50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Do NOT send any $$$! Exercise extreme caution with Nyange Adventures, Moshi TZ.
Based on my experience, I recommend you exercise extreme caution with Nyange Adventures, Moshi, Tanzania. $97,830 was paid for services not provided, and no cash refund has been received. The matter is now with Tanzanian legal counsel. Please do your due diligence before entrusting this company with your money.
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Disappointment
We booked a six-day safari for a family of seven with Bobby Camping based on excellent reviews and what appeared to be strong personal communication. I rarely write negative reviews, but I feel compelled to share our experience so that future travelers can make a more informed decision.
The vehicle provided was in very poor condition — approximately 25 years old (the last of its model series was manufactured in 2007). It was one of the oldest safari vehicles we encountered during our entire trip. The suspension was terrible, making every bump on the rough roads extremely uncomfortable. The rear row was so cramped that adults could not even sit properly with both legs down. There was no air conditioning, which was a major issue in the dusty Serengeti environment. With windows closed to keep out the dust, we were constantly soaked in sweat. Rust from the roof continuously fell onto our heads throughout the journey.
At one point, part of the vehicle’s bodywork broke off and fell onto the road. The driver had to stop and reattach it on the roof. When we contacted Bobby immediately upon seeing the vehicle, he assured us that all his vehicles were in similar condition. We later had the chance to compare it with another safari vehicle on the same route (used for our balloon safari) and the difference in quality and comfort was striking.
While the driver was adequate, he was nothing more than that. However, the most disappointing part of the entire experience occurred on our return to Zanzibar. After the driver dropped us at Arusha Airport and left, we discovered that our Flightlink flight had been transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport and had already departed an hour earlier. All other flights to Zanzibar that day were full. The airline staff showed us an email they had sent to Bobby the previous day informing him of the schedule change — yet no one had notified us.
After an hour of stressful negotiations, we were eventually transferred to the correct airport and flew out in the evening. As a result, the hotel transfer we had paid for was missed entirely. Instead of arriving at our hotel around 3:00 PM, we reached it at 11:00 PM. We had also planned a special anniversary celebration at the hotel that evening, which was completely ruined along with our overall mood.
This experience was far below the standards we expected for a premium safari booking. We received no apology from Bobby or his team for any of the issues. While I dislike leaving negative feedback, this trip fell so short of expectations that I believe it is important to warn others.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Avoid Abuus - take someone who is professional and cares about their customers instead
Our 6-day safari in Tanzania with Abuus was badly mismanaged. Poor organization, constant misinformation and a lack of basic service meant we missed some 30% of the promised game drive time.
Communication was either non-existent or misleading during the entire time. We were seldom properly briefed unless we explicitly asked, important information was withheld, schedules changed without explanation and the guide regularly gave contradictory or clearly false excuses for delays and shortened game drives. We were repeatedly treated as though we were the problem when asking basic questions.
Most importantly, we missed so much game drive time. We had late departures every day, spent far too much time on transport roads as the slowest vehicle of all, waited for passenger pickups, transfers and logistical errands inside the parks, and had major parts of our Serengeti and Ngorongoro game drives cut short and even cancelled.
The first afternoon game drive was cancelled completely without explanation (they told us we could only spend 24 hrs in Serengeti, when in fact, we had paid for 48).
In Ngorongoro, all other companies left at sunrise. We stayed behind for another three hours, had a quick drive around the crater and then left long before everyone else.
The overall service was also poor. The vehicle was dirty throughout the trip, drinking water was only provided if we repeatedly asked, there was little or no guidance outside the vehicle – the guide simply disappeared - and no one ever accepted responsibility or apologized when things went wrong (which they did, repeatedly). Instead, they came up with different and alternative excuses that were clearly not truthful.
It became obvious throughout the trip that all other tour companies we saw were providing a far better experience. Our experience in Kenya with another company the week before was also a huge contrast, with service that was professional, organized and customer-focused.
I should add that all other passengers we met who used this company had even worse experiences than we did. Avoid this company if you can, is my honest recommendation.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Don't trust Greg Adventures
If you are thinking about booking a Safari Tour, you should avoid booking with Greg Adventures as they are irresponsible. We went on a safari tour with them and we had an accident. Greg denied any responsibility even if it was his driver and his vehicle. This outfit is not reliable. So be very careful before you book a tour with them. You might be in trouble if you do so. I would suggest you book with another tour operator.
SA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Don't pay full amount until you reach the lodge smoothly
Honestly everything was really good esp. considering the price. But the transfer was horrible to say the least, they sent us a van that was not designed for the long dirt road from Dar es Salam to the National park, it was extremely uncomfortable. The doors kept malfunctioning and opening mid journey causing us to stop, by the end they wouldn't open. That wasn't even the main issue, the AC was not working at all. When we requested a different car when we got to the lodge they assured us they would fix the van which obviously they didn't. Three days later when it was time to go back to Dar es Salam they said they would get a different car all together which they didn't with all the same issues. We ended up booking a charter plane with a different company
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Do not book
Do not book with this woman or company.
If I could give 0 stars, I would.
I am extremely disappointed with my experience.
I paid for a safari in good faith, but after it was cancelled I had to spend days chasing my refund. Despite repeated promises that the money had been sent, I was left waiting with very little communication and only received part of the refund. I am still waiting for the remaining balance.
This completely overshadowed what should have been a special family holiday and my birthday. Instead of enjoying my time with my family, I spent it worrying about getting my money back and constantly checking my bank account.
Having over £500 tied up unexpectedly put me under significant financial pressure while I was away, and the stress it caused was overwhelming.
No customer should have to chase their own money like this. I sincerely hope nobody else has to go through the same experience.
I will continue to write this review everywhere and every month until I receive my refund. She might comment saying she has sent it and I'm lying. I am not! I have all the proof.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Don't deal with this business.
Very efficient at GETTING car rental deposit. Then, when trip was cancelled due to Ebola caused travel restrictions, very slow to respond and only returned part of the deposit, despite cancelling FIVE weeks in advance. Airline gave returned full price of tickets. Hotel returned full deposit. EVERY car rental company ever dealt with returns any and all money deposited if the rental is cancelled a day or three in advance. Lesson learned. Don't deal with this business.
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
very nice tour
Good nice trip
This guy doesn't he was good - Lucas to the right position for any event that occur in the Safari.
For improvement – I expect the tour guide to provide more information and be active and proactive, and not just answer questions like a passive tour guide.
The tour guide Rahim is an excellent driver, drives safely, and his main advantage is that he made great efforts to bring us to active and interesting points within the safari. When we reached an interesting and active point, he made sure to take us to an interesting location where you can see a lot of things compared to other vehicles
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Be very careful booking with this company.
I rarely write negative reviews, but I feel obligated to share our experience with Shadows of Africa.
My 15-year-old son and I booked a safari and Zanzibar vacation with the expectation of a premium, well-planned experience. We communicated our expectations clearly before booking and trusted that the itinerary would reflect what was promised. Unfortunately, that was not our experience.
With the exception of our final safari stay at Tembo Tembo Camp and our outstanding guide, Gerald, this trip was a tremendous disappointment.
At our first lodge, we were forgotten at dinner. No one came to pick us up, so my son and I went without dinner that evening. The room was also not clean. At another lodge, the accommodations were so cold that we left within minutes because they were simply not suitable. Throughout the trip, when we reached out to our travel advisor for help, we felt our concerns were not taken seriously and were not resolved.
Our current resort in Zanzibar has been the biggest disappointment. In our opinion, it is far below the standard that was represented to us. The property is unclean, the food has been poor, and it does not reflect the quality of vacation we believed we had purchased.
My son and I travel internationally many times each year, including to developing countries, so our disappointment is not based on unrealistic expectations. It is based on the gap between what we were promised and what was delivered.
The one bright spot of our trip was Gerald, our safari guide. He was professional, knowledgeable, kind, and truly exceptional. Tembo Tembo Camp was also excellent and demonstrated the level of quality we expected throughout the trip.
I sincerely hope Shadows of Africa takes this feedback seriously. We invested a significant amount of money in this vacation and expected much better planning, accommodations, communication, and customer service. Unfortunately, based on our experience, I cannot recommend the company.
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Not serious
In September 2025, I booked a tour for June 2026.
One week before my arrival, I sent an email... and received a reply saying the tour was canceled, supposedly due to Ebola !
As if they couldn't have warned me sooner !
If I had arrived without sending an email, I would have been completely stranded without an agency !
For a supposedly reputable agency, this is unacceptable.
They couldn't find me a French-speaking guide, or even an English-speaking one... while I found another agency with a French-speaking guide, and Ebola was never an issue.
Even the Ugandan Ministry of Tourism says travel is permitted. The worst part is that I've been fighting for a refund for almost a month: they keep promising me a 2-month processing time.
The worst part is that I’ve been fighting to get a refund for nearly a month : I was promised a 2-to-3-week timeframe, then after four weeks I was told "soon," then told a hotel refund was missing and I had to wait another week... there’s always an excuse, but no money back !
Anyway, I’ll let you be the judge, but this is neither professional nor reassuring !
There are other agencies that are far better and more reliable.
Alexandre