The review below is the personal opinion of William and not that of SafariBookings.
Fantastic guide, disappointing organisation
We had a wonderful 7-day safari from Arusha, through Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. It was intense and unforgettable, with too many amazing events and sightings to even begin to list here.
Apart from the magnificent animals and beautiful landscape, the best thing by far about the trip was Hamza, our guide. It would be difficult to imagine a better one: knowledgeable and informative, patient and helpful. He seems to know every inch of the parks, and worked hard to find us every animal we hoped to see, including crocodiles, tree-climbing lions and leopards. Moreover, he is a skilled driver, giving us the gentlest of “African massages” but able to cover long distances over dusty roads without ever making us feel unsafe. Being a guide is a tough job demanding a wide range of skills, and we had an intense schedule. Hamza made it all work beautifully, and always with a cheerful laugh or a little joke. If we return to Tanzania, we will certainly look for him again. Hamza deserves 5 stars.
Unfortunately, our experience with Dancing Simba, the booking company, was far less impressive. Poor communication and disorganised, seat-of-the-pants arrangements led to several problems – including a last-minute lodge change that added hours of driving, and a mishandled hotel booking in Stone Town – that effectively spoiled two full days of a relatively short trip. Along the way, we couldn’t help feeling that some decisions, such as the lodge change, may have reflected Dancing Lions’ own interests more than ours. Taken together with various signs of cost-cutting and disorganisation, this really let down an otherwise extraordinary trip.
In short: Hamza deserves 5 stars — but Dancing Simba only 2. Hence the 3-star rating overall.
Asante sana, Hamza!
