My adult son and I are just back from an amazing week with Adventure Makers Tanzania guided by the wonderful and knowledgeable owner Stephen. This was my second trip to Tanzania - the first trip being a luxury wildlife safari. For this trip, my son and I sought something much more distinct and special, with a locally owned company that could give us a customized, flexible, and intimate visit to Tanzania with knowledgeable local insight. We wanted to experience in depth the cultures of Tanzania - and not limit ourselves to the amazing wildlife - which we saw in great abundance! We could not have done better than spend a week with the very personable Stephen - a kind, warm, humorous, knowledgeable, flexible guide - deeply local but with perfect English and a very keen knowledge of Tanzania, its wonderful peoples and cultures, as well as all manner of wildlife - plants, birds, wild game. We spent amazing days with the Maasai, Datoga, Hadzabe and other tribespeople - days that were truly experiences of a lifetime. We also visited local villages showing us an insight into local Tanzanian life with its great diversity of cultures, foods, beers and peoples. This was definitely not a "Disney" tour - but an honest visit with truly authentic local people and lives. For each experience Stephen paired us with a specialized guide who spoke the local tribal languages of these very traditional cultures which enabled us to see unvarnished life as it happens. Special appreciation to Andrew who showed us in-depth daily life in the village of Mto Wa Mbu and to Faustin - a Datoga tribesman who was our lifeline to both the Datoga and Hadzabe peoples. We danced with the beautiful Maasai, tried our skills with handmade bows and arrows with the resourceful Hadzabe people on their daily hunt, and experienced the Datoga who skillfully turned crude charcoal into blazingly hot fires using goat skin bellows to melt, forge and hammer metals into fine arrow tips and jewelry. What amazement to experience the resourceful Hadzabe create fire in remarkable speed from skillfully twirling dry wood, as well as experience them living a hunter-gatherer life as they have for at least the last 10,000 years. Trying to track with them through the very wild bush including towering ancient Baobob trees will never be forgotten. Every step put our daily lives in very real perspective, and gave us an appreciation of the talent and abilities of these people to maintain their traditional ways in the face of overwhelming change all around. In addition to the cultural aspect, Stephen treated us to a memorable day in the amazing Ngorongoro Crater. In our one day there we saw a staggering array of all the wildlife that Tanzania is famous for. Our day in Ngorongoro with Stephen was filled with steady wildlife viewing across the caldera floor. We spotted several wildebeest herds moving through the grasslands, and a couple of warthogs trotting along with their characteristic bouncy gait. Near the hippo pool, where we stopped for our packed lunch, we watched the resident hippos surface occasionally with loud snorts. The day's highlight was finding a black rhino - though quite far off, it was still clear enough to observe. A pride of lions rested in the grass, sleeping, and we came across a small group of hyenas moving purposefully across the plain. The Cape buffalo were perhaps the most numerous of the large animals we encountered, scattered in groups across the crater floor, among many different species of antelope - large and small. It was quite a day. Many thanks to Stephen who was knowledgeable, ever-resourceful and happily willing to be flexible at each turn to give us the wonderful experience we enjoyed. Stephen is also a great (and prompt!) communicator from first inquiry thoughout our journey. If you want an authentic experience with an outstanding local company - we highly recommend Adventure Makers Tanzania and Stephen. You will enjoy the experience of a lifetime.

We did a 10 day group safari in Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorogo Crater with Stephen and his team and then climbed Mount Meru. Everything ran like clock-work, the communication and customer service were impeccable. The guides were excellent and really know their flora and fauna. We could not have asked for more from a tour company and will definitely be using Adventure Makers again.

Completing safari with Adventure Makers Tanzania was an once-in-a-lifetime experience largely due to the guide (Kiaka). Kiaka was simply exceptional and catered to all our needs at all times. He was knowledgeable, helpful and amicable.  I cannot recommend him highly enough. Adventure Makers runs an efficient and comfortable operation. They make sure that you really get the full experience of safari. Kiaka worked tirelessly to ensure that we saw all the wildlife possible. Further, Kiaka ensured our safety at all times and as a result I felt completely safe. Stephen who runs Adventure Makers was responsive before and after completing safari. He ensured that I made my flight to Zanzibar on time without any issues. If somebody is looking to complete safari on a budget, Adventure Makers is your only option.

Excellent tour organised by Stephen and with driver Frank and local guide Faustin. 

One of my best experience  with the Datoga local ancient tribes and the discovery of remote land in Lake Eyasi NP!

Do not miss a cultural local tour at Mto Wa Mbu with visits of irrigation lands, bananas plantations, local falls and meeting local people, tasting their food and learning about their local craft. Learning how to sculpt and making local banana beer were among the many highlights! Thank you Stephen for my unique and fun experience.