It Started in Africa
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- IATA, TATO & TALA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $550 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
DE
Email Jaron Schilling | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
couldnt have hoped for better
From Berlin to Arusha for the trip of our lifetime. This honeymoon was executed with a level of perfection without making it dull or boring that Ive never seen before. Everyone was cheerful, funny but extremelly professional and elegant. The safari was amazing and the zanzibar hotel was oput of this world. Strongly recommended
The Trip of a Lifetime - On Safari with It Started in Africa
From the initial planning, through to the final adventure, our tour operators of “It Started in Africa” were extremely helpful and made sure that our ten day Safari was absolutely wonderful! I had to make some major last minute changes to our itinerary, but with the expert suggestions and prompt help we received from our Happiness Manager, Joao Oliveira, everything was quickly taken care of, to perfection!
We (4 adult family members) had booked a private tour and Sylvia, our tour coordinator, called us every day, to ensure all our needs and desires were taken care of. So the four of us were very comfortable in our vehicle, during the game drives and transportation from place to place and having a vehicle with a pop-up roof was perfect for watching the animals all around us, from every angle and made the warm temperatures much more pleasant!
Our tour started with just an overnight stay in Arusha, and early the next morning, the adventure truly started. We drove to Lake Burundi in Tarangire National Park, just a 2 hour drive from Arusha and were in a different world! It was just amazing to see all the animals that we have only seen in zoos or pictures, right besides our vehicle!
The Burunge Camp was our first tented camp and it was beautiful and had all the luxury and comfort we could wish for! We continued on to Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp, then on to Ang'ata Serengeti Camp in Central Seringeti, Ang'ata Migration Camp in Southern Seringeti and to Ngorongoro Crater. The last night we spent at Lake Eyasi and there, as part of our cultural program, we were able to have a snapshot of the life of the Hadze tribe and the Dacota people. We finished with the best cultural activity last, with a stop in a Maasai village before we had to return to Kilimanjaro International airport. The Maasai are among the best known local tribes due to living in and near the many game parks of the African great lakes and their distinctive customs and dress. They are the only tribe that can continue to live in the National Parks and Preserves because of their love and stewardship of their environment.
We stayed in a few lodges, but it was in the two Ang’ata camps that we could truly experience life in the bush and it came with the bonus of unexpected luxury and comfort, delicious food and the very attentive personnel that provided excellent care!
Nassari, our guide on Safari, was truly exceptional! He anticipated every request that we could make and made absolutely sure that all our wishes came true! If I had not seen the roads in the bush for myself, which were often quite rough, I would not have known that there were any bumps or deep potholes!
The game drives were fantastic - every day Nassari would ask us which animals, we really wanted to see that day and whether it was lions or cheetahs, leopards, hippos or rhinos he delivered them all! And once he found out that we were very enthusiastic birdwatchers he also made sure that we had plenty of time to see Africa’s wonderful birds in their spectacular colors, and helped us to identify many birds that were new to us.
On the game drives Nassari not only knew where the big 5 were “hanging out” but he also always drove to the best possible spot to see all the animals as close as possible - quite often right below our vehicle! He also made sure that at everyone of our lunch spots in the bush we were right next to the animals of choice.
I have traveled to some fabulous places, all over the world, but I cannot imagine that I will ever be in a better location to eat!
Tanzania is such a beautiful country and the office staff, Joao and Sylvia and our guide Nassari made sure that my trip was absolutely magical and a dream come true! I only wished that I could have spent a month on Safari, instead of the 10 days that we actually had!
I highly recommend a Safari with “It Started in Africa” especially with Nassari as your guide, to make it all possible!
I Visited in February 2016
Email Simon | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great agency, memorable safari
I would recommend It Started in Africa to anyone. Really efficient in helping us book it - Joao in the office was knowledgeable and very prompt. A well-chosen route - 4 days/3 nights, visiting Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater. We stayed at Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge, then Ang'ata tented camps in both the Serengeti and the Crater rim - all were excellent. Great food and service, plus very comfortable rooms (or tents)
Our guide (David) was a legend, really enjoyed our time with him. Patiently answered all of my wife's sometimes quite bizarre questions - very impressive!
Overall, It Started in Africa were excellent. Will never forget our first safari, thank you for the memories!
US
Email Willa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Breathtaking, organized, informational, and extremely fun!
I visited Tanzania with two good friends. We had a wonderful safari with It Started in Africa. From checking in to getting the safari started, everything ran smooth. Our guide was Damien and we were so happy to spend 3 days with this wonderful man! He was friendly, liked to chat, a good driver, calm, and extremely knowledgeable about Tanzania and specifically its wildlife. We had a wonderful time seeing elephants, impalas, monkeys, zebras, lions, ostrich, wildebeest, etc. Damien had a great eye for finding animals - even rhino very far away. He would stop and give us plenty of time to take photos and just take in the beauty. The food was delicious, provided by Roman the cook. I appreciated that providing vegetarian meals for me was no problem. The campsites were great - Haven Nature and Lake Eyasi - and every single person we met there was so nice and informative. It was a treat to meet people who lived in the villages we visited and gain their perspective on their country and the beauty surrounding it.
I wanted to visit a coffee farm in the area and ISIA had no problem taking us there even though they had never been there before. We had a wonderful visit. The only thing I suggest is contacting the places you go that are not usually on their itinerary. They were not expecting us at the coffee farm and while it worked out fine, I was nervous that no one had contacted them to let them know we were coming. I made the assumption that ISIA would contact them but I see now that I could have just contacted them to let them know.
I highly recommend ISIA for a thorough and fun safari. My friends and I had a wonderful time and we miss being in Ngorongoro Crater with Damien looking at all of those gorgeous zebras!
FI
Email Paavo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a lifetime
We booked a safari with It Started in Africa in May 2015 and finally made the 5-day journey over the New Year 2016. It was an incredible experience and everything was quite perfect.
The booking process was simple. Joao and his team presented the options and then I spent some time in comparing especially the various camps, testing my ideas with Joao. They are incredibly responsive and typically (of course not always) replied within minutes rather than hours.
The final outcome was perfect (Lake Manyara - Serengeti Central - Ndutu - Ngorongoro), a balance of the widest plains on the planet, lakes and forests. We stayed in lodges and the two Ang'ata camps were an experience of a lifetime. Our guide, Siloh, was very efficient in locating the big five and beyond.
I requested a quote for a similar safari from a few other companies and found ISiA to be very competitive in addition to having great customer service and, eventually, delivering a highly recommended safari!
ES
Email Carlos | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari, terrible management
Our safari with "It Started in Africa" could not have started in a worst way... We had booked a 5-day safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro (plus 2 nights in Arusha, one before the safari, and one after it). When we arrived at Tanzania we had to pay the remaining 60% of the safari. A driver took us from the airport to our hotel in the outskirts of Arusha and told us that a representative of the company would visit us at the hotel for giving us a briefing and for telling us at what time would the guide pick us the next morning.
At dinner time no one had appeared, so we sent an email to the company using the WiFi of the hotel. They apologized and told us that there was a problem with the person that had to visit us, but that the next morning at 8 a.m. the guide and a representative of the campany would appear at the hotel so we could pay the remaining amount directly to him/her and start our safari right at that moment.
The next morning only the guide appeared. No apology and no explanation given. He took us to the office in the center of Arusha and we payed the remaining amount. While we were at the office, I saw by chance that the accommodation that we had chosen for the Serengeti was not the same that was written on the paper that was given to our guide. We had chosen Serengeti Heritage Migration Camp (not the Serengeti Heritage Seronera Camp), but they had changed it for Ndutu Savannah Camp. When we asked why, the office employee just told us that "it was better". As Ndutu Savannah Camp was not even an option for accommodation when we booked the safari, we had no idea if this was true, so we had to accept it and continue the trip.
Based on our stay and the internet reviews, now I can say that Ndutu Savannah Camp was of similar category that the one we had chosen, and that the location was probably better. But we spent the whole first day thinking that we were being scammed, because no one had tolds us that our accommodation had been changed, and we only learned it by chance.
Our guide (Elia) was good but maybe not great. He is a polite and nice person, a careful driver and a very experienced guide. He always found the perfect spots for wildlife watching and he was probably more experienced than most of the other guides. Also, one day, while we were returning to our accommodation, he saw some lions and we stopped to watch them. After some waiting, we watched a hunting scene while he patiently waited. Finally, we arrived at our accommodation almost 2 hours later than the agreed time, and he never complained.
On the negative side, he is not the most talkative person. When he sees an animal, he usually just points at it and says one or two phrases. If you want to know some details, you always has to ask. Not a big deal for us, but may be for others. Also, on the Ngorongoro day, when we asked him about the lunch inside the crater (as was clearly written in the contract). He said that it was not possible because of the 6-hour permit (we have passed the entrance gate at 7:15 a.m. approximately, so we had to leave before 1:15 p.m.). We asked him to have our lunch in the viewpoint outside the crater instead, but he said that it was not possible either, because we had to leave earlier. After finishing watching the wildlife of the crater, we passed the exit gates at 11:50 a.m., with more than hour left before the permit expired, and we had lunch on our way back to Arusha. Again, not a big deal, but then, why does the company write it in the contract if there is no easy way for the guide to comply with it?
Before returning to the hotel in Arusha, we were taken to the office to fill a customer survey about the guide and the jeep, while the guide and one office employee looked over our shoulders. Not the most comfortable moment of our safari. Also, as we were in the office, we asked at what time would the driver pick us the next morning to take us to the airport. No one knew that we had already booked the transfer, even as it was written in the contract, so they arranged the transfer at that moment.
While we were accommodated at Ngorongoro, a manager (Silvia) called me by phone to tell us that he wanted to meet us in Arusha. We thought that maybe she wanted to explain to us the problems previously described. After arriving at the hotel in Arusha, our guide told us that she would visit us at the hotel. Again, at dinner time no one had appeared, so we sent an email to the company. They apologized again but no explanation was given. We left Tanzania the next morning but she did not appear.
PL
Email Robert | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
excellent experience
It was our first visit in Tanzania but not in Africa.Great staff It Started in Africa who create a fantastic atmosphere, our guide is the best tracker in the World, Louis answered for one million mail in one second! It was great experience at all . Accommodation in Tented camps(Agata and Kati Kati) was excellent. We saw all the animals that can be seen. The views in Serengeti National Park and specially in Ngorongoro National Park was amazing.It was the best tour in our life!
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Email Derek | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari
I initially contacted several safari companies, and It Started in Africa always provided the quickest and most detailed email responses. They answered all my questions and were up-front about pricing for all the different options I asked about. I did an 8-day safari visiting Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Lake Ndutu, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Eyasi (Datoga and Hadzabe tribe visits). I stayed at public and private campgrounds, with one night in a mobile tented camp.
I really enjoyed the safari. Tanzania is a beautiful country. I loved seeing all the animals in the wild. I got to see several lions in trees and walking or lying around, many giraffes, elephants, and impalas, and the plains full of zebra and wildebeest. Many of the colorful birds and smaller animals were a lot of fun to watch, like the jackals running around and playing in the early morning. I liked the variety in scenery between the different parks. Ngorongoro Crater was like a green paradise, so peaceful and full of animals. It was interesting meeting people from all over the world in the campsites. My guide Deo was friendly, spoke English very well, and helped me see a lot of animals. The cook prepared very good meals with plenty of food; I was never hungry. All the Tanzanian people I met were very friendly. The tribe visits were also interesting, seeing the very different ways these people live. We stopped at a Maasai village on the way back to Arusha, and, as I had a little bit of time before we had to leave for the airport, the airport driver gave me a quick tour of the city. I was a little concerned going to Africa for the first time by myself, but everything worked out well from airport pickup to dropoff and I had a lot of fun.
QA
Email Michelle | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari, made extra special by wonderful people
We had an amazing time on this safari, made possible by a great group of people in It Started in Africa. We had emailed a few tour operators to help in planning for this trip, and this company stood out on so many levels. We found their email correspondence to be very prompt, professional and comprehensive which made it very easy to customise our trip. They were also very reasonably priced compared to some other operators.
We did a 6 day safari trip, alternating between camping and staying in lodges and covered Lake Manyara, Central Seregenti, South Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Eyasi to visit the Hadzabe tribe. We got very lucky (plus thanks to our guides' eagle eyes!) and saw the big 5, lions mating, a wildebeest giving birth, elephants, thousands of zebras and wildebeest, plus also had the special experience of having lions surround our car to take shade from the sun. The trip to go hunting with the Hadzabe tribe was also another highlight, and we couldn't recommend it more.
What made our experience extra special though was Alfred, our guide, Zaire, our driver and Peter our chef. They were so friendly, so helpful, knowledgable, professional, and nothing was too much trouble for them. They went out of their way to make us feel comfortable, and even after 6 to 8 hours driving on the road in rough terrain, they still had a big smile on their faces for us. At the end of 6 days, it was very difficult to say goodbye and as Alfred said, we came as tourists but left as friends.
Asante-sana to It Started in Africa for making our trip so wonderful, we will always be grateful for the experience.
CA
Email Lindsay Bisson | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I would give It Started in Africa 6 starts if I could!
We had the best 5 days of our entire lives when we were on safari with It Started in Africa! Our guide, Emmanuel was extraordinary! He was very knowledgeable, easy to get along with and funny! Overall I was very impressed with the entire experience- it far exceeded my expectations! From the very first email I sent to the send off at the airport, the staff were professional and exhibited exceptional hospitality! It was simply an amazing experience!!! The food and lodges were world-class and we only chose the mid-level accommodations! We felt very spoiled!
I have told all of my friends and family in Canada that they must visit Tanzania!