US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional and attentive; wonderful guide
Last week, I went on safari with Meru Slopes and it was the best traveling experience I have ever had!
To begin, in choosing the company, I compared various companies. I compared the number of days of safari, services, and accommodations, and Meru Slopes stood out the most because of its fair pricing. For instance, while other companies may have been slightly cheaper, there were additional costs that made the cost higher in the end, or, in contrast, there were companies that offered the same exact same services at a higher price.
Once I settled on Meru Slopes, I was in constant communication with Jerome, who was very attentive, informative, and quick to respond. His email communications made me feel at ease that I was dealing with a professional company, and gave me reassurance that I had chosen the right company. Jerome was so helpful that he even answered some questions regarding flights to Zanzibar, which was a separate matter from their services. I thought that was very kind of him to answer questions that were outside the scope of their services.
Then, when we (my mother and I (f)) finally arrived in Tanzania, airport pickup was smooth and easy and we were taken to our lovely accommodation for the night before heading out to safari the following morning. The next morning we met the face of Meru Slopes, Jerome, and our guide, Julius, aka Little Lion.
I have to say that I believe that we had the most wonderful experience on safari in Tanzania because of Julius. Since we met him, Julius was cheerful, energetic, and full of information to share. He was so attentive and kind to us, that it felt like we had met up with family or a longtime friend. On safari, he did the best he could to help us see the Big 5. Thankfully, we were blessed and did get to see them all, even Rhinos in Ngorongoro! Julius definitely made the trip an experience of a lifetime and we hope to see him again in the future!
Overall, safari with Meru Slopes was amazing! I can’t wait to recommend them to my family and friends for their next safari adventure. All the parks we visited, Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro, were wonderful and we saw plenty of wildlife, zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, hippos, lions, cheetahs, leopards, antelope and the like, as well as plenty of elephants. Often time, we had very close encounters with these animals, even hyenas, which made the game drives so exhilarating.
So, if you’re read this far, don’t think about it any further and book with Meru Slopes! I am confident you will have a wonderful time with them. As someone who saw other tour companies operate while there, trust me, Meru Slopes is a safe and reliable company to work with.
KY
Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime!
We booked a safari with Susan and as it was something I have been eagerly anticipating most of my life we opened the budget strings a little. If we were going to do it once we really wanted to get it right and make sure to make the most of it. We were still blown away. Although we have been home for a couple weeks it still hasn't really sunk it what an amazing experience it was. Susan set up an incredible itinerary, both Tanzania and Kenya during the wildebeest migration. Stayed a two five star camps, Taasa Lodge and the Soroi Luxury Migration Camp and both were better than we could have even hoped. Animals experiences were incredible, staff were unbelievably friendly, food unreal. Just a great family experience.
When there were little hiccups, and there are bound to be, Susan promptly responded and sorted it out. She was great. Would recommend her to anyone looking for a trip of a lifetime safari!
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
calm and happy to help us see everything we wanted
me and my parents went to 3 day safari to tsavo west and east and we saw lions, giraffes, zebras, hippopotamus, leopards and many more. Everything was made professionally driving guiding everything. best safari ever. every few hours we had a break, on board always water was available.
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rough land but warm and gentle people and luxorios rooms – Magic
From the moment we arrived at the camp, we were treated like royalty. The staff were absolutely incredible – warm, attentive, and genuinely passionate about making our stay unforgettable. Every tent had its own dedicated Maasai guard, watching over us day and night, adding both a sense of safety and authenticity to the experience.
The tents themselves? Pure magic. Built with natural bamboo, high ceilings, and thoughtful design touches – like being able to watch the sunset from the bathtub or toilet! Waking up to views of the distant mountains, surrounded by the wild sounds of nature, was something I’ll never forget.
Meals were a highlight in themselves – delicious, fresh, and served in the most breathtaking setting imaginable. One day we dined in the middle of an open field in the savannah, with just our small group of four. You couldn’t even see the other tents, which made it feel like we had the whole of Mikumi to ourselves.
Evenings were spent around the campfire, dancing and singing “Hakuna Matata” under the stars – a moment of pure joy and connection.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Providing an excellent Safari experience
I spent several months in Tanzania and lived with the Kimaro family in a very close-knit family atmosphere. I also went on a safari in Tarangire National Park with a friend. Our guide, Deo, showed us the wonderful nature and wildlife of northern Tanzania in a very pleasant way. He responded to our numerous questions and requests without any problems and with great enthusiasm. We had an unforgettable time, thank you very much!
PT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very well organized and very friendly. They do their best to give you the best experience!
Why only a 5-star ranking? My guide Lamesgn deserved at least 6 stars! I had a wonderful day in Addis Ababa. He’s always eager to share his knowledge and makes sure you feel truly welcome. I highly recommend his services in Addis Ababa. BEST. GUIDE. EVER.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great adventure made possible by a professional, trustworthy team!
QUICK SUMMARY: We loved the tour; we felt we were in excellent hands; the guides and chaperones were exceptional; any hiccups were smoothed over quickly and professionally; the team was very responsive and proactive with communication throughout the entirety of trip. I would definitely book with Rafiki Tembo again.
Before booking, I asked a friend which tour company she used when she went on safari in East Africa 8 years ago. But after searching for the company online, I learned they had since gone out of business. I chose Rafiki Tembo from the listings in SafariBookings based on the positive reviews, the destinations included, and price point. It was a leap of faith, but it turned out to be an excellent choice!
Rafiki allowed my group (3 travelers total) to customize our trip, so we added an extension from the mainland to the island of Zanzibar for the last 3 days. We also chose to arrive in Nairobi from the U.S. a day before our official tour began so that we could visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nursery and the Giraffe Center, both of which are in the Kenyan capital. While we made our own hotel arrangements at the Fairview Hotel for this pre-tour time in Kenya, Rafiki offered to arrange all transportation, from airport pickup to our hotel, and to and from each of our Nairobi destinations. (Shout out to our driver George, who was so sweet and patient!)
After Nairobi, our official safari began with our Kenyan guide Unique Gee, who whisked us away from our hotel to the Great Rift Valley. He was funny and engaging and answered all of our many questions about wildlife and Kenya in general as we made our way through the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. He also shot quite a few photos which he shared with us for free. (Thanks Gee!)
We stayed at 2 different Sopa lodges on the Kenyan safari and the accommodations were excellent. Beds were comfortable, views were sweeping, and the food was delicious and abundant with a wide variety of options (it was buffet style). The staff were also very pleasant and helpful. In addition to the game drives, we also did a hippo cruise and walking safari in Naivasha. I recommend both!
For our next stage of the trip, we flew from Nairobi to Arusha, then to the Seronera Airstrip, where we met our guide Deo, who took care of us throughout our Tanzanian safari. Like Unique Gee, he too was amiable and very knowledgeable about the wildlife, land, and people. We really enjoyed getting to know both Unique and Deo, who seemed more like friends showing us around than hired guides.
For our time in the Serengeti, we stayed at the Osero Serengeti Luxury Tented Camp. As the name suggests, we stayed in tents, but it was more "glamping" than camping as they had comfy beds and full ensuite bathrooms. While the food wasn't quite as good as the Sopa lodges, it sufficed. The staff and service was excellent, and we enjoyed chatting with them. Note: wildlife are free to roam through the camp at any time, but we never felt unsafe.
Our drives were longer in the Serengeti because the park is larger than the Maasai Mara, and wildlife is more dispersed. In addition to the larger game, we were able to spot some of the smaller animals, like a klipspringers, colorful lizards, a serval, hyrax, banded mongoose, and more.
After the Serengeti, Deo drove us to the Ngorongoro Crater, where more wildlife and awesome views awaited us. We stayed at the Farm of Dreams Lodge in Karatu, which was very charming. The next day we opted to do a cultural tour of Mto Wa Mbu. Don't miss out on this!
We had the choice between biking and walking, we chose the latter. Rafiki arranged for local guide Abdul to take us to a Maasai boma, a local wood workshop run by members of the Makonde tribe, a community kitchen where we ate some of the best food on the trip, a banana beer bar, and a primary school. Again, be sure to add it to add the cultural tour to your itinerary. (Thank you Abdul for sharing your town with us!)
For the final part of our trip, we flew from Arusha to Zanzibar. Here, we were taken excellent care of by Joshua and Yusuph. The first day we went on a snorkeling trip arranged by Rafiki with Jofari Safari Blue to a sand bar and smaller island. It was great fun! The second day we toured the Hakuna Matata Spice Farm and then did a walking tour of Stone Town. We really loved our time in Zanzibar and wished we could have remained there longer, but we had to get back to the U.S. (Thanks again, Joshua and Yusuph!)
What a fantastic trip! Traveling can be stressful, but we had a lot of peace of mind thanks to Rafiki Tembo. We felt like they had our best interests in mind throughout our time in East Africa. They had so much to coordinate on their end (accommodations, domestic flights, various tours in 2 different countries, guides, drivers, etc.). Even though they are a newer company, they were consummate professionals. They are also good people who you will come to know and love as we did! For real!
Thank you Lowassa and team for everything!
P.S. Rafiki Tembo have the best safari company name. "Rafiki" means "friend" and "Tembo" means "elephant" in Swahili. Elephant Friend! What's better than that?
AE
35-50 years of age
Professional, exceptional and brilliant
I recently summited Kilimanjaro with Nafika, and the experience was outstanding. Elias was highly responsive from the point of booking and in relation to the climb, the whole team—ranging from porters to our guides, especially Meshack and Erfata - were exceptional. Their professionalism, experience, and focus on our wellbeing ensured we reached the top safely. Highly organized, caring, and dedicated, Nafika truly made this adventure unforgettable.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect Private Safari Adventure
Niko & Susan planned the perfect safari adventure for my husband and I. We spent 8 nights exploring 4 parks; Amboseli, Ngorogoro Crater, Serengeti and Masai Mara. Every detail was planned for us and we were well taken care of while on our trip. All the guides were excellent, friendly and knowledgeable.
Communication throughout the booking was good, and Niko tailored our accommodation to our budget - also providing recommendations along the way.
Highly recommend working with Niko and Susan on booking your safari adventure.
65+ years of age
Clear and prompt communications with Edison ensured a smooth gorilla hiking experience
My amazing gorilla trek was seamlessly coordinated by Bamboo EcoTours. Every step of the trip, from initial inquiry to delivery, was a breeze, thanks to Edison's clear and timely information. My driver/guide, Amanya, was prompt and friendly and provided information about things along the way on our drive from Kigali to Lake Mulehe and Bwindi National Park. I decided to do the Golden Monkey trek the following day after completing the Gorilla trek, and again this was organised with no fuss. I highly recommend Bamboo Eco Tours!