Bramwel Safaris | Tanzania
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Safari with Bramwell - Highly recommend!
I went on a three-day/two-night safari with two friends to Tarangire National Park, Ngorogoro Crater and Lake Manyara with Bramwell Safaris. We overnighted at Sun Bright Campsite both nights which is located just a few minutes from the entrance to Lake Manyara National Park. Our driver and guide, Mark, was excellent, funny, had 10 years of experience and was happy to oblige our requests as to our movements in the national parks. The land cruiser vehicle was very comfortable, didn't break down at all and even had outlets so we could recharge our mobiles and cameras if the batteries ran low. Our cook, Josephat, was an absolutely lovely man and I ate extremely well under his care. I was very impressed with his dishes despite not having a real kitchen at his disposal. William, our safari agent, was very friendly and professional. He replied to emails very quickly and followed-up with us throughout the trip to make sure everything was going well (he even picked us up from the bus station when we arrived in Arusha and made sure we made it to our next destination safely). I thought the trip was great value for money (we had researched quotes from 6+ different safari tour operators and Bramwell came back with the best quote) and we saw a lot of animals, I felt safe the entire time, I ate really well and slept like a baby! I will definitely recommend Bramwell to family and friends when they consider safaris to Tanzania.
CN
Email Jinglin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic!
It was a great experience traveling with Bramwel for a 3-day Safari in Ngorogoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangeri. The beauty of landscapes, animals, and Masai culture is breathtaking. Our guide, Mark is very nice and experienced. He know the animals well and helped us spot all sorts of animals, ranging from lions, giraffes, elephants, to baboons and even bush babies. Our amazing chef, Josephet was feeding us well. We had the best food for these three days since we got in Tanzania after 2 months. The campsite we stayed in was beautiful, clean and comfortable, they even had hot shower! The manager William was super nice and helpful, and most important of all, he gave us a good price.
I would recommend it to anyone and I'm planning on going on a Kilimanjaro Trekking with them.
US
Email Patrick S. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Couldn't have had a better safari experience or better customer service!
My wife and I used Bramwel for a weeklong safari in Tanzania in May 2014 and could not have been happier with the booking process and the experience.
We asked 8 or 9 diffent companies for estimates and were pretty wary after a friend had a bad experience with another company who unexpectedly switched him to downgraded hotels once he had arrived. So communication was particularly important to us.
William with Bramwel was the most responsive and helpful person of all the companies we'd worked with, and their prices were among the best. We asked for a proposal for a week and received a very detailed document wiht prices, pictures, itinerary, etc, within a day. My wife and I also did our own research about game locations, hotels, etc, and went back and forth with our own requests and itinerary modifications, and no matter how high maintenance we were, William could not have been more accommodating. Even after we settled on a plan - skip Arusha, do Serengeti/Ngorongoro/Manyara/Tarangire and add a resort in Zanzibar, Bramwel remained helpful in a way I've never experienced with professional services.
We wanted Internet access so William bought us two SIM cards with service. Had a toothache on the trip (in the middle of nowhere) and Bramwel figured out how to get some medication the same day. Everything little detail was taken care of -- little flights between airports, rides, needs during safari -- and from the point we landed till the point we left felt like royalty. The service was particularly valuable since we were not familiar with Tanzania and valued the support we got.
Our driver, Gideon, too was amazing. He found so many animals the first day (Tarangire -> Serengeti) that we started having fun by giving him a list of animals we wanted to see and made a game of how quickly he could take us to one. He was constantly on the radio with park rangers and any time he heard of something interesting -- a kill, the rare leopard -- he raced to get us in a position for great pictures before most other drivers caught up with us. This was particularly effective since during slower periods (and they happened), whenever there was a lion, within 15 minutes the area would be filled with another 20 jeeps, and being first meant having the best view.
Bramwel provided us with one of the best travel experiences we've ever had and we recommend them highly.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hakuna Matata!
My wife and I booked our honeymoon with Bramwel Safaris through William. From start to finish our experience was fantastic. William handled all of our arrangements, connecting flights, accommodations and guide and everything was absolutely perfect. Our guide Joshua, was outstanding. A true expert with the animals and a most pleasant person to be with for 6 days. The accommodations William arranged were also perfect in everyway and much more than we had expected. Honestly, I can't speak highly enough about our travel in Tanzania. The country is beautiful. The people wonderful and gracious and of course.. the safari experience was amazing.
TR
Email Basak Gucciardo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent experience!
My husband and I just came back from a 10-day vacation in Tanzania with Bramwel Safaris. We are absolutely blown away by the beauty of this country and the kindness of its people! But, that's a different story and this review is about our operator. We found Bramwel through this website and feel like it's our duty to give them the review that they deserve. Our operator William has always been very prompt in responding our questions and queries since we first emailed him months ago. He answered each and every question we asked with patience, prepared a detailed plan and ensured that we feel comfortable and secure before we booked the trip. He was reachable and ready to assist us 24/7 (I literally called him at 3am thinking that we had a problem with one of our domestic flights - yet we didn't-) since the moment we arrived in Tanzania. He met us at our hotel in Arusha on our day of arrival, and then called and checked on us daily (until we got back home) to make sure that everything was going well. We quickly felt like we had a local friend who genuinely wanted us to have a great time in his country. We really appreciated that! Our safari guide Joshua was a wonderful man! He was not only an expert wildlife guide, but he also had a very kind personality, which was very important since we spent 6 days with him inside a car. He was very knowledgable, professional and friendly also extremely skilled in spotting animals. We are very grateful to him for showing us so many animals (big 5 and more!) and teaching us so many amazing things about nature and wildlife. I think we were just so lucky to have him as our guide and we would definitely ask for him if we go back. In general, we were truly content and satisfied with Bramwel. It all went flawless, honestly, beyond our expectations. We are just so fascinated that we cannot wait to go back and explore more of this amazing continent! We cannot thank these guys enough for this amazing experience, and we cannot recommend them enough!
AE
Email Sahiti | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Turned out great despite hiccups
My husband and I booked our 7-night safari through Bramwel after receiving a prompt and charming proposal to our online request. Since it was out first time to Tanzania (we had been to Africa before, and on Safari in Kenya), we asked a few questions before confirming and paying. Although the trip ended well and we had the friendly and professional Freddy as our guide, it wasn't without several early hiccups including delayed airport pick up, grubby car, not meeting our tour guide until the first camp, hotel booking not found at the first camp, having to pay $840 at the Serengeti National Park gate (despite transferring the full amount 3 weeks in advance of our arrival. The amount was of course refunded to us in Arusha on our way back out), the cool box in the Land Cruiser not working, etc. Having said that, the rest of the trip was amazing, the experience highly memorable, we got to see the big five and more. Our tour guide was knowledgeable, professional and really passionate about showing us the best sights and he salvaged our initial disappointments and concerns.
Email Michael Benohr | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful trip
We were very happy with the service provided by Bramwel Safaris. Gidi and Jamal (guide and chef) did a great job, always being very helpful. We had a fantastic time with them. The vehicle was good and food always very tasty.
The Red monkey resort in Zanzibar (apart from a little confusion with the booking when we arrived) is a great place to stay, with excellent food and an amazing beach. We were lucky to be there on Monday for the jam session. Taib, who took us to the dolphin tour and back to Stone Town, is an excellent guide. He taught us a lot about the country during the time he spent with us. We would definitely recommend Bramwell.
Email Tarah | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
You’re a bunch of lying thieves and take off with unsuspecting tourists money and leave them
You’re a bunch of lying thieves and take off with unsuspecting tourists money and leave them with no bookings. How are you still in business?!
Horrible cars
Not only stole all the prepaid money, but my friends had to pay it all again and missed out on most of their safari trying to find hotels to stay in because of your incompetence!
US
Email Tomer C | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Do not use Bramwel Tours, William Amon, or Meru Treks. Awful experience and they owe me $382
In August 2016, I signed up for a 6 day camping safari with Bramwel tours, operated by William Amon in Arusha. The cost was $1,200 and the itinerary that William sent me included all transfers and one night stay at a hotel after the tour was over. I was traveling alone so I asked William if I could join another tour. He said yes. I chose William because he was responsive and helpful over email. He answered all my questions in a professional manner.
Two days before the tour started, William emailed me to tell me that the tourists I was supposed to join had cancelled. He found another tour operator with a 5 day tour the same days and I could join them. I was disappointed, especially because the shorter tour meant I wouldn't be able to see the great migration (the primary reason I wanted to go on Safari), but I understood that happens when you join other tourists. William suggested they would find a local activity in Arusha to fill my sixth day.
The tour operator William put me on (Meru Treks) was awful! We lost a lot of time because the jeep kept breaking down, and we started so late one day that we missed half the day. Another day, when we went to Ngorongoro crater, the driver told us we would only have half a day, even though the itinerary told us we'd have a full day. We had to argue with our driver to get a full day.
The driver was in a bad mood some of the time and explained very little to us. The cook was nice and did the best with the food he had, but some nights there wasn't enough food for the group.
Everything about the tour suggested Meru was trying to spend as little as possible. For example, we found out that the driver and cook had nowhere to sleep! The driver was sleeping in the car (no wonder he was in a bad mood and no wonder that some mornings we started late).
Along with me on my tour were five other people, all of whom told me they were very unhappy. Two of them paid $680 for four days. One paid $640 for four days. Two other tourists paid $900 for five days. They all purchased their tickets directly through Meru.
The night before I returned, I emailed William to tell him how awful Meru was. I told him I don't want to hire him for my sixth day, and I'd like a refund for the difference between the price of the Meru Trek tour and the tour I paid for. He agreed, told me he would meet me in Arusha and pay me the difference.
When I arrived in Arusha, the hotel that was supposed to be included in the cost of my trek told me that William had paid part of the room cost and I would have to pay the remaining $32.
I emailed William to tell him I thought the Meru Trek should have cost $850 (the tourists who paid $680 for a four day trip paid $170 per day; my five day trip should have cost $850). I told William I thought he owed me $382 ($1,200 - $850 + $32). He responded that he only owed $230. He tried to charge me $50 for airport transfers and $20 for the night in the hotel, even though both of these were listed as 'included' in the itinerary he sent me. After some arguing, he agreed to refund me $382.
On my last day in Arusha, William emailed me to apologize that he would not be able to meet me to refund my money. He said he would wire me the difference.
For the last ten months, we have been emailing back and forth. William keeps promising he will refund my money, but he never does. He once told me he sent it but the money did not arrive in my account.
Altogether, I am very upset at Bramwel, William, and at Meru Treks. The trek I went on was a big disappointment. William pushed me off onto a bad operator, and then tried to charge me extra for items that should have been included. While he has agreed to pay me $382, he has not refunded my money.
I strongly agree with all the other negative reviews posted on SafariBookings. I recommend you stay away from Bramwel Tours, William Amon, and Meru Treks. I have emailed the Tanzania Tourism Board to recommend that they take away Bramwel's license.
Bramwel are cheats and cannot be trusted one bit
We had a similar experience with Bramwel Safari. We took the safari in Sept 16. We landed in Kilimanjaro and had someone pick us up in a jeep that was smelling of fish (we are vegetarians). We were taken to Planet Lodge, thankfully this was booked. The next morning we were greeted by another driver and guide Dennis (he was good) in a clean jeep. We drove to Serengeti and our woes began. We were there by 11 am and when the driver went to the counter to get our permits, he was told that there was no money in the card issued in Arusha. He called William Amon who heads Bramwel Safaris, and was arguing with him. William told him that he was going to the bank to deposit the money in the card. We waited at the gated until 2.30pm. Still no sign of the money. We decided having come this far let's just pay by credit card and get over with this. The dirver took us to the lodge that was supposed to be booked for us and as suspected the booking was not done. We have been driving around and it was getting quite dark. Luckily the driver knew another lodge and knew a person there and we managed to get a tent for two nights. We were so disappointed with all this that we decided not to go for the Hot Air Balloon for which we had paid 1000 $ advance. I am sure if we had to do this we would have had to pay again.
From Serengeti we headed to Ngorongoro and were told that the luxury hotel that we had paid for was not booked so we would be staying at another hotel. Luckily the hotel was booked and we did not have to pay for this.
On the whole William keeps on promising and from what I have read on their website and here, he seems to have made this his way of making quick money out of people who have worked hard and saved up for a trip like this. Because a trip like this is not cheap. He says he is God fearing and goes to church. I doubt very much the man has any conscience. He is still cheating people saying he will repay them and then more empty promises.
Please do read reviews on the tour operators and do stay well away from Bramwel.