Tanzania

[Honestyisbest]

Can anyone recommend a UK specialist company to use for booking a holiday to Tanzania? Or any recommendations for accommodation which we can look into booking direct? We like authenticity coupled with a bit of luxury and a good location! DC are 14 and 11. Also any comments on Tanzania as a destination....

Tanzania Odyssey
Imagine Africa
Natural High

Imagine Africa were good for a safari we booked a couple of years ago but I think we had a very good contact there. I wasn't overwhelmed when I phoned a couple of weeks ago. The other two cover lots of other destinations but Tanzania was their original speciality. Aardvark Safaris also have a good rep.

Expert Africa. At least they are excellent for Zambia and I am sure would be good for tanzania as well.

Africa travel resource in dorking. They do a fabulous mix of low cost rustic with the most stunning luxury places. You can really splurge or get an authentic taste of Tanzania through them. I used to live in Africa & since I mOved back to the uk they are the only travel
Firm I've used on my trips back

By the way I've been to Tanzania about 4/5 times over the past few years so let me know if you want any recommendations of lodges. I presume you are looking into safari then Zanzibar? Obviously I don't know your budget but some of my favourite places are Gibbs farm, Olduvai, rongo, sayari mara, sand rivers then on Zanzibar matemwe beach or bungalows or if you can stretch to it fundu lagoon on Pemba is fab. Clearly massive variations in destinations within Tanzania here & huge differences in cost but these were my favourites. I also adore Zambia, Mozambique then Botswana is great for safari but hugely expensive. Enjoy! I wish I was going to Africa again -can't wait til my baby girl is old enough to travel there with the malaria etc!

Thanks so much for all your suggestions. Leannac we are looking to go for a fairly splurgy, luxury holiday as we don't do long haul very often at all so when we do we like to do it in style! Recommendations of lodges would be fab. We had thought Tanzania followed by 3 (?) days on Zanzibar. Probs going in the christmas hols. Thanks again :)

Hi there

Do you want to email me as its prob easier to email than post on here - I'm [email protected]
By the way if you decide to ring Africa travel resource ask for Clare as she is fab!

Thank you so much. I will email you tomorrow :)

We booked our honeymoon in Tanzania (in 2008) through Africa and Beyond. They were extremely helpful and we had a fabulous time spending 4 days in Tarangire National Park and 2 days in Ngorogoro crater before flying to Zanzibar for 7 days on the beach.

I can't recommend them enough.

Should have added, we stayed at Swala Camp in Tarangire and Crater Lodge in Ngorogoro.

Swala was just heaven!

We had our honeymoon in the Selous reserve in the south at an amazing camp called Impala. We were treated like royalty, food was excellent, tents were more like five star hotel rooms yet you had monkeys jumping on the roof in the morning and elephants sloshing through the river next to your terrace. No fences so the animals are free to roam around but it's perfectly safe. You get your own dedicated guide for your stay and your vehicle just has you two, your guide and your driver. We had an absolutely amazing time and would go back except it cost £££££ We booked through Audley who were brilliant, can't recommend them enough. Also would recommend the south as it's much less busy, hardly saw any other vehicles when out. Impala camp is on the Rufiji river which means you can alternate driving safari with river trips and they even do walking safari which are amazing, we got really close to elephants and had breakfast out in the bush with teapots, bacon and eggs and napkins. Honestly felt like Queen Victoria.

Here is link www.audleytravel.com/Destinations/Africa/Tanzania/Accommodation/Selous-Impala-Camp.aspx

I'm very pleased to see such a rave report on Africa Travel Resource. I've really enjoyed reading their website for research (and for brief fantasy travel). They have often got a different and more detailed write up on places which suggests they know what they are talking about but I've never found anyone who had used them.

Thanks all. Lots to research. Cheers!

Cavemum, sounds like you did the same Safaari as us. We did Dar as Salaam as well , Bongoyo Island is fantastic. Loved Azanzi Hotel in Zanzibar, and stayed at the fabulous Ngorongoro Farmhouse while on Safari.

It's lovely - you'll love whatever you do.