CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An in-depth review
As a solo female traveler visiting Tanzania for the first time, I can’t recommend this tour company enough. They were responsive, supportive, and genuinely invested in making sure my trip was smooth and unforgettable.
The safari was a highlight. My driver, Innocent, was knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about what he does. He shared insights throughout and went above and beyond to help us spot wildlife. I saw the Big Five: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo. We saw six black rhinos, which was incredible. We also saw flamingoes and a hyena and a cheetah that was eating something and so many other animals I can’t even think of all of them.
After speaking with other travelers who said their guides barely talked, I realized how much a great guide can elevate the entire experience.
I also booked a two day Mount Kilimanjaro hike through the company. It was tough but incredibly rewarding. By the final stretch, my guide Abdi was literally dragging me up that mountain 😅
The entire staff was amazing. Special thanks to Mary in the office, Innocent the driver from the safari, Yusuf the camp cook, Abdi the hiking guide, and everyone else. You hear “Hakuna Matata” a lot in Tanzania and it’s thanks to the hard work of these people that you get to live it. They make everything feel easy.
Booking was simple and mostly done through WhatsApp, with fast communication and flexibility around timing. They are also very transparent about pricing and tipping, which I really appreciated. They offer hotel pickup and drop off in Arusha, but I recommend asking them for hotel suggestions. I accidentally stayed outside the city which made things a bit harder.
(I switched my hotel to Swahili Village, which was comfortable, clean, and served great food.)
I chose the camping option for the safari and the setup was cosy. The tents were comfortable and they provided thick sleeping bags,
mats, and pillows.
I felt incredibly safe the entire time since I was always with guides or other travelers. If you are out at night, just use common sense, keep valuables hidden, and avoid walking alone.
There is Wi Fi available on the Kilimanjaro hike, but I highly recommend getting an eSIM for travelling between and on Safari. I used Nomad and it was essential for things like confirming hotel details with my driver and staying in touch with Mary.
In terms of value, the four day safari is worth it if you can swing it, though the three day option is still solid. As a solo traveler, the two day hike felt a bit expensive, but it could’ve been because it was just me, and there were like 5 staff members accompanying me. If you travel with a bigger group, the price could be worth it. That said, staying overnight in the mountain cabins was a really unique experience and I’m glad to have done it.
A quick heads up that the visa process at Kilimanjaro International Airport can take two to three hours even if you apply in advance online. If you do book online do not leave it till last minute because if you don’t receive a confirmation email, you’ll still end up applying for Visa in Person and you’ll have to pay again. I saw several people going through this at the airport.
Do not book a taxi ahead of time, there are plenty outside. Also have your hotel address and phone number ready. You’ll need it for the visa process and to give to your driver.
Finally, do not book a flight the same day your safari ends. It is not worth the stress for you or the tour guide.
This was an unforgettable trip made possible by an incredible team. This is a once in a lifetime experience so just book a good tour company. The Tanzania side of the serengeti is a lot nicer from the Kenyan side from what I heard. They have nice facilities and there are washrooms literally everywhere.
Some packing tips:
- Girl, bring some bug spray. And I’m someone who doesn’t use bug spray at all. The cars windows are open, the roof is open. They are going to get in.
- Bring a flashlight for camping the ones that strap your head would literally be perfect.
- Bring a hat that covers the back of your neck and has a strap because it can blow off and of course, sunscreen.
- Bring something warm to wear at night like a tracksuit. A lightweight puffer jacket would be ideal and if you’re going during or just after the rainy season, a raincoat is nonnegotiable.
- Pack some waterproof slippers to wear in the shower and bring a small hand towel not a full-size one
- The roads in the national park are bumpy as hell. Bring some motion sickness meds if you get nauseous. In general, have something for diarrhea or vomiting on you just in case. And if you are older, bring some kind of muscle relaxant because like I said, the roads are rough 😅
- If you are doing any kind of hiking, for the love of God,rent or bring some hiking poles they will make a world of difference. You’re looking at 3 to 4 hours of walking up stairs.
HR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable 5-day safari in the wild beauty of Tanzania
We were absolutely blown away by the 5-day Northern Circuit safari with Aglow Safaris! The vastness of the Serengeti, the stunning scenery of Ngorongoro, the elephant herds of Tarangire and the tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara - everything was amazing.
The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Accommodation, food and transport were all excellent.
The entire trip was very well organized. There was not problem.
Those who want to go on a safari in Tanzania, must consider Aglow Safaris. We'll go again.
SG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome safari tour
Lambs was an amazing guide, knowledgeable and great sense of humour. Everything was reliable and pick up was on time
SG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dedicated
Lambs was really dedicated and full of positive energy. He really made a difference to the tour
SG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well planned and pleasant tour!
Had a good trip with Mo Africa, went to Kruger National Park with Lambs and he was thoughtful and experienced, brought us to see Top 5 despite the distance! He made our trip a fruitful one, thank you Lambs.
BR
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Safari with great guidance
My husband and I had a wonderful experience. We did a private safari with a wonderful guide named Ryan. In every ride, he did the best he could to spot as many animals as possible. He had an excelent knowledge about plants and animals and their interactions. He was also a great cook, very helpful and a very pleasant company. We are gonna miss our safari and our guide.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A very professional service with the aim of making it easy for us to enjoy Victoria Falls.
We have previously used eXplore Plus so it says a lot if one goes back to them for such a travel to Victoria Falls. We did decide to go at short notice due to the high level of the water in the Zambezi River. Communication was clear and quick and the arrangements worked 100%. I did have a quick look at trying to do it myself and realized I could easily get things wrong. Cost wise I could not see any saving if I did it all myself. Mariki was the agent we worked with and she did offer us the cheaper indirect flight options which was a significant saving comared to the direct flight. In the end we went with the cheaper option via Johannesburg instead of directly from Cape Town. The 4 nights at Victoria Falls was great and we did a couple of excursions which we booked via the hotel, Ilala Lodge.
BR
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari trip with Wild Planet
We had a great time. 6 days of adventure trough Kruger National Park. Our guide was sensational, great guy. The weather was perfect and the viewing was great. Everything on time no delays and great company
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Careful and considerate Shuttle drive
Our Shuttle driver, Tiyani, was on-time and drove carefully and considerately for us passengers and toward other road users. This was challenging for him given the poor condition of some roads. He kept us informed and made stops for the comfort of the passengers.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very professional, kind and helpful all day long.
Our safari exceeded all our expectations. Even though it was the low season and we only had a short time, we managed to see all the animals we hoped for – including the Big Five.
One of the most unforgettable moments was spotting a cheetah family after a long drive without seeing much. They came very close to us, were curious, and even jumped onto one of the safari vehicles. It created truly beautiful memories and amazing photos we will never forget.
Our tour guide did everything he could to fulfill our wishes. He was very kind, polite, and absolutely worth every cent.
Highly recommended!
