6-Day Big Five Safari-Medium

Simply Outstanding

Visiting the gorillas in Rwanda has been a longstanding bucket-list trip for my wife and me. We decided that this was to be the year and so we asked Shadows of Africa to design a tour for us to go to Rwanda but also to add on a safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. We were lucky to have been assigned Karin Maki as our consultant as she was so helpful and patient with our wishlist and frequent changes of itinerary. We really felt that her entire focus was on making sure that we got what we wanted. She was responsive to our questions within a few hours and kept in touch with us while we were on our trip to check that everything was going as planned. Karin’s planning was meticulous but it was matched by the Shadows of Africa team’s execution. It was outstanding - everyone turned up every day at exactly the time they were supposed to, everyone was smiling, patient and keen to ensure that we were happy with our safari. In Rwanda our driver was Jeanisse and she got us to the mountains and back with absolutely no drama even though the roads were occasionally tricky with many slow moving vehicles. She also arranged a couple of surprises for us to celebrate our wedding anniversary which we very much appreciated. In Tanzania, after a briefing by Dennis to welcome us, we met our driver Eugen. When he picked us up to take us to the Serengeti he asked us what we particularly wanted to see. We told him that we really wanted to see the big cats and within 3 hours of entering the Serengeti we had seen lion, serval, leopard and cheetah twice - once on a kill. We were totally blown away by that experience and it simply underlines how the team at Shadows of Africa were absolutely dedicated to making this trip the best we have ever had. Eugen was very responsive to any requests we had and was flexible in the starting times each day depending on how we felt. One day he organized a morning drive with a stop for coffee on the plains and in the afternoon we repeated the experience but this time with a glass of wine while we watched the sunset - absolutely magical. Eugen knew the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater so well and with him as a guide we saw pretty much everything we wanted to - and more. My wife and I have travelled the world over the past 40 years or so and we’ve experienced some fabulous trips and destinations but this ranks as one of our best ever trips and that’s entirely due to the Shadows of Africa team - they were all just fantastic.

Geoff Burton · South Africa

Beyond fabulous!!!

Shortly after starting my research about a trip to Kenya and Tanzania, it became clear that Shadows of Africa was the leading contender for our trip of a lifetime. Karen, the travel agent for Shadows of Africa, was incredibly communicative, providing several possible itineraries for our desired travel dates. We booked somewhat late (In January, for a late-August/early September adventure) and she was still able to provide us with exceptional options at various price points to suit our budget. Shadows of Africa provided special touches, along with absolutely phenomenal food and beverage options, exceptionally experienced guides, and clean, comfortable safari vehicles. Our guide in Kenya was Joji, who ensured we saw as many wild animals from perfect vantage points as possible, while providing in-depth information about the creatures we were seeing. Our guide in Tanzania was Moody, who was also phenomenal at finding wild animals, never rushing us away from any viewing point and always answering our many questions about each species. We were able to learn so much from both of our guides, and we saw every single species that we had hoped to- far more than we could have found on our own in the same amount of time. The quality of the lodges Karen helped us select, the extensive menu we were treated to during our experience with Shadows of Africa, the warmth and knowledge of our guides, and the truly exceptional adventures we were able to have on our trip would not have been possible without this absolutely phenomenal company.

Laima · United States

Epic! Trip of a lifetime!!!

Epic! Amazing! Exceptional! But words really can't do justice to the the experience we had with Shadows of Africa Tanzanian Safari. We felt like we were part of a National Geographic special. We saw so many animals, so close up. Herds of elephants, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, impalas, giraffes, lions, hyenas, warthogs, moneys, baboons. We counted more than 45 different species of animals and birds, and I'm sure our list is not complete. We spent eight days on safari in Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, which also included a visit to a Maasai village, a sunrise balloon ride followed by three nights at a resort on Zanzibar. The accommodations were amazing. The lodges were beautiful and even the tent camps were way more luxurious than we expected, complete with giraffes walking by and lions roaring at night. Our guide was Alex Pao (or Poa?) and he was exceptional!!! We were a group of six women and he kept us all in line:) Knowledgeable, funny, professional, accommodating. And finally, I would like to give a shout out to the Shadows of Africa team -- Karen Maki, Frank and Inge! They were wonderful, responsive, accommodating. I can't say enough good things about them or our experience as a whole and would highly recommend them to anyone considering a Safari experience!

Elsie · United States

Easily the best experience of my life

Apologies as this will be a long review, as I tend to write a lot. The 11 day safari with Shadows of Africa easily was the best trip of my life. First, let me start with Karen. Karen treats you like she's been your friend for a long time that just happens to be a safari specialist as she's extremely personable and clearly wants you to have the best possible experience. Despite being 10 hours ahead of me, she responded to any and all questions I have within minutes and I question if she ever takes a break. Throughout the whole process, she has been amazing...Karen, if you read this, I can't thank you enough. My other notable tour specialist was Frank that handled everything in Tanzania. Frank...Frank is on top of everything, literally calling me the second we got to the Tanzanian border, giving us suggestions on how to tip, what to do, and literally was on top of everything in Tanzania. Also, Frank is extremely genuine as well, following up daily regarding how things are going, what we love(d), and is again is just on top of everything. Secondly, the guides. Our first guide was George who clearly has a ton of experience in Masa Mara and Kenya, and was on top of where to go and was on top of where all the animals were. George is very nice guy and on day 2 of safari I was elated on the experience he gave us and also can't say enough great things about that man. Our second guide, Charles Joseph, is younger, super enthusiastic, and is obviously very proud of his country and loves sharing whatever he can about Tanzania as well as anything related to plants and animals. Also, after traveling with him for a week I'm seriously impressed on how he can remember where everything is throughout such a massive area without a map, as I need GPS to go across town. We did have a transfer, Nickson, great young kid who is also enthusiastic about his town and country; hope his pig farming business goes well. Lastly, our last guide, Martin, friggin pro at everything Amboseli, suggesting good photo shots of Kilimanjaro, animals, and again, extremely knowledgeable about the region. Lastly, a far as the accommodations and food, everything was top notch. We did do the 11 day tour and the nights in Masa Mara and Northern Sarengheti were in raised tents, but the staff more than made up for it as, how often in your life do you see lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, elephants, etc... My only one real suggestion is if you do plan on doing the 11 day tour, if you're looking for gifts, wait to go to the large shop in Arusha as they by far have the best prices for souvenirs, as the local shops outside Masa Mara are kind of a rip. To finish, we loved our safari and if/when I come back to Africa, I will be sure to contact Shadows of Africa as they went above and beyond.

Ryan Loew · United States

Are rates charged per person?

Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.

Which currency is this tour priced in?

This tour is offered in US dollars (USD).

Can children join this tour?

This tour accepts children of all ages. Children under 13 receive a discount and children under 3 are free.

Can this tour start on my preferred date?

If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.

Can the itinerary be customized?

You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.

Where do travelers stay during this tour?

Olerai Lodge - Mid-range lodge in Arusha (City) – Lunch & Dinner Included. Meals: Lunch & Dinner Included

Where does this tour start and end?

This tour starts and ends in Arusha

Are airport transfers included?

A transfer from and back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost