NO
Fantastic trip to Serengeti and Zanzibar, Tanzania. I
We had a fantastic trip to Serengeti and Zanzibar, Tanzania. It was well organized by Above & Beyond Photographic Tours and Safaris and we had no worries. We loved the baby lions and were also able to see the leopard and hyena stalking its prey. Migration was the best thing we have ever experienced in our life. We had an incredible experience in Arusha & at last on the Zanzibar beach. Everything went very smoothly and the Above & Beyond Photographic Tours and Safaris representatives were fantastic. Thank you for putting together this amazing trip for us. Hope to see you again in future.
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
21 Days UGANDA SPECIAL - Gorillas, Safaris and Birding
First of all, many thanks to Isolde and Jones for the excellently organized and executed trip, which fully met all my expectations.
Since I have already made some trips through East and Central Africa a long time ago, I knew immediately after reading the travel description: "That’s it".
The detailed travel description that was sent to me immediately created confidence. And the very detailed, illustrated "travel book" that Isolde had created increased the anticipation once again.
And this was not disappointed. It is clear that the personal desired animal will not necessarily show itself in the dream position. That's just nature! But we were also very lucky and experienced all the game drives and (almost) all the tracking in good weather conditions.
The highlight, of course, were the gorillas. But the chimpanzees that we saw in 2 parks or the leopard that devoured a python and the white rhinos that we were able to observe on a small hike have to be mentioned too. And not many people should be able to see a shoebill in 2 different places. In Queen Elizabeth Park we were able to drive very close to the leopard with a ranger, which regular visitors are not allowed to do.
It was also very interesting that the program included not only the animals, but also getting to know people and their living conditions.
In the first 2 weeks, the days were very well filled, so that no one could complain about "idleness", while the last days were quieter and planned with a bit more free time, which all participants were happy about.
Last but not least: Many thanks to our drivers Vicent and George, who drove always very skillfully and safely on the sometimes very difficult roads and especially in the muddy road parts of some National Parks!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The safari guides were outstanding, and the complex travel arrangements were seamless.
There are literally thousands of safari tour operators in Tanzania. If you have no inside knowledge of the country and are trying to make reservations from the United States, it can be difficult to know whom to trust to deliver a quality experience in a responsible manner. We booked with Easy Travel based on the recommendation of a friend, a surgeon who frequently travels to Tanzania to train surgeons there through an NGO that he founded. He had traveled with them on multiple occasions and said that they were competent, reliable, and trustworthy.
Easy Travel isn't necessarily the least expensive option, but you get what you pay for. (We saw several tour groups in broken-down vehicles.) We wired the entire amount for a seven-day climb of Kilimanjaro, followed by a nine-day safari. (You have to pay a significant surcharge for credit card transactions.) I typically wouldn't wire tens of thousands of dollars to a travel outfit in Africa, but I was willing to do so after our friend vouched for them. Our payments went through quickly, and we had no accounting issues with Easy Travel.
The safari itself was incredible. We visited Tarangiri, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. Our guides were knowledgeable and diligent. (Nine of us were traveling together, so we booked two tour vehicles.) We saw literally everything, including the Big Five, the Ugly Five, and countless other animals. I highly recommend adding Tarangire to your itinerary, as we saw more there than in Serengeti and Ngorongoro combined. It was an afterthought for us, but it was truly the highlight of our trip. We stayed in
I appreciated the fact that our guides were law-abiding and responsible. We saw a number of tour guides going off-road to get close to animals, mainly so their clients could get better photos. Frankly, we got incredibly close to many animals without ever going off authorized tracks. Going off-road is strictly prohibited, and it does significant damage to the ecosystem and disturbs the wild animals. Tanzania asks you to take photos of cars that do this and report them to officials. Unfortunately, I didn't see these notices until after viewing this illegal behavior, but you will see notices posted on restroom doors at rest stops.
In terms of accommodation, all the places we stayed were gorgeous--beautiful construction, amazing natural settings, very good food. We stayed in the Tarangire Sopa Lodge (incredible use of local materials), Serengeti Serena Lodge (probably my favorite), and Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (amazing view over the crater).
Be aware that Tanzanian prices are scaled for western budgets. What we spent represents unimaginable wealth to locals. I initially struggled with the pricing structure but decided it was worth the money to contribute to preservation of these amazing natural resources.
US
under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
One of the most incredible trips I’ve been on with such an amazing tour guide
My family and I went on a safari in Tanzania and I was so lucky to get to have Humphre as my tour guide. He knew all about the different animals and taught us so much. We felt safe the entire trip and we’re able to see every animal we hoped to spot. We learned so much about the wildlife and the ecosystem, even the people that lived in different areas. It was an incredible experience and has to be one of my favorite trips I have ever been on, and Humphre only made it even more fun. I suggest that anyone who’s looking into a trip like this to definitely book it. You’ll have an amazing time and learn a lot.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable Experience
The whole trip was fantastice from start to finish. The accomodation was very comfortable and the food very tasty and satisfying. The best part of the trip was of course the safari itself. I don't know if we were just lucky but we saw so much wildlife, including 'the big five'. Our guide was Hoppy who greatly enhanced our experience. He was extremely knowledgeable and experienced and knew exactly where to find the animals. We really couldn't ask for more!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Jackson was fabulously knowledgeable about all flora and fauna, knowing where to find all animals.
Jackson met us at the airport, and discussed with us the itinerary as we drove to our lodging for that evening.
The next day, we set off for the Serengeti and immediately realized his wealth of knowledge, along with his sense of humor. We were 4 people - me, my brother, his wife, their 12 year old daughter. It is so helpful to have a guide who knows all the information regarding the area, and knows where to find all of the flora and fauna of the area. I asked a lot of questions, and he knew answers to everything! What makes a fabulous trip is being able to feel comfortable and get along with your guide. I dont think we were the easiest family, but Jackson just smiled all the days we were there.
Our accomodations were great - comfortable beds, plenty of space, and bathrooms in the tent. The rest of the staff at the camp were incredibly friendly and only wanted guests to be happy and comfortable. They went to all lengths to make sure we had all that we needed.
Great trip, breathtaking scenery. I cant wait to go back to Africa!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tackling Kilimanjaro with Tanzania Elsewhere
Tackling Kilimanjaro with Tanzania Elsewhere was a blast! The team was top-notch, keeping us safe, feeding us like royalty, and sharing cool facts about the mountain that made the whole experience really special. It was awesome how they turned the climb into something more than just a hike—it felt like we were part of a big, fun family, with nightly celebrations that brought everyone closer. The thoughtful touches, like showers in the wild, were just the cherry on top. Honestly, this trip was all about the little things done with a lot of heart and expertise. If you're thinking of climbing Kilimanjaro, these are the folks to go with.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely knowledgeable and funny
Had a life changing experience on our Safari and Jackson our guide made it so much better. Highly recommended! Jackson was extremely knowledgeable and was able to track and spot the rarest animals. Would go back in a heartbeat.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent and professional
Excellent, well-organized and professional. I went with my family and the entire family had a great experience. We were also able to customize our itinerary. Accommodations, food, and game tours were all amazing. Highly recommend. They were also incredibly responsive before the tour and helped us organize everything we wanted via WhatsApp.
NO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
Good people, price can be discussed
Good explanations
Love talking with the customers and funny as well
