Widman Tours & Safari
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
FR
Email Jonathan Pucci | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mistakes and delays, very bad experience
As an intro, I’d like to mention this is a copy paste of my comment on trip advisor.
I am not surprised after coming back from our trip there, to see the previous comment « Unprofessional experience », as it is exactly what we just lived too.
We chose the 2 days « memorable safari », between Tarangire and Ngorongoro.
On our first day, 30min delays at our hotel, and guide not reachable, you start to wonder if you haven’t just been scammed.
Then apparently out of nowhere, Widman was expecting us to have to full amount in cash to pay on the day for the parks entrance fees, even after our 10% deposit on his bank account, so we went withdrawing to our limit around 850$ in Tanzanian Shillings (TZS, their currency)
Then you’re supposed to wait for the lunch boxes somewhere but the guy did not show up so you go somewhere else and again you wait. While waiting, the guide is paying for Tarangire entrance, in US dollars ! So actually they had the money.. anyway we are nice people and decide to focus on the trip ahead.
That being said, we enter the park at 11:50 ! After leaving at 8 our hotel in Arusha. Maps says 3h drive, so we were (departure supposed to be 7:30), more than a good hour late.
Rest of the day goes quite normal in the park, even though another group saw a family of lions that we did not.
We reach our lodge at 7pm, not the one advised on the website, price half cheaper according to booking but we paid everything now so.. diner is at 7:30, so not much to relax, but people and food were nice though so ok we’ll see afterwards our overall satisfaction before complaining.
The next day, we are asked to be ready at 7 am, even though Ngorongoro is not far away from Karatu (our lodge city), to go pay for the Ngorongoro entrance, as it did not work the day before !
Then the mess begins :
We skip the breakfast, but have to wait the bank opening at 8, so we take breakfast, I am asked to help and try paying online about 450$ to enter there and there refund me, but it does not work (see our good faith again), so we go to the bank, it finally opens at 8:30, we wait, our guide goes to pay, we wait about 40min in the car, getting harassed by locals wanting to sell their objects, we finally are able to go there but the guide is feeling « dizzy » so we get one of his friends to pass the local police check (small doubts about legal but well..), we get to the gate late but surprise, paiement is not accepted yet because of a network issue, so we wait until 10:45 to go through, and after a bit less than 1h drive get into the crater around 11:30 ! And we were ready at 7 ! (1h drive for maps)
It’s not done, we enter the crater, and after 1h inside the car stops, technical issue, we cannot continue, it’s 12:30.
I did not mention above that on the first day we already realised that no gauge in the car was working, so not speed indicator, no fuel indicator since the beginning, all cars were overtaking us whenever a 50km/h limit panel was there as our guide did not know his own speed and went slower.
From there we wait 1h expecting our guide to find a solution and thank god a car with french people inside was nice enough to take us back for almost finishing the tour (1 small hour as they were on the way back). So we get out of the crater, after spending total 2h inside, only 1 with Widmans car.
Then our guide had paid for a bus to take us back to our hotel on the second day before our going back, even there, the price doubled when the bus arrived and we’ve been asked to help, to which we said no and the other company « Simba » actually paid for our return (they had to arrange themselves). It’s the least they had to do.
Now for two days we’ve been asking for a partial refund, explaining all this to Widman, and he only accepts to give 100$ back and begging for us not to post our experience, but that is clearly not enough for us.
So overall, delays, mistakes, very unprofessional people, and bad experience.
Not saying that the previous comments are false, but I imagine Widman is getting bigger with new guides and experiences, but he clearly does not know how run his business correctly. From other feedbacks on Tanzania, other companies were much more prepared and experiences were fantastic, so we strongly encourage anyone to look at other companies.
Reply from Widman Tours & Safari
Posted on Feb 1, 2023Basing on our agreement we made during the confirmation of his booking we agreed that if possible may make down payment 10% or full amount but he decided to make the down payment only 10% while other amount we agreed to payee after arriving as he acknowledged above but he didn't give as we agreed hence delayment states by finding the area to get the money and it was week end,early morning that's why most of financial institution was closed even in second day as he acknowledged that he was required to wait until the banks is open so that we wil get the money for paying Park fees and other operation cost of the trip hence delayment occurred and rember we agreed either to pay full amount or 10% and the remaining after arriving so if he was having good faith why he didn't make full payment? Also why the challenge it happens he is blaming to me while he was the first to breach the terms why don't we solve together and 10% usually is for preserving your booking and making surearence that you will make the Safafar use,though 10% it won't be enough for all park fees and Creator fees go the Natinal parks portal comprere what he made payment and the park fees needed to be payed.
Mechanical issue it true was happed during game driving but we made other arrangements by asking other campy to make the game with them and we payed them as Widman Tours and Safari. No any additional cost we asked the customer.
To the issue of refund i accepted as human but infact all money he they used in his trip basing on his expranation above he acknowledged that we get accomodation,he entered in the park, he used our car also other guys car which we payed our self.
In Bussines perspective in humanity point of view I wanted to refund such amount to make composertion for the challenge hapend we thought he was disabled physically but after long discussion we realized that the guy he assumed like he didn't use the money in his trip and dimanding a lot of money while he knows that other money it is difficult to get like park fees and hotel costs.
All in all I used my efforts to apporojoze he didn't accept my apology that's why he decided to put our discussion in these areas or let use assume the principal of saying that always the customer is correct even the fact of two parts is above plus other 11 reviews are positives this it can prove some time customers are unique in expection and beheviour actually I'm still question on his faith and intention above all we still well coming him to make Safafari with use if he want to come in Tanzania.
Thanks
Regards
Widman Masika
Director of Widman Tours and Safari Tanzania
ES
Email Erika | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect safari
We had an amazing safari with Widman Tours. There were some very last minute changes fom our side, but they responded quickly to our messages and made requested adjustments. Communication was smooth from the beginning to the end.
The value for money was great. We saw all imaginable animals and even spent some extra time at the national park, which was wonderful.
Overall, very reliable and professional tour operator. Couldn't have asked for more perfect safari experience. We highly recommend Widman Tours & Safaris!
He is a walking encyclopedia for Flora and Fauna a
Spot on time at the pick up spot had an eventful journey to Ruaha National park. Our tour guide had organized all payments and was smooth all the way to the park. We had a wonderful 3 day trip with breath taking sunrise by the Ruaha river to adventures game drives and evening camp fires. Our tour guide knew all the spots to find game crowned by a pride of 7 lions. It was a great trip for the family; thanks Widman Tours and Safari.
BG
Email Kalin Botev | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing safari in Nyerere National Park!
We had a fabulous four-days safari in the Nyerere National Park in February 2022. We spent our nights at a small camp on an island in the Rufiji river. Our bungalow was right on the bank of the river with a magnificent view to the mighty Rufiji. Each day we took a boat to and from the park which really added to our daily safaris. Our guide, Gilbert was simply great! He was very professional with lot of knowledge about wildlife and where to find it. He did his best to show us the beauty of the park. And even when we gave up on something, he did not and showed us how patience pays :). We will definitely another, longer trip with him and I recommend Gilbert to anyone who wants to go on safari.
US
Email Derrick Levy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mr Widman was very accommodating, communicative, and helpful
We had a wonderful 2day private safari to Tarangire and Ngorongoro crater. Our guide Noel was very friendly and informative and knowledgeable. He fielded all our many questions with a smile .
The accommodation at the lodge where we stayed overnight were great and the staff was very friendly and welcoming .
Overall the trip was great value for a private tour and I am very pleased we chose Widmans
IT
Email Margherita and Sofia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Epic person, very well organised and with great heart
We won't ever forget this experience in our life!
Widman is a well organised person and our guide John was fantastic! If we will come another time, we want to jave John again!
QA
Email Rahma Ouertatani | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It met our expectations
The tour was accommodated to our needs. Communication was prompt and planning was discussed properly.
We have enjoyed our time The way we wished for.
Our guide was pleasant and knowledgeable.
Lodge and food were great.
We have enjoyed every bit of our tour to the masaii cultural tour and the safari.
Thank you Widman
PL
Email Kate | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great
Fast response. We had a very friendly and nice guide. We saw a lot of animals. Our hotel was great, there were monkeys running outside and fireflies flying around. Magic place.
NL
Email Mirjam | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good, we got what we booked. Just another lodge then is on the website but they are all good and nic
We had beautifull hot weather and saw a lot of animals. We really liked the combination boat safari and driving. We skipped the walking safari on our choice because we were to warm. They really looked for the animals in the park and took the time to let us see them.
Driving time from dar es salaam was 7 hours, that was a minor because the website said 4-5 hours. Our guide was an intern but was very nice. Sometimes a little diffucicult communicating in Englisch. Worth the money.
Email Corde | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hospitality from all people was brilliant.
Game safari was brilliant, but the walking safari wasn’t really worth doing on the next day. Would much rather do a boat safari instead and pay a little extra. The rooms were okay to stay for 1-2 nights but showers were really bad. The tour operators and transport were all very good and friendly. They made the transport to the park fun.