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
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.