We bring you the real authentic safari action!
Tanzania Explorer
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- ATTA & TATO
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Vibeke Nyvold | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Join the best team to take you on a dream safari to Tanzania
First of all Tanzania Explorer with Sondre and team is just the best! Are you dreaming of Tanzania's endless savannas and beautiful beaches? Tanzania Explorer will make sure your dream comes true. With their enormous knowledge of Tanzania and strong customer focus they tailor the journey exactly to your choice, need and budget.
I met Sondre at the Travel Fair in Oslo in January 2023 and challenged him on where to go on safari in January/February and his answer was Tanzania and Ndutu, south Serengeti. The reason being that this is the time the huge migration of wildebeest and zebras arrives in Ndutu giving birth to their young. We added in the Ngorongoro Crater, for me a longtime dream to visit and we ended our journey with a relaxing week in Zanzibar. Discussing with Sondre I got so enthusiastic about visiting Tanzania again (this was my fourth time) that I invited four friends along. I believe every safari lover should experience the great savannas of East Africa at least once.
Our journey started at the Explorer Villa in Dar-es-Salaam. It is absolutely wonderful to spend some days relaxing and getting the long travel out of your body before going on safari. When in Dar-es-Salaam you need to visit the Robins Cruise island, Mbudya. You can hardly find a whiter beach, bluer water and better freshly grilled lobsters. At the Villa you will meet Veronica, Augostino, Annah, with her famous samosas, and the rest of the team that make the stay so special. Make sure you visit their recycling station – these guys do an incredible job in cleaning the beach for plastic.
Then the real fun begins – safari! We flew to Kilimanjaro where we met up with our guide, Joshua. You cannot find any better guide! His knowledge of the bush, his great personality and safe driving made him a joy to be around.
A highlight of our safari was driving down to the crater just as the sun was rising and the fog carpet lifting revealing the most beautiful male lion –I still get goosebumps thinking about this sight. And then, Ndutu, thousands and thousands of wildebeest and zebras with the lions, cheetahs and hyenas following. It was just amazing! I have never seen so many animals.
All the camps and lodges were excellent and a good mix of simple bush camps where we got really close to nature and more comfortable lodges with swimming pools where it was great to relax. Sondre goes out of his way to find what is right for you and spends a lot of time understanding your needs.
We finalized our trip to Tanzania at Zanzibar with it´s endless beaches and dramatic and diverse history. I fell in love with Zanzibar! We rented a villa, Uzuri Villa, so special to have our own place right on the beach. In Stone Town we stayed at the eccentric Emerson Spice. If you visit Stone Town make sure to eat on the rooftop restaurant with innovative swahili food and beautiful sunset.
Our visit to Tanzania was just all we could wish for and I can hardly wait to go back. I am already discussing with Sondre my next visit and I recommend you to do the same!
I wish the whole Tanzania Explorer team all the best – I will be back!
LV
Email Trude Marchmann-Jensen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magical experience with Tanzania Explorer!
Our choice to go with Tanzania Explorer (TE) for our first safari trip could not have been better! Our only input was time available and “mid- range” budget, and from that TE’s Aleksander created a plan that turned out to be a total magical experience!
Flying from Dar to Kilimanjaro airport, we visited Lake Manyara park, Ngorongoro and Serengeti – and we would not change a thing if we should have done the same again.
All TE representatives, as well as the lodges we stayed in, went above and beyond all our expectations – everywhere we went the service was really heartfelt and their effort to make and keep you happy is really touching. The lodges, Pakulala, and Ansaja Moru and Asanja Grumeti were exactly to our taste - lovely comfortable camps with outstanding locations, superfriendly staff and very good and plentiful food. In addition, as a celiac depending on glutenfree food only, TE made sure this was in places for all lodges, and all sites handled it perfectly – and even with homemade glutenfree options!
Both in planning and follow-up,- the info was always clear and useful, and they were available at all times if any questions or other.
For the safari, we could not have been luckier or happier; we had the most fantastic guide in Joshua. So knowledgeable and calm and gave us every day a different game drive from the day before,- and all with extraordinary experiences and memories. He also made us feel that we were the only ones in the wild, especially in Serengeti.
The TE villa in Dar outskirt is also a very pleasant element,- with long flights, it was a supernice place to start and finish our adventure,- in the very good hands of both Joshua and the villa team with Anna, veronica, Augustino and the rest.
Part 2 of our journey was relaxing days at beautiful Zanzibar, at the wonderful Amani boutique hotel – with the same outstanding service! The Paje area is vibrant and fun, and with the tranquil location of Amani it was a perfect combination. Here too is a dedicated TE team ready to make the most out of your journey.
We are very grateful for this magical experience – thanks to TE with their expertise and warm personality, - they truly live to make your trip extraordinary.
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Email Katie McGowan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
experienced
I am very delayed in writing this review - life gets in the way but when it does I go back and remember my Africa trip!
Tanzania Explorer went above and beyond all expectations ! Tim answered every question or request so quickly and with such great enthusiasm and kindness - it was simply wonderful! They offered help to us as well on parts of our trip they had nothing to do with. Knowing we had Tim and team having our backs was a huge plus and relief.
Our guide Joshua too was outstanding ! He could spot wild life that looked like specks to us. He was there on time for every part of the trip and made sure every request was taken in care.
I seriously can say not one thing was wrong - the itinerary they created for us encompassed every wish. Our guide on our day hike at Kilimanjaro too was outstanding and outgoing. It was a perfect trip of a life time and do I hope I can go back and I wll for sure use these guys again!
thank you all at Tanzania Explorers!
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Email Tor Arne Jensen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tanzania Explorer is an operator who listen to customer wishes.
Our wish: A tailor-made safari in Tanzania and a few days relaxing at Zanzibar for three generations.
In January last year, we went to a tourism fair in Oslo. We met Sondre (Founder of Tanzania Explorer (TE)) and Stian (Safari Planner at TE) at their booth at the fair. We had a good chat and they convinced us that Tanzania Explorer was the company we were looking for, taking us to safari at the mainland Tanzania and the relaxing at Zanzibar. We would be three generations spanning from 73 years down to 10 years. For us, the most important was a safe experience and, at the same time, compressed into only 8 days at Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar.
Stian came up with a proposal and together we made some adjustments until we had the final plan. Stian and Sondre also visited us a couple of moths before departure. We all had a couple of hours with discussions, sharing more information and clear ambiguities out of the way. TE took us seriously.
On Friday the 16th 2024 we arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport where we were met by our Safari Guide Joshua. We got along with Joshua and were impressed by his knowledge about Tanzania, the area and animals, his kindness and his caring for us. After a night at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge, our first safari was in the Lake Manyara National Park, then Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti followed and gave us a lot of fascinating impressions. “Staying in a tent” gave us a new meaning. High quality “tents” with very good beds and plenty of space, with bathrooms just like home, fantastic nice staff and high quality meals.
Did we see any animals? YES, we did!!!
We did morning and afternoon safaris and also safaris moving from Lake Manyare National Park to Ngorongoro Crater and, the next day, to Serengeti. Lots of different animals next to the car and a bit away and also a lot of different birds. To see all these animals in their proper element, was an experience we will never forget.
What about the safety? Taken care of!!! We were not allowed to go outside when it started to get darker, but “Security”, that is Masai-people, took care of that. And they were outside the entire night, just for safety.
After the safari at Tanzania mainland we went by plane from Serengeti airstrip to Zanzibar and stayed at Uzuri Villa for the nest three days. Perfect. Banja, from TE, met us at the airport in Zanzibar and took us to Uzuri Villa. On the way he explained the story of Zanzibar and the role Zanzibar has in Tanzania and also how life at Zanzibar is. At Uzuri Villa we were met by Sondre and Elna, the owner of Uzuri Villa.
And Sondre, Stian and others from TE had contact with us all the time. They really took good care of us.
You all made this trip a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. This is a journey we will never forget.
Best regards from Jorunn and Tor Arne from Norway.
Remember: Do not expect to carry your own baggage. It is taken care of by others.
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Email Sanjeev Chawla | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professsionalism mixed with personal engagement all the way
The first trip with Tanzania Explorer was to the Comoros. The lodge was simple but clean and tidy, but it felt like we had arrived at the end of the world. Recommended if you are looking to experience something unique and untouched.
We arrived in Dar, were picked up at the airport and driven to the villa. They knew who we were and the reception was warm and touching. Then the trip went to Ruaha for safari at Asanja Lodge. The lodge is located by the Ruaha river, some of our favorite wildlife encounters and sightings were right at the camp thanks to its location on the river.
The rooms are big and comfortable, sleeping with all the fresh air felt so good, with all the different animal sounds, the food was delicious and plentiful.
We were so happy we came to Ruaha instead of the Serengeti. We saw only a handful of other cars each day and most animal encounters were all to ourselves. Sam, our guide, is an encyclopedia. He knew everything about the animals from social and eating habits, gestation periods and lifespans. We went on a walking safari and that was amazing, wish we had more of this.
We loved getting to know everyone on the staff--they are all incredibly kind, dedicated and thoughtful people. It's not an easy job living in the bush, being away from families for weeks at a time, but it really felt like they've created their own family at Asanja, and we were so happy to be part of it for a short while.
It is not often that Linda cries on holiday, but meeting the staff at the villa and the lodge was touching and real.
After the safari we spent 10 days at Mafia Islands.
We highly recommend Tanzania Explorer. They made our vacation a trip to remember forever. Thank you.
Linda and Sanjeev:)
The best customized experience you can get
We have been around Africa quite a few times and this was by far the best customized and breathtaking experience we had.
After a night in the comfortable Explorer Villa in Arusha, we moved to Harare where we experienced the amazing Conservation Center visit to then relax at the Amanzi lodge, a charming hotel that would deserve a much longer stay. New flight to Victoria Falls, where Garth from The Victorian Safari Company organised a superbe colonial style lunch by the Zambezi, just before driving us to the boat for our sunset dinner over the river. Early wake up call to walk through the forest and admire the breathtaking dawn overlooking the falls: not surprisingly this is one of the 8 wonders! Again this would deserve more days but we were able to go for the zip-line and some of us even jumped...
The following day we moved to the Hwange national park and the Hide lodge: they reserved for our extended family the Tom's hide, an amazing separated villa just in front of the animals' pool where we could experience a level of service I have rarely enjoyed before.
The gaming experience is unique: one drive early in the morning, then relax in our super-tent watching a Giraffe drinking while you have your amarula, then out for a sunset drive. And then again after the fantastic food served by our own cook and waitress, one more drive in the darkness, perfectly hosted by our guide Theo.
Last but not least, we enjoyed a REAL walking safari: two hours walking in the bush, looking for an elephant and then hiding and approaching it is an experience worth the trip.
After 3 nights there, we had a chance to drive through the country and enjoy another night at the Amanzi lodge.
Simply perfect, thanks to Tim and Tanzania Explorer: be ready for our next tour!
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Email Kjetil, Solène, Félix og Iris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We will come back.
We wanted a holiday a little out of the ordinary, we wanted to experience the nature and wildlife. We had a dream to see Africa. Little did we know that the expertise and help to make this happen was right next to us. Aleksander made a great package for our family.
Tanzania Explorer gave us memories to last a lifetime. On bumpy roads through Tanzania's wilderness, they showed us all the animals and the beautiful nature. Thank you very much. We will come back.
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Email Jørgen Aarøe | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tailor-made dream vacation to Tanzania
We finally got to travel to Tanzania after COVID stopped our first attempts in 2020 and 2021. Amidst the pandemic's challenges, Tanzania Explorer (TE) demonstrated remarkable commitment to safeguarding our investment in the initial trip. The operator tailored a perfect trip to our wishes and budget, and made adjustments along the way.
In the weeks leading up to our departure, a representative from the company paid a visit to our home. This personalized touch allowed us to thoroughly understand the trip's intricacies and address any inquiries, leaving us feeling assured and well-prepared for the exciting adventure ahead. Establishing a WhatsApp group connecting us with TE staff further underscored their exceptional customer support, enabling us to seek assistance whenever required from the moment we set out until our return from Dar Es Salaam. Navigating through unfamiliar terrains became a breeze as the TE staff offered constant assistance, facilitating our travel between destinations. This was particularly comforting in the midst of bustling environments that could otherwise be overwhelming.
The operator has a wonderful house in the outskirts of Dar where customers can stay free of charge and acclimatize when arriving and repack and to get some rest before departing back home. This is very welcome in conjunction with exhausting long haul flights. The villa had a friendly and helpful staff that did everything to accommodate our needs, from serving delicious breakfast on the terrace, to recommending places to eat, ordering pizza and tuktuk’s and doing laundry.
Our safari experience unfolded flawlessly under the guidance of a knowledgeable and friendly safari guide. Nestled by the Rufiji river on the outskirts of Selous National Park, our stay at the Mpingo lodge provided the perfect base for exploring local village life, embarking on river safaris, and venturing out for thrilling game drives. The staff at Mpingo orchestrated an unforgettable dinner on a sandbank in the Rufiji river, creating an evening etched in our memory. Amidst the darkness, we were ferried to a bonfire-adorned table where an intimate feast awaited us. The local village community contributed to the magic of the night with lively dancing and singing, turning this into an experience of a lifetime.
Following our immersive encounter with Tanzania's untamed wilderness, a week of sheer bliss awaited us on Unguja ("Zanzibar"). TE's meticulous planning secured us an exquisite villa along the pristine southeastern coast of Unguja. Nestled within a boutique hotel, this villa afforded us direct access to the beach, a tranquil haven for relaxation and exploration of the island's treasures.
Reflecting upon our Tanzanian journey, we are grateful for the operator's exceptional efforts that elevated our experience to extraordinary heights. We have no hesitance in recommending Tanzania Explorer to anyone contemplating a tailor-made adventure to Tanzania.
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Email Hilde & Tor | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable Tanzania exploring!
Hight expectations were met and exceeded. The trip was planned around our safari experience, which was everything we had hoped for, rich animal life, a variation of activities and scenery, beautiful lodges and accompanied of an extremely knowledgeable and friendly guide; Joshua.
We also enjoyed beach life, snorkeling, history and culture at Zanzibar.
The staff at Tanzania Explorer held a service level throughout the planning phase and during the actual trip that was excellent!
We would highly recommend booking your Safari with Tanzania Explorer, Hakuna Mattata!
Tanzania Explorer exceeded already high expectations
We recently returned from a fantastic trip to Tanzania. We loved our safari experience! Tanzania Explorer set up the perfect trip for us. Our safari planner, Sondre was extremely knowledgeable and responsive to all communication, providing a positive experience already in the planning phase. We enjoyed our brief stay at the Explorer Village and were well taken care of by the staff there. We met our safari guide at the airstrip in Ruaha and started an exciting safari immediately- seeing lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes and more with in the first hour of driving! Sam was an outstanding guide. He was great at spotting animals, full of interesting information about them and always seemed to know how long to stop for and when to get going again. While on safari we stayed at a beautiful camp called Asanja Ruaha. The rooms had amazing views, food was delicious and the staff and service provided were excellent. Really everything was perfect from start to finish of our trip. Thank you Tanzania Explorer!