ON SAFARI
- Tanzania
Oliver’s Camp fly camp, Tarangire
- Tanzania
Selous Impala fly-camping
- Tanzania
Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari
- Tanzania
Map of Tanzania
Please roll over the red lettering for information on those areas.
Ngorongoro Crater
One of Africa’s best known and most unique attractions, the Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular ‘caldera’ offering majestic views from the crater rim and superb game-viewing on the crater floor.
Serengeti National Park
A huge tract of stunning open grassland plains, interspersed with acacia woodland, forested river courses and rocky outcrops. Home to a huge variety of wildlife, including the annual wildebeest and zebra migration.
Lake Manyara National Park
A small but very beautiful park at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. Good game-viewing and birding, including flamingos on the lake, and worth a visit if passing.
Tarangire National Park
A good all round wildlife destination with some lovely scenery and superb game-viewing in the dry season, especially elephants.
Mount Kilimanjaro
At 5895m (19340ft) Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa. The climb is physically exhausting but not technical, and takes between 5 and 7 days.
Zanzibar
This ‘spice island’ is full of character and history, but is best known as a fantastic and convenient beach destination, with good scuba diving.
Selous Game Reserve
A huge and varied reserve with good game-viewing, excellent birding and wonderful boat cruises along the Rufiji River.
Ruaha National Park
Truly wild and remote African wilderness, with fantastic big game concentrations and varied habitats.
Katavi National Park
Very remote and one of Africa’s most exclusive safari destinations. Major game concentrations in the dry season, especially elephant, buffalo and hippo.
Mahale Mountains National Park
A stunning and unique natural destination, where densely forested mountains tumble down to meet the golden beaches and crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika. Wild and remote, this is the best place in Africa to see chimps in the wild.
- Tanzania
Testimonials
Having specialised in travel to Africa since 1983, we are extremely proud to have built up a wonderful customer base of repeat travellers who recommend our services to their friends and colleagues. Whether our customers travel just once to Africa as a special celebration holiday, or go back multiple times a year, our aim is for every holiday to be perfect, every time. Listed below are just some of the comments we have received from our customers visiting Tanzania in the past year.
Good Afternoon Mary, Mike and I arrived back from Kenya after what can only be described as a holiday of a lifetime. It was amazing. From start to finish it could not be faulted. We felt very privileged to be able to see all those animals in their natural environment and to be able to share that space. As for your organisation, it was the little things as well. The leather wallet and pen. Questions got answered promptly etc. etc. I could go on and on, but as I've said it was amazing. Thank you Mary
Michael and Susan from Newton Abbot travelled to KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Michele, I have been trying to think of any ways in which you at Safari Consultants can improve your service. Sorry, all services as usual are spot on - PERFECT!!!
Nick and Liz from Lincolnshire travelled to KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Rob, yet another superb holiday arranged by Safari Consultants! Masons provided every facility you would expect from a good travel agent. L’Archipel had good, friendly service. Restaurant serving creole food - OK but not my favourite. Denis Island was extremely well run, lovely friendly service, haute cuisine of the highest order, all produce grown on the island and of top quality. Very comfortable chalet with (almost) private beach and exquisite sunsets. Moderately good snorkelling on the reef off the shore. Constance Ephelia Resort had a very poor welcome, but our dissatisfaction soon dissipated when we were deposited at our accommodation which looked more like the best situated Beachfront Villa with its own private swimming pool and a welcome complimentary bottle of fizz and chocolate cake each night. We eventually found good snorkelling, not far from the beautiful beach and booked very good dinners wherever we wanted each night. In short we had an excellent holiday. Thank you again Rob for your good advice and excellent service.
Graeme and Joanna from Surrey travelled to SeychellesOctober 2019
Dear Joe, just wanted to say a big thank you so much for all the hard work & effort you put into making our holiday so special. We had the most amazing time and every detail was taken care of...we felt like royalty. It was such a treat to be met & transported around & our entire itinerary was perfect. We particularly loved the Mara, it was absolutely the right camp for us and we know you hand picked out guide too! The champagne was the cherry on the icing on the cake. Thanks for delivering 10 days of heaven. Please pass on our thanks to the rest of the team too. Everyone we have been in contact with has been professional & so helpful. We would not hesitate to recommend you & Safari Consultants to anyone travelling to Africa.
Philip and Samantha from Lincolnshire travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaOctober 2019
Dear Mary, an absolutely brilliant trip!
John from Hampshire travelled to South AfricaSeptember/October 2019
Dear Mary, so Kenya…………………..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to say a huge thank you for organising the most amazing holiday we have ever been on, it was so magical and everything was amazing and went to plan! We got up so close to the animals and we have the most amazing photos to remind us of this mesmerising holiday! All the staff were exceptional and made us feel part of the family from the start, it was so lovely to get to know them and the others in camp. I loved every moment from start to finish and everything seemed out of this world! I must say I didn’t sleep much but I knew that anyway, however I loved being in a tented camp and having the authenticity, it was superb! The engagement proposal stirred up a lot of excitement in the camp, and it blew me away. I felt very special and couldn’t believe the efforts made to make it so spectacular. I keep looking at my photos as they are so amazing and I can’t really believe we had the chance to experience this holiday of a life time. We were so lucky we got to see everything we wanted too. Big thanks again.
Thijs and Rachel from Kent were engaged in KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Rob, the trip exceeded my expectations. Accommodation and food generally of a higher standard. I purposely did not do much research before going, so much of the trip was a wonderful surprise. Certainly has stimulated thoughts of visiting Africa again.
Susan from Worcestershire travelled to NamibiaSeptember/October 2019
Fran, it was marvellous! It more than met our expectations. Savannah was amazing and we loved the safaris. We saw the big 5 and more! After Savannah we felt Waterberry Lodge seemed low key but by the time we left it was – for both of us - the top place we had stayed. So wonderfully relaxing! And the staff (everywhere) were lovely. We will (and have already) recommend Safari Consultants to other people. The service was just excellent. Who knows – maybe another trip could be a possibility! Thank you!
Martyn & Heather from Essex travelled to South Africa & ZambiaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, I have attached the questionnaire form duly completed and confirm that your service was, as always excellent both before and during the trip. All arrangements were smooth and everything superbly organised. Thank you so much - that makes a very big difference to my holiday experience. It is wonderful to be able to sit back beforehand in the certain knowledge that all will be well and that I merely need to read my instructions, turn up and then enjoy my holiday without worry or hassle. My life is full of doing things for other people, so it is a totally welcome break to be confident that Safari Consultants team will sort out my holidays superbly. Well done and thank you all again. I shall hope to be in contact with you again before long about arranging another trip.
Naomi from Hertfordshire travelled to TanzaniaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, Wow!!! What a trip to Kicheche we had. It was out of this world!! Whilst we did not see the infamous migration river crossing, we did get to see so many other things. The first day we saw a leopard up a tree - he was never to be seen again by anyone for the following 4 days. The cheetahs were on form and there’s lions galore!! We saw so many with fresh kills, unlike Botswana they were really active - none of this just lying down in the sun! When Bill said Kicheche camp was something special, I now know what he meant - the camp was excellent. The food every day was great and Carys and Tony were brilliant. The staff fantastic. There is absolutely nothing that could be improved about the place, perfect. I can’t praise them enough. Thank you again for organising an excellent trip.
Richard and Sharon from Lancashire travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, we had a spectacular trip, beyond our wildest dreams. Took over 12,000 photos in 10 days. The Tamarind Tree Hotel was wonderful. Kicheche Mara Camp was perfect and we were treated like royalty. Thank you for making the special arrangements for our early arrival and the extra night at the Tamarind Tree Hotel. During our day in Nairobi we really enjoyed visiting Nairobi National Park and the Giraffe Center, using the Benroso driver, Jackson. We will certainly use your services again in the future if we have the opportunity to return to Africa.
Bradford and Linda from Philadelphia travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Rob, just wanted to drop you a quick email to say we got home safely from our Botswana safari. We had a really fantastic experience. Loved the country, the people and the game viewing. The choice of lodges and locations were very good. We will come back with more detailed feedback as requested, but just wanted to say thanks very much for all your help in arranging the trip and for your advice which was excellent.
Toby and Gina from London travelled to BotswanaSeptember 2019
Dear Mary, thank you so much for planning and organising a wonderful trip. You hit the brief exactly. Lewa was amazing; we walked for about 8 hours each day and saw lots of Rhino and Grevy's zebra. Kitonga gave us lots of lessons on poo and footprints. We were looked after like a king and queen. We had 13 camels and 10 camp staff looking after us. It was magical sleeping under the stars. One night we had two rhino come into the camp. Kicheche was wonderful, they couldn’t do enough for us. We were made to feel so welcome. Hot water bottles in the bed each night and waiting for us in the truck each morning. All the staff were wonderful hosts. Our guide Richard kept us entertained with all his animal knowledge and stories. He was always trying his best to get us to see all the animals. We saw Leopard, Cheetah, Lions and so much more. Watching the Hyenas swoop in and eat the remains of a lion kill was fascinating. I would love to do it all over again. Many thanks once again.
Andrew and Jane from Essex travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, now back to “normality” after an amazing holiday. Our safari was absolutely fantastic – all we had dreamed of and more! Both Kicheche camps were absolutely superb. The attention to detail was excellent. Small things that make all the difference. Our tents were extremely well equipped and very comfortable. The food – wow! – it was spectacular!! We really were treated to some top class cuisine. We saw and heard some amazing scenes; lions roaring at sundowners, elephants bathing in a mudpool, buffalo fighting – quite a spat!, several rhino sharing a small mudpool, elephants galore and a baby elephant less than a week old, wonderful graceful giraffe, cheetah taking down a Wildebeest and then having it stolen off them by the hyenas, and many, many more amazing encounters. When we got to Mara Camp we were quick taken aback by the number of Wildebeest around us – too many to try and explain in an email. We were lucky enough to see a crossing on the day we went to the reserve – well worth the longer day and very late lunch while we patiently waited to see if they were going to cross! We enjoyed our white rhino encounter and would recommend this. We will be following progress on the IVF treatment with even greater interest now. We arrived at the beach and I would say it probably took us a day or two to unwind after such a busy, but fabulous 6 days. We very much relaxed at the beach and didn’t do too many activities – this was always our plan. The service at Kinondo was very good. They certainly spoiled us. The weather could have been kinder at the beach, one day it pretty much rained all day, and a few showers / overcast during our stay. However this was a good opportunity for me to spend in their shop! Many thanks again for your help and assistance in putting together this itinerary for us.
Robin and Julie from Ayrshire travelled to KenyaAugust/September 2019
Rob, we had a wonderful time in Ruaha and Selous. The mix of activities/camps and the order in which you planned them worked brilliantly. Kigelia was the perfect way to start our Ruaha adventure to understand the baobab forest landscape and the sheer size and wildness of the park with its dried up sand rivers and reliance on the trickle down on the Ruaha River which seemed to attract nearly all wildlife. Our guide Raj was excellent and the camp staff first class. We focused almost entirely on game drives rather than walking given that Kichaka was going to be a full on walking experience. Kichaka was just that – with the charismatic Moli and Noelle hosting us. We had a wonderful time both out walking and in camp with entertaining and informative conversations. Moli is a larger than life character who blew us away with his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge. He told us things we had never heard or seen in years of travelling around Africa. The walking was a steady pace and although not massively productive in terms of close encounters, we did track and follow elephant on several occasions but the small things are so fascinating and Moli brings them to life with the most enlightening delivery. Game drives yielded cheetah, lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, a variety of game and loads of birds. Fly camp was incredibly simple – by the river bank with a dining table literally on the sandy beach. Elephant and other wildlife came through camp at night which was wonderful. Sand Rivers in Selous was spectacular and after our five days of hard walking, it was wonderful to feel just a little pampered with a comfortable room and communal areas. We went up the Sieglers Gorge with a bush picnic breakfast on a sand bank which was memorable and also did a river trip with sundowners. We also visited the lakes – including Tagalala and were gobsmacked by the volumes of game/birdlife. It was brilliant. Food and hosting from camp manager Michelle was excellent and we really were made to feel very much at home. All in all a wonderfully memorable trip. Thanks again for your knowledge, expertise and understanding of what matters most to Anne and I – we are already thinking of where we go next……!
Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to TanzaniaAugust/September 2019
Rob – we had an amazing time; loved it all - Moli and Noelle were fantastic; Kigelia was special and Sand Rivers wonderful. You got it spot on yet again so thanks a million for arranging it. Everything went like clockwork.
Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to TanzaniaAugust/September 2019
Hi Michele, I just wanted to say thanks for helping organise the most amazing and incredible holiday for us. So many things that I could tell you about from the Bush, to Valley to the Keweto, all incredible for so many reasons from the people, the accommodation, the animals, the facilities …………….Thank you so much. We will be going back.
Scott, Sarah, Chloe and Jack from Gloucester travelled to KenyaAugust 2019
Dear Rob, the trip you planned for us was beyond the pale wonderful. We are home, but I am still processing all the fabulous things you planned for us. Loved everything, including all accommodations, Toby and fabulous Glen. You are amazing. Thank you for the wonderful memories.
Robert and Janet from Michigan travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweAugust 2019
Hello Rob, from start to finish, this was a trip of a lifetime! As soon as we arrived we felt like family and were warmly welcomed by everyone. The staff at both Dulini Lodge and Singita Ebony Lodge were amazing. The attention to detail was incredible. Any request we had was accommodated. The animal sightings were simply astounding. In Victoria Falls, the sunrise walking tour was breath-taking and Clive was an absolute thrill to have as our guide. I know we questioned the sunset dinner cruise, but this greatly exceeded our expectations. Arriving in Cape Town, Tobie from Vineyard Ventures was an excellent addition even with the minimal time we spent with him. He was very knowledgeable of the area and delightful to talk to as we made our way from place to place. The Cape Grace hotel was fantastic. We took advantage of the complimentary wine tasting they offered in house daily starting at 6pm. This was a fun perk to experience while there! Both the food and service at Cape Grace was top notch. For our all-day tour of the Cape, we could not have asked for a better guide than Glen from Vineyard Ventures. She is absolutely delightful, and I cannot say enough good things about her. The first thing that caught my eye upon arrival at The Marine Hotel in Hermanus was the beautiful panoramic views of the ocean out of our room. Our whale watching excursion was very fun. Once again, the staff at Dyer Island Cruises were very knowledgeable and helpful. For our final day, we were happily gathered by Glen to take us through the South African winelands. She hit the nail on the head with our tour! We got to experience a little of everything from sauvignon blanc to cabernet sauvignon to the pride of South Africa, pinotage. At Mont Rochelle, the views of Franschhoek out of our room were gorgeous. Overall, this trip was simply amazing. We highly recommend both doing a trip to Africa as well as working with Safari Consultants for the planning. We cannot thank Rob and his team enough for the thought that went into planning a trip like this and for the memories we now have that will last us a lifetime
Michael and Alexandra from Michigan travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweAugust 2019
Hi Michele, we had a fantastic time and my parents couldn’t stop smiling. Everything was as we wanted, great trip and looking forward to our next one.
Andrew, Samantha, Megan, Paige, David & Kathryn from Suffolk travelled to Zambia and MozambiqueAugust 2019
Dear Julia, we loved our safari!! It was impeccably planned and we thank you all so much for putting this together for us last minute. Every moment of the trip was magical, and we really enjoyed the diversity of activities that was planned for us. Namibia was unlike any other country in southern African that we have visited (which include South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana). The landscapes were beautiful and we greatly appreciated seeing so much of the country, from the moonscape near Swakopmund, to the fairy circles at Namib Rand and the red dunes of Sossusvlei. At times, it was like traveling from Mars to the Moon, and back to sand-dune laced desert. Thank you.
Graham, Celine and Sophia from Bermuda travelled to NamibiaAugust 2019
Rob, I just wanted to take few minutes to thank you once again for organizing such an amazing trip for our family. I had some reservations that it could be as good the second time but in fact it was just as great! We felt so well taken care of from the time we arrived in Nairobi until the time we left Dar es Salaam. Kicheche Bush, Fly Camping and Kicheche Valley were all just unbelievable. The customer experience is really top notch. I want to thank you for encouraging me to do the fly camping – it was truly a remarkable experience and I would definitely recommend it to others. We found that even though we had different hosts and different guides that the quality did not suffer – in fact sometimes the change was amazing! Kicheche does a great job with their camp hosts and their replacements and we all felt really well tended to. I really feel that the guides are so well informed that we learn so much each time we go out. It is fairly jarring to come off the all encompassing care / libations/ meals of safari and arrive at half board. I was unprepared for the constant signing of bills, with different servers at different locations for waters, coffee’s, drinks etc and trying to keep track of 6 people’s food and beverage intake and tipping. However I would like to say that the food quality and property at Breezes all really exceeded my expectations. It was by far the best “mass” buffet breakfast I have been to, and we do travel a fair bit. Thank you for arranging the deluxe rooms – the sea view in the morning was stunning. Additionally the management went out of their way to make sure we were happy – we had something broken by housekeeping and they arranged complimentary massages (lovely spa) and sailing for the kids. We also took advantage of their water sports centre and went snorkelling and the kids arranged scuba through the onsite dive shop. We are so fortunate to have had you planning these two very special trips for us and I am hoping we will be so lucky as to get a third time to organize something with you.
Maxine Tanya, Aux, Tanner, Callison & Williams from Canada travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaAugust 2019
Hi Frances, Cape Town, the apartment was perfect for us, V&A waterfront is a good base. Leaving Cape Town we went to Franschhoek and had lunch at the beautiful La Petite Ferme, we then headed to Hermanus via the coastal road, I personally loved this, one of the best roads I’ve ever driven, mountains to my left, sea and sun to my right! Hermanus was the only disappointing bit of the holiday, only due to the weather, our boat trip was cancelled. Auberge Burgundy Guesthouse was lovely though. We left Hermanus early and headed to La Plume, lovely guesthouse, great food and hospitality. We had the farm tour the following day and all seemed to enjoy it. We then went half way up the Swartberg pass, which was well worth it, took photos then back down en-route to Hog Hollow. We arrived at Hog Hollow, walked through reception and took in the view (Claire cried!). We loved Hog Hollow, food was amazing, staff were amazing and there’s plenty to do. It was very hard saying goodbye to Hog Hollow for all of us, we then went to River Bend and our first ever safari! River Bend was great, the staff again were amazing and really made our time there special! Our guide was “Darlington,” this guy knew everything there is to know about every living creature at River Bend Lodge! We saw so many elephants here, it was a really special experience. The kids loved him and his enthusiasm for his job, he kept them interested the whole time; not easy for 16 and 18 year olds! Then on to Kwandwe, this place is very special! Too many highlights to tell you about regarding the safari, every outing was amazing, sundowners on safari are very special! We saw every animal we thought we might be lucky enough to see and more and we hadn’t realised how close we would get to them, we loved it. All in all we had an amazing holiday, so many memories, thank you to you, Rob and the team so much for all your efforts.
Stefan, Claire, Henry and Lily from Essex travelled to South AfricaAugust 2019
Mary, we just wanted to say a huge thanks to you and the team for organising such a wonderful trip for us. All of the places you recommended were perfect for us, the itinerary worked extremely well and all of the transfers and logistics were smooth and hassle-free! A fabulous holiday experience was had by us all, and we won't hesitate to recommend you to our friends and family.
Ian, Lara, Samuel and Holly from Hertfordshire travelled to TanzaniaAugust 2019
Dear Mary, we had a fabulous time in Botswana; it definitely exceeded our expectations. The lodges were all fantastic and different from each other. We enjoyed each one and were very sad to leave. The staff and guides were wonderful and we learned huge amounts about the wildlife. Tongabezi was a very luxurious way to end our holiday and we really felt completely spoilt! It was the perfect antidote to spending hours in jeeps bouncing along on bumpy tracks (although we actually really enjoyed that!). Esme absolutely loved every moment and became our official wildlife photographer which she loved. Thank you again for organising our trip with so much care and attention to detail. It has been truly life-changing and we will cherish the memories.
John, Andrea and Esme from Cambridge travelled to Botswana and ZambiaAugust 2019
Dear Joe & Rob, we just wanted to send you a note to thank you for organising our family holiday in South Africa. The whole experience has been amazing. Seamless transfers and a fantastic selection of places to stay. The Bush House, with its animal hide and family feel was a great introduction to Safari and we were lucky enough to have many amazing animal encounters. We need to mention Mike, our Safari guide, as he put us at ease and was a genius at taking us to the right places at the right times. Cape Grace hotel was the perfect base for our days in Cape Town and Margie from Vineyard Tours was a first rate guide for our excursions. Grootbos was the perfect end to our adventure. A positive success story of environmentally sustainable tourism. The team there were so knowledgeable and friendly. We will certainly want to go back. Thank you both so much for all of your help organising our trip.
Dan, Jane, Jessica and Poppy from Hertfordshire travelled to South AfricaAugust 2019
Hi Frances, I just wanted to say that we all had an amazing holiday in Kenya and were sad to leave and come back to reality. Thank you for all your hard work in making it such a special experience. We were blown away by the game viewing in Mara North in particular, but also loved Laikipia. All the arrangements worked perfectly and we were particularly impressed by the 2 main transition days. We all loved both the Kicheche camps – the staff were amazing and the attention to detail was impressive; we felt very welcome and the food was outstanding – we hadn’t been quite sure what to expect, but it certainly surpassed any expectations we might have had. The scale of the camps was just right for us – not too many guests, but enough to be sociable, and we met lots of really nice people. We all liked the Pinewood Spa resort too; its location was ideal being south of Diani itself, which meant the beach was very quiet and there were very few hawkers. We had a brilliant and very memorable holiday.
Peter, Margaret, Lucy and Rosie from London travelled to KenyaJuly/August 2019
All-in all excellent. Joe was a pleasure to deal with during the holiday planning. Both main locations; Kicheche Mara and Kinondo Kwetu were outstanding in terms of service, quality and for the safari location and animal spotting. Thanks very much, we shall certainly be recommending you!
Stuart, Mallika, Rohan and Tara from London travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Dear Julia, we had a wonderful honeymoon! Everything went smoothly from internal flights to airport transfers, and Kicheche & Pongwe were exactly the sort of places we had hoped to stay at. Thank you for your hard work to understand what we were after and to set it all up for us.
Ben and Madeleine from London travelled on honeymoon to Kenya and TanzaniaJuly 2019
Dear Mary, we have had the most fabulous time and have been singing your praises to anyone who will listen! I shall write in more detail later but we have packed every second of the trip with adventures. And loved every moment. With Tusk and Mane, and Kyle and Sarah, you have achieved the near impossible given what you have arranged for us before. Providing the happiest holiday moments of our lives. It is simply exceptional.
Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia and MalawiJuly 2019
Hi Frances. Just to let you know we had a really fantastic holiday in South Africa and Botswana, we loved all of it. We had so many close encounters with some great wildlife. The accommodation was also very good, though as expected the San Parks were more basic with not much choice of food. Mashatu Tent camp was the best place for close up animal sightings and we loved the Pafuri Camp accommodation and the scenery there. H12 Leshiba was the perfect place to finish our holiday and we could have done with an extra night, Rissington Inn was also a great place to start our holiday. Thanks again for booking such a wonderful holiday for us.
Peter and Angela from Hertfordshire travelled to South Africa & BotswanaJuly 2019
Dear Mary, I promised a few comments from what has been a wonderful holiday. The plan to base our holiday on the Zambia bank of the Zambezi, opposite where we had our honeymoon was perfect - you have now organised South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zanzibar for us, and goodness knows how many for friends. We have loved each part of every trip. Our 2 super-highlights? Perhaps Sosian when the children were younger, and now Tusk and Mane Mobile Camping. It is the variety of textures and activities within these two settings combined with the outstanding and very personal organisation and delivery of every minute in a private setting that made them our favourite moments. Kyle and his fiancee Sarah put a huge amount of effort into making sure everything was as we hoped. Kayaking through crocodiles devouring a dead hippo (we lost count at 60 and they really were that close to our kayak and had to be pushed off), fishing (William caught the biggest Tigerfish in memory on that stretch of the river - first cast), then a surprise with Kyle showing him how to open his first bottle of “champagne” for an early birthday present, early morning drives watching 3 male lions playing together before resting, elephant galore eating from the trees, followed by a couple of hours peaceful walking in quite the most beautiful woodland. There were night drives to see new borne leopard and in the “quiet" 2 hours after lunch Kyle would take me fly fishing on my own, casting right into hippo pods where the tigers lurked - and all with almost no one else around. You have found a great new adventure here. I’d strongly recommend 4 nights as we did. Clive at Purple Patch Transfers and Tours was wonderfully colourful and hands on in Vic Falls and looked after us incredibly well. Pumulani really does have spectacular villas. We were again very lucky to be almost alone there so had wall to wall activities every day. So much for resting! Swimming with countless cichlids, tough walks up the hills, kayaking, pico sailing, dhow cruises, star gazing, paddle boarding, water skiing and tubing amongst the activities we did. A heart felt thank you again for your patience and advice. It has been a truly wonderful trip.
Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia & MalawiJuly 2019
Hi Joe,
A quick note to thank you for your help with our holiday. We have had the most amazing time. We were so impressed with both Kicheche camps, and our time on safari was unforgettable. As you are no doubt aware, the rains seem to have come late this year, so the Great Migration hadn’t reached the Masai Mara yet, but it didn’t matter for us as there was so much to see - it really did exceed our expectations. Next Paradise was lovely, and just what we needed after a week of early starts on safari. I have to say you really did a great job of understanding what we wanted, and tailoring a trip that was exactly what we were hoping for. I will have no hesitation in recommending Safari Consultants to anyone who is planning to go on safari in the future. The only problem that we have been left with is that what was intended to be a once in a lifetime holiday has already triggered conversations about the next safari we would like to do! Once again, many thanks.
James, Caroline, Grace and Lara from Bristol travelled to Kenya and ZanzibarJuly 2019
Really flawless organisation by Mary for our three venue, tailor-made, two week trip to Kenya. We selected the destinations ourselves (Sarara camp in the Mathews Range, followed by walking segments in Laikipia with Walking Wild and with Karisia, each fabulous in its own way) but Safari Consultants’ arrangements couldn’t have been bettered. Excellent pre-safari advice, immediate follow-up to any queries we had, transparent billing and, best of all, every one of the complex on-the-ground arrangements worked perfectly, whether transfers to and from airports, a day room in the excellent Palacina Hotel in Nairobi, or private charter flights to remote airstrips. Third time with Safari Consultants
Michael and Linda from Oxfordshire travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Hi Joe, we had an absolutely amazing time in Kenya. It surpassed all expectations, the accommodation was fantastic (and a great to stay in 2 different styles of accommodation) and the wildlife was just mind-blowing. Such a thrilling experience for me and the boys, it was like being dropped into a David Attenborough documentary. Without a doubt the best holiday we have ever had, and certainly not our last safari. Having said it was a once in a lifetime trip we have already been talking about when we can go back. I think you said this might be the case! We did a couple of trips when we were there which were excellent - from Lewa up into the forest to a waterfall, diving pool, treetop walkway and fabulous picnic al fresco. Really interesting for us all (and in particular the kids) to see real Kenyan life in the villages and fields en route. We also did a walking safari at Lewa which was thrilling, and visited the amazing kitchen garden where a massive variety of fruit and veg was being cultivated. At Kicheche we went on the trip to the village which I would recommend to anyone with kids. The boys loved it, they got involved and some dancing and singing and jumping rituals and then had the chance to buy some souvenirs. It was fun, and according to the manager of Kicheche a pretty authentic experience. All arrangements were seamless, Benroso were great in Nairobi and took us to an excellent hotel to have supper before the flight (sorry can’t remember the name) with a very lush garden and relaxing start to the journey home. Also great to have the drive through Nairobi - its been an excellent educational experience for the kids. We have taken 100s of photographs of course. Thank you for all your help with arranging this trip. I’d go as far to say its been life-changing. We will be in touch again in a couple of years for our next one!
Sarah, Benjamin and Oliver from Norfolk travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Hello Frances, I had no doubts that we would have a great time, but the safari in particular was amazing. There were several special moments, but the one that stood out was when the leopard had disappeared on the other side of the gorge from where we parked. We waited for a while and then assumed she had left but just then she popped up only inches from our faces! Although we never saw a live kill, we saw a leopard dragging the dead antelope down from the tree for further consumption! The camp itself was great, luxury camping without it being over-the top. Baraza - we thought the quality of the food was outstanding. And the breadth of choice very good too. All in all a great holiday and many thanks to you and your team.
Dominic, Wallis and Max from London travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaJuly 2019
Dear Joe and Rob, just a quick note for now that we are back and had a fantastic time. The girls loved it and are asking if we can go back for the October and February half-terms. So a huge success from that standpoint which is what Mary Ruth and I were hoping for.
Bob, Mary-Ruth, Annagail and Genevieve from London travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Dear Rob, we indeed had a fantastic holiday in Tanzania and would have no hesitation in recommending it to any of our friends. I don't think there were any unusual sightings, but we certainly saw everything possible from the Big Five to Fishers lovebirds and an African Pygmy Falcon and terrapins in the pond at the Moru Kopjes. The service was excellent on both your end and in Africa. All your advice and input was manifestly accurate and excellent guidance to us. The service on the ground in Africa exceeded all expectations. Aaron Lazaro our guide, driver and now family friend was an outstanding ambassador for Hoopoe Safaris. He was so knowledgeable, patient and always charming and kind to us and everyone else he interacted with. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the universe but mostly zoology, botany and ornithology. The Kirurumu camps at Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Moru were delightful. Rob, it was an amazing holiday. Everybody wants to go back. We really cannot say enough good things about Aaron and all the other people we met and interacted with. It was one of the best family holidays ever.
Julian, Vivienne, Hugh and William from China travelled to TanzaniaJune 2019
Hey Julia, we had an absolutely amazing time, thank you so much for organising. Kenya was just incredible, amazing camp, Debbie was great as were the rest of the team. We saw so much - so many Lions, Cheetahs, one beautiful Leopard, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Ostriches etc etc. The room in the camp itself was beautiful, the food was amazing and everyone was so friendly. Zanzibar was absolutely stunning, Zawadi hotel was exactly what we were looking. Only a small number of places, beach a few minutes’ walk away, beautiful plunge pool, unbelievable sea and the staff really could not do enough for you. It was really a perfect honeymoon. It was exactly what we wanted from our initial brief and above and beyond our expectations. I have already recommend you to lots of people! Thanks so much!
Adam and Nathalie from East Sussex travelled on Honeymoon to Kenya & ZanzibarJune 2019
Dear Rob, I just wanted to say thank you for putting together such a wonderful itinerary. It was a memorable trip and every single day offered something magical. I just wanted to add my thanks and appreciation of a truly wonderful time in all three countries. The locations and accommodation were spot on - as always! It was fabulous - from the might of the Victoria Falls, to lions and their cubs, being entertained by the elephants (great to watch them drinking from the plunge pool at Somalisa!), seeing a cheetah, the elusive leopard and more hippos than I could imagine! The water-based viewing from the river boat and the peace and tranquility of the mokoro were amazing and a wonderful contrast! Thank you. It's tough to be back!
Pamela from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Namibia and BotswanaJune 2019
Hi Julia, we had the most incredible time on our honeymoon! Thank you so so much for organising such an amazing trip for us, we couldn't have asked for better. Everything ran so smoothly and that was all down to your organising. The safari was out of this world, we were so sad when we had to leave! We loved absolutely everything about it. Thank you for always answering emails/calls so promptly and for organising a holiday of a lifetime for us! We recommend you guys to everyone we know/meet!
Thomas and Laura from Horsham travelled to South Africa and Mauritius on their HoneymoonApril/May 2019
Dear Frances, just to say thank you for organising our holiday. We all had a marvellous time. The weather could have been kinder to us but no one can control that!
Marlene and Colin from Hampshire travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Thank you Frances. We have commended you to everyone we have talked to, we had the best time. Flights and transfers went really well. Rissington accommodation was a little dated but easily made up for by staff, food and wine! Umkumbe was faultless. Room, buffets, too many animals to mention, and the wonderful Tanya driving us every day with her knowledge and humour.
Graham, Sarah and Charlotte from Hertfordshire travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Hi Frances. A very big thank you for all the arrangements you made for us and for Le Paradis - which was an unqualified success - the perfect venue for the family holiday that we had wanted. Everyone had a ball! We found the staff unfailingly friendly, smiling and helpful - they couldn't do enough for the guests. The buffet restaurants offered a splendid range of food - the difficulty was not to eat far too much! Many thanks for helping with this amazing holiday.
William and Deborah from Edinburgh travelled to Mauritius with their familyApril 2019
Dear Mary, I apologise that this is a little slow in coming, but its tardiness doesn't detract from its weight in saying thank you for your part in arranging our stay at The Bush House, which is an outstanding Game Lodge. The Morrisons are superb hosts and the staff are second to none, nothing was too much trouble. We all had an excellent time which included some first-rate game viewing. Our guide Renain Venter was good at seeking out the animals and also was exceedingly patient with Matilda and Eric encouraging them to look and watch. Everything worked well and I am very grateful for all you did for us. As you may know my object, after visiting Cape Town, was to show Matilda and Eric real animals in a real setting and I reckon we accomplished this pretty well, for which many thanks indeed.
Andrew, Ian, Caroline, Matilda and Eric from Salisbury travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Hi Julia, just a short note to pass on our thanks for your super organisation of our trip to Tanda Tula and onto Cape Town. Suffice to say we had a truly amazing time. Thanks again for all your help in pulling it together and making the trip go as smoothly as possible.
Alan and Joanna from Surbiton travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Jane, thank you so much for putting our itinerary together. You hit the brief on the nose!! To be blunt and to the point, our holiday exceeded expectation. I think you did a great job working out our requirements (even if we weren’t sure what we wanted). All our lodging was excellent (yet different), and we were met and managed(!) across Nairobi excellently. Most importantly we got a feel of Kenya and in particular the Masai Mara and its extraordinary wildlife. In our first three days we had seen the “Big Five”, charged by a black Rhino (in the car and on a horse) and had our sundowner drinks under a tree with a leopard in it. We were spoilt with the number of Rhino (both black and white) but a lovely beginning in a place with a great history of conservation. Walking Wild was probably the best bit, although it is difficult to pick out the best as it’s all been great. The quality of food on the go (all produced on open fires) the warm friendliness of the group of men transporting the kit on the camels and the humour, wit and knowledge of Kitonga was humbling. Our night drive at Kicheche was particularly memorable seeing an Ardwolf and most endearing of all a Bush baby ‘bouncing’ for 100 metres to the next tree.
Jim and Sue from Wiltshire travelled to KenyaMarch/April 2019
Hi Frances, we had the most amazing trip and it by far outdid our expectations so thank you so much for organising everything so well. It was great not to have to worry about any of the logistics in getting there and back. The safari was really unbelievable, we saw so much which I never expected - lots of different prides of Lions, Lions mating, Hippos mating, a Hippo started to charge the vehicle, cheetahs, hyenas, carcasses, baby elephants, giraffes, zebras to name a few!! Ol Seki itself was fabulous, I especially loved the hot chocolate wake up call before the game drive. Debbie was so lovely and looked after us so well. It really was the trip of a lifetime so thank you so so much again for recommending it, we would have ended up somewhere very different and not a patch on Ol Seki if we hadn't come to you.
Emily and Spencer from Ireland travelled to KenyaMarch 2019
Hi Frances, we had a wonderful holiday and would like to thank you for all your help and advice. Although there were a few travel glitches, you had planned everything in meticulous detail, the hotels were all lovely, everybody looked after us well and left flowers, wine and chocolates in celebration of my birthday - you must have arranged that! All your written information was really helpful and detailed and we enjoyed using the App. This was just what I wanted - an unforgettable holiday to celebrate reaching 60 and you more than delivered on that. Those wonderful memories will remain long after the memory of our plane journey home has ended.
Judith and Martin from Durham travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweFebruary 2019
Special thanks to Joe Corder for his patience, advice and knowledge in guiding two first timers through all the decisions and where and when to do a safari. We couldn’t have done it without him and the Safari Consultants team!
Jane and Mary from Nottinghamshire, travelled to KenyaFebruary 2019
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Activities & Special Interest
Special interest & safari activities in Tanzania
Big-game viewing
Most big-game viewing in Tanzania occurs on game drives in either open or closed 4×4 vehicles. In the north of the country, it is usual to take a private ‘closed’ vehicle (and guide) and travel overland between the safari regions which are close together, although there are an increasing number of camps now offering a fly-in option with game drives in open vehicles. In the south and west of the country, where regions are linked by internal flights, open vehicles are used. The best regions for seeing big game are the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Selous, Ruaha and Katavi. Please view our regions page for more information on these and other areas.
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Night drives
Night drives are not possible in National Parks and Game Reserves, and are therefore limited to a few specific private conservancies/properties.
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Walking Safaris
Walking is widely available in Tanzania. Whilst some safari properties offer nature walks as individual activities, the country is also an excellent destination for longer, more adventurous walking trails, often walking over several days and staying in fairly basic ‘fly-camps’ in the wilderness. All walks are fully guided with a back up crew to provide meals, drinks and undertake camp chores. In Mahale and Gombe Stream national parks, walking is the main activity when searching for primates such as chimpanzee.
Some of the best ‘dedicated’ walking safaris are found in the Selous Game Reserve, where operations such as Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari offer genuine wilderness walking with big game encounters. Other regions that offer good overnight walking safaris or trails include Katavi, Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Serengeti ecosystem, including the National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo.
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Mountain trekking & Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro offers superb mountain trekking and the trek to Uhuru Peak (at 5,895 metres/ 19,370 feet, the highest point in Africa) is a challenging and rewarding adventure. From the dense forests of the lower slopes, where wildlife can be seen, you traverse rolling moorland, rocky ridges and alpine desert before the final ascent up the prominent ‘Kibo Dome’. The views from on top of the Kibo Dome are awesome and inspiring, if not especially picturesque.
There are several different routes you can take, none of which involve technical climbing, but all of which are exhausting and expose you to freezing temperatures. You need a minimum of 4 or 5 nights on the mountain (often 6 nights), as well as a night either side close to the mountain. Accommodation is either in mountain huts (Marangu route only) or camping (all other routes including Machame, Shira, Lemoshi Glades and Rongai) with all food and services provided by your climb outfitter.
Mount Meru offers a shorter high altitude trek (usually 3 days/ 2 nights from Arusha), whilst the Ngorongoro Highlands offer some good lower level trekking, with an ascent of the active volcano Ol Donyo Lengai possible for the really hardy and experienced (we actually do not recommend this as the conditions on the volcano are incredibly dangerous).
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Birding
With over 1100 species recorded, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier birding destinations. On any safari, even those with little bird knowledge are likely to record around 100 species over a period of a week. Changing habitats and altitude will prove even more productive. We do not specifically arrange birding group tours, but many of our customers are keen birders and putting together an individually designed itinerary is very easy. Some of the key areas to include are the montane forests around Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, the riverine woodland and waterways of the Selous Game Reserve, the drier bush habitats and miombo woodland of Ruaha and Katavi and the Great Rift Valley lakes of Natron and Manyara. In particular, Lake Natron is one of the largest breeding grounds for the lesser flamingo. Specialist guides are available for the more serious birder, who may also wish to consider destinations such as the Usambara Mountains, and Udzungwa Mountains National Park and the southern highlands.
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Species specific interests
Tanzania offers a very wide range of wildlife viewing, but some of the key species that can be specifically focused on include chimpanzee, elephant and the big cats.
The Serengeti is one of the best regions in Africa to see all three big cat species – lion, cheetah and leopard, whilst elephant viewing is especially good in Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and at the end of the dry season elephants can be seen in vast herds in Katavi National Park.
In Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania offers some of the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees in the wild. Chimps have been studied in these regions for many years, and some families habituated to the presence of humans, making viewing excellent.
Tanzania is also a great country for seeing giraffe, and there is a growing population of wild dogs, especially in the Selous Game Reserve. The waterways of the Rufiji River are some of the very best areas in Africa to see hippo and crocodiles. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Cultural Experiences
Tanzania is a fairly heavily populated country with a multitude of ethnic tribes and colourful peoples, and even staying within the designated National Parks & Reserves, you will meet local people in the form of guides and camp staff. Some safari camps and lodges, especially those outside of national reserves, work closely with local villages and as a guest you can learn as much about the local community as you desire. The best opportunities are arguably around the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the colourful Maasai dominate, and hunter-gatherers such as the Hadzabe provide a less touristy experience.
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Photographic Safaris
Most people who head out on safari plan to take a few photographs. However, in depth photographic safaris are growing in popularity, whether in the form of small group trips (please see the ‘Groups’ section for links to specialist photographic tours) or individually tailored holidays.
We are best equipped to arrange individually tailored photographic holidays. The flexibility and service we offer allows you to carefully plan your safari to meet your exact requirements, whilst our specialist knowledge is crucial, not just in terms of knowing where to photograph particular species, but also in terms of being able to provide suitable vehicles and guides.
In Tanzania, photographing big game is possible in many of the parks, especially prime areas such as the Serengeti, where the wildebeest and zebra herds can also be found. The Ngorongoro Crater is an amazing scenic spectacle and the best place to see rhino, whilst the Selous Game Reserve will offer a different opportunity with magical waterways and fantastic opportunities to photograph birds and water-dwelling species such as hippo and croc. In the west of the country, Mahale and Gombe are without doubt the best places in Africa to photograph chimps in the wild.
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Water-based Safaris
The Selous Game Reserve, with the Rufiji River and a string of four beautiful lakes that connect off the main river, offers some of the best boating safaris in Africa. Throughout the rest of the country, there is very little on offer, though Lake Tanganyika offers scenic cruises and kayaking, and canoeing is sometimes possible on Lake Manyara.
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Fishing
Whilst there are some freshwater fishing opportunities on Lake Tanganyika and in some of the great rivers such as the Rufiji, the best fishing on offer in Tanzania is big game fishing off the coast (both traditional and on fly). There is not really a ‘fishing culture’ but most beach hotels can arrange deep-sea fishing through local specialists. Bill fishing, particularly for sailfish, is superb from September to March. Marlin (blue, black and striped), broadbill swordfish, shark, barracuda, trevally/kingfish are just some of the other species regularly caught.
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Scuba-diving and Snorkelling
Diving is widely available off the islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba, where there is some excellent diving. Mafia Island, Mnemba Island off north-east Zanzibar and Mesali Island off western Pemba are some of the best diving locations. Snorkelling is good in most places, but it is usually necessary to go out in a boat, rather than snorkel from the beach. Mnemba and Chumbe Islands off Zanzibar offer some of the best conditions. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Other activities
Other activities available on a limited basis include sailing, kayaking, mountain biking. We can also cater for very specific interests such as dendrology, Lepidoptera, archaeology etc.
Horse-riding is not widely available in Tanzania, and limited to the areas of Arusha, West Kilimanjaro, Manyara, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Grumeti Reserves in the western Serengeti.
Most places that offer riding concentrate on half day or full day rides, and are usually available for all capabilities. Serious riding enthusiast should consider the more dedicated operations found in Kenya and southern Africa.
Hot-air balloon safaris are possible in a couple of places in Tanzania, most notably in the Serengeti National Park. Take-off is at dawn, and you float over the plains for about an hour before landing (usually bumpy). A ‘champagne’ breakfast is served before you transfer back to your lodge/camp. Although expensive and commercial, balloon safaris are memorable and the views are magical.
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Other Regions
Other Regions
Mikumi abuts the north-western border of the vast Selous Game Reserve and is cut in two by the main Dar es Salaam to Iringa road. The park, Tanzania’s fourth largest at around 3200 sq.kms, is dominated by the Mkata floodplain and is one of the best areas to see eland, the largest antelope species.
Other game includes lion, elephant, Nyasa blue wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe and wild dog. Bird species number over 400. Ease of access and with a good network of roads make Mikumi a popular park to visit from Dar es Salaam, or if driving to Ruaha.
Day excursions to the remote and forested Udzungwa Mountains National Park can also be taken (there is no permanent accommodation in Udzungwa but the park does have a number of excellent walking trails). Udzungwa is an important birding area with four species endemic including the Udzungwa forest partridge only ‘discovered’ in 1991.
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The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The mainland coast of Tanzania has pretty much escaped from the mass development of coast hotels, most certainly because Zanzibar has taken this role. However, there are a number of reasonable coastal resorts which offer good quality beach breakaways with a bit more exclusivity in the Pangani region and just south of Dar es Salaam. Sadaani National Park, some five hours drive north of Dar es Salaam, is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania to border the sea – the chance to see monkeys and hippo on the beach!
Zanzibar
Correctly, Zanzibar should be the term used when talking about the islands of Pemba and Unguja. However, in recent years the term has been used to refer solely to the latter, with Pemba maintaining its own identity. The islands lie some 30 kms off-shore north/north-east of Dar es Salaam (20 minutes by air to Zanzibar, sea ferries are also available).
Zanzibar’s history dates back more than 2000 years when the islands traded with ships from Persia, Arabia and India. From about the 10th century, groups of immigrants from Shiraz (Persia) settled on the island and mixed with the local people. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established a trading station before being ousted by Omani Arabs a couple of centuries later. In 1840, the Sultan Said moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar with the Omani Arabs forming an elite group of landlords and rulers. Indian settlers formed a merchant class and the island became an important centre of regional politics and the focus of the slave trade. In 1890, Zanzibar became a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1963. In 1964, the Sultan was overthrown and nearly all Arabs and Indians expelled. Later that year, Zanzibar and Tanganyika combined to form Tanzania. Since then, many of the expelled peoples have returned.
In Zanzibar’s Stone Town (the old quarter), a fascinating maze of narrow streets and alleyways lead past numerous old houses, mosques, ornate palaces, shops and bazaars. Many of the buildings date back to the 19th century and depict the wealth of its builder. Arab houses have plain outer walls with large doors leading to an inner courtyard. Conversely, Indian houses have a more open facade and large balconies with railings and balustrades. The area outside the Stone Town is called Michenzani (New City), a failed attempt at becoming a modern city.
The Stone Town lies on the west coast with the harbour and airport. The best beaches are on the south-east, north-east and far north-west coasts, about an hours drive away. There has been a lot of coastal development in the last few years, and the variety of beach resorts is ever expanding – from discreet beach retreats and exclusive luxury lodges to large, resort-style hotels.
Aside from swimming, snorkelling and diving, the island offers a range of other activities including visiting spice plantations, the Jozani Forest where the rare red colobus monkey is found, swimming with dolphins, dhow trips etc. Chumbe Island Coral Park is well worth visiting as a day trip from Stone Town or for a couple of nights.
There are regular flights to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, the southern safari circuit and the northern safari circuit (Arusha/Kilimanjaro). Direct connections to Nairobi (Kenya) are also available.
Pemba Island lies to the north and is serviced by air from Zanzibar. Fundu Lagoon, on the west coast, is the only lodge of good quality and is best suited for those who want to dive Mesali Island or escape the development on Zanzibar.
Mafia Island lies to the south of Dar es Salaam (opposite the mouth of the Rufiji River) and is an unspoilt, little visited alternative to Zanzibar. The archipelago is actually made up of four major islands, Mafia itself, Chole, Jiobondo and Juani, and is better known for its fantastic scuba diving rather than its beaches. In comparison to Zanzibar, it is extremely poor with little infrastructure aside from the few beach hotels.
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The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous is Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary, covering over 54,600 sq. kms. (almost the size of Ireland). The region is dominated by the Great Ruaha River and Kilombero rivers which join to form the mighty Rufiji River, East Africa’s greatest waterway. Although only 45 minutes by air from Dar es Salaam, the Selous is still one of the worlds last great wilderness areas. It is a largely inaccessible region, dissected by water courses which become raging torrents during the rains, forcing the animals onto high ground. In the dry season, the rivers whither away to form ‘sand rivers’.
The reserve is named after the famous hunter and explorer, Frederick Courtney Selous, but it was the Germans who first established a game reserve here in 1905. The first warden was an eccentric former ivory hunter called C.P. Ionides (known locally as the ‘Snake Man’ and it was he who helped develop the reserve into it’s present size. Under the wardenship of Brian Nicholson, the Selous became an example of intelligent wildlife management; it is divided into controlled areas and human habitation is prohibited. However, groves of mango trees scattered through the bush are grim reminders that the main southern caravan route from Lake Nyasa passed through this region; they grew from the stones dropped by slaves as they were marched towards the slave markets of Zanzibar.
The habitat and scenery varies significantly over short distances: purple rolling hills, rock-strewn plains, ‘sand rivers’ lined with salt bush, cluster lush swamps and marshes, rocky gorges, savannah bush country and miombo woodland. Altitudes range from 110m to 1250m and the climate is quite tropical – humid during the rains and pleasantly warm during the dry season (June to October – the best time to visit).
There is a wealth of animals to see on a Selous safari including lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant, Cape buffalo, eland, sable antelope, greater kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck and the very elusive black rhino. The birdlife too is superb, with over 350 species having been recorded.
Three quarters of the reserve is made up of hunting concessions and closed to most ‘photographic’ tourists. Most photographic tourists are limited to the north-eastern part of the reserve where there are a number of good safari lodges. In the last few years however, new conservation initiatives have resulted in one of the ‘hunting concessions’ being operated solely for exclusive photographic safaris.
Aside from daily walks, boat cruises and game drives, some lodges in the Selous offer a range of different walking trails from overnight fly-camping to longer multi-day trails.
To find out more on Selous safari options please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari specialists.
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Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha was previously part of the huge Rungwa Game Reserve, with which it shares its north-western boundary, but gazetted as a National Park in 1964. The terrain within the park is well wooded and undulating. The Great Ruaha River (which forms much of the south-eastern boundary), numerous waterholes, swamps and seepage areas provide the park with a permanent supply of water, but there are also numerous sand rivers which become raging torrents during the rains (from December to April).
Generally, the park is divided into four different habitats consisting of mixed miombo woodland, undulating hills dominated by baobabs, albida woodland along the main river courses, and areas of open ‘black cotton’ grassland. Mammal viewing is superb particularly in the dry season (June to October) when the animals are forced to congregate around the water sources – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, impala, zebra, giraffe, hippo, waterbuck, roan and sable antelope, eland, greater and lesser kudu, and Grant’s gazelle are just some on the many species to be seen. The birdlife is exceptional with some 540 species recorded.
Despite Ruaha being a terrific wildlife area, it is still attracts relatively small numbers of tourists. Game-viewing is limited to game drives by day – some camps may offer walks with advanced notice. Tsetse fly are present.
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Selous Impala fly-camping
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Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari
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Map of Tanzania
Please roll over the red lettering for information on those areas.
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Ngorongoro Crater
One of Africa’s best known and most unique attractions, the Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular ‘caldera’ offering majestic views from the crater rim and superb game-viewing on the crater floor.
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Serengeti National Park
A huge tract of stunning open grassland plains, interspersed with acacia woodland, forested river courses and rocky outcrops. Home to a huge variety of wildlife, including the annual wildebeest and zebra migration.
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Lake Manyara National Park
A small but very beautiful park at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. Good game-viewing and birding, including flamingos on the lake, and worth a visit if passing.
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Tarangire National Park
A good all round wildlife destination with some lovely scenery and superb game-viewing in the dry season, especially elephants.
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Mount Kilimanjaro
At 5895m (19340ft) Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa. The climb is physically exhausting but not technical, and takes between 5 and 7 days.
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Zanzibar
This ‘spice island’ is full of character and history, but is best known as a fantastic and convenient beach destination, with good scuba diving.
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Selous Game Reserve
A huge and varied reserve with good game-viewing, excellent birding and wonderful boat cruises along the Rufiji River.
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Ruaha National Park
Truly wild and remote African wilderness, with fantastic big game concentrations and varied habitats.
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Katavi National Park
Very remote and one of Africa’s most exclusive safari destinations. Major game concentrations in the dry season, especially elephant, buffalo and hippo.
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Mahale Mountains National Park
A stunning and unique natural destination, where densely forested mountains tumble down to meet the golden beaches and crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika. Wild and remote, this is the best place in Africa to see chimps in the wild.
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Testimonials
Having specialised in travel to Africa since 1983, we are extremely proud to have built up a wonderful customer base of repeat travellers who recommend our services to their friends and colleagues. Whether our customers travel just once to Africa as a special celebration holiday, or go back multiple times a year, our aim is for every holiday to be perfect, every time. Listed below are just some of the comments we have received from our customers visiting Tanzania in the past year.
Good Afternoon Mary, Mike and I arrived back from Kenya after what can only be described as a holiday of a lifetime. It was amazing. From start to finish it could not be faulted. We felt very privileged to be able to see all those animals in their natural environment and to be able to share that space. As for your organisation, it was the little things as well. The leather wallet and pen. Questions got answered promptly etc. etc. I could go on and on, but as I've said it was amazing. Thank you Mary
Michael and Susan from Newton Abbot travelled to KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Michele, I have been trying to think of any ways in which you at Safari Consultants can improve your service. Sorry, all services as usual are spot on - PERFECT!!!
Nick and Liz from Lincolnshire travelled to KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Rob, yet another superb holiday arranged by Safari Consultants! Masons provided every facility you would expect from a good travel agent. L’Archipel had good, friendly service. Restaurant serving creole food - OK but not my favourite. Denis Island was extremely well run, lovely friendly service, haute cuisine of the highest order, all produce grown on the island and of top quality. Very comfortable chalet with (almost) private beach and exquisite sunsets. Moderately good snorkelling on the reef off the shore. Constance Ephelia Resort had a very poor welcome, but our dissatisfaction soon dissipated when we were deposited at our accommodation which looked more like the best situated Beachfront Villa with its own private swimming pool and a welcome complimentary bottle of fizz and chocolate cake each night. We eventually found good snorkelling, not far from the beautiful beach and booked very good dinners wherever we wanted each night. In short we had an excellent holiday. Thank you again Rob for your good advice and excellent service.
Graeme and Joanna from Surrey travelled to SeychellesOctober 2019
Dear Joe, just wanted to say a big thank you so much for all the hard work & effort you put into making our holiday so special. We had the most amazing time and every detail was taken care of...we felt like royalty. It was such a treat to be met & transported around & our entire itinerary was perfect. We particularly loved the Mara, it was absolutely the right camp for us and we know you hand picked out guide too! The champagne was the cherry on the icing on the cake. Thanks for delivering 10 days of heaven. Please pass on our thanks to the rest of the team too. Everyone we have been in contact with has been professional & so helpful. We would not hesitate to recommend you & Safari Consultants to anyone travelling to Africa.
Philip and Samantha from Lincolnshire travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaOctober 2019
Dear Mary, an absolutely brilliant trip!
John from Hampshire travelled to South AfricaSeptember/October 2019
Dear Mary, so Kenya…………………..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to say a huge thank you for organising the most amazing holiday we have ever been on, it was so magical and everything was amazing and went to plan! We got up so close to the animals and we have the most amazing photos to remind us of this mesmerising holiday! All the staff were exceptional and made us feel part of the family from the start, it was so lovely to get to know them and the others in camp. I loved every moment from start to finish and everything seemed out of this world! I must say I didn’t sleep much but I knew that anyway, however I loved being in a tented camp and having the authenticity, it was superb! The engagement proposal stirred up a lot of excitement in the camp, and it blew me away. I felt very special and couldn’t believe the efforts made to make it so spectacular. I keep looking at my photos as they are so amazing and I can’t really believe we had the chance to experience this holiday of a life time. We were so lucky we got to see everything we wanted too. Big thanks again.
Thijs and Rachel from Kent were engaged in KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Rob, the trip exceeded my expectations. Accommodation and food generally of a higher standard. I purposely did not do much research before going, so much of the trip was a wonderful surprise. Certainly has stimulated thoughts of visiting Africa again.
Susan from Worcestershire travelled to NamibiaSeptember/October 2019
Fran, it was marvellous! It more than met our expectations. Savannah was amazing and we loved the safaris. We saw the big 5 and more! After Savannah we felt Waterberry Lodge seemed low key but by the time we left it was – for both of us - the top place we had stayed. So wonderfully relaxing! And the staff (everywhere) were lovely. We will (and have already) recommend Safari Consultants to other people. The service was just excellent. Who knows – maybe another trip could be a possibility! Thank you!
Martyn & Heather from Essex travelled to South Africa & ZambiaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, I have attached the questionnaire form duly completed and confirm that your service was, as always excellent both before and during the trip. All arrangements were smooth and everything superbly organised. Thank you so much - that makes a very big difference to my holiday experience. It is wonderful to be able to sit back beforehand in the certain knowledge that all will be well and that I merely need to read my instructions, turn up and then enjoy my holiday without worry or hassle. My life is full of doing things for other people, so it is a totally welcome break to be confident that Safari Consultants team will sort out my holidays superbly. Well done and thank you all again. I shall hope to be in contact with you again before long about arranging another trip.
Naomi from Hertfordshire travelled to TanzaniaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, Wow!!! What a trip to Kicheche we had. It was out of this world!! Whilst we did not see the infamous migration river crossing, we did get to see so many other things. The first day we saw a leopard up a tree - he was never to be seen again by anyone for the following 4 days. The cheetahs were on form and there’s lions galore!! We saw so many with fresh kills, unlike Botswana they were really active - none of this just lying down in the sun! When Bill said Kicheche camp was something special, I now know what he meant - the camp was excellent. The food every day was great and Carys and Tony were brilliant. The staff fantastic. There is absolutely nothing that could be improved about the place, perfect. I can’t praise them enough. Thank you again for organising an excellent trip.
Richard and Sharon from Lancashire travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, we had a spectacular trip, beyond our wildest dreams. Took over 12,000 photos in 10 days. The Tamarind Tree Hotel was wonderful. Kicheche Mara Camp was perfect and we were treated like royalty. Thank you for making the special arrangements for our early arrival and the extra night at the Tamarind Tree Hotel. During our day in Nairobi we really enjoyed visiting Nairobi National Park and the Giraffe Center, using the Benroso driver, Jackson. We will certainly use your services again in the future if we have the opportunity to return to Africa.
Bradford and Linda from Philadelphia travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Rob, just wanted to drop you a quick email to say we got home safely from our Botswana safari. We had a really fantastic experience. Loved the country, the people and the game viewing. The choice of lodges and locations were very good. We will come back with more detailed feedback as requested, but just wanted to say thanks very much for all your help in arranging the trip and for your advice which was excellent.
Toby and Gina from London travelled to BotswanaSeptember 2019
Dear Mary, thank you so much for planning and organising a wonderful trip. You hit the brief exactly. Lewa was amazing; we walked for about 8 hours each day and saw lots of Rhino and Grevy's zebra. Kitonga gave us lots of lessons on poo and footprints. We were looked after like a king and queen. We had 13 camels and 10 camp staff looking after us. It was magical sleeping under the stars. One night we had two rhino come into the camp. Kicheche was wonderful, they couldn’t do enough for us. We were made to feel so welcome. Hot water bottles in the bed each night and waiting for us in the truck each morning. All the staff were wonderful hosts. Our guide Richard kept us entertained with all his animal knowledge and stories. He was always trying his best to get us to see all the animals. We saw Leopard, Cheetah, Lions and so much more. Watching the Hyenas swoop in and eat the remains of a lion kill was fascinating. I would love to do it all over again. Many thanks once again.
Andrew and Jane from Essex travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, now back to “normality” after an amazing holiday. Our safari was absolutely fantastic – all we had dreamed of and more! Both Kicheche camps were absolutely superb. The attention to detail was excellent. Small things that make all the difference. Our tents were extremely well equipped and very comfortable. The food – wow! – it was spectacular!! We really were treated to some top class cuisine. We saw and heard some amazing scenes; lions roaring at sundowners, elephants bathing in a mudpool, buffalo fighting – quite a spat!, several rhino sharing a small mudpool, elephants galore and a baby elephant less than a week old, wonderful graceful giraffe, cheetah taking down a Wildebeest and then having it stolen off them by the hyenas, and many, many more amazing encounters. When we got to Mara Camp we were quick taken aback by the number of Wildebeest around us – too many to try and explain in an email. We were lucky enough to see a crossing on the day we went to the reserve – well worth the longer day and very late lunch while we patiently waited to see if they were going to cross! We enjoyed our white rhino encounter and would recommend this. We will be following progress on the IVF treatment with even greater interest now. We arrived at the beach and I would say it probably took us a day or two to unwind after such a busy, but fabulous 6 days. We very much relaxed at the beach and didn’t do too many activities – this was always our plan. The service at Kinondo was very good. They certainly spoiled us. The weather could have been kinder at the beach, one day it pretty much rained all day, and a few showers / overcast during our stay. However this was a good opportunity for me to spend in their shop! Many thanks again for your help and assistance in putting together this itinerary for us.
Robin and Julie from Ayrshire travelled to KenyaAugust/September 2019
Rob, we had a wonderful time in Ruaha and Selous. The mix of activities/camps and the order in which you planned them worked brilliantly. Kigelia was the perfect way to start our Ruaha adventure to understand the baobab forest landscape and the sheer size and wildness of the park with its dried up sand rivers and reliance on the trickle down on the Ruaha River which seemed to attract nearly all wildlife. Our guide Raj was excellent and the camp staff first class. We focused almost entirely on game drives rather than walking given that Kichaka was going to be a full on walking experience. Kichaka was just that – with the charismatic Moli and Noelle hosting us. We had a wonderful time both out walking and in camp with entertaining and informative conversations. Moli is a larger than life character who blew us away with his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge. He told us things we had never heard or seen in years of travelling around Africa. The walking was a steady pace and although not massively productive in terms of close encounters, we did track and follow elephant on several occasions but the small things are so fascinating and Moli brings them to life with the most enlightening delivery. Game drives yielded cheetah, lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, a variety of game and loads of birds. Fly camp was incredibly simple – by the river bank with a dining table literally on the sandy beach. Elephant and other wildlife came through camp at night which was wonderful. Sand Rivers in Selous was spectacular and after our five days of hard walking, it was wonderful to feel just a little pampered with a comfortable room and communal areas. We went up the Sieglers Gorge with a bush picnic breakfast on a sand bank which was memorable and also did a river trip with sundowners. We also visited the lakes – including Tagalala and were gobsmacked by the volumes of game/birdlife. It was brilliant. Food and hosting from camp manager Michelle was excellent and we really were made to feel very much at home. All in all a wonderfully memorable trip. Thanks again for your knowledge, expertise and understanding of what matters most to Anne and I – we are already thinking of where we go next……!
Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to TanzaniaAugust/September 2019
Rob – we had an amazing time; loved it all - Moli and Noelle were fantastic; Kigelia was special and Sand Rivers wonderful. You got it spot on yet again so thanks a million for arranging it. Everything went like clockwork.
Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to TanzaniaAugust/September 2019
Hi Michele, I just wanted to say thanks for helping organise the most amazing and incredible holiday for us. So many things that I could tell you about from the Bush, to Valley to the Keweto, all incredible for so many reasons from the people, the accommodation, the animals, the facilities …………….Thank you so much. We will be going back.
Scott, Sarah, Chloe and Jack from Gloucester travelled to KenyaAugust 2019
Dear Rob, the trip you planned for us was beyond the pale wonderful. We are home, but I am still processing all the fabulous things you planned for us. Loved everything, including all accommodations, Toby and fabulous Glen. You are amazing. Thank you for the wonderful memories.
Robert and Janet from Michigan travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweAugust 2019
Hello Rob, from start to finish, this was a trip of a lifetime! As soon as we arrived we felt like family and were warmly welcomed by everyone. The staff at both Dulini Lodge and Singita Ebony Lodge were amazing. The attention to detail was incredible. Any request we had was accommodated. The animal sightings were simply astounding. In Victoria Falls, the sunrise walking tour was breath-taking and Clive was an absolute thrill to have as our guide. I know we questioned the sunset dinner cruise, but this greatly exceeded our expectations. Arriving in Cape Town, Tobie from Vineyard Ventures was an excellent addition even with the minimal time we spent with him. He was very knowledgeable of the area and delightful to talk to as we made our way from place to place. The Cape Grace hotel was fantastic. We took advantage of the complimentary wine tasting they offered in house daily starting at 6pm. This was a fun perk to experience while there! Both the food and service at Cape Grace was top notch. For our all-day tour of the Cape, we could not have asked for a better guide than Glen from Vineyard Ventures. She is absolutely delightful, and I cannot say enough good things about her. The first thing that caught my eye upon arrival at The Marine Hotel in Hermanus was the beautiful panoramic views of the ocean out of our room. Our whale watching excursion was very fun. Once again, the staff at Dyer Island Cruises were very knowledgeable and helpful. For our final day, we were happily gathered by Glen to take us through the South African winelands. She hit the nail on the head with our tour! We got to experience a little of everything from sauvignon blanc to cabernet sauvignon to the pride of South Africa, pinotage. At Mont Rochelle, the views of Franschhoek out of our room were gorgeous. Overall, this trip was simply amazing. We highly recommend both doing a trip to Africa as well as working with Safari Consultants for the planning. We cannot thank Rob and his team enough for the thought that went into planning a trip like this and for the memories we now have that will last us a lifetime
Michael and Alexandra from Michigan travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweAugust 2019
Hi Michele, we had a fantastic time and my parents couldn’t stop smiling. Everything was as we wanted, great trip and looking forward to our next one.
Andrew, Samantha, Megan, Paige, David & Kathryn from Suffolk travelled to Zambia and MozambiqueAugust 2019
Dear Julia, we loved our safari!! It was impeccably planned and we thank you all so much for putting this together for us last minute. Every moment of the trip was magical, and we really enjoyed the diversity of activities that was planned for us. Namibia was unlike any other country in southern African that we have visited (which include South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana). The landscapes were beautiful and we greatly appreciated seeing so much of the country, from the moonscape near Swakopmund, to the fairy circles at Namib Rand and the red dunes of Sossusvlei. At times, it was like traveling from Mars to the Moon, and back to sand-dune laced desert. Thank you.
Graham, Celine and Sophia from Bermuda travelled to NamibiaAugust 2019
Rob, I just wanted to take few minutes to thank you once again for organizing such an amazing trip for our family. I had some reservations that it could be as good the second time but in fact it was just as great! We felt so well taken care of from the time we arrived in Nairobi until the time we left Dar es Salaam. Kicheche Bush, Fly Camping and Kicheche Valley were all just unbelievable. The customer experience is really top notch. I want to thank you for encouraging me to do the fly camping – it was truly a remarkable experience and I would definitely recommend it to others. We found that even though we had different hosts and different guides that the quality did not suffer – in fact sometimes the change was amazing! Kicheche does a great job with their camp hosts and their replacements and we all felt really well tended to. I really feel that the guides are so well informed that we learn so much each time we go out. It is fairly jarring to come off the all encompassing care / libations/ meals of safari and arrive at half board. I was unprepared for the constant signing of bills, with different servers at different locations for waters, coffee’s, drinks etc and trying to keep track of 6 people’s food and beverage intake and tipping. However I would like to say that the food quality and property at Breezes all really exceeded my expectations. It was by far the best “mass” buffet breakfast I have been to, and we do travel a fair bit. Thank you for arranging the deluxe rooms – the sea view in the morning was stunning. Additionally the management went out of their way to make sure we were happy – we had something broken by housekeeping and they arranged complimentary massages (lovely spa) and sailing for the kids. We also took advantage of their water sports centre and went snorkelling and the kids arranged scuba through the onsite dive shop. We are so fortunate to have had you planning these two very special trips for us and I am hoping we will be so lucky as to get a third time to organize something with you.
Maxine Tanya, Aux, Tanner, Callison & Williams from Canada travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaAugust 2019
Hi Frances, Cape Town, the apartment was perfect for us, V&A waterfront is a good base. Leaving Cape Town we went to Franschhoek and had lunch at the beautiful La Petite Ferme, we then headed to Hermanus via the coastal road, I personally loved this, one of the best roads I’ve ever driven, mountains to my left, sea and sun to my right! Hermanus was the only disappointing bit of the holiday, only due to the weather, our boat trip was cancelled. Auberge Burgundy Guesthouse was lovely though. We left Hermanus early and headed to La Plume, lovely guesthouse, great food and hospitality. We had the farm tour the following day and all seemed to enjoy it. We then went half way up the Swartberg pass, which was well worth it, took photos then back down en-route to Hog Hollow. We arrived at Hog Hollow, walked through reception and took in the view (Claire cried!). We loved Hog Hollow, food was amazing, staff were amazing and there’s plenty to do. It was very hard saying goodbye to Hog Hollow for all of us, we then went to River Bend and our first ever safari! River Bend was great, the staff again were amazing and really made our time there special! Our guide was “Darlington,” this guy knew everything there is to know about every living creature at River Bend Lodge! We saw so many elephants here, it was a really special experience. The kids loved him and his enthusiasm for his job, he kept them interested the whole time; not easy for 16 and 18 year olds! Then on to Kwandwe, this place is very special! Too many highlights to tell you about regarding the safari, every outing was amazing, sundowners on safari are very special! We saw every animal we thought we might be lucky enough to see and more and we hadn’t realised how close we would get to them, we loved it. All in all we had an amazing holiday, so many memories, thank you to you, Rob and the team so much for all your efforts.
Stefan, Claire, Henry and Lily from Essex travelled to South AfricaAugust 2019
Mary, we just wanted to say a huge thanks to you and the team for organising such a wonderful trip for us. All of the places you recommended were perfect for us, the itinerary worked extremely well and all of the transfers and logistics were smooth and hassle-free! A fabulous holiday experience was had by us all, and we won't hesitate to recommend you to our friends and family.
Ian, Lara, Samuel and Holly from Hertfordshire travelled to TanzaniaAugust 2019
Dear Mary, we had a fabulous time in Botswana; it definitely exceeded our expectations. The lodges were all fantastic and different from each other. We enjoyed each one and were very sad to leave. The staff and guides were wonderful and we learned huge amounts about the wildlife. Tongabezi was a very luxurious way to end our holiday and we really felt completely spoilt! It was the perfect antidote to spending hours in jeeps bouncing along on bumpy tracks (although we actually really enjoyed that!). Esme absolutely loved every moment and became our official wildlife photographer which she loved. Thank you again for organising our trip with so much care and attention to detail. It has been truly life-changing and we will cherish the memories.
John, Andrea and Esme from Cambridge travelled to Botswana and ZambiaAugust 2019
Dear Joe & Rob, we just wanted to send you a note to thank you for organising our family holiday in South Africa. The whole experience has been amazing. Seamless transfers and a fantastic selection of places to stay. The Bush House, with its animal hide and family feel was a great introduction to Safari and we were lucky enough to have many amazing animal encounters. We need to mention Mike, our Safari guide, as he put us at ease and was a genius at taking us to the right places at the right times. Cape Grace hotel was the perfect base for our days in Cape Town and Margie from Vineyard Tours was a first rate guide for our excursions. Grootbos was the perfect end to our adventure. A positive success story of environmentally sustainable tourism. The team there were so knowledgeable and friendly. We will certainly want to go back. Thank you both so much for all of your help organising our trip.
Dan, Jane, Jessica and Poppy from Hertfordshire travelled to South AfricaAugust 2019
Hi Frances, I just wanted to say that we all had an amazing holiday in Kenya and were sad to leave and come back to reality. Thank you for all your hard work in making it such a special experience. We were blown away by the game viewing in Mara North in particular, but also loved Laikipia. All the arrangements worked perfectly and we were particularly impressed by the 2 main transition days. We all loved both the Kicheche camps – the staff were amazing and the attention to detail was impressive; we felt very welcome and the food was outstanding – we hadn’t been quite sure what to expect, but it certainly surpassed any expectations we might have had. The scale of the camps was just right for us – not too many guests, but enough to be sociable, and we met lots of really nice people. We all liked the Pinewood Spa resort too; its location was ideal being south of Diani itself, which meant the beach was very quiet and there were very few hawkers. We had a brilliant and very memorable holiday.
Peter, Margaret, Lucy and Rosie from London travelled to KenyaJuly/August 2019
All-in all excellent. Joe was a pleasure to deal with during the holiday planning. Both main locations; Kicheche Mara and Kinondo Kwetu were outstanding in terms of service, quality and for the safari location and animal spotting. Thanks very much, we shall certainly be recommending you!
Stuart, Mallika, Rohan and Tara from London travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Dear Julia, we had a wonderful honeymoon! Everything went smoothly from internal flights to airport transfers, and Kicheche & Pongwe were exactly the sort of places we had hoped to stay at. Thank you for your hard work to understand what we were after and to set it all up for us.
Ben and Madeleine from London travelled on honeymoon to Kenya and TanzaniaJuly 2019
Dear Mary, we have had the most fabulous time and have been singing your praises to anyone who will listen! I shall write in more detail later but we have packed every second of the trip with adventures. And loved every moment. With Tusk and Mane, and Kyle and Sarah, you have achieved the near impossible given what you have arranged for us before. Providing the happiest holiday moments of our lives. It is simply exceptional.
Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia and MalawiJuly 2019
Hi Frances. Just to let you know we had a really fantastic holiday in South Africa and Botswana, we loved all of it. We had so many close encounters with some great wildlife. The accommodation was also very good, though as expected the San Parks were more basic with not much choice of food. Mashatu Tent camp was the best place for close up animal sightings and we loved the Pafuri Camp accommodation and the scenery there. H12 Leshiba was the perfect place to finish our holiday and we could have done with an extra night, Rissington Inn was also a great place to start our holiday. Thanks again for booking such a wonderful holiday for us.
Peter and Angela from Hertfordshire travelled to South Africa & BotswanaJuly 2019
Dear Mary, I promised a few comments from what has been a wonderful holiday. The plan to base our holiday on the Zambia bank of the Zambezi, opposite where we had our honeymoon was perfect - you have now organised South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zanzibar for us, and goodness knows how many for friends. We have loved each part of every trip. Our 2 super-highlights? Perhaps Sosian when the children were younger, and now Tusk and Mane Mobile Camping. It is the variety of textures and activities within these two settings combined with the outstanding and very personal organisation and delivery of every minute in a private setting that made them our favourite moments. Kyle and his fiancee Sarah put a huge amount of effort into making sure everything was as we hoped. Kayaking through crocodiles devouring a dead hippo (we lost count at 60 and they really were that close to our kayak and had to be pushed off), fishing (William caught the biggest Tigerfish in memory on that stretch of the river - first cast), then a surprise with Kyle showing him how to open his first bottle of “champagne” for an early birthday present, early morning drives watching 3 male lions playing together before resting, elephant galore eating from the trees, followed by a couple of hours peaceful walking in quite the most beautiful woodland. There were night drives to see new borne leopard and in the “quiet" 2 hours after lunch Kyle would take me fly fishing on my own, casting right into hippo pods where the tigers lurked - and all with almost no one else around. You have found a great new adventure here. I’d strongly recommend 4 nights as we did. Clive at Purple Patch Transfers and Tours was wonderfully colourful and hands on in Vic Falls and looked after us incredibly well. Pumulani really does have spectacular villas. We were again very lucky to be almost alone there so had wall to wall activities every day. So much for resting! Swimming with countless cichlids, tough walks up the hills, kayaking, pico sailing, dhow cruises, star gazing, paddle boarding, water skiing and tubing amongst the activities we did. A heart felt thank you again for your patience and advice. It has been a truly wonderful trip.
Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia & MalawiJuly 2019
Hi Joe,
A quick note to thank you for your help with our holiday. We have had the most amazing time. We were so impressed with both Kicheche camps, and our time on safari was unforgettable. As you are no doubt aware, the rains seem to have come late this year, so the Great Migration hadn’t reached the Masai Mara yet, but it didn’t matter for us as there was so much to see - it really did exceed our expectations. Next Paradise was lovely, and just what we needed after a week of early starts on safari. I have to say you really did a great job of understanding what we wanted, and tailoring a trip that was exactly what we were hoping for. I will have no hesitation in recommending Safari Consultants to anyone who is planning to go on safari in the future. The only problem that we have been left with is that what was intended to be a once in a lifetime holiday has already triggered conversations about the next safari we would like to do! Once again, many thanks.
James, Caroline, Grace and Lara from Bristol travelled to Kenya and ZanzibarJuly 2019
Really flawless organisation by Mary for our three venue, tailor-made, two week trip to Kenya. We selected the destinations ourselves (Sarara camp in the Mathews Range, followed by walking segments in Laikipia with Walking Wild and with Karisia, each fabulous in its own way) but Safari Consultants’ arrangements couldn’t have been bettered. Excellent pre-safari advice, immediate follow-up to any queries we had, transparent billing and, best of all, every one of the complex on-the-ground arrangements worked perfectly, whether transfers to and from airports, a day room in the excellent Palacina Hotel in Nairobi, or private charter flights to remote airstrips. Third time with Safari Consultants
Michael and Linda from Oxfordshire travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Hi Joe, we had an absolutely amazing time in Kenya. It surpassed all expectations, the accommodation was fantastic (and a great to stay in 2 different styles of accommodation) and the wildlife was just mind-blowing. Such a thrilling experience for me and the boys, it was like being dropped into a David Attenborough documentary. Without a doubt the best holiday we have ever had, and certainly not our last safari. Having said it was a once in a lifetime trip we have already been talking about when we can go back. I think you said this might be the case! We did a couple of trips when we were there which were excellent - from Lewa up into the forest to a waterfall, diving pool, treetop walkway and fabulous picnic al fresco. Really interesting for us all (and in particular the kids) to see real Kenyan life in the villages and fields en route. We also did a walking safari at Lewa which was thrilling, and visited the amazing kitchen garden where a massive variety of fruit and veg was being cultivated. At Kicheche we went on the trip to the village which I would recommend to anyone with kids. The boys loved it, they got involved and some dancing and singing and jumping rituals and then had the chance to buy some souvenirs. It was fun, and according to the manager of Kicheche a pretty authentic experience. All arrangements were seamless, Benroso were great in Nairobi and took us to an excellent hotel to have supper before the flight (sorry can’t remember the name) with a very lush garden and relaxing start to the journey home. Also great to have the drive through Nairobi - its been an excellent educational experience for the kids. We have taken 100s of photographs of course. Thank you for all your help with arranging this trip. I’d go as far to say its been life-changing. We will be in touch again in a couple of years for our next one!
Sarah, Benjamin and Oliver from Norfolk travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Hello Frances, I had no doubts that we would have a great time, but the safari in particular was amazing. There were several special moments, but the one that stood out was when the leopard had disappeared on the other side of the gorge from where we parked. We waited for a while and then assumed she had left but just then she popped up only inches from our faces! Although we never saw a live kill, we saw a leopard dragging the dead antelope down from the tree for further consumption! The camp itself was great, luxury camping without it being over-the top. Baraza - we thought the quality of the food was outstanding. And the breadth of choice very good too. All in all a great holiday and many thanks to you and your team.
Dominic, Wallis and Max from London travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaJuly 2019
Dear Joe and Rob, just a quick note for now that we are back and had a fantastic time. The girls loved it and are asking if we can go back for the October and February half-terms. So a huge success from that standpoint which is what Mary Ruth and I were hoping for.
Bob, Mary-Ruth, Annagail and Genevieve from London travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Dear Rob, we indeed had a fantastic holiday in Tanzania and would have no hesitation in recommending it to any of our friends. I don't think there were any unusual sightings, but we certainly saw everything possible from the Big Five to Fishers lovebirds and an African Pygmy Falcon and terrapins in the pond at the Moru Kopjes. The service was excellent on both your end and in Africa. All your advice and input was manifestly accurate and excellent guidance to us. The service on the ground in Africa exceeded all expectations. Aaron Lazaro our guide, driver and now family friend was an outstanding ambassador for Hoopoe Safaris. He was so knowledgeable, patient and always charming and kind to us and everyone else he interacted with. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the universe but mostly zoology, botany and ornithology. The Kirurumu camps at Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Moru were delightful. Rob, it was an amazing holiday. Everybody wants to go back. We really cannot say enough good things about Aaron and all the other people we met and interacted with. It was one of the best family holidays ever.
Julian, Vivienne, Hugh and William from China travelled to TanzaniaJune 2019
Hey Julia, we had an absolutely amazing time, thank you so much for organising. Kenya was just incredible, amazing camp, Debbie was great as were the rest of the team. We saw so much - so many Lions, Cheetahs, one beautiful Leopard, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Ostriches etc etc. The room in the camp itself was beautiful, the food was amazing and everyone was so friendly. Zanzibar was absolutely stunning, Zawadi hotel was exactly what we were looking. Only a small number of places, beach a few minutes’ walk away, beautiful plunge pool, unbelievable sea and the staff really could not do enough for you. It was really a perfect honeymoon. It was exactly what we wanted from our initial brief and above and beyond our expectations. I have already recommend you to lots of people! Thanks so much!
Adam and Nathalie from East Sussex travelled on Honeymoon to Kenya & ZanzibarJune 2019
Dear Rob, I just wanted to say thank you for putting together such a wonderful itinerary. It was a memorable trip and every single day offered something magical. I just wanted to add my thanks and appreciation of a truly wonderful time in all three countries. The locations and accommodation were spot on - as always! It was fabulous - from the might of the Victoria Falls, to lions and their cubs, being entertained by the elephants (great to watch them drinking from the plunge pool at Somalisa!), seeing a cheetah, the elusive leopard and more hippos than I could imagine! The water-based viewing from the river boat and the peace and tranquility of the mokoro were amazing and a wonderful contrast! Thank you. It's tough to be back!
Pamela from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Namibia and BotswanaJune 2019
Hi Julia, we had the most incredible time on our honeymoon! Thank you so so much for organising such an amazing trip for us, we couldn't have asked for better. Everything ran so smoothly and that was all down to your organising. The safari was out of this world, we were so sad when we had to leave! We loved absolutely everything about it. Thank you for always answering emails/calls so promptly and for organising a holiday of a lifetime for us! We recommend you guys to everyone we know/meet!
Thomas and Laura from Horsham travelled to South Africa and Mauritius on their HoneymoonApril/May 2019
Dear Frances, just to say thank you for organising our holiday. We all had a marvellous time. The weather could have been kinder to us but no one can control that!
Marlene and Colin from Hampshire travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Thank you Frances. We have commended you to everyone we have talked to, we had the best time. Flights and transfers went really well. Rissington accommodation was a little dated but easily made up for by staff, food and wine! Umkumbe was faultless. Room, buffets, too many animals to mention, and the wonderful Tanya driving us every day with her knowledge and humour.
Graham, Sarah and Charlotte from Hertfordshire travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Hi Frances. A very big thank you for all the arrangements you made for us and for Le Paradis - which was an unqualified success - the perfect venue for the family holiday that we had wanted. Everyone had a ball! We found the staff unfailingly friendly, smiling and helpful - they couldn't do enough for the guests. The buffet restaurants offered a splendid range of food - the difficulty was not to eat far too much! Many thanks for helping with this amazing holiday.
William and Deborah from Edinburgh travelled to Mauritius with their familyApril 2019
Dear Mary, I apologise that this is a little slow in coming, but its tardiness doesn't detract from its weight in saying thank you for your part in arranging our stay at The Bush House, which is an outstanding Game Lodge. The Morrisons are superb hosts and the staff are second to none, nothing was too much trouble. We all had an excellent time which included some first-rate game viewing. Our guide Renain Venter was good at seeking out the animals and also was exceedingly patient with Matilda and Eric encouraging them to look and watch. Everything worked well and I am very grateful for all you did for us. As you may know my object, after visiting Cape Town, was to show Matilda and Eric real animals in a real setting and I reckon we accomplished this pretty well, for which many thanks indeed.
Andrew, Ian, Caroline, Matilda and Eric from Salisbury travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Hi Julia, just a short note to pass on our thanks for your super organisation of our trip to Tanda Tula and onto Cape Town. Suffice to say we had a truly amazing time. Thanks again for all your help in pulling it together and making the trip go as smoothly as possible.
Alan and Joanna from Surbiton travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Jane, thank you so much for putting our itinerary together. You hit the brief on the nose!! To be blunt and to the point, our holiday exceeded expectation. I think you did a great job working out our requirements (even if we weren’t sure what we wanted). All our lodging was excellent (yet different), and we were met and managed(!) across Nairobi excellently. Most importantly we got a feel of Kenya and in particular the Masai Mara and its extraordinary wildlife. In our first three days we had seen the “Big Five”, charged by a black Rhino (in the car and on a horse) and had our sundowner drinks under a tree with a leopard in it. We were spoilt with the number of Rhino (both black and white) but a lovely beginning in a place with a great history of conservation. Walking Wild was probably the best bit, although it is difficult to pick out the best as it’s all been great. The quality of food on the go (all produced on open fires) the warm friendliness of the group of men transporting the kit on the camels and the humour, wit and knowledge of Kitonga was humbling. Our night drive at Kicheche was particularly memorable seeing an Ardwolf and most endearing of all a Bush baby ‘bouncing’ for 100 metres to the next tree.
Jim and Sue from Wiltshire travelled to KenyaMarch/April 2019
Hi Frances, we had the most amazing trip and it by far outdid our expectations so thank you so much for organising everything so well. It was great not to have to worry about any of the logistics in getting there and back. The safari was really unbelievable, we saw so much which I never expected - lots of different prides of Lions, Lions mating, Hippos mating, a Hippo started to charge the vehicle, cheetahs, hyenas, carcasses, baby elephants, giraffes, zebras to name a few!! Ol Seki itself was fabulous, I especially loved the hot chocolate wake up call before the game drive. Debbie was so lovely and looked after us so well. It really was the trip of a lifetime so thank you so so much again for recommending it, we would have ended up somewhere very different and not a patch on Ol Seki if we hadn't come to you.
Emily and Spencer from Ireland travelled to KenyaMarch 2019
Hi Frances, we had a wonderful holiday and would like to thank you for all your help and advice. Although there were a few travel glitches, you had planned everything in meticulous detail, the hotels were all lovely, everybody looked after us well and left flowers, wine and chocolates in celebration of my birthday - you must have arranged that! All your written information was really helpful and detailed and we enjoyed using the App. This was just what I wanted - an unforgettable holiday to celebrate reaching 60 and you more than delivered on that. Those wonderful memories will remain long after the memory of our plane journey home has ended.
Judith and Martin from Durham travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweFebruary 2019
Special thanks to Joe Corder for his patience, advice and knowledge in guiding two first timers through all the decisions and where and when to do a safari. We couldn’t have done it without him and the Safari Consultants team!
Jane and Mary from Nottinghamshire, travelled to KenyaFebruary 2019
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Activities & Special Interest
Special interest & safari activities in Tanzania
Big-game viewing
Most big-game viewing in Tanzania occurs on game drives in either open or closed 4×4 vehicles. In the north of the country, it is usual to take a private ‘closed’ vehicle (and guide) and travel overland between the safari regions which are close together, although there are an increasing number of camps now offering a fly-in option with game drives in open vehicles. In the south and west of the country, where regions are linked by internal flights, open vehicles are used. The best regions for seeing big game are the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Selous, Ruaha and Katavi. Please view our regions page for more information on these and other areas.
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Night drives
Night drives are not possible in National Parks and Game Reserves, and are therefore limited to a few specific private conservancies/properties.
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Walking Safaris
Walking is widely available in Tanzania. Whilst some safari properties offer nature walks as individual activities, the country is also an excellent destination for longer, more adventurous walking trails, often walking over several days and staying in fairly basic ‘fly-camps’ in the wilderness. All walks are fully guided with a back up crew to provide meals, drinks and undertake camp chores. In Mahale and Gombe Stream national parks, walking is the main activity when searching for primates such as chimpanzee.
Some of the best ‘dedicated’ walking safaris are found in the Selous Game Reserve, where operations such as Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari offer genuine wilderness walking with big game encounters. Other regions that offer good overnight walking safaris or trails include Katavi, Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Serengeti ecosystem, including the National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo.
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Mountain trekking & Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro offers superb mountain trekking and the trek to Uhuru Peak (at 5,895 metres/ 19,370 feet, the highest point in Africa) is a challenging and rewarding adventure. From the dense forests of the lower slopes, where wildlife can be seen, you traverse rolling moorland, rocky ridges and alpine desert before the final ascent up the prominent ‘Kibo Dome’. The views from on top of the Kibo Dome are awesome and inspiring, if not especially picturesque.
There are several different routes you can take, none of which involve technical climbing, but all of which are exhausting and expose you to freezing temperatures. You need a minimum of 4 or 5 nights on the mountain (often 6 nights), as well as a night either side close to the mountain. Accommodation is either in mountain huts (Marangu route only) or camping (all other routes including Machame, Shira, Lemoshi Glades and Rongai) with all food and services provided by your climb outfitter.
Mount Meru offers a shorter high altitude trek (usually 3 days/ 2 nights from Arusha), whilst the Ngorongoro Highlands offer some good lower level trekking, with an ascent of the active volcano Ol Donyo Lengai possible for the really hardy and experienced (we actually do not recommend this as the conditions on the volcano are incredibly dangerous).
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Birding
With over 1100 species recorded, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier birding destinations. On any safari, even those with little bird knowledge are likely to record around 100 species over a period of a week. Changing habitats and altitude will prove even more productive. We do not specifically arrange birding group tours, but many of our customers are keen birders and putting together an individually designed itinerary is very easy. Some of the key areas to include are the montane forests around Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, the riverine woodland and waterways of the Selous Game Reserve, the drier bush habitats and miombo woodland of Ruaha and Katavi and the Great Rift Valley lakes of Natron and Manyara. In particular, Lake Natron is one of the largest breeding grounds for the lesser flamingo. Specialist guides are available for the more serious birder, who may also wish to consider destinations such as the Usambara Mountains, and Udzungwa Mountains National Park and the southern highlands.
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Species specific interests
Tanzania offers a very wide range of wildlife viewing, but some of the key species that can be specifically focused on include chimpanzee, elephant and the big cats.
The Serengeti is one of the best regions in Africa to see all three big cat species – lion, cheetah and leopard, whilst elephant viewing is especially good in Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and at the end of the dry season elephants can be seen in vast herds in Katavi National Park.
In Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania offers some of the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees in the wild. Chimps have been studied in these regions for many years, and some families habituated to the presence of humans, making viewing excellent.
Tanzania is also a great country for seeing giraffe, and there is a growing population of wild dogs, especially in the Selous Game Reserve. The waterways of the Rufiji River are some of the very best areas in Africa to see hippo and crocodiles. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Cultural Experiences
Tanzania is a fairly heavily populated country with a multitude of ethnic tribes and colourful peoples, and even staying within the designated National Parks & Reserves, you will meet local people in the form of guides and camp staff. Some safari camps and lodges, especially those outside of national reserves, work closely with local villages and as a guest you can learn as much about the local community as you desire. The best opportunities are arguably around the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the colourful Maasai dominate, and hunter-gatherers such as the Hadzabe provide a less touristy experience.
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Photographic Safaris
Most people who head out on safari plan to take a few photographs. However, in depth photographic safaris are growing in popularity, whether in the form of small group trips (please see the ‘Groups’ section for links to specialist photographic tours) or individually tailored holidays.
We are best equipped to arrange individually tailored photographic holidays. The flexibility and service we offer allows you to carefully plan your safari to meet your exact requirements, whilst our specialist knowledge is crucial, not just in terms of knowing where to photograph particular species, but also in terms of being able to provide suitable vehicles and guides.
In Tanzania, photographing big game is possible in many of the parks, especially prime areas such as the Serengeti, where the wildebeest and zebra herds can also be found. The Ngorongoro Crater is an amazing scenic spectacle and the best place to see rhino, whilst the Selous Game Reserve will offer a different opportunity with magical waterways and fantastic opportunities to photograph birds and water-dwelling species such as hippo and croc. In the west of the country, Mahale and Gombe are without doubt the best places in Africa to photograph chimps in the wild.
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Water-based Safaris
The Selous Game Reserve, with the Rufiji River and a string of four beautiful lakes that connect off the main river, offers some of the best boating safaris in Africa. Throughout the rest of the country, there is very little on offer, though Lake Tanganyika offers scenic cruises and kayaking, and canoeing is sometimes possible on Lake Manyara.
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Fishing
Whilst there are some freshwater fishing opportunities on Lake Tanganyika and in some of the great rivers such as the Rufiji, the best fishing on offer in Tanzania is big game fishing off the coast (both traditional and on fly). There is not really a ‘fishing culture’ but most beach hotels can arrange deep-sea fishing through local specialists. Bill fishing, particularly for sailfish, is superb from September to March. Marlin (blue, black and striped), broadbill swordfish, shark, barracuda, trevally/kingfish are just some of the other species regularly caught.
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Scuba-diving and Snorkelling
Diving is widely available off the islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba, where there is some excellent diving. Mafia Island, Mnemba Island off north-east Zanzibar and Mesali Island off western Pemba are some of the best diving locations. Snorkelling is good in most places, but it is usually necessary to go out in a boat, rather than snorkel from the beach. Mnemba and Chumbe Islands off Zanzibar offer some of the best conditions. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Other activities
Other activities available on a limited basis include sailing, kayaking, mountain biking. We can also cater for very specific interests such as dendrology, Lepidoptera, archaeology etc.
Horse-riding is not widely available in Tanzania, and limited to the areas of Arusha, West Kilimanjaro, Manyara, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Grumeti Reserves in the western Serengeti.
Most places that offer riding concentrate on half day or full day rides, and are usually available for all capabilities. Serious riding enthusiast should consider the more dedicated operations found in Kenya and southern Africa.
Hot-air balloon safaris are possible in a couple of places in Tanzania, most notably in the Serengeti National Park. Take-off is at dawn, and you float over the plains for about an hour before landing (usually bumpy). A ‘champagne’ breakfast is served before you transfer back to your lodge/camp. Although expensive and commercial, balloon safaris are memorable and the views are magical.
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Other Regions
Other Regions
Mikumi abuts the north-western border of the vast Selous Game Reserve and is cut in two by the main Dar es Salaam to Iringa road. The park, Tanzania’s fourth largest at around 3200 sq.kms, is dominated by the Mkata floodplain and is one of the best areas to see eland, the largest antelope species.
Other game includes lion, elephant, Nyasa blue wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe and wild dog. Bird species number over 400. Ease of access and with a good network of roads make Mikumi a popular park to visit from Dar es Salaam, or if driving to Ruaha.
Day excursions to the remote and forested Udzungwa Mountains National Park can also be taken (there is no permanent accommodation in Udzungwa but the park does have a number of excellent walking trails). Udzungwa is an important birding area with four species endemic including the Udzungwa forest partridge only ‘discovered’ in 1991.
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The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The mainland coast of Tanzania has pretty much escaped from the mass development of coast hotels, most certainly because Zanzibar has taken this role. However, there are a number of reasonable coastal resorts which offer good quality beach breakaways with a bit more exclusivity in the Pangani region and just south of Dar es Salaam. Sadaani National Park, some five hours drive north of Dar es Salaam, is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania to border the sea – the chance to see monkeys and hippo on the beach!
Zanzibar
Correctly, Zanzibar should be the term used when talking about the islands of Pemba and Unguja. However, in recent years the term has been used to refer solely to the latter, with Pemba maintaining its own identity. The islands lie some 30 kms off-shore north/north-east of Dar es Salaam (20 minutes by air to Zanzibar, sea ferries are also available).
Zanzibar’s history dates back more than 2000 years when the islands traded with ships from Persia, Arabia and India. From about the 10th century, groups of immigrants from Shiraz (Persia) settled on the island and mixed with the local people. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established a trading station before being ousted by Omani Arabs a couple of centuries later. In 1840, the Sultan Said moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar with the Omani Arabs forming an elite group of landlords and rulers. Indian settlers formed a merchant class and the island became an important centre of regional politics and the focus of the slave trade. In 1890, Zanzibar became a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1963. In 1964, the Sultan was overthrown and nearly all Arabs and Indians expelled. Later that year, Zanzibar and Tanganyika combined to form Tanzania. Since then, many of the expelled peoples have returned.
In Zanzibar’s Stone Town (the old quarter), a fascinating maze of narrow streets and alleyways lead past numerous old houses, mosques, ornate palaces, shops and bazaars. Many of the buildings date back to the 19th century and depict the wealth of its builder. Arab houses have plain outer walls with large doors leading to an inner courtyard. Conversely, Indian houses have a more open facade and large balconies with railings and balustrades. The area outside the Stone Town is called Michenzani (New City), a failed attempt at becoming a modern city.
The Stone Town lies on the west coast with the harbour and airport. The best beaches are on the south-east, north-east and far north-west coasts, about an hours drive away. There has been a lot of coastal development in the last few years, and the variety of beach resorts is ever expanding – from discreet beach retreats and exclusive luxury lodges to large, resort-style hotels.
Aside from swimming, snorkelling and diving, the island offers a range of other activities including visiting spice plantations, the Jozani Forest where the rare red colobus monkey is found, swimming with dolphins, dhow trips etc. Chumbe Island Coral Park is well worth visiting as a day trip from Stone Town or for a couple of nights.
There are regular flights to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, the southern safari circuit and the northern safari circuit (Arusha/Kilimanjaro). Direct connections to Nairobi (Kenya) are also available.
Pemba Island lies to the north and is serviced by air from Zanzibar. Fundu Lagoon, on the west coast, is the only lodge of good quality and is best suited for those who want to dive Mesali Island or escape the development on Zanzibar.
Mafia Island lies to the south of Dar es Salaam (opposite the mouth of the Rufiji River) and is an unspoilt, little visited alternative to Zanzibar. The archipelago is actually made up of four major islands, Mafia itself, Chole, Jiobondo and Juani, and is better known for its fantastic scuba diving rather than its beaches. In comparison to Zanzibar, it is extremely poor with little infrastructure aside from the few beach hotels.
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The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous is Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary, covering over 54,600 sq. kms. (almost the size of Ireland). The region is dominated by the Great Ruaha River and Kilombero rivers which join to form the mighty Rufiji River, East Africa’s greatest waterway. Although only 45 minutes by air from Dar es Salaam, the Selous is still one of the worlds last great wilderness areas. It is a largely inaccessible region, dissected by water courses which become raging torrents during the rains, forcing the animals onto high ground. In the dry season, the rivers whither away to form ‘sand rivers’.
The reserve is named after the famous hunter and explorer, Frederick Courtney Selous, but it was the Germans who first established a game reserve here in 1905. The first warden was an eccentric former ivory hunter called C.P. Ionides (known locally as the ‘Snake Man’ and it was he who helped develop the reserve into it’s present size. Under the wardenship of Brian Nicholson, the Selous became an example of intelligent wildlife management; it is divided into controlled areas and human habitation is prohibited. However, groves of mango trees scattered through the bush are grim reminders that the main southern caravan route from Lake Nyasa passed through this region; they grew from the stones dropped by slaves as they were marched towards the slave markets of Zanzibar.
The habitat and scenery varies significantly over short distances: purple rolling hills, rock-strewn plains, ‘sand rivers’ lined with salt bush, cluster lush swamps and marshes, rocky gorges, savannah bush country and miombo woodland. Altitudes range from 110m to 1250m and the climate is quite tropical – humid during the rains and pleasantly warm during the dry season (June to October – the best time to visit).
There is a wealth of animals to see on a Selous safari including lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant, Cape buffalo, eland, sable antelope, greater kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck and the very elusive black rhino. The birdlife too is superb, with over 350 species having been recorded.
Three quarters of the reserve is made up of hunting concessions and closed to most ‘photographic’ tourists. Most photographic tourists are limited to the north-eastern part of the reserve where there are a number of good safari lodges. In the last few years however, new conservation initiatives have resulted in one of the ‘hunting concessions’ being operated solely for exclusive photographic safaris.
Aside from daily walks, boat cruises and game drives, some lodges in the Selous offer a range of different walking trails from overnight fly-camping to longer multi-day trails.
To find out more on Selous safari options please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari specialists.
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Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha was previously part of the huge Rungwa Game Reserve, with which it shares its north-western boundary, but gazetted as a National Park in 1964. The terrain within the park is well wooded and undulating. The Great Ruaha River (which forms much of the south-eastern boundary), numerous waterholes, swamps and seepage areas provide the park with a permanent supply of water, but there are also numerous sand rivers which become raging torrents during the rains (from December to April).
Generally, the park is divided into four different habitats consisting of mixed miombo woodland, undulating hills dominated by baobabs, albida woodland along the main river courses, and areas of open ‘black cotton’ grassland. Mammal viewing is superb particularly in the dry season (June to October) when the animals are forced to congregate around the water sources – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, impala, zebra, giraffe, hippo, waterbuck, roan and sable antelope, eland, greater and lesser kudu, and Grant’s gazelle are just some on the many species to be seen. The birdlife is exceptional with some 540 species recorded.
Despite Ruaha being a terrific wildlife area, it is still attracts relatively small numbers of tourists. Game-viewing is limited to game drives by day – some camps may offer walks with advanced notice. Tsetse fly are present.
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Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari
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Map of Tanzania
Please roll over the red lettering for information on those areas.
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Ngorongoro Crater
One of Africa’s best known and most unique attractions, the Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular ‘caldera’ offering majestic views from the crater rim and superb game-viewing on the crater floor.
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Serengeti National Park
A huge tract of stunning open grassland plains, interspersed with acacia woodland, forested river courses and rocky outcrops. Home to a huge variety of wildlife, including the annual wildebeest and zebra migration.
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Lake Manyara National Park
A small but very beautiful park at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. Good game-viewing and birding, including flamingos on the lake, and worth a visit if passing.
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Tarangire National Park
A good all round wildlife destination with some lovely scenery and superb game-viewing in the dry season, especially elephants.
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Mount Kilimanjaro
At 5895m (19340ft) Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa. The climb is physically exhausting but not technical, and takes between 5 and 7 days.
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Zanzibar
This ‘spice island’ is full of character and history, but is best known as a fantastic and convenient beach destination, with good scuba diving.
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Selous Game Reserve
A huge and varied reserve with good game-viewing, excellent birding and wonderful boat cruises along the Rufiji River.
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Ruaha National Park
Truly wild and remote African wilderness, with fantastic big game concentrations and varied habitats.
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Katavi National Park
Very remote and one of Africa’s most exclusive safari destinations. Major game concentrations in the dry season, especially elephant, buffalo and hippo.
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Mahale Mountains National Park
A stunning and unique natural destination, where densely forested mountains tumble down to meet the golden beaches and crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika. Wild and remote, this is the best place in Africa to see chimps in the wild.
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Testimonials
Having specialised in travel to Africa since 1983, we are extremely proud to have built up a wonderful customer base of repeat travellers who recommend our services to their friends and colleagues. Whether our customers travel just once to Africa as a special celebration holiday, or go back multiple times a year, our aim is for every holiday to be perfect, every time. Listed below are just some of the comments we have received from our customers visiting Tanzania in the past year.
Good Afternoon Mary, Mike and I arrived back from Kenya after what can only be described as a holiday of a lifetime. It was amazing. From start to finish it could not be faulted. We felt very privileged to be able to see all those animals in their natural environment and to be able to share that space. As for your organisation, it was the little things as well. The leather wallet and pen. Questions got answered promptly etc. etc. I could go on and on, but as I've said it was amazing. Thank you Mary
Michael and Susan from Newton Abbot travelled to KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Michele, I have been trying to think of any ways in which you at Safari Consultants can improve your service. Sorry, all services as usual are spot on - PERFECT!!!
Nick and Liz from Lincolnshire travelled to KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Rob, yet another superb holiday arranged by Safari Consultants! Masons provided every facility you would expect from a good travel agent. L’Archipel had good, friendly service. Restaurant serving creole food - OK but not my favourite. Denis Island was extremely well run, lovely friendly service, haute cuisine of the highest order, all produce grown on the island and of top quality. Very comfortable chalet with (almost) private beach and exquisite sunsets. Moderately good snorkelling on the reef off the shore. Constance Ephelia Resort had a very poor welcome, but our dissatisfaction soon dissipated when we were deposited at our accommodation which looked more like the best situated Beachfront Villa with its own private swimming pool and a welcome complimentary bottle of fizz and chocolate cake each night. We eventually found good snorkelling, not far from the beautiful beach and booked very good dinners wherever we wanted each night. In short we had an excellent holiday. Thank you again Rob for your good advice and excellent service.
Graeme and Joanna from Surrey travelled to SeychellesOctober 2019
Dear Joe, just wanted to say a big thank you so much for all the hard work & effort you put into making our holiday so special. We had the most amazing time and every detail was taken care of...we felt like royalty. It was such a treat to be met & transported around & our entire itinerary was perfect. We particularly loved the Mara, it was absolutely the right camp for us and we know you hand picked out guide too! The champagne was the cherry on the icing on the cake. Thanks for delivering 10 days of heaven. Please pass on our thanks to the rest of the team too. Everyone we have been in contact with has been professional & so helpful. We would not hesitate to recommend you & Safari Consultants to anyone travelling to Africa.
Philip and Samantha from Lincolnshire travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaOctober 2019
Dear Mary, an absolutely brilliant trip!
John from Hampshire travelled to South AfricaSeptember/October 2019
Dear Mary, so Kenya…………………..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to say a huge thank you for organising the most amazing holiday we have ever been on, it was so magical and everything was amazing and went to plan! We got up so close to the animals and we have the most amazing photos to remind us of this mesmerising holiday! All the staff were exceptional and made us feel part of the family from the start, it was so lovely to get to know them and the others in camp. I loved every moment from start to finish and everything seemed out of this world! I must say I didn’t sleep much but I knew that anyway, however I loved being in a tented camp and having the authenticity, it was superb! The engagement proposal stirred up a lot of excitement in the camp, and it blew me away. I felt very special and couldn’t believe the efforts made to make it so spectacular. I keep looking at my photos as they are so amazing and I can’t really believe we had the chance to experience this holiday of a life time. We were so lucky we got to see everything we wanted too. Big thanks again.
Thijs and Rachel from Kent were engaged in KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Rob, the trip exceeded my expectations. Accommodation and food generally of a higher standard. I purposely did not do much research before going, so much of the trip was a wonderful surprise. Certainly has stimulated thoughts of visiting Africa again.
Susan from Worcestershire travelled to NamibiaSeptember/October 2019
Fran, it was marvellous! It more than met our expectations. Savannah was amazing and we loved the safaris. We saw the big 5 and more! After Savannah we felt Waterberry Lodge seemed low key but by the time we left it was – for both of us - the top place we had stayed. So wonderfully relaxing! And the staff (everywhere) were lovely. We will (and have already) recommend Safari Consultants to other people. The service was just excellent. Who knows – maybe another trip could be a possibility! Thank you!
Martyn & Heather from Essex travelled to South Africa & ZambiaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, I have attached the questionnaire form duly completed and confirm that your service was, as always excellent both before and during the trip. All arrangements were smooth and everything superbly organised. Thank you so much - that makes a very big difference to my holiday experience. It is wonderful to be able to sit back beforehand in the certain knowledge that all will be well and that I merely need to read my instructions, turn up and then enjoy my holiday without worry or hassle. My life is full of doing things for other people, so it is a totally welcome break to be confident that Safari Consultants team will sort out my holidays superbly. Well done and thank you all again. I shall hope to be in contact with you again before long about arranging another trip.
Naomi from Hertfordshire travelled to TanzaniaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, Wow!!! What a trip to Kicheche we had. It was out of this world!! Whilst we did not see the infamous migration river crossing, we did get to see so many other things. The first day we saw a leopard up a tree - he was never to be seen again by anyone for the following 4 days. The cheetahs were on form and there’s lions galore!! We saw so many with fresh kills, unlike Botswana they were really active - none of this just lying down in the sun! When Bill said Kicheche camp was something special, I now know what he meant - the camp was excellent. The food every day was great and Carys and Tony were brilliant. The staff fantastic. There is absolutely nothing that could be improved about the place, perfect. I can’t praise them enough. Thank you again for organising an excellent trip.
Richard and Sharon from Lancashire travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, we had a spectacular trip, beyond our wildest dreams. Took over 12,000 photos in 10 days. The Tamarind Tree Hotel was wonderful. Kicheche Mara Camp was perfect and we were treated like royalty. Thank you for making the special arrangements for our early arrival and the extra night at the Tamarind Tree Hotel. During our day in Nairobi we really enjoyed visiting Nairobi National Park and the Giraffe Center, using the Benroso driver, Jackson. We will certainly use your services again in the future if we have the opportunity to return to Africa.
Bradford and Linda from Philadelphia travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Rob, just wanted to drop you a quick email to say we got home safely from our Botswana safari. We had a really fantastic experience. Loved the country, the people and the game viewing. The choice of lodges and locations were very good. We will come back with more detailed feedback as requested, but just wanted to say thanks very much for all your help in arranging the trip and for your advice which was excellent.
Toby and Gina from London travelled to BotswanaSeptember 2019
Dear Mary, thank you so much for planning and organising a wonderful trip. You hit the brief exactly. Lewa was amazing; we walked for about 8 hours each day and saw lots of Rhino and Grevy's zebra. Kitonga gave us lots of lessons on poo and footprints. We were looked after like a king and queen. We had 13 camels and 10 camp staff looking after us. It was magical sleeping under the stars. One night we had two rhino come into the camp. Kicheche was wonderful, they couldn’t do enough for us. We were made to feel so welcome. Hot water bottles in the bed each night and waiting for us in the truck each morning. All the staff were wonderful hosts. Our guide Richard kept us entertained with all his animal knowledge and stories. He was always trying his best to get us to see all the animals. We saw Leopard, Cheetah, Lions and so much more. Watching the Hyenas swoop in and eat the remains of a lion kill was fascinating. I would love to do it all over again. Many thanks once again.
Andrew and Jane from Essex travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, now back to “normality” after an amazing holiday. Our safari was absolutely fantastic – all we had dreamed of and more! Both Kicheche camps were absolutely superb. The attention to detail was excellent. Small things that make all the difference. Our tents were extremely well equipped and very comfortable. The food – wow! – it was spectacular!! We really were treated to some top class cuisine. We saw and heard some amazing scenes; lions roaring at sundowners, elephants bathing in a mudpool, buffalo fighting – quite a spat!, several rhino sharing a small mudpool, elephants galore and a baby elephant less than a week old, wonderful graceful giraffe, cheetah taking down a Wildebeest and then having it stolen off them by the hyenas, and many, many more amazing encounters. When we got to Mara Camp we were quick taken aback by the number of Wildebeest around us – too many to try and explain in an email. We were lucky enough to see a crossing on the day we went to the reserve – well worth the longer day and very late lunch while we patiently waited to see if they were going to cross! We enjoyed our white rhino encounter and would recommend this. We will be following progress on the IVF treatment with even greater interest now. We arrived at the beach and I would say it probably took us a day or two to unwind after such a busy, but fabulous 6 days. We very much relaxed at the beach and didn’t do too many activities – this was always our plan. The service at Kinondo was very good. They certainly spoiled us. The weather could have been kinder at the beach, one day it pretty much rained all day, and a few showers / overcast during our stay. However this was a good opportunity for me to spend in their shop! Many thanks again for your help and assistance in putting together this itinerary for us.
Robin and Julie from Ayrshire travelled to KenyaAugust/September 2019
Rob, we had a wonderful time in Ruaha and Selous. The mix of activities/camps and the order in which you planned them worked brilliantly. Kigelia was the perfect way to start our Ruaha adventure to understand the baobab forest landscape and the sheer size and wildness of the park with its dried up sand rivers and reliance on the trickle down on the Ruaha River which seemed to attract nearly all wildlife. Our guide Raj was excellent and the camp staff first class. We focused almost entirely on game drives rather than walking given that Kichaka was going to be a full on walking experience. Kichaka was just that – with the charismatic Moli and Noelle hosting us. We had a wonderful time both out walking and in camp with entertaining and informative conversations. Moli is a larger than life character who blew us away with his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge. He told us things we had never heard or seen in years of travelling around Africa. The walking was a steady pace and although not massively productive in terms of close encounters, we did track and follow elephant on several occasions but the small things are so fascinating and Moli brings them to life with the most enlightening delivery. Game drives yielded cheetah, lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, a variety of game and loads of birds. Fly camp was incredibly simple – by the river bank with a dining table literally on the sandy beach. Elephant and other wildlife came through camp at night which was wonderful. Sand Rivers in Selous was spectacular and after our five days of hard walking, it was wonderful to feel just a little pampered with a comfortable room and communal areas. We went up the Sieglers Gorge with a bush picnic breakfast on a sand bank which was memorable and also did a river trip with sundowners. We also visited the lakes – including Tagalala and were gobsmacked by the volumes of game/birdlife. It was brilliant. Food and hosting from camp manager Michelle was excellent and we really were made to feel very much at home. All in all a wonderfully memorable trip. Thanks again for your knowledge, expertise and understanding of what matters most to Anne and I – we are already thinking of where we go next……!
Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to TanzaniaAugust/September 2019
Rob – we had an amazing time; loved it all - Moli and Noelle were fantastic; Kigelia was special and Sand Rivers wonderful. You got it spot on yet again so thanks a million for arranging it. Everything went like clockwork.
Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to TanzaniaAugust/September 2019
Hi Michele, I just wanted to say thanks for helping organise the most amazing and incredible holiday for us. So many things that I could tell you about from the Bush, to Valley to the Keweto, all incredible for so many reasons from the people, the accommodation, the animals, the facilities …………….Thank you so much. We will be going back.
Scott, Sarah, Chloe and Jack from Gloucester travelled to KenyaAugust 2019
Dear Rob, the trip you planned for us was beyond the pale wonderful. We are home, but I am still processing all the fabulous things you planned for us. Loved everything, including all accommodations, Toby and fabulous Glen. You are amazing. Thank you for the wonderful memories.
Robert and Janet from Michigan travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweAugust 2019
Hello Rob, from start to finish, this was a trip of a lifetime! As soon as we arrived we felt like family and were warmly welcomed by everyone. The staff at both Dulini Lodge and Singita Ebony Lodge were amazing. The attention to detail was incredible. Any request we had was accommodated. The animal sightings were simply astounding. In Victoria Falls, the sunrise walking tour was breath-taking and Clive was an absolute thrill to have as our guide. I know we questioned the sunset dinner cruise, but this greatly exceeded our expectations. Arriving in Cape Town, Tobie from Vineyard Ventures was an excellent addition even with the minimal time we spent with him. He was very knowledgeable of the area and delightful to talk to as we made our way from place to place. The Cape Grace hotel was fantastic. We took advantage of the complimentary wine tasting they offered in house daily starting at 6pm. This was a fun perk to experience while there! Both the food and service at Cape Grace was top notch. For our all-day tour of the Cape, we could not have asked for a better guide than Glen from Vineyard Ventures. She is absolutely delightful, and I cannot say enough good things about her. The first thing that caught my eye upon arrival at The Marine Hotel in Hermanus was the beautiful panoramic views of the ocean out of our room. Our whale watching excursion was very fun. Once again, the staff at Dyer Island Cruises were very knowledgeable and helpful. For our final day, we were happily gathered by Glen to take us through the South African winelands. She hit the nail on the head with our tour! We got to experience a little of everything from sauvignon blanc to cabernet sauvignon to the pride of South Africa, pinotage. At Mont Rochelle, the views of Franschhoek out of our room were gorgeous. Overall, this trip was simply amazing. We highly recommend both doing a trip to Africa as well as working with Safari Consultants for the planning. We cannot thank Rob and his team enough for the thought that went into planning a trip like this and for the memories we now have that will last us a lifetime
Michael and Alexandra from Michigan travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweAugust 2019
Hi Michele, we had a fantastic time and my parents couldn’t stop smiling. Everything was as we wanted, great trip and looking forward to our next one.
Andrew, Samantha, Megan, Paige, David & Kathryn from Suffolk travelled to Zambia and MozambiqueAugust 2019
Dear Julia, we loved our safari!! It was impeccably planned and we thank you all so much for putting this together for us last minute. Every moment of the trip was magical, and we really enjoyed the diversity of activities that was planned for us. Namibia was unlike any other country in southern African that we have visited (which include South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana). The landscapes were beautiful and we greatly appreciated seeing so much of the country, from the moonscape near Swakopmund, to the fairy circles at Namib Rand and the red dunes of Sossusvlei. At times, it was like traveling from Mars to the Moon, and back to sand-dune laced desert. Thank you.
Graham, Celine and Sophia from Bermuda travelled to NamibiaAugust 2019
Rob, I just wanted to take few minutes to thank you once again for organizing such an amazing trip for our family. I had some reservations that it could be as good the second time but in fact it was just as great! We felt so well taken care of from the time we arrived in Nairobi until the time we left Dar es Salaam. Kicheche Bush, Fly Camping and Kicheche Valley were all just unbelievable. The customer experience is really top notch. I want to thank you for encouraging me to do the fly camping – it was truly a remarkable experience and I would definitely recommend it to others. We found that even though we had different hosts and different guides that the quality did not suffer – in fact sometimes the change was amazing! Kicheche does a great job with their camp hosts and their replacements and we all felt really well tended to. I really feel that the guides are so well informed that we learn so much each time we go out. It is fairly jarring to come off the all encompassing care / libations/ meals of safari and arrive at half board. I was unprepared for the constant signing of bills, with different servers at different locations for waters, coffee’s, drinks etc and trying to keep track of 6 people’s food and beverage intake and tipping. However I would like to say that the food quality and property at Breezes all really exceeded my expectations. It was by far the best “mass” buffet breakfast I have been to, and we do travel a fair bit. Thank you for arranging the deluxe rooms – the sea view in the morning was stunning. Additionally the management went out of their way to make sure we were happy – we had something broken by housekeeping and they arranged complimentary massages (lovely spa) and sailing for the kids. We also took advantage of their water sports centre and went snorkelling and the kids arranged scuba through the onsite dive shop. We are so fortunate to have had you planning these two very special trips for us and I am hoping we will be so lucky as to get a third time to organize something with you.
Maxine Tanya, Aux, Tanner, Callison & Williams from Canada travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaAugust 2019
Hi Frances, Cape Town, the apartment was perfect for us, V&A waterfront is a good base. Leaving Cape Town we went to Franschhoek and had lunch at the beautiful La Petite Ferme, we then headed to Hermanus via the coastal road, I personally loved this, one of the best roads I’ve ever driven, mountains to my left, sea and sun to my right! Hermanus was the only disappointing bit of the holiday, only due to the weather, our boat trip was cancelled. Auberge Burgundy Guesthouse was lovely though. We left Hermanus early and headed to La Plume, lovely guesthouse, great food and hospitality. We had the farm tour the following day and all seemed to enjoy it. We then went half way up the Swartberg pass, which was well worth it, took photos then back down en-route to Hog Hollow. We arrived at Hog Hollow, walked through reception and took in the view (Claire cried!). We loved Hog Hollow, food was amazing, staff were amazing and there’s plenty to do. It was very hard saying goodbye to Hog Hollow for all of us, we then went to River Bend and our first ever safari! River Bend was great, the staff again were amazing and really made our time there special! Our guide was “Darlington,” this guy knew everything there is to know about every living creature at River Bend Lodge! We saw so many elephants here, it was a really special experience. The kids loved him and his enthusiasm for his job, he kept them interested the whole time; not easy for 16 and 18 year olds! Then on to Kwandwe, this place is very special! Too many highlights to tell you about regarding the safari, every outing was amazing, sundowners on safari are very special! We saw every animal we thought we might be lucky enough to see and more and we hadn’t realised how close we would get to them, we loved it. All in all we had an amazing holiday, so many memories, thank you to you, Rob and the team so much for all your efforts.
Stefan, Claire, Henry and Lily from Essex travelled to South AfricaAugust 2019
Mary, we just wanted to say a huge thanks to you and the team for organising such a wonderful trip for us. All of the places you recommended were perfect for us, the itinerary worked extremely well and all of the transfers and logistics were smooth and hassle-free! A fabulous holiday experience was had by us all, and we won't hesitate to recommend you to our friends and family.
Ian, Lara, Samuel and Holly from Hertfordshire travelled to TanzaniaAugust 2019
Dear Mary, we had a fabulous time in Botswana; it definitely exceeded our expectations. The lodges were all fantastic and different from each other. We enjoyed each one and were very sad to leave. The staff and guides were wonderful and we learned huge amounts about the wildlife. Tongabezi was a very luxurious way to end our holiday and we really felt completely spoilt! It was the perfect antidote to spending hours in jeeps bouncing along on bumpy tracks (although we actually really enjoyed that!). Esme absolutely loved every moment and became our official wildlife photographer which she loved. Thank you again for organising our trip with so much care and attention to detail. It has been truly life-changing and we will cherish the memories.
John, Andrea and Esme from Cambridge travelled to Botswana and ZambiaAugust 2019
Dear Joe & Rob, we just wanted to send you a note to thank you for organising our family holiday in South Africa. The whole experience has been amazing. Seamless transfers and a fantastic selection of places to stay. The Bush House, with its animal hide and family feel was a great introduction to Safari and we were lucky enough to have many amazing animal encounters. We need to mention Mike, our Safari guide, as he put us at ease and was a genius at taking us to the right places at the right times. Cape Grace hotel was the perfect base for our days in Cape Town and Margie from Vineyard Tours was a first rate guide for our excursions. Grootbos was the perfect end to our adventure. A positive success story of environmentally sustainable tourism. The team there were so knowledgeable and friendly. We will certainly want to go back. Thank you both so much for all of your help organising our trip.
Dan, Jane, Jessica and Poppy from Hertfordshire travelled to South AfricaAugust 2019
Hi Frances, I just wanted to say that we all had an amazing holiday in Kenya and were sad to leave and come back to reality. Thank you for all your hard work in making it such a special experience. We were blown away by the game viewing in Mara North in particular, but also loved Laikipia. All the arrangements worked perfectly and we were particularly impressed by the 2 main transition days. We all loved both the Kicheche camps – the staff were amazing and the attention to detail was impressive; we felt very welcome and the food was outstanding – we hadn’t been quite sure what to expect, but it certainly surpassed any expectations we might have had. The scale of the camps was just right for us – not too many guests, but enough to be sociable, and we met lots of really nice people. We all liked the Pinewood Spa resort too; its location was ideal being south of Diani itself, which meant the beach was very quiet and there were very few hawkers. We had a brilliant and very memorable holiday.
Peter, Margaret, Lucy and Rosie from London travelled to KenyaJuly/August 2019
All-in all excellent. Joe was a pleasure to deal with during the holiday planning. Both main locations; Kicheche Mara and Kinondo Kwetu were outstanding in terms of service, quality and for the safari location and animal spotting. Thanks very much, we shall certainly be recommending you!
Stuart, Mallika, Rohan and Tara from London travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Dear Julia, we had a wonderful honeymoon! Everything went smoothly from internal flights to airport transfers, and Kicheche & Pongwe were exactly the sort of places we had hoped to stay at. Thank you for your hard work to understand what we were after and to set it all up for us.
Ben and Madeleine from London travelled on honeymoon to Kenya and TanzaniaJuly 2019
Dear Mary, we have had the most fabulous time and have been singing your praises to anyone who will listen! I shall write in more detail later but we have packed every second of the trip with adventures. And loved every moment. With Tusk and Mane, and Kyle and Sarah, you have achieved the near impossible given what you have arranged for us before. Providing the happiest holiday moments of our lives. It is simply exceptional.
Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia and MalawiJuly 2019
Hi Frances. Just to let you know we had a really fantastic holiday in South Africa and Botswana, we loved all of it. We had so many close encounters with some great wildlife. The accommodation was also very good, though as expected the San Parks were more basic with not much choice of food. Mashatu Tent camp was the best place for close up animal sightings and we loved the Pafuri Camp accommodation and the scenery there. H12 Leshiba was the perfect place to finish our holiday and we could have done with an extra night, Rissington Inn was also a great place to start our holiday. Thanks again for booking such a wonderful holiday for us.
Peter and Angela from Hertfordshire travelled to South Africa & BotswanaJuly 2019
Dear Mary, I promised a few comments from what has been a wonderful holiday. The plan to base our holiday on the Zambia bank of the Zambezi, opposite where we had our honeymoon was perfect - you have now organised South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zanzibar for us, and goodness knows how many for friends. We have loved each part of every trip. Our 2 super-highlights? Perhaps Sosian when the children were younger, and now Tusk and Mane Mobile Camping. It is the variety of textures and activities within these two settings combined with the outstanding and very personal organisation and delivery of every minute in a private setting that made them our favourite moments. Kyle and his fiancee Sarah put a huge amount of effort into making sure everything was as we hoped. Kayaking through crocodiles devouring a dead hippo (we lost count at 60 and they really were that close to our kayak and had to be pushed off), fishing (William caught the biggest Tigerfish in memory on that stretch of the river - first cast), then a surprise with Kyle showing him how to open his first bottle of “champagne” for an early birthday present, early morning drives watching 3 male lions playing together before resting, elephant galore eating from the trees, followed by a couple of hours peaceful walking in quite the most beautiful woodland. There were night drives to see new borne leopard and in the “quiet" 2 hours after lunch Kyle would take me fly fishing on my own, casting right into hippo pods where the tigers lurked - and all with almost no one else around. You have found a great new adventure here. I’d strongly recommend 4 nights as we did. Clive at Purple Patch Transfers and Tours was wonderfully colourful and hands on in Vic Falls and looked after us incredibly well. Pumulani really does have spectacular villas. We were again very lucky to be almost alone there so had wall to wall activities every day. So much for resting! Swimming with countless cichlids, tough walks up the hills, kayaking, pico sailing, dhow cruises, star gazing, paddle boarding, water skiing and tubing amongst the activities we did. A heart felt thank you again for your patience and advice. It has been a truly wonderful trip.
Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia & MalawiJuly 2019
Hi Joe,
A quick note to thank you for your help with our holiday. We have had the most amazing time. We were so impressed with both Kicheche camps, and our time on safari was unforgettable. As you are no doubt aware, the rains seem to have come late this year, so the Great Migration hadn’t reached the Masai Mara yet, but it didn’t matter for us as there was so much to see - it really did exceed our expectations. Next Paradise was lovely, and just what we needed after a week of early starts on safari. I have to say you really did a great job of understanding what we wanted, and tailoring a trip that was exactly what we were hoping for. I will have no hesitation in recommending Safari Consultants to anyone who is planning to go on safari in the future. The only problem that we have been left with is that what was intended to be a once in a lifetime holiday has already triggered conversations about the next safari we would like to do! Once again, many thanks.
James, Caroline, Grace and Lara from Bristol travelled to Kenya and ZanzibarJuly 2019
Really flawless organisation by Mary for our three venue, tailor-made, two week trip to Kenya. We selected the destinations ourselves (Sarara camp in the Mathews Range, followed by walking segments in Laikipia with Walking Wild and with Karisia, each fabulous in its own way) but Safari Consultants’ arrangements couldn’t have been bettered. Excellent pre-safari advice, immediate follow-up to any queries we had, transparent billing and, best of all, every one of the complex on-the-ground arrangements worked perfectly, whether transfers to and from airports, a day room in the excellent Palacina Hotel in Nairobi, or private charter flights to remote airstrips. Third time with Safari Consultants
Michael and Linda from Oxfordshire travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Hi Joe, we had an absolutely amazing time in Kenya. It surpassed all expectations, the accommodation was fantastic (and a great to stay in 2 different styles of accommodation) and the wildlife was just mind-blowing. Such a thrilling experience for me and the boys, it was like being dropped into a David Attenborough documentary. Without a doubt the best holiday we have ever had, and certainly not our last safari. Having said it was a once in a lifetime trip we have already been talking about when we can go back. I think you said this might be the case! We did a couple of trips when we were there which were excellent - from Lewa up into the forest to a waterfall, diving pool, treetop walkway and fabulous picnic al fresco. Really interesting for us all (and in particular the kids) to see real Kenyan life in the villages and fields en route. We also did a walking safari at Lewa which was thrilling, and visited the amazing kitchen garden where a massive variety of fruit and veg was being cultivated. At Kicheche we went on the trip to the village which I would recommend to anyone with kids. The boys loved it, they got involved and some dancing and singing and jumping rituals and then had the chance to buy some souvenirs. It was fun, and according to the manager of Kicheche a pretty authentic experience. All arrangements were seamless, Benroso were great in Nairobi and took us to an excellent hotel to have supper before the flight (sorry can’t remember the name) with a very lush garden and relaxing start to the journey home. Also great to have the drive through Nairobi - its been an excellent educational experience for the kids. We have taken 100s of photographs of course. Thank you for all your help with arranging this trip. I’d go as far to say its been life-changing. We will be in touch again in a couple of years for our next one!
Sarah, Benjamin and Oliver from Norfolk travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Hello Frances, I had no doubts that we would have a great time, but the safari in particular was amazing. There were several special moments, but the one that stood out was when the leopard had disappeared on the other side of the gorge from where we parked. We waited for a while and then assumed she had left but just then she popped up only inches from our faces! Although we never saw a live kill, we saw a leopard dragging the dead antelope down from the tree for further consumption! The camp itself was great, luxury camping without it being over-the top. Baraza - we thought the quality of the food was outstanding. And the breadth of choice very good too. All in all a great holiday and many thanks to you and your team.
Dominic, Wallis and Max from London travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaJuly 2019
Dear Joe and Rob, just a quick note for now that we are back and had a fantastic time. The girls loved it and are asking if we can go back for the October and February half-terms. So a huge success from that standpoint which is what Mary Ruth and I were hoping for.
Bob, Mary-Ruth, Annagail and Genevieve from London travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Dear Rob, we indeed had a fantastic holiday in Tanzania and would have no hesitation in recommending it to any of our friends. I don't think there were any unusual sightings, but we certainly saw everything possible from the Big Five to Fishers lovebirds and an African Pygmy Falcon and terrapins in the pond at the Moru Kopjes. The service was excellent on both your end and in Africa. All your advice and input was manifestly accurate and excellent guidance to us. The service on the ground in Africa exceeded all expectations. Aaron Lazaro our guide, driver and now family friend was an outstanding ambassador for Hoopoe Safaris. He was so knowledgeable, patient and always charming and kind to us and everyone else he interacted with. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the universe but mostly zoology, botany and ornithology. The Kirurumu camps at Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Moru were delightful. Rob, it was an amazing holiday. Everybody wants to go back. We really cannot say enough good things about Aaron and all the other people we met and interacted with. It was one of the best family holidays ever.
Julian, Vivienne, Hugh and William from China travelled to TanzaniaJune 2019
Hey Julia, we had an absolutely amazing time, thank you so much for organising. Kenya was just incredible, amazing camp, Debbie was great as were the rest of the team. We saw so much - so many Lions, Cheetahs, one beautiful Leopard, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Ostriches etc etc. The room in the camp itself was beautiful, the food was amazing and everyone was so friendly. Zanzibar was absolutely stunning, Zawadi hotel was exactly what we were looking. Only a small number of places, beach a few minutes’ walk away, beautiful plunge pool, unbelievable sea and the staff really could not do enough for you. It was really a perfect honeymoon. It was exactly what we wanted from our initial brief and above and beyond our expectations. I have already recommend you to lots of people! Thanks so much!
Adam and Nathalie from East Sussex travelled on Honeymoon to Kenya & ZanzibarJune 2019
Dear Rob, I just wanted to say thank you for putting together such a wonderful itinerary. It was a memorable trip and every single day offered something magical. I just wanted to add my thanks and appreciation of a truly wonderful time in all three countries. The locations and accommodation were spot on - as always! It was fabulous - from the might of the Victoria Falls, to lions and their cubs, being entertained by the elephants (great to watch them drinking from the plunge pool at Somalisa!), seeing a cheetah, the elusive leopard and more hippos than I could imagine! The water-based viewing from the river boat and the peace and tranquility of the mokoro were amazing and a wonderful contrast! Thank you. It's tough to be back!
Pamela from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Namibia and BotswanaJune 2019
Hi Julia, we had the most incredible time on our honeymoon! Thank you so so much for organising such an amazing trip for us, we couldn't have asked for better. Everything ran so smoothly and that was all down to your organising. The safari was out of this world, we were so sad when we had to leave! We loved absolutely everything about it. Thank you for always answering emails/calls so promptly and for organising a holiday of a lifetime for us! We recommend you guys to everyone we know/meet!
Thomas and Laura from Horsham travelled to South Africa and Mauritius on their HoneymoonApril/May 2019
Dear Frances, just to say thank you for organising our holiday. We all had a marvellous time. The weather could have been kinder to us but no one can control that!
Marlene and Colin from Hampshire travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Thank you Frances. We have commended you to everyone we have talked to, we had the best time. Flights and transfers went really well. Rissington accommodation was a little dated but easily made up for by staff, food and wine! Umkumbe was faultless. Room, buffets, too many animals to mention, and the wonderful Tanya driving us every day with her knowledge and humour.
Graham, Sarah and Charlotte from Hertfordshire travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Hi Frances. A very big thank you for all the arrangements you made for us and for Le Paradis - which was an unqualified success - the perfect venue for the family holiday that we had wanted. Everyone had a ball! We found the staff unfailingly friendly, smiling and helpful - they couldn't do enough for the guests. The buffet restaurants offered a splendid range of food - the difficulty was not to eat far too much! Many thanks for helping with this amazing holiday.
William and Deborah from Edinburgh travelled to Mauritius with their familyApril 2019
Dear Mary, I apologise that this is a little slow in coming, but its tardiness doesn't detract from its weight in saying thank you for your part in arranging our stay at The Bush House, which is an outstanding Game Lodge. The Morrisons are superb hosts and the staff are second to none, nothing was too much trouble. We all had an excellent time which included some first-rate game viewing. Our guide Renain Venter was good at seeking out the animals and also was exceedingly patient with Matilda and Eric encouraging them to look and watch. Everything worked well and I am very grateful for all you did for us. As you may know my object, after visiting Cape Town, was to show Matilda and Eric real animals in a real setting and I reckon we accomplished this pretty well, for which many thanks indeed.
Andrew, Ian, Caroline, Matilda and Eric from Salisbury travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Hi Julia, just a short note to pass on our thanks for your super organisation of our trip to Tanda Tula and onto Cape Town. Suffice to say we had a truly amazing time. Thanks again for all your help in pulling it together and making the trip go as smoothly as possible.
Alan and Joanna from Surbiton travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Jane, thank you so much for putting our itinerary together. You hit the brief on the nose!! To be blunt and to the point, our holiday exceeded expectation. I think you did a great job working out our requirements (even if we weren’t sure what we wanted). All our lodging was excellent (yet different), and we were met and managed(!) across Nairobi excellently. Most importantly we got a feel of Kenya and in particular the Masai Mara and its extraordinary wildlife. In our first three days we had seen the “Big Five”, charged by a black Rhino (in the car and on a horse) and had our sundowner drinks under a tree with a leopard in it. We were spoilt with the number of Rhino (both black and white) but a lovely beginning in a place with a great history of conservation. Walking Wild was probably the best bit, although it is difficult to pick out the best as it’s all been great. The quality of food on the go (all produced on open fires) the warm friendliness of the group of men transporting the kit on the camels and the humour, wit and knowledge of Kitonga was humbling. Our night drive at Kicheche was particularly memorable seeing an Ardwolf and most endearing of all a Bush baby ‘bouncing’ for 100 metres to the next tree.
Jim and Sue from Wiltshire travelled to KenyaMarch/April 2019
Hi Frances, we had the most amazing trip and it by far outdid our expectations so thank you so much for organising everything so well. It was great not to have to worry about any of the logistics in getting there and back. The safari was really unbelievable, we saw so much which I never expected - lots of different prides of Lions, Lions mating, Hippos mating, a Hippo started to charge the vehicle, cheetahs, hyenas, carcasses, baby elephants, giraffes, zebras to name a few!! Ol Seki itself was fabulous, I especially loved the hot chocolate wake up call before the game drive. Debbie was so lovely and looked after us so well. It really was the trip of a lifetime so thank you so so much again for recommending it, we would have ended up somewhere very different and not a patch on Ol Seki if we hadn't come to you.
Emily and Spencer from Ireland travelled to KenyaMarch 2019
Hi Frances, we had a wonderful holiday and would like to thank you for all your help and advice. Although there were a few travel glitches, you had planned everything in meticulous detail, the hotels were all lovely, everybody looked after us well and left flowers, wine and chocolates in celebration of my birthday - you must have arranged that! All your written information was really helpful and detailed and we enjoyed using the App. This was just what I wanted - an unforgettable holiday to celebrate reaching 60 and you more than delivered on that. Those wonderful memories will remain long after the memory of our plane journey home has ended.
Judith and Martin from Durham travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweFebruary 2019
Special thanks to Joe Corder for his patience, advice and knowledge in guiding two first timers through all the decisions and where and when to do a safari. We couldn’t have done it without him and the Safari Consultants team!
Jane and Mary from Nottinghamshire, travelled to KenyaFebruary 2019
- Tanzania
Activities & Special Interest
Special interest & safari activities in Tanzania
Big-game viewing
Most big-game viewing in Tanzania occurs on game drives in either open or closed 4×4 vehicles. In the north of the country, it is usual to take a private ‘closed’ vehicle (and guide) and travel overland between the safari regions which are close together, although there are an increasing number of camps now offering a fly-in option with game drives in open vehicles. In the south and west of the country, where regions are linked by internal flights, open vehicles are used. The best regions for seeing big game are the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Selous, Ruaha and Katavi. Please view our regions page for more information on these and other areas.
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Night drives
Night drives are not possible in National Parks and Game Reserves, and are therefore limited to a few specific private conservancies/properties.
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Walking Safaris
Walking is widely available in Tanzania. Whilst some safari properties offer nature walks as individual activities, the country is also an excellent destination for longer, more adventurous walking trails, often walking over several days and staying in fairly basic ‘fly-camps’ in the wilderness. All walks are fully guided with a back up crew to provide meals, drinks and undertake camp chores. In Mahale and Gombe Stream national parks, walking is the main activity when searching for primates such as chimpanzee.
Some of the best ‘dedicated’ walking safaris are found in the Selous Game Reserve, where operations such as Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari offer genuine wilderness walking with big game encounters. Other regions that offer good overnight walking safaris or trails include Katavi, Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Serengeti ecosystem, including the National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo.
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Mountain trekking & Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro offers superb mountain trekking and the trek to Uhuru Peak (at 5,895 metres/ 19,370 feet, the highest point in Africa) is a challenging and rewarding adventure. From the dense forests of the lower slopes, where wildlife can be seen, you traverse rolling moorland, rocky ridges and alpine desert before the final ascent up the prominent ‘Kibo Dome’. The views from on top of the Kibo Dome are awesome and inspiring, if not especially picturesque.
There are several different routes you can take, none of which involve technical climbing, but all of which are exhausting and expose you to freezing temperatures. You need a minimum of 4 or 5 nights on the mountain (often 6 nights), as well as a night either side close to the mountain. Accommodation is either in mountain huts (Marangu route only) or camping (all other routes including Machame, Shira, Lemoshi Glades and Rongai) with all food and services provided by your climb outfitter.
Mount Meru offers a shorter high altitude trek (usually 3 days/ 2 nights from Arusha), whilst the Ngorongoro Highlands offer some good lower level trekking, with an ascent of the active volcano Ol Donyo Lengai possible for the really hardy and experienced (we actually do not recommend this as the conditions on the volcano are incredibly dangerous).
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Birding
With over 1100 species recorded, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier birding destinations. On any safari, even those with little bird knowledge are likely to record around 100 species over a period of a week. Changing habitats and altitude will prove even more productive. We do not specifically arrange birding group tours, but many of our customers are keen birders and putting together an individually designed itinerary is very easy. Some of the key areas to include are the montane forests around Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, the riverine woodland and waterways of the Selous Game Reserve, the drier bush habitats and miombo woodland of Ruaha and Katavi and the Great Rift Valley lakes of Natron and Manyara. In particular, Lake Natron is one of the largest breeding grounds for the lesser flamingo. Specialist guides are available for the more serious birder, who may also wish to consider destinations such as the Usambara Mountains, and Udzungwa Mountains National Park and the southern highlands.
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Species specific interests
Tanzania offers a very wide range of wildlife viewing, but some of the key species that can be specifically focused on include chimpanzee, elephant and the big cats.
The Serengeti is one of the best regions in Africa to see all three big cat species – lion, cheetah and leopard, whilst elephant viewing is especially good in Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and at the end of the dry season elephants can be seen in vast herds in Katavi National Park.
In Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania offers some of the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees in the wild. Chimps have been studied in these regions for many years, and some families habituated to the presence of humans, making viewing excellent.
Tanzania is also a great country for seeing giraffe, and there is a growing population of wild dogs, especially in the Selous Game Reserve. The waterways of the Rufiji River are some of the very best areas in Africa to see hippo and crocodiles. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Cultural Experiences
Tanzania is a fairly heavily populated country with a multitude of ethnic tribes and colourful peoples, and even staying within the designated National Parks & Reserves, you will meet local people in the form of guides and camp staff. Some safari camps and lodges, especially those outside of national reserves, work closely with local villages and as a guest you can learn as much about the local community as you desire. The best opportunities are arguably around the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the colourful Maasai dominate, and hunter-gatherers such as the Hadzabe provide a less touristy experience.
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Photographic Safaris
Most people who head out on safari plan to take a few photographs. However, in depth photographic safaris are growing in popularity, whether in the form of small group trips (please see the ‘Groups’ section for links to specialist photographic tours) or individually tailored holidays.
We are best equipped to arrange individually tailored photographic holidays. The flexibility and service we offer allows you to carefully plan your safari to meet your exact requirements, whilst our specialist knowledge is crucial, not just in terms of knowing where to photograph particular species, but also in terms of being able to provide suitable vehicles and guides.
In Tanzania, photographing big game is possible in many of the parks, especially prime areas such as the Serengeti, where the wildebeest and zebra herds can also be found. The Ngorongoro Crater is an amazing scenic spectacle and the best place to see rhino, whilst the Selous Game Reserve will offer a different opportunity with magical waterways and fantastic opportunities to photograph birds and water-dwelling species such as hippo and croc. In the west of the country, Mahale and Gombe are without doubt the best places in Africa to photograph chimps in the wild.
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Water-based Safaris
The Selous Game Reserve, with the Rufiji River and a string of four beautiful lakes that connect off the main river, offers some of the best boating safaris in Africa. Throughout the rest of the country, there is very little on offer, though Lake Tanganyika offers scenic cruises and kayaking, and canoeing is sometimes possible on Lake Manyara.
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Fishing
Whilst there are some freshwater fishing opportunities on Lake Tanganyika and in some of the great rivers such as the Rufiji, the best fishing on offer in Tanzania is big game fishing off the coast (both traditional and on fly). There is not really a ‘fishing culture’ but most beach hotels can arrange deep-sea fishing through local specialists. Bill fishing, particularly for sailfish, is superb from September to March. Marlin (blue, black and striped), broadbill swordfish, shark, barracuda, trevally/kingfish are just some of the other species regularly caught.
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Scuba-diving and Snorkelling
Diving is widely available off the islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba, where there is some excellent diving. Mafia Island, Mnemba Island off north-east Zanzibar and Mesali Island off western Pemba are some of the best diving locations. Snorkelling is good in most places, but it is usually necessary to go out in a boat, rather than snorkel from the beach. Mnemba and Chumbe Islands off Zanzibar offer some of the best conditions. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Other activities
Other activities available on a limited basis include sailing, kayaking, mountain biking. We can also cater for very specific interests such as dendrology, Lepidoptera, archaeology etc.
Horse-riding is not widely available in Tanzania, and limited to the areas of Arusha, West Kilimanjaro, Manyara, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Grumeti Reserves in the western Serengeti.
Most places that offer riding concentrate on half day or full day rides, and are usually available for all capabilities. Serious riding enthusiast should consider the more dedicated operations found in Kenya and southern Africa.
Hot-air balloon safaris are possible in a couple of places in Tanzania, most notably in the Serengeti National Park. Take-off is at dawn, and you float over the plains for about an hour before landing (usually bumpy). A ‘champagne’ breakfast is served before you transfer back to your lodge/camp. Although expensive and commercial, balloon safaris are memorable and the views are magical.
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Other Regions
Other Regions
Mikumi abuts the north-western border of the vast Selous Game Reserve and is cut in two by the main Dar es Salaam to Iringa road. The park, Tanzania’s fourth largest at around 3200 sq.kms, is dominated by the Mkata floodplain and is one of the best areas to see eland, the largest antelope species.
Other game includes lion, elephant, Nyasa blue wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe and wild dog. Bird species number over 400. Ease of access and with a good network of roads make Mikumi a popular park to visit from Dar es Salaam, or if driving to Ruaha.
Day excursions to the remote and forested Udzungwa Mountains National Park can also be taken (there is no permanent accommodation in Udzungwa but the park does have a number of excellent walking trails). Udzungwa is an important birding area with four species endemic including the Udzungwa forest partridge only ‘discovered’ in 1991.
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The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The mainland coast of Tanzania has pretty much escaped from the mass development of coast hotels, most certainly because Zanzibar has taken this role. However, there are a number of reasonable coastal resorts which offer good quality beach breakaways with a bit more exclusivity in the Pangani region and just south of Dar es Salaam. Sadaani National Park, some five hours drive north of Dar es Salaam, is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania to border the sea – the chance to see monkeys and hippo on the beach!
Zanzibar
Correctly, Zanzibar should be the term used when talking about the islands of Pemba and Unguja. However, in recent years the term has been used to refer solely to the latter, with Pemba maintaining its own identity. The islands lie some 30 kms off-shore north/north-east of Dar es Salaam (20 minutes by air to Zanzibar, sea ferries are also available).
Zanzibar’s history dates back more than 2000 years when the islands traded with ships from Persia, Arabia and India. From about the 10th century, groups of immigrants from Shiraz (Persia) settled on the island and mixed with the local people. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established a trading station before being ousted by Omani Arabs a couple of centuries later. In 1840, the Sultan Said moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar with the Omani Arabs forming an elite group of landlords and rulers. Indian settlers formed a merchant class and the island became an important centre of regional politics and the focus of the slave trade. In 1890, Zanzibar became a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1963. In 1964, the Sultan was overthrown and nearly all Arabs and Indians expelled. Later that year, Zanzibar and Tanganyika combined to form Tanzania. Since then, many of the expelled peoples have returned.
In Zanzibar’s Stone Town (the old quarter), a fascinating maze of narrow streets and alleyways lead past numerous old houses, mosques, ornate palaces, shops and bazaars. Many of the buildings date back to the 19th century and depict the wealth of its builder. Arab houses have plain outer walls with large doors leading to an inner courtyard. Conversely, Indian houses have a more open facade and large balconies with railings and balustrades. The area outside the Stone Town is called Michenzani (New City), a failed attempt at becoming a modern city.
The Stone Town lies on the west coast with the harbour and airport. The best beaches are on the south-east, north-east and far north-west coasts, about an hours drive away. There has been a lot of coastal development in the last few years, and the variety of beach resorts is ever expanding – from discreet beach retreats and exclusive luxury lodges to large, resort-style hotels.
Aside from swimming, snorkelling and diving, the island offers a range of other activities including visiting spice plantations, the Jozani Forest where the rare red colobus monkey is found, swimming with dolphins, dhow trips etc. Chumbe Island Coral Park is well worth visiting as a day trip from Stone Town or for a couple of nights.
There are regular flights to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, the southern safari circuit and the northern safari circuit (Arusha/Kilimanjaro). Direct connections to Nairobi (Kenya) are also available.
Pemba Island lies to the north and is serviced by air from Zanzibar. Fundu Lagoon, on the west coast, is the only lodge of good quality and is best suited for those who want to dive Mesali Island or escape the development on Zanzibar.
Mafia Island lies to the south of Dar es Salaam (opposite the mouth of the Rufiji River) and is an unspoilt, little visited alternative to Zanzibar. The archipelago is actually made up of four major islands, Mafia itself, Chole, Jiobondo and Juani, and is better known for its fantastic scuba diving rather than its beaches. In comparison to Zanzibar, it is extremely poor with little infrastructure aside from the few beach hotels.
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The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous is Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary, covering over 54,600 sq. kms. (almost the size of Ireland). The region is dominated by the Great Ruaha River and Kilombero rivers which join to form the mighty Rufiji River, East Africa’s greatest waterway. Although only 45 minutes by air from Dar es Salaam, the Selous is still one of the worlds last great wilderness areas. It is a largely inaccessible region, dissected by water courses which become raging torrents during the rains, forcing the animals onto high ground. In the dry season, the rivers whither away to form ‘sand rivers’.
The reserve is named after the famous hunter and explorer, Frederick Courtney Selous, but it was the Germans who first established a game reserve here in 1905. The first warden was an eccentric former ivory hunter called C.P. Ionides (known locally as the ‘Snake Man’ and it was he who helped develop the reserve into it’s present size. Under the wardenship of Brian Nicholson, the Selous became an example of intelligent wildlife management; it is divided into controlled areas and human habitation is prohibited. However, groves of mango trees scattered through the bush are grim reminders that the main southern caravan route from Lake Nyasa passed through this region; they grew from the stones dropped by slaves as they were marched towards the slave markets of Zanzibar.
The habitat and scenery varies significantly over short distances: purple rolling hills, rock-strewn plains, ‘sand rivers’ lined with salt bush, cluster lush swamps and marshes, rocky gorges, savannah bush country and miombo woodland. Altitudes range from 110m to 1250m and the climate is quite tropical – humid during the rains and pleasantly warm during the dry season (June to October – the best time to visit).
There is a wealth of animals to see on a Selous safari including lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant, Cape buffalo, eland, sable antelope, greater kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck and the very elusive black rhino. The birdlife too is superb, with over 350 species having been recorded.
Three quarters of the reserve is made up of hunting concessions and closed to most ‘photographic’ tourists. Most photographic tourists are limited to the north-eastern part of the reserve where there are a number of good safari lodges. In the last few years however, new conservation initiatives have resulted in one of the ‘hunting concessions’ being operated solely for exclusive photographic safaris.
Aside from daily walks, boat cruises and game drives, some lodges in the Selous offer a range of different walking trails from overnight fly-camping to longer multi-day trails.
To find out more on Selous safari options please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari specialists.
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Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha was previously part of the huge Rungwa Game Reserve, with which it shares its north-western boundary, but gazetted as a National Park in 1964. The terrain within the park is well wooded and undulating. The Great Ruaha River (which forms much of the south-eastern boundary), numerous waterholes, swamps and seepage areas provide the park with a permanent supply of water, but there are also numerous sand rivers which become raging torrents during the rains (from December to April).
Generally, the park is divided into four different habitats consisting of mixed miombo woodland, undulating hills dominated by baobabs, albida woodland along the main river courses, and areas of open ‘black cotton’ grassland. Mammal viewing is superb particularly in the dry season (June to October) when the animals are forced to congregate around the water sources – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, impala, zebra, giraffe, hippo, waterbuck, roan and sable antelope, eland, greater and lesser kudu, and Grant’s gazelle are just some on the many species to be seen. The birdlife is exceptional with some 540 species recorded.
Despite Ruaha being a terrific wildlife area, it is still attracts relatively small numbers of tourists. Game-viewing is limited to game drives by day – some camps may offer walks with advanced notice. Tsetse fly are present.
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Map of Tanzania
Please roll over the red lettering for information on those areas.
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Ngorongoro Crater
One of Africa’s best known and most unique attractions, the Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular ‘caldera’ offering majestic views from the crater rim and superb game-viewing on the crater floor.
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Serengeti National Park
A huge tract of stunning open grassland plains, interspersed with acacia woodland, forested river courses and rocky outcrops. Home to a huge variety of wildlife, including the annual wildebeest and zebra migration.
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Lake Manyara National Park
A small but very beautiful park at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. Good game-viewing and birding, including flamingos on the lake, and worth a visit if passing.
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Tarangire National Park
A good all round wildlife destination with some lovely scenery and superb game-viewing in the dry season, especially elephants.
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Mount Kilimanjaro
At 5895m (19340ft) Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa. The climb is physically exhausting but not technical, and takes between 5 and 7 days.
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Zanzibar
This ‘spice island’ is full of character and history, but is best known as a fantastic and convenient beach destination, with good scuba diving.
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Selous Game Reserve
A huge and varied reserve with good game-viewing, excellent birding and wonderful boat cruises along the Rufiji River.
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Ruaha National Park
Truly wild and remote African wilderness, with fantastic big game concentrations and varied habitats.
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Katavi National Park
Very remote and one of Africa’s most exclusive safari destinations. Major game concentrations in the dry season, especially elephant, buffalo and hippo.
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Mahale Mountains National Park
A stunning and unique natural destination, where densely forested mountains tumble down to meet the golden beaches and crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika. Wild and remote, this is the best place in Africa to see chimps in the wild.
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Testimonials
Having specialised in travel to Africa since 1983, we are extremely proud to have built up a wonderful customer base of repeat travellers who recommend our services to their friends and colleagues. Whether our customers travel just once to Africa as a special celebration holiday, or go back multiple times a year, our aim is for every holiday to be perfect, every time. Listed below are just some of the comments we have received from our customers visiting Tanzania in the past year.
Good Afternoon Mary, Mike and I arrived back from Kenya after what can only be described as a holiday of a lifetime. It was amazing. From start to finish it could not be faulted. We felt very privileged to be able to see all those animals in their natural environment and to be able to share that space. As for your organisation, it was the little things as well. The leather wallet and pen. Questions got answered promptly etc. etc. I could go on and on, but as I've said it was amazing. Thank you Mary
Michael and Susan from Newton Abbot travelled to KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Michele, I have been trying to think of any ways in which you at Safari Consultants can improve your service. Sorry, all services as usual are spot on - PERFECT!!!
Nick and Liz from Lincolnshire travelled to KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Rob, yet another superb holiday arranged by Safari Consultants! Masons provided every facility you would expect from a good travel agent. L’Archipel had good, friendly service. Restaurant serving creole food - OK but not my favourite. Denis Island was extremely well run, lovely friendly service, haute cuisine of the highest order, all produce grown on the island and of top quality. Very comfortable chalet with (almost) private beach and exquisite sunsets. Moderately good snorkelling on the reef off the shore. Constance Ephelia Resort had a very poor welcome, but our dissatisfaction soon dissipated when we were deposited at our accommodation which looked more like the best situated Beachfront Villa with its own private swimming pool and a welcome complimentary bottle of fizz and chocolate cake each night. We eventually found good snorkelling, not far from the beautiful beach and booked very good dinners wherever we wanted each night. In short we had an excellent holiday. Thank you again Rob for your good advice and excellent service.
Graeme and Joanna from Surrey travelled to SeychellesOctober 2019
Dear Joe, just wanted to say a big thank you so much for all the hard work & effort you put into making our holiday so special. We had the most amazing time and every detail was taken care of...we felt like royalty. It was such a treat to be met & transported around & our entire itinerary was perfect. We particularly loved the Mara, it was absolutely the right camp for us and we know you hand picked out guide too! The champagne was the cherry on the icing on the cake. Thanks for delivering 10 days of heaven. Please pass on our thanks to the rest of the team too. Everyone we have been in contact with has been professional & so helpful. We would not hesitate to recommend you & Safari Consultants to anyone travelling to Africa.
Philip and Samantha from Lincolnshire travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaOctober 2019
Dear Mary, an absolutely brilliant trip!
John from Hampshire travelled to South AfricaSeptember/October 2019
Dear Mary, so Kenya…………………..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to say a huge thank you for organising the most amazing holiday we have ever been on, it was so magical and everything was amazing and went to plan! We got up so close to the animals and we have the most amazing photos to remind us of this mesmerising holiday! All the staff were exceptional and made us feel part of the family from the start, it was so lovely to get to know them and the others in camp. I loved every moment from start to finish and everything seemed out of this world! I must say I didn’t sleep much but I knew that anyway, however I loved being in a tented camp and having the authenticity, it was superb! The engagement proposal stirred up a lot of excitement in the camp, and it blew me away. I felt very special and couldn’t believe the efforts made to make it so spectacular. I keep looking at my photos as they are so amazing and I can’t really believe we had the chance to experience this holiday of a life time. We were so lucky we got to see everything we wanted too. Big thanks again.
Thijs and Rachel from Kent were engaged in KenyaOctober 2019
Dear Rob, the trip exceeded my expectations. Accommodation and food generally of a higher standard. I purposely did not do much research before going, so much of the trip was a wonderful surprise. Certainly has stimulated thoughts of visiting Africa again.
Susan from Worcestershire travelled to NamibiaSeptember/October 2019
Fran, it was marvellous! It more than met our expectations. Savannah was amazing and we loved the safaris. We saw the big 5 and more! After Savannah we felt Waterberry Lodge seemed low key but by the time we left it was – for both of us - the top place we had stayed. So wonderfully relaxing! And the staff (everywhere) were lovely. We will (and have already) recommend Safari Consultants to other people. The service was just excellent. Who knows – maybe another trip could be a possibility! Thank you!
Martyn & Heather from Essex travelled to South Africa & ZambiaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, I have attached the questionnaire form duly completed and confirm that your service was, as always excellent both before and during the trip. All arrangements were smooth and everything superbly organised. Thank you so much - that makes a very big difference to my holiday experience. It is wonderful to be able to sit back beforehand in the certain knowledge that all will be well and that I merely need to read my instructions, turn up and then enjoy my holiday without worry or hassle. My life is full of doing things for other people, so it is a totally welcome break to be confident that Safari Consultants team will sort out my holidays superbly. Well done and thank you all again. I shall hope to be in contact with you again before long about arranging another trip.
Naomi from Hertfordshire travelled to TanzaniaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, Wow!!! What a trip to Kicheche we had. It was out of this world!! Whilst we did not see the infamous migration river crossing, we did get to see so many other things. The first day we saw a leopard up a tree - he was never to be seen again by anyone for the following 4 days. The cheetahs were on form and there’s lions galore!! We saw so many with fresh kills, unlike Botswana they were really active - none of this just lying down in the sun! When Bill said Kicheche camp was something special, I now know what he meant - the camp was excellent. The food every day was great and Carys and Tony were brilliant. The staff fantastic. There is absolutely nothing that could be improved about the place, perfect. I can’t praise them enough. Thank you again for organising an excellent trip.
Richard and Sharon from Lancashire travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, we had a spectacular trip, beyond our wildest dreams. Took over 12,000 photos in 10 days. The Tamarind Tree Hotel was wonderful. Kicheche Mara Camp was perfect and we were treated like royalty. Thank you for making the special arrangements for our early arrival and the extra night at the Tamarind Tree Hotel. During our day in Nairobi we really enjoyed visiting Nairobi National Park and the Giraffe Center, using the Benroso driver, Jackson. We will certainly use your services again in the future if we have the opportunity to return to Africa.
Bradford and Linda from Philadelphia travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Rob, just wanted to drop you a quick email to say we got home safely from our Botswana safari. We had a really fantastic experience. Loved the country, the people and the game viewing. The choice of lodges and locations were very good. We will come back with more detailed feedback as requested, but just wanted to say thanks very much for all your help in arranging the trip and for your advice which was excellent.
Toby and Gina from London travelled to BotswanaSeptember 2019
Dear Mary, thank you so much for planning and organising a wonderful trip. You hit the brief exactly. Lewa was amazing; we walked for about 8 hours each day and saw lots of Rhino and Grevy's zebra. Kitonga gave us lots of lessons on poo and footprints. We were looked after like a king and queen. We had 13 camels and 10 camp staff looking after us. It was magical sleeping under the stars. One night we had two rhino come into the camp. Kicheche was wonderful, they couldn’t do enough for us. We were made to feel so welcome. Hot water bottles in the bed each night and waiting for us in the truck each morning. All the staff were wonderful hosts. Our guide Richard kept us entertained with all his animal knowledge and stories. He was always trying his best to get us to see all the animals. We saw Leopard, Cheetah, Lions and so much more. Watching the Hyenas swoop in and eat the remains of a lion kill was fascinating. I would love to do it all over again. Many thanks once again.
Andrew and Jane from Essex travelled to KenyaSeptember 2019
Hi Joe, now back to “normality” after an amazing holiday. Our safari was absolutely fantastic – all we had dreamed of and more! Both Kicheche camps were absolutely superb. The attention to detail was excellent. Small things that make all the difference. Our tents were extremely well equipped and very comfortable. The food – wow! – it was spectacular!! We really were treated to some top class cuisine. We saw and heard some amazing scenes; lions roaring at sundowners, elephants bathing in a mudpool, buffalo fighting – quite a spat!, several rhino sharing a small mudpool, elephants galore and a baby elephant less than a week old, wonderful graceful giraffe, cheetah taking down a Wildebeest and then having it stolen off them by the hyenas, and many, many more amazing encounters. When we got to Mara Camp we were quick taken aback by the number of Wildebeest around us – too many to try and explain in an email. We were lucky enough to see a crossing on the day we went to the reserve – well worth the longer day and very late lunch while we patiently waited to see if they were going to cross! We enjoyed our white rhino encounter and would recommend this. We will be following progress on the IVF treatment with even greater interest now. We arrived at the beach and I would say it probably took us a day or two to unwind after such a busy, but fabulous 6 days. We very much relaxed at the beach and didn’t do too many activities – this was always our plan. The service at Kinondo was very good. They certainly spoiled us. The weather could have been kinder at the beach, one day it pretty much rained all day, and a few showers / overcast during our stay. However this was a good opportunity for me to spend in their shop! Many thanks again for your help and assistance in putting together this itinerary for us.
Robin and Julie from Ayrshire travelled to KenyaAugust/September 2019
Rob, we had a wonderful time in Ruaha and Selous. The mix of activities/camps and the order in which you planned them worked brilliantly. Kigelia was the perfect way to start our Ruaha adventure to understand the baobab forest landscape and the sheer size and wildness of the park with its dried up sand rivers and reliance on the trickle down on the Ruaha River which seemed to attract nearly all wildlife. Our guide Raj was excellent and the camp staff first class. We focused almost entirely on game drives rather than walking given that Kichaka was going to be a full on walking experience. Kichaka was just that – with the charismatic Moli and Noelle hosting us. We had a wonderful time both out walking and in camp with entertaining and informative conversations. Moli is a larger than life character who blew us away with his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge. He told us things we had never heard or seen in years of travelling around Africa. The walking was a steady pace and although not massively productive in terms of close encounters, we did track and follow elephant on several occasions but the small things are so fascinating and Moli brings them to life with the most enlightening delivery. Game drives yielded cheetah, lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, a variety of game and loads of birds. Fly camp was incredibly simple – by the river bank with a dining table literally on the sandy beach. Elephant and other wildlife came through camp at night which was wonderful. Sand Rivers in Selous was spectacular and after our five days of hard walking, it was wonderful to feel just a little pampered with a comfortable room and communal areas. We went up the Sieglers Gorge with a bush picnic breakfast on a sand bank which was memorable and also did a river trip with sundowners. We also visited the lakes – including Tagalala and were gobsmacked by the volumes of game/birdlife. It was brilliant. Food and hosting from camp manager Michelle was excellent and we really were made to feel very much at home. All in all a wonderfully memorable trip. Thanks again for your knowledge, expertise and understanding of what matters most to Anne and I – we are already thinking of where we go next……!
Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to TanzaniaAugust/September 2019
Rob – we had an amazing time; loved it all - Moli and Noelle were fantastic; Kigelia was special and Sand Rivers wonderful. You got it spot on yet again so thanks a million for arranging it. Everything went like clockwork.
Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to TanzaniaAugust/September 2019
Hi Michele, I just wanted to say thanks for helping organise the most amazing and incredible holiday for us. So many things that I could tell you about from the Bush, to Valley to the Keweto, all incredible for so many reasons from the people, the accommodation, the animals, the facilities …………….Thank you so much. We will be going back.
Scott, Sarah, Chloe and Jack from Gloucester travelled to KenyaAugust 2019
Dear Rob, the trip you planned for us was beyond the pale wonderful. We are home, but I am still processing all the fabulous things you planned for us. Loved everything, including all accommodations, Toby and fabulous Glen. You are amazing. Thank you for the wonderful memories.
Robert and Janet from Michigan travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweAugust 2019
Hello Rob, from start to finish, this was a trip of a lifetime! As soon as we arrived we felt like family and were warmly welcomed by everyone. The staff at both Dulini Lodge and Singita Ebony Lodge were amazing. The attention to detail was incredible. Any request we had was accommodated. The animal sightings were simply astounding. In Victoria Falls, the sunrise walking tour was breath-taking and Clive was an absolute thrill to have as our guide. I know we questioned the sunset dinner cruise, but this greatly exceeded our expectations. Arriving in Cape Town, Tobie from Vineyard Ventures was an excellent addition even with the minimal time we spent with him. He was very knowledgeable of the area and delightful to talk to as we made our way from place to place. The Cape Grace hotel was fantastic. We took advantage of the complimentary wine tasting they offered in house daily starting at 6pm. This was a fun perk to experience while there! Both the food and service at Cape Grace was top notch. For our all-day tour of the Cape, we could not have asked for a better guide than Glen from Vineyard Ventures. She is absolutely delightful, and I cannot say enough good things about her. The first thing that caught my eye upon arrival at The Marine Hotel in Hermanus was the beautiful panoramic views of the ocean out of our room. Our whale watching excursion was very fun. Once again, the staff at Dyer Island Cruises were very knowledgeable and helpful. For our final day, we were happily gathered by Glen to take us through the South African winelands. She hit the nail on the head with our tour! We got to experience a little of everything from sauvignon blanc to cabernet sauvignon to the pride of South Africa, pinotage. At Mont Rochelle, the views of Franschhoek out of our room were gorgeous. Overall, this trip was simply amazing. We highly recommend both doing a trip to Africa as well as working with Safari Consultants for the planning. We cannot thank Rob and his team enough for the thought that went into planning a trip like this and for the memories we now have that will last us a lifetime
Michael and Alexandra from Michigan travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweAugust 2019
Hi Michele, we had a fantastic time and my parents couldn’t stop smiling. Everything was as we wanted, great trip and looking forward to our next one.
Andrew, Samantha, Megan, Paige, David & Kathryn from Suffolk travelled to Zambia and MozambiqueAugust 2019
Dear Julia, we loved our safari!! It was impeccably planned and we thank you all so much for putting this together for us last minute. Every moment of the trip was magical, and we really enjoyed the diversity of activities that was planned for us. Namibia was unlike any other country in southern African that we have visited (which include South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana). The landscapes were beautiful and we greatly appreciated seeing so much of the country, from the moonscape near Swakopmund, to the fairy circles at Namib Rand and the red dunes of Sossusvlei. At times, it was like traveling from Mars to the Moon, and back to sand-dune laced desert. Thank you.
Graham, Celine and Sophia from Bermuda travelled to NamibiaAugust 2019
Rob, I just wanted to take few minutes to thank you once again for organizing such an amazing trip for our family. I had some reservations that it could be as good the second time but in fact it was just as great! We felt so well taken care of from the time we arrived in Nairobi until the time we left Dar es Salaam. Kicheche Bush, Fly Camping and Kicheche Valley were all just unbelievable. The customer experience is really top notch. I want to thank you for encouraging me to do the fly camping – it was truly a remarkable experience and I would definitely recommend it to others. We found that even though we had different hosts and different guides that the quality did not suffer – in fact sometimes the change was amazing! Kicheche does a great job with their camp hosts and their replacements and we all felt really well tended to. I really feel that the guides are so well informed that we learn so much each time we go out. It is fairly jarring to come off the all encompassing care / libations/ meals of safari and arrive at half board. I was unprepared for the constant signing of bills, with different servers at different locations for waters, coffee’s, drinks etc and trying to keep track of 6 people’s food and beverage intake and tipping. However I would like to say that the food quality and property at Breezes all really exceeded my expectations. It was by far the best “mass” buffet breakfast I have been to, and we do travel a fair bit. Thank you for arranging the deluxe rooms – the sea view in the morning was stunning. Additionally the management went out of their way to make sure we were happy – we had something broken by housekeeping and they arranged complimentary massages (lovely spa) and sailing for the kids. We also took advantage of their water sports centre and went snorkelling and the kids arranged scuba through the onsite dive shop. We are so fortunate to have had you planning these two very special trips for us and I am hoping we will be so lucky as to get a third time to organize something with you.
Maxine Tanya, Aux, Tanner, Callison & Williams from Canada travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaAugust 2019
Hi Frances, Cape Town, the apartment was perfect for us, V&A waterfront is a good base. Leaving Cape Town we went to Franschhoek and had lunch at the beautiful La Petite Ferme, we then headed to Hermanus via the coastal road, I personally loved this, one of the best roads I’ve ever driven, mountains to my left, sea and sun to my right! Hermanus was the only disappointing bit of the holiday, only due to the weather, our boat trip was cancelled. Auberge Burgundy Guesthouse was lovely though. We left Hermanus early and headed to La Plume, lovely guesthouse, great food and hospitality. We had the farm tour the following day and all seemed to enjoy it. We then went half way up the Swartberg pass, which was well worth it, took photos then back down en-route to Hog Hollow. We arrived at Hog Hollow, walked through reception and took in the view (Claire cried!). We loved Hog Hollow, food was amazing, staff were amazing and there’s plenty to do. It was very hard saying goodbye to Hog Hollow for all of us, we then went to River Bend and our first ever safari! River Bend was great, the staff again were amazing and really made our time there special! Our guide was “Darlington,” this guy knew everything there is to know about every living creature at River Bend Lodge! We saw so many elephants here, it was a really special experience. The kids loved him and his enthusiasm for his job, he kept them interested the whole time; not easy for 16 and 18 year olds! Then on to Kwandwe, this place is very special! Too many highlights to tell you about regarding the safari, every outing was amazing, sundowners on safari are very special! We saw every animal we thought we might be lucky enough to see and more and we hadn’t realised how close we would get to them, we loved it. All in all we had an amazing holiday, so many memories, thank you to you, Rob and the team so much for all your efforts.
Stefan, Claire, Henry and Lily from Essex travelled to South AfricaAugust 2019
Mary, we just wanted to say a huge thanks to you and the team for organising such a wonderful trip for us. All of the places you recommended were perfect for us, the itinerary worked extremely well and all of the transfers and logistics were smooth and hassle-free! A fabulous holiday experience was had by us all, and we won't hesitate to recommend you to our friends and family.
Ian, Lara, Samuel and Holly from Hertfordshire travelled to TanzaniaAugust 2019
Dear Mary, we had a fabulous time in Botswana; it definitely exceeded our expectations. The lodges were all fantastic and different from each other. We enjoyed each one and were very sad to leave. The staff and guides were wonderful and we learned huge amounts about the wildlife. Tongabezi was a very luxurious way to end our holiday and we really felt completely spoilt! It was the perfect antidote to spending hours in jeeps bouncing along on bumpy tracks (although we actually really enjoyed that!). Esme absolutely loved every moment and became our official wildlife photographer which she loved. Thank you again for organising our trip with so much care and attention to detail. It has been truly life-changing and we will cherish the memories.
John, Andrea and Esme from Cambridge travelled to Botswana and ZambiaAugust 2019
Dear Joe & Rob, we just wanted to send you a note to thank you for organising our family holiday in South Africa. The whole experience has been amazing. Seamless transfers and a fantastic selection of places to stay. The Bush House, with its animal hide and family feel was a great introduction to Safari and we were lucky enough to have many amazing animal encounters. We need to mention Mike, our Safari guide, as he put us at ease and was a genius at taking us to the right places at the right times. Cape Grace hotel was the perfect base for our days in Cape Town and Margie from Vineyard Tours was a first rate guide for our excursions. Grootbos was the perfect end to our adventure. A positive success story of environmentally sustainable tourism. The team there were so knowledgeable and friendly. We will certainly want to go back. Thank you both so much for all of your help organising our trip.
Dan, Jane, Jessica and Poppy from Hertfordshire travelled to South AfricaAugust 2019
Hi Frances, I just wanted to say that we all had an amazing holiday in Kenya and were sad to leave and come back to reality. Thank you for all your hard work in making it such a special experience. We were blown away by the game viewing in Mara North in particular, but also loved Laikipia. All the arrangements worked perfectly and we were particularly impressed by the 2 main transition days. We all loved both the Kicheche camps – the staff were amazing and the attention to detail was impressive; we felt very welcome and the food was outstanding – we hadn’t been quite sure what to expect, but it certainly surpassed any expectations we might have had. The scale of the camps was just right for us – not too many guests, but enough to be sociable, and we met lots of really nice people. We all liked the Pinewood Spa resort too; its location was ideal being south of Diani itself, which meant the beach was very quiet and there were very few hawkers. We had a brilliant and very memorable holiday.
Peter, Margaret, Lucy and Rosie from London travelled to KenyaJuly/August 2019
All-in all excellent. Joe was a pleasure to deal with during the holiday planning. Both main locations; Kicheche Mara and Kinondo Kwetu were outstanding in terms of service, quality and for the safari location and animal spotting. Thanks very much, we shall certainly be recommending you!
Stuart, Mallika, Rohan and Tara from London travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Dear Julia, we had a wonderful honeymoon! Everything went smoothly from internal flights to airport transfers, and Kicheche & Pongwe were exactly the sort of places we had hoped to stay at. Thank you for your hard work to understand what we were after and to set it all up for us.
Ben and Madeleine from London travelled on honeymoon to Kenya and TanzaniaJuly 2019
Dear Mary, we have had the most fabulous time and have been singing your praises to anyone who will listen! I shall write in more detail later but we have packed every second of the trip with adventures. And loved every moment. With Tusk and Mane, and Kyle and Sarah, you have achieved the near impossible given what you have arranged for us before. Providing the happiest holiday moments of our lives. It is simply exceptional.
Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia and MalawiJuly 2019
Hi Frances. Just to let you know we had a really fantastic holiday in South Africa and Botswana, we loved all of it. We had so many close encounters with some great wildlife. The accommodation was also very good, though as expected the San Parks were more basic with not much choice of food. Mashatu Tent camp was the best place for close up animal sightings and we loved the Pafuri Camp accommodation and the scenery there. H12 Leshiba was the perfect place to finish our holiday and we could have done with an extra night, Rissington Inn was also a great place to start our holiday. Thanks again for booking such a wonderful holiday for us.
Peter and Angela from Hertfordshire travelled to South Africa & BotswanaJuly 2019
Dear Mary, I promised a few comments from what has been a wonderful holiday. The plan to base our holiday on the Zambia bank of the Zambezi, opposite where we had our honeymoon was perfect - you have now organised South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zanzibar for us, and goodness knows how many for friends. We have loved each part of every trip. Our 2 super-highlights? Perhaps Sosian when the children were younger, and now Tusk and Mane Mobile Camping. It is the variety of textures and activities within these two settings combined with the outstanding and very personal organisation and delivery of every minute in a private setting that made them our favourite moments. Kyle and his fiancee Sarah put a huge amount of effort into making sure everything was as we hoped. Kayaking through crocodiles devouring a dead hippo (we lost count at 60 and they really were that close to our kayak and had to be pushed off), fishing (William caught the biggest Tigerfish in memory on that stretch of the river - first cast), then a surprise with Kyle showing him how to open his first bottle of “champagne” for an early birthday present, early morning drives watching 3 male lions playing together before resting, elephant galore eating from the trees, followed by a couple of hours peaceful walking in quite the most beautiful woodland. There were night drives to see new borne leopard and in the “quiet" 2 hours after lunch Kyle would take me fly fishing on my own, casting right into hippo pods where the tigers lurked - and all with almost no one else around. You have found a great new adventure here. I’d strongly recommend 4 nights as we did. Clive at Purple Patch Transfers and Tours was wonderfully colourful and hands on in Vic Falls and looked after us incredibly well. Pumulani really does have spectacular villas. We were again very lucky to be almost alone there so had wall to wall activities every day. So much for resting! Swimming with countless cichlids, tough walks up the hills, kayaking, pico sailing, dhow cruises, star gazing, paddle boarding, water skiing and tubing amongst the activities we did. A heart felt thank you again for your patience and advice. It has been a truly wonderful trip.
Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia & MalawiJuly 2019
Hi Joe,
A quick note to thank you for your help with our holiday. We have had the most amazing time. We were so impressed with both Kicheche camps, and our time on safari was unforgettable. As you are no doubt aware, the rains seem to have come late this year, so the Great Migration hadn’t reached the Masai Mara yet, but it didn’t matter for us as there was so much to see - it really did exceed our expectations. Next Paradise was lovely, and just what we needed after a week of early starts on safari. I have to say you really did a great job of understanding what we wanted, and tailoring a trip that was exactly what we were hoping for. I will have no hesitation in recommending Safari Consultants to anyone who is planning to go on safari in the future. The only problem that we have been left with is that what was intended to be a once in a lifetime holiday has already triggered conversations about the next safari we would like to do! Once again, many thanks.
James, Caroline, Grace and Lara from Bristol travelled to Kenya and ZanzibarJuly 2019
Really flawless organisation by Mary for our three venue, tailor-made, two week trip to Kenya. We selected the destinations ourselves (Sarara camp in the Mathews Range, followed by walking segments in Laikipia with Walking Wild and with Karisia, each fabulous in its own way) but Safari Consultants’ arrangements couldn’t have been bettered. Excellent pre-safari advice, immediate follow-up to any queries we had, transparent billing and, best of all, every one of the complex on-the-ground arrangements worked perfectly, whether transfers to and from airports, a day room in the excellent Palacina Hotel in Nairobi, or private charter flights to remote airstrips. Third time with Safari Consultants
Michael and Linda from Oxfordshire travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Hi Joe, we had an absolutely amazing time in Kenya. It surpassed all expectations, the accommodation was fantastic (and a great to stay in 2 different styles of accommodation) and the wildlife was just mind-blowing. Such a thrilling experience for me and the boys, it was like being dropped into a David Attenborough documentary. Without a doubt the best holiday we have ever had, and certainly not our last safari. Having said it was a once in a lifetime trip we have already been talking about when we can go back. I think you said this might be the case! We did a couple of trips when we were there which were excellent - from Lewa up into the forest to a waterfall, diving pool, treetop walkway and fabulous picnic al fresco. Really interesting for us all (and in particular the kids) to see real Kenyan life in the villages and fields en route. We also did a walking safari at Lewa which was thrilling, and visited the amazing kitchen garden where a massive variety of fruit and veg was being cultivated. At Kicheche we went on the trip to the village which I would recommend to anyone with kids. The boys loved it, they got involved and some dancing and singing and jumping rituals and then had the chance to buy some souvenirs. It was fun, and according to the manager of Kicheche a pretty authentic experience. All arrangements were seamless, Benroso were great in Nairobi and took us to an excellent hotel to have supper before the flight (sorry can’t remember the name) with a very lush garden and relaxing start to the journey home. Also great to have the drive through Nairobi - its been an excellent educational experience for the kids. We have taken 100s of photographs of course. Thank you for all your help with arranging this trip. I’d go as far to say its been life-changing. We will be in touch again in a couple of years for our next one!
Sarah, Benjamin and Oliver from Norfolk travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Hello Frances, I had no doubts that we would have a great time, but the safari in particular was amazing. There were several special moments, but the one that stood out was when the leopard had disappeared on the other side of the gorge from where we parked. We waited for a while and then assumed she had left but just then she popped up only inches from our faces! Although we never saw a live kill, we saw a leopard dragging the dead antelope down from the tree for further consumption! The camp itself was great, luxury camping without it being over-the top. Baraza - we thought the quality of the food was outstanding. And the breadth of choice very good too. All in all a great holiday and many thanks to you and your team.
Dominic, Wallis and Max from London travelled to Kenya and TanzaniaJuly 2019
Dear Joe and Rob, just a quick note for now that we are back and had a fantastic time. The girls loved it and are asking if we can go back for the October and February half-terms. So a huge success from that standpoint which is what Mary Ruth and I were hoping for.
Bob, Mary-Ruth, Annagail and Genevieve from London travelled to KenyaJuly 2019
Dear Rob, we indeed had a fantastic holiday in Tanzania and would have no hesitation in recommending it to any of our friends. I don't think there were any unusual sightings, but we certainly saw everything possible from the Big Five to Fishers lovebirds and an African Pygmy Falcon and terrapins in the pond at the Moru Kopjes. The service was excellent on both your end and in Africa. All your advice and input was manifestly accurate and excellent guidance to us. The service on the ground in Africa exceeded all expectations. Aaron Lazaro our guide, driver and now family friend was an outstanding ambassador for Hoopoe Safaris. He was so knowledgeable, patient and always charming and kind to us and everyone else he interacted with. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the universe but mostly zoology, botany and ornithology. The Kirurumu camps at Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Moru were delightful. Rob, it was an amazing holiday. Everybody wants to go back. We really cannot say enough good things about Aaron and all the other people we met and interacted with. It was one of the best family holidays ever.
Julian, Vivienne, Hugh and William from China travelled to TanzaniaJune 2019
Hey Julia, we had an absolutely amazing time, thank you so much for organising. Kenya was just incredible, amazing camp, Debbie was great as were the rest of the team. We saw so much - so many Lions, Cheetahs, one beautiful Leopard, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Ostriches etc etc. The room in the camp itself was beautiful, the food was amazing and everyone was so friendly. Zanzibar was absolutely stunning, Zawadi hotel was exactly what we were looking. Only a small number of places, beach a few minutes’ walk away, beautiful plunge pool, unbelievable sea and the staff really could not do enough for you. It was really a perfect honeymoon. It was exactly what we wanted from our initial brief and above and beyond our expectations. I have already recommend you to lots of people! Thanks so much!
Adam and Nathalie from East Sussex travelled on Honeymoon to Kenya & ZanzibarJune 2019
Dear Rob, I just wanted to say thank you for putting together such a wonderful itinerary. It was a memorable trip and every single day offered something magical. I just wanted to add my thanks and appreciation of a truly wonderful time in all three countries. The locations and accommodation were spot on - as always! It was fabulous - from the might of the Victoria Falls, to lions and their cubs, being entertained by the elephants (great to watch them drinking from the plunge pool at Somalisa!), seeing a cheetah, the elusive leopard and more hippos than I could imagine! The water-based viewing from the river boat and the peace and tranquility of the mokoro were amazing and a wonderful contrast! Thank you. It's tough to be back!
Pamela from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Namibia and BotswanaJune 2019
Hi Julia, we had the most incredible time on our honeymoon! Thank you so so much for organising such an amazing trip for us, we couldn't have asked for better. Everything ran so smoothly and that was all down to your organising. The safari was out of this world, we were so sad when we had to leave! We loved absolutely everything about it. Thank you for always answering emails/calls so promptly and for organising a holiday of a lifetime for us! We recommend you guys to everyone we know/meet!
Thomas and Laura from Horsham travelled to South Africa and Mauritius on their HoneymoonApril/May 2019
Dear Frances, just to say thank you for organising our holiday. We all had a marvellous time. The weather could have been kinder to us but no one can control that!
Marlene and Colin from Hampshire travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Thank you Frances. We have commended you to everyone we have talked to, we had the best time. Flights and transfers went really well. Rissington accommodation was a little dated but easily made up for by staff, food and wine! Umkumbe was faultless. Room, buffets, too many animals to mention, and the wonderful Tanya driving us every day with her knowledge and humour.
Graham, Sarah and Charlotte from Hertfordshire travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Hi Frances. A very big thank you for all the arrangements you made for us and for Le Paradis - which was an unqualified success - the perfect venue for the family holiday that we had wanted. Everyone had a ball! We found the staff unfailingly friendly, smiling and helpful - they couldn't do enough for the guests. The buffet restaurants offered a splendid range of food - the difficulty was not to eat far too much! Many thanks for helping with this amazing holiday.
William and Deborah from Edinburgh travelled to Mauritius with their familyApril 2019
Dear Mary, I apologise that this is a little slow in coming, but its tardiness doesn't detract from its weight in saying thank you for your part in arranging our stay at The Bush House, which is an outstanding Game Lodge. The Morrisons are superb hosts and the staff are second to none, nothing was too much trouble. We all had an excellent time which included some first-rate game viewing. Our guide Renain Venter was good at seeking out the animals and also was exceedingly patient with Matilda and Eric encouraging them to look and watch. Everything worked well and I am very grateful for all you did for us. As you may know my object, after visiting Cape Town, was to show Matilda and Eric real animals in a real setting and I reckon we accomplished this pretty well, for which many thanks indeed.
Andrew, Ian, Caroline, Matilda and Eric from Salisbury travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Hi Julia, just a short note to pass on our thanks for your super organisation of our trip to Tanda Tula and onto Cape Town. Suffice to say we had a truly amazing time. Thanks again for all your help in pulling it together and making the trip go as smoothly as possible.
Alan and Joanna from Surbiton travelled to South AfricaApril 2019
Jane, thank you so much for putting our itinerary together. You hit the brief on the nose!! To be blunt and to the point, our holiday exceeded expectation. I think you did a great job working out our requirements (even if we weren’t sure what we wanted). All our lodging was excellent (yet different), and we were met and managed(!) across Nairobi excellently. Most importantly we got a feel of Kenya and in particular the Masai Mara and its extraordinary wildlife. In our first three days we had seen the “Big Five”, charged by a black Rhino (in the car and on a horse) and had our sundowner drinks under a tree with a leopard in it. We were spoilt with the number of Rhino (both black and white) but a lovely beginning in a place with a great history of conservation. Walking Wild was probably the best bit, although it is difficult to pick out the best as it’s all been great. The quality of food on the go (all produced on open fires) the warm friendliness of the group of men transporting the kit on the camels and the humour, wit and knowledge of Kitonga was humbling. Our night drive at Kicheche was particularly memorable seeing an Ardwolf and most endearing of all a Bush baby ‘bouncing’ for 100 metres to the next tree.
Jim and Sue from Wiltshire travelled to KenyaMarch/April 2019
Hi Frances, we had the most amazing trip and it by far outdid our expectations so thank you so much for organising everything so well. It was great not to have to worry about any of the logistics in getting there and back. The safari was really unbelievable, we saw so much which I never expected - lots of different prides of Lions, Lions mating, Hippos mating, a Hippo started to charge the vehicle, cheetahs, hyenas, carcasses, baby elephants, giraffes, zebras to name a few!! Ol Seki itself was fabulous, I especially loved the hot chocolate wake up call before the game drive. Debbie was so lovely and looked after us so well. It really was the trip of a lifetime so thank you so so much again for recommending it, we would have ended up somewhere very different and not a patch on Ol Seki if we hadn't come to you.
Emily and Spencer from Ireland travelled to KenyaMarch 2019
Hi Frances, we had a wonderful holiday and would like to thank you for all your help and advice. Although there were a few travel glitches, you had planned everything in meticulous detail, the hotels were all lovely, everybody looked after us well and left flowers, wine and chocolates in celebration of my birthday - you must have arranged that! All your written information was really helpful and detailed and we enjoyed using the App. This was just what I wanted - an unforgettable holiday to celebrate reaching 60 and you more than delivered on that. Those wonderful memories will remain long after the memory of our plane journey home has ended.
Judith and Martin from Durham travelled to South Africa and ZimbabweFebruary 2019
Special thanks to Joe Corder for his patience, advice and knowledge in guiding two first timers through all the decisions and where and when to do a safari. We couldn’t have done it without him and the Safari Consultants team!
Jane and Mary from Nottinghamshire, travelled to KenyaFebruary 2019
- Tanzania
Activities & Special Interest
Special interest & safari activities in Tanzania
Big-game viewing
Most big-game viewing in Tanzania occurs on game drives in either open or closed 4×4 vehicles. In the north of the country, it is usual to take a private ‘closed’ vehicle (and guide) and travel overland between the safari regions which are close together, although there are an increasing number of camps now offering a fly-in option with game drives in open vehicles. In the south and west of the country, where regions are linked by internal flights, open vehicles are used. The best regions for seeing big game are the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Selous, Ruaha and Katavi. Please view our regions page for more information on these and other areas.
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Night drives
Night drives are not possible in National Parks and Game Reserves, and are therefore limited to a few specific private conservancies/properties.
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Walking Safaris
Walking is widely available in Tanzania. Whilst some safari properties offer nature walks as individual activities, the country is also an excellent destination for longer, more adventurous walking trails, often walking over several days and staying in fairly basic ‘fly-camps’ in the wilderness. All walks are fully guided with a back up crew to provide meals, drinks and undertake camp chores. In Mahale and Gombe Stream national parks, walking is the main activity when searching for primates such as chimpanzee.
Some of the best ‘dedicated’ walking safaris are found in the Selous Game Reserve, where operations such as Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari offer genuine wilderness walking with big game encounters. Other regions that offer good overnight walking safaris or trails include Katavi, Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Serengeti ecosystem, including the National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo.
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Mountain trekking & Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro offers superb mountain trekking and the trek to Uhuru Peak (at 5,895 metres/ 19,370 feet, the highest point in Africa) is a challenging and rewarding adventure. From the dense forests of the lower slopes, where wildlife can be seen, you traverse rolling moorland, rocky ridges and alpine desert before the final ascent up the prominent ‘Kibo Dome’. The views from on top of the Kibo Dome are awesome and inspiring, if not especially picturesque.
There are several different routes you can take, none of which involve technical climbing, but all of which are exhausting and expose you to freezing temperatures. You need a minimum of 4 or 5 nights on the mountain (often 6 nights), as well as a night either side close to the mountain. Accommodation is either in mountain huts (Marangu route only) or camping (all other routes including Machame, Shira, Lemoshi Glades and Rongai) with all food and services provided by your climb outfitter.
Mount Meru offers a shorter high altitude trek (usually 3 days/ 2 nights from Arusha), whilst the Ngorongoro Highlands offer some good lower level trekking, with an ascent of the active volcano Ol Donyo Lengai possible for the really hardy and experienced (we actually do not recommend this as the conditions on the volcano are incredibly dangerous).
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Birding
With over 1100 species recorded, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier birding destinations. On any safari, even those with little bird knowledge are likely to record around 100 species over a period of a week. Changing habitats and altitude will prove even more productive. We do not specifically arrange birding group tours, but many of our customers are keen birders and putting together an individually designed itinerary is very easy. Some of the key areas to include are the montane forests around Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, the riverine woodland and waterways of the Selous Game Reserve, the drier bush habitats and miombo woodland of Ruaha and Katavi and the Great Rift Valley lakes of Natron and Manyara. In particular, Lake Natron is one of the largest breeding grounds for the lesser flamingo. Specialist guides are available for the more serious birder, who may also wish to consider destinations such as the Usambara Mountains, and Udzungwa Mountains National Park and the southern highlands.
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Species specific interests
Tanzania offers a very wide range of wildlife viewing, but some of the key species that can be specifically focused on include chimpanzee, elephant and the big cats.
The Serengeti is one of the best regions in Africa to see all three big cat species – lion, cheetah and leopard, whilst elephant viewing is especially good in Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and at the end of the dry season elephants can be seen in vast herds in Katavi National Park.
In Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania offers some of the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees in the wild. Chimps have been studied in these regions for many years, and some families habituated to the presence of humans, making viewing excellent.
Tanzania is also a great country for seeing giraffe, and there is a growing population of wild dogs, especially in the Selous Game Reserve. The waterways of the Rufiji River are some of the very best areas in Africa to see hippo and crocodiles. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Cultural Experiences
Tanzania is a fairly heavily populated country with a multitude of ethnic tribes and colourful peoples, and even staying within the designated National Parks & Reserves, you will meet local people in the form of guides and camp staff. Some safari camps and lodges, especially those outside of national reserves, work closely with local villages and as a guest you can learn as much about the local community as you desire. The best opportunities are arguably around the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the colourful Maasai dominate, and hunter-gatherers such as the Hadzabe provide a less touristy experience.
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Photographic Safaris
Most people who head out on safari plan to take a few photographs. However, in depth photographic safaris are growing in popularity, whether in the form of small group trips (please see the ‘Groups’ section for links to specialist photographic tours) or individually tailored holidays.
We are best equipped to arrange individually tailored photographic holidays. The flexibility and service we offer allows you to carefully plan your safari to meet your exact requirements, whilst our specialist knowledge is crucial, not just in terms of knowing where to photograph particular species, but also in terms of being able to provide suitable vehicles and guides.
In Tanzania, photographing big game is possible in many of the parks, especially prime areas such as the Serengeti, where the wildebeest and zebra herds can also be found. The Ngorongoro Crater is an amazing scenic spectacle and the best place to see rhino, whilst the Selous Game Reserve will offer a different opportunity with magical waterways and fantastic opportunities to photograph birds and water-dwelling species such as hippo and croc. In the west of the country, Mahale and Gombe are without doubt the best places in Africa to photograph chimps in the wild.
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Water-based Safaris
The Selous Game Reserve, with the Rufiji River and a string of four beautiful lakes that connect off the main river, offers some of the best boating safaris in Africa. Throughout the rest of the country, there is very little on offer, though Lake Tanganyika offers scenic cruises and kayaking, and canoeing is sometimes possible on Lake Manyara.
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Fishing
Whilst there are some freshwater fishing opportunities on Lake Tanganyika and in some of the great rivers such as the Rufiji, the best fishing on offer in Tanzania is big game fishing off the coast (both traditional and on fly). There is not really a ‘fishing culture’ but most beach hotels can arrange deep-sea fishing through local specialists. Bill fishing, particularly for sailfish, is superb from September to March. Marlin (blue, black and striped), broadbill swordfish, shark, barracuda, trevally/kingfish are just some of the other species regularly caught.
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Scuba-diving and Snorkelling
Diving is widely available off the islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba, where there is some excellent diving. Mafia Island, Mnemba Island off north-east Zanzibar and Mesali Island off western Pemba are some of the best diving locations. Snorkelling is good in most places, but it is usually necessary to go out in a boat, rather than snorkel from the beach. Mnemba and Chumbe Islands off Zanzibar offer some of the best conditions. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Other activities
Other activities available on a limited basis include sailing, kayaking, mountain biking. We can also cater for very specific interests such as dendrology, Lepidoptera, archaeology etc.
Horse-riding is not widely available in Tanzania, and limited to the areas of Arusha, West Kilimanjaro, Manyara, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Grumeti Reserves in the western Serengeti.
Most places that offer riding concentrate on half day or full day rides, and are usually available for all capabilities. Serious riding enthusiast should consider the more dedicated operations found in Kenya and southern Africa.
Hot-air balloon safaris are possible in a couple of places in Tanzania, most notably in the Serengeti National Park. Take-off is at dawn, and you float over the plains for about an hour before landing (usually bumpy). A ‘champagne’ breakfast is served before you transfer back to your lodge/camp. Although expensive and commercial, balloon safaris are memorable and the views are magical.
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- Tanzania
Other Regions
Other Regions
Mikumi abuts the north-western border of the vast Selous Game Reserve and is cut in two by the main Dar es Salaam to Iringa road. The park, Tanzania’s fourth largest at around 3200 sq.kms, is dominated by the Mkata floodplain and is one of the best areas to see eland, the largest antelope species.
Other game includes lion, elephant, Nyasa blue wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe and wild dog. Bird species number over 400. Ease of access and with a good network of roads make Mikumi a popular park to visit from Dar es Salaam, or if driving to Ruaha.
Day excursions to the remote and forested Udzungwa Mountains National Park can also be taken (there is no permanent accommodation in Udzungwa but the park does have a number of excellent walking trails). Udzungwa is an important birding area with four species endemic including the Udzungwa forest partridge only ‘discovered’ in 1991.
- Tanzania
The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The mainland coast of Tanzania has pretty much escaped from the mass development of coast hotels, most certainly because Zanzibar has taken this role. However, there are a number of reasonable coastal resorts which offer good quality beach breakaways with a bit more exclusivity in the Pangani region and just south of Dar es Salaam. Sadaani National Park, some five hours drive north of Dar es Salaam, is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania to border the sea – the chance to see monkeys and hippo on the beach!
Zanzibar
Correctly, Zanzibar should be the term used when talking about the islands of Pemba and Unguja. However, in recent years the term has been used to refer solely to the latter, with Pemba maintaining its own identity. The islands lie some 30 kms off-shore north/north-east of Dar es Salaam (20 minutes by air to Zanzibar, sea ferries are also available).
Zanzibar’s history dates back more than 2000 years when the islands traded with ships from Persia, Arabia and India. From about the 10th century, groups of immigrants from Shiraz (Persia) settled on the island and mixed with the local people. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established a trading station before being ousted by Omani Arabs a couple of centuries later. In 1840, the Sultan Said moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar with the Omani Arabs forming an elite group of landlords and rulers. Indian settlers formed a merchant class and the island became an important centre of regional politics and the focus of the slave trade. In 1890, Zanzibar became a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1963. In 1964, the Sultan was overthrown and nearly all Arabs and Indians expelled. Later that year, Zanzibar and Tanganyika combined to form Tanzania. Since then, many of the expelled peoples have returned.
In Zanzibar’s Stone Town (the old quarter), a fascinating maze of narrow streets and alleyways lead past numerous old houses, mosques, ornate palaces, shops and bazaars. Many of the buildings date back to the 19th century and depict the wealth of its builder. Arab houses have plain outer walls with large doors leading to an inner courtyard. Conversely, Indian houses have a more open facade and large balconies with railings and balustrades. The area outside the Stone Town is called Michenzani (New City), a failed attempt at becoming a modern city.
The Stone Town lies on the west coast with the harbour and airport. The best beaches are on the south-east, north-east and far north-west coasts, about an hours drive away. There has been a lot of coastal development in the last few years, and the variety of beach resorts is ever expanding – from discreet beach retreats and exclusive luxury lodges to large, resort-style hotels.
Aside from swimming, snorkelling and diving, the island offers a range of other activities including visiting spice plantations, the Jozani Forest where the rare red colobus monkey is found, swimming with dolphins, dhow trips etc. Chumbe Island Coral Park is well worth visiting as a day trip from Stone Town or for a couple of nights.
There are regular flights to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, the southern safari circuit and the northern safari circuit (Arusha/Kilimanjaro). Direct connections to Nairobi (Kenya) are also available.
Pemba Island lies to the north and is serviced by air from Zanzibar. Fundu Lagoon, on the west coast, is the only lodge of good quality and is best suited for those who want to dive Mesali Island or escape the development on Zanzibar.
Mafia Island lies to the south of Dar es Salaam (opposite the mouth of the Rufiji River) and is an unspoilt, little visited alternative to Zanzibar. The archipelago is actually made up of four major islands, Mafia itself, Chole, Jiobondo and Juani, and is better known for its fantastic scuba diving rather than its beaches. In comparison to Zanzibar, it is extremely poor with little infrastructure aside from the few beach hotels.
- Tanzania
The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous is Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary, covering over 54,600 sq. kms. (almost the size of Ireland). The region is dominated by the Great Ruaha River and Kilombero rivers which join to form the mighty Rufiji River, East Africa’s greatest waterway. Although only 45 minutes by air from Dar es Salaam, the Selous is still one of the worlds last great wilderness areas. It is a largely inaccessible region, dissected by water courses which become raging torrents during the rains, forcing the animals onto high ground. In the dry season, the rivers whither away to form ‘sand rivers’.
The reserve is named after the famous hunter and explorer, Frederick Courtney Selous, but it was the Germans who first established a game reserve here in 1905. The first warden was an eccentric former ivory hunter called C.P. Ionides (known locally as the ‘Snake Man’ and it was he who helped develop the reserve into it’s present size. Under the wardenship of Brian Nicholson, the Selous became an example of intelligent wildlife management; it is divided into controlled areas and human habitation is prohibited. However, groves of mango trees scattered through the bush are grim reminders that the main southern caravan route from Lake Nyasa passed through this region; they grew from the stones dropped by slaves as they were marched towards the slave markets of Zanzibar.
The habitat and scenery varies significantly over short distances: purple rolling hills, rock-strewn plains, ‘sand rivers’ lined with salt bush, cluster lush swamps and marshes, rocky gorges, savannah bush country and miombo woodland. Altitudes range from 110m to 1250m and the climate is quite tropical – humid during the rains and pleasantly warm during the dry season (June to October – the best time to visit).
There is a wealth of animals to see on a Selous safari including lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant, Cape buffalo, eland, sable antelope, greater kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck and the very elusive black rhino. The birdlife too is superb, with over 350 species having been recorded.
Three quarters of the reserve is made up of hunting concessions and closed to most ‘photographic’ tourists. Most photographic tourists are limited to the north-eastern part of the reserve where there are a number of good safari lodges. In the last few years however, new conservation initiatives have resulted in one of the ‘hunting concessions’ being operated solely for exclusive photographic safaris.
Aside from daily walks, boat cruises and game drives, some lodges in the Selous offer a range of different walking trails from overnight fly-camping to longer multi-day trails.
To find out more on Selous safari options please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari specialists.
- Tanzania
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha was previously part of the huge Rungwa Game Reserve, with which it shares its north-western boundary, but gazetted as a National Park in 1964. The terrain within the park is well wooded and undulating. The Great Ruaha River (which forms much of the south-eastern boundary), numerous waterholes, swamps and seepage areas provide the park with a permanent supply of water, but there are also numerous sand rivers which become raging torrents during the rains (from December to April).
Generally, the park is divided into four different habitats consisting of mixed miombo woodland, undulating hills dominated by baobabs, albida woodland along the main river courses, and areas of open ‘black cotton’ grassland. Mammal viewing is superb particularly in the dry season (June to October) when the animals are forced to congregate around the water sources – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, impala, zebra, giraffe, hippo, waterbuck, roan and sable antelope, eland, greater and lesser kudu, and Grant’s gazelle are just some on the many species to be seen. The birdlife is exceptional with some 540 species recorded.
Despite Ruaha being a terrific wildlife area, it is still attracts relatively small numbers of tourists. Game-viewing is limited to game drives by day – some camps may offer walks with advanced notice. Tsetse fly are present.
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Ngorongoro Crater
One of Africa’s best known and most unique attractions, the Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular ‘caldera’ offering majestic views from the crater rim and superb game-viewing on the crater floor.
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Serengeti National Park
A huge tract of stunning open grassland plains, interspersed with acacia woodland, forested river courses and rocky outcrops. Home to a huge variety of wildlife, including the annual wildebeest and zebra migration.
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Lake Manyara National Park
A small but very beautiful park at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. Good game-viewing and birding, including flamingos on the lake, and worth a visit if passing.
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Tarangire National Park
A good all round wildlife destination with some lovely scenery and superb game-viewing in the dry season, especially elephants.
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Mount Kilimanjaro
At 5895m (19340ft) Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa. The climb is physically exhausting but not technical, and takes between 5 and 7 days.
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Zanzibar
This ‘spice island’ is full of character and history, but is best known as a fantastic and convenient beach destination, with good scuba diving.
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Selous Game Reserve
A huge and varied reserve with good game-viewing, excellent birding and wonderful boat cruises along the Rufiji River.
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Ruaha National Park
Truly wild and remote African wilderness, with fantastic big game concentrations and varied habitats.
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Katavi National Park
Very remote and one of Africa’s most exclusive safari destinations. Major game concentrations in the dry season, especially elephant, buffalo and hippo.
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Mahale Mountains National Park
A stunning and unique natural destination, where densely forested mountains tumble down to meet the golden beaches and crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika. Wild and remote, this is the best place in Africa to see chimps in the wild.
- Tanzania
Testimonials
Having specialised in travel to Africa since 1983, we are extremely proud to have built up a wonderful customer base of repeat travellers who recommend our services to their friends and colleagues. Whether our customers travel just once to Africa as a special celebration holiday, or go back multiple times a year, our aim is for every holiday to be perfect, every time. Listed below are just some of the comments we have received from our customers visiting Tanzania in the past year.
Good Afternoon Mary, Mike and I arrived back from Kenya after what can only be described as a holiday of a lifetime. It was amazing. From start to finish it could not be faulted. We felt very privileged to be able to see all those animals in their natural environment and to be able to share that space. As for your organisation, it was the little things as well. The leather wallet and pen. Questions got answered promptly etc. etc. I could go on and on, but as I've said it was amazing. Thank you MaryMichael and Susan from Newton Abbot travelled to Kenya
October 2019
Dear Michele, I have been trying to think of any ways in which you at Safari Consultants can improve your service. Sorry, all services as usual are spot on - PERFECT!!!Nick and Liz from Lincolnshire travelled to Kenya
October 2019
Dear Rob, yet another superb holiday arranged by Safari Consultants! Masons provided every facility you would expect from a good travel agent. L’Archipel had good, friendly service. Restaurant serving creole food - OK but not my favourite. Denis Island was extremely well run, lovely friendly service, haute cuisine of the highest order, all produce grown on the island and of top quality. Very comfortable chalet with (almost) private beach and exquisite sunsets. Moderately good snorkelling on the reef off the shore. Constance Ephelia Resort had a very poor welcome, but our dissatisfaction soon dissipated when we were deposited at our accommodation which looked more like the best situated Beachfront Villa with its own private swimming pool and a welcome complimentary bottle of fizz and chocolate cake each night. We eventually found good snorkelling, not far from the beautiful beach and booked very good dinners wherever we wanted each night. In short we had an excellent holiday. Thank you again Rob for your good advice and excellent service.Graeme and Joanna from Surrey travelled to Seychelles
October 2019
Dear Joe, just wanted to say a big thank you so much for all the hard work & effort you put into making our holiday so special. We had the most amazing time and every detail was taken care of...we felt like royalty. It was such a treat to be met & transported around & our entire itinerary was perfect. We particularly loved the Mara, it was absolutely the right camp for us and we know you hand picked out guide too! The champagne was the cherry on the icing on the cake. Thanks for delivering 10 days of heaven. Please pass on our thanks to the rest of the team too. Everyone we have been in contact with has been professional & so helpful. We would not hesitate to recommend you & Safari Consultants to anyone travelling to Africa.Philip and Samantha from Lincolnshire travelled to Kenya and Tanzania
October 2019
Dear Mary, an absolutely brilliant trip!John from Hampshire travelled to South Africa
September/October 2019
Dear Mary, so Kenya…………………..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to say a huge thank you for organising the most amazing holiday we have ever been on, it was so magical and everything was amazing and went to plan! We got up so close to the animals and we have the most amazing photos to remind us of this mesmerising holiday! All the staff were exceptional and made us feel part of the family from the start, it was so lovely to get to know them and the others in camp. I loved every moment from start to finish and everything seemed out of this world! I must say I didn’t sleep much but I knew that anyway, however I loved being in a tented camp and having the authenticity, it was superb! The engagement proposal stirred up a lot of excitement in the camp, and it blew me away. I felt very special and couldn’t believe the efforts made to make it so spectacular. I keep looking at my photos as they are so amazing and I can’t really believe we had the chance to experience this holiday of a life time. We were so lucky we got to see everything we wanted too. Big thanks again.Thijs and Rachel from Kent were engaged in Kenya
October 2019
Dear Rob, the trip exceeded my expectations. Accommodation and food generally of a higher standard. I purposely did not do much research before going, so much of the trip was a wonderful surprise. Certainly has stimulated thoughts of visiting Africa again.Susan from Worcestershire travelled to Namibia
September/October 2019
Fran, it was marvellous! It more than met our expectations. Savannah was amazing and we loved the safaris. We saw the big 5 and more! After Savannah we felt Waterberry Lodge seemed low key but by the time we left it was – for both of us - the top place we had stayed. So wonderfully relaxing! And the staff (everywhere) were lovely. We will (and have already) recommend Safari Consultants to other people. The service was just excellent. Who knows – maybe another trip could be a possibility! Thank you!Martyn & Heather from Essex travelled to South Africa & Zambia
September 2019
Hi Joe, I have attached the questionnaire form duly completed and confirm that your service was, as always excellent both before and during the trip. All arrangements were smooth and everything superbly organised. Thank you so much - that makes a very big difference to my holiday experience. It is wonderful to be able to sit back beforehand in the certain knowledge that all will be well and that I merely need to read my instructions, turn up and then enjoy my holiday without worry or hassle. My life is full of doing things for other people, so it is a totally welcome break to be confident that Safari Consultants team will sort out my holidays superbly. Well done and thank you all again. I shall hope to be in contact with you again before long about arranging another trip.Naomi from Hertfordshire travelled to Tanzania
September 2019
Hi Joe, Wow!!! What a trip to Kicheche we had. It was out of this world!! Whilst we did not see the infamous migration river crossing, we did get to see so many other things. The first day we saw a leopard up a tree - he was never to be seen again by anyone for the following 4 days. The cheetahs were on form and there’s lions galore!! We saw so many with fresh kills, unlike Botswana they were really active - none of this just lying down in the sun! When Bill said Kicheche camp was something special, I now know what he meant - the camp was excellent. The food every day was great and Carys and Tony were brilliant. The staff fantastic. There is absolutely nothing that could be improved about the place, perfect. I can’t praise them enough. Thank you again for organising an excellent trip.Richard and Sharon from Lancashire travelled to Kenya
September 2019
Hi Joe, we had a spectacular trip, beyond our wildest dreams. Took over 12,000 photos in 10 days. The Tamarind Tree Hotel was wonderful. Kicheche Mara Camp was perfect and we were treated like royalty. Thank you for making the special arrangements for our early arrival and the extra night at the Tamarind Tree Hotel. During our day in Nairobi we really enjoyed visiting Nairobi National Park and the Giraffe Center, using the Benroso driver, Jackson. We will certainly use your services again in the future if we have the opportunity to return to Africa.Bradford and Linda from Philadelphia travelled to Kenya
September 2019
Hi Rob, just wanted to drop you a quick email to say we got home safely from our Botswana safari. We had a really fantastic experience. Loved the country, the people and the game viewing. The choice of lodges and locations were very good. We will come back with more detailed feedback as requested, but just wanted to say thanks very much for all your help in arranging the trip and for your advice which was excellent.Toby and Gina from London travelled to Botswana
September 2019
Dear Mary, thank you so much for planning and organising a wonderful trip. You hit the brief exactly. Lewa was amazing; we walked for about 8 hours each day and saw lots of Rhino and Grevy's zebra. Kitonga gave us lots of lessons on poo and footprints. We were looked after like a king and queen. We had 13 camels and 10 camp staff looking after us. It was magical sleeping under the stars. One night we had two rhino come into the camp. Kicheche was wonderful, they couldn’t do enough for us. We were made to feel so welcome. Hot water bottles in the bed each night and waiting for us in the truck each morning. All the staff were wonderful hosts. Our guide Richard kept us entertained with all his animal knowledge and stories. He was always trying his best to get us to see all the animals. We saw Leopard, Cheetah, Lions and so much more. Watching the Hyenas swoop in and eat the remains of a lion kill was fascinating. I would love to do it all over again. Many thanks once again.Andrew and Jane from Essex travelled to Kenya
September 2019
Hi Joe, now back to “normality” after an amazing holiday. Our safari was absolutely fantastic – all we had dreamed of and more! Both Kicheche camps were absolutely superb. The attention to detail was excellent. Small things that make all the difference. Our tents were extremely well equipped and very comfortable. The food – wow! – it was spectacular!! We really were treated to some top class cuisine. We saw and heard some amazing scenes; lions roaring at sundowners, elephants bathing in a mudpool, buffalo fighting – quite a spat!, several rhino sharing a small mudpool, elephants galore and a baby elephant less than a week old, wonderful graceful giraffe, cheetah taking down a Wildebeest and then having it stolen off them by the hyenas, and many, many more amazing encounters. When we got to Mara Camp we were quick taken aback by the number of Wildebeest around us – too many to try and explain in an email. We were lucky enough to see a crossing on the day we went to the reserve – well worth the longer day and very late lunch while we patiently waited to see if they were going to cross! We enjoyed our white rhino encounter and would recommend this. We will be following progress on the IVF treatment with even greater interest now. We arrived at the beach and I would say it probably took us a day or two to unwind after such a busy, but fabulous 6 days. We very much relaxed at the beach and didn’t do too many activities – this was always our plan. The service at Kinondo was very good. They certainly spoiled us. The weather could have been kinder at the beach, one day it pretty much rained all day, and a few showers / overcast during our stay. However this was a good opportunity for me to spend in their shop! Many thanks again for your help and assistance in putting together this itinerary for us.Robin and Julie from Ayrshire travelled to Kenya
August/September 2019
Rob, we had a wonderful time in Ruaha and Selous. The mix of activities/camps and the order in which you planned them worked brilliantly. Kigelia was the perfect way to start our Ruaha adventure to understand the baobab forest landscape and the sheer size and wildness of the park with its dried up sand rivers and reliance on the trickle down on the Ruaha River which seemed to attract nearly all wildlife. Our guide Raj was excellent and the camp staff first class. We focused almost entirely on game drives rather than walking given that Kichaka was going to be a full on walking experience. Kichaka was just that – with the charismatic Moli and Noelle hosting us. We had a wonderful time both out walking and in camp with entertaining and informative conversations. Moli is a larger than life character who blew us away with his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge. He told us things we had never heard or seen in years of travelling around Africa. The walking was a steady pace and although not massively productive in terms of close encounters, we did track and follow elephant on several occasions but the small things are so fascinating and Moli brings them to life with the most enlightening delivery. Game drives yielded cheetah, lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, a variety of game and loads of birds. Fly camp was incredibly simple – by the river bank with a dining table literally on the sandy beach. Elephant and other wildlife came through camp at night which was wonderful. Sand Rivers in Selous was spectacular and after our five days of hard walking, it was wonderful to feel just a little pampered with a comfortable room and communal areas. We went up the Sieglers Gorge with a bush picnic breakfast on a sand bank which was memorable and also did a river trip with sundowners. We also visited the lakes – including Tagalala and were gobsmacked by the volumes of game/birdlife. It was brilliant. Food and hosting from camp manager Michelle was excellent and we really were made to feel very much at home. All in all a wonderfully memorable trip. Thanks again for your knowledge, expertise and understanding of what matters most to Anne and I – we are already thinking of where we go next……!Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to Tanzania
August/September 2019
Rob – we had an amazing time; loved it all - Moli and Noelle were fantastic; Kigelia was special and Sand Rivers wonderful. You got it spot on yet again so thanks a million for arranging it. Everything went like clockwork.Peter and Anne from Peterborough travelled to Tanzania
August/September 2019
Hi Michele, I just wanted to say thanks for helping organise the most amazing and incredible holiday for us. So many things that I could tell you about from the Bush, to Valley to the Keweto, all incredible for so many reasons from the people, the accommodation, the animals, the facilities …………….Thank you so much. We will be going back.Scott, Sarah, Chloe and Jack from Gloucester travelled to Kenya
August 2019
Dear Rob, the trip you planned for us was beyond the pale wonderful. We are home, but I am still processing all the fabulous things you planned for us. Loved everything, including all accommodations, Toby and fabulous Glen. You are amazing. Thank you for the wonderful memories.Robert and Janet from Michigan travelled to South Africa and Zimbabwe
August 2019
Hello Rob, from start to finish, this was a trip of a lifetime! As soon as we arrived we felt like family and were warmly welcomed by everyone. The staff at both Dulini Lodge and Singita Ebony Lodge were amazing. The attention to detail was incredible. Any request we had was accommodated. The animal sightings were simply astounding. In Victoria Falls, the sunrise walking tour was breath-taking and Clive was an absolute thrill to have as our guide. I know we questioned the sunset dinner cruise, but this greatly exceeded our expectations. Arriving in Cape Town, Tobie from Vineyard Ventures was an excellent addition even with the minimal time we spent with him. He was very knowledgeable of the area and delightful to talk to as we made our way from place to place. The Cape Grace hotel was fantastic. We took advantage of the complimentary wine tasting they offered in house daily starting at 6pm. This was a fun perk to experience while there! Both the food and service at Cape Grace was top notch. For our all-day tour of the Cape, we could not have asked for a better guide than Glen from Vineyard Ventures. She is absolutely delightful, and I cannot say enough good things about her. The first thing that caught my eye upon arrival at The Marine Hotel in Hermanus was the beautiful panoramic views of the ocean out of our room. Our whale watching excursion was very fun. Once again, the staff at Dyer Island Cruises were very knowledgeable and helpful. For our final day, we were happily gathered by Glen to take us through the South African winelands. She hit the nail on the head with our tour! We got to experience a little of everything from sauvignon blanc to cabernet sauvignon to the pride of South Africa, pinotage. At Mont Rochelle, the views of Franschhoek out of our room were gorgeous. Overall, this trip was simply amazing. We highly recommend both doing a trip to Africa as well as working with Safari Consultants for the planning. We cannot thank Rob and his team enough for the thought that went into planning a trip like this and for the memories we now have that will last us a lifetimeMichael and Alexandra from Michigan travelled to South Africa and Zimbabwe
August 2019
Hi Michele, we had a fantastic time and my parents couldn’t stop smiling. Everything was as we wanted, great trip and looking forward to our next one.Andrew, Samantha, Megan, Paige, David & Kathryn from Suffolk travelled to Zambia and Mozambique
August 2019
Dear Julia, we loved our safari!! It was impeccably planned and we thank you all so much for putting this together for us last minute. Every moment of the trip was magical, and we really enjoyed the diversity of activities that was planned for us. Namibia was unlike any other country in southern African that we have visited (which include South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana). The landscapes were beautiful and we greatly appreciated seeing so much of the country, from the moonscape near Swakopmund, to the fairy circles at Namib Rand and the red dunes of Sossusvlei. At times, it was like traveling from Mars to the Moon, and back to sand-dune laced desert. Thank you.Graham, Celine and Sophia from Bermuda travelled to Namibia
August 2019
Rob, I just wanted to take few minutes to thank you once again for organizing such an amazing trip for our family. I had some reservations that it could be as good the second time but in fact it was just as great! We felt so well taken care of from the time we arrived in Nairobi until the time we left Dar es Salaam. Kicheche Bush, Fly Camping and Kicheche Valley were all just unbelievable. The customer experience is really top notch. I want to thank you for encouraging me to do the fly camping – it was truly a remarkable experience and I would definitely recommend it to others. We found that even though we had different hosts and different guides that the quality did not suffer – in fact sometimes the change was amazing! Kicheche does a great job with their camp hosts and their replacements and we all felt really well tended to. I really feel that the guides are so well informed that we learn so much each time we go out. It is fairly jarring to come off the all encompassing care / libations/ meals of safari and arrive at half board. I was unprepared for the constant signing of bills, with different servers at different locations for waters, coffee’s, drinks etc and trying to keep track of 6 people’s food and beverage intake and tipping. However I would like to say that the food quality and property at Breezes all really exceeded my expectations. It was by far the best “mass” buffet breakfast I have been to, and we do travel a fair bit. Thank you for arranging the deluxe rooms – the sea view in the morning was stunning. Additionally the management went out of their way to make sure we were happy – we had something broken by housekeeping and they arranged complimentary massages (lovely spa) and sailing for the kids. We also took advantage of their water sports centre and went snorkelling and the kids arranged scuba through the onsite dive shop. We are so fortunate to have had you planning these two very special trips for us and I am hoping we will be so lucky as to get a third time to organize something with you.Maxine Tanya, Aux, Tanner, Callison & Williams from Canada travelled to Kenya and Tanzania
August 2019
Hi Frances, Cape Town, the apartment was perfect for us, V&A waterfront is a good base. Leaving Cape Town we went to Franschhoek and had lunch at the beautiful La Petite Ferme, we then headed to Hermanus via the coastal road, I personally loved this, one of the best roads I’ve ever driven, mountains to my left, sea and sun to my right! Hermanus was the only disappointing bit of the holiday, only due to the weather, our boat trip was cancelled. Auberge Burgundy Guesthouse was lovely though. We left Hermanus early and headed to La Plume, lovely guesthouse, great food and hospitality. We had the farm tour the following day and all seemed to enjoy it. We then went half way up the Swartberg pass, which was well worth it, took photos then back down en-route to Hog Hollow. We arrived at Hog Hollow, walked through reception and took in the view (Claire cried!). We loved Hog Hollow, food was amazing, staff were amazing and there’s plenty to do. It was very hard saying goodbye to Hog Hollow for all of us, we then went to River Bend and our first ever safari! River Bend was great, the staff again were amazing and really made our time there special! Our guide was “Darlington,” this guy knew everything there is to know about every living creature at River Bend Lodge! We saw so many elephants here, it was a really special experience. The kids loved him and his enthusiasm for his job, he kept them interested the whole time; not easy for 16 and 18 year olds! Then on to Kwandwe, this place is very special! Too many highlights to tell you about regarding the safari, every outing was amazing, sundowners on safari are very special! We saw every animal we thought we might be lucky enough to see and more and we hadn’t realised how close we would get to them, we loved it. All in all we had an amazing holiday, so many memories, thank you to you, Rob and the team so much for all your efforts.Stefan, Claire, Henry and Lily from Essex travelled to South Africa
August 2019
Mary, we just wanted to say a huge thanks to you and the team for organising such a wonderful trip for us. All of the places you recommended were perfect for us, the itinerary worked extremely well and all of the transfers and logistics were smooth and hassle-free! A fabulous holiday experience was had by us all, and we won't hesitate to recommend you to our friends and family.Ian, Lara, Samuel and Holly from Hertfordshire travelled to Tanzania
August 2019
Dear Mary, we had a fabulous time in Botswana; it definitely exceeded our expectations. The lodges were all fantastic and different from each other. We enjoyed each one and were very sad to leave. The staff and guides were wonderful and we learned huge amounts about the wildlife. Tongabezi was a very luxurious way to end our holiday and we really felt completely spoilt! It was the perfect antidote to spending hours in jeeps bouncing along on bumpy tracks (although we actually really enjoyed that!). Esme absolutely loved every moment and became our official wildlife photographer which she loved. Thank you again for organising our trip with so much care and attention to detail. It has been truly life-changing and we will cherish the memories.John, Andrea and Esme from Cambridge travelled to Botswana and Zambia
August 2019
Dear Joe & Rob, we just wanted to send you a note to thank you for organising our family holiday in South Africa. The whole experience has been amazing. Seamless transfers and a fantastic selection of places to stay. The Bush House, with its animal hide and family feel was a great introduction to Safari and we were lucky enough to have many amazing animal encounters. We need to mention Mike, our Safari guide, as he put us at ease and was a genius at taking us to the right places at the right times. Cape Grace hotel was the perfect base for our days in Cape Town and Margie from Vineyard Tours was a first rate guide for our excursions. Grootbos was the perfect end to our adventure. A positive success story of environmentally sustainable tourism. The team there were so knowledgeable and friendly. We will certainly want to go back. Thank you both so much for all of your help organising our trip.Dan, Jane, Jessica and Poppy from Hertfordshire travelled to South Africa
August 2019
Hi Frances, I just wanted to say that we all had an amazing holiday in Kenya and were sad to leave and come back to reality. Thank you for all your hard work in making it such a special experience. We were blown away by the game viewing in Mara North in particular, but also loved Laikipia. All the arrangements worked perfectly and we were particularly impressed by the 2 main transition days. We all loved both the Kicheche camps – the staff were amazing and the attention to detail was impressive; we felt very welcome and the food was outstanding – we hadn’t been quite sure what to expect, but it certainly surpassed any expectations we might have had. The scale of the camps was just right for us – not too many guests, but enough to be sociable, and we met lots of really nice people. We all liked the Pinewood Spa resort too; its location was ideal being south of Diani itself, which meant the beach was very quiet and there were very few hawkers. We had a brilliant and very memorable holiday.Peter, Margaret, Lucy and Rosie from London travelled to Kenya
July/August 2019
All-in all excellent. Joe was a pleasure to deal with during the holiday planning. Both main locations; Kicheche Mara and Kinondo Kwetu were outstanding in terms of service, quality and for the safari location and animal spotting. Thanks very much, we shall certainly be recommending you!Stuart, Mallika, Rohan and Tara from London travelled to Kenya
July 2019
Dear Julia, we had a wonderful honeymoon! Everything went smoothly from internal flights to airport transfers, and Kicheche & Pongwe were exactly the sort of places we had hoped to stay at. Thank you for your hard work to understand what we were after and to set it all up for us.Ben and Madeleine from London travelled on honeymoon to Kenya and Tanzania
July 2019
Dear Mary, we have had the most fabulous time and have been singing your praises to anyone who will listen! I shall write in more detail later but we have packed every second of the trip with adventures. And loved every moment. With Tusk and Mane, and Kyle and Sarah, you have achieved the near impossible given what you have arranged for us before. Providing the happiest holiday moments of our lives. It is simply exceptional.Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi
July 2019
Hi Frances. Just to let you know we had a really fantastic holiday in South Africa and Botswana, we loved all of it. We had so many close encounters with some great wildlife. The accommodation was also very good, though as expected the San Parks were more basic with not much choice of food. Mashatu Tent camp was the best place for close up animal sightings and we loved the Pafuri Camp accommodation and the scenery there. H12 Leshiba was the perfect place to finish our holiday and we could have done with an extra night, Rissington Inn was also a great place to start our holiday. Thanks again for booking such a wonderful holiday for us.Peter and Angela from Hertfordshire travelled to South Africa & Botswana
July 2019
Dear Mary, I promised a few comments from what has been a wonderful holiday. The plan to base our holiday on the Zambia bank of the Zambezi, opposite where we had our honeymoon was perfect - you have now organised South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zanzibar for us, and goodness knows how many for friends. We have loved each part of every trip. Our 2 super-highlights? Perhaps Sosian when the children were younger, and now Tusk and Mane Mobile Camping. It is the variety of textures and activities within these two settings combined with the outstanding and very personal organisation and delivery of every minute in a private setting that made them our favourite moments. Kyle and his fiancee Sarah put a huge amount of effort into making sure everything was as we hoped. Kayaking through crocodiles devouring a dead hippo (we lost count at 60 and they really were that close to our kayak and had to be pushed off), fishing (William caught the biggest Tigerfish in memory on that stretch of the river - first cast), then a surprise with Kyle showing him how to open his first bottle of “champagne” for an early birthday present, early morning drives watching 3 male lions playing together before resting, elephant galore eating from the trees, followed by a couple of hours peaceful walking in quite the most beautiful woodland. There were night drives to see new borne leopard and in the “quiet" 2 hours after lunch Kyle would take me fly fishing on my own, casting right into hippo pods where the tigers lurked - and all with almost no one else around. You have found a great new adventure here. I’d strongly recommend 4 nights as we did. Clive at Purple Patch Transfers and Tours was wonderfully colourful and hands on in Vic Falls and looked after us incredibly well. Pumulani really does have spectacular villas. We were again very lucky to be almost alone there so had wall to wall activities every day. So much for resting! Swimming with countless cichlids, tough walks up the hills, kayaking, pico sailing, dhow cruises, star gazing, paddle boarding, water skiing and tubing amongst the activities we did. A heart felt thank you again for your patience and advice. It has been a truly wonderful trip.Peter, Yannette, Oliver and William from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia & Malawi
July 2019
Hi Joe,
A quick note to thank you for your help with our holiday. We have had the most amazing time. We were so impressed with both Kicheche camps, and our time on safari was unforgettable. As you are no doubt aware, the rains seem to have come late this year, so the Great Migration hadn’t reached the Masai Mara yet, but it didn’t matter for us as there was so much to see - it really did exceed our expectations. Next Paradise was lovely, and just what we needed after a week of early starts on safari. I have to say you really did a great job of understanding what we wanted, and tailoring a trip that was exactly what we were hoping for. I will have no hesitation in recommending Safari Consultants to anyone who is planning to go on safari in the future. The only problem that we have been left with is that what was intended to be a once in a lifetime holiday has already triggered conversations about the next safari we would like to do! Once again, many thanks.James, Caroline, Grace and Lara from Bristol travelled to Kenya and Zanzibar
July 2019
Really flawless organisation by Mary for our three venue, tailor-made, two week trip to Kenya. We selected the destinations ourselves (Sarara camp in the Mathews Range, followed by walking segments in Laikipia with Walking Wild and with Karisia, each fabulous in its own way) but Safari Consultants’ arrangements couldn’t have been bettered. Excellent pre-safari advice, immediate follow-up to any queries we had, transparent billing and, best of all, every one of the complex on-the-ground arrangements worked perfectly, whether transfers to and from airports, a day room in the excellent Palacina Hotel in Nairobi, or private charter flights to remote airstrips. Third time with Safari ConsultantsMichael and Linda from Oxfordshire travelled to Kenya
July 2019
Hi Joe, we had an absolutely amazing time in Kenya. It surpassed all expectations, the accommodation was fantastic (and a great to stay in 2 different styles of accommodation) and the wildlife was just mind-blowing. Such a thrilling experience for me and the boys, it was like being dropped into a David Attenborough documentary. Without a doubt the best holiday we have ever had, and certainly not our last safari. Having said it was a once in a lifetime trip we have already been talking about when we can go back. I think you said this might be the case! We did a couple of trips when we were there which were excellent - from Lewa up into the forest to a waterfall, diving pool, treetop walkway and fabulous picnic al fresco. Really interesting for us all (and in particular the kids) to see real Kenyan life in the villages and fields en route. We also did a walking safari at Lewa which was thrilling, and visited the amazing kitchen garden where a massive variety of fruit and veg was being cultivated. At Kicheche we went on the trip to the village which I would recommend to anyone with kids. The boys loved it, they got involved and some dancing and singing and jumping rituals and then had the chance to buy some souvenirs. It was fun, and according to the manager of Kicheche a pretty authentic experience. All arrangements were seamless, Benroso were great in Nairobi and took us to an excellent hotel to have supper before the flight (sorry can’t remember the name) with a very lush garden and relaxing start to the journey home. Also great to have the drive through Nairobi - its been an excellent educational experience for the kids. We have taken 100s of photographs of course. Thank you for all your help with arranging this trip. I’d go as far to say its been life-changing. We will be in touch again in a couple of years for our next one!Sarah, Benjamin and Oliver from Norfolk travelled to Kenya
July 2019
Hello Frances, I had no doubts that we would have a great time, but the safari in particular was amazing. There were several special moments, but the one that stood out was when the leopard had disappeared on the other side of the gorge from where we parked. We waited for a while and then assumed she had left but just then she popped up only inches from our faces! Although we never saw a live kill, we saw a leopard dragging the dead antelope down from the tree for further consumption! The camp itself was great, luxury camping without it being over-the top. Baraza - we thought the quality of the food was outstanding. And the breadth of choice very good too. All in all a great holiday and many thanks to you and your team.Dominic, Wallis and Max from London travelled to Kenya and Tanzania
July 2019
Dear Joe and Rob, just a quick note for now that we are back and had a fantastic time. The girls loved it and are asking if we can go back for the October and February half-terms. So a huge success from that standpoint which is what Mary Ruth and I were hoping for.Bob, Mary-Ruth, Annagail and Genevieve from London travelled to Kenya
July 2019
Dear Rob, we indeed had a fantastic holiday in Tanzania and would have no hesitation in recommending it to any of our friends. I don't think there were any unusual sightings, but we certainly saw everything possible from the Big Five to Fishers lovebirds and an African Pygmy Falcon and terrapins in the pond at the Moru Kopjes. The service was excellent on both your end and in Africa. All your advice and input was manifestly accurate and excellent guidance to us. The service on the ground in Africa exceeded all expectations. Aaron Lazaro our guide, driver and now family friend was an outstanding ambassador for Hoopoe Safaris. He was so knowledgeable, patient and always charming and kind to us and everyone else he interacted with. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the universe but mostly zoology, botany and ornithology. The Kirurumu camps at Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Moru were delightful. Rob, it was an amazing holiday. Everybody wants to go back. We really cannot say enough good things about Aaron and all the other people we met and interacted with. It was one of the best family holidays ever.Julian, Vivienne, Hugh and William from China travelled to Tanzania
June 2019
Hey Julia, we had an absolutely amazing time, thank you so much for organising. Kenya was just incredible, amazing camp, Debbie was great as were the rest of the team. We saw so much - so many Lions, Cheetahs, one beautiful Leopard, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Ostriches etc etc. The room in the camp itself was beautiful, the food was amazing and everyone was so friendly. Zanzibar was absolutely stunning, Zawadi hotel was exactly what we were looking. Only a small number of places, beach a few minutes’ walk away, beautiful plunge pool, unbelievable sea and the staff really could not do enough for you. It was really a perfect honeymoon. It was exactly what we wanted from our initial brief and above and beyond our expectations. I have already recommend you to lots of people! Thanks so much!Adam and Nathalie from East Sussex travelled on Honeymoon to Kenya & Zanzibar
June 2019
Dear Rob, I just wanted to say thank you for putting together such a wonderful itinerary. It was a memorable trip and every single day offered something magical. I just wanted to add my thanks and appreciation of a truly wonderful time in all three countries. The locations and accommodation were spot on - as always! It was fabulous - from the might of the Victoria Falls, to lions and their cubs, being entertained by the elephants (great to watch them drinking from the plunge pool at Somalisa!), seeing a cheetah, the elusive leopard and more hippos than I could imagine! The water-based viewing from the river boat and the peace and tranquility of the mokoro were amazing and a wonderful contrast! Thank you. It's tough to be back!Pamela from Leicester travelled to Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana
June 2019
Hi Julia, we had the most incredible time on our honeymoon! Thank you so so much for organising such an amazing trip for us, we couldn't have asked for better. Everything ran so smoothly and that was all down to your organising. The safari was out of this world, we were so sad when we had to leave! We loved absolutely everything about it. Thank you for always answering emails/calls so promptly and for organising a holiday of a lifetime for us! We recommend you guys to everyone we know/meet!Thomas and Laura from Horsham travelled to South Africa and Mauritius on their Honeymoon
April/May 2019
Dear Frances, just to say thank you for organising our holiday. We all had a marvellous time. The weather could have been kinder to us but no one can control that! Marlene and Colin from Hampshire travelled to South Africa
April 2019
Thank you Frances. We have commended you to everyone we have talked to, we had the best time. Flights and transfers went really well. Rissington accommodation was a little dated but easily made up for by staff, food and wine! Umkumbe was faultless. Room, buffets, too many animals to mention, and the wonderful Tanya driving us every day with her knowledge and humour.Graham, Sarah and Charlotte from Hertfordshire travelled to South Africa
April 2019
Hi Frances. A very big thank you for all the arrangements you made for us and for Le Paradis - which was an unqualified success - the perfect venue for the family holiday that we had wanted. Everyone had a ball! We found the staff unfailingly friendly, smiling and helpful - they couldn't do enough for the guests. The buffet restaurants offered a splendid range of food - the difficulty was not to eat far too much! Many thanks for helping with this amazing holiday. William and Deborah from Edinburgh travelled to Mauritius with their family
April 2019
Dear Mary, I apologise that this is a little slow in coming, but its tardiness doesn't detract from its weight in saying thank you for your part in arranging our stay at The Bush House, which is an outstanding Game Lodge. The Morrisons are superb hosts and the staff are second to none, nothing was too much trouble. We all had an excellent time which included some first-rate game viewing. Our guide Renain Venter was good at seeking out the animals and also was exceedingly patient with Matilda and Eric encouraging them to look and watch. Everything worked well and I am very grateful for all you did for us. As you may know my object, after visiting Cape Town, was to show Matilda and Eric real animals in a real setting and I reckon we accomplished this pretty well, for which many thanks indeed.Andrew, Ian, Caroline, Matilda and Eric from Salisbury travelled to South Africa
April 2019
Hi Julia, just a short note to pass on our thanks for your super organisation of our trip to Tanda Tula and onto Cape Town. Suffice to say we had a truly amazing time. Thanks again for all your help in pulling it together and making the trip go as smoothly as possible.Alan and Joanna from Surbiton travelled to South Africa
April 2019
Jane, thank you so much for putting our itinerary together. You hit the brief on the nose!! To be blunt and to the point, our holiday exceeded expectation. I think you did a great job working out our requirements (even if we weren’t sure what we wanted). All our lodging was excellent (yet different), and we were met and managed(!) across Nairobi excellently. Most importantly we got a feel of Kenya and in particular the Masai Mara and its extraordinary wildlife. In our first three days we had seen the “Big Five”, charged by a black Rhino (in the car and on a horse) and had our sundowner drinks under a tree with a leopard in it. We were spoilt with the number of Rhino (both black and white) but a lovely beginning in a place with a great history of conservation. Walking Wild was probably the best bit, although it is difficult to pick out the best as it’s all been great. The quality of food on the go (all produced on open fires) the warm friendliness of the group of men transporting the kit on the camels and the humour, wit and knowledge of Kitonga was humbling. Our night drive at Kicheche was particularly memorable seeing an Ardwolf and most endearing of all a Bush baby ‘bouncing’ for 100 metres to the next tree.Jim and Sue from Wiltshire travelled to Kenya
March/April 2019
Hi Frances, we had the most amazing trip and it by far outdid our expectations so thank you so much for organising everything so well. It was great not to have to worry about any of the logistics in getting there and back. The safari was really unbelievable, we saw so much which I never expected - lots of different prides of Lions, Lions mating, Hippos mating, a Hippo started to charge the vehicle, cheetahs, hyenas, carcasses, baby elephants, giraffes, zebras to name a few!! Ol Seki itself was fabulous, I especially loved the hot chocolate wake up call before the game drive. Debbie was so lovely and looked after us so well. It really was the trip of a lifetime so thank you so so much again for recommending it, we would have ended up somewhere very different and not a patch on Ol Seki if we hadn't come to you. Emily and Spencer from Ireland travelled to Kenya
March 2019
Hi Frances, we had a wonderful holiday and would like to thank you for all your help and advice. Although there were a few travel glitches, you had planned everything in meticulous detail, the hotels were all lovely, everybody looked after us well and left flowers, wine and chocolates in celebration of my birthday - you must have arranged that! All your written information was really helpful and detailed and we enjoyed using the App. This was just what I wanted - an unforgettable holiday to celebrate reaching 60 and you more than delivered on that. Those wonderful memories will remain long after the memory of our plane journey home has ended.Judith and Martin from Durham travelled to South Africa and Zimbabwe
February 2019
Special thanks to Joe Corder for his patience, advice and knowledge in guiding two first timers through all the decisions and where and when to do a safari. We couldn’t have done it without him and the Safari Consultants team!Jane and Mary from Nottinghamshire, travelled to Kenya
February 2019
- Tanzania
Activities & Special Interest
Special interest & safari activities in Tanzania
Big-game viewing
Most big-game viewing in Tanzania occurs on game drives in either open or closed 4×4 vehicles. In the north of the country, it is usual to take a private ‘closed’ vehicle (and guide) and travel overland between the safari regions which are close together, although there are an increasing number of camps now offering a fly-in option with game drives in open vehicles. In the south and west of the country, where regions are linked by internal flights, open vehicles are used. The best regions for seeing big game are the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Selous, Ruaha and Katavi. Please view our regions page for more information on these and other areas.
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Night drives
Night drives are not possible in National Parks and Game Reserves, and are therefore limited to a few specific private conservancies/properties.
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Walking Safaris
Walking is widely available in Tanzania. Whilst some safari properties offer nature walks as individual activities, the country is also an excellent destination for longer, more adventurous walking trails, often walking over several days and staying in fairly basic ‘fly-camps’ in the wilderness. All walks are fully guided with a back up crew to provide meals, drinks and undertake camp chores. In Mahale and Gombe Stream national parks, walking is the main activity when searching for primates such as chimpanzee.
Some of the best ‘dedicated’ walking safaris are found in the Selous Game Reserve, where operations such as Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari offer genuine wilderness walking with big game encounters. Other regions that offer good overnight walking safaris or trails include Katavi, Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Serengeti ecosystem, including the National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo.
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Mountain trekking & Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro offers superb mountain trekking and the trek to Uhuru Peak (at 5,895 metres/ 19,370 feet, the highest point in Africa) is a challenging and rewarding adventure. From the dense forests of the lower slopes, where wildlife can be seen, you traverse rolling moorland, rocky ridges and alpine desert before the final ascent up the prominent ‘Kibo Dome’. The views from on top of the Kibo Dome are awesome and inspiring, if not especially picturesque.
There are several different routes you can take, none of which involve technical climbing, but all of which are exhausting and expose you to freezing temperatures. You need a minimum of 4 or 5 nights on the mountain (often 6 nights), as well as a night either side close to the mountain. Accommodation is either in mountain huts (Marangu route only) or camping (all other routes including Machame, Shira, Lemoshi Glades and Rongai) with all food and services provided by your climb outfitter.
Mount Meru offers a shorter high altitude trek (usually 3 days/ 2 nights from Arusha), whilst the Ngorongoro Highlands offer some good lower level trekking, with an ascent of the active volcano Ol Donyo Lengai possible for the really hardy and experienced (we actually do not recommend this as the conditions on the volcano are incredibly dangerous).
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Birding
With over 1100 species recorded, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier birding destinations. On any safari, even those with little bird knowledge are likely to record around 100 species over a period of a week. Changing habitats and altitude will prove even more productive. We do not specifically arrange birding group tours, but many of our customers are keen birders and putting together an individually designed itinerary is very easy. Some of the key areas to include are the montane forests around Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, the riverine woodland and waterways of the Selous Game Reserve, the drier bush habitats and miombo woodland of Ruaha and Katavi and the Great Rift Valley lakes of Natron and Manyara. In particular, Lake Natron is one of the largest breeding grounds for the lesser flamingo. Specialist guides are available for the more serious birder, who may also wish to consider destinations such as the Usambara Mountains, and Udzungwa Mountains National Park and the southern highlands.
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Species specific interests
Tanzania offers a very wide range of wildlife viewing, but some of the key species that can be specifically focused on include chimpanzee, elephant and the big cats.
The Serengeti is one of the best regions in Africa to see all three big cat species – lion, cheetah and leopard, whilst elephant viewing is especially good in Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and at the end of the dry season elephants can be seen in vast herds in Katavi National Park.
In Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania offers some of the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees in the wild. Chimps have been studied in these regions for many years, and some families habituated to the presence of humans, making viewing excellent.
Tanzania is also a great country for seeing giraffe, and there is a growing population of wild dogs, especially in the Selous Game Reserve. The waterways of the Rufiji River are some of the very best areas in Africa to see hippo and crocodiles. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Cultural Experiences
Tanzania is a fairly heavily populated country with a multitude of ethnic tribes and colourful peoples, and even staying within the designated National Parks & Reserves, you will meet local people in the form of guides and camp staff. Some safari camps and lodges, especially those outside of national reserves, work closely with local villages and as a guest you can learn as much about the local community as you desire. The best opportunities are arguably around the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the colourful Maasai dominate, and hunter-gatherers such as the Hadzabe provide a less touristy experience.
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Photographic Safaris
Most people who head out on safari plan to take a few photographs. However, in depth photographic safaris are growing in popularity, whether in the form of small group trips (please see the ‘Groups’ section for links to specialist photographic tours) or individually tailored holidays.
We are best equipped to arrange individually tailored photographic holidays. The flexibility and service we offer allows you to carefully plan your safari to meet your exact requirements, whilst our specialist knowledge is crucial, not just in terms of knowing where to photograph particular species, but also in terms of being able to provide suitable vehicles and guides.
In Tanzania, photographing big game is possible in many of the parks, especially prime areas such as the Serengeti, where the wildebeest and zebra herds can also be found. The Ngorongoro Crater is an amazing scenic spectacle and the best place to see rhino, whilst the Selous Game Reserve will offer a different opportunity with magical waterways and fantastic opportunities to photograph birds and water-dwelling species such as hippo and croc. In the west of the country, Mahale and Gombe are without doubt the best places in Africa to photograph chimps in the wild.
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Water-based Safaris
The Selous Game Reserve, with the Rufiji River and a string of four beautiful lakes that connect off the main river, offers some of the best boating safaris in Africa. Throughout the rest of the country, there is very little on offer, though Lake Tanganyika offers scenic cruises and kayaking, and canoeing is sometimes possible on Lake Manyara.
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Fishing
Whilst there are some freshwater fishing opportunities on Lake Tanganyika and in some of the great rivers such as the Rufiji, the best fishing on offer in Tanzania is big game fishing off the coast (both traditional and on fly). There is not really a ‘fishing culture’ but most beach hotels can arrange deep-sea fishing through local specialists. Bill fishing, particularly for sailfish, is superb from September to March. Marlin (blue, black and striped), broadbill swordfish, shark, barracuda, trevally/kingfish are just some of the other species regularly caught.
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Scuba-diving and Snorkelling
Diving is widely available off the islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba, where there is some excellent diving. Mafia Island, Mnemba Island off north-east Zanzibar and Mesali Island off western Pemba are some of the best diving locations. Snorkelling is good in most places, but it is usually necessary to go out in a boat, rather than snorkel from the beach. Mnemba and Chumbe Islands off Zanzibar offer some of the best conditions. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Other activities
Other activities available on a limited basis include sailing, kayaking, mountain biking. We can also cater for very specific interests such as dendrology, Lepidoptera, archaeology etc.
Horse-riding is not widely available in Tanzania, and limited to the areas of Arusha, West Kilimanjaro, Manyara, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Grumeti Reserves in the western Serengeti.
Most places that offer riding concentrate on half day or full day rides, and are usually available for all capabilities. Serious riding enthusiast should consider the more dedicated operations found in Kenya and southern Africa.
Hot-air balloon safaris are possible in a couple of places in Tanzania, most notably in the Serengeti National Park. Take-off is at dawn, and you float over the plains for about an hour before landing (usually bumpy). A ‘champagne’ breakfast is served before you transfer back to your lodge/camp. Although expensive and commercial, balloon safaris are memorable and the views are magical.
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- Tanzania
Other Regions
Other Regions
Mikumi abuts the north-western border of the vast Selous Game Reserve and is cut in two by the main Dar es Salaam to Iringa road. The park, Tanzania’s fourth largest at around 3200 sq.kms, is dominated by the Mkata floodplain and is one of the best areas to see eland, the largest antelope species.
Other game includes lion, elephant, Nyasa blue wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe and wild dog. Bird species number over 400. Ease of access and with a good network of roads make Mikumi a popular park to visit from Dar es Salaam, or if driving to Ruaha.
Day excursions to the remote and forested Udzungwa Mountains National Park can also be taken (there is no permanent accommodation in Udzungwa but the park does have a number of excellent walking trails). Udzungwa is an important birding area with four species endemic including the Udzungwa forest partridge only ‘discovered’ in 1991.
- Tanzania
The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The mainland coast of Tanzania has pretty much escaped from the mass development of coast hotels, most certainly because Zanzibar has taken this role. However, there are a number of reasonable coastal resorts which offer good quality beach breakaways with a bit more exclusivity in the Pangani region and just south of Dar es Salaam. Sadaani National Park, some five hours drive north of Dar es Salaam, is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania to border the sea – the chance to see monkeys and hippo on the beach!
Zanzibar
Correctly, Zanzibar should be the term used when talking about the islands of Pemba and Unguja. However, in recent years the term has been used to refer solely to the latter, with Pemba maintaining its own identity. The islands lie some 30 kms off-shore north/north-east of Dar es Salaam (20 minutes by air to Zanzibar, sea ferries are also available).
Zanzibar’s history dates back more than 2000 years when the islands traded with ships from Persia, Arabia and India. From about the 10th century, groups of immigrants from Shiraz (Persia) settled on the island and mixed with the local people. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established a trading station before being ousted by Omani Arabs a couple of centuries later. In 1840, the Sultan Said moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar with the Omani Arabs forming an elite group of landlords and rulers. Indian settlers formed a merchant class and the island became an important centre of regional politics and the focus of the slave trade. In 1890, Zanzibar became a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1963. In 1964, the Sultan was overthrown and nearly all Arabs and Indians expelled. Later that year, Zanzibar and Tanganyika combined to form Tanzania. Since then, many of the expelled peoples have returned.
In Zanzibar’s Stone Town (the old quarter), a fascinating maze of narrow streets and alleyways lead past numerous old houses, mosques, ornate palaces, shops and bazaars. Many of the buildings date back to the 19th century and depict the wealth of its builder. Arab houses have plain outer walls with large doors leading to an inner courtyard. Conversely, Indian houses have a more open facade and large balconies with railings and balustrades. The area outside the Stone Town is called Michenzani (New City), a failed attempt at becoming a modern city.
The Stone Town lies on the west coast with the harbour and airport. The best beaches are on the south-east, north-east and far north-west coasts, about an hours drive away. There has been a lot of coastal development in the last few years, and the variety of beach resorts is ever expanding – from discreet beach retreats and exclusive luxury lodges to large, resort-style hotels.
Aside from swimming, snorkelling and diving, the island offers a range of other activities including visiting spice plantations, the Jozani Forest where the rare red colobus monkey is found, swimming with dolphins, dhow trips etc. Chumbe Island Coral Park is well worth visiting as a day trip from Stone Town or for a couple of nights.
There are regular flights to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, the southern safari circuit and the northern safari circuit (Arusha/Kilimanjaro). Direct connections to Nairobi (Kenya) are also available.
Pemba Island lies to the north and is serviced by air from Zanzibar. Fundu Lagoon, on the west coast, is the only lodge of good quality and is best suited for those who want to dive Mesali Island or escape the development on Zanzibar.
Mafia Island lies to the south of Dar es Salaam (opposite the mouth of the Rufiji River) and is an unspoilt, little visited alternative to Zanzibar. The archipelago is actually made up of four major islands, Mafia itself, Chole, Jiobondo and Juani, and is better known for its fantastic scuba diving rather than its beaches. In comparison to Zanzibar, it is extremely poor with little infrastructure aside from the few beach hotels.
- Tanzania
The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous is Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary, covering over 54,600 sq. kms. (almost the size of Ireland). The region is dominated by the Great Ruaha River and Kilombero rivers which join to form the mighty Rufiji River, East Africa’s greatest waterway. Although only 45 minutes by air from Dar es Salaam, the Selous is still one of the worlds last great wilderness areas. It is a largely inaccessible region, dissected by water courses which become raging torrents during the rains, forcing the animals onto high ground. In the dry season, the rivers whither away to form ‘sand rivers’.
The reserve is named after the famous hunter and explorer, Frederick Courtney Selous, but it was the Germans who first established a game reserve here in 1905. The first warden was an eccentric former ivory hunter called C.P. Ionides (known locally as the ‘Snake Man’ and it was he who helped develop the reserve into it’s present size. Under the wardenship of Brian Nicholson, the Selous became an example of intelligent wildlife management; it is divided into controlled areas and human habitation is prohibited. However, groves of mango trees scattered through the bush are grim reminders that the main southern caravan route from Lake Nyasa passed through this region; they grew from the stones dropped by slaves as they were marched towards the slave markets of Zanzibar.
The habitat and scenery varies significantly over short distances: purple rolling hills, rock-strewn plains, ‘sand rivers’ lined with salt bush, cluster lush swamps and marshes, rocky gorges, savannah bush country and miombo woodland. Altitudes range from 110m to 1250m and the climate is quite tropical – humid during the rains and pleasantly warm during the dry season (June to October – the best time to visit).
There is a wealth of animals to see on a Selous safari including lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant, Cape buffalo, eland, sable antelope, greater kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck and the very elusive black rhino. The birdlife too is superb, with over 350 species having been recorded.
Three quarters of the reserve is made up of hunting concessions and closed to most ‘photographic’ tourists. Most photographic tourists are limited to the north-eastern part of the reserve where there are a number of good safari lodges. In the last few years however, new conservation initiatives have resulted in one of the ‘hunting concessions’ being operated solely for exclusive photographic safaris.
Aside from daily walks, boat cruises and game drives, some lodges in the Selous offer a range of different walking trails from overnight fly-camping to longer multi-day trails.
To find out more on Selous safari options please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari specialists.
- Tanzania
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha was previously part of the huge Rungwa Game Reserve, with which it shares its north-western boundary, but gazetted as a National Park in 1964. The terrain within the park is well wooded and undulating. The Great Ruaha River (which forms much of the south-eastern boundary), numerous waterholes, swamps and seepage areas provide the park with a permanent supply of water, but there are also numerous sand rivers which become raging torrents during the rains (from December to April).
Generally, the park is divided into four different habitats consisting of mixed miombo woodland, undulating hills dominated by baobabs, albida woodland along the main river courses, and areas of open ‘black cotton’ grassland. Mammal viewing is superb particularly in the dry season (June to October) when the animals are forced to congregate around the water sources – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, impala, zebra, giraffe, hippo, waterbuck, roan and sable antelope, eland, greater and lesser kudu, and Grant’s gazelle are just some on the many species to be seen. The birdlife is exceptional with some 540 species recorded.
Despite Ruaha being a terrific wildlife area, it is still attracts relatively small numbers of tourists. Game-viewing is limited to game drives by day – some camps may offer walks with advanced notice. Tsetse fly are present.
Big-game viewing
Most big-game viewing in Tanzania occurs on game drives in either open or closed 4×4 vehicles. In the north of the country, it is usual to take a private ‘closed’ vehicle (and guide) and travel overland between the safari regions which are close together, although there are an increasing number of camps now offering a fly-in option with game drives in open vehicles. In the south and west of the country, where regions are linked by internal flights, open vehicles are used. The best regions for seeing big game are the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Selous, Ruaha and Katavi. Please view our regions page for more information on these and other areas.
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Night drives
Night drives are not possible in National Parks and Game Reserves, and are therefore limited to a few specific private conservancies/properties.
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Walking Safaris
Walking is widely available in Tanzania. Whilst some safari properties offer nature walks as individual activities, the country is also an excellent destination for longer, more adventurous walking trails, often walking over several days and staying in fairly basic ‘fly-camps’ in the wilderness. All walks are fully guided with a back up crew to provide meals, drinks and undertake camp chores. In Mahale and Gombe Stream national parks, walking is the main activity when searching for primates such as chimpanzee.
Some of the best ‘dedicated’ walking safaris are found in the Selous Game Reserve, where operations such as Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari offer genuine wilderness walking with big game encounters. Other regions that offer good overnight walking safaris or trails include Katavi, Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Serengeti ecosystem, including the National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo.
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Mountain trekking & Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro offers superb mountain trekking and the trek to Uhuru Peak (at 5,895 metres/ 19,370 feet, the highest point in Africa) is a challenging and rewarding adventure. From the dense forests of the lower slopes, where wildlife can be seen, you traverse rolling moorland, rocky ridges and alpine desert before the final ascent up the prominent ‘Kibo Dome’. The views from on top of the Kibo Dome are awesome and inspiring, if not especially picturesque.
There are several different routes you can take, none of which involve technical climbing, but all of which are exhausting and expose you to freezing temperatures. You need a minimum of 4 or 5 nights on the mountain (often 6 nights), as well as a night either side close to the mountain. Accommodation is either in mountain huts (Marangu route only) or camping (all other routes including Machame, Shira, Lemoshi Glades and Rongai) with all food and services provided by your climb outfitter.
Mount Meru offers a shorter high altitude trek (usually 3 days/ 2 nights from Arusha), whilst the Ngorongoro Highlands offer some good lower level trekking, with an ascent of the active volcano Ol Donyo Lengai possible for the really hardy and experienced (we actually do not recommend this as the conditions on the volcano are incredibly dangerous).
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Birding
With over 1100 species recorded, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier birding destinations. On any safari, even those with little bird knowledge are likely to record around 100 species over a period of a week. Changing habitats and altitude will prove even more productive. We do not specifically arrange birding group tours, but many of our customers are keen birders and putting together an individually designed itinerary is very easy. Some of the key areas to include are the montane forests around Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, the riverine woodland and waterways of the Selous Game Reserve, the drier bush habitats and miombo woodland of Ruaha and Katavi and the Great Rift Valley lakes of Natron and Manyara. In particular, Lake Natron is one of the largest breeding grounds for the lesser flamingo. Specialist guides are available for the more serious birder, who may also wish to consider destinations such as the Usambara Mountains, and Udzungwa Mountains National Park and the southern highlands.
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Species specific interests
Tanzania offers a very wide range of wildlife viewing, but some of the key species that can be specifically focused on include chimpanzee, elephant and the big cats.
The Serengeti is one of the best regions in Africa to see all three big cat species – lion, cheetah and leopard, whilst elephant viewing is especially good in Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and at the end of the dry season elephants can be seen in vast herds in Katavi National Park.
In Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania offers some of the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees in the wild. Chimps have been studied in these regions for many years, and some families habituated to the presence of humans, making viewing excellent.
Tanzania is also a great country for seeing giraffe, and there is a growing population of wild dogs, especially in the Selous Game Reserve. The waterways of the Rufiji River are some of the very best areas in Africa to see hippo and crocodiles. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Cultural Experiences
Tanzania is a fairly heavily populated country with a multitude of ethnic tribes and colourful peoples, and even staying within the designated National Parks & Reserves, you will meet local people in the form of guides and camp staff. Some safari camps and lodges, especially those outside of national reserves, work closely with local villages and as a guest you can learn as much about the local community as you desire. The best opportunities are arguably around the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the colourful Maasai dominate, and hunter-gatherers such as the Hadzabe provide a less touristy experience.
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Photographic Safaris
Most people who head out on safari plan to take a few photographs. However, in depth photographic safaris are growing in popularity, whether in the form of small group trips (please see the ‘Groups’ section for links to specialist photographic tours) or individually tailored holidays.
We are best equipped to arrange individually tailored photographic holidays. The flexibility and service we offer allows you to carefully plan your safari to meet your exact requirements, whilst our specialist knowledge is crucial, not just in terms of knowing where to photograph particular species, but also in terms of being able to provide suitable vehicles and guides.
In Tanzania, photographing big game is possible in many of the parks, especially prime areas such as the Serengeti, where the wildebeest and zebra herds can also be found. The Ngorongoro Crater is an amazing scenic spectacle and the best place to see rhino, whilst the Selous Game Reserve will offer a different opportunity with magical waterways and fantastic opportunities to photograph birds and water-dwelling species such as hippo and croc. In the west of the country, Mahale and Gombe are without doubt the best places in Africa to photograph chimps in the wild.
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Water-based Safaris
The Selous Game Reserve, with the Rufiji River and a string of four beautiful lakes that connect off the main river, offers some of the best boating safaris in Africa. Throughout the rest of the country, there is very little on offer, though Lake Tanganyika offers scenic cruises and kayaking, and canoeing is sometimes possible on Lake Manyara.
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Fishing
Whilst there are some freshwater fishing opportunities on Lake Tanganyika and in some of the great rivers such as the Rufiji, the best fishing on offer in Tanzania is big game fishing off the coast (both traditional and on fly). There is not really a ‘fishing culture’ but most beach hotels can arrange deep-sea fishing through local specialists. Bill fishing, particularly for sailfish, is superb from September to March. Marlin (blue, black and striped), broadbill swordfish, shark, barracuda, trevally/kingfish are just some of the other species regularly caught.
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Scuba-diving and Snorkelling
Diving is widely available off the islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba, where there is some excellent diving. Mafia Island, Mnemba Island off north-east Zanzibar and Mesali Island off western Pemba are some of the best diving locations. Snorkelling is good in most places, but it is usually necessary to go out in a boat, rather than snorkel from the beach. Mnemba and Chumbe Islands off Zanzibar offer some of the best conditions. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins.
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Other activities
Other activities available on a limited basis include sailing, kayaking, mountain biking. We can also cater for very specific interests such as dendrology, Lepidoptera, archaeology etc.
Horse-riding is not widely available in Tanzania, and limited to the areas of Arusha, West Kilimanjaro, Manyara, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Grumeti Reserves in the western Serengeti.
Most places that offer riding concentrate on half day or full day rides, and are usually available for all capabilities. Serious riding enthusiast should consider the more dedicated operations found in Kenya and southern Africa.
Hot-air balloon safaris are possible in a couple of places in Tanzania, most notably in the Serengeti National Park. Take-off is at dawn, and you float over the plains for about an hour before landing (usually bumpy). A ‘champagne’ breakfast is served before you transfer back to your lodge/camp. Although expensive and commercial, balloon safaris are memorable and the views are magical.
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- Tanzania
Other Regions
Other Regions
Mikumi abuts the north-western border of the vast Selous Game Reserve and is cut in two by the main Dar es Salaam to Iringa road. The park, Tanzania’s fourth largest at around 3200 sq.kms, is dominated by the Mkata floodplain and is one of the best areas to see eland, the largest antelope species.
Other game includes lion, elephant, Nyasa blue wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe and wild dog. Bird species number over 400. Ease of access and with a good network of roads make Mikumi a popular park to visit from Dar es Salaam, or if driving to Ruaha.
Day excursions to the remote and forested Udzungwa Mountains National Park can also be taken (there is no permanent accommodation in Udzungwa but the park does have a number of excellent walking trails). Udzungwa is an important birding area with four species endemic including the Udzungwa forest partridge only ‘discovered’ in 1991.
- Tanzania
The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The Tanzania Coast and Islands
The mainland coast of Tanzania has pretty much escaped from the mass development of coast hotels, most certainly because Zanzibar has taken this role. However, there are a number of reasonable coastal resorts which offer good quality beach breakaways with a bit more exclusivity in the Pangani region and just south of Dar es Salaam. Sadaani National Park, some five hours drive north of Dar es Salaam, is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania to border the sea – the chance to see monkeys and hippo on the beach!
Zanzibar
Correctly, Zanzibar should be the term used when talking about the islands of Pemba and Unguja. However, in recent years the term has been used to refer solely to the latter, with Pemba maintaining its own identity. The islands lie some 30 kms off-shore north/north-east of Dar es Salaam (20 minutes by air to Zanzibar, sea ferries are also available).
Zanzibar’s history dates back more than 2000 years when the islands traded with ships from Persia, Arabia and India. From about the 10th century, groups of immigrants from Shiraz (Persia) settled on the island and mixed with the local people. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established a trading station before being ousted by Omani Arabs a couple of centuries later. In 1840, the Sultan Said moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar with the Omani Arabs forming an elite group of landlords and rulers. Indian settlers formed a merchant class and the island became an important centre of regional politics and the focus of the slave trade. In 1890, Zanzibar became a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1963. In 1964, the Sultan was overthrown and nearly all Arabs and Indians expelled. Later that year, Zanzibar and Tanganyika combined to form Tanzania. Since then, many of the expelled peoples have returned.
In Zanzibar’s Stone Town (the old quarter), a fascinating maze of narrow streets and alleyways lead past numerous old houses, mosques, ornate palaces, shops and bazaars. Many of the buildings date back to the 19th century and depict the wealth of its builder. Arab houses have plain outer walls with large doors leading to an inner courtyard. Conversely, Indian houses have a more open facade and large balconies with railings and balustrades. The area outside the Stone Town is called Michenzani (New City), a failed attempt at becoming a modern city.
The Stone Town lies on the west coast with the harbour and airport. The best beaches are on the south-east, north-east and far north-west coasts, about an hours drive away. There has been a lot of coastal development in the last few years, and the variety of beach resorts is ever expanding – from discreet beach retreats and exclusive luxury lodges to large, resort-style hotels.
Aside from swimming, snorkelling and diving, the island offers a range of other activities including visiting spice plantations, the Jozani Forest where the rare red colobus monkey is found, swimming with dolphins, dhow trips etc. Chumbe Island Coral Park is well worth visiting as a day trip from Stone Town or for a couple of nights.
There are regular flights to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, the southern safari circuit and the northern safari circuit (Arusha/Kilimanjaro). Direct connections to Nairobi (Kenya) are also available.
Pemba Island lies to the north and is serviced by air from Zanzibar. Fundu Lagoon, on the west coast, is the only lodge of good quality and is best suited for those who want to dive Mesali Island or escape the development on Zanzibar.
Mafia Island lies to the south of Dar es Salaam (opposite the mouth of the Rufiji River) and is an unspoilt, little visited alternative to Zanzibar. The archipelago is actually made up of four major islands, Mafia itself, Chole, Jiobondo and Juani, and is better known for its fantastic scuba diving rather than its beaches. In comparison to Zanzibar, it is extremely poor with little infrastructure aside from the few beach hotels.
- Tanzania
The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve
The Selous is Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary, covering over 54,600 sq. kms. (almost the size of Ireland). The region is dominated by the Great Ruaha River and Kilombero rivers which join to form the mighty Rufiji River, East Africa’s greatest waterway. Although only 45 minutes by air from Dar es Salaam, the Selous is still one of the worlds last great wilderness areas. It is a largely inaccessible region, dissected by water courses which become raging torrents during the rains, forcing the animals onto high ground. In the dry season, the rivers whither away to form ‘sand rivers’.
The reserve is named after the famous hunter and explorer, Frederick Courtney Selous, but it was the Germans who first established a game reserve here in 1905. The first warden was an eccentric former ivory hunter called C.P. Ionides (known locally as the ‘Snake Man’ and it was he who helped develop the reserve into it’s present size. Under the wardenship of Brian Nicholson, the Selous became an example of intelligent wildlife management; it is divided into controlled areas and human habitation is prohibited. However, groves of mango trees scattered through the bush are grim reminders that the main southern caravan route from Lake Nyasa passed through this region; they grew from the stones dropped by slaves as they were marched towards the slave markets of Zanzibar.
The habitat and scenery varies significantly over short distances: purple rolling hills, rock-strewn plains, ‘sand rivers’ lined with salt bush, cluster lush swamps and marshes, rocky gorges, savannah bush country and miombo woodland. Altitudes range from 110m to 1250m and the climate is quite tropical – humid during the rains and pleasantly warm during the dry season (June to October – the best time to visit).
There is a wealth of animals to see on a Selous safari including lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant, Cape buffalo, eland, sable antelope, greater kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck and the very elusive black rhino. The birdlife too is superb, with over 350 species having been recorded.
Three quarters of the reserve is made up of hunting concessions and closed to most ‘photographic’ tourists. Most photographic tourists are limited to the north-eastern part of the reserve where there are a number of good safari lodges. In the last few years however, new conservation initiatives have resulted in one of the ‘hunting concessions’ being operated solely for exclusive photographic safaris.
Aside from daily walks, boat cruises and game drives, some lodges in the Selous offer a range of different walking trails from overnight fly-camping to longer multi-day trails.
To find out more on Selous safari options please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari specialists.
- Tanzania
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha was previously part of the huge Rungwa Game Reserve, with which it shares its north-western boundary, but gazetted as a National Park in 1964. The terrain within the park is well wooded and undulating. The Great Ruaha River (which forms much of the south-eastern boundary), numerous waterholes, swamps and seepage areas provide the park with a permanent supply of water, but there are also numerous sand rivers which become raging torrents during the rains (from December to April).
Generally, the park is divided into four different habitats consisting of mixed miombo woodland, undulating hills dominated by baobabs, albida woodland along the main river courses, and areas of open ‘black cotton’ grassland. Mammal viewing is superb particularly in the dry season (June to October) when the animals are forced to congregate around the water sources – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, impala, zebra, giraffe, hippo, waterbuck, roan and sable antelope, eland, greater and lesser kudu, and Grant’s gazelle are just some on the many species to be seen. The birdlife is exceptional with some 540 species recorded.
Despite Ruaha being a terrific wildlife area, it is still attracts relatively small numbers of tourists. Game-viewing is limited to game drives by day – some camps may offer walks with advanced notice. Tsetse fly are present.