Lamai was an amazing experience. The lodge is inconspicuously nestled among the rocks overlooking the Serengeti. The rooms incredibly comfortable, food was outstanding (and lots of it) and the dining/bar area was simply stunning. The views are spectacular, the wildlife abundant and the staff are all truly wonderful led by Lawrence and James. Nothing was too much and no details left undone. From warm toast with tea as a pre-safari wake up to sundowners or breakfast in the bush. Special thanks to our guide, Lazaro George who shared with us his passion for animals. With Lazaro’s expertise, insights and intuition about animal behaviour, I was able to photograph breath taking shots of the Serengeti in action. If you go to Lamai, and you should, request Lazaro (though all the other guests were also happy with their guides. Also thanks to Eligard who took care of us while in the lodge and also tried hard to teach us Swahili.

We were privileged to be the exclusive guests of Bernadette and her team during most of our stay and we would like to wholeheartedly thank her for making it such a wonderful experience. The lodge is perfectly situated on the banks of the mighty Rufiji River and has no close neighbours so that during the safari drives, we literally encountered not a single other jeep. All the activities were perfectly organised, the food was more than excellent and with good diversity. Also the breakfast and dinner in the bush was done in style - here no plastic wrapped sandwiches, on the contrary ! The game drives, water safari and walking safari were all well organised and our driver/guide Gottfried was very experienced. He was good in tracking the lion trail. Compared to the more well known parks in the north, the diversity and prevalence of wildlife is somewhat less (e.g. no cheetah, rhino) but on the other hand an abundance of giraffe. As we visited in the green season and the vegetation is more dense than on the wide open savannah, finding the wildlife is much more challenging. Despite crisscrossing the surroundings, there were no wild dogs to be found which had been one of the reasons for the trip – maybe another time when we visit SRS again. On the other hand, the birdlife was very diverse and there were many carmine bee-eaters-such a sight. In short, an unforgettable experience particularly because of the great hospitality of Bernadette's team who created a great place of relaxation after the safari drives.

Kuro Tarangire is an intimate camp in a quiet location with the sights and sounds (often noisy) of the African bush enveloping you. The staff, led by Raymond, were very attentive and welcoming. Wonderful bucket showers just one facet of the outstanding housekeeping. The food was plentiful and delicious. Lots of wildlife and animals (and only a few Homo sapiens). Apart from the wildlife, the star of the show was our guide, Festo. With his encyclopaedic knowledge of the flora and fauna, he helped us enjoy and appreciate the amazing experiences of Tarangire National Park. His ability to spot animals and the intuition to predict their behaviour allowed us to witness a lion kill and enjoy some other great experiences. Festo also shared stories about his many years experience working in the bush as well as sharing his philosophy - a really holistic and thought provoking experience coupled with the wonderful scenery and wildlife. If you get a chance - go (with Festo!). You won’t regret it!

After nearly thirty years of wanting to see the Ngorogoro Crater, our stay at Entamanu, high on the Crater rim, sealed our experience of the magic of this incredible natural phenomenon. With Festo our guide and his insights and knowledge of the crater, we arrived first at the entrance of the Crater before dawn. The colours of the Crater changed as the sun rose over the vast plain surrounded by the steep sides of the caldera. The animals did not disappoint and included sightings of rhinos. Entamanu, led by Jonathan, and his amazing team, is a fabulous camp with luxurious tents, hot showers and five star meals. The hearth fireplaces in the main tent provided warmth on chilly evenings and added to the ambience of this incredible location. Thanks to Moko for his expertise as he guided us on a nature walk and also the rim walk, which we can thoroughly recommend. This gave us a last view of the Crater before we reluctantly departed this unique area.

While we were already enthusiastic about the experiences and encounters with the wildlife in Tarangire, our expectations in the Serengeti were exceeded in every respect. The variety and amount of fauna and flora is breathtaking. Nomad's mobile camp, which follows the wildebeest and zebra migration, is impressive. Nevertheless, pure luxury in the middle of the wilderness, which was brought to us so wonderfully by guide Amos. Very good food, warm people and excellent service - Nomad is the best!

Greystoke Mahale is a place that’s unique and rewarding in every regard. It’s run by highly knowledgeable people who care that every single guest gets the most out of his or her stay. First off, it’s *remote*. To get there, it’s first a long flight from wherever you are to the airstrip at the village just outside Mahale National Park, then a comfortable boat trip of about 1 hour 10 minutes. From the camp, you look across Lake Tanganyika and can see the mountains of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the far distance. 

The chimpanzee experience is fantastic. The trackers go out in the early morning and tell the guides by radio where the chimps are located. You come to breakfast ready to go when word is received. The chimps may be close by, or finding them may involve a fairly arduous trek; it’s the luck of the draw. Note that between July and September the going may be quite tough, since the chimps are typically on the other side of a mountain. If it’s muddy (the area gets quite a bit of rain), that may also make the walking difficult. But the staff does everything humanly possible to help everyone reach the chimps.

The chimps are clearly aware of human visitors but they basically ignore you, leaving you able to get a real glimpse into their behavior. You’re allowed one hour in their presence. Over the span of a few days you’ll see a panoply of behaviors, start learning (with the help of the guides) about what you’re seeing, and start getting a sense of the social structure of the group (it’s Community M that’s habituated). In the afternoon you can go kayaking, take the boat to swim in the lake, and continue by boat to look for birds and hippos at the lakeshore.

A big part of what makes the experience so great is the wonderful people at Greystoke Mahale. The manager, Mwiga Mambo, started many years ago in the kitchen, then worked his way up to tracker, guide and eventually manager. I cannot say enough about Mwiga. He bent over backwards to make sure we had the best possible time and accommodated many special requests. Kudos also to Nomad for recognizing that he had the qualities to be a great manager and investing in his advancement. Our guides, Matias and Godfrey, were big-hearted and immensely knowledgeable. I learned a lot from them and greatly enjoyed our conversations. They live and breathe their subject, and they also care about their guests. The waitstaff — “Kapopo” and the twins Hussein and Hassan — were a joy. I’ve been gone several days now and I miss them! The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the entire setup is first rate. The experience is not inexpensive, but it’s amazing. I can highly recommend it to anyone who cares about wildlife and learning about it.

Kuro was our first stop after landing in Kilimanjaro airport, and getting there by a small plane. Our guide took us straight to a game drive, where the abundant green, along with colorful birds and plenty of land wildlife were a promise of what was coming, an alluring rustic oasis of comfort and natural beauty, along with the most welcoming and attentive staff. Our son had his own tent and we all had a fabulous river view, you could spot the elephants on the other side and listen to the hyenas, lions or leopards calling. Refined decor and lovely bedding, along wit a fully equipped bathroom with hot water on demand and wifi! The food was gourmet, fresh and delicious! We left wanting to stay longer! We did a foot Safari and we also packed an evening Safari as well, got to see very shy creatures such as aardvark, serval cats, bush babies,etc Thank you so much Joe, Ibrahim, Emmanuel, Robert and the whole Kuro team for an unforgettable experience Spectacular!

We stayed at Sand Rivers Selous for the second time (December 2021 and 2022) and for us it is a real paradise and one of the most beautiful places to be. Nyerere National Park – the park is very versatile with seasonal lakes, the Rufiji River, woodlands and open land. We had incredible sightings when we were there including a pack of wild dogs, a large python and we witnessed crocodile eggs hatching. Further we saw hippos, giraffes, elephants, plains game, monkeys and crocodiles daily and we saw lions and hyenas too. The Lodge – the lodge is in a remote part of the park with no other lodges close by which makes it even more special. It is built from natural materials and absolutely beautiful. The rooms are all open with an amazing view over the Rufiji River. Our room was super spacious and had a plunge pool which was fantastic for cooling down from the December heat. The staff is lovely and extremely friendly, we even had tears when we said goodbye to them all. The Guide – Hamsa was our guide and was accompanied by Regi (a guide in training). Hamsa is incredibly knowledgeable and a superb guide! He made us feel very comfortable and was super attentive to any ideas or wishes we had. We had our 8 year old son with us and he became best friends with Hamsa and Regi, they had so much patience for him and we enjoyed so much to see how much fun they had together. They really went out of their way and i.e. organised a football match for him and answered any question he had. Regi also surprised us with his fluent German. The Activities – One of the reason that we love the Selous is all the different activities you can do. You can choose between game drives, walks, boat Safari, fishing and night drives. All of those we really enjoyed!! The Food – The food is absolutely delicious. It is made out if fresh, local ingredients and we felt we ate delicious and healthy all the time. The daily choice of salads and meats for lunch was our favourite, but the bush breakfasts, dinners and snacks were equally good really. If we can will come back to Sand Rivers again and again, simply because we love it so much! Thank you so much to all the staff!

This place is beyond words! Everything is better than you what you saw in your pre-trip dreams! The cottages, the food, the service and the cleanliness is 5 star! But, most amazing are the people. Everyone there helps you with even the smallest of details regarding your cottage, your food, your drinks, your plans.... whatever you need...they get it for you immediately. The views from out cottage and the main lodge were breathtaking. Two of us celebrated our birthdays at the lodge. They made a special gluten-free cake for me; lined the table in petals with a birthday message; and all of the staff came to the table to dance around the table and sing a Tanzanian birthday song. I would be remiss if I didn't also mention that we got the same warmth and service at our other Nomad Tanzanian lodges. It was truly the trip of a lifetime! Thank you all!

Nomad's guides, camp staff, amenities, food and service were best in class! This was our first safari and I would highly recommend Nomad on all fronts. We had an incredible trip- they took care of everything! Our kids were in tears leaving the staff because we all grew so close to them in our short time there. Special call out to Festo...the best guide ever! He made sure we saw everything and made our experience extra special.

Nomad sets the bar for creating a memorable, personal experience. The people, food and special touches were absolute highlights. The tents are well thought out- they have literally thought of everything- and the showers are hot. Each morning starts with a coffee delivery, and things only get better from there. One of the most special places we’ve been as a family.

We were best served with a great team: Godfrey and Butati, helped with their trackers Saidi and Mfamme, fund every day where the chimpanzee were gathering and we could enjoy wonderfulk encounters. The camp manager, Hanisi, has much experience in hospitality and a lot of humor. We shared the chimp greeting while laughing... The twins Hassani and Hussein served us great meals and wines. Fully dedicaed to their job, they made our stay memorable. Thanks to all of you, including the rest of the team.

This was our second time to Africa and our second time at this camp because it was so nice the first time we had to come again. It exceeded our expectations in every way possible. This camp is set apart by the incredible cabins, the people, the animals, and the food. This gorgeous camp is set atop the kopes with breathtaking views in every direction. Each room is surprisingly luxurious and offers it's own unique impressive view. We have nothing but good things to say about the staff who are always warm and friendly and genuinely go out of their way to ensure all of the guests needs and wants are attended to. The game drives are always exciting with a new adventure behind every turn. The manager of the camp had changed since our previous trip and Lawrence, the new manager, was absolutely incredible! My only complaint is they kicked me out too soon! We even added an extra night this time around and it wasn't long enough! We requested Jairo as our private guide and he did not disappoint! The house staff is all incredible, we didn't have the opportunity to engage with everyone but just to name a few of the amazing Lamai family: Victoria, Senet, Shedrick, Daniel, Maria, Apael, Yassini, Dixon, Steven, and Andrew! We cannot wait to come back again!

This was our second time at Sand Rivers Selous. The best bit of our Nomad Journey was our whole stay really. There are a few highlights that stood out – Seeing the crocodile eggs hatch, the night game drive, Hamza and Raggie’s company, our room and the incredible view, the friendly staff, playing football on the sand banks and seeing a fish eagle catch baby crocodiles. The camp is truly amazing, and we had a great experience - can’t wait to be back. 

Thank you Nomad! The whole experience was Magical. The staff & service was beyond exceptional. The warmth and attention we received and the knowledge that the staff at Greystoke shared – created the trip of a lifetime! The staff provided a 6 star experience that would be difficult to exceed. It has truly exceeded all our expectations. 

We stayed 3 nights at this beautiful, secluded camp. Everything was exceptional in every way. What makes this camp very special is the extraordinary kindness of everyone here. We are sad to leave back the friends we have made here. We loved the food here. The game viewing highlights were seeing prides of lions as well as seeing an unsuccessful cheetah hunt. Looking forward to visiting again. 

We had an incredible experience at Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp. The staff is incredible. Godlove was an amazing camp manager and made us feel very comfortable and safe - along with all of the other staff. The location was phenomenal, and made it truly an incredible spot for wildlife viewing. Our group was entirely vegetarian and we do not think we have ever had better food on a vacation in our lives! The chefs are so amazing and our family was wowwed every time. Nomad even had the little things down - it was quite muddy in the area, and they had boots for everyone in our group the entire time. Our guide, Manu was INCREDIBLE and did such an amazing job navigating our tour through the Serengeti and onto Ngorogoro Crater. We saw nearly all of the big 5 on Day 1, and witnessed so many cool events - a cheetah hunting, lions honeymooning, hyenas eating, etc. We cannot wait to go on another safari with Manu, he truly made this a breathtaking vacation that we will remember forever. We highly recommend Nomad and cannot wait to come again.

We took advantage of one of Nomad Safari’s special deals to book 3 nights at Chada Katavi followed by 4 nights at Greystoke Mahale in early to mid-November. Initially, we were more excited about Mahale because of the opportunity to visit a habituated group of chimpanzees and, as a result, we didn’t think too much about our time at Chada Katavi before we arrived. However, in hindsight, our time at Chada Katavi was at least ‘as good as’ our time at Mahale and in some ways we enjoyed the camp more. Chada Katavi is a tented camp with about six comfortable safari-style tents, a central dining room and a library/sitting room. The tents were large enough to stand up in, there was an attached inside toilet and washbasin, and an outside shower area for bucket showers. It was all very civilized and the dining and sitting rooms were furnished in a safari-chic style. We hired a private guide to take us on walking safaris every day instead of game drives, however, we sometimes took a short drive to the start or finish of our walks. Our guide, John, tracker, Pole, and park ranger, Chris, were all great and we never felt in any danger. Perhaps Chris’s AK47 and Pole’s ‘stop anything’ gun helped! John was like an encyclopedia and answered all of our dumb questions easily and with a sense of humour. The best thing was that we saw no one else on our walks–no people, no vehicles, just the animals, nature and us–fantastic. The food at Chada Katavi was very good, or excellent considering where we were. We enjoyed the breakfasts in the bush and the lighter lunches back at camp. Candlelit dinners were good too, of course. The staff were all very friendly and helpful and the camp manager, Joe, kept us informed and made sure everything worked smoothly. The camp had an excellent atmosphere. In terms of animal sightings we saw loads of giraffes, several herds of elephants, zebra, hundreds of hippos, different types of antelope and lots more. We saw a sleeping pride of lions from the vehicle but that was not as exciting for us as being followed on foot by a curious elephant. Overall, we highly recommend combining Chada Katavi and Mahale because the two camps complement each other very well and Chada Katavi can easily ‘compete’ with Mahale.

For the third time, we returned to Lamai and spent 5 nights there, which we would have extended without hesitation, but we set off again on the trails for the continuation of a safari which kept all its promises The lodges are superb and comfortable, located on a hill with a breathtaking view of a beautiful nature, very few people around, all the animals are there; with or without the migration, the place is worth the trip in any season. Breakfast by the Mara is a must. The staff is very caring, always smiling, considerate and enthusiastic Pure happiness PS: All Nomad Tanzania camps are highly recommended

We had an unforgettable time here in mid-November, a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. The staff are excellent, the food of high quality and fresh (and lots of it!), and the views across the water including 24/7 hippos and crocs, and occasional baboons (all at a safe distance) fantastic. The rooms are comfortable and open-aired e.g. you get the sounds of the jungle and the occasional small visitors (geckos, small scorpions that run away from you) and sometimes some big visitors (we had hippos and buffalo but the staff insist on escorting you at night for this reason, and the animals are off elsewhere during the day). There is no air con in the rooms but in spite of daytime temperatures hitting mid 30s it never felt uncomfortably hot at night. It’s a relaxing vibe which is important as it’s early starts and you want to get the most out of the safari as it’s the main reason for going - and it’s sensational. You can sleep under the stars in the middle of the bush (we didn’t) but we did everything else - lots of jeep safari, a walking safari, water safari, hot springs and a night safari. You’ll need the right clothes to blend in and avoid biting insects - khakis and beiges - but the camp do laundry for free so no issue if you don’t have sets of clothes for every outing. Our guide (Godfrey) was a legend and from reading the guestbook he’s not the only one, very kind and understanding and so helpful and knowledgeable - we saw everything you can over 4 days including lions, leopards (a couple who were there at the same time as us saw a leopard kill too), elephants, giraffes, warthogs and so many more (all the big five other than rhinos!). Though there are smaller herds / prides here, that’s paired with an escape from crowds - you feel completely isolated here which doesn’t seem to be the case in Serengeti etc. Though four days is a good amount of time to explore and experience, we didn’t want to leave the Selous bubble!