Widman Tours & Safari
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Henrik | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Safari in 2 Days and Christian is the best Guide
We had a well organized Safari for today’s we started from Arusha to Tarangire and go on Ngorogoro
The car was very nice and the route well organized. Christian was our guide. He knows a little German auntie was the best driver and guide we had.
The hotel, the food and the drinks were included so we would recommend this provider a lot.
Special recommendation to Christian who is just fantastic for two days.
FR
Email Fatma | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect
we left with widman for a 2 day safari we are very satisfied with their service safari at the top hotel very good I recommend.
thank you to our guide Godlove who was kind and attentive and certainly helpful.
SE
Email Michaela | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everyone was very considerate and nice and gave us a wonderful trip!
We went five girls from Sweden on a private three-day safari and had an absolutely incredible trip. We were picked up at the hotel by a large safari vehicle that drove us to Selous. During the entire trip, we were served good food and always had access to water. We also had the oppurtunity to request what we wanted to eat and the staff arranged great vegetarian dinners for us on our request. We also asked for fruit and got it with every meal.
We went on a boat safari, a car safari and a walking safari. Both the boat safari and the car safari were absolutely fantastic and exceeded all expectations. We had very nice guides who told us all about the animals and the nature. We would definitely like to do this kind of trip again.
We slept in tents outside the national park. The tents were nice and provided with mattresses, pillows and blankets. It worked very well and it was fun to live so close to the wildlife. There was also access to 2 showers, 2 toilets and good charging facilities for phones etc.
At night, as you can expect, there are quite a lot of insects, so a good mosquito repellent and full-covering clothes can be nice to bring with you. It can also be good to bring some snacks to have in the car if you get hungry.
All the staff on the trip were super nice and it felt like everyone went the extra mile which made us have an unforgettable trip!
FR
Email Jonathan Pucci | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mistakes and delays, very bad experience
As an intro, I’d like to mention this is a copy paste of my comment on trip advisor.
I am not surprised after coming back from our trip there, to see the previous comment « Unprofessional experience », as it is exactly what we just lived too.
We chose the 2 days « memorable safari », between Tarangire and Ngorongoro.
On our first day, 30min delays at our hotel, and guide not reachable, you start to wonder if you haven’t just been scammed.
Then apparently out of nowhere, Widman was expecting us to have to full amount in cash to pay on the day for the parks entrance fees, even after our 10% deposit on his bank account, so we went withdrawing to our limit around 850$ in Tanzanian Shillings (TZS, their currency)
Then you’re supposed to wait for the lunch boxes somewhere but the guy did not show up so you go somewhere else and again you wait. While waiting, the guide is paying for Tarangire entrance, in US dollars ! So actually they had the money.. anyway we are nice people and decide to focus on the trip ahead.
That being said, we enter the park at 11:50 ! After leaving at 8 our hotel in Arusha. Maps says 3h drive, so we were (departure supposed to be 7:30), more than a good hour late.
Rest of the day goes quite normal in the park, even though another group saw a family of lions that we did not.
We reach our lodge at 7pm, not the one advised on the website, price half cheaper according to booking but we paid everything now so.. diner is at 7:30, so not much to relax, but people and food were nice though so ok we’ll see afterwards our overall satisfaction before complaining.
The next day, we are asked to be ready at 7 am, even though Ngorongoro is not far away from Karatu (our lodge city), to go pay for the Ngorongoro entrance, as it did not work the day before !
Then the mess begins :
We skip the breakfast, but have to wait the bank opening at 8, so we take breakfast, I am asked to help and try paying online about 450$ to enter there and there refund me, but it does not work (see our good faith again), so we go to the bank, it finally opens at 8:30, we wait, our guide goes to pay, we wait about 40min in the car, getting harassed by locals wanting to sell their objects, we finally are able to go there but the guide is feeling « dizzy » so we get one of his friends to pass the local police check (small doubts about legal but well..), we get to the gate late but surprise, paiement is not accepted yet because of a network issue, so we wait until 10:45 to go through, and after a bit less than 1h drive get into the crater around 11:30 ! And we were ready at 7 ! (1h drive for maps)
It’s not done, we enter the crater, and after 1h inside the car stops, technical issue, we cannot continue, it’s 12:30.
I did not mention above that on the first day we already realised that no gauge in the car was working, so not speed indicator, no fuel indicator since the beginning, all cars were overtaking us whenever a 50km/h limit panel was there as our guide did not know his own speed and went slower.
From there we wait 1h expecting our guide to find a solution and thank god a car with french people inside was nice enough to take us back for almost finishing the tour (1 small hour as they were on the way back). So we get out of the crater, after spending total 2h inside, only 1 with Widmans car.
Then our guide had paid for a bus to take us back to our hotel on the second day before our going back, even there, the price doubled when the bus arrived and we’ve been asked to help, to which we said no and the other company « Simba » actually paid for our return (they had to arrange themselves). It’s the least they had to do.
Now for two days we’ve been asking for a partial refund, explaining all this to Widman, and he only accepts to give 100$ back and begging for us not to post our experience, but that is clearly not enough for us.
So overall, delays, mistakes, very unprofessional people, and bad experience.
Not saying that the previous comments are false, but I imagine Widman is getting bigger with new guides and experiences, but he clearly does not know how run his business correctly. From other feedbacks on Tanzania, other companies were much more prepared and experiences were fantastic, so we strongly encourage anyone to look at other companies.
Reply from Widman Tours & Safari
Posted on Feb 1, 2023Basing on our agreement we made during the confirmation of his booking we agreed that if possible may make down payment 10% or full amount but he decided to make the down payment only 10% while other amount we agreed to payee after arriving as he acknowledged above but he didn't give as we agreed hence delayment states by finding the area to get the money and it was week end,early morning that's why most of financial institution was closed even in second day as he acknowledged that he was required to wait until the banks is open so that we wil get the money for paying Park fees and other operation cost of the trip hence delayment occurred and rember we agreed either to pay full amount or 10% and the remaining after arriving so if he was having good faith why he didn't make full payment? Also why the challenge it happens he is blaming to me while he was the first to breach the terms why don't we solve together and 10% usually is for preserving your booking and making surearence that you will make the Safafar use,though 10% it won't be enough for all park fees and Creator fees go the Natinal parks portal comprere what he made payment and the park fees needed to be payed.
Mechanical issue it true was happed during game driving but we made other arrangements by asking other campy to make the game with them and we payed them as Widman Tours and Safari. No any additional cost we asked the customer.
To the issue of refund i accepted as human but infact all money he they used in his trip basing on his expranation above he acknowledged that we get accomodation,he entered in the park, he used our car also other guys car which we payed our self.
In Bussines perspective in humanity point of view I wanted to refund such amount to make composertion for the challenge hapend we thought he was disabled physically but after long discussion we realized that the guy he assumed like he didn't use the money in his trip and dimanding a lot of money while he knows that other money it is difficult to get like park fees and hotel costs.
All in all I used my efforts to apporojoze he didn't accept my apology that's why he decided to put our discussion in these areas or let use assume the principal of saying that always the customer is correct even the fact of two parts is above plus other 11 reviews are positives this it can prove some time customers are unique in expection and beheviour actually I'm still question on his faith and intention above all we still well coming him to make Safafari with use if he want to come in Tanzania.
Thanks
Regards
Widman Masika
Director of Widman Tours and Safari Tanzania
HU
Email ADAM | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A safari above the expectations
We had a full day safari, starting at the morning and leaving the park around the sunset. Next day we visited a Masai village, which was also good, but the main attraction was definitely the safari. Our guide was very kind and informative, he always tried to take us to the best spots and show us a lots of different animals. I think I can say we were very lucky as we saw most of the animals, including lions, which was very great. The service what we received was in line with that what we discussed and was very good for the money, so I would definitely recommend Widman Tours & Safari, as one of the best service provider during our holiday in Tanzania!
HU
Email Mary | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
He was polite, friendly, careful and competent.
Great experience with perfect service by the tour operator.
Email Sadia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent
We really loved our trip. The tour guides were really fun and very accommodating. Our experience was very pleasant and I highly recommend the company. Thank you for a great trip!
ES
Email Erika | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect safari
We had an amazing safari with Widman Tours. There were some very last minute changes fom our side, but they responded quickly to our messages and made requested adjustments. Communication was smooth from the beginning to the end.
The value for money was great. We saw all imaginable animals and even spent some extra time at the national park, which was wonderful.
Overall, very reliable and professional tour operator. Couldn't have asked for more perfect safari experience. We highly recommend Widman Tours & Safaris!
ES
Email Helder | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
100% recommended
For sure my next tour will be with Widman’s. We could arrange the tour from one day to another. Punctual and a big 4x4 for 2 persons with good price. Include accommodations, food, water and entrance. The guide Girbert Kamnya 100%, always try to find animals and do explanations. I will recommend to all my friends. Tks Widman.
DE
Email Mr. El Torkaman | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A friendly and helpful guy!
Ruaha is a less visited park compared to Ngorongoro, Serenghetti or Tarangire. That makes it a much more easy going tour. Less organisation needed. In ngorongoro we had problems bealcause a guy in the agency didnt say about a russian couple's flight to Sansibar. So we had to do it quickly. Ruaha is a quite place without agencies or too much burocracy. The guy did all I needed. Although at the gate there was a bit problem and I had to wait until the problem is solved but that went quickly. We drove many kms and saw many interesting animals in a quite not so crowded touristy place. Early in the morning or late evening the wildlife is so active. Aah I would even go there again just to be in the middle of nothing but the nature in the calm evening again and listen to the wildlife. I just love it! Food was so delicious and even hyenas were closeby because they smelled cooked meat so I heard them in the bush.