The Safari Soles Team
Safari Soles
- Offices In:
-
United Kingdom
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 2018)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, TTB, KPAP & TAT0
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $5,194 to $31,166 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
BE
Email Dieter | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Breathtaking and perfectly organised Safari
We did a 5 day Safari trip and were lucky to see so many beautiful animals. We got picked up at the airport and dropped off at our hotel in Arusha (Tulia hotel and spa) where Bryson from Safari Soles awaited us to explain the coming days and to ask if we had special wishes. The next morning we were picked up by our driver/guide Isaac who stayed with us the next 5 days.
We were very lucky with Isaac as he knows the national parks by heart and always found the animals we wanted to see. Next to being a good driver he has a lot to tell about the animals, the plants and the culture in general.
First day we went to Tarangire Parc were we saw most animals, although in small numbers, and hundreds of baobab trees. At night we slept in the beautiful Farm of Dreams Lodge where we were awaited by the typical singing welcome committee.
The next three days we spent in the Serengeti where we slept in Mblagati Tented camps (beautiful lodges) and Serengeti Heritage Luxury Tented Camp (comfortable tented lodges). As both locations are situated in the Serengeti you really sleep in the midst of wild animals while guards keep you safe so you can sleep in peace. In the Serengeti we saw thousands of wildebeests, antilopes and zebras, giraffes, elephants, lion prides, leopards and cheetahs and so many more beautiful animals at every second of the day.
The last day we stayed at Serena Lodge which has a breathtaking view on the Ngorongoro crater before going out there on our fifth day. Here we finally saw the black rhino which made our big five complete. In the late afternoon we went back to Arusha.
During the Safari we took every morning fresh hot food with us so we could have an amazing and incredible delicious picnic. Dinner and breakfast were evenly tasty and safe for our European stomachs.
Maybe 5 days is too much for some people, but we truly enjoyed every second of it.
Thank you so much Safari Soles and Isaac to make this an unforgettable vacation!
PT
Email Marco | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
First time on a Safari and one of the best moments of my life! The Big 5 were found in the very first time!
DE
Email Nicolai (Hannover) | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great 6-days safari experience for a reasonable price
My son and I had got safari offers from different providers and decided finally for choosing a 6-days safari with Safari Soles Tours. Bryson, the manager convinced us by good and precise communication via email and WhatsApp. He always answered all my questions quickly and accurately. That made a very good impression. Bryson is also an interesting person to talk to and can tell you a lot about his country.
The safari itself also turned out to be a good choice: everything was very well organized and thought out. We visited the four most beautiful national parks in northern Tanzania and saw a lot of wild animals, birds and beautiful nature.
Lucas, our tour guide / driver did his best to give us lots of information about every animal we saw. He had three encyclopedic reference works in his jeep (animals, birds, plants with pictures and English names) and was able to tell us about anything that interested us.
We loved Abdullah the chef. The meals were excellent. For lunch there was hot meals every day, no cold lunch boxes. That was the dinner that was a real highlight: Not only the food itself but also its presentation by Abdullah - he appeared in his chef's uniform and solemnly announced the dishes. This gave the whole safari tour a luxurious and exclusive character.
Maybe that was also our luck to go on safari at the end of March - beginning of April, at the start of the rainy season. It is also called "Green Season", as the savannah is particularly beautiful. There were few tourists, which was an advantage for us: normally it would be a budget safari with two nights in a lodge and three - in a tent (on a campsite), but it rained in Serengeti the night before, and Bryson organized an upgrade at short-notice: two overnight stays at the Serengeti Safari Lodge in Seronera. We were accommodated in cozy, small houses with private bathrooms (see the attached photo). And the first and last night we spent in the town of Mto wa Mbu, in the good and clean Fig Tree Lodge. With a swimming pool! We felt welcome in both lodges, and the staff was very kind to us.
However, we stayed for one single night (the penultimate one) in a tent, on the chic Simba campsite at the Ngorongoro crater, with a canteen, toilet and shower. When we got there, the tents were already ready, and there was a mattress under each sleeping bag. My son and I shared a tent, single travelers each had a tent to themselves (we were a group of four). And the water in the shower was really hot.
All in all, in my opinion, this was a luxury safari for a reasonable price. I can recommend Safari Soles Tours to every safari friend with a clear conscience. I would like to thank Bryson, Lucas and Abdullah warmly: Asante sana!
Another tip that might be useful: If you arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport a day before the safari or stay in Arusha a few days after the safari, Bryson can organize a day trip for you. We took the Materuni Waterfall, Coffee Tour & Kikuletwa Hot Springs trip and were satisfied. Justin and his friends in the Materuni Village are very funny guys, they performed a great "coffee-making-show" with nice singing. I enjoyed it (see photo)! Attention, waterfall: It's beautiful, but the hike there takes 45 minutes. In exchange, the Hot Springs were "pure relaxation", even if they are not really hot. The weather was already hot enough with 31 degrees, and a bath in the lukewarm water was good for us. And meanwhile our lunch, which was included in the trip, was ready. Thanks to our nice guide / driver Abouh, who took care of us that day and took us to the good Tulia Hotel & Spa in Arusha in the evening. Thanks also to Freddy for the smooth transfer to the airport at the very end of the trip. The transfer was also organized by Bryson.
DE
Email Ann-Kathrin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic 4-day safari
What can I say? It was my first safari and it was awesome! Our group consisted of 6 people and we harmonized very well together. Our guide Freddy was in a great mood and responded to our wishes in the best possible way. The food was absolutely delicious and varied. The accommodations (two lodges, one camping) were well chosen. We saw an incredible number of animals and everything was there except for the leopard (we saw two cheetahs hunting). All in all a brilliant tour. Book with Solestours and you won't regret it. :)
(automatic translation from German)
RO
Email Ruxandra | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Above expectations, smooth process, top hospitality!
I loved the entire experience from the booking process with Bryson, to pick-up, to arriving in Arusha (the accommodation was good) and the Safari itself. This is a budget safari so you can’t expect to have luxury in a tent, but the facilities and especially the services were much above expectations. I loved how smooth everything went. We were always expected, never had to wait. The parks were great and we were lucky to see many species of animals including rhinos, cheetas, lions, but the trip would have not been complete without our guide, Freddy. He is a walking google or nat geo :)). Had an answer to any question, our entire group was super impressed! And the food, yummy, it was like a fine dining experience in a safari!! Well done, Tito!!! If i had to recommend something to future travellers, is to have thick clothes cause in Ngorongoro it gets really cold at night in a tent. And to put their fears aside as buffalos roam around the camp at night. I personally could not sleep for 4 hours in Ngorongoro cause of that but now i laugh about it. Next, get wet tissues with you, bug spray, sunscreen and a hat. Don’t pack many clothes cause they r not needed, travel as light as possible. This tour is great if you are on a lower budget but want to see as much as possible in a short time.
RU
Email petr | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good safari experience
The guide Simba is truly amazing - very knowledgeable and posesses great driving skills essential to do game drives. Bryson, the owner, is also amazing in communication and organization - he is also very kind and willing to do everything for you (i.e. organize extra activities, COVID tests, etc.). The car was fairly good, although a bit underequipped - we didn't have a shovel and the lift jack was not good - this created tension when we were stuck once. The food in lodges was amazing, but the field lunches sometimes were not fresh enough (especially fish and chicken).
DE
Email Marco | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
3 days safari Serengeti & Ngorongoro
My girlfriend and I went for a short safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in November 2020. We went on a group safari and had a cook with us. We slept in a tent for two nights and it was a great adventure. At night the hyenas were at the campsite and you could also hear lions. I can 100% recommend Soles Tour. Everything went perfectly!
(automatic translation from German)
CZ
Email Jumbo Eagle | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari Soles delivered as described with top notch guides - in two words - hakuna matata
This trip was everything and more I hoped for it to be. Bryson on behalf of Safari Soles delivered as promised (+ minor upgrade one night), the airport r/t transfer is a nice touch to overall comfort. Communication with him was straightforward and effective.
I cannot speak highly enough of the tour guides David/Simba and chef Maurice – they made the trip unforgettable and kept us entertained with knowledge of wildlife and stories throughout the trip. Every lunch prepared by Maurice was some of the best food I had in Tanzania.
I was also lucky enough to meet great people in our group (6+2guides) which took the trip to another level :))
I opted for a 4days group lodge tour which imho is way superior to 3days tour (especially road / game drive balance). The 3nights accommodation was diverse and nothing but exceptional every night – the gap compared to camping accommodation is definitely to bear in mind while choosing the safari + you are missing hotel quality buffet dinner and buffet breakfast.
BIG 5 was ofc included :)
RU
Email Andrei | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari with amazing food
Took 3-day trip to Serengeti and Ngorongoro, driver was a real professional, thanks David Symba, he took us to such roads, where we couldn't see no one, except animals :) saw a lot of animals, including great 5. The stay was on camp-sites, it was nice. Also there was super chief with us, we expected, that we would have only sandwiches, but the food was amazing, as you would have restaurant always with you. But i also highly recommend to take some snacks with you, as you'll have long game drives and movements.
And finally i don't recommend to visit masai's village. I would say they are fake masais, just artists, that don't want to work. When you arrive they will ask you money, after that bring you to some souvenirs, and that's it, then they will tell you "time is over". No history, no answers on questions, you even can't walk around their village. Just waste of time and money.
ID
Email Ran | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tour, well recommended
Since my college days, I promised my mom I'd bring her to a local zoo not far from my university for a Safari experience. By the time I've graduated and driven my car back to our home state, the plan still hasn't materialized yet. Luckily, I won a lottery - a pair of free tickets anywhere around the world - and since there are lots of travel restrictions around the globe, I decided to bring my mom to Tanzania.
I know nothing about Tanzania previously, and Bryson (the owner, also who "coincidentally" always online whenever I chatted) has been more than helpful. He is hospitable, well-mannered, and honest. He gladly assists with many problems during our time in Tanzania, even if it's not related to Safari. We managed to try an authentic African dish (ndizi choma), also thanks to him.
Now to the Safari itself. We choose to go for the four-day trip consisting of Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, and Ngorongoro NP. Our driver/guide was David "Simba" and boy wasn't he a fantastic guy! We managed to see lots and lots and lots of animals, including all the Big 5. I believe we've seen all the animals possible, including jackals, servals, croc, and even rarer animals. Highlight on hyena/vultures feasting on buffalo carcass, rainbow which end falls right on a group of elephants, a lone black rhino on Serengeti NP, and a leopard siesta in the tree. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any lion hunting live - we almost see one in Tarangire, but somehow the lion fails to hunt the warthog.
It would help if you took note that this tour neither goes all the way deep into Serengeti (only the central Seronera area) nor the wildebeest crossing. Unfortunately, it was also raining on the day where we're supposed to see that majestic Serengeti sunset, but obviously, they can't control the weather, so I'm not blaming haha. I was a bit insecure when they write on the website that the Maasai village visit is optional, and most people opt against it because I love going to a cultural event. Bryson said that there would be a vote for the village trip, and they'll go if more people want to go. I almost canceled the booking altogether because I'm worried I'll lose the vote. OK, I perfectly know that it might be a tourist trap, but the welcoming dance was unforgettable. Africa is very, very far, and I want to experience every cultural thing I can grasp. It was terrific and also a highlight of the trip. I hope they'll re-write that paragraph on their description, though, hahaha. Again, it turns out there's an option to stay overnight with the Hadzabe tribe (a hunter-gatherer tribe) in Ngorongoro NP as well; ask Bryson or your guide for more details. I know this from our chef, Geoffrey, who was from the Hadzabe tribe.
Next, I'm going to review the food. It was delicious. The meal is International / Western food, cooked fresh (the chef Geoffrey comes along with us) every time. The portion was huge. Very huge. It's okay if you think you can't finish it; take what you can because they will donate the rest to the locals around. What a great idea they have, right? :) I think my favorite was the fusilli with onion and leek served in Ngorongoro NP - it seems so simple yet so flavorful. We enjoyed dining with chef Geoffrey. Unfortunately, there was a little incident with the Tanzanian wine - the corkscrew split in half. I'm a bit sad that I can't taste the wine. It wasn't South African; it was from a Tanzanian vineyard—more reason to return to Tanzania.
Let's see what else. The jeep was spacious, the roof opens and extendable. Cold beers are always available. Don't forget your binoculars (tip: you can borrow Bryson's if you don't' have one). Overall I enjoy having the tour with Safari Soles, and I think it's worth every penny! David is brilliant and seems to know every animal - even the Latin name. I believe he studied hard for this.
So kudos to the Safari Soles team; asante sana for a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wish you continued success.
Also, I'm looking forward to seeing Bryson in Bali.