Review, Tanzania Africa Safari, Luxury Family Tour, North & South Serengeti, Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro

Truly the trip of a lifetime - a Tanzanian safari!

The tour planners planned a perfect safari for us - exactly as we had wanted, and so much more.  From the minute we landed in Kilimanjaro airport, until we returned to the airport at the end of the trip, every detail was planned and executed flawlessly.  Everything we needed, and even that which we could not have anticipated wanting, was organized and provided.

I spoke extensively to our tour planner at the outset and explained to him that we are a family with two college-aged sons and this was our first safari.  Our goal was to see the animals, and it was clear from our discussions that the tour planner has extraordinary depth of knowledge about all aspects of safari travel, as well as a deep love of Africa.  All of that knowledge, as well as the experience of another tour planner, was translated into a truly wonderful trip for us, designed exactly as we had wanted.  And we saw so many animals, in a truly up close and personal way!  

The tour planners planned the whole trip, organized the accommodation, different locations and our fantastic guide, as well as all other details.  The planning, which took us to Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, South and North Serengeti, provided true variety of animals, scenery and accommodation.  Every day was different, and brought us truly wonderful experiences, sightings and delicious food.  Every aspect of the trip was one that the tour planners had personal knowledge of, and that was important to ensuring true quality.  And using an independent safari organizer meant that we experienced different types of accommodation, and were not limited to one "chain" of service providers.

Probably the most important aspect of our trip was our guide.  Our guide was with us from the first morning until we took off from the bush airport to return to Kilimanjaro.  He was just awesome!  And we know that the tour planner had been on safari with him in the prior spring, and we understood that our guide was matched to us based on the personal knowledge that the tour planner had of him and his abilities.  Our guide really made the trip what it was.  His knowledge, ability to spot animals, driving skills, thoughtful attention to us and sense of humor and fun was extraordinary.  With him, and because of his ability to locate animals, we had time observing animals up close, when we were the only truck nearby.  Our experience was not of being one of ten trucks following one lion, but of being one truck observing, for example, a cheetah mom and her baby, a leopard up a tree eating a zebra, a lion "playdate" of two lionesses and five cubs playing together and families of elephants and giraffes munching on trees and so much more!  Our guide also had an artistic eye for the perfect light for the right location for a photograph, and the right timing of a sunrise and sunset.  Just wonderful!      

And our local agent, a long time colleague of the tour planner, was both delightful and helpful.  Meeting her the evening before we set out for the Ngorongoro Crater also added to our sense of feeling completely well looked after.  It was also so nice that she was willing to share her personal, interesting life story, and added to our enjoyment of the trip. 

Prior to the trip, the tour planners provided us with everything we needed to prepare, and promptly and helpfully answered all of our questions.  So throughout the planning and execution we were completely supported and guided and as a result were completely relaxed and able to fully enjoy and appreciate the whole awesome experience!

We wholeheartedly highly recommend this tour company and are so grateful to them for a truly memorable safari!