Dar es salaam Reality Tour

This tour ended up being one of the most insightful and impactful experiences I’ve had while travelling. We visited local communities well off the typical tourist route and had the opportunity to see, learn from, and engage with people living and working in Dar es Salaam. We met the guide’s community midwife and learned about traditional herbal medicine, visited a natural medicine shop, shared food with a community cook, explored the second-largest market, went to a local cinema, and enjoyed drinks together. The tour guide was welcoming, knowledgeable, and passionate — it’s the kind of cultural experience you rarely get as a visitor. That said, do NOT book this tour through TripAdvisor or Viator. I did, and the local operator (Afriroots) was never notified or paid by the platform. I only discovered this after calling the boss the day before the tour — at which point it was too late to cancel through TripAdvisor without losing my money. I showed up at the stated meeting point at the correct time, but there was no one there. I messaged and called the operator repeatedly, with no response for nearly an hour. I eventually got a call around 9:52 AM saying the driver had been waiting since 7 AM — but in a hidden, unmarked car park with no signage and no communication. The entire experience was confusing and frustrating. The operator eventually agreed to take me on the tour free of charge, and I chose to tip the guide and local community members directly — making it clear that the money was meant for them. The tour itself was excellent, but the handling of the booking process was completely unacceptable. Additionally, note that the actual start time is 9:00 AM, not 8:00 AM as listed on TripAdvisor. ⸻ If you want to do this tour (and I do recommend it), you should book directly via phone or WhatsApp. Here are the key contacts: • ???? +255 763 652 641 (WhatsApp – this is the boss) • ???? +255 713 652 642 (also the boss – unsure about WhatsApp) • ???? +255 789 097 372 (tour guide – unsure about WhatsApp) ⸻ This experience has made me question the reliability of TripAdvisor’s booking system for small local operators. I’m now in the process of requesting a refund for a service that was never confirmed or delivered through the platform. Book the tour — but book it directly

I recently went on a bike tour in Dar es Salaam with Afri Roots, and it was absolutely wonderful. I wouldn't want to have missed it! It was a great decision to book directly with Afri Roots. The tour started at 09:00, and when I contacted the company, they responded right away. The tour took us to places I never would have discovered otherwise, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of the locals and the vibrant atmosphere of the city. We had the opportunity to try many local foods and drinks, which was an incredible experience. This tour was truly one of a kind, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore Dar es Salaam in an authentic and engaging way.

Booked 24h in advance, no way to contact them to reconfirm. In the end, nobody showed up and I am still waiting for my refund!