African Scenic Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 100-250 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, TATO, IMEC, KPAP, Travelife, CARBON TANZANIA & FAIR VOYAGE
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NZ
Email Anita | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Better than a trip of a lifetime
In booking our trip with African Scenic Safaris we could not be more thrilled with not only the amazing time we had but also the attention that we received before the trip even began. Amanda was unwavering in the high level of service she offered by answering the many questions we had, offering the best suggestion and solutions for what we wanted to do and any changes we wished to make. We were initially a little apprehensive about being in a truck with our driver/guide for six days but this was totally unfounded. Our driver Tom was incredible, he fit in like part of our family from the beginning and made sure that the trip was not only great for us but also for our two girls. It’s understandable that many families he has done safaris with in the past return time and time again to do it all over again. Tom’s knowledge extends to not only animals and the landscape but also to the country's various tribes, the environment, and the many different social and economic aspects of it – this was imperative in answering all of my husbands un-ending list of questions. Overall we were highly impressed with the service we received from African Scenic Safaris, the comfort of our vehicle, the standards of accommodation at all lodges/camp sites/etc and most importantly our driver/guide Tom. We will definitely be back at some time in the future and will look towards this company to help us arrange our itinerary – and of course request Tom!
Our sincerest thanks Amanda, Tom and the rest of the African Scenic Safari team for making our safari as amazing as it was.
US
Email Scott | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience
My wife and I just got back from our trip to Tanzania. We booked a 10 day safari through African Scenic Safari. We had a fantastic time. We visited Lake Natron, Serengeti, Ndutu, Ngorongoro, Lake Eyasi, and Tarangire. African Scenic Safari picked us up from our hotel in Arusha and dropped us off at the Kilimanjaro Airport for our flight back to Dar Es Salaam. Our guide Grayson was knowledgeable and friendly. He worked hard to make sure that we saw all the animals that we hoped to see (lions, leopard, cheetahs, etc). All the tented camps and lodges they booked us at were great and they took care of every detail. All we had to worry about was having a good time.
CA
Email Carrie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Perfect Honeymoon
My husband and I just returned to Canada after booking our honeymoon to Tanzania with African Scenic Safaris. We spent 7 days climbing Kilimanjaro (the Machame Route), 8 days on safari, and 6 days in Zanzibar (Zanzi Resort) all booked through African Scenic and as recommended by them. The only aspect of the trip we booked personally was our flights - to and from Canada and to Zanzibar. When looking to book our trip we knew we wanted to deal directly with a company based in Tanzania, instead of spending time and money dealing with a North American middleman. African Scenic was a dream come true. Amanda was incredible every step of the way. First and foremost, her response time is impeccable and she is great at conveying any and all information. We immediately felt at ease in our dealings with her and had no concerns or issues in wire transferring her the funds for our trip. Moreover, Amanda was ready, willing, and able to set us up with a private Kilimanjaro climb booked for the dates that worked for us with only a month and a half notice. Thereafter, from the moment we set foot in Tanzania, the service offered to us by African Scenic and their guides and cooks was fantastic. They were on time for every pickup and meeting and we had zero issues throughout our three week trip. Along the way we met other groups travelling with African Scenic (Kili climbs and safaris) and not one had a complaint about their experience.
Kilimanjaro - Amanda set us up with a private climb for less than the cost of the group climbs offered by many of the other companies. Our guide Joel, and assistant guide Emmanuel were fantastic. They were both very knowledgeable about the mountain and we felt completely at ease with them as our guides. Throughout the climb we were treated like gold - at no time did we feel as though our experience was lacking as compared to other groups on the mountain. As sea kayakers and campers in Canada, we are used to carrying our own backpacks and operating with minimal gear. On this trip it felt like we were completely taken care of, from start to finish - our tent was great (new and clean) and waiting for us at the end of each day, our mess tent was large and set up with table, chairs, and table cloth, we had hot water brought to us every morning and evening, plus the food was delicious and we never went hungry. On our summit night Joel timed our climb perfectly and we were one of the first groups to arrive just before the sunrise. Joel never ceased to give me a hand up when climbing some of the steeper parts of the trail and regularly offered to take my backpack, carry extra water for us, or help in any other little way just because he could. We took all of our porters and guides out for a drink when we finished our climb and can attest to the fact that they were all paid as per KPAP. In fact, we had none of the trouble other Kili reviews have mentioned like being able to meet and tip each of our porters in person - overall we found the process to be clear, transparent, and above-board.
Safari - on the nights we camped during our safari the gear provided by African Scenic was great (we had an enormous tent being enough to stand up in) and our cook Omari kept us extremely well fed (in fact our only 'complaint' was too much food). Omari even met us on our return to camp in the evenings with hot face towels and fresh juice. Our guide/driver Grayson made sure we saw everything and anything - even taking the time to drive us to little known and more remote areas in the Serengeti to see cheetahs when other groups were having no success due to it being a longer-grass season. Thanks to him we got to enjoy seeing 5 cheetahs in one day, including two hunts by a mother and her 3 cubs. We were the only car present to enjoy the moment and had lunch parked nearby the animals while they rested. At the Angata Migration Camp near Lake Ndutu (which was beautiful) we had a stampede of Zebra and Wildebeest go past during the night and at the Ngorongoro Crater we had a wild Buffalo grazing up against our tent. Otherwise we ticked off every single animal on our list (in fact we saw every animal on multiple occasions and several other hunts) and the ranger on our walking safari was particularly impressed that Grayson found 6 rhinos in the Ngorongoro Crater to show us. We had no complaints about our car (it had a pop-up roof, the interior was fine, there was a fridge to keep water cold, and there was a universal charger for our devices), and find it extremely absurd that some reviewers complain about their car getting a flat tire or other minor issues - you spend most of your time on four wheel drive tracks, including sometimes traversing river beds and other rough terrain - these things happen. Grayson even took the time to clean off our car at night, after we were back at camp relaxing, so it wouldn't be too muddy for the start of our next adventure.
Zanzibar - the Zanzi Resort was the perfect pick for the official honeymoon part of our trip. We immensely enjoyed relaxing in our villa with its own private pool after the two weeks of mainly camping and had many a breakfast and dinner down in our little secluded beach area next to the water. The food was incredible, as was the service. Kasia and Serengeti and the team at the Resort made sure every little detail was taken care of - including our private sunset boat cruise, romantic beach dinner, spice farm and Stone Town trip, and bottle of sparkling wine while watching the sunset from the pier. We couldn't be happier that Amanda recommended the Zanzi Resort to us for the end of our trip and will forever have fond memories of the time we spent there.
Funny and informative
Booked a 5 night safari for 3 people including my parents, which spanned Tarangire, Ngorogoro Crater and the Serengeti.
1. Our guide (Rasheed) was excellent. He was funny, inquisitive and very informative. He spoke very good English and managed our trip well. I found his knowledge and anecdotes very informative and it was a great way to learn about the animals and their importance to the local culture.
2. The trip was organised from the pick up to the drop to the airport and without missing a beat. The accommodations were great and I found the individuals at each of the lodges very friendly and approachable.
3. I found the price to be very fair and I found the pricing structure appropriate. It provided a level of certainty.
4. I would definitely recommend the company and I hope to arrange another trip but during the dry season.
Thanks
Harry
Email Eric Harris | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Safari ! A lifetime dream satisfied....
We enjoyed a four-day safari with African Scenic Safaris.... It was nothing short of excellent! The initial information provided by Amanda was accurate and helpful.... The guide, Tom and the cook, Charlie were the greatest, informative, friendliest, and the most humorous people you could ever meet... Tom provided so much interesting information and Charlie's cooking was sensational (both in quantity and quality)... we actually don't east this well at home.... we saw every animal and learned so much..... the campsites were good, clean and so much fun... We planned nothing as it was all done for us, but if we did plan a safari, then this was an excellent plan!.... The only animal we did not see on safari was a jaguar... but as we were leaving there was one wandering down the road towards us! (How did you guys organise that? LOL.... It almost waved goodbye to us!).... My only suggestion: give Tom a microphone as it was sometimes hard to hear him in the back of the landcruiser (but don't let him sing!... OK Tom?) Great fun and good money value... Asante sana!
US
Email Georgia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Solo female traveler, amazing trip!
My Kilimanjaro trip was completely spontaneous and I reached out to a few different expedition companies to see if they had any last minute trek openings. Amanda at African Scenic was, by far, the most pleasant person I have ever done travel arrangements with. She was extremely accommodating, and gave me the confidence I needed to book an East African adventure as a solo female traveler. Ramson was my lead guide and he was so professional, warm and intelligent. The porters were lovely and very friendly. I felt very safe at all times and I would recommend this company to anyone. We got to see the other companies while at the camps and it was noticeable how superior African Scenic was. I hope to return one day to Ramson, Amanda, and the rest of the team.
US
Email Brian from Tucson AZ | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Vast and Beautiful
The staff at African Scenic Safaris arranged a wonderful 15 day safari/resort holiday. Our group of four spent the first 11 days on safari, and the final 4 days on the Island of Zanzibar. The places we visit included Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara NP, Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti NP, followed by a flight to Zanzibar. Amanda helped us with all the arrangements, and did a splendid job. I can’t thank her enough for arranging our holiday in Tanzania….the safari was beyond our expectations; Tanzania is vast and beautiful.
Our guide/driver, Grayson, was very knowledgeable about the animals, flora/fauna, and history of his country, and is a wonderful person and guide, who knows his country well….it was a privilege to have him as our guide. The tent camps and lodges were a good mix for us; the accommodations were very comfortable. Not knowing what to expect of the food, it was surprisingly good and varied. All-in-all, this holiday trip exceeded our expectations. We would highly recommend African Scenic Safaris to others considering a holiday in Tanzania.
US
Email Kathleen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flawless Execution - really would not change a thing
Signing up for your first Safari is a bit of a leap of faith. You look at reviews, you figure out what you think you want to see and how you want to experience it. After talking to a couple of operators, we settled on Scenic because of the rapid response by Amanda. It doesn't mean we weren't nervous. Maybe all those 5 start reviews were fake. I sent almost all of the money via a bank transfer but held a little back, I am not sure why. If I were you I would just pay it all up front so you aren't carrying so much cash in Tanzania.
Anyway, from the first moment, we thought our guide Grayson was great. He was articulate, college educated, kind and fun to be with. We chose to have upgraded camping with one day at a Tented camp. I think the upgraded camping (with cots) added a great deal to our sleeping comfort. The tents were large and we were comfortable every night except a bit cold at Ngorogoro on the crater rim. Bring a wooley hat! The upgraded night was wonderful but expensive and really a luxury. Having a massive tent with an indoor bathroom and shower was pretty wonderful after a couple of days of camping. We did Lake Manyara, Serengeti for three nights, Ngorogoro for one night then Tarangire for one night. 6 nights total. We especially loved Tarangire because it was less crowded and because of the hilly landscape, you turn the corner and there is something there to surprise you. If I were doing this again, and didn't have people with me who were new to camping, I would have taken the money from the upgraded night and spent a second night in Tarangire. The food was also really good. We brought some extra beef jerky in case we didn't like the food. Even my 10 year old son liked the food.
Email Gemma | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
“Fantastic, Amazing, Brilliant!”
Where do I begin to explain just how fantastic African Scenic Safaris are. From start to finish they excelled in making our trip an experience of a lifetime. I am glad I did not use a third party agency, went with my instincts and booked direct.
Amanda who help create/organise our spectacular trip was faultless. Always quick to reply to my questions and queries. Knowing the right type of places to stay and which parks would best suit our time in Africa. She was kind and so helpful. Amanda helped with our accommodation before the trip began and also helped organise the magical hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti. We chose a 4 night, 5 day trip in Tanzania which included Tarangire NP, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, staying in a mix of luxury camping and lodges. Thank you Amanda for all of your help. The safari car which we spent so much time in was comfortable and clean. With plenty of space. Binoculars were also available in the car which was a handy added bonus. Bottled water was also provided. A very special thank you goes to our guide for the duration of our trip. David was by far the most knowledgeable, funny, charismatic guide we have ever met. There wasn't much he didn't know. A font of knowledge on all things flora and fauna. He always wore a wonderful smile even on the very early mornings. We expected a lot on our trip armed with a long list of animals we wanted to see and David always delivered. We got to see the big 5 which we felt may be impossible but not with David on the lookout. He knew where to look and always had interesting insights about what we had found. Forget about the Superb Starling it’s all about the Superb David! If you plan to book your safari through the company I would strongly suggest you ask for David to be your guide. He made our trip unforgettable. I would highly recommend African Scenic Safaris for your trip.
US
Email Steve Skrocki | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent, Amazing and Wonderful
Steve Skrocki here, I echo the excellent reviews made by others on African Scenic Safaris. Do not hesitate to use African Scenic for your trip. Amanda was fabulous in answering any question our party had, including making suggestions for our itinerary and suggesting we rely on our guide for day to day decisions-which we did. Amanda was unfailingly responsive, answering our emails within half a day, and making the planning and logistics worry free, including providing guidance on the Angata camps, where we stayed. Our guide/driver Tom was, in a phrase, simply amazing. Tom knew each park and road intimately. More importantly, Tom was an expert in animal behaviors and was able to predict specific behaviors which were incredible for us to view by being patient; lion stalks and kills, cheetah stalks and kills, leopard stalks, and elephants sparring. Tom not only assisted us in identifying these behaviors prior to and as they occurred, but he was also able to provide commentary while they did occur and even more later while in the various Angata camps. We could not have asked for a more courteous, kind, patient and professional guide. There are a lot of larger competitors in Arusha, but go with African Scenic, they are small, local and by their reviews (including ours) continue to satisfy their clients with their great guides and custom service. Amanda's up front work, and Tom's expertise in the field made for an experience that exceeded all of our expectations and I would not hesitate to use African Scenic again. I have posted this on several other forums, but the review remains the same, it totally exceeded my expectations.