We go an extra mile in bringing quality services
Great Escape Trails
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Member Of:
- Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
IL
Email Aseel Derawi | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable safari experience
We had an amazing experience with The Great Escape from start to finish. Even before our trip, the booking process was smooth and easy. The team was always available, responded quickly to every question, and made us feel confident and well-prepared.
A special thank you to our guide, Hans. He was incredibly kind, professional, and genuinely passionate about making our safari unforgettable. He did everything he could to make sure we saw as many animals as possible, and his knowledge and enthusiasm made every game drive exciting. More than just a guide, he felt like part of our group, and we never felt like we were with a stranger.
Thank you, The Great Escape, for an unforgettable safari experience. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for a well-organized and truly memorable adventure!
CN
Email monica huang | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A reliable, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring guide who made our Tanzanian safari unforgettable.
Our 4-day, 3-night safari with Great Escape Trails was an amazing experience, and our guide Hans played a huge part in making it so memorable.
Every morning, he arrived with a clean vehicle, made sure our hotel lunch boxes were loaded, and always prepared enough drinking water for the day. During the game drives, he had an incredible ability to spot wildlife quickly and always found the best viewing positions, giving us plenty of time to enjoy and photograph the animals.
What impressed us even more was his enthusiasm for sharing his knowledge. He helped us identify animals using our East African wildlife guidebook and patiently explained their habits and characteristics, making every sighting even more meaningful.
At the end of our trip, knowing that we were nervous about traveling on our own, he even took us to the bus station and helped us buy our tickets. That extra kindness and responsibility went far beyond what we expected from a guide.
Thank you, Hans, for all your help and for making this safari such a wonderful experience. If we come back to Africa in the future, we would definitely choose Hans as our guide again. Highly recommended!
KR
Email Seunghee | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly recommended!
We had an incredible 4-day safari experience in Tanzania, and a huge part of that was thanks to our guide, Hans.
From the very beginning, Hans was professional, reliable, and exceptionally kind. He always explained our daily schedule, routes, and plans clearly in advance, which made us feel comfortable and well-prepared throughout the trip. Safari days often involved very long hours of driving, but Hans never complained or showed any sign of fatigue. Instead, he remained positive, patient, and encouraging the entire time.
One thing that impressed us the most was his punctuality. He was always waiting for us before the agreed meeting time, ready to start the day with a smile. He never overwhelmed us with unnecessary information, but instead shared exactly what we needed to know, along with fascinating stories about Tanzania, its culture, history, wildlife, and local life. Thanks to him, we learned so much more about Tanzania than we ever expected.
Hans is also an outstanding safari guide. Throughout the game drives, he constantly communicated with other guides via radio and worked incredibly hard to locate wildlife for us. Because of his dedication, we were able to see the Big Five as well as many other amazing animals from close range. It was obvious that he genuinely wanted us to have the best possible safari experience, and his passion for wildlife was evident every day.
His driving skills were excellent, and we always felt safe and comfortable, even on rough roads. From the hotel pickup to the final drop-off, every part of the journey was handled professionally and with great care.
What touched us most happened on the last day. We arrived in Arusha around 7:30 PM and realized that we did not have the exact location details for our Airbnb. Without hesitation, Hans personally contacted our Airbnb host, coordinated everything for us, and made sure we could check in smoothly and comfortably. This was far beyond his responsibilities as a safari guide, and we were deeply grateful for his kindness and willingness to help.
Hans is not only a fantastic guide but also a genuinely caring and trustworthy person. Thanks to him, our first safari in Tanzania became an unforgettable experience filled with incredible memories.
If you are considering a safari in Tanzania, we wholeheartedly recommend asking for Hans as your guide. He truly made our trip special, and we cannot thank him enough.
Thank you, Hans, for everything. We will never forget this amazing adventure.
Email Douglas | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An extraordinary safari experience — beyond every expectation
We recently completed a custom-designed 10-day safari with Great Escape Trails to celebrate a milestone 50th birthday, covering Tarangire National Park, Lake Natron, the Central Serengeti, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park. The itinerary itself was tailored specifically for us, built out from a shorter trip to give us the experience we were really after. We researched four different operators before choosing Great Escape Trails, and we are so glad we did.
Planning & Itinerary — Thom
From the very first interaction, Thom set Great Escape Trails apart. He was responsive, thorough, and genuinely invested in making our trip perfect — working with us to custom-design our itinerary from scratch, helping us fine-tune every detail, and going well beyond his brief to advise on accommodation after the tour and how to make the most of any extra time we found ourselves with. That level of care and personal attention is rare, and it was the deciding factor in choosing Great Escape Trails over their competition.
Our Guide — Hans
Hans is, quite simply, exceptional. His knowledge of the wildlife, terrain, and ecosystems is extraordinary — and his ability to navigate the Serengeti without so much as a GPS seemed almost supernatural. In quieter areas, he drew on years of experience and deep personal knowledge; in busier locations, he used his network of fellow guides and his radio to make sure we were always in the right place at the right time.
The result was extraordinary. He got us closer to wildlife than we ever imagined possible — within metres of lion cubs playing in a tree, elusive leopards lounging on low branches, a cheetah with a fresh kill, elephant families crossing the road directly in front of our vehicle, and a large group of giraffes surrounding us completely. He balanced all of this with genuine respect for the animals and for other visitors. Worth noting too — the wet season arrived unexpectedly early, and Hans navigated some seriously challenging deep mud conditions with complete composure and skill. It never once disrupted our experience. If we had self-driven, we would not have seen a quarter of what we did — and we would almost certainly have been hopelessly lost, or genuinely stuck.
By the end of the trip, Hans felt more like a good friend than a guide. We had learned each other’s sense of humour, shared stories, and the whole experience felt warm and natural. Saying goodbye was genuinely difficult.
Accommodation
Once we hit the road after our first night in Arusha, every property delivered something special. The range was part of the adventure itself — a fixed lodge in the Central Serengeti, a mobile camp in Ndutu, an eco lodge near Lake Natron, and comfortable accommodation in nearby towns for the other nights. The level of facilities naturally varies across such a diverse itinerary, but every night felt right for where we were and what we were doing — beds were comfortable, food was generous, and hosts were warm and welcoming throughout.
In Summary
A self-drive safari might appeal to some, but we cannot imagine having experienced anything close to what we did without Hans and Great Escape Trails behind us. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip to mark a very special birthday, and Great Escape Trails delivered something truly bespoke — not an off-the-shelf package, but a trip designed around us. We would wholeheartedly recommend Thom, Hans, and the entire Great Escape Trails team to anyone considering a Tanzania safari — you will not regret it.
CA
Email Don | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable and interested in sharing his beautiful country.
What can be said. Totally awesome - the variation of animals; being able to see them in the wild living their life. Without Thom we would have missed some beautiful situations - his knowledge of the animals and their characteristics enhanced the trip.
Why go to this beautiful country without the BEST to guide you.
NL
Email Bo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
The four of us had a fantastic safari. Tom is truly the best and funniest driver imaginable. He immediately puts you at ease from the start and speaks excellent English. Perfectly understandable, especially for Dutch people. Tom knows the roads like the back of his hand and knows exactly what he's doing. He adapts perfectly to our needs. He's also clear about his expectations, such as what time he'd like to leave and the schedule for the day. One of our locations turned out to be unsuitable for overnight stays, and he had it completely resolved before we knew it.
Even during the safari, Tom drives incredibly smoothly and comfortably. He knows where to find the perfect spots and stops at the perfect spots to admire and photograph the animals (the photos are barely zoomed in). He happily jumps in front when possible, but always with respect for the animals! He's happy to back up a bit if he notices an animal is uncomfortable. His knowledge of the country and its animals is also commendable. Along the way, we learned a lot of interesting facts, and he was able to answer all our questions about the animals! In short, I would highly recommend Tom to everyone! We miss him already!
(automatic translation from Dutch)
NL
Email Martijn | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
Very good company. Everything is taken care of and most importantly the guide is great. He made us all feel comfortable right away and is really good at his job. 20 years of experience and it shows. He really knows all the best spots and is very knowledgable about the animals (including birds) and their behaviour. He could answer any question we had. The safari jeep is very comfortable and practical. Overall amazing experience and would recommend this company for sure.
FR
Email Mike | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing day trip!
I had only a few hours after a work meeting and before the airport. Great Escape Trails came to my rescue and showed me a great day. On time, informative and helpful every step along the way. They’re based in Moshi so they even dropped me off at the airport for free. Recommended!
Email Megan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
We went on a 9 day safari with Hans as our guide. This trip was everything I could’ve asked for and more. From first stages of booking and helping to adjust the itinerary and lodging to fit our budget, Thom was very responsive and a great help. Once we arrived, Hans constantly looked after us and made sure we were comfortable the whole trip, letting us view animals as long as we wanted, just so drive bys for those we’ve seen, and spend hours seeking the cheetah my daughter was desperate to see. All lodging was great with wonderful staff as well. Highly recommend, there’s so many larger companies out there but going smaller and getting this personalized service was amazing.
Email Mona G | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Adventure in Tanzania
My mom and I took a dream trip to Tanzania this September. We visited Arusha NP, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Natron. It was something we wanted to do for a while, and the trip turned out to be be better than we imagined!
From the very beginning, we were impressed by Thom, who handled all of our bookings and was very patient with us constantly modifying the itinerary. He was always very quick to respond - super grateful for that!
Our safari became a real adventure thank to our guide and driver Hans. He is a true professional, very punctual, attentive and knowledgeable. He looked after us all the time, and made us feel very safe (this was our first time in Africa). Thanks to his shar eye, we almost saw The Big Five (apart from rhino), as well as some animals we didn't even expect to see - hyenas, leopards and servals. We even witnessed lions on the hunt, as well as after the hunt with the prey right next to them. Seeing the migration of the wildebeest was truly breathtaking.
A huge thank you to Great Escape Trails and Hans for such an amazing trip., The atmosphere was always so positive, warm and fun. We made some unforgettable memories and would definitely recommend this agency for anyone looking for an unforgettable safari escape!