• About Us
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  • What Makes Us Unique
  • Commitment to Communities
  
  
  • Meet our Driver Guides
• About Tanzania
  • Country History
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  • Country Map
• Safari Options
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• Accomodations
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  • Accomodations / Locations
• Contact Information
• Bush Report

There are so many different safari companies that it can be confusing which one to select and what the differences are. Certainly, the most obvious difference to clients will be the range in price, but not everyone understands why different companies have different prices for what might seem to be a similar safari at first glance. Here is the 'truth' behind the differences, so you can make an informed choice in who you would like to handle your safari. Here are the ways that Unique Safaris stands out among other companies and why this is important.

» Unique Safaris has been a licensed tour operator since 1990. Additionally, the owners were driver guides themselves for 10 years prior to opening their own company.

Not all safari companies are equal - There is great variation between companies in terms of standards for staff, equipment and customer service. First check to make sure your tour operator is a licensed tour operator and how many years they have been operating. These factors make a big difference in terms of how comfortable you will be on safari, how much you will see or learn and what capacity the main office has to help solve any problems that might arise in the bush. Always check references personally and do not rely on Internet travel forums alone!

» Unique Safaris owns a fleet currently of 20 safari vehicles, all stretch Land Rovers and Land Cruisers, specially adapted for photography and unrestricted game viewing.

Owned vs. leased vehicles - only select a tour operator that owns their own vehicles! This is often critical because a company that owns its own fleet of vehicles is motivated to take excellent care of the cars due to their overall expense. These companies will maintain their vehicles and keep them in the best condition. If a tour operator does not own their own vehicles, they will lease free-lance vehicles, which are often not maintained to the same standards and they will not have replacement vehicles easily available if there is a mechanical emergency in the bush.

» Unique Safaris has 20 driver guides on staff, all with outstanding dedication to education!

Driver guides - similarly, only select a tour operator that has their driver guides on salaried staff. Many companies not only hired leased vehicles, but they also hire free-lance driver guides. Some free-lance driver guides are very experienced, but they "dance to their own drum" and do not necessarily follow the standards and expectations of the tour operator, which is vital to customer service and to ensure the educational nature of your safari.

» Unique Safaris specializes in their knowledge of the national parks and willingness to travel to more remote areas to see unique wildlife without the crush of other vehicles

Vehicles and daily mileage restrictions - the overwhelming majority of tour operators in Tanzania impose a daily mileage restriction to control their costs and limit fuel in the bush. This is a tricky topic because most companies will also not tell you the truth about what their internal policy is. The "proof" is when you get to Tanzania and which vehicles you see in the more remote areas of the Serengeti. This is absolutely essential in a park like Serengeti, which is so large that you want to be able to explore more remote areas to find the more unusual wildlife and away from other tourist vehicles and the heavily-travelled circuits that are used by so many companies.

» Unique Safaris has built its reputation on private mobile camping and is listed as the best mobile camping operator for the Serengeti by National Geographic Adventure magazine (2007).

Types of accommodations - There is considerable price differences between individual lodges, mobile camping and small permanent tented camps. So, even if you are visiting the same parks, you must compare actual accommodations to understand price differences. Mobile camping is always more expensive than lodges and small, intimate permanent tented camps are also usually more expensive.

» Unique Safaris specializes in private custom designed safaris, planning your safari for what you want to experience and how you want to travel and be accommodated. We DO NOT commission accommodation rates with a percentage, assuring that the recommendations for accommodations are based solely on what will fit for you and not how much money we would make.

Park fees and other pricing - Many companies will not plan for certain park fees to reduce your costs, but you will pay the price later on for not being able to travel where you think you can! Some companies will accommodate you outside of a national park and not include the park fee, so you cannot actually go inside the park. Park fees are expensive, so this can be a serious hidden factor. One small example is accommodations in the southern Serengeti. A popular small lodge is Ndutu Lodge in the Serengeti. But, Ndutu Lodge is actually located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area bordering the Serengeti. So, to be able to stay at this lodge and visit the Serengeti, you have to pay for both park fees. Many companies will not tell you that and you will only be able to game drive in the Conservation Area and not to into the national park. Additionally, many companies, if not most, actually commission each accommodation rate by a certain percentage. So, it can be in a company's best interest to suggest more expensive accommodations because the tour operator will make more money.