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Almost great, Shadrack and Abraham as a guarantee for the success
We used a comparison website to book a safari that included Tarangire, the Serengeti (including the Great Migration), the Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. This led us to Meru Slopes. We communicated with Shadrack via WhatsApp. He made a very good and professional impression, which is why we booked the 6-day safari with him for $1,250 per person. A 15% deposit was required. We also really liked the option to stay at the Arusha Tourist Inn—arranged directly by the agency—both the night before and after the safari. A shuttle for pickup and drop-off was also included, but we didn’t use it. Upon arrival, there was a briefing in the evening, and after we returned, there was a debriefing to discuss the positive and negative aspects. We really enjoyed all of that. Shadrack did an absolutely outstanding job.
There were three of us, and we were crammed into a truly dilapidated Jeep along with three other tourists. Even before we set off, the four tires on the vehicle (as well as the two spare tires) had so little tread left that it was no surprise we had to stop a total of six times to change tires. The speedometer, fuel gauge, and odometer were also broken. The windshield had several cracks and chips, the armrests couldn’t be adjusted, and most of the windows either wouldn’t open or wouldn’t close properly. However, we also lost over an hour because the office failed to send the paperwork to the Lake Manyara National Park rangers in time. So we stood there while everyone else was able to pass through without any problems.
The cook on the safari usually prepared very delicious meals, but he never stuck to the agreed-upon times. That cost us time (sometimes more, sometimes less) and added up to well over eight hours. He also never once made arrangements for our guide to eat with us, which is why we had to go get extra cutlery and dishes every time. Most of the dishes were cold, and despite being told that there was a vegetarian in our group, he didn’t accommodate her needs. Overall, though, it was great that we were served meals prepared for the whole group each time, whereas many other tour operators only provided pre-packaged lunch boxes.
Our guide was Abraham. He was always very calm and level-headed, had detailed answers to most questions, explained things thoroughly on his own initiative, and drove the vehicle well at all times. He handled the constant tire changes quickly and did an excellent job in every other respect as well. He was the reason the safari as a whole turned out to be such a successful experience.
The Arusha Tourist Inn hostel is also definitely worth recommending. The staff were always very friendly and accommodating. The rooms were spacious, clean, and well-equipped. The only downside is that the walls can be a bit thin. Hot shower water takes a few minutes to come on.
Conclusion: Overall, we really enjoyed our experience with Meru Slopes. The key factors in its success were, above all, Shadrack as the organizer and Abraham as the guide. With a different vehicle and a different cook, the sometimes extremely negative aspects of our experience could be immediately addressed, making Meru Slopes a top choice for safaris.