Makasa — Local services in Kilimanjaro

Amazing breathtaking adventurous holidays with my husband and 2 (adult) children. This all thanks to our guides during our trip. Our gentil guide Godwin in Moshi, who showed us for a couple of days the real life there, explained the culture of Tanzania, and showed the treasures of the region (waterfall, local market, coffee plantation…) before he brought us to the Amini Africa Masaai Lodge. The time spent at the Masaai Lodge is an experience we will never forget. The heart-warming welcome, their smiling and happy faces, their willingness to share their traditions, culture and answer all your questions are just a glance of how beautiful this experience really was. Myriam at the bar and shop was always there to help us. At said shop you can buy beautiful handmade jewelry, baskets, dreamcatchers, belts and all sorts of objects made from beads in all kinds of colors. We were incredibly lucky to have Sabore and Leyasek as guides during our days at the Masaai lodge. Bush breakfast, mini safari and a touching visit to the Africa Amini Life clinic, schools, sewing shop, Masaai garage…these two great warriors gave us fantastic days with their enthusiastic stories. We experienced such great and hilarious moments of laughing together. At those special moments you do not need anything more, this is pure happiness. We really thought that that was it, that the holidays could not get any better. But that was without counting on Augustino, our private Safari guide, who showed up at the Masaai Lodge to bring us to the different parcs for 9 days. He made us directly feel comfortable by starting to sing, “in the jungle the mighty jungle….”, setting us immediately in the mood to see some animals. Augustino made our already fantastic journey even more spectacular. He is a “google button” himself for all birds and animals’ names we saw during our Safari in Tarangire parc, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and more. We have been so incredibly lucky with what nature showed us and with his experience we were able to see so many animals that we even started a list to make sure this was not a dream. The days at Serengeti lodge Kimbilio lodge were an experience on its own. With Kotema as camp manager who made us feel so very welcome. All was very well organized. We had some great chats, and soccer games together. Jeremy, from the “entertainment, food and beverages department” (As he called it) made us laugh a lot. It was also very enjoyable that the guide was able to sit with us for all meals. We really felt like a family there. Our guide made sure that our breakfast or lunch was always served on a spectacular site with great view and we even danced all together in the middle of Serengeti! The lodges itself are very luxurious which I, to be honest, never expected, food was great (during our whole trip we loved the food). You could hear the zebra’s and wildebeest nearby our tent. We even heard a lion and hyena’s fighting for the kill during the evening and night, but we felt safe at Kimbilio. After visiting the spectacular and beautiful crater we asked Augustino on the way back to the airport if there was a possibility to eat local food instead of our lunchboxes (we did not pack them in the morning). He brought us to a very special place, not seeable from the outsight, within a banana plantation, where a local, delicious lunch was cooked for us. So very tasteful and a finishing touch on our trip. We are very grateful to have met such incredible, nice and amazing people and on top of that to be so lucky to see the Big 5 as well thanks...

We just came home from a great trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar. Of course we had high expectations of this dream trip, but it was far beyond that. Incredible to really see wild life in their natural environment in some many numbers!. After a enthusiastic Facebook-live presentation of Selma Kamm from Makasa we were convinced that Makasa fitted best with our wishes. And that worked out very well. From the moment we arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport until we left from Zanzibar Airport everything was very well taken care off. For eight days we were guided and driven by the excellent Francis, a guide who knew every road in the parks we visited, without ever consulting a map or TomTom. With enormous knowledge of the animals and nature he drove us around and showed us more than 40 different species. Always kind, helpful in looking for the right angle for taking pictures and asking if we were okay with the program. And yes we were very content, in eight days we visited Park Tarangire, Park Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and of course the Serengeti. This sequence was very well chosen. Great to safe the best for last: the immense expanse of Serengeti was very impressive combined with staying in the new Kimbilio Camp in Northern Serengeti. We stayed their for three nights in the very well equiped camp. Francis was very right constantly saying 'Serengeti will never die'. Among many others he managed to show us the wildebeest crossing the river and even on the last morning driving to the airstrip we got our 'cherry on the cake': a cheetah family, mom, dad and three cubs. So yes, Makasa made a great programma, Francis made it all happen! He stole our heart and we will always remember him as the one who showed us all the beautiful creatures of God's hand. Next to nature we're also very interested in history. On the way to Serengeti we made a very interesting stop in Olduvai, the archeological site where mankind started million years ago. More history we consumed in Stone Town, Zanzibar, where we made a guided walking tour through old town, learning more about the history of this town and the role slavetrade played here. And then there was time to rest. In the lovely hotel Mahali right at the beach of Pajé, Zanzibar, we had a great time at the beach to process all we had seen in the week before. Swimming and snorkeling in the Indian Ocean, watching kiters on the waves, biking the beach, eating great fishplates at night, enjoying the care of the great staff of Mahali. So if you ever have a chance of making a trip like this, don't hesitate, Go for Tanzania and Zanzibar, book your trip at Makasa and ask for Francis...

We booked a year ahead our Tansania Safari (10 days) and a beach hotel in Zanzibar (7 days) with Makasa. The Z-hotel in Zanzibar unfortunately release our 3 rooms (3 pairs ~60 years travelled) only 4 days before we flew out from Germany. The stress level was immense, BUT: Due to the effort and engagement of Makasa the situation was fixed fast. Makasa took responsibility - even that this was not their fault, cross checked with the Z-hotel - and arranged a new accommodation, which was even better (all-inclusive @Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort). Makasa gave a professional impression on the phone and was always customer and solution oriented in a kind manner.

The Safari was also well planned and executed. The safari stations: Olerai Lodge (1 night) 2 Tarangire Safari Lodge (2 nights) Baghayo Garden Suites (2 nights) In the wind Lodge (3 nights) - a highlight Mawe Luxury Tented Camp (3 nights)

flight to Zanzibar

Zanzibar: Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort (7 nights)

During the safari we had an excellent guide Augustino, working for Makasa, who explained all details of the different areas we visited. From the birds to the plants with an excellent eye for the details he explained with passion and patience - for non native english speakers - the environment. In addition his excellent guide network with other drivers ensured to find challenging animals like e.g. Leopards in the trees. During the trip he became part of the "family" and was "not only the driver/guide". Thanks for that!!!

As we have been alreads ~60 years old, so weaknesses of the people needed to be handled (e.g. sea sick guy :-) on safari...). These challenges have been also handled save and well. We enjoyed the big five, the atmosphere of the nature, the accomodations and the people very much on that trip.

Therefore, with the experiences made: Makasa can be recommended further, without any constraints, which we have done already @friends and family.

If we are comming back to Tansania one day, we will definitely go with Makasa.

Thanks Makasa for the unforgettable experience. And BIG thanks to Augustino,

the OK Ok group...