Long way expedition Professional guides
LongWay Expeditions
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $450 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Leigh | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrific safari - saw everything, did everything, great price
To be honest, although experienced travellers, we found the prospect of organising a safari in Tanzania a bit daunting. So we were delighted when Responsible Travel suggested several safari operators, several in the UK and one in Tanzania, to approach.
The results were startling. The UK operators who replied (!) were fine, but notably pricey. The Tanzania operator, Long Way Expeditions, were much better value. Ann Nthigah, the co-owner and mastermind behind the organisation of the safaris, responded swiftly and flexibly to our questions, including technical issues such as organising local SIM cards for us, discussing routes, and adding an extra day late in the process. Really good customer service.
When we arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport, we were met by Ann's husband Abu, co-owner, guide and driver, and a splendid rugged 4x4 for our sole use. There followed a splendid 7-day, 6-night safari to 5 game parks: Tarangire, Ndutu (Ngorongoro Conservation area close to Southern Serengeti), Central Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater itself, and Lake Manyara. Stand-out elements:
- the wildlife was beyond all expectations. Going in January we saw the "Great Migration" around Ndutu - tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebra, plus all the Big 5 and as many other birds and animals as you could possibly wish for. We even had a lion kill one night just near our camp (1 unfortunate wildebeest, 4 lions) and were able to see it close-up, alone, with no other tourists in sight. Ngorongoro was another highlight with incredible herds of elephants close-up and many other species in a stunning natural setting;
- Abu was a great guide: steady, good company, knowledgeable. I noticed other drivers deferring to him a great deal. He seemed to know every single bird, animal and type of tree that we encountered. We also discussed all kinds of aspects of Tanzanian life, history and so on - a really enriching experience for which we were most grateful.
- I noticed that our wildlife experience, including the quality of our vehicle, the routes, and our guide, were as good as or better than anyone else we encountered - even though the price was comparatively reasonable. If you pay more, you don't get a better safari. All the 4x4s are identical. You might get more luxurious hotels. But our accommodation was perfect: comfortable, clean, and in Ndutu and Serengeti, magnificent tented camps in some of the most dramatic scenery you can imagine. The food was great, too.
In summary, an absolutely first-class safari, Made in Tanzania. Strongly recommend it.
Email Emily | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a lifetime trip!
We have had an incredible experience with long way expeditions!
From day one Ann was on board to help answer all our questions and make a tailor made safari trip to fit our plans! Ann made every aspect of planning this trip so easy for us. Even visiting us in the hotel the day before the safari to explain the plans and welcome us to Tanzania!
Abu looked after us so well whilst on safari! We saw so many animals, he knows the parks like the back of his hand. Always knowing which route to take and where best to find the animals. He is respectful of the animals and this meant a lot to us.
All of the accommodation provided vegetarian food for us and the places we stayed were stunning. Ann chose amazing accommodation for us! The meals provided were delicious and the picnic spots incredible.
We’d strongly recommend Longway as they really helped make the trip feel specific to what we wanted. They both go above and beyond to make your trip a once in a lifetime experience!
Thanks so much Ann and Abu!
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Email Jack C | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A life-changing holiday experience in so many ways.
I’ve never been more impacted by a wildlife experience than I was by my safari with Long Way Expeditions.
For the seven days that my partner & I were on our safari through Northern Tanzania with Abu, we saw more incredible nature, animals & scenes than I’ve seen in my entire life.
I knew that safari would be busy with other tourists, but Abu & his 15 years of experience with not only travel & running a safari business, but as a guide too, made my partner & I feel like the national parks were entirely our own.
He knew exactly which roads to take, how to spot signs of animals nearby, where to look for them, & how to avoid crowds. Some of the most outrageous experiences we had with animals were had with next to no one around.
These included:
- 15 lions & lion cubs on a morning stroll.
- A group of baby elephants playing hide & seek.
- A mother cheetah & her two babies mid-hunt.
- Thousands of wilderbeast mid-migration.
- Two leopards mating at sunset.
We saw other guides taking a far less experienced approach to the way they toured the parks. We caught a number of guides near-antagonising animals, clearly in an effort to rouse them for photo opportunities, resulting in their immediate distress. This lack of experience by others was also felt in just how quickly we saw some groups leaving parks, with companies clearly content at a more minimal amount of time with & exposure to animals.
Even in the little moments, like our lunch, we felt this difference. Whenever we would peek into other cars around lunchtime, we would notice what they were eating, usually chicken & chips with the occasional sandwich. But each day with Abu we were treated to phenomenal local food, still warm, with fruit, juice & coffee on demand.
Outside of the wildlife, the moments in between were spent chatting with Abu endlessly. His knowledge of not only animals & safari’s history, but the greater climate of Tanzania left a huge impact on us both, & captivated us for hours.
Our only regret is that Ann, his parter, & who he runs the business with, could not come also!
Their local experience, knowledge & care came through in everything that we did throughout our time. Abu knew everyone & every route to take. Every piece of incredible accommodation that we stayed at, both inside & outside of national parks was locally owned too. We learned not only about the animals we saw, but the infrastructure that supported our appreciation of them, & the local efforts to help conserve their future.
When you travel with a big international tour, it’s easy to feel like you’re just being ferried around from place to place. But when you book with a small business, that clearly cares deeply for what they’re doing, what you experience is something entirely individual to you.
When you support a local company, your money isn’t being sent via international payment gateways to offshore accounts that don’t stay within the country you’re holidaying in. Long Way may be young when compared to some other more ‘traditional’ safari companies, but in our eyes, supporting a locally owned business when the vast majority of safari companies are based overseas, was incredibly important to us.
Ann & Abu, Long Way’s owners, told us in our conversations that they have been working on getting a payment gateway that travellers are familiar with, when right now operators like PayPal can’t actually operate within Tanzania. We can assure you, through our experience, that they are absolutely to be trusted.
We’re so glad to have had our holiday with Long Way, & feel all the better for having met them. They’ve earned lifelong supporters not only because of the holiday we had, but because of the impact we felt from going with them.
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Email Lauren (Zelani) | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
There is no way to describe Abu in one sentence other than that he's absolutely incredible.
OH MY GOSH, WOW! I cannot say enough wonderful things about Ann and Abu. Both were very accommodating, kind and so loving. They took me in as a parent would a daughter, and made me feel safe and cared for. Abu listened to my requests and made them happen. As I have lived in Arusha before, Abu made it possible for me to take a walk down memory lane before and after my safari. He joined me for dinners mid safari so I didn't have to eat by myself and the conversations we had were absolutely lovely. Abu and I had so much drive and chat time, I now feel like I've known him my whole life. Abu found so much wildlife and patiently for me to decide when I was done and ready to move to the next thing. You can tell Abu and Ann are experts in the field and in business. My only wish is that next time, Ann join in on safari, I missed her! I am excited because Abu and Ann would like to begin to give back to the community, and asked for pointers and ideas on how to do so. I am really looking forward to working closely with them to accomplish some big projects. Asante Sana, Ann and Abu!
DE
Email María | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best team I have ever travel with (and I have traveled)
The walking safaris and the day Kilimanjaro hike were unforgettable experiences, and we have so many wonderful memories that we will cherish for a lifetime.
Your team's attention to detail and professionalism throughout the trip was exceptional. I appreciated how well-organized everything was, and it was clear that a lot of thought and planning had gone into the itinerary. The accommodations were beautiful and comfortable and the food was delicious.
I cannot thank our guides, particularly Abu, enough for their expertise and enthusiasm. They were knowledgeable about the wildlife and the local culture, and they made the entire experience even more enjoyable. They were accommodating and ensured that we were safe and comfortable throughout the trip.
Ann the head of the customer service team was extremely responsive and helpful in answering my queries before and during the trip. Your team's professionalism and dedication to ensuring a great experience for your customers are truly commendable.
Overall, we had an incredible experience with Long Way Expeditions, and I would highly recommend your services to anyone looking to explore Tanzania. Thank you once again for providing us with an unforgettable adventure.
PT
Email Maria Camilo | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
LongWay Expeditions thrive to share with us their knowledge/love of Tanzanian wondrous wildlife
I got acquainted with Ann+Abu (the knowledgeable organizers) via Responsible Travel in 2022. Communications with both are very easy since they are both very professional and have a great command of English, both spoken and written. Via many e-mails, I did organize with Ann my first trip with my son and in-law which we thoroughly enjoyed during 8 days in early September 2022; Abu was the attentive and caring Driver/Guide. During our many conversations Abu mentioned the Migration calving in Ndutu area as something very special. A few months after my return I started friendly communications with Ann in order to organize my solo safari, this time 10 days which just happened in February. I have enjoyed safaris before, but the inner quality, professionalism and care of Abu raise these safaris to another level of friendly interaction where we learn to appreciate animal behavior details, that enhance the whole experience. This time I always stayed inside the Parks: 1 day Tarangire, 4 days Ndutu, 2 days central Serengeti, it was awesome. I must say that I never read anything about Tanzania tourism, hence these wondrous experiences rely on their profound knowledge and love of Tanzania. I cannot wait to go again with my new friends ANN and ABU to those mesmerizing Tanzanian Parks. I know how extremely reliable they are in every sense, organize safaris with great care both in the perspective of enjoying the diversity of scenery and animals whilst paying attention to the client budget and choice of Parks and Lodge .
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Email Brigitte | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Super Safari experience
We had a great time with Abu on the safari. Abu is very patient and we saw so many nice animals really close to us.
Email Anna | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience with LongWay Expeditions
We went on a 4 day safari as a family of 3 (2 adults + child) with LongWay Expeditions. They were recommended to us by a UK Travel Agent "Responsible Travel" as their local partner. It was important for us to be able to tailor the length of the trip and locations to our needs, as well as to travel with a local tour operator. Ann has been very accommodating and helped us pick the best options, and was available to answer the queries as and when needed. We ended up picking the Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Lake Manyara; all completely different and absolutely worth visiting.
Nathan is a brilliant guide, not only did we see lots of animals, but his approach was very environmentally conscious and ethical. This was also of extreme importance to us when choosing a tour operator for our safari trip, and I can say I've sadly witnessed some other operators bending over backwards to satisfy the request of their customers, sometimes at the expense of safety or potential harm to wildlife.
We really appreciated Ann checking in on us before the start of the tour and afterwards, and loved the welcome gift!
I'll definitely be recommending LongWay Expeditions to friends and family!
IL
Email Sharon | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Safari
My husband & I , did a 7 day safari, Ann was always available for all my endless questions, our driver/guide Frank was very knowledgeable, extremely patient & nothing was too much trouble. The organisation was excellent, food, accommodation & our trip exceeded our expectations
Email Ana | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
LongWay Expeditions are a fantastic team, so well organize and friendly
My family and I did a custom made trip to the parks in the North of Tanzania (Arusha NP, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara) with LongWay Expeditions. It was once in a live experience! Everything was really well organized by Ann and the drivers, Abu and Nathan, were fantastic. They are all so knowledgeable and helpful. We saw an incredible amount of animals in very different environments. This is a trip I would recommend to everyone who love safaris.
I am looking forward to visit Tanzania again with the LongWay expedition team.