African Big Cats Safaris
- Located 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)
Reviews
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Email Lynzie Rockett | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lack of communication
Complete lack of communication. Had us pay for a person that wasn’t even there! If a deposit means something different in Tanzania than America it would have been nice to know. African Big Cats advertises one lodge on their website but downgrades last minute to another. The downgraded lodge is on the complete opposite side (East/West-of Zanzibar) and rooms smell terribly of mold/mildew. Two safari days were not needed (the first and last). Those need to be removed from the itinerary completely. Note that most of these safari companies go to the same exact spots. As evidenced by the massive amount of jeeps at every stop and animal sighting. Skip African Big Cats and go with one of the MANY other companies. Our guides (Zab and Jumma) were good!!
Reply from African Big Cats Safaris
Posted on Sep 7, 2023Dear Lynzie, Thank you very much for your review, and i am very sorry to hear that the trip wasn't to your satisfaction.
I want to take a moment to address some concerns and provide clarity regarding your recent safari experience with us. It's essential for us to ensure your understanding and satisfaction.
First and foremost, regarding the issue of a participant who couldn't join the trip at the last moment, I understand how frustrating this can be, especially when plans and expenses are already in place. Originally, the safari was booked for seven people, but just two days before your arrival, we received notification that one person had to cancel. According to our policy, cancellations made within 15 days of travel would result in a 100% loss of the trip cost. However, recognising that this situation was beyond your control, we decided to deviate from our policy and charged only 50% of the cost. This decision still resulted in a loss for us, but we wanted to accommodate your circumstances as best as we could. We genuinely wish we could have offered a full refund, but unfortunately, we couldn't pursue this option due to the policies of the accommodations involved. Please know that we tried our best to assist you in this matter.
Concerning the accommodations themselves, we want to clarify that we never altered the options we initially quoted. When the trip was booked in January, it was based on a pre-made tour that Crystal, the person who booked on behalf of your group, selected from our website. While we do provide the flexibility to change accommodations, Crystal opted to stick with the original itinerary. Upon confirmation, we sent a comprehensive itinerary, which included the accommodations she had chosen. However, in the low season (April), our website underwent renovations, which involved changes to some itineraries and accommodations. One of the affected itineraries was the one Crystal had selected. The accommodation in Zanzibar was changed from Amaan Bungalows to Nungwi Dreams. We were unaware that Crystal was using the website itinerary as a reference for your entire group instead of the final itinerary sent to her via email. This miscommunication led to the belief that you were to overnight at Nungwi Dreams instead of Amaan Bungalows, as per your original quote.
Lastly, regarding the duration of the safari days, it's important to understand that the length of the safari significantly influences the quality of the game drive. Your arrival flight on the first day was scheduled to arrive in the afternoon, making it impossible to arrange any game drive on that day. Furthermore, your subsequent flight directly to Zanzibar meant that you could only accommodate a half-day game drive at Manyara on the last day. Given the limited number of days your group had, extending the safari was not feasible. Please note that the duration of the safari directly impacts the quality of the experience, as more extended periods allow for better exploration of the parks and more private game drives, as our guides have the opportunity to venture beyond the standard routes.
I sincerely hope that this clarifies the concerns you had about your recent safari experience. We greatly appreciate your feedback, and I apologise that the trip did not meet your expectations. Our commitment is to continually improve and ensure the best possible experience for our valued clients.
CA
Email Kimberly | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
African Big Cats made our Safari Experience Exceed our Expectations!
From the very first enquiry with African Big Cats, we knew we had chosen the best! Throughout the planning, they responded promptly and efficiently to our enquires and requests for information. We booked the 5 day/4 night luxury private safari (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Manyara) and it was perfect. We started our Tanzanian adventure in Moshi. Emmanuel met us there the day before to give us our briefing and our guide Kanti picked us up to begin our adventure the next morning. Our vehicle was a comfy and well equipped Land Cruiser.
Huge kudos to our guide Kanti, he was so incredibly knowledgeable about all the wildlife, the birds, the landscape…we learned so much from him. I don’t know how he was able to spot things of interest so quickly and often from a distance! He made sure we had an opportunity to stop whenever we wanted to for photos etc. It was clear that Kanti’s goal was to make our safari experience the best and he most certainly achieved that. He was funny and kind and it was a joy to travel with him.
All of the accommodations arranged by Emmanuel and staff were first rate! The staff at all the lodges were kind and helpful, the accommodations exceeded our expectations, the meals were five star + (out of five!)
We began our safari with Tarangire National Park and it was our favourite. We saw soooo many animals. Zebra, elephant, lions, hippos, giraffe, wildebeest and close up! The landscape of the park is varied and beautiful. Our first night was at the Escarpment Luxury Lodge, wow. Gorgeous huge bungalow with our own little patio from which we watched a family of baboons stroll by. The best dinner ever sitting outside overlooking the landscape as the sun set. Next day we were off to the Serengeti…a long drive but so much to see as the view changed. We spent two nights at the Serengeti Mbalimbali Soroi which was magnificent (sorry, loads of superlatives but they are well deserved). After a long day in the land cruiser it was lovely to return to our rooms and have an outdoor shower (so cool!) and then sit out either on our own balcony or on the lodges’ huge patio and watch the amazing sunset. Many thanks to Emmanuel at African Big Cats and the Soroi for arranging for/accommodating a last minute request regarding our booking there. Our days in the Serengeti were all that we had hoped for with so many animals in their natural environment. Then we were off to the Ngorongoro crater which is such an amazing site…a very different landscape from the Serengeti, lush and lots of animals in large groups by the water. It’s where we saw our first rhino (at a distance). Kanti made sure to get us in the best spot to watch the rhino through our binoculars. Our last night was at the Ngorongoro Retreat Lodge…I think our favourite lodge because we were able to walk around their beautiful grounds, something you can’t safely do elsewhere due to the other lodges’ more remote locations. Again, the staff and food were fabulous. Last day was Lake Manyara which was unique but there were fewer animals out and about and we had been so spoiled with the sights on the first four days. Then to Arusha to end our safari at the Cultural Heritage Centre. This place is a shopping experience and museum…our recommendation for the best opportunity to buy your gifts/memories. Beautiful craftsmanship and very good prices. We met with Emmanuel as he wanted to get feedback about our experiences (all 100% plus) and then Kanti took us to the airport for our flight to Zanzibar.
In summary, the safari exceeded our expectations. It was well worth the cost. It was apparent from the very beginning that African Big Cats is dedicated to ensuring we had the best experience, and they did.
Tips for travellers. Bring comfy clothing for hot weather and remember it’s quite cool overnight and in the morning. African big cats provides a list of items to bring with you…they have covered it all. There was a pair of binoculars provided but I was happy that I had brought along my own small ones so we could both watch the goings on. The people of Tanzania are some of the most kind and helpful people we have met in our travels. They made us feel so welcome.
Please don’t hesitate to contact African Big Cats to help you achieve the experience of a lifetime. Thanks to Kanti, Emmanuel and Naomi!
Kim and Peter
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Email Luis | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic, impossoble to forget.
Absolutely satisfactory. Very recomendable, if possible I would like to repeat the experience.
BE
Email Wim | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great team, great safari!
Travelled with ABC Safaris in August 2024, doing the northern circuit (tarangire, manyara, ngorongoro and then on to central and northern Serengeti to watch the migration). Value was excellent, especially for the accomodation inside Serengeti. they helped us set up our trip, and the duide's communication was also much better then what we experienced previously with another company. The guide was also very nice to our kids.
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Email Brenda C | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip ever!
I am a travel enthusiast, and I wanted a BIG adventure for my 50th birthday. African Big Cats delivered x10! Joshua and Naomi enthusiastically and patiently answered all of our questions and made accommodations for a party of 6. They provided helpful pre-departure information that ensured we had what we needed for our adventure.
We opted for the “comfort” level and the tented camps were very comfortable, clean and beautiful. It is amazing to be able to stay so close to nature in the actual parks and wildlife management areas! The staff at each camp were welcoming, helpful and attentive.
Our driver, Obed, taught us so much about the wildlife, parks, Tanzanian culture and even some Swahili phrases. His driving was excellent and safe and he got us close to wildlife while respecting the animals and other drivers. Every day we looked forward to our hot picnic lunches followed by the best Africafe coffee, yum! He sang with us and we laughed together the whole trip. By the time our 12 days were over, we were so incredibly sad to say goodbye to him.
We visited West Kilimanjaro, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. We saw innumerable elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, cape buffalo, hippos, nile crocodile and nearly 100 lions and lion cubs. We saw the great migration of wildebeest and zebra and saw the wildebeest cross the Mara River! We even saw cheetahs, a rock python, a leopard and two of the critically endangered black rhino! The beauty of the natural places in Tanzania is unmatched. Best vacation ever. Trust me, take the trip!
CH
Email Adam | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Safari Experience
My girlfriend and I had a wonderful 4 day safari with African Big Cats Safaris. All of the logistics were organised very smoothly ahead of our trip. It was an incredible experience to visit Lake Manyara, Ngorogoro Crater, the Serengeti, and Tarangire. We were able to see the big 5 (black rhino from a distance) and even witness lions hunting their prey. Our guide Venance was amazing. Without his sharp eye we would have missed out on numerous sightings of rare animals. His knowledge was also extremely impressive and his comments added to each sighting of a new animal or even native trees/flowers. I can't stress enough the importance of a good guide.
Thank you Big Cats Safaris, and in particular Venace, for an unforgettable trip!
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Email Beth | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our tour guide, Obed was one in a million!
We just returned from an 11 day safari with African Big Cats and I can’t recommend them more! From our planning stages to being dropped back at the airport they were responsive, friendly, organized, and helpful. We had a few ‘wants and needs’ beyond their original itinerary and they responded quickly and gave us options so we could determine what would work best for us. All of our accommodations were great and every camp was very welcoming, knowledgeable, safe, and every meal was great! Even our lunch on the trail was hot, fresh, tasty and not a boxed affair like others that we saw. Our guide, Obed was A+++ and was a huge part of our amazing safari. He is knowledgeable, informed, kind, and fun! He knows everything about Tanzania and understands what a magical place it is. Our vehicle was clean and well-maintained. You will spend a lot of time in the Rover so this is an important factor! He shared his knowledge of animals, birds, geography, history, culture…basically everything you would have a question about. He has great relationships with other guides so he always knew where the ‘happening’ spots were. We really felt immersed in Tanzanian life and felt more like travelers than tourists. Our trip was more than we could have imagined! If you put your faith in Big Cats you will not be disappointed!
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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.
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 John | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great Tanzanian safari which exceeded all expectations
We had good communication organising the tour, were able to have the itinerary modified to suit us. The mid range accommodation suited us perfectly. Our driver-guide Lavoi was a good driver, knew his animals and birds and a very good guide. The tour through the four national parks was great. A highlight was seeing the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park.
