Your reviews on the travel agency Tanzanisa Specialist

Hi there, we’re planning a trip for two couples in October 2025—ideally to Tanzania and Zanzibar for a safari circuit and 2 to 3 nights in Zanzibar. If anyone has already traveled with Tanzanisa Specialist, Comptoir des Voyages, or another agency, we’d love to hear about your experience or any tips you might have.

Thanks everyone!

Hello,

I’d recommend trying in October 2026 instead ..... !?

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Hello, I’d love to hear your advice too! Best regards,

Hello, we’re planning a trip for two couples in October 2025, ideally to Tanzania + Zanzibar for a reserve circuit and 2 to 3 nights in Zanzibar. If anyone has already traveled with Tanzanisa Specialist or Comptoir des Voyages or others, we’d love to hear your feedback or tips. Thanks everyone

Good evening,

I’m not familiar with Tanzania Specialist.

I’ve been to Tanzania seven times, but only for safaris (never Zanzibar).

- The first two times, we visited the "classic" northern reserves with a French tour operator, Vie Sauvage.

- Then we heard about the southern reserves and decided to try them. Vibe is totally different—way fewer people, more intimate, and wilder nature. - In the end, we’ve been to the southern reserves five times (Ruaha, Mikumi, and Selous for us). If you’re interested, to give you an idea, our last Tanzanian trip in June 2024 to Mikumi and Selous is documented in a travel journal on this forum.

https://voyageforum.com/forum/mikumi-selous-dans-sud-tanzanien-juin-2024-d10707408/

One tip: really ask yourselves if Zanzibar is truly necessary for your plans.

Our trips to the southern reserves were organized by the agency ASANTERRA in Dar es Salaam. It’s run by a Belgian national.

From what I gather, this would be your first safari trip? Are all four of you nature lovers, or just curious and interested in wildlife, mammals, and birds?

If you have any specific questions, I’ll do my best to answer.

Cheers,

Puma2A

Hi, We’re returning this Sunday, November 9th, from a 12-day safari in Tanzania with four of us. We booked our Air France flight independently and spent 12 days with Serengeti Big Cats Safari (our guide-driver was Godson). We got four quotes, including one from Tanzania Specialist. The prices were similar to Big Cats, a French-speaking agency based in Arusha with a correspondent in France recommended by *Le Routard*. We were there during the riots, followed by a fuel shortage and a total internet blackout for four days—and that’s when you really see how effective an agency is. We avoided all the trouble because the agency anticipated everything and found solutions without us even having to ask, so we were able to complete our entire planned itinerary.

Here’s my advice: If you arrive in the evening, stay near the airport (Kya Lodge, 2 km away). Day 1: Arusha National Park—walking tour with a ranger, then a vehicle tour. Late afternoon, drive to Karatu (hotel). Days 2 and 3: 1.5-hour drive to Tarangire National Park, with two nights in a tent (very comfortable!). Then back toward the airport for Zanzibar, which we didn’t visit.

Avoid Lake Manyara National Park, in my opinion—it’s not worth it. Ngorongoro is interesting, on the way to the Serengeti, but it’s 3 hours from Arusha. Then another 3 hours to reach the Serengeti. You’ll spend a lot of time on corrugated dirt roads. Our agency adjusted the program based on the level of comfort we wanted. The vehicles are pretty much the same across all agencies. Just be aware that some use freelance French-speaking guide-drivers to meet demand. Tanzania Specialists is a very large Dutch company that advertises a lot, and you’ll see them everywhere in the parks.

Note that the average speed on the tracks is about 40 km/h and about 60 km/h on the roads—that’s why agencies talk in terms of travel time.

I think it’s unthinkable to go on a safari in Tanzania without using an agency if you’re an ordinary tourist.

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended, and antimalarials are necessary.

You don’t *have* to exchange dollars, except that $1 bills exist while the smallest euro bill is 5 €, and no one ever has change. Also, with exchange fees, you’ll get about $385 for 400 €. Everyone will have to decide for themselves.

If we went again, we’d just exchange a few dozen euros into shillings upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, asking for small bills (for tips). Everything else can be paid in $ or € at the hotels.

Thanks so much for your valuable tips. It's true that for October 2025 I missed the Train😉

Tanzania Spécialist is a very large Dutch agency. The word got left out in my reply. You see a lot of their vehicles on the trails.

Hi there, I went through a small local agency based in Arusha, Mwanga Africa Tours, which handled my safari in an exceptional way (Serengeti & Ngorongoro safari & Kilimanjaro region). They’re pros—friendly and reliable (Masai guide who speaks French), and above all, compared to big agencies, they’re reachable at any time, even during the trip, which is really important. Plus, they create a real trip tailored to your tastes and don’t just sell a pre-packaged deal. wakalamwangaafrica@gmail.com Insta + TripAdvisor: Mwanga Africa Tours Rémy