Allen Tanzania Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1997)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $550 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
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Email Judy M | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Safari Company Like No Other
When you travel, it’s the personal relationships that provide the memories you will cherish. Allen Mnyenye is not just a safari guide/tour operator. He is a person who cares deeply about the animals and the environment and also about making each trip a lifetime experience for every visitor. After two weeks on safari I believe I could also call him a friend.
We recently returned from our first trip to Africa, a 13-day wildlife and cultural tourism safari with Allen Tanzania Safaris. We were a group of 10 Americans with varied backgrounds and levels of travel experience.
Here’s what made our trip special:
- Allen has been a safari guide for over 25 years - he knows the animals, their habits and habitats, the way they interact. He has an extensive knowledge of birds, snakes, butterflies, geology, geography, and Tanzanian and African history and culture. No question from our curious group phased him, whether it was about animal behavior, house construction, bone fossils or water reclamation methods.
-Because we were in two cars, we had a separate guide for each car. No-one felt they got "second best" - each group was quite passionately attached to their guide after a couple of days and refused to switch vehicles!
-Both Allen and Amani seemed to have an almost telepathic sense about the animal behavior: where they were to be found, why they were there, and even what they were about to do. They also really know the parks and the surrounding areas, and found lesser traveled paths that let us get closer to animals we spied from afar.
-Allen knows and loves the wildlife and the people of East Africa, and his enthusiasm is contagious. Every animal sighting is a delight to him, from the most mundane Superb Starling to a rare White Headed Vulture or a leopard. We always felt that we were participating together in an adventure of discovery.
-Allen speaks fluent English. He could match any American in his vocabulary of animal biology or geology, for example. Some of his other guides speak other languages such as French. He has also made several extended visits to the U.S., which often helps with cultural references. (He pointed to a tiny hardware storefront and said “That’s my Home Depot!”)
-When appropriate, we had access to local guides (especially for cultural tourism) but Allen was often the go-between, knowing what questions to ask and what would interest us.
-In the central Serengeti there was a higher concentration of animals. There we also saw big concentrations of safari vehicles - one time we saw 20 vehicles crowded around the same tree. Allen would avoid this whenever possible - he knew how to find the crowd-pleasing big cats without hearing it on the radio. For most of the tour we seldom encountered another safari vehicle - we felt like we were in our own little world.
-Allen would sometimes add on little excursions, like an optional, early-morning walk to the flamingo-filled lake with a Maasai guide. When we chatted to other safari-goers we found out this is not something to take for granted.
-The safari itineraries are very carefully planned to maximize the experience. Our first couple of days offered easy-going cultural activities, giving us time to get over our jet lag. When we started on our animal-viewing safari, every day and every location was unique. The lodgings also were amazing, each one with some gem-like aspect, whether it looked out over a lake full of flamingoes, an outdoor shower with a view of the Serengeti, or just rustic beauty and clear stars.
-The cultural tourism was at least as cool as the animal viewing and I would highly recommend it. We danced with Maasai villagers, ground our own coffee, watched blacksmiths melt copper in a bush-forge, and hunted with Hadzabe bushmen. The people we met were genuinely happy to share their lives and experience with us.
-Allen understands about the needs of photographers - he would always orient the truck in such a way that we could get a good look - whether through binoculars or through the lens. He was aware of the direction of the light.
-Power, Charging, and Wifi: There were high-speed chargers in the vehicles, so our cameras and phones could stay charged. Most of the llodging has wifi and all amenities. The only exception is the mobile tented camps (which are an optional accommodation type). We loved staying in these slightly more rustic camps for a couple of nights, but they have only solar power, no wifi and the hot water is a bit more limited. For those nights our CPAP users found batteries to use, and we were that much more appreciative of the unlimited hot water in the next lodge.
-All our concerns about food and water were completely unnecessary. Bottled or sterilized water was available at all times. The food was fantastic - even in the mobile tented camps we ate delicious meals, and always had access to plenty of vegetables including salads and fruit that were cleaned with safe water. Vegans and vegetarians in our group felt completely satisfied.
-One of our group had to seek the advice of a doctor during the trip, and Allen brought her to an English-speaking, American-born physician where she was seen promptly and highly competently.
-Allen and his crew are extremely good-humored and easygoing. We asked a lot of dumb questions, I'm sure! We also never sensed that it was an obligation or a chore for to join us at dinner (which they did, nearly every night) and the feeling was mutual - we truly enjoyed their company.
-They also worked their asses off. Every evening as we lounged by the fire with a cocktail, the crew cleaned the trucks, and when possible had them checked by a mechanic, before they got to rest. On several mornings we were off at 6 and didn't get back to camp til 6 or later. They organized our boxed lunches, packed tables and chairs and even a tablecloth for our bush picnics and even made us tea and coffee after lunch.
-Speaking of lunch - nearly every day we were able to eat lunch in some secluded wild spot with no one else in sight. From what we saw, not all safari companies offer this treat.
-Before the trip we had a lot of questions, from the food to the climate to the number of animals we would see, to the availability of electricity and wifi. All our questions were answered completely and competently by Silas, the office manager.
-Because of his experience with American and European safari visitors, Allen has been consulted on the site location, construction and amenities of several of the amazing lodges that we stayed in. He also owns a moderately-priced, lovely lodge called "Eileen's Trees Inn" in Karusha. Wherever we stayed, he was greeted so enthusiastically, we felt like royalty.
Now I understand why people return to safari with Allen again and again and I recommend you start!
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Email Barbara & Jim | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a lifetime
My husband and I just completed a 7 day safari with Allen Tanzania Safari. From our initial email contact through our leaving Tanzania, our experience was exceptional. All contact was answered immediately and comprehensively. And that was before we even got there. Once there, our safari exceeded our expectations in so many ways. Allen's knowledge and love of the animals and the area enhanced our experience greatly. Our accommodations were varied providing, us with a full safari experience. But probably most impressive was Allen's desire to ensure we had a comprehensive opportunity to not only view the "big 5"and so much more, but to understand the full ecological interaction of nature. We highly recommend using Allen Tanzania Safaris for a fantastic experience
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Email Jim Tombros | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
My wife and I spent a week in Tanzania with Allen as our guide and his son, Emmanuel as our driver. We saw the "Big 5" due to Allen's intimate knowledge of the Serengeti accumulated over 20+ years. Even more valuable than the pictures was his inherent interest in the plants and animals, how they interact with the surroundings, their symbiotic relationship and the people we were exposed to. Taking time out for a couple hours we visited an orphanage that Allen supports. We met with the American who administers to these children abandoned by parents who have died from HIV/AIDS or merely left them to care for themselves due to financial hardships. We have literally a couple thousand pictures we must now edit down. Many of the best ones were taken by Allen who can act as a cinematographer among his many talents. We were recommended to Allen by friends who have taken two safaris with him already. He more than exceeded our expectations.
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Email Steve | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari guide/operator in Tanzania
I went on a one-week safari with Allen's company in June of 2017, covering the major parks in the 'northern circuit' of Tanzania. I would very highly recommend Allen Tanzania to anyone considering a safari in this part of the world.
Our guides during the trip were Allen and his son Emmanuel, both of whom are incredibly knowledgeable, conscientious, professional, and thoughtful. We saw a great diversity of wildlife during our trip, including all the highlights, and again and again Allen impressed with his ability to spot things both near and far. Allen and Emmanuel are also simply enjoyable people to be around.
A few highlights/points:
1) Allen was born in Tanzania, has decades of experience, and clearly knows these parks as well as anyone. I always felt like we had a plan and knew exactly where we were going.
2) We only got one flat tire during the entire trip, and we were back up and running within ten minutes.
3) Again and again, Allen went out of his way to make the trip comfortable for us. For example, we had a vegetarian/pescatarian in our group, and Allen always made sure that she had good options at every meal. And we accidentally left a pair of shoes behind at the lodge that we stayed at between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, and Allen somehow managed to get them sent ahead to the Serengeti, so that we were able to pick them up before the end of our trip. I could go on...
4) Communication with Silas, the company's office manager, was easy, fast, and clear, throughout the entire process of booking our trip.
Suffice it to say, this was a special trip, and a big part of that was due to Allen Tanzania. Everything completely met/exceeded our expectations; we got to see wildlife and a part of the world that we had never experienced before (and may never experience again); and we learned a lot from Allen, not just about nature and the parks but also the culture, history and politics of Tanzania. Again, highly recommended without reservations.
IL
Email Nimrod H. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Magical!
This is our second photographer trip to Tanzania with Allen Tanzania Safaris. The first trip was in March 2015 with a larger group (3 vehicles) in which Allen Mnyenye with two more guides have managed to introduce us the best of the Northers Circuit in the most professional way.
His vast experience and great knowledge is noticeable. Also their choice for accommodation met the groups needs.
It was without any doubts that the trip this January can only take place with Allen. From the first email to arrival all the communication and the arrangements with the office were done flawlessly. The itinerary in general was meticulously inline with the position of the Wildebeests and the entire ecosystem that surrounds them. This was translated to a magical experience which had become stronger each morning where we were faced with yet another wonder of Africa's wildlife.
On a more personal note it is worth stressing that Allen's humbleness is inspiring which is probably the most important quality that you would like to see in a safari guide which whom you are to spend days.
IL
Email Ron Arbel | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I’ve been in some safaris, Allen’s is by far the best, it was my second time with him...
Every thing was perfect, communication, the vehicles, he has vast knowledge about the animal, plants, cultures and more. We saw every thing we thought of and much more. It was a once in a life experience like the previous safari I did with him, and each Safari was completely different although both were excellent
Very highly recommend
All Around Best Guide
Booking Allen as our guide for our safari in Tanzania was the best decision we made about that trip. Allen is everything you want in a tour guide. Knowledgable, experienced, flexible, kind, funny, safe, and dedicated to making the experience an unbelievable one. I have been on three safaris prior to this, and Allen hands down made this experience the best. Because he has been doing it forever, he knew where to be, when to leave, and how to gauge our interests. We got up close to amazing animals, saw beautiful things, and made a good friend during the trip. I was so impressed and would recommend him 100% to anyone looking to book a phenomenal Tanzanian safari.
IL
Email yoram | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
AMAZING TO THE EXTEND THAT WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS
Allen which is the second Safari we did with is exertional person and the most professional guide .
He is dentally the top !
All was organized to the last detail, not a single slip!
Don't miss !
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Email Pam Murray | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
I think that Allen and Ebenezer our two guides were fantastic and the staff were great.
It was truly a trip of a lifetime. It exceeds all my expectations. We were picked up at the airport and driven to our hotel by the staff which was great after the long flight to a nice hotel in Arusha. I am not sure what part of the trip I loved the most. My favorite animal changed every day depending on what we saw. The leopard and the cheetah brothers are at the top of the list. Everything was magical even the wildebeests and the warthogs were cute after awhile. The rocks and trees in the Serengeti took my breath away. There were so many bird species that even my friend the birder got confused who was who but our guides always knew. I think Tanzania Safaris is the best and would use them again. The accommodations were great. We stayed in four different lodges/hotels and all had excellent food and service. We stayed five nights in tent camps which I was a little nervous about as an occasional hyena could be heard in the distance but that was the best way to experience the terrain and be on the road first thing in the am within just a few miles of seeing the wildlife.
We visited an orphanage Falco's Children along the way which touched my heart (www. karatu-children-village.com). What this American couple have created in five years for the 80 plus orphans is truly amazing. Our guides were so smart , personable and really went out of their way so we could see everything and spent hours looking for the leopard and the cheetahs which were hard to find. One day we saw two prides of lions totally 40. It does not get better than that. I will someday go back!
PL
Email Beata Zuza | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip to discover Tanzania.
Amazing trip to discover Tanzania. After a great experience at Kilimanjaro, we spent one night in Arusha. During that evening we had a meeting with our guide Amani who presented us the Safari plan. Next morning he picked us up from the hotel and took us to National Parks: Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti in which we spent 5 days, probably 5 days too little. For me The Serengeti Park was the most beautiful :) We were lucky to see so many animals, they practically were at your fingertips! I did not believe that you can be so close and watch them in their natural environment for hours and hours. Many times, thanks to the necessary patience and the faltering eye of our guide, we witnessed hunting. Our guide was fantastically prepared. He told us everything about animals and answered all our questions as we had a lot of them. His knowledge about birds filled us with loads of information. The camps were well prepared and clean, the food was tasty and the evening bonfires as well as sky full of stars were a nice end to the end of the day. We really enjoyed our company.
Asante Sana Allen Tanzania Safaris.
