Makasa is owned & managed by Selma and Ngomi Kamm
Makasa Tanzania Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Association of Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CN
Email Patrick | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful trip in Tanzania
I knew Makasa from my friend and they went to Tanzania 9 years ago. They told us they did a great safari last time. And now, us. We chose to travel in August because we wanted to see the river crossing. And finally, we did. It was really an incredible scene and thanks a lot to our guide, Jacquer (I'm not sure if I spell correctly). He led us along the riverbank to search for wildebeest herds and, based on his experience, assessed their condition as they crossed the river. Besides, he also led us to find many other animals, including the Big Five. During the trip, he also helped my child identify different animals and explained various animal-related facts in a humorous and engaging way, which my child thoroughly enjoyed chatting with. The trip gave us a completely different travel experience than before. Thank you.
NO
Email Hans | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Masterclass in tour-operating! Attention to details and overview. You can not go wrong with Makasa!
We had an absolutely fantastic trip to Tanzania and in large part because of Makasa! Not only do they partner with amazing lodges and camps, but all the people working for Makasa, from the drivers picking us up at the airport to our guides taking us on safari, were all TOP class! We were three brothers with our families (3 kids each!) and grandparents. We were all very happy with our guides who were really great with the kids. My youngest daughter forgot her teddy bear at Ngorongoro and Makasa somehow managed to get it back to us before we left the country. Amazing! We are indebted to them for life for that and the amazing trip and memories we're left with! Worth every penny!
NL
Email David | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolute class
Our safari experience in Tanzania was truly unforgettable, thanks to our fantastic guide, Kelvin. He was incredibly knowledgeable about so many subjects, from local culture and language to the animal kingdom and native flora. One of the highlights was listening to him explain the delicate balance of the ecosystem and how the animals and plants we encountered all played a role in maintaining the biosphere’s homeostasis. His ability to bring nature to life made every sighting even more fascinating.
Beyond his knowledge, he was exceptionally friendly, attentive, and intuitive to our needs, always making sure we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. We also really appreciated him teaching us a few Swahili phrases along the way. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone visiting Tanzania!
NL
Email Florine | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our Safari was a wonderful experience, thanks to personal experiences and tailor made safari for us
Our safari experience in Tanzania was truly unforgettable, thanks to our fantastic guide, Kelvin. He was incredibly knowledgeable about so many subjects, from local culture and language to the animal kingdom and native flora. One of the highlights was listening to him explain the delicate balance of the ecosystem and how the animals and plants we encountered all played a role in maintaining the biosphere’s homeostasis. His ability to bring nature to life made every sighting even more fascinating.
Beyond his knowledge, he was exceptionally friendly, attentive, and intuitive to our needs, always making sure we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. We also really appreciated him teaching us a few Swahili phrases along the way. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone visiting Tanzania!
DE
Email Steph | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best safari experience as a family
Our safari with Makasa was, without a doubt, the best safari of our lives — and this was already our third safari.
What makes Makasa so special is the experience, knowledge and passion behind every detail. You can feel that their guides are exceptionally well trained and have years of experience in the bush. They have an incredible understanding of wildlife and nature and, above all, operate with genuine respect for both.
One thing that stood out to us again and again was their approach to wildlife encounters. While other vehicles sometimes rushed after the next “sensation”, our guides were confident enough to wait. They knew when patience would create the better experience — and very often it did. We would sometimes wait while others had already moved on, only to end up having a much more intimate and unforgettable encounter afterwards. That kind of judgement comes from experience. It is about understanding the animals rather than simply following the crowd.
Their driving skills also deserve a special mention. On roads like these, having a highly experienced and well-trained driver makes a huge difference — not only for comfort, but also for safety.
The same level of experience can be seen in the planning of the entire safari, especially when travelling with children. Makasa understands better than anyone we have experienced what families actually need. There was never a feeling of stress or constantly having to move from one place to the next. Everything was thoughtfully planned so that our children could enjoy the safari while we adults could have the very best experience as well.
We were equally impressed by the selection of the lodges and camps. They were authentic, beautifully located and carefully chosen, with a genuine awareness of the communities and social projects that can benefit from the money spent there. This is another detail that makes Makasa different.
Kimbilio is probably the perfect example. Makasa created a camp in one of the most magical places in the Serengeti. You can feel in every detail why they chose this particular location and why they built the camp there. It takes experience and passion to deliberately choose a region with fewer visitors rather than simply following where everyone else is going. The result is a completely different safari experience — more private, more authentic and much more connected to the wilderness.
And this is ultimately what Makasa has taught me about luxury on safari.
True luxury is not staying in a five-star luxury lodge every night. It is not changing camps every day. And it is not trying to see everything as quickly as possible.
True luxury is having the time to stay somewhere long enough to truly experience it. It is having a reliable, knowledgeable guide who knows when to move on and, perhaps even more importantly, when to wait. It is having the freedom to slow down and enjoy the moment rather than constantly chasing the next highlight.
And true luxury is the human connection: being genuinely welcomed and, at the end of your stay, being hugged goodbye by the entire lodge team because they have genuinely grown fond of you — not simply because they feel they have to say goodbye.
That is what Makasa showed me.
Their safari is not about luxury for the sake of luxury. It is about experience, authenticity, respect, time, passion and genuine human connection.
After three safaris, I can honestly say: **this was the best safari of our lives.**
We would choose Makasa again without hesitation.
Tailormade and very good in communication
Our first safari and we are so glad we choose Makasa! Everything was 5-star. From the beginning a very good communication. They made a perfect talormade planning of our trip. The fact that they have their own drivers was very important to us. Our driver/guide Kelvin was so professional and we also had soo much fun together. He is an expert in spotting the animals and we saw them all. Thanks Makasa for everything, best experience ever!
NL
Email Doreen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
For the second time with Makasa and fantastic again!!!
For the second time with Makasa and fantastic again!!!
In 2024, together with my three teenagers, I took a wonderful two-week trip through Tanzania with Makasa. For my boys and me, that was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have since been to Tanzania five times: that first special trip with my boys and the other four trips together with my partner.
During our most recent trip, my partner and I decided just two weeks before departure that we would actually like to go on a short safari. Because of my amazing experience in 2024, I immediately contacted Makasa again. Despite the high season and the short preparation time, they put together a fantastic 6-day, 5-night safari for us.
From Arusha, we first drove to Ol Doinyo Lengai and Lake Natron. The vast landscapes, Maasai villages, flamingos, and Lake Natron made a huge impression. The hike to the waterfalls with a Maasai guide was also absolutely worthwhile.
Afterwards, we drove via a beautiful northern route to the north of the Serengeti. We stayed two nights at Kimbilio Bologonja, a nice and small-scale camp, and then one night at Lobo, which was a bit more luxurious and in a beautiful location. Both accommodations were very welcoming, with incredibly friendly staff, delicious food, and comfortable safari tents. And after a long day on safari, a hot shower in the middle of the Serengeti was wonderful!
Our guide, Humphrey, made a very important contribution to this trip. A fantastic guide: professional, with immense knowledge of animals and nature, a great sense of humor, and above all, a wonderful positive energy. With him, we went in search of the famous Great Migration – and what an experience!
Despite the high season, Humphrey consistently managed to find routes where we hardly encountered any other jeeps. We regularly drove through the endless Serengeti with the feeling that we were completely alone. That true "Out of Africa" feeling was one of the most beautiful parts of this safari for us.
Organizationally, everything was also perfectly arranged from A to Z. When we were unable to arrange our flight from the Serengeti ourselves, Selma from Makasa acted incredibly fast and ensured it was arranged after all.
By now, we have visited many different national parks in Tanzania and gained experience with multiple organizations. That is precisely why I can say with conviction that Makasa was the best choice for us: personal, reliable, professional, and flexible.
After my fantastic experience in 2024, my expectations were high. The fact that Makasa has given us such a special trip again—and with just two weeks of preparation time during the high season—says it all.
Highly recommended. I can't wait to plan something wonderful in Tanzania with Makasa again in the future!!!
(automatic translation from Dutch)
NL
Email Mar | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Competent and involved tour operator
Makasa is a small company that has a lot of passion for Tanzania. They do their very best to make a memorable experience for you. They arranged very nice locations and the drivers were very friendly and capable. Thanks to the drivers we were able to see so many wildlife. The communication with Makasa was excellent. They helped us with everything we needed.
NL
Email Ayse Buyuk | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nakupenda Tanzania! (I Love Tanzania)
Jambo! Thanks to Makasa, we have just completed a fantastic family trip with children aged 9 and 12 (July 31 to Aug. 17, 2026) and look back on it with immense pleasure. From the first contact to the end of the trip, everything was very well organized. The trip was well put together with the desired combination of culture, nature, wildlife, and relaxation.
From the visit to the Chagga and the Maasai, the impressive Lake Manyara National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, the amazing balloon safari, and the river crossing, to our stay on Zanzibar – every place and every experience was so special. We highly recommend Osiligilai Maasai Lodge. What a fantastic choice! The welcome, the culture, the surroundings, and the experience were truly a highlight for us and, as far as we are concerned, an indispensable part of a trip through Tanzania. Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge was also an excellent choice. The location is truly beautiful and makes the stay extra special. In terms of luxury and comfort, we also found Ameg Lodge to be exactly what we were looking for.
A minor point of attention was that we found some accommodations, particularly in Karatu, to be a bit disappointing. We also found the tented camps to be on the cramped side, but the hospitality and food were fantastic!! Given the total cost of the trip, we had expected just a little more luxury, space, and comfort at these latter locations. That being said, the entire trip itself was unforgettable, and we experienced so many beautiful moments. Tanzania has stolen our hearts, and Makasa and our guide Medi made a major contribution to this special journey.
A big thank you to Makasa, Medi, and everyone behind the scenes for this unforgettable family trip! We would definitely recommend Makasa, with the tip to be extra critical when planning the trip regarding the level of luxury and space of the accommodations.
(automatic translation from Dutch)
Everything was perfect, the lodges, the guides, the flight and also the contact with the operator
The contact with Makasa was perfect, we could always ask for help. All the chauffeurs and guides spoke englisch and were very helpfull and always on time. All the adresses we stayed in were good or even very good. We saw a lot of animals. The Tanzanian people are so kind! We never felt uncomfortable. When you want to go to Tanzania and Zanzibar we advise you to book with Makasa!