Visit the 'big five' areas of Tanzania on this 6 night safari. The itinerary starts with a Serengeti fly-in, and then continues to take in the wildlife of Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire.
Overall operator rating 9.4/10 from 111 trip reviews
Our unique relationship with our tour operators ensures only people who have participated in a trip after making an enquiry for it at The Africa Guide can leave a review.
The email we send you when you make an enquiry has full instructions for registering a booking and leaving a review - both are free services.
Feel free to read through the reviews for any trip you like the look of.
Trips with no reviews are usually new to the The Africa Guide but are normally operated by a tour operator who is established here. Most tour operators listing here will usually have gained reviews about other trips they have listed here.
Thanks for visiting, happy travels and don't forget to send us your reviews...
I cannot praise the tour operator enough. After I made the initial enquiry on your site Peniel got in touch with me on a timely basis. Although I did receive answers to my enquiries from the other tour companies they were by far the most efficient and offered the best value for money.
All my questions were answered and Peniel told me things I never thought to ask. At our request they added on a few days in Zanzibar after the safari and that to was excellent.
Peniel was in Arusha to meet us when we arrived at the hotel and he explained everything we needed to know. He came to see us again when we got back from the safari to make sure everything went well and to explain the Zanzibar portion of the trip.
Our guide was also outstanding. During the entire safari his eyes were constantly on the landscaping looking for game for us to view. We saw all of the big five up close. We even saw 4 black rhinos thanks to Anton, and I understand they are hard to see. The safari that they offer is 30% cheaper than other tour companies. I was a little concerned that we may get a cut rate safari but that was not the case. The customer service, accommodation, food and our guide was first rate. All of us have no hesitation in recommending this tour operator.
We had a fabulous time. We had John as our driver guide and Benson as our cook... he is an amazing cook!
We saw Tarangire, Manyara and Serengeti national parks and the Ngorongoro conservation area. It was an amazing safari, John was an excellent guide, the car was an older version landcruiser, but very comfortable and suited to the safari as it had a pop up roof for photographing the animals and comfy seats.
The tent was great and the staff almost always managed to pack up and set up everything before we had a chance to help so we felt lazy but was nice to have it all done for us. We saw all the big 5 plus many other amazing animals and would definately recommend the company to others.
They have an office in Arusha and very competent customer service staff that went beyond duty to help us with going around Arusha to sort our money troubles when our bank had issues sending money from Australia.
Only suggested improvement was a bit more confidence from the guide in terms of engaging us, he had a great knowledge base but seemed shy in divulging the info, we had to ask a lot of questions. all in all a solid 8.5 out of 10! We had a great time with them.
Our safari was wonderful!, The Tangerine and the Ngorongoro parks were beautiful and we saw a lot of animals, although Lake Manyara was not so nice, may be because of the season we went, we couldn't see so many animals there.
John our driver was nice and knowledgeable. We also enjoyed the Octagon Lodge, the service was very good and the installation nice.
I booked a camping tour of Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro through the Africa Guide website for July 2011 for myself and son (age 14). The trip was at the end of several weeks of working in East Africa.
Peniel was incredibly helpful in designing an itinerary and schedule that worked for us, and in assisting us in obtaining local air transportation from Rwanda to our starting point in Arusha. Our driver, Anthony, was very friendly and knowledgeable about flora and fauna during our trip. In terms of animals, we were able to view the 'big 5' in addition to many, many others. We were pleasantly surprised that the package included our own camp guide and cook (Benson) who had delicious meals waiting for us upon arising and return to camp every evening.
We camped in a two man tent, and the addition of cots added significantly to the comfort.
Our guides were very attentive to our needs including, at our request, steering us to a more local craft area for curios and gifts rather than the more well-known, and over-priced, tourist traps in Arusha.
I have had a number of prior safari experiences ranging from tent camping (alone, with groups, and with my children) to high-end lodges (with spouse) in Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania. Unlike other tours with other companies, the operator did not combine us with other groups in the vehicle, allowing for a completely personalized vacation. This added to the flexibility of timing and accommodations.
Overall, this experience ranks an excellent value that allows one to "rough it" but with some unexpected added creature comforts (cots, personal cook). I plan to recommend the operator to my colleagues who are considering safaris in Tanzania.
Everything concerning the accomodations, guides, transprortation and wildlife viewing exceeded our expectations.
Peniel was very professional and took care of all the details concerning the 5 day Safari. Geoffery, our guide, was an excellent travelling companion, wildlife finder, safety manager and teacher.
We strongly recommend using this tour operator for your once in a lifetime safari to Tanzania.
I would be delighted to offer a short review of our holiday experience.
From meeting us at the airport to our departure a fortnight later, Penel, from the tour company, Anton, our safari guide,and Meckson, ourKilimanjaro guide ,were kindness itself.
Nothing was too much trouble and everything ran like clockwork, even when we altered our plans!
The holiday was well organised, from planning our journey up Mt Kilimanjaro, through to which safari parks to visit and which hotels to stay at- all within our price range, I may add.
The whole holiday was a total delight, with of course the friendliness of the Tanzanian people & the beauty of the country all adding to the experience.
I can't recommend this operator highly enough & will certainly return to them when we plan our next holiday ( funds permitting).
Hope this brief paragraph conveys how much we enjoyed the whole experence,
We have just completed the most amazing holiday in Tanzania. The tour operator was fantastic and I would highly recommend them to any travellers to this area.
Peniel did an excellent job of booking all we required and spending time greeting us and making sure eveything was OK. Our driver guide for our safari Apollo was exceptional. He knew so much about the area and the animals and we saw everything! They offer you a very individualised trip suited to your needs and without having to join a group of strangers.As a small local company they value their clients and we were made to feel special.All the accomodation at the lodges was wonderful and we particularly enjoyed the small Manyara Octagon Lodge unique and friendly with excellent home cooked food.
The personnel were wonderful people to deal with, from booking, to the guide. Neema was a delight to work with as I made my reservations. She was patient and prompt with answers to any questions I had.
Huruma, my guide was very knowledgable and pleasant. He took the time to inform me on vegetation, birds, animals and history of the Sengetti and Ngorongoro. The food was good.... Ben (our cook) did a great job.
All went smoothly, from being picked up at the airport to the resrvations at the hotel (which they made for me). Everything was taken care of... Huruma made sure I was settled in at the hotel before he left for the evening.
I would recommend this operator for others to use as a tour operator.
Although I was nervous booking and transferring money overseas, to our pleasant surprise everything went according to plan, including the arrangement of pre and post safari accommodation at the Impala Hotel in Arusha.
We had a comfortable vehicle and our tent was great - a very good size and kept us dry through storms, night after night. Apollo was our guide/driver and was extremely knowledgeable and proficient. He had to do some very challenging four wheel driving owing to a lot of rain and got us through every time without a hitch (others were not so lucky!!).
We saw so much wildlife right up close and personnel, including the Big 5 - and he was so patient when we just wanted to spend ages watching nature at its best. Our cook Bereggi (sorry I have no idea how he spells it?) was excellent also, providing absolutely fabulous meals!! The two of them made a trip to remember!
Overall, it was an excellent 8 days which allowed us to see the best of what Tanzania can offer on safari.
1234NextLast
Itinerary
Overview This is a children friendly / family safari as we are flexible with the game drive routes and time spent on game drives, our guide/s are children-friendly, accommodation is in four stars to Five stars Lodges all with swimming pool. This is a private safari which mean you will not be with other guests in our vehicle which therefor provides the flexibility that you may need to accommodate the children’s needs and requirements.
Minimum Age Limit is 3 and above
It is offered to a minimum of 2 adults with a child, with a maximum of a total of 6 guests in the vehicle (but for a bigger single group we can use a bigger vehicle).
Breakfast (full English), light lunch and 3-course dinner, as well as snacks and bottled mineral water in transit and on game drives / activities are all included.
We then have the flexibility during those days to go on various game drives in the area, which can be adapted according to the children’s needs on the safari, to join in special activities (like a bush picnic at one of the viewing sites or watch game at a waterhole etc.) but this is on request.
DAY 1: Serengeti National Park In the afternoon you will fly straight from Arusha to the Serengeti arriving in time for an afternoon game drive. Catching the great migration in the Serengeti is a spectacular sight, and if you time your safari right, you might witness millions of wildebeest hustling together as the intensity of the migration grows. You will enjoy staying at the Serengeti Sopa Lodge for two days on a full board basis. Meals: Half Board Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
DAY 2 : Serengeti National Park Today is your second day on safari and you will have both morning and afternoon game drives through the Serengeti exploring the wildlife in the great open plains. Meals: Full Board Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge
DAY 3: Ngorongoro Crater & Olduvai Gorge After enjoying your breakfast you will drive via Olduvai Gorge to Ngorongoro Crater, with a picnic lunch en route. Discover the archaeological history at Olduvai before driving to your accommodation at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Quite possibly the most famous of all Africa’s conservation areas, this is one of the places in Africa where you stand a very good chance of seeing the "Big Five". Spend two nights at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge on a full board basis, where the high altitude of the Crater Rim will ensure you sleep well. Meals: Full Board Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
DAY 4: Ngorongoro Crater After breakfast, our Essential Northern Circuit safari has allocated a full day for game viewing in the Crater with a picnic lunch. The crater is rich in wildlife and the day will be filled with sights and sounds of the wild echoing within the crater walls. Meals: Full Board Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
DAY 5: Lake Manyara National Park This morning you will drive to Lake Manyara. Activities here will include a walk around the rim of the Great Rift Valley, escorted by a Masai guide. Lunch is followed by a game drive in this park famous for its herds of elephants and huge variety of birds. The Lake Manyara forest is the place to see leopard, while lions hunt on the grassy shores of the lake. You will be staying at the Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge on a full board basis. Meals: Full Board Accommodation: Manyara Serena Lodge
DAY 6: Tarangire National Park After breakfast you leave Lake Manyara and drive to Tarangire. In the afternoon you'll be taken on a game drive through the park. Many of the animals congregate around the only source of permanent water in the park, the Tarangire River. This is the best place in Tanzania to see really big herds of elephant - up to 300 at a time. Stay overnight at the Tarangire Sopa Lodge on a full board basis. Meals: Full Board Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
DAY 7: Day of Departure You leave for Arusha after breakfast, arriving in the late morning. Sadly this is the end of your safari Meals: Full Board.
PRICE INCLUDES Transport on 4WD vehicle with the pop-up roof, which enable you to spot wildlife easier Flight from Arusha to Serengeti Three meals a day Park entrance fees Driver's allowances Service of an English speaking professional guide/Driver
PRICE EXCLUDES International flights to/from your home Tips & gratitude’s The first night on your arrival and last night after safari (book with us) Airport transfers (book with us) Personal insurance Alcoholic drinks
NOTE: This Safari is offered to a minimum of 2 adults with a child, with a maximum of a total of 6 guests in the vehicle. For a larger single group sizes we can use a bigger vehicle.
==================
Are you looking to relax and unwind after your safari?
After an East Africa safari a few days spent on Zanzibar Island is the ultimate way to end your holiday. This is short five-day package staying on the beautiful Zanzibar Island at the hotel of your choice. Our hotel recommendations are as follows : Reputably Zanzibar's best hotel and ideal if you are looking for privacy and the feeling of being on your own romantic island why not stay at Breezes Beach Club .Which has a wide range of facilities without compromising on personalized service.
This extension is a return transfer from Zanzibar airport to the accommodation venue of your choice and is an excellent few days to end your safari holiday.
NOTE: This extension can be done on request and the itinerary can be customised to suit you.
