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:
- $3,470 to $19,086 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
CN
Email LIZ ZHOU | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service and unforgettable wildlife encounters
I first got in touch with Big Cat through BookingSafari back in February. At the time, I was speaking with a few different local operators and had some good conversations with other sales reps too. But overall, Joshua from Big Cat gave me the best impression. He was always patient and responsive, and very reliable whenever we had questions or special requests.
We already had a few camps and a rough route in mind, so the communication was smooth and efficient. Once we got the final quotes and confirmed the camps we wanted, we decided to go with Big Cat right away. Then came a long wait of almost six months before our actual trip at the end of September.
On our first night, we were welcomed by the manager who carefully went over all the key information with us. He was friendly and very detailed, which made us feel well taken care of. The next morning, we took a small domestic flight to the northern Serengeti, where our guide Lovio was already waiting for us. He led us through an amazing Safari journey. On the very first day, we were lucky enough to witness two river crossings by wildebeests. Over the next few days, we managed to see almost all the animals we hoped for, except the black rhino which was a bit too far away.
Lovio’s vehicle did break down twice during the trip. The first time, it caused some delays, but after the car was fixed, he really gave his best effort to help us spot more wildlife. The second time it happened was on the way to Ngorongoro Crater. Honestly, I guess we were just too lucky in our own way, since not everyone gets this kind of “experience,” right?
On the last afternoon, while we were heading back to Arusha, I suddenly came down with acute food poisoning. Lovio was incredibly helpful and brought us to two hospitals to make sure I got the treatment I needed. Luckily, my condition was under control by that night, and I was able to catch my international flight the next day without issues.
I’m truly grateful to Big Cat and especially to our guide Lovio. This trip gave us unforgettable memories. I hope the next time I visit Tanzania for another Safari, I’ll have the chance to meet them again.
Reply from African Big Cats Safaris
Posted on Jan 16, 2026Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. We’re delighted to hear that Joshua’s support, our planning process, and Lovio’s guiding made your safari memorable and rewarding. We truly appreciate your understanding during the unexpected vehicle issues and are especially glad our team could support you during your illness and ensure you traveled safely. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we would be honored to welcome you back to Tanzania for another safari in the future.
CN
Email Summer | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Vehicle Accident and What Followed
Our safari with African Big Cat Safaris in May 2026 was unfortunately marked by a serious vehicle accident, and I believe future travellers should be aware of both the incident itself and the company's response afterwards.
During our safari in the Serengeti, the vehicle left the road and came to rest on its side. Official incident reports and a traffic citation were issued following the accident.
Several members of our group sustained injuries. I was seated in the rear row of the vehicle and, after returning to China, CT imaging confirmed fractures of the L1-L3 lumbar transverse processes resulting from the accident. Another member of our group was diagnosed locally with a mild concussion.
Local medical assistance was arranged after the incident, and based on the medical assessments available at the time, no serious bone injury was identified. However, both the concussed passenger and I were unable to participate in safari activities the following day and remained at camp while the rest of the group continued the itinerary.
To be fair, the company covered local medical expenses incurred in Tanzania and provided the accident documentation when requested.
My concern relates less to the accident itself and more to the level of care and support shown afterwards.
After returning home, medical examinations confirmed injuries that had not been identified locally. We submitted the relevant medical evidence and attempted to resolve the remaining accident-related costs through direct and respectful communication.
We also limited our request and did not pursue compensation for missed safari activities, damaged personal property, loss of income, rehabilitation costs, or other indirect losses. Instead, we requested a modest contribution toward a small portion of the accident-related expenses that remained uncovered by our travel insurance.
The company ultimately declined any form of goodwill support beyond the medical expenses already covered in Tanzania and informed us that its position was final. More importantly, at no stage did we feel there was meaningful acknowledgement of the impact this accident had on the injured members of the group.
Safari travel inherently carries risk, and I understand that accidents can happen even with experienced operators. For me, the most important measure of a company is not whether an accident occurs, but how it responds when guests are injured.
I encourage prospective travellers to ask detailed questions about vehicle safety procedures, seatbelt policies, emergency response arrangements, accident reporting processes, and post-incident support before booking.
This review reflects my personal experience and is supported by official incident records, medical documentation, and correspondence with the company.
Reply from African Big Cats Safaris
Posted on Jun 5, 2026Dear Summer Tang,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
First and foremost, we are truly sorry that this incident occurred during your safari and that both you and your travelling companion suffered injuries as a result. We understand how distressing the experience must have been, and we sincerely regret that it became part of your journey with us.
Guest safety and wellbeing remain our highest priorities, and whenever an incident occurs, our focus is on ensuring that affected guests receive prompt assistance and appropriate medical care. Following the accident, our team arranged medical attention immediately, assisted with transportation and logistics, maintained communication throughout the remainder of your stay, and covered the medical expenses incurred in Tanzania.
Based on the medical assessments available at the time, no serious bone injuries were identified, and medical professionals did not recommend hospitalization, emergency evacuation, or discontinuation of your safari. We therefore understand how concerning it must have been to later learn, following further examinations in China, that additional injuries had been identified.
We also appreciate your acknowledgement that local medical expenses were covered by our company. After receiving the medical documentation submitted following your return home, we carefully reviewed the matter and considered the request presented to us. While we were unable to provide additional financial support beyond the assistance already provided, this decision should not be interpreted as a lack of concern for your wellbeing. Rather, it reflected our position regarding expenses incurred after the completion of the safari and outside Tanzania, which are typically addressed through travel insurance arrangements.
We respect that you feel disappointed by the outcome, and we understand that your experience has led you to view the situation differently. At the same time, we would like future travelers to know that our team remained committed to supporting you throughout the incident and its immediate aftermath, and that every decision made was taken in good faith and with your welfare in mind.
Safari travel takes place in remote wilderness environments where, despite experienced guides, maintained vehicles, established safety procedures, and careful planning, unforeseen incidents can occasionally occur. While such events are extremely rare, we continuously review our operations and procedures to maintain the highest possible standards of safety and guest care.
We are grateful that you and your travelling companion were able to complete the remainder of your safari, and we sincerely wish you both continued recovery, good health, and all the very best for the future.
Kind regards,
African Big Cat Safaris
Email Lynzie Rockett | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lack of communication
Complete lack of communication. Had us pay for a person that wasn’t even there! If a deposit means something different in Tanzania than America it would have been nice to know. African Big Cats advertises one lodge on their website but downgrades last minute to another. The downgraded lodge is on the complete opposite side (East/West-of Zanzibar) and rooms smell terribly of mold/mildew. Two safari days were not needed (the first and last). Those need to be removed from the itinerary completely. Note that most of these safari companies go to the same exact spots. As evidenced by the massive amount of jeeps at every stop and animal sighting. Skip African Big Cats and go with one of the MANY other companies. Our guides (Zab and Jumma) were good!!
Reply from African Big Cats Safaris
Posted on Sep 7, 2023Dear Lynzie, Thank you very much for your review, and i am very sorry to hear that the trip wasn't to your satisfaction.
I want to take a moment to address some concerns and provide clarity regarding your recent safari experience with us. It's essential for us to ensure your understanding and satisfaction.
First and foremost, regarding the issue of a participant who couldn't join the trip at the last moment, I understand how frustrating this can be, especially when plans and expenses are already in place. Originally, the safari was booked for seven people, but just two days before your arrival, we received notification that one person had to cancel. According to our policy, cancellations made within 15 days of travel would result in a 100% loss of the trip cost. However, recognising that this situation was beyond your control, we decided to deviate from our policy and charged only 50% of the cost. This decision still resulted in a loss for us, but we wanted to accommodate your circumstances as best as we could. We genuinely wish we could have offered a full refund, but unfortunately, we couldn't pursue this option due to the policies of the accommodations involved. Please know that we tried our best to assist you in this matter.
Concerning the accommodations themselves, we want to clarify that we never altered the options we initially quoted. When the trip was booked in January, it was based on a pre-made tour that Crystal, the person who booked on behalf of your group, selected from our website. While we do provide the flexibility to change accommodations, Crystal opted to stick with the original itinerary. Upon confirmation, we sent a comprehensive itinerary, which included the accommodations she had chosen. However, in the low season (April), our website underwent renovations, which involved changes to some itineraries and accommodations. One of the affected itineraries was the one Crystal had selected. The accommodation in Zanzibar was changed from Amaan Bungalows to Nungwi Dreams. We were unaware that Crystal was using the website itinerary as a reference for your entire group instead of the final itinerary sent to her via email. This miscommunication led to the belief that you were to overnight at Nungwi Dreams instead of Amaan Bungalows, as per your original quote.
Lastly, regarding the duration of the safari days, it's important to understand that the length of the safari significantly influences the quality of the game drive. Your arrival flight on the first day was scheduled to arrive in the afternoon, making it impossible to arrange any game drive on that day. Furthermore, your subsequent flight directly to Zanzibar meant that you could only accommodate a half-day game drive at Manyara on the last day. Given the limited number of days your group had, extending the safari was not feasible. Please note that the duration of the safari directly impacts the quality of the experience, as more extended periods allow for better exploration of the parks and more private game drives, as our guides have the opportunity to venture beyond the standard routes.
I sincerely hope that this clarifies the concerns you had about your recent safari experience. We greatly appreciate your feedback, and I apologise that the trip did not meet your expectations. Our commitment is to continually improve and ensure the best possible experience for our valued clients.