East African Safari & Touring Company
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 1992)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $230 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Kim | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Southern Tanzania parks with EASTCO
We went on safari with EASTCO for 14 days traveling mid-July-early August 2014. We traveled to Ruaha, Iringa, Udzungwa and Selous. This was the second safari for us, both times we have used EASTCO as our TO.
The safari was an absolute delight. It was all that we had hoped for and more! Our first safari was to the Northern circuit in February 2013. This trip we wanted to go somewhere different and Simon suggested right away that we go to the southern parks of Tanzania. That was a great decision. The southern parks have such a wild and untamed feel to them. Perfect for those who might want to do a varied safari that could include walks, boat safaris, cultural visits, and history in addition to the usual game drives by vehicle, all of this without being surrounded by lots of other tourists. The animal life was wonderful albeit in lesser numbers than the north but oh, so, special and the landscapes were just breath taking. The many different Elephant encounters we had on this trip were so special and memorable. Something we will never forget.
Our trip started in Dar es Salaam where we overnighted after flying from the U.S. The next morning we flew from DAR to Ruaha National Park where we met our fantastic guide, James. We spent 5 nights in Ruaha tent camping. Each day on safari was an adventure. The birding was great, so were the Lions and their cubs that we saw as well as the many Ellies that the park has. One night we even had an Ellie going through our camp. We also did a fantastic 3 hour walk with a Ranger and an armed guard. We learned a lot and it is such a different experience than a game drive in a vehicle. All of the little things that can be discovered on a walk add a different dimension to the safari.
Next we drove to Iringa where we spent 2 nights at the Neema Crafts Guesthouse. Our main focus in Iringa was the Isimila Stone Age site. It was a fantastic place and so interesting to actually walk out among the Stone Age tools that were left in the valley by river erosion. There are not many places left where one can actually see and hold Stone Age tools just lying around on the ground. The stone pillars at Ismiila were really cool looking too. They were left standing after the river eroded the area around them. Neema Crafts Guesthouse was a great place to stay. We also enjoyed the liveliness of the town of Iringa.
Udzungwa National Park was our next stop for 2 nights. It was a mountainous area with great hiking. The area is known for its primates and it didn’t disappoint. We saw: Angola Pied Colobus, Iringa Red Colobus, Yellow Baboons and Blue Monkeys. The Butterflies at Udzungwa were numerous and beautiful too.
After our stay at Udzungwa we left for 4 nights in the Selous. We stayed 1 night at Sable Mountain Lodge-absolutely beautiful! We then moved on to Hippo Camp where we tent camped for 2 nights right along the Rufiji River and spent our final night in one of Hippo Camp’s tented huts. The Rufiji River is the lifeblood of the area. We did a river boat cruise that was just fabulous. The bird-life was plentiful and diverse and the sunsets were to die for. Our wonderful safari guide, James, also arranged a village tour and a walk with a bushman that were both unique and educational. We even saw 2 Elephant Shrews on our walk with the bushman.
Simon, at EASTCO, does a wonderful job of planning off-the-beaten-track trips if wanted and has a vast knowledge of Tanzania and its people, culture and animals. EASTCO has great guides too! We had Ezekiel on our first safari to the Northern Circuit and James for our second safari to the Southern Circuit and couldn’t have asked for any better! The guide can make or break your safari.
EASTCO safaris can be as diverse and unique as one wants. Simon is patient and knowledgeable in helping with the planning of a trip. Going on our second safari we knew right off the bat that we would use EASTCO. Simon did a great job with both trips and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend EASTCO for those who want something a little different than the typical safari that many companies punch out with regularity.
This is a link to our photos:
https://plus.google.com/photos/106816041713365180641/albums/6055379437698967089?authkey=CP6doaLU-9rVuQE
PH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari adventure. It was worry-free, exciting at the same time relaxing !
Mr. Simon King,the tour company owner communicates directly and fast regarding queries and concerns since we travelled as a family with teens and a senior vegan. We loved our driver-tour guide and friend rolled into one-Mr. James Sichilima. He took care of most if not all our 8days' seamless transfer from one hotel to the other, from city to the wildlife, from rest stops to fun drives. We loved the tented accommodation the most since it offered an eye opening reality of how humans can live harmoniously with the animals without harming them.Thanks EastCo for memories worth remembering!!
Email Cynthia | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
All our dreams come true.
After 2 years of researching where to visit in Tanzania , I had a dream itinerary for a 30 day trip for my husband and I. I sent it off to several safari companies for quotes. Some didn't reply, some ignored some parts of the itinerary, and some were way too expensive. East African Safari Company included everything and had a vey reasonable quote. And, Simon was enthused about some of the "different" things we wanted to do. Beforehand, there were lots of emails back and forth to fine -tune the itinerary, to debate the merits of one place over another, and for Simon to make excellent suggestions based on his 20 years experience organising safaris. When we found out 8 months beforehand that our accommodation in Mahale National Park was ceasing operation, I panicked, but Simon went about working out the logistics for us to stay in the TANAPA bandas with our own cook. So much cheaper and so much better! Transferring money was simple as we could just transfer direct to the company's Australian account.
On the ground, everything worked seamlessly- our private transfer from Nairobi airport, a handover to our wonderful guide James and excellent cook Michael , and then our 20 days with them, in a mixture of lodges, tent camping at special campsites in Arusha and Serengeti parks, a banda in Manyara, donkey-portaged tent in the NCAA, and a hotel in Mwanza. The internal flights on Auric Air from Mwanza to Mahale and then Safari Link from Mahale to Mafia were also a great way to see a little more of the country.
Our safari was a mixture of interaction with locals ( former street-kids, Maasai, the villagers of MtoWa Mbu, Sukuma) wildlife viewing, and physical exertion( walking and canoeing in Arusha National Park, a 3 day trek from Nainokanoka to Lake Natron, 4 days chimp tracking in Mahale National Park and snorkelling and deep sea fishing off Mafia Island) All of it was terrific, but I especially enjoyed having the time to walk/tour with people and hear their stories. The wildlife viewing was wonderful, with James able to find many things on his own, and with judicious use of the radio to hear about special sightings. We happened across both a zebra and wildebeest migration in different parts of the Serengeti- animals as far as you could see. The chimp tracking in Mahale with our TANAPA guide, Peter, was hard work- hot, humid, steep hills, but so worth it to have the chimps walk right past you, less than 30cm away. After all the sweating , it was great to snorkel in Lake Tanganyika watching the cichlid fish. Our final 4 days on Mafia Island was great as a wind-down with more snorkelling and successful fishing.
Every single day was wonderful, with new things to see and do, but enough time to relax and just "be" in the landscape. Guides, cooks, camp crew, lodge staff were universally terrific at their jobs, and James, especially, surpassed our expectations. He was versatile, adapted to things as they happened, funny, enthusiastic, warm and had our very best interests at heart.
We cannot recommend Eastco highly enough. We'll be going with them again- in February 2016 hopefully.
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Email Dennis Hanson | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We did a two-week, diversified safari with East Africa Safari, and it was extraordinary!
My wife and I sought a quality African wildlife experience and we shopped two-dozen+ operators. It's always anxiety-producing when you're not sure if you've made the right decision. But, with East African Safari, we made just the right decision. The company was spot on with all pre-trip communications and concerns, and in the field, our safari guide was knowledgeable (he became our friend), the vehicle was reliable, the logistics were predictably dependable, and our African trip was magnificent. Were we to do it again, and we might!, we'd do it again with Simon and East African Safari.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience and beyond thrilling!
A well-planned and organized safari that extended for three amazing days across the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti. Everything from the stay, food, transportation and the safari itself was beyond perfect. I highly recommend East African Safari for an African safari.
Email Sandra and Richard | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome safari with a company that really cares about the environment, the wildlife and the people.
We had an incredible safari, surpassing our expectations. We saw everything. Our driver/guide James was perfect, had a great nose for sniffing out special sightings and was a mine of information for birds. We saw 181 bird species, 44 animals. Lions and Leopards mating, cheetah cubs, a black rhino, it was just one thing after another and the accommodation was fantastic every night. When Richard got sick and had to be taken to hospital it was no trouble for Simon and James to extend and change the itinerary. Simon looked after all our hotel and bus bookings. The only thing we would not recommend is the Impala shuttle bus to and from Nairobi. They provide a poor service but that was not Simon's fault.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience
We had a great safari with East African Safari & Touring Company. Innocent was our guide, and Michael was our chef, for a one-week camping / lodge safari. We went to Ngorongoro Crater, a day-long hike from Nainokanoka to Empakaai Crater (amazing) and Tarangire, and had a wonderful time. Innocent was a cool dude and had eagle eyes. We enjoyed camping and getting away from the beaten trail for a bit; Michael's soups were scrumptious. We also managed to meet Simon at his amazing lodge in Tarangire. The team was responsive to some last-minute news that one of our travelers was pregnant. I was worried about some of the negative reviews I'd read on the web, but we had a terrific trip and recommend this outfit to friends who are looking for a safari that presents great value.
LU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari exprerience
That was my first safari ever and EastCo made it very special. (3 days safari : Tarangire / Lake Natron)
Unlike most people, we did not organise it in advance, however Simon manage to organise everything for us very quickly.
Our day in Tarangire was amazing, and our night stay in Naitolia Eco-Lodge fantastic. The place was beautiful, and the surprise was after dinner when Ezekial, our guide, told us that we were going on a night safari. Again, memorable experience.
I was not quite expecting such a level of service, and such nice food served during a safari.
EastCo really did a great job: everything was perfectly organised, the food was good, all the camping equipment was provided, and our guide was fantastic. Ezekial is really knowledgeable, and is always happy to answer our (many) questions.
I could only recommend EastCo and in particular Ezekial who made our safari so special. Thank a lot for everything, I look forward to coming back and organizing a longer safari with EastCo.
Email Richard | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari capped off by Wild Dogs at Naitolia Camp while on a early morning walk.
My wife and I did a 12 night safari in August 2014 with Eastco (East African Safari and Touring Company) starting in Mwanza and ending at Boundary Hill Lodge Tarangire. The various accommodation were excellent, food great varied and plenty. African soup is special.
The high light of the safari was the night spent at Naitolia camp ( 1 night) and the walk to Boundary Hill Lodge the next morning, we saw while walking wild dogs running along the road in front of us before they slipped off into the bushes and grass. Even our guide was amazed.
Boundary Hill Lodge perched on top of a steep bluff provided beautiful views over the conservation area below. There were a lot of elephants in the area and even some we saw drinking out of the pool.
Boundary Hill also offered Masai village visits and Tinga Tinga painting.
We also stayed at Speke Bay lodge (5 stars) Mbalageti (5 also) We camped at Eastco's Horizon camp, simple, clean but very nice wildlife everywhere but then again this was the Serengeti.
Perhaps the only disappointment on the trip was our stay at Sopa Lodge, I agree the descent road is an advantage but the lodge is extremely large and what I would call part of the institutanlized safari accomodation so often offered by Tour Companies. We preferred the smaller more boutique lodges and camps. These camps are a speciality of an Eastco trip. The communication before the safari was excellent, the service from the guide and all staff at Eastco also excellent. The trip exceeded our expectations to such a degree we have booked a 30 day trip for 2015 again with Eastco.
Simon certainly knows how to design a private trip to suit individual needs.
The 4 x4 was clean and excellent for the type of bush roads we went on.
All in all Tanzania is an excellent safari destination and Eastco (East African Safari and Touring Company)
an excellent Tanzania based tour operator
Email Aoife Byrne | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ticked all the boxes and that little bit more... you can have confidence in EAS&TC!
So to try and keep this short and sweet (as I know the hours it takes researching the different Safrai operators, reading reviews etc.. it is almost a full time job!!
Planning the safari
- They say patience is a virtue and it is!! Thankfully Simon of East African Safari had plenty of it as we had questions, questions and more questions and never once did it become a big deal. He was even happy to provide guidance on the areas of our trip that we weren't going to be booking through him. His brochures and itineraries were not as high end as some of the other operators but it is simple things like that that allow him to be the most competitive Safari company, pricewise that I researched (I resarched 8 in great depth.) He provided really honest and solid advice on some other things like visiting an orphanage.
On the Safari
- We were really pleased with our itinerary and got to see everything - except the elusive Rhino but we were just unlucky with the weather and nature has a mind of it's own!!
Our guide
Jimmy looked after us so well over the 5 days went to great lengths on the last day to make sure we saw cheetahs and leopards. He knew everything and dealt with my million questions everyday very well.
Accommodation
We stayed in a mix of tented camps and lodges - all were great but Boundary Hill lodge at Tarangire was stand out - it was beyond our wildest dreams. The beautiful brick lodges, the outside dining and the amazing service made it one of the most special nights of our whole holiday - you actually need to see this place to believe. Our morning walk with the Masai gifted us with a leopard sighting which added to specialness of this gem.
Food
Really good everywhere and plenty of it.. Don't go on Safari expecting Heston style but be assured that you will get great basic food that is full of taste and you will never be left hungry!
The extra stuff that makes a difference
We were a group of three girls travelling together and unfortunately one of the our bags never arrived to Dar Es Saleem. When we explained this to Simon he invited us to his house the day of Safari to drop off the missing baggage form and to chase the bag when we were on Safari. Unfortunately due to the airline's mistake the bag didn't show up over the Safari but Simon had someone trying everyday. The day after we finished safari he organised for us to be collected at our accommodation to collect the form and had a cuppa waiting for us. It's nice to know that an operator will go that extra mile for you, even after payments have been made!!
I would highly recommend East Africa on all fronts!