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
IT
Email Alessia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond expectations
This was a truly wonderful experience that went beyond anything we expected. Thom's careful guidance and incredible knowledge allowed us to spot all the animals on our wish list, plus some amazing surprises! We wholeheartedly recommend booking a trip with Thom – he's fluent in English, incredibly organized, always on time, and remarkably well-informed.
RU
Email Yulia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best!
In January 2025, we went on a 5-day safari with Great Escape. And we also climbed an active volcano!
Let’s go step by step. Before this trip, we knew almost nothing about Africa and Tanzania. The idea to visit this country came to us spontaneously. We did some research online, read reviews on different companies, and made our choice. And it turned out to be the best decision!
We contacted the company via email, and Thomas responded to us. He patiently and warmly answered our hundred questions – from selecting the right itinerary to what clothes we should take for the volcano hike. At the appointed hour driver was waiting for us in Arusha with a sign, and our adventure began!
From the very beginning, we were given a fixed price for the tour, and it didn’t change by a single cent. We were provided with everything – food, accommodation, transfers – and our driver was always there to help and answer any questions.
We visited Tarangire, Serengeti, Ndutu, the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Lake Natron.
It was simply an incredible experience!
We had never imagined we could see animals THIS close and in such huge numbers. This isn’t a zoo, you’re not looking at animals through glass or binoculars – you’re right next to them. Gazelles and zebras run away when you approach, but lions and cheetahs don’t. We watched predators just a few meters away, and they didn’t even care about us.
As for herbivores – there are thousands of them in the savannah: zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, giraffes – no need to search for them, they are everywhere. Serengeti impressed us the most – if you’re going to Tanzania, don’t even think about skipping it!
The drivers are amazing! They communicate with each other via radio and share information about animal sightings. You can tell they are truly passionate about their work and want every tourist to have the best experience.
Speaking of drivers, we have to give a special mention to ours. We spent all these days with Denis – a master at spotting animals in the vast national parks!
But a driver’s job doesn’t end there.
Denis took care of us, making sure we got everywhere on time, ate well, slept well, used the bathroom when needed, and, of course, didn’t get eaten by a lion. 😅
Super reliable, super fun, easygoing, attentive, and caring. He shared interesting facts, sang along with his awesome playlist of modern local artists, wore the most stylish boots, and said his main goal was to make sure we ate a lot and slept well.
Over these days, Denis became our friend, and we already miss him!
The accommodations in all the selected lodges were simply amazing. We didn’t choose them ourselves but fully trusted Thomas’s recommendations.
Everywhere was cozy, warm, delicious, and friendly.
The tented camps in the national parks were just incredible! Unbelievable comfort in the middle of the savannah. There was hot water, electricity, internet, and large comfortable beds. Yes, sometimes the internet only worked at the reception, and the hot water came in a thin stream, but honestly, those were just small details. You could feel that the staff genuinely cared about their guests.
The volcano hike also went great. We had a guide who accompanied us to the summit and back. Huge thanks to him – everything went smoothly.
So, what about safety?
No issues at all. The entire trip was in a car and at well-secured locations. The people were friendly, always ready to help, and treated tourists with great care.
The trip exceeded our expectations in every way. Like many others, we had some skepticism about Africa, and some of our relatives even said goodbye to us “forever,” convinced that we’d either be sold into slavery or sacrificed to some local god. 😅
But in the end, Tanzania turned out to be welcoming, safe, and incredibly beautiful.
A huge thank you to everyone who made our journey so amazing.
The only regret we have is that we didn’t stay longer!
We hope to come back someday😊
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!
Email Winston | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Amazing First Trip to Tanzania
Our first time in Tanzania was unforgettable! With Thomas as our guide, we saw the Big Five in ten days. He speaks excellent English, is humorous, knowledgeable, and truly understands animal behavior. He always found the best spots for viewing and photography an outstanding safari experience. Highly recommended!