a 4 day safari in Serengetti and Ngorongoro Crater, with the last day at a waterfall, for four people. Gladness the operator, was do helpful through the whole process, beginning to end. Our Guide/ driver Amiri, was knowledgeable, friendly and spoke great English, answering all our questions and found us all the Big 5.
We loved all of it, even the budget campsites.
CL
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliability throughout the entire journey
Well-organized; they delivered 100% of what was promised—and even more, as we received an upgrade at one of the lodges. The staff at the accommodations were very friendly, and the guides and drivers possessed the right expertise to make our safari a truly great and unforgettable experience.
CL
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable, secure, and approachable
Reliable, secure and and approachable. I was very happy with the experience
CL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ok
We chose Meru Slopes for our 6-day budget safari after reading many excellent reviews, so we expected a well-organised and smooth experience. Overall, the safari itself was good, but our experience with the person who sold us the tour, Almanchius, was quite disappointing.
Our guide was good. He knew exactly where to take us to find the animals and we had a great time with him. He was not very talkative and gave only brief explanations, so at times he felt more like a driver than a guide, but overall we were happy with him.
Our chef was excellent. He was professional, always on time and prepared delicious food throughout the safari.
Unfortunately, communication with Almanchius before and during the trip was the biggest problem.
Even before booking, communication was not very professional. We asked for a call to get more information, but the call lasted less than five minutes and he was clearly distracted, talking while getting in and out of a car. We still decided to book because of the many positive reviews.
After paying our deposit, things became even more concerning. Almanchius stopped replying to our messages and emails, and at one point we genuinely thought we might have been scammed. Eventually, he apologised and gave us different explanations for the lack of communication.
There were also several things that should have been communicated before the safari. For example, we were never told that we would have a chef travelling with us or that we would be expected to tip him. We only found this out once the safari had started.
Before the trip, I also asked Almanchius if it would be possible to arrange a small cake or candle for my husband’s birthday. He told me it would not be a problem, so I assumed this had been arranged. However, on the day, neither the guide nor the chef knew anything about it. I contacted Almanchius again, and once again received an apology and an explanation for why it had not been arranged.
We had a similar problem with our airport transfer after the safari. We had to send several messages and reminders to get this organised. Again, we received apologies and different explanations for the delays.
To be clear, we enjoyed the safari itself and were happy with our guide and chef. The problem was the organisation and communication from the person who sold us the tour. When you are travelling internationally and have already paid for a safari, you need to be able to trust that your questions will be answered and that arrangements will actually be followed through.
Meru Slopes has good safari staff on the ground, but based on our experience, the communication and organisation from Almanchius need significant improvement.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
To the best safari driver! Japhet!!
We had a fantastic safari; everything was well organized and went perfectly, including the flights. The cook we had with us prepared delicious meals, and there was a good selection of food.
But the highlight of the safari was definitely our driver, Japhet! Huge praise to him! He knew where the animals were, we saw so much, he told us a lot about them, and he was excellently prepared. He's also a very safe driver who has his car completely under control. We stopped briefly at the mechanic a couple of times along the way to have the car checked, which ensured we wouldn't have a breakdown and waste any time – that's very important.
We also had a fantastic time and lots of fun with him! I hope we see him again soon! Best regards!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Emmanuel was kind, helpful, informative and flexible
Our tour with Safari Soles was for 3 days 2 nights. We were picked up at our hotel in Arusha and taken straight to our first day of animal/bird/plant sighting. Our guide, Emmanuel, could not have been more informative, kind and helpful! He went out of his way to tell us about the country, the local people and whatever we were curious about. If he did not know, he would find answers. The hotel, Eileen’s Trees Inn was clean, well stocked and the food (included) was plentiful as well as delicious! I was able to stick to a vegetarian style of eating without going hungry and I never dipped into my emergency food stash. The itinerary allowed us the time to see the animals, spend all the time we needed in each park and still get back to our hotel with time to relax. I highly recommend Safari Soles and Emmanuel as your guide! You will not be dissatisfied!!!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Emmanuel’s professionalism, patience, passion, and attentiveness made all the difference.
If you are planning a safari in Tanzania, book with Safari Soles and request Emmanuel as your guide if possible. Our two night, three day safari took us through three national parks, and while the wildlife and landscapes were breathtaking, Emmanuel was the person who truly made the experience exceptional. From beginning to end, he made everything feel seamless, comfortable, and thoughtfully organized. He was attentive to our needs, communicated clearly, and ensured we could fully enjoy the experience without worrying about logistics. What impressed us most was his extraordinary, expert level knowledge of wildlife and Tanzania’s national parks. His expertise went far beyond identifying animals, as he understood their behavior, habitats, movement patterns, and relationships with their environment. He knew where to look, what details to notice, and how to anticipate wildlife activity, making every game drive especially rewarding. His explanations were engaging, informative, and added an entirely new dimension to our experience, helping us understand and appreciate the animals rather than simply observe them. Emmanuel’s professionalism, patience, passion, and attentiveness made all the difference and transformed our safari into an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend requesting Emmanuel as your guide because his knowledge and dedication set an incredibly high standard.
We are already looking forward to returning to Tanzania, booking with Safari Soles again, and having Emmanuel guide us through other parks while bringing more family and friends to share the experience. Thank you, Emmanuel and Safari Soles, for an unforgettable safari!!!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Efficient booking and communication, an outstanding driver.
Efficient booking and communication, an outstanding driver.