Choosing an agency for a safari in Tanzania was not easy. There were hundreds of them offering the most diverse safaris, each with different locations, accommodation, duration, meals, etc. Fortunately, after a lot of research, I ended up finding Crater Explorer Tours & Safaris, based in Arusha. There were dozens of emails and WhatsApp messages exchanged, until we arrived at a script that met my desires and needs. And always promptly answered by its owner, Mr. Emanuel. The price was one of the best I found, with 5 full days of safaris, in Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park, with good hotels and full meals, which even received praise from other tourists who saw them. With the exception of the rhinos, we saw every animal possible, including a solitary tortoise walking through the savannah. Transfers to and from Arusha airport were included. With the cancellation of my flight to Dar es Salam, which would take place in the afternoon, my flight was rescheduled to 5 am, and, without any problems or charge for it, Mr. Emanuel took us to the airport at 2 am. He also made efforts to try to find space on other flights. Other positives: the safari car, very well maintained and equipped, and our guide, Frank, very well prepared to talk about the animals, the geological formations, the savannah, etc. Attentive and very patient. I was impressed by his eagle vision. Sometimes I stopped the car and watched. We didn't see anything, but he pointed and said: lions, elephants..... . We took the binoculars and there they were. As our safari was private, we were just the 2 people, which was also a benefit, as we decided when to stop and when to leave. In short: I was very pleased and happy to have found Crater Explorer Tours, which allowed everything to go well on this trip that was one of the most spectacular of my life. Thank you Mr. Emanuel and Mr. Frank.
I had amazing 6 days, 5 nights exploring the different parks of Northern Tanzania. I saw many many animals, also very close by (only 1-2 meters away) which was absolutely breathtaking! I also saw lions hunting a prey and many baby animals. The sunset at Serengeti and sunrise at Ngorongoro are absolutely amazing!
I traveled solo and did a joined group safari. For 5 days I was with one group and the last day I joined another group with another driver. I slept in lodges while the others were camping so some time was spent dropping off and picking up everyone and prepping the car with the tent equipment. This wasn't clear to me from the start. I expected to be with the same group the whole trip and thought we were sleeping in the same places. However, the way they do things makes sense so everyone gets the package they want. This could have been communicated more clearly beforehand, but I also didn't ask.
In the end I wasn't bothered by it and the group I traveled with as well as all the drivers were great people! Also Emanuel clarified all my questions on the way since he was quick to answer my messages.
Big thank you would go to Saleem, the driver for 4 days, since he delivered everything he promised and we saw more than could ever hope for! Mussa and Penda were also great drivers and I had wonderful conversations with them. They were very happy to share information about their country! ????
Before and during the trip Emanuel was very quick and clear answering all my questions and fixing things if there were any problems. Thank you for that! Also, on the last day the car broke down on our way to Tarangire (which can happen on the bumby roads here). The driver organized us to join other cars for the game drive until the car was fixed and then we got back together later in the park. I thought it was a great solution!
I would recommend this company and feel free to ask all your questions before you go. Emanuel is quick and willing to create a package to your liking! ????