Join us for your African adventure!
Alika Africa
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2004)
- Member Of:
- Association for Promotion of Tourism to Africa
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $180 to $1,500 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
KR
Email Scott | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Another Great Safari to Tanzania
In August 2021, we were able to make a long anticipated and COVID delayed trip to Tanzania. The trip was originally schedule to be last year and 8 persons. Due to various travel restrictions both in the home countries as well as Africa, I finally was able to return to Tanzania with my adult daughter. I had visited in 2009 with my wife and wanted to return but it took 12 years to return after 6 other safaris in other South and East African countries. My first trip we used Stacy and her team at Duma and they did a tremendous job so we reached out again. Stacy was able to put together a well priced safari covering 12 days in Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Central/Northern Serengeti, and finishing up in Ruaha. Unfortunately, due to COViD it was delayed but Stacy was always responsive to help us return. There was probably over 100 emails from various members of our party over the next 12 months covering the safari and COViD protocols, etc. The Duma team was always responsive. In fact, Duma was able to make changes and find better options as some of the originally booked camps had ceased operating temporarily. We ended up with significantly upgraded lodges/camps due to Stacy’s knowledge and diligence.
Now on to the actual safari. Our guide/driver was Isack who we used previously. He has many years of experience and is a Gold level guide and very knowledgeable and friendly. We started with 3 days in Tarangire at the Lemala Mpingo Ridge lodge. We were one of the few visitors so most of the sightings were just me and my daughter. We saw lions every day, leopards two our of three days (albeit it a bit far away for pictures), and even cheetahs. Of course, we saw numerous elephants that Taragire is famous for along with herd after herd of zebra and others. We even came across a porcupine in the middle of the day which was unusual. We stayed at the Sopa Lodge on the rim and closest to the entrance. Due to its size, some safari goes avoid it but the lodge was great and the food was the best we had at any of the lodges.
Ngorongoro was like last time amazing. Other than not having good luck with the Rhinos (they were too far away) it was wonderful. I have been on 8 African safaris to date but this is the first time we were able to watch a kill (lion hunting zebra) from start to finish. We watched as the lioness slowly and patiently crept to zebra, as the zebra not aware of the lion and turning directly toward her, and the sudden burst of speed to take the zebra down in 3 seconds and then finish the kill.
The Serengeti also provided great game viewing including numerous leopard and lion sightings including young cubs of both. Cheetah were also sighted but again a bit far away for the best photos. We witnessed a river crossing (by ourselves) within 30 minutes of arriving at the Mara river Northern Serengeti. Isack had a hunch based on his years of experience and went to a different area than the other vehicles. Turned out a herd of probably 2,500 wildebeest came to the river and quickly crossed without the normal back and forth that can sometimes take hours. We also saw another 3 crossings in the next day or so. Finally, finished up with a Serengeti Balloon ride a dawn. My daughter had this on her bucket list but I always did not go myself as I wasn’t sure the price was worth it. Turned out it was well worth it and an amazing time and lots of fun.
After finishing up the Northern Circuit, we flew directly from the Northern Serengeti to Ruaha. We stayed at the Jabali Ridge Lodge and it was amazing. Due to a low number of visitors, they gave my daughter her own room and they did a great job making sure we were well taken care of. The food, guiding and services was top notch. The camp manager was so friendly and helpful. Ruaha is a wild gem of a park and glad we went. While I was hoping to see wild dogs, they were too far away to go looking for. We did, however, had great sightings of most everything else including a prolonged fight between a leopard and baboons in the tree. Quite fascinating watching them go back and forth.
Overall, a great safari experience again and made even better by the hard work and creativity of Stacy and the Duma team to make it all work without a hitch. Thank you.
US
Email Vivek Chander | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing, Available, Great Advice, Flexible with trip changes
We had a GREAT trip with Duma Explorers. Stacy helped us plan an amazing trip. She was always available and helpful with her advice. Because of the Covid pandemic, there were a number of changes to our travel plans and Duma explorers was always able flexible and accommodating with our changing plans.
Our guides were excellent through the safari. We were lucky enough to see a lion kill a warthog - that we named Joel. We also spent some time with a cheetah and her cubs . We saw a Zebra being born and wildebeests everywhere.
They also assisted us with travel within Tanzania to Zanzibar and Mafia Island where we swam with the whale sharks. A once in a life time amazing experience. We stayed at Pole Pole based on Stacy's recommendation - It was great.
I would unequivocally recommend Duma Explorers for your safari and travel needs in Tanzania.
SE
Email Sofia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service and a fantastic trip!
Just came back from a 7 days private safari. We got to see all the Big Five and over 40 different species. We had the best guide and Duma Explorer planned the perfect trip! All accomodations were excellent with great staff and food!
US
Email Dave | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Duma Explorer planned the perfect family safari
We are a family of 4 (kids ages 3 and 11) and barely knew where to start planning a safari trip to Tanzania. Stacy, the owner of Duma Explorer responded the next morning with a great itinerary. I instantly connected with her since she lives in the Bay Area and is also a parent. She tailored our safari trip as we continued to communicate. Most safaris require a large down payment, so it’s critical you trust the company arranging your trip. Duma Explorer delivered an incredible itinerary, great vehicles, and most importantly, an AMAZING guide, Ebenezer. He was extremely knowledgeable, very patient, and had great interaction with our kids. We were very fortunate to have Ebenezer as our guide on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
We saw so many animals in every location - words can't describe it. Just in the Ngorongoro Crater, Ebenezer guided us straight to a pride of 9 lions pursuing herds of wildebeests and buffalo. We were very lucky to see a Black Rhino and there were hundreds of animals including spotted hyaenas, golden jackals, impala, wildebeests, buffalo, gazelles, hippos, elephants, zebra, flamingos, and many more. In the Serengeti, the wildebeest migration filled the horizon with animals. We were fortunate enough to see a leopard, and on the last day, we watched a cheetah chase a Thompson gazelle.
Our itinerary was in/out of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (JRO), had 12 days in Tanzania from mid-March to late March 2022. We only have great things to say about each of the locations we visited and stayed at. We spent 1 day in Tarangire National Park | stayed at the Elewana Tarangire Treetops (great staff, wonderful experience), 2 days at Ngorongoro Crater | stayed at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (amazing property, staff, and views!), 3 days at Lemala Ewanjan Camp in Central Serengeti (great location, awesome staff, and accommodations), 4 days in Zanzibar (2 nights at Zanzibar Serena, 2 nights Melia Zanzibar, which was pure luxury).
US
Email Family from California | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We highly recommend Duma Explorer, they were perfect from beginning to end!
We just returned from a trip with Duma Explorer. We highly recommend this company! We did a one-day Kilimanjaro hike, Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, and a Maasi Experience. All of our activities were fabulous - we have zero complaints. Our driver Ebenezer was really talented at spotting wildlife. We saw the big 5 at the Crater and 4 of the 5 in the Serengeti. All of the lodging was great with excellent food and service. We couldn't recommend this company more!
Excellent in Every Aspect!
We booked a trip to Kenya through Duma Explorer in June. The communication prior and during the trip were outstanding. I felt totally prepaired when we arrived thanks to their guidance and planning. We spent 8 days on the trip visiting parks, hiking, biking, animal viewing and going to the beach. The vehicle we traveled in was comfortable and perfect for the terrain. The camps and hotels were even nicer than described. We say the "Big Five" within the first few hours of entering the Mara. The best part of our trip was our guide Kikitu! He was the perfect match for our group. Funny, patient, incredibly knowledgable and knew about everything there was to know! He made the trip beyond perfect. I felt like every little thing had been considered and taken care of. It was a life changing experience that I give my highest recommendation to.
US
Email David Stern | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceeded our expectations!
We loved our Duma Explorer trip! I traveled with my 28-year old daughter and her fiancé. I heard about Stacy and Duma Explorer from a friend in Rwanda, and I was really impressed with Stacy's 20-year experience in Tanzania and with her commitment to support her Tanzanian team. I like supporting in-country businesses vs. large international ones. Stacy was super responsive to our requests to pack in a lot in five days and to spend less on accommodations (which were all very good with great food and outstanding staff). We hit the jackpot with our driver/guide, Isack, who was absolutely phenomenal. He is a master guide, an encyclopedia of wildlife, and was able to identify every bird and animal we saw. Plus, he is a great spotter! He spotted a rhino on the horizon, and we couldn't believe it, but we take a blurry photo through the binoculars, and it confirmed it was a rhino. I also saw how all the other drivers/guides respected his leadership/expertise. He met our appetite for long days but without causing stress or over-doing it. He is a great driver and a fabulous storyteller. His passion and enthusiasm were contagious. I can't say enough good things about him and our experience. Bottom line: I highly recommend Duma Explorer!
US
Email Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Uganda & Northern Tanzania Family Safari
Buck list item check! Duma (Stacy) was fantastic to work with. Our group of seven included 3 generations ranging from age 7 to 71. Stacy worked closely with us to ensure there was something for everyone. Our trip included 3 separate itineraries: Uganda gorilla trekking for two, five day stay in Arusha for five, and a seven day safari for the entire family. Each itinerary was expertly planned and the result was an incredible family vacation.
If you have the time, we strongly recommend adding the Uganda Silverback Gorilla trekking experience to your trip. Being with the gorillas was awe-inspiring. Based on Stacy's recommendation we spent Valentine's Day at the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp and it was breath taking.
Our safari trip included a Maasai village tour that was great for the kids & interesting for the adults. Our guide Safuni was terrific. We were able to see the Big 5 & the wildebeest migration through the Serengeti. Overall, we could never have planned such a complicated trip without Duma's professional expertise. Stacy took the time to really listen and identify what would be best for us given the different ages, personalities, and desired outcome. Everyone (including the teenager) said it was the BEST trip ever and asked when we can do it again.
US
Email Linda Vena | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Duma Explorer staff professional, personable, passionate, and expert.
We used Duma to plan a 10 day private safari in Tanzania. We had never been on a safari before and we had never been to Africa. Thank goodness for their expert guidance in putting this trip together! They guided us to plan the ultimate itinerary. They respond lightning fast and answer every silly question. On the ground, our guide Ebeneezer Kilepo handled absolutely everything so that we could just sit back and enjoy the exerience. He is professional and incredibly knowledgeable but at the same time fun and funny. The accommodations that Duma recommended were all impeccable. We saw more animals than we ever could have expected, more up close than we expected and more active than we expected. Ebeneezer is an amazing spotter and knows literally everything about flora, fauna and geology (or at least it seemed to me). I literally have no critiques at all of this experience. We chose Duma because our friends had used them in the past (they also had Ebeneezer as their guide) and we are so glad that we did.
US
Email Eugene | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and dedicated to ensuring your trip is incredible!
I would give Duma Explorer 6 stars if Google would allow it. Stacy Readal who runs Duma organized the most incredible Safari in Kenya and Tanzania for my wife and me. We wanted a great first Africa trip where we saw lots of wildlife and felt safe and comfortable while having a great adventure. We definitely got all that, and much more! We are both very well travelled and this was by far our most favorite trip! We are left with the most incredible memories from the Masai Mara in Kenya and from the Serengeti in Tanzania! Our guide in Tanzania, Msangi was absolutely top notch, we loved spending time with him and he did his best to ensure that we had the exact experience we were looking for....true professional and fellow lover of wildlife. We are very grateful to Stacy and her team and would readily go on another adventure with Duma!