We have read many helpful advice on this forum, taken on board your suggestions to our provisional itinerary and have now finalised it. We are about to send by bank transfer vast amount of money to Warrior Trails. After many responses from other tour operators, some very helpful but very expensive, some just sent their fixed itinerary not taking into account our request, some did not respond anymore, we have finally setted for Warrior Trails as we found Clamian very helpful and was prepared to adapt to our requests. Although this tour operator is based in Arusha, the bank transfer will go via Barclay Bank in New York to Barclay Bank in Arusha. We also received from another tour operator a draft itinerary with similar bank details, although not the same bank account number. How do this safari outfitter operate? What protection/security we have if the tour operator fails to deliver?

Second question is. Has anyone used Warrior Trails before and can you give us your feedback good or bad? Their reviews are fantastic and are member of TATOZ.

Many outfitters in Tanzania use Barclay's Bank direct thru to Tanzania or thru the UK or in the States.

Each outfitter will have their own account individual number. As one outfitter shows transfer going thru Barclay's NY might be why the bank account numbers are different. Just be sure that the Swift Code is used when presenting to your bank as this is what routes the wire transfer.

Bank transfers are safe, have done many all over the world without a problem. Just get the Swift Code right.

You should look into trip insurance if you are worried about the stability of the outfitter. Your bank won't be able to help you get a refund.

As for 'Clamian the Maasai', he was formerly a guide for the safari company we have used on four trips to Tanzania and has an excellent reputation. The guide we used is very good friends with Clamian and said Clamian is a role model for other guides because he was able to save up enough to start his own small company.

I've seen several people post on Fodors who used Clamian and all seemed to praise him. Dunno how well the search function works but try a search on 'Clamian' or 'Warrior Trails' to see if you can dig up earlier posts.

We will be going on safari in Tanzania with Clamian and Warrior Trails later this month. We booked our safari with a a local Nairobi company, DK Grand Safaris, which is a new company started by a friend of ours, Daniel. When it came time for the Tanzania portion, I asked Daniel if he could look into using Clamian, and Warrior Trails for the TZ portion, as I have heard nothing but great stuff about them.

Daniel flew to Arusha to meet Clamain, and was duly impressed with him and his company.
Very impressed, actually! He made arrangements with him for the Tanzania portion and I am REALLY looking forward to meeting him.

There are at least two trip reports in the East Africa index (click on my name in this post to see my profile - in the profile will be a post called "New East Africa Index"). Page down to summer 2006, and you will find the first trip report from <b>CALO</b> when she had Clamian as a guide before he went out on his own. Calo & her daughter went back to Africa again after Clamian started Warrior Trails, for a two week safari with them - this isn't in the index yet, but click on her profile once you read the first report, and you will see other posts of hers listed. Her report will be around summer 2008 or so, and can be found on this board. She had a fabulous time, and the trip went very smoothly.

In 2007 when we were in Africa with another outfitter, I met one of the guys from Warrior Trails & was VERY impressed with him, spent a few hours chatting with him.

You won't go wrong with them, I assure you of that!

Lynda , thanks for directing me to Calo's trip reports and how much I enjoyed reading them. Unfortunately I couldn't view her wonderful photos. You have reassured me about Warrior Trails and we feel that we have must a good choice. We are going in August and I will post my itinerary nearer the time. Although we asked Clamian to be our guide, regrettably he is already booked, but as you say his other guide you got chatting to seemed equally good. I look forward to reading your report - enjoy your trip.

50, I'm sorry you weren't able to view my photos...I tried fixing the link several times, and just couldn't get it working. I think rather than using Kodak Easyshare I'll try PBase next time to post my photos - others seem to have had great success with it.

As you have found out, Clamian is a very popular guide! I can honestly say that I wouldn't have changed a minute of our trip (or itinerary), and that we were exceptionally well looked after by Clamian. His vast knowledge of the flora, fauna and indigenous people of Northern Tanzania is remarkable, as I'm sure is the case with all the Warrior Trails guides. As Bill H mentioned, other guides are in admiration of Clamian, and I expect he is particular about those he chooses to work for his company. I don't know if the other Warrior Trails guide I met last year was the same fellow Lynda mentioned, but I really liked him too. I'm confident that you will have no regrets having booked with Warrior Trails.

I look forward to seeing your itinerary and will watch for you to post it (as you mentioned) closer to your departure date.

Bill - thanks goes to you too for your good report on Warrior Trails and reassurance of transferring money. We are all so excited and really looking forward to our long awaited trip. More on this later!

Sandi - your input in this and TA forums are invaluable, much appreciated as always. Learnt a lot. I am sure I will still be posting more questions as our trip gets nearer.

Cala - you posted your reply whilst I was still typing. Thanks and I will definately write further about my trip. Sorry to hear that you cannot fix the problem re photos. not to worry.

50 - asante sana, it's my pleasure!

Calo, 50, actually it wasn't a guide that I met from Warrior Trails, it was Clamian's accountant! You know what they say, number crunchers gravitate to each other because no one else will talk to them

I should have known, Lynda

You must be nearing the end of your extreme busy-ness with taxes, and can now start thinking of your trip coming up shortly! Since I can't go with you I'll have to wait for the next GTG - hopefully later this summer.