4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro
5
4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro
By Bestday Safaris
About
from per adult
$1,753.34
Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation
Ages 2-80
Duration: 4 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- 1.5 liters of drinking water daily
- Government taxes, VAT and service charges relating to accommodation and included meals
- Park fees
- Private 4 x 4 safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing
- Private guide
- Entry/Admission - Ngorongoro Crater
What's not included- Airport Transfers
- Domestic & International Flight
- Nights in Arusha
- Optional Tours (balloon rides USD. 539 per person etc)
- Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages)
- Tanzania Visa
- Tips and any items of personal nature
- Departure details
- Traveler pickup is offered.
- Arusha National Park, Arusha National Park, Arusha Region Pick up at Mount Meru Hotel, in Arusha
- Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 19352P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Most travelers can participate
- 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 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro?
- 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro price starts from $1,753.34. Discover and book 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro on Tripadvisor
- What is the 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro cancellation policy?
- 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro?
- 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro is hosted by Bestday Safaris. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Bestday Safaris on Tripadvisor. Discover and book 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro on Tripadvisor
- How much time do I need for 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro?
- On average, this experience will take approximately 4 days. Discover and book 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro 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: 19352P1
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Similar experiences
Itinerary
Overview
Full Map
5 stops
Day 1
Day 1: Arusha - Tarangire...
Day 2
Day 2: Tarangire - Serengeti
Day 3
Serengeti to Ngorongoro
Day 4
Ngorongoro Crater
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About the operator
- X346KF_00Safari and KilimanjaroIncredible nature and excellent travel organization. Thank you very much to everyone for your work, it was an incredible time spent. Thanks to the Best day team for the journey to Kilimanjaro and for the incredible safari. Emotions are running high!
- 175azamatb00Я поднялся на гору КилиманджароI came to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro. I was lucky that our guides were: Dixon, Boni, Abdallah. At each stage of the ascent, we were surrounded by attention, we did not need anything. The food was very tasty, there was a separate cook. Friendly helpers. Everything is very cool. I recommend these guys.
- carlog92700Wild Tanzania with JacksonWe had a safari in August 2022. We visited Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro natural reserves; the experience was wonderful and the lodges were perfect (very clean, people very polite and food delicious). But what really made the Safari unforgettable was our guide Jackson. He knows every single spot to see the animals, and he explained to us animals behaviour and habitat. He was very nice and always took care of us. He has an impressive knowledge of these reserves.
- Jet1674941470900Safari with the 2 best guides/friendsHad the most amazing time with the best guides, Ali & Joseph! They showed us the big five of Tanzania along with other rare & beautiful animals. We had the best time, and it wouldn’t be the same withouten them! Thank you Ali & Joseph! Joker group
- 514alicet00Best days safari with the best guidesWe had a safari trip from 23th to 30th august and our guides, John and Jospeh, were the best we could wish. Kind, professionals, cautious and always helpful they did everything to make our safari unforgettable! Asante sana for this experience, I hope to meet you again very soon.
- Flyer1278941774200Amazing experienceHi I have just finished a 2 day safari in Tanzania with best days safari my guide was Abdul he was very knowledgeable and a very good man I enjoyed my time spent with him I always felt safe and his driving was too class, my experience was amazing we saw all of the big 5 due to Abdul’s knowledge of the national parks and animals! I would definitely use this company again and if you do ask for Abdul as a guide
- claudiopW55QC00Amazing Tanzania SafarisFor sure the most exciting experience in my life, lead by our guide Joseph and John, that shared with us all their wide knowledge about animals and historical notions of the national parks we visited (Tarangire, serengeti, lake manyara, ngorongoro). Thanks to them we were able to see all the big five, and also scenes that will be in my heart and in my memory for long time. Particularly mention to John, an authentic person of Tanzania, a Masai with the smile always print on his face that was a real brother during the tour (Asante sana Kaka John!). Best day safaris higly recommended for who wants to enjoy a real safari tour and not only a touristic one.
- Kwan V00Amazing experience… we are hugely grateful to wildlife/Nature and JosephWe are a couple and we booked with bestday safari based on a friend’s recommendation. We booked the mid range offer for 5 days safari: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. Our choice of mid range was sleeping in better conditions than camping safari while maintaining an affordable budget for us. Hope this (long) review below will help you in your safari researches… What I describe below about animals is just a small part of what we experienced. You have to live it to understand it. We highly recommend Bestday Safari, you won’t regret it. A little word on our driver/guide Joseph: he drove very well, we always felt safe. Although most of the roads are bumpy, he tried as possible as he could to make us feel ok. We got the chance to see many animals, Joseph always took time to stop so that we could enjoy every moment. Joseph is patient, fully invested in his job, you can feel he is passionate. Thanks to him, we learnt a lot about animals behaviors and psychology. We got explanations on the history of the national parks. Again, a warm thank you to Joseph. Day 0: We arrived at Kilimandjaro airport, a taxi driver booked by bestday (included in the total price we paid) brought us to Arusha to start safari experience the next day. Tipping the driver is highly recommended, so don’t forget to have cash. We stayed at Tulia hotel (night included in safari price), a quite simple hotel, more than enough. Food was very cheap and extremely generous (the only food that is not included during your safari experience, but safari did not really start…) Day 1: Breakfast at 7:30am. Departure at 8:30am. We met our 5-day driver/guide named Joseph. First stop on a car park to meet the bestday safari manager, he could explain us again what we were going to do and reminded us the tipping recommendations. Second stop we arrived at Tarangire national park at noon. We did a 2h game drive and got the chance to see elephants, lion, zebras.. then we ate a lunch box and went back for a 1h game drive in the park. Got the chance to see girafes and many other animals. Then a 2h drive towards Karatu to stay at Octagon lodge for the night. Very good food and generous (buffet). Room was clean, simple and got private bathroom. Day 2: Breakfast at 7:30am Departure at 8:30am. 4h drive until Serengeti gate. Be prepared for a very very very bumpy ride, but that’s the price to pay to discover wildlife and live an unforgettable experience 😉 12:30 Lunch stop with the classical lunch box: chicken, sandwich, fruit juice, fruits, desserts, simple but more than enough. Then a 4h30 game drive in the Serengeti park. Got the chance to see serval cat, playing brother elephants, lion female breastfeeding… Arrived at 6:30pm at Tukaone tented camps. Beautiful sunset, service staff very helpful and kind, buffet was excellent again. The tent was beyond our expectations: comfortable and huge bed, private bathroom, clean towels… Day 3: Breakfast at 7:30am Departure at 8am. Full day game drive ! Lions, hippos, crocodiles, buffalos, cheetah, you name it… you don’t spend 10 minutes without seeing animals. Lunch box at noon. Arrived at 5:30pm for a second night at Tukaone tented camps. Day 4: Breakfast at 7:30am Departure at 8am. 4h game drive and got the chance to see a little rhino ! (And many other animals) Lunch box at noon. Spotted a leopard in trees on our way back to kuratu, Big Five is now checked ✅ Arrived at 6pm in octagon lodge. Day 5: Breakfast 6:30am Departure 7am. 2h drive until ngorongoro crater. After 4 days of safari you believe you’ve seen everything ? No, no, no, no ! Ngorongoro is really a must do: huge hordes of gnou/wildeebeest, zebras, buffalos… walking on infinite plains. That was great. Lunch box at noon. Before getting out of the crater, we spotted again a rhino, we really felt lucky, Joseph agreed. Joseph drove us back to our guest house in Arusha and the 5-day experience ended. Also, I would like to mention that we were only the two of us during all the safari, even though we did not book a private tour, and this may have contributed to our great experience, we can’t say.
- X3959URmanuelz005 wonderful days!Wonderful experience! Staff who loves the work and extremely competent! Joseph and John best drivers!
- SalvatoreC303800Best agency in Arusha!Amazing experience!!! Very nice and comfortable jeep. The guides John and Joseph are the best! Very professional!!!
- benedettam99200Amazing experienceAmazing experience, fantastic tour and truly unforgettable, John & Joseph best guides ever! 100/100 recommended
- mattiab17700Amazing tours and experienceFantastic experience, our drivers John and Joseph were amazing and able to arrange different activities additional to safaris such as visits to local markets and tribes, absolutely recommended
- MariasTravels12300Adventure of a lifetime!We embarked on a remarkable 5-day safari adventure with BestDaySafaris, and the experience exceeded all our expectations. From our initial interactions with Peter through email to the actual safari itself, every aspect was flawlessly executed. The company came highly recommended, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. Peter's meticulous planning tailored the safari exactly to our preferences, and his rapid responses, often within a few hours, addressed all our inquiries. Notably, even when unforeseen flight delays caused us to arrive much later than expected in Kilimanjaro, Peter's swift adjustments via WhatsApp ensured our safari itinerary was promptly revised, preserving the excellence of our experience. Stevie also deserves praise for his warmth and assistance. He greeted us upon arrival and departure, furnishing invaluable information about our accommodations and the safari. His presence was immensely reassuring and informative. However, the highlight that rendered our safari truly unforgettable was undeniably our guide, Muro. From the instant he greeted us at the airport to the bittersweet farewell at our hotel, our synergy with him was remarkable. Muro's unwavering friendliness created an atmosphere of safety and care throughout our journey. Attentive to our culinary and lodging preferences, he ensured our comfort at all times. His exceptional driving skills inspired confidence, even on the most challenging terrains. During our safari expeditions, Muro's expertise shone brilliantly. He effortlessly navigated us to the optimal vantage points to witness an array of wildlife, including the incredibly rare rhino. His wealth of knowledge about the animals, plants, and the ecosystems enriched every sighting. Muro not only provided information but also kindled our curiosity, making sure each moment was an educational one. Beyond the wildlife, his insights into Tanzanian culture enhanced our experience. Organizing a visit to a Massai village and introducing us to the Tanzanite gemstone's allure showcased his commitment to crafting a holistic and culturally enriching adventure. As we bid farewell to Muro, it was with a heavy heart, as we realized that our time together had forged a deep bond. What began as a professional relationship transformed into a genuine friendship that will stay in our hearts forever. In summary, our safari journey surpassed every anticipation, etching an indelible adventure into our lives. Our heartfelt gratitude extends to BestDaySafaris and particularly to Muro for turning our lifelong safari dreams into reality.
- felixgC7452YQ00Everything and more was perfectly well calculated and they have the experience to take the best decisions in a secondSimply the best!!! Profesional staff and very good people We are very lucky to have them as our specialists in our Safari we specially thanks Jackson (the best) and Stephan for been always attentive with us!!!!
- Tanchou4400Amazing sightseeing but disappointing guideGood sightseeing but very disappointing guide The accommodations were amazing. The food was various and very good. The employees at octagon lodge and Tukaone camp were really nice. We recommend. But all your adventure depends on 1 person, your guide. Unfortunately ours was really disappointing. Showing no interest into our safari, not sharing his knowledge if we don't ask question. While stopping for admiring animals it took that time to use his phone. Wasn't giving any information about the plan of the day (time of drive...) Most of the day, like on August 6th, he passed many phone calls which was not helping us in the search of different species or just to share information. Felt not in security sometimes while driving, drives fast, texting and on calls while driving. Overall safari organization was amazing but we had the wrong guide.
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agasalsa
London, UK3 contributions
Nov 2020
We did the 4-day budget safari covering Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. It was an unforgettable experience and we were very lucky to have Jackson as our driver/guide. Apart from being a master at spotting animals from afar, he is a very knowledgeable and pleasant person, and we much enjoyed his company and the stories he shared with us. We saw the big 5, and we managed to see a hunting cheetah and a leopard having his ‘lunch’ on the tree. The most special for me was observing breastfeeding lionesses and baby lions playing in Serengeti early morning. Also huge thanks to our chef Manuel who every day was preparing us very delicious food! Thank you, Jackson, Manual, and Bestday Safari for making our trip exceptional.
Written December 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carla
6 contributions
We simply had an awesome time on this 4- day camping safari! Joseph, our driver-guide, is a very pleasant man who made our trip comfortable and eventful. He shared lots of interesting facts about the wildlife, the nature, as well as Tanzanian culture and indigenous tribes. He seemed to know the best areas to spot the big 9 (and more) and tried to accommodate our personal wishes throughout the tour. At the same time, he is extremely respectful of the nature and the wild animals. We highly recommend going on Safari with Joseph, he will make your time especially memorable!
The food was also great. We have been on many short trips and hikes in Tanzania and beyond and this was simply the best. Thanks to the cook, Eduardo!
We also recommend the camping tour as the campings spots are right in the middle of the national parks and you will never sleeps closer to wild animals again in your life.
Overall the tour was well organized and everything worked out as we wished for, although, at times, the communication with the office was a bit complicated. Nonetheless, Bestdays Safari is a great (local !!) tour operator that we highly recommend to everyone!
The food was also great. We have been on many short trips and hikes in Tanzania and beyond and this was simply the best. Thanks to the cook, Eduardo!
We also recommend the camping tour as the campings spots are right in the middle of the national parks and you will never sleeps closer to wild animals again in your life.
Overall the tour was well organized and everything worked out as we wished for, although, at times, the communication with the office was a bit complicated. Nonetheless, Bestdays Safari is a great (local !!) tour operator that we highly recommend to everyone!
Written April 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nesjua
London, UK4 contributions
Nov 2020
Very reliable tour operator, delivered what was promised including smooth logistics. The safari was a great success, not only did we see the big 5 but also very special scenes of animals including breastfeeding lions in the morning, cheetah chasing and catching pray, etc. Our guide/driver Jackson was very experienced and cool guy, he really knows the safari guiding insights which was an advantage to make the most of our safari experience. We also had an amazing chef Manuel who cooked delicious food during the excursion.
Written December 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcos
Lisbon, Portugal1 contribution
Couldn't have picked better option to
spend new year's eve than doing a safari with one of a kind bestday safari team David and the great chef Emanuel! Such nice and wonderful people - always checking if we were good, ensuring our best experience possible, to see the lions as close as possible without disturbing the animal's wild life. Also Emanuel was very thoughtful considering my gfs vegetarian diet and also that we had enough food to spend the whole day on this great adventure. Peter was also very kind with us - there was a misunderstanding and Peter was wonderful sorting it out so we really couldnt have asked for more. We can only recommend these guys, this team - they are really the best. Hakuna matata asante sana!!!
spend new year's eve than doing a safari with one of a kind bestday safari team David and the great chef Emanuel! Such nice and wonderful people - always checking if we were good, ensuring our best experience possible, to see the lions as close as possible without disturbing the animal's wild life. Also Emanuel was very thoughtful considering my gfs vegetarian diet and also that we had enough food to spend the whole day on this great adventure. Peter was also very kind with us - there was a misunderstanding and Peter was wonderful sorting it out so we really couldnt have asked for more. We can only recommend these guys, this team - they are really the best. Hakuna matata asante sana!!!
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra
Vienna, Austria7 contributions
Aug 2019
Me and my friend (2 girls) went on a Safari with Bestday which we booked with a tour operator and had a good time with them. We felt safe and we were able to see so many animlas upfront.
We were there in August and some nights get really cold so pls take some extra blankets with you for sure!
Overall the experience was great
We were there in August and some nights get really cold so pls take some extra blankets with you for sure!
Overall the experience was great
Written April 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skow
Gliwice, Poland4 contributions
Sep 2021
We had a really great time. Everything was 100% professional. Before we arrived Peter answered all our questions and helped us to prepare. During the Safari, our guide and driver "Six" took care of us. Not only he showed us great places and amazing animals but also told a lot about Tanzania in general. His friend chef cooked every day and I have to say we were impressed by the quality of food. Even after the safari they helped us when our flight from Arusha was cancelled.
I fully recommend this company.
I fully recommend this company.
Written October 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guillem P
4 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Safari was an amazing experience. We had a driver and a guide with Spanish knowledge all the safari because my parents do not speak English. They were really helpful and friendly, giving us tips and always trying to find the best for us in the safari, looking for different/not common spots and going the extra mile. Furthermore our driver was an skilful mechanic and helped the other cars when they had mechanical problems. An amazing experience with the best guides.
Written July 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steffen
8 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
We had truly memorable days in Serengeti, Ngorongo and Tarangire, thanks to our kind guide Jackson. He has great knowledge about all the parks, the animals and moreover the culture, which he likes to share with the clients.
The camp sites were located inside of the parks, which was perfect for morning game drives. Another highlight besides the awesome parks and their animals were the tasty meals, prepared by Emmanuel. I would defentily recommend this tour together with those friendly persons.
The camp sites were located inside of the parks, which was perfect for morning game drives. Another highlight besides the awesome parks and their animals were the tasty meals, prepared by Emmanuel. I would defentily recommend this tour together with those friendly persons.
Written September 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pauline P
16 contributions
Feb 2022 • Family
We were so lucky in that we got to see all the big 9 before day 3 was out. In different locations and settings. Each Park has its own beauty and draws you in uniquely.
Our driver, Joseph, was the loveliest man. It was a pleasure to spend 4 days in his company. He is so knowledgeable about the animals, their habits, habitats and actually locations within the parks. We’re glad he was our guide. A good driver too - which helps!
The accommodation chosen by Best Day Safaris is good too. You’re in a Lodge 2 nights and Glamping in the heart of the Serengeti for the middle night. The food is good, and the packed lunch provided is plentiful.
Our driver, Joseph, was the loveliest man. It was a pleasure to spend 4 days in his company. He is so knowledgeable about the animals, their habits, habitats and actually locations within the parks. We’re glad he was our guide. A good driver too - which helps!
The accommodation chosen by Best Day Safaris is good too. You’re in a Lodge 2 nights and Glamping in the heart of the Serengeti for the middle night. The food is good, and the packed lunch provided is plentiful.
Written February 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bonne_voyage24
58 contributions
Jan 2018 • Solo
My experience with Bestday was very different from the reviews here, and since I chose based on these, I'm writing my own to hopefully prevent someone else having the same experience.
There were a number of things which weren't good, but the worst was the fact that the *day before the safari was due to depart*, Bestday sent me messages to say that everyone else booked on the camping trip had upgraded to lodges, and if I wanted to still go, paying for the upgrade was the only option. Bestday deliberately preyed on me as a solo female traveler to try to extract more money with a last minute "pay or it's cancelled" tactic - please be aware and be careful.
I had booked the safari (luckily it turns out) via Mohiji - who when I got in touch with them, they assured me that my safari was confirmed, there would be no extra cost, and they would take it up with Bestday (I also tried to contact Bestday directly but since I wasn't suggetsing I pay the extra money, they didn't respond).
To be clear - the camping safari I had booked was running as planned and no one in the group had upgraded - it was pure lies from Bestday to try to make me pay more.
Of the safari itself -
Day 1 - pick up was stated to be 8am, happened at 9am. We first went to a car park where we waited 1h30 for Peter to come to collect cash. 1h30. In an Arusha car park. We didn't enter Tarangire till 1pm, and were out again by 4pm. This was not a "full day" in Tarangire, it was a rushed 3h drive round with the driver never stopping long to look at animals as we were constantly in a rush to "leave before it got dark". A day trip from Arusha would have been cheaper and resulted in longer in the park. As the tickets for Serengeti are timed by the 24h there was no gain in not sleeping in Arusha that night - we didn't leave our camp till 9.30am the next day (note we also didn't stay in Tarangire, but a 90min drive away, just off a highway).
Day 2 - We stopped at Ngorongoro campsite to pick up tents at 11.40am and were there 2h (there's nothing to do/see there, it's just a field). We were only inside Serengeti gate at 3pm. There is then a long drive through plains with not much more than the odd zebra (we stayed at Nyani not the main park camp as per the trip itinerary). We started to see animals as we got closer to the camp late afternoon, but unlike the other jeeps we saw stopped for a while at each sighting, we were again constantly in a rush to "get to camp before dark" (we had the tents up with a full hour of daylight to spare, way before other groups arrived).
Day 3 - rather do a nice game drive to try to see a variety of animals, we spent 4.5h driving through empty plains because the driver had decided he wanted to look for a cheetah (we finally saw one, but this was both a fluke and not how any of the group had asked to spend the day - there was a united, vocalized consensus that we wanted to see a lot of animals). Although we had suggested taking the tents with us that morning, we had to drive back on ourselves all the way to the camp to get them, and then back out again - pure wasted time driving plains.
Day 4 - our driver's (strongly pushed) suggestion was a 2.5h crater drive (he told us there wasn't much to see and even 90min would be more than enough), then leave, go for "shopping" and be in Arusha by 2pm(!!). The itinerary had a full day in the crater, no "kick-back" shopping and not back to Arusha till late. He applied a lot of pressure to the group to do this. We said it wasn't what we had paid for, reminded him we had seen practically nothing in the Serengeti due to his desire to look for a cheetah in the plains rather than give us a normal game drive (we saw 1 other jeep the entire time - no other company drove round the empty plains like this), and eventually he relented and we did a 5h drive in the crater (there's more than enough for 5h).
This was not an expectations mismatch, this was my 7th safari in Africa, and I have been budget travelling for years. My experience is not all that unusual for using such a company, except it was very unexpected given the reviews here.
There were a number of things which weren't good, but the worst was the fact that the *day before the safari was due to depart*, Bestday sent me messages to say that everyone else booked on the camping trip had upgraded to lodges, and if I wanted to still go, paying for the upgrade was the only option. Bestday deliberately preyed on me as a solo female traveler to try to extract more money with a last minute "pay or it's cancelled" tactic - please be aware and be careful.
I had booked the safari (luckily it turns out) via Mohiji - who when I got in touch with them, they assured me that my safari was confirmed, there would be no extra cost, and they would take it up with Bestday (I also tried to contact Bestday directly but since I wasn't suggetsing I pay the extra money, they didn't respond).
To be clear - the camping safari I had booked was running as planned and no one in the group had upgraded - it was pure lies from Bestday to try to make me pay more.
Of the safari itself -
Day 1 - pick up was stated to be 8am, happened at 9am. We first went to a car park where we waited 1h30 for Peter to come to collect cash. 1h30. In an Arusha car park. We didn't enter Tarangire till 1pm, and were out again by 4pm. This was not a "full day" in Tarangire, it was a rushed 3h drive round with the driver never stopping long to look at animals as we were constantly in a rush to "leave before it got dark". A day trip from Arusha would have been cheaper and resulted in longer in the park. As the tickets for Serengeti are timed by the 24h there was no gain in not sleeping in Arusha that night - we didn't leave our camp till 9.30am the next day (note we also didn't stay in Tarangire, but a 90min drive away, just off a highway).
Day 2 - We stopped at Ngorongoro campsite to pick up tents at 11.40am and were there 2h (there's nothing to do/see there, it's just a field). We were only inside Serengeti gate at 3pm. There is then a long drive through plains with not much more than the odd zebra (we stayed at Nyani not the main park camp as per the trip itinerary). We started to see animals as we got closer to the camp late afternoon, but unlike the other jeeps we saw stopped for a while at each sighting, we were again constantly in a rush to "get to camp before dark" (we had the tents up with a full hour of daylight to spare, way before other groups arrived).
Day 3 - rather do a nice game drive to try to see a variety of animals, we spent 4.5h driving through empty plains because the driver had decided he wanted to look for a cheetah (we finally saw one, but this was both a fluke and not how any of the group had asked to spend the day - there was a united, vocalized consensus that we wanted to see a lot of animals). Although we had suggested taking the tents with us that morning, we had to drive back on ourselves all the way to the camp to get them, and then back out again - pure wasted time driving plains.
Day 4 - our driver's (strongly pushed) suggestion was a 2.5h crater drive (he told us there wasn't much to see and even 90min would be more than enough), then leave, go for "shopping" and be in Arusha by 2pm(!!). The itinerary had a full day in the crater, no "kick-back" shopping and not back to Arusha till late. He applied a lot of pressure to the group to do this. We said it wasn't what we had paid for, reminded him we had seen practically nothing in the Serengeti due to his desire to look for a cheetah in the plains rather than give us a normal game drive (we saw 1 other jeep the entire time - no other company drove round the empty plains like this), and eventually he relented and we did a 5h drive in the crater (there's more than enough for 5h).
This was not an expectations mismatch, this was my 7th safari in Africa, and I have been budget travelling for years. My experience is not all that unusual for using such a company, except it was very unexpected given the reviews here.
Written April 12, 2018
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4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro provided by Bestday Safaris
Product Overview: 4-Day Safari from Arusha: Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro
Prices From | $1,753 |
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Number of Reviews | 171 |
Number of Photos | 334 |
Duration | 5,760 minutes |