GREEN GARDEN HOSTEL

AMAZING tours & tour guides. Family and I had a great trip. Staff very attentive, nice, professional and overall enjoyable. Catered to our specific needs and made it a truly unforgettable experience. Highly recommend!

It was a great experience. We heard about this place in Zanzibar via a someone in our hostel. We got the number of the owner and discussed about the Safari.
We booked our 3 day and 2 nights safari for a great price wich was negotiable. Also we got a free transfer from the airport and the first night for free. The owner helped with everything and all the staff was really helpful. The safari was wonderfull and our guide Raj was a great guy and knew everything. The meals were also great. The first night we stayed on a campsite in the wilderness without any toilets. It was a private campsite and we had a great time. The last day of our safari we had a little problem with going into the park, because there was made a mistake by the park office.
When we came back and discussed this with the owner, we got a listening ear and a discount for our next trip. Also with planning the rest of our trips to another destination, we got a lot of help. Transfers and safe and good accommodation info.
Also the cook is great, helpful with everything and making food especially for us at any time.
The surroundings are beautiful and even though it didn't have a swimming pool, we could go next door into the swimming pool for free.

The actual hostel is nice enough, you get what you pay for. The chef is an absolute legend, we loved him and he made our stay so much better with his happy attitude.

The safari company did mess us around a bit. The national parks were gorgeous and our guide, Reuben, did such an amazing job. Just some notes for people trying to decide what company to go with:
- First day was fine. No complications. Second day we found out our guide was leaving and we were changing safari vehicles to one that was smaller. We were shown a photo of the vehicle we would be in before leaving, but this was not accurate after we swapped.
- The new vehicle could not access the same roads and other four wheel drives. The roof popped up but was very low and my partner cut his nose on it when the vehicle failed to make it through one part of the road and jolted us extremely hard.
- The change in guides was okay, but the new guide struggled with English a little bit. We worked it out though.
- On the second day a car dropped us at the incorrect hostel. When we told them this they said we were moving. Our luggage was at the previous hostel. Instead of igloo rooms, we were going to be sleeping in tents. Eventually it was agreed we could stay at the original hostel, but we needed to be shuttled between them for meals as for some reason we could no longer have our meals at the original hostel. Ibrahim was quite dismissive of our annoyance.
- When we were two minutes away from our hostel our transport stopped at a massive souvenir shop for a "toilet break". None of us were interested in the shop and we were never asked if we wanted to go. I'm guessing they make commission when they bring people there.
- Due to the problems with accommodation/meals/transport the staff at the two hostels were acting really coy. We felt people were lying to us or not giving us straight answers. Honestly they seemed scared of Ibrahim because they were unwilling to say anything at all until we/they spoke to him first.

Once you take the price of the safari, tips, and the poor organisation into consideration, I would probably go with another company if I had my time again. It would have been so much better if Reuben had remained our guide and if everything was advertised correctly. I'd personally advise going elsewhere.

No no no no and another big NO!!! AVOID THIS PLACE!!! We booked a room via booking and when we came room wasn't available. He told us to take another room with shared bathroom for first night and next day we can move tothe one we actually booked. The room was probably for staff, not nice at all right next to reception and bathroom was discusting with a lot of muld. He told us basically to take it or leave the place with no ____ given. Very rude guy!!!

Great location nice garden great staff Joseph the cook in particular is a very kind person and the rest of the staff. Nasim the owner does very cheap safaris and I wish i went on one but all the people i spoke to said the safaris were great