We absolutely love seeing our agents out in the world, building the kind of destination knowledge that only comes from being there in person.
Setting foot on the ground, meeting the people behind the properties, experiencing a destination through the eyes of a guest… that is the kind of knowledge a brochure or an online training module simply cannot offer.
This time, our agent Roshni Shah headed to Tanzania for a safari FAM trip hosted by Safari Nuggets. Over the course of the trip she stayed at four very different properties… Planet Lodge in Arusha, Farm of Dreams in Tarangire, Safari Haven Tented Camp in the Serengeti, and Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge near Ngorongoro… each one offering a different angle on what a Tanzania safari can look like.
The trip went well beyond the lodges. Game drives across the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, lions spotted lounging in the trees at Lake Manyara, and the kind of food and cultural moments that simply do not translate through a brochure.
Roshni even witnessed the wildebeest migration crossing the road on 1 May… something most people travelling at that time of year would not expect to see.
Roshni came back with a clear confidence in Safari Nuggets and their guiding team. The kind of insider knowledge you simply cannot get from online training.
We caught up with Roshni after her return to find out exactly what made this trip so special…
DESTINATION DEEP DIVE
What were your first impressions of Tanzania?
Amazing destination.
Can you give us a quick overview of the hotels you visited? Any standout favourites?
Planet Lodge – Arusha: Amazing lodge. Pictures don’t do justice.
Farm of Dreams (Tarangire) – Lovely place, however there is no AC in the rooms but they do have fans. My bathroom had a few mosquitos so that disappointed me a little.
Safari Haven Tented Camp (Serengeti) – Loved this camp. Good location, very clean and peaceful. Huge and comfortable rooms. It’s a tented camp and felt very safe.
Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge (Ngorongoro) – Another amazing and comfortable tented lodge.
Were there any small touches at the hotels that really elevated the experience?
Safari Heaven Tented Camp – It’s unfenced so you are able to hear the wild if they are around the tented camps. You are still safe as the Masai men keep a watch out on all rooms.
Which hotel would you recommend most for families? And which for couples or solo travellers?
All the above hotels are good for families, couples and solo travellers.
How do you think seeing these properties in person will change how you talk about them with clients?
I can explain to clients a lot better now that I have seen these properties. It helps a lot seeing in person vs in pictures.
AGENT TAKEAWAYS
What was the biggest thing you learned from this trip as an agent?
How knowledgeable the safari guides are of Safari Nuggets. They are very professional and guests would receive an amazing experience.
How did this trip help build your confidence with selling Tanzania?
The way the safari was hosted, I have full confidence guests will not regret this.
What’s one thing you wish you’d packed but didn’t?
Wish I had a better camera!
FUN + BEHIND THE SCENES
Best local dish you ate on the trip?
In Tanzania, they are very flexible. If you want something off the menu, they will go an extra mile and try and make you what you want.
My favourite was going out with the Lolarip and having the best sugarcane drink.
Most Instagrammable spot you found?
Lions on the tree in Serengeti and Lake Manyara.
Funniest moment or unexpected surprise from the trip?
It was the wildebeest migration on ground and that was unexpected to see on the 1st May. Millions of wildebeest crossing the road NOT the river (at this time of the year).
If this FAM trip had a soundtrack, what song would sum it up?
Lion King.
If you could go back to one moment on the trip, which would it be?
I would go back to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
Huge thanks to Safari Nuggets for hosting this FAM trip and giving our agents the chance to experience Tanzania firsthand. Interested in joining JLT and accessing opportunities like this? Get in touch to learn more about becoming part of our community.
