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 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.
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.
Email Jennifer | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lovely guide great short safari
I booked a 2 days Safari to Mikumi for me and my mum leaving from Dar.
Our guide Tony was a very sweet and knowledgeable man.I really enjoyed that the company gave us different options for accommodation and different prices to choose from.Even thou the drive to Mikumi was quite long (7h) it gave us the opportunity to see the mainland landscape.
Overall very good experience and would recommend it
DE
Email Charlotte | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had booked a very special tour, because we visited some private people/places on the tour. 4 peop
We had a very nice Safari-tour with Emanuel -starten in Arusha. First day Tarangiere - it was very hot this day, we had enough water and good support. Evening/nigth at Panaramacamp nearby Manjara Park. Good meals from a Cook (Rama!) - he cooked only for us! Lunch packet for the next day in Ngorongoro - very nice day! We saw a lot of animals! Back to Panoramacamp; next day to Manjara-park - again a nice Safari-day! Eveline in Arusha, private hotel. Next day to Moshi, evening in Hai, private house. Next das Drive to Lushoto - a Tour Guide was waiting for us and we had a nice Walk to Irente-lodge. Nice Place, but we werde the only guests there! Next das Walk with the Guide Anna through the rain-Wood — very, very nice and Special! Anna is a very nice guide! Irente Farm was a good experience! We had lunch there. Evening at Irente lodge- next das Drive to Tanga - Airport. Emanuel Never has been there, but we found it! Very small plane to Sansibar! Everything was good and in time - Sansibar was nice, but very hot. Thank you for helping us to have a wonderful time in Tansania! See you again in 2-3 years!
CA
Email Mayam Abida | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
very comfortable and knowledgeable and full of respect.
Communication was clear , service was good the driver and guide (Mike) wz knowledgable took good care of us and treated us with respect, very patient and if we complained of anything like heat or food he would take immediate action.
we took two tours with them first was a day trip to Zanzibar everything was very well organised
I am 80 years 0ld and comfort is very important to me and I got lots of it on the tour
I will recommend this company to other people.
DE
Email Nicolas F. | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent experience !
We booked a 4 days / 3 nights Safari with Usambara and it was an excellent experience.
The camp is very nice on the river bank and our guide was really listening to us and what we wanted to see and do.
We stayed in "tents" and expected to sleep on the ground in a small usual tent, instead of that their vision of the tent is a 15m² room with solid walls, your own bathroom and an exceptional view on the river.
SE
Email Mari | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Easy to contact, fast response and able to provide à safari according to individual wishes
Overall à very good experience with different experiences! Our guide Apollo was very experienced and central for our positive safari. We say most of the animals living in this area (Selous Game Reserve) and we were almost alone which was very nice!
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.