African Big Cats Safaris
- Offices In:
-
United States
Australia
Canada
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $1,100 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Julie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tour, pleasant, helpful and efficient.
African Big Cats delivered everything that was promised and then some. Guides Claus and Lovoi were great and provided every opportunity for us to see and experience all that a Tanzanian safari has to offer. Seeing the Mara river crossing was a highlight.
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Email Al, Rachael, and Jack | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Experience
African Big Cats was an excellent experience - from planning our custom itinerary to booking the trip from the US, communication was fantastic. ABCS was thorough, friendly, and responsive. From the moment we were picked up at the airport, our guide Festo was amazing. He was super friendly and humble, extremely accommodating, very very knowledgeable about all of the wildlife and cultural experiences we saw and had, and shared a lot of his personal story with us which allowed us to learn a great deal about what life in Tanzania must be like. The safari itself was top notch. Every day, every park, every experience, exceeded our expectations. We saw multiples of all the big five - Festo always seemed to know where to go to find the animals. We even saw a couple animals that he had never seen in his 10 years as a guide. We saw mamas and babies, mating pairs, tons of birds, and had some close encounters with lions, leopards, and lots of elephants. All in all we encountered more than 90 species in 10 days.
Festo cleaned the Land Cruiser every day and kept it well stocked with water, soda, and beer. Throughout our itinerary, Festo was a great communicator and let us set the agenda and make decisions, but gave excellent guidance and recommendations as well. We were out early all but one day and because of this saw some things that others might not have seen who started their days later. The number one highlight for us was to witness a crossing of the Great Migration at the Mara River. A couple thousand wildebeest swimming across the dangerous river and mounting the bank right in front of us and stampeding past the line of Landcruisers - truly a spectacle to behold. And we only got to see it because of the recommendation, expertise, and patience of our guide.
The accommodations were all top tier- clean comfortable friendly and great foods - our favorites were the remote camps which we spent 5 nights in 3 camps. Intimate Camp Zebra was a truly great experience. Kanbi Yo Tembo was another great lodging with unbelievable friendly hosts, great food, and unreal views.
We travel alot as a family and thanks to the team at African Big Cats this was absolutely one of the best experiences of our lives. Highly recommended.
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Email Monika | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best tour operator-Just book them!
From pre-planning to booking to arrival and start to finish, we could not have been more pleased with African Big Cats Safaris. My family of 5 traveled for a one week private safari through the Serengeti, the Ngorogoro Crater, Tarangire and Arusha National Park at the end for a hike, and the level of attention and detail and adventure was simply beyond our expectations. I cannot recommend this tour operator enough. Based in Tanzania they are aware of and plan for all the details that make a safari vacation memorable. So many people made our trip memorable, but special shout outs to Upendo who first fielded our inquiry, Naomi who arranged our trip, Emmanuel who was the site manager and last but not least, our spectacular and knowledgeable guide Gabriel. His fund of knowledge about the animals, the environment, Tanzania and general easy going company were unmatched. We felt very lucky to be matched with him and his expertise. THere are so many tour operators in Tanzania nowadays (tourism has become the biggest industry). I cannot endorse African Big Cats enough-they can customize to your needs and budget and preferences very easily. If you are thinking of Tanzania (which I highly recommend), do not hesitate to choose African Big Cats!
IT
Email Lorenzo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Organized and attention to our needs
We had an incredible safari experience with African Big Cats!
From the very beginning, Emanuel, the team leader, was extremely attentive and welcoming. On the day of our arrival, he took the time to meet us in person, go over the details of our trip, and patiently answer every single question we had. It immediately gave us great confidence and excitement for the journey ahead.
Our guide, Endeni, was simply outstanding. Friendly, knowledgeable, and always attentive, he made us feel comfortable right away and created a great connection with our group. He went above and beyond to meet our needs, always ready to answer any question and adapt to our wishes. Thanks to him, we were able to see all the incredible wildlife across Serengeti and Tarangire – unforgettable moments we’ll carry with us forever.
The organization was flawless from start to finish. We booked nine months in advance and throughout the whole time the company was very responsive and kind, answering all of our doubts quickly and clearly.
We honestly have nothing negative to say. African Big Cats exceeded our expectations in every way, and we wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone planning a safari in Tanzania.
Thank you so much – we can’t wait to come back!
CH
Email Lorenz | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Flawless planning, expert guides, and unforgettable adventures.
From the very first email, African Big Cats Safaris impressed us with their professionalism and quick responses. Booking was smooth, and every detail was handled with care.
The trip was perfectly organized. The lodges were outstanding—beautifully located, comfortable, and with breathtaking views. Staff were warm and the food was consistently excellent, far beyond expectations.
We always felt safe and well looked after. The vehicles were comfortable, reliable, and ideal for the terrain. Attention to detail, from hygiene to logistics, was impeccable.
Each day brought new highlights—lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs & buffaloes. The pacing balanced adventure and relaxation beautifully.
Special kudos to our guide: knowledgeable, passionate, and with an incredible eye for spotting wildlife. His insights and humor elevated the entire experience, turning a great safari into an unforgettable journey.
We would give African Big Cats Safaris 6 out of 5 stars if possible. From start to finish, everything exceeded expectations. If you’re considering a safari in Tanzania, look no further—this is the experience of a lifetime.
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Email Garth B | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An unforgetable experience
We started our search a year ago. We contacted 6 companies, but narrowed it down to 3 when we saw some companies wanted you to pay on arrival in Tanzania. We spent a few weeks comparing the different lodges and accommodation. Joshua was our initial contact and we appreciated how flexible he was with changes to the lodges. We planned to visit in June, but told him seeing the migration was the main reason for our visit. At his suggestion, we changed to the end of July. What a great suggestion! We finally decided on a nine day / eight luxury safari.
Once our deposit was paid, Naomi was our contact person. We decided to add an extra day so we could see Mount Kilimanjaro. She was able to rearrange our itinerary so we do that. She also contacted us when we had to change lodges in Tarangire due to the lake being flooded.
A few months later we had a few questions and sent numerous emails which weren't answered. We finally resorted to writing a WhatsApp message, which was answered almost immediately. Somehow my emails went into a spam / junk folder. I can understand how that happens, but got worried when my two emails for confirmation of payment weren't answered. This was the only issue we had.
Our guide Obedi met us at Kilimanjaro Internation Airport. He was an amazing guide and was very knowledgeable on the vegetation, animals and birds that we saw. We really enjoyed his great sense of humor. Driving around Tanzania can be very hair-raising but I didn't ever feel unsafe with his driving.
The Operating Director Emanuel met us in Arusha to discuss our experience with the company so far and to discuss our itinerary. I really appreciated this personal touch. We met him after the safari too.
Our first night was spent at the Tumbuli Lodge in Arusha. We really enjoyed the relaxed environment and the grounds are like a botanical gardens. I would highly recommend it.
We spent two nights at the Intimate Camp Zebra in the Northern Serengeti. It was a few minutes drive to the Mara River to see the migration. The airstrip is also close by. At night we had wildebeest and zebra moving around our tent. I can understand why you needed a guide to lead you at night.
We got to see a few hundred wildebeest crossing the river. Obedi was in radio contact with the other guides, so was able to get us great viewing spots. At one stage everywhere you looked there were wildebeest. Amazing!
We saw lions every day. We also saw cheetahs, a leopard (stalking a wildebeest crossing the Mara river), herds of elephants, buffalo and numerous birds species. The only member of the big 5 we didn't see was the rhino. Obedi really went out of his way to find one in the Ngorongoro Crater, but unfortunately we didn't see one!
Our last night was spent at Kambi ya Tembo in the Western Kilimanjaro. This was our favorite lodge. Sylvester and his staff made us really welcome. There were only 2 safari vehicles in the camp, so we enjoyed the tranquility. The game drive was very unique and I suggest it.
We hoped to see Mount Kilimanjaro but it was covered in clouds. Maybe next time!
We would highly recommend Africa Big Cat Safaris. My friend and I had an amazing experience. The lodges were great and Obedi our guide was amazing. Ask for him when you make your booking. He was extremely patient when we wanted to stop to take photographs. He also makes excellent coffee.
One suggestion: If you have to get from Tarangare National Park to North Serengeti take a plane. The nine to eleven hour drive on dusty, bumpy, wash board roads wasn't fun.
DE
Email Jessica | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Safari with African Big Cats – Wildlife 🦁, Culture 🛖, and Heartfelt Moments 💖
Our safari with AFRICAN BIG CATS was an all-round excellent experience that exceeded our expectations in many ways. Communication in advance was professional and reliable. Shortly after we made our inquiry via SAFARIBOOKINGS.COM, Joshua from African Big Cats contacted us, followed by a friendly and informative exchange with Naomi – both via email and WhatsApp, which proved especially helpful for time-sensitive questions.
On the day of arrival, we were warmly welcomed by our guide Dominick Israel , and also received a personal briefing from Emanuel, the managing director of African Big Cats, directly at our hotel. This meeting allowed us to clarify any open questions and helped us mentally prepare for the journey ahead. On the second-to-last day, we were invited to share our feedback directly with Emanuel – yet another sign of the company’s remarkable customer care.
Throughout the trip, the support provided by our guide Dominick was outstanding. His deep knowledge of flora, fauna, and culture – paired with his ability to communicate it clearly and engagingly – greatly enriched our safari experience. It’s especially worth noting that Dominick previously worked as a ranger, and brought with him an impressive wealth of expertise from that time. He looked after all organizational matters, coordinated with lodges and the office, and ensured our vehicle was always in top condition. His dedication to showing us as many animal species as possible – even if it meant taking detours – along with his care for our safety and wellbeing, stood out throughout the trip. Thanks to his previous time spent in Germany, we shared a unique connection that made our journey even more special. Over the two weeks we spent together, we truly feel a friendship was formed.
The choice of accommodations fully matched the booked “comfort” category. We were welcomed warmly and professionally at every stop, and in many lodges were even addressed by our first names – a detail we deeply appreciated. The topic of tipping was communicated transparently and early on, which helped us feel prepared.
Overall, we consider the value for money to be fair – especially considering the comprehensive services included: lodging, meals, park fees, and a highly qualified GUIDE. Although it’s a HIGH-END trip, the quality and service absolutely justify the cost. We were happy to follow the recommendation of tipping our guide daily – particularly because DOMINICK’s service was truly exceptional.
PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION throughout the journey were highly reliable. Any spontaneous changes were discussed openly and sensibly – such as the opportunity to spend additional time in the NGORONGORO CRATER at Dominick’s suggestion.
🗺️ TRAVEL SUMMARY
Our safari took us through some of TANZANIA’S most stunning protected areas:
📍ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK, where we went on a GUIDED WALK with a RANGER and observed GIRAFFES up close — a truly unique start to our trip
📍TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, with its majestic BAOBAB TREES and large ELEPHANT HERDS. Here we also joined a NIGHTTIME GAME DRIVE, offering fascinating glimpses into animal life after dark
📍LAKE MANYARA, famous for its DIVERSE BIRDLIFE and TREE-CLIMBING LIONS
📍SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, the heart of the GREAT MIGRATION and setting for unforgettable WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
📍NGORONGORO CRATER, a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE with astonishing wildlife density — where we were lucky enough to spot RHINOS
Our accommodations – especially the TENTED LODGES LOCATED INSIDE THE PARKS in TARANGIRE, SERENGETI, and at LAKE MASEK – brought us incredibly close to nature. On several nights, we fell asleep and woke to the SOUND OF LIONS ROARING — a spine-tingling experience we’ll never forget.
The itinerary was rounded out by MEANINGFUL CULTURAL EXPERIENCES:
🏹 Visiting the HADZABE and joining them on a MORNING HUNT gave us profound insight into their way of life
🔧 We then spent time with the DATOGA, learning about their CRAFTSMANSHIP and TRADITIONS
🛖 One particular highlight was our stay at the OSILIGILAI MAASAI LODGE: we slept in a TRADITIONAL BOMA HUT, went on a NATURE WALK with a MAASAI WARRIOR, joined a SPEAR-THROWING COMPETITION, danced with the MAASAI at SUNSET, and later gathered around the CAMPFIRE - powerful moments that touched us deeply!
Email Paul | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
excellent, well organized, attentive, caring, good to deal with.
wow what a trip it excelled all our expectations, from day one to the last day everything ran like clockwork. I take my hat off to all the crew at big cats safaris from the guide to management for making our holiday so special . Everyday was an exciting experience from wildlife to beautiful vistas and outstanding acommodation. we met some interesting and extremely friendly people along the way especially the staff at each lodge that we stayed in, we were made to feel so special. All the lodges were top notch , great locations, good food, great staff. Back in Australia now and already missing Tanzania, hope to get back there soon. Special thanks to Emanuel (manager) for the ride to the airport
African Big Cats truly cares about giving you the best experience
We had an incredible time celebrating our honeymoon with African Big Cats! They are well organized, have great communication and are very accommodating. Thank you Emmanuel and Olivia for helping us plan our itinerary and for the smooth booking process. You made our trip so seamless by planning out the optimal route and booking our accommodations.
From start to end, we were very happy with our experience. Kelvin greeted us cheerfully at the airport after a long journey and taught us some basic Swahili and shared some information about Arusha and Tanzania. Thank you Kelvin for the warm welcome and introduction to Tanzania! Your Swahili lesson was very helpful!
Last but not least, our guide Elias was so kind, patient and knowledgeable. My husband is a bird watcher and was thrilled to see over 100 species of new birds that Elias pointed out. You can tell that Elias is an expert guide - he has a hawk eye for spotting animals/birds and knows how to navigate the parks by memory and traverse the rugged roads safely. Thank you Elias for a wonderful and unforgettable experience!
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Email Meghan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unequivocally happy with our decision to book through African Big Cats
We loved our safari experience and were so happy to have gone with African Big Cats! They were very responsive throughout the booking process and helped to customize our itinerary, recommending activities, like a crater rim hike in Ngorongoro, based on our interests. The lodgings they booked for us were excellent, except for one which we still found to be “fine” instead of “great”. The vehicle had everything we needed - lot of water, soft drinks, comfortable seats for long drives, and charging ports.
Our guide Festo made the trip extra special for us. He is not only super knowledgeable and respectful of the animals and parks, but is also exceptionally kind and friendly. He was very attentive to our comfort and offered alternative activities or schedules to customize our experience (like leaving our accommodation later than planned early in the trip when we were having trouble adjusting to the time change). For having spent a lot of time together over 9 busy days, we never felt like a burden to him; he just radiates positivity, curiosity, and good vibes!
I would not hesitate to book through African Big Cats again and would recommend them to any friends and family looking to visit Tanzania!