Tanzania Expeditions
- Office In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
IE
Email Maeve | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Experience by a Fabulous Team!
We visited Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Natron camping and StoneTown and Kendwa in Zanzibar staying in hotels. From beginning to end the service that we were provided with was exceptional. In the planning stages Justin was on hand to advise and reply extremely promptly to every email sent. We changed our minds, literary and dates several times and Justin was always ready and willing to help us in any way possible. I had contacted other providers but no ones price, advice or service compared in any way to Tanzania-Expeditions.
Our guide and driver Hilary was exceptional. Firstly he was a very competent driver on the rocky African roads, we always felt safe and comfortable. He was also excellent at getting us as close as possible to the animals in the parks. As a guide Hilary was extremely knowledgeable about all the animals, not to mention his unbelievable skill at spotting animals. There was a Science teacher and a Geography teacher in our group which ment we were really interested in all plants, animals, landscapes and everything in between but Hilary was able to fill us in on everything with full and interesting explanations and answering our endless amount of questions. He told us about Tanzania in general, the tribes and everything else that we passed along the way. He really made the holiday for us and he went out of his way to help us in any way possible. Seeing the animals up close in their natural environment is an unbelievable experience, but having someone like Hilary on hand was the difference in making the holiday excellent and unforgettable!
Dioniz our chef was also amazing. All four of us would be quite picky eaters but everything he cooked, from breakfast to dinner and the packed lunches were delicious and we were never hungry and were surprised every day with something different and equally as delicious. The food was far from average and it was better than we would have in restaurants back home. He also went above and beyond to make sure our stay was as enjoyable as possible always making sure everything at the campsite was ready to go for us. He was so professional throughout, and the food was always on time, ensuring we had the most time possible for game drives.
It was nice to finish in Zanzibar as it was a complete contrast from safari. Justin had everything organised for us there too and it was good to not have to worry about anything. If I were to do it again Lake Natron may have been too far of a drive however the waterfall there was beautiful and it was nice to hike up to it for the day as it got us out of the jeep. Also I would fly from Arusha rather than Kilimanjaro as it is much more convenient. Also bring warm clothes if staying at the crater rim, it gets cold especially at night, early mornings can also be cool. Other than that sit back and enjoy the professional, personalised, one of a kind service offered by Tanzania-Expeditions.
Asante sana tena!
US
Email Whitney | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highlight of Trip
We went on safari with Tanzania Expeditions and visited the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. This was part of a lengthy around-the-world trip and the safari was easily one of the trip’s highlights. There was an event at the end that cost one point from the overall experience/score though.
From the beginning, communication with Justin was excellent. He outlined what we would do and where we'd be staying. The prompt email replies were one of the reasons we chose the company. We were a little wary of wiring the money, but the process was smooth.
When we arrived in Nairobi, our airport pickup changed from the previous plans, and our guide actually came to get us. We crossed the Tanzania/Kenya border without issue. (However, I would highly recommend flying into Arusha or Kilimanjaro to avoid 6 hours of driving each way.) Once we arrived at our hotel in Arusha, we met with Justin briefly. We were then told our accommodations had changed. We were pretty surprised because everything was so clearly outlined before the trip. We booked the safari about six months out, so this last minute switch was quite odd. But our new accommodations turned out to be great. More on those below.
The safari itself was amazing. Our guide was informative, insightful and extremely skilled at driving the vehicle over the rough roads. We were out from the early morning, pre-sunrise, to sunset. We saw the big 5 plus so much more. It's hard to describe how incredible it is to see elephants walking just meters away or lions stalking prey. Our safari vehicle was one of the older ones we saw and was a bit rough around the edges, but that didn't bother us.
We first stayed at Kati Kati Camp. I originally said I wanted lodges to stay in, not tents. When accommodations changed on us, there wasn't much we could do, so we embraced the opportunity to sleep in the Serengeti. Each tent had a shower and toilet, so you really weren't roughing it. The wind/animal noises at night kept us up at times, but it was a truly an authentic experience. Would I do it again? Probably not but I'm glad I did it once. Our next night at the Ngorongoro Farm House was easily our favorite accommodation the entire trip. It was beautiful and spacious and we wish we could've spent longer there.
The final day of the safari was very long. We had a short morning game drive and then we had to get back all the way to Nairobi. Along the roadways in Tanzania, there are constant police checkpoints where they are checking for correct documentation. It seems that all vehicles get pulled over at some point. Apparently these police are also corrupt and look for ways to fine you. We were pulled over many times without incident. When we were flagged to stop again, we kept driving. All of a sudden, we had police cars following us. At the next checkpoint, we were forced to stop and a policeman jumped into the vehicle with us and we had to drive to the police station. At this point, we were wondering what is going on? We waited at the police station for nearly 90 minutes and then we finally got some answers after Justin arrived. As it was explained to us, they were illegally trying to pull us over and our guide wanted to file a complaint with the police chief and that's why we ended up at the station. We eventually got on the road and arrived in Nairobi at night. If our guide had been in the wrong, they would've held him at the station, so we took that as a promising sign. (If you search for articles about police corruption in Tanzania, you do find it's a large problem.) Justin assured us this had never happened before. He apologized and promised that our safety is the top priority of the company.
Would we recommend Tanzania expeditions? Yes! Having a guide who was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic is not something you get from every safari company. Even considering the last day's incident, we have very positive things to say about our guide and the company overall. But do yourself a favor and limit the driving on the roads; fly into Arusha or surrounding areas. With Tanzania Expeditions, you are guaranteed to have an once-in-a-lifetime experience. All of our memories, both pleasant and even not so, will be vividly told through stories for years to come.
IE
Email Paul | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
I was part of a group of four that went on a Safari in August 2015. I was with my girlfriend and another couple who were friends of ours. We knew that this was the trip for us just by looking at the website and seeing the amazing photos of places and things we might see. We booked an 8 day stay with 5 on Safari and 3 nights on Zanzibar. We never thought that our experience could live up to the pictures, we were wrong, our trip was even better. Once we arrived all aspects of our journey through Tanzania were arranged for us.
On arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport we were collected and brought to the Outpost Lodge in Arusha. This was a lovely hotel a short walk away from the main part of town. The comfortable hotel was exactly what we needed after a long day of travelling. The evening was ours to spend as we liked and the next morning we packed up the jeep and were ready to head off for Tarangire National Park. As we packed the jeep we met our guide, Hilary, and our chef, Dioniz. These were a fantastic team and helped to make this such a good holiday, i could not recommend them highly enough. Over the next few days we visited four areas (Tarangire, Lake Natron, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater). While this was a slightly personalised plan Justin was very accommodating in allowing us include the places that we wanted. Although there was some extra driving, we didn't mind as the landscapes you pass through are breathtaking from the dry scrub land in the dry season outside Arusha, to the vast Savannah around Serengeti with as much greenery as Ireland during the wet season. Each place we visited was different and had something special to offer, with the exhilarating encounter we saw of a lion stalking after a cheetah in Tarangire, to the amazing waterfall in the mountains around Lake Natron, the up close experience of being so close to a family of elephants that you could nearly reach out and touch them at Serengeti, and finally the incredible quantity of all types of animals at Ngorongoro.
We camped in the tents and sleeping bags provided which were of excellent quality. Each campsite was different but enjoyable as there was the chance to chat to other people on Safari. After the long day of driving we always looked forward to our chef's food. Everything was outstanding and his meals surpassed those of the restaurants we later ate in when on Zanzibar.
Our trip then took us to Zanzibar where we stayed 2 nights in Stone Town. Our itinerary included a tour of Stone Town and we added a trip to a nearby island where we got a tour of a prison, saw Giant Tortoise, and snorkelled in the clear blue waters. We stayed in the Tembo House Hotel which was quite comfortable with a beautiful location opening onto the beach (this was great at breakfast where you could look out and see the boats preparing for a day on the sea). On our way out of Stone Town we had a spice tour which brought us to one of the local farms. This was very interesting for anyone with a love of food or cooking to see how some (now common) ingredients grow.Our last night was in the Kendwa Rocks Hotel which had a spectacular location right on the beach. Unfortunately we had a few issues but these were purely to do with the Hotel and their staff.
Overall our highlights would be the sights on safari of the many different animals and the very enjoyable time we spent with our guide and chef. Both made our experience all the more enjoyable, with Hilary's hawkeye vision spotting the smallest animals way in the distance (be sure to bring binoculars so you can see them) and his endless knowledge of each animal, and then Dioniz's fantastic food and great company. Both men spent time with us each evening and we had great chats comparing life in Ireland and Tanzania.
I would highly recommend Tanzania-Expeditions to anyone interested in Safari and to try and get the team of Hilary and Dioniz!
Excellent service and extremely friendly
Tanzania Expeditions were excellent and I would definitely recommend them to anyone. The team were very friendly and welcoming. They were considerate in taking us up the mountain at a pace we were comfortable with. We had lots of breaks and chatted lots about the wildlife on the mountain. Justin and Joshua were part of the Tanzanian Expeditions team that we had.
FR
Email Caroline R. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Une semaine de safari inoubliable organisée par Safari Expeditions!
Nous avons demandé à Justin qui dirige Safari Expédition de nous organiser 6 jours de safari car nous venions rendre visite à notre fils bénévole á Arusha.
Le programme était parfait, parc Manyara, Serengeti, cratère du ngorongoro et Tarangire pour finir.
Notre guide parlait très bien français et repérait le moindre animal le long de la piste!
Nous avons assisté á des scènes incroyables: 3 guépards chassant, léopard tuant une gazelle quasiment au pied de notre voiture, bain des éléphants....on a même vu un rhinocéros!
Les logements étaient top: nrorongoro Farm house, Taki Taki tented camp ( le luxe en tente au cœur du Serengeti, magique!), Rhino Lodge et pour finir l'incroyable Maramboï camp au bord du lac Manyara...alors la on croyait rêver....piscine et terrasse sur pilotis avec vue sur le lac, bungalow au mur de toiles immenses donnant sur la savanes.
Bref un voyage magnifique qui restera gravé dans nos mémoires!
35-50 years of age
small company, friendly, easy and professional
The team were fantastic. Our guide knew his stuff, the cook truly spoilt us, and the ever smiling porters made this trip truly memorable. The organising and communication was very easy, and nothing was ever a problem. We climbed that great mountain in the best conditions possible knowing that we were slightly off season. Definitely recommend them.
Email Claire Jankelson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Brilliant levels of organisation, guiding and overall experience
We were 2 couples (30’s and 50’s) and we did safari for 7 days.
I did extensive research on a number of safari companies and easily chose Tanzania Expeditions because Justin Mtui (the director and owner) was rapid in his responses, he attended to each of my questions and offered the kind of versatility and readiness to adapt that we needed. We wished to mould our own direction and he made this easy. Their website is easy to navigate including checking on the various accommodation options and selecting the level of comfort/expense that we wished for.
I had asked Justin for a guide who was very knowledgeable about the ecology - and we were delighted with Emanuel. He was incredible and knew the names and the habits of the smallest insects, the birds and the larger animals. We also learnt so much about the country and its peoples and tribes. He had a great sense of humour and a readiness to shape up the days according to our wishes! The vehicle was comfortable and spacious and managed some wet and tricky roads with ease.
Our favourite accommodation was the tented camps. The 2 most noteworthy included Kirurumu tented camp and Lake Eyasi Kisima Ngenda Tented Camp. Both of these offered a wonderful experience of the African bush, were comfortable and beautifully decorated internally and within the external environment. We made the mistake of only having 1 night in each – give yourself 2! We also loved the National parks Lake Manyara and Tarangire – both interesting with copious game and bird life.
US
Email Drew | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
6 Day Camping Safari
They took care of everything. Picked us up, dropped us off, brought us our bags that arrived a day after we did. The price is great and the service was everything it should be. We saw everything: lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, etc. as well as visiting with Masai and Hadzabe villages.
Email Jenny | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing, once in a life time experience!
We were a family of four (adult kids) who booked the 4-day Camping Safari with Tanzania Expeditions over the Christmas period 2015.
We were very well taken care of and the trip was a fantastic experience overall. All payments were handled professionally and we got a competitive rate for our package. The main reason why we chose this company over others were that the communication before the deposit was paid was all dealt with promptly and efficiently.
We had organised for the safari company to book us bus tickets from Dar es Salaam-Arusha before the safari and this worked well. When we arrived in Arusha they picked us up from the bus station as arranged and dropped us off at our pre-safari accommodation. The safari started the following day and we were very happy with the content of the tour and what we got to see. The nature is absolutely stunning and everyone should go on a safari in their life! We also got there just in time for the great migration which was spectacular. The food was of very good quality our driver was a very personable and good fun. We also had a case of illness during the tour which they dealt with very well.
The slight hickups were that our upgrade on the first night was fully booked when we arrived on sight so we got the "normal" accommodation instead. We also had a car break down but I think this is something that could happen with any company. They dealt with this by letting us ride with a different tour provider for the last day which worked out fine. We could have also wished for more facts about the animals and nature as we saw them but this was just a minor observation. Overall we had a fantastic time and would recommend Tanzania Expeditions to other travellers.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g297913-d6964527-r354092618-Tanzania_Expeditions-Arusha_Arusha_Region.html#
HK
Email Fernando & Stefan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great 3-days camping safari - Tanzania Expeditions
We contacted Tanzania Expeditions after a bit of online shopping and found all the communication with Justin very straightforward and accommodating. We had all our requests sorted with no hassles, even when asking for the camp at the Ngorongoro rim instead of the proposed accomodation near Karatu. Justin sent pictures of the car and to our surprise, even being peak season, we had the whole vehicle for the two of us.
We were picked up by Justin and our driver, Godfried at Arusha airport upon arrival and taken to our hotel. The following morning Godfried took us to Tarangire NP for a 5 hours game drive. Godfried proved to be very knowledgable, patient and kind. We continued our trip to Ngorongoro, picking up our cook - and all the supplies for the rest of the trip -in Karatu, before heading to the crater rim for the night. The cook was coming from another safari tour (reason why he joined us in Karatu), so he had left everything already prepared at the camp. That saved us some precious time on arrival as we didn't have to fight for a good spot for the night (the camp was packed!) or even bother about setting up the tent. Food was delicious and we even had the visit of a massive elephant that occasionally comes to the camp.
The 6 hours game drive at Ngorongoro was the highlight of the trip and Godfried always managed to stay away from the crowds, choosing the right routes, while still paying attention to his radio and what other drivers had seen, quickly following their directions. We saw everything we wanted, except the elusive leopard we were looking for...
We spent the night in Mto wa Mbu and, again, enjoyed a very pleasant dinner with Godfried. The following morning we headed to Manyara NP for our last game drive. We had shared with Godfried our disappointment for not seeing a leopard, and there he went completely determined to find one. We extended our game drive to the limit until we finally found it, on top of a tree, just in time to drive back to Arusha for our 2pm shuttle to Nairobi.
Justin was waiting for us at the station with the tickets we had requested, and both of them stayed with us until we left, making sure we had no problems at all.
Everything was well organised, very professional, flexible and super relaxed. We wished we had more time to include Serengeti and Lake Natron in the itinerary... but that is the perfect excuse to come back for more!
If you are looking for a reasonably priced and professional tour, look no further. We will definitely contact Justin again when we come back for the Serengeti!