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Safari Tanzania Planning? Get Informed, Unbiased Information From Safari Reviews

Travel journals and trip reports are an excellent source of information if you are planning a Tanzania safari because they have been written by travellers who have already been on safari there, done that and bought the khaki T-shirt.

Africa Dream Safaris

A safari Tanzania trip through the pen and camera of previous safari travellers offers tremendous insights and tips not normally found in the guidebooks.

They have experienced the crackling of the nightly campfire, the taste of coffee boiled on wood burnt coals in the early morning and everything else that goes with being on safari. So you get completely independent, unbiased and on the spot, first-hand information. The best kind to find.

It does make choosing between the vast amount of Tanzania safari options a lot easier. There are close to 200 registered tour companies in Tanzania and by reading safari Tanzania travel reviews, you can make your choices with a lot more confidence.

Safari Tanzania Wildlife Hotspots

There are four major Tanzania safari areas to be found in the country. The hotspots (literally in summer) are the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Selous national parks.

Take a look at the safari Tanzania trip reports below to get an excellent idea of what an expedition in these areas will be like...

Share Your Safari With the World

A safari in Tanzania is something special so don't keep quiet about it if you have been on one. Add your travel opinion here and let everyone know what it was like.

SAFARI TANZANIA TRIP REVIEWS

= Full trip report = Trip summary = Video clip = Interview audio clip = Telephone interview

Grouped By National Park
Grouped By Safari Company Top Three Company List

Serengeti National Park Trip Reports

Tanzania serengeti map The Serengeti National Park is Tanzania's largest national park and it is world famous for the annual wildebeest Serengeti migration and the birthing season when all the calves are born within a three week period.

Wide open plains and grassland characterises this park which makes it an excellent place for wildlife spotting because there are few obstructions like bushes and trees to hide the animals from view.


Safari Company:
Good Earth Tours

3 April 2009 (5 days)
Kenneth Bryant, UAE

Review Source: Review submission

Recently Added!! Kenneth and his son went on safari to Lake Manyara and Serengeti national parks and the Ngorongoro Crater.

A private safari allows flexibility in one's schedule and their guide was great at accommodating their requests for change as well as always seeming to be the one to find great sightings like lions feeding or a leopard in a tree.

Apart from the wildlife he also describes the landscapes and culture - a very thorough account of a short but sweet African safari... Kenneth's Good Earth Tours review »

Full report


Safari Company:
Across Tanzania Expeditions

9-day safari
Susan Mays, USA

Review Source: Review submission

For her return safari Tanzania trip Susan and her family chose the same safari operator which she used in 2006 and had the same guide, Hezron. She was once again very happy with everything.

From Arusha they visited Tarangire, Lake Eyasi (where they got to join a hunt with the Hazdabe bushmen), Serengeti and finally the Ngorongoro Crater.

Apart from commenting on the various accommodations they stayed at, Susan also describes in detail a rare sighting indeed... Serengeti lion battles hyena.

Full report


Safari Company:
Across Tanzania Expeditions

5-day safari
Susan Mays, USA

Review Source: Review submission

The beauty and the new sense of peace she discovered in Tanzania's northern circuit (Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire NP) brought tears to Susan's eyes.

She went on a private safari meaning she and her travel companion had their guide - who made the trip even more special with unexpected spoils - to themselves allowing her to take as many pictures as she wanted of the varied wildlife.

Her trip wasn't merely a safari, it was an Across Tanzania Expeditions adventure.

Full report


Safari Company:
Good Earth Tours

Seven days
Arik Kershenbaum, Israel

Review Source: E-mail submission

Arik and his 13-year old son went on a week-long camping safari. Tanzania and their tour operator met and exceeded their expectations. Although they did stay in lodges for 2 nights, he strongly feels that "camping was the real thing".

His trip report contains several excellent tips and reading it will prepare you well on what to expect on a similar style safari (like learning Swahili from their cook around the camp table or how cold it can get at the Ngorongoro Crater)... » Arik's Tanzania camping safari

Full report Video included



Safari Company:
African Serval Cat Safaris

Six days
Anssi Rantamaa, Canada

Review Source: Telephone interview

Very early in the telephonic conversation with Anssi about his Tanzania camping safari I realised that he had experienced a very good trip.

Find out more about it... » Tanzania Camping Safari Report

Full report Telephone interview icon



Safari Company:
Roy Safaris

Four days
Yionna Pavlides, Australia

Review Source: Telephone interview

Yionna is a safari Tanzania veteran and she tries to visit every two years.

She shares insightful safari tips and advice in this interview...» Tanzania Holidays Safari Interview

Full report Telephone interview icon Audio clip


Safari Company:
Roy Safaris

Three days
Tanya Piejus, New Zealand

Review Source: Article

Dream come true for Tanya. She saw all of the "big 5" including a black rhino which is very rare and a leopard with its kill stashed up in a tree.

Camping in the Serengeti is a rough and ready affair and there aren't any fences between you and the wildlife which makes for an exciting experience...» Dream Trip to the Serengeti Tanzania

Full report


Five days
Nick Rienstra, Australia

Review Source: Telephone interview

Nick shares how you can avoid ending up with a substandard safari operator like the one he booked with on his safari Tanzania camping experience... » Safari Serengeti Review

Full report Telephone interview icon Audio clip


Safari Company:
Wildersun Safaris

Six days
Tim Clark, UK

Review Source: Tim's own website

What is it like to experience one of the great wonders of the natural world?

Tim found out and it exceeded all his expectations...» Serengeti Park Migration Trip

Full report



Safari Company:
Africa Dream Safaris

Two weeks
Marie Brayman, USA

Review Source: Telephone interview

Camping took on a whole new meaning for Marie and her travel companions when they visited the Serengeti in style. Apart from enjoying beautiful landscapes and excellent animal viewing across the different parks, Marie completely fell in love with Tanzania and its people.

Find out what a safari is like for vegetarians and vegans, and where you should go if you'd like the services of a butler in the bush...» Deluxe mixed accommodation northern circuit safari

Full report Telephone interview icon


Safari Company:
Africa Dream Safaris

Twelve days
Pat Eacho, USA

Review Source: Telephone interview

Pat and her daughter had the time of their lives visiting the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire on their safari Tanzania holiday. The accommodations were excellent and so was the customer service in all but one lodge.

The game watching was fantastic thanks to the guide who could spot a cheetah at a distance which Pat needed her binoculars for to see what he saw with the naked eye.

She explains the advantages of going on a private safari, especially if it's your first Africa trip and you're not sure what to expect. » Pat's full private safari feedback

Full report Telephone interview icon


Safari Company:
Africa Dream Safaris

Six days
Mike, USA

Review Source: Blog

What do you do when a million plus wildebeest disappear like mist before the sun and you can't find them?

Keep trying because if you do manage to track down the herd it will be well worth the effort...» Serengeti plain dry season migration trip

Full report



Safari Company:
Into Africa Safaris

Four days
Mimi Samuel

Review Source: Blog

Mimi finds out what a lion roaring outside your tent at 2 am in the morning when there is no fence around the camp sounds like.

She also experienced the breakdown of their Landrover which can be an interesting experience out on the plains...» Serengeti Africa Trip

Full report



Seven weeks in total
Barbara Murray, USA

Review Source: Telephone interview

A woman can travel Africa alone. Barbara is a keen photographer and wanted to be sure she could stay at wildlife sightings long enough to take lots of pictures. She ended up booking the safari Tanzania section of her Africa trip with her very own driver/guide and cook who treated her wonderfully and provided excellent food including plenty of fresh fruit.

She experienced two small hiccups: lost luggage and dust problems - but a leopard literally posing for her camera virtually right next to the vehicle, made up for it! » Travel Namibia and Tanzania with Barbara

Full report Telephone interview icon


Tarangire National Park Reviews

Safari Company:
Across Tanzania Expeditions

Nine days
Ezra Joseph Janssens,
The Netherlands

Review Source: Review submitted

Ezra saw two lions fighting - not something many people ever get to witness. Apart from that he saw a long list of other game.

He says the most important factor of a successful safari is your guide. His guide Hezron turned his holiday into a Tanzania dream safari »

Full report


Safari Company:
Thomson Safaris

Ten days
Peggy Brydie, USA

Review Source: Telephone interview

Sometimes people landing in the same group for an African safari can really bond and end up becoming friends. That's what happened to Peggy.

Her safari Tanzania also included the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, but it was Tarangire that stole her heart... find out why in the full account of her wildlife safari »

Full report Telephone interview icon


Safari Company:
Good Earth Tours

Ten days
Sonja, Canada

Review Source: Telephone interview

Sonja visited Kenya's Masai Mara and then crossed into Tanzania to visit the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire NP like most people but also added Lake Eyasi to visit the Hadzabe Bushmen, a tribe that still lives in a very traditional way.

She remembers how in Tarangire they sat and watched herd after herd of elephants coming to the water to drink and play and the magic of seeing an endangered black rhino with a calf in the Ngorongoro Crater.

On the downside there were tsetse flies in the Serengeti and too many cars around the lioness in the Masai Mara. Despite this and getting sick while on safari, Sonja still rates her safari a 9 out of 10... » Kenya Tanzania safari feedback

Full report Telephone interview icon


Safari Company:
Kibo Safaris

Ten days
Kathy Adams, Texas USA

Review Source: Telephone interview

Kathy and her husband George were treated with scores of wildlife but few other people on their private safari in the northern circuit of Tanzania.

Find out more about the accommodation, food, weather, wildlife and culture that they experienced on this safari Tanzania adventure... » Tarangire and the northern circuit

Full report Telephone interview icon


Safari Accommodation:
Swala Deluxe Tented Camp

Three days
Billy S, USA

Review Source: Realtravel

Make sure that you remember bug spray when you visit Tarangire at certain times of the year because the tsetse flies come out in force. Fortunately they don't transmit sleeping sickness anymore but they can give a painful bite as Billy and his wife soon found out.

They really enjoyed the accommodation in the luxurious permanent tent with hot running water and en-suite facilities...

Request full trip report


Safari Company:
Tropical Trails

Three days
James & Karen Collins, UK

Review Source: TravelBlog

Tarangire is famous for its elephant populations and it really did live up to its reputation for James and Karen because they saw hundreds of the huge animals including a one month old baby ellie.

Their safari Tanzania cook Kasim prepared a three course meal for them when they returned from the evening game drive...

Request full trip report


Safari Company:
Abercrombie and Kent

Three days
Mike, USA

Review Source: Article

What do you do when you are eating outside your tent and a lioness turns up for dinner (Mike had to learn quickly)?

For pristine and wild isolation on a safari Tanzania trip, Tarangire is hard to beat... » Tarangire National Park adventure

Full report


Ngorongoro Crater Reviews

Ngorongoro Map

The Ngorongoro Crater is about 20km wide and teeming with wildlife such as lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and thousands of flamingos. It is rightly ranked as one of the wonders of the natural world.

There is no accommodation in the crater itself but there are numerous places to stay perched on the top which ensures a spectacular view and makes an excellent starting point for a day trip into this modern day Garden of Eden.


Safari Company:
CC Africa
(now "andBEYOND")

Accommodation:
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

4-7 June 2008
Joan Healy, Ireland

Review Source: Review submitted

Rating out of 10: 9 (disappointed I did not see giraffe)

Joan's Ngorongoro pictures

Recently Added!! "This safari was complete luxury, it was for a special occasion. Pre safari, we climbed Kilimanjaro and après safari, stayed in Zanzibar for a week.

The guide was excellent and the wildlife was confined to a small enough area, not like Kruger. We saw elephants, lions, cheetahs, hippos, zebra and the highlight was black rhino which are rare.

We got up early to savour the view, breakfast (local fruits, cheese and regular breakfast fare), out in the jeep for the day with a picnic lunch. Back to a drawn bath with rose petals, luxury, some pre dinner drinks where the guests recounted their experiences for the day, dinner (delicious), a few more drinks and bed.

My advice is to take a good camera, binoculars and a warm fleece as it is cool in the mornings.

Apart from wildlife, the highlight was visiting a local coffee farm near Arusha run by local people, and Kili. I would love to go back again as the Ngorongoro is a magical place, when the fog lifts in the morning, its like looking down on Jurassic Park. We had been in Kruger before and while that is great, the crater was fantastic. The people we met in hotels and guesthouses were so friendly and helpful."


Safari Company:
Overseas Adventure Travel

14 Days
Juanita Monette, CA, USA

Review Source: Review submitted

Juanita gives handy tips for a Tanzania safari in her travel review - about money matters, fitness, clothing and how many memory cards to take along.

See why she rated her trip 10 out of 10 in her full lions mating in the Ngorongoro Crater: Overseas Adventure Travel review »

Full report


Safari Company:
Across Tanzania Expeditions

8 Days
Mike and Karen Dullen, USA

Review Source: Review submitted

Tanzania's northern circuit is not a bad choice for a second honeymoon as Karen and Mike found out while enjoying excellent meals and wildlife viewing.

They feel that their dedicated, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide made all the difference for a faultless private Tanzania safari »

Full report


Safari Company:
Across Tanzania Expeditions

5 Days
Jill Hudgens, USA

Review Source: Review submitted

Jill was fortunate enough to see most of the wildlife that it's possible to see in the crater and also a number of bird species.

She credits this to the experience of the guide that she used for her first safari experience »

Full report


Safari Company:
Naipenda Safaris

Eight days
Joel Otte, Auckland,
New Zealand

Review Source: Telephone interview

Joel didn't just plan his safari Tanzania trip, he almost made a science out of it! He shares his method of picking a good safari company. He ended up using Naipenda Safaris for his Tanzania safari of the northern circuit. The method obviously worked because he rates the safari 10/10!

A good, detailed trip report on the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, also addressing issues to consider around your guide, safari vehicle, group size and accommodations » Naipenda Safaris review Tanzania

Full report


Safari Company:
Umkulu Adventures

Seventeen Days
Daryl Lawrence,
South Africa

Review Source: Telephone interview

"The Ngorongoro crater I’d say was the absolute best part of the trip, followed closely by Zanzibar..."

This was Daryl's opinion after travelling overland in Africa for over a month and visiting most of the safari areas in six African countries...» Ngorongoro Crater Overland Safari Adventure

Full report Telephone interview icon


Safari Company:
Another Land

Two Days
K.C. Rautiainen, Canada

Review Source: Telephone interview

Dodging baboons, holding baby crocodiles, enjoying wonderful accommodations and joining National Geographic on a film shoot... not everyday does someone rate their safari 20/10!

This is safari Tanzania as it should be for everyone because they don't come much better than this...» 5 Parks, a Village Stay and Zanzibar

Full report Telephone interview icon


Safari Company:
Express Travel Group

One Day
Corbin Ball, USA

Review Source: Corbin Ball Associates

If you only had one day to spend on safari in Africa, this is the place to go as Corbin found out with all the fantastic wildlife sightings they made.

Just remember to pack something warm for your crater trip because this park is one of the coldest in all of Tanzania...» Ngorongoro conservation area trip

Full report


Safari Company:
Explore Worldwide

Two Days
Robb & Lisa Northey, UK

Review Source: Blog

A safari Tanzania wildlife wonderland, the crater always delivers when it comes to spotting animals because there is such a dense population of them in a relatively small area.

But the picnic spots leave a lot to be desired with no drinking water or benches and toilets without seats but don't let that spoil the experience...» Discover Ngorongoro National Park

Full report


Selous Game Reserve Reviews

Safari Company:
Authentic Tanzania

Two Weeks
Yionna Pavlides, Australia

Review Source: Telephone interview

Yionna visited the vast Selous Game Reserve on her safari Tanzania tour and hardly came across other tourists.

She experienced her first boat safari and loved it, and now knows what it feels like to be charged by an elephant!... » Dar Es Salaam and Selous

Full report Telephone interview icon


Safari Company:
Bush2beach

Two Days
Eric & Elise, UK

Review Source: Travelblog

Eric thought the whole Selous safari Tanzania experience was magical but he did have some issues with the game walk which was not as professional as it should be and suggests that game walks here should probably be avoided until the standard is improved.

Here's why you should think twice before going on a Selous guided safari walk...

Request full trip report


Safari Company:
Mbega Camp

Two Weeks
Jackie Turner, Canada

Review Source: Travelblog

Mbega camp is one of the few safari Tanzania places where you can go on a boat safari on the river which Jackie really enjoyed because the animal she most wanted to see was a hippo.

And she managed to see many of them. The tents that visitors stay in are situated on wooden platforms raised on stilts because the hippos and crocodiles tend to wander around at night and can be dangerous...

Request full trip report


Safari Lodge:
Sand Rivers

Three weeks total
Kim Kelly, TX, USA

Review Source: Journal submitted

Selous Game Reserve is a great safari location to avoid the crowds, which is exactly what Kim and her husband were after.

They started off with a quick stop in South Africa, then visited Selous and Ruaha in Tanzania and finished their 3-week trip in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, all the while hardly coming across other tourists. » Go off the beaten track with Kim

Full report


Ruaha National Park Reviews

Safari Operator:
Utalii Safaris

Ten days
Cat de Jonge, UK

Review Source: Review submission

Cat highly recommends Utalii who provided more than she expected, given that the price was so good. She recommends using the internet and sites like this one (thanks, Cat!) to make sure you choose a good operator and know what kind of conditions to expect.

One shouldn't expect luxurious air-conditioned rooms on a low budget, but can fully expect to enjoy the wildlife variety and getting hooked on Africa (as her husband did)!

She visited both Selous and Ruaha on her safari Tanzania trip, preferring the latter because the wildlife seemed less skittish. She shares her terrific times in Tanzania with Utalii Safaris.

Full report


Two days
Amy, USA

Review Source: Blogspot

Amy must have caught some of the elephants on a bad day because their safari vehicle was charged on two different occasions by enraged pachyderms. They managed to escape unharmed by making a quick exit.

They also managed to get very close to a pride of lions on this safari Tanzania trip. In fact the cats were so close that they started licking the tires of the car...

Request full trip report


Self Drive

Two Days
Jamie H, USA

Review Source: TravelPod

Ruaha is a very dry and hot safari Tanzania tour at this time of the year but that didn't prevent Jamie from seeing a decent amount of wildlife. Lions, hyena, buffalo and giraffe to name a few.

They also encountered a herd of elephant that charged towards them en masse...

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