African Big Cats Safaris
- Offices In:
-
United States
Australia
Canada
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Tourist Board
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $380 to $600 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 Gabriela | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent
The best team to do a luxury safari and to see everything (the big five of Africa). Our guide (Venance) the best driver you can have!
They try to do everything to have the nicest exprience once in a lifetime!
Email John | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Easy to deal with and delivered on everything we asked for in our itinerary.
Our safari with Africa Big Cats was a wonderful experience from the time we were picked up from Kilimanjaro Airport on day 1. The itinerary was exactly as requested, the lodges were perfect for our requirements and our guide, Lordy, was outstanding. He made the trip with his vast knowledge of the animal and bird life and his engaging personality. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone visiting beautiful Tanzania.
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Email Fernanda | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience - definitely recommend!
I received the recommendation about African Big Cats from a colleague from work that had a good experience with them and I could attest that they know what they are doing! The communication was pretty easy and fast (via email/phone/WhatsApp), I liked that they sent us lots of information not only about the safari but the overall trip (like what to take, visa, etc.) and also had a quick review with us when we arrived. Everything happened according to the plan, the transportation was great and always on time, the hotels/lodges were aligned with our pack and care that they had with us during the safari was awesome. Big shout out to our guide Lovoi that was with us the entire trip, very patient, funny, great knowledge about the animals and with clear experience. It was an amazing experience and we would definitely recommend!
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Email Maria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good quality of service
We loved our Safari tour in most of the parks we visited. Would recommend ABC safari to everyone
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Email Bettina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A dream come true!
Doing a safari was something I have always wanted to do: I love animals and wildlife, and seeing the plains of the Serengeti, the beautiful landscape of the NgoroNgoro caldera, and many more landscapes was something I've dreamt of since I was a child.
I set of with finding a locally based company do plan my trip and found African Big Cats Safaris (ABCS) based on the positive reviews I found in the internet, and they were all right! I booked a 9 days/8 nights safari with 3 of my friends, and with the help of the wonderful people at ABCS, all my wishes were incorporated and we got feedback on what might be a good add-on or not so good: We visited Lake Manyara, where we also had a Night Game drive, then went on to Ngoro Ngoro, then were in the Serengeti for 3 days, followed by visiting Lake Natron with a wonderful hike to a hidden waterfall that we had all to ourselves, and finished with Tarangire National Park.
From the moment we arrived, everything went just perfectly: We were picked up and brought to our accommodation, met Emanuel to discuss our upcoming trip, and spent our first night in Arusha. I highly recommend having a buffer day before you start, our flights were nearly 9h delayed, so we really needed the buffer day.
Once the safari started, we were blown away!!! Lions, elephants, and buffalos on the very first day! The hauntingly beautiful landscape of Lake Manyara; the amazing wildlife of the Ngoro Ngoro: wildebeest, zebras, antelopes wherever you look! And in between, if you're as lucky as us, even a serval cat, a baby leopard, and 4!!!! rhinos, including a baby! Granted, all from a distance, but we hadn't thought we'd be so lucky!
Then the many faces of the Serengeti - green bushland, golden plains, rocky outcrops with lions throning on top; cheetah families feasting on their fresh kill, and baby lions joining their Mom for dinner; rock hyrax and mongooses of all variations (I LOVE!!! dwarf mongooses now, they are the cutest), birds of all the colours of the rainbows it feels like, and unexpectedly, also here tree climbing lions. =) Only the leopards almost completely eluded us, those sneaky guys... just one more reason to go there again!
Then Lake Natron, which was maybe indeed a bit too far away, as we probably "wasted" overall a day of driving to get there and back; but it was definitely worthwhile seeing it once. The landscape is completely different again, you have all those flamingos, a different climate, and then this beautiful hidden landscape. And then, last, Tarangire National Park, where we saw again lots of animals and especially birds!
The lodges we had booked were "middle class" - but they felt absolutely luxurious! The people working there were amazing and so nice! Lovely people! The camp at Ngoro Ngoro crater rim was one highlight for us (the Rhino Lodge): in the morning, zebras and water buck grazing in front of our balcony; and at night, the little oven to keep us warm. <3 And then, even better: the tented camp in the Serengeti, where at night you might have buffalos grazing in front of your tent, you can hear the lions and hyenas calling at night, and in the morning you are greated by a pair of Dig Digs. The food was good and often we could ask for what we wanted for our lunch package, at the lodges we typically had buffet and could taste our way through.
Every evening we planned the next day, and everything worked without a hitch!
And last but not least: Our guide, Endeni, was just perfect!!! I can't stress enough how great it was to have him as our driver and guide; he was skilled with the 4x4 and we didn't get stuck even in difficult situations; he always judged the situations very well; he also was well connected and so we often heard about where to find lions, cheetahs or potentially leopards (we were just sadly always the 10th+ car and by then, the leopards are typically long gone, not liking us paparazzi too much ;)). Even while driving, he would spot an animal somewhere on the side of the road in the bushes, dozens of meters away, when we could barely find it without his help even with binoculars. Simply amazing! Plus, after he realized that I liked to engage with the Tanzanian culture, he also taught me some Ki Suaheli (like the words for the animals), and told me about the country and the people living there. He was always friendly and patient with us, and we had the best time!
The only bad part was... having to leave. =( It was an incredible experience, and we were even offered support for our stay on Zanzibar following the Safari. If you are looking for a company for your safari: This is it! I can't recommend these people highly enough. =) And if, by chance, you will get Endeni as your guide: Hearty greetings from the very talkative girl from Austria, who wouldn't stop asking questions ;) Mambo vipi!
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Email Rutger | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good and reliable tour operator
We hesitated between two tour operators, but we are glad we went with African Big Cats Safaris. They have a diverse program (which they also tailor to your wishes). Well set up in terms of diversity in parks, accommodations, activities, and culture/nature. Our guide Lodi was very enthusiastic and well trained, so he knew a lot about what we saw in terms of nature, animals, culture and infrastructure.
Accommodations were always good, clean, and very friendly staff. Food was always well prepared, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. You really won’t be short of anything.
We also saw the big 5 and many other animals up close, sometimes a few meters from the car, partly due to Lodi’s experience.
All in all an unforgettable trip, and we can recommend African Big Cats to everyone!
(automatic translation from Dutch)
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Email Jonathan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Tour Operator in Tanzania with the Best Safari Guides
We clearly made the right decision in going with African Big Cats Safaris. We can talk all day about the incredible landscapes, the unbelievable wildlife, and the delicious food served at great and comfortable accommodations, but I want to talk about our guide and friend, Endeni. Endeni is an incredible guide, educator, family man, and simply put, an amazing human being. Given the care that Big Cats puts into planning and executing its safaris for customers, I am sure that our trip would have been great whoever the guide, but Endeni made it special. He knew when and where to look for animals, which was further facilitated by his tapping into his many connections and frequently listening on the radio for updates. Or, just based on his past experience, his instincts led us to where the animals were. It was no problem for us to see the big five and is worth noting that we spoke with other travelers being guided by other tour companies on the exact same itinerary, who did not see the big five and other great animals that we saw. Endeni's ability to spot animals with the naked eye from long distances was extraordinary, and when other drivers were stuck in the mud, he really knew how to utilize the Toyota Land Cruiser and consistently drove us right through deep muddy waters with no issue. His knowledge of wildlife, vegetation, and local culture was incredible. When not on a game drive he would give us history and culture lessons to prepare us for the next destination we were heading to. He also taught me a lot of Swahili! I kept asking him for new words each day so that by the end of the trip I could have a basic dialogue with the locals (and it really came in handy after our safari, in Zanzibar). Endeni was also passionate about sustainable tourism and respecting the landscape as it is, so that these incredible places can be preserved for generations to come. We respected this about Endeni and Big Cats because not all other tour operators feel the same way. When Endeni was not guiding us on a game drive or teaching us the language, he was putting our lunches together and serving us delicious meals in a heavy cooler that he carried. He was cleaning the car every evening after a long game drive. Endeni and the guides of African Big Cats are superhuman and will contribute heavily to the incredible experiences you will have if you go with African Big Cats.
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Email Dimitri | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable operator, interesting program of parks and made our dreams come true
We went on 5-days safari tour in december 2023 with Khalid as a guide and driver. We really enjoyed how the African big cats safaris built up the program with the Ngorongoro and Serenghetti as the climax of the safari. We managed to see all big five! We chose the mid-range accomodations offered by the safari operator and were satisfied with our choice. Khalid really knows his stuff and you can ask him any questions that might pop into the head. We also liked that the African Big Cats Safaris values their clients and does both debrief before the safari and does the evaluation of the trip afterwards.
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Email Joyce | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable and professional company.
We loved our safari. In the months leading up to the safari African Big Cats was very helpful and responsive to all emails. Helped us select the best Safari for our time in Tanzania. We did a private 5 day 4 night comfort safari. We started at Tarangire National park, then Ngorongoro Crater, then two days in the Serengeti, then Lake Manyara on our way back to Arusha. Our accommodations at Eileen’s trees inn and Embalakai Camps we both excellent.
I would definitely recommend staying two days in the Serengeti. And Lake Manyara is lacking but we did have a cool elephant encounter there, otherwise I would skip that stop. Our guide Ernest was excellent and very knowledgeable, we saw it all and enjoyed our time together! Such a memorable trip. I recommend a camera with a good lens, as you will have many opportunities for excellent pictures.
CH
Email Sam Drummond-Brown | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our safari - a blend of adventure and luxury
Our four-day safari across Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and Lake Manyara turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable and well-organized adventure. From the get-go, our guide, Lodi, impressed us with his easy communication style, making us feel comfortable and in good hands from the start. We were also able to meet Emmanuel (Managing Director) at the start of the Safari, who gave us a good briefing about our journey including all the information we needed. We met Emmanuel again at the Airport when we flew to Zanzibar – he made sure everything was perfect!
Lodi's in-depth knowledge of the parks and wildlife was evident, helping us spot the Big Five within just two days. His understanding of animal behavior allowed us to be in the right place at the right time, ensuring our safari truck always had the best views.
The only minor tweak we'd suggest is a more relaxed pace. The four days were packed with incredible sightings, leaving us yearning for a bit more time to soak in the experience without feeling rushed.
The accommodations at the lodges were exceptional. From the views to the design and the attentive staff, each lodge contributed to a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The only downside was the limited time we had to fully appreciate the lodges amidst the whirlwind of the safari. For that we recommend a longer trip with more rest time in between.
In essence, this safari, was a balanced blend of adventure and luxury. It showcased the beauty of Tanzania's wildlife and landscapes while providing a comfortable retreat at day's end. Despite the slight time constraints, it was undoubtedly our best holiday, and we would recommend it to those looking for a well-rounded safari experience.
