Africa Safari Honeymoon Review: Tanzania, Pemba Island, Serengeti

My husband and I booked our honeymoon through this Africa safari tour operator and it was the best decision we could have made. We knew we wanted to go for about 2 weeks, and that we wanted to do half safari, half relaxation/beach, but beyond that, we didn't have any knowledge or inclination about where exactly we wanted to go or stay. One of the things we liked about this company right off the bat was that they have a branch of their main office in Arusha, so we knew we would have someone to rely on once we were in the country if we had any questions/concerns.

We were contacted very soon after submitting a request for an itinerary, and our contact Stephanie immediately set up a time to talk with us on the phone to get a better understanding of what exactly we we were hoping to get out our trip. We relayed that we were looking for safari lodging that would be safe and comfortable but didn't need extravagance, and that we were hoping to spring for some luxury during the relaxation/beach portion of the trip. Stephanie put together a couple of itineraries for us and explained the nuances between the lodging options between the two. We must have asked her a million questions between when we first saw the itineraries and actually booked, and she always got back to us in a timely manner with an informative response. Even though we didn't know exactly what to expect, we felt confident that our tour operator had taken care of the details.

Once we arrived - wow. After a long day or two of planes, trains and automobiles, we were exhausted. Our safari guide met us at the airport with a huge smile to take us to our first hotel where we could rest up before the safari adventure. His car (it's a vehicle owned by our tour operator, but the safari guides apparently hold on to them) was absolutely spotless and was stocked with water, soft drinks and even cookies. I wish there was a place to write a review for our driver specifically, as he was an absolutely amazing guide. He was extremely professional yet warm and enthusiastic, and he made us feel comfortable every single step of the way. Most of the other guides we saw also were professional, but when we had a chance to talk to other travelers we found out how truly lucky we were to have him. He was always the first guide ready to go in the mornings, he kept his car spotless the entire week, and he knew everything about every animal (in addition to his safari guide training, he also had a degree in wildlife biology)! We encountered so many amazing sights that others didn't because of our guide's knowledge and excitement. He is one of a kind. We would have had a very different trip without him - he truly enhanced our experience.

After safari we were off to the beach, this is the only time there were a few hiccups with the company's materials, as there were a few differences between the flight times/connection information (for flights from mainland Tanzania to Pemba island) that were noted in our itinerary and what was really the case. For example, it said our flight from Serengeti was at 10:35 am and would stopover in Dar Es Salaam, but the flight was actually at 10 am and stopped over in Arusha. This did not have a huge impact on our trip though, because our safari guide had all the correct information, it just created some confusion. As for the beach, our tour operator did not disappoint with the location and resort they selected for us. We asked for something unique, remote, and luxurious (but not sterile luxury). Our resort was exactly that. A once in a lifetime type of experience with beautiful scenery, private beach, delicious food, extremely comfortable accommodations, friendly and inviting staff. We felt millions of miles away from the craziness of city life. The only negative was that it had to end! This company helped us have an amazing honeymoon.