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
Email Thomas | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable experience
With two fellow students we decided to do a safari while we did an internship close to Mwanza.
Out of two safari’s I did this one was the most incredible.
First of all because of the guide, Christopher, who knew the perfect places where to camp and where to drive. He understands that privacy is key to the experience and we camped a few times with almost no company. During game drives we had several incredible encounters with leopards, lions, cheetahs, elephants and even rhino’s. A combination of luck and skill of Christopher, who has ridiculously good eyesight.
Second the service was perfect as everything we wanted during the safari was taken care of. Especially the food was very nice.
And lastly because Japhet en Christopher are just amazing company, We loved Christophers stories about the wildlife, and Japhets’ jokes.
Would love to do this trip again!
NL
Email Maria | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable safari
In one word: GREAT!
The safari we (a family of 5 persons) had in Tanzania with Christopher and his team is unforgettable. He is a passionate expert-guide with a lot of knowledge and experience and he is a very good driver too. Also: Christopher is a very nice person !
We learned a lot about wildlife (from the Big Five to the little termites), about the balance in nature, the dangers of climate change. Christopher is always searching for new possibilities to observe the animals, away from the touristic routes. Instead of following other jeeps, we were often alone in a beautiful and vast landscape, experiencing unique encounters with lions, elephants, special birds etc.
In the evenings, around the fire, we shared experiences and stories. The ambience was always nice. Christopher told us also a lot about culture and tradition, the young history of Tanzania and the challenges of today. He felt very responsible for us, ensuring that we had a good time from the beginning to the end. The food Geoffrey made was excellent every day, made with attention, love and humor!
We did not stay in lodges, we preferred camping: hearing the beautiful sound of nature in the night, watching giraffes and zebra's nearby, in the amazing early morning or evening light. Our tents were always in a beautiful spot with the best view.
Idreamofafrica is a little Tanzanian company. Personal contact, flexibility, a good atmosphere are main characteristics. We preferred to support a local Tanzanian company above booking with a foreign, European travel organization. It turned out to be a very good choice!
We really recommend Idreamofafrica to everyone and wish Christopher and his team all the best. We hope to see them again soon.
IT
Email Luigi e Patrizia | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
my best African safary experience
An experience in Africa is always something special that leaves you feeling great and makes you carry in your heart that feeling that only those who have tried it recognize as "mal d'Africa". I traveled in almost all the countries of southern Africa but, the wonderful experience that I lived with my wife Patrizia in August, led by Chris, the best guide I know, is and will remain indelible in our minds. The Dream of Africa is precisely the realization of a dream and thanks to the expertise and skills of Chris we have lived the experience of a real private camping safari. Nothing is left to chance, from the planning of stops in the camping areas, to the daily safaris that are organized in the parks where indescribable emotions are lived, until the evening return where we find Japhet who, with just as much mastery prepares delicious dinners in the heart of the savannah. In our nine-day trip we visited the Parks of Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, the crater Ngoro-Ngoro and the Tarangire. We were lucky enough to see the lions climbing on the trees, to experience the thrill of a night safari in Lake Manyara, on the Mara river we had the opportunity to see the great migration of the wildebeests, an incredible show, hundreds cattles that in a neat row of Indian cross the waters to go to the green areas where they can find more food and water. An incredible show that nature offers us! not to mention the exciting encounters with groups of zebras, giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, hippopotamuses, elephants and for all the surprise of finding ourselves in front of a meter away a lioness with three affectionate puppies! what intense days! and in the end the magnificent sunsets that only in these lands can be admired. We recommend to those who intend to organize a safari and live a real experience in Tanzania to contact without delay our friend Chris and his team of I Dream of Africa, we do not we'll never thank him for the magical days and nights spent together.
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!