Ted Archdale, Managing Director
Tanzania Odyssey
- Located In:
-
United Kingdom
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 1997)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, ATOL & GSG
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $500 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Your recommendations were spot on
I wanted to send you a quick note of thanks for your help in planning a fantastic honeymoon. Your recommendations and information were spot-on.
Beho Beho and Baraza were fantastic. During our time at Beho Beho, we had the good fortune of meeting Sarah Bailey, wife of the late Christopher Bailey who originally developed the safari camp as a retreat for family and friends. She was full of stories and added immeasurably to the experience there, where it felt as if all guests were welcomed like family. The quality of the guiding at Beho Beho was excellent, and we enjoyed getting to know the guides and staff better by sharing stories during meals and relaxing in the common area over a game of snooker. We also enjoyed the variety of activities – from the walking safaris to numerous game drive destinations (Beho Beho River, Lake Manze, etc.) and the day trip to Lake Tagalala. We had the distinct pleasure of tracking and, ultimately, spotting a black rhino in the bush while on walking safari with Walter and Saning’o. Other guests had great things to say about their night out at “The Treehouse.” The staff at Baraza also went over and above to make sure that our time there was relaxing and enjoyable. In particular, the beach lunch was a wonderful treat. The experience at Baraza was a great taste of luxury after “roughing it” on safari.
Each location did a great job of trying to address Lynne’s dietary restrictions and was otherwise ready and willing to cater to pretty much any request, reasonable or otherwise.
Coastal Aviation is also to be recognized for their efforts. The flights ran smoothly, but what deserves additional comment is their help on ground transfers. Upon our arrival in Dar es Salaam, we were informed by the staff at the Royal Palm (now called the Serena) that they would be unable to accommodate us due to some government dignitaries who extended their stay. After dropping us off, the representative from Coastal checked back to make sure that check-in went smoothly. Seeing that there was a problem, the driver spoke with the front desk to ensure that alternative accommodations had been arranged and then transported us to the other hotel. Similarly, upon arrival back at Dar’s domestic airport from Zanzibar, the baggage attendant was quick to point out that he had called the shuttle bus driver for us so we didn’t resort to over-priced taxis for the transfer to the international airport.
In general, we were impressed with how seamlessly all of the transfers were handled, including those on Zanzibar. The drivers there took good care of us as well. One thing to note: Zanzibar airport requires paper tickets (or at least a copy of your itinerary) to move through security. The driver helped us get documentation from the Coastal Aviation office, but it might help to have copies of the confirmation from Coastal Aviation for travelers in the future.
All-in-all, Lynne and I came back from Tanzania with memories that will last a lifetime and have already begun thinking about our next safari holiday!
CH
Fantastic trip... all the resorts were excellent
We had a fantastic trip, thanks. We loved the combination of locations (beach / safari / island) and all the resorts were excellent.
Ras Kutani was beautiful, great food and worth having the suite for the extra privacy, views and plunge pool. The quietness of the resort was perfect for winding down after the wedding.
Siwandu was also excellent, great food again and lovely rooms (our favourite on the holiday). We met some great people there and the hostess was lovely. Unfortunately the rains came early, so we had a few wet days towards the end, but that made for a few fun adventures in the mud. We saw everything we wanted to on safari.
Pemba was magical – stunning setting. The resort wasn’t full, so lots of privacy, but we got along brilliantly with the other guests who were there and had many fun late nights! And the diving school was excellent, very professional and great diving.
US
Our time in Tanzania was AMAZING!!!!
We just wanted to send a quick note and let you know our time in Tanzania was AMAZING!!!! Magical, really. I was very nervous about spending so much money on a vacation, but Addison and I both agree the experience was worth every penny. We loved all the places you recommended, particularly Sayari Camp. The timing was incredible– there were hardly any tourists and we got to see everything from rhinos to river crossings. Thank you so much for all your help and guidance. We look forward to working with you again and recommending you to our friends and family (who, by the way, are very envious of our trip now that they’ve seen our photos!)
The best travel experience we have ever had
This was certainly the best travel experience we have ever had. Everything was excellent… from the organization, to the attentive nature of all involved, to the food, the very different locations, topography of the land, the tiny planes we flew in, the facilities, the unbelievable gaming… absolutely superb…. we saw big game, small game, lions mating, elephants charging us, sable antelope, bat eared fox, wild dogs…. we were very very lucky. We loved all three camps – so different… so amazing… they do everything just right.
This was the honeymoon of a lifetime… we loved every minute of it… we will certainly use you again in the future. My parents saw the photos and are interested in coming to Tanzania…. perhaps to Ruaha…. I will mention the 5% discount for referring a friend!
Thanks for tailor making this fantastic holiday and really making it great for both of us.
We will always have such fond memories of Tanzania, the people we met and truly an unforgettable experience… so thank you
Our trip to Tanzania was fantastic; a great success.
Our trip to Tanzania was fantastic; a great success. The two camps we used, Lake Manze in the Selous and Jongomero in the Ruaha, were both, in their own different ways, outstanding; camp management, people, accommodation, food, all terrific. Transport was first class, and great fun; we were able to spend pretty much all day exploring alone with our guide (in surprisingly, but very welcome, ‘open’ comfort). With the amount you can see on TV these days there was a slight concern that we would have felt ‘familiar’ with everything; but the reality was, to my delight, that everything was just enthralling. No bored kids at any point! And although we had expected elephants and other wildlife visitors at the camps (from the pre-trip information) the actual experience was thrilling and occasionally hilarious!
Wildlife could have been generally more prolific, but there was always something to interest or entertain us, and we saw enough of the varied and big African game to not be disappointed. This was our first safari experience and although I would certainly like to return to see the big expansive grasslands, the migratory herds and all the dramas they attract, we all had a wonderful experience.
Internal flights, though occasionally long, were all part of the experience which I thoroughly enjoyed, and although my youngest daughter started out pretty terrified I think by the end she was comfortably elephant spotting as we swooped down to the runways.
Yes a great trip; I will be back for the herds of Wildebeest!
Such an amazing trip
...thanks for arranging such an amazing trip. We loved every minute of it.
Fundu was simply amazing, and somewhere we would definitely go back to. The staff, the location, the guests were all top notch.
Of the safari camps, both were incredible. I think we preferred Siwandu, mainly because Claire the camp manager was fantastic and we were incredibly lucky with the game viewing (wild dogs, leopard, lions, elephants as well as all the rest….) but Jongomero was still very special.
Nothing short of Paradise
We are so grateful to Tanzania Odyssey and especially Tom for sorting out our trip.
Jongomero and Siwandu were nothing short of paradise. Beautiful settings, unimaginably friendly staff, delicious food (and lots of it) and awesome game viewing. I must also add that Mark at Ras Kutani did a fantastic job of making Christmas special for us.
We particular liked how jongo, Siwandu and Ras K were all distinct in style and made efforts to add little personalized touches. We have both travelled far and wide but can honestly say that the level of service (and enjoyment) was the best either of us have ever experienced.
In short it was the trip of a lifetime (although we will have to return sooner rather than later!)
Thanks again for organising the perfect honeymoon and making it all run so smoothly.
We have recommended Tanzania and you guys to everyone we know and I believe that Tom is organising a trip already for our great friends ## and ##!
Your advice, as always from TO, was absolutely on the ball...
Despite my personal reservations, your advice, as always from TO, was absolutely on the ball. I had feared that our viewing would be marred by lots of other vehicles, but not at all. In South Serengeti, we literally saw millions of animals – mostly wildebeest and zebra of course, but on most days not more than one other vehicle! The timing was perfect, with all the wildebeest calving in our area, but the weather was not ideal. We just managed to avoid the rain, but it was mostly dull, and I gather they had a lot of rain just before we arrived which made the land rather boggy.
Now to the camps:-
Crater Lodge
As anticipated, this was way over the top – who expects to see electric golf carts in a game lodge? – but great fun for a couple of nights. Super luxurious, superb banda with a great view, personal butler service and everything one could wish for. It was possibly a little too luxurious to have the true feeling of a game lodge – for us the ideal balance is Beho Beho – luxury but with a feeling of intimate contact with the game. Apart from a small hiccup at the beginning, the service and food were excellent. I should explain that after an overnight flight to Nairobi, then a four hour hopping flight with Coastal to Manyara, then a one and a half hour drive to the lodge, we were dog tired on arrival, and all we wanted was a siesta. The manager however was insistent that we have pep talk with others and then lunch before we could go to our banda, about 4 p.m. We were not best pleased. They did however make up for it and more the following day. We arrived back after a nine hour game drive in the crater to find the bath run, surrounded by thousands of rose petals, and with champagne on ice by the bath!
That evening our table at dinner was covered with roses and again all around masses of rose petals. Altogether a brilliant day. We suspect there was a little TO sorcery involved!
The game viewing was also excellent. Staying at Crater Lodge meant that we could be down in the crater very early, which meant that for the first 3 to 4 hours there were very few other vehicles. The variety of game was astonishing in such a limited area and Mudy was an excellent guide. The only downside (which was understandable in such a limited area) was that the vehicles are not permitted to leave the tracks.
On our last morning we went to Olduvai Gorge which we found fascinating. We found to our surprise that 90% of visitors only go to the museum at the top, unlike us who found the real interest down at the discovery sites in the gorge, which we had to ourselves.
Alex Walker’s Serian
This is all proper safari camping should be. Not luxury but service second to none. We have had excellent service in other camps over the years but this is the first time we found that the owners/managers had a genuine affection for their guests. Both camps are in lovely wooded situations, but close to the Serengeti Plain. Alex himself met us at Kusini airstrip and guided us throughout. His guiding and knowledge of the area is exceptional and he was extremely likeable and friendly. The camp has only four tents, presided over by the delightful Robyn, and all the guests were great fun, giving the feel of a large harmonious family. After a (deliberately) long game drive, we transferred to Kakaseo, their other camp in the South Serengeti, presided over by Robyn’s aunt Belinda and uncle Gerard. This was very similar, run in exactly the same efficient friendly fashion. Masha, our guide here was also incredibly good and great fun. Most of their staff are Maasai, so on the last evening, at our request we visited the boma of a relative of one of the staff – strictly not for tourists! This was fascinating and they were friendly, but Celina emerged absolutely white! We will not forget that visit for a while. I seem to have missed out the game, but it was amazing. Masha reckoned we had seen a million wildebeest, calving (incredibly quickly) running, jumping, swimming and with hundreds of thousands of calves. Lots of other game as well. Only the leopard eluded us, although I was sure I had heard it one night.
Ras Kutani
This was our third time in Ras Kutani over eight years, and it has not changed in the slightest. I don’t think I need to say much more than that it really is the perfect place to unwind. Superb suite with plunge pool, excellent food and friendly service, beautiful beach and nothing to do other than swim, read, eat and drink. Even flipflops are superfluous! An example of their attitude to customers was that although checkout is officially 10.a.m. but we would not be leaving until 6 p.m., and our successors would be arriving early, they simply gave us another banda as our base with the use of all the facilities until we left, at no charge.
All in all, we had a marvellous time and are happy we took your advice, despite my initial reservations. We did have some reservations about our return flight with Kenya Airways, but I have written to them. I did copy it to you, but if you have not received it, let me know and I will forward it to you.
Many thanks for all your help and advice.
We had a brilliant holiday... Thanks for your efforts on our behalf.
I wanted to write and let you know that the trip was a great success.
Your suggestion of Lake Manze was really excellent. We both absolutely loved it and felt that the open nature of the camp really suited the experience. We were hugely comfortable throughout and felt the four days was good value for money. We loved being some close to everything and being totally immersed in the safari experience. I think, if money were no object we could have stayed there for the whole two weeks.
Over on Zanzibar then, again, Sunshine, was a really great choice. We didn’t quite work out that the half board nature of it meant that our evening meal was included! On the first night we headed off to a local restaurant. It was only a small matter as the second night we dined in and I was very delighted when the mega valentines seafood buffet bill arrived at about a tenner each which incuded our wine and drinks etc… It’s a lovely hotel and the local feel was excellent as well. Snorkelling was brill as well.
Nungwi was good fun too. Zanzibar as a whole does have a certain sadness to it I feel. It’s a beautiful place but you really feel that life is hard for many people there…as with Africa as a whole really. The local towns are in quite bad shape and it’s funny to see so many tourists not even keen to leave their hotels at all. The local seafood is definitely a highlight and we ate so well for the fortnight.
We had a brilliant holiday and are both now keen on saving up for our next safari in about ten years time!! Or maybe sooner if some big plays come good.
Thanks for all your efforts on our behalf.
Tanzania Odyssey made my safari unforgettable - I'll def be using them over and again
From start to finish, the staff at Tanzania Odyssey were the most dedicated group of safari professionals I have dealt with. They tailor-made my Tanzanian safari to suit my needs and work schedule, and gently guided me towards a safari of a lifetime. I visited the Selous and marveled at the Elephants and stayed at Beho Beho - truly one of the most spectacular luxury spots in Africa. I cannot say enough about the excellent crew who took care of me at Beho Beho. The safari guides were amazing, and I felt like I had made new friends at the end of my safari. Once back home, my very own holiday specialist at Tanzania Odyssey rang to ask how the safari went. We talked for hours! Top notch personal service from beginning to end. If you are wanting a tailor-made safari then I highly recommend using Tanzania Odyssey. In fact, we are now pulling together our next safari adventure in the Okavango Delta.