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
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Photo Trip of a Lifetime
My wife and I decided to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary with a trip to Tanzania and go on a photo safari. We booked it on-line with Makasa Tanzanian Safaris. I communicated on-line with Selma Kamm and she is the best communicator for travel services I have ever worked with. Ngomi Kamm provided us with a 10 day safari that was fantastic. Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti National Park were visited. The abundance of wildlife was beyond what I ever imagined and we got superb pictures of a wide variety of African wildlife, including all five of the "big 5 dangerous game animals". The photo we got of a leopard is the best photo I have ever taken in 40 years of working in the photo business. The accommodations were first class and the Kamms have become life long friends. It was trip of a life time, and we will cherish this trip as the best of our extensive travels.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded every expectation!
From the minute I chose to book a safari for my husband and I with Makasa, I was not disappointed! In fact, I was truly blown away by the care and attention Selma took in planning our safari, and keeping in touch with me throughout the whole process, including matching us up with another traveller to share our safari experience with and reduce our overall cost.
The night before our safari commenced, we stayed at MCF Kilimanjaro Lodge, and were lucky enough to meet Selma, her husband Ngomi and their beautiful children. It was obvious to see how passionate they are about Tanzania and the Safari industry. We were made to feel very welcome, like part of the family really! It was the perfect start to our week - beers on the deck amidst the picturesque gardens, complementary snacks, and delicious, home-cooked meals. All staff at K-Lodge were super friendly and made sure that our night there was a comfortable one!
Below is a copy of the email I sent Selma after our safari - I think it sums up our feelings about Makasa:
Hi Selma,
I am just writing to say thank you so much from Tom and I for the most wonderful experience with Makasa!
Firstly, Peter, our safari guide, was an absolute legend! We got along with him so well, and he worked overtime to make sure that we didn't miss out on anything. We felt like we had the best guide in the whole of Tanzania. He was very well-informed about the animals we saw and the places we visited, he had an answer to every one of our millions of questions, and he was a complete gentleman, and made sure that we didn't go without anything! He really must be commended for the outstanding job he did whilst on our safari - we couldn't possibly have asked for any more from our guide!
Esther was a blast - we're really glad we were able to share our experience with her. We shared the same interests and had a lot of laughs along the way. We are currently missing our safari family of Peter and Esther very much!
The parks were a spectacle within themselves. Our favourite day was a 5am start to drive to the northern entrance of the Serengeti. We felt like the only car in the whole place, and we really had a chance to get up close and personal with the animals.
The accommodation exceeded our expectations like you wouldn't believe. After a night at Olpopongi, the luxury of Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge was very much welcomed. Kenzan lodge was very comfortable, and the service was amazing, as with all of our accommodations.
By far, our favourite accommodation was Endoro Lodge. We felt very lucky to experience such luxury basically in the middle of nowhere. The staff there were absolutely outstanding, and made us feel like family. The rooms were spectacular and the food was scrumptious!
All in all, we had the week of a lifetime! The itinerary was perfect and we honestly wouldn't change a thing! We really appreciated having the first night at Olpopongi, as it allowed us or understand and appreciate the Maasai way of life, as we encountered many more Maasai along the way. The group at Olpopongi were exceptional, and we had a really meaningful experience there (along with amazing food).
I have already started recommending Makasa to people we have met in Arusha, because I don't think that the package you arranged for us could have been beaten!
Thank you again, Selma and Ngomi, it was really lovely to meet you and your family.
Kind regards,
Claire and Tom Green
ES
Email Jordi G | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great professionals ... extraordinary result!"
A few weeks ago, we made a safari with Makasa. Traveling with two girls, age 11 and 15, we were looking for an agency that offered a safari package designed for families. Makasa worked out perfectly. Our trip took place in late August 2016. Selma of Makasa sent us a daily detailed itinerary that included each night's accommodations. Every place we stayed on safari was incredible, much better than we expected with both luxury and service.
From our arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport until our departure at Dar es Salam 13 days later, we were perfectly taken care of by everyone involved. The first evening at Mosh, we had a delicious dinner at MCF Kilimanjaro Lodge, with beautiful gardens, very pleasant, ideal to recover after a long trip. Kilimanjaro Lodge is part of Mama Clementine Foundation: a secondary school for young girls in Tanzania. We had the first tastes of the local beers on their deck.
Next morning Selma, her husband and their newborn baby came to greet us before we began our 8-day safari. We also met who would be our guide, driver, and friend for the next 8 days, Humphrey, the best guide you can have. He was real fun, teaching us songs like Jambo, Jambo bwana, Habari gani, Mzuri sana. The vehicle was a 4WD safari vehicle equipped with a specially designed open panoramic roof (allowing you to stand in the vehicle to take pictures). Humphrey was a very responsible driver, very cautious and when we were stopped (which often happens) by the local Police, he was able to convince them quickly to let us drive through. As a guide, he was very professional, at each safari drive he was able to show us the big five game and the ugly five as well as many other animals, birds and trees. He was like a living dictionary, there was no question he could not answer regarding the animals we saw and the places we visited.
Afterwards, we left to Olpopongi Masai, a village some 3 or 4 hours’ drive from Mosh on the foothills of Kilimanjaro Mountain, which we had the fortune to see clearly that evening. We really appreciated having the first night at Olpopongi, as it allowed us or understand and appreciate the Masai way of life, as we encountered many more Masai along the way. You spend the night in a real hut, made by women; the Masai people tend to your needs, cook for you, dance/sing and demonstrate their traditional ways. They take you out on a bush walk to show you how and where they gather their herbs for medicines, tea making and hut-building materials, the incredible 96-year-old 'grandma' will prepare their special herbal tea for you! At night, sit round a central fire after dinner and watching the stars!
Day 2 of our safari took us to Lake Manyara that offers dense forests, rivers and the lake. We saw enormous concentrations of baboons. Afterwards, we headed to Croatia Valley Lodge, located on the boundary of Ngorongoro Reserve. A wonderful, truly special place, we were very happy to spend the night there. After a night at Olpopongi, the luxury of this lodge was very much welcomed. We visited the Children’s Home, an orphanage for those kids whose family cannot take care of them, a project supported by the owners of the Lodge. The Lodge is composed of 15 tents, an open dining area; the food comes from their own gardens. Visiting Croatia Valley allows you to experience a sustainable and self-sufficient Lodge while showing solidarity with the orphanage that is maintained by the Dutch hosts. All the personnel were very kind and we wished we had stayed more nights!
The next day we drove to Serengeti, this endless plain offered us an abundance of wild animals that we saw at close range, many lions, cheetahs, leopards as well as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, etc. … and a few gazelles ;).
At Serengeti, we spent 3 nights at beautiful Kubu Tented Lodge, which had only been open for about 3 months when we arrived. It was the best accommodation during our 13-day trip.
The setting of the Lodge is perfect, it is located on a hill; from the terrace and the cabins, and you can admire the vast plains of Serengeti and watch the animals below migrate in search for water.
When it gets dark, two Masai warriors, for safety reasons, must escort you back to the cabin since there were wild animals (gazelles, zebras, buffaloes, and wildebeest) just a few meters from our room! At night, you could hear the lions roar and the hyenas hunting nearby.
Our family cabin was huge, with two rooms, a huge balcony and incredible views. All the drinks (including alcoholic beverages) were complimentary. Finally, our girls went swimming every afternoon at the infinity pool, maybe the most beautiful pool we have ever seen, you can take the most amazing photos of the pool with the Serengeti background.
After Serengeti, we visited Ngorongoro, a unique crater known as a caldera. Nearly all the big wild animals can be seen in the crater. Apart from large herds of zebra and wildebeest, we saw many lions and finally the black rhinoceros. Thanks so much, Humphrey!
We stayed the last 2 nights of the safari at Endoro Lodge, also located on the edge of Ngorongoro Reserve.
Next, we visited Zanzibar for 5 days staying at Kilima Kidogo at Paje, an ideal place to disconnect from the world, to enjoy the sun and sea at one of Zanzibar’s best beaches! It was really nice, good food and friendly staff. There are many games for the kids, ping-pong, a pool table! Kilima Kidogo is a small place; there aren’t many guests, which creates a sense of exclusivity, life in slow-motion. We must highlight the hospitality of its owner, Dina, who was waiting for us at the airport, and the rest of the staff carrying out their work with passion and trying to please the most pampered guests. Good food and possibility of beautiful excursions. A place to return someday!
Helpful notes: Bring dollars in small bills (especially 1 and 5 dollar bills for the tips) but we also used local shillings that ended up being useful also, you can get them from ATM at Arusha.
No need to get your visa in advance. When you arrive at the airport we payed $50 in cash for each of us. In addition, people should have their own binoculars. It makes spotting and observing extra fun.
Finally, from the comments we heard from other visitors, we would recommend skipping Lake Manyara visit and choosing instead Tarangire National Park.
Fantastic Safari Arraned By Makasa!
After a couple months of research by my husband, we decided to work with Makasa Tanzanian Safaris for our trip this summer. As many people say, a safari in Africa will probably only happen once, and there's a lot of pressure and questions about how to 'get it right'. We spoke at length via Skype with the owner Selma - told her our main goal was to see as many great animals as possible, and to stay in tent cabins. We didn't want to stay in luxury lodges, although all the tents, whether in the 'bush' or not were amazing! I will be reviewing them separately on Tripadvisor. Back to Selma. My husband was so impressed that we were speaking to the owner (along with her husband Ngomi), and that she took the time to really listen to us and help us craft a safari that would achieve our trip goals. They send you an itinerary that includes pick up at the airport (at 2 am!!!), and details about each day and each night's accommodations. In fact the first morning we had a delightful breakfast with the two of them as they greeted us before we took off on our adventure. We went to national park preserves: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, three nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. We were wonderfully and ably guided by David for the entire trip in a huge Toyota Landcruiser with a pop top for easy viewing and photography. The guide is key. David had worked for the company for several years and was amazing. He was a phenomenal driver (you have to be - he wound up helping several stuck drivers). At each park he told us he couldn't promise what we'd see, but he always had a 'nose' for finding all the great animals, and was able to identify and tell us all about the trees, birds and lifestyles of all the amazing creatures we saw. And boy did we see beautiful creatures. We were blessed with good cameras, but David is blessed with the ability to find them, get us in good position and often with no one else around. In fact, because we both had long zooms, one night he went into a town and had bean bags made for us to be able to better position and steady our cameras. Now that's above and beyond. If I could give Makasa 10 stars I would.
Helpful notes: Although Makasa will send you a very nice 'before you go' doc, here are my words to the wise:
Bring 1's, 5's and 10's in US dollars dated 2009 or later. Dollars are widely accepted and the TZ sterling notes are not needed. No need to get your visa in advance. When you arrive there's a window before you go through customs. $100 cash for US Citizens and $50 cash for all others. Bring cash for a tip at the end of the safari for your guide. Bring a good camera. You'll be happy you did. Each person should have their own binoculars. It makes spotting and observing extra fun. Don't dress like Steve Erwin - it looks silly. You probably won't be fighting thru the bush - you'll be sitting in a nice vehicle. Wear comfy clothes for warm weather - although it gets chilly at night. Embrace DEET. It's only for two weeks and its a necessity. Really. Get your Yellow Fever shot at Walgreens. Its expensive but the so-called 'travel doctors' are a rip off. Ask your doctor what other medicines to bring or shots to get. We also got tetanus and Hep A. We brought along prophylactic drugs (not rubbers).
And most important: Book your safari with Makasa!