Selecting a Safari Outfitter
 

The choices seem endless! Talking with Go2Africa,E&S, Tanzania Adventure, and Tanzania Odyssey companies. Go2Africa has given me the most helpful detail but they seem expensive. Any help in finalizing a choice would be appreciated.

Why not choose a Tanzanian outfitter
they would be a min. 25% cheaper than an "overseas agent" which are the companies you mentioned.
Go with an operator who actually owns the vehicles that go on safari.
A good guide book will give you heaps of choices.
Ask Go2Africa or E@S or whoever what Tanzanian operator they use and then email them direct.

Post your itineraries here for more detailed help.

For Tanzania companies...

Access 2 Tanzania was mentioned a few times and appeared to have a good approach to tourism. Don't know much else about them, though.
access2tanzania.com

There is Roy's that has gotten lots of good feedback. Green Footprints has been used a few times successfully by Fodorites. Sunny's is more of a budget option.

Of those you mentioned E&S gets great reviews. Patty, who has used E&S and another poster both just mentioned E&S uses Leopard Safaris in Tanzania.

I'm not familiar with Tan Adv or Tan Ody. Go2Africa is often mentioned to be more expensive.

I've got to respectfully disagree that the in country providers are always less costly. I checked with many co. African, European and American. The American co. won out price wise for my first and second trip.

Interestingly, the co. that I choose was less costly than their own ground operater in Tanzania.

Of course, I didn't check every single co. and this is my experience alone.

Once you hone in on an itinerary, send it out to as many co. as you care to deal with, you'll be amazed at the variables in price.
Good luck!

edit; aren't always less costly -sorry

dgenep,

You decide on local or in-country outfitters. If you share some of your insights in your search, the rest of us will benefit as well. In addition to those already mentioned, you can check

Southern Cross Safaris
ATR (Africa Travel Resource)
Africa Serendipity
Africa Adventure

Good luck!

And Gamewatchers

Why book a trip with a middle man or women
dgenep or anyone else for that matter try some of these well established Tanzanian Operators
Ranger Safaris
Leopard Tours
Wildersun Safaris
Hoopoe Adventure Tours
East African Safari and Touring Co.
Sunny Safaris
Nature Discovery
Dorobo Tours and Safaris
email a few of them and then check their response and conditions with the Overseas agents that use them as ground operators

dgenep:

I'll offer my 2 Shillings with another option:

I had a lovely Safari with KiliWarrior Expeditions and can not say enough good things about them. They are in Arusha, Tanzania owned by Africans and also have a USA office.

KiliWarrior Safari testimonial page - Den’s visual and written testimonial:
http://www.kiliwarriors.com/safari_testimonials.htm
(This represents only one week of my time in Africa-but a great one!)

The Home Page for KiliWarrior Safari’s:
http://www.kiliwarriors.com/

Feel Free to ask me any questions about them.

Merci, Den

Den,

You sound like an advertisement.

You copy & paste the same comments on other threads.

dssxxxx:

They had the same question!

I am LAZY and a horrible typist! I was worried they would only look at their own threads so I did a copy and paste...

Should I vary my input from my experience? I am not a very creative writer either!

Cheers, Den

edit; I am A LAZY and horrible typist!-samahani ;-)

hi dgenep,

you already got a huge amount of suggestions, probably making your endless choices even more endless ;)

about going for a local operator or not, make sure you go for one that you can trust. Preferably one that other fodorites used as well and got some positive feedback.
Green Footprint was already mentioned, and that's also the one I use. The company is owned by a great guide (from SA) and my sister in law (a dutch woman).

but one thing; don't go for the cheap options. With these kinds of experiences you dont wanna go cheap!
If a company takes to time to arrange the perfect safari for you and adjust it to your needs, of course they will be more expensive than someone just throwing a standard safari at you..

dssxxxx
I agree it sounds like an ad. but mightn't be. I think their is a lot of suttle and not so suttle advertising on this board. For example if your sister in law owns a tour business it is only natural you will try and push business their way
If you are planning a trip and looking for an outfitter
I suggest the following
1. try local outfitters as well as overseas one
2. read the travel boards but with an open mind
as their can be a lot vested interest in the postings
3. buy a guide book
and
then decide what suits you and what operator suits you and your plans and budget
finally
4.get references from the operator of bonafide travellers who have used that company you have chosen
then pay a deposit

Ouch! I am just very happy client willing to share my experience about a particular company. Hence the two shillings…

I have watched the very seasoned travelers on this forum wait very patiently after a suspicious posting, do a search on someone’s name and perhaps even a search on the internet before they make a comment alerting us all about unprofessional practices.

I suppose in-a-way I was advertising. Albeit, free, unsolicited advertising-just like everybody else provides on the forum. You see, I was really, really impressed with the KiliWarriors.

I also have really come to enjoy this forum. So many people have given me really good advice. And each great bit-of-advice I receive meant that someone else possessed enough good-will within them to take the effort to share their advice. Now, I find that I have some great advice to share. And I love the feeling of goodwill that builds in me when I do it. That’s what my postings are really about. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it!

Yours in Service, Den

Geelong's
<b>3. buy a guide book</b>
is something I always do to look for a recommendation. I think this helps weed out the fly by nights.

Actually I usually just check out the book at the library.

Denbasking is not a shill!

I am, though. &gt;:)

Oops, before I get kicked off this forum, I should say I was just kidding about being a shill. But I *know* Den off the forum, and she is a regular tourist/very satisfied client, like some, if not all, of us here.

No problem.

I just get a little curious when I see a C&amp;P.

No harm intended........:-)

Killi is mentioned more in regards to climbing, then pure safari's. Just my read into it. They may be great in doing just safari's.

So many choices....We are heading out in March and have decided to use Klub Afriko (www.klubafriko.com) after writing our itinerary to over 70 safari companies. They were priced right and very helpful getting us off the beaten path. They are Tanzanian owned and operated which was very important to us. Will write with the experience when we return.