Owned and managed by Magda Vrijs and Edward Mollel
Flash Safaris and Photography
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2005)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $250 to $950 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
Email Ad, Guusje, Annelot, Floris, Bastiaan and Ferry Nieuwenhuis | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic, unforgettable and great organization and execution of our family safari and Zanzibar trip
We were referred to Magda Vries by a mutual friend and we felt right at home the first time we met with her in the Netherlands. We wanted to have an unforgettable safari vacation with our 4 adult children as a memory of our 25th wedding anniversary. We discussed our goals, desires and wishlist with Magda and she prepare a magnificent safari with her team. They were quick to respond and patient listeners, adding god ideas.
So, we spend 5 days in the Masai area, travelled and camped in Sinya Conservation Area in little dome tents. We did not see a single tourist for the two days we spend there only accompanied by Sam, our driver and tour guide, a Masai guide named Luwasa, an excellent cook, a Masai warrior for security from animals and a Masai help. This secluded area close to the Kenyan border was the absolute highlight of our safari. We really got close to the local tribes and their way of life, their challenges and their joys. Besides that we saw a lot of wildlife and beautiful nature. Make sure to include the Masai Lodge in your itinerary; unknown and extremely authentic.
Sure we went to all the other big parks and wonderful places in Tanzania; Flash Safaris had them all covered. Sam, our tour guide for two weeks, was great fun and a very skilled driver as well as an experienced game spotter; imagine doing these things at the same time!
Also we went to Zanzibar through Flash. Again perfect prepared and on top of things. We had a booking issue with the diving organization, but Flash immediately fixed it! Excellent, Excellent.
We can Highly recommend to book your safari with Flash, especially if you want to see something different. Thank you Magda, Edward and Sam and the entire crew!
US
Email Gary Elsner | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fulfilling a lifetime desire to experience the African migrations for a disabled person!!!
My daughter, Sarah, and I just came back from the most exciting safari with Flash Safaris and Photography. In my case it was the fulfillment of a lifetime wish to go to Africa and see the wild animals, the migrations and also the research sites of the Leakey's. And since I'm an older fellow who uses a wheelchair full-time -- it's not easy. But Magda, Robert and Adam put together a Safari that worked so nicely for all my needs. They made it easy to get into and out of the safari vehicles and had checked the accessibility of all the accommodations. Awesome is an understatement!! It was a perfect safari experience.
We wish to specifically extend our thanks and gratitude to Magda Vrijs, Edward Mollel and Mtiro Adam of Flash Safaris and Photography . And Robert Stelling with Fika Safaris who did an excellent communications job regarding the accessibility needs.
Mtiro Adam was our Guide and Driver for the Safari and a wonderful companion. His knowledge of the wildlife and plants was amazing!!! Everywhere we went we saw others who clearly had a high respect for Adam.
My checklist for the safari was to visit Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti Plains, the Rift Valley and Olduvai Gorge (the Leakey's paleontology site). They designed a safari which covered all these objectives and many more!!
I would say, without a doubt, if you want to go to Africa and have a World-Class Experience - contact Flash Safaris -- they can make it happen for you!!!
Our best wishes to all -- Gary Elsner and Sarah Gualtieri
Email Julie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing experience!
We have just returned from a fabulous holiday in Tanzania including Zanzibar organised by Flash Safaris and Photography.We had an amazing experience thanks to them.The Lodges/Camps and Hotels chosen for us were perfect,food was terrific throughout.They thought of every single detail to make our holiday perfect including organising our journey back from Zanzibar in a way that would be best for connecting to our flight home.
We saw so many animals but didn’t see the migration in Nduto sadly but that is just nature on the day!...nothing is foreseen as our guide kept telling us.
We would highly recommend Flash....outstanding!!
FR
Email Bernadette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good experience, all was according to their proposal. It was a great experience.
They were very responsive to our requirement and expectation, fast response and professional. Good driver/guide, car in good condition. Lodging and food up to our expectation. I recommend Flash Safari and Abraham.
OM
Email Martyn and Nicky | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An outstanding experience!
Having just returned from probably the most memorable holiday of our lives, we are super-eager to sing the praises of Flash right away! The company was recommended by friends and, after having been daunted by the multiple millions of Safari companies out there, it was a huge relief to be able to have a reliable organisation to contact. They were efficient and helpful right from the start. All communications were quickly replied to, advice and alternatives offered where appropriate and recommendations for everything we required. It seemed that pretty much anything was possible! We didn't want the huge expense of 'high end' but had feared that anything less would be either disappointing or less secure than my fevered imagination really needed! The image of small, soft, regular tents amongst wandering lions and elephants weighted heavily on my mind. However, we were able to go 'mid-price range' and get, what we considered to be fairly high end comfort, with all the security we'd hoped for. Tented camps were far more substantial than they sound and the facilities were remarkable. Small and personal, full of character and an absolute treat, in the most amazing of settings. The food in each was excellent, and none of them were the dreaded buffet style meals. Each evening was a three course menu, served by the delightful, super friendly staff, breakfast had a variety of choices, plus eggs cooked to order. Lunch boxes were the norm for each day's travel and were varied and very full.
Our driver and guide, Adam, was the icing on the cake! He was absolutely brilliant! We swear he could spot an ant on the horizon, and seemed to have eyes not only in the back of his head, but all around too. Plus x-ray specs in front! He found us everything we could possibly have asked for and much, much more. Apart from the elusive aardvark which he himself had been chasing for fourteen years! Though we were tantalised by many of their holes! In addition he certainly respected Nature, and was hugely knowledgeable about all flora and fauna. He was sensitive to the domain of the animals and was careful not to disturb anything in the parks. A true gent, and great fun too.
Adam was also able to arrange a ballon ride over the Serengeti for us, something quite magical that we shall never forget. A huge treat, not only for the balloon experience itself, but for the fabulously gracious champagne, full English breakfast, to follow, complete with good linen, bone China and decent silver in an idyllic, truly 'Out of Africa' setting.
We would recommend Flash to anyone wanting an absolutely exceptional safari, and hope to get a chance to relive their delights on another occasion ourselves.
NL
Email Hilde | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Due to the sublime organisation of Flash Safaris, we most probably had the best holiday ever.
When we think about our Tanzania trip, we can only discribe it in one word: fabulous! We travelled with our complete family, 10 persons at the age of 5-73.
Flash Safaris and Photography was recommended to us as one of the best organized and most professional touroperators. We did not know the owner Magda at all, but from the first moment we contacted, the communication was great. She immediately answered our e-mails and she translated ours wishes into a magnificent trip. We had never been to Africa, all have little kids and than it is extremely important that you being reassured about safety issues and all medical risks.
When we arrived at the Kilimanjaro airport, Magda was there to welcome us, together with our drivers Abraham and Adam. We stayed two nights in the great Illburi Lodge in Arusha, which was very good to acclimatize. After two days the drivers picked us up to go on safari. First we experienced the Lake Manyara Park, a relatively small park with many wild animals; Great! The day after that we went to the Serengeti; a breathtaking experience after an amazing ride along the Ngorogoro Crater area. With the best drivers, who also turned out to be the best spotters and the kindest people in the world. What we wanted, they did and in the end we did not only spotted the big 5, experienced nature and people, but maybe even more important, we got to know how life is in this part of the world. The Mbugani lodge by the way, we stayed in was in 1 word Amazing. The buffels stayed next to the tents we slept in, and a leopard and lions walked through the camp at night. You could spot them through the windows from your bed. Astonishing... And the food? We can say that we are used good restaurants etc. and we were absolutely surprised by the fantastic tastes and cooking during the whole week. Unbelieveable actually and never had the idea that something was not hygienic. Several times we concluded we did eat better than at home.
After 3 days we went to the world heritage park Ngorogoro crater and there we saw the last animal of the big 5; the black rhino. What an area, what a feeling, can't get enough of all impressions, wow...
So, the safari was absolutely amazing and a such a unique experience, words can't describe it to be honest.
After the safari we went to the Maasai Lodge. When you think you had it all, you arrive in some sort of an African paradise! A very good choice to relax for a few days and talk through and settle your experiences. Never met such a nice and friendly group of people. Want to have breakfast at night? No problem at all sir! Never felt so much of a guest and welcome as over there. The Maasai show us around, took the kids for a ride on their mules, learned us and our children how to use a spear and showed us the Kilimanjaro early in the morning. With tea and fresh baked cookies and a blanket against the morning cold. Felt king and queen to be honest.
Flash Safaris gave us also the opportunity (free choice of course) to experience the projects of Africa Amini Life. Heartwarming to see how over 200 kids now go to school, how the area got it's own hospital and what is done for little orphans.
So, as we said, our trip was fabulous and the memories we have as a family are for ever.
Many many thanks to the magnificent organisation of Flash Safaris, Magda and Edward, and of course our drivers Abrahim and Adam and all the beautiful people we met during our first trip to Africa! Forever in our heart and we will be back for sure some day...
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Email Marilyn | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari dreams beautifully met by Flash- beyond our dreams!!!
While examining an overload of safari tour company sites and getting high price quotes I was becoming discouraged. Then I saw several references to Flash Safaris. I sent our desired itinerary along with a request for a modest budget and received an almost immediate reply from Magda. She was always professional, detailed and quick to respond. Although I requested places to stay she made suggestions for alternatives based on her experience. We went with those and were pleased we did so. We were four adults with special food and medical requirements which she made certain would be accommodated.
Magda met us at the airport, picked us up the following day at her suggestion and escorted us around Arusha markets- beyond the call of duty! We also met her business partner Edward, a native Tanzanian whose conversational English is very proficient, who took us to the airport.
I had told her I was interested in a guide who knew and would stop for birds. No problem. Every day of our 18 days, 11 on a slow paced safari and 7 in Zanzibar, was a marvel thanks to Magda's advice plus our excellent safari driver/guide Abraham. Our wishes were always graciously accommodated by him.
Her personal service, genuine friendliness and ability to meet and exceed our expectations will long be appreciated!!! This is an extremely reliable, ethical small company. Do not hesitiate to book with Flash!!!!
NL
Email Karlijn Suurmeijer | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best safari ever!! With an excellent service and good price!! Great mix between safari and beach
Very good and peronal touroperator! Magda and Edward (the owners) really take care of you, are really nice and helpfull and respons quick to e-mails or phone. We booked a combination of 5 days safari with the 2 of us, our driver/guide and a 4x4 Landrover for our own, and 5 days relaxen on the beautifull beach of Zanzibar.
Everything was organised just perfect!! The tented lodges in and near the parks we stayed while on safari were even more beautiful, luxury, clean and safe, then we expected. The views undescribely stunning!!! Great food, romantic ambiance and the staff very friendly and helpfull as well. I can’t tell you how wonderfull experience it was to be in nature and surrounding by animals, you really have to discover it yourself!! We saw the big five and so much more!!!
After the safari we stayed on Zanzibar, Jambiani for a couple of days relaxing on the beach!! Beautifull beach and the clearest ocean!!
For us this was one of our best holidays ever!! Thanks Magda and Lois (best driver and guide ever!) for this great experience.
Love,
Dave and Karlijn
QA
Email Nicky | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible safari!
Our group of 4 friends had the most awesome time with Flash Safari's. Communications prior to our trip were excellent, all questions were answered quickly and efficiently. From the moment we were met at the airport by Magda and Edward we felt like we were in good hands, and enjoying sundowners with them quickly made us feel like old friends. Our guide Malek was excellent, he took us on a 5 day safari where we covered Tarangire National Park, Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater. We saw so much incredible wildlife, Malek seemed to have a 6th sense about where things would be. This allowed us to "get ahead of the crowd" and have some really special moments. All of our accommodations were much better than expected for the price that we paid - it was a very pleasant surprise! We were so comfortable and each place had a special ambience that made evenings in the bush quite incredible. You can't get much better than a herd of zebra and wildebeest stampeding past your camp in the middle of the night to really make you feel part of the magic!
Thank you thank you thank you, to Malek, Magda and Edward. You gave us a memorable trip that will definitely not be our last!
NL
Email Barbara | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great and Reliable!
After our Kilimanjaro climb, we have booked a 3 day Safari tour with Flash Safaris. We have had lovely and great days!
First it was very relaxt to stay at " Ilboro Safari Lodge" for 2 days. A gorgeous an Cosy place!
Then visited 3 beautiful alternate parks: Manyara national Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire national Park. 1 Night we stayed in the beautiful "Rhotia Valley Tented lodge". We had very nice contact with Magda Vrijs. She gave honest, reliable and accurate information. In addition she is a very nice person. Our guide, Loi, was amazing. Very humorous, told us a lot about the animals and plants. Also he is very reliable.
Flash Safaris was a perfect choice!
Thanks for the great days.