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
AE
Email delaram | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
amazing experience with breakdown safari
it was one of the best trip Ive ever had with breakdown safari.
Thanks to dear kathy and Fan who were very well orgenized and creat special moments for us.we were visiting there for the fist time.
they both are so kind very friendly and take a very good care of us.
the camp where we were staying was so clean beyond my expectation.
we had two lovely days with kathy and fan in selous park and Im definitly going to plan another trip to tanzania and safari trip specialy with breakdown safari.
US
Email Donna | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent safari experience from beginning to end
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour, "5-Day Ruaha Immersion". Kathy and Fanuel replied immediately to our booking request, and were willing to customize our package to begin and end in Iringa instead of Dar Es Salaam, making it a three day tour. All communications with Breakdown Safaris were clear and timely. A few weeks before our safari, we received a helpful document with packing suggestions and Swahili phrases, as well as confirmation of our pickup location and time in Iringa.
Kathy and Fanuel picked us up right on time at our hotel, in a very nicely outfitted Toyota Land Cruiser, with a pop-top and plenty of room for ourselves and our voluminous luggage. Bottled water for the whole journey was picked up on the way to Ruaha National Park, a ~two hour drive from Iringa. After a brief stop at the park gates to obtain permits, we saw our first elephant within minutes. The abundance of wildlife in Ruaha was astounding, as was the scarcity of other visitors. We could drive for hours without seeing another vehicle! I imagine the Serengeti is far more crowded.
Rainy season had just started a few weeks earlier, so the park was a beautiful, green background for our photos. We saw elephants, impala, kudu, storks, crocs, hippos, giraffe, many species of birds, lions, zebras. mongeese, monkeys, baboons, lizards, warthogs, waterbuck, rock hyrax, and even a herd of Peace Corps Volunteers! The highlights were the pride of nine lions napping together near the road. A couple lionesses came up to the road to drink water and were a few feet from the Land Cruiser. We also saw a one-day old elephant baby who was very wobbly.
We immediately had a great rapport with Kathy, being a fellow Coloradoan, and Fanuel, whose knowledge of plants and animals was encyclopedic. He had many guidebooks and could quickly find the photo, description, names (common and Latin) for every species we saw. We were provided breakfast in the vehicle, so that we could get out in the park right at sunrise. Granola, milk, tea, and coffee – we had everything we needed. Lunch was served buffet style by the park staff, and dinner was at our lodging, from a menu. The New Bandas were family cottages with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and kitchen - very roomy, clean, and comfortable. We had solar power and could charge our gear for part of the evening until the battery ran out.
All of our expectations were met or exceeded on this tour, and we had a fantastic three days. We highly recommend Breakdown Safaris for your visit to the Tanzania Southern Circuit.
US
Email Annie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania through a child's eyes
If you are looking for an all-inclusive vacation in Tanzania, look no further than Breakdown Safaris. My seven-year old son and I spent seven days in Tanzania, three in the Selous Game Reserve, and three in Zanzibar and Chumbe Island, and we never had to worry about a thing while we were there. Every detail of our trip was taken care of by Kathy and Fanuel from helping us to decide on the right adventure to make all of my son's wishes come true, to helping us properly pack for the trip to even making us dinner reservations for New Year's Eve in Zanzibar.
While in the Selous, we stayed at the Selous River Camp. The accommodations were comfortable despite the heat. The staff at the camp was great. They made sure every need was met, and even provided a guide to walk us to and from our hut at night. Breakdown Safaris offered us three different ways to see the Selous, providing us with a driving, walking and boat safaris. We saw every animal we hoped to see, including a two different groups of elephants and lions. Fan is extremely knowledgeable of the reserve, and its wildlife. He provided us with a wealth of information about each of the animals and the local tribes.
At the end of the trip, we spent two full days on Chumbe Island off the coast of Zanzibar. This coral reef park is a place only found in your dreams. The water: several shades of aqua; the sand: white powder; the snorkeling: the best I have ever experienced. We had the opportunity to snorkel morning, noon and night, and we did just that. The amount of marine life within the coral reef is amazing. We saw everything from sea turtles, hundreds of angel and trigger fish, spotted sting rays to a black tip reef shark. My son's favorite were the sea cucumbers, oh and the hermit crabs which cover every inch of the island. Like the Selous River Camp, the staff and rangers at Chumbe are top notch. The rangers worked with Cooper on our first snorkeling trip and helped him to get completely comfortable maneuvering the waves. The food on the island is also amazing. Every lunch and dinner is complete with several selections of fresh seafood.
This vacation went well above and beyond all expectations my son and I had. If you want a vacation that is well planned, well organized and customized to your every need, then you need to book it through Breakdown Safaris!
Stunning safari experience
Our safari in Ruaha National Park with Breakdown Safaris was just an extraordinary experience. First of all, Kathy and Fan are really great people - very warm and friendly, well organised. Kathy is a great driver, Fan's knowledge about animals, birds and nature in general is impressive! There's no question He wouldn't be able to answer, in our opinion. Everything was perfectly organised, from the very beginning to the very end of whole trip. We felt taken care of, safe and comfortable all the time. We saw a lot of wonderful and unexpected things in Ruaha not only because of some luck and circumstances, but also because everything was done for us and with respect to our needs. We had as much time as we needed for watching, taking pictures, resting etc. For sure Breakdown Safaris is the company, we can highly recommend to anyone who appreciate individual and friendly treatment, professionalism, well organised great experience of safari while everything that needs to be done is just to enjoy animals and nature and have a lot of fun. We are already sure that we'll be back for another stunning safari in Tanzania - of course with no one else then Breakdown Safaris. Kathy, Fan we thank you again for all you made for us, for the very best time we had with you during this short (unfortunately!) but fantastic trip!
Nasze safari w Parku Narodowym Ruaha z Breakdown Safaris było fantastycznym i niezwykłym doświadczeniem. Przede wszystkim prowadzący je Kathy i Fan są naprawdę wspaniałymi ludźmi - ciepłymi, przyjacielskimi, świetnie zorganizowanymi. Kathy jest doskonałym kierowcą, zaś wiedza Fana o zwierzętach, ptakach, wszystkim co związane z naturą jest bardzo imponująca. Odnieśliśmy wrażenie, że nie ma pytania, na które nie znałby odpowiedzi. Cała wyprawa była doskonale zorganizowana, od początku do końca, o wszystko zadbano. Czuliśmy się bezpiecznie i komfortowo przez cały czas. Zobaczyliśmy mnóstwo cudownych i nieoczekiwanych rzeczy w parku Ruaha, po części ze względu na szczęście i okoliczności, ale w dużej mierze również dzięki temu, że wszystko odbywało się z uwzględnieniem naszych potrzeb i szacunkiem do nich. Mieliśmy tyle czasu, ile tylko potrzebowaliśmy i chcieliśmy na obserwowanie zwierząt, robienie zdjęć, odpoczynek itd. Zdecydowanie Breakdown Safaris to firma, którą możemy z czystym sumieniem gorąco polecić każdemu, dla kogo istotne są indywidualne i przyjacielskie podejście, profesjonalizm, świetnie zorganizowane safari, w trakcie którego nie trzeba się martwić o nic, a wyłącznie cieszyć i napawać obcowaniem z naturą i zwierzętami. Jesteśmy przekonani, że wrócimy do Tanzanii, do innych parków narodowych i na inne safari, ale z całą pewnością również zorganizowane przez Breakdown Safaris!
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!
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.
US
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.
US
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!!
US
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!
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