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I and my wife arrived in Arusha on the 3rd February 2010 for a 27Days safari with Lipi Adventure Company; our mission was to cover Northern circuit and the western circuit on budget. for sure we paid 150usd per person per every safari day except the domestic flights and international flights
On arrival were met at the airport by Driver Harold who to drove us to Flamingo hotel for bed and breakfast. The communication before the safari was excellent and the program was easily grounded, we had to pay a deposit of 20% of the total before our arrival, the next morning we had the opportunity to meet Hussein and pay the balance.
Our guide in the northern circuit where we covered Kisimangeda the creator and Serengeti was Comas and our cook Felix were both excellent, it was a six days safari but seemed like two or three days had no problems with the car except the fact that it was really raining in Serengeti until Comas had to change us from the Tents to the rest houses at Seronera which was quite helpful, The Tents were quite ok and we really enjoyed the company of cosmas and Felix our cook who had to ask us every day what we wanted to eat
At Kisimangeda the Hunting with the hadzabe was and experience beyond our expectations, I could imagine running through the African thorny bushes with my wife hunting with the hadzabe, and we managed to kill a squirrel, though the Hadzabe don’t don’t speak English but our local guide Musa with the assistance of cosmas made us understand which way we could run and how. During all this 6Days Hussein used to call us every day to know how we went on with the safari
We flew from Arusha to Dar connecting precision air to Kigoma where we met Hussein on arrival, Hussein didn’t look happy, like there was something bad he wanted to tell us, yes it was bad. He started saying you know there is a change of program because of things that have happened just two weeks before our arrival and I had not known this until am here in Kigoma, The issue he was trying to Explain was that the MV, Liemba was not operational as it was taking back the Congolese and there fore had been fully hired by United nations for that purpose
We were abit confused But Hussein was there and we asked the way forward, Hussein did a great Job you can not believe it but we managed to go to Mahale without the MV,Liemba without the MV.Mkombozi Here is the process
Even after failing to connect with the Liemba Hussein went to the information office at Kigoma to communicate with the park officials via Radio communication in Mahale, He booked a speed boat that could catch us half way drive to Mahale at place called Kirando which is almost 80kms away from Kigoma.
Were picked by Tanapa land rover to Via Simbo which is 21kms away from Kigoma where we get a junction to the south , went through Burambola, Ilagala, Sunuka and lastly arrived at Kirando, A very long drive from Kigoma to the middle of no where where we met the Tanapa speed boat that Hussein had booked on last minute to get us to Mahale, I truly believe Hussein is Honest and dedicated I just thought of if Hussein wasn’t dedicated am sure he wouldn’t have rolled to change the plans as swiftly as such
Our visit in Mahale was great experience, stayed at the bandas cooked our own food , The Beach was great and happy with the arrangements on our last day we flew from Mahale to Katavi by charters operated by mbali mbali lodges on arrival in Katavi we met by our Driver Hamisi who had driven from Kigoma to Katavi to come and meet us on arrival, our food in Katavi was at the rest house and very delicious we enjoyed all the game drive in Katavi and the best thing I can ever imagine and quite different from the northern circuit is about the number of clients or cars you meet during the game drives. We hardly met any cars during game drive, there were almost as many buffalos as the elephants and the gazelles, a very big difference between northern and western circuit , Something amazing the rest House in Katavi are very luxurious self contained and well furnished they are quite executive far away from the price we were charged
Another advantage their locations is at the best area, you can just outside the bandas and animals like giraffes and others come around the bandas, you can take pictures just from your house
Lastly may I talk of the drive from Katavi to mpanda, from mpanda to Uvindza then from uvindza to Kigoma this is a very long journey through and all forested routed which is rarely used
We began that day on a high note that we should live Katavi even before break fast and get the break fast at Mpanda and so we did, we arrived mpand at 7am and quickly took our breakfast while Hamisi to gas the car, we after around an hour started driving towards uvindza what and adventure, what an experience, the landscape the bad road and the forested all added into our experience we really enjoyed this part of the day, we discussed a lot of things with Hussein, Both business and political about Tanzania and at last we ended Seeing Hussein just like one of us very friendly very attentive an amazing guy, arriving Uvindza around 2pm without our Knowledge and through a very c
Refuel driving of the guide Hamisi Whom even though he doesn’t understand well English but very charming. At last we arrived Kigoma safely some minutes before five pm got a quick shower and had to rest again at mapinduzi guest House
The next day was flying back prescion air to Dar connecting an international flight back home, my recommendations, my opinion and my goodwill and my credit for the special visit to Africa goes to Hussein of www.lipiadventure.com
He made it possible he was ready for everything from the point of emailing to the guiding, any one looking for the budget western Tanzania and other adventurous site of the country I highly recommend him and wish him a bright future with his company
Updated Apr 5, 2010
Address: Western circuit of Tanzania
Phone: +254719391104
Website: http://www.lipiadventure.com/pages/mahale.html
If you're in Arusha and haven't yet booked anything, I think you have good chances to organize your safari on the spot.
There are plenty of tour operators and agencies in Arusha and all of them just want to arrange a safari for you!
If you're travelling alone, you'll find a place in a car with another group, otherwise you can try to fill up a car by yourself.
Just walk in the town centre and you'll find lots of advertisement of travel agencies: they tend to standardize offers and prices but I think it's better to take a good look around before choosing.
Better to get off from the "street vendors", guys that offer you their business card assuming they are the boss of a company: they give you the business card of the boss, but the real one will be waiting for you in his office.
So, the only tip is to verify personally the agency and choose the one you like the best.
Written Oct 22, 2009
Arusha town is a great place to spend your money on objects of facination to take back home with you. I would avoid buying random items that will be offered to you on the roadsides simply because they are of poor quality. Arusha Town on the other hand has dozens of curio shops offering carvings of all varieties, jewellery, kikoys, kangas, masks, furniture (if you have the room) and T-shirts. Of course there are a few cowboy outfits that are waiting to prey on vulnerable tourists but I have listed a few choice places below that have yet to dissapoint me as they sell top quality stuff at really good prices. Most of these shops are located in the clock tower area and should be easy for you to find:
Tarangire Minerals
The shop right next to Tarangire Minerals is my absolute favourite!!
-Next to Meat King
A- Freak-A - t shirt shop in the small shopping mall next to Shoprite. ( i bought 2 t-shirts here for £12 and they were heavy weight 100% cotton)
I have been back to Arusha 3 times and and everytime i go back i always pay a visit to these places
Written Feb 2, 2007
Hopefully you will be able to see from the photos what an amazing experience this was......we communicated with the kids who spoke English as they learn it in school these days, and with the adults through our local Tanzanian Guide who spoke Masai.
The kids were amazing, so happy and so full of life, the mothers welcomed us into their homes and the fathers into their village.
I have so many great piccies that I will upload some on a travelogue too.
Written Jan 29, 2007
We walked for around an hour over Arusha's dusty plains towards one of the Masai Villages. On the way the views were magnificent, the people friendly and we saw so much life.
So this things to do tip -is walk, breath and take in the life around you.
Written Jan 29, 2007
Just outside of the Masai museum but in the same complex is fake Masai Village. People are dressed in Masai traditional outfits and the small mud huts depict a Masai Village. Inside them however are the locals selling souveirs and the like.
Its pretty touristy and so obviously not real, but if you dont have the time to get to a "real" Masai Village that combined with the museum will give you a good insight.
Written Jan 29, 2007
Our stay in Arusha was only a short one, but whilst there we did some things that to me will stay with me forever and were totally worthwhile.
We visited the Masai Museum which was extremely interesting and beneficial considering the area we were visiting.
Written Jan 29, 2007
Helpfulness
Shopping in Africa is great fun mainly in part because it is so cheap yet the items are really cool. Arusha has wide spread market and there are not many travellers in the area. The locals love meeting foreigners and they enjoy bargaining. I bought some masks and jewellery and it a great way to see the everyday life of the local Tanzanians. The marke is small, condense but super fun!
Written May 12, 2006
Helpfulness
We visited Tanzania in Nov 2003 without any safari reservations, but we had contacted companies via email that were recommended on VT or travel books. November is off season and is supposed to be "little rains" but is was very dry all the time we were there.
After climbing Kili, we went to Arusha to arrange our safari. Arusha is a pretty nasty place with lots of street touts - and we were practically the only prey they had! We got quotes of $75 to $100 per day for a tent or combined lodge/tent safari of about 6 days. There was no correlation between web/email appearance of a safari firm, and the actual office in Arusha. Most were hole-in-the-wall operations.
Finally we called Sunny Safaris which had been recommended on VT. They immediately sent a car to drive us to their nice offices. When we mentioned that all of our other quotes had been either $75 or $100 per day, they quoted us about $65 per day for an all lodge safari including Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Norongo, and Tarangeri, with one land cruiser just for the two of us, and an excellent guide who was a fantastic bird/animal expert. We practically fell of our seats. The safari turned out fantastic, and my only complaint(?) was: how many elephants and lions do you want to see - 10, 100, 1000? You could probably have a great safari in 3 days. However, the longer you go, the more chance you have to see something really amazing. On the last hour of the last day on safari we saw a lioness make a zebra kill right in front of us, and then the lioness dragged the zebra calf over to feed her cubs.
All our lodges appeared to have less than a dozen other guests. We spent a month in Tanzania including climbing Kili, safari and diving in Zanzibar - all without any reservations. However, it takes extra time to do things this way, and I think you could do everything we did in 2 weeks if you had a more packaged tour.
So if you have lots of time and are not going during high season, you will be in a good safari bargaining position.
Written Jun 17, 2005
Address: Arusha
Website: http://www.sunnysafaris.com
cs
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: cs
Phone: cs
Reviews and photos of Arusha Region attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Arusha Region sightseeing.
cs
12 members live in Arusha Region
Q: I have one day to myself in Arusha... what's the best way to arrange a visit to one of the national parks?
A: hi buddy, one day is not enough to do safari in arusha region in my opinion but choice is yours. one thing that i recommend to you "THE GREAT MIGRATION OF WILDEBEEST"
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