65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An excellent tour itinerary
It was a dream come true and one of a lifetime experience that made it possible because of our very knowledgeable tour guides and well planned itineraries. We visited all the places we wanted to go and my expectations went above and beyond.
The price of the package is so affordable.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A great destination to see the wildlife in its natural habitat .Our tour operator was very good Eja
Our holiday pick up Kilimanjaro on 5th Sept very well organised and a great experience visiting Sarengeti and Ngoringoro crater .Very good driver and highly knowledgeable
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable wildlife adventure tour through Tanzania with a highlight of the Wildebeest Migration
We had an unforgettable week of wildlife adventure tours through Tanzania parks with a highlight of viewing the Wildebeest Migration. Our Zara Tours coordinator, Patrick, was friendly, thorough and kept in communication pre and post safari. Our Safari guide and driver HAMZA, was incredible at getting us close to the wildlife for unbeatable viewing but promoting safety for both us as tourists and the gorgeous animals. Can’t say enough about the trip of lifetime we had as a couple on a private safari. Zara Tours camps had great food, even at remote locations and such kind staff. Bathrooms in the tented camps were WAY better than expected while at the hotels, left a little to be desired. Our tour at Serval Wildlife was also a highlight. Passing through the small towns you’re reminded that you are really IN Africa and can see that tourism is large source of income. Overall Tanzania will be hard to beat.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Betty Lewis
Completely different atmosphere in this park with animals we didn’t see anywhere else due to the lake. Monitor lizards and snakes, water birds etc. birds were a highlight in this park. The rangers were burning so the smoke was a little much but added to the mystery of the adventure of what’s next
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Betty Lewis
If you only have 1 day for a safari, this is the park to visit.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by Betty Lewis
I could’ve spent another week viewing here.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Tarangire National Park by Betty Lewis
Least favorite park. Lots of animals but glad we went here first, each of the next parks only improved our experience
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Quality
I worked with Lion King Adventures to bring a group of 12 people to Tanzania. As a frequent traveler and someone who has been to Tanzania before, I had a high standard for what I expected for my group. Lion King did not disappoint. The trucks were the nicest we saw on the whole trip - squeaky clean, well-maintained, and ran well. Our driver/guides - Salhe and Gilbert - were phenomenal. Both are so knowledgeable, kind, funny, and fit right into our group like we were old friends. The office staff was great at providing on the ground service for my group whenever I had questions or needed to make on the go changes. If you're looking for a company that will deliver the Tanzania experience of your dreams, don't even hesitate. 5 stars, would totally recommend.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great planning, reliable service, and unforgettable wildlife experiences
My wife and I did a 10-day private safari in Kenya and Tanzania with Morningstar. We started in Nairobi and went to Lake Nakuru National Park (1 night), Masai Mara National Park (2 nights), Northern Serengeti National Park (1 night), Central Serengeti National Park (1 night), Ngorongoro Crater National Reserve (1 night), Tarangire National Park (1 night), Amboseli National Park (2 nights), and finished in Nairobi again.
We saw everything we wanted and more. We saw the Big Five, the wildebeest crossing the Mara River, and animals very close by. We even saw a lioness hunt and catch a wildebeest.
On the booking side, we quoted with four different companies. The prices were very similar, and what made us choose Morningstar was the reviews, but mainly the booking process. The digital itinerary provided was excellent. It had all the information we needed, including recommended stays and alternative options with costs. That made our lives easier since we wanted to choose where to stay. Dennis was also great at replying quickly and addressing all our concerns.
As we did Kenya, Tanzania, and then back to Kenya, we had three drivers/guides. All three were punctual and respectful.
Rono was our driver in Kenya, from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. He was amazing. He always wanted to know our goals for the day and did his best to find the animals. He positioned the car perfectly for sightings and was a great spotter. I mentioned I was interested in birds, and he noticed and pointed out many of them.
Jackson was our driver in Tanzania. He was also great in different ways. He was calm and patient, and he waited with us for five hours to see the wildebeest cross the river. He kept the car super clean every day and drove very safely. The only downside was that his car seats didn’t recline, which matters on long drives between parks.
Our last driver, Masila, was not as good. We stayed with him for three days from the border to Amboseli and Nairobi. Each morning, the car smelled bad, similar to marijuana. He didn’t put much effort into looking for animals and was not monitoring the radio much. On the positive side, he followed our requests for departure and return times. However, his drive back to Nairobi was too reckless, speeding and driving a bit dangerously.
Roads in general are rough. Many main routes between parks are unpaved and very bumpy, especially from before the Masai Mara up to Ngorongoro. This made the transfers uncomfortable. My wife was motion sick almost every day after day three, so be prepared with medication if you are prone to it.
If we were to do a safari again, we would choose fewer days and fewer parks. A 7-day safari would be more than enough, as the long drives get tiring. We would also spend more nights in fewer parks. For us, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, and maybe Amboseli (for elephants) would be enough to see everything, except the river crossing, which we saw in the Northern Serengeti.
Most of the stays we had were mid-range, and they were really good. All were clean, beautiful, organized, and had good food. We even gained some weight during the trip. We loved the tented camps, which were well organized and even had hot showers inside the tents. I would say it is not necessary to book luxury lodges, since you don’t spend much time there anyway. Most days, we arrived around 5 or 6 PM and left again between 6 and 7 AM. One thing we didn’t like was that the staff gave us too much attention. They often wanted to ask how our day was, which was kind, but sometimes we were just too tired after a full day in the car.
I really loved the trip. It is expensive, but it is a trip of a lifetime. I spent almost the whole day looking through the roof of the car for animals when we were in the parks, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
My wife had a different take. Because of the bad roads, she got motion sick for several days, and for her, the discomfort outweighed the excitement at times. She also didn’t enjoy being in the car for almost 12 hours a day, with only a picnic lunch and quick bathroom breaks in the wilderness.
Still, I definitely recommend Morningstar Safari Tours. They delivered on what they promised, and it was an unforgettable trip that we would do again with them.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience!
Tanzania Choice Safaris came highly recommended by a good friend who lived in Tanzania for over 10 years. From the planning stages of our trip, Brenda gave us good insights and options into activities well suited to our multigenerational group. Our guides were fun and incredibly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, and the history of this amazing place. We are so grateful for Tanzania Choice Safaris for help in organizing our trip, choosing very comfortable and beautiful accommodations with delicious meals, and making this trip go smoothly. It was unlike any other vacation we have ever taken. Tanzania Choice Safaris was topnotch, thank you Brenda, Kakasii, Leslie, Noel and Oscar!