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
US
Email Margaret | Experience level: first safari
This was a great safari experience from beginning to end!
I was very happy with our experience with It Started in Africa from beginning to end. The office contact person was prompt and helpful in answering questions and expediting booking the tour. We chose to be met at the airport and the young men who met us were personable and helpful. The office manager came to our hotel to meet with us and go over the details of the safari. We chose the 4 days/3 nights safari to Lake Manyara/Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater and found it a great experience. We chose the camping safari and found it suited our budget and yet was comfortable. It was fun meeting some of the other people doing the same type of safari. Our driver/guide Martin was excellent and very knowledgeable both about the animals and how to get the best views of them. He also timed where we went for our game viewing to be able to see as many animals as we could. We were fortunate to be there for the start of the wildebeest migration and even saw a cheetah attacking one for dinner! Martin was good company, always looked out for us and graciously accommodated a few spontaneous requests on the last day returning to Arusha. Our cook Samwell made us delicious food and there was always plenty of it. We were happy to have box lunches as it allowed more time for game viewing. He was flexible and made us a box breakfast at our request on the morning we went to Ngrongoro Crater so we ate it in the beautiful surroundings of the crater. We saw a wide variety of animals including elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeests and a black rhino. Altogether we had a great time and appreciate the work that this safari company put into making it so enjoyable!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Oustanding Safari experience
We have recently returned from an 18 day Safari & Zanzibar vacation with ISIA. From my first contacts with many of the leading Safari companies, Joao stood out. He provided exceptional customer service, suggestions, prompt replies to my numerous emails & ultimately organised the most outstanding experience for our family. We travelled the northern circuit: 2days Arusha, 2 days Tarangire, 1 Lake Manyara, 3 Serengeti, 1 Ngorongoro, 1 Lake Eyasi & 9 Zanzibar.
Everything was perfect. We enjoyed the skills & knowledge of our guide Dickson who could spot a lion amongst the tall yellow grasses with ease. Dickson was always happy to stop whenever & wherever we wanted to and had a wealth of knowledge which added to our experience. The bushnell binoculars in the vechile were excellent & really essential to maximising viewing opportunities. We stayed in lodges & tented camp sites which were all fabulous, each with its own uniqueness & personality. Joao organised several internal flights which all ran to time & ensured continuity in the vacation.
The wildlife on the northern circuit exceeded our expectations & at every turn there was a wow moment. Zanzibar was also amazing & i would highly recommend enjoying some time in Stone town & on the fabulous beaches if time permits.
Joao monitored our Safari while on route, contacting the lodge owners to ensure everything was fine. Several times on route in Zanzibar we changed our pick up times & Joao quickly organised the new schedule to meet our requests. The ISIA representative was always front & centre for airport pick ups in lovely, clean air- con vechiles & happy to stop off for one last souvenir. Mathias- the office manager in Arusha met with us at the end of the Safari & escorted us to the Arusha airport for the next leg.
Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend ISIA as an outstanding Safari Tour Operator, with all of the team working hard to ensure the best experience for their guests. Joao & Dickson both deserve special mentions as their hard work and commitment delivered an extraordinary experience for our family.
If you would like to read more of our adventure all organised by Joao, I have attached my blog URL. Skip the first two entries & go straight to the safari.
http://www.travelpod.com/members/johanna.drake
FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable experience with a great team!!!
My friend and I were on a 5 day safari: Lake Manyara (1 night), Serengeti (2 nights including New Year's Eve) and Ngorongoro (1 night). In terms of animals, we saw pretty much everything: the big five, cheetahs, hundreds of hippos, as well as crocodiles. Especially Serengeti and Ngorongoro were astonishingly beautiful!
In Lake Manyara we stayed in fixed tents, while we camped in Serengeti and Ngorongoro at public camp sites. These are great if you are adventurous and looking for the true experience. For intance, in Ngorongoro elephants visited the camp site on several occasions :)!
The whole team was awesome from start to end. "O Senhor" Joao Oliveira (co-owner) was
Extremely helpful in arranging all the details in advance. We emmidiately felt like we had known each other for a long time. Our guide (Simon), driver (Deo) and cook (Fasili) were very professional, yet laid back and fun. In addition to learning a lot about the animals and parks, we were laughing and joking around the entire trip, and felt like the team were old friends. Since you are spending so much time together with the team both during the day, as well as in the evenings, it is very important for the overall experience to have a good relationship with the crew.
Fasili prepared some really good food, especially considering the rather primitive kitchen facilities available in the Savannah. We were pleasantly surprised!
Deo had his guitar with him and we had a blast hanging out with the team over dinner every evening!
Simon was very knowledgable and a great at spotting wildlife.
The binoculars provided by the company were very good.
We highly recommend this company!
It's good to know that the cars take a real beating during the safari, and some minor problems are to be expected. We had minor stuff break several times, but nothing serious that would have stopped our progress. But it's recommended that you have a laid back mindset and attitude when going on a safari
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
What a great time we had ...
We booked a 6-days tour starting early in January 2015, including safaris at Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro, Moshi with Kilimanjaro and finally Zanzibar. In addition, we played a round of golf at the brandnew Kili Golf Course.
Many thanks to the entire team, especially to JOAO who was an excellent organizer and to ALLEN our guide and driver,
Joao was very helpful with his expertise, his recommendations and prompt responses on our inquiries.
Allen was an excellent guide and an experienced driver. We obtained a lot of informations - not only about nature and wild animals - but about the country, the culture, the people and their life as well. That's it what we liked so much.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An amazing safari experience
We booked 5 days safari with "It Started in Africa" at the end of December 2014. I was a bit hesitant at first, because I doubted whether the company even existed. But emails from Joao was rest assuring, and we had an exceptional safari experience we will never forget. We had 1 night in Lake Manyara, 1 night in Ngorongoro, and 2 nights in Serengeti. Our driver, Isaac, was really good in spotting the animals from miles away, before getting us closer, he knows a lot and explained to us the behaviors of the animals, the culture of the Masai Mara people and much more.
We saw all the big five, the migration, and more than what we anticipated. It Started in Africa and its staff are professionals and great company.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent surprise
The overall trip was very nice and the nature its self was awesome.
We have been very lucky with our guide, Jackson, who was very flexible and very helpful.
About the trip, we liked a lot Ngorongoro crater, the camp Angata, and the hiking we did with the ranger.
Moreover the last day we have been to Arusha national park, that was very nice and where we had an incredible hiking with giraffe, buffalos and baboons.
We loved a lot the Maramboi in Tarangire, great location.
In Zanzibar, the hotel was nice, very good service and food. The location and the beach was awesome.
We have been also to the Z hotel for dinner, that was fully booked when we tried to reserve; it was nice but the beach in metwembe was far better.
Overall, I would say that we were happy about this experience, and we would suggest your organization.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
WOW ! Service beyond expectations !
It started in Africa gave us an incredible service from the beginning to the end ;)
The safari was so nice ! We had an amazing time ! Our guide, Johnson, was very nice too ! We had a lot of fun with him ! The "basic camping'' was beyond our expectations ! Heaven nature is more than basic, it was perfect for us !
The Ngorongoro Crater is a must see in your life...it's completely incredible ! You absolutely have to add it to your check list..and make sure to do it with It started in Africa..a company that will take care of you before your trip, during your trip and after you come back home !
I travel a lot and when I checked to do a safari I just contacted so many companies...and It started in Africa is the one who always answered all my ''so many'' questions ! The best customer service for sure ! And it's very not too expensive.
Thanks to all of the team ! We really had a great time ! :) And a special thanks to Johnson..the best guide ever ! :)
Joelle
MT
Email ray micallef | 35-50 years of age
www.it started in africa.com...quality safari operators highly recmmenwed !
From the ist email i sent joao ther reservations manager and his prompt reply i realised that these were the right people to book my safari with.
. all emails answered quickly and good advice regarding our itinerary until we were happy with the whole trip....the safari parks accomodation etc.
We went for midrange lodges and they were all excelent...Maramboi tented lodge Lake manyara wildlife and Angata tented camp.
Joseph our guide was great with us and patient as well.
The highlight of our safari was gorongoro truly a world wonder
. So once again many thanks to joao and all @it started in africa
DE
Email Eike Hardt | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professionalism and Hospitality
As someone who loves to travel all over the world, Tanzania has probably been the one that was the greatest surprise, full of excitement, hospitality, amazing nature and wildlife and an out of the beaten track feeling.
I can't say much about It Started in Africa except that they provide me with the best experience in my life in terms of traveling. The Serengeti is something EVERYONE should visit in their lifetime, and go as soon as possible, it may be very different in the future. Needless to say, I had a smooth tour, with a fantastic guide who seem to had bionic eyes :) I did not expect to see so many wildlife like I did. Congratulations, will definitely come back one day.
Dream Trip #Os5emAfrica #SafariDurao
We had the best holiday ever! It was fantastic, a 6 day Safari adventure followed by 4 days soaking in the sun on the perfect Island of Zanzibar.
Thank you João Oliveira for the perfect programme. You gave us a bit of everything. From the Tented Camp to the perfect lodge. Wouldn't change a thing.
Special thanks to our driver Dickson Madiwa. He put up with our mad family of 5, and just sang along.... The best!
If you want to see more, check some of our photos on instagram #Os5emAfrica #SafariDurao