African Big Cats Safaris
- Offices In:
-
United States
Australia
Canada
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Tourist Board
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $250 to $600 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
IL
Email Or | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our trip to the safari with “African big cats safari” was amazing!!!
Before the travel to tanzania i asked 6 safari companies for tour proposal for our honeymoon and after some iterations we decided to give our trust to African big cats safari and they didn’t let us down.
The company answered to every question and request we had before the trip (and we had a lot).
The Manager Emanuel met us in the first day to explain us how the trip is going to be and to make sure every request we made would be done. He also met us in the last day to make sure our safari tour was everything we asked for, AND IT WAS!!!
Our tour guide Endeni was absolutely amazing!!!
For the entire trip he made sure that we will see everything, with his hawk’s eyes he saw every thing around us (even far away or well hidden) and pointed us to there. He made sure we will always have the best view to anything we encountered and take care for every need or wish we had during the safari.
Endeni was very polite, knowledgeable and friendly and the best tour guide someone could ask for.
Our safari was in a luxury level with very good lodges: ilboru, kitela, and an amazing stay in kubu kubu inside the serengeti!
We highly recommending African big cats safari!!!
IE
Email Tunde & Herve | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent experience with a friendly and truly professional team
Best safari experience ever! After reading all the 5 stars reviews on TripAdvisor we had no doubts that African Big Cats Safaris will be the perfect choice, but we were astonished by the professionalism of the company! We met with the manager Emmanuel on our first day, who gave us an excellent overview of our trip and helped us with any questions that we had. Our tour guide, who is also named Emmanuel, picked us up from the airport and was one of the friendliest person we have ever met from that very first moment until we said our goodbyes (and even after). He took us to the shop so we can buy some necessities on the first day and was always listening if we had any special queries. He is extremely well-informed about the history of Tanzania, the fauna and flora of the country and he was always sharing interesting facts with us. Not only did we have an excellent safari experience but we also learned a lot about the country, and for this we are really grateful!
Our trip included Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater and we choose the camping option. It was so much more than we expected! Beautiful scenery, closeness to the wild life, and the camping is really a must! The first night we were in a lodge, then the second night in a closed camping area, but the third night we were in the Ngorongoro reserve where giraffes, zebras and antilops were walking close by. It gets really cold at Ngorongoro, especially at night, so warm clothing is necessary!
During the game drives we saw a great number of interesting animals, including mammals and birds. We brought binoculars with us and it was really great as it allowed us to see some of the animals from really close. Emmanuel always noticed the animals from far away, stopped and shared informations about them with us while we were looking at them. We saw some interesting actions as well, such as a buffalo chasing the lions, lions playing with their cubs and a lioness going on a hunt. Emmanuel knew where to wait for the lions, and what to look out for.
I also want to mention our cook, Vitalis who cooked amazing meals for us and allowed us to taste some well prepared local cuisine! The presentation of the meals was always excellent, we were served breakfast and dinner at the camp site, and warm lunch during the game drives. We always had warm tea and coffee with our meals, fresh fruits and we really appreciated the warm soup in the cold Ngorongoro reserve!
We also booked a Masai village visit for our last day, which was trully a memorable experience! We were included in their welcome dance and they showed us their way of living.
Thank you African Big Cats for this amazing experience!
NL
Email Enzo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience! Experienced guide and team for the Kilimanjaro climb
We were very happy with African Big Cats Safaris and the journey they provided to the highest point of Kilimanjaro via the Marangu route. Even though the Marangu route has an overall lower success rate due to the relatively quick ascent, our trip was well planned with an additional acclimatization day without a net ascent which helped us to adjust to the high altitude. Most of all, we are thankful for our guide Imran and his amazing team, they provided us with everything we needed for the climb. When we were lacking some medicine on the way, they provided this for us as well, and as I understood from other travellers we were more lucky in this than most (some guides do not provide additional services such as these). They were very friendly and great to travel with!
The celebrations after we returned from the peak were also amazing, with everyone we drank champagne and had a sung sang to us which you will surely also hear if you do decide to climb Kilimanjaro. The value we got for the money spent was great in hindsight, for any less than the price we paid, there could be some risk of the porters/guides not being paid properly. For this price (including tips), it seems that everyone was paid promptly and fairly.
We would recommend African Big Cats Safaris and hope you also have a great journey if you do decide to the climb!
BR
Email Mara | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience!
Venance, our guide, was waiting for us at the airport and joined us the whole week. The car, lodges, binoculars and the information gave to us were very good!!! Venance was very polite, experient and nice. The safari experience was wonderful and we believe it was worthy every dollar.
Email Claudia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible
African big cats stood out for their reasonable price and extensive itinerary they provided. After multiple emails (on my part), Justice obliged my every request and gave extensive information, making the process so much easier to go ahead to book. The Safari itself was an incredible experience! The hotels and lodges were great, with lovely staff and environments. We were fortunate enough , to have what we believe to be the best guide, Ernest. He is extremely knowledgeable about EVERY animal and bird and was so welcoming and friendly. We became great friends. He went out of the way to make it such a precious and exciting experience for us and we are eternally grateful for that! Emmanuel at the company was incredibly kind to see us before for a pre safari briefing and after for a debrief. I think this was such a lovely touch to make sure we got everything out of the experience we wanted. I would highly recommend African Big Cats, not only are they a local company, they have exceptional service at a great price
BE
Email Sara | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable honeymoon safari
We choose African Big Cat Safari from a myriad of agencies for two reasons:
1) We wanted a local Tanzanian company
2) ABCS offered us the best value deal for the honeymoon safari we were looking for.
We did a 5 days Safari trough Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Manyara. From the start communication was quick and efficient, as this was our first safari we had many doubts and Justice was always happy to answer to all our questions. The accommodations were all amazing, specially in Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Food was excellent every time.
Emanuel came to greet us,which adds a nice personalized touch.
Lovoi, our guide, was excellent, thanks to him we saw all animals ( apart from Rhino). He knew how to find them and was always flexible with our schedules. He is very knowledgeable about the animals and gave us really interesting information on behaviors and characteristics. He also had a great eye for photography and always tried to positioned the land rover for best photo angles :) .
We had the adventure of a lifetime and can only recommend ABCS with full confidence!
US
Email Nannette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Crafted an amazing trip of a Lifetime!
We absolutely loved our 8 night Tanzanian safari with African Big Cats. We visited 4 beautiful Parks and experienced and saw so much more than we hoped for. We wanted to use a local company and were 100% pleased. It was nice having the flexibility of choosing our preferred dates, and Justice and Emanuel crafted a perfect experience. The accommodations were all unique and lovely, and so restful after our games drives.
Most of all, our guide Lordlugard was amazing. He had delicious hot lunches prepared from our lodges and served them elegantly. He was an excellent driver, and even repaired a few other tour companies broken down Land Cruisers using items he carried in our Cruiser. He shared his passion of natural history, the local cultures, Botany, geography, and certainly knew ALL the details of all the animals. He was always searching for animals along the way, and managed to have us parked in the perfect position to photograph and view the animals. Lordi was so kind and went the extra mile everyday. He never rushed us as we photographed and enjoyed our beautiful views.
We were able to see the Big 5 and so much more. The highlight of our trip was seeing thousands of Wildebeest successfully crossing the Mara River and continue their Migration through the Serengeti. A viewing of Kilimanjaro on the way to the airport was the perfect ending of a Trip whose memories will last a lifetime. Thank you African Big Cats Safari’s!
US
Email Chad | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional safari company, specializing in tailor made itineraries at a variety of price points
I just returned a couple days ago from the experience of a lifetime with African Big Cats Safaris (ABCS). I did the 8-day/7-night Wildebeest Migration Safari (Mid-Range or Comfort) with my brother, his wife and their two adult children - a total of 5 in our group. We spent 3 nights in Northern Serengeti, 1 in Central Serengeti, 1 near Ngorongoro Crater and 2 at Tarangire National Park.
I first contacted ABCS back in late May to see if they could pick us up at the border at Isebania. We would be coming from Maasai Mara and did not want to have to back-track to Nairobi. Justice responded within a few hours and said they could have our guide pick us up at Isebania. Communication with Justice was outstanding, very responsive. Our accommodations fit his description.
Our guide, Endene, was truly exceptional. Endene not only got us to the best spots for pictures, but he also took the time to explain the intricacies of animal behavior and wildlife management. For example, why do wildebeest walk in single file when moving from one place to the next? Or how does a predator know when its prey is dead? His love for nature and wildlife was clear. He was always checking with colleagues, either via radio or as they passed by on game drives, to learn where the animals were, constantly scanning the horizon to get us into position for the best photos. His knowledge of animal behavior was truly impressive. I doubt there is a bird that he cannot identify. Truly remarkable. We saw many predators, herbivores, and birds as well as wildebeest crossing the Mara River.
The food was outstanding, particularly the hot lunches. Unlike many of the other safari companies I saw, we were provided with delicious hot lunches prepared by our accommodation staff. I don't know if all companies do this, but I thought it was a nice touch from ABCS. Also, the operations manager, Emmanuel, came and met us personally at the conclusion of our safari, to thank us for our business and ensure that we had a memorable experience. Another nice touch.
Prior to the trip, I read the reviews here and on TripAdvisor. I was a bit skeptical. How could one company receive so many positive reviews? Well, after experiencing their professionalism and customer service first-hand, I can say that ABCS is the real deal. They are legit. In an extremely competitive industry, with several excellent safari operators, few can match what ABCS offers: an exceptional safari experience at a fair price. You will not regret booking your safari with ABCS.
A few final thoughts. Tourism accounts for approximately 25% of Tanzania's economy. If you don't go with ABCS, try to go with a company owned and operated by Tanzanians. Also, your guide works long hours, often driving 10-12 hours a day. It is customary to tip your guide $10-$15 per day, per person. Finally, going on a safari is inexpensive. It's not a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia. It's an investment in an experience you can get in few other countries. Be open to what nature has on offer. Thank you.
Email Conor | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely professional, kind and friendly.
We did a 5 day 4 night budget/camping safari with African Big Cat safari’s and it was a 5 star experience! Our guide Obed was extremely accommodating and tailored each day to our wants and needs. Obed had in depth knowledge on all the national parks and the wildlife within them, he answered all of our questions and helped us seek out the wildlife we were most interested in. We saw all the wildlife we wanted to see and more- it was an unforgettable experience.
The whole trip was well organised and went smoothly- we couldn’t have loved it more!!! Also the food provided by our private chef Dickson was delicious- he prepared a wide variety of food each day and made sure we never went hungry.
Booking the trip via the safari bookings and then communicating with the team via email was a simple and easy process. I couldn’t recommend African Big Cats safari’s enough we had the most amazing trip and felt safe and comfortable at all times. We will definitely be back again for another Safari!!
BE
Email Diana C | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
" I will be back ! "
The Mara river crossing and Ngorongoro was my third safari with African Big Cats this year .
After a first trip in februari (Northern circuit and Ndutu ) , the second in june ( Selous / Nyerere and Ruaha ) , I ll simply have to come back to see the rest of this fascinating country .
