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Email James Pearson | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wild week in a wonderful country.
On our 8-day safari adventure, we hit all the highlights you would expect-The never ending expanse of the Serengeti, the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater, the majestic Lake Manyara national park where the birds and animals at the lake were the stuff of National Graphic specials, Tarangiri National Park and its abundance of elephants, and of course Arusha National Park with a beauty and climate unique to itself. We also spent a day with our two fabulous guides making our way via the Marangu route to the Mandara huts on Kilimanjaro, which is a unique adventure in itself (bring a dry shirt to change into for the trip back down!) We visited a Maasai village where we were promptly inducted into the tribe and given a welcoming ceremony worthy of kings and chiefs, and we spent time exploring the adventures that are just the daily lives of the people of Arusha as they shop from ever-changing street marketplaces. All of this was made even more special by our wonderful guide Gabriel of the Foot Slopes Tours and Safaris. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge about everything relating to the animals, the birds, the flora and fauna, the Maasai, or just life in general in Tanzania (he seemed to know everyone and was well-respected by the other guides we encountered along the way). On top of all that, he was one of the nicest people you could ever meet and a great travel and dinner companion. I can't imaging a better person to spend nearly every waking hour of a week with. Foot Slopes Tours and Safaris took care of our ever-changing and demanding needs with grace and style. Our many thanks to them and their manager, Gabriel (not the same as our guide).
BE
Email Urs | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The best I ever did!
Nice co-travelers, a thoughtful and knowledgeable driver and unbelieveable game drives. Sometimes the Serengeti was too crowded, but we were part of the problem. Next time I would chose other parks with less traffic, but I understand why the area is so popular. N'gorogoro was my favorite! Thanks for the good service and I'll gladly come back!
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Email Maria | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A phenomenal vacation!
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Everything about this trip was — you guessed it — WONDERFUL. Our safari included Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
The wildlife was plentiful, scenery was spectacular, the weather was perfect, the accommodations were great and the transportation and guide provided by Soul of Tanzania was fabulous. Our guide was professional and very informative. He knew the Serengeti like the back of his hand. My brother and I planned for this vacation for two years and we were not disappointed. We also took our 83 year old father with us on this trip and he is so glad he overcame his anxiety to fly. I also want to add that our guide was always looking out for my dad’s well-being. He treated my father as if he were his father.
I have no complaints but would like to suggest that the safari companies could improve the guest’s experience if there were a microphone/speaker combination inside the Landcruisers. It is difficult to hear what the guide is saying while he is driving because the roads are not paved . I definitely did not expect him to scream, because he would not have a voice at the end of the safari if he did. Whoever was sitting behind the guide usually turned around to relay the information to the rest of us.
My father said “everyone in the family should experience a safari in Tanzania.” We’ve notified all family members and many will join us on our next visit. We had a wonderful time and have already decided that we will return in four years to explore the northern area of the Serengeti.
Asante Shabain and Soul of Tanzania!
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Email Irina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip
Tanzania is a beautiful country. I never imagined that I would see so many wild animals together. The landscapes are very varied, from savanna to jungle. The population is very friendly, they made us feel safe. A highly recommended trip.
NZ
Email Michael Montgomery | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic a must do
Brilliant. Our guide was amazing. We loved every minute of it. Words can not describe the experience the sights the wildlife. You need to do this.
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Email Angela Templeton | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing adventure !
This trip was better than my lofty expectations. The food was delicious & plentiful. The accommodations were perfect for a safari. Our guide was very knowledgeable and patiently answered non stop questions. He made sure we returned home with awesome pictures & lovely memories.
Email Sebnem | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was unforgettable.
First we went to Tarangire National Park and then Ngorongoro Crater. We loved it both but Ngorongoro was another world.
RU
Email Ekaterina Kireeva | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Joining with nature.
I already have visited rural areas in China and Middle Eastern countries, so I was expecting something similar. But honestly I was surprised to see Tanzania as very clean and quite healthy country! The food was very fresh and tasty, roads were good and safe enough (I even took dala-dala), and people were incredibly friendly. Most of my guides were exceptional, I was very pleased with the service, although I took one of the cheapest tours. All of them spoke English very good, were knowledgeable and polite. The only thing I was really angry with was the absence of hot water in many places. I can tolerate it in safari camps, but not in hotels. I should know about this and book a bit more expensive ones.
I did 4-days safari and it was unspeakable adventure... I watch BBC and National Geographic movies about African nature since my childhood, so it was crazy to finally see everything by my eyes! Giant, but gentle elephants in Tarangire and ferocious lions, eating their prey at sunrise in Serengeti, were highlights of the journey! I took amazing photos as I dreamed. We also have seen plenty of beautiful birds, amazing family of cheetahs, cute gazelles, mongooses, monkeys... During lunch and evening time I had an opportunity to meet smaller creatures - lizards, butterflies and so on.
Of course it wasn't hakuna matata journey, but I expected this. In Serengeti we had to mount our tents under the rain, I've even got some cold. It was very cold during the night in Ngorongoro, but I was clever enough to get warm autumn jacket. Some fellow travelers wasn't so lucky, so I could suggest travel companies to get a bit warmer sleeping bags for a winter season. :) And the most incredible part was animals in the night - hyenas were wandering around our camp in Serengeti! and also warthogs and some smaller animals. It was crazy, but truly adventurous! It is certainly not for those, who like comfort. In Ngorongoro cute zebra was eating grass near my tent during the night, and I even could hear its breathing. So it was really unique experience! I feel I should return some day may be to see Oldonyo-Lengai volcano and the lake Natron, and more of Ngorongoro, because we didn't see rhinos close! Thanks to Tanzania for so incredible journey!
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Email Jette | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable impressions within pure nature.
We were so lucky having the best guides we could ever asked for. Both of them were so friendly and humorous, they made our safari unique. June was actually the best time to travel. Right after the rain season ended, everything was so green. We were lucky to spot the Big Five.
CA
Email Bibi : ) | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
beautiful trip
Peter was our first contact and kept a close eye all along, greatly appreciated. Did Kilimanjaro 1 day climb with guide Tibit, a very good guide and the 6 days 5 nights to Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and enjoyed every minutes if it. Our guide Jackson was knowledgeable, funny and delightful. Saw all animals, visited a Maasai village. Lunches were very good and dinners always accompanied with a recap of the day with planning for the next one. Transportation was very good. Accommodations were good with a plus for Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel and Tukaone camps. Very nice and friendly staff at Octogone Lodge. Overall a wonderful experience. A really good group. Thanks to all!!!!
