50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top pick for a once in a lifetime trip - so grateful
Planning my first safari with Tanzania Choice Safaris has been more than I could have hoped for. From detailed and clear pre-trip documentation, to a custom itinerary catering to the needs of a pack of 50 plus women (we need a lot, haha) to a pre-trip briefing call to banish any lingering uncertainties, Brenda went above and beyond to ensure we were prepared and excited for our trip. From the moment we landed to being dropped off at the airport, the team went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed while still relaxing and enjoying ourselves.
Now to the safari itself...absolutely amazing. I have traveled extensively my entire life; low budget / high budget and everything in-between. I've seen and done some pretty cool and unique things, but this was arguably the greatest trip of my life. Everyone who has seen my photos comments on the look of joy on my face in every single one. I felt like I was given a true gift. Part of that would be the innate splendour of Tanzania and Zanzibar but also the incredibly high quality of the tour operators who planned and executed our safari. And I would be remiss to not call out Joseph "The Machine" as an unparalleled tour guide who not only kept us safe while showing us everything possible, but also shared stories of his own life with a generosity of spirit and kindness that truly made a lasting impact. One of us might have shed a little tear upon saying our goodbyes to him. We will all miss his laugh and easy smile.
If I am lucky enough to ever make it back to Tanzania, I would not hesitate to book with Tanzania Choice Safaris again. Highly recommended.
CA
Incredibly well planned and executed climb up Mt Kilimanjaro. A trip of a lifetime!
If you’re looking for your next adventure then I HIGHLY recommend booking a safari or a trek up Mt Kilimanjaro with Kiliclimb Africa Safaris. Thanks to their incredible team our group of seven successfully summited Mt Kilimanjaro in Feb 2026.
Even though I’m not the most experienced hiker and got sick during the trip, I felt incredibly safe thanks to the leadership and expertise of our guides. They would consistently monitor our energy levels throughout the hike and made sure we had proper footing during steeper ascents.
As well, I want to thank our entire team that helped us throughout the journey. All the guides, chefs, camp managers, and porters exercised a tremendous amount of care in their job and worked efficiently to get camp up and running! Thank you for taking such good care of us 🐨♥️!!!
To conclude, if you’re looking for a fun, memorable trip filled with hiking, singing, and dancing (yes that’s right), then make sure you reach out to Moses from Kiliclimb African Safari’s. He runs a great team, and Kiliclimb African Safari’s is locally run and operated in Tanzania!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Serengeti Smile brought us close to heaven!
Needless to say, Tanzania's wildlife and nature is simply incredible - witnessing it first hand is an unforgettable experience (in 7 days, we toured visited Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorogoro, Southern & Central Serengeti and Lake Eyasi). But above all, in Hussein we found an amazing guide to navigate through the multiple parks. Hussein - with his sharp eyes to spot rare wildlife; his skills to master bumpy roads, floods and challenges of nature - while always being calm; charming, extremely knowledgeable, punctual, flexible, funny and kind - is what made this trip truly a once in a lifetime experience. Hussein 100% made sure that all of our needs were met at all times. 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The planning ahead of the Safari from beginning to end was absolutely on point, with Erick being super quick to respond, flexible in ensuring that all of our wishes are reflected in the programme.
We will come back to enjoy another trip with Serengeti Smile during the dry season, that's for sure. So: see you soon!
AR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unique!
Words won’t be enough to describe all this unforgettable experience. It was so unique, tailored for us in every detail. They were extremely flexible and kind with many flight changes we had, always looking to give us the best experience. And they gave us the BEST GUIDE: Jeremiah!
We started in Tarangire to warm up and the came Serengeti-Ndutu in calving season. It was so lush, green and fresh, full of animals happy with all that food. Consider that it’s a park where drivers can go off road so you will have a wild true safari experience, please don’t miss it!!
Every camp was beautiful, great food, adapted to every restriction.
Nature will amaze you, but your guide can truly transform the experience. They help you see, listen and feel every detail, and that makes all the difference.
Our guide was Jeremiah, and if you want the best safari experience, ask for him. More than 20 years working in nature, his knowledge is impressive but what makes him exceptional is his passion. You can genuinely feel how much he loves what he does. Every sighting feels special to him, whether it’s a majestic elephant, a rare bird or a quiet moment having lunch under tree. His excitement is contagious. He also creates community with all the guides in the park, making jokes, connecting with people around.
He has an incredible eye for spotting animals from far away and an amazing ability to position the vehicle perfectly for photos, but always respecting the animals and the other guides. He shares fascinating information about wildlife, birds, plants, ecosystems, you are constantly learning without it ever feeling like a lecture.
Most importantly, he deeply respects nature. He never rushes the animals, never invades their space, and always prioritizes ethical wildlife viewing. Thanks to him, our safari wasn’t just beautiful, it was meaningful. We couldn’t recommend him more highly.
We finished in Amboseli, with the amazing view of Kilimanjaro. It’s a different experience after the wild Serengeti, much more controlled and calm, you have breaks during the day to go to your lodge. Good to rest and relax!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fun, and Amazing Experienced
My family and I really thank you Melodica Africa Tours and Safaris and all of your staff for your kind hospitality. We really enjoyed our 3 week experience in Kenya and
Tanzania. Pretty amazing sceneries and fun
activities from our tour guides. Communication was on point from being interested in going until our last day. Thanks to your good pricing and being
understanding and am looking forward to coming back for my honeymoon we talked.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, efficient, caring
I just finished an 8-day Uganda safari with Bamboo Ecotours, and it was a great experience.
When planning this trip, I contacted several tour operators in Uganda. Communication with Bamboo was by far the most effective. Edison showed an excellent understanding of our constraints and preferences, and the itinerary he proposed was the most practical among all the responses we received. He clearly knows the activities very well and offered concrete suggestions that proved extremely helpful.
His responses were always prompt and to the point. For example, shortly after I paid the deposit, he sent copies of our chimpanzee and gorilla trekking permits, along with the list of hotels that had already been booked for us. He also provided a helpful packing guide for the various activities and explained the subtle differences in how Uganda and Rwanda handle the East Africa Tourist Visa. This level of organization is exactly what you would expect from a professional tour operator.
The finalized itinerary included the Mabamba shoebill tour, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a Nile boat tour in Murchison Falls National Park, the Bigodi swamp and community walk, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, the Kasenyi game drive and Kazinga Channel boat tour in Queen Elizabeth National Park, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Every one of these activities turned out to be a great experience.
Unfortunately, our trip began with a major disruption. Our flight to Entebbe was severely delayed due to an aviation workers’ strike in Nairobi. During this uncertain period, Edison and our driver and guide, John, stayed in close contact with us and provided practical advice on how to deal with the situation. Thankfully, after a 15-hour delay, we arrived in Entebbe just in time for our first major activity, the Mabamba shoebill tour. John remained available the entire time, which gave us great reassurance.
We had a wonderful time traveling with John throughout the trip. He knows the destinations and activities inside out and made sure everything on our itinerary was carried out smoothly and on time. During dinners, he told vivid—and sometimes suspenseful—stories about local people and culture. He is clearly proud of where he comes from and often pointed out interesting things along the way that were not listed on the itinerary, such as scenic viewpoints during our drives. On our final day, he also handled the border transfer at the Uganda/Rwanda crossing and our airport drop-off in Kigali as smoothly as possible.
We chose the budget lodging option, and the “budget” hotels all turned out to be quite decent. Their locations were reasonably close to the places of interest. Many had beautiful gardens with birds and occasionally calm warthogs wandering around. The rooms and bathrooms were clean, and the meals and service were very good. Some places even had live music.
That said, Edison had mentioned that “mid-range lodging offers more comfort,” and after experiencing the budget options, I understand what he meant. Some rooms were quite small—just barely enough space for a bed and our luggage. A few showers required some effort to keep the water at a comfortable temperature.
Our stay in Bwindi was unfortunately the least comfortable, despite the sincere efforts of the hotel staff. We experienced intermittent but heavy rain during our stay, and the air was very humid. As a result, our clothes constantly felt damp. The shower drainage was also clogged for about a day and drained very slowly. The only place available for drying clothes was a single fireplace in the reception/dining area. I’m not sure whether the mid-range lodging option in Bwindi would be significantly better, but it is definitely something worth discussing with Edison when choosing accommodations there.
One small regret from the trip is that I did not get to see any nocturnal primates, despite including a night walk in the itinerary. If seeing nocturnal primates is high on your list, it may be worth doing additional research or discussing this in more detail with Edison during the planning stage to improve your chances.
Overall, Bamboo Ecotours is a very professional tour operator. They are pleasant to work with and clearly care about their guests, the wildlife, and the local community. I highly recommend them.
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kilimanjaro
Climbimg Kilimanjaro was not easy for me, but their support made it less difficult.
So, I made it !
That's a wonderful experience and I'll never forget it.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very professional, educated and fun
3 weeks with my family in Kenya and
Tanzania with Melodica Africa Tours and
Safari was great. We had an incredible
experience them. Our adventure
exceeded our expectations in every way.
From seamless airport pickup to thrilling
game drives, everything was top notch.
Our guides Chris and Jenny were
fantastic. I highly recommend Melodica
Africa Tours and Safari with a 5 Star for
anyone looking for a world class safari
experience to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda
or even Tanzania
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An extraordinary safari experience — beyond every expectation
We recently completed a custom-designed 10-day safari with Great Escape Trails to celebrate a milestone 50th birthday, covering Tarangire National Park, Lake Natron, the Central Serengeti, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park. The itinerary itself was tailored specifically for us, built out from a shorter trip to give us the experience we were really after. We researched four different operators before choosing Great Escape Trails, and we are so glad we did.
Planning & Itinerary — Thom
From the very first interaction, Thom set Great Escape Trails apart. He was responsive, thorough, and genuinely invested in making our trip perfect — working with us to custom-design our itinerary from scratch, helping us fine-tune every detail, and going well beyond his brief to advise on accommodation after the tour and how to make the most of any extra time we found ourselves with. That level of care and personal attention is rare, and it was the deciding factor in choosing Great Escape Trails over their competition.
Our Guide — Hans
Hans is, quite simply, exceptional. His knowledge of the wildlife, terrain, and ecosystems is extraordinary — and his ability to navigate the Serengeti without so much as a GPS seemed almost supernatural. In quieter areas, he drew on years of experience and deep personal knowledge; in busier locations, he used his network of fellow guides and his radio to make sure we were always in the right place at the right time.
The result was extraordinary. He got us closer to wildlife than we ever imagined possible — within metres of lion cubs playing in a tree, elusive leopards lounging on low branches, a cheetah with a fresh kill, elephant families crossing the road directly in front of our vehicle, and a large group of giraffes surrounding us completely. He balanced all of this with genuine respect for the animals and for other visitors. Worth noting too — the wet season arrived unexpectedly early, and Hans navigated some seriously challenging deep mud conditions with complete composure and skill. It never once disrupted our experience. If we had self-driven, we would not have seen a quarter of what we did — and we would almost certainly have been hopelessly lost, or genuinely stuck.
By the end of the trip, Hans felt more like a good friend than a guide. We had learned each other’s sense of humour, shared stories, and the whole experience felt warm and natural. Saying goodbye was genuinely difficult.
Accommodation
Once we hit the road after our first night in Arusha, every property delivered something special. The range was part of the adventure itself — a fixed lodge in the Central Serengeti, a mobile camp in Ndutu, an eco lodge near Lake Natron, and comfortable accommodation in nearby towns for the other nights. The level of facilities naturally varies across such a diverse itinerary, but every night felt right for where we were and what we were doing — beds were comfortable, food was generous, and hosts were warm and welcoming throughout.
In Summary
A self-drive safari might appeal to some, but we cannot imagine having experienced anything close to what we did without Hans and Great Escape Trails behind us. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip to mark a very special birthday, and Great Escape Trails delivered something truly bespoke — not an off-the-shelf package, but a trip designed around us. We would wholeheartedly recommend Thom, Hans, and the entire Great Escape Trails team to anyone considering a Tanzania safari — you will not regret it.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mose’s and his team were competent, caring, and efficient going above & beyond to support our group
Climbing Kilimanjaro was an unforgettable experience, and a big part of that was thanks to Moses. He was competent, caring, and incredibly efficient throughout the hoe.
When one of our fellow climbers struggled with the altitude, he stepped in immediately—checking on them regularly, adjusting the pace, and offering steady encouragement that helped them keep going.