African Big Cats Safaris
- Offices In:
-
United States
Australia
Canada
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $1,100 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
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Email Garth B | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An unforgetable experience
We started our search a year ago. We contacted 6 companies, but narrowed it down to 3 when we saw some companies wanted you to pay on arrival in Tanzania. We spent a few weeks comparing the different lodges and accommodation. Joshua was our initial contact and we appreciated how flexible he was with changes to the lodges. We planned to visit in June, but told him seeing the migration was the main reason for our visit. At his suggestion, we changed to the end of July. What a great suggestion! We finally decided on a nine day / eight luxury safari.
Once our deposit was paid, Naomi was our contact person. We decided to add an extra day so we could see Mount Kilimanjaro. She was able to rearrange our itinerary so we do that. She also contacted us when we had to change lodges in Tarangire due to the lake being flooded.
A few months later we had a few questions and sent numerous emails which weren't answered. We finally resorted to writing a WhatsApp message, which was answered almost immediately. Somehow my emails went into a spam / junk folder. I can understand how that happens, but got worried when my two emails for confirmation of payment weren't answered. This was the only issue we had.
Our guide Obedi met us at Kilimanjaro Internation Airport. He was an amazing guide and was very knowledgeable on the vegetation, animals and birds that we saw. We really enjoyed his great sense of humor. Driving around Tanzania can be very hair-raising but I didn't ever feel unsafe with his driving.
The Operating Director Emanuel met us in Arusha to discuss our experience with the company so far and to discuss our itinerary. I really appreciated this personal touch. We met him after the safari too.
Our first night was spent at the Tumbuli Lodge in Arusha. We really enjoyed the relaxed environment and the grounds are like a botanical gardens. I would highly recommend it.
We spent two nights at the Intimate Camp Zebra in the Northern Serengeti. It was a few minutes drive to the Mara River to see the migration. The airstrip is also close by. At night we had wildebeest and zebra moving around our tent. I can understand why you needed a guide to lead you at night.
We got to see a few hundred wildebeest crossing the river. Obedi was in radio contact with the other guides, so was able to get us great viewing spots. At one stage everywhere you looked there were wildebeest. Amazing!
We saw lions every day. We also saw cheetahs, a leopard (stalking a wildebeest crossing the Mara river), herds of elephants, buffalo and numerous birds species. The only member of the big 5 we didn't see was the rhino. Obedi really went out of his way to find one in the Ngorongoro Crater, but unfortunately we didn't see one!
Our last night was spent at Kambi ya Tembo in the Western Kilimanjaro. This was our favorite lodge. Sylvester and his staff made us really welcome. There were only 2 safari vehicles in the camp, so we enjoyed the tranquility. The game drive was very unique and I suggest it.
We hoped to see Mount Kilimanjaro but it was covered in clouds. Maybe next time!
We would highly recommend Africa Big Cat Safaris. My friend and I had an amazing experience. The lodges were great and Obedi our guide was amazing. Ask for him when you make your booking. He was extremely patient when we wanted to stop to take photographs. He also makes excellent coffee.
One suggestion: If you have to get from Tarangare National Park to North Serengeti take a plane. The nine to eleven hour drive on dusty, bumpy, wash board roads wasn't fun.
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Email Nisha | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable
Overall had a great experience with our tour guide. He was nice, funny and kind. You can tell he is passionate about the safari. He was knowledgeable and provided great information. I enjoyed him and the pleasant experience.
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Email Achal | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a wonderful experience.
It was very well organized. Ernest, William, Naomi and Emanue did a great job from start. There were some change of plans at last minute which they were able to adjust for us. I will definitely recommend others to use this company. Few things that I noticed that could have been better are:
- Few other land cruisers had better setup for passengers like charging board, a small platform to keep mobiles etc. Not saying that this jeep did not have any but it was better in other cars.
- They could have recommended us a better route initially as we were new to this country but they were able to adjust our plans during the trip. As per original plan, we were traveling for straight 2 days - Karatu to North Serengeti and back whereas they could have recommended to stay in central Serengeti for a day where you see all big cats. Nonetheless, team was quick and changed our accommodation which was great service.
Reply from African Big Cats Safaris
Posted on Oct 19, 2024Dear Achal,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us your feedback, and we’re thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience with African Big Cats Safaris. We’re glad that Ernest, William, Naomi, and Emanuel were able to provide you with a well-organized tour and make adjustments when needed. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
We appreciate your insights on areas where we can improve. We’re always looking for ways to enhance the experience for our guests, and your comments about the vehicle setup and the initial route planning are valuable. We will certainly review these points to ensure a smoother experience for future travelers.
Once again, thank you for choosing us for your safari adventure, and we hope to welcome you back in the future.
Best regards,
African Big Cats Safaris
GR
Email Illias | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organised and awesome experience
Our safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro was an incredible journey through some of the most stunning landscapes and wildlife we’ve ever seen. The itinerary was thoughtfully curated, and we enjoyed most of the lodges, which were comfortable and provided a perfect retreat after long days of exploration.
However, there were a few aspects that didn’t quite meet our expectations. The overall cost seemed a bit steep for the experience, and we felt that it was slightly overvalued. Additionally, the car air conditioning was not working and there was a lot of dust in the road that made the experience uncomfortable.
Despite these minor issues, we had an amazing time and would recommend this safari to anyone seeking an unforgettable adventure in Tanzania.
Email Raj | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great guide, but improve city driving, vehicle condition, and dietary requirement handling.
I would like to express my gratitude for the exceptional experience provided by our safari guide. His expertise and keen eye were evident as he spotted most animals before any of us did, all while driving. His ability to navigate and provide insightful commentary greatly enhanced our safari experience.
However, there are a few areas where improvements could be made. The drive through the city felt quite fast and aggressive at times, which made me a bit anxious about the possibility of a collision. A more relaxed driving pace would contribute to a safer and more comfortable experience for passengers.
The safari vehicle itself felt somewhat old and worn. Specifically, the door handle on my side was not functioning, making it impossible to open the door from inside the vehicle. Additionally, I was unable to open my window, which detracted from the overall comfort and enjoyment of the safari.
Moreover, despite emailing and confirming our dietary requirements in advance, there was an issue with my son's meal. He has an egg allergy, yet he received a meal containing eggs and had to rely on snacks and medication as a result. After bringing this to the driver's attention, all subsequent meals were accurate and met our needs. I appreciate the prompt resolution but believe that more attention to dietary requirements from the start would prevent such issues.
In conclusion, while the safari guide's expertise and the overall experience were commendable, addressing these areas would significantly enhance the quality of service. Thank you for considering this feedback.
Reply from African Big Cats Safaris
Posted on Jul 19, 2024Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback about your recent safari experience with us. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the expertise and keen eye of our safari guide, and we’re glad that his insightful commentary enhanced your experience.
We sincerely apologise for the areas where we fell short of your expectations. Your comments about the city driving are duly noted, and we will work with our guides to ensure a more relaxed and comfortable pace for our passengers.
Regarding the condition of the safari vehicle, we are sorry to hear about the issues you faced with the door handle and window. Further more due to the overall road conditions inside the parks especially Serengeti, issues like these may happen, even if we maintain our vehicles to a very high standard before and after every tour. Ensuring our vehicles are in optimal condition is a priority, and your feedback helps us identify areas needing attention. We will address these maintenance concerns promptly.
Regarding your sons dietary restriction, the information that was relayed to us only requested vegetarian meal option for one person which we catered accordingly, we did not receive the information about eggs allergies. We understand the seriousness of food allergies and the discomfort and worry they can cause. It is good to hear that the issue was resolved for subsequent meals.
Thank you once again for your constructive feedback and kind words about our guide. We are committed to improving our services and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with an even better experience in the future.
Best regards from ABCs team