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
DE
Email David | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Guide, perfect organization, excellent team and accommodation
We did a six day safari with Big Cats Safari starting in Arusha with our two daughters (16 and 18 years old). We had Venance, who was the perfect guide for us, very knowledgeable and helpful, pleasant and friendly - and a skillfull driver on the tracks of Serengeti. We especially loved sleeping in the luxurious tens of Intimate Camps and encounters with all of the Big Five during the great Migration. The team of Big Cats Safari was perfect in organizing the entire trip for us - excellent and fast in communication and definitely worth the price.
US
Email Dana | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional, responsive, attentive and clean, provided an amazing safari experience.
African Big Cats Safari were extremely responsive to all our questions during the planning stages and made great itinerary suggestions to maximize our experience during our 6 safari days.
Our guide, Iddy, was amazing and very professional. He knew where to take us for best wildlife viewing, he had a keen eye on spotting well camouflaged animals, he was very mindful of not being intrusive into the wildlife habitats, and we ended seeing an unbelievable number of species, ticking all the boxes on our bucket list, with the exception of the rino. Iddy kept an imaculate car daily and interacted very well with the children in our group, he was attentive and ready to respond to any of our needs.
We visited Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Serenghetti and Tarangire and each location was unique in its own way and enchanted us with an abundance of animals and diverse species. Lots of elefants and lions, elusive cheetas and leopards and a multitude of zebras, giraffes, antelopes, gnus, impalas, warthogs, hippos, many species of birds, just a fantastic and rich environment. We couldn’t be more pleased about the entire experiemce.
The entire trip from airport pick up to the safari itself to the airport drop off went smoothly without a hitch.
We felt very safe with Iddy and had a lot of trust in him. Highly recommend him as a guide!!
Overall, very pleased with the whole experience!
NZ
Email Lesley and David | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wondrous adventure with memories that will last a lifetime
From our first emails with Naomi at African Big Cats Safaris until we were farewelled by our incredible guide Lardgad, seven days later, we were embraced by the care, kindness and immense competency of this tour operator.
On touchdown at Kilimanjaro International airport we were met and guided around Arusha by ‘ Mr Big’ from African Big Safaris. Our first visit to Africa was exciting but also a little challenging in a culture and city that we were unfamiliar with. ‘Mr Big’ looked after us brilliantly, guiding and protecting us as we explored facets of this bustling metropolis before checking us in at the Gran Melia Hotel - a luxurious quality establishment
The following morning we met Lardgad and his safari jeep, our companions for the next few days exploring. It is almost impossible to adequately praise this man. His skill as a guide, his knowledge of the animals, his intelligent banter and his obvious pride and love of his country shone through. We were very privileged to have him as our mentor on safari.
Our safari encompassed elephant and giraffe families in the surprisingly dense Tarangire National Park; zebra, baboons, gazelle and beautiful birds at Lake Manyara National Park and lions, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo and many different birds in the idyllic Ngorongoro Crater. However for us the jewel in the crown, Tanzania’s gift to the world, is the Serengeti National Park. This vast lush savannah truly embodies the concept of safari. Basking hippos and crocodiles, majestic giraffes gracefully strolling, lions, leopards, hyenas and the huge Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra, are awe inspiring
African Big Cats Safaris partner with very high quality lodges, hotels and hot air balloon operators. They complement each other very well to round out a complete experience.
Safari is not for the delicate or faint hearted. It is, however, an absolutely unique experience that will suit most travellers. African Big Cat Safaris curate a very special boutique personal expedition. They set out to deliver a safari but instead they gave us a wondrous adventure with memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you Lardgad, Naomi, ‘Mr Big’, Emmanuel and all the team at African Big Cats Safaris. You are ‘ Simply the Best’.
Email Andrew & Maria | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic safari and beach holiday with African Big Cats Safaris
We had a really fantastic 5 day safari with African Big Cats followed by a few days relaxation in Zanzibar. Our safari was very well organized, the accommodation and food were very good and, most of all, we had a very knowledgeable and experience guide, Haruna, who was able to ensure that we saw all the Big 5, plus Cheetahs and other varied wildlife. Haruna was always reliable and polite and our vehicle was cleaned at the end of every day. We booked directly with African Big Cats, which represented very good value for money. They were very helpful during the booking process, providing detailed information on our tour and accommodation, and clearly answered any questions that we had. We would highly recommend this tour operator.
Email Raj | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great guide, but improve city driving, vehicle condition, and dietary requirement handling.
I would like to express my gratitude for the exceptional experience provided by our safari guide. His expertise and keen eye were evident as he spotted most animals before any of us did, all while driving. His ability to navigate and provide insightful commentary greatly enhanced our safari experience.
However, there are a few areas where improvements could be made. The drive through the city felt quite fast and aggressive at times, which made me a bit anxious about the possibility of a collision. A more relaxed driving pace would contribute to a safer and more comfortable experience for passengers.
The safari vehicle itself felt somewhat old and worn. Specifically, the door handle on my side was not functioning, making it impossible to open the door from inside the vehicle. Additionally, I was unable to open my window, which detracted from the overall comfort and enjoyment of the safari.
Moreover, despite emailing and confirming our dietary requirements in advance, there was an issue with my son's meal. He has an egg allergy, yet he received a meal containing eggs and had to rely on snacks and medication as a result. After bringing this to the driver's attention, all subsequent meals were accurate and met our needs. I appreciate the prompt resolution but believe that more attention to dietary requirements from the start would prevent such issues.
In conclusion, while the safari guide's expertise and the overall experience were commendable, addressing these areas would significantly enhance the quality of service. Thank you for considering this feedback.
Reply from African Big Cats Safaris
Posted on Jul 19, 2024Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback about your recent safari experience with us. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the expertise and keen eye of our safari guide, and we’re glad that his insightful commentary enhanced your experience.
We sincerely apologise for the areas where we fell short of your expectations. Your comments about the city driving are duly noted, and we will work with our guides to ensure a more relaxed and comfortable pace for our passengers.
Regarding the condition of the safari vehicle, we are sorry to hear about the issues you faced with the door handle and window. Further more due to the overall road conditions inside the parks especially Serengeti, issues like these may happen, even if we maintain our vehicles to a very high standard before and after every tour. Ensuring our vehicles are in optimal condition is a priority, and your feedback helps us identify areas needing attention. We will address these maintenance concerns promptly.
Regarding your sons dietary restriction, the information that was relayed to us only requested vegetarian meal option for one person which we catered accordingly, we did not receive the information about eggs allergies. We understand the seriousness of food allergies and the discomfort and worry they can cause. It is good to hear that the issue was resolved for subsequent meals.
Thank you once again for your constructive feedback and kind words about our guide. We are committed to improving our services and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with an even better experience in the future.
Best regards from ABCs team
Email Tas & Mo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Emanuel was easygoing & approachable and did everything he could do accommodate for our needs.
‘African Big Cats Safaris’ delivered an exceptional safari experience. From the initial communication to the final farewell, every aspect of our journey was handled with professionalism and care.
Tour manager Emmanuel impressed us with his excellent communication and flexibility. He accommodated our needs, even with last-minute changes, and provided great accommodations within our budget. His calm demeanour and personal touches, such as meeting us at the beginning and seeing us off at the airport, added a warm, personalised feel to our trip.
Our driver, Khalid, was truly outstanding. His encyclopaedic knowledge of animals, birds, and insects enriched our safari immensely. Khalid went above & beyond to ensure we had unforgettable wildlife encounters, demonstrating a genuine passion for both the animals and our experience.
FR
Email Elie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari experience
We booked the 5days/4 nights safari tour with African Big Cats Safaris and I can only recommend this company. The choice, quality and level of service of each accommodation were above and beyond my expectations. We were lucky to be guided by Elias who took us to the best spots while making sure we were safe at all times. The importance of having an experienced and professional guide for this type of adventure cannot be stressed enough, and ours did not come short. Strongly recommend
AE
Email Hamed | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beyond Exceeded Expectations
African Big Cats Safaris exceeded our expectations and made our holiday a memorable one. The driver was very knowledgeable, personable, and overall pleasant person to be with. We saw the Big 5 , the food was great and the memory will remain forever
SE
Email Anne-Grete | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent planning and service!
Fantastic nature and experience. Getting to see the wild animals up close are memories for a lifetime. Our amazing guide made our experience even better. He gave us in-depth information about both animals, culture and all the other issues that were on our hearts. Then a good choice of accommodation with a mix of both luxury and more primitive options. The warmest recommendations for AFRICAN BIG CATS SAFARIS!!
US
Email Ferrin | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
African Big Cats Safaris created an amazing experience for me and my friend. From start to finish, they were responsive when first inquiring, Naomi was informative and helpful up until we arrived. Pick ups from the airport and hotels were timely and easy. The overnight stays were comfortable and safe. We were fed three meals almost everday. In the Serengeti we were upgraded to another camp and it was gorgeous! Camp fire, delicious coursed meal, beautiful room - it was awesome.
The tour itself started with a briefing from Emmanuel, the Director, laying out all the details so we were clear on what to expect. Then our guide Haruna! He was kind, welcoming, extremely knowledgeable about the parks, the animals, the surrounding tribes. He was determined for us to see as many animals as we could, radioing to other cars to see what they've seen. Haruna would help us with our luggage and take us into the hotels to ensure our check-ins were smooth. He stayed at the same places we did and was always ready to go before us!
We did the Zanzibar add on and everything went according to the plan shared with us. The places they booked for us were incredible. Amazing views of the ocean, great food, clean, air conditioned rooms. It was definitely a nice way to wind down after all the "African massages"!
We are very fortunate for our time in Tanzania and very grateful for the care and kindness we received by African Big Cats and those they partner with. Highly recommend this team!
