Grade One Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2023)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $180 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
exciting adventure
We wanted to book a two-day safari from Zanzibar to the Ngongongoro Crater at short notice. Grade One Tours was recommended to us and it was a great choice. They go to great lengths to fulfill all our wishes and ensure an unforgettable trip. We also really enjoyed our overnight stay, the Karatu Villa Lodge. It was a fun, exciting adventure with excellent value for money.
CA
Email Ryan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Lack of communication!
Hi there, I read Rio’s post about Grade One Tours using stalling and excuses to not do as they promised. Basically I paid them a deposit and after that they kept coming up with different excuses as to why nothing had been done! The whole time telling me that everything was going fine and on schedule. They were supposed to book hotels, and park fee for me and send me confirmation. But that never happened. They were also supposed to transfer money by bank or credit card to pay for flights but I only got delays and excuses. Finally they just stopped making contact via WhatsApp. Is what I’m hoping for is a final resolution to this order. If the trip is on do what you promised, is the trip isn’t going to work out, let me know and take the appropriate steps to fully refund my money. Thanks all I ask. I hope this will be helpful to future customers. Thanks Ryan
Reply from Grade One Tours
Posted on Aug 10, 2025You have been asked a safari as business trip for the agreement of marketing our company since you are dealing with tourist group and also Grade One Tours is supposed to pay some cost to you
And first time you cancel trip and then you rebook again for tour to start on January 2026 which not yet but unfortunately you forced thing like you want park fees to be paid now while parkfees is always paid after client to arrival since it's non _ refundable Incase we pay and no safari the money won't funded which is different from hotel ,we may get some refund .
Also the second trip you said you will cancel and you get reply just proceed with cancellation.
You Saud waiting for flight money ( big liar ) you did not pay any flight to us and no any amount you owe us for your flight .
Please don't miss lead potential client.
We are reputable company
IT
Email Giuseppe | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thank You For Best Adventure
Everithing was really good. Rama, the guide is kindly and he take everywhere we ask.
Really Raccomendend
SE
Email Carl John | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very experienced operator.
Mdee (operator) met me, my wife and friends at the Airport and showed us an amazing side of Tanzania. His service mind is 10/10.
The car is a durable Toyota with good vision, comfy chairs and raisable roof to stand up at the safari. Also has a fridge that was pre-filled with water and sodas in the back.
Our operator showed great respect for the animal kingdom and nature. He knew the parks inside and out and managed to get us very close to animals and away from the bigger groups of cars with tourists. Felt like a VIP trip to be honest.
Big 5 check👌
Email Clarisa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Frustrating experience
I did a safari with this company and unfortunately had a bad experience. They made me pay the park entrance fee again, even though I had already paid it. It didn’t show up in the system, but that’s something they should handle, not me. I ended up paying over $80 with the promise they’d refund me the same day.
That didn’t happen. They delayed it again and again with different excuses and only on my last day, after insisting a lot, did I finally get my money back. in shillings, not dollars, even though they’d had two days to sort it out.
I’ve done safaris with other companies without any issues. This is the only one that caused me problems. They made the experience stressful and frustrating.
PH
Email Rio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We felt scammed
If you’re considering this operator, think twice. Since July 2025, I’ve been chasing them to get back my $6,700, but all I’ve received are empty promises that never materialize. I even hired someone to investigate the company, and it turns out their office in Arusha doesn’t exist. They’ve also refused to cooperate with the court case. If you don’t want your trip ruined, look for another operator.
It’s a traumatic experience to hire an operator here in safari booking.
KR
Email Woo | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Warning! Dishonest company
From our experience this company felt like a travel scam operation.
They are extremely dangerous. Do not use them under any circumstances.
We have reported them to the government through a Tanzanian lawyer.
Our family, in early October, contracted with them for a 3-night, 4-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro program. We were defrauded throughout the entire program and were put in serious danger before we barely escaped.
Round-trip flight to Zanzibar: $1,300
Serengeti camp accommodation: $1,100
Ngorongoro national park entrance fee: $865
Ngorongoro accommodation: $3,000
We had paid them the full amount before the trip, but locally we were forced to pay more than $6,000 extra to continue the trip.
They only made reservations on paper and did not actually pay the suppliers, so everywhere we went we were treated like hostages: forced to wait endlessly and only allowed to leave after paying additional money. Every time we paid, they lied that the bank account was “problematic” for that location. They are a group that extorts money through fraud.
The vehicle they provided was so old and badly maintained that it stopped 6–7 times over three days; we had to perform emergency fixes just to keep going. At one point the vehicle completely ran out of battery on the slope of Ngorongoro and we were stranded overnight, having to call for rescue and wait. The driver didn’t even have money to buy fuel. National park inspectors even gave us the detailed entrance fee receipts directly, telling the company not to embarrass the country.
The Serengeti program covers an enormous area and there are no alternative transport options besides the guide’s vehicle, so you cannot change plans mid-trip.
I recommend that you do not use them under any circumstances and have them removed from travel platforms.
