SMILE WITH US TOURS IN AFRICA 2024
Smile With Us Tours In Africa
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $490 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
HU
Email Barna | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Canceled safari by operator
We booked our safari two months in advance. 4 days before the date we got a request from the tour operator to re-schedule the date due to organization issues. We managed, re-arranged our schedule. After that it was extremely difficult to communicate to the operator, we received no info, no replies to emails. Complete incommunicado. We only hope that we will receive back the deposit we paid - the safari never happened.
We could still give five star even after a canceled safari as we can understand if there are unforseen technical difficulties during organizing a tour - but at least, talk to your client! Not communicating, not answering emails for days just a few days before a scheduled and then re-scheduled safari, leaving the client in uncertainty deserves nothing but one star.
Reply from Smile With Us Tours In Africa
Posted on Jan 8, 2024Thank you for your review and we are sorry that your flying safari didn't happen.
We got a challenge from our domestic flight that we always book with them, and we shared with you the reasons for not making your day trip safari. They informed us that their scheduled flight for the booked trip was got the technical problem, and they were not sure if it will be fixed and be ready for safari as the days was too near.
We as a tour company we really don't have any control over any flight company, we really depend on them, may be this the main problem to be addressed, so it wasn't our intention to see things falling apart! Very sorry again for disappointing you.
For communications, we always communicate with our customers about the issues of flight and await final confirmation from flight team for the best feedback to our clients. This was the only delay in hours for the reply of your email, but all emails were answered accordingly.
About the refund, we have already processed, and our customer confirm he/she received it for not providing the required service.
Sorry for what has happened, and we will continue to take care about the flying safari due to unpredicted errors that may happen.
DE
Email Anja & Michael | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Job! Unforgettable Experience!
It was a very special experience! Henry is a super friendly, pleasant guide with whom we were able to learn and laugh a lot, the car was well maintained and in good condition, we will never forget these 6 days. The safari exceeded our expectations. Everything was organized smoothly, always enough to drink and eat, as well as the opportunity to coordinate the process individually.
Asante
Email James | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful tour guides, fantastic experience, trip of a lifetime
We were a family of 6 plus 2 single friends, we enjoyed a wonderful 5 night safari visiting Mikumi, Udzungwa and Nyerere. When we first looked into safaris we thought it was going to be way out of our budget but then we found Smile with Us, they were excellent value for money.
Mr Msese and Omari were our tour guides, they were wonderful friendly men, with a vast knowledge of flora and fauna. We have a good knowledge about plants and animals but we learned so much from these men. They were also excellent drivers and we always felt safe despite the rough roads and crazy traffic. We felt truly cared for and looked after by them.
From the moment we entered Mikumi we were astounded at the wildlife, it was so special to see elephants, giraffes, hippos and lions as well as many other animals. All the accommodation was good but we especially enjoyed Nyerere Tented Camp at the end, it was truly special to stay in these luxurious tents, our boys even saw a hippo walk behind their tent late at night.
We highly recommend Smile with Us.
DE
Email Katja | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memories of a lifetime!
We are back from our incredible 17-days-tour and I would highly recommend booking with Smile with us Tours in Africa! The communication and planning of the tour, choosing accommodations and activities was a very good experience. Jacob has arranged all accommodations and activities for our exciting individual itinerary and everything was very well organized, whereever we arrived.
Our guide on our long safari was Erick: He is speaking very good English and is just an amazing person with so much knowledge about nature, wildlife and culture – it was really a pleasure to travel with him! Up from our arrival at the airport we have enjoyed every minute of our long safari. There is nothing, he can’t deal with or what is impossible for him. Asante sana – we left with memories of a lifetime!
For sure we will plan our next trip with Jacob and his team to explore more places of this beautiful country.
NL
Email Kees | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A reliable and flexible company
We made a safari with Smile for 8 days.
We visited three NP, Nyerere, Mikuni , Ruaha. The company is very flexible and adjusted the program to our wishes.
They do what they offer and communication with Jacob Moshi is good. It is a reliable company and that is important.
In Nyerere park we had Mr Deo as driver/guide. We had an open car which is excellent. Mr Deo is enthousiastic and an expert.
For the other two parks we had Mr Saloum as driver-guide. He has a lot of experience in the parks.
In Zanzibar Smile is represented by Mr Nurdin. Excellent services.
Overall , good and reliable company.
Highly recommended.
Email Michael & Sharon | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic, superior customer service
We have just returned from a trip to Zanzibar and used "Smile with us Tours" for a 3 day 2 nights Safari in the Nyerere national reserve.
From our first contact with Jacob it was so easy to work out what we wanted to do, agree an itinerary and get it all booked up.
1st class communication from end to end.
We paid a deposit and then the balanced on the day of our trip.
Every single part of the trip went as planned, top class service all the way, initial collection at our hotel, transfer to the airport for the short 30 min flight from Zanzibar airport to the reserve on the mainland, collected by our guide for the trip Mr Marufu (Mr Famous.) We had a safari jeep to ourselves.
Mr Marufu was a fantastic guide, loads of information about the flora and fauna and of course all the animals.
We set off from the landing strip and as we had an early start to catch the flight we headed to a camp near by for breakfast, a very nice surprise and an extremley good breakfast.
After that we headed into the reserve for our first game drive - exciting times! animals everywhere, water buffalo, giraffe, zebra, impala, warthogs .... the list goes on and on
We chose to stay at the Selous Impala tented lodge, we were not disappointed with our choice, a fantastic lodge 5* service and facilities
Day 1 was a game drive till lunch time, rest in the afternoon at the lodge and an evening / dusk game drive then back to camp for dinner
Day 2 game drive all day, lunch out on the drive sat overlooking a lake watching the animals and life go by - an amazing experience
Day 3 walking drive in the bush and a river trip followed by a rest up at another lodge outside the reserve ahead of our flight back to Zanzibar.
We cannot thank Jacob and Smile with us tours for arranging a fantastic memorable trip!
CH
Email Bettina | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Reliable, experienced and flexible company
I went with Smiling Tours to Mikumi and Nyerere National Park and I can recommend the company in terms of organization and reliability. The staff is very experienced and Moshi was available any time to answer our questions during the trip. Everything was perfect, the lodges, the driver, we had a great time! I would definitely book with them again.
FR
Email Aurore | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience!
Leaving in June 2023, we had an excellent time with your team, from start to finish!
First, with Omary, very friendly and a very good driver. It allowed us to meet children for the school supplies that we had brought, to enjoy the country thanks to the 5-hour car ride to go to the mainland, to observe the magnificent animals of the Nyerere park (zebras, leopard , elephant, impala, baboons, hyena, giraffe, crocodiles, hippos...), we saw very few tourists, it was great thank you very much! And he helped us a lot with the ferry!
Then, Mickaël, our French-speaking guide, perfect too! Very kind, attentive, he explained to us very well the life of animals and men in Tanzania, we met the villagers for supplies thanks to him, great time! There was also Abdul the driver of the safari boat, nice too! Then Didi the bushman gave us a great demonstration of jungle plants, he’s funny! The Selous is magnificent...
The accommodation was very good too, the restaurant staff chat easily and are always smiling and attentive, and the Maasai are good handymen to repair our broken sandal, and are also very friendly!
The organization was perfect, we thank you for everything, the memories are engraved forever, good luck to you!
(automatic translation from French)
Email Jenny | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very accommodating and professional service
We did the southern circuit of Tanzania. From the very beginning Smile with Us were quick to respond to our queries, and were very accommodating when it came to tailoring our itinerary.
We had a fantastic journey around 4 national parks with a private guide/ driver Khalifa. We saw everything we hoped to see and lots more. Our guide went above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience. We would highly recommend.
JE
Email Elliot | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic! Surreal experience, like a dream!
Our adventure with Smile With Us Tours Africa was simply out of the ordinary.
Jacob’s helpfulness in answering all our questions in the booking phase, to helping storing our luggage whilst we were away was second to none. Nurdin came to pick us up directly from our hotel at 4am to drive us to the airport, he was punctual, welcoming and extremely polite.
Our exceptional guide Maarufu was waiting for us when the plane arrived in Mtemere airstrip. Maarufu really made our trip, he was extremely knowledgable of the animals and area as well as super friendly and great fun!
We started the stay with breakfast in a lodge outside Nyerere National Park. This was followed by a “Walking Safari” accompanied by a Maasai. We learnt about the different trees, plants and animals droppings of the bush - a really useful background prior to the game drives. The Maasai also demonstrated and let us attempt to make fire the traditional way.
Before lunch, we embarked on a “Boat Safari” during which we were able to see crocodiles, hippos and many birds.
After lunch, we left with Maarufu on our first game drive. After a brief discussion we agreed to travel along the highway for an hour with the goal of finding lions that had been spotted earlier. On the road, we met giraffes, impalas, pumbas, buffaloes and even elephants!
After about an hour and a half, and Maarufu’s expert guidance, the ultimate reward, a large family of lions with lots of cubs. The dream!
The lions came so close to the car to find shade that we could have reached out and touched them!
The drive back to the lodge was full of more animals everywhere we looked.
We spent the evening and night at Selous Impala Camp. The tents were very comfortable, the service very attentive and the food delicious.
The next morning we left at sunrise for a “Bush Breakfast”. Maarufu used his expertise to track the elephant footprints and to locate a family of elephants with many baby elephants.
We had breakfast by one of the park’s many lakes, a unique and memorable moment.
We continued the safari before returning for lunch at the lodge, before leaving for Mtemere airstrip, still spotting a number of animals on the way.
Throughout the Safari, Maarufu knew how to find the animals, bring the car as close as possible without scaring them so that we could be as close as possible to them. He also have us a lot of information about the animals and how the entire ecosystem works.
It is important to note that we were provided with an open top Jeep, entirely open on the sides, that was just for us. This was very different from the occasional others companies we saw which had a mixture of people crammed into the car, or no open sides.
Thank you to Jacob and the whole team for organising a wonderful two days and especially Maarufu for making it truly unforgettable, making us laugh and smile non stop and guiding us to all the animals of the Selous!
