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
CA
Email Victoria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip ever!
My boyfriend and I did a week long safari with African Big Cats and it was the best experience of our life! We had an incredible guide (Lovoi) who made us feel very safe and welcome. Lovoi was also an expert at spotting every animal first, including a rhino! Emmanuel and Naomi were also very helpful in planning our trip and accommodating our needs. All of our accommodations were beautiful. If you are looking for a great safari experience, would highly recommend African Big Cats and definitely recommend requesting Lovoi as a guide!
MX
Email Lourdes Garcia | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful
A reputable company that met our expectations and resolved some issues at two lodges. Our guide, Clasus, was attentive to our requests, very friendly and entertaining, and tries to make sure we could see as much of him as possible. We werej able to see the Big 5!
Email Elliott | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our 5-day safari with African Big Cats was exceptional, thanks to our amazing guide Zab whose knowle
Our 5-day safari with African Big Cats was outstanding and made even more special by our incredible guide, Zab. From the moment we met him, it was clear we were in the best hands. He was knowledgeable, thoughtful, and genuinely passionate about making our experience unforgettable. He wasn’t just aiming for “good” – he wanted everything to be excellent.
Zab had an unbelievable eye for spotting wildlife. While other vehicles drove past, he would stop and point out animals we never would have seen. He truly had eyes like a hawk. His warmth, humour and insight into both wildlife and local culture added so much to the trip.
On the first day, we stopped for lunch at a quiet, scenic spot with just the three of us, well away from the main crowds, and with a breathtaking view. It was a thoughtful touch and set the tone for the rest of the safari.
Everything was incredibly well organised. Communication with African Big Cats was brilliant from start to finish, and they even arranged a surprise birthday treat, which was a lovely gesture. The pre-safari briefing and the debrief helped everything feel smooth and added a personal touch.
Everywhere we stayed was exceptional. We came away with amazing memories and huge appreciation for Zab and the whole team. Highly recommended.
Email Paul | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgable
Our experience was superb. My wife and I traveled to Tanzania for our honeymoon and African Big Cat Safari took care of everything for us. Our guide, Vinasce, was very polite and easy to talk to. He was very knowledgeable and put a lot of extra attention into making sure the experience met our expectations which he definitely exceeded.
Email Chloe | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
10/10, a fun and safe trip of a lifetime!
We went on an 11 day safari and beach combination trip, which exceeded our expectations! We were a bit nervous to go somewhere so unfamiliar as two women, but the communication and flexibility beforehand with Emmanuel and Naomi was easy and fast and made us comfortable enough to book. They helped us adjust the itinerary to include an extra night upon arrival to adjust, as well as change one of the beach days to an additional safari day, since we were most interested in Serengeti and adding the balloon safari (which is incredible and totally worth it!!!). Only note we would add, is if you go to bring small bills (singles) to tip the people at each stay who handle your luggage for you. Otherwise, we were extremely prepared for each situation we were in!
The accommodations were above and beyond, I kept thinking we booked the luxury when we booked the comfort! Each stay was welcoming, beautiful, and extremely comfortable. The food was incredible, and all the lunches packed to eat on a picnic were amazing and more than enough.
Our guide, Dominik, was fantastic! Very nice and accommodating, knowledgable about each place we went to and each animal we saw, and shared a lot of information which was great. He drove safely, while still managing to find tons of animals to see. We saw the big 5, including watching a leopard climb down a tree and walk around from just a few feet away! I was most excited to see a rhino, and when we did see one, he made sure I had plenty of time to look at it and enjoy the moment. He always made sure we were comfortable and ate enough at every meal.
The Zanzibar portion of our trip was very relaxing. We weren't the biggest fans of Stone Town, but loved the Jozani Forest and the Z Hotel (to each their own!). The staff was kind and easy to communicate with, and the massages at the hotel were phenomenal.
Overall, this experience was better than we could have imagined, and we will be recommending it to everyone we know!
HK
Email Wan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Unforgettable Safari with African Big Cats – Exceeded All Expectations!
Our group of four had an incredible 10-day safari with African Big Cats, and we’re so glad we chose them for this adventure. From start to finish, the trip was exceptionally well-organized, and every detail was thoughtfully arranged.
William and Naomi crafted a perfect itinerary tailored to our needs and budget. They were highly responsive and attentive, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Even when our flight was delayed by four hours (arriving at JRO at 3 am!), Naomi reassured us that our driver would wait—and true to her word, he did, getting us safely to our hotel by 4 am.
Our guide, Lovoi, was simply outstanding. His expertise, sharp eyes, and skillful driving made our safari unforgettable. Thanks to him, we spotted the Big Five, cheetahs, and countless other animals. Most remarkably, his perseverance allowed us to witness the wildebeest migration on all three days in the Northern Serengeti—including one breathtaking crossing that lasted over 30 minutes!
Beyond his professionalism, Lovoi was incredibly kind, caring, and humorous. He checked in with us nightly and greeted us warmly every morning, ensuring we were comfortable and well-rested. His presence filled each day with laughter and joy.
We wholeheartedly recommend African Big Cats to anyone planning a Tanzanian safari. Asante sana!
DE
Email Jessica | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Safari with African Big Cats – Wildlife 🦁, Culture 🛖, and Heartfelt Moments 💖
Our safari with AFRICAN BIG CATS was an all-round excellent experience that exceeded our expectations in many ways. Communication in advance was professional and reliable. Shortly after we made our inquiry via SAFARIBOOKINGS.COM, Joshua from African Big Cats contacted us, followed by a friendly and informative exchange with Naomi – both via email and WhatsApp, which proved especially helpful for time-sensitive questions.
On the day of arrival, we were warmly welcomed by our guide Dominick Israel , and also received a personal briefing from Emanuel, the managing director of African Big Cats, directly at our hotel. This meeting allowed us to clarify any open questions and helped us mentally prepare for the journey ahead. On the second-to-last day, we were invited to share our feedback directly with Emanuel – yet another sign of the company’s remarkable customer care.
Throughout the trip, the support provided by our guide Dominick was outstanding. His deep knowledge of flora, fauna, and culture – paired with his ability to communicate it clearly and engagingly – greatly enriched our safari experience. It’s especially worth noting that Dominick previously worked as a ranger, and brought with him an impressive wealth of expertise from that time. He looked after all organizational matters, coordinated with lodges and the office, and ensured our vehicle was always in top condition. His dedication to showing us as many animal species as possible – even if it meant taking detours – along with his care for our safety and wellbeing, stood out throughout the trip. Thanks to his previous time spent in Germany, we shared a unique connection that made our journey even more special. Over the two weeks we spent together, we truly feel a friendship was formed.
The choice of accommodations fully matched the booked “comfort” category. We were welcomed warmly and professionally at every stop, and in many lodges were even addressed by our first names – a detail we deeply appreciated. The topic of tipping was communicated transparently and early on, which helped us feel prepared.
Overall, we consider the value for money to be fair – especially considering the comprehensive services included: lodging, meals, park fees, and a highly qualified GUIDE. Although it’s a HIGH-END trip, the quality and service absolutely justify the cost. We were happy to follow the recommendation of tipping our guide daily – particularly because DOMINICK’s service was truly exceptional.
PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION throughout the journey were highly reliable. Any spontaneous changes were discussed openly and sensibly – such as the opportunity to spend additional time in the NGORONGORO CRATER at Dominick’s suggestion.
🗺️ TRAVEL SUMMARY
Our safari took us through some of TANZANIA’S most stunning protected areas:
📍ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK, where we went on a GUIDED WALK with a RANGER and observed GIRAFFES up close — a truly unique start to our trip
📍TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, with its majestic BAOBAB TREES and large ELEPHANT HERDS. Here we also joined a NIGHTTIME GAME DRIVE, offering fascinating glimpses into animal life after dark
📍LAKE MANYARA, famous for its DIVERSE BIRDLIFE and TREE-CLIMBING LIONS
📍SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, the heart of the GREAT MIGRATION and setting for unforgettable WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
📍NGORONGORO CRATER, a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE with astonishing wildlife density — where we were lucky enough to spot RHINOS
Our accommodations – especially the TENTED LODGES LOCATED INSIDE THE PARKS in TARANGIRE, SERENGETI, and at LAKE MASEK – brought us incredibly close to nature. On several nights, we fell asleep and woke to the SOUND OF LIONS ROARING — a spine-tingling experience we’ll never forget.
The itinerary was rounded out by MEANINGFUL CULTURAL EXPERIENCES:
🏹 Visiting the HADZABE and joining them on a MORNING HUNT gave us profound insight into their way of life
🔧 We then spent time with the DATOGA, learning about their CRAFTSMANSHIP and TRADITIONS
🛖 One particular highlight was our stay at the OSILIGILAI MAASAI LODGE: we slept in a TRADITIONAL BOMA HUT, went on a NATURE WALK with a MAASAI WARRIOR, joined a SPEAR-THROWING COMPETITION, danced with the MAASAI at SUNSET, and later gathered around the CAMPFIRE - powerful moments that touched us deeply!
IT
Email Gianfranco | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tailored service with outstanding quality
Family of four with two teenager boys – 11 days in Tanzania.
Our trip was planned and customized in advance based on our requests, despite a rather late booking. The assistance we received during the booking and personalization process was excellent.
In Tanzania, everything ran smoothly: the driver/guide (knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful), the vehicle (very practical), the overall organization, the accommodations (especially the tented camps), and the food (good, though a bit repetitive and not exceptional).
Everything agreed before the start of the trip was fully respected: no changes in location, confirmed agenda and no unexpected surprises. A very reliable organization with great flexibility to adapt to our needs.
We were able to fully enjoy the experience, feeling truly immersed in the beauty and authenticity of Tanzania, without any major issues or inconveniences.
A well-deserved 5 stars and a tour operator we highly recommend!
CA
Email Kayleigh | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant company
I could not recommend this company enough. It is a locally owned and operated. Emmanuel who owns the company met with us personally at the beginning and end of the trip which was a nice personal touch. From enquiring about the safari till arriving, the communication was excellent and we always had speedy replies to any questions. The safari was completely tailored to what we wanted, and included lots of activities to learn about the culture as well as animal viewing.
From start to finish, the whole tour was amazing. Our guide Venance was an expert on all the animals, including the birds. Venance also told us lots of details on the culture and local tribes. Venance seemed to be able to spot an animal from a mile away. His eyes were so sharp that we'd regularly be the first to spot animals and enjoy them alone before other vehicles would joined. We seen the big 5 as well as so many other animals that lives in the park.
The vehicle was well stocked with water, soda and beers the whole trip. Nothing quite like having a beer when watching a Pride of lions.
Venance could not have taken better care of us and made us feel well cared for and safe the whole trip. Venance also provided a lot of flexibility to make the trip exactly what we wanted it.
All of the accommodations chosen by African Big Cats were brilliant. We did not have a bad meal the whole trip. And we certainly did not go hungry at any time. There was so much food.
We would recommend this tour group to everyone and we would not hesitate to use African Big Cats when we return to Tanzania.
PT
Email Lucy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime thanks to African Big Cats
We were very impressed with African Big Cats Safaris! We organised a 14 day combined trip of safari and a beach stay in Zanzibar. There was very good communication for the organisation of our trip and the booking process went smoothly thanks to Salim and Naomi. We appreciated the personal touch of Emmanuel meeting us before we started the trip.
We had never been to Tanzania before and the safari was an incredible experience. This was hugely due to our amazing guide, Charles. He collected us from Arusha airport and was so knowledgeable and informative, but very humble and friendly - we immediately felt at ease with him. We were blown away by the different animals we saw and enjoyed learning about them from Charles. We appreciated that he was so patient and we were able to stay and watch the animals longer, whilst other vehicles sped off as we really got to see how the animals behaved in their natural habitat!
The Moonbow lodge and Embalaki camp we stayed in on safari were both of high quality with very good food. The amazing staff at these accommodations really go out of their way to make you feel welcome!
Our stay in Zanzibar at the Z hotel was equally amazing. The hotel is lovely, with excellent facilities and is right by Nungwi beach which is stunning.
We really recommend African Big Cats as a company and would use them again given their professionalism in the organisation of our incredible and unforgettable experience!