The Amazing Shadows of Africa Guiding Team!
Shadows of Africa
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $250 to $1,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Ashley and Konstantin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exciting and Relaxing 5 day Safari in Tanzania
My husband and I recently returned from a 5 day, 4 night Safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater June 29th – July 2. Our Safari started in Serengeti after we flew from Kilimanjaro Airport to Seronera airport. We were happy we chose to fly instead of drive because this allowed us time for a game drive on the first day (and avoided extra bumps and dust while driving) and we loved the atmosphere of the Seronera airport. We were picked up by our driver Dickson who was friendly and extremely knowledgeable. He provided great recommendations but tailored the trip around our needs and how we wanted to spend our vacation (for example starting a little later in the morning because we needed some extra sleep after 2 days of flying).
The driver is an important part of your Safari experience. His knowledge of the parks and roads is what will ensure an eventful but safe experience. Dickson had several years of experience, so he knew the roads, the animal habits, and how to avoid potential issues with the vehicle while navigating the rough terrain.
In Serengeti, we stayed in the Kati Kati camp and were very pleased with the accommodations, food, and service. The camp feels isolated and rustic, but has all the comforts one needs. In Ngorongoro, we stayed in the Ngorongoro Wildlife lodge which had great views of the park; the food here was not as good as Kati Kati. We enjoyed both accommodations but preferred the Kati Kati Tented camp.
While in Serengeti, we did the Hot Air Balloon safari and highly recommend the activity. It was expensive, but probably the highlight of our trip. We got to see plenty of animals from the balloon and enjoyed a terrific breakfast afterwards. Overall, everything went smoothly and as planned and we recommend using Shadows of Africa for a Safari in Tanzania.
Best. Adventure. Ever.
Great company, amazing people. We traveled to Tanzania, and stayed at the Ngorogoro Crater and in the Serengeti.
Trip planning from initial outset with Jake and Stacy at SOA was so stress free and fun. They happily provided solid recommendations and answered each and every question (no matter how trivial); their replies came within the day if not immediately. As an unexpected bonus, they created an interactive online trip itinerary, with a map of our trip, descriptions of the camps/accommodations, and general info on the areas we would visit, among other things. Each and every time we changed plans, they updated the itinerary. Without prompting, Jake and Stacy sent loads of information on travel reqs/visa/vaccinations, packing, and also on the areas, animals, and culture. And they were so friendly while doing it! Their advice and answers made it all fun, and we felt very prepared at each step while there. Jake and Stacy also happily connected us with their representative in Zanzibar, who was happy to book transfers and a tour for us, although we had arranged the flight/hotel to Zanzibar on our own (also great service there!).
As for the safari itself, our guide, Loma, deserves a separately devoted paragraph, with super special appreciation and recognition. Loma was a perfect fit for us, he was so fun and friendly, and our trip would not have been the same without him! He picked us up from the airport in a happy mood, and even after spending 5 days in the car with us (many 12+ days) and away from his home, we became friends and were promising to return to visit his family and kids. Having grown up in the area, Loma is very knowledgeable about the areas (seriously impressed that anyone can navigate the Serengeti without a map!), the culture and people (he had an answer every time we asked what or why), the vegetation/plants, and definitely the animals (even the birds!). He knew the specific habitats and behaviors of each animal, and made very good on his promise for us to see each of the Big 5 -- twice! He also tracked the ever-elusive cheetahs! Loma allowed us to get some very great photos. He was also very attentive in general, and made sure that we were always comfortable and doing well, even when we got to the camps. He got up and out early with us and made sure that we experienced every bit possible, but remained totally flexible to whatever we wanted (shopping included!). On the last day, he even arranged a trip to the local village at Mto wa Mbu to see the banana plantation, meet the local tribes, and shop their art and carvings. Loma went above and beyond to make our trip extra special. It really felt as though he was enjoying his time on safari with us, and I hope that he enjoyed it as much as we did.
The jeep was comfortable and clean, and appeared no different than any of the other jeeps that we passed, except perhaps even a bit nicer than most. It has a roof which easily pops, binoculars, a power strip, and a cooler where we sometimes packed wine for lunch. There were only 2 of us, and we had plenty of room to move around.
SOA offered 5 star service from our initial inquiry all the way through. I would return and use this company (and guide!) time after time.
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Email Dennis Haren | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
All we asked and more.
Loma provided us with the experience of a lifetime. My mother had a stroke 3 months before we were scheduled to leave and Jake and Stacy provided us with our guide Loma. He accommodated our every need. He always kept us informed on what was next but still asked us what we wanted to see next. He NEVER failed to deliver. We were able to photograph the Big 5 and cared for my mother as if she were his mother. Thanks for everything from the planning and recommendations to following through with everything promised.
DE
Email Charlotte, Thomas + Dirk | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Five wonderful days in differen national parks
Although our safari is already five weeks ago we would like to give you some feedback. It was a wonderful journey and a fascinating experience. Our fantastic guide, Edwin (Eddy the eagle eye), was awesome. He saw animals on the horizon with the naked eye which we could hardly recognize even with binoculars. So we only can say "thanks" to our guide that we have seen the BIG FIVE completly. Every thing has been well organized. It was our first safari in Tanzania but certainly not our last one. Thank you for a wonderful week we will never forget.
JP
Email Wataru | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari !!
The guide CASTRO BONZO, the driver DICKSON JULIUS, Thank you very much.
We were really able to enjoy the nature of Africa. It was an exciting and fun trip. We could see BIG FIVE which we were looking forward to, and we were excited about the animals we saw close to. Since it was BABY season, we met many cute children of animals.
We had valuable experiences, to see wild animals, balloon safari, delicious meals, luxury tents. Thanks a lot.
ASANTE SANA
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Email Dave Pryor | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
HIGHLY RECOMMENED TOUR WITH PROFESSIONAL STAFF
NOTE: The bottom line to a successful safari is your driver....period! His knowledge of off-road driving, translating local dialect, wildlife identification, and inside information on Africa is paramount to your safety and pleasure.
Our driver, Dickson Julius, was one of the best 4WD vehicle handlers I've ever met....and I personally know a LOT of good drivers, including F1 and NASCAR racing driver friends. His driving skills, stories, knowledge, and sharp sense of humor made our trip a remarkable experience that I'll never forget. Highly recommended! Be forewarned: This experience includes vehicle breakdowns, getting stuck, hot weather, and extreme terrain driving. It's as real as a safari gets and that's the beauty of and this trip.
The food overall on our safari was of good quality and served ample portions. All of the Massai warriors (who provided our protection) and staff we encountered were both friendly and professional. The days we spent "roughing it" in luxury tents (with functional toilets and showers) were stimulating in particular sort of way. There was just enough "grit" to get a realistic feel of camping while the calls of lions and hyenas lurking just outside your tent made your senses come alive. Anyone wanting to experience what it feels like living on the edge in the wild?....then this is for you. You will not regret it.
PT
Email Daniela Duque | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A lifetime experience
My boyfriend and I just returned from a 6 day safari with Shadows of Africa and it was the most amazing experience that we ever had. Our expectations were high but they were certainly exceeded.
We want to thank Marjeta that arranged everything perfectly and had been always so helpful and easy to correspond.
We also have to thank a lot Loma, our amazing driver who was so friendly and who did his best to give us the best safari experience ever. He is really experienced and always knows where to go and where to look to see the animals. And he has such good eyes that he can spot leopards in trees far far away. Also, Loma has so much knowledge to share about the animals and their behaviour, the land, the massai, etc.
We were so lucky that we saw the big five, lots of leopards, cheetahs, a crocodile, hyenas, gazelles, elephants, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras hippos, etc, etc. And we also managed to see scenes just like those of the National Geographic documentaries like lions hunting and lions stealing food from a leopard in a tree. It was so amazing!
All lodging facilities were above expectations and all the staff was so lovely.
From start to finish, everything on this trip was so good that made this holidays absolutely unforgettable.
We would definitely recommend booking with this company and asking for Loma has your driver!
Tanzania will always be always in our hearts!!
LV
Email Margarita | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great 3-day safari
Everything was great from the first day.
We choose 3-Day Northern Circuit Special with accommodation at Ngorongoro O'Ldeani Mountain Lodge (2nights). We were at Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, and the real treat - the world-famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Our guide was ERICK MANYECK - a nice person who showed us the most beautiful places and listened to our desires and needs. Recommend! The car was comfortable. The journey was not overly tedious.
Everything was arranged perfectly from the company. Easy to understand plan. No hidden costs. Acceptable transfer rates from airport to hotel (arrived a day before the safari).
O'Ldeani Mountain Lodge was a paradise between safari trips, with 3 meals included (the lunch box that was given to the safari was very good).
A 3-day trip is the perfect to not get too tired.
Thanks, Shadows of Africa and Erick! :)
CN
Email Kevin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Recommend Shadows of Africa to everyone!
Tanzania safari was amazing and beyond every expectation. Thank Chris who designed the best itinerary we could possibly have. Thank the driver Timo who are very experienced, professional, friendly and fun. During the safari, he knows where to look and always finds great staff ahead than other drivers. I don't know how he did it. He just simply good at it.
After my return, I recommended it to my colleague who wants to go safari in Tanzania. And she has already booked a tour with Shadows of Africa. I'm sure she will love it!
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Email Vincent Longo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most incredible experience - ever!
Just returned home from a 5 day unforgettable Safari experience and can't believe what an amazing time we had. The trip was absolutely incredible and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life as it exceeded every expectation and more. I can't thank Shadows of Africa enough specifically Jake McCormick, Safari Specialist, who helped plan an amazing adventure. Jake was very helpful from the start. He was easy to correspond with, was prompt in response, he pointed out things we overlooked and he made suggestions that he thought were fitting and he constantly updated and emailed detailed descriptions of our trip as we kept amending our itinerary. The best part about Jake was that he never pressured us to do anything as he fully answered all our questions in length and because of his professionalism and knowledge Jake laid the groundwork for an amazing journey so if you are reading this Jake, thank you again for all your help!
While Jake deserves so much credit for handling the logistics and the administrative stuff it was "Dickson" our assigned tour guide who carried out the journey of a lifetime but before meeting Dickson and prior to our arrival I have to admit we were little apprehensive because while everything looked great on paper unfortunately our overall research did reveal a few horror stories such as tourist being denied entry with Visa issues or tour companies ripping off tourist, so, here we were, half way around the world, a few bags in hand, a Tanzania guide book, terrible cell service and all we had was a piece of paper saying we booked a tour with Shadows of Africa and thankfully as promised we were greeted at the airport with a smile and transported to our first destination in Arusha and then the following day we met our tour guide Dickson.
After meeting Dickson we geared up and hit the road. Everything was going as planned. We were very happy. We took lots of pictures along the way and then settled into a 5 hour drive and within an hour we realized that the person driving the vehicle was going to become a very instrumental part of this experience and it turned out we were right. Dickson was a true professional. He's experienced in both game tracking and navigation which is important because you don't want to get lost in the middle of the Serengeti as some guides do. Dickson added his own touch by carefully explaining animals habits and tendencies which was both informative and educational. He was friendly with all the other drivers. All kinds of people took a liking to him which great to see. In the bush, he had a keen eye for spotting Lions and he was always well aware of his surroundings. It was really also great to see that Dickson truly respects the environment and it's habitat and as he is a true conservationist at heart. He's very observant, he's really smart. He takes a lot of pride being from Tanzanian and he really respects when people value and respect his land. Dickson is truly the real deal. Aside from all that the one thing that stands out the most is that Dickson made us feel safe and secure during this adventure because make no mistake a drive to the Serengeti and through the Serengeti is rough, rugged, dirty and raw. The terrain is unforgiving. A true professional is needed. Dickson was a pro. And with that I just want to thank Shadows Of Africa for putting so much responsibility and trust in someone like Dickson as he provided a safe and secure viewing experience. It was the ultimate. Thank you Shadows and thank you Dickson. I just wanna add one last thing, if you're looking for a band new safari vehicle that's air-conditioned and luxury oriented you need not apply but if you're looking for an authentic, vintage, rough around the edges, the real deal experience feel safe to put your faith in Shadows of Africa and request Dickson who's one cool cat.