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Unlimited Expeditions: The Soul of Tanzania
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2015)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
PT
Email Catarina Horák | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best experience of our lives
Luis from Soul of Tanzania organized our Honeymoon at Zanzibar for some relaxing in the beach and Safari in Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Serengeti. We couldn't be happier! He was amazing throughout all the booking and preparation of our travelling, always presenting options that would be less or more towards our budget. Everything was arranged and we had no worries at all during our trip. In the end we had the most amazing days, in the most amazing hotels and with the best Safari guide, Emanuel. We are very grateful for making our Honeymoon perfect and we will definitely return and book again with Soul of Tanzania.
Email Kristina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An EPIC safari adventure!
My mother and I recently returned from a 2 week safari tour organised through Soul of Tanzania, beginning in Kenya and then continuing on through Tanzania, and ending with a 3 day trip to Zanzibar.
I contacted numerous safari operators while planning this trip and chose Soul of Tanzania as they were the most prompt and detailed in their replies and also as they were more than happy to assist with personalising a private safari experience for 2, as I already had a rough itinerary worked out of places I wished to visit.
I dealt with Sandy over the 4-5 months prior to the trip, and through over 60+ emails, she was absolutely wonderful - replies were very prompt, no question went unanswered and the level of detail and flexibility in the planning process was second to none.
Planning a safari experience, particularly if it is a first-time one, can be daunting, especially if you have never visited Africa and are not entirely sure of what to expect, but the level of assistance I received from Sandy ensured the trip was the most memorable I have ever had.
Additionally, even though it was a private safari, costs were relatively similar if not lower than numerous other companies I contacted who were not able to cater for my specific itinerary.
Our only hiccup was that the bank transfer for the balance of our trip bounced back while we were already in Africa, and it was a bit of a hassle and also more expensive to have to pay via credit card, particularly as a lot of the more remote accomodation has very limited internet access.
The only advice I have here is that Soul of Tanzania need to make clear in their contract that the balance of the payment MUST be made one month prior to commencing the trip if making via bank transfer. This was not made clear in the contract and therefore we were charged a fee.
We visited the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks.
In the Maasai Mara in Kenya we were looked after by our wonderful guide Solomon, from Spirit of Kenya. From the first game drive, where Solomon took us to a lone male lion, who stood right next to my window and looked me straight in the eyes before walking slowly away, to the last drive in Tarangire where we were the only car to witness a leopard feeding in a tree next to us, we not only saw the Big 5, but such a variety of wildlife and birds that I never even knew existed!
In Tanzania, we were looked after by Dominick “Schumacher”, our modern Maasai! Dominick is incredible - a wealth of knowledge about every animal and bird around, as well as the national parks and Tanzania in general. He is very passionate about conservation and about his work and it really shows. Not only did we learn so much about the wildlife, but about Tanzania and its rich history and culture, especially the Maasai.
Dominick’s driving skills were pretty awesome, and even the daily Tanzanian massage wasn’t an issue for either my mother or I, especially me, who normally suffers from motion sickness!
I am a very keen photographer, and every day Dominick ensured that I had the best vantage points for excellent photo opportunities, he was accomodating for all manner of requests and questions, emergency toilet breaks, he seemed to have Spiderman senses to see and know where every animal would be, or where they would end up if they disappeared and he ensured that our safety and comfort was top priority at all times.
We chose mid-range accomodation during our safari, which was all excellent and which I would actually rate as on the high end when compared to many other accomodations I have stayed at around the world over the years.
Our accomodation in the Maasai Mara was in Ilkeliani Lodge, a beautiful tented camp looked after by the Maasai, where on our first night we had an exciting visit not only by an elephant but by a lion nearby! Our Maasai guards made sure all was safe and I can’t recommend Erik, our Maasai guide at the camp highly enough. Erik took us to a nearby Maasai village, where we were welcomed and shown around and he also took us on a walking tour to teach us about the land and plant life in the Maasai Mara.
The Serengeti Sopa Lodge was a large and very accomodating lodge, made all the more special by the beautiful staff, especially in the restaurant, who on finding out that it was my mother’s birthday during our trip, planned a surprise cake and had all the staff in the restaurant perform a traditional African song and dance for her on our last night there!
At Ngorongoro, we stayed at the wonderful Serena Lodge, which has the most incredibly breathtaking views I have ever seen.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a wonder that nobody travelling to Tanzania should ever miss - a feast for the eyes and the soul.
The Escarpment Luxury Lodge at Lake Manyara was not only the cheapest of the accomodation we had, but it was definitely the most luxurious - it was quite incredible, with stunning sunset views over the lake. It’s only very minor drawback was that it was the only place where I actually needed to use insect repellant!
In Zanzibar, we stayed at Dream of Zanzibar, on the North East coast. Zanzibar was the perfect way to end this trip of a lifetime, with beaches and water to die for!
While the beach is supremely beautiful, you will encounter numerous Maasai trying to sell you their wares and offering trips, and though I became friendly with many of them and had quite a laugh with them, it was quite a full on experience for some of the other hotel guests!
Zanzibar was definitely the most commercial and most ‘’Western’’ part of our trip, with the accomodation, amenities and experiences on the island catered to tourists, but nevertheless we were extremely well looked after and had a wonderful and relaxing time.
Asante sana to Sandy at Soul of Tanzania, Solomon in Kenya and Dominick in Tanzania for making this trip of a lifetime an absolute 5-star experience!
RO
Email Adrian V | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best experience ever
We started our planning 6-8 months prior to our holiday. Since the beginning, the "trip planner" from Soul of Tanzania helped us with recommendations and guided us on how to create our safari. We gave some input and insisted to stay to some accommodations but also the planner suggested to spend 1 more day in Serengeti and to we give other location; It was perfect.
We were a group of 4 people and we stayed for 5 days in Safari. The guide, Patson, was very professional with us and during our entire safari, he explained to us a lot of information. Also during the entire safari, he gave everything to see all the animals on safari, even he had to drive 2 hours in the opposite direction of accommodation.
It was amazing and we definitely recommend Soul of Tanzania to all our friends.
P.S. The food was very good, we had also wine and different types of juices during our entire safari.
US
Email Fabrinne | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
unforgettable experience
We had a wonderful time in Tanzania. We are thankful for the great care and attention to detail in planning this vacation. The superior quality of service provided by Soul of Tanzania made our vacation most memorable. We loved our guide, Mr. Nixon. He was a pleasure to be with. He was very knowledgeable and professional. He made our trip worth while. Overall, we were very satisfied with our African safari vacation, thanks to Soul of Tanzania. We will surely recommend Soul of Tanzania to others for the outstanding service.
BR
Email Melissa Merheb | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing!!!
There are not enough words to describe how incredible our trip was, and Soul of Tanzania played a major part in this. Everything was organized perfectly and there was not even 1 minute of delay or a shadow of problem.
Although our international flights issues (due to SAA strike), Soul of Tanzania staff was always available and kind to reacommodate our pick up and hotel reservation in Arusha.
Since the pick up at Kilimanjaro airport, when Hassan (super nice boy!!) took us to Arusha, to the meeting with Beatus giving us a very detailed itinerary explanation, everything was great!
Ally is the most incredible person we met in Tanzania, the best guide we could ask for to share this experience, such a nice and intelligent guy, always with a smile on his face. We loved everything! The game drives were all amazing, the hotels were superb, kuddos to &Beyond Manyara Lake staff, the best we have ever met! Serengeti and Manyara were the best for the animal sights, but Ngorongoro is just the most beautiful and incredible place!
At one point, during the game drives, my friend looked at me and said she was with her jaw hurting from smiling so much LOL. We did have an one of a kind experience with some many animal sights (all the big five and more!). The food was always on point and I am a vegetarian, so they had to go an extra mile here, but everything was always delicious.
Then we had the Zanzibar extension, what a place! We were received by Sully and he was our driver to the last day, always letting us know interesting facts and making us feel so comfortable. Rashid, another amazing guy! He came to the hotel to meet us, helped us choose the best tours and booked everything from the pick up to taking us back to the hotel. In all the tours we made, Rashid was always calling the driver/guide to make sure everything was well and to talk to me to ask how it was, it really made us feel cared and safe all the time. He is so professional, polite and kind!
We were all really impressed with the organization, the kindness and attention, there was literally nothing for us to worry about, besides wake up in time... It did exceed our expectations. I am an Africa lover, I have been in SA, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, but this was the best trip, no doubt!
And it all started with Luis, from Soul of Tanzania giving us all the attention, help and support, as you did. When we were looking for an agency, we chose 2 to get in touch with, and at that point we decided to go with Soul of Tanzania solely because of how Luis attended us.
I really hope to come back and will for sure book Soul of Tanzania again as well as be the strongest advocate here in Brazil, to get my friends and family to do so as well.
Email Mike P | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding from Start to Finish
We booked a week long safari in and around the Serengeti, followed by a week relaxing in Zanzibar and I have to say, that from our initial contact with our planner, Luis, to returning home, nothing could have run more smoothly.
SoT do not organise international flights, but once the trip was finalised and flights booked independantly, SoT acted like a high class tour operator, meeting us at the airport and transporting us to our first accommodation.
Our trip included visits to Ngorangoro, Ndutu, Serengeti and Lake Manyara, followed by a relaxing week in Zanzibar.
In terms of wildlife, we saw all we dreamed of and more. Our guide Felix, who I thought of as a friend by the end of the safari, was so knowledgable, not just about the wildlife and where to find it, but the history and politics of his country, he made the whole trip far more enriching than I thought it could be. His driving was pretty good too, seeing us through some "interesting" situations in the unusually wet period. Picnic lunches were cooked affairs with wine, not sandwiches, plenty of water was available throughout the trip, the vehicles even had 3 pin 240v plug sockets on board to charge batteries.
I don't know what else to add, SoT are outstanding, I will visit the area again and will only consider SoT to travel with.
Thank you for making this trip so special
US
Email Susan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly Recommend Helena P & Emmanuel Macha
We met Helena P. at the NY Times travel show at the Javits Center in January 2019. All I knew is that I wanted to see the great migration and I had no idea how to plan the trip. Helena made everything so easy - we just had to pick a level for the safari (exclusive) and we added on Zanzibar and she took care of everything. Helena also took care of the changes we made due to COVID - eliminating our visit to Kenya and adding on to our safari in Tanzania.
Emmanuel Macha is an amazing guide. We saw everything you could want to see on safari - the big 5, pride of 20+ lions, 2 lioness & 6 cubs tracking & killing a warthog, and the wildebeest crossing. On safari you spend a lot of time in the jeep and Emmanuel was great company.
The hot lunches with wine were also a nice touch and I can't say enough good things about Helena & Emmanuel Macha.
CA
Email Muna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The most organized, well planned and well executed trip of my life.
My husband and I went on a 18 day honeymoon trip to Tanzania in September 2020. Our honeymoon was organized with Luis, he was so helpful, treated us with so much kindness, and patience. Every request we made was met. We were quite nervous about booking a trip during COVID-19 and had a lot of questions about Tanzania’s protocols and Luis response time was really quick and he informed us of everything we should expect. Soul of Tanzania took a lot of precautions to make sure we were safe. Luis also created the best itinerary for us! The amount of effort to make us feel good about our choice was the sweetest guesture and it left us speechless. Our trip was so organized and so well thought out. Once we arrived in Tanzania our guide Steve worked very hard to make sure we saw all of nature and the beauty Tanzania has to offer. He was so amazing, we are very grateful towards him. Steve was very educated and taught us a lot about nature and we had the best experience with him. We became a family and it was the biggest take away for me. We would start our adventures at 8 am everyday. Steve though would be up 2 hours before to make sure the cruiser was in tip top shape and properly sanitized so our day would go very smoothly. Every hotel we stayed at was impeccable. We were treated with so much kindness and care. We truly believe we could never experience something like this in any other country with any other tour. On the safari it was very clear the difference in the way Soul of Tanzania treated clients than other companies did. Every day we received the best hot lunches and Steve took us to the best places first. We were always first on the scene and saw the best show! We saw the big 5 animals, we saw the great migration of 2 million wildebeest crossing the Maya river, We saw the most intense hunts just a few meters from our vehicle. It was the most surreal experience watching live what we would see on National Geographic. The most surprising thing for me was how breathtaking the landscape was. Every morning we would see the most glorious sunrises and every night we would be humbled with the most beautiful sunsets. The noise you hear when it is completely silent in the wilderness is a phenomenon I cannot explain. We heard the thunder of the wildebeest footsteps, we heard the Erie laughing of hyenas near our camp at night, we heard the magnificent roaring of Lions and the trumpeting of Elephants always left us speechless and in awe. We live in Canada and it is currently the dead of winter, we reminisce about our trip constantly and the beautiful weather in Tanzania everyday. Our videos and stories has made all of our friends and family praying to go to Tanzania and get the chance we got. We will always recommend soul of Tanzania to everyone we know. Thank you very much Soul of Tanzania and if we could come back we definitely will come back to Tanzania in a heart beat. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to have the best honeymoon any couple could possibly have. If you are thinking about booking a trip to Tanzania, you will not regret it! Book with Soul of Tanzania to get the best experience of your life!
US
Email Tina | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Soul Of Tanzania delivers more than you have ever dreamed of!
Vincent was the perfect guide. When we said, "On Wednesday we would like to see a leopard," not only would Vincent deliver, but he would double the result by showing us a leopard on Tuesday as well. Vincent was the best game spotter, identifier of bird and beast, listener to our conversations to provide extras before we even knew we wanted them, safe driver and ostensible appreciator of our jokes, a combination of talents that makes Vincent invaluable to Soul of Tanzania.
Our accommodation suited our needs the whole way. The Outpost Lodge had a wonderful shower and mosquito net arrangement, Angata Ngorongoro had the buffalo eating mere feet away from us in the evening, Chaka Kiota Camp's walkie-talkie system should be part of all camp accommodation and Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp had the most magnificent setting. Chaka Kiota Camp had by far the most all-around value.
Tanzania is beautiful and we had the privilege of sharing it for eight days. We are physically back in our hometowns but our Soul (is) of Tanzania.
US
Email Barbara | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Provided us with a safe and amazing safari to Tanzania
We just returned from a great trip to Tanzania that had been arranged for us by Soul of Tanzania. We had a wonderful itinerary that had been worked out for us with travel specialist Manel at Soul of Tanzania, actually last year when the trip had to be canceled due to COVID. We had an excellent, knowledgeable, and very personable guide named Azeria. Every day, he served us hot meals on a table with a tablecloth and real plates and silverware that he set up in the bush for us, which I felt was much safer than stopping at local cafes. He was great at spotting wildlife, so we were thrilled to see so many of the animals we had hoped to see and photograph. Azeria also was an excellent and safe driver and handled the bumpy roads as best as could be expected. As for Covid concerns, the staff in the lodges where we stayed wore masks, but most of the local people were not masked. We had a private safari with just the four of us, so we were not around other people that much. In fact, at the lodges, we were sometimes the only guests, and there were never more than a handful of people except at the Ngorongoro lodge. The lodges were ecstatic to have guests, and they rolled out the red carpet for us, greeting us cordially with cool drinks and song, and served excellent food for all meals taken at the lodge even though there were very few guests. We had many concerns about Covid testing requirement both going and returning, but it all worked out with help from Soul of Tanzania in getting us registered and taking us to the testing site. We are grateful for a safe and healthy return