Day Safari Tour Selous Game Reserve

Great day out. Highlight of our trip!

Great communication and logistics. Everything ran seamlessly. Driver picked us up on time. Met and transferred through airport in a professional and organised way. The safari itself was fabulous. We didn't see any cats but the huge number and variety of animals seen was wonderful. Our driver/guide was brilliant and knowledgeable. We were in early and left late. We were in Selous for about 10.5 hours. Lunch was yummy too! Would recommend and would go again.

Response from the operator: Jambo, Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear that the safari became a highlight of your trip and that everything, from communication and logistics to the airport transfer, ran smoothly for you. Although the cats were a little shy that day, it’s great to know you enjoyed the incredible variety of wildlife and the long, immersive time in Selous. Your kind words about your guide’s knowledge and dedication mean a lot to us. We truly appreciate your recommendation and would be very happy to welcome you again for another unforgettable safari adventure. Warm regards, Biubwa Omar

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THIS is the tour group to choose! Also, bring your travel insurance card!

There are several tour groups that provide safari tours, but this is the one that you should choose! I could not have asked for a more seamless and wonderful experience! I chose to do a one-day tour. I was picked up at my hotel early morning in Stone Town and taken to the airport in Zanzibar. There were many other people gathered in the cafe where I was told to wait but my driver contacted the right person associated with the tour and made sure she knew I was there so that I didn't get overlooked. When the time arrived, she led us thru the airport and we waited until our flight was ready. The plane lands directly in Neyerere National Park, and the safari begins. Our safari guide was enormously affable, knowledgeable and determined for us to get the most out of our safari, and he did a really great job of making sure we saw as much as was possible - we were able to see 4 of the big 5 (no rhinos), which was great, considering safaris are a crap shoot - the animals don't care that you're there to see them, and aren't guaranteed to be where expected/hoped to be. It's a very large area to search! A great lunch was provided, and we were back at it. I had the opportunity to speak to a few others who were there with other tours and we compared our pricing and experiences, and I was happy to walk away feeling like I had chosen really well with this tour group! At the end of the day, we were brought back to the airfield and flown back to Stone Town. There were only 2 hiccups on this day. One was that my morning driver was supposed to be at the airport to pick me up after the tour, but after waiting more than half an hour, I could not find him and I grabbed a taxi back to my hotel from the airport (there are many drivers there looking for fares, so it wasn't a big deal). And the other is that I didn't think to bring my evidence of travel insurance with me and was asked for it at re-entry at the Zanzibar airport. Fortunately, I had the email on my phone (which was at 3% battery!), but this is a reminder/warning to others - bring your evidence of travel insurance!!

Response from the operator: Jambo, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review of your Selous Day Safari experience with Safari Gateway. We’re absolutely delighted that your day was filled with wonderful memories, seamless logistics, and exciting wildlife encounters, including four of the Big Five. It means the world to us that you recognised the care and professionalism of our team, from the hotel pickup and flight arrangements to the expertise and enthusiasm of your safari guide. We genuinely aim to make every moment effortless and unforgettable, allowing our guests to focus on the beauty and adventure of Tanzania’s wilderness. We also sincerely appreciate your helpful notes regarding your airport pickup and the travel insurance reminder. While we’re happy to hear that both situations were resolved smoothly, we’ve already shared your feedback internally to help ensure even more transparent communication and improved guest coordination in the future. Your insight will greatly help future travellers. Thank you for that. On behalf of our entire team, thank you once again for your trust, your kind words, and your incredible energy. We’re thrilled that you felt confident in choosing Safari Gateway, and we hope to welcome you back one day - perhaps for a longer safari adventure next time. Warm regards Biubwa KHAMIS

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Safari Mikumi

Extremely well organised. Felt confident with the pilot. Guide knowledgeable and friendly. We seem loads of animals. Excellent trip!

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Don’t worry about the plane; vehicles unreliable!

Both my wife and I went on this tour with TUI who use Fisherman Tours Zanzibar. The day itself will be remembered for 3-things - a vehicle that didn’t restart when stopping to look at some zebra & being pushed along by another vehicle to jump start it; getting stuck in mud (Mister Chevvy the driver seemed inexperienced to me) ; front near side wheel bearing failing and awaiting on the side of a dirt road in the middle of a game reserve awaiting rescue! It did somewhat spoil the experience - the animals were abundant apart from the big cats; but no one saw any that day! We were rescued in the end by another private tour vehicle (assumed private as only two passengers enabling 6 of us to squeeze on board) and transferred to another to get us back to the air strip! Both vehicles were far better than ours - road worthy and much newer & hence better equipped. I did take issue with TUI on the following day about their vetting of providers of the service. Better maintenance would probably prevented both vehicle faults. The starter motor not engaging meant the car wouldn’t start (loud clicking noise heard when trying the ignition); as for the wheel bearing the issue was known as the driver was shaking the wheel at the breakfast stop. There was obviously some concern. A very bumpy day on & off road so be prepared to be thrown about - not recommended for someone recently having a hip replacement! Our experience was tarnished but I think it is important to state the day is well organised, guide (Mister Martin) very knowledgeable and speak good English (I suspect a guide could be supplied that speaks most languages). Biggest issue for my wife was the “outdoor” restroom (yes behind that bush) as there is no danger from animals! There was a Portaloo available at lunchtime; it wasn’t pleasant apparently! I guess the maintenance issue is all down to cost of repairs and loss of revenue when the car is off the road? I should have realised something was amiss when I saw the speedo wasn’t working; I suspect so the mileage was not added daily on the tours! I guess knowing your speed isn’t essential but mileage is a useful reminder for servicing!

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Exiting Safari

We had a really good time! The guide was very knowledgeable and told us about everything we asked about. They went to all the animals we wanted to see

Response from the operator: Dear Vegar, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re pleased to hear that you and your family had such a great time on safari and that our guide’s knowledge enriched your journey. We strive to ensure that guests see the animals they’re most excited about, and it’s beautiful to know that we could make that happen for you. We hope to welcome you back for more memorable adventures in the future! Warm regards, Biubwa Omar

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