The tour guide didn’t show up for pickup.
I booked and paid for the tour before coming to Zanzibar and on the day of the tour I tried to call the listed number 5 times, nobody picked up the phone. Finally I had a hotel manager call them, they finally picked up, claimed that the driver “didn’t find me”. I was in the hotel waiting for them the entire time, didn’t have a single missed call nor a message. After that I again called and wrote multiple emails asking for a refund - radio silence.
事業者からの返答
Dear friend,
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and disappointment you experienced on the day of your tour.
Unfortunately, there was a breakdown in communication before the excursion. We had difficulty reaching you through WhatsApp, and our attempts to locate your email correspondence were unsuccessful. As your contact number was an international number, establishing direct communication by phone was also challenging.
However, we understand that you had booked and paid for the tour in advance and expected everything to be organized smoothly. We are truly sorry that we were unable to coordinate the pickup properly and that your attempts to contact us were not answered promptly.
We regret the frustration this situation caused and take your feedback seriously. We also hope that you have received your requested refund or that the matter has been resolved to your satisfaction.
Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. We sincerely apologize again for the experience and the inconvenience caused.
Kind regards,
Said Abidal
Viva Ocean Tours & Safaris
Zanzibar
L
László S
August 5, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great day trip in Zanzibar
It was an amazing experience!
Said, our guide and driver, picked us up right on time from our hotel. He drove safely and carefully all day.
Our first stop was Jozani Forest, where we explored the mangrove area and joined a group with a professional guide to see the red colobus monkeys. The guide was friendly, engaging, and happy to answer all our questions.
Next, we visited Jambo Spice Farm, which is more like a “showroom” for spices. Here, we had a private guide who took us around, letting us see, smell, and touch all the different spices they grow. You can even try climbing a coconut tree and taste fresh coconut milk! We were also offered a delicious variety of fresh fruits from the farm. You can buy locally made cosmetics and freshly harvested spices — cash is best, but card payments were also possible for us.
Our last stop was Stone Town, where a private guide showed us around the old streets, the fish market, the live chicken market, and told us fascinating stories about the town’s history.
It was a long but wonderful day — from 9 am to 8 pm — and definitely worth it, especially if your hotel is far from Stone Town and you want to make the most of your time without going back and forth.
A few tips: wear comfortable shoes, bring cash for shopping and tipping your guides, and carry some snacks, as we had little time for lunch and didn’t want to spend the day sitting in a restaurant
1人が参考になったと回答
事業者からの返答
Dear Laszlo S
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review!
We’re thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience on our Private Full Day Trip to Stone Town, Spice Farms, and Jozani Forest. It’s wonderful to know that Said took great care of you throughout the day — he will be very happy to hear your kind words.
We're glad you enjoyed the unique experiences at Jozani Forest, Jambo Spice Farm, and the historical journey through Stone Town. Your tips for future travelers are also much appreciated and spot-on — especially regarding comfortable shoes and bringing cash.
It was truly our pleasure to host you, and we hope to welcome you back to Zanzibar for more adventures in the future!
Warm regards,
The VivaOcean Tours Team
A
AndreaDomingo
June 28, 2024 · via Viator
An overall nice full day experience!
Jozani forest trip is soothing, interesting and funny due to Monkeys and nature. Mangrove forest is surprising and interesting, nice exploration, good guide for both.
Spice farm is the best part, staff is funny, welcoming and deserves all the tips and in-site purchases due to their hard and interesting work. You’ll be happy to support the village and meet all the local people (if you can, bring some gifts for the children like pencils and sweets). Overall, Spice Farm is a must-go for a Zanzibar travel!
Stone Town tour is a bit disappointing: very crowded town, feeling of being aimed constantly from vendors doesn’t allow you to look a lot around you in a calm way, if you’re a Woman you’ll be object of uncomfortably staring and comments from the local people (especially in the fish market) and honestly that could ruin your trip. A city to visit if you can place layers and filters in your judgment and just live the pulsating heart of Zanzibar, we strongly recommend to ask and talk to guide to meet your requirement (eating, bathroom, suggestions) and you’ll be satisfied with almost no issues. However, our guide’s explanation wasn’t always very clear nor involving and sometimes dropped sexist jokes which weren’t funny. Driver was not very talkative but overall ok.
事業者からの返答
Thank you for sharing your experience. We appreciate your honest feedback about the Stone Town tour. We're sorry to hear about the discomfort you felt and the guide's conduct, which we’ll address with our team to improve future experiences. Your suggestions are valuable, and we're glad you found some aspects of the tour helpful. We hope to provide a better experience if you visit again.
Best regards,
The Viva Ocean Tours & Safaris Team
7
703chrystalu
June 27, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Cultural full day exploring Zanzibar
We started our tour at the jozani forest, then the spice farm and finished at Stone Town - which was great for us, as it meant we got to check out the night market in stone town. My personal favourite was the spice farm tour, we learnt so much about fruits and spices and our tour guide at the farm was friendly and charming and played a quiz with us which made the experience more enjoyable. We also got to taste lots of fruits at the spice farm which was great and received homemade accessories made from plants. The monkey spotting at the Jozani forest was cool, but you don’t need to spend a long time there once you see the monkeys. The highlight of the Stone Town tour was the restaurant we ate at called Lukmaan Restaurant; a traditional Swahili restaurant with amazing and delicious food. Though we didn’t feel the guide at Stone Town was the best at engaging with us and explaining the history. Our private driver was great for the most part, letting us know information about Zanzibar and Prison Island which we had asked about. But unfortunately the driver was a bit unprofessional at the end of our when he allowed his friend ( he did not ask our permission or let us know who he is) and tour guide to join us in the car when it is supposed to be a private transfer hire. Overall still a good full day tour.
1人が参考になったと回答
事業者からの返答
Dear Chrystal
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback about your recent tour with VivaOceanTours. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Jozani Forest, the Spice Farm, and Stone Town.
We're glad the Spice Farm tour stood out as your favourite, and it's wonderful to know that our guide's engaging approach added to your experience. Tasting fresh fruits and receiving handmade plant accessories are some of the unique touches we love providing.
We appreciate your positive remarks about the night market in Stone Town and Lukmaan Restaurant. It's one of the best places to experience traditional Swahili cuisine.
We apologize for the less engaging experience with the Stone Town guide and for the unprofessional behaviour of our driver at the end of the tour. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will address these issues to ensure a higher standard of service in the future.
Thank you for choosing VivaOceanTours, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon.
Best regards,
Said Abidal
VivaOceanTours Team
J
JayneLesley_S
June 15, 2024 · via Viator
Taste of Zanzibar
We had a fabulous time . Driver took great care of us and we had brilliant guides at all of our stops. They all had fantastic knowledge and showed us all the highlights. We loved the Jozani forest where we found out about the various trees and we took some great pictures of the monkeys. At the Spice Farm we were shown where all the spices came from and what they looked like on the tree. Smelt nutmeg, lemongrass , turmeric, cloves etc and got a chance to buy some of them. Also had a fruit tasting session. At the end we were presented with woven headgear etc. Guides were friendly and asked what we wanted to experience. As part of the trip we visited a small African project and got to hold various chameleon s.
At Stone Town we had anther fabulous guide whose knowledge was outstanding. He took us all over the town where we saw historical sites, and the markets . A memorable day packed with out standing sites which were enhanced by the superb guides and of course our driver. Big thanks to them all . We have some amazing pictures.
事業者からの返答
Hello JayneLesley
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fabulous time exploring Zanzibar with us. It's great to know that our guides and driver made your day memorable with their knowledge and care. We're glad you enjoyed Jozani Forest, the Spice Farm, and Stone Town, and that you took home some amazing memories and photos. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Best regards,
The Viva Ocean Tours & Safaris Team
U
usamae2023
December 4, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Impeccable hospitality and hosting provided by the company and Said in particular.
I would like to commend Said hosting us for a week stay in Zanzibar, from the pick up at the airport to all the 4 different days of activities, ending with drop off at the airport at the end of our stay.
Said showed us the utmost hospitality, was helpful throughout the trip, the activities were the best part of the trip and we throughly enjoyed it. Whenever we needed extra stuff Said was more than happy to help and went above and beyond.
I would recommend anyone coming to Zanzibar to book with Viva ocean tours and safari. Top class company and people and couldn’t have asked for more.
We look forward to returning.
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事業者からの返答
Thank you for the awesome review Usama
We work hard to meet the expectations like yours and we are happy to hear we hit the mark for you.
Come back and see us soon. Cheers ✌️
F
fannynyayic
November 11, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Great Zanzibar Experience
We had amazing experience in Zanzibar with Said, we had lots of fun at the sea bank as well as prison Island. Said is a very friendly and hospitable guide ! I highly recommend!
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事業者からの返答
Fanny!!
Thank you for reaching out and providing us with a valuable feedback.
The world would be a better place if more people were like you.
Never stop being you✌️
Would you mind sharing with your friends who are due for a Zanzibar trip, too? We'd love to continue providing great service to awesome customers like you.
Come back to see us soon. Cheers
S
sammym855
September 26, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Best guide in Zanzibar
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I recently had the pleasure of experiencing a tour guided by Said and I cannot express enough how incredible the entire experience was. From start to finish, it was an absolute delight. We did the Mnemba island and Turtle aquarium, stone town tour, prison island, Jozani forest and many more tours provided by Said.
Everything went well and smooth and highly recommend choosing Said for all your tours in Zanzibar.
Thanks Said, From Sammy
1人が参考になったと回答
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much Sammy 🥳😊
Im so lucky to have you as friends.
The world would be a better place if more people were like you.
Never stop being you⛱️
Do not hesitate to tell your friends about the beauty of Zanzibar Island 🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿
Let them know how happy they will be and enjoy their holiday with us. 🏝
I hope you will be back soon 🙏
S
shannonjK3420IB
September 18, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Best guide if you visit zanzibar
Together with my parents and my 2-year-old son, we got a good impression of Zanzibar. Our guide Said showed us all the beautiful places on the island. We had a fantastic time in Zanzibar! Thanks Said!!
1人が参考になったと回答
事業者からの返答
Thank you for the kind words, Shannon
We are happy for your visit and went smoothly.
Would you mind sharing with your friends who are due for a Zanzibar trip, too? We'd love to continue providing great service to awesome customers like you.
Come back to see us soon. Cheers
2
240valentinej
September 18, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
An excellent guide for a good price
We booked several tours, such as Prison Island, Maalum Cave, Jozani Forest, snorkeling at Mnemba Island and a visit to the Sea Turtles, with Said and they were great! Said has a lot of knowledge about the island. If you are looking for a good guide at a nice price to discover Zanzibar, you should go to him.
Said, thank you, we had a fantastic time and will definitely recommend you when friends of ours visit Zanzibar.
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事業者からの返答
Valentine
This review made our day 👌.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this amazing review. We are so grateful for your kind words 🙏