50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Tanzania by Marion
Southern Tanzania has a vast diversity of wildlife and birds, beautiful scenery and exciting all without fencing.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
5-AlivewithClive during four days in Kruger tops great adventures that Michelle and I have enjoyed
Christine was incredible, informed and patient during our efforts to book a safari into Kruger during a busy month in South Africa. The continued professionalism and personal care of Wildlife Safaris was realized by the equally fine work of Clive Alborough, who seemed to sense locations that of the many exciting sightings Michelle and I enjoyed. Clive was patient, instructive an invaluable was we clumsily snapped our keepsake photos. Clive is a fine human with a deep feeling for The Kruger and its wondrous wildlife inhabitants. What we experienced was both fulfilling and joyous. As rather seasoned world travelers and animal lovers, we are grateful for Christine and Clive and the warmth we found as guests in Joberg at Wavery House managed so personally by Jonathan. These people are great ambassadors for South Africa.
20-35 years of age
Review about Serengeti National Park by Allan Kaitila
Serengeti is the best place to visit, but the animals are not attractive like the one I saw in Katavi
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Southeast Africa at your fingertips
I was looking to travel to Tanzania with my mum in 2012 and had decided to visit a game park and Pemba (Zanzibar), but had no idea of how to go about organising travel to get there or where to stay.
Chris at Indigo Safaris was a wealth of information, helping us to choose places that would suit us best, and then helping us to book our accomodation and organise domestic flights. This was particularly important as it is difficult to liase/book with small companies like the boutique airlines when you are overseas.
Chris has always come across as friendly, knowledgeable, reliable and,most importantly, someone who loves Africa.
Since our trip I have enjoyed hearing about his other planned safaris, even thought I have been unable to participate, and also hearing about his personal adventures and viewing some stunning photographs.
I would highly recommend Chris and Indigo Safaris to anyone planning a trip to SouthEast Africa, whether looking to join a safari group or obtain information about self-travel.
EASTCO excellent planning, knowledgable operater,and caters for individual ideas.
Here is our trip report from our safari to Tanzania with EASTCO, last September.
This was not our first trip to Tanzania, so we didn't do a normal safari.
We flew with Emirates from Melbourne to Nairobi and stayed the night at Silver Springs.
The next morning EASTCO had organised a private transfer for us to Arusha which was much more comfortable than the shuttles I had taken in the past.
Flexible departure time ,no crowds at the border, and more time to see the sights.
We spent a couple of days in Arusha visiting the markets , Arusha National Park to see the Colobus Monkeys and stayed at Momella Lodge. We stayed here before, my last time was over 10 years ago. The views of Mount Kilimanjaro across the plains each afternoon was the reason we came back . It has been renovated since my first visit and lost a lot of its charm I think as well. I was a bit surprised at how close to the park some of the farms and houses were now.
We then went to Ngorongoro Crater and stayed at the Wildlife Lodge for 2 nights. This was a special place for me as I stayed here on my first visit to Tanzania in 1985. No zebra steaks this time! But the views from my bedroom window were as spectacular as I remembered.
We had two trips into the crater, one early morning which was okay , but it was blowing a cold wind and we did not see as much as I would have thought. The afternoon drive was fantastic, a bit warmer and also not so many other safari goers. We did also manage to see a couple of black rhinos quite close near to the forest.
Then we headed to the Serengeti Wildlife Lodge again for 3 nights. One of the reasons we stayed here was the swimming pool which was built into the rocks, as we were travelling with a 9 year old child and wanted somewhere to relax as well as see the wildlife.
The Serengeti was superb as usual, lots of lions and 2 leopards, we also had a bit of rain and found some migration an hour or so away. The many hyrax around the lodge was constant source of entertainment as well.
The last part of our trip was a visit to Tarangerie, still one of my favourite parks and I never get tired of watching the elephants.
We stayed 1 night at the Safari Lodge , really enjoyed the views and the swimming pool.
We stayed 2 nights at Boundary Hill Lodge. The rooms were very private and the views spectacular over the valley below. I really enjoyed a bath on the veranda while taking in the views and the serenity around me.
We visited a Masai boma, it was about an hours drive to get there ,but the sheer remoteness only added to the overall experience. We did a night drive as well and saw a few impala, genet cat and bat eared foxes.
I think the combination of the Safari Lodge and Boundary Hill Lodge was perfect, two different experiences completely.
Everything on our safari with EASTCO was excellent and I am already making plans for a return trip. So far I have only been during the dry season, so I am looking forward to seeing the Serengeti in March.
20-35 years of age
For natural big animals, Katavi National Park is the best
WILDLIFE
Compared to other Tanzanian National parks exclude Ruaha and Ugalla Game Reserve, Katavi has got very big and attractive animals, actually, when you see them, you'll feel the presence of nature to these animals and how wonderful they are. For example, when you look to an Elephant, it looks huge and giant compared to elephants from another National parks.
SCENERY
Katavi lies on Rukwa or Western rift valley basin, from around the edges of the park there is gentle slopes with heavy natural forest and at the center of the park its plain grass land like 10km square (Estimate) and at the middle there is a beautiful lake known as lake Katavi and Chada where you can sit and enjoy nice view and animals. Therefore the scenery is beautiful.
WEATHER
Katavi is experiencing two seasons, wet season which starts from October to April/May (Hot season) and dry season which starts from May to September. Depends to what events would you like to see, for example if you want to enjoy lots of Hippopotamus and lion, visit lake katavi and Chada during dry season and for nice birds, baboons, giraffe, elephants and buffalo, visit during wet (rain) season.
In short, weather is nice and I haven't heard any problem about weather.
ACCOMMODATION
Starting from Mpanda Town which is near Katavi (40km), there is hotels, lodging and guest houses all of these differ in status and cost.
Inside Katavi National park, there is Hotels, guesthouse, bandas (kind of small houses with one room self contained) and Camping sites.
FOOD
In Katavi there is variety of food, but also you still can take your own food provided that you don't feed to the animals like baboons and chimpanzee.
TRANSPORT
You can access to Katavi National Park by air, if you lodge a private flight, you can land at Mpanda Airport or direct to Katavi National park air strip or use public flight (eg Precission air) from Dar es salaam to Tabora and then catch train or bus to Mpanda from Tabora.
Using road, there is a main road connecting Mikumi, Ruaha and Katavi national parks via Mbeya, Sumbawanga to Katavi and Mpanda. This road at moment is gravel based though at moment there is construction of tarmac road from Mbeya to Katavi and Mpanda then to Kigoma. From Mbeya to Katavi, the road is good in all weather though in some places is a little bit terrible during wet season. From Kigoma to Mpanda, the road is accessible only during dry season untill when the construction of tarmac road is finish.
Alternatively you can catch train or bus from Tabora to Mpanda, or catch a bus from Sumbawanga to Katavi.
In short road transport is accessible and not bad but not reliable just like in other National parks until when the road construction will finish.
GUIDE
Tour and guidance in general is good because the administration is trying to attract more tourists to this place as it was not famous before compared to other National parks though it starts to emerge very quickly after many tourists discovered that Katavi has the best big and natural animals.
Therefore, to me, I recommend that if you want to enjoy for the best animals, go to Katavi National park, you'll feel it!
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Okavango Delta by ~lustedtowander~
There is nowhere in the world like the Okavango Delta.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Nxai Pan National Park by ~lustedtowander~
I like the Pan landscape. It is open and dry, so wildlife congregates around the water. Cheetah are frequently sighted here, which is always a treat.
Fantastic Trip. Exceeded Expectations.
Brian is an experienced and excellent guide. His Land Cruiser was comfortable for our family of four. On our 10 day safari we saw more animals and birds then we could have imagined. Too many lions to count all close to our vehicle. We saw lions and cheetahs hunting. Countless elephants wallowing in the mud and water. Brian is trustworthy and really seems to enjoy his guests. Our 23 year old daughter celebrated her birthday while on safari and Brian made sure it was special. We'd recommend Brian's company to anyone looking for a Tanzanian safari.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Moremi Game Reserve by ~lustedtowander~
Like Chobe, Moremi Game Reserve has some of the best wildlife viewing in Southern Africa.