Hamadi Ningaa - Founder, Face of Africa Adventures
Face of Africa Adventures
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $1,700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Ofelia Borja | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania, via Face of Africa Adventures
Face of Africa Adventures has been the company that takes you by the hand to facilitate your trip to Tanzania and to get to know the most important conservation areas such as Tarangeri, Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
The entire team of this company has been very professional in their work, friendly and very knowledgeable about their environment.
The vehicles in which we traveled, the places where we stayed, the food have been part of a wonderful experience!!!!
MX
Email Dulce Maria Ley | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excelent Service
Our Safari trip was wonderful and amazing; the service that Face of Africa provided us at all times was of great quality. Their drivers and guides make you feel very safe, they are very attentive and kind; they are trained in everything related to the animals you see, they speak several languages, in my case I felt very comfortable because our driver spoke Spanish, the camps where we stayed have excellent rooms, food and service. Face of Africa makes you feel very welcome in Tanzania.
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Email laura hill | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Efficient, helpful, friendly
We were a group of 16, with 4 guides, all of whom were knowledgeable, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure that everyone was safe and having an excellent experience. Spectacular trip. The pre-trip planning was also great. Highly recommend and would work with Face of Africa if I re-visit Tanzania.
Email Richard and Irene | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent face of Africa!
Safari Tour to Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park.
We were initially impressed with the service from the company and its owner Mr Hamadi Ningaa as we took this trip in the middle of an existing trip to Tanzania and had to change the normal
itinerary. Rather than be collected from the airport and transfer through their normal stopover hotel in Arusha we asked to be collected from and returned to where we were staying outside of
Arusha. Mr Ningaa was very accommodating, allowing last-minute changes to our agreed
itinerary due to the weather – everything was “hakuna matata” and our driver arrived on time to
collect us and our luggage. The vehicle was a large 4-wheel drive Toyota with a Safari cabin and 7 seats for passengers, for just 2 of us. It was clean and felt high spec. We especially appreciated all the pockets and shelves for items like water bottles, cameras, phones, and
sunglasses etc., and charging points. Another lovely touch was the provision of some bottles of wine in the cool box alongside the water and other soft drinks. The safari lunchboxes were also
good.
The drive to Tarangire is quite long and Sadi, our guide and driver, talked to us knowledgeably about the local tribes, cultures, and features en-route. Tarangire itself was fairly busy as June is
a busy month in all the parks. The way Sadi took us round the park meant that we saw lots of animals and their behaviour in depth. We never rushed and by staying in one spot for a while we saw the animals doing things that other vehicles missed as they rushed to an area took some pictures and rushed off again. The highlights were some male lions washing themselves, and a
family of elephants spraying themselves with mud at a waterhole.
We drove to the overnight accommodation (Baghayo Garden Suites, Karatu) where we were well
looked after with excellent food and service from the staff. There are some reviews of the hotel which mention the noise between rooms, and you can hear conversations in the next bedroom,
but remember that everybody has had a long day of travelling or safari and follows a pattern of getting to the hotel, showering, having dinner, and then going to bed, most people are asleep
fairly early and within 30 minutes of returning to their room. Face of Africa Adventures use other lodges in the area but we can only comment on our experience which was good.
Day 2 was Ngorongoro Crater and once again Sadi’s experience and way of navigating the park helped us to see everything that was on offer including a black rhino, lions, buffalo, hyena,
wildebeest, elephant, giraffe, gazelles, antelope, zebra, hippos, warthogs, monkeys, kori bustards, flamingoes, pelicans, grey crowned cranes and many more. We would not have
spotted the rhino without the sharp eyes of our guide, Sadi. It was lying down and looked very much like a large rock in the distance. With binoculars and camera zoom it was clear it was a
resting rhino. Sadi suggested after lunch we return to the same spot and we are glad we took his advice as the rhino got up and presented itself for some good photos after about a 10 minute wait later in the day. His knowledge of animal behaviour and patience paid off once again. We
were never rushed at any point through the drive and on our way out of the park spotted another group of lions and stopped for more photos.
We overnighted again at Baghayo Garden Suites and our schedule was arranged to suit us, agreeing a start time for our drive as it had been for the day before.
Day 3 - Lake Manyara is a much smaller park and has changed over the years as the lake has expanded and many of the larger groups of animal species have left. Despite this we were spotting wildlife within a few hundred metres of the park entrance as Sadi knew what we were likely to see and where, this included incredibly some very small crabs in the water channels alongside the road, monitor lizards as we crossed a bridge, trumpet hornbills, blue monkeys and many others. The
highlights were the families of elephants grazing in the bush, the large troops of baboons and a very large bull elephant disturbing soil to give himself a dust bath.
Sadi returned us home that evening, taking great care and using his knowledge to avoid heavy
traffic in Arusha town as he drove the 160km back to where we were staying.
We have been on safari in Tanzania several times over the past 30 years and have visited all these locations before. We felt this trip was the best guiding we have had, and we had a different
experience in each park to what we had before. Sadi’s knowledge and expert driving was vital to our enjoyment of this trip, he is a brilliant companion on safari and we highly recommend him
and Face of Africa Adventures for those looking for a Tanzanian safari experience.
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Email raghu | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari experience
Guide was awesome, expert. He made sure we have excellent memorable experience. Love his passion.
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Email Ashley | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I summited Kilimanjaro because of Face of Africa
At age 30, Kilimanjaro is the first mountain I have summited and the 9-day trek was my first camping trip. You could say it was a go big or go home moment. Face of Africa more than delivered – I truly think that the experience of a lifetime I have was possible not just because of the awesome beauty of Kilimanjaro but the expertise and kindness of the Face of Africa guides and staff.
When my adventurous friend told me she had an extra spot in a group going to Kilimanjaro, I jumped at the chance to go – when was I going to do the logistical planning needed for a trip of this magnitude on my own?
I went in nervous about being fit enough to finish the trek, unsure if I would reach the top, and trepidatious about the bathroom plan. I came out wondering if I would be quite as comfortable at home as I had been on the mountain with Face of Africa and the environment they fostered among our group (and also way more comfortable communing with nature, thanks to the camp toilet that you absolutely should spring for, and the fearless man Flamingo who carried it).
It takes dozens of people to make a trek like this possible – Face of Africa did the hard work of finding the right people to guide us, feed us, and motivate us to get all the way to the top. Every single person in our group of 8 has made it to the top of Uhuru Peak thanks to Face of Africa.
Our experienced guides Florian, Valence, and Oscar (and our staff of around 30(!!) porters, chefs, and mountain experts) treated te 8 hikers in my group with the care most people reserve for family and their closest loved ones. As a complete newbie to climbing (and the rock scrambling that made up ~5% of the trek) I earned the nickname Ntoto (Swahili for baby). The guides caringly pulled me across the rock faces when I needed help (including a guide my parents’ age who was faster than all of us). And the rest was a walk in an other worldly park through rainforest, pine trees, little caves that made me think of Lord of the Rings, the literal cloud line, and on top of a glacier.
The guides have studied the flora and fauna of the mountains and are experts on it in every sense of the word – through academics (they go to college to be guides) and lived experience. Our guides made sure there was always an oxygen tank present at all times (which no one ended up needing), checked our vitals and advised us on layers to wear / whether to carb load to make sure we were healthy enough to make the journey. All Face of Africa guides are trained in emergency situations - all our guides had experience in rescue situations delivering people off the mountain (which they seldomly need to do, but if you need it you’ll be glad they know what they’re doing).
None of us were unable to summit due to altitude sickness – the experience of our guides ranged from 50 to over 200 expeditions on Kili – and we benefited from every bit of their experience. They took the time to do acclimation hikes, reroute if we needed to, *RAN UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO GET US A SPOT AT HIGH CAMP* the day before summit because it would mean a shorter summit day climb, and with all the newbies in our group this would mean that we had a better chance of making it to the top.
When I tell you I was unprepared for the level of glamping - I still don’t know how to put up a tent because they were always set up and ready to go for us before we arrived at camp.
We ate better on the mountain than I do in my daily life. Our group was half from India and half from the states. We would have been happy with granola bars but our incredible chef Modi made food from across all our cultures and made sure there were options for vegetarians and omnivores alike.
We had a WAITER(!!) whose actual name is Joffrey who woke each of us up every morning with the kindest “Good morning!” and greeted us with our choice of coffee or tea *DIRECT TO OUR SLEEPING BAGS*. Let me tell you, hot tea hits different sitting bundled in a warm sleeping bag above the cloud line while watching the sun rise.
I spoke to trekkers from other groups on the flight out of Kilimanjaro to Addis Ababa – they did NOT all have the seamless and uplifting experience my group did. I describe my journey to the top of Kilimanjaro as “just a really long, beautiful walk” – but this is *because of* Face of Africa. I would not have gotten this from many of the other tour providers.
This is really important: Face of Africa is an ethical company. All members of the staff are from the local community, and (I hate that this is even a question) ate meals when we did. It is not a myth that some companies are predatory and unethical - we saw hungry porters from other companies (and some members of our staff confirmed that they had previously worked for companies that left them to forage for insects on the climb). We saw with our own eyes that our porters ate together when we did. Our group was also so large that there were 2 chefs to feed all the staff. The company owner also allowed us to tip the staff directly to be sure that every dollar of tips went directly to the people who had worked so hard to support us.
Because of Face of Africa, we made it to the top (not all groups do) and we ALSO got countless stories of the mountain, became friends (and had an above the clouds dance party) with our guides and porters, ate like royalty, slept soundly, and were so safe. This is the highest value I can imagine and was still more affordable than *MANY* of their competitors.
I recommend friends, family, and anyone who mentions Kilimanjaro within earshot to go to experience the awe-inspiring wonder of Kilimanjaro, and to go there with Face of Africa.
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Email Darwin | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Tanzania safari and culture trip
Our 10 day safari with 4 day zanzibar beach trip exceeded our expectations. We saw so many animals up close and took great pictures. Our guide was great. He knew where to find the animals and told us about them. He also shared about Tanzania culture and the different tribes. The accommodations and food was much better then we imagined. We were surprised to find that there was Cell service in the 7 parks we visited and internet at the tent camps.
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Email Terah | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable 8 Day Safari and Additional day in Arusha Park!!
My husband and I went on a custom 8 day safari with Face of Africa. We arrived early and added a day trip to Arusha Park to our itinerary. Highly recommend this addition as it gives one the chance to walk with a ranger in the park and see the animals and nature from a different perspective. We saw the most beautiful waterfall, cape buffalo, zebra, warthogs, giraffe, blue monkey, and more on our walk! Hamadi arranged everything for us and our guide for the day Emmanuel made the trip even more enjoyable! It was a great start to our time in Tanzania.
Our safari included game drives in Tarangire NationalPark, Lake Manyara, Seregeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, each one with its own special ecosystem allowing us to see so many different animals. From Nile Monitor to small dik dik, many monkeys, and the Big 5! Truly an experience we will never forget!!
Edgar, our guide for the Safari, taught us so much about the animals and the environment at each park. He was so patient with me asking him to stop frequently to take pictures too! He checked in with us every evening and made certain everything was going well and we had the itinerary details for the next day. He was an excellent driver and a lot of fun as well!
If the beauty of the animals wasn’t enough, the accomodations were spectacular as well. Each one unique…with epic views, kind staff and delicious meals. One on lake Manyara took our breath away, as we looked out our window to see the lake in the distance and zebra grazing right out front. Another highlight was our stay at the Matawi tent camp in the Serengeti. All of the staff there were so friendly and hearing the hyena and other animals in the evening was amazing! You truly felt like you were immersed in the Safari experience, yet had the luxury of a beautifully appointed tent and delicious dining.
From beginning to end we were thankful for the professionalism, care and kindness of the Face of Africa team! Special thanks to Hamadi for his personal hospitality, taking care of all of the details and for great communication. We were happy to book our safari with a Tanzanian owned and operated company.
Email Valerie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome tour company!!!
My journey through Tanzania with Face of Africa Adventures was nothing short of extraordinary. Their impeccable service, unmatched value for money, and expert tour guides made every moment unforgettable. From the comfortable jeeps to the delicious meals, every detail was carefully curated for an exceptional experience. Exploring the wonders of Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater was a true highlight, with each location offering its own unique beauty and wildlife sightings. I wholeheartedly recommend Face of Africa Adventures to anyone seeking the trip of a lifetime – you won't find a better way to experience the magic of Tanzania. All the best.
MY
Email Beatrice Lee | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible 9 days of Tanzania
We had wonderful 8 nights and 9 days of Tanzania wit FOA, Hamidi and his team of guides and driver was so professional and we feel safe and taken care of. Everyday was an amazing experience and we get to see and do what we planned for. The food was also amazing. We are so happy to recommend FOA to our fri6ends and family and we are also planning to return to Africa again soon.