Tanzania Specialist レビュー 

While the review is 4 stars, I’ll clarify by saying everything connected to the safari was truly a 5 star experience. My husband and I were looking for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We've always wanted to go on a safari together, so we quickly decided that's exactly what we'd do. We did some research and contacted a few companies and Tanzania Specialists was the best overall. They were quick to follow up on my inquiry and they were able to put an itinerary together that covered everything we wanted to do, during the time of year we wanted, and within our budget.
Given the expenses involved, we were a little nervous, wanting everything to be perfect and also not fully knowing what to expect. As it turned out, we had nothing to worry about. Upon arrival in Arusha, a representative was ready and waiting for us. When we went down to breakfast at our first lodging in Arusha, our driver and guide for the safari, Bruno, was waiting to welcome us and give some details for the day ahead.
Bruno was a tremendous guide through the entire journey, always in communication with other Tanzania Specialist drivers in the area and always on the lookout for animals we couldn't spot ourselves. At least once a day he would alert us to something in the distance that we couldn't believe he'd spotted. It was great getting to know him and learn as much as we could about every location we traveled through from Tarangire to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. He checked in with us constantly during the drives, making sure we were feeling good, stopping when he could sense our excitement to take some photos, and getting us in great position for amazing photos and videos of all of the Big 5 and a river crossing.
We mostly loved how our safari itinerary turned out. Next time we would likely make sure not to have any empty days just getting from one camp to another. But this was just a small hiccup as we had several days of truly amazing game drives during our safari.
We enjoyed all of the hotels and camps that we stayed in, and saw more than we ever could have imagined.
There was another hiccup in Zanzibar with an excursion booking. Tanzania Specialist scheduled a car for us to Stone Town for a cruise, but the departure time was way too late (and the driver arrived late as well) which resulted in us missing the excursion's departure and having to take a random boat out to the actual boat to meet the excursion in progress. Not ideal at all, but the company did work with us to make it right.
All in all, Tanzania Specialist gave us the experience of a lifetime (that we hope to repeat some day)! While we would know more of what we want going in the next time, we would have no concerns at all with booking Tanzania Specialist again.

We booked a two-week Northern Circuit safari in Tanzania with Tanzanian Specialist in September 2026.

Our guide, Philip Onesmo, was exceptional. He went well beyond expectations and helped compensate for significant planning shortcomings. We specifically requested him based on strong recommendations from other travellers, and his skill substantially improved the trip.

In fairness, the operational side of the trip was handled smoothly, with no hiccups or significant issues. That is a point in the operator's favour.

But that's where it stops. The main issue was the choice of accommodation in the Northern Serengeti. We spent three nights there specifically for the annual migration river crossings, yet Tanzanian Specialist placed us at Angata Bologonja, approximately two hours from the known main crossing points. This cost us roughly four hours of potential viewing each day and undermined the entire reason for including that stop or spending three nights atvthe location. It was also an hour and a half pre-dawn drive to the site of our balloon safari. Angata was also selected for two other locations on our itinerary. Given the repeated use of the same brand, I was left with the impression that the operator's relationship with the property influenced these choices more than our interests did.

They also included Lakr Manyara on the itinerary with two nights at Manyara Best View and Spa, which, to my understanding, is owned or operated by Tanzanian Specialist. As we learned subsequent to booking and paying for the trip a year earlier, wildlife viewing at Manyara has been drastically reduced following the floods in recent years, so this stop provided next to no value relative to its time and cost, and did little to serve the primary purpose of the safari.

An extra night at Ngorongoro Rim Lodge also seemed unnecessary. Rim accommodation is expensive, and in our experience one night would have been sufficient. The additional night appeared to support the operator's logistics more than to improve our experience.

When I raised these concerns with the company, I received a boilerplate response that did not address the specific points I had raised.

My advice to anyone planning a safari is to choose an operator that designs itineraries around the client's interests and clearly explains its itinerary and accommodation choices. You should not have to conduct extensive independent research simply to cross-check the operator's recommendations. That undermines the purpose of hiring a safari planner.

CLARIFICATION: We chose Ngorongoro Rim Lodge specifically for its location on the crater rim, for ONE night only. The second night was booked by Tanzania Specialist for their own logistical convenience, not at our request. With our guide gone, we spent most of the next day at the lodge.

Regarding Manyara, guides and travel forums widely report that flooding in recent years has significantly reduced wildlife numbers there. The disappointing game drive was therefore foreseeable, not bad luck. And any professional operator would kmow that. So the rationale for the inclusion is dubious.

Overall, three days that should have been spent on safari became expensive spa days, and three more were lost to long, exhausting drives. We attribute this to substandard itinerary planning.

Wij zijn nu nog op huwelijksreis maar aangezien we nu alweer lang op Tanzania Specialist wachten hebben we besloten nu toch maar een review te schrijven.

Tanzania zelf is fantastisch: prachtige natuur, indrukwekkende dieren en ontzettend lieve mensen. We zijn dan ook heel blij dat we voor Tanzania als bestemming hebben gekozen. Tanzania Specialist zouden wij helaas niet aanraden.

Wij kozen voor Tanzania Specialist omdat we juist volledig ontzorgd wilden worden. Achteraf hebben we helaas ervaren dat dit niet altijd het geval was.

Al tijdens de voorbereiding verliep de communicatie moeizaam. Telefonische afspraken werden meerdere keren afgezegd en tijdens een gesprek kregen we naar onze mening onjuist medisch advies. Daarnaast waren er verschillende problemen rondom onze vliegtickets, waaronder een verkeerd telefoonnummer en onduidelijkheid over de bagage. Dit heeft ons doordat Tanzania Specialist niet bereikbaar was 50€ extra gekost. Nadat we hadden betaald voor de vliegtickets, bleek dat alle vier de eerder aangeboden accommodaties niet meer beschikbaar waren. Uiteindelijk hebben we ons budget verhoogd om 3 van de 4 accommodaties te krijgen waar we wel tevreden over waren. De eerste accommodatie in Arusha vonden we mwah maar zijn we akkoord meegegaan.

Ook tijdens de reis liepen we tegen verschillende zaken aan. Zo bleek ons telefoonnummer bij vertrek nog steeds niet aangepast. De geplande stadstour in Arusha vonden wij bovendien een verspilling van tijd en geld, zeker gezien de reistijd en de locatie van het hotel.

Onze safari daarentegen was fantastisch. Onze gids was kundig, betrokken en heeft ervoor gezorgd dat we enorm veel dieren hebben gezien. Ook de ballonvaart in de Serengeti was een geweldige ervaring en absoluut een aanrader. De organisatie rondom deze excursie verliep echter opnieuw moeizaam: onze gids bleek niet op de hoogte van de reservering en ter plaatse kon de reservering aanvankelijk niet worden teruggevonden. Hierdoor verloren we kostbare safaritijd.

Ook tijdens de ballonvaart ontstonden problemen. Door harde wind konden we niet op de geplande plek landen en hebben we uiteindelijk ruim twee uur in de Serengeti gewacht voordat we werden opgehaald normaliter mag je hier nog geen eens de auto uit.. Toen we vervolgens hulp probeerden te krijgen via het calamiteitennummer van Tanzania Specialist, bleek dit nummer niet bereikbaar. Gelukkig was het binnen werktijden en konden we iemand in Nederland bereiken.

Door dit verkeerde nummer hebben wij gelijk aangegeven dat we teleurgesteld waren in de organisatie en we hierdoor een hele ochtend safari game hebben gemist. Ter compensatie krijgen wij een excursie op Zanzibar. Helaas wachten we al 4 dagen tot dit geregeld wordt. Ik ben benieuwd of we morgen de excursie gaan doen die we hebben aangevraagd!

Kortom: Tanzania zelf is absoluut een aanrader en onze safari was geweldig. Over Tanzania Specialist zijn we helaas minder positief. Voor een organisatie die belooft een zorgeloze reis te regelen, vonden wij de communicatie, organisatie en bereikbaarheid onvoldoende. We hebben te vaak zelf achter zaken aan moeten gaan en dat is juist wat we wilden voorkomen door een specialist in te schakelen. Tevens hebben we extreem veel reistijd gehad. We hoorden van andere reizigers veel efficiëntere routes. Dat was eigenlijk de grootste teleurstelling.

This was an amazing trip. You planned for every detail. The drivers who picked us up were punctual. The communication was excellent. My family of 4 adults cannot say enough of how pleased we were with this trip. Protas, our safari driver, was outstanding! He seemed to have us in the right place to see the animals at all times. We enjoyed all of the places we stayed. Nyota Lodge however was incredible. Manyara Best View Lodge was the only place we had a few issues with. The dinner menu only had 3 entrees to pick from and they were not ones we liked. My daughter had to order from the kids menu because she did not like the entrees listed. We went from Best View to Nyota Lodge for 2 nights and then back to Best View. It was the same 3 option we had for dinner on the last night of our original stay. My only other issue was our checkout at in Zanzibar was at 11am. Our driver did not pick us up until 3pm. There was no communication as to what we were to do for those 4 hours. I sent an email to the email address in our packet, and called the number on the WhatsApp. The email was not returned until the next day and the woman I spoke to on the phone was driving and never called me back. I checked with hotel reception. The hotel kept our luggage for us, and had a shower we could use after we checked out. However, it would have been nice had this information been provided in my packed. Again, these were minor issues. This was the trip of a lifetime. We would have no issues recommending Tanzania Specialist!
Respectfully,
Tammy Emigh

From the beginning to the end, we had quick precise communication. Text and emails were answered promptly. The booking process was seamless and easy. Thank you, Fanny!! The camps and other accommodations were incredible. The staff and food were over the top. Our driver Steven went out of his was and delivered and exceptional safari and was friendly and knowledgeable. The package that was put together exceed our expectations.

TS was truly a one-stop solution for all our travel needs. They helped us create the itinerary we wanted, and the driving arrangements were smooth and well organized. Their 24/7 helpline was especially impressive - the team was always quick to respond whenever we needed assistance.

All the hotels and tents arranged for us were excellent, and the staff at each location took great care of us throughout the trip. Overall, everything was well coordinated and made our journey comfortable and hassle-free. We had a great experience with TS and would definitely recommend them!

The itinerary was organised just the way we wanted. The Crater, Olduvai Gorge, the Serengeti and Zanzibar made for unforgettable experiences. Our guide Mseti was courteous, knowledgeable and did everything he could to make sure we were happy. Five stars to him and everyone at Tanzania Specialist. 👍

Consultant was good with information provided.
There were changes to the accommodations after confirmation!

Communication from the start was great and Bonny the driver made the experience special

It’s unfortunate that the actions of one person have left such a poor reflection on the company, as that is not an accurate reflection of our overall experience.

We had money stolen from us on two separate occasions, and both my partner and I are adamant that it was our guide. It’s frustrating we don’t have definitive proof, but the circumstances were too coincidental for it to have been anyone else. On both occasions, money went missing when he was left alone in the vehicle. In hindsight, it seems that he sought opportunities to isolate himself in the car so he had an opportunity to go through our bags (i.e., he returned lunch items to the car and dropped us off at toilets while he went and parked). Even if by the slimmest of chances it was not our guide, he was ultimately the last person to leave the vehicle on both occasions and failed to lock it.

The theft significantly soured what was otherwise a fantastic trip, particularly as we had booked this as our honeymoon. The thought and effort that the lodges and camps put into making our honeymoon special was genuinely appreciated and lovely.

The booking process with Prince was also great. He was responsive, patient and accommodating throughout, particularly as we made changes to the itinerary to ensure we got exactly what we wanted from the trip. Similarly, Joseline on ground once we were in Tanzania, was incredibly responsive and easy to communicate with.

Overall, it is a real shame that the actions surrounding the theft have affected our final impression of what was otherwise a very enjoyable trip.

Nous avons surtout aimé la rapidité dans les échanges de mails. La communication est parfaite. Ensuite la prise en charge avant et pendant le voyage est rassurante. La description de l'itinéraire et des hébergements sont exactement ceux annoncés au programme. Notre guide-chauffeur Khalid a été aux petits soins avec nous. Nous avons vu et découvert avec lui tous (la majorité) les animaux sauvages, notamment les " Big Five ". Le vol en montgolfière restera inoubliable... Ce voyage est une réelle expérience humaine et animalière. Nous affirmons que Tanzania Specialist est une agence digne de confiance. Merci à toute l'équipe. Bruno et Brigitte MEJANE

Trip very well organised. Top quality accomodation, beautiful food. Tanzania specialists figured that the original, agreed, itinerary could be improved on, and suggested a late minute change, which we applied. As an example of the level of detail and aftercare TS goes through. On completion of the safari
Katia organised the shuttle that took us to Nairobi once safari completed and a TS specialist vehicle dropped us off at the bus depot in Arusha. Emanuel the guide/driver very knowledgeable and pulled all stops to give us a brilliant time and we saw the great 5.

Everything was so well organized from pick up to drop off. The guides were wonderful and the accommodations amazing.
Everyone at Tanzania Specialist went out of their way to make this the adventure of a lifetime.
It more than met my expectations.

Peter made our experience so fantastic! He was so smart, he was the perfect guide we could have ever asked for. We had such an incredible experience from accommodations, guide, food, everything went smooth and perfect. 1000/10!!!

Delivered as promised. Professional, Organized and super helpful.

Tanzania Specialist couldn’t have set up a better Safari for us . Our Guide Hamadu was so knowledgeable about, animals , birds , flora and fauna, the history of Tanzania. He was very respectful to us and everyone else we encountered ( even rude and obnoxious people) Kudos to him. Our stays at each camp, or Resort were perfect for the situation ( in the heart of action ,quiet relaxation or site seeing adventures) Katia Michaela was our contact and she was very attentive to our needs and set it all up for us .Thank you!! I definitely would recommend them if you want the extraordinary experience we had.

Visiting Tanzania has been my dream for as long as I can remember. Tanzania Specialist made the trip everything I could have ever imagined. From the planning with Olosotu to the daily interaction with our expert guide Dotto, it was truly a dream come true. I am an avid traveler and this was the best trip I have ever experienced.
It was such a relief to have the itinerary planned, the camps booked, and all transportation taken care of. There was not a single missed point in all of the process. I would not hesitate to recommend Tanzania Specialist to anyone planning a safari.
Thank you for making this vacation so special!

Our guide Andrew was amazing, extremely professional, and attentive to the travelers.
The itinerary was well-designed, and the wildlife was outstanding.
The staff at the hotels and at Tanzania Specialist were pleasant and responsive to our needs and expectations.

My husband and I, along with another couple, used Tanzania Specialist for a 10 night trip in Tanzania and Zanzibar. We spent 7 nights on safari, staying both in and out of the Serengeti Park. Not only was our trip fantastic - we saw the Big 5 along with 30+ other species, but Tanzania Specialist was great to work with from our first inquiry. Our questions were always answered and we were given plenty of options to make our trip exactly what we wanted it to be. Our guide, Julius, was fantastic. He made it his personal mission to make sure we saw as much as possible. Highlights include seeing leopards and cheetahs, both black and white rhinos, several Mara River crossings of zebra and wildebeests (including crocodile attacks!) and so much more. All of our accommodations were lovely, as was the staff at each one. We were all pleasantly surprised by the delicious food options too. This was a bucket list trip for us, and it was so much better than we expected. I would recommend Tanzania Specialist to anyone looking to book a safari.

Punctual, great spotting by guide Hamisi who was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Great accomodation particularly foot on Africa and Sidia.
Food very good with good packed lunches.
Cold water in truck was appreciated.
Some Misinformation about clothing needs was provided at airport but not a big issue.
God value for money.
Overall very happy and would recommend to others.