Pamoja Safaris - Farmington Hills, Michigan

Keena E.

Picking a Safari company is tough. It is usually a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you want it to be just right. There are hundreds of companies providing the service in multiple countries throughout Africa and sometimes have widely varying prices and reviews. I agonized over the process for several weeks before deciding on Pamoja for several reasons. First, we narrowed our search to Tanzania. We were interested in seeing animals in a setting as close to it was 5,000 years ago so we ruled out all of the private reserves and fenced parks scattered throughout Africa. The Tanzanian trail that includes Tarangire, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro offered us the best opportunity to see lots of animals in their natural state. Next, we were looking for a company that was family-friendly. There were four of us, with the youngest two being 10 and 12. We needed an engaging, knowledgeable, and exciting guide to keep us focused. Third, we were looking for moderate accommodations. We were not looking for luxury accommodations with fine wine, a butler service, and imported Russian caviar, but we do value a hot shower, a filling meal, and a comfortable night's rest. I reached out to Scott Brills at Pamoja after listening to a trusted travel podcast where he was a guest. He sounded relaxed and really focused on the customer experience. Safaris are expensive, but the price quoted by Pamojo was fair, and below other quotes I received.

After several conversations, we took the plunge and booked the trip. Our experience from that point was top-notch. Scott took the time to customize our safari based on the number of days we had available. He stayed connected and walked us through the visa application process, and consistently urged us to get our stuff together as quickly as possible to avoid last-minute stress. On arrival day, his terrific business partner Joshua Loy met us at the Kilimanjaro airport and drove us to Arusha for our first night. The drive in the luxury extended Land Cruiser was a new and exciting experience.
Some key takeaways….. Scott was amazing at communicating with us prior to the start of our adventure. He took a significant amount of worrying out of the journey.

Joshua, co-owner and our guide, was exceptional. He loves his job and was incredibly enthusiastic throughout the journey. When we spotted the rhino, he was so excited to share the moment with us. He worked hard to put us in the best position possible, and we felt incredibly safe with him.

If we were traveling to Tanzania again, we would definitely use Pamoja Safari; They were terrific to work with and genuinely good people. If you feel so inclined, you can also book a hike to the summit of Kilimanjaro through them.

Jessica C.

Pamoja Safaris knows what they’re doing. I cannot sing enough praises for their service, knowledge, and professionalism that went into making my trip so memorable. The guides are the best of the best, the accommodations and transportation were comfortable, and the abundance of delicious food was incredible. I felt like this safari was so unique compared to other safari companies, and I cannot wait time go on another one! Pamoja--thank you for the amazing experience!

Victoria P.

I could not say enough good things about Scott and Josh! From start to finish both made sure that our trip was incredible. We booked an 8 day Safari and climbed Kilimanjaro. Josh was our Safari guide and he did everything in his power to make sure we saw everything on our bucket list. Josh was very knowledgeable making our trip that much better! All of the lodges we stayed at were incredible and the food was phenomenal. The staff we had during the climb were extremely friendly, very professional, very knowledgeable and did everything possible to help us make it to the top. Scott was on top of everything on the planning side, including ensuring we had enough tome before our flight yo receive our COVID results without sacrificing any part of our trip. I could not recommend Pamoja Safaris enough! They provided us a grip of a lifetime we will never forget!

natepuch93

Pamoja does everything right. From start to finish they were their for us and always responsive. This including helping us navigate our trip plans during a pandemic. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Scott was local to Michigan and always able to answer our questions. Josh was with us once we arrive in Tanzania until we left. Couldn’t have asked for a better safari guide. He ensured we had a truly once in a lifetime experience.

Travis S.

Simply the best. I’ve been other safaris (I know, I know, tough life) and they don’t compare.

With Pamoja, you’re getting a real safari experience with guides who not only are incredibly knowledgeable but truly passionate about their country and the animals - and bend over backward to make sure you get to experience it all.

If you’re looking to see as many animals as possible (and you are, right?) while also getting the type of inside scoop that other companies don’t offer, then look no further.

I’ll be back - for sure!

Monica M.

The trip was amazing! We enjoyed each area we went. They put together a perfect itinerary. Aron is a wonderful guide, what a happy and friendly guy! My son and I had a fun time with him. Issa and Julius ... also great. You have a really good crew. Even the people at each place we stayed provided friendly service. So happy I chose Pamoja.

Kim C.

Pamoja Safaris created an absolutely perfect, custom tailored, luxury feeling safari at a level of value we didn't think was possible. They were incredibly patient as we asked tons of questions to get ready and once we were there every detail was handled perfectly. From the minute we got picked up at the airport until our departure, we were treated to authentic hospitality and cared for in a way that allowed us to just relax and enjoy the amazing beauty and life all around us. If you're even thinking about or just dreaming about a safari - don't wait. It's more affordable than you think, the experience is truly awe inspiring and life changing and Pamoja is the best at what they do. @pamojasafaris #pamojasafaris

Traci S.

We were both very impressed with Pamoja and with Jonas. First and foremost, it was entertaining to see the guides from other safari companies come over to admire the new Land Cruiser, since it is WAY better than all of theirs (especially Leopard Tours!). We saw plenty of broken-down vehicles on our travels there, and we were grateful to be in a reliable vehicle with a great driver/guide. Jonas takes very good care of the Land Cruiser, and kept it tidy inside and out, every day. Jonas, having been a guide for so many years, knows everyone, and I think that was helpful to our game-viewing since he could get the latest intel from the passing drivers.

We saw so many amazing things that it would be hard to name our favorite, and there were even times when Jonas got out his camera and took photos, too. You know it's good game viewing when the 17 year veteran guide takes photos! I took over 2000 photos, and there are so many great ones that I am having a very hard time narrowing them down to make a Shutterfly book.

The Maasai visit was just what you promised, non-touristy, and fantastic. The wives could not have been more welcoming, and even though we did not speak the same language, a warm smile is the same in every language. Their children were sweet, and one was even playing hide-and-seek with me.

We would do it all again!