Fanuel Mateja (President) & Kathy Phinney (CEO)
Breakdown Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $25 to $375 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Duane Duggan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bucket List, African Safari. Check.
It had been on my bucket list to go on Safari! Thanks to Kathy Phinney, one of the owners, that desire to check it off my bucket list, came to reality. Kathy and her husband Fan have a Safari company and I had a group of 8 people that have traveled together in various places on cycling adventures. This wasn't a cycling trip, but it was done with 4 couples that travel together very well. Kathy and Fan customized a trip for a group of 8. Breakdown Safaris coordinated all the details. A task that i could not imagine doing my self.
The variety of activities was incredible. We had beach time, safari vehicle game drives, a walking safari, boat safari, chimp tracking and even snorkeling in Zanzabar. While not like staying at the Regency hotel in an American city, the lodging was an incredible experience. In the Selous Game Reserve we stayed in a mud hut, romantically lit with paraffin lamps, and a four poster bed. The water was kept hot for us "westerners" via a wood fire underneath a water tank. Meanwhile, on the deck, you could hear the hippos in the river below. In Selous game reserve, we also did a boat safari. seeing a huge variety of animals you don't see on land. In Ruaha, we stayed in a stone cottage. During the night a lion and an elephant were having a little"tiff" just a few hundred yards away. Not quite like any experience we have ever had!
Breakdown Safaris did some amazing coordination to get us across the country and over to Gombe Stream National Park where Jane Goodall did her research on the chimps. We stayed in "tents" there, with bathrooms, hot showers, lights, and again a beautiful 4 poster bed. Through the work of the awesome guides we hung out with about 30 chimps for about an hour. It was a pretty strenuous hike to get to were the chimps were that day.
Overall, we saw a huge collection of animals, largely due to the knowledge of our guides, Fan, Rashid, and Kathy. They work hard to understand where the animals might be that day for an incredible viewing experience.
After several days of on land Safari, we ventured over to Zanzabar and Stonetown. The Safari continued with "Safari Blue" where we got to snorkel and see a different variety of animal life and sample a wide variety of foods.
The food through out the trip was amazing. Sometimes, like in Selous Game Reserve, it was all prepared with wood fire. We never had a had a "bad" meal through out the trip.
I would sincerely recommend Breakdown Safaris to coordinate your Safari trip
Email Steve Paine | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A whole new experience
We have been a lucky couple, who have in our later years, travelled widely and thought we had experienced most there is to see and do. Breakdown Safaris proved us wrong. Firstly, we had never been to any part of Africa apart from the Mediterranean coast and secondly, we had not been on a safari (to speak of) outside of South East Asia. We thought we knew what to expect, but got more than we ever hoped.
Kathy (one of the two partners) was a pleasure to deal with, whilst booking and getting things together leading up to our adventure. As we lived in Australia, Africa was not an easy place to get to, so we decided to visit on our way back from my daughters wedding in the United Kingdom.
Once we had agreed a time and places to visit with the help of Kathy, things came together and a plan was formed.
When we arrived at Dar Es Salaam, Kathy was there to meet us and greeted us like long lost friends, which I believe we had become over the weeks of pre safari contact by email. Fan, Kathy's husband was also there to meet us, with a broad and welcoming smile. We felt we knew these people already, although we had never formally met.
We were taken on our way, to change some money and we were soon in the truck and our way to a nice hotel called the Upepo Gardens, down by the coast for a couple of nights relaxation.
We visited Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park. We stayed at the most marvellous river camp. We visited Iringa in the Tanzanian Highlands, we visited Zanzibar and Stone Town. We had flights in 12 seater Cessna Aircraft from remote dirt runways, we had ferry rides across to Zanzibar and we slept in a mud hut. We had luxury hotels on Zanzibar and we had a more basic type in Ruaha.
We watched animals from such close quarters, we had breakfast by a lake in the open air. We witnessed the scene of the hunt, the feast and natures clean up. We watched animals that I would never have guessed I could see in one vista. As the sun came up, we watched Baboons, Elephants, Impala, Mongooses and Giraffe whist sitting and eating a bowl of Musli with a hot cup of tea.
We experienced something we had never before, sometimes raw, sometimes moving, but never boring. We had Fan, a Tanzanian guide and husband of Kathy, so knowledgeable in all things Africa and animal behaviour. He took us so close to everything, his enthusiasm was so infectious his genuiness so sincere.
Sometimes, we were up at 6am and on the road by 6.30 watching the sunrise over the savannah or the lake. Sometimes we were out at sunset witnessing the bush as the sun went down to start cooling another hot day in Africa.
All of our days, all of our visits, all of our arranged hotels and pick ups were organised without incident by Kathy. When she said somebody would meet us at a certain place, they were there. We at know time had a anxious moment.
Most of all, over the 13 days we became friends and had many discussions about things important to us. We met others along the way who we will always remember dearly. We finished with a nice dinner at the Upepo, where we had started, but this time with the owners. It was a perfect end.
We had been on an adventure, we had been on a steep learning curve, we had laughed, we had cried, we had been on a safari, it was more than we dare expected.
I cannot speak more highly of Kathy and Fan, I hope they continue to get clients and the reviews they truly deserve. Thank you both.
Email Cascel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant - I'd love to turn around and do it all again!
Breakdown Safaris arranged a private tour of three different National Parks and game reserves in Tanzania, plus a relaxing chill out on Zanzibar, over a three week period. The private tour was for my husband, five year old daughter, my parents who are in there early 70's and myself. Breakdown Safaris ticked everything off our 'to do and see' list, including personalized dietary requirements. They arranged everything from transfers, internal flights, accommodation, meals, ferries an activities. We saw all the wild animals (and more) that we hoped to see, in a safe (for us and the animals) manner. We were exposed to various cultural and charitable experiences, history and wildlife information because of our wonderful guide Fan. Our daughter has experienced a lifetime of memories because of Kathy and Fan's attention to detail and personalized service. Our expectations of adventure have now been given a whole new level.
Email Kova | under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I had fun.
My name is Kova and I am 5½ years old. My Grandma is helping me type this about Tanzania and Breakdown Safaris because I had such a great time on Safari with Kathy ad Fan.
The very best thing that I liked was when I saw the two male lions. One was lying beside the Alpha truck when we were looking for animals on a riverbank and we didn’t know he was there in the first place. It was only when we were about to leave that we saw him lying there. He was very tired and he stayed asleep the whole time we were watching him. The next male lion we saw was lying with his head up, under a tree right beside the track. He was big and had a big mane.
Another good thing that I did one time when we stopped to have breakfast that came in a box, was climb big slippery rocks with Fan. It was fun. We saw lots of baboons climbing and jumping all over rocks and the young baboons were tumbling on top of each other. It was very funny to watch. The other thing that made me laugh was the hippos making a noise like they were laughing, and their ears would go round and round and splash water everywhere. We saw some baby hippos with their mothers.
One time in the Alpha truck some elephants came right up close to us. We had to be very quiet so that we didn’t scare them away. There was a baby one. Other animals that we saw were hundreds of zebras, hundreds and hundreds of impala, they are the ones with the MacDonalds M on their bottoms, and giraffes. My uncle says you have to see a giraffe drinking and to see one running, because they look so funny. And we did.
When we got home, I took some photos to school for “Show and Tell” for my friends to see.
AE
Email Laura | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Trip
We found out about Breakdown Safaris trough Tripadvisor. Having no clue were to go, which agency to trust and how many days the trip should be, we gave it a shot and contacted Kathy and Fanuel. Thank god, as those two organized a trip which I will never forget. A trip which will be difficult to top, if even possible. Kathy has done a great job in putting together our expectations to get a taste of the African wildlife in the shortest period of time. We chose a trip to Selous Game Reserve in Tansania, with a four night stay in Selous River Camp. After being picked up by Fanuel, who is by far the best guide I can imagine, from Dar Es Salam Airport, we went on a 6 hour road trip to our lovely camp. One might prefer a luxurious camp, but if you would like to experience nature, this is the place to go. Squirrels jumping around your tent, elephants passing through the camp and bush babies calling you at night, it was an extraordinary experience. Our breakfast, lunch boxes in the wild and dinner at a cosy open dining area were great and we could not have been happier. During the afternoons one could enjoy a beer looking over the river and observing hippos and crocodiles.
On our first day we enjoyed a walking safari to learn more about the trails of animals and all plants around. I won't forget the "wait-a-bit" tree Followed by a game drive. I need to say we were extremely lucky as Hyenas, elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalos, lots of babies,... showed their faces. The next days were filled with a boat safari and game drives and luck followed us, showing us all the different animals. Lunches were super exciting with a little camping table in the middle of nowhere next to the car. Don't worry it is safe but still it feels exciting.
Fanuel has been a great guide, teaching us a lot about the wildlife but also being a lot of fun. I would like to thank both, Kathy for organizing such a memorable trip and Fanuel for all his care and eagerness of providing us with an unforgettable trip.
We will for sure come back to Africa and for sure, ask Kathy and Fanuel to organize another adventure.
Laura and Sanjay
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Email RV and JH | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Very Special Journey!
We are so fortunate to stumble upon the great reviews posted about Breakdown Safaris on TripAdvisor.com late June 2016. Without hesitation, we sent an inquiry to the contact email and immediately received a response from Kathy and Fan with specific details on the packages available for the short time we planned to be in Tanzania. We appreciated their recommendations and chose the 3-Day Selous Game Reserve option with transfers to Zanzibar. The whole booking process went smoothly. We were picked up promptly at our hotel in Dar es Salaam and our journey to Selous was an adventure in itself. We passed through the villages and sampled the sweetest mangoes and pineapples. Arriving at the camp, we were welcomed not only by the camp staff but also by an elephant checking out the camp's kitchen. The accommodations were great and we enjoyed the delicious meals provided. Our package included a boat safari, game drive and walking safari. Fan was very knowledgeable about the wildlife, vegetation and everything about Tanzania! Needless to say, we learned a lot from Fan and sparked an interest in returning to Tanzania in the near future. We also appreciated having Bakkar who drove us everywhere, making sure that we are safe and always with a smile! Although Kathy was not able to join us during our trip, she and Fan made sure that every detail of our trip was perfect. Our transfers to Zanzibar and back was easy and very organized. We echo all the wonderful reviews about Breakdown Safari and would highly recommend them for anyone seeking a great adventure. From the moment we contacted them until we returned home has been exceptional! Thank you again Fan, Kathy and Bakkar for making our trip exciting and memorable!
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Email Marla | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Anniversary Safari
My husband and I celebrated 25 years of marriage in Tanzania. Breakdown Safari made our special event a wonderful experience. We enjoyed an anniversary bush dinner with a candle lit path, all the details were perfect. Kathy and Fan were amazing hosts and did their best to plan ahead and have smooth transitions on each leg of the journey. The experience we had and the sites we saw will forever be in our hearts. It was the journey of a lifetime. Thank you Breakdown Safari!!
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Email Jess and Sally | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A great team and a wonderful safari
We would recommend Breakdown Safaris to those who want a personalized experience for their safari and other adventures in Tanzania delivered by an incredible team. Fan and Kathy were great from the very first email contact, honestly explaining the challenges of an unusually wet season and suggesting alternatives for us to consider. In the end, we spent time in Zanzibar, had a wonderful visit to the eco-educational resort on Chumbe Island off its coast, and explored Ruaha National Park with them. The lodging, transport, and activities were all professionally arranged and tailored to our travel style and desires. We loved the two nights on Chumbe and the snorkeling was amazing (as was the food!). The accommodations are basic, but appropriate for the goals of the eco-lodge and staff were fantastic on the island. Chombe, our “fixer,” who met us at each stage while we were in Dar to help us get to hotels and transport, was great. Always early and professional. The highlight of the trip was simply spending time with the co-owners of Breakdown Safaris (Kathy from the USA and Fan from Tanzania) who accompanied us on our Ruaha safari. We had some very special moments in a park in which we were one of only 3 or 4 vehicles we saw in 3 days. Unlike the mobbing of lions and chasing of cheetahs we experienced at times in the Ngorongoro and Serengeti region, we were always the only vehicle at special wildlife experiences such as watching a pair of hungry lionesses begin their nighttime hunt or less than week old elephants struggle to keep up with the herd. We loved it all. We also enjoyed staying at the park cabins, although a little hot, they were very comfortable with a nice bathroom, bed and sitting room and the best view in the world of the lake and night skies where we could listen to wildlife such as hippos, hyenas, and lions through the night from the safety of our cabins. We especially enjoyed chats with Kathy and Fan as we drove through towns on roads that challenged us all! What a great trip.
NZ
Email Sarra Hunter-Weston | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I hit the jackpot!
I can honestly say I really landed on my feet choosing Kathy and Fan of Breakdown Safaris to tour with. A more delightful and knowledgeable pair would be hard to find and I left with two new dear friends.
The whole trip, from my first tentative enquiry to the last day, was fantastic. They both made it so easy and everything went perfectly on so many levels, from the organisation to the actual safari. It truly more than lived up to my expectations. I fell in love with East Africa in that week, a feeling that has only intensified.
I saw and learned an astonishing amount, laughed my head off, watched in awe, felt an intense sense of spiritual well being and healing and came away a rejuvenated woman. Such an experience cannot be quantified in money terms, so if you are contemplating this trip and feel concerned at putting a fair chunk of your holiday fund into this experience, stop worrying, it is worth every cent and a hundred times more.
Put your faith in these guys and you will walk home a different person. I guarantee you will love every minute!! I'm even happy to be contacted personally.
DE
Email Annette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Experience
Kathy and Fanuel led us through a fantastic 5day trip through Selous Game Reserve. Through Fan's incredible knowledge about all plants and animals (and people) in Tanzania, and Kathy's insightful intercultural expertise, we got great insights (and had lots of fun with them), which was all far beyond expectations. thank you both!