AR
Email Marcelo Castañaga | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
perfect time in the paradise
We booked a trip to the beaches of Zanzibar with a three-night safari in the Ngoro Ngoro park.
The attention of the people of Tanzania was unbeatable, very warm and attentive, both at the Riu Jambo Zanzibar hotel and on the safari. The quality of the hotel service is first class, both the room service, the food and the beach. But what I would like to highlight the most is the safari, which in our case we booked with Mountain Warriors Tours and Safaris. Everything was excellent. The driver of the vehicle and guide were excellent. Attentive to our requests, punctual and above all very pleasant and nice, we can say that we ended up with a new friend. His name is Simon and I recommend him to make the trip the perfect experience. We were able to see the animals we expected to see, the hotel service in the parks was perfect and I especially recommend spending a day in the hotel in the Serengeti park, in very comfortable tents and in total contact with nature. A dream night, listening to the sounds of the African savannah up close.
The flights, the ground transportation service and the hotel service were impeccable. I recommend this destination to see wild nature in all its splendor and to get in touch with the Masai culture, so far away from us born in South America.
On the other hand, at our age (62 years), it is a highly recommended destination.
I only have words of thanks for the Tanzanian people, for their kindness and friendliness.
I hope to return soon, I really felt very comfortable and pampered.
Thank you very much
Marcelo Castañaga
Argentina
(automatic translation from Spanish)
FR
Email Stephane Mahe | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Too expansive
Beautifull but too expansive
Park, hotel, safari too expansive !
Email Jane Evans | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely amazing for wildlife
I have recently returned from the holiday of a lifetime. What an experience - the Serengeti surpassed all expectations. I was amazed at how close the animals - especially the big cats - came to our vehicle, walking in between cars and even sitting on the spare wheels. I had time to compose my photographs as all animals just carry on as ‘normal’ - they don't run away as soon as a car stops. Each day was the best day - even if you see the ‘same’ animals, they’ll be doing something different. The weather was pleasantly hot but not humid and I think October was the perfect time to visit as it’s not peak season and therefore not too crowded.
We visited Tarangire and Manyara parks too - both fascinating in their own way - the former for the vast amount of elephants and the latter for its baboons. The area around Lake Natron was very hot - but if you’re going for the flamingos, make sure you visit at the right time! We didnt! The Ngorongoro crater was stunning too - and luckily we did see flamingos there!
I was interested in visiting some villages and tribes but sceptical about how genuine they are. The emphasis was definitely on selling their trinkets over sharing their culture.
Don’t worry about spending a fortune on ‘khaki’ clothes - as you won’t be getting out of your vehicle you don't need to be camouflaged. But I wouldn’t wear overly bright clothes.
All in all a wonderful destination for animals.
A truly amazing experience!
Absolutely loved it and recommend it to anyone who's a wildlife-lover. Stunning landscapes all over, and friendly people. Take me back please!
RO
Email Maxim Daniela | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic
We were in a 3 days safari in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara starting from Zanzibar Island. It was fantastic. Brenda took care of everything and she was great. We had transfers to and from our hotels to the airport, plane tickets, transfers in Arusha, very nice accomodations in lodges, a small missunderstanding about the lodges, but we ended up in wonderful locations. Our safari drivers were skillful and we felt safe during the ride. We manage to see 3 from the big 5. Lake Manyara was a bit disappointing only because we couldn't reach the best part of it because of the water, the lake extended its surface, otherwise very nice views. In Ngorongoro and Tarangire the wild life was everywhere you turned your had. It was a very exciting experience. I would say that 3 days are not enough to see all the beauty of the african savanna. Definetily a reason to come back 🙂
CA
Email Mehdiya and Hussein | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Priceless Experience!
amazing experience with Safari Bookings/Obag!
we did a 3 day, 2 night safari from Dar to Mikumi by train (including all transport - car and train, 2 nights hotel stay and all meals/snacks/drinks)
definitely recommend the train option (1 st class if possible) - make sure to leave early morning and return evening.
Johnson was a great guide - very punctual and caring/knowledgeable. Our safari driver was George and he was fearless! best day ever seeing giraffes, zebras, elephants, lions, crocodiles, hippos, buffalos and so much more!!
if it mentions all included, do not pay extra. only pay extra for tips :) everything else is included and you may need to remind them :)
HU
Email Antal Bekefi | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing untouched beauty with unthinkable amount and diversity of wildlife
We visited 4 parks (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Manyara) in 4 days with Kilimanjaro Adventure Safari Club. I am not particularly an animal fan and I enjoyed it thoroughly, despite the long distances that we covered with the 4wd vehicles. So we travelled as a group of 13 people (3 families with kids age 7-12) and took 2 vehicles for the safari. Gasper and Denis from Kilimanjaro Adventure Safari Club were our guides for the 4 days and we learned so much from them! They are real experts on every aspect of the wildlife, speak excellent English, are super reliable and have eagle eyes to spot the rarest animals while driving! I can only recommend this company, they have done everything for us to enjoy Tanzania and the wildlife as much as possible.
Some concerns we had before our trip. 1) Hygiene / lack of clean toilets. Not an issue at all. None of us caught any infection, the hotels and the toilets are clean = Europe-like clean! 2) Will be a lot of travel. Yes it was a lot, we covered approx. 900kms in 4 days, mostly on dirt roads. But you see so many animals and time flies. 4 days of safari felt like 2 weeks, you collect so many new memories. This is the price you pay if you want to see stuff. Alternatively, you can fly into Serengeti with small planes, if you are not after the other parks. 3) It will be boring, it's all the same. Well, it is not. All these parks are different and they show you something new you have not seen in the other parks. If you need to pick one, go to Serengeti and sleep there in the park at least one night. Spending a night there is a must! We have stayed at Signature Serengeti Luxury Tented Safari Camp. It is absolutely amazing. There are people taking care of you so no worries about lions or hyenas. 4) Temperature - it will be too hot during the day and cold in the evenings. Perhaps we were lucky but it was neither too hot or cold. You can easily do the tour with a few T-shirts, a pair of shorts and a sweater. You have a roof in the vehicles even when it is open (it is elevated only so you don't get a sun burn). Take binoculars!! Good quality binoculars add a lot to the experience! If possible, bring for everyone as you will want to see the rare animals at the same time.
If you choose to go, you'll have one regret less on your deathbed...
Email Gary Pike | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania - Kilimanjaro & Safari Magic make it Trip of a Lifetime
I travelled to Tanzania to fulfill a wish to climb Mt Kilimanjaro and then see the African wildlife that I had dreamed about since childhood. I can only say that the trip exceeded my wildest expectations. The people, wilderness and incredible wildlife made it a trip that will be hard to top. It was amazing! To sit at a breakfast table and watch lionesses stalking a herd of wildebeest just hundreds of metres away was one of the many amazing experiences. We saw all of the big 5 and more. Lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, cheetah, warthogs, zebras- you name it, we saw it.
Email James King | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible Wildlife and Scenery
I spent three weeks in Tanzania in October - November 2024 and it was an amazing experience. I had gone mostly for safari and to see the famous animals, this delivered beyond my highest expectactions. I saw lions, leopards, and cheetahs, and all of these with cubs. Two female lions slept in a tree about two metres away form me, the only sounds their breathing and the breeze; I saw a leopard and her baby climb a massive tree together; I saw a momma elephant give her baby a tender stroke and embrace, with her trunk. I saw huge hippos, elegant giraffes, two different types of hyenas, jackels, a small cat called a Serval, and approximately one billion zebras and wildebeasts. I like birdwatching as well, and I saw so many exotic species: Ostriches, African Fish Eagles, the Secretarybird, the Gold Crowned Crake, Vultures, Love Birds, and Verraux's Eagle-Owl, among many, many others (for the bird nerds, I logged nearly 100 species without trying that hard).
The parks I visited were the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangiere, and Lake Manyara; they were all great but I recommend them in that order. For the Serengeti, I stayed in a fixed camp in the park itself for 3 days. This is a more expensive option, but I highly recommend this if your budget allows it: one of the greatest experiences of my life.
I also visited Mwanza and Lake Victoria, Dar Es Salaam, Zanzibar and Mount Kilimanjaro. These were all worthwhile, with different activities and tones. Mwanza is not very touristy and has good options for birdwatching, hiking and for seeing a bit more of a traditional lifestyle. Dar is very busy but has great shopping and cultural experiences; highly recommend the Tinga Tinga Art Cooperative, which is a treasure trove of wonders. Zanzibar is touristy, but has beautiful beaches and lively nightlife; my top experiences there were Paje Beach, wandering the labyrinth of Stone Town, and eating at the nearby Forodhani Garden Night Market (best on the weekend when it is most lively and fun). Finished my trip hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro which was very scenic, quiet and relaxing, a nice countrast to the bustle of the other places.
There are some challenges, as you find with any developing country; the wi-fi in most places is poor, I recommend getting a local sim card instead (cheap and good service). Some of the domestic travel options can be a bit unreliable; I would avoid buses and ferries if possible, and either fly from place to place, or hire someone to drive you.
But these are minor things, just to mention. Otherwise: the weather is warm, the people are friendly, the food (and local beer) is delicious. And the wildlife and scenery are just: INCREDIBLE. One of the best travel experiences I have had. Kwaheri and assante!
PT
Email Mariana | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An incredible experience with a few caveats
I had never been particularly interested in visiting Tanzania, and the idea that safaris were quite expensive had always kept me from considering this option. However, when I started researching, I realized that it was possible to do a safari on a budget. I quickly understood that the price of safaris can rarely go much below €200 per day due to the cost of park entry fees. And here a controversial question arises: where does this money actually go?
It’s clear that the money paid for park entry fees gets 'lost' in the hands of the government, which fails to attract more tourism precisely because it doesn’t create better conditions outside the parks. It’s a shame to see that a country like Tanzania isn’t more developed, especially when tourists contribute so much through park entry fees.
A clear example… The minimum wage in Tanzania is less than €60, yet a foreign tourist or visitor staying at a camp inside Serengeti National Park during peak season pays around €150 per adult for every 24 hours.
Is it worth it? IT’S ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT! But at the same time, we understand that tourists are mainly helping the Tanzanian government get 'easy money,' because outside the parks, we see that nothing is being done to improve the quality of life.
When it comes to the tour agencies that organize these safaris, we encounter another 'system' designed to enrich the owners, while asking tourists to cover the salaries of the guide and support staff.
As a European, I’m not accustomed to tipping culture, and I don’t agree with it. If I pay for a safari, I expect to be paying for EVERYTHING… including a fair wage for the guide, the chef, and anyone assigned by the company to the safari. One day before starting the safari, we received
a document guide on the 'tip' we were expected to give at the end of the safari to our guide, cook, and other staff members.
According to the document, each person was expected to tip the guide $25 per day. Do you know the salary that the company I chose pays the guide? $25 per day! And this amount (the $25 that the company pays the guide) is the same whether it’s a low-budget safari or a luxury safari where tourists easily pay around €2000–€3000 per person for the experience. Is that fair? It doesn’t seem so to me.
That being said, I have to say that I loved the experience... but I wish Tanzania would start to understand that it needs to build a better infrastructure, and that starts with using the money that tourists leave in the country to improve the conditions within the country itself.
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