Advertisement
Viva Africa Tours
Viva Africa Tours
5
Multi-day ToursSightseeing ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Viva Africa Tours offers unique African wildlife safaris, mountaineering treks, cultural experiences and beach holiday escapes exclusively in Tanzania. We are passionate about our wildlife, tribal cultures and all of the mystical treasures that Tanzania has to offer and this makes us proud to present it to you.
Moshi, Tanzania
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Travelers talk about

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles139 reviews
Excellent
125
Very good
8
Average
1
Poor
2
Terrible
3

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Markus M
Hamburg, Germany33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022 • Couples
We did the 8 day Lemosho route with Viva Africa. It was a great experience and we made it to the top.
For the two of us we had 2 guides, 1 cook, 1 waiter and 6 porter. This was not too much, but enough to have a nice trip. The guides Donald and Patrick were great, very experienced and they took good care. Especially on the peak night, they had the right view on us and made it happen for us (they also carried the backpacks at some point in time). The tent was good, the food more than enough. All in all, we can recommend Viva Africa for such a hiking tour. It is private, full focus on the group.
Written January 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Markus, Thanks a lot for your kind words, we real appreciate it! I will also pass your gratitude to Donald and Patrick and all other Kilimanjaro crew for their amazing job Thanks again for choosing Viva Africa Tours for your trip to Tanzania With Kindest Regards Agnes on behalf of Viva Africa Tours Team
Written March 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

starstwirl
Nashville, TN38 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021
We had an amazing time with Viva Africa. My husband and I booked the 2-day Safari at Ngrorogoro Crater and Tarangire National Park for ourselves and a group of friends. Viva worked with us to coordinate schedules after we finished our Kilimanjaro climb with another tour agency. They came the day before to go over everything with us and collect payment, picked us up at the hotel, provided water, let us stop at a roadside stand for cokes and an ATM, and took care of every detail! We were really able to relax and enjoy the ride.

Our guide, Frank, was amazing! He was friendly and knowledgeable about the wildlife and where best to see it. He was really flexible in terms of what we needed and wanted to see. He was such fun to learn from and hang out with for a couple of days!

Overall, we had the time of our lives. We went in February 2021, so COVID was a factor. We felt really safe and taken care of. Everyone with Viva masked appropriately and took precautions to make sure we, and they, stayed safe. We were really glad we were able to give them work as many of the people we spoke to hadn't been able to work for close to a year.

I heartily recommend using Viva Tours for your Tanzanian Safari!
Written May 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi starstwirl, Thanks a lot for your kind words, I would like to let you know that it was also a pleasure having you at our company during your two days safari I will also pass your gratitude to Frank for his amazing job With Best Regards Agnes on behalf of Viva Africa Tours
Written June 26, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Guillaume D
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Bored with Covid restrictions, we decided to go to tanzania and after a review of several possibilities we decided to go on machame route (7 days) with Viva Africa Tour. We had 2 guides, 8 porters and a cook, sounds a lot but gives you a lot of confort.
Every thing was just all perfect in terms of equipment and logistics with it must be said, the best mountain cook we ever had (high five for Remmy!!).
Machame 7 days is a very good choce for climatisation and is also very scenic (I loved the first 2 days, and the summit day).
But what is really extraordinary with climbing Kilimanjaro this year is that there is almost no one... so we spent half an hour on the summit, no one on sight, gazing at the sun rise and the shadow of kilimanjaro over the Tanzanian flats.
Back down in Moshi at Rafiki guest house, the team (Agnes and Aisha) is just marvelous..
So... just don't hesitate, Grab your gear, book the plane and come in Moshi cause soon crowds will be back and being alone up there will sound like an impossible dream.
Written August 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Guillaume, Thanks a lot for your amaizing review, I would like to let you know that we real concider ourself lucky for having you at our Company during your climb Once again I would like to thank you a lot for your kind words and apreciations With Best Regards Agnes on behalf of Viva Africa Tours
Written September 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ellen S
6 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
When already in Africa we received a long list of required equipment. With hindsight, it was a list which contained many superfluous items. Most of us bought a sleeping bag as indicated, and some more items. Most of us could have taken these items from home if we had been informed.

We were kept hostage at the hotel car park because of an administrative mistake without being informed on the issue. We were informed only after 2 hours had passed and the organizer of the tour (part of a conference package) had left the hotel car park. We finally left 3 hours after the scheduled departure, but returned according to schedule. This means the tour was 3 hours shorter!

We should have had four vehicles, but they tried to get more money of us for the fourth vehicle.

The food at the campsite was nothing to write home about but more to the point, it was not enough. A few of our group arrived a little later and had a spoonful of soup and nearly no other food.
The same happened at breakfast.
The chef and his team indicated they would appreciate a tip. We did not know at the time that some had not received much food. We placed the tip in the tip box. The chef would not allow us to leave until we told them we had put it in the tip box. The gate was only opened after the chef asked whether the people in all three vehicles had provided a tip.

The drivers were skilled. The animals were wonderful. But we could not shake off the feeling we were 'milk cows'.
At least some of the drivers were freelancers as we booked other tours ourselves after this fiasco and some of our friends had the same driver.

We later found out that delaying departure was not unusual...

I would NEVER again book Viva Africa Tours. The advertising on the back of the vehicles included Viva Africa Tours and Rafiki backpackers.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Ellens, I would like to say we are very sorry for what happened during the safari but we feel there are some things we need to clarify. Firstly, you did not book the tour with us, you booked it with another agent from Kenya. Concerning the required equipment for safari, kindly I would like to let you know that your organizer Mr. Alfred Mtawali had this information of all the equipment that you were suppose to bring from the first day that he sent an inquiry to us in the previous months. We have a trail of emails that were exchanged between Viva Africa Tours and this third party agent - we can provide this evidence/proof that what we say is true. When we went to meet this agent in Arusha the day before safari starts, we realized that no one had brought the sleeping bags for the safari. Therefore as a company, to avoid any arguments, we arranged for all the sleeping bags in the last minute for all the 17 people for free! Which was otherwise going to cost you 20 USD extra for rent per each sleeping bag! I would like to let you know that we do not understand why you did not receive this information earlier from him while he knew about it ALL a long time a go. As for special food requirements,he never mentioned any special food requirements in your group! We repeatedly asked him about this in all our emails for the safari preparation. We also asked him again when we met him in Arusha the day before the safari started - and he said he will ask you and let us know but he never did! Our staff member was up until midnight following up this issue on whatsapp as well, but he kept saying that he would let us know and didn't get back to us concerning this matter! This was very unprofessional on his end. He first said that you are a group of 17 people, so we prepared the safari cars and everything else for 17 people. Our safari cars carry 6 people per car - so we prepared 3 cars. This was so that 2 of the cars would carry 12 people and the third one would carry 5 people. However, in the very last minute, just a day before the safari , at 6pm in the evening, he wanted to add another 2 people. This would mean 19 people. Furthermore, he again asked to add another 2 people at 11pm that same night. These 2 people were supposed to be picked up from the airport at 12 noon and head to Manyara to join the rest of the group. This again was unprofessional because all this last minute information made it difficult for us to get things together. Anyway, we arranged everything for the pickup and transfer to Lake Manyara. The next morning our drivers were at Kibo palace hotel at 6am as we agreed to pick you up ready for the safari start, but yet again we saw that the number of people we knew had to be picked did not match the number of people we saw there. It is also important that you note that your third agent from Kenya had only paid us for 19 people at that point. But you were a total of 22. Which means we had not been paid for THREE people by this man. When we called him, he claimed he had already left for Nairobi, while he was still at the Hotel but hiding from our guides! telling us through the phone that he would send the money for these 3 people via bank transfer once he gets to Nairobi! This is very unfair because he knew you were 22 from the beginning but led us to think you were only 19 until the very last minute. Because of this we could not trust this man. Therefore we could not release the cars until we were paid in FULL. This is basically how businesses work - we cannot provide a service until we get full payment. We are aware that you as clients had already paid him for pick up and transfer - but we did not receive the money for the transfer. He then told us that we should charge you separately for it - he was probably trying to make some extra money out of this. We had no choice but to keep calling him to come and finalize the payment. He did come, but three hours later. It was a challenge for us to have everything perfectly prepared when we were getting last minute hold - backs and changes every few minutes. All in all I would like to advice you that the next time you book any trip please make sure you contact the company directly and not through another party. If you had booked the tour directly with us, all of this would have never happened. Under normal circumstances, we bend backwards to make sure our clients are fully satisfied. There fore all these complaints should be sent to Alfred Mtawali and not our Company. With Kind Regards Agnes on behalf of Viva Africa Tours Team.
Written March 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Yannik E
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Couples
We had a 3-day camping safari (tarangire, ngorongoro, lake manyara) starting from moshi.

Safari & Guide:
We were very lucky to have a guide like Amani with us who made it possible to see all of the big five in only 3 days! Amani was very good at spotting animals, we would have never noticed. He seemed to have a good understanding of the animals behaviour, allowing him to predict how and where they were about to move. Once he anticipated that baby cheetahs would soon run and hide in the bushes, parked the car and alerted us so that we were able to observe them crossing the street right in front of us. He also seemed to have a real interest in the animals and their behaviour of his own, acting thoughtful and respectful and had a great knowledge.

Food:
We were at first skeptical because we ordered vegetarian food, but our chef Frank actually cooked absolutely great vegetarian meals for us including various vegetables, salads, fresh fruits and soup. One night we even had homemade bread with our dinner. He was also asking us for preferences and adjusted accordingly.

Accomodation:
We spent the first night at Simba Camp, which is a camping site at Ngorongoro Crater. Our tent was fine and we had matresses inside. The washrooms were very basic and we strongly advise to bring toilet paper. During the night it got really cold, so that a sleeping bag and long clothes were absolutely necessary.
The second night we spend at Fanaka Camp which is in a small town outside Lake Manyara park, which is more than a camping site. They also have room accomodation, a restaurant, a swimming pool and clean washrooms.
The night before and after our trip we stayed at rafiki backpackers in Moshi. Our room had a private bathroom and a moskito net. Breakfast was included, which consisted of egg selection and bread.
Written February 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Yannike, Thank you so much for sharing your experience of the 3-day camping safari with us. We are delighted to hear that your adventure was enriched by our guide, Amani, whose expertise and passion for wildlife allowed you to witness all of the big five in just three days. Amani's keen eye for spotting animals and his deep understanding of their behaviors made each encounter truly memorable, such as the thrilling moment observing baby cheetahs crossing right in front of you. We are thrilled that you enjoyed the culinary delights prepared by our chef Frank, especially tailored to your vegetarian preferences. From fresh vegetables and salads to homemade bread, we strive to provide delicious and satisfying meals that cater to all dietary needs. Regarding accommodation, we appreciate your feedback on Simba Camp at Ngorongoro Crater and Fanaka Camp near Lake Manyara. Your insights are valuable as we continuously strive to enhance our guests' comfort and convenience during their stays. At Rafiki Backpackers in Moshi, we aim to provide a relaxing and comfortable environment with amenities like private bathrooms and mosquito nets, ensuring a pleasant start and end to your safari experience. Thank you once again for choosing us for your safari adventure. We look forward to welcoming you back for more unforgettable experiences in the future. Warmest regards, The Viva Africa Tours Team.
Written June 28, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Marc L
33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Due to Covid we decided very late to go to Tanzania, one of the few African countries still open to tourists.
Well, that was a brilliant choice.
We decided after some reviews to go to Kilimanjaro (Machame route/7 days) with Viva Africa.
That was the second brilliant choice.
In the end we spent 7 days on the Kili in very confortable conditions (great food at any altitude, how do you do that remmy??), with 1 caring guide each and we spent almost 1 hour at the summit, looking at the sunrise, with absolutely no one around.
It's been fantastic and we are happy to have helped a bit some local families get a fist income in more than 6 months.
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Marc, Thanks a lot for your great review, I would like to let you know that we are very happy to know that you were surtisfied with our servies from the beggining to the end of your trip Marc I will also pass your gratitude to Remmy and all other mountain crew for their amazing services Once again thank you so much for choosing our company Viva Africa Tours in explore the natural wonders of Tanzania. Please pass our greetings to Véronique With Best Regards Agnes on behalf of Viva Africa Tours Team.
Written September 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

MiniManon
Paris, France48 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Couples
We booked a 1 day trip to Tarangire National Park with Daniel (via the Rafiki Backpacker in Moshi). We had a great time, and saw a lot of animals. Daniel was very good at driving and showing us good place to see / observe animals (zebras, lions, elephants, monkeys, birds...so many) . We never rushed, we could enjoy every seconds, take the right pictures. Our lunch was nice and they even provided vegetarian menu.
I totally recommand this safari/team.
Written June 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Manon, Thanks a lot for your kind words, It was such a wonderful time having you and Jerome at our hostel - also for the safari day trip that you booked with us through our tour company Viva Africa Tours I will pass your gratitude to Daniel and the rest of the Rafiki Backpackers team for their great job With Best Regards Agnes on behalf of Rafiki Backpackers and Viva Africa Tours team
Written June 26, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

andyD556YY
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We were in Moshi for a Sports Tour and were looking for something to do in the area on our way to the airport near Arusha. I contacted Viva tours and they planned a trip Chemka Hot Springs. Communication was great in the lead up. We were a very large group of over 50 children and 6 adults. Our group had diverse dietary needs and all this was considered in terms of the packed lunches, which were of good quality.

In the morning of travel we lost an hour or more because the transport provided did not have enough seatbelts. This was a little disappointing, but the person in charge sorted this out efficiently and politely, providing extra vehicles for us. That is the only negative, and why I decided on 4/5.

Overall, I would recommend Viva Africa Tours for large groups.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Andy, Thanks a lot for your great review, I would like to let you know that we were very happy to have you as our clients Andy, and please do not hesitate to book with us next time since all our cars now has all proper seat belts Looking forward to show you more of our Tanzania natural wonders in the feature Once again thank you for choosing our company Viva Africa Tours in explore the natural wonders of Tanzania. With Best Regards Agnes on behalf of Viva Africa Tours Team.
Written March 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jan G
2 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Family
PLEASE READ
My dad and I booked our Safari tour through here. 4 nights.

The good was we were able to see many animals and even some of the rare ones, but truthfully you’ll have the same luck with most agencies. The factors that I think are critical are when companies are faced with challenges and how they handle them. In our case it was bad.

First off, our driver would get drinks for us and himself at gas stations when we would stop. We have no issue treating him to food or drinks, I think it’s nice to share and be appreciative. However, he would never let us buy it ourselves. He would make the purchase and then charge us. On one of those occasions I had to go in to use the restroom and out of curiosity checked the prices. Our driver was charging us triple. I did not appreciate the dishonesty.

Our safari vehicle had many issues. Two separate times we broke down and had to go to a mechanic. We lost 1.5 days and had to skip an entire park that was planned. On top of it, we missed out on our favorite lodge night because we arrived so late. The owner assured us they would make it up to us. That was a big lie.

Since we exited the park late, we had to pay a fee. The driver did not have the money to pay it so they asked us to cover the fee and we would get reimbursed. They never paid us back.

We figured it would be reasonable to ask for a partial refund for one days worth of the tour. They refused and never paid us back the money we borrowed them. Very disappointing how they lied to us.

From a safety standpoint I would say it wasn’t the greatest. They made us get out of the car to inspect it with no additional safety precautions…considering we were in brush where earlier we had seen a black mamba, the experience was uncomfortable.

I notified Alfred (the owner) of the situation. He agreed to meet us at our hotel on the last day so that he could pay us back. He didn’t show up and refused our calls.

Doing a safari is 100% worth it, but I would avoid Viva Africa due to it’s lack of moral decision making and safety standards
Written October 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Journey21503749753
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Friends
We had 3 very eventful days.
Our guide answered all our questions and told us everything about the animals. We saw elephants and giraffes on the first day and were pretty close to them.
We then drove on to the camp at the Ngorongoro Crater. The camp was basic but OK.
The next day we set off early and a sea of animals awaited us in the crater.
Zebras, wildebeests, lions, hippos, buffalo, wild cats, elephants...
It was impressive and our guide Wilson did everything possible to see the animals as close as possible.
On the 3rd day we were in Lake Manyara National Park. Beautiful nature, but unfortunately fewer animals than the days before.
All in all a great experience and I can highly recommend it.
Google
Written December 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liebe/r, Vielen Dank für Ihr wunderbares Feedback! Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Sie drei erlebnisreiche Tage mit uns hatten. Unser Guide Wilson hat sich gefreut, all Ihre Fragen zu beantworten und Ihnen viel Wissenswertes über die Tiere zu erzählen. Es ist großartig, dass Sie bereits am ersten Tag Elefanten und Giraffen aus nächster Nähe sehen konnten. Der Aufenthalt im Camp am Ngorongoro Krater mag einfach gewesen sein, aber wir hoffen, dass es Ihren Erwartungen entsprochen hat. Der Morgen im Krater, umgeben von einer Vielzahl von Tieren wie Zebras, Gnus, Löwen, Hippos, Büffeln, Wildkatzen und Elefanten, klingt wirklich beeindruckend. Wir sind froh, dass Wilson alles daran gesetzt hat, Ihnen diese unvergesslichen Begegnungen zu ermöglichen. Auch wenn es im Lake Manyara Nationalpark weniger Tiere zu sehen gab, freuen wir uns, dass Sie die wunderschöne Natur genießen konnten. Insgesamt sind wir begeistert, dass Sie eine tolle Erfahrung hatten und uns weiterempfehlen. Wir hoffen, Sie bald wieder bei Viva Africa Tours begrüßen zu dürfen! Herzliche Grüße, Das Team von Viva Africa Tours.
Written June 28, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Showing results 1-10 of 110

Viva Africa Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

All Moshi HotelsMoshi Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Moshi
All things to do in Moshi
Day Trips in Moshi
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars