65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trip of a Lifetime with African Big Cats Safari, Tanzania
My wife Jane and I chose African Big Cats Safari (ABCS) for our 20th Anniversary trip to Tanzania after reading the over 300 reviews of other travelers who had loved their experience. We made the right choice. From start to finish it was a first-class, luxury vacation. In my working career, I was a Quality Management advisor so I know what a quality experience looks and feels like. In every way, ABCS "exceeded our expectations."
We spent the first two nights at the Gran Melia Hotel in Arusha to recuperate from jet lag. What a beautiful hotel experience that was. You will love it.
ABCS tailored their 7-day, 6-night luxury tour to my requests, including an incredible Serengeti Balloon Safari which took us directly over the Great Migration and set us down right next to it, alongside eight lions walking parallel to the migrating animals. From the balloon, we could see the great migration from horizon to horizon. It goes on year-round and in February the migration is in the southern Serengeti in the Ngutu region where 8000 baby wildebeest are born daily. It is well worth the added cost to do the Balloon Trip; you won't regret it.
Our safari guide, Obedi (Obe), had been guiding for 14 years and he knew every road, turn, tree, and bush like it was the back of his hand. Without a GPS or map he guided the entire trip from memory. Other guides would flash their lights at him, to have him stop and they'd asked him how to get to their camp, as they were lost. This happened twice on this trip. My wife and I love Obe so much we adopted him and plan to keep in touch with him and use him as our guide when we do our next trip to the Northern Serengeti. He calls us Bebe Jane and Babu Andy now.
Obe always asked me daily what we wanted to see and always delivered.
I wanted to see lions in trees, he knew just the tree that they often climbed and we got great photos of 3 lions sleeping in trees. He did the same for finding lion cubs, newborn wildebeest, warthogs, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, rhino's, Cape buffalo, hippos, leopards, cheetahs on a kill, male lions, and even mating lions. We saw them all. We are avid birders as well and he knew them all and pointed out many that I had missed.
We had previously been to Krueger Park in South Africa and it was a great experience, but in terms of the number of big cats we saw in Tanzania I can honestly say, we saw more each day in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater than we saw in a week In South Africa.
The vehicle was a Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-top roof with seating for six passengers. Most all the other safari vehicles were the same make/model. I am so glad we paid extra for a private safari guide and vehicle as we could move from front to back of the vehicle easily with just my wife and me. The roads are bumpy from Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti but I was impressed with the great shocks on the Toyota. I might also add that after every safari trip, ABCS has the entire vehicle inspected to proactively make any repairs that may be needed.
Besides Obe's experience as a guide and knowledge of the terrain, he was also a skilled driver, both on-road and off-road, and you spend a lot of time going off-road in the Serengeti. He knew when to slow down and take it slow, he knew how to deal with mud and streams of muddy water, and he knew when to turn around and take another route.
ABCS goes far and above most companies would do. We received a free upgrade to a private Bungalo on Lake Manyara at the Maramboi Luxury Lodge which had our own private infinity pool right at the edge of the lake. The second day, after the morning safari I had an upset stomach and Obe took me to a local pharmacy to get some nausea medicine which corrected the problem. On the third day, I wanted an early start for the Ngorongoro crater and we ended up with a great view of the crater, even getting photos of rhinos far down in the crater. On our last night in the Serengeti, I wanted to try some Tanzanian food, specifically Ugali but was unable to get it made at the lodge we were at. Obe, calls back to the office and talks to Emanuel, the owner and when we return to Arusha, takes me to their office and surprises me with a full-course Tanzania dinner with Ugali! Now that's what I call "5 Star service."
There are hundreds of safari companies offering similar trips. They all use the same type of vehicles, stay at the same lodges, go to the same parks, and have comparable prices. I like supporting ABCS because they are a locally owned, small business and not owned by a foreign/European owner. Emanuel, the owner of ABCS started as a safari guide himself, and just as we in America pursue the American Dream, Emanuel is living his Tanzanian Dream, starting his own business, and employing local talent. I'm impressed with him, his Office Operations Manager, Naomi, and the entire team at African Big Cats Safari, and hope other Americans will choose them for their own once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Two pieces of advice:
1. After 25-30 hours of travel, take a two-night stay at the Gran Melia to start the trip.
Emanuel will come over the next day and give you a brief of your booked safari and answer all questions.
2. Pay the deposit and/or balance via a wire transfer as credit cards have an added 5% charge in Tanzania and they don't take international Bank Drafts.
I am a retired Naval Aviator, and a retired Senior Network Engineer, living in the Villages, FL (If you're a Villager, look us up in the Villages Directory if you want to talk). Anyone who wishes to contact me about my trip may do so. I will be posting a trip review, photos, and video within a couple of weeks on Youtube, just search Youtube for African Big Cats Safari and you should be able to find it
Here is Emanuel's YouTube intro to ABCS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm9pGWMd8wY
Andy and Jane Krauska
Honeymoon of a life time
This was one of the most incredible, surreal experiences I have ever had. My husband and I went for our honeymoon and Mike Hashim at Shengena Adventure made it extra special. We saw all the big 5 and much more. It was truly a lifetime experience and we can’t wait to do it again!!
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just an amazing Experience
I had a 5 days safari tour in February 2024, Tarangire, 3 days in Serengeti and last day in Ngorongoro crater, very lucky to be in the migration period and we saw almost all the possible animals. It was one of the best tour I have ever experienced, Meru Slopes was perfectly organised, very easy to comunicate with them for the organisation and everything, during the tour the guide was very confident and ready to help with everything.
We had an unforeseen in the Ngorongoro but they were very good to reorganise my trip. I really recommend them for an unforgettable safari experience
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience
They pay attention to you: punctual, friendly, everything went well
(automatic translation from French)
BG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best oranization for awesome experience
Goldfinch Adventures were very responsive and professional when I was looking for a safari adventure. The whole communication went smooth and I was calm about transfers and accomodations. Our only job was to enjoy the magnificant and rich experience on those magical grounds.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing
The best service ever. I do recommend them people to use them.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just incredible
It was one of the best expérience of my life ! The guide was amazing, he was very kind and fun , we were every time in the good place in the good moment to see animals. The car was vert confortable !
I highly recommend this safari company !
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Life time experience
My recent safari with Paul Untamed Escapades in Kenya was an absolute blast! The stunning Maasai Mara, wildlife galore, and top-notch service felt like a warm embrace. The guide, Edward, is so knowledgeable and shared stories that made the whole experience feel personal. I couldn't have asked for a better mix of luxury and authenticity. If you're dreaming of a once-in-a-lifetime safari that goes above and beyond, Paul’s Untamed Escapades is your go-to
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best safari ever!! Thank to KAJIE !!
We are just back from the best trip of our lives! I was planning this holiday since so much time as it was a birthday present for my partner,when I bumped into KAJIE I felt it was the right one, and I wasn’t wrong! Ronald before ours leaving was just perfect the communication was great, he planned everything perfect and reply to all the questions I had. When we arrived we met Bob. Let me tell you about”uncle Bob”: he’s a perfect driver, a good listener and full of knowledge. He bring us everywhere and also he made for us some changes during our stay that put the level of our 10 days safari even more high. We can’t complain about anything. The lodges were amazing, tidy, cozy, the people were all so kind that it’s impossible to describe. He also organized for us an extra activity just because he heard us talking at dinner about this beautiful bird called Shoebill, and, thank to him we have been able to stay in the swamp looking for him. Absolutely fantastic!!!
This whole trip was amazing, the safaris were terrific and thanks to bob we spotted all the Big five plus thousand of marvelous animals.
Please trust me when I say the KAJIE safari will not disappoint you. Never.
Thank you KAJIE for giving us the best days in such beautiful country. With love
Ilaria & Andrea from Italy
SA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most Reliable and Trustworthy Trip Adviser
I can’t thank enough Premier Safari for such an amazing trip organists for me and family. It was customized accordingly to my family suitability and we had great time to see real Africa…From start to end they have arranged everything very minutely so we had entire trip without any hassle with my 2 year daughter and 11 year son…Most amazing was both camp site location and ambiance. All staffs were very supportive and they took special care for Indian food …Bush Dinner was show stopper with dinner under open sky …Our Safari guide come driver won hearts the way he showed real wildlife and true essence of African Safari ….Premier Safari staffs were always there for help weather its booking,visa or travel etc…I highly recommend to consider them for your amazing experience of Safari in Africa for family or friends … “If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.”