Allen Tanzania Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1997)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $550 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Judy M | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Safari Company Like No Other
When you travel, it’s the personal relationships that provide the memories you will cherish. Allen Mnyenye is not just a safari guide/tour operator. He is a person who cares deeply about the animals and the environment and also about making each trip a lifetime experience for every visitor. After two weeks on safari I believe I could also call him a friend.
We recently returned from our first trip to Africa, a 13-day wildlife and cultural tourism safari with Allen Tanzania Safaris. We were a group of 10 Americans with varied backgrounds and levels of travel experience.
Here’s what made our trip special:
- Allen has been a safari guide for over 25 years - he knows the animals, their habits and habitats, the way they interact. He has an extensive knowledge of birds, snakes, butterflies, geology, geography, and Tanzanian and African history and culture. No question from our curious group phased him, whether it was about animal behavior, house construction, bone fossils or water reclamation methods.
-Because we were in two cars, we had a separate guide for each car. No-one felt they got "second best" - each group was quite passionately attached to their guide after a couple of days and refused to switch vehicles!
-Both Allen and Amani seemed to have an almost telepathic sense about the animal behavior: where they were to be found, why they were there, and even what they were about to do. They also really know the parks and the surrounding areas, and found lesser traveled paths that let us get closer to animals we spied from afar.
-Allen knows and loves the wildlife and the people of East Africa, and his enthusiasm is contagious. Every animal sighting is a delight to him, from the most mundane Superb Starling to a rare White Headed Vulture or a leopard. We always felt that we were participating together in an adventure of discovery.
-Allen speaks fluent English. He could match any American in his vocabulary of animal biology or geology, for example. Some of his other guides speak other languages such as French. He has also made several extended visits to the U.S., which often helps with cultural references. (He pointed to a tiny hardware storefront and said “That’s my Home Depot!”)
-When appropriate, we had access to local guides (especially for cultural tourism) but Allen was often the go-between, knowing what questions to ask and what would interest us.
-In the central Serengeti there was a higher concentration of animals. There we also saw big concentrations of safari vehicles - one time we saw 20 vehicles crowded around the same tree. Allen would avoid this whenever possible - he knew how to find the crowd-pleasing big cats without hearing it on the radio. For most of the tour we seldom encountered another safari vehicle - we felt like we were in our own little world.
-Allen would sometimes add on little excursions, like an optional, early-morning walk to the flamingo-filled lake with a Maasai guide. When we chatted to other safari-goers we found out this is not something to take for granted.
-The safari itineraries are very carefully planned to maximize the experience. Our first couple of days offered easy-going cultural activities, giving us time to get over our jet lag. When we started on our animal-viewing safari, every day and every location was unique. The lodgings also were amazing, each one with some gem-like aspect, whether it looked out over a lake full of flamingoes, an outdoor shower with a view of the Serengeti, or just rustic beauty and clear stars.
-The cultural tourism was at least as cool as the animal viewing and I would highly recommend it. We danced with Maasai villagers, ground our own coffee, watched blacksmiths melt copper in a bush-forge, and hunted with Hadzabe bushmen. The people we met were genuinely happy to share their lives and experience with us.
-Allen understands about the needs of photographers - he would always orient the truck in such a way that we could get a good look - whether through binoculars or through the lens. He was aware of the direction of the light.
-Power, Charging, and Wifi: There were high-speed chargers in the vehicles, so our cameras and phones could stay charged. Most of the llodging has wifi and all amenities. The only exception is the mobile tented camps (which are an optional accommodation type). We loved staying in these slightly more rustic camps for a couple of nights, but they have only solar power, no wifi and the hot water is a bit more limited. For those nights our CPAP users found batteries to use, and we were that much more appreciative of the unlimited hot water in the next lodge.
-All our concerns about food and water were completely unnecessary. Bottled or sterilized water was available at all times. The food was fantastic - even in the mobile tented camps we ate delicious meals, and always had access to plenty of vegetables including salads and fruit that were cleaned with safe water. Vegans and vegetarians in our group felt completely satisfied.
-One of our group had to seek the advice of a doctor during the trip, and Allen brought her to an English-speaking, American-born physician where she was seen promptly and highly competently.
-Allen and his crew are extremely good-humored and easygoing. We asked a lot of dumb questions, I'm sure! We also never sensed that it was an obligation or a chore for to join us at dinner (which they did, nearly every night) and the feeling was mutual - we truly enjoyed their company.
-They also worked their asses off. Every evening as we lounged by the fire with a cocktail, the crew cleaned the trucks, and when possible had them checked by a mechanic, before they got to rest. On several mornings we were off at 6 and didn't get back to camp til 6 or later. They organized our boxed lunches, packed tables and chairs and even a tablecloth for our bush picnics and even made us tea and coffee after lunch.
-Speaking of lunch - nearly every day we were able to eat lunch in some secluded wild spot with no one else in sight. From what we saw, not all safari companies offer this treat.
-Before the trip we had a lot of questions, from the food to the climate to the number of animals we would see, to the availability of electricity and wifi. All our questions were answered completely and competently by Silas, the office manager.
-Because of his experience with American and European safari visitors, Allen has been consulted on the site location, construction and amenities of several of the amazing lodges that we stayed in. He also owns a moderately-priced, lovely lodge called "Eileen's Trees Inn" in Karusha. Wherever we stayed, he was greeted so enthusiastically, we felt like royalty.
Now I understand why people return to safari with Allen again and again and I recommend you start!
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Email NIKKI | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
3 day Tanzania safari (solo)
Selecting a safari tour operator is a daunting task, and I could not have been happier with my decision. From the initial inquiry all the way through my trip the communication with Allen Tanzania Safaris was easy and quick. Silas reached out to me the day before my safari to let me know my driver's name, to confirm pickup location and lunch option for the first day. Amani was a wonderful guide, even spotting a leopard in a tree while driving that I couldn't even see when I zoomed in with my camera! He (Amani) was a wealth of information as I asked questions about places or items we saw on the way to the different parks, different animals and birds, and always communicated exactly what the plan was each day.
The lodge that Allen Tanzania Safaris use (Eileen Trees Inn) has to be one of the most beautiful properties I have ever stayed at, the pictures online do not do it justice. The food and service are superb!
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Email Jim Tombros | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
My wife and I spent a week in Tanzania with Allen as our guide and his son, Emmanuel as our driver. We saw the "Big 5" due to Allen's intimate knowledge of the Serengeti accumulated over 20+ years. Even more valuable than the pictures was his inherent interest in the plants and animals, how they interact with the surroundings, their symbiotic relationship and the people we were exposed to. Taking time out for a couple hours we visited an orphanage that Allen supports. We met with the American who administers to these children abandoned by parents who have died from HIV/AIDS or merely left them to care for themselves due to financial hardships. We have literally a couple thousand pictures we must now edit down. Many of the best ones were taken by Allen who can act as a cinematographer among his many talents. We were recommended to Allen by friends who have taken two safaris with him already. He more than exceeded our expectations.
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Email Barbara & Jim | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a lifetime
My husband and I just completed a 7 day safari with Allen Tanzania Safari. From our initial email contact through our leaving Tanzania, our experience was exceptional. All contact was answered immediately and comprehensively. And that was before we even got there. Once there, our safari exceeded our expectations in so many ways. Allen's knowledge and love of the animals and the area enhanced our experience greatly. Our accommodations were varied providing, us with a full safari experience. But probably most impressive was Allen's desire to ensure we had a comprehensive opportunity to not only view the "big 5"and so much more, but to understand the full ecological interaction of nature. We highly recommend using Allen Tanzania Safaris for a fantastic experience
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Email Johanna B | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Allen Mnyenye offers a well-planned, informational and thoroughly enjoyable safari experience.
To celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, we wanted to share with our children and grandchildren (ages 7-10 years) the unique natural beauty and welcoming hospitality of Tanzania. This was our third safari with Allen Tanzania Safaris and Allen outdid himself! His planning and execution of the 1500 km trip were impeccable - AGAIN! His humor and patience helped immensely with our grandchildren's enjoyment and appreciation of this special experience. Our strong endorsement of AllenTanzania Safaris is based on a 20-year relationship with Allen Mnyenye and his highly qualified and professional drivers and guides. If you are searching for an informative, well-planned, and thoroughly enjoyable safari, look no further than Allen Tanzania Safaris. You will be astounded by the experience that awaits you.
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Email Matteomontagna@gmail.com | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Experience
With Allen Tanzania Safari you aren't only getting you a guide who drives you around, you are getting naturalists with up to 30 years of passion about the land they live in. I couldn't be more satisfied with the wonderful experience they gave us.
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Email Sergio Burani | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
After 8 safaris, this is the best company I've worked with!
I have traveled to Africa at least two dozen time and completed 8 safaris. As professional photographer, my expectations a very high. Out of my 8 safaris, 3 have been with Allen, over the course of 20 years. This is the best testimonial for the high quality of my experiences with Allen Tanzania Safaris. Allen is a great human being and so are the members of his staff. Should I go on safari one more time, I will call Allen again. No doubt in my mind!
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Email Paul | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I do believe he knows every square meter of the Serengeti! :)
This was a very memorable visit - we saw just about every animal we could have hoped for, often several sightings. Every moment was accompanied by a knowledgable explanation of how it all fits into the broader ecosystem. I've never learned so much in a single travel experience! Highly recommended.
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Email KIA DULLEMOND | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing company and guide, will recommend to everyone
Our experience with Allen far surpassed our expectations. This was a magical four days for us that we will think about for the rest of our lives and we are already planning on going back. The choices were overwhelming, with what seems like an infinite amount of tour operators existing in the area, but we were so happy with our choice. Allen's knowledge is incredible, the accommodations were clean and picturesque, the food was much more than you'd expect on safari, the car was modern and spacious (and we had it all to ourselves) and we had more intimate encounters with wildlife than I could have hoped for. Will recommend to all our family and friends.
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Email Carol Larsson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Allen, our guide, was beyond outstanding; his depth of experience and knowledge is truly astounding.
Allen Tanzania Safaris was recommended to us by a friend. We expected Allen and his staff to be very good; however, they surpassed our expectations. They were outstanding. Allen was our guide/driver and I think he is peerless as a safari guide/driver. His nearly 30 years of safari experience and his depth of knowledge about the diverse habitats and species of the area made all the difference. Allen helped us see and identify over 150 different species of birds, 2 separate river crossings of wildebeest, rhino, and lions and lions and lions and so much more. If your interest is birds, Allen is your man. If your interest is more than simply wildlife viewing but getting a deeper understanding of the wildlife and ecosystems, Allen is your man. In addition to his extraordinary expertise as a guide, Allen is engaging, friendly, and kind - a wonderful person. His staff, Adam, Amani, and Silas were all extremely friendly, helpful, and knowledeable. In planning our trip, Silas was very responsive, flexible, detailed, and informative. His management of our itinerary was smooth and there was not a single problem or glitch. We've had a wonderful experience with Allen and his staff that we'll never forget and we've made new friends in the process.
