African Big Cats Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $3,463 to $19,046 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
GR
Email natalie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Accommodating, responsive, experienced !
African Big Cat Safari surpassed my already high expectations of what our safari was going to be. I picked them because they were very responsive from the beginning of the planning process, they added me on whatsapp and we discussed all options at length.
From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed by our amazing guide Obed, and felt in very good hands.
The lodges we selected were excellent, we decided to book a range of accommodations from luxury tents to five star hotels - simba lodge, four seasons hotel, intimate zebra camp, Melia Ngorongoro lodge.
Obed was very knowledgeable, flexible, an expert at finding where the animals are, explaining what they’re doing etc and overall a great companion/ fun guy to hang out with!
We had the best time. We visited local tribes and had an especially amazing time at the hadzabe tribe visit, which was a completely last-minute request from us, that african big cats immediately accommodated.
I recommend them highly !!
Email Andrew Krauska | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trip of a Lifetime with African Big Cats Safari, Tanzania
My wife Jane and I chose African Big Cats Safari (ABCS) for our 20th Anniversary trip to Tanzania after reading the over 300 reviews of other travelers who had loved their experience. We made the right choice. From start to finish it was a first-class, luxury vacation. In my working career, I was a Quality Management advisor so I know what a quality experience looks and feels like. In every way, ABCS "exceeded our expectations."
We spent the first two nights at the Gran Melia Hotel in Arusha to recuperate from jet lag. What a beautiful hotel experience that was. You will love it.
ABCS tailored their 7-day, 6-night luxury tour to my requests, including an incredible Serengeti Balloon Safari which took us directly over the Great Migration and set us down right next to it, alongside eight lions walking parallel to the migrating animals. From the balloon, we could see the great migration from horizon to horizon. It goes on year-round and in February the migration is in the southern Serengeti in the Ngutu region where 8000 baby wildebeest are born daily. It is well worth the added cost to do the Balloon Trip; you won't regret it.
Our safari guide, Obedi (Obe), had been guiding for 14 years and he knew every road, turn, tree, and bush like it was the back of his hand. Without a GPS or map he guided the entire trip from memory. Other guides would flash their lights at him, to have him stop and they'd asked him how to get to their camp, as they were lost. This happened twice on this trip. My wife and I love Obe so much we adopted him and plan to keep in touch with him and use him as our guide when we do our next trip to the Northern Serengeti. He calls us Bebe Jane and Babu Andy now.
Obe always asked me daily what we wanted to see and always delivered.
I wanted to see lions in trees, he knew just the tree that they often climbed and we got great photos of 3 lions sleeping in trees. He did the same for finding lion cubs, newborn wildebeest, warthogs, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, rhino's, Cape buffalo, hippos, leopards, cheetahs on a kill, male lions, and even mating lions. We saw them all. We are avid birders as well and he knew them all and pointed out many that I had missed.
We had previously been to Krueger Park in South Africa and it was a great experience, but in terms of the number of big cats we saw in Tanzania I can honestly say, we saw more each day in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater than we saw in a week In South Africa.
The vehicle was a Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-top roof with seating for six passengers. Most all the other safari vehicles were the same make/model. I am so glad we paid extra for a private safari guide and vehicle as we could move from front to back of the vehicle easily with just my wife and me. The roads are bumpy from Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti but I was impressed with the great shocks on the Toyota. I might also add that after every safari trip, ABCS has the entire vehicle inspected to proactively make any repairs that may be needed.
Besides Obe's experience as a guide and knowledge of the terrain, he was also a skilled driver, both on-road and off-road, and you spend a lot of time going off-road in the Serengeti. He knew when to slow down and take it slow, he knew how to deal with mud and streams of muddy water, and he knew when to turn around and take another route.
ABCS goes far and above most companies would do. We received a free upgrade to a private Bungalo on Lake Manyara at the Maramboi Luxury Lodge which had our own private infinity pool right at the edge of the lake. The second day, after the morning safari I had an upset stomach and Obe took me to a local pharmacy to get some nausea medicine which corrected the problem. On the third day, I wanted an early start for the Ngorongoro crater and we ended up with a great view of the crater, even getting photos of rhinos far down in the crater. On our last night in the Serengeti, I wanted to try some Tanzanian food, specifically Ugali but was unable to get it made at the lodge we were at. Obe, calls back to the office and talks to Emanuel, the owner and when we return to Arusha, takes me to their office and surprises me with a full-course Tanzania dinner with Ugali! Now that's what I call "5 Star service."
There are hundreds of safari companies offering similar trips. They all use the same type of vehicles, stay at the same lodges, go to the same parks, and have comparable prices. I like supporting ABCS because they are a locally owned, small business and not owned by a foreign/European owner. Emanuel, the owner of ABCS started as a safari guide himself, and just as we in America pursue the American Dream, Emanuel is living his Tanzanian Dream, starting his own business, and employing local talent. I'm impressed with him, his Office Operations Manager, Naomi, and the entire team at African Big Cats Safari, and hope other Americans will choose them for their own once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Two pieces of advice:
1. After 25-30 hours of travel, take a two-night stay at the Gran Melia to start the trip.
Emanuel will come over the next day and give you a brief of your booked safari and answer all questions.
2. Pay the deposit and/or balance via a wire transfer as credit cards have an added 5% charge in Tanzania and they don't take international Bank Drafts.
I am a retired Naval Aviator, and a retired Senior Network Engineer, living in the Villages, FL (If you're a Villager, look us up in the Villages Directory if you want to talk). Anyone who wishes to contact me about my trip may do so. I will be posting a trip review, photos, and video within a couple of weeks on Youtube, just search Youtube for African Big Cats Safari and you should be able to find it
Here is Emanuel's YouTube intro to ABCS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm9pGWMd8wY
Andy and Jane Krauska
Email Raju | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Marvelous
Good service,reliable and value for money,good communication and very
reliable tour operator.
Email John | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great Tanzanian safari which exceeded all expectations
We had good communication organising the tour, were able to have the itinerary modified to suit us. The mid range accommodation suited us perfectly. Our driver-guide Lavoi was a good driver, knew his animals and birds and a very good guide. The tour through the four national parks was great. A highlight was seeing the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park.
Email Adi | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect team for the most amazing Kilimanjaro experience!
Imran and his team are nothing short of exemplary. Our group of 8 took the 8 Day Kilimanjaro package with ABC Safaris. The whole experience was like no other. By the end, we felt like a family, accomplishing the daunting yet satisfying task of summiting. Ask to get Imran and his team! I cannot have ask for a better guide/ team.
The whole team really provided a spectacular experience for us. Imran, the head guide is the perfect person for the job. He knows exactly what to do for the betterment of the group. There were instances of altitude sickness in our group and he immediately changed course multiple times to cater to us. The assistant guides David, EZ, and Elias were very knowledgeable and made the trip extremely fun- in the end I also learned a great amount of Swahili! Tosh the chef kept us satisfied with yummy food every meal while adjusting the menu based on our dietary restrictions and needs. All the 24 porters were extremely friendly and helped us in multiple ways, especially some of them going out of their way to join us on summit night. I could go on and on with reasons why you should choose this team on your trip to Kilimanjaro.
Email Beth | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our tour guide, Obed was one in a million!
We just returned from an 11 day safari with African Big Cats and I can’t recommend them more! From our planning stages to being dropped back at the airport they were responsive, friendly, organized, and helpful. We had a few ‘wants and needs’ beyond their original itinerary and they responded quickly and gave us options so we could determine what would work best for us. All of our accommodations were great and every camp was very welcoming, knowledgeable, safe, and every meal was great! Even our lunch on the trail was hot, fresh, tasty and not a boxed affair like others that we saw. Our guide, Obed was A+++ and was a huge part of our amazing safari. He is knowledgeable, informed, kind, and fun! He knows everything about Tanzania and understands what a magical place it is. Our vehicle was clean and well-maintained. You will spend a lot of time in the Rover so this is an important factor! He shared his knowledge of animals, birds, geography, history, culture…basically everything you would have a question about. He has great relationships with other guides so he always knew where the ‘happening’ spots were. We really felt immersed in Tanzanian life and felt more like travelers than tourists. Our trip was more than we could have imagined! If you put your faith in Big Cats you will not be disappointed!
CH
Email Adam | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Safari Experience
My girlfriend and I had a wonderful 4 day safari with African Big Cats Safaris. All of the logistics were organised very smoothly ahead of our trip. It was an incredible experience to visit Lake Manyara, Ngorogoro Crater, the Serengeti, and Tarangire. We were able to see the big 5 (black rhino from a distance) and even witness lions hunting their prey. Our guide Venance was amazing. Without his sharp eye we would have missed out on numerous sightings of rare animals. His knowledge was also extremely impressive and his comments added to each sighting of a new animal or even native trees/flowers. I can't stress enough the importance of a good guide.
Thank you Big Cats Safaris, and in particular Venace, for an unforgettable trip!
Email Brenda C | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip ever!
I am a travel enthusiast, and I wanted a BIG adventure for my 50th birthday. African Big Cats delivered x10! Joshua and Naomi enthusiastically and patiently answered all of our questions and made accommodations for a party of 6. They provided helpful pre-departure information that ensured we had what we needed for our adventure.
We opted for the “comfort” level and the tented camps were very comfortable, clean and beautiful. It is amazing to be able to stay so close to nature in the actual parks and wildlife management areas! The staff at each camp were welcoming, helpful and attentive.
Our driver, Obed, taught us so much about the wildlife, parks, Tanzanian culture and even some Swahili phrases. His driving was excellent and safe and he got us close to wildlife while respecting the animals and other drivers. Every day we looked forward to our hot picnic lunches followed by the best Africafe coffee, yum! He sang with us and we laughed together the whole trip. By the time our 12 days were over, we were so incredibly sad to say goodbye to him.
We visited West Kilimanjaro, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. We saw innumerable elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, cape buffalo, hippos, nile crocodile and nearly 100 lions and lion cubs. We saw the great migration of wildebeest and zebra and saw the wildebeest cross the Mara River! We even saw cheetahs, a rock python, a leopard and two of the critically endangered black rhino! The beauty of the natural places in Tanzania is unmatched. Best vacation ever. Trust me, take the trip!
BE
Email Wim | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great team, great safari!
Travelled with ABC Safaris in August 2024, doing the northern circuit (tarangire, manyara, ngorongoro and then on to central and northern Serengeti to watch the migration). Value was excellent, especially for the accomodation inside Serengeti. they helped us set up our trip, and the duide's communication was also much better then what we experienced previously with another company. The guide was also very nice to our kids.
DE
Email Daniel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Safari
We booked a 6-day safari with African Big Cats Safaris. It’s important to note that the first day is considered an arrival day, so the actual safari includes 5 days of game drives.
Our journey took us through the stunning national parks of Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, and Tarangire. Staying at the Intimate Camp in Serengeti was a highlight – sleeping in the park with hyenas roaming near the tent at night was unforgettable. The lodges were very clean, and the staff was always friendly and helpful.
The visit to the Maasai village was interesting and provided insight into their culture, but the significantly overpriced souvenirs left a slightly sour taste. Despite this, learning about the Maasai lifestyle was fascinating, though it's advisable to negotiate when buying souvenirs.
Our guide Lovoi was amazing! He was incredibly friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. Thanks to him, we learned a lot about the wildlife and even saw the Big Five – a major highlight of our safari!
Overall, it was a fantastic experience, despite minor disappointments like the high souvenir prices at the Maasai village. We highly recommend African Big Cats Safaris!