Makasa is owned & managed by Selma and Ngomi Kamm
Makasa Tanzania Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Association of Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Debbie Wooldridge | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We just returned home after an outstanding safari experience with an extremely awesome tour guide!
My husband and I just returned from one of the best vacations we have ever experienced. Our safari adventure in Tanzania was outstanding from start to finish. The agenda for our trip was planned out based on outstanding recommendations and guidance from Selma Kamm. Her recommendations and help in booking this vacation was awesome! Each of the lodgings she helped me to select were unique, a perfect representation of the area and very enjoyable. The food was great at each place we stayed and the service was wonderful. Everything about the planning for this trip was well organized and well planned. I would highly recommend Makasa Tanzanian Safaris for anyone wanting an outstanding, professional and well organized safari experience.
What absolutely made our trip however; was our safari guide, Kaleby Macha. I cannot express how much he added to our experience. Being in the safari jeep with Kaleby was like bringing an entire crew from National Geographic along with us. His knowledge and the willingness to share with us about of the land, the tribes, the wildlife, and the vegetation is what truly made this experience so outstanding. He provided us so much information in such a meaningful way that I really feel like I truly have a deep understanding of Tanzania! Seeing the Big 5 was only part of what made this special - seeing the amazing birds, flowers, the people and all the other wild life and having a truly professional and fun guide to answer our questions is why I rate this entire experience so very highly!
Great tour company, great guide and amazing experience!! Thank you, Makasa!
US
Email Jeff Mogab | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing adventure!
What an amazing trip. I cannot recommend Makasa enough. My wife and I went on a trip last summer, and we could not be happier.
First, the communication. I found that Selma was always helpful and informative. She responded quickly and helped us customize our trip to what we wanted. She made thoughtful recommendations and helped us figure out what was the best fit for us.
The accommodations were all memorable and wonderful. We stayed mostly in tented camps, and my wife was thrilled to be able to see zebras walking from the shower one evening. Truly a memorable experience.
But the best was the actual trip. The service from pick-up to drop off was top notch. We experienced the adventure we dreamed of. Our guide, Peter, was incredibly knowledgable about the wildlife and the plants, and really made the trip. He was kind, and interesting, and clearly well liked by the other guides and people in the industry. I cannot over emphasize how much of a difference he made to us enjoying our trip. We felt well taken care of, and he made an extra effort to find us animals that were not surrounded by safari vehicles already. His effort of searching rewarded us with watching two lionesses hunt, without any other vehicle in sight. Truly a wonderful man, and a terrific guide. Peter also worked hard to accommodate some of our requests for other things. He went and haggled for us at a market, and when we wanted to go on a hike, he found one for us to do.
One recommendation - Bring the biggest binoculars that you can. My wife and I brought small travel ones, but Peter let us use his large ones, and they made a huge difference.
Since coming home, I have recommended Makasa to friends and family who have seen our photos, and I sincerely hope that they go. If they have half the experience that we did, they will have an amazing trip.
Perhaps, the best I can say is, if my wife and I went back to Tanzania, we would go with Makasa again.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great 1st Time Safari
We went on a 6 day safari with Makasa to Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Tarangire. Each park offered a great variety of animals, vegetation and it was great to experience the wildlife in their natural environment. From the first contact and planning to the final drop off after the safari, we can only praise Makasa. Selma was helpful in our planning, the price was reasonable, and our guide Kaleby, was very knowledgeable about all the animals, plant life and even birds. He also taught us about many cultural aspects of his native land. Given the time parameters for safaris and distances covered, we never felt rushed and approached each day with a sense of adventure as to what animals awaited!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing 3-week trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar!
We had three weeks to discover the beauty auf Tanzanian national parks and Zanzibar! From the beginning, we had a good feeling about Makasa which was confirmed in each step from the planning of the trip to the actual journey! The organisation of logistics was spotless. And we saw soooo many beautiful scenes, that it is difficult to say what we liked most! From a herd of elephants that we found ourselves surrounded by on day 1 of the safari, over cute little lions, cheetas, elephants and even a leopard baby, to observing a rhino mother with its - not so small - baby. We loved it! Our guide humphrey had a great feeling for what we wanted to see! And we were rewarded several times due to his skill of spotting animals without the help of walkie talkies that the big companies all use! We were so proud of him and it was great fun! :-)
Zanzibar was a relaxing last week and we truly loved the blue safari which allowed for relaxed swimming and dining far away from tourists. But the highlight of the trip was clearly the safari.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Adventure of a lifetime with Makasa!
Excellent communication and trustworthy travel agent in Tanzania! The benefit has been that we did not pay premium for the international travel agents, who use local Tanzanian companies anyway. We received value for money moving through Tanzanian Parks with a very nice, funny and knowledgeable Safari guide. What we have seen was truly unbelievable as we moved from Moshi with the views of Kilimanjaro to Tarangire through Manyara Lake and finally to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Excited, we enjoyed vist of jackals and hyenas and elephant family in the camp, observing the full cycle of life in Serengeti and seeing the Big 5! That was a trip of the lifetime and we now plan to repeat Safari adventure with our children age 7 and 12.
We stayed in the mix of permanent lodges and tents and that combination gave as a fantastic mix of luxurious conditions and safari excitement of having wild animals as your neighbours! The two venues we will never forget were in Maramboi Tented Camp and Kati Kati Tented Camp, simply exceeded our expectations by bringing adventure to our life! Special thanks to the ladies in Kilimanjaro Lodge – service amazing, food even more amazing!
If we go to Tanzania again that will definitely be with Makasa! I have also recommend them to my friends and colleagues.
NL
Email Gerda en Paul | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fast and fabulous
Last minute is an understatement of our trip. Monday night we decided to travel to Tanzania, Wednesday night we arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Makasa managed to organize a fantastic trip within this short timeframe. Excellent service, very quick communication and a perfect itinerary. Because of our fast decision, the whole trip was a big surprise to us, but it met all our expectations. Accommodations were superb! One day we woke up close to Tarangire National Park with a fantastic view of zebras, warthogs and wildebeests roaming the landscape between our terrace and the hills at the horizon. The next day we slept in the middle of Serengeti, surrounded by hyenas and lions, roaring in the night. In Ngorongoro Conservation Area we spotted 2 rhinos, which completed our big 5 checklist. We have seen so many animals! Before and after the safari we took some time to relax and to visit some local villages. Despite their poverty, Tanzanian people are very friendly and we loved their hospitality. We hope to be back soon!
US
Email Charles A | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic photo safari with many outstanding photo opportunities
Makasa provided me with a memorable safari experience. Selma was always outstanding responding to my questions via e-mail and helping me develop the perfect safari based on what I wanted to see and the kind of accommodations I desired. She made many helpful suggestions, but she was always tuned in to my wishes.
The safari itself certainly was outstanding in every way. I was fortunate to have Ngomi as my guide, and I doubt there is a better, more knowledgeable guide in Tanzania. He and Kalebi, our driver, were outstanding in finding outstanding animal photo opportunities and made many helpful suggestions on when and how to get the "perfect" photo. I got many many photos of the "Big Five" in addition to many great photos of other animals and birds. Ngomi was always able to identify the animals and birds, including the scientific classification. And his eyesight is unreal -- he could spot a leopard tail in a tree or a black rhino 1000 meters away. I have nothing but great memories of my safari, and hopefully will be able to return for a follow-up; I know Makasa will help me plan the perfect second safari!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great experience!
The plan they made for us was excellent, we visited four national parks and saw lots of animals. In Ndutu we experienced the migration with the wildebeests and their calf's, as well as the zebra's with their fowls.
Communication with Makasa Tanzanian Safaris was very easy, fast replies and suggestions according to what we wanted.
The driver/guide was very professional, easy going, patient and informative.
Accommodations were what we expected. We had a great time!
Email BrianR | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Superb safari, well planned and delivered. Extremely satisfied customers.
I thoroughly and unhesitatingly recommend Makasa. Selma listened to what we wanted, made some very good suggestions and tailored our trip to meet our needs. And then made changes in dates we wanted for us too. Communications were excellent - rapid replies to emails and even skype!. the service was faultless - everything worked perfectly. We had a variety of accommodation - tented lodge, mobile camp and hotels - all very differnt but all very good. it added to the charm and variety. Francis, our guide, was excellent. 'Eagle eyed' and brilliant at both spotting birds and wildlife - we are interested in birds as well as animals. He is extremely knowledgeable and informative, and has a good sense of humour. And he always got us a front row view of the everything. The highlight had to be our private viewing of the lions mating 10 meters from our car!!!!!
We thought this was probably the best holiday we have had. I cannot praise Selma, Francis and the staff at Makasa enough. I'm glad we chose them based on others reviews. (We did get quotes from 3 others too but they didn't come anywhere near Makasa in terms of personalisation or listening to what we asked for.) We've asked Selma for tips for a southern route safari - i wouldn't bother with anyone else after this experience. So in short, excellent people to deal and travel with, superb safari, good value for money. heartily recommended.
NL
Email Hein & Akkie Daams, the Netherlands | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professionals with a personal touch
The communication between the customer and Makasa is friendly and precise. Makasa manages the expectations with reality of mother Nature and have a very good choice of the accommodations.
We travelled for the third time with Makasa and again our guide David did a brilliant job. This time we did Tarangire NP, Ndutu, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. Our first goal was to experience the migration and calving season of the wildebeest. Lucky ones as we are, we did it on the border of Ndutu and Serengeti. Lucky ones. Overall again was this safari total different as the safaris before. Therefore our opinion is mother Nature has always her surprises.