Join us for your African adventure!
Alika Africa
- Offices In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2004)
- Member Of:
- Association for Promotion of Tourism to Africa
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $180 to $1,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience
We had a wonderful 8-day safari with Duma Explorer. Great driver and guide! He knew very well where to take us so we could see everything we dreamed of seeing! Duma arranged the best places to stay and was so kind to welcome us in their head office in Arusha. We felt very welcome and supported in case we would need anything. They organized a great quality trip!
Email Jacqui Whitmore | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing 10 day safari
We booked with Duma in February for a trip this October. Stacy was fantastic about answering all our questions and booking accommodation we requested including specific rooms in hotels as recommended by other trip advisor reviews. This trip was for my 40th birthday and we saved very hard to go and it was worth every penny. We had a private safari.
We were met at the airport by a smiling Isack Msuya, who was a fantastic guide. He has 20 years experience and it shows. His driving was excellent, both on the main roads and in the park. When we went through rivers or mud and the back end of the car slipped he seamlessly slipped into 4 wheel driver and we continued with no pause. We felt safe and secure with him. He cleaned out the Toyota land cruiser everyday and there as plenty of water. As such our windows were always clean. We took our time and did not race around like some of the other companies. Leopard tours in particular always seemed in a rush.
Isaac didn't use the radio to locate wildlife and so we were often viewing wildlife on our own rather than being surrounded by 10 other cars. His spots were amazing. He found a cameleon in a tree whilst driving! How do you spot that. He found us all the big 5. We hoped to see leopards and tigers, but thought this might be tricky and by no means a given. We saw them on the second day, and by the end of our trip we were up to 3 leopards and 5 adult cheetah and 4 babies. We had no idea there would be so many baby animals around. Isack found baby lions, cheetah, warthogs, elephants, giraffe (one was just hours old) hippo everything. The only thing we hoped to see and didn't was the tree lions in Lake Manyara, but there are only about 30-50 left in the park. We saw lions chase and kill, and mating. Isaac had amazing knowledge of every creature and bird we came across and his passion for conservation is amazing.
We didn't know that you could request a guide, and we certainly would recommend Isack to anyone. He was SO friendly and so happy. He met us with a massive smile every morning and it stayed in place all day. He didn't chat for the sake of chatting which we liked, but answered our questions patiently and with interest and enthusiasm and had quite a few funny and interesting tales to tell about his experiences. We had no idea we would see so many wildebeest and zebra. On my birthday we took a balloon ride which was a legacy from my Granny, and it was amazing. It lasted an hour and we saw so much including swooping down over a herd of wildebeest who did the running thing just like you see on the TV, and we heard elephants trumpeting. It was followed by a champagne brunch, where there is plenty of champagne flowing.
I would recommend Northern Serengeti and Tarangire to all as the wildlife are amazing and very plentiful in October and you are away from the crowds of the central Serengeti. That said if you only have a short time, you can and probably will see everything bar Rhino in the centre. Lake Manyara is a completely different park, and were found several companies tried to dissuade us from going here, especially with ending our trip here. You won't see the big 5 here but it is beautiful and we saw elephants, giraffe, hip, baboons, and loads of different birds.
We stayed at Tarangire Safari Lodge in the furthest away tent from he building number 22. We were escorted after dark here and everywhere we went inside the parks. This was a great tent with a proper bed and bathroom, and an amazing view into the valley below where we watched the wildlife. The roar of lions was a little disconcerting. We saw antelope outside our tent and a group of baboons passed by.
In the northern Serengeti which is a long day's drive from Tarangire we stayed at the Bologna camp where the staff couldn't do enough for us, and all your drinks are included. The tent was amazing, and they prepare you a hot shower everyday at your request with 10 mins notice so they can heat the water. Outside our tent were Water buffalo, and the setting was beautiful.
In the central Serengeti we staying at the Serengeti Serena hotel. We requested a top room which had a beautiful view especially at sunset. The staff here were the least friendly and the reception desk rally didn't want to know. They didn't explain anything, and we had no idea we were supposed to wait after dinner to sign a ticket for our drinks, and were made to feel like criminals for walking to the bar after diner. we had assumed giving our room number would have been enough. The security guards and the porter were very friendly.
In the Nogorongo conservation area we stayed at the Sopa Lodge which was beautiful with very friendly staff, and a turndown service which included hot water bottles which we didn't need. We had an upper room with a great view, and if you get here for sunset its very good. We did a crater rim walk which was interesting, but this takes time out of your time in the park. Each fee gives you exactly 24 hours in the park, and we would, with hindsight, have missed the walk and had more time in the crater the next day. Its worth an early morning start too.
Our last night was at the Kirurumu tented lodge, where the staff were lovely but the accommodation whilst initially looking amazing, (you have a tent on top of a building on the cliff edge) actually could do with a fresh coat of paint and some of the wooden boards of the lower balcony were rotting.
The food everywhere was of a good standard and there was at least something for the vegetarian, more if you eat fish. Lunch boxes were massive, and healthy. It would have been nice to see some traditional food rather than European buffets.
We were very sad when the time came to say goodbye to Isack and head back home. It was a fantastic trip and we cannot recommend Isack and Duma more highly.
US
Email Sam | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wilson Shange was an exceptional and attentive guide. We highly recommend his services.
Duma Explorer Guide Wilson Shange was tremendous. We spent 5 days with him in May. He was very well informed about the area and the wildlife. He is also very well known with numerous contacts in the Arusha area. He is very easy going, thoughtful and extremely helpful and accommodating.
Even prior to our safari, he was accessible and extremely helpful. Two days before our safari, a member of our group needed emergent medical attention. He contacted Shange (his preferred name) who then traveled to the hotel, talked with our companion, suggested (an excellent) hospital, arranged for transportation and then communicated with the hospital staff. When I arrived at the hospital, I was shocked when I learned that Shange was our safari guide. However, I soon learned that this was the type of attention, service and accommodation Shange would provide during our tour.
The safari itself seems to have been from a different world. Being in such close proximity to such magnificent animals and to watch and study their actions and behavior was surreal.
This was our first safari so I can't compare with a safari in the dry season but I felt like we saw a wide variety of wildlife. Maybe not as many animals as in the dry season but the advantage seemed that we often alone. We watched a pack of elephants for about 20 minutes before another safari tour came by and we had an encounter with a lone unruly male elephant for about 15 minutes. That was priceless.
Again, I would highly recommend Shange Wilson and Duma Explorer.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The PERFECT safari experience with an amazing outfit and guide!
I can't say enough great things about our experience with Duma Explore and Shange, our guide. From the moment we arrived they took care of every detail for us. The Duma camp is beautiful, the vehicle is clean & comfortable and the guiding was excellent, definitely ask for Shange if he's available. He has 18 years of experience and was a wonderful person to get to know throughout our trip. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
great safari with duma!!
The safari we did for 1 week with duma was great. The guide, Ebeneezer, can spot wild animals from incredibly far away. he is a very friendly, knowledgeable and reliable guide. We really enjoyed talking to him about wildlife but not only...he is also keen in speaking about economics, politics and the general situation of Tanzania. We definitely recommend a safari with duma!!