Published on Nov, 2024

Hidden Gem of Northern Tanzania: An Intimate Safari Experience ✨ Often overlooked in favor of its famous neighbors, Arusha National Park is Tanzania's most accessible secret. Just 45 minutes from Kilimanjaro Airport, this compact paradise packs an incredible punch of diverse experiences. What Makes it Special: - The majestic Mount Meru backdrop creates some of Africa's most spectacular safari photography - Unique walking safaris let you experience wildlife on foot (rare in Tanzania!) - Incredibly diverse landscapes: crater, lakes, forests, and savanna all in one small park - Perfect for half-day or full-day safaris if you're short on time - Less crowded than other parks, offering more intimate wildlife encounters Wildlife Highlights: - Graceful giraffes browsing against volcanic backdrops - Large buffalo herds in the Ngurdoto Crater - Pink flamingos dotting the Momella Lakes - Numerous zebras, warthogs, and antelopes - Various monkey species in the forest areas Best For: - First-time safari goers - Photography enthusiasts - Time-conscious travelers - Walking safari lovers - Bird watchers (over 400 species!) Pro Tips: - Early morning visits offer the clearest views of Mount Meru - Combine walking safari with game drive for full experience - Momella Lakes are best visited in afternoon light - Visit in dry season (June-October) for best wildlife viewing Value: 5/5 ⭐️ Wildlife: 4/5 ⭐️ Accessibility: 5/5 ⭐️ Scenery: 5/5 ⭐️ Experience: 5/5 ⭐️ Perfect for those seeking an authentic Tanzania safari experience without long drives or crowds. While you might not see predators as easily as in Serengeti, the unique combination of activities and landscapes makes this park an absolute must-visit!"

Published on Nov, 2024

Masatu picked us up at our hotel right on time. The vehicle was clean. He had water and a boxed lunch for us. We had a great conversation on the way to the national park. The Park was exceptional. We saw so many animals and Masatu what is wonderful about staying in one spot as long as we wanted to take a picture or video. It didn’t matter how long we needed to stay there he was happy to apply. If he felt he could get a better view somewhere else he would let us know. We saw zebras, giraffes, baboons, monkeys, flamingos, bush bucks, and lots of birds. The park is gorgeous. It was absolutely amazing to see baboons grooming each other, and playing right in the street. My husband loves to stand up with his head out of the top of the vehicle, and look around. If you are short like I am, that can be a little bit of an issue. But I enjoyed having the windows open with a cool breeze blowing through and being able to see the animals in certain circumstances.

Published on Aug, 2024

We had a great time on our 4 day safari/honeymoon trip, and would highly recommend Takims Holiday. We felt so good looked after. Raymond, our driver, has very good knowledge as a guide for safari and also about Tanzania as a country, and made our journey very good. He found all the big 5 in two days, and also made us feel very safe. Thank you som much for an experience of a lifetime! From Halvor and Trine

Published on Jul, 2024

We celebrated our honeymoon in Africa and with the help of Takims our trip was executed flawlessly. Takims was responsive, professional and very accommodating to all of our needs. In particular, I have celiac disease and Takims was able to coordinate our stay at beautiful resorts that were able to accommodate my dietary needs. We trusted their opinion and experience, and they did not disappoint. Every resort that we stayed at was perfect and we felt extremely comfortable with their choices. We were also privileged enough to enjoy our safari drives in a new vehicle that was reliable, comfortable and fully equipped with charging ports, a fridge and binoculars! Our driver was Raymond and we were so incredibly grateful to have been matched with him. Raymond has such a positive and genuine energy that made us instantly feel comfortable in his presence. He was extremely welcoming and incredibly knowledgeable. Raymond has 20+ years of experience in the role and holds an education which makes him a very well rounded guide. We trusted Raymond with our safety and his advice for our day-to-day itinerary. He also always advocated for us and ensured my dietary needs were met. With his help, it was truly wonderful not to worry about anything. This trip was better than we ever could have imagined!!

Published on Jun, 2024

Where to start...... We (myself, wife and daughter) arrived to Arusha Coffee lodge a day early to acclimate after the 40 hour trip from Florida to Tanzania. The coffee lodge is beautiful and the staff is amazing. At dinner on the second night I had to excuse myself and head back to the lodge for an I'll stomach, little did I know that was only the beginning of the actual adventure. After a long night of vomiting and "other" we were unable to meet with our tour guide John at the reccomeded time. We contacted the coordinator Sellma (from Takims) who was also at the lodge. She helped arrange a doctor to visit us at 7am the same morning who tested my sugar level, vitals and a couple other things (all normal), he also gave me some medicine and electrolytes for the dehydration. I was able to take enough immodium to get me to the first stop and safari drive (all in all about 8 hours later). That night my wife and daughter also contracted whatever illness I had. John was with us for the entire safari and got us the medical help we needed that night as well. Each morning we would wake up (if we slept at all), sick and unable to meet at the pre arranged times. Each day John was there to take care if us, Sellma checked in daily with me via WhatsApp or through John. Unfortunately we were sick the entire time and still don't know what caused it. We didn't drink any unbottled water, washed our hands frequently or used hand sanitizer, but all three were in absolute hell the entire trip. The good part of the vacation was it was freaking AMAZING when we were able to enjoy it. Each stop and each lodge was ultimate luxury and John was EXTREMELY knowledgeable, he mentioned he had been doing it for 26 years and it showed, he knew literally everything about every animal and plant. If you're going to Africa for a safari, you already know what to expect, so I'm not going to dive too deep into that. I'm going to emphasize the extreme care and compassion from John and Sellma, they even checked on us once we were back in the states. Being in another country like Tanzania, and being fully incapacitated, having a language barrier, and being 40 hours from home is a horrible and scary feeling. John, Sellma and Takims went above and beyond to make sure we were not only ok, but to make sure they worked around our "challenge", myself and family are thankful. John and Sellma deserve way more than I can express and will be eternally greatful. While we likely won't be headed back anytime soon, I will continue to praise John and Sellma to everyone I can. A company is only as good as its employees, and this company is the best.