How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Excellent, very knowledgable, great at spotting and identifying animals and birds.  First class driver on terrible roads, always felt safe.  Very well organised trip, both Isaac and Henry were always cheerful and nothing seemed too much trouble.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

A great trip, the two halves are completely different.  Read up before you go.

Do you have anything else to add?

The Zanzibar part of the trip had no official leader, but the guide provided by Island Tours for the Spice Trip and the tour of Stone Town was brilliant.  The Hotel in Nungwi was in the midst of building work and the Restaurant needed better trained staff, though the food when it came was OK. Staff were pleasant and it was well situated.  The hotel in Zanzibar was good.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Isaac from Simba was excellent - sensitive to people and animals and responsive to the needs of the Explore' group.  Helpful when I injured my leg, and practical when I lost my glasses.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Pack everything you really, really need in your hand luggage as luggage in the hold is often held up - it usually turns up in the end!!

Use common sense when exploring independently but don't miss out as we did - cos the Explore Rep advises you to avoid leaving the hotel.                                     

Use local currency (if you can get your head round it) in preference to dollars cos it's much cheaper."

Do you have anything else to add?

A day of rest at one of the lodges would have been good for me as I wanted to  do some painting and the safari vehicles were pretty tiring altho' we were just sitting and looking.  I guess I could have elected to stay at the lodge on the 2 night stays but I feared I might miss something crucial!!

The awesome Leopard kill, the spectacular hot air balloon safari trip, the amazing and romantic sunrises and sunsets across the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, a once in a lifetime honeymoon experience never to be forgotten. Early morning game drives provided us with the opportunity to see lions, hyenas, jackals, topi, gazelles, giraffes, elephants, zebras and buffalos amongst many other animals. The photos taken are breathtakingly fantastic. Hearing the lions roaring in the night and being surrounded by gazelles when strolling out of the spectacular upgraded tents in the Tarangire National Park is very memorable. Watching the baby elephants playing in the water and the baby baboons squabbling and fighting with each other was highly amusing. Observing and mingling with the locals going about their daily lives was also a highlight of this unbelievable trip. Visiting the spice island in Zanzibar taught us more about the culinary delights of Tanzanian food and hiring a car enabled us to make the most of the glorious white sandy beaches that Zanzibar has to offer. Walking, dancing and relaxing on the powdery sands, swimming in the Indian Ocean and drinking champagne and cocktails on the beach was truly a delight. This certainly was an amazing honeymoon and well deserved after many months of planning our wedding. We would definitely recommend this trip to all romantic, adventurous and sun seeking honeymooners.(TLZ -14th August 2010)