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:
- $380 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
CR
Email Jose Luis Salinas | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing company. We did the Kilimanjaro and then Safaris is 4 National Parks and all were impressi
II is a fantastic firm
I strongly recommend Africa Big Cats Safaris
All the personal are super professional with an outstanding attitude
DE
Email Frank and Katharina | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent
We had wonderful five days in serengeti, ngorongoro, lake manyara, tarangire, saw big five and more, juma knows all the good locations, we loved embalakai-lodge, sleeping in endless serengeti!
US
Email Paula | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Venance was super knowledgeable and became a member of our family!
African Big Cats was awesome! We had a wonderful guide, Venance, who knew everything about all the animals and was a cautious driver to not invade or disrupt the animals. He also adjusted the drinks in the vehicle to meet our specific diet requirements and tastes. The overnight locations were LOVELY and all so different. From the start, we were able to adjust our itinerary to meet both our interests and our budget. Emmanual in the office, also SAVED us when we needed assistance with where to stay after the safari ended. He handled everything without blinking an eye when our previous plans fell apart DURING the Safari. I was able to relax and enjoy everything knowing he was handling other arrangements for us. He went over and above for sure! We HIGHLY recommend African Big Cats!!
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Email Elise | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dream come true
Better than hoped in the wildest dreams.
Already before you trip you will notice that the team of Big Cats really takes care about your wishes and concerns and will consult you to find the best individual plan for your group. We opted for a 5 day safari including Tarangire, Ngorongoro Krater, Lake Manyara and most importantly Serengeti.
Once stepping out of the aiport, you find your guide for the Safari waiting for you. The expert guide and expert driver will make sure you will have a great experience. In our case, we cannot imagine having a better guide that Venance.
We instantly knew we were in good hands, experiencing Venance driving the spacious 4WD through the roads (and passages without roads) of Arusha while already explaining interesting facts all along. Based on previous experiences in Tanzania we know that it is not a given that a guide is pro-active in explaining what, why, how, when is coming next. With Venance however, we had not only a guide and expert that explained everything, but also a great conversation partner during the whole trip.
He said that we were lucky to see all the animals and their interactions (all big five and much more like a lively cheetah etc.) in our limited time (late December 2023). It is however evident to us that it is mostly due to Venance, who was never tired of finding the right spots and most importantly getting the right information through exchanges with other guides (4WDs without a radio, might be rather at a disadvantage information wise).
So all in all very very recommended. Enjoy!
DE
Email Paul & Ilaria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simply the best!
We trusted African Big Cat Safaris for our honeymoon and we can say we made an excellent choice! They carefully guided us and structured the itinerary according to our wishes, suggesting which park to visit according to the migration of the animals. Communication was excellent not only during the organisation phase (we are from Germany) but also once we arrived in Tanzania. The team was very kind and well-prepared. They provided us with all the information, itinerary and phone numbers both before the trip and on site. On our first day, the company manager Emanuel explained us the itinerary again and gave us useful information about the customs and traditions of the people in Tanzania (Asante sana Emanuel!). Throughout the organisation and the safari we felt listened to and cared for. Our safari was 5 days and four nights and we visited: Tarangire, lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti. Our guide Endeni was highly prepared not only about the animals but also about the sightseeing and places we visited or passed through.
He always gave us interesting information about tanzanian history, economy and also about the social and political changes. Careful driver and incredible observer Endeni always strived to make our safari experience exciting and romantic. We spotted many animals and all the big 5 thanks to Endeni's experience and good communication with colleagues and park guards. He always drove us to areas where we could enjoy the animals without being surrounded by 30 other jeeps.
All the location booked for the night were nice and clean. We felt welcome and the food was delicious.
ASANTE SANA African big cat safari for the fantastic experience and for guiding us through the wonders of Tanzania!
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Email Laura | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
See the big cats and more!
This was an amazing trip! We took a 4-day safari from Arusha to Mwanza and African Big Cat Safaris was fantastic from communication before the trip until we said good-bye. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, how to get the best views, local culture, and all the animals. He knew the genus and species of all (almost 100!) birds! This was a great value for money. We stayed in beautiful lodges with good food. Everything was taken care of. I would highly recommend them! We did indeed see the big cats-- lion, cheetah, jaguar-- in addition to so many more animals.
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Email Dimitri | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable operator, interesting program of parks and made our dreams come true
We went on 5-days safari tour in december 2023 with Khalid as a guide and driver. We really enjoyed how the African big cats safaris built up the program with the Ngorongoro and Serenghetti as the climax of the safari. We managed to see all big five! We chose the mid-range accomodations offered by the safari operator and were satisfied with our choice. Khalid really knows his stuff and you can ask him any questions that might pop into the head. We also liked that the African Big Cats Safaris values their clients and does both debrief before the safari and does the evaluation of the trip afterwards.
US
Email Jonathan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Tour Operator in Tanzania with the Best Safari Guides
We clearly made the right decision in going with African Big Cats Safaris. We can talk all day about the incredible landscapes, the unbelievable wildlife, and the delicious food served at great and comfortable accommodations, but I want to talk about our guide and friend, Endeni. Endeni is an incredible guide, educator, family man, and simply put, an amazing human being. Given the care that Big Cats puts into planning and executing its safaris for customers, I am sure that our trip would have been great whoever the guide, but Endeni made it special. He knew when and where to look for animals, which was further facilitated by his tapping into his many connections and frequently listening on the radio for updates. Or, just based on his past experience, his instincts led us to where the animals were. It was no problem for us to see the big five and is worth noting that we spoke with other travelers being guided by other tour companies on the exact same itinerary, who did not see the big five and other great animals that we saw. Endeni's ability to spot animals with the naked eye from long distances was extraordinary, and when other drivers were stuck in the mud, he really knew how to utilize the Toyota Land Cruiser and consistently drove us right through deep muddy waters with no issue. His knowledge of wildlife, vegetation, and local culture was incredible. When not on a game drive he would give us history and culture lessons to prepare us for the next destination we were heading to. He also taught me a lot of Swahili! I kept asking him for new words each day so that by the end of the trip I could have a basic dialogue with the locals (and it really came in handy after our safari, in Zanzibar). Endeni was also passionate about sustainable tourism and respecting the landscape as it is, so that these incredible places can be preserved for generations to come. We respected this about Endeni and Big Cats because not all other tour operators feel the same way. When Endeni was not guiding us on a game drive or teaching us the language, he was putting our lunches together and serving us delicious meals in a heavy cooler that he carried. He was cleaning the car every evening after a long game drive. Endeni and the guides of African Big Cats are superhuman and will contribute heavily to the incredible experiences you will have if you go with African Big Cats.
NL
Email Rutger | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good and reliable tour operator
We hesitated between two tour operators, but we are glad we went with African Big Cats Safaris. They have a diverse program (which they also tailor to your wishes). Well set up in terms of diversity in parks, accommodations, activities, and culture/nature. Our guide Lodi was very enthusiastic and well trained, so he knew a lot about what we saw in terms of nature, animals, culture and infrastructure.
Accommodations were always good, clean, and very friendly staff. Food was always well prepared, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. You really won’t be short of anything.
We also saw the big 5 and many other animals up close, sometimes a few meters from the car, partly due to Lodi’s experience.
All in all an unforgettable trip, and we can recommend African Big Cats to everyone!
(automatic translation from Dutch)
AT
Email Bettina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A dream come true!
Doing a safari was something I have always wanted to do: I love animals and wildlife, and seeing the plains of the Serengeti, the beautiful landscape of the NgoroNgoro caldera, and many more landscapes was something I've dreamt of since I was a child.
I set of with finding a locally based company do plan my trip and found African Big Cats Safaris (ABCS) based on the positive reviews I found in the internet, and they were all right! I booked a 9 days/8 nights safari with 3 of my friends, and with the help of the wonderful people at ABCS, all my wishes were incorporated and we got feedback on what might be a good add-on or not so good: We visited Lake Manyara, where we also had a Night Game drive, then went on to Ngoro Ngoro, then were in the Serengeti for 3 days, followed by visiting Lake Natron with a wonderful hike to a hidden waterfall that we had all to ourselves, and finished with Tarangire National Park.
From the moment we arrived, everything went just perfectly: We were picked up and brought to our accommodation, met Emanuel to discuss our upcoming trip, and spent our first night in Arusha. I highly recommend having a buffer day before you start, our flights were nearly 9h delayed, so we really needed the buffer day.
Once the safari started, we were blown away!!! Lions, elephants, and buffalos on the very first day! The hauntingly beautiful landscape of Lake Manyara; the amazing wildlife of the Ngoro Ngoro: wildebeest, zebras, antelopes wherever you look! And in between, if you're as lucky as us, even a serval cat, a baby leopard, and 4!!!! rhinos, including a baby! Granted, all from a distance, but we hadn't thought we'd be so lucky!
Then the many faces of the Serengeti - green bushland, golden plains, rocky outcrops with lions throning on top; cheetah families feasting on their fresh kill, and baby lions joining their Mom for dinner; rock hyrax and mongooses of all variations (I LOVE!!! dwarf mongooses now, they are the cutest), birds of all the colours of the rainbows it feels like, and unexpectedly, also here tree climbing lions. =) Only the leopards almost completely eluded us, those sneaky guys... just one more reason to go there again!
Then Lake Natron, which was maybe indeed a bit too far away, as we probably "wasted" overall a day of driving to get there and back; but it was definitely worthwhile seeing it once. The landscape is completely different again, you have all those flamingos, a different climate, and then this beautiful hidden landscape. And then, last, Tarangire National Park, where we saw again lots of animals and especially birds!
The lodges we had booked were "middle class" - but they felt absolutely luxurious! The people working there were amazing and so nice! Lovely people! The camp at Ngoro Ngoro crater rim was one highlight for us (the Rhino Lodge): in the morning, zebras and water buck grazing in front of our balcony; and at night, the little oven to keep us warm. <3 And then, even better: the tented camp in the Serengeti, where at night you might have buffalos grazing in front of your tent, you can hear the lions and hyenas calling at night, and in the morning you are greated by a pair of Dig Digs. The food was good and often we could ask for what we wanted for our lunch package, at the lodges we typically had buffet and could taste our way through.
Every evening we planned the next day, and everything worked without a hitch!
And last but not least: Our guide, Endeni, was just perfect!!! I can't stress enough how great it was to have him as our driver and guide; he was skilled with the 4x4 and we didn't get stuck even in difficult situations; he always judged the situations very well; he also was well connected and so we often heard about where to find lions, cheetahs or potentially leopards (we were just sadly always the 10th+ car and by then, the leopards are typically long gone, not liking us paparazzi too much ;)). Even while driving, he would spot an animal somewhere on the side of the road in the bushes, dozens of meters away, when we could barely find it without his help even with binoculars. Simply amazing! Plus, after he realized that I liked to engage with the Tanzanian culture, he also taught me some Ki Suaheli (like the words for the animals), and told me about the country and the people living there. He was always friendly and patient with us, and we had the best time!
The only bad part was... having to leave. =( It was an incredible experience, and we were even offered support for our stay on Zanzibar following the Safari. If you are looking for a company for your safari: This is it! I can't recommend these people highly enough. =) And if, by chance, you will get Endeni as your guide: Hearty greetings from the very talkative girl from Austria, who wouldn't stop asking questions ;) Mambo vipi!
