AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Do not book if you are after amazing safari trip
We paid USD 4,356 for a 5-day “Luxury/VIP” safari with Arzoni Africa Safari, including two accommodations, a dedicated licensed game driver, and daily park passes (USD 200 per day). What we experienced was serious misrepresentation, safety issues, and breach of contract.
Our pickup was delayed and we missed the first game drive because park passes had not been purchased, despite being told they were included. Later, we discovered we were taken into the park without valid passes. The driver repeatedly tried to discourage us from doing scheduled drives, which we later realised was linked to the passes not being bought.
The vehicles were unsafe and in poor condition (parts falling apart, no radio communication to track wildlife sightings, and even a seat detaching during a drive). Without a radio, we were driving aimlessly while other vehicles were locating animals. Both drivers constantly watched TikTok videos while driving. There was very limited wildlife knowledge, no guiding commentary, and alcohol was consumed during picnic stops.
Promised bush picnics were poorly organised — tables and chairs were often forgotten, and my partner had to set up and pack away the picnic herself while the driver remained on his phone.
We cancelled the remainder of the trip due to safety concerns and lack of trust, arranged our own airport transfer, and were offered only USD 200 as compensation.
This was meant to be our engagement trip and it was completely ruined. I would strongly advise others to think carefully before booking.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unprofessional
We paid $1,200 for a 3-day Masai Mara safari and had a very disappointing, and at times, unsafe experience.
The guide provided little actual guiding or group management. For most of the trip, the vehicle felt like a party bus rather than a professional safari.
More concerning were the safety issues:
• the guide drank beer before driving
• frequently used his phone while driving
• failed to manage disruptive behavior
• at the end of the trip, we were dropped off at a gas station on the side of the highway and told to take an Uber instead of being transported to our accommodation as arranged.
The company later acknowledged the problem and suspended the guide, but refused any refund or compensation.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that fell far below professional standards. I would not book with them again.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Worst Experience Ever
I believe this ccompany could be fraudulent and running illegally with a revoked tourist license. Please I recommend do not book here under any circumstance I cannot express how much I regret doing so as at the time I had booked they had a valid tourism license that was revoked for using unlicensed guides/vehicles which is exactly what had happened to me. I did not receive the itinerary, vehicle, or driver I had paid for. I was told that my original driver and vehicle was in an accident the day before which I was initially very accommodating of but did not realize that the company had lost their license for this exact bait and switch. This company also runs under the name Thinkscene Services LTD which is how I learned about the revoked tourist license as naturally this was not disclosed to me. I personally did not receive the itinerary planned and initially the company offered me a refund of $250 which was not at all adequate for what I had paid. I had to fight tooth and nail for this refund for over 2 months and the company still shorted me $72 on this $250 due to 'wire transfer fees' and issues with accounting. 4 months later I'm still so mad about the complete disregard shown by Philip that I'm choosing now to write this review. Please do not book.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredibly unprofessional tour operator ruined my entire day
Daudi was incredibly unprofessional - he did not arrive on time for my agreed upon scheduled pickup nor responded to any of my subsequent texts or phone calls over the next hour. Eventually, I gave up on my dream safari and missed the scheduled 6 am train.
Only then did Daudi respond, eventually showing up at my hotel 3 hours late, after I was resigned to frantically finding a new tour operator last minute for my last free day available of my business trip.
I believe I may have been scammed - Daudi asked for all of the cash upfront the week prior (thankfully I declined), sent me WhatsApp photos of his supposed IDs promising that I could keep them as insurance (the birth dates did not match), and did not offer or return my deposit.
I would strongly encourage other travelers to select a more reliable tour operator to ensure that your dream safari comes true as scheduled!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An absolute disgrace of a tour company
Soul of Tanzania are a disgrace
Our experience with Soul of Tanzania was nothing short of appalling. What was meant to be a once in a lifetime safari, including our honeymoon, turned into one of the most sickening, mismanaged, and financially devastating travel experiences we’ve ever had.
Despite paying the full tour cost upfront, Soul of Tanzania failed to deliver the entire Tanzanian portion of our itinerary due to civil unrest and a government mandated border closure which an event completely outside our control. Yet instead of supporting us, they shifted the entire financial burden onto us, leaving us with over USD $10k in losses for services we never received, as well as charged us for add on services we never received!
Soul of Tanzania took zero accountability: Soul of Tanzania refused to refund the actual value of the undelivered services.
Threatening and condescending communication: Their representative, Sandy B, repeatedly referenced cancellation policies, and further, implied we would be charged additional costs, and pushed us toward travel insurance rather than taking any responsibility themselves.
Misleading and inconsistent information: They contradicted themselves across emails, denied statements they previously made, and communicated with our driver behind our backs while ignoring our urgent messages of distress.
Unprofessional crisis handling: During a period of confirmed fatalities and escalating unrest, we were left stranded with no reliable contact, no emergency support, and no clear plan.
Inferior accommodation forced upon us: We were diverted to a significantly cheaper lodge we did not choose, while still being told we must absorb the financial loss.
Weeks of delays and excuses: It took nearly a month for them to provide even a partial response, all while we continued to incur additional emergency costs.
For a company that markets itself as “premium,” their behaviour was the complete opposite. Evasive, dismissive, and entirely self protective. They chose to protect their margins and leave their customers stranded, inflict further charges and stress on us financially and physically. I wouldn’t recommend this company to anyone.
If you value transparency, professionalism, safety, and basic fairness, avoid Soul of Tanzania at all costs. Their handling of our situation was negligent, unethical, and deeply disappointing. We would never recommend this company to anyone.
JP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Poor operation and time management
-Travel Arrangement
I received the Itinerary one week before our travel and agreed the schedule and contents.
However, the time was not accurate at all and we delayed the program.
It means the time for game drive was less than expected.
Also, we couldn't get the briefing one day before the tour and the operator informed the departure time at 20:30 on Friday (the day before of the departure).
On departure date, we scheduled to leave Arusha at 7:30am according to the Itinerary, but we left 9:30am and arrived at the Tarangire NP at 11:40am. It means we missed the morning drive and only 4 hours drive on Day 1.
-Guide skill
The guide tried to explain about National parks and each animal which was good.
However, he doesn't have much skills to find animals and most of the time, clients found animals.
His driving skill was also not perfect and need to be improved.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible experience
We paid a total of $1,440 for a four-day trip. On January 5th, when we arrived at the entrance of Serengeti National Park in the afternoon, we were informed at 5 PM that we could not enter because the tour company had not paid the entrance fees. Even by the payment deadline that day, the fees remained unpaid. After extensive negotiations and communication, and upon receiving a guarantee, the national park allowed us to enter first. The fees were later paid.
On the afternoon of January 7th, when we were scheduled to leave the Serengeti and proceed to Ngorongoro National Park, we were stopped again at the Serengeti park entrance at 3 PM because the tour company had not paid the fees for Ngorongoro National Park. We waited at the Serengeti park entrance until 8 PM, but the tour company still did not make the payment. As overnight stays are not permitted at the Serengeti park entrance, we were allowed to enter the Simba Camp in Ngorongoro National Park at around 8:20 PM, finally arriving at approximately 1:30 AM on January 8th.
Throughout this period, the tour company repeatedly assured us they would pay the fees but kept delaying until noon. After that, they became completely unreachable.
After we got to the the tourism police station.We spent the whole days there to try to get our money back.A guys showed up at the end he gave us 100 dollars back each and promised to send us the rest of the money by transfer . But until today I still have not get it .
RO
50-65 years of age
Very poor and careless service
We have booked with this agency a tour of Johannesburg in January. It was on our way back home from Kruger Park that we had a whole day and booked a cultural city tour with this agency for our family of 3. They asked for a down payment of 35% when booking some weeks in advance and for the full payment of the balance before the tour start. We did so - they were supposed to send us a payment link for the balance one week before the tour but they forgot, we noticed them and we paid. In the morning of our tour, the weather at Nelspruit Airport was bad and our flight was cancelled so we could not make it to arrive to Johannesburg at the previewed hour. We even had to rent a car and drive for more than 4 hours so as to be sure we get in time for our flight back home in Europe. I wrote them a message right after the cancellation of the flight was announced, let them know that we could not make it and kindly asked them whether we could be reimbursed all of part of the Euro 250 cost of the tour. They did not answer for a week or so. After few kind follow ups, they replied, they said they will inquire again internally, I waited for another 2 weeks, made follow ups again. Long story short, they not even bothered to answer something. Not to say that they did not announced us that in case of cancellation due to a non-attributable reason they will not reimburse anything. Anyhow, a very poor service, a clear careless agency related to its clients and absolutely no sympathy or courtesy for its clients. I am even more surprised they have such high ratings. My recommendation - be careful if you book with them and never pay the balance before the tour (as they request).
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Appaling, I advice you avoid them!
My advice is that you AVOID!! ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE! My holiday was ruined by continual arguments, over the entire 2 weeks, with Claudious Tours and Safaris about repayment for the money they extracted from me, as cash loans (yes they borrowed $730 from me to pay their Guide Team and National Park admission fees that were already included in my holiday!) and various payments for hotels and meals that were part of my "inclusive" package but which they insisted I pay for again.
I am home now, still owed $130 by them, but what really annoys me is that what should have felt like major personal achievements (climbing Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro) have been totally overshadowed by Claudious reps appalling attitude and the complete absence of any sort of apology - clearly their customers are always wrong!
35-50 years of age
Didn’t receive services, waiting on substantial refund.
I’ll start with saying I HATE doing this kind of review, but I must caution potential future clients due to the amount of money involved. If they rectify this, I have no problem at all with this review being removed.
I had booked a one day gorilla safari with this company and two weeks before the planned trip, I was told:
“We are requesting if we can postpone the tour foe later dates because our operation license got suspended by the tourism authority and apparently we can run any tour minus having a valid license. So we are if we can push as we are finishing the issues we are having with the authority so that we can get the license and there we can able to run the tour. Hope to hear from you soon.Thanks.”
I couldn’t postpone the trip, so I told them I had to cancel and had to book elsewhere. I’m still waiting on my refund (been over a month, Eddie rarely provides me updates on WhatsApp) , I paid over $1,000 to them. I haven’t been updated since January 5th with them saying this:
“ Hello John. Not yet, the authority is opening up it's offices again on 5th, so that we can resume the issue were we left from.“
This isn’t a critique of their services which could be very exceptional for all I know, but I didn’t get to experience it. I’m not impressed with how this situation is being handled, though. It is a bad look for them.