Let me & my team surprise you! Christopher Samwel
I Dream of Africa
- Offices In:
-
Netherlands
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2003)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Association of Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $230 to $1,250 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
US
Email Stephen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible Experience and Value
We had a wonderful time with Christopher and I Dream of Africa (his company)! He provided a top notch safari that exceeded expectation. His goals and day plans are guided by years of experience. We are especially thankful he made efforts to avoid the large crowds that can occur at the big parks in the busy season.
We did a "budget camping safari", but it was the highest class camping we've ever done. Military grade tents, cots, and bedding, with a skilled full-time cook proving three fresh made multi-course meals a day. Camping allows you to be on-site at the national parks so you can get off early see the wildlife all by yourself, before the crowds of other safari groups get there. Also you can stick around to see the sunset over the wild savanna, hours after the lodge-staying crowds have left.
It is also clear the Christopher cares for the wildlife and conservation, and doesn't just look at it as a business opportunity. He knows the flora and fauna extremely well, and dives into the books if there's any uncertainty.
Finally, many of the popular safari companies are foreign owned (lots of Indian and Chinese). It's a great way to support a local entrepreneur in a country that needs all the help it can get. You'll be doing this with the opposite of a sacrifice: getting a top of the line safari as well.
NL
Email Marleen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
True experience
A real dream!! To see , hear , smell the dust of Africa. To sleep and hear the animals pass, to see them eat, drink, rest, take care of there children. To see there first and there last steps silently , close by. Christopher Samwell did grow up here. He knows!! Gives you time and opportunity to stand close to all animals. So that you can experience a litlle part of there lives! "I will be back!!.....;-) Thanks!
A special trip!
We would like to begin this review in saying that our safari with Christopher and Jaffet has been one of the most memorable experiences of our lives, mostly because of the passion and the professionalism of our guide, who planned out the best travel itinerary in the little time we had available.
It is impossible to fully describe the sight of lions strolling around the jeep and the limitless nature in which eyes get lost in trees, herds and across the horizon. It might sound like a cliche to talk about the elephants at sunset the hippos at sunrise, the gazzelles and the pelicans. We loved the nights spent in the savannah, where you can hear the calls of animals in the deep silence and the sky turns into a ceiling of stars.
The most important thing to describe is the magic that we experienced in those four days with the morning light surrounding our tent and the warm wind, carrying exotic fragrances.
The skills of the organizer Christopher was impressive. He created the perfect tour, varied and unconventional; you realize it when you have the luck to be among a pack of lions with no one else around.
Everything accompanied with delicious african cousine!
(italian)
Iniziamo questa recensione scrivendo che il Safari in Tanzania con Christopher e Jaffet è stata una delle esperienze più belle della nostra vita.
Non solo perchè il Safari è un viaggio meraviglioso, ma anche e soprattutto per la serietà, la passione e la professionalità della nostra guida, che ha studiato un itinerario per farci vivere al massimo i pochi giorni che avevamo a disposizione.
Forse è inutile descrivere i leoni che ti passeggiano di fianco alla geep oppure gli immensi spazi naturali in cui gli occhi si perdono tra le mandrie, gli alberi e l'orizzonte. Come forse è inutile raccontare degli elefanti al tramonto o le albe tra ippopotami, gazzelle e pellicani.
Forse la cosa importante da descrivere è la magia in cui abbiamo vissuto per quattro giorni, la luce del mattino che ti avvolge la tenda, il vento caldo che porta profumi sconosciuti. E soprattutto la bravura degli organizzatori che ci hanno fatto amare le notti passate in mezzo alla savana quando senti solo i versi degli animali nel silenzio e il cielo si trasforma in un tetto di stelle.
Christopher ha creato un tour perfetto, molto vario e poco convenzionale, te ne rendi conto quando hai la fortuna di osservare una famiglia di leoni da solo, senza altre jeep intorno.
Il tutto accompagnato da una squisita cucina africana!
NL
Email Renate Teuwsen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dream come true
Before I started to write this review, I read the reviews of other guests. I could just copy and paste their stories, we've experienced only positive things as well!
From the 2nd till the 9th of August we went on a Safari with Christopher. We are a family with three children (12, 12, 13). The trip was planned easily with Christopher via email. We went from Arusha to Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater to the Tarangire National park. We stayed at several lodges and tented camps (Kati Kati). We liked them all: the food, the service and the accomodation itself. I specialy loved the little "Ric" lodge, with the lovely Roos, who baked a great cake just for us! We saw so much nature and animals, really impressive. And we've learned so much from Christopher. The children couldn't stop asking him questions about the animals and their behaviour. Also good to know is that Christopher is a mechanic from origin, so no need to worry when the car is having some problems and the lions are watching you :).
For us this was a fantastic experience and we would without any doubt advice "I dream of Africa", to everyone!
NL
Email Maurice Maas | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our new friend in Arusha, Tanzania.
My old friend from university Erik Berkelmans advised me to ignore travel agencies in my home country, instead to directly contact Christopher Samwel in Arusha to make all arrangements for a safari trip for my family of four (2 kid aged 12 and 10). I'm still grateful to Erik for this advise. Arrangements were easily made and confirmed via email, money was transferred in good faith, we were picked up at the airport by Christopher for a nine day guided adventure in a private land cruiser. We ended up naming our safari trip 'Cat Counting Season'; "You're very lucky" Christopher repeatedly said at our various encounters with leopards, cheeta's and lions. This might be, but I'm convinced that his talent as a guide and his network 'in the field' enforce a certain level of luck. Furthermore he is a great guy full of stories, fluent in English, fond of our kids, a nice companion at the diner table and apparently an excellent operator since we've been in the most amazing lodges and tented camps. His price? Equal to the offer we got from a travel agency, but difference concerns a critical success factor: you will not know the person you will end up with as your guide (plus our spendings remain where they belong, in Tanzania). To the four of us, Christopher is our new friend.
NL
Email Gijsbert and Hanneke | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
we will be dreaming sweet dreams of africa forever!
We just returned home after a wonderful camping safari with Christopher and Jafhed (sorry if we spell the name wrong, we loved your cooking!). From the moment we were picked up at the busstop in Arusha, we knew we made the right decision to choose "I dream of Africa". We immediately felt at ease with Christopher, who brought us to a wonderful lodge in Arusha, for a last night in civilisation.
The next morning we were on our way! We saw 5 parks: Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorogoro and Tarangire. Every park had her own charm and Christopher had so much to tell about every park. It was never too much trouble to pause the car, so we could take a picture. The campsites he had selected, were amazing. Nice and quiet, in the middle of nature and wildlife. Every campsite had his own visitors, varying from monkeys, elephants, a genet and our favorites: hyenas!! Camping inside the parks adds a whole new level to being in the wild. While we were camping, we were spoiled with some of the best meals we ever tasted, all served with a big smile! We even had a cake on new years day, with a lovely message written on it.
Christopher is the best in spotting animals, he knows everyting there is to know about the animals and the parks. You can tell by the way he talks, that he respects nature and he treats her with love. He also told us a lot about the country and the population.
We could go on and on, describing how amazing our trip was, but we can only give you one advice:
Book your safari with Christopher, we promise you it will be an experience you will never forget! We certainly won't!
CH
Email Anja, Andrea and Kathrin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The perfect safari-adventure!
In July/August 2015 we made the „budget-tent-safari - 8 nights/9 days with Christopher and Japeth. After sleeping in the nice freedom-lodge, we got picked up and drove to the Arusha National Park where we did a bush-walk with a ranger. That was one of the highlights, getting very close to the giraffes and buffalos. The next parks were: Lake Manara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro-Crater and last but not least Tarangire. It was a very nice trip: Always tenting in the National-Parks where you get the chance to hear and see the animals that come close to the tentground during the night. The meals, cooked by Japeth were always very delicious , varied and nice arranged. Our guide Christopher is very experienced and has got a huge knowledge about the nature and animals. He sees and hears them where we didn’t notice anything. He is very uncomplicated and fullfills all the desires. His is on a high level. With the two of them we felt like in a small familiy – always in a good mood, a lot of laughing and all the time we felt very safe!!! We recommend „I dream of Africa“ to all people who look for the perfect safari-adventure!
NL
Email Erik Berkelmans | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic safari to the migration.
Christopher Samwell owner of " I dreamed of Africa" organized an unforgettable safari experience for our family of four. We did a tour from Arusha over the Serengeti to the Mara river to view the migration, we visited lake Manyara, Ngorongoro crater and Taragire national park as well.
We arranged everything by email. Christopher reacted always very fast and had good suggestions for the tour. We booked a 11 day safari with lodges and tentedcamps. Everything was organized perfect, even better as expected! The decision to do business with a local Tanzanian company worked out perfect.
During safari we experienced what more then 25 years guide means. Christopher speaks very well English, is a keen game spotter, even when diving he sees animals that we didn't noticed at all. He knows the Parks as the back of his hand and has knowledge of animals and their behavior. Above all Christopher is pleasant travel company.
I recommend Christopher as a fantastic guide and reliable touroperator. I am sure he can arrange the best safari whatever your budget is.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
fantastic tour
They did an excellent job of catering our tour to exactly what we wanted. My wife and I were on a time crunch and only had a week for the tour. Christopher did an amazing job of tailoring a tour to fit exactly what we wanted to see. He knew the migratory patterns of the animals and the exact spots to take us in the offseason to ensure we saw the "Big Five." He booked incredible lodgings for us each night and had a full schedule for us each day.
He was great about last minute changes and delays in our schedule. He would alter the daily schedule to accomodate our wishes and would go out of his way to make sure we were happy and well taken care of. His knowledge of the area was incredible, and would answer all of our questions with enthusiasm.
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking at booking an African safari, and would 100% use him again in the future. He can accomodate any budget.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Service and Knowledgeable Guide!
On a family trip to Kenya and Tanzania, we were fortunate to work with Christopher for our time in Tanzania. Christopher picked us up in Arusha and from the moment we were with him, made sure that everything was to our satisfaction. Throughout the trip, he provided detailed and interesting tidbits about the parks and animals and demonstrated clear skill driving a Landcruiser (no easy feat on rough roads!). Always flexible with what we were interested in doing, he nonetheless professionally made suggestions and modifications to ensure we would have the best experiences. As a photographer, I was especially appreciative that Christopher was willing to stop when asked for the occasional scenic picture and animals that we had already seen many times. If I am fortunate enough to come back to Tanzania again, I will be sure to use Chris again and I highly recommend him to anyone that wants a wonderful, private safari experience in the beautiful country of Tanzania.