Adventure Your Way...
Charles Tours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2022)
- Member Of:
- TTGA & TLTO
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $160 to $1,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Jerrell | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Best of Ngorongoro: Incredible Host, Incredible Adventure and Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience!
An absolutely incredible experience at the Ngorongoro Crater thanks to Charles Tours! This truly was a once-in-a-lifetime journey, made undoubtedly exceptional by our phenomenal host, Amani Charles. His knowledge of the crater, wildlife, and the local ecosystem was boundless - he shared so much fascinating information, making every sighting and every landscape feel even more profound.
We weren’t just driven around, we truly experienced so many different areas of the crater, always finding the best spots and getting unparalleled views of the diverse wildlife. Amani’s passion was infectious, and his ability to spot animals that we would have otherwise missed was remarkable. This wasn’t just a tour; it was an immersive educational journey led by a true expert.
In addition, we visited the Elephant Caves, Endoro waterfalls, the Archeological Museum, Shifting Sands, and the absolutely beautiful island of Zanzibar. If you’re planning a trip to Northern Tanzania, I highly recommend booking with Charles Tours! Asante Sana, Charles Tours, and especially Amani, for such a magical and unforgettable adventure!
Reply from Charles Tours
Posted on Jun 19, 2025Jambo Jerrell,
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words! It was truly a pleasure hosting you in Tanzania. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the experience and appreciated the passion and knowledge we strive to share with each guest.
At Charles Tours, we’re committed to creating unforgettable, immersive and sustainable journeys—and your feedback means the world to us.
We look forward to welcoming you again in the near future.
Asante sana!
US
Email Ken E | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Birding Safari company in Tanzania. Communicative, Honest, Safe and boy do they deliver Birds!
I had the pleasure of joining a birding safari organized by Charles Tours for ten days in August, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. The itinerary included iconic locations such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Arusha NP, and Tarangire. I was fortunate to see nearly all of the large mammals close up-missing only the elusive rhino but my trip was focused on Birds and boy did Amani and Abdul from Charles tours deliver.
The birding aspect of the trip exceeded all expectations. I recorded 400 bird species and managed to photograph over 300 of them, thanks to the incredible expertise of my bird guide, Abdul. His deep knowledge of bird habitats and bird calls made every outing productive. 400 species in 10 days outside of migration is an exceptional total.
Amani, who organized the trip, did a fantastic job with all the logistics. From accommodations and meals to park entries, everything was seamless, safe, and well thought out.
There are hundreds of tour operators to choose from and we encountered many of them lost in the Serengeti so choose wisely.
If you're a birder or nature enthusiast looking for a well-organized, rewarding safari experience in Tanzania, I highly recommend Charles Tours. Their team's professionalism, local expertise, and passion for wildlife made this trip one of the best I've ever taken.
Reply from Charles Tours
Posted on Sep 23, 2025Dear Ken
Thank you so much for this outstanding review and for choosing Charles Tours for your birding adventure!
It was truly an honor to host you on this 10-day journey across Tanzania’s most iconic landscapes in northern Tanzania. We’re absolutely thrilled that you recorded 400 species (and photographed over 300!) — an incredible achievement that reflects both your passion and Abdul’s deep birding expertise.
We're also grateful for your kind words about the care and attention Amani put into organizing every detail. At Charles Tours, we take great pride in combining professionalism, safety, and local knowledge to create seamless, unforgettable experiences.
Your recommendation means the world to us — and we hope to welcome you back again in the future for even more birding magic.
Asante sana
TW
Email Wen Jie, LIN | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not only is the guide a professional birdwatching expert, but throughout the entire trip, I was well
Not only is the guide a professional birdwatching expert, but throughout the entire trip, I was well taken care of in terms of food, clothing, accommodation, and transportation.
Due to other itinerary constraints, I only had two days to arrange birdwatching activities in Tanzania. I found Charles Tours through SafariBookings, and they offered a two-day birdwatching tour in the suburbs of Arusha that also welcomed solo travelers (Note 1).
I arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport on October 2, 2025, and Charles Tours helped me with the transfer from the airport to the hotel I booked myself. Compared to the transfer fees I found online, it was about $10 cheaper. So, if you plan to use Charles Tours as your guide in the future, you can also arrange the transfer with them.
This was my first time leaving Asia, so almost every plant and animal I saw in the wild was a first for me. But more than that, Charles Tours provided me with even more. When I was discussing the itinerary, I mentioned that I was primarily interested in raptors, and they tailored the existing schedule to meet my needs. During the two-day trip, we visited the suburbs of Arusha, Lark Plains, and Tarangire National Park, where we observed over 150 species of birds, including 22 species of raptors (Note 2)! While field observation does rely on luck, I believe that even with the best luck, seeing 22 species of raptors in just two days was possible because Charles Tours made thorough preparations—such as having a wealth of knowledge and experience about birds, closely observing throughout the journey, and customizing the trip to meet the client's needs.
Since my subsequent safari tour to Serengeti National Park was handled by another company, I got to compare and see just how rare the level of service provided by Charles Tours was. Some basic aspects that we might take for granted can actually be quite difficult to realize in this region. So, I’d like to list the advantages of Charles Tours:
1. A well-maintained, clean vehicle with air conditioning (other companies may not have this).
2. Safe and law-abiding drivers (for my two-day tour, the driver was the owner, Amani).
3. Hygienic and delicious meals (Amani knows good food).
4. Prompt responses and discussions regarding the client's requests (For example, I wanted to spend extra time photographing a particular subject, and not all drivers from other companies would respect their guests' wishes. I believe English proficiency was a factor here—both Amani and Nasr, the guides, were fluent in English and communication was seamless).
5. Comprehensive knowledge of birds and a genuine passion for them. While finding birds is a basic skill for bird guides, the most impressive moment for me was when we were birdwatching in Tarangire, and Nasr suddenly asked us to stop as we passed a large tree. He spotted a Verreaux's eagle-owl (a nocturnal species) sleeping in the dark foliage during our vehicle ride.
6. Not only birdwatchers, but Amani is also a bird photographer, so he knows where to stop the vehicle to give clients the best angles and lighting for photos—this was absolutely fantastic.
In conclusion, I was truly impressed by the two-day birdwatching tour provided by Charles Tours. Of course, we also saw many mammals during the trip. I believe if they can find birds, spotting larger mammals that are the main focus of a safari would be no problem for Charles Tours. I sincerely hope more people get to experience this excellent company, and once again, thank you to Amani and Nasr for treating me like a friend over the course of these two days!
Note 1: Before planning this two-day itinerary, I did some research on tours in Tanzania, most of which required a minimum of two people. This is likely due to the basic costs of running the tour. As a result, I ended up paying nearly the cost for two people.
Note 2: During the two-day birdwatching tour, we saw 16 species of eagles, 4 species of falcons, and 2 species of owls. The list includes:
Aquila rapax (Tawny Eagle)
Aquila spilogaster (Spotted Eagle)
Buteo augur (Augur Buzzard)
Buteo buteo (Common Buzzard)
Elanus caesius caesius (Black-winged Kite)
Gyps africanus (White-backed Vulture)
Gyps rueppellii (Rüppell’s Vulture)
Hieraaetus ayresii (Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle)
Icthyophaga vocifer (African Fish Eagle)
Melierax poliopterus (Grey Kestrel)
Milvus aegyptius (Yellow-billed Kite)
Polemaetus bellicosus (Martial Eagle)
Sagittarius serpentarius (Secretarybird)
Terathopius ecaudatus (Short-tailed Eagle)
Torgos tracheliotos (Lappet-faced Vulture)
Trigonoceps occipitalis (White-headed Vulture)
Falco ardosiaceus (Grey Falcon)
Falco ardosiaceus (Taita Falcon)
Falco rupicoloides (Red-eyed Falcon)
Polihierax semitorquatus (African Pygmy Falcon)
Glaucidium perlatum (Pearl-spotted Owlet)
Ketupa lactea (Verreaux's Eagle-Owl)
