From the moment we arrived at Arusha Airport until our final drop-off, we had nothing but a positive experience and professional service. The vehicle was comfortable, and the timing for all the national park visits and game drives was perfectly managed. Additionally, the campsites and hotels were well beyond our expectations.
Special thanks to our driver, Andrew, who was professional, entertaining, and simply a pleasure to be around. We also want to send our best regards to our cook, Buga; we truly enjoyed every meal he prepared. Everything was tasty, healthy, and a great introduction to local flavors.
We saw every animal on our list and gained deep insights into the wildlife and Tanzanian culture. The knowledge shared with us throughout the trip was impressive and yet not boring at all.
We are extremely satisfied with Meru Slopes and the entire team. We will definitely be recommending them to everyone!
So, I researched a lot to find an affordable safari, but most started around $2,000 for a 4-night / 5-day safari that included the Serengeti savanna and the Ngorongoro Crater.
After several days, I stumbled—purely by luck—upon Meru Slopes’ fantastic offer at only $1,050 for such a trip, including lodging for one night in a private room/lodge and the other three nights in tented camping arrangements.
I must say, I was very skeptical. How could they offer basically the same package for 50% less?! And we’re talking about the hotel in Arusha upon arrival and on day 5, for free—breakfast and dinner included! All three meals during the safari were included, all drinks (beer and wine included!!!) during game drives and, of course, during meals. I mean… was this too good to be true? Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater paradise, and on top of it all, a 3–4 hour game drive in Tarangire National Park (which I didn’t even know existed!).
My contact person, Mr. Shadrack, turned out to be incredibly positive, service-oriented, and efficient. We corresponded at all hours via WhatsApp.
So I decided to go for it and paid only about 10% upfront.
The hotel in Arusha is basic—but the bed and bathroom were clean and cozy, and every single staff member was extremely friendly and willing to assist (get a room on the top floor with a view of Mount Meru). I can especially mention Mr. Geoffrey Nasari and the super-efficient receptionist, Mrs. Juliana.
And then finally came the day on which I was basically gambling my biggest travel experience—the safari with Meru Slopes.
I could go on… but let me (try to) be brief: the Toyota Land Cruiser safari jeep for six people was excellent—just like all the other jeeps offered in the $2,000–$4,000 package deals we crossed paths with every day! Tarangire National Park turned out to be a fantastic surprise, with lush green woodland and tons of animals—from zebras, monumental giraffes, warthogs, to lions on the hunt… and yes, even a whole family of elephants.
The car was packed with water, soft drinks, and even Kilimanjaro beers! My group was a mix of very entertaining and charming people from Greece, France, and Hong Kong—definitely not a bunch of rowdy backpackers on a budget trip.
Our game driver, Mr. Lobulo, and our “private chef”—yes, you read that correctly—our private chef, Mr. Rashim, were simply extraordinary. Mr. Lobulo, the guide and driver, had the perfect combination of deep knowledge of the animal kingdom mixed with personal stories and, more importantly, an extremely creative way of using his network of drivers and friends via the two-band radio he was constantly synced with. Why? Because the Big Five are never in the same place (of course). So very often we’d suddenly make a 180-degree turn and drive as if we were on a mission from God (!) toward a new location 3–5 km down the road or behind a rock formation… only to slowly approach a family of lions, or the very reclusive leopard resting high up on a tree branch.
I mean… we saw it all: 2 cheetahs, 3 leopards, 15+ hyenas, 30+ lions, 40+ hippos, 50+ elephants, 200+ buffaloes, 1,000+ zebras, and uncountable wildebeest. For bird-loving travelers, I should also mention that we saw pretty much every bird on the menu. And in the Ngorongoro caldera, we completed the full Big Five by spotting a black rhinoceros.
So there you have it! Oh—and did I mention that they also picked me up and dropped me back at Kilimanjaro International Airport? And yes… for free.
Man. What an incredibly successful safari experience. Thank you, Meru Slopes.
Special thanks to Mr. Shadrack for his top-professional, efficient, and productive communication.