brirohu

Hi,
I try again to get contact with people having experience in travelling through southern Tanzania.
It is my first time on Fodor`s and now I`m getting a little bit depressive as noone would talk with me.....
Here is my answer , with a longer introduction now, again:
We start our Tanzania journey end of September with a international flight to DAR,
going on with a safari to Selous (3 nights) , hiking in the Udzwunga Mountains (2 nights) and safari in Ruaha (3 nights). Followed by Mafia Island for relaxing and diving.
Now we have to decide between two safari-operators "wild thing safaris"(seems perhaps a little bit more professional, in TATO-list) and "tanzania safari wonders"(cheaper, not in TATO-list).
Is there anyone at Fodor having experience with one or both of them????
Thanks a lot
Britta

Patty

Welcome, Britta!

Perhaps the reason no one has replied yet is because no one who has read your posts has heard of Wild Thing Safaris or Tanzania Safari Wonders (I haven't). That doesn't necessarily mean that you shouldn't use them, but I'd be more inclined to stick with a TATO registered operator and have them provide some previous client references you can contact (preferably in your own country that you can call, if possible).

Also you'll find that fewer travelers have been to southern Tanzania vs northern Tanzania. Here are some past trip reports (including mine) that include some of the areas you're visiting:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34489525

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34649444

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34840447

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34843794

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34879078

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34966885

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34920145

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35021616

You may want to look through Lynda's East Africa trip report index in case I missed any http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34860283

Good luck with your decision!

brirohu

Dear Patty,
thanks for your reply => I´m not alone in the www!!!
As Wild thing safaris is listed in the TATO-list it seems to be the better decision at the moment (except in the next hours a lot of replies with good experiences with tanzanian safari wonders will come in).
Britta

Patty

In case you want to contact another operator, Foxes Safaris specialize in southern Tanzania and operate their own lodge in Ruaha.

www.tanzaniasafaris.info

aby

here's another reply: i don't know these operators...

Leely

I don't know them either, but am always interested to hear about more options in So. TZ. Where, specifically, do they have you staying and how are you getting from point A to point B?

brirohu

Dear Aby, dear Leely,
thanks for your replies.
They seem to be very flexible friends and try to make our suggestions and wishes possible - so far our purse and lodge availibility allow that.
At the moment plan is to fly from Dar to Selous - 1 night in Selous Mbega Camp (no availibility in Rufiji River Camp)-1 night in Rufiji River Camp- flight from Selous to Ruaha - 3 nights in Mdonya old River Lodge- drive (4x4 vehicle)to Udzwunga Mountains- 1 night Udzwunga Mountain view hotel- 1 night camping in the Udzwunga Moutains- drive (4x4 vehicle) passing Mikumi National Park to Dar- flight DAR to Mafia Island-8 nights on Mafia for diving and relaxing in Mafia Island Lodge- flight back Mafia to DAR and international flight back home.
We will report after coming back if the one we will choose (at the moment propably wild thing safaris because of membership on TATO list) is a good option of the not well known operators.
Greetings
Britta + Roman