Tours by Locals (aka Kiliholidays)
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2004)
- Member Of:
- TATO, TTB, KINAPA, MNRT & TPO
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $400 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
BE
Email Serge Belgium | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience with friendly and knowledgable guide
Kiliholidays provide excellent recomendations andwas flexible to modify program to our wishes (to reduce travel time). Guide, Sami, was extreemly friendly and knowledgeable and problems were solved adequately and within a reasonable time. Tour was great though we had underestimated the distance to travel between the parks. Southern parks are not crowded with lots of tourists so no traffic jams in the park this season. However in rainy season (hardly any rain during our trip) vegetation is dense making animal spotting more challenging. For easy spotting of animals Northern parks may e better alternative.
Reply from Tours by Locals (aka Kiliholidays)
Posted on Apr 13, 2015Serge.
Delighted that the experience with us was a success for you - for us, too!
We are flattered that you recommend us and hope to see you again, some day.
Kind regards
Mack, Senior Safari Consultant
BE
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Private visit to Selous and Mikumi from Dar Es Salam in 6 days
We booked via Internet a 6 day private tour from Dar Es Salam to visit the parks of Selous and Mikumi in southern Tanzania and had a wonderful week. Our driver Samuel was extremely pleasant, a great driver, a competent guide to animals and good at mechanics. He fixed in one hour a major break down of our jeep (transmission failure) and drove us back in time in Dar. Every detail was taken care of and we really had a great time. Accomodation was simple but nicely located and with friendly management. It was a great value for the price. Two points that you should know if you want to make the same trip:
1) accommodation was near but not in the parks so that we never went for early morning drives in the parks before breakfast. We still saw a lot of animals (20 sp of mammals and 110 species of birds in 3.5 days) but it might be more rewarding to be in the park. Usually this means a much higher cost than what we paid (830 euros per person for 6 days in private car for 2) but in Mikumi this would be possible at low cost. Accommodation in the park is run by the park administration. It is clearly less sophisticated than what we had outside but this might be worth it. To be discussed with the organizers, depending on your personal taste (comfort vs. Proximity with animals at night).
2) you should know that although the parks of Selous and Mikumi are adjacent, they are separated by a large mountain range which means that you need an 8-10 hour drive on bad dirt roads to go from one to the other. Take that into account when planning.
Note however that these are NOT complaints, just information. We had a really wonderful time and warmly recommend Killiholidays for your Safari. A really great value for the money!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kili tours provided excellent customer services to my daughter.
Kili tours has excellent customer services. My daughter visited Ngorongoro and Manyara and she really enjoyed Kili tour's customer services provided by the tour guide.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
excellent customer service with great safari experience provided by the friendly staff
My boyfriend and I had a 5 day comfortable camping trip with kiliholidays. Since we started to contact them before arriving, the manager Mack responded all our questions and emails quickly. He is very hospital and friendly, one day before our flight, he event sent us a greeting email. It started our trip delightedly.
During the tour, he was always very caring and took into consideration of each of the customers'needs. The cook who was with us did a fantastic job too. He prepared food based on each person's preference, e.g a German girl who joined us was vegan, I can't eat bananas... The chef made specific dish for each of us during the tour. He really paid attention to it. I love all his soup, it was absolutely delicious. It is a great bonus to have delicious and nicely prepared food during a camping tour.
We also shared many good discussions with Mack, he is more like a friend sharing with us his stories running the safari business. He provided us a comfortable atmosphere to travel. We enjoyed it so much.
I would love to bring my parents here and experience safari with Kiliholidays.
DE
Email Oliver & Tina | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Respectable Southern Circuit Safari
Day 1
• trip to Selous (lunch enroute)
• 2 hour boat ride outside the Selous GR
• sunset, crocodiles, hippos, birds, life along the river
• Accommodation in Hippo-Camp: basic, staff is friendly and endeavour, not everything perfect, nice view to Rufiji River
Day 2
• 2 h Morning-Walk outside the Selous GR
• animal tracks, birds and flora
• Game Drive in Selous GR from Mtemere gate with 24-hour permit (to Day 3 at 10:00)
• Guide is endeavor and with the necessary local knowledge
• lions, elephants, buffalos, zebras, giraffes, antelopes ....
Day 3
• drive in Selous GR by Mtemere gate to Matambwe gate with 24-hour permit to 10:00
• only short stops for Game Viewing
• from Matambwe Gate it comes a scenic drive through the Uluguru Mountains to Morogoro (stop for lunch), fantastic views and insights into the normal country life
• continue through the Mikumi NP for Tan Swiss Lodge
(Swiss owner, well-managed mid-range lodge, comfortable air-conditioned room, good food)
Day 4
• drive to the Udzungwa Mountains (90 min.)
• hike with local guide
• waterfall, great views, natural swimming pool
Day 5
• safari in Mikumi NP, full day, only north of the Highway possible
• guide with the required local knowledge
• leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, antelopes ....
Day 6
• return to Dar
• Option: Snake Park
Conclusion
• solid / respectable tour in the field Budget / Mid Range
• no obvious organizational weaknesses, professional consultation with the Management
• driver / guide safely, vehicle in order
• Note: Tour 6 days including 3 days GR / NP (Permit)
• price-performance okay
US
Email Tony | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing, affordable,friendly,knowledgable team, and easy to work with.
I really was not expecting such wonderful service we received from the time they picked us up from the airport, the drive to the hotel was amazing as the transit driver was very friendly and full of information. It was a sightseeing transfer in itself. We were excited about our safari, we left early morning in a 4x4 truck, the driver guide spoke good English, very friendly and informative. We really enjoyed our safari package, we did not expect it to be so well planned and everyday was an exciting day. Ohh! the wildlife we saw was worth
UA
Email Semen Plakhotin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience
Safari is really bright and unforgettable experience. We chosen Kili by reviews. Now I can say that I agree with all positive reviews! We were satisfied with the selection of the company that organized the safari for us. Everything was professionally. It was comfortable to travel. The food was delicious and the portions was huge!
We were met by the ferry in Dar es Salaam, and we immediately went to Selous by 4WD car.
Road took about 6 hours with lunch-stop. In the same day was a river safari by boat.
Next day was game drive in the Selous. One-day game drive safari may seem insufficient. Take 2-full-days game drive. Last morning - 2 hours walking safari with local guy.
Read carefully the conditions of the accomodation. We decided that a accomodation in the hippo camp will be in lodge, but it turned out to be spending the night in a tent on the territory of the camping. As an exception, one night we were placed in the lodge (thanks to Mack and manager).
So, enjoy your safari holidays with Kiliholidays Tours & Safaris Africa.
Reply from Tours by Locals (aka Kiliholidays)
Posted on Oct 22, 2015Thanks Semen! it was real pleasure to hear that you had a great time during your visit here. Well! we appreciate you comment too, we have changed accommodation from the camping ground to the room at Selous hippo camp as can be seen on the given Itinerary. So No more camping ground.
Thank you so much and hopeful to host you again soon
Mack Kornelio
Kiliholidays Team Leader
UA
Email Anton | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great expirience
It was our first safari. Everything was just perfect.
JE
Email Karim | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing adventure with really experienced guide
Kiliholidays was really excellent. We really didn't know what to expect when you are arranging your safari from so far away. We were very pleasantly surprised that Mack our contact had sent our driver to collect us from the airport then we met him at his office to go over the finer details. We had good accommodation in Arusha and set off early the next day for Lake Manyara. This is very beautiful and a great introduction to the wildlife we saw later. We camped the first night to save on cost which was good and the food was excellent. The next day was spent heading to the Serengeti, we saw lots of Masai and plenty of wildlife. Our guide John was very experienced and spotted animals we couldn't even see.
Our accommodation in serena lodge was spectacular, no fences and wildlife is all around you. The next day was in serengetu again then onto Ngorogoro crater. This was really a special place for us with so much animals all in one place. We saw everything and again stayed at the Serena lodge in that location which is one of the best hotels I have ever been too. This ezoerince with Kiliholidays will be one we will not forget. We did this as a family with our 8 year old daughter who absolutely loved it too even though we spent a lot of time in the safari vehicle. I would recommend Kiliholidays to everyone.
Reply from Tours by Locals (aka Kiliholidays)
Posted on Jan 13, 2016Thank you very much for taking your pressures time to post your reviews about your safari experience with Kiliholidays Tours
We value your contributions and we thank you very much for choosing Kiliholidays as you lifetime safari destination company. We look forward to seeing back soon.
Warmest regards
Kiliholidays Team
PL
Email Kasia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience with Kiliholidays!
I can give my full recommendation to Kiliholidays. The contact person (Mack) was very helpful, and we managed to arrange all the formalities from home, including the airport transfer to Arusha organized by him (a couple of hours by bus from Dar Es Salaam). During the three day safari we were driving a Toyota Land Cruiser, and despite it was quite an old make it was indeed in mint condition. The driver (Tom) was very professional and helpful and proved to have immense knowledge about the wildlife. After a full day of driving around the national parks our cook (Rama) treated us with some of the most delicious food we had eaten during our stay in the mainland of Tanzania. Overall, the three day safari experience (including a day at Ngorongoro, a day at Tarangire and one at Lake Manyara) was a memorable experience, and not only due to the picturesque landscapes and the wildlife, but also because of the way it was organized. Overall, I would give a full five-star rating to Kiliholidays!