The BEST TOUR OPERATOR AWARDS
Usambara Trails Expedition
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- TTB & TANAPA
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
Email Andor | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
7-day safari in Tanzania northern parks
We can highly recommend Usambara. People are dedicated to making your journey an unforgettable experience. Thanks to our driver we've seen all big animals species and also some more rare ones like a caracal!
They make clients feel special. Alex, with whom we've had most contact in advance, came especially from Dar to Arusha to Welcome us! We selected this tour operator as it provided best value for money, and we were not dissapointed. In the end what really makes your trip is the quality of the guide and the accommodations you stay in. These accommodations were carefully selected by Usambara. The Tortilis tented camp in Serengeti really stood out. We've had one hick-up when our car broke down, but this was generously compensated with a nice day trip after our Safari had ended.
NL
Email Repke de Vries | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our safari with Usambara Expeditions: punctual, dedicated and knowledgeable
For our two week early March 2016 Kenya - Tanzania trip we wanted to see friends, do all travel over land by bus, get some safari feel in Tanzania's Northern Circuit but focus on Ruaha National Park in the South and wrap up with Zanzibar beach days. Bookings were done from abroad, choosing Tanzanian companies based on reviews: we had no prior experience with any of them. Ultimately this means trust and with Usambara for our Ruaha safari that played out very well. So much so that after the safari they also handled our getting from Iringa (town closest to the park) to Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar and eventually back to Dar's international airport: a company that also handles your getting from A to B in a tailor-made way proved a real bonus.
Given that our time of visiting was not the best to spot game - long grass, dense bushes - the Usambara guide being local to this part of Tanzania nevertheless tracked many: unforgettable encounters with lions. lionesses and elephant families in particular. Ruaha National Park is firmly on our list for next time - be it in a different season.When that happens Usambara Expeditions will be our choice of safari company again.
Email Sion Morton | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An excellent value for money safari
We had a four day / three night safari in Selous Game Reserve for four people, staying at Hippo Camp. Although my wife and I had been on safari before and knew what to expect, my parents (who had never travelled to Africa before) were apprehensive. We selected Usambara on the basis of the best price being offered and equally importantly for the responsiveness of Alex at Usambara to the frequent questions and specific requests that we made. Usambara were very helpful and willing to make changes to suit our tastes.
The safari itself was well organisedand problem free. We had a full itinerary (two full days in the park, a boat safari and a walking safari), which meant that we were able to see a wide variety of animal and bird life during the time in the park. Hippo Camp was conveniently located near the park entrance and offered spectacular sunsets over the Selous river each evening. Accomodation was perfectly acceptable for our budget range, and the food and service were very good. The only downside was the fact that power was turned off at 10pm, making for a hot and sweaty night without fans. All in all, a very memorable holiday.
Email Steffi & Mak | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
5 days 4 nights private Safari in Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park
We booked with Usambara Expeditions a couple of months before our trip in July. The communication was ok from the start and we booked a private safari with Alex - the owner of the company. We paid 30% deposit upfront and got confirmation on receipt of the money. We got picked up at our hotel on the morning of the safari and were introduced to our guide Afra who spent the whole 5 days with us. He is very knowledgable and explained a lot to us during the tour. We felt really lucky to have such good company and couldn't fault him in any way. We decided for a budget safari and stayed in two different cottages in the parks which were both absolutely fine and the food was good in both. The game drives in Selous Game Reserve were our highlight as you can go off-road to look for the animals whereas you have to stay on the roads in any National Park. We saw all the animals we were hoping to see and Afra wouldn't give up until we had seen it all :) I would definately recommend Usambara Expeditions. The only reason why I haven't given a 5 star rating is that the communication before the trip could have been more pro-active and responses could have been quicker - however, having been in 'the bush' now I understand that having access to mobile reception and internet access can sometimes take a couple of days. Thank you for a very memorable time!
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari experience!
We got a very good safari experience. Our guide picked us up was very nice and good at their cause. The trip from Dar es Salaam to the camp would take about 6 hours, but it took almost 9 hours for us when it was very many stops on the way to buy various things such as food, fruits, etc. We were not informed about this, which pulls down the score a bit when it became stressful when we arrived.
The camp is very close to nature. We had paid for a "luxury tent", which had its own shower and toilet. However, very basic and no AC / fan. Are you prepared for this it works very well, but we got a slight surprise.
The safari was at all really good! We were ourselves in the car with the guide and got to see a lot of animals, such as zebra, lion, giraffe, buffalo, crocodile, wildebeest, hippos etc .. We are very pleased with it.
The food at the camp also get good grades. We had a private chef who cooked three course meal that tasted really good!
We want to add extra weight to our guide who made the experience into something extraordinary! He was very knowledgeable and could answer any questions we had.
IT
Email Diletta Cammelli | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience, good driver.
Accomodation (we was in Tanapa cottage) was good and clean, also food is good.
The first day we stop eating in a Resturant in Morogoro which is not clean and i eat just rice.
We are very lucky and we see all kind of animal in Mikumi.
The driver was really kind and helpful.
US
Email Kyle | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Shell Company
I signed up with Usambara for a 5 day safari with an agreed upon itinerary and commitments for transfer from Moshi to Arusha.
After completing a Kilimanjaro trek, I was to be transferred from my hotel in Moshi to Arusha. The person picking me up was to arrive at 10am. At 10:15 I receive a call saying they cannot pick me up and I need to take the bus. I told them I would not (especially with advice from the hotel that it was not safe for my bags); I had to argue for 20 minutes to get them to agree to pay for a taxi to take me 2 hours to Arusha.
On arrival in Arusha, I met with another person who I was to pay the remaining amount owed on my safari. They tell me my itinerary is changing and that my group already left the day I arrived. I was told that it would start the following day and they had a group for me to join set up. Again I argued that I paid my deposit based upon the agreed itinerary that they had sold to me. Ultimately, they agreed to meet our agreed upon terms.
When I paid, I then realized I wasn't paying Usambara but another company. Then they said instead of staying at the hotel as expected, I would be joining the group at the campsite a night early. When I arrived, I realized I was joining yet another company.
On my last day I had to leave my group and be taxi'd to another group so I could visit another park.
It was an incredibly poor experience. I would not recommend signing up with Usambara.
NL
Email Theo | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Alex Shembago is a big cheater
At the beginning of July this year i had arranged with Alex a 24 day all inclusive (safaris, visit some tribes, transport , hotels, food etc.) private roundtrip from Dar es Salaam as well final Moshi. About 40% of the agreed amount i payed Alex, the rest i payed the driver/guide during the trip. The old car Alex give us broke down 3 times. The trip from Bukoba to Bokoba and Bokoba to Mwanza was canceled by Alex, because according to him the road was dangerous and the boat did not sail. On day 19 Alex phoned me and say that the money i give to driver is up and ask me to borrow 300 US for the last 5 days of the trip. I did not do this and told him that he still have 40 % of the travel sum in his pocket and that he easy can sent money to the driver. He didnt do that . The last 5 days i had made a 2 trips with an other person and my driver and have to pay for the hotel and food by myself. I said Alex that I want to have at least the hotel and food costs reimbursed for the last 5 days reimbursed from him. He promised to tranfer these charges to me within a few days. I reminds Alex later 2 times of this. Now after 7 weeks i still received nothing. I Moshi i told my expierence to an other man. This man said that he knew Alex and that its not believed that Alex will refund me any money.