6-Day Tanzania Safari - the Northern Circuit Experience

Reply from Shengena Adventure

Dear our lovely client,

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We truly appreciate the positive comments about Stanley, our guides, the lodges, the food, the wildlife experience, and the overall trip. We are happy to hear that, despite the challenges you mentioned, you still had a great experience, saw the Big Five, and enjoyed your time in Tanzania and Zanzibar.

That said, we would also like to clarify a few points from our side, as some details in the review do not fully reflect the itinerary and arrangements that were confirmed before your trip.

First, regarding the title of the trip, the confirmed booking was “8-Day Great Migration Safari, Culture, Mount Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar.” It was not sold as an “8-day private luxury tour to the Serengeti and Zanzibar.” The itinerary included a combination of mid-range lodges and tented camps, as well as some luxury tented camps. Therefore, while some of the properties provide a luxury-level experience, the entire itinerary was not classified or priced as a fully luxury tour.

Regarding driving times, the times shown in the itinerary were estimated travel times, not guaranteed exact transfer durations. Safari travel in Tanzania can vary considerably depending on road conditions, weather, wildlife stops, traffic, and the condition of unpaved roads. We understand that some journeys took longer than expected, and we appreciate your feedback that these estimates could have been explained more clearly.

Regarding the Zanzibar flight, our booking was made as a direct flight based on the flight information and ticket provided to us. The ticket did not indicate an intermediate stop. If the aircraft made an unexpected stop or change during the journey, this would have been outside our control. Guests can also verify the flight details directly from the tickets that were provided.

Regarding the Mount Kilimanjaro day hike, we sincerely apologize that we did not clearly advise you to bring proper hiking shoes suitable for muddy and slippery conditions. This is something we should have communicated beforehand, and we accept that point. We will make sure this information is made clearer to future guests.

Regarding Day 8, we would also like to clarify that the confirmed itinerary specifically stated that Day 8 included breakfast and the transfer to the airport only. No lunch or dinner was included or charged for that day. For this reason, we were surprised by the complaint that these meals were not provided. We always try to provide exactly what is included in the confirmed itinerary and avoid charging guests for services that are not part of their package.

Regarding the airport transfer, we sincerely apologize for the driver attempting to request payment from you. The transfer had already been paid for by our company, so you should not have been asked to pay again. This was not authorized by us, and we will address the matter internally and take appropriate action to prevent such incidents in the future.

We are also sorry if there were occasions when you had to contact us to confirm driver names, pickup arrangements, or activity times. We understand that these details should be communicated proactively, and this is an area where we can improve our coordination.

We appreciate your comments because they help us identify areas where our communication can be better. At the same time, we believe it is important for future travelers reading the review to have the full context and understand what was actually included, what was estimated, and what was outside our control.

Despite the issues raised, we are genuinely pleased that you enjoyed the wildlife, accommodations, Zanzibar, and the overall experience. Tanzania is an adventure destination, and some aspects of safari travel—particularly long journeys on unpaved roads—can be very different from conventional luxury holidays.

Thank you again for choosing us and for your feedback. We wish you all the best and hope that the wonderful memories from your Tanzania adventure remain the strongest part of your trip.

Kind regards,
Omar