Hi
I am currently booking a safari and have a choice of 2 companies, Africapoint and Roy's Safari's. Has anyone had experience of either ?

Thanks

Hi
Roys are well established and a large company, i must say i have not heard of Africa point, if they are reputable you could drop the Tanzanian Tourist Board a line and ask about them, very often smaller company's provide a more personal service.

I have just returned from Safari in Arusha - we wnet on a five day, four night camping safari and visited Tangerire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti in a group of four in a Land Rover for 600 US$ each, which is average, although this safari company threw in a free nights accomodation at their KiliMeru View Lodge the night before our safari as well.

The company we used was Totally Wild Safaris, with African employees and run by two Australian men. Everyone was fantastic, the safari was amazing - we saw everything but Leopards (which are hard to find anyway) - Hippos, Lions, Cheetahs, Giraffes, Wilderbeest, Monkeys, Baboons, Zebra, Buffalo, Giraffe, Rhino, Hyena, warthog, mongoose, marabou storks, gazelle, antelope, eagles, vultures and more!

The driver and cook were awesome, we had three meals a day and drinks included, the only thing we paid for on top was tips for driver & cook and a visit to a Maasi village - which was also great to do.

I highly recommend Totally Wild Safaris, who are registered, helpful, informative and very professional.

They have a website for their lodge and you can contact them through this, their names are Christian and Shannon and they will give you any info about Arusha, Safaris, Tanzania in general that you want. http://www.arushabackpackers.com/

Roy Safaris in particular are well established and have a good reputation....And with their slogan of...'we go thro every measure...to give you wild pleasure' - how can you go wrong?

I hope you have an amazing time - which i'm sure you will. Good Luck - Naomi.

Mary P. Lwoga
Manager
47 E Boma Road
P.O. Box 2348 Arusha
Tanzania
[address omitted]
5th January, 2006
Dear Mary Lwoga,
RE: Mr S. Mmbando (aka Mr Shamel, yellow man)
This letter concerns a safari organized by Mr Mmbando of Totally Wild Safaris, that we have discussed previously
on the telephone twice in late December 2005. This safari cost 120 US $/day and was intended to last 5 days (4
nights) but in practice lasted 4 days and 3 nights with a different company called Victoria Expeditions. I payed 600
US $ (5x 120 US $) for this safari on the evening before and on the first morning. At the time Mr Mmbando led
me to believe that 1 US $ corresponded to 1200 TSh. Mr Mmbando then payed for three nights accommodation at
the Cassablanca guest house which he led me to believe cost him 6 US $ per night. Mr Mmbando also payed for
two meals at 6 US $ each. Mr Mmbando then returned 20 US $ to me in person on 25/12/2005. On the evening of
25/12/2005, when Mr Mmbando met with me to explain that he was unable to return the outstanding funds that
day, he and I agreed that I was owed 70 US $ of the 120 US $. I thank you for calling Mr Mmbando into your
office when we had a telephone conversation on which I reminded him of this agreement of 70 US $..
I thank you for organizing with Ms Massawe from the licensing authority who I met on 1st January 2006 and who
returned 60 000 TSh of the funds in question owed by Mr Mmbando. She was indeed very helpful. Mr Mmbando
provided 50 000 TSh of this money to Ms Massawe. Mr Mmbando had led Ms Massawe to believe that he had
returned 20 US $ to me from the 70 US $ owed, which would seem to have been an oversight and the conversion
into TSh would seem to have been incorrect as he gave her only 50000 TSh to return to me, which she then gave
me pm 1st January 2006, alongside 10000 TSh from her own pocket.
2
Taking the average of the rates from the Bank of Tanzania for the period 19/12/2005 to 2/1/2006, 1 US $ =
1164.677 TSh.
I. Dr Campbell’s payments to Mr Mmbando: Total 600 US $ = 698806.20 TSh
120 x 5 = 600 US $ = 698806.2 TSh for 5 days safari
II. Services provided by Mr Mmbando: Total 510 US $ = 593985.30 TSh
120 x 4 = 480 US $ = 559045 TSh for 4 days of safari
6 x 3 = 18 US $ = 20964.19 TSh for 3 nights accomodation at Cassablanca
6 x 2 = 12 US $ = 13976.12 TSh for 2 meals at Cassablanca
III. Money returned to Dr Campbell by Mr Mmbando: Total 20 US $ = 23293.54 TSh
20 US $ = 23293.54 TSh on 25/12/05
IV. Money payed to Ms Massawe by Mr Mmbando: Total 42.93036 US $ = 50 000 TSh
V. Money returned to Dr Campbell by Ms Massawe: Total: 51.51643 US $ = 60000 TSh
50000 TSh (from Mr Mmbando) + 10000 TSh (from Ms Massawe) = 60000 TSh
Mr Mmbando owes Dr Campbell: I - ( II+ III + V) =
600 - (510 +20 + 51.51643) = 18.48357 US$ (21527.38 TSh)
698806.2 – (593985.30 +23293.54 +60000) = 21527.36 TSh
Mr Mmbando owes Dorothy Massawe: V – IV
60000 -50000 Tsh = 10000 Tsh = 8.586071503 US $
The calculations indicate that Mr Mmbando owes Dorothy Massawe 10000 Tsh (8.586071503 US $) and myself
18.48357 US$ (21527.38 TSh). Please understand that I have not charged Mr Mmbando anything for either my
time or the costs of telephone calls related to this matter. Please, I would appreciate if together, you and/or Ms
Massawe upon meeting with Mr Mmbando could bring Mr Mmbando’s business to a more reasonable conclusion
at your earliest convenience, as matters have already been substantially prolonged longer than would seem
necessary.
Please find my banking details below and the US $ to TSh exchange rate from the Bank of Tanzania within the
enclosure.

[banking details omitted]

As a courtesy, I would hope that Mr Mmbando would be so kind as to cover the costs of all banking charges. Your
continued help with this problem is really appreciated and I regret that it is still necessary. I look forward to
hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Campbell.
3
Spot
Buying
Mean
Spot Selling
19.12.2005 1154.34 1166 1177.66
20.12.2005 1153.845 1165.5 1177.155
21.12.2005 1152.3105 1163.95 1175.5895
22.12.2005 1150.875 1162.5 1174.125
23.12.2005 1150.875 1162.5 1174.125
24.12.2005
25.12.2005
26.12.2005
27.12.2005 1153.3005 1164.95 1176.5995
28.12.2005 1153.2708 1164.92 1176.5692
29.12.2005 1153.1916 1164.84 1176.4884
30.12.2005 1153.8549 1165.51 1177.1651
31.12.2005
2.1.2006 1154.439 1166.1 1177.761
Mean =
1164.677
Source: http://www.bot-tz.org/

[This message was edited by campbell on January 05, 2006 at 10:48 AM.]

[This message was edited by campbell on January 05, 2006 at 10:53 AM.]