Team work makes a Dream work
Porcupine Expeditions
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2020)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
AT
Email Viktoria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari experience!
We had an absolutely amazing safari experience with Porcupine Expeditions! Everything was incredibly well organized from start to finish. The communication was great, everything went smoothly, and we felt really well taken care of throughout the trip. Such an unforgettable experience and beautiful memories! We couldn’t have asked for a better safari. Highly recommended! 🦁🐘❤️
HU
Email Orsolya | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari experience, but with some serious disappointments
We booked a 5-day safari in Tanzania with Porcupine Expeditions, but ended up being assigned to another company, Meru Slopes. This wouldn't necessarily have been a problem, but on a safari, your experience depends enormously on your guide and the people you share the jeep with.
During the first half of our first day, we had an absolutely wonderful guide named Thomas. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about his job. He told us so much about the wildlife, the parks, and even the Swahili language. He was also an excellent driver. Unfortunately, halfway through the day, we were told that we had to switch vehicles and would spend the rest of our safari with another guide.
Our new driver, Robert from Meru Slopes, was a completely different experience. On the first day, his driving was so rough that I felt extremely sick by the end of it. He also provided very little information about the animals or the parks. He answered our questions when asked, but rarely volunteered any interesting facts or explanations.
On the second day, we politely asked him to drive a little more carefully, as the constant bumps and sudden movements were becoming unbearable. He seemed offended and replied that he had been a guide and driver for 15 years and was already driving carefully. In my opinion, 15 years of experience should mean knowing when to slow down for sharp turns and enormous potholes. To be fair, he did drive somewhat more carefully after our conversation.
Another issue was the group itself. We were six people sharing one jeep, which felt quite crowded. Unfortunately, we didn't get along particularly well with the other passengers, and their behaviour often made the experience less enjoyable. Of course, this is very subjective and not something the company can entirely control, but it highlights how important group composition can be on a multi-day safari.
There were also two things that really bothered us beyond the organisation of the trip.
The first was the behaviour of some safari drivers around wildlife. Whenever an animal was spotted and guides informed each other over the radio, sometimes 10–15 vehicles would gather around it. We even saw drivers approaching animals to within about a metre, clearly disturbing them. In my opinion, this is neither responsible nor ethical wildlife tourism. Seeing wild animals should never come at the expense of their well-being.
The second was the waste management at our campsite in the Serengeti. We carefully collected our rubbish in the designated bins, only to discover that the waste was being dumped into a pit behind one of the buildings. Seeing a marabou stork sadly picking through the rubbish was heartbreaking. Is it really impossible to organise proper waste collection in one of the world's most famous national parks? This was extremely disappointing.
And finally, on our last day, Robert approached us to complain that we hadn't given him enough of a tip and clearly expected us to give him more. I found this incredibly rude and unprofessional. Tipping is voluntary, and directly confronting guests because you expected more is simply unacceptable.
Having said all that, the safari itself was still an incredible experience. Watching wild animals in their natural habitat was absolutely magical, and camping in the middle of the Serengeti, listening to the sounds of wildlife throughout the night, is something we will never forget.
Overall, I would recommend Porcupine Expeditions. They were extremely kind and thoughtful, picking us up from the airport, seeing us off at the end of our trip, and even getting us a pizza so we could have dinner. They organised the trip well, and I recognise that some of the problems may have been beyond their direct control, especially since we were assigned to another company's guide. However, I do think they should be aware of the experience their customers receive when working with partner operators.
Despite the disappointments, the beauty of Tanzania and the unforgettable moments in the Parks made the trip worthwhile. I would absolutely recommend experiencing a Tanzanian safari, and choosing Porcupine Expeditions.
CN
Email Guoliang Wu | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They treat me like family, but there are still some small details that could be improved.
For this Tanzania safari, I chose Porcupine Expedition as the ground operator. Looking back on the five-day, four-night budget package, I can give it 4.5 stars, maybe even 5, for the following reasons.
First, this is a ground operator run by a local business family in Arusha. Everyone calls the boss as Mama Anna. Although she is clearly a very clever businesswoman, she is also an extremely warm and hospitable person. She called me her child right from the start to the end, and also paid close attention to my personal reactions to the safari content. When she learned that I hadn't seen a large-scale river crossing in the Serengeti, she kept apologizing to me and promised to give me a free day in the northern Serengeti next time (In fact, it's normal not to see large-scale river crossings in this season). And when I returned to Kilimanjaro Airport, she send her daughter to pick me up and prepared a free lunch for me. In terms of service attitude, Porcupine Expedition is absolutely excellent.
Second, the guide and chef on this safari were also good. My guide genuinely delivered every item listed in the itinerary—when it said Full Day Safari, he really drove from sunrise to sunset, and along the way we truly saw many animals and many different related things. Most importantly, in Ngorongoro we found the large herd that had come over from the Masai Mara. Although it wasn't a river crossing, the vast, endless migration of wildebeest gave me an extremely powerful sense of awe.
Finally, on this safari we only changed vehicles once, on the last day in Tarangire, and both of my vehicles had only 4–5 people. Compared with the crowding during my Kenya safari, this was truly much more comfortable.
Now that I've covered the strengths, I should mention the weaknesses. There were mainly three.
The first was a last-minute itinerary change. Only after I arrived did they inform me that the northern Serengeti portion of the trip had been canceled. This made me very sad and disappointed at the beginning, because the very reason I wanted to go was to see the Great Migration in the northern Serengeti. "I went and didn't see it" and "I didn't go, so I didn't see it" are two different things, and what you can see in the central Serengeti isn't all that different from the Masai Mara. But later, I did see the Great Migration in Ngorongoro. Although it was still on a small scale, it saved me from a lifelong regret caused by the itinerary change.
The second was the tipping issue. I had prepared US$20 in tips, US$10 for the driver and US$10 for the cook, and the two Egyptian travelers with me gave the same. But when it came time for me to give mine, the guide got out of the vehicle and chased me all the way to my hotel room on the last night, telling me he thought the tip was too small and asking me to add more money, and telling me that the cook would need an additional tip the next day. This behavior also affected my good impression of him. Fortunately, US$30 isn't too big an expense.
The third was the accommodation issue, and this is also where I think Kenya beats Tanzania. Also a budget package, Tanzania's five days and four nights included three nights sleeping in tents, with hot water only on one night, not to mention Wi-Fi and so on. Still, on the night in Ngorongoro, wild zebras would show up outside the tent, which was at least a novel experience.
Overall, Porcupine Expedition's budget safari package is still quite good. Just like the one in Kenya, it's suitable for travelers who love adventure and don't have high requirements for accommodation. I think I will choose Porcupine Expedition again next time and recommend it to other Chinese tourists. But if I come again next time, I'll probably make the entire itinerary northern Serengeti, or head straight for the summit of Kilimanjaro.
DE
Email Emma | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Safari Experience with an Incredible Team! 🐘🦁❤
We couldn’t have imagined a better safari experience! From start to finish, everything was absolutely amazing. The wildlife we got to see, the breathtaking landscapes, and the unforgettable moments we shared made this trip truly special.
A huge thank you to our guide, Allen, who made the entire experience so incredible. His knowledge, passion, kindness, and enthusiasm made every game drive exciting and memorable. He always went above and beyond to make sure we had the best possible experience and created unforgettable moments throughout our safari. The same goes for our wonderful cook, Fedastian, whose delicious meals and warm, caring nature made the entire experience even more special.
Mama Africa always went above and beyond to make sure all our safari wishes and expectations came true, and her warmth, kindness, and the incredible hospitality of her entire family made us feel so welcome and cared for throughout the whole experience.
We would recommend this safari to absolutely anyone visiting Tanzania. If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience with an amazing guide, look no further! We are so grateful for this experience and will remember it for the rest of our lives.🦁❤️
DE
Email Franziska Pohl | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great 4-days safari i will never forget!
We booked a 4-days safari with porcupine expeditions on quite a short notice, but that was no problem for the tour operator. The price was really really fair and definitely worth paying! They were always super quick in replying and flexible according to our general and special needs and did everything to accommodate all of our 5-people group perfectly. The hotels / lodges / camps were always clean with friendly staff and nice surroundings and if there ever was even a small problem, they fixed it right away. The transfer from moshi to Arusha and back was really professional and easy. Our tour guide Alan was really nice, experienced and knowledgeable and took good care of us. He knew a lot about the animals, national parks and people of Tansania and he really made our experience special and unforgettable! He was funny, too, so wehad a great time with Alan! Our amazing cook Vedastian was really talented and provided delicious food all throughout the safari for all meals.
The safari with Porcupine Expeditions, the organisier Anna / Mama Africa and her daughter Aylin, the guide Alan and the cook Vedastian is something really worth it and i will never forget the experience!
Reply from Porcupine Expeditions
Posted on Oct 13, 2026Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted that you enjoyed your safari with Porcupine Expeditions. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we truly appreciate your trust and recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to Tanzania for another unforgettable adventure! Karibu tena! 🐘🦁
DE
Email Philipp | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent care from start to finish
We booked a joining safari for 4 days and it was amazing. The combination of 2 days Serengeti, and one day Tarangire and Ngorongoro was the perfect fit for us. This way we completed the Big Five pretty easily.
The Porcupine organization was really caring and made us feel like family. We received meals in Arusha on the day of arrival and day of departure for free and even the transport to the airport. Also we didn’t have to bother buying water because it was also cared for.
Choosing Porcupine was a very good choice and we would recommend. Also our driver Alan and cook Fedastian on the Safari did a really good job!
Reply from Porcupine Expeditions
Posted on Oct 13, 2026Thank you so much for your lovely review and recommendation! We’re happy you enjoyed your safari and felt like part of our family. Alan and Fedastian will be delighted to hear your kind words. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we hope to welcome you back to Tanzania for another unforgettable adventure! 🐘🦁
Email Helen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tour Operator did not disclose the details of a group tour correctly or in detail
I booked group tour with Porcupine and while the Safari itself was AMAZING, Porcupine did not disclose that other guests on the trip would all be staying at different accommodation. The result of this was that we spent easily 4 - 5 hours per day travelling to collect and drop off other guests. One evening, they expected the guide to drive an additional 2 hours in the dark in the Serengeti to drop me at an alternative location. It was already after 8pm. Effectively the result was tat I paid for a 6 day safari and in essence only got a 3 day safari if we remove all the unnecessary and undisclosed travelling. Furthermore, the operator made an error on my return flight to South Africa resulting in a 6 hour trip to the airport and back again unnecessarily. In the interim, the accommodation that I had paid for was cancelled and I was left at the Arusha Tourist Inn which was horrific. It was filthy dirty, I could not even use the bathroom due to the amount of mould and scum build up on the taps - this place has not been cleaned in YEARS. As a single female traveler, this location was not only unsafe but a health hazard. I have communicated respectfully and openly with Porcupine about my concerns however they are taking no accountability. I am so disappointed as this was a once in a lifetime bucket list trip
Reply from Porcupine Expeditions
Posted on Oct 13, 2026Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed the safari, but we sincerely regret that some aspects of your experience did not meet your expectations. We take your concerns regarding transportation, accommodation, and communication seriously. We apologize for the inconvenience and disappointment caused and will use your feedback to improve our services. Thank you for bringing these matters to our attention.
DE
Email Ida | under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator was incredibly kind, friendly and helpful, and made us feel very welcome throughou
We had an amazing safari experience and were absolutely satisfied from start to finish! We had a private tour, and our guide really did everything he could to give us the best experience possible. He was incredibly kind, friendly and knowledgeable, explained so many interesting things to us and always took the time to answer all of our questions. He put so much effort into making our safari special, and we are sure he would show the same dedication and enthusiasm on a group tour.
The organization was also excellent. Everyone we communicated with was incredibly kind, helpful and welcoming. They really tried to make everything possible for us and even arranged hotel rooms for us both before and after the safari, so we could freshen up, shower and get ready before our flights. The hotels were also very nice. We truly felt welcomed and cared for like family throughout the whole experience.
Overall, it was a wonderful and unforgettable experience, and we would definitely recommend this safari!
Reply from Porcupine Expeditions
Posted on Oct 13, 2026Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your private safari and felt welcomed and cared for like family. Your kind words mean a lot to our entire team and guide. It was a pleasure organizing your adventure, and we hope to welcome you back to Tanzania for another unforgettable safari! 🐘❤️
FR
Email Annie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Would 100% recommend, excellent service!
After contacting several safari tour operators, we chose Porcupine Expeditions, and it turned out to be the best decision we could have made.
My friend and I arrived on different flights, and the team kindly arranged separate airport pickups for both of us at no extra charge. Before starting our safari, we had a day in Arusha to relax and recover from our journey. We had originally planned to explore the city on our own, but instead, the team took the time to show us around, which we greatly appreciated.
From start to finish, they took care of everything, allowing us to simply relax and enjoy the experience without having to worry about a thing. We truly felt like princesses!
Mama Anna and her daughters were incredibly professional, welcoming, and kind. We encountered an issue during our safari, and they immediately did everything they could to find a solution.
We did a six-day safari followed by a one-day hike on Mount Kilimanjaro, and the entire experience was absolutely fantastic. Both our safari guide and mountain guide were knowledgeable and experienced.
The agency also helped us arrange a taxi from Zanzibar Airport to our hotel after the safari. Thanks to this contact, we were able to book all of our transfers and tours in Zanzibar as well.
We highly recommend Porcupine Expeditions. They made our trip completely stress-free and unforgettable!
Reply from Porcupine Expeditions
Posted on Oct 13, 2026Thank you so much for your beautiful review and recommendation! ❤️ We’re delighted that you felt cared for like family and enjoyed your safari and Kilimanjaro adventure. Mama Anna and the whole team truly appreciate your kind words. It was a pleasure being part of your journey, and we hope to welcome you back to Tanzania for another unforgettable adventure. Karibu tena! 🐘⛰️
Email Hassan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!! Mama Anna and Samantha make you feel like family!
Following the safari, I am recommending Mama Anna and her team to everyone I know.
Mama Anna and Samantha treat you like one of their own. And there were several examples of this. She insisted we had breakfast before the safari, insisted we had dinner afterwards and then insisted we get a private transfer back to Moshi, all on her own dime and arranged beforehand as a suprise. Mama Anna is truly wonderful!
The safari itself was wonderful. Saw all the Big 5 and the guide was great! Super knowledgeable and paced it just about right.
Only regret is that I wish I found Mama Anna and her company sooner!
Reply from Porcupine Expeditions
Posted on Oct 13, 2026Thank you so much for your heartfelt review and recommendation! ❤️ Mama Anna, Samantha, and the whole team are truly happy to know you felt like family. We’re delighted you enjoyed your safari and had the chance to see the Big Five. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we hope to welcome you back to Tanzania soon for another amazing adventure! 🐘🦁