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
African Big Cats: An Unforgettable Safari Adventure in Tanzania
We've just returned from the most incredible safari adventure organized by African Big Cats, and we can't stop raving about it!
We opted for a 5-night, 6-day private safari in the Northern Circuit and were completely blown away by the exceptional service and attention to detail provided by the entire team. Their deep knowledge of the region and genuine passion for Africa were evident from the very beginning.
Impeccable Organization: African Big Cats took care of every aspect of our trip, from selecting top-notch accommodations (clean, comfortable lodges and hotels) to booking park entries, ensuring a stress-free experience. We especially appreciated the all-inclusive meals and the constant supply of bottled water.
Expert and Passionate Guides: One of the highlights of our trip was undoubtedly our guide, Ernest. His extensive knowledge of the local wildlife and flora allowed us to have an authentic and immersive experience, just like being on a National Geographic documentary.
Excellent Value for Money: While safaris are generally considered a luxury experience, we found the value for money offered by African Big Cats to be exceptional. Every aspect of our trip, from the accommodations to the meals, was top-notch without breaking the bank.
Highly Recommended!! If you're planning a safari in Tanzania, we wholeheartedly recommend African Big Cats. They can tailor a trip to suit your specific needs and preferences, ensuring an unforgettable adventure.
A special thank you to Ernest, Emanuel, Naomi, William, and the entire African Big Cats team for making this trip so memorable.
US
Email Adi | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect team for the most amazing Kilimanjaro experience!
Imran and his team are nothing short of exemplary. Our group of 8 took the 8 Day Kilimanjaro package with ABC Safaris. The whole experience was like no other. By the end, we felt like a family, accomplishing the daunting yet satisfying task of summiting. Ask to get Imran and his team! I cannot have ask for a better guide/ team.
The whole team really provided a spectacular experience for us. Imran, the head guide is the perfect person for the job. He knows exactly what to do for the betterment of the group. There were instances of altitude sickness in our group and he immediately changed course multiple times to cater to us. The assistant guides David, EZ, and Elias were very knowledgeable and made the trip extremely fun- in the end I also learned a great amount of Swahili! Tosh the chef kept us satisfied with yummy food every meal while adjusting the menu based on our dietary restrictions and needs. All the 24 porters were extremely friendly and helped us in multiple ways, especially some of them going out of their way to join us on summit night. I could go on and on with reasons why you should choose this team on your trip to Kilimanjaro.
US
Email Bhavnesh | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic and was able to make adjustments on the fly
We had a 8day/7 night experience with African Big Cats Safaris and it was amazing. We had 1 guide for our safari portion of our trip and he was amazing through out. He even was able to find us a pride of lions and take amazing photos. All the places/lodges we stayed at were amazing, especially the Embalakai camps in Serengeti. Our flight to Zanzibar was also easy and we were dropped directly to the airport. During our time in Zanzibar, we loved stone town and our 2 nights at Nungwi. On our way back, we ran into an issue with the plane, but African Big cats were able to get us on another flight and we were able to make it to our international flight back. 10/10 experience and I cannot wait to be back.
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