7 Day The Great Savannah Luxury Safari All Inclusive

A Truly Exceptional Safari — Integrity, Personal Service, and an Unforgettable Guide

It is difficult to put into words how grateful we are to Pendo, Charles, and the entire Tales of Tanzania team for giving us such an unforgettable first experience in Africa. My wife and I traveled with another couple from the U.S., and we started planning this trip almost a year in advance. Given the distance, the time involved, and the fact that this was a very special, once-in-a-lifetime trip for us, our expectations were extremely high. Tales of Tanzania exceeded them. We originally found Pendo through word of mouth — two separate groups of friends had traveled with Tales in prior years and strongly recommended her. Even with those recommendations, I did quite a bit of research and spoke with several highly rated safari operators before making our decision. What stood out about Pendo from the very beginning was how genuine and straightforward she was. She never simply told us what she thought we wanted to hear. Whenever I asked a question, she would patiently explain not only her recommendation, but why she recommended it, often in great detail. This was long before she knew whether we would ultimately book with her, and that told me a lot about how seriously she treats every potential guest. Once we decided on our itinerary, Pendo was incredibly patient through all of our requests and changes. We had very specific hotels in mind, including some that were not particularly easy to secure. She worked tirelessly to make everything happen, including getting us into Warangi, which turned out to be an absolute hidden gem, and helping us secure the accommodations we wanted in the northern Serengeti despite limited availability. More importantly, Pendo is someone whose word means something. We paid our deposit almost a year before traveling, which naturally creates a little anxiety when you are planning an expensive trip to a continent you have never visited. But when we reconnected as the trip approached, nothing had changed. Everything she had promised us a year earlier was honored. One small example says a lot about her integrity. A year before our trip, Pendo mentioned that Tales would be adding a new Land Cruiser to its fleet. I jokingly but seriously told her that I wanted that new vehicle for our safari, and we even included it in our arrangement. A full year later, she remembered the conversation perfectly — and made sure that was the vehicle waiting for us. That sense of personal responsibility continued once we arrived. Tales is a family business, and it genuinely feels like one. Pendo lives quite a distance from Arusha, yet she came personally to welcome us when we arrived, together with her sister. When an unexpected vehicle issue required a temporary change of car at the beginning of our safari, Pendo could easily have handled it with a phone call or simply sent another driver. Instead, she drove all the way back early in the morning to meet us personally and make sure everything was taken care of. That level of care is rare. And then there was Charles, our guide for most of the safari. Charles is simply exceptional. He is warm, humble, incredibly hardworking, and extraordinarily knowledgeable. He quietly took care of countless details throughout our trip without ever making us feel that anything was an inconvenience. Even when we had a flat tire late in the day in the Serengeti and he had to change it himself under the hot sun, there was never a complaint or any attempt to shorten our experience afterward. He simply fixed it and carried on making sure we had an amazing day. His wildlife knowledge and instincts are remarkable. He could spot animals at distances where the rest of us could barely see anything, and his understanding of animal behavior often allowed him to anticipate what would happen next rather than simply react to a sighting. On our first day, I told Charles that one thing I dreamed of seeing was a live hunt. He remembered. Later in the trip, through a combination of patience, instinct, and positioning, he got us into an incredible spot to watch a cheetah hunt a gazelle — one of the most extraordinary wildlife moments I have ever witnessed. The Mara River crossings were another highlight. We were unbelievably fortunate to witness two wildebeest crossings in a single day, but luck was only part of the story. In the morning, Charles used his experience and information from other guides to judge where the herds were most likely to cross and positioned us beautifully before thousands of wildebeest came pouring across the river. Later that afternoon, after we mentioned that we would love to see another crossing if possible, he worked his network again and somehow found us another one. Across those days we saw everything from enormous herds crossing the Mara to crocodiles attacking wildebeest — including one wildebeest miraculously fighting its way free. By the end of the trip, we realized there was almost nothing we had hoped to see or experience that we had missed. The wildlife was spectacular, but what made the trip truly special was knowing that Charles was constantly thinking ahead about how to make each day better for us. Everything Tales promised was delivered, and in many cases they went beyond what we expected. The vehicle was excellent and thoughtfully equipped, the logistics were seamless, and every detail — from binoculars and drinks to blankets and daily arrangements — was handled professionally. For anyone planning a safari from far away, especially if it is your first time in Africa, trust matters enormously. You are sending money months in advance and putting an incredibly important trip in the hands of people you may never have met. After our experience, I can say without hesitation that Pendo and Tales of Tanzania are people I would trust completely. There are many large safari companies with bigger marketing budgets and greater name recognition. Tales of Tanzania is a local family business, and I sincerely hope more travelers discover them. They deserve it. Pendo, Charles, and the entire Tales family: thank you for taking such wonderful care of the four of us and for giving us memories that we will carry for the rest of our lives. If we are fortunate enough to return to Tanzania someday, there is no question who we will call.

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and heartfelt account of your safari with us. We have read your review more than once, and it is difficult to express just how much your words mean to the entire Tales of Tanzania family. From the very first conversations almost a year before your arrival, it was a genuine pleasure planning this journey with you. We know how much trust it takes to plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip from thousands of miles away, particularly when visiting Africa for the first time, and we never take that trust for granted. We especially smiled at the story of the new Land Cruiser! 😊 A promise is a promise, even when it was made almost a year earlier, and we are delighted that this little detail became part of your memories of us. Thank you also for your incredibly kind words about Charles. We are very proud to have him as part of our team, and we have made sure he knows just how highly you spoke of him. Great guiding is about so much more than finding wildlife — it is about listening, patience, understanding animal behaviour, anticipating those special moments and genuinely caring about the people travelling with you. Your description of your time with Charles means a great deal to all of us. And what an adventure Tanzania gave you! A cheetah hunt, incredible predator encounters and, somehow, two Mara River crossings in a single day! Some parts of a safari can be carefully planned, while others are wonderful gifts from nature. You certainly received a few very special ones. 😊 Perhaps the part of your review that touched us most was your hope that more travelers will discover Tales of Tanzania. As a locally owned, family-run company, we may not have the marketing reach of the larger safari operators, but what we can offer is something we care deeply about: honest advice, personal responsibility, exceptional guiding and looking after every journey as though we were planning it for our own family. Knowing that this is how you felt while travelling with us means more than any award or advertisement ever could. Thank you, Xiao, Mengbi, Haowen and Junya, for trusting Tales of Tanzania, for being such wonderful guests and for sharing your experience so generously with future travelers. You arrived as our guests and left as part of the Tales of Tanzania family. ❤️🇹🇿 And should Africa ever call you back, we would be absolutely delighted to welcome you home. With our warmest wishes, The Tales of Tanzania Safaris Family

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An unforgettable 9-day Tanzania tour with an exceptional guide

We had such a wonderful experience on the 9-day Tales of Tanzania tour, and our guide, Charles, was a huge part of what made it so memorable. Charles was incredibly kind, considerate, patient, and knowledgeable. We joked that he had “eagle eyes” because he could spot animals from unbelievably far away, often before any of us could see them. He also always seemed to have the right page ready in his animal book so he could teach us more about what we were seeing. He made the trip feel very personal. He learned everyone’s names, took time to get to know each of us, asked thoughtful questions, and even quizzed us on animal facts along the way. He remembered things we had mentioned wanting to see days earlier and made an intentional effort to find them for us. We had casually mentioned wanting to see the great wildebeest migration, then completely forgot about it. On our final day, Charles remembered, asked fellow guides where the herds were, and made sure to take us there. He was also always the first to help with luggage, open doors, and make sure everyone was comfortable. He was patient with bathroom stops and gave us flexibility to set our own departure and return times each day, which made the experience feel relaxed and thoughtful. It was clear that Charles had built strong relationships with many of the other guides. He was constantly sharing information with them about animal sightings and always greeted them with genuine warmth. We are so grateful to Charles for making our first safari feel so personal, educational, and unforgettable. We would highly recommend him and the Tales of Tanzania tour.

via Tripadvisor

Life Changing Trip - Best Trip EVER!!

I would rate this trip 100 out of 10 for sure! Our guide Charles is the best as he took us through all the parks and conservation areas including Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti and he has equipped us with the knowledge about animals - which made the trip so so memorable! I remember us seeing a herd of elephants stomping across the road in Tarangire near the baobab trees, warthogs chasing each other in the fields of flowers, spotted hyena / black-backed jackals vying the wildebeest which was hunted by a lioness, rhino mother with her baby in Ngorongoro and cheetah mother hunting a baby Thomson gazelle for her 3 kids in Serengeti. All the scenes in the wild have been so breathtaking and it has changed me in all aspects! Further, all the hotels that we have stayed at are incredible (GranMeliá in Arusha, Mpingo Lemala in Tarangire, Ngorongoro in Melia and Four Seasons in Serengeti) plus the activities (Air ballon, bush breakfast, bush lunch, and bush dinner + movie) are all out of our expectations - we love them all. I would strongly recommend anyone who likes nature / animals to take the trip. Safari changed me and so will the memories if this trip stay forever in me!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for this truly beautiful review. Reading your words means the world to all of us at Tales of Tanzania Safaris We are beyond happy to hear that your safari became such a meaningful and unforgettable journey. The way you described the elephants walking beneath the baobab trees in Tarangire, the incredible predator moments, the rhino mother and baby in Ngorongoro, and the cheetah hunting for her cubs in Serengeti brought the entire experience to life again for us. These are the magical moments that make Tanzania so special, and we are honored that you trusted us to share them with you. Charles will be so touched by your kind words. He is truly passionate about wildlife, nature, and creating memorable experiences for our guests, and knowing he helped make your safari “100 out of 10” will mean so much to him. We are also delighted that you loved the lodges and special experiences, from the balloon safari to the bush meals and movie under the stars. Creating those little “wow” moments for our guests is something we care deeply about. Your words about safari changing you are incredibly powerful, and that is exactly what we hope every traveler carries home from Tanzania — not just photos, but memories and emotions that stay forever. Thank you again for traveling with us and for sharing such a heartfelt recommendation. We truly hope Tanzania welcomes you back again someday for another unforgettable adventure.

via Tripadvisor

Highly recommend! Tales delivered an unforgettable safari

We had an absolutely incredible safari experience with Tales, and I can't recommend them enough! They made our dream trip to Africa truly unforgettable. Our coordinator, Yasinta, was fantastic from the very beginning—she was responsive, organized, and helped tailor our itinerary perfectly to our interests. On the ground, our guide Charles was nothing short of exceptional. His knowledge, passion, and keen eye for wildlife made all the difference. Thanks to his expertise, we were able to spot the African "Big Five" as well as countless other amazing animals, from graceful giraffes to elusive leopards. Charles went above and beyond to ensure we had the best possible experience, providing fascinating insights into the ecosystem and making us feel safe and well taken care of at all times. The only suggestion I would offer is that the safari vehicle, while functional, was showing its age. A newer vehicle would be an excellent upgrade to complement the outstanding service and make the experience even more comfortable. That being said, the professionalism and dedication of Yasinta and Charles truly set Tales apart, and we are so grateful for the memories they helped us create. Thank you, Tales Team

Response from the operator: Wow 🤍 Reading this truly means the world to us. Thank you so much for trusting us with your dream trip to Africa — it’s an honor we never take lightly. We are so happy to hear that Yasinta was able to tailor everything perfectly for you and that Charles made your time in the bush so special. I will personally share your beautiful words with both of them — this is exactly why we do what we do. And thank you as well for the honest feedback about the vehicle. We truly appreciate it. We are continuously upgrading our fleet to ensure our guests enjoy not only exceptional guiding and service, but also maximum comfort on safari. Your comment helps us grow. From all of us at Tales of Tanzania Safaris, thank you for allowing us to be part of such special memories. We hope Tanzania will welcome you back again one day

via Tripadvisor

Unforgettable Safari Experience in Tanzania!Memeable experience in Tanzania

We had an incredible time exploring the beauty of Tanzania, and this trip will stay with us forever. The accommodations were exceptional—each hotel had its own charm and elevated our experience. Lemala and Melia offered unforgettable views and warm hospitality in the heart of the wild. Zuri Zanzibar was a tropical paradise, and Park Hyatt Zanzibar gave us a luxurious end to the journey with its elegant design and perfect oceanfront location. A special thanks to Pendo, who was always responsive, supportive, and helpful throughout our planning and the trip itself. Her quick replies and attention to our needs gave us peace of mind. One small suggestion for future travelers: book activities in advance, especially for special experiences like walking safaris. We had hoped to do a walking safari in Serengeti, but were told we could book it along the way. Unfortunately, it was unavailable on the day we arrived. Luckily, we managed to do one in Ngorongoro instead, which was still amazing, but it would have been better to secure the Serengeti activity in advance. Our driver, Dismas, was excellent—very responsible and dedicated. He really went the extra mile to help us spot animals and made sure we had the best game drive experience possible. Although our 4x4 had a minor issue with the pop-up roof, he tried his best to fix it. It would be great if the vehicles could be checked more thoroughly before each trip. Overall, it was a wonderful journey filled with adventure, wildlife, and unforgettable landscapes. We’ll definitely return for another safari experience in the future!

Response from the operator: Dear Lingqian, Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience in Tanzania! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that your journey was filled with unforgettable moments—from the breathtaking views at Lemala and Melia to the tropical paradise of Zuri Zanzibar and the luxurious finale at Park Hyatt. It’s heartwarming to know that our team, especially Pendo and Dismas, played such a positive role in making your trip special. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to them—they’ll be delighted to know their efforts were appreciated! We truly appreciate your constructive feedback regarding the walking safari and the vehicle. Your suggestion about booking activities in advance is spot-on, and we’ll make sure to emphasize this in our planning process to help future guests secure their preferred experiences. As for the 4x4, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and will reinforce our vehicle inspections to ensure everything is in perfect condition for upcoming safaris. It’s fantastic to hear that the Ngorongoro walking safari still provided an amazing adventure, and we’d love to help you arrange that Serengeti walking safari on your next visit! Tanzania’s wilderness will always be here waiting for you, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for another incredible journey.

via Tripadvisor