The Safari Soles Team
Safari Soles
- Offices In:
-
United Kingdom
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2018)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Tourist Board
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 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 Janette | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari company, Great experience
We had a wonderful Tanzanian safari with Safari Soles! Magreth customized our travel experience which made for an excellent private tour with our guide, Isaack, who was wonderful! The hotels and lodges were great as was the food and service. Our guide was able to find the big five, as well as lots of other animals. We also visited several different tribal villages, the Hadza - the last of the hunter gatherers, and a second tool making tribe. It was fascinating to learn about their customs and to see how they are still living today. WE also visited a Maasai village and learned about their customs. All very interesting.
We loved Serengti, South Serengeti, & Tarangire National Parks. The night safari at Lake Manyara was a well worth it! The lodge, Escarpment Luxury Lodge, was a great! We could have stayed an extra day in Serengeti. The lodge, Kubu Kubu had views to die for! We also loved staying at Lions Paw in Ngorongoro, and suggest two nights there as well as two days in the crater.
We loved seeing the great wildebeest and zebra migration as well as the endangered black rhinoceros! The water buffalo, hippopotamus, lions, leopards and cheetah were also amazing as were the warthogs, baboons, giraffes and gazelles. Did I forget to mention the hyenas? Unbelievable! It was a life changing, amazing adventure.
The people in Tanzania were very friendly and kind. We had really good experiences with them. Bring lots of $1 bills and other small denominations for tips. Yes, they accept USD.
We also went to Zanzibar. It was not as interesting as we had imagined. Although Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, it was in poor condition and not very interesting with many tourist shops all selling the same things. We did, however, go on an excellent tour of an organic spice farm. We also visited Chumbe Island where we saw coconut crabs. We snorkeled there, but the reef was not in good condition due to over fishing. Nevertheless, the island is worth staying on for one night for ecotourists. It is carbon neutral. The huts on the island were nicely done. The huts reminded me of the tree house from the movie Swiss Family Robinson! It was rustic, but quite nice.
The weather in Zanzibar is extremely hot. Therefore, if you do not like very hot and humid climates, I would just stay on the mainland. Next time, I want to visit South Tanzania to see the chimpanzees!
Safari Soles is a small tour company that caters to a personal experience. It is competitively priced and certainly less expensive than some of the larger companies. I highly recommend them of you Tanzanian safari. I will travel with them again!
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Email Mark | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous Tanzanian safari tours
Our Safari Soles experience in Tanzania and Zanzibar was simply amazing, extraordinarily well organized with superb local guides. We designed a two-week trip combining the great migration with 5 days on Zanzibar. Magreth helped us design our own private tour and was extremely helpful and generous getting our trip organized before arriving and very responsive to our needs and questions once we were on safari. Our trip was a total immersion into Tanzania from seeing all the major birds and mammals you want to see in Tanzania, getting a personal perspective on life in Tanzania in conversations with the super Safari Soles guides, staying at some fabulous hotels and getting to see and interact with traditional tribal people from Masai villagers to hunter gatherer bushmen. Our local guides were truly special. Izaak, who was our main safari guide was just fabulous. Warm, kind, and a skilled and knowledgeable naturalist, he was a highlight of our trip. We also had an outstanding guide, Alex while visiting the tribal villages who was not only extremely well versed in the cultures we visited, but fluent in English, Swahili, and the unique tribal languages of the people we visited. We were generally disappointed with Zanzibar. We stayed two nights at the Cumbie Island Nature Preserve. It was a well-run carbon neutral island retreat, but the coral reefs were in bad shape and on their way out, so I wouldn't recommend it for snorkeling or diving. We had hoped to see a healthy Zanzibar reef, so were very disappointed. If we redesigned our trip, we would have stayed a single night on Cumbie and skipped the depressing reefs. We had a very enjoyable trip to a spice farm on Zanzibar that we would highly recommend. We also found Stonetown rather disappointing. It was rundown and overrun by tourist shops with little history or culture to compensate for the tourist shop exposure.
Overall, I would enthusiastically recommend Safari Soles for a Tanzanian private safari. It is a very well-run small company that emphasizes quality over quantity with attention to detail. The staff and guides are exceptional and will help you design a perfect trip for your needs, rather than just a generic Tanzanian Safari. My wife and I are experienced travelers and potentially hard to please professionals, I am a retired marine ecologist with decades of tropical experience and my wife is a lawyer with a keen eye for organization and detail. So, we are potentially tough customers, but can't say enough about the quality and people running Safari Soles tours. If we return to Tanzania we will rely again on their experience, knowledge, attention to detail and kindness. They are simply a great group.
Email Gallagher family | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience!
We've just returned from a 4 day / 3 night safari with Safari Soles and it was perfect from start to finish. Initially we had reservations about booking with a company in Tanzania direct, particularly when payment was requested in USD and communication was via WhatsApp. We needn't have worried. Communication prior to our trip was excellent and this continued right through to the very end of our trip. Our guide, Isaac, was fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable and nothing we asked for was too much trouble. He went the extra mile every day to ensure we saw as much wildlife as possible. We saw the big six close up and so much more. Would highly recommend Ngorongoro - its an experience not to be missed. We stayed at Serengeti Safari Lodge, Sero Tented Camp and Serena Lodge. All the accommodation was excellent and food was tasty and plentiful throughout. All in all, we can't fault Safari Soles and if you have any worries about booking direct, don't. This really was the trip of a lifetime. A huge thank you to everyone who made our trip such an amazing experience.
AE
Email Naveed | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Honest and reliable!
I sent enquiries to 3 tour operators who offered the package i wanted and had good ratings on safaribookings.com, Zuria at Safari Soles took the lead in replying and follow up and i was finalized with her before the other quotes came in as i was making a last minute booking and liked her honest and matter of fact approach with no hard selling!
I customized our tour and extended it to 7 days, upgraded 4 of the 6 nights to luxury category with domestic airtickets both ways Ex- Zanzibar and included the optional Hot Air Baloon and Night Safari and all of the additions cost me about $2125/- extra per person which i feel was very reasonable!
We had a good condition Landcruiser for the two of us and our tour guide and driver was Estomih, Estomih turned out a great companion and Safari Guide, he is a very likeable person who is very networked within the guide community hence if there was a good sighting happening anywhere in the park Estomih would be amongst the first people to hear of it and get us there to be amongst the earliest arrivals be it a pride of lions feeding or a Cheetah settling down in a large tree or a Rhino in the Ngorongoro, he is a cautious and does not take unnecessary risks while driving.
We saw all of the Big 5 to our hearts content. On the accomodation The Serengeti Serena Lodge was great but fell short on the food and need to sort it out, Lake Ndutu Luxury tented accomodation and Lake Masek Tented Lodge were extraordinary on all counts especially the latter! Ang'ata Ngorogoro was great on account of location as was the food however the lack of running hot water was a problem, Suricata Boma does not give you a Safari vibe it is more of a good resort in an inhabitated area which could do with better airconditiong and water pressure.
Our game viewing was incredible being the Migration season the herds we saw of Zebra and Wildebeast were huge and in the 10's of thousands, we had to search for Lions harder for Cheetah's and hardest for Leopords, Rhino's but we saw them all.
What could have been done better, well we felt the ideal place to do the Ballon Safari was in the Ndutu area instead of Central Serengeti in February i.e Migration time which should have been suggested to us, the night safari was avoidable.
PA
Email Domingo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
awesome experience
Our Safari was booked by my travel agent back home so I do not know if our package matches exactly what is described in terms of the lodging portion of our experience, but we did spend 4 days between 3 areas, 2 within serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. It was just my wife and I, accompanied by our guide.
Safari Soles were very organized, on time for our pickup at the airport with great service from our friendly driver Chiff.
We met our guide, Innocent, on the morning we were to set out on our trip. He was to spend every day with us as our experienced guide.
Innocent was always forthcoming with information and seemed at ease answering all of our questions, he was always patient and would confirm with us if we wanted to move along before moving on to some other animal or view. He would always let us know what to expect during the coming days activities and was always ready to start on time every time.
We had great luck during our safari, as we got to see every single one of the most sought after species,but it definitely made a huge difference in that we had a knowledgeable guide that knew where to go and maintains good communication with other guides who shared info on game locations.
The 3 properties where we spent the night were to our complete liking. One was a tented camp in southern serengeti which was awesome. Comfortable and had everything needed, considering it was in the middle of the bush, it was top notch. The other two nights we spent in lodges, both surpassed our expectations. We did go in february and the temperature everywhere was very nice, probably not so during the dry season.
Food was always good, both at the lodges/camp and the pick nick lunches we had while on the road. The only exception i´d make to that was the packed lunch on the last day which was not up to the standards of the rest of the meals we had every single other time.
The vehicle itself had definitely seen a lot of adventures in its day, but that said it never failed us and was always comfortable.
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Email John | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent!! Highly recommend
Our recent experience with Safari Soles on a combined 3-day safari and 8-day trek on Mt Kilimanjaro exceeded all expectations. The journey began with a delightful stay at the Arusha Farm House, where the hospitality was unmatched. Geoffrey Samwel, the receptionist, went above and beyond to ensure our comfort, while Happy and Witness in the dining services accommodated my nut allergy, providing delicious and safe meal options throughout our stay.
Our transfer drivers, including Baltaza, Rafael, and William, were great. They provided an stress-free transition between the airport, hotel, and various adventure points. The safari, led by our knowledgeable driver Izak, was a highlight. His expertise in navigating the best spots for wildlife viewing and his insightful answers to our questions enriched our experience. The lodge accommodation, integrated with the local Masai tribe, offered a unique cultural immersion, highlighting the authenticity of our safari adventure. We saw thousands of animals in migration and the big five, up close with lions walking up to our jeep.
Undoubtedly, the best part of our trip was the trek to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our chief guide (Antipas) and assistant guide (Emanuel) were seasoned mountaineers, who provided a top notch experience. Their professionalism, combined with a strong understanding of the mountain and its cultural significance, provided a safe and enriching experience. The porter team, led by a skilled chef who catered to my dietary restrictions with exceptional care, contributed significantly to our ability to summit. They ensured our food and utilities were hygienic and our belongings were safe and undamaged. Their professionalism, friendliness, and attention to detail were commendable.
The sense of community fostered by the guides and porters with fellow climbers created a vibrant, social atmosphere at the camps, making our experience even more enjoyable.
As experienced climbers, my father and I appreciated the team's ability to tailor the pace to our skill level, allowing for an optimal climbing experience. For safety precautions, Antipas and Emanuel would temper our pace when needed but also push us when facing challenging aspects of the trek. It is no wonder they have such a high success rate in summiting! The views on the summit were breathtaking and our team took every opportunity to take pictures of us and explain the ecosystems and nuances of the mountain.
In conclusion, Safari Soles delivered an exceptional adventure, with professional service, cultural immersion, and attention to health and safety. I would highly recommend their services to anyone seeking an unforgettable African safari and climbing experience regardless of experience level.
DE
Email Alissa Brewer | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari Soles organizes a perfect tour with Innocent as a TOP guide!
Innocent was the best driver and guide!!!! We were so sad to leave him at the end of our excursion; he was so friendly and helpful and made us feel like he truly cared about our experience. With Innocent, he ensured we would see the big Five (which was an amazing feat in only 2 1/2 days!), he taught us about his customs and culture, safely and expertly drove during the wet season, and ensured that we were fed ample meals and were taken care of during our overnight stays. By the end of our trip we can honestly say that we made a new friend; he is so fun and easy to get along with! Also he’s a great communicator. I highly recommend Safari Soles to organize your domestic flights and transportation and to find you a guide who loves their job!!!! Happiness was our travel organizer and she helped us choose our stays in Zanzibar and the Mainland and was always available for questions. We loved being able to arrive in Zanzibar for sun and relaxation, and then flying straight into the Serengeti to begin our Safari. Although the Safari ended up being a favorite, we loved being able to relax again on the beach before heading home. This 3-day luxury safari experience was just perfect. We were taken care of every step of the way! (We especially loved our stay at Karibu, Lions Paw!) Be sure to ask for Happiness and Innocent and your travels will be absolutely memorable. The 3-day luxury tour included the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. It’s a lot of driving but so worth it. You won’t regret booking!
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Email Anna | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent
Highly recommend choosing Safari Soles and specifically requesting Simon (Safari Monster) as your tour guide! The trip was organized very well! Plenty of food at all 3 meals (breakfast/dinner was better for vegetarians), the mid tier lodging felt like luxury in most places, we covered 5 parks in 7 days. Our guide was knowledgeable, experienced, friendly, and fearless. We saw the big 5 and so much more - it was an unforgettable time.
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Email Melissa | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience
We had an amazing trip with Safari Soles! They took care of every detail. We flew in from Zanzibar, did a game drive in Tarangire, night game drive in Lake Manyara, stayed at Suricata Boma Lodge, game drive in Ngorongoro Crater, then back to Zanzibar. We had heard that January was the low season and not the best for safari, but we found it to be an excellent time for wildlife viewing. The parks were not crowded, the landscapes inside and outside the parks were beautiful and green, and we saw a ton of wildlife including elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, rhinos… and on and on. We experienced sunny skies and no rain. I had gotten quotes for a private safari from a few operators, but Regina at Safari Soles was the only one who suggested an alternative itinerary including Tarangire and let us know about possible add-ons like kayaking or a night game drive. She was very professional and her local knowledge created the perfect trip for us. Our safari guide Innocent was fantastic! He had a lot of knowledge about the animals and was able to navigate around the parks really well to get us into the best positions to see the wildlife. I had selected an itinerary that was very full and did not include much time for sleep for any of us. Innocent was a total champion throughout. He knew how to get us the most out of our short time and we were able to see so much thanks to him. We were very lucky to have him! My only regret is not booking more days! Next time! Asante sana!
CA
Email Melanie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Truly amazing
This was amazing. We went on a 10-day safari with Safari Soles Tours through different parks and it was fantastic. We saw so many animals, from tiny to huge and learned so much about them. Our guide Godlisten was wonderful, extremely knowledgeable, patient, funny, and polite. He was great with our 2 kids (11 and 12) as well and always took the time to answer our questions, and stopped whenever we wanted to see something. The lodges were very nice and comfortable and the food was always delicious. This trip was a trip of a lifetime and we are so happy we chose Safari Soles Tours! Thank you!