DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I can recommend safari with Big Time Safaris
I chose the 6 day safari with Big Time Safaris because the price and reviews were good and I wasn't disappointed. Martha from the office was helpful with additional issues because due to insufficient number of people the plan of my safari was changed but I finally saw everything. Though it took 1 day longer. The guide Jackson has a lot of knowledge and willingness to show animals. We saw a successful lion hunt. I guess I'll never see anything like that again. the end of February was also a good time because we saw a lot of young animals.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible Safari Experience
If you’ve found Duma Explorers’ website or this review—STOP—you need not look any further for a safari operator. Duma’s owner based in the US, Stacy Readal, will organize an amazing safari for you with transparent and fair pricing, all while patiently answering your many questions about Africa. Stacy lived in Tanzania for 15 years, has been to all the parks she will recommend to you, and has a partner and other staff in Tanzania who will take you on your safari.
I just finished my first trip to Africa with Duma Explorers and could not have been more pleased with both the trip and the service we received before, during and after the safari. I started planning the safari over a year before we went. I looked at literally dozens of safari operators, including all the big names like Abercrombie and Micato, and contacted 4 of them to discuss different safaris and pricing. None of them were as knowledgeable or offered better rates then Stacy and Duma Explorers. None of them allowed me to deal with the owner of the company other than Stacy and Duma. Her detailed knowledge of Tanzania was tremendously helpful when planning where to go in Africa given the multitude of choices. I followed her advice on a number of trip details and was glad I did when we got there.
Our safari consisted of 3 camps in three parks: 3 nights at Kichuguu Camp in Tarangire; 2 nights at Sanctuary Ngorongoro; and 4 nights at Chaka in Ndutu (right on the border of Serengeti); which was followed by 4 nights at Gibbs’ Farm on the border of the Ngorongoro Reserve near Karatu. We also spent the first night resting from the long flight from the US at Rivertrees Inn (about 30 minutes from the JRO airport) and the last 6 hours of our trip resting and having dinner there before our flight home.
Service at all the camps was excellent. But the real star was Duma’s guide and driver, Isack. You will spend a lot of time with your guide on safari given that you will be on game drives 3-6 hours or more every day. I didn’t find that other companies discussed their particular guides with me, but Stacy did right from the start. She even tried to match up our respective personalities to insure a smooth safari. Isack was the perfect guide for us…he was patient with all of our questions, could spot game a half mile before we could see it, was a careful driver (which makes a big difference on TZ’s bumpy roads and when off-road) and was so knowledgeable, other drivers would stop us to ask him questions about the different parks and where to find the animals. And he could not have been more patient or kinder to my wife. He also cleaned his truck every day inside and out which many other guides did not do.
You will get “sticker shock” when you first price an African safari. Don’t let that dissuade you from going. It was the most expensive trip of my life but it was also the one for which I received the best value for the experience. It was magical from the first game drive to the last. If you like wilderness and seeing animals in their native habitat you will love a safari in Tanzania organized by Duma. It was a life changing experience seeing the grandeur of the landscapes and the thousands of animals inhabiting it that you can see in almost any direction you look.
Stacy stayed in touch with us throughout the safari as we were trying to figure out how to get the newly-required Covid test in order to return to the US. Her team in TZ made it happen, and our return was uneventful. And then even after the safari I heard from Stacy about returning money to me for a balloon trip which was cancelled due to high winds. I received excellent service from everyone at Duma from start to finish. And we felt completely safe in TZ as Duma’s guide, Isack, met us at the airport and dropped us off there at the end.
Perhaps the best thing I could say about Duma is that I will use them again when I return to Africa. I have to go back as there is simply no other place like it left on this planet.
RO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Animal Planet live
It was an amazing experience, I recommended your services
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
One of our best trip experience
Our safari tour with Ngoni safaris was a dream! We visited three stunning parks during the day and stayed in beautiful and welcoming lodges in the evening. Something to point out is that our guide was so well-informed cautious and professional that our journey was brought to a whole other level by him. Could not recommend this tour enough! Hope to come back one day.
UA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The company provides false information about the services it offers.
Regarding communications - Said (representative of Saving Tour) did not answer the question - which company provides the tour, then it turned out to be 3 Wonders Expedition, it had bad reviews before.
Regarding the service - Said (Saving Tour representative) promised us campsite accommodation with beds (luxury+)
In fact, it was just a false advertisement, 3 Wonders Expedition placed us in regular tents at the Nyany Public Campsite - we slept on the ground, covered with old sleeping bags.
But on the first night, in the Serengeti, it was warm. And in Ngorongoro, the temperature at night was about 10 degrees Celsius, and summer sleeping bags (one of them was a child's size) did not protect us from the cold, later I fell ill with pneumonia.
Do not contact Saving Tour. After my complaints, I realized that cheating is their modus operandi.
UA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful experience
We were searching for a 7-days experience and chose the 6-day Tarangine-Serengeti-Ngorongoro-lake Manyara tour and an additional coffee-waterfall-hot spring day trip.
I made a lot of research myself before choosing Safari Soles, read reviews on different sites and asked lots of questions. I loved the balance of the company's good rating and reviews, budget-friendly price and the knowledge and support Bryson provided.
The tour exceeded our expectations. We saw lots of animals including the cats we wanted to see so much - many lions, a leopard, 2 serval cats and even a mother cheetah teaching her cubs to hunt! We also were lucky to catch endless herds of migrating wildebeest in Serengeti (were there on February 8-10) and saw how a baby zebra was born! We ever visited the Ndutu region where there were lots of animals and where budget safaris usually don't go.
Our dreadlocked guide Simba (David) was amazing - pleasant and cheerful, knowing all the animals and trained to spot them, telling stories when you want to hear them and just driving when you're tired. He had a cool playlist, drove well and made us feel welcome. Besides getting to know the nature and the animals, he made us a bit more familiar with the life and the people of Tanzania - so, we felt more like guests then like tourists, which we appreciated.
Our cook Shydia (not sure about the spelling) could do magic - he made restaurant food using a gas stove, some pans and the food we were carrying in the jeep. The cool food we had included pizza, lasagna, a fabulous banana-chocolate cake, and also nice curries and avocado salad! I've put on quite a lot of weight during the trip because the food was very delicious and there was a lot of it.
Although we booked the budget tour, the accommodation was cool. The basic but nice Arusha Tourist Inn, the Fig Tree lodge with a garden and a swimming pool, the Simba campsite at Ngorongoro with a beautiful huge tree in the middle and the lodge at Seronera with a campfire - all was cool. We expected to spend the two nights in Seronera at a campsite, but the upgrade to a lodge was a nice surprise.
The price for all this was quite low. Hard to imagine how many tour companies take several times more money, however, don't let you see more animals because you will see all the animals on a budget safari with a good guide. In case you're choosing the lowest price - consider that the 2-way airport transfer for the Arusha or Kili airport, accommodation for the nights before and after the safari, and all drinks including beer and wine are already included in the price.
As for those who are thinking about the length of the trip - for me the safari experience would be incomplete without the 2 nights in Serengeti and one night on the crater rim of Ngorongoro. The night in Mto Wa Mbu is necessary for the logistics and the Tarangine park is pleasant as well, with many elephants and baobab trees. So, 5 full days of safari seem minimum to me to get some knowledge of the region. If you have 6 days, I suggest adding the waterfall-coffee-hot spring tour - you will wee the beautiful nature of a different climate zone, see how many planks grow, have a chance to swim under a waterfall and soak in a nice hot spring, like the cenotes in Mexico. If you have 7 days - add lake Manyara, it was nice too, but the waterfall and hot spring were nicer.
Thank you, Simba, Bryson, Shydia and all Safari Soles stuff for our great holiday!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Life Changing Experience w/ Climb Kili
When I decided I wanted to travel to Africa and climb Kilimanjaro I was recommended the guiding company SD safaris by a fellow traveler. It made my decision pretty easy after she shared how amazing her experience was.
Tiffany was outstanding from start to finish in communicating all the details of my trip via email. My trip was originally planned for May 2020, but due to the pandemic and travel restrictions, I had to post-pone. After MANY airline flight cancellations and changes along the way, my trip of a lifetime finally happened in January 2021.
My lead guide, Amani, was professional and kind. He and the team of 7 porters made sure I was comfortable and happy. They truly went above and beyond to ensure I had the best possible experience. I was left speechless most of the time with how hard they work on the mountain to make sure all I had to do was focus on putting one foot in front of the other. The amount of gratitude I have for them is immeasurable.
After my 7 day journey, I ventured out with my next guide Steven on safari for 3 days (with SD safaris). Being able to explore the Serengeti is something I still cannot believe I have done! My second day was spent in the Ngorongoro Crater and my last day in Tarangire National Park. I highly, HIGHLY recommend adding a safari on after your climb!!
SD safaris exceeded my expectations in a guiding company and WHEN I return to Africa, I will be sure to use them again!!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania 7 day tour
Sino Africa Safari organzied our safari two years back. Everything was good except the road from the crater to Serengeti was too dusty and hot. We never experienced that in our country but it's good to have the real safari experience and massage. The balloon safari was too expensuve we did not take. hotels were mid range but comfortable and nice. we loved their community sharing different afrucan countries online. we were thinking to go for another safari with them to Kenya.
HK
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Loved Masai Mara national Park
The trip to Kenya was organized by my family, we dreamed about Africa safari. My mother planned the whole safari and we visited the best parks in Kenya including my favorite park - Masai Mara National Park. I remembered that one day we woke up so early for the balloon ride. We were lucky and saw a group of lions on the ground from the sky. It was the best moment for the safari. I will visit Tanzania next time with the company. We trust them because they are so nice and patient. They organize very good driver and Chinese tour guides for us.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
DETAILED PLANNERS
I loved the way the African Adventure Specialists took time to plan our travel while taking us through every process in a detailed manner. The fact that they were very sensitive in regards to Covid-19 protocols was an additional plus on their end. Our experience in Africa, being the first time was made easier and more interesting thanks to AAS. Worth a five star from me.