Reviewed 31 Dec 2008 by Anon
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The safaris in the national parks of Tanzania. The stay in Unguja Lodge, Zanzibar. The walk to Irente Viewpoint, Usambara Mountains.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Spend less time in Stone town. 3 nights was too much. The Tembo House in Stone town is not a good hotel at all - no hot water, broken air conditioner first night, and live bands playing next door for 2 of the nights till 1am made for an unpleasant stay. Things on the ground (eating out, tips) are more expensive than you expect going to Africa. The visit to the Usambara Mountains was great (especially the walk to Irente Viewpoint was fantastic), but given it takes 2 full days of travel in an old bus - you need to be prepared for that.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
From an environmental pov, there was nothing that made us feel we were "doing things differently" eg we still flew there and within (although the very long bus trips for 2 days probably helped!). In terms of benefiting the local people, you do feel you are contributing, which is good - but this was more due to the people who hosted the tours on the ground. Some cases in particular (eg the walks in the Usambara Mountains, the lunch cooked with the women's group in Zanzibar), but overall it felt no different than other holidays we have taken in the past in that respect with other travel groups. Don't know what else we could have expected, but it did not "exceed our expectations" in regards to local community or environmental support - which to some degree we had expected when booking with this operator. Nothing bad, but only a handful of moments where we felt it was a safari with a difference (although the local bus trip certainly felt more "real" than the Abercrombie and Kent bus we saw!!!). Local tour organisers generally pretty good. On Zanzibar, the Eco-Culture tour group were good on the first day, but then on the tour to Jozani Forest, they just sent us a local taxi to take us... no guide. It was ok, but a little below service expectations.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall very good - certainly an African safari is one of those life experiences you will remember. Overall the tours were of a good quality, and accommodation mixed:
Mullers Mountain Lodge - Great hospitality and location, but poor/dated rooms, Karama Lodge/Kirumuru Tented Lodge - great all round, Unguja Lodge - sensational in every respect (location, rooms, food, hospitality). Best we stayed in. Tembo House - Poor in all respects, except access to sights in Stonetown.
Regarding ground support in Tanzania: We never saw Sophia - but spoke to her a lot, and she helped when we needed her. When we got to Tanzania the airport was chaos, and we could not find our pick up for an hour. The phone number we were given by this operator for Sophia was wrong (we found out the next day), so we ended up paying our own way to the hotel. Apparently the pick up was there, but he could not find us either and did not have our phone number either for some reason. Anyway, a bad start - but ok after that. After that, everything went as planned.
So overall, we were happy with the trip. We had a great holiday on the ground, and thank you for your help in pulling it together for us. As you know, we had a disappointing start with the operator when the exchange rate surcharge was applied. You were very sincere and apologetic about it, but it did really leave a mark. I was hoping that the different experience we would get from a local community/environment perspective by booking with this operator would make it worth it, but I cant say the service experience was better/different than we have had with other groups to compensate for that payment experience. We would consider this operator again, but it would not be an immediate start point I am sorry to say.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for the useful and largely positive feedback on this holiday. We are pleased that despite a difficult start the holiday progressed well and the local Tanzanian suppliers we used in the itinerary were well received. As a general observation on both this trip and all itineraries offered here in general it is often not totally obvious to travellers exactly how much the activities undertaken do benefit the local economy. In this particular itinerary there are four days of activities taken with the Tanzanian Community Tourism Programme and a further four days of safari taken with a 100% owned and managed Tanzanian safari company. In addition to this three of the four lodges used are fully or part Tanzanian owned. The resulting interaction between local Tanzanians and the holiday money that is guaranteed to stay within the country for local Tanzanian business development rather than just salaries or tipping is where we feel this tour makes a real difference.
The tour was taken over the busy Christmas period which is a time when the international arrivals and departures at the local airports are at a maximum. We are hugely sorry that our local meet & greet service missed the guests in the crowds on arrival as we appreciate first impressions on arrival are key to a pleasant travel experience. This feedback has been discussed with our partners in Tanzania in an effort to make their presence more obvious during peak periods at the airport. Having examined the pre-departure pack material there does not appear to be a typo in the telephone number provided. We were informed at a later time that there were problems with the cell phone network due to peak demand at the time of arrival. We understand that the situation was subsequently well managed by our colleagues in Tanzania and that contact was made at the hotel. Never the less we do apologise for missing the family on arrival and appreciate their understanding.
This booking was made prior to the global banking crisis in 2008. At the time that payments were due to be made to suppliers in Tanzania the GB Pound had devalued by almost 40% against the US Dollar. Like many tour operators we do advise customers at the time of booking that prices are subject to variations in currency exchange. In our terms and conditions we do state that we reserve the right to charge a surcharge should the GB Pound devalue by more than 2% however in practice we do swallow changes up to 10% ourselves. The unprecedented huge devaluation experienced in late 2008 simply made it impossible to operate without reluctantly asking for a surcharge. In the event we only asked for half of the surcharge and absorbed the remaining costs ourselves. We did in fact lose quite considerable amounts of money on this and other bookings at the time. However we are pleased to say that at no time did we pressurise local Tanzanian suppliers into lowering their prices as we believe there is greater capacity for cost increases to be absorbed in developed economies. Therefore despite the difficult and unprecedented decision to request a partial surcharge on this booking, customers can be assured the holiday still made a difference to local people in Tanzania. We are hugely appreciative of the understanding shown at this time by our customers and hope that they will consider visiting Africa again either with ourselves or other members of ResponsibleTravel.com.
Reviewed 10 Aug 2007 by Denise Hughes
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Where do I start-every day had a new highlight, but if I had to choose-camping in the Serengeti and hearing lions prowling around the site in the early hours, being invited into an elderly woman’s house in the Usambara mountains and having a "formal" photo taken with her, snorkelling in the Indian Ocean, the idyllic setting of the Shooting Star Inn on Zanzibar, final evening meal at Emerson and Greens Rooftop Restaurant........and nearly forgot, the Big 5!!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Include some cultural tourism-on a standard safari/beach package you may end up never speaking to any Tanzanians apart from guides and waiters. Don’t make seeing the Big 5 the main focus of the holiday-animals are unpredictable. Take time to read up on the history and culture of Tanzania-it makes the journey that much more interesting.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
This was the first holiday were I have seriously considered the impact of where I spend my money. The company we booked through used mainly Tanzanian owned/run providers. We were particularly pleased to use a Tanzanian safari company, as I believe a lot of others are South African or American owned.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The best holiday we have ever had. For our 15 and 13 year old boys it was an incredible experience and an education like no other. We all feel we have been on safari in the true Swahili sense of the word-an amazing journey.
Reviewed 30 Aug 2005 by Rachel Blackmore and family
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our holiday through you to all the contacts in Tanzania was an absolutely wonderful life changing experience! Just to be in Africa was amazing. Our guide was great and spotted Leopards from what seemed miles away, as well as seeing them very close to. He had great sensitivity to the animals and birds, as well as to the lovely scenery. He arranged walks for us, in which we were able to meet local people, and were invited into their homes. We have made new friends and we have exchanged addresses and emails with to keep in touch and share our photos with and sponsor some of their children at school. As you know, most Tanzanian people need to travel to the local towns for email facilities. They don't have electricity in the areas we visited or the money for computers. My most memorable part was being invited into Elina's home, where she lit a fire to make us tea. Visiting the Masai village was also very moving. The chief's son, who took us around spoke English, and persuades his father to use the money from tourists to send more children to school. It was lovely to meet him again later as we were leaving the area and talk some more. For the children the most memorable parts were seeing the animals, the dolphins and the lovely African accommodation, and the excitement of camping in the bush. We all found the people very warm and welcoming, and it was a great privilege to be able to meet them.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
People need to be aware of how much poorer people are in Tanzania, and not expect English style toilets etc, but I should think that is obvious to most people wanting to visit Africa. We found it quite humbling- and felt that we've certainly lost something here for all our luxury. Zanzibar seemed on the surface dirtier and a bit depressing at first impression, and not as friendly as mainland Tanzania, but we soon warmed to it and found lots of lovely people there too. I think Stone Town surprised me. I was expecting yellow stone, and the buildings are white with black running all over them. Once you've adjusted your expectations to reality, it was a lovely bustling place full of interest. Loved Forodhani Gardens: all the atmosphere and tasty charcoal grilled food.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I hope our holiday has benefited local people by providing work, enjoying each others company, and sponsoring local children to go to school.
4. Any other comments?
Many thanks for enabling this wonderful experience in a sensitive way to Tanzania.
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