Grassroots Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $160 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CH
Email Lea | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We (4 people) got much more than our expectancies, which were very high! Incredibly wonderful safari
Jambo,
Everything went so incredibly smoothly from the first minute of our arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, till the last minute of our departure from Arusha Airport, and every hour, minute, second was worth it. For me it is completely incredible that such a place like Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro exists on the Earth. I can say my family had an unforgettable experience in Tanzania with Grassroots team.
Our guide used all his knowledge to find colourful birds and every possible animal, even leopards, male and female the next day. The dream became reality, of course we never expected to see them. Lions on their Honeymoon, cheetahs chasing and eating a Thompson gazelle: every time we were on the right place at the right moment, and always had a lot of time to photograph and observe. Unlike other guides, ours didn't use the radio, so he didn't annoy us with loud speaking in it. He answered all our questions and was very discerning about animal behaviour. Driving from sunrise till sunset and loving it. Just a word about the elephants: we overlooked 3 huge families at one glance, and I counted 102 adults through my binoculars, so I let you add the babies to this number !!!!
Our chef satisfied all our demands, for example he thoroughfully prepared our big lunchbox every day. In fact we almost never wanted breakfast, but better drive to see sunrise instead, and enjoy morning cool temperature.... We were fine all the time, without any stomach pain, always sleeping like babies after a plentiful evening meal. And his kindness made us very happy. He worked hard while we were enjoying ourselves all day, plus woke up very early, in such a good mood, so easy. Try Palau Masala, gently spiced rice and meat... Asante Sana !
I will recommend Grassroots to all my friends and colleagues, because I got much more than my expectancies. My three children look very happy about their first time in Africa.
I also noticed Tanzania is very peacefull and safe, and people are friendly everywhere. And we have so many pictures to look at and show our friends.
You should not forget binoculars for everybody, not that the animals are far away, sometimes you could rather think they are going to enter the Toyota through the window, but binoculars allow you to examine every beautiful detail.
Did I speak about the landcruiser car? Spaceful, comfortable, powerful, and protective with very good shadow under the open roof. Changing a flat tyre is a question of 30 minutes and may happen (2x in 8 days), for that reason there are 2 more fixed outside the back door. Hakuna Matata !
And the nights were so peaceful. We really slept well under the tents during the full moon nights, and even sometimes stand up to watch the stars, we had a lot of space under the roof.
The toilets and showers are rebuilt and very clean. You overlook the old ones, just to compare. Water supply is not limited, huge water tanks are delivered by trucks at every campsite.
Of course you think about how to begin, and how to buy a safari. My advice would be: write to Micky Shigela, his precise answers come within a day, his advise are helpful, and his experience makes everything so easy.
DE
Email Petra, Verena & Bernhard | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
More than a safari...wonderful!
After some research in the internet we found Grassroots Safaris and we've decided to book a safari with this company. There are such a lot of very positive testimonials on their website – but are they real? Or manipulated? Our doubts disappeared immediately when Fikiri, our wonderful guide, picked us up at the hotel in Dar – perfectly in time, very friendly, with a good 4WD car. Now I don't repeat all the positive things mentioned in the other testimonials – they ALL happened to us, too! Fikiri is a very safe driver (even on the very bad roads – no problem to him!), he is extremely competent (no question without a good answer) and knows the places where you'll find the animals. We (3 persons) visited Mikumi NP, the Sanje waterfalls at Udzungwa Mountains and Ruaha NP. Two things have been extraordinary on our trip:
1.We wanted to change the route. Instead of returning to Dar we wanted to go on to Mbeya. No problem to Micky who managed the trip. The contact to him was very friendly and he always answered very quick. So for a very little money more we reached Mbeya right in time – perfect, thank you very much!
2.Our daughter was getting 18 – just when we had our stop at the Ruaha bandas. In the evening Fikiri improvised a birthday party supported by Asha, our cook. We don't know how they managed it – but after diner Asha came in with a selfmade birthday cake (of course with candles...!!!) which was extremely delicious. Fikiri has found a really good bottle of wine and introduced us to the Suaheli version of HAPPY BIRTHDAY – sooo funny! Thank you for an unforgettable evening and a wonderful trip – we'll see you again when we'll come back to Tanzania!!!
IE
Email Nuala | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing and wonderful, great people, good food and close animal contact.
We 3 friends, very different people from different countries with different expectations and interests,
were treated to a wonderful Southern Safari by Grassroots and the team. From start to finish it exceeded all our hopes.
We had with us the charming, talented young cook Asha and the eagle eyed Gaston for 6 days of amazement
and wonder. We saw, tasted and felt the world we only believed was Attenboroug's.
Grassroots has something for everyone.
It didn't cost the earth but it was value for us three hopefulls.
Thanks to all the people we met on the way.
Everything we were hoping for!
Thanks to the organisation by Grassroots and our excellent guide and driver, Fikirin, the logistics and travel were all completely trouble free. This allowed us to relax and enjoy a very individual and personal safari experience. We had close encounters with an amazing range of wildlife: elephants (right outside our hut), lions, hunting dogs, hippos, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, many different types of antelope, bush babies in the bar, and we were lucky enough to see a leopard and a huge python. The walking safaris with local guides were fascinating and gave quite a different perspective on the environment. We loved the accommodation in bandas and guest houses and the food was very good. What a great way to experience the landscape and wildlife of Tanzania!
NL
Email Ruth | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Definitely again!
In November of 2016 we did a 8-day safari with Grassroots to Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Selous and Ruaha and we loved it! It's a long trip on the road (+/- 4 days of driving) but definitely worth it as you will enjoy every moment (of the other +/- 4 days). Our guide Fikiri is a top driver and we felt safe every bit of the way. Scout was a great cook and made us 3-course dinners a night. The accomodations were basic, but fine. So all in one: we had a wonderful time and would travel with Grassroots again when we go to East-Africa.
AT
Email Elisabeth | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing 6-day safari to Ruaha NP, Mikumi NP and Udzungwa Mountains
Our safari to Ruaha NP, Mikumi NP and Udzungwa Mountains exceeded our expectations by far, it was an amazing experience. We're really greatful to the team for having made our safari so unforgettable and can only highly recommend Grassroots Safaris to anyone planning a safari in Tanzania.
Here are more details:
Wildlife
July seems to be a great time for visiting the above mentioned national parks: We got to see way more animals than we had ever possibly hoped for! There's lots of elephants, giraffes, zebras, baboons, water bucks, impalas, hippos, crocodiles, wart hogs, wilderbeests etc. We got lucky and even spotted lions with a cup, a hyena, a cheetah, a leopard, ostriches, a pelican, a buffalo, a pelican, jackals and many more.
Food & accomodation
We had our own chef with us, Asha, who prepared excellent meals for us. She even made sure to prepare vegetarian food for us when she realized we didn't like meat so much. Even though Asha cooked really well, there was always more then enough food. We also got the chance twice to help her with the shopping at the local markets in Morogoro and Iringa.
Our accomodation was always very nice. We particularly enjoyed staying at Ruaha Bandas for two nights where elephants and hippos sometimes walk through the camp (the guides always make sure that you're safe). As the camp is situated next to a river, you could just sit in little pavillions and watch animals such as hippos, zebras, elephants and giraffes when you're not on a game drive.
The first night we camped at a campsite, which we enjoyed a lot as there were local people making music and dancing. The atmosphere was amazing and many people joined in. Our tent was huge and we didn't sleep in a sleeping bag. Instead, they provided us with mattresses, pillows and blankets, so it was very comfortable.
One night we spent at a hotel in Iringa where we even had wifi in the main area.
Our last night we spent at our own little bungalow with a nice veranda in Camp Bastian in Mikumi". The camp looks like a big, beautiful garden and you have your meals at tables outside under the sky. So relaxing!
Driving and safety
Fikiri (our driver and guide) is a great guy who you can have a lot of fun with. He picked us up from the airport in Dar es Salaam and we started the safari right away. He explained lots of things en route - I think there was no single question he couldn't answer. He knows a lot about all the animals and plants, but he never bored us. ;) He's also an excellent driver and we felt very safe at all times.
Our jeep (a 4x4) was perfect for the safari. You could fold up the roof, so it was possible to take great pictures in the national parks while being in the shade.
Team and Communication
Grassroot safaris has an amazing team - Fikiri is an amazing driver and guide, Asha is a great cook and Micky made sure we had the perfect itinerary for our time frame and budget.
Micky planned our itinerary for us and answered all our questions promptly. He provided us with lots of information and we felt very well-prepared. He even talked to us on the phone during the safari to make sure we were having a great time.
Value
We payed about 1.100$ per person in a group of two, which is a great price for a six-day safari. It includes all entrance fees, accomodation and food, so only tips are extra. We are more than satisfied with what we got to see and do for that price, the value is great!
TR
Email Louis and Daniela | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing experience with amazing people
I never usually write reviews as often you think they are created by the people from the company. So I always think it's best to go with your gut instinct! But, this is a company that deserves a review.
Myself and my girlfriend went on a 3 day Safari to Mikumi national park. We had the experience of a lifetime.
We were met at the airport by a representative of the company and taken to a house where we could rest for a few hours after a long flight.
In the morning we were met by Keneth our guide and started our tour.
Keneth was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, affable and very proud of his job and country.
A long the way he not only introduced us to the animals but also his country and it's people.
It was a fascinating experience to learn about Tanzania, Africa and the animals from a local.
Mikumi National park was a wonder and we managed to see all the animals we dreamed of. Even if we hadn't it wouldn't have mattered as it was fantastic just to be in their environment.
Grassroots safaris were amazing from start to finish! Micky handled all of our requests and questions and managed to organise everything in the short time frame I gave him. The food accommodation and hospitality were far above anything we expected in the price
They went above and beyond the call of duty and even looked after us when I contacted them from Zanzibar when Dani broke her leg.
It was always a dream of mine to go on safari and this was a great start and I will be back for more.
I cannot recommend Micky, Keneth and Grass Roots highly enough.
Thanks for making a dream of mine come true.
We look forward to coming back for more.
Many many thanks!!
20-35 years of age
wildlife galore
We had a great time on safari with Micky and Gabriel. They picked us up in Daar e Salam and drove us to Selous game park. We were on a tight budget so we slept in tents in a campground just outside the park. Micky cooked us 3 meals a day which were delicious! We spent all day in Selous and saw all the animals we could imagine, even the rare wild dogs. Grassroots was great and excellent value. They were very flexible and happy to stay as long as we wanted in the park. I would recommend them.
4 days in Selous with Grassroots
Super organized, super precise, super flexible and super professional. Absolutely advisable.
Fikiri, you’re the best!
BE
Email Sonya | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Trip
We had an amazing trip with Grassroots Safari. We booked a 6 days trip Mikumi, Ruaha, Udzungwa. Fikiri was our guide. He is an expert in Wildlife and we learnt a lof from him. He could reply to all of our questions regarding the wildlife, trees, flowers,... He is very respectful of the animals and nature. We had the opportunity to see lions, elephants, hippo, croco, leopard,... We felt very well with him and had a lot of fun. The cooker Mashaka was very cool and we had a great meal every day. Bennett was our guide in Udzungwa area. He is very knowledgeable about the forest and villages in the region. All of the organization of the trip was perfect. I strongly recommend Grassroots Safari. Thank you for everything guys. We will never forget our first safari in Africa.