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
Email Liz and Dave | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We were overwhelmed by the whole experience
While planning the safari, we appreciated the rapid and full answers to all our queries - and never having travelled in Africa before, we had many! Throughout the trip all our transfers were efficient. Our safari driver/guide, Dickson, and the cook/expert in all things, Paskal, were excellent. Pascal's skill in presenting varied, delicious and plentiful food with very limited equipment was admirable, and his cheerfulness, ingenuity and energy really added to our enjoyment. Dickson's patience with all my questions, his kindness when my husband's mother became very ill in Australia, and his tireless efforts keeping our vehicle functioning on such rough roads was extraordinary. Once a leaf spring broke, and our two heroes managed a temporary repair which enabled us to carry on, as well as providing us with unexpected entertainment.
We saw many, many more animals than we expected. Sometimes we were so close to the action e.g. mating lions, or vultures feeding on a buffalo carcass, that it felt like a tv documentary. The vast beauty of the Serengeti, the herds of elephant, wildebeest, zebra, and the various types of antelope, as well as all the friendly people we encountered made for a magical holiday.
Accommodation: The staff and accommodation at Christina's House in Arusha were very pleasant. On our return visit there were some problems with availability of water, but Helen and Christina could not have been more helpful. We liked the room at the back on the ground floor best, as it was quieter. Christina even took me shopping!
We slept very well in the tent - and the shower and variable toilet facilities of the public campsites really added to the adventure!
Hiliki House in Zanzibar was very comfortable and beautifully furnished - and the breakfast was wonderful. It would have been helpful to have known we needed shorts or similar and beach shoes for the trip to Prison Island, but that was a minor issue.
Nungwi was a bit of a disappointment after all our previous positive experiences in Tanzania. We had marvelled at the lack of rubbish in the landscape, but there was a lot of litter (and too many touts) there. I presume it was because of the number of tourists present. The accommodation at Amaan Bungalows was very pleasant, and the food reasonably priced.
DE
Email Ivar | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Statement from our 3 kids (Aged 10, 14 & 16) "best vacation we have ever had"
First of all, Thank you so much for all your effort planning our trip. All arrangements were according to plan, without any delays or other issues, so thank you again for the proper planning to make our trip the as good as it could get.
For our family, the balance between visiting the different Tribes and not too many days on Safari, turned out to be a success. Our family really enjoyd the hospitality from especially the Hadzabe and Datoga tribe. The Masai Tribe has become to commercial for us, but of course it was very interesting to alos see their way of living.
Our Safari guide (Martin) had a lot of knowledge and was very helpfull all the timen to make our days perfect. The different accommodations were also great. We especially enjoyed Pumzika Camp in Serengeti. Wonderful location with a very professional staff. Christmas Eve at Ang'gata Ngorongoro Camp was very special and a great experience as well. The place and the staff was wonderful, we all loved it a lot.
Zanzibar.
Lukemann, your agent at Zanzibar, was really nice and at our service at all times. He really did a great job to make our stay at Zanzibar perfect. Amaan Bungalows at Nungwi Beach, was a success. Our kids really loved the place, playing football on the beach with the local boys, the beautiful white beaches and the constant living atmosphere. After moving over to Fumba Lodge we really discovered (especially the kids) that the North part of the Island was better suited for us. Of course Fumba Lodge had a higher standard, but for us as a family we found that this place is better suited for "grown up families" without kids and younger people on their honeymoon :)
Thanks again for outstanding planning, we will have no problem recommending,
"It Started in Africa", to our family and friends.
SG
Email emma | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
had great fun in our 4-day trip, wish we could come back again
Thanks to our smart driver Nasarri, we had a great time during the 4-day safari tour (although it could be much better if we were provided binoculars), and our best memory might be the day in Serengeti - lovely animals during game drive, and beautiful sky full of stars at night which happened to be Christmas Eve. Best Christmas Eve (and Christmas day) ever in my life.
US
Email Kathy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unbelievable, unforgettable and economical personalized African adventure
Our trip was absolutely amazing, an experience of a lifetime! Our guides Charles and Isaac were a key part of this, sharing their incredible knowledge, good humor and outstanding driving skills to facilitate this two week journey. Accommodations were lovely, food delicious and varied, and the staff at locations were very welcoming and hospitable. We really enjoyed the diversity in the different lodging too and continued to be in awe of both setting and ingenuity!
Of course the stars were truly the wildlife, which brought me to tears of joy and wonder day after day. I'm so glad we took all the 100's of photos and video recordings as a great reminder that we were really in Africa and saw these incredible sights with our own eyes, not on a National Geographic show!
The two week travel itinerary was just about perfect. We had one potential challenge at Haven Nature with our booking that ended up working out better in the end- although we were scheduled to stay two nights, they had us listed only for one due to an incoming group that had booked the entire site. In addition, our lodging became a room, not a tent, which we would have preferred. Fortunately, we were able to secure an additional night at Tarangire Safari Lodge, which was outstanding. However, I feel like this all came together only with our persistence (and on hand cash!) otherwise I'm not sure where we would have spent the night. This situation was a little disappointing given extensive pre trip planning to prevent these sorts of surprises, but again, it all ultimately worked out well, and actually made for better use of our time by arriving at Tarangire earlier.
The birthday celebration was all tied to the above so that also added a little craziness, but again, it all came together with a wonderful surprise celebration by the staff at Tarangire. They were able to pull it off, thanks to Isaac, ISIA staff inTanzania and my husband. Very memorable and still surprising!
So, super thanks to all the ISIA staff for this unforgettable adventure, especially Joao for the extensive itinerary and pre trip planning, and Charles and Isaac for their on the ground knowledge, expert guiding and driving skills, and humor.
MX
Email maria | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing family experience
Hello Vanessa I hope you are doing well.
I want to thank you for everything ,We have an amazing journey. Your country its beautiful and all the people are very kind, .we had a wonderful experience. I want to recognize the job of the drivers we allways felt safe with them ;they were vey kind with us Thanks for all your organization.
I want to comment some points that may be can help you in the future
We were the only guests at the Masai Mara Hotel and they did not made our room
The hotel its really far from the ballon ride nobody told us that it was going to be a two hour drive at 4 am in those roads, so with the empty stomach we had a tought trip. The ballon was great
Its a good idea to ask the tourist for large plastic bags to put inside all the stuff you carry because the roads in Tanzania are SO dusty that you have dust everywhere , maybe the suitcases can be covered with a hard plastic. I think all your customers will appreciate that tip.
At Kilimanyaro airport they asked for our vaccines, they wanted to see the records. The stopped us because I had them in the suitcase, it´s better to bring them with you
The Arusha hotel its okay they did nt have hot water and the road to enter its very ugly so you cant go out for a walk. Maybe its better to look for another one.
The lodges were beautiful, and the dinners were really great specially the soups.
I really appreciate all the work and that every question I made you answered it so fast..
We all enjoy the trip.
Thanks
IT
Email Antonella Bobbio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
exciting
We enjoyed every single minute of our tour! I felt I belonged to that wild nature more than I do to my usual everyday life. Amazing!
The best spot has been the first lions sighting, we were really excited. But everything we saw was exciting.
I hope to come back to Tanzania one day.
The staff of "It Started in Africa" has been great! They helped us finding the right combination of tour and accomodation, answering to loads of e-mails and requests with patience and professionality.
Thanks!
CH
Email Barbara | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Safari experience
We just came back from a 14 days Tanzania Safari and Zansibar beach Trip booked with "It started in Africa"
with wonderful memories and are very happy that we booked this tour. the trip was "custom made" according to own interests and special wishes and we received regular email responses to our requests and questions from the staff.
the best was certainly our driver who made our Safari a memorable experience and who always spotted animals from very far distance. we also had some unexpected experiences....for some travellers that might be annoying- we found it very funny, which sort of makes the special experience of such a trip (the car had a break down on the last day, but it s interesting to watch how a car gets repaired in Africa so quickly, or driving through a street full of water due to rain)
CA
Email Michael and Julia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Honeymoon in Africa!
My wife and I travelled on our honeymoon throughout the Serengeti, Ngorogoro and Tangire National Park. Our tour guide was Arasto who was absolutely incredible over our five day adventure. From the start, we knew that we were in good hands. Our guide drove for hours and hours, answered any questions we had with pleasure and an upbeat attitude. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner together and can say that we made a friend by the end of our vacation. For anyone considering a safari in Tanzania, we highly recommend "It Started in Africa".
Travelling in September was great because it was dry season. The weather in the day-time was hot to say the least; but overnight temperatures dipped and bringing proper clothing is important. The guide will look after the rest and ensure you have a great time. We said from day number one, as long as we see a cheetah, we will leave Africa happy. Arasto patiently watched for hours and hours until we found the rare cheetah. You could truly tell he loved his job! Would definitely go back, incredible experience!
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g297913-d4997591-r472229875-It_Started_in_Africa_Day_Tours-Arusha_Arusha_Region.html#
FI
Email Kimmo | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A perfect experience!
I have visited many National Parks in Africa. This experience concerning Ngoron Ngoro, Olduvai and Lake Manyara was one of the greatest.
The guide was very helpful and he has a very wide experience.
CH
Email Yann Bolay | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
EPIC
The service was excellent, always on time, the guide was up to our expectations. Even in the rainy season we have seen a lot of animals and that with a lot less vehicles in the park. ;)
We had a great time with this agency, for a very good rate. I highly recommend them. The lodge was excellent, we chose Ashnil camp.
I wish them all the best for the future