Reviews

Average User Rating
4.8/5

Rating Breakdown
  • 5 star 121
  • 4 star 12
  • 3 star 1
  • 2 star 0
  • 1 star 1

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 1-10 of 135 Reviews
Hugo Despres   –  
Canada CA
Visited: January 2026 Reviewed: Jan 27, 2026

Email Hugo Despres  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The review below is the personal opinion of Hugo Despres and not that of SafariBookings.
An incredible safari experience, but serious organizational issues behind the scenes
3/5

I feel obligated to share this experience to ensure transparency for future travelers.

I am giving this experience 3 stars, mainly because our guide was truly excellent and because the safari experience itself is absolutely a once in a lifetime must do.

I chose Destiny Explorer in order to support a local safari operator, despite having read prior reviews mentioning concerns about vehicle condition and maintenance.

Six months after paying our deposit, Issa informed us that our first night at Africa Safari Arusha was no longer available and had to be changed. This information was incorrect. I personally contacted the hotel and confirmed that availability existed, including shortly before our arrival. Instead, we were relocated to Parrot Hotel, which was in extremely poor condition. The property was very run down, many things were broken or poorly repaired, and the air conditioning leaked directly onto our suitcase overnight. We were also the only guests at the hotel, which felt uncomfortable.

Upon arrival, a representative of the company demanded an additional 600 USD, explaining that a calculation error had been made after the deposit. While the mistake was indeed theirs, Issa refused to accept payment by credit card and offered no alternative solutions. I was told to withdraw cash from an ATM. Due to withdrawal limits, I had to make multiple transactions in local currency and exchange it to USD, resulting in additional fees and exchange losses of approximately 75 USD. This was handled in a very unprofessional manner.

The safari vehicle itself was old and poorly maintained, with over 150,000 km on the odometer and smaller windows than standard safari vehicles. Compared to other groups we encountered, our vehicle was clearly inferior, which raised concerns from the beginning.

Unfortunately, on day five, the vehicle broke down. We lost the entire afternoon of day five and all of day six. During this time, we received little to no clear information and were moved between locations by individuals we did not know. On the evening of day six, around 8:00 pm, we still did not know whether our final day at Ngorongoro would take place. This caused significant stress and uncertainty.

We had been previously assured that in the event of a breakdown, a replacement vehicle would be provided. That did not happen. Although a replacement part was eventually flown in and our guide rejoined us during the night, the situation was handled in a disorganized and amateur manner.

I later requested a partial prorated refund for the lost safari time on the afternoon of day five and the entirety of day six. To this day, I have received no response.

If you choose this operator, be aware that in the event of mechanical issues, you may be left without support or clear communication. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this company.

Reply from Destiny Explorers
Reply from Destiny Explorers
Posted on Jan 27, 2026

Hello Hugo,

Thank you for your feedback. Your comments truly help us improve as a local travel agency in Tanzania.

Regarding the accommodation at Africa Safari Arusha, we kept you informed and opted to book an alternative after the initial room became unavailable. Availability can fluctuate due to cancellations, but we chose not to wait and instead secured a reliable alternative that we frequently use with no issues. We also appreciate you raising concerns about their facilities; we will address this to ensure future clients do not have a similar experience.

Regarding the payment balance, we appreciate your understanding. As previously discussed, the discrepancy was due to a typing error in an earlier email which mentioned a lower balance than the actual amount specified in your invoice.

We also apologize for the technical issue with our credit card payment link at the time of your final payment. I am glad we were able to discuss this and that you agreed to settle the balance in cash so we could move forward.

Regarding the vehicle breakdown in the Serengeti, our priority was to ensure your safari continued without interruption. Given the distance from Arusha, we opted to rent two alternative jeeps to take you to your camp and on to Karatu rather than making you wait. Our team acted quickly to fly the necessary spare parts to the Serengeti, allowing your guide, David, to repair the injector pump and continue with you to the Ngorongoro Crater the following day.

We take full responsibility in these situations and are pleased that our efforts allowed you to complete your journey safely. Please be assured that we perform thorough checks on all vehicles before and after every trip, as safety is our top priority.

Thank you for choosing Destiny Explorers and for your trust in us. We are happy that David helped make your Tanzania safari unforgettable.

Regards,

Issa

Juana   –  
Argentina AR
Visited: January 2026 Reviewed: Jan 10, 2026

Email Juana  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Unforgettable experience
5/5

We did a 5 days private safari and it was amazing! Our guide Nicholas made everything better. The accommodations were super comfortable and we had the best time exploring the parks. Specially serengueti which was our absolute favourite.
Totally recommend!

Catherine Farrugia   –  
Malta MT
Visited: January 2026 Reviewed: Jan 7, 2026

Email Catherine Farrugia  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

They are exceptional
5/5

The experience we had was a lifetime experience with destiny explorers.our guide made his best every second so this could be memorable

Solange   –  
Switzerland CH
Visited: December 2025 Reviewed: Jan 4, 2026

Email Solange  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

An awesome adventure
5/5

Our trip with Destiny Explorers this December was awesome. This was our first ever Safari and Issa promptly answered all of our questions and helped us with our Itinerary. Our guide Tarimo was super knowledgeable and kind. He communicated with other guides to find out what animals were spotted and where, so he could take us to the good spots. He was also happy to stop anywhere we wanted and gave us lots of information about the animals and places. Our only complaint is that the vehicle was really old and rundown (no AC) and features like phone chargers were not working. However it's good to note that the price quoted by Destiny Explorers was overall cheaper than some other agencies so it was okay. We still had a great time and would recommend people to book with Destiny Explorers.

Michela Guzzi   –  
Italy IT
Visited: November 2025 Reviewed: Dec 13, 2025

Email Michela Guzzi  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Deams coming true
5/5

The accommodations were excellent in terms of comfort, cleanliness, and overall quality, providing a relaxing and well-maintained environment. The organization and timing were flawless: all activities followed the schedule perfectly, allowing us to enjoy the experience without any delays or stress.

A special mention goes to our guide, David, who was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and reliable. His deep understanding of wildlife and the local environment, combined with a calm and attentive approach, greatly enhanced the overall safari experience and made us feel safe at all times.

The food was also of a very high standard, with well-prepared, varied meals that consistently met expectations.

We highly recommend this safari to anyone seeking a well-organized experience with excellent service and professionalism throughout.

Manuel Silva   –  
Portugal PT
Visited: December 2025 Reviewed: Dec 10, 2025

Email Manuel Silva  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

excellent organization
5/5

An excellent safari.

From the airport pick-up to the arrival at the hotel on the last day's return.

I opted for a 5-day tour (Tarangire National Park; Serengeti National Park; Ngorongor National Park and Manyara Lake) everything exceeded my expectations and those of our small group.

Many thanks to Issa Hamisi Safari.

Niketa & Patrick   –  
Germany DE
Visited: October 2025 Reviewed: Nov 22, 2025

Email Niketa & Patrick  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Great 6 d safari with an expert guide, amazing wildlife sightings and wonderful lodge accommodations
4/5

We have spent 6 days together with our tour guide David from Destiny Explorers.

First the jeep, since we spent most of our waking hours in it. The car was old but seemed to be just like all the other vehicles we saw in the parks. The ride can get a bit rough, but our guide seemed to handle the car well, and his knowledge of the vast area was impressive.

David answered all our questions about the flora and fauna and adjusted the tour according to our wishes and needs.

We had some doubts about the broken radio in the car. Other tourists mentioned the guides being in contact with each other to hear about animal sightings in the vicinity. We were told that this happens via smartphone as well. To what extent that was the case, we can’t tell. We did have good sightings, but we wonder if more communication could have improved it further. In the end, it is a game of luck and chance.

The hotels that Destiny Explorers chose for us were amazing. This is especially true for the lodges in the national parks themselves. We didn’t want to overspend, but the level of comfort, space, and style of our accommodations were a pleasant surprise. The food was always tasty and plentiful, sometimes extraordinary. A few breakfast items tend to be a bit repetitive after a couple of days, but the choice was there, and we felt well taken care of, Issa also made sure we got a nice birthday cake baked by one of the lodges.

The only thing we didn’t like was some miscommunication, which led us to book a slightly cheaper package that included less accommodation and transport than we had expected. As a result, we ended up arranging our own accommodation and taxis, which ended up costing more than the original quoted amount for those days. It was also difficult to be flexible on the go with our itinerary, we would have liked to spend more time in the Serengeti, but the price quoted for changing one day was extremely high. I would highly recommend having a phone call beforehand to clearly go over all the details before booking.

Other than these hiccups, we had a very good time overall.


Alejandro & Anika   –  
Germany DE
Visited: November 2025 Reviewed: Nov 13, 2025

Email Alejandro & Anika  |  Experience level: first safari

9-Day Safari With Destiny Explorers
5/5

Destiny Explorers (Issa) planned an unforgettable 9 Day Safari including Lake Natron and made all of our dreams come true. He was very flexible and responsive when we had to make to make changes to our booking even when we arrived in Tanzania right after the elections, he called our hotel to check if we are okay and kept us posted about the pick up process.

Our tour guide, Nico, was very friendly and knowledgeable over all the wildlife. He immediately made us feel like family by sharing lots of stories and laughter. With his expertise and dedication, we saw all of the Big 5 including 64 Lions!

I can assure you if you choose Destiny Explorers as your Safari agent, they will exceed your expectations!

Alejandra Hernandez   –  
Spain ES
Visited: November 2025 Reviewed: Nov 11, 2025

Email Alejandra Hernandez  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Amazing experiencie
5/5

We did a 3 days Safari with Destiny Explorers and it has been one of the best experiences of our lives! The whole team is amazing, Issa was so helpful by planning everything for us and then our guide Tarimo was excellent, we definitely would come back! The hotels were also amazing and the food was also really good.
Congratulations to the whole team! You are doing it great!

Elisabeth   –  
Germany DE
Visited: October 2025 Reviewed: Nov 10, 2025

Email Elisabeth  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Making memories for a lifetime!
5/5

If you want to make unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime, get the best value for your money and experience A+ Service, then you should book a tour with Destiny Explorers! Issa, the owner, made sure that the whole booking and communication went absolutely smooth. He adapted the tour to our needs, always promptly responded, organized an airport transfer and much more. During our trip he was always just a message/ phone call away and made sure that the whole tour proceeded without and problems. Our tour guide Hussein was an absolute gem! Highly professionell, super knowledgeable and such a sweet soul! Thanks to him, we had the best time, despite the unstable political situation in Tansania at that time. He was always on time, in a good mood and helped us with everything! He spotted animals that would have otherwise remained hidden to us and all of that while driving super safe.

We can highly recommend Issa, Hussein and the rest of the team. You will get a trip which is not only worth the money but also a once in a lifetime experience that will stay in your heart forever ♥️

Average User Rating
4.8/5
Rating Breakdown
  • 5 star 121
  • 4 star 12
  • 3 star 1
  • 2 star 0
  • 1 star 1
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