Pristine Trails Adventures & Safaris
Pristine Trails Adventures & Safaris
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About
We offer custom tours throughout Tanzania. Such as Day Trips, Wildlife Safaris, to the country's 15 National Parks, Trekking Adventures up Mount Kilimanjaro, experiencing the Great Migration of the Serengeti, Walking Safaris with Maasai tribesman of the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands, Cultural Tours or Beach Holidays, we have an experienced and professional team to welcome you.
Moshi, Tanzania
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Travelers' Choice
2024
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Pristine Trails Adventures & Safaris
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
418 reviews
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409
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8
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1
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0
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Jeff K
Pittsburgh, PA2,480 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
Planning a safari is a lot more complicated than your average vacation. There are a large number of potential places to visit, many of which are seasonal. There are also a very large number of tour companies of varying quality and a wide range of accommodations at many price points.
I started the planning process by searching for a good tour company. I ultimately chose Pristine Trails based on reviews, their website and the responses I received from Kim Krowne, co-owner of the company. It was the best decision I made as we just finished a great safari with them.
The company’s website provides a wealth of information regarding accommodation options, which areas to visit by season and a variety of other topics. They generally offer 3 price levels for accommodations, all of which have en suite flush toilets. You can mix and match so you can book a couple of cheaper options and one splurge if you like.
Kim was extremely helpful throughout the process providing us with very good recommendations and timely email responses to our various questions.
I ended up booking a 7-day safari in Tanzania consisting of 5 full days of game drives plus the arrival and departure days. The trip worked out great. The length of the trip was perfect for us and we saw a large number of animals including the Big 5, cheetahs, hippos, ostriches and many others.
We had a great tour guide, Josephat Pauly. He was very personable and was a great spotter and driver. He went out of his way to find animals and position us to take great photos. He taught us a lot about the various animals and seemed to know the name of every animal in the Serengeti.
We stayed in 4 different places that were all high quality and sufficiently different from one another to provide a great overall experience.
One issue that distinguishes Pristine Trails from some other tour companies is that they don’t limit the number of kilometers that their guides drive. This allows the guide to spend as much time as you want pursuing wildlife sightings and assures that you don’t get short-changed with early drop-offs.
Note that travel insurance is required for their safaris. They’re primarily concerned that you have adequate medical and medical evacuation coverage. We worked with Kim to get a policy that met their needs while being very reasonably priced.
If you’re interested in booking a safari I highly recommend Pristine Trails and Kim Krowne. It will greatly simplify your planning process and will result in a great trip.
I started the planning process by searching for a good tour company. I ultimately chose Pristine Trails based on reviews, their website and the responses I received from Kim Krowne, co-owner of the company. It was the best decision I made as we just finished a great safari with them.
The company’s website provides a wealth of information regarding accommodation options, which areas to visit by season and a variety of other topics. They generally offer 3 price levels for accommodations, all of which have en suite flush toilets. You can mix and match so you can book a couple of cheaper options and one splurge if you like.
Kim was extremely helpful throughout the process providing us with very good recommendations and timely email responses to our various questions.
I ended up booking a 7-day safari in Tanzania consisting of 5 full days of game drives plus the arrival and departure days. The trip worked out great. The length of the trip was perfect for us and we saw a large number of animals including the Big 5, cheetahs, hippos, ostriches and many others.
We had a great tour guide, Josephat Pauly. He was very personable and was a great spotter and driver. He went out of his way to find animals and position us to take great photos. He taught us a lot about the various animals and seemed to know the name of every animal in the Serengeti.
We stayed in 4 different places that were all high quality and sufficiently different from one another to provide a great overall experience.
One issue that distinguishes Pristine Trails from some other tour companies is that they don’t limit the number of kilometers that their guides drive. This allows the guide to spend as much time as you want pursuing wildlife sightings and assures that you don’t get short-changed with early drop-offs.
Note that travel insurance is required for their safaris. They’re primarily concerned that you have adequate medical and medical evacuation coverage. We worked with Kim to get a policy that met their needs while being very reasonably priced.
If you’re interested in booking a safari I highly recommend Pristine Trails and Kim Krowne. It will greatly simplify your planning process and will result in a great trip.
Written January 26, 2025
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.
Paradise631839
2 contributions
Jan 2025 • Friends
Signed up with Pristine Trails in the middle of 2024 for a January 2025 Kilimanjaro trip. The company was excellent in every phase of the trip. Kim was my online contact and kept me informed of everything required to prepare for the trip. The website was easy to navigate as I checked off each requirement I needed to complete. Any questions which arose, Kim was responsive to and gave timely responses and updates. The equipment list provided was complete and met all of my needs on the mountain.
Upon arrival at the airport in Tanzania I was met by the Pristine Trails driver who transported me to the motel. The motel was situated on beautiful grounds and was gated. The room was air conditioned and roomy with a walk-in rain shower. The on-site restaurant food was excellent and the motel staff very responsive. The next day my group of 3 met with the head guide Good Luck and his assistant to go over the trip itinerary.
Once the hike began everything was well organized. Things became more difficult due to heavy rains every day. So much for the dry season. The crew kept close watch on us and assisted with the more dangerous sections of the hike. One of our group suffered altitude sickness from the start and the assistant guide escorted them back to the pickup area and made sure she got back safely. The lead guide was awesome as was the rest of the crew. It was apparent our success was as important to them as it was to us.
The single and double tents provided were extremely roomy. I was surprised at how much room I had in my individual tent. The sleeping bag rental kept me warm every night and the sleeping pad provided worked so well I didn't bother to use the 150.00 extra pad I had brought. Dumas, our server woke us up every morning with hot chocolate and coffee. He basically provided us with any assistance we needed with anything that arose. The food provided was excellent with a large variety of different foods.
We summitted on 2/2/25. The walk down was steep and long and being 71 I had some balance issues going down. Good luck and his assigned porters made sure I got down safely. Overall a fantastic experience and I would recommend Pristine Trails to anyone.
Upon arrival at the airport in Tanzania I was met by the Pristine Trails driver who transported me to the motel. The motel was situated on beautiful grounds and was gated. The room was air conditioned and roomy with a walk-in rain shower. The on-site restaurant food was excellent and the motel staff very responsive. The next day my group of 3 met with the head guide Good Luck and his assistant to go over the trip itinerary.
Once the hike began everything was well organized. Things became more difficult due to heavy rains every day. So much for the dry season. The crew kept close watch on us and assisted with the more dangerous sections of the hike. One of our group suffered altitude sickness from the start and the assistant guide escorted them back to the pickup area and made sure she got back safely. The lead guide was awesome as was the rest of the crew. It was apparent our success was as important to them as it was to us.
The single and double tents provided were extremely roomy. I was surprised at how much room I had in my individual tent. The sleeping bag rental kept me warm every night and the sleeping pad provided worked so well I didn't bother to use the 150.00 extra pad I had brought. Dumas, our server woke us up every morning with hot chocolate and coffee. He basically provided us with any assistance we needed with anything that arose. The food provided was excellent with a large variety of different foods.
We summitted on 2/2/25. The walk down was steep and long and being 71 I had some balance issues going down. Good luck and his assigned porters made sure I got down safely. Overall a fantastic experience and I would recommend Pristine Trails to anyone.
Written February 8, 2025
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.
zsfcav
Madison, CT32 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
We recently returned from an amazing trip to East Africa that we planned with the advice of Kim and Edward, the owners of Pristine Trails. We chose them based on reviews from other travelers, and the sage advice that Edward gave others (on the TA forum) planning their own trips. We were also interested in working with a tour company that was based in Tanzania. They answered all our questions, and put together an absolutely memorable trip. They teamed us up with Laurent, our guide and driver for the safari. Laurent is a young and energetic gentleman who has an incredible sense of the best places to look for wildlife in the various parks we visited. He is also interested in photography and was always helpful and patient in allowing us the time and vantage points to "get the shot." They arranged a bunch of extra activities including a hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti, a couple of walking safari outings, and a visit to a Masai community. They coordinated our Rwanda "add-on" trip to see the gorillas with another highly competent tour company, Mist Rwanda Safaris, who we have reviewed separately. After we returned, I had a phone conversation with Kim and Edward, who were interested in all aspects of our experience, including any information that might make other clients' trip that much better. If you're planning a trip to East Africa, look no further than Pristine Trails!
Written February 9, 2025
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.
SingaporeGaribaldi
Singapore, Singapore218 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Pristine Trails was the organizer of our trip to Africa in late July and we could not have been more pleased with all of their arrangements (lodging and a balloon trip). Pristine offered plenty of flexibility as we tried to fine-tune our Tanzania itinerary and gave good recommendations, and agent Kim Krowne was quick to reply to our (many) questions, from tour planning to payment methods, vaccinations etc. Our exceptional driver/guide Laurent deserves huge praise for making the game safaris such a success. He is very engaging, has encyclopedic knowledge of flora and fauna, eyes like the Hubble telescope and the soul of a rally driver (there were very few places he would not drive into to get you a good view). And he shared some pictures and videos with us from his perspective. We highly recommend them.
Written August 11, 2024
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.
Danielle
New York City, NY1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Family
We had the most incredible experience traveling with Pristine Trails! We did a 10 day Safari in Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti, followed by 5 days in Zanzibar. Each park on our Safari was so unique and we saw the most amazing wildlife. But it would have been nothing without our AMAZING guide Josephat! His knowledge of all of the animals (not just the Big 5, but every animal we saw!) enriched our experience so much. We were able to see so much - all the Big 5, the Wildebeest Crossing, Lions mating, and so much more. I love birdwatching at home in the US and was hoping to see/identify a lot of new birds on our Safari, and I felt so lucky to have Joesphat, who also loves birds, as our guide. He was able to help me identify over 130 new species! In addition to his vast knowledge of the animals, he is also just the most wonderful person. It was amazing how quickly we all became friends, and we were truly sad to leave him at the end of our Safari.
Then we headed to Zanzibar, where we stayed a few days at the beach and headed into Stone Town. I'm usually the one planning every moment of a vacation, and I can't tell you how taken care of we felt with Pristine Trails. Every step of the way (including a major flight delay that impacted the beginning of our trip), Pristine Trails was there to make sure our trip was exactly what we wanted it to be. All of our accommodations were incredible, and the whole trip went so smoothly. When we were looking to find some local music, Kim knew just the spot in Stone Town where we should spend our final evening for dinner - and we were treated to a wonderful Taarab performance with traditional food. We will never forget our time in Tanzania, and we were able to enjoy it so much because of the care Pristine took to make it special. We would absolutely work with them again if we go back.
Then we headed to Zanzibar, where we stayed a few days at the beach and headed into Stone Town. I'm usually the one planning every moment of a vacation, and I can't tell you how taken care of we felt with Pristine Trails. Every step of the way (including a major flight delay that impacted the beginning of our trip), Pristine Trails was there to make sure our trip was exactly what we wanted it to be. All of our accommodations were incredible, and the whole trip went so smoothly. When we were looking to find some local music, Kim knew just the spot in Stone Town where we should spend our final evening for dinner - and we were treated to a wonderful Taarab performance with traditional food. We will never forget our time in Tanzania, and we were able to enjoy it so much because of the care Pristine took to make it special. We would absolutely work with them again if we go back.
Written September 18, 2024
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.
454vancouver56
Vancouver, Canada3 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
Our safari in Tanzania and Uganda with Pristine Trails was a truly unforgettable experience, thanks to the fantastic coordination by Kim and the expert guiding expertise of Peter.
Kim was instrumental in planning the perfect itinerary for us, selecting the best locations and accommodations that gave us front-row seats to breathtaking wildlife and landscapes. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, and we couldn’t have asked for a more seamless adventure.
Peter, our guide, was simply amazing. His deep knowledge of the wildlife, his passion for conservation, and his ability to spot even the most elusive animals made each game drive an exciting and enriching experience. He was funny, patient, and went out of his way to ensure we had the best views and a memorable time. His enthusiasm was infectious and truly added to the magic of the trip.
From encountering lions, elephants, and chimpanzees up close to staying in beautifully situated lodges, every aspect of the safari exceeded our expectations.
Pristine Trails delivered a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and we can’t recommend them enough! We’ll definitely be returning for more!
Kim was instrumental in planning the perfect itinerary for us, selecting the best locations and accommodations that gave us front-row seats to breathtaking wildlife and landscapes. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, and we couldn’t have asked for a more seamless adventure.
Peter, our guide, was simply amazing. His deep knowledge of the wildlife, his passion for conservation, and his ability to spot even the most elusive animals made each game drive an exciting and enriching experience. He was funny, patient, and went out of his way to ensure we had the best views and a memorable time. His enthusiasm was infectious and truly added to the magic of the trip.
From encountering lions, elephants, and chimpanzees up close to staying in beautifully situated lodges, every aspect of the safari exceeded our expectations.
Pristine Trails delivered a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and we can’t recommend them enough! We’ll definitely be returning for more!
Written October 10, 2024
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.
Mark C
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Family
We did a two week trip to Tanzania with Pristine Trails: a 7-day Machame route up Kilimanjaro with 3 people, and then the rest of the family joined us for a 5 day safari.
Pristine Trails was amazing in both. Our guide was Kim, who apparently is something of a legend in the Kilimanjaro world (everyone knew him), and Alloyce was our assistant guide, who was also excellent. Everything was taken care of: camp was set up in time (we opted for cots and stand up tents, definitely worth it), good and plentiful food, and of course the guiding was superb. Our team of three, all of whom were in good shape but included a 22 yo female and two 61 year old males (both triathletes), all made it to the top for one of the most amazing sunrises of all time. Tips seemed a bit "pre-ordained," but by the end of the trip we not only tipped at the rates recommended, but supplemented gladly.
Our guide on the Safari was Peter, who was also excellent. We saw all of the big 5 (and plenty of each of the four), although the one rhino we saw was probably 300 meters away which I guess is pretty common. We chose the mid-range accommodations which were excellent and comfortable (Gran Melia Arusha - Kubu Kubu x 2 nights - Melia Ngorongoro Lodge [outstanding] - Lemala Mpingo Lodge] Doing it again I would probably skip the Masaii village visit, which seemed a little worked and pressured to buy their wares (which are available at any number of other stores that are visited during the safari), but in now way did Peter pressure us to do this. Do the balloon ride....we added this on and it in many respects was the highlight of the trip. Lunches provided by Peter were scenic and fun, with plenty of delicious food.
Overall a lifetime-memory making experience. There are plenty of guide groups out there. You will not go wrong with Pristine Trails. Outstanding service.
Pristine Trails was amazing in both. Our guide was Kim, who apparently is something of a legend in the Kilimanjaro world (everyone knew him), and Alloyce was our assistant guide, who was also excellent. Everything was taken care of: camp was set up in time (we opted for cots and stand up tents, definitely worth it), good and plentiful food, and of course the guiding was superb. Our team of three, all of whom were in good shape but included a 22 yo female and two 61 year old males (both triathletes), all made it to the top for one of the most amazing sunrises of all time. Tips seemed a bit "pre-ordained," but by the end of the trip we not only tipped at the rates recommended, but supplemented gladly.
Our guide on the Safari was Peter, who was also excellent. We saw all of the big 5 (and plenty of each of the four), although the one rhino we saw was probably 300 meters away which I guess is pretty common. We chose the mid-range accommodations which were excellent and comfortable (Gran Melia Arusha - Kubu Kubu x 2 nights - Melia Ngorongoro Lodge [outstanding] - Lemala Mpingo Lodge] Doing it again I would probably skip the Masaii village visit, which seemed a little worked and pressured to buy their wares (which are available at any number of other stores that are visited during the safari), but in now way did Peter pressure us to do this. Do the balloon ride....we added this on and it in many respects was the highlight of the trip. Lunches provided by Peter were scenic and fun, with plenty of delicious food.
Overall a lifetime-memory making experience. There are plenty of guide groups out there. You will not go wrong with Pristine Trails. Outstanding service.
Written September 8, 2024
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.
Sandi G
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Family
Pristine Trails created an incredibly supportive, exciting, and memorable adventure for us. Our experience surpassed all expectation. Successfully summitting Mount Kilimanjaro was most rewarding and we were incredibly well supported by head guide Francis, Alois and the rest of the fabulous team. Rubondo Island at #asilia resort was spectacular - chimp trekking/ fishing/ game drives/ sundowners watching the sun set over lake Victoria - all spectacular with the very best of hospitality. Trapsing through so many of Tanzania's national parks with amazing accommodation, driver and guide - Peter - experiencing night drives, forest canopy walks, bush walks, incredible game, delicious foods, peaceful nights, ballooning over the Mara river - each scene more mesmerising than the next. We culminated our adventure in the Kenyan Conservancy of Nabisho - once again- amazing hospitality and exceptional game viewing made possible by Kisemei and his unrivalled experience and knowledge.
Cannot express what this trip meant to us. Everything, to the smallest detail was perfectly organised by Pristine Trails. Thank you Kim, Edward and Joel and your entire team. S & D Gabes
Cannot express what this trip meant to us. Everything, to the smallest detail was perfectly organised by Pristine Trails. Thank you Kim, Edward and Joel and your entire team. S & D Gabes
Written September 13, 2024
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.
Nicole J
Seattle, WA12 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Pristine Trails helped us have an excellent multi-generational safari to Tanzania. Kim designed a safari that met our needs, interests, and budget and exceeded our expectations. We drove through amazing landscapes, met wonderful people, stayed at gorgeous accommodations, and had the trip of a lifetime.
Our Pristine Trails safari guide, Laurent, deserves particular mention. He was exceptional: He answered our many, ongoing questions knowledgeably; he was hilarious and kind; he helped us photo-document our trip. He had excellent instincts for where the animals would be. He spotted lion cubs in a cave, spotted a cheetah from a mile away, and got us front-row seats to an epic Mara River crossing. At one point, he had us dancing at the Tarangire National Park gates with a group of Tanzanian university students.
Many thanks to Pristine Trails for helping us have the best vacation we've ever had.
Our Pristine Trails safari guide, Laurent, deserves particular mention. He was exceptional: He answered our many, ongoing questions knowledgeably; he was hilarious and kind; he helped us photo-document our trip. He had excellent instincts for where the animals would be. He spotted lion cubs in a cave, spotted a cheetah from a mile away, and got us front-row seats to an epic Mara River crossing. At one point, he had us dancing at the Tarangire National Park gates with a group of Tanzanian university students.
Many thanks to Pristine Trails for helping us have the best vacation we've ever had.
Written September 2, 2024
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.
Luke R
1 contribution
Jan 2025 • Friends
We had a fantastic experience with Pristine Trails! Their guides and porters were friendly, professional, and worked very hard to make sure our group was safe and comfortable for the entire trek. I highly recommend Pristine Trails for anyone considering Mt Kilimanjaro….you will not be disappointed!
Written January 17, 2025
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.
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.