Tanzania: reviews from our travellers

"Our trip to Africa far exceeded my expectations. I am not an intrepid but felt very confident before we embarked that all aspects of the trip had been covered so that there were no questions as to where we would be or how we might get to the next stage. This alleviated all anxiety.

It was most encouraging from the start of my planning with Eleanor, that she had been to Tanzania and understood that this was a once in a lifetime trip for us. Now having been there I realize it is not so far out of the ordinary, just in my world.

From our very first discussions I was unsure if our budget would allow us to fully enjoy this trip in the comfort level we would like and Eleanor worked within that budget and custom fit our needs to create what I'm sure will be our best holiday ever.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Honestly, very difficult.

I suppose I would have liked a breakdown of the costs of each leg of our trip so as to be able to compare to other places I have been. For example, 4 nights at Mdonya, 4 nights at Selous, 6 nights Matemwe and then one night Kholle. Coastal did give some information but I wasn't sure if the the dollars quoted were for one or two passengers.

Many thanks, it's been a wonderful experience." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari

"The trip was exactly what we were looking for.

We wanted to go to Tanzania where we had never been before because of the rainy seasons. It was difficult to find a good destination in january/february.
Claire was a good help and after some phonecalls, with the brochure on both sides of the telephone (Holland-England) we made a wonderful itinerary together.

Maybe next time we could combine the Southern part of the Serengeti with Selous at this time of the year.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Filling in the feedbackform is very time-consuming because we are invited to give "real" feedback, which goes back to the camps and on the internet. (and English is not my home-language)

On the other hand the reviews of other guests helped us to make up our mind. So, after all, don´t change it" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari

"We had a lovely holiday with some of the best game viewing ever. Our guides Emmanuel and Jacob were both excellent and weseemed to enjoy each others company and had some good laughs!

We did not appreciate the Tse tse flies in Lamai but mosquitos did not appear to be a problem.
Everywhere was very dusty as there had been no recent rain.

We were fortunate to be able to do a walking safari along the Mara river, this was great and definitely one of our highlights
We would be very happy to recommend both our guides.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Very good,we have recommende you to several of our friends, some of whom have booked holidays through you. They have all returned with favourable reports" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari

"No criticism of the tour - just that I needed to complete some work that, beyond my control, extended into my holiday time, and ate up alot of the benefit I would have otherwise have had from the trip. But it was a great counterbalance to the nonsense that came my way by email. just that it rendered the really fabulous places I stayed and experiences slightly tarnished.

I would actually like to go again, just to work that clouding out of my mind.....

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just keep up the site visits - the insight is very helpful. And the managers note it too - one explicitly said that you were one of the most reliable, in informing the clients placed with them, and following up. So well done!" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari

"It was a great holiday in every way and it more than lived up to my expectations.

The wealth and variety of wildlife sights were fantastic. What really made it was having an excellent driver/guide. Harry was tireless in trying to make sure we saw as much wildlife as possible, very informative, had a great sense of humour and was endlessly patient.

Any birds we saw he always took the trouble to show us in the OUP guide so we could see both picture and name. This was a great help to me as I have a hearing problem.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I don't think so. The people Expert Africa use, certainly seem a good choice as a Tanzanian safari company." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"Great holiday especially at Ndutu Lodge made special by Harry, our guide. Love to go back.

I know its no ones fault but the roads and dust were awful and maybe (price permitting) it would have been wise to fly back from Ndutu to Kilimanjaro but I certainly would not have missed driving one way

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not really" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"With hindsight would have cut out Impala & added extra time to Manze & especially Kwihala.
Really pleased we finished up at Pole Pole as it was very good & relaxing.

But really no regretts, we had a fabulous time - many thanks.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Paypal please for Noth American travellers.

Paying for alcohol & juice is annoying/inconvenient - when you are getting up early & going `till late, is anyone really going to abuse the bar? So, offer the option to prepay/include drinks.

Re: Impala, we met another group there who were at Manze & their thoughts were similar." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 17 on a Tanzania safari

"We had a fantastic honeymoon and being our first time in africa and on safari we were totally amazed and are completely hooked. There is nothing that we can fault for the whole experience. We are looking forward to returning to africa and definately to the Unbuntu camp.

Thank you Claire and to all at Expert africa for making our honeymoon so unforgettable.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Keep going as you are." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari

"Our overall experience was excellent.

The whole holiday was quite fiddly to plan and Liz did a very good job at interpreting our needs and putting it all together. THe safari part of the holiday in the Selous is to be recommended as we barely saw another truck but saw plenty of wildlife. Then Zanzibar was a lovely relaxing contrast." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari

"Once again we have had a great trip to Africa. We knew that Beho Beho and Oyster Bay would be incredible and they didn't disappoint. Sand Rivers was good and we enjoyed seeing a different part of the Selous.

Our only problem, which was quite beyond your control, were the biting insects that had appeared after the 2 days of rain in the Selous before we arrived!

I would like to thank Ellie for all her help - as usual there were so many e mails between us and she was just so efficient and patient in answering and then organising our trip.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We have used Expert Africa for several years now and always find your staff extremely pleasant and helpful. We have never had any problems with arrangements - drivers always there to collect us etc.

We have told many people to contact you and just wish that other travel companies could be like you.

Comments in your brochure are accurate - I can really find no faults at all with Expert Africa!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari