Safaris Reviews

  We arranged a personalized travel with Calabash Adventures. Two days at/in the Ngorongoro crater and five days in the northern Serengeti to watch the "big migration" at the Mara river.... read more Tillya, the owner of the company, was kind and very responsive when we negotiated the itinerary by e-mail. Prices are significantly lower when contracting directly with a tanzanian tour operator. Accommodation + meals were good standard or better. Transportation by Landcruiser or with local airlines worked flawlessly. Our driver/guide was a walking encyclopedia and knew instinctively when and where to find animals. We saw much more than we expected.

  This is my review of Calabash and a response to Travelworld/christinewJ4034HQ who accused me of being one of "all fakes, all bogus shills and plants". She incorrectly said I "had... read more a great tour with her husband, another time with her 8 yr old daughter, and yet another time with her 12 yr. old daughter." And that I "posted extensively on the WhatsApp group". You will see by my review with whom I traveled - and I am not in any WhatsApp group. I've been published in travel magazines, was a top contributor for a travel site, and am active in family travel groups on FB. I've also contributed here. I don't need to lie about my travels, nor have I ever gotten compensation for any of my reviews. Below is the review I share on Facebook and I stand by it 100%. (I put in Nov 2023 as date of travel because there was no option for my original date, although my original date on my original review.) You will see that there are many very positive reviews of Calabash.

"My husband, myself, and our (then) 8 yrs old daughter did a private safari to Tanzania in June/July with Calabash Adventures (a local company). It was important for us to book with a local company. They came recommended by a friend who has done multiple safaris with them. For our trip, it was the 3 of us and the driver in a comfortable 8 seat safari vehicle. Our driver/guide was so great. He was the best spotter - we saw the Big 5 and so much more. Even our daughter became a proficient spotter a few days into our safari. We did see the starting of the migration but I'd love to go back and see the full-on migration! One of my favorite things was our picnic lunches (including tablecloth!) set up in the middle of the Serengeti or wherever we happened to be that day. Amazing accommodations - some with pool - everything from beautiful "tents" to a stone cottage with a fireplace on a coffee plantation. They accommodated my vegetarian daughter. All food was fresh and excellent.

The best thing for me was that every detail was completely taken care of. We had the flexibility to set our days - getting up and out when we wanted, going where we wanted, etc. They'll work with your budget. Tanzania is stunning and the whole trip was the trip of a lifetime! We finished up our safari with a few days on Zanzibar, which was so nice and relaxing (booked as part of our package)! Highly recommend Calabash. We're hoping to go with them again.

Where we went/stayed each day: Lake Manyara National Park/Kariby Kirumrumu Tented Camp, Mto wa Mbu/Ngorongoro Farm House, Ngorongoro Crater/Switched Accommodations from original, Olduval Gorge-Ndutu/Maseki Tented Camp, Serengeti/Kisura Serengeti Camp (2 days/nights), Tarangire/Marambol Tented Camp."

  Went on a 8 days safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. A lot of close encounters with lions, lepards and many other animals. Truly a fantastic experiens. Stayed at Ngorongoro... read more Sopa Lodge, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Kati Kati Tented Lodge and Ndutu Safari Lodge. Finished of with 7 days on Zanzibar Island. Stayed at Langi Langi Beach Bungalows. All of the above are fantastic places. Everything were perfectly planed by Hamadi Tillya and our fantastic safari guide Godson Malisa at Calabash Adventures. We can highly recommend this company for your safari and beach vacation .
Micke Ohlsson and Lena Kjellberg.
SWEDEN

  We had an amazing trip with Calabash! It was just fantastic from start to finish as everything was perfectly organised. Our guide Mohammed was very knowledgeable and very friendly. Together... read more with him and our friends’ driver Malisa we were able to see all the animals you could just dream of. In the northern Serengeti we even watched a large herd of wildebeests crossing the Mara River. The safari in Tanzania and the follow up week in Zanzibar were just a unique experience. Tillya, the owner of the company, was really helpful and supportive when our kids joined us only some days later. We would highly recommend Calabash. Thanks to you all for this wonderful holiday, Tillya, Mohamed and Malisa!

  Malisa, our driver and guide, is now considered part of our family after having so much fun with him. We spent an amazing week with him in Ndutu, Serengeti... read more and Ngorogoro. He has such great knowledge of the terrain, the animals and their behaviors, and even of the other drivers so as to receive and share crucial information in order to find animals doing amazing things. Malisa was well-tuned to our needs and anticipated what activities we would like and when we needed a rest. And Tillya was an amazing communicator when organizing and setting up the tour ahead of time. What a great partnership they have with the best local knowledge to give us the safari of a lifetime!

  So this was our first camping safari in Africa and so we had a number of queries, all of which were promptly answered by Tillya. There was a lengthy discussion... read more over email to the specifics of the safari and Tillya answered all promptly which gave us confidence in the company.

The safari guide we had was Malisa and he was amazing, a great guide to Africa and animals in general and a very nice man himself too.

Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday and looking forward to booking again with Calabash. Would recommend this company for sure.

  Jambo!
It was our second time with CALABASH ADVENTURES and again they have allowed us to take full advantage of the Safari. The continuous attention, and their expert knowledge... read more of the terrain and wildlife were 10/10, top level. They are totally friendly people, rigorous and involved in their work. I recommend them all for their safaris in Tanzania ... and beyond!
Safari njema! 🙂

  We arranged a personalized travel with Calabash Adventures. Two days at/in the Ngorongoro crater and five days in the northern Serengeti to watch the "big migration" at the Mara river.... read more Tillya, the owner of the company, was kind and very responsive when we negotiated the itinerary by e-mail. Prices are significantly lower when contracting directly with a tanzanian tour operator. Accommodation + meals were good standard or better. Transportation by Landcruiser or with local airlines worked flawlessly. Our driver/guide was a walking encyclopedia and knew instinctively when and where to find animals. We saw much more than we expected. …

  We absolutely loved our 5 day safari through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Calabash were amazing to deal with: so friendly, reliable, reasonably priced and knowledgeable. Would be happy to... read more answer any questions if you had!
:):)

  This is the self explanatory email I sent to Tillya. He gives me the run around and never returned my money. He is a scammer.
"Hello Tillya,

I... read more am no longer with the tour you planned for October 8 to October 21, 2023.

I wired you US$50 on August 15, 2023 and US$4330 on August 18 and you acknowledged receiving the monies on August 26. Subsequent calls, texts, and emails for confirmation of the tour went unanswered; I sent you information about our flight schedule and arrival date in Tanzania but received nothing. Until Monday October 2nd, 2023, the day before my departure, on that day you texted “Hi, how are?”

For over a month, despite having paid US$4380.00 I got no communication. I had severe doubts whether the tour would really take place, let alone if Calabash is a real company, and where I would stay and tour once I got to Tanzania. I had booked my airplane tickets on the premise that you would send me details of the booking but to my surprise and disappointment, I did not hear a word from you for more than 5 weeks. I was forced to go with another tour company.

I would like a refund for US$4380. My bank’s instructions for the wire transfer are as follows."

  We did not really know what to expect as we booked the tour the day before but had a wonderful 4 days trip with Calabash Adventures : 1 day Tarangire,... read more 2 days Serengeti and 1 day Ngorongoro. We took the camping option, around 1500$ per person for 4 days all inclusive. The guide, Mood, was very nice and we keep him as a friend! He took a lot of time to try to show us the best and the most of where we have been, no rest for him! He was a very good driver and knew a lot on the parks and animals, it was very nice to do the tour with him. The cook was also very fine, with oven baked fresh bread at every meal, we did not miss anything. Finally we saw the big 5 and thousands of animals, more than expected! If you are looking for a tour we can recommand you Calabash, flexible and professional! Simon and Julia …

  Father daughter 8 day private safari including Kambi ya tembo, Tarangire, Myanara, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. Calabash is a local Tanzanian company with reasonable rates and experienced guides (recommend... read more Malisa!). Tillya the owner was very open to communication by email and Whatsapp in the planning of the trip and even met us in person on arrival. Malisa our guide had excellent knowledge and helped us see nearly all the animals. All the places we stayed had great hospitality and took good care of us. We travelled during covid and felt completely safe in Tanzania where there was seemingly no covid and life was normal. It is so relaxing to enjoy the peaceful safari rides and watch nature at work. If you enjoy the outdoors, animals and photography, this is the trip of your dreams. It was a dream come true for us!

  We did not really know what to expect as we booked the tour the day before but had a wonderful 4 days trip with Calabash Adventures : 1 day Tarangire,... read more 2 days Serengeti and 1 day Ngorongoro. We took the camping option, around 1500$ per person for 4 days all inclusive. The guide, Mood, was very nice and we keep him as a friend! He took a lot of time to try to show us the best and the most of where we have been, no rest for him! He was a very good driver and knew a lot on the parks and animals, it was very nice to do the tour with him. The cook was also very fine, with oven baked fresh bread at every meal, we did not miss anything. Finally we saw the big 5 and thousands of animals, more than expected! If you are looking for a tour we can recommand you Calabash, flexible and professional!
Simon and Julia

  We spent 3 days in Tarangire, Lake Maniara and Ngorongoro crater. The guide, Malissa, was really helpful, patient and well prepared. He could look far away each interesting animal in... read more the sourrandings. One day me and my wife did not feel well probably due to food so he took us at the near medical center and we were treated fast and nicely. I do really reccomend Calabash also for the value for money side.

  We contacted Tillya from Italy months beforehand, and he was always invaluable with his advice and suggestions for a 6-day safari between Ngorongoro, Serengeti and the Mara River. Together, but... read more especially with his input, we tailor-made a safari exactly as we imagined it. Tillya's patience at this stage was incredible. No change or second thought on our part put him off. Everything was hakuna matata!
Once on site we met Malisa, our driver. Thanks to his immense friendliness, his in-depth knowledge of the local fauna and flora and his long experience of the animals' habits, we really saw everything up close and the safari was a fantastic experience. Tillya also booked our 8 day followup in Zanzibar, without any problem and for fair prices. We now are friends and we are still in touch with both of them here at home. Asante sana, kaka Malisa! Grazie Tillya!

  Father daughter 8 day private safari including Kambi ya tembo, Tarangire, Myanara, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. Calabash is a local Tanzanian company with reasonable rates and experienced guides (recommend... read more Malisa!). Tillya the owner was very open to communication by email and Whatsapp in the planning of the trip and even met us in person on arrival. Malisa our guide had excellent knowledge and helped us see nearly all the animals. All the places we stayed had great hospitality and took good care of us. We travelled during covid and felt completely safe in Tanzania where there was seemingly no covid and life was normal. It is so relaxing to enjoy the peaceful safari rides and watch nature at work. If you enjoy the outdoors, animals and photography, this is the trip of your dreams. It was a dream come true for us!

  Booked with Calabash as a result of a recommendation from friends who travel with them regularly. Itinerary was great and our driver/guide, Marisa, was great. Excellent driver, knowledgeable... read more guide and a great guy as well. The wildlife we saw was far more than we could have hoped for. If we are fortunate enough to visit Tanzania again we will certainly be contacting Calabash

  We spent almost five (5) safari in Tanzania with Moody in November 2019. This days has been excellent. Moody" He is a very excellent guide, a nice fellow and one... read more of the 3 best game trackers I ever had in some 9 times I went to Eastern Africa. Great experience ever

  I can't say enough about our experience with Calabash Adventures! Right from the start Tillya was responsive and helpful in building an itinerary to show us the best Tanzania had... read more to offer. We spent 9 days in Tanzania and 3 days in Zanzibar. Our guide/driver Malisa was the best! I have no doubt that we saw so much more wildlife because of his skills. Each day I looked forward to his wonderful picnic style lunches in the middle of the Serengeti, or wherever we happened to be that day!

The tented camps were simply the best - many were even luxurious! All of the food was delicious (everyone went out of their way to accommodate our vegetarian daughter). All of the people working at the camps were so nice and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and happy - it was a pleasure to get to know them.

It was so great to have our own vehicle for the 3 of us. Plenty of room to move around inside and have great views of the wildlife. We loved the flexibility of our schedule as well. We could leave anytime we wanted in the morning.

We spent the last 3 days of our trip at the beach in Zanzibar, which was a perfect ending to a perfect trip. Having someone handle all the details was so relaxing for me! And Tanzania is absolutely beautiful! Thank you Calabash! We'll be back!

  Our trip was a personalised safari arranged in consultation with Tillya, the owner of the company, via email. Tillya responded immediately during our planning stages and nothing we requested was... read more deemed impossible. On the safari every eventuality was planned for and accommodated by our guide Simba who was ‘knowledgeable, skilful and deeply in tune with the environment and the animals. We stayed in a variety of accommodation types because our safari was a mobile safari. Some options were lodges, others were semi-permanent camps, all of which were of a high standard. Staff at our accommodation were helpful and friendly and expected nothing in return, apart from us experiencing a positive outcome. We were up close and personal with extraordinary animals on a daily basis. Highlights are too many to mention but a couple Include Tarangire National Park around the waterhole, Lake Natron and the flamingoes and the Mara River area where we saw 4 wildebeest crossings and had a balloon ride over the Mara River at dawn. …