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
SE
Email Anders Drejare from Sweden | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We went to the Real Africa
... are You lookìng for luxury hotel, dry martinis and free WiFi? Okay, then stop reading now but if You want to experience the real wildlife, then just hang on.
For most people a travel in Africa is a dream and if You go, it’s a memory for life. I’ve already travelled a lot world wide and when I now go to Tanzania, I want to be in the real Africa with my wife. It’s was the time for our precious holiday and should also be our private safari, not a bunch of people lined up like regular tourists in a half dousin jeeps.
Therefore I checked about 20 operators in October 2014 and after some information on mail and personal talk on telephone with Christopher Samvel, manager of “I dream of Africa”, me and my wife agreed to go with him around Christmas on the 9 Day Budget Camping Safari in the north of Tanzania. Christopher have been many years in this business and told me later this trip was a new concept from his idea. For us the value was to be close the nature, to really feel that we are in Africa and to get a lot of information in a causal way.
We fly December 19th from Dar es Salaam to Arusha and Christopher pick us up at the local airport for transfer to a very nice lodge at the hillside. The next day our trip started in his heavily loaded Toyota Landcrusier. There was also the chef Dodo, a nice guy who did all cooking in some american-european style with an african touch and had good manners that we appreciated a lot.
Actually the safari was 8 days out. We stayed always inside the parks at camp sites that provided some variable standard about showers and toilets. Christopher was very active to solve any problem we faced. Mostly me and my wife slept nicely in our tent but could also listen to lions roaring at rather close distance in the night, hyenas, monkies and elephants until the birds chat at daybreak. There was no fences or walls around the campsites, so we was alright a part of the real wildlife. To stay inside the park made it easy for a game drive at 6 am after coffee with the sunrise and in the afternoon until sunset. The morning and the late afternoon is the time we enjoyed the wildlife most.
Our safari continued like that in the national parks Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti (2 nights), Ngorongoro Crater NCA and Tarangire (2 nights). We had the opportunity to see the big five and much more. I shot several thousands of pictures with my new telephoto zoomlens 150-600 mm and sometimes my small pocketsized camera was enough because we was often close the animals! It seemed like we was on the right spot in the right time.
The safari trip was very inspiring and we really experienced very much. I think that Christopher have a mission to show the wildlife he love and he was always eager to share his good knowledge of animals, birds, vegetation and even insects. This was very valuable to us. The itinerary was followed like planned, although Christopher was open for some flexibility if we wanted. There was never poping up any extra or hidden expenses according to our Camping Safari. We can highly recommend Christopher, operator ”I dream of Africa” and we say Happy New Year to Tanzania. Christopher told us that he will also offer more diverse theme trips, that looks interesting.
NL
Email Mariska | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A amazing personal safari with i Dream of Africa
My boyfriend and I (both 29) were looking for a private guided tour where we could create our own itinerary. After doing some research, we found "I Dream of Africa" www.idreamofafrica.com through reviews on the internet. I Dream of Africa is a local Arusha based company, so you support a local company.
We corresponded through email (more than 50 J) and by thelephone with Christopher. Together we created a custom safari. Christopher, was our guide and driver throughout the 7 day safari, Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. He shared much knowledge about the wildlife and environment. And he was always on the lookout for animals. Christopher knew how to approach the animals. Besided that, Christopher knows a lot about Tanzania and the economic and political issues in the country.
We experienced a lot of advantage of a private tour, such as:
- you can stay in one spot as long as you want.
- You don’t have a tidy schedule.
- You really experienced the wild life if you stay on the public campsite.
- During lunch and dinner you have time to discuss about things.
We stayed on the local camp sites in a tent. The facility are basic but very clean and the food prepared through the cook was very good, fresh and healthy. It was sublime to be out in the middle of nowhere listening to lions and elephants. They where only several hundred feet away. One time early in the morning there was a big family of 20 elephants just 100 meter in front of a camp site. It was amazing. We felt very safe and Christopher is really looking afther you.
We really recommend "I Dream of Africa" If you are looking for a interesting and personal safari. You will have a amazing experience with Christopher.
IT
Email Martino | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
the best holiday
We did 10 days camping safari with Christopher Samwel, visiting the northern parks (Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire), and we had a great time, from the planning of the trip and during the safari (which in Christopher proved to be very competent and available).
absolutely recommendable (I hope to go back soon!)
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Maybe our best trip ever!
We are a spanish couple in our 50s and have traveled to several countries in our lives, so this was not one of our first holidays! Our safari took place in Tanzania for 14 days
I contacted I dream of Africa (Christopher Samwel) because a colleague recommended him. We arranged everething with him by email, following his recommendations about the trip, number of days at each location, etc.
The safari was excellent, one of our best experiences in our lives. We travelled alone, just Christopher and us, this allowed us more freedom than a group safari, spending more time where we wanted to.
Christopher is in one word, a superb guide and person. He knows very well the nature and animals, as he is a nature ethusiast and knows all the answers to any question you make him, from the customs of big mammals, to the name of any kind of bird.
I would not doubt torecommend I dream of Africa to anyone.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari in Tanzania
Hi all,
We organized a safari in Tanzania July 2013 with “I Dream of Africa” and it was amazing.
Christopher Samwel was our guide and driver and also he’s the owner of the company. We sorted all the details out by email before the trip, (Dates, accommodation, game-drives within a reasonable total price). He was very patient and helpful and of course he offered better price than many other agencies in Tanzania for the same itinerary.
We spent 6 nights between Taranguire, Serengueti and Ngorongoro National parks, and everything was perfect. Our trip was a private safari for two people in a Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 full equipped (open roof, radio and a small fridge to have cold water all the time).
We saw “The Big 5” and we have the opportunity to see the Lions hunting in Ngorongoro (awesome).
I have to say the global service was better than expected: everything on time, (no delays), no problems with the car, and no extra cost for anything during the whole trip. So the safari exceeded our expectations.
By the way, Christopher was been working as a safari guide/driver for more than 20 years, so he knows everything and everyone into the nationals parks. Actually he’s a bird-watcher and biologist expert, therefore he explained to us with a perfect English all about wildlife, eco-system and nature. It was an incredible experience.
Finally I’d recommend this company to everyone who wants to make any kind of safari in Kenya, Tanzania or Zanzibar. It is totally reliable and competent.
Thanks to “I Dream of Africa” and special thanks to Christopher to make for us an extraordinary and unrepeatable safari.
US
Email A. Maxwell | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
More Than We Dreamed
Wonderful. We could stop there as that sums up our trip.
However, there is more to say. If you are considering going on a trip to Africa, we believe there's only one company to do it with. I Dream of Africa. From the very beginning, Christopher and I Dream of Africa, were very pleasant to work with. It was extremely easy to communicate via email with Christopher. There were sometimes, that it would take a day or two for him to respond, but that was because he was out on safari during those times. And when he would respond, it was very professional and courteous, but most importantly it was thorough and would address all of our concerns or provide adequate updates about our upcoming trip.
It's been 6 months since our trip and we still talk about the memories or look at pictures when we were with Christopher. I Dream of Africa planned every detail of the trip other than when how to get to Africa. From the moment we stepped out of the airport, our guide was there to greet us and begin our adventure. Our guide, Christopher is the owner of the company and takes pride in everything that he does. He goes above and beyond to make the trip full of memories and a pleasant experience. In our opinion, having a local guide and local company made the trip that much more. We would see other guides and tours along our journey, and you could tell their guide did not carry the same appreciation for the animals as Christopher. We were able to see the things that we wanted to see and things that we had no idea even existed, and Christopher would take the time to explain their habits, names and other things we did not know about the animals. We shared many laughs with Christopher as he would never cease to surprise us with finding something new and having the patience as we would sit and enjoy the beauty of Tanzania.
Tanzania was welcoming and wonderful from the very beginning. Every lodge that I Dream of Africa booked for us, was extremely friendly and hospitable. The culture never stopped welcoming us and we always felt safe, no matter where our adventure took us. We had to go into town a few times to stop at a pharmacy, and we when we could not find the needed medicine, Christopher knew where else to go. He knew every area that we went to and with such ease, that we felt not only safe, but glad to have him there to truly guide us.
Since returning home, we have already discussed taking a trip back to Tanzania during another season to see what else I Dream of Africa could show us! We have not made plans yet, but know that when we do, there is only one company we will be in contact with. We highly recommend I Dream of Africa and Christopher.
TH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect safari for asian people!
I Dream of Africa is the perfect company to enjoy safari in Tanzania!
Perfect food, perfect trip, perfect people.
I'll recommend them to you!
IT
Email Matteo Righi from Italy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Totally marvellous! In July too!
I went with Chris and his Company to safari last year at the end of July. Not properly the perfect time as you read in Lonely Planet! But I Think isn't true because was an amazing experience! The company helped me to find all the animal I want to see. And I got it!
I Dream of Africa and his team was the perfect people to experience and visit (and to understand) Africa and all you need for a perfect safari.