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The Team : Ian Thompson and Shirli Carswell
The Wildside Safari Company
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 1995)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
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- Price Range:
- $125 to $550 ppper person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Richard Bailey | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable first visit to Africa that will be hard to beat
I have waited an awful long time to go to Africa and thought and chose my trip very carefully. The Wildside Safari Company was to me the logical operator to travel with, especially after talking to Shirli and having received a copy of their book "Africa’s Ultimate Safaris". The trip they ran to the Great Migration and the crossings in Tanzania was another no brainer and what an introduction to Africa! Wildside sorted out everything bar our flights and even then gave good advice and arranged extra accommodation where we required it. Also we chose to travel a day earlier so we could be with the group early on the first day to travel which gave us time to break ourselves into the safari experience gently with a trip to the fabulous Arusha National park, set between Mounts Meru and Kilimanjaro it is a stunning park and was quite different to all of the others that we visited as it allowed us to experience jungle and all of its fabulous sights, sounds and especially smells. Watching colobus and sykes monkeys evacuate the trees as a crested eagle swooped through was an amazing kick start to the trip and if you like birds this park is a must. From here the trip started proper, visiting Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. I had always wanted to see the infamous Mara river and it did not disappoint. Watching the crossings is quite an experience. Feeling rain in Africa while you are sat in the porch of your personal tent in the tented camp, while watching wildebeest and zebra stream past on the hill opposite for well over 2 hours! Well over a million wildebeest, especially in the Lamai Wedge (my favourite day of the trip), 1000's of zebra, gazelle & buffalo. 100's of ele's, giraffe & lion. 13 cheetah and 9 leopard. Plus the most amazing view of 3 wild dog and seeing them cross the mighty Mara. Seeing a huge croc take a wildebeest..... Plus the birds..... 300+ species. Flamingos as far as both my eye and my scope could see on Lake Manyara........ No review does the trip justice. I cannot recommend it enough and Wildside who arranged the most fantastic guides, accommodation, food and travel. Will look to try and do it again! :)
An awesome experience of Tanzania's National parks and the Serengeti
From booking through to getting our final plane home I felt so looked after, no question was to much trouble. In fact the culture seemed to be the more you ask the more you get from the trip! Our guides we're fantastically knowledgeable and happily took note of our key interests making this trip feel very personal. Starting in Arusha Park and finishing in the Serengeti, each day we saw more and more and even though by mid week I was sure the amount of wildlife and vast, breathtaking landscapes couldn't get any better, they did. For me, not having seen anything like it before and it also being my first trip to Africa, I found myself on more than one occasion becoming overwhelmed by the absolute beauty of the country, mind boggling numbers and species of wildlife (I gave up keeping a list by day 2!) and the kind nature and accommodating guides. I can happily and wholeheartedly recommend this company and trip.
Email Elena Stratoudakis | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bucket list trip
What a wonderful experience. I went to East Africa with a little trepidation as I'm not really an outdoor bush kind of person. Ian from Wildside Safari really put me at ease and was happy to meet before the trip to explain what we could expect and talk us through the itinerary. The trip was well organised with knowledgable and friendly guides who made the experience very special. The hotels and camps we stayed at were luxurious, the food delicious and the company excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the campfire chats, the magical balloon ride at the North Camp and listening to the animals at night while lying in my tent. I would recommend this rip to everyone!
Email Lynda | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
My experience with Wildside was professional, insightful and amazing!
My trip to Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti was life changing!! I spent 8 nights and 9 days in Tanzania with a group of wonderful friends. The whole trip was very well organised by Ian from Wildside Safari Company - we just arrived and enjoyed the trip. Ian did everything for us, booked us into the various hotels and tented camps, arranged the tipping and planned the daily routes with the guides. All the hotels were very comfortable and the service was excellent. When it came to the Serengeti tented camps (Central and North), the services, the comfort in the tents, the staff, the atmosphere etc was absolutely fantastic. It really was the most unbelievable experience! The amazing sightings of so many birds and animals (we saw 170 elephant in one day!!) and of course the numerous 'Crossings' at the north camp were very exciting and emotional! This trip has always been on my bucket list and I was very blessed to have had the opportunity to go! The whole experience has changed my outlook on life and how insignificant us humans really are. The world out there is just amazing, I loved every minute!
Email Margaret | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The Wildside Safari Co fullfilled all my expectations excellent service and an outstanding safari.
My dream was to see the Gorillas and I was fortunate to join a Wildside Safari Co Tour to Rwanda 3 years ago. We stayed in the Volcanoes national part which is a small village in Rhungeri. Our mountain lodge was simple but comfortable, with a warm cosy room and wood fire and delicious food. Our trek up the mountain to the Gorillas the next morning was nothing but spectacular, our guides were superb and in the short hour that we were with these magnificent creatures, we saw the great Silver Back and his family happily munching away at the Eucalyptus leaves. A magnificent trip and definitely lived up to my expectations and one I will remember for ever.
Average User Rating
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Disclaimer
- All corporate and/or tour info is provided by The Wildside Safari Company, not SafariBookings