Tanzania: reviews from our travellers

"We had a wonderful time staying at Mdonya and Lake Manze and the trip completely exceeded our expectations.

Within 5 minutes of landing at the airstrip we couldn't believe the amount of wildlife we saw so quickly. At both camps the staff were excellent and the accommodation was very comfortable.

We will definitly be recommending these camps to friends and family.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

no, it was perfect" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari

"Our trip was excellent, wouldn't change anything, and we had three very different experiences: safari in the Selous, beach paradise at Pongwe and urban madness (and excellent food!) in Stonetown.

Our arrival in Zanzibar was slightly alarming as we were hustled by bag carriers at the airport but that was as bad as it got. Our impression of Jozani forest was that it was a bit of a tourist trap but I don't regret booking it. I wouldn't rave about Eco+Culture as much as some other reviewers but their drivers were reasonably punctual and one was quite informative.

This was certainly the 'trip of a lifetime' and we have some great photos. I booked this as a surprise for my wife and she was very happy she let me do so!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not really." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zanzibar holiday

"The whole trip worked very well. The organisation was superb. We had no worries or hiccups.

A thoroughly enjoyable holiday with abundant game, birds, great fishing and bush walks in the Selous. We were really very pleased with everything.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

None" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 16 on a Tanzania safari

"Fantastic trip, would recommend Tanzania very highly.

Very well organised, very happy to travel with Expert Africa in the future." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 11 on a Tanzania safari

"This is the second time we have travelled with Expert Africa (and our third time with Sunvil) and I wouldn't hesitate to use your services again. From start to finish Liz could not have been more helpful and knowledgeable – particularly as I had in mind a fairly complicated itinerary built round a special wedding anniversary and including a surprise bush camp night.

Everything went smoothly from start to finish; the accommodation recommendations were spot on; the advice was first class; and all my questions and concerns were answered very promptly. I have recommended Expert Africa to several friends and colleagues, and passed a couple of your cards to fellow travellers along the way!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just one thing: more specific advice on tipping at each place would be helpful, although I realise this is a difficult proposition. We were given a benchmark of $10 per person per day on safari, but when we were at Beho Beho $5–$10 was suggested as appropriate for the lodge staff, but guides were also to be tipped $10 per person per drive/walk. We had already put our tip in the general tips box only to discover that this was for house staff only and that we should tip the guides personally. It was all rather awkward.

We also did not know how much was appropriate as a tip for Thadeo, our 'butler' at Matemwe Retreat, so we just had to guess." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari

"Brilliant trip.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We like dealing with expert africa. Very friendly and flexible." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"Once again we had a great time and appreciate the advice and planning that went into it on the part of Expert Africa.

You had a hard act to follow after our Zambia trip four years ago and on balance I think that one had the edge over Tanzania. However, BehoBeho is definitely the best camp we have been to and that made the trip for us.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I had a very helpful discussion with Chris McIntyre before embarking on the planning stage of the trip and I think his input certainly helped to put together an excellent itinerary. Without that it may not have been as good. If this is not a normal part of the service you offer it may be useful to build such a discussion into your process as a regular feature." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari

"Overall the trip to Beho Beho was brilliant. It far exceeded our expectations. From the moment we landed at Beho Beho to the moment we left we completely switched off from the outside world and immersed ourselves in the safari and bush life in general.

Being on safari was always exciting, informative, friendly and at times scary but most of all it was an experience to savour and one we will never forget." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari

"We just got back from our trip to Africa. I'm swamped with work right now but wanted to take just a few minutes to tell you that the two-week Safari you orchestrated for us in Tanzania came off flawlessly. That means that all of the multiple travel transfers went off without a hitch, the camps you put us in more than exceeded our expectations, the guides we had in the various camps were without exception excellent.

I know I speak for my wife Audrey, and Ann and Kevin when I send you a very warm and enthusiastic “thank you” for turning our many phone conversations back in December into such an extraordinary experience.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Clearer guidelines on how much cash one needs to bring to cover tips and drinks (such as Lake Manze, where drinks were not included and credit cards not accepted) would have been a great help. We had only one opportunity to use an ATM (which worked for us but not for our friends), which was quite lucky in terms of the timing when we'd run out of cash, and the location, being the one day we were driving through Karatu where there is an ATM. Not having enough cash, and not being sure of where or when we could get some, caused a fair amount of anxiety and stress that would have been eliminated if we'd simply brought enough to begin with.

We also didn't realize that everyone accepted U.S. dollars even for cash tips, so could have bypassed all the trouble trying to get Tanzanian shillings in the right amounts." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari

"Enjoied it a lot, all the family liked it" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari