20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Dar-Es-Salaam -> Ruahah (amazing) -> Udzungwa (amazing) -> Dar-Es-Salaam (avoid)
We went to Tanzania on Honeymoon and decided to go on a safari as a once in a lifetime experience and had a good time in Tanzania... once we got out of Dar-Es-Salaam but be prepared to drive a LONG way. If you love your animals and photography (which I do) I would highly recommend a safari and Ruaha and Udzungwa are amazing places!
Omari, our guide, picked us up from Dar airport in the evening. He was a great guy, very friendly and a real character. As a guide he was also brilliant! We went to a hotel in Dar, where we stayed for a night. In the morning we had to be up very early (we left at 5am) to go drive to Ruaha National Park. Be aware, the drive will take all day (14-hours driving as fast as Omari would dare drive), the roads are not good quality and there is little in the way of conveniences on route. Omari was even surprised that the tour operator offered us the package we went for (it was our choice to go on this safari, so I dont blame them).
We stayed the night in a really nice banda on the outskirts of the park and then spent the next day in the park, with Omari, which was really great. The wildlife there is excellent and many of the animals retain the natural fear of humans and vehicles. Additionally, there are very few visitors to the park, so when you see some of the more high profile animals, there isn't a swarm of cars around them, which makes the experience much more intimate - you are reliant on having a good guide. We stayed in Ruaha for 1 day, which I would make longer if I was doing the trip again so that there we could have spent more time in the park as well as not having to travel all that way just to come back after 1 day.
The following day we travelled to Udzungwa. I cannot recommend Udzungwa enough, it was the best park of our safari andd a must see if you go to Tanzania. We stayed two nights in Hondo Honda in a tented banda, which was really pretty and they often have baboons walking through the garden and monkeys foraging in the evening. The next day was very special as we went up into the rainforest and were able to various species of monkeys, including rare red iringas, as well as the udzungwa falls.
The following day we had planned to Mikumi, but decided to head back to Dar (we were felling a bit unwell, tired from a lot travelling the previous few days and the election celebrations and much of the wildlife we had seen in Ruaha). The main road does travel through the nation park, so we were able to see some of the wild-life that inhabit the park.
Then we got back to Dar... The traffic in Dar is horrendous - the best analogy I can think of would be if there was an accident at every other junction on the M25 that is the traffic you have to deal with... If you can avoid going into Dar DO because it took almost as long to traverse Dar as it took to get to Dar from Udzungwa.
AT
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
well organized safaris to a moderate price with excellent drivers with a good knowledge of animals
In spite of the late time (end of dry saison) we saw nearly all animals we could exspected. As a professional zoologist (I am Professor in Zoology at the University of Vienna) I had high exspectations. We visited Massai Mara, Naivasha, Nakuru and Amboseli in Kenya, and Tarangiri, Serengeti and Ngorogoro in Tanzania. All accommodations have been good, even the two camp sites in Tanzania. In the Serengeti camp we had visits from 5 lions who looked at the washrooms for water. It was amazing. In total I was pleasantly surpriced from the well organized trips, all hotels and camp sites reserved, all game park entrance prizes includes, taxi transports from Nairobi airport to our hotel and back (even their had been at 2 in the morning !). We had different drivers with a really good knowledge of the parks and their animals. I can highly recommend Ewamannssafaris. You will be satisfied in all points of importance.
EG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most effective experience in my life.
Well Before I came to Tanzania I thought It was good landscapes full of poor people and thieves, Once I came and specially in Arusha and Zanzibar in a sudden I found people more than friendly with respect that made me shame of my first thoughts and I had a good brain that respect and hosbitality, specially drivers and very respectful and generous, in the other hand I had a lot of fun enjoying the nature in ngorongoro craters and Zanzibar, hotspring was not that good but it's not bad I think you have to camp not just a visit to got the best of it, Thanks for you Tanzanian people for the generous and respect and teaching me to be like that.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience and good organized
We went for a two day safari to Mikumi NP. The experience was great!!! Everything was well organized we could sleep in the car on the long way to and from the park and we were provided in all our needs. Jimmy and the driver were very professional and respectful, so we are very satisfied and would recommend this organization!!!
IT
Simply fantastic
We booked a 5 days customized trip in Queen Elisabeth NP for 2 people. Everything went perfectly well. The places we went too were just amazing. We always got quick and helpful answers from Richard at Karumuna Safaris. The professionalism and knowledge of our guide Kassim was simply fantastic.
We would definitely recommend to travel with them.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An exceptional experience enhanced by the wonderful,friendly, and knowledgeable guides.
A fantastic trip, the itinerary was very well put together and the accommodations we had very nice. Each safari was a new and different experience. The guides were the best, got us the best views and if possible the best lighting for taking pictures too. They were very knowledgeable and excellent at sighting the wildlife and birds. Our group was eight people for 21 days and not one complaint about the tour, only praise. Would recommend Niko, Susan and their great team to all.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Most amazing tour, so filled with beautiful scenery, superb animals and vast guide knowledge.
Niko and Susan are wonderful people. Every connection was perfectly timed, every detail mastered. Niko and the other guides were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic. They answered all 7 million of my questions with great detail and humor. We learned about the people of Kenya and Tanzania as well as the amazing wildlife. I travel throughout the world on educational and photography adventures. This safari was by far my greatest adventure. Does the fact that I took over 10,000 photos tell you the caliber of this trip? I plan on returning to Africa and traveling with Destination Consultants with my university students.
NZ
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top value for money Safari experience
From the time we were picked up from the plane we were made welcome. The friendly unpretentious staff, home style food, and traditional accommodations all combined to make our Safari experience one we will remember always. Over our 4 days we met some great people from all around the world and were lucky to see all the animals on our "wish list". Well done Viva, we fully recommend you to anyone who asks.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The customer service for axis is really good. The guys reply back quite instantly answering all quer
As a tour operator they are nice. However you would need to specify your requirements accordingly for them to arrange the same .
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Exceptional Experience
Mala Mala was a 5 star experience all around. Game viewing exceeded expectations. We saw the Big 5 in the first day of our four day trip. But each day had its own highlights -- lions stalking, leopards mating, giraffes necking, a leopard munching on an impala snack, elephants drinking at the river, and cheetahs walking along as cool as you please. Admittedly, we were lucky but both rangers talented at finding game and the dry weather which caused the game to hang near the river, helped. At Mala Mala, the guests spend most of day with their assigned ranger. You are with them not only for game drives but also for meals and drinks at the bar beforehand. So you need to get along with these guys to make it an enjoyable experience. However, I saw no one that wasn't enjoying interacting with the rangers, that includes my group who enjoyed hanging with Daniel over the four days. The time and social pressure on the rangers is large, but they all seemed handle it with aplomb. Daniel not only knew where to look, he was very knowledgeable about all the animals we saw (including numerous birds), but was also good at explaining their behavior, or, more to the point, the reason for their behavior. One other ranger-positive remark: the game drives take place very early and late in the day and with the sun low in the sky, back lighting and shadows make for tough photographs. These guys were particularly adept, when possible, at maneuvering the truck around to get a good, close, well lit shot. Now, they can't drive over logs or cross rivers to do this, but if they could achieve a good position, they would. Our rooms were spacious and well cared for. They have complimentary laundry service, a very important feature when you can only carry 20 kilos of luggage for an 11 day trip. The food was tasty and well prepared. Meals were buffets which was helpful in controlling quantities. Final point: work with your travel agent in getting to the camp. Mala Mala has a airstrip 15 minutes from the main lodge. Make sure you can access the camp via this airstrip as opposed to the two hour drive from Nelspruit that we experienced!