10 Dec 2024
I highly recommend Nyange Adventures. Amina coordinated our tour and was extremely helpful, communicative, and accommodating. We did a 9-day safari and 3-days in Zanzibar all coordinated through Nyange Adventures for our honeymoon.
It was the perfect amount of time if you plan to do both Central Serengeti (most popular) and Northern Serengeti (Wildebeest migration in September), which we did. I wish we had more time in Zanzibar, and we could have easily spent 5-7 days there and scuba dived.
Our safari was exceptional because our guide, Joseph, was top notch. Joseph is so kind and professional. He went out of his way to make sure we had an incredible experience. Joseph knew where to go, when to wake up, and he was just as excited to see the wildlife as we were, which made it even better.
Our stays were mid-tier, and we always had a shower and bathroom. Some stays were better than others, admittedly, but the food was always delicious and the hospitality of the staff was incredible. Be prepared to spend a lot of time in the car and on bumpy, wild, and remote roads... remember that is what a safari entails. Be patient and let go of control. In order to access once-in-a-lifetime nature, you have to rough it a bit.
We enjoyed learning more about the history of Tanzania (Tan-gan-ika) and Swahili culture. Do not skip the tribe immersions (we met the Hadzabe, Datoga, and Masai tribes). Pay your white people tax and spread USD tips around. Bring a lot of cash with you as we had trouble accessing ATMs. I wish we brought more cash, so we didn't have to waste time figuring out how to pay once we arrived. Amina warned me, but I didn't understand and if I went again, I would bring even more USD.
Hadiya was our guide in Zanzibar. We did a walking tour with her. She was very informative, kind, and helpful. Skip the spice tour if you can... it is a big tourist trap. After a safari, you might want some time to decompress at these incredible beaches. Be prepared that the tides are strong and occur in the middle of the day. Amina booked a perfect hotel for us - the Sunshine Marine Lodge. In Zanzibar, it really matters where you stay! My only regret is not scuba diving.
We ended our days on safari with a campfire and a dancing ceremony. I would highly recommend learning Swahili words and using Swahili language with locals. There is a lot to learn from the people who live in Tanzania - every person we met had a unique story and shared more about their way of life. Be patient. Embrace their culture and learn something.
I really didn't want to leave and I can't wait to go back. I think about this experience every day.