What to look out for when booking Tanzania and Kenya trips? Which questions you should ask when choosing a tour operator
There are plenty of providers for Kenya and Tanzania trips. At first glance they do not differ significantly. But it pays to take a closer look before booking, to pay attention to a few points and to ask the right questions.
The challenge many guests face, especially before their first safari: what can I actually expect from an Africa tour operator? Is what I am being offered, is this kind of trip planning and experience, already the benchmark in the industry – or can it be done even better?
Before you decide on a tour operator, we therefore recommend clarifying the following points.
And we will tell you straight away how things work with us at Elefant-Tours – for almost 20 years now!
Who advises me, who am I planning my trip with?
At Elefant-Tours you have a personal contact who is there for you from the first phone call until you return home. You are not passed from one department to the next as if on an assembly line.
Instead of filling in online forms, you tell us about your dream trip and all the details that are individually important to you in a personal conversation. We listen, and we listen very carefully.
Our expert knowledge goes beyond what you can google. Smelling, tasting, feeling, experiencing – we are on the ground again and again, and have been for many years. From entry regulations and driving distances to the balcony view in Zanzibar – if you plan with genuine country experts, you quickly notice the difference.
We do not promise you the moon, but tell you honestly what is possible. And, if necessary, we suggest suitable alternatives.
Expert knowledge, individuality, honesty and quality – does that sound old-fashioned? It gives us a good feeling!
What have other guests experienced?
You can't trust 5-star reviews anyway, it's all fake? Our tip: what matters above all is how a tour operator deals with negative feedback when things didn't go so smoothly.
You will find pages of honest and authentic feedback from our guests on our website – including photos, which simply cannot be faked.
How much does the trip cost?
Going on a safari or trekking tour is no bargain. That is in the nature of things. If you get an offer that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Someone else will pay the price for it: the porter who climbs Kilimanjaro in flip-flops, or the safari guide who drives through the Masai Mara overworked and underpaid.
You don't have to pay more than necessary for a safari or trekking tour, and expensive doesn't automatically mean good.
But always remember that price is what you pay and value is what you get. Guests who pay a fair price for their trip often get more in return than they ever expected.
Who runs the trip on the ground?
One of the most important questions, if not the most important, that you should clarify before booking a trip to Tanzania and Kenya. After all, the "ground handler" company on site is the one that actually delivers the services of your booked trip.
What you should expect:
- Safari vehicles in which you feel safe and travel comfortably.
- Well-trained guides who work under fair conditions, treat nature and wildlife with respect and drive accident-free and carefully in road traffic and in the National Parks.
- National Park fees that are paid in advance to avoid long waiting times at the park entrance.
- Lodges and camps that are paid on time and in advance, so that you are shown to your room with a smile.
- Airport transfers where you are picked up and seen off punctually and safely.
- A contact person on site who can be reached 24/7 in an emergency and proactively takes care of your concerns.
At Elefant-Tours we have our own subsidiaries with German-speaking management teams on site in Usa River, near Arusha, Tanzania, and in Nairobi, Kenya.
Since 2007 all Tanzania safaris and Kilimanjaro climbs have been run by our own team. In Kenya we have been represented since 2018 with our own operations office and team in Nairobi.
From the operations manager and office management to the reservations team and the safari guides – very many of our colleagues in Tanzania and Kenya have been part of the team for years.
What does this mean for me?
A lot of logistics and coordination goes into a successful Tanzania or Kenya trip. Our well-rehearsed teams at Elefant-Tours and our East African subsidiaries are in daily contact. This allows us to plan the course of your trip down to the last detail and ensure everything runs smoothly.
Our teams on site know exactly which quality standards we expect and what kind of experience we want for our guests. With our colleagues, we know you are in the very best hands.
Who is responsible if something does go wrong?
With us, your trip is offered under German travel law and of course secured by insolvency insurance (travel price security certificate). If something does go wrong, communication is in German.
In Tanzania and Kenya, too, you have a German-speaking contact person with us. The operations teams of our subsidiaries can always be reached – whether you unexpectedly fall ill or your flight times change, our colleagues will reliably help you.
When researching where and with whom you want to book your East Africa trip, it pays to take a closer look and pay attention to a few points. And in the end, to trust your gut feeling.
Your dream, our expertise – your very own individual East Africa experience!
Arrange a free consultation with our East Africa experts.
