under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Jeep safaris Experience
I contacted Afrikan Buffalo Safaris for a package to Masai Mara. I was on a budget and this company arranged everything from transport to accommodation. I was so happy to fulfil my dream of visiting one of the famous wildlife reserves in Kenya. I recommend #TeamNyati their company's slogan used for anyone who wish to travel around Kenya.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The Best !
My wife and I could be described as avid wildlife lovers, photographers and conservationists; some would say we are just wildlife crazy!
We have travelled to many parts of the world to sate ourselves with truly wild animals, from Asia, that is India and Sri Lanka, South America, including Brazil and Chile, and of course Africa. We have enjoyed the rugged beauty of the Bale mountains in Ethiopia and the wonders of Kenya, which incidentally was our first safari type holiday, but Tanzania, particularly the North was our last adventure…. admittedly for the third time !
Like all wildlife trips, it is important to understand what you can expect to see at different times of the year. This year we decided to travel in February / March and we centred our itinerary around Lake Ndutu and the short grass plains of the Serengeti. This is near the bottom Southerly corner of one of the most famous national parks in Africa. Whilst there is a resident population of all the main species, in particular the big cats which most people want to see, to maximise your chances of seeing them all is to understand the Big Migration pattern of the wildebeest and zebras. It is a continuous circulatory tour which takes them from the Serengeti to the equally famous but much smaller Masai Mara in Kenya, via the great plains of the Seronara Valley in the middle, to the Western Corridor and the Mbalageti /Grumetti Rivers, up to the Mara River where they have to run the gauntlet of Nile Crocodiles, and back down to Lake Masek /Ndutu….in February and March. Simply, the big cats, ie lions, cheetahs and leopards follow them around and it is this time of year when the wildebeest calve…. their young are the main prey!
So, we spent sometime in and around this area, then on to the Seronara with its strange Kopjes; small rocky outcrops which provide homes for all manner of furry and feathered friends, big and small. You will often see a leopard or lion sunning themselves, or wriggly things with no legs, giving themselves the option of cover they need.
The Ngorogoro Conservation Area must not be missed with a myriad of wildlife, and of course the Crater itself, which is one of the largest extinct volcanic craters in the world, measuring some 100 sq.miles. Apparently it blew its top around 2-3 million years ago, with the original topping estimated at 15-20,000 feet high. It now provides sanctuary to virtually every species other than elephants and giraffes; it has the highest density of lions in any part of Africa. Yes, we saw most of them on a one day trip, with the highlight being on the steep track entering the Crater itself…. we were just starting to scan in the near distance for our first sightings, when Bernard, our guide, said stop, look no more than 10 yds away….. a rare Caracal cat….wow! We asked Bernard when he had last seen one…. about 3 months ago he said…. and before that ?…. about 3 or 4 years !!
So, we had great sightings of lions, cheetahs and leopards as planned, along with many giraffes in the Conservation Area. Hippos and crocodiles abound in the Grumetti and Mbalageti Rivers, and there always seems to be a fabulous White Headed Fish Eagle by the waterside.
Another must is the Tarangire national park, particularly if you are an elephant lover; we lost count after about 150 + in a single day. You see them by the river and watering holes just having fun with their young ones, to seeing a huge line of them marching towards you slowly from a distance; maybe 20, 30 or 50 strong is a wonderful sight. It easily takes up a day, just admiring them in their own surroundings behaving naturally. This time we were surprised by a ‘herd’ of 50+ ostriches, literally galloping past us… that was a first. Normally you only see them individually or as a pair.
We finished up with a day each at Lake Manyara and Arusha national parks; each has its own unique wildlife with the gorgeous Blue and stunning Colobus Monkeys, Greater Flamingos and much bird life. We always see at least 3/4 sub species of Bee Eaters in these parks. These little birds are endemic and like their cousins in Asia, are all very colourful and relatively easy to spot.
As said, decide what time of year you wish to travel and then create an itinerary to suit.
International flights will generally take you to Dar Es Salaam or even Nairobi, then internally to either Kilimanjaro on the Eastern side, or Mwanza on the Western side. You can then transfer to your safari vehicle from either to enter the national parks.
Who to go with..is a big question?… There are innumerable UK companies who offer safari /wildlife holidays; you are spoilt for choice in theory. But, beware, if you are a keen photographer, this will narrow down your options; normally most UK companies will sub contract you out to a local company and you will be carted around in one vehicle taking 4-8 people… no good at all for serious photography. Bespoke or ‘tailormade’ is what the more specialist companies offer you, with maximum 4 , or in our case just the two of us. Obviously the cost increases with personalised tours, and Africa is getting quite expensive now generally.
The only way that we can afford this type of deal is to negotiate direct with a local company. Our favoured one, which we have used 3 times now is the East African Safari and Touring Company (EASTCO) . Please look at their website. They have a number of excellent guides, particularly our Bernard, who really has eagle eyes and an encyclopedic knowledge of just about everything wild. It is important that you are able to engage with someone who you will spend 10 hours a day with for 7-14 days. Tanzanians are all delightful people but sometimes it is difficult to have an in-depth conversation. Wherever you are, it is important to have a sense of humour.... Bernard loves Fawlty Towers ( Brits only).
Where to stay ?…another complex question
It very much depends on the depth of your pocket or what type of experience you want; from travelling bush camps to luxury lodges can vary the price immensely. Having someone like David King of EASTCO to discuss such things with takes out the uncertainty…..the only surprises you want are the animals!
There are so many options for wildlife safari holidays in Africa. If it going to be a once in a lifetime, and you want to minimise the chance of disappointment, choose Northern Tanzania… at the right time. Choose carefully, and you will do no better than choosing EASTCO>
ES
The best Safari Experience that you could imagine, they will help you in everything!!
We were on our honeymoon and it was the best experience that we could have imagined.
From the first moment the Lion King team helped us with all the details of the Safari according to our demands (Thanks Pendo!!!). They have helped us with the hotel reservations and we have all our information updated in all the accommodations. We are both celiacs and Lion King advised all the places, so we had any problem with it, normally it is very difficult in some cases, but here all was perfect. Pendo helped us with the cancellation of one internal flight with Air Tanzania too, so we are very grateful with her.
We took the luxury option in the Safari and all the accommodations are absolutely amazing, we were in the middle of the National Parks surrounded by lots of animals. It is an incredible experience.
During the Safari every detail was considered, the Jeep has all the things that you need. Our guide Good Luck was the best, he was always looking for the animals and he was the first to see a lot of them like the Rhino, Cheetah, Serval cat, Lions, Leopard, lots of Elephants, etc. absolutely amazing. He picked us up at the airport and at the end of the Safari they drive you to the airport, so you don't have to worry about anything.
If you are thinking of going to a Safari and have the best experience with no problems Lion King is your best option.
Wish to see them again soon, Dani & Laura
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Safe and perfectly organised.
We had booked our Safari with Trip Quest in the month of February before the covid-19 took over and everything went off track. We didn't want to miss as it was our dream tour and all our fears and doubts were answered perfectly and we made up our minds to come to Tanzania. It was perfectly safe and we were not compelled to wear the masks and our temperature was checked in all lodges . Our guide David was very informative and made us feel very safe. The concentration of animals and the beauty of the parks were amazing . We had an unforgettable experience and we'll definitely come back to Tanzania again and we recommend Trip Quest to everyone looking for a affordable and reliable experience in Tanzania.
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Kilimanjaro with Snow Africa Adventures
We planned and organized our Kilimanjaro trek was very well with Florent who was patient, and very nice helping us with all the details, advice on the best route, travel requirements, packing list and always available to respond to our emails and WhatsApp messages.
It was a great start to our guide waiting when we arrived in Kilmanjaro after a long layover in Dubai and the punctuality and flawless planning continued through the entire trek.
We had a trouble free trek, filled with many special moments, but nothing beats the feeling of watching the early morning sunrise from Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.
If you are planning to do Kilimanjaro then contact Snow Africa Adventures
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
I would Highly Recommend Safari360
Our Kilimanjaro trekking experience with Safari360 was very good. The equipment (tents, mats, sticks, mobile toilet..) were perfect. We also had a very able mountain guide with his support crew of porters and cook. They took excellent care every step of the way till we successfully made it to Uhuru Peak.
The views from the summit are the most amazing, and I will always cherish them. It was so beautiful to finally conquer the highest peak in Africa and we owe it all to Safari360
BY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The post-isolation trip turned out to be one of the richest and most unforgettable.
Tanzanian safaris just fell in love with this kind of vacation. Mansour's guide played a significant role. A man who knows and loves his job. I've always been actively looking for and finding animals. I waited as long as I needed to make a bunch of beautiful photos. I told a lot about animals, locals and the country. Communicates in English, but if necessary, will be able to find an interpreter into Russian. I would also like to thank him for his help in a difficult situation)) The next safari is only with him! I recommend it!!!
PT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Couldn't go any better
It was easy booking with Karibu safari. They let us pay on arrival and everything went great. The safari was the best experience ever. Had a great guide that was able to show all animals including the leopard which is really rare to see. Thanks a lot Aroni!
PT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari with the best guide Aroni
The safari was amazing. We were able to see all the big 5 thanks to the bravest guide - Aroni.
We also enjoyed very much lenchada camping.
Thank you for the experience
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Memorable Baviaans MTB Tour experience thanks to excellent hosts
The Baviaans Mountain Bike Tour by Fleet Foot Safaris was our highlight of the year so far.
The scenery and surroundings of the area were breathtaking and our hosts Elmor, Elaine, Hennie and Charles were exceptional hosts providing transportation, fully supported back up, water points, laughs and world class meals. The accomoddation was comfortable, clean and well considered throughout the trip.. All we had to do was ride our bikes and the rest was taken car of. Our 160km journey by bike took us through one of the countries most beautiful areas and our hosts provided fascinating insight into how it all formed millions of years ago. Elmor added valuable information as we went and gave us a different perspective of the area and was much appreciated. If you like riding your bike and exploring nature at its purest, this is the optimal way to do it. Thanks again and we will definitely be joining the next tour.
