6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure
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6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure
By OFF THE BEATEN PATH SAFARIS
These 6 days and 5 nights Safari will take you to Tanzania’s most visited Destinations. The Northern Tanzania Parks including the leading extraordinary park in Africa the Serengeti. Lake Manyara small yet incredibly striking and breathtaking, it offers a variety of landscapes, from its flat soda lake to its dense forests and the rugged cliffs of the Rift Valley escarpment. And lastly Tarangire National Park a place where large groups of elephants call it home.
Furthermore to the mysterious Ngorongoro Crater a landscape like no other on earth, that offers vast views over a beautiful natural sanctuary where wildlife encounters lie around every corner. And the most fascinating thing is the annual migration that is found around Ngorongoro/Serengeti – Ndutu Area during the months of December to mid-April. This is the only place in Tanzania these wildebeest will come back for calving remarkable!!
from per adult
$6,341.54
from per adult
$6,341.54
Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation
Ages 12-100
Duration: 6 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
German, English, French
Features animals
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Dinner
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Private transportation
- All Fees and Taxes
- -Transportation in a 4WD with safari
- -Game Activities as per the itinerary
- - Flying doctors’ insurance
What's not included- -Optional Hot Air Balloon ride over Serengeti
- -Champagne, cognacs, fine wines & premium brand spirits
- - And all not mentioned in the itinerary above.
- -All items of a personal nature
- Departure details
- Traveler pickup is offered.
- Arusha, Tanzania
- Airports:
- Kilimanjaro Airport, Kilimanjaro National Park Tanzania
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 178642P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- How much is 6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure?
- 6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure price starts from $6,341.54. Discover and book 6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure on Tripadvisor
- What is the 6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure cancellation policy?
- 6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book 6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides 6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure?
- 6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure is hosted by OFF THE BEATEN PATH SAFARIS. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact OFF THE BEATEN PATH SAFARIS on Tripadvisor. Discover and book 6 Days Luxury Northern Circuit Safari - A Glimpse of Tanzania Adventure on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 178642P2
Itinerary
Overview
Full Map
7 stops
Day 1
Arrival
Day 2
Tarangire National Park
Day 3
Lake Manyara National Park
Day 4
Serengeti National Park – Ndutu...
Day 5
Serengeti National Park – Ndutu...
Day 6
Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha
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About the operator
This experience only has a few reviews, but you can read what other travelers have to say about the operator.
kimtlh
00Trip of a lifetime
We went on a 11 day+ bird focused safari through Arusha National Park , Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.…
Voyager570785
00This trip was amazing in every way.
The Wildebeest River Crossing was one of the most exciting things I've ever seen. Every guide we had was knowledge…
roxanek861
00Outstanding service
Unforgettable moments with a team of professionals and quality service. I highly recommend this team to anyone want…
Sandi198
00A human adventure
It was a real pleasure to live this experience with the OFF THE BEATEN team ! I felt a real good energy, they were …
Max H
00On Day Trip from Arusha to Ngorongoro
Organization with Jack and her associate was quick and easy. They did a good job and were really friendly. The equi…
X2180HZdianar
00Amazing safari experience
The guides were fantastic. Very knowledgeable about the Serengeti. Knowing the patterns of the big cats down to t…
JamesM29
00Fantastic Safari
AWESOME! AMAZING! FANTASTIC! Off The Beaten Path Safaris delivered the trip of a lifetime that included all the sup…
margaretn602
00Beyond imagination!
I thought I had an idea of what I would experience on this safari, but I was wrong! It was so far beyond what I had…
mlpound60
00An amazing Tanzania safari with Off the Beaten Path Safaris
I cannot say enough wonderful things about my experience with Off the Beaten Path Safaris. From the transportation …
markhX5616YU
00Words cannot describe our experience with Off The Beaten Path. Beyond amazing!
Words cannot express our experience! Off the Beaten Path Safaris is hands down the best experience you could possib…
kawshalaj2017
00Very special experience
African safari with the children has always been on my bucket list. And I am so pleased to have been able to do it …
Moutralife
00Amazing
Where do so start? Everyday was an amazing adventure. Off The Beaten Path Safari took great care of us. I really en…
Waynemoutra
00LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE!!!
We were guided by the owner of the company, OFF THE BEATEN PATH SAFARI, who accompanied to us every minute of the d…
R U
00Breathtaking!
A memorable experience like no other! Enjoying the scenic river overlook while eating lunch from the Green Hut res…
glori2022
00A memorable Safari with the Off Beaten
My friend and I had a great tour with an amazing,knowledgeable and friendly guide George.He was so professional and…
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Barbara M
Birmingham, AL2 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
From the moment we arrived at the airport at Mt. Kilimanjaro, the client services we’re absolutely exceptional. All 5 of our different accommodations were superb and the food was delicious. Of course we came to see the animals so all of the great food and super camp staff was just a bonus! As soon as we got off the plane in Kogatende in the Serengeti it was obvious that our guides were in a class of their own. We were the only clients greeted with a champagne welcome! We were immediately off the see the wildlife and it was a magical experience within 10 minutes of taking off in the jeeps. We saw elephants, zebra, giraffe, hyenas and wildebeest just on the way to first camp! We watched many heart pounding scenes including a large wildebeest crossing on the Mara River. It was hard to believe that I was seeing this with my own eyes. There were so many scenes I experienced, I felt as though I was living in a a National Geographic documentary.
Over the course of the safari, all of our guides were able to deliver every single animal we came to see, save only 1 for next time, the rare and endangered black rhino. My group was mostly veterinarians. The guides were encyclopedic in their knowledge of animals and the plants. We asked questions that perhaps non-veterinarians may not ask and all of our questions were answered in great detail. The guides know the animals well and know where to take you and when to take you for maximum animal exposure.
As much as we vets love animals our safari did not end there. Salim and his group were able to allow us to have access to some of the indigenous tribes that live near the Ngorongoro crater. It was such a unique experience to interact with people so different from ourselves and we are truly appreciative of them allowing us into their lives for a day. We thought it funny that they asked us more questions about how we live then we asked them!
On a final note Salim custom caters this amazing trip to his clients. We were able to visit a dog rescue in Arusha, that in addition to what we all know rescues do, has the mission to educate the residents of Arusha on rabies and the need to get all street dogs vaccinated to save human lives. It is a tireless job. We also took toys and school supplies to an orphanage. It was such a good feeling to see those kids react with deep gratitude when we gave them the items we brought. Off the Beaten Path Safaris supports these organizations in their community of Arusha.
Going on Safari is a trip of a lifetime. I highly recommend you put your trust and dreams in Off the Beaten Path Safaris. You will not be disappointed!
Over the course of the safari, all of our guides were able to deliver every single animal we came to see, save only 1 for next time, the rare and endangered black rhino. My group was mostly veterinarians. The guides were encyclopedic in their knowledge of animals and the plants. We asked questions that perhaps non-veterinarians may not ask and all of our questions were answered in great detail. The guides know the animals well and know where to take you and when to take you for maximum animal exposure.
As much as we vets love animals our safari did not end there. Salim and his group were able to allow us to have access to some of the indigenous tribes that live near the Ngorongoro crater. It was such a unique experience to interact with people so different from ourselves and we are truly appreciative of them allowing us into their lives for a day. We thought it funny that they asked us more questions about how we live then we asked them!
On a final note Salim custom caters this amazing trip to his clients. We were able to visit a dog rescue in Arusha, that in addition to what we all know rescues do, has the mission to educate the residents of Arusha on rabies and the need to get all street dogs vaccinated to save human lives. It is a tireless job. We also took toys and school supplies to an orphanage. It was such a good feeling to see those kids react with deep gratitude when we gave them the items we brought. Off the Beaten Path Safaris supports these organizations in their community of Arusha.
Going on Safari is a trip of a lifetime. I highly recommend you put your trust and dreams in Off the Beaten Path Safaris. You will not be disappointed!
Written September 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Barbara, wow! This review brought tears of joy to our eyes when we read it. We cannot wait to share this review with the rest of our team to show them how much their hard work pays off! This is truly what we as a company pride ourselves on and we aim to give every single client this same experience! We pray you had a safe trip home and we look forward to seeing you sometime again. Sincerely, Salim
Written September 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shelley P
1 contribution
Aug 2022
A trip of a lifetime! An African safari with Off The Beaten Path Safaris was the most amazing experience I have ever had. Salim and his staff made sure that we were all taken care of every moment of our trip. We camped in the bush with tents that had the comforts of flushable toilets, showers, sinks with running water, extremely comfortable beds, dining and lounge areas and so much more. The staff that ran the camps were so friendly and kind. They made sure that we had everything we needed.
Salim and his crew were extremely knowledgeable about the Serengeti and always knew where to go to find the animals to get the best opportunity to get amazing photos. They were always determined to get the best angle for viewing and photography and we were never disappointed by their efforts.
We were treated to amazing food for breakfast and lunch in the bush and had a trip in a hot air balloon viewing all of the animals below.
I could go on and on about this incredible adventure but I will end by saying that the thing that made it extra special was the attention to detail and the care each one of us were given by every member of the Off The Beaten Path Safari staff. We came as guests but left as family.
Salim and his crew were extremely knowledgeable about the Serengeti and always knew where to go to find the animals to get the best opportunity to get amazing photos. They were always determined to get the best angle for viewing and photography and we were never disappointed by their efforts.
We were treated to amazing food for breakfast and lunch in the bush and had a trip in a hot air balloon viewing all of the animals below.
I could go on and on about this incredible adventure but I will end by saying that the thing that made it extra special was the attention to detail and the care each one of us were given by every member of the Off The Beaten Path Safari staff. We came as guests but left as family.
Written August 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shelley - we are so happy that your group loved their safari and we are so happy to have provided you an incredible experience in Tanzania. Yes you came as strangers but most definitely leave as family! Karibu tena!
Salim
Written August 27, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julio R
Park City, UT12 contributions
Jan 2022 • Family
This was the most incredible adventure ever! It included visiting Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, and a wonderful visit to Zanzibar. Our guide and company owner, Mrindoko Salim, did an excellent job in every aspect of our Safari. I was impressed with his communication, preparation, assurance of our safety, knowledge of all aspects of the environment and wildlife, and follow-up upon our arrival to Zanzibar. He arranged for transportation for all transfers from the moment we landed in Tanzania and in Zanzibar. I could not say more than it was a job well done. I have already spoken to friends and relatives who are now desiring to also come on safari. Thank you my brother Mrindoko. I’ve made a friend for life.
Oh, and the meals at the luxury tented camps and other contractors were amazing. The chef and other staff at the camps were wonderfully welcoming.
Hakuna Matata!!!
Oh, and the meals at the luxury tented camps and other contractors were amazing. The chef and other staff at the camps were wonderfully welcoming.
Hakuna Matata!!!
Written January 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Julio - thank you so very much for your kind words regarding our company! Our goal at Off the Beaten Path Safaris is to provide every customer with an incredible trip of a lifetime and make them feel so special and cared for. We are so happy you chose to visit Tanzania with your friends and we cannot wait to see you again as our customers become our friends for life! Thank you so much.
Salim Mrindoko
Written January 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael F
2 contributions
Jul 2022
We recently took a trip Tanzania (first trip to Africa for three of the four of us), and had a fabulous experience with Off the Beaten Path Safaris! Our daughter, who had always wanted to visit Africa, took part in a volunteer program in Arusha and convinced the rest of us (mom, dad, brother) to join her for a safari when she finished up. OTBP came recommended by a friend, and we took the plunge without really doing much further research. It was a great choice - we had a fantastic time! Salim (the owner) and Humphrey (our guide) were both super knowledgeable and very kind, and took excellent care of us throughout the whole trip.
Salim picked us up at the airport and delivered us to the Mount Meru Game Lodge, a peaceful, relaxing place to stay after a long flight. In a way, the safari started there as it has a small reserve right on the property with buffalo, 'zonkeys' (cross between a zebra and donkey), two species of monkey, and lots of great birds. We loved watching the animals from our breakfast table in the morning. While waiting a day or two for our daughter to finish up in Arusha, we also took advantage of Salim's kind offer to drive us up to the Kilimanjaro foothills for a great hike and a chance to meet some of the local coffee and banana farmers. One of the best things about our trip was the opportunity to meet some of the local people and see how they live.
We then spent the next 9-10 days on safari, visiting multiple national parks/conservation areas - Arusha, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Serengeti, with some additional side trips for hiking and visiting some of the local tribal groups and villages. A few highlights/notes:
- Salim and Humphrey are great! Humphrey was incredibly knowledgeable about the parks and the animals and could answer every single question we threw at him. It was also obvious that he loves what he is doing and has a passion for wildlife and the environment. You spend a lot of time with your guides on these safaris, and we were so happy to have a chance to spend this time with Salim and Humphrey. Both also made extra trips for us into Arusha to pick up our daughter and to help her finish up her volunteer program, which we greatly appreciated.
- Arusha National Park is well worth a visit. I think a lot of people skip this park since it smaller and right near town, but we loved it and were glad we went. We took a hike with an (armed) park ranger and had a chance to see animals up close and on foot, which was very special - it literally took my breath away when we came over a rise and saw a herd of buffalo right across a small stream from us.
- All the lodges and tent camps OPB chose for us were great!
- Safaris involve a lot of driving. This was, honestly, a big concern to us going in (we are mostly hiking people), but it ended up being well worth it. We saw amazing animals every single day. This included the 'big five', as well as countless others including literally thousands (millions?) of wildebeest. One thing about spending a full 9 days on safari was the chance to see a variety of animal behaviors and to spend a lot of time just watching in one place rather than rushing around.
- Lunches out in the bush are fantastic. When it was time for lunch, Humphrey would find a secluding, safe, spot to park the vehicle and then serve up a hot lunch. Sitting on lawn chairs on the Serengeti, eating lunch, while watching some lions have their own lunch (a wildebeest) was an amazing experience.
We finished our time in Tanzania with a few days in Zanzibar, which we all also greatly enjoyed. OTBP made all of the arrangement (including transportation to/from the airport to our hotel etc) which made everything really easy for us. We did not do a lot of touring on Zanzibar, but greatly enjoyed out just chilling out and going for long walks every day on the beach and through the local town.
In short, we had a super time, our two-and-a-half weeks in Tanzania flew by, and OTBP was fantastic! We are looking forward to coming back some day and exploring other parts of Tanzania!
Salim picked us up at the airport and delivered us to the Mount Meru Game Lodge, a peaceful, relaxing place to stay after a long flight. In a way, the safari started there as it has a small reserve right on the property with buffalo, 'zonkeys' (cross between a zebra and donkey), two species of monkey, and lots of great birds. We loved watching the animals from our breakfast table in the morning. While waiting a day or two for our daughter to finish up in Arusha, we also took advantage of Salim's kind offer to drive us up to the Kilimanjaro foothills for a great hike and a chance to meet some of the local coffee and banana farmers. One of the best things about our trip was the opportunity to meet some of the local people and see how they live.
We then spent the next 9-10 days on safari, visiting multiple national parks/conservation areas - Arusha, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Serengeti, with some additional side trips for hiking and visiting some of the local tribal groups and villages. A few highlights/notes:
- Salim and Humphrey are great! Humphrey was incredibly knowledgeable about the parks and the animals and could answer every single question we threw at him. It was also obvious that he loves what he is doing and has a passion for wildlife and the environment. You spend a lot of time with your guides on these safaris, and we were so happy to have a chance to spend this time with Salim and Humphrey. Both also made extra trips for us into Arusha to pick up our daughter and to help her finish up her volunteer program, which we greatly appreciated.
- Arusha National Park is well worth a visit. I think a lot of people skip this park since it smaller and right near town, but we loved it and were glad we went. We took a hike with an (armed) park ranger and had a chance to see animals up close and on foot, which was very special - it literally took my breath away when we came over a rise and saw a herd of buffalo right across a small stream from us.
- All the lodges and tent camps OPB chose for us were great!
- Safaris involve a lot of driving. This was, honestly, a big concern to us going in (we are mostly hiking people), but it ended up being well worth it. We saw amazing animals every single day. This included the 'big five', as well as countless others including literally thousands (millions?) of wildebeest. One thing about spending a full 9 days on safari was the chance to see a variety of animal behaviors and to spend a lot of time just watching in one place rather than rushing around.
- Lunches out in the bush are fantastic. When it was time for lunch, Humphrey would find a secluding, safe, spot to park the vehicle and then serve up a hot lunch. Sitting on lawn chairs on the Serengeti, eating lunch, while watching some lions have their own lunch (a wildebeest) was an amazing experience.
We finished our time in Tanzania with a few days in Zanzibar, which we all also greatly enjoyed. OTBP made all of the arrangement (including transportation to/from the airport to our hotel etc) which made everything really easy for us. We did not do a lot of touring on Zanzibar, but greatly enjoyed out just chilling out and going for long walks every day on the beach and through the local town.
In short, we had a super time, our two-and-a-half weeks in Tanzania flew by, and OTBP was fantastic! We are looking forward to coming back some day and exploring other parts of Tanzania!
Written July 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mike and Beth - ASANTE SANA! Thank you for the very amazing review of your trip! We are so happy you loved safari in Tanzania and that our guide Humphrey met all of your expectations. We thoroughly enjoyed hosting your family on your first or hopefully more trips to our country! Have a wonderful and safe summer! KARIBU TENA (you are welcome again….anytime!)
Warm regards,
Salim
Written July 25, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ian S
San Francisco, CA5 contributions
Dec 2019
My wife and I spent 7 days of our honeymoon in Tanzania based on a recommendation from our friends who helped encourage Salim Mrindoko to start his own company "Off The Beaten Path Safari". They not only spoke highly of the safari experience, but also of Salim himself who is personable, knowledgeable, and a well organized guide.
My wife and I love to travel and most recently had toured India for 3 weeks (Kerala and Rajasthan--including an overnight Camel safari) so we are comfortable with more adventurous trips. However, we couldn't help but feel a little bit anxious sending payment beforehand based on a few back and forth emails with Mrindoko. Our friends assured us we were in for a treat, and all of our anxiety completely vanished when we met Mrindoko at the airport. He immediately made us feel comfortable and was very easy to get along with; we could tell that he is passionate about his company and being out on safari. He is friendly, funny, relatable, and speaks English very well.
He took us to our first lodge in Arusha (not on safari yet) where we could rest after long travel and get ready to take a small airplane the following day out to Ndutu where we would begin the adventure. Mrindoko explained some logistics over lunch, and informed us that we would be meeting his associate, Charles, who would be taking us out on the safari. While were hoping to tour with Mrindoko, it turned out we would be completely delighted with Charles.
The next day Mrindoko took us to the small Arusha airport and said farewell for the time being. The 45 min airplane ride to Ndutu was breathtaking and only helped to build up the excitement for the safari to come. When we landed we met Charles for the first time, and just like meeting Mrindoko, we immediately knew that we were in good hands with Charles, who greeted us with a big smile and helped us get oriented out in the wilderness ("the bush"). He had already set up an elegant picnic table mounted on the front of the Land Cruiser we would be spending the week riding in, complete with snacks, beer and wine, and coffee and tea. We loaded our bags, enjoyed the refreshments while he completed paper work at the airport, and after 30 minutes or so, we were off and on our first "game drive"!
Now, there is a lot I could say about being on Safari in Tanzania that you can probably read other places on the internet, so here's the details that were specific to our experience with Charles and Off The Beaten Path:
- We rode around in an enclosed Land Cruiser with a "pop top" that allowed you to stand up and get a shaded 360 degree view of your surroundings. Many of the vehicles are like this, but ours was brand new, and had a nice color that blended in well with the environment.
- You *will* see wildlife. I was completely astonished at how abundant the wildebeest, zebras, antelope, giraffe, and elephant were. We were also lucky enough to see "the big 5" (although the Rhino kept his distance) and an incredible scene where 2 brother cheetahs engorged themselves on a meal that they could barely walk afterwards (the looked pregnant!)
- The first lodge we stayed at was Kati Kati camp, which is akin to camping although the tents are sturdy and ours was furnished with a toilette, and a shower. Even though this was the most rustic of the lodges we stayed at the food and hospitality was still top notch. Even though we could hear Lions and Hyenas at night, we felt safe because of the Masai tribesmen who worked at the camp knew how to deal with any unwanted intruders without conflict.
- The 3 other lodges we stayed at: Kubu Kubu in central Serengeti, Sopa Lodge in Ngorongoro Crater rim, and Farm House lodge near lake Manyara, were all much more luxurious, comfortable, and had amazing hospitality and food. We loved coming back to the lodge in the evening almost as much as we enjoyed our game drives.
The only low point that I experienced the entire trip was some digestion problems. We don't think it was food related (my wife was fine the entire time and ate mostly the same things), but rather it seemed to be travel and by body being generally on high alert in a new environment. Therefore, I didn't need to take my emergency antibiotics, but in this case it was really nice to have some pepto and Imodium on hand so that I wouldn't need any emergency trips to the bathroom while out on game drive.
Now, for one of the most important parts of our trip: Charles our guide. As it goes on safari, you end up spending a lot of time with your guide out on game drives and sharing meals and stories together. It was only my wife and I on our trip and Charles never felt like a third wheel. He is charming and personable, but also had a smart sense of when to respect our time alone. We shared a lot laughter with him and grew to like him as a friend. He started out his career in studying Hotel Hopsitality and Business in College and working in lodges, and it showed in his service in demeanor.
Not only was Charles easy to be around, but he is incredibly knowledgeable about the wilderness, geology, and the wildlife. He shared with us that it is his true passion and that he especially liked studying birds in his later education (he helped identify probably 40-50 different types of birds while we were out on our game drives based on seeing them and hearing their calls.) He told us that he had completed the Kenya wildlife service training institute diploma in wildlife management. Not only does he know a ton about animals, but you can tell he truly cares about wildlife preservation and pursuing all of these aspects as his life long career.
The highlight of our trip was when we were out on a game drive with no other vehicles in sight. From a distance we saw a herd of about 100 elephants and took some of our best photos from about 0.5 km away. Charles had an even better plan. He knew that if we were patient, we could slowly drive up to a point in front of the herd and wait for about 30 minutes for them to cross the road. It happened exactly as he knew it would, and we watched in awe as the herd crossed in front and behind our vehicle. We were all alone, just our vehicle and the elephants silently grazing as they walked within mere meters of us. It was quiet and emotional, and made me feel even if just for an hour or so, truly connected to the precious beauty and nature of our planet. It's a moment that truly made our trip "off the beaten path" and I'll never forget it.
Later on in our trip we got to meet up with Mrindoko who was taking an Indian family on safari moving in the opposite direction of us just outside Ngorongoro crater. It was good to see him one last time before we finished our trip, and seeing Charles and Mrindoko together we could tell that they truly have something special going on. While I'm happy to write this review of our trip, I have no doubt that they will find success just doing what they do so well. Mrindoko has a keen eye in good people to work with, and Charles has an exceptional talent for taking folks out in the bush. I hope that we can visit them again soon.
My wife and I love to travel and most recently had toured India for 3 weeks (Kerala and Rajasthan--including an overnight Camel safari) so we are comfortable with more adventurous trips. However, we couldn't help but feel a little bit anxious sending payment beforehand based on a few back and forth emails with Mrindoko. Our friends assured us we were in for a treat, and all of our anxiety completely vanished when we met Mrindoko at the airport. He immediately made us feel comfortable and was very easy to get along with; we could tell that he is passionate about his company and being out on safari. He is friendly, funny, relatable, and speaks English very well.
He took us to our first lodge in Arusha (not on safari yet) where we could rest after long travel and get ready to take a small airplane the following day out to Ndutu where we would begin the adventure. Mrindoko explained some logistics over lunch, and informed us that we would be meeting his associate, Charles, who would be taking us out on the safari. While were hoping to tour with Mrindoko, it turned out we would be completely delighted with Charles.
The next day Mrindoko took us to the small Arusha airport and said farewell for the time being. The 45 min airplane ride to Ndutu was breathtaking and only helped to build up the excitement for the safari to come. When we landed we met Charles for the first time, and just like meeting Mrindoko, we immediately knew that we were in good hands with Charles, who greeted us with a big smile and helped us get oriented out in the wilderness ("the bush"). He had already set up an elegant picnic table mounted on the front of the Land Cruiser we would be spending the week riding in, complete with snacks, beer and wine, and coffee and tea. We loaded our bags, enjoyed the refreshments while he completed paper work at the airport, and after 30 minutes or so, we were off and on our first "game drive"!
Now, there is a lot I could say about being on Safari in Tanzania that you can probably read other places on the internet, so here's the details that were specific to our experience with Charles and Off The Beaten Path:
- We rode around in an enclosed Land Cruiser with a "pop top" that allowed you to stand up and get a shaded 360 degree view of your surroundings. Many of the vehicles are like this, but ours was brand new, and had a nice color that blended in well with the environment.
- You *will* see wildlife. I was completely astonished at how abundant the wildebeest, zebras, antelope, giraffe, and elephant were. We were also lucky enough to see "the big 5" (although the Rhino kept his distance) and an incredible scene where 2 brother cheetahs engorged themselves on a meal that they could barely walk afterwards (the looked pregnant!)
- The first lodge we stayed at was Kati Kati camp, which is akin to camping although the tents are sturdy and ours was furnished with a toilette, and a shower. Even though this was the most rustic of the lodges we stayed at the food and hospitality was still top notch. Even though we could hear Lions and Hyenas at night, we felt safe because of the Masai tribesmen who worked at the camp knew how to deal with any unwanted intruders without conflict.
- The 3 other lodges we stayed at: Kubu Kubu in central Serengeti, Sopa Lodge in Ngorongoro Crater rim, and Farm House lodge near lake Manyara, were all much more luxurious, comfortable, and had amazing hospitality and food. We loved coming back to the lodge in the evening almost as much as we enjoyed our game drives.
The only low point that I experienced the entire trip was some digestion problems. We don't think it was food related (my wife was fine the entire time and ate mostly the same things), but rather it seemed to be travel and by body being generally on high alert in a new environment. Therefore, I didn't need to take my emergency antibiotics, but in this case it was really nice to have some pepto and Imodium on hand so that I wouldn't need any emergency trips to the bathroom while out on game drive.
Now, for one of the most important parts of our trip: Charles our guide. As it goes on safari, you end up spending a lot of time with your guide out on game drives and sharing meals and stories together. It was only my wife and I on our trip and Charles never felt like a third wheel. He is charming and personable, but also had a smart sense of when to respect our time alone. We shared a lot laughter with him and grew to like him as a friend. He started out his career in studying Hotel Hopsitality and Business in College and working in lodges, and it showed in his service in demeanor.
Not only was Charles easy to be around, but he is incredibly knowledgeable about the wilderness, geology, and the wildlife. He shared with us that it is his true passion and that he especially liked studying birds in his later education (he helped identify probably 40-50 different types of birds while we were out on our game drives based on seeing them and hearing their calls.) He told us that he had completed the Kenya wildlife service training institute diploma in wildlife management. Not only does he know a ton about animals, but you can tell he truly cares about wildlife preservation and pursuing all of these aspects as his life long career.
The highlight of our trip was when we were out on a game drive with no other vehicles in sight. From a distance we saw a herd of about 100 elephants and took some of our best photos from about 0.5 km away. Charles had an even better plan. He knew that if we were patient, we could slowly drive up to a point in front of the herd and wait for about 30 minutes for them to cross the road. It happened exactly as he knew it would, and we watched in awe as the herd crossed in front and behind our vehicle. We were all alone, just our vehicle and the elephants silently grazing as they walked within mere meters of us. It was quiet and emotional, and made me feel even if just for an hour or so, truly connected to the precious beauty and nature of our planet. It's a moment that truly made our trip "off the beaten path" and I'll never forget it.
Later on in our trip we got to meet up with Mrindoko who was taking an Indian family on safari moving in the opposite direction of us just outside Ngorongoro crater. It was good to see him one last time before we finished our trip, and seeing Charles and Mrindoko together we could tell that they truly have something special going on. While I'm happy to write this review of our trip, I have no doubt that they will find success just doing what they do so well. Mrindoko has a keen eye in good people to work with, and Charles has an exceptional talent for taking folks out in the bush. I hope that we can visit them again soon.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
offthebeatenpathsafa
We thank you for the fantastic detailed review of your experience with Off the Beaten Path Safaris! We are so happy to hear that you had a great time with our company and our guide, Charles. We agree that he is a superstar guide. Thank you for the feedback on the camps visited and your experience with booking and airport transfers. We also appreciate the your mention of our “Welcome refreshments” setup during your the safari briefing - this is something unique that we offer to our clients. We really loved hosting you both at Off the Beaten Path Safaris and look forward to keeping in contact in the future. All the best to you both! Karibu Tena!
Written January 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
