50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top Notch Customer Service
A year ago, when I went to my bank to wire transfer a large deposit for our safari trip to Tanzania Roadside Expeditions, my banker looked deep into my eyes with worry: "Tanzania? Large amount? One year ahead deposit? You have never met the 'tour operator'? Are you out of your mind? Is this an international scam?"
Well, I just finished my 13-day Kenya-Tanzania safari with Tanzania Roadside Expeditions, and I can assure you, Tanzania Roadside Expeditions is not only a legitimate company, but they also distinguished themselves above all others while handling challenging situations. They showcase great leadership, grace, generosity, and excellent people skills.
The last day of our trip was a jeep ride from Masai Mara back to Nairobi International Airport. Because of the driver's miscalculation on timing, plus a series of unfortunate events, I was late to the airport. The airline canceled my entire two-leg flight and charged me a heavy fine for a "no-show." Nairobi airport terminal doesn't open for passengers who have no ticket; under the hot sun outside the building, I was fortunately able to secure a later flight. The price, including the no-show fine, was so high that it made me even hotter.
I called Tanzania Roadside Expeditions and explained what had happened. Paul, the great tour operator, immediately acknowledged that the driver didn't depart early enough, which caused my trouble. He didn't blame, didn't argue, didn't negotiate; he only asked to see the receipt of my new purchase. On behalf of his company, he took full responsibility and gracefully promised reimbursement for such unexpected costs. He wished me a safe flight home with his warm wishes. Standing in front of the Nairobi airport terminal, I was in tears from his kindness, understanding, and courage to shoulder his responsibilities with dignity. After all, this extra cost was a very big chunk of their income as well, yet he put his client's best interest as the top priority, all the way to the last day of the trip.
When I landed back home in Seattle, his reimbursement fund landed as well. I am amazed by this excellence.
Traveling sometimes takes unexpected turns, especially on a wild safari trip. But when you sign up with Tanzania Roadside Expeditions, Paul is there for you—he has you covered. Hakuna Matata!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
John was professional, organized, a wealth of information during his tours.
Everything went smooth on camp treks side. They were all excellent with communication and assisting through the whole tour with anyone’s needs. They were very experienced with all parks and had a tremendous amount of knowledge about animals, habitat, cultures, and the lay of the land. They went out of their way to make sure you were safe and took great stride in finding the animals and giving you the chance to have fantastic photos and memories for a life time. The hotels and campsites we stayed at were all hospitable and the food was great. We saw so many animals. You felt like you were in the National Geographic documentary. It was so amazing. A feeling of awe and wonder. I highly recommend Camp Trek. John, Simon, and Benson were great at their jobs. Best company and tour ever. Thank you all.
JP
Reliable
Just as I hoped, I was able to see the wildebeest river crossing!
MO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolutely brilliant tour
Our recent safari in Kenya was absolutely unforgettable, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. The entire experience was seamless from start to finish.
A huge shoutout to our guide, Sebastian, who was the absolute star of the trip. He is incredibly experienced and has an almost supernatural ability to spot wildlife. Beyond his knowledge, he was incredibly accommodating, making sure we were comfortable and getting the best views at every stop.
The accommodation exceeded our expectations—clean, comfortable, and perfectly located to make the most of the wilderness. I also want to mention the Silas, the organiser, who replied to every message with impressive speed and made the booking process stress-free.
We had a wonderful time and have come home with memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you!
KW
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by Jaber Jaber
Vast land full of animals in their nature. Beautiful.
KW
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Jaber Jaber
Beautiful scenery full of wildlife. Rhinos were amazing
KW
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Real Feel of Africa
Amazing wild life, plenty of animals, beautiful culture of the maasai people, breathtaking scenery and weather.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
great communication
Sammy is chronically online and answers us very fast, realiable communication was out of the league. Drivers spoke ok level English good enough to communicate.
Hotels were nicely planned however certain areas were limited due to local conditions and infrastructure - eg.wifi hot water but all bearable with seeing the safari everyday . Last day restaurants meal did got us food poisoned though but it was expected and understandable. The rest of the trip was all good, spotted many animals up close! Pretty good trip overall.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful experience in Northern Ethiopia with a professional and caring team
Our journey through Ethiopia with Ethio Top Land Tours was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. Ethiopia is such a fascinating country, and having such a reliable local company organising the journey allowed us to relax and really enjoy everything we were seeing.
We travelled through very different parts of northern Ethiopia, from the spectacular scenery of the Simien Mountains to the castles of Gondar, ancient Axum, the extraordinary churches of Tigray and Lalibela, before finishing in Addis Ababa. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, and we were very happy with the standard of the hotels and the restaurants recommended along the way.
A special thank you must go to our guide Desale, who looked after us so well throughout the trip. He was kind, patient and always attentive to what we needed. Travelling with someone who knows the country so personally made a huge difference, and his warmth and enthusiasm made even the long journeys enjoyable. He was also always there to help with practical things, including carrying and helping us with our luggage throughout the trip, which we really appreciated.
I was particularly impressed by how dependable the company was when things did not go according to plan. Bad weather caused unexpected changes to several of our domestic flights, but the team quickly found alternatives and adapted our schedule without us losing any of the important experiences we had travelled to Ethiopia for. They were even willing to cover the additional costs caused by these changes themselves, despite the circumstances being completely outside their control. It gave us great confidence knowing there was always someone taking care of the details.
The tour was also very good value for money. Everything that had been agreed was included in the price, with no hidden costs or unexpected charges, so we always knew exactly what we were paying for.
We came away with some wonderful memories and a much deeper appreciation of Ethiopia. A caring, dependable and very professional team that I would happily travel with again. Highly recommended.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable journey through Ethiopia with an exceptional guide
We had an incredible 7-day trip with Ethio Top Land Tours, covering the Simien Mountains, Gondar, Axum, the rock-hewn churches of Tigray, Lalibela and Addis Ababa. It was an ambitious itinerary, but everything was extremely well organised and we were amazed by how much we were able to experience in just one week.
Our guide Desale was one of the highlights of the trip. His knowledge of Ethiopian history and culture is excellent, but what we appreciated most was how much local insight he brought to every place we visited. He was always happy to explain things, introduce us to people and help us understand the country beyond the main sights. He even took us to his own village, which was a really special experience and gave us a glimpse of everyday Ethiopian life that we would never have found on our own.
The organisation behind the scenes was equally impressive. Weather caused several last-minute flight changes during our trip, but the company and manager handled everything immediately, adjusting hotels, transport and sightseeing so that we still managed to complete the entire itinerary. We never had to deal with the stress ourselves.
Great hotels and restaurant choices, excellent local knowledge and a team that genuinely knows how to look after its guests. Professional, trustworthy and flexible — I would highly recommend Ethio Top Land Tours.