Tanzania – Abercrombie & Kent Review

A PTR Review

By Bill

Name of Travel Agency: Abercrombie & Kent

About Abercrombie & Kent: Born as a safari outfitter in 1962, A&K’s unparalleled luxury travel services now extends around the globe to more than one hundred countries on all seven continents. Small group or tailor made private travel with A&K offers the convenience, service and security of a U.S.-based luxury travel company with support 24/7 from a network of 50 on-site local offices, to ensure “by invitation only” access to inspiring experiences.

Website:  www.abercrombiekent.com/

Cost: Very Expensive – For this journey: $800-$1,000 per day per person plus airfare and tips. (In 2004 US Dollar Values)

Method of payment: Major Credit Card.  Deposite required prior to departure.

Location of this journey: Tanzania

Services provided: Itinerary planning, airline booking and tickets, all accommodations and meals, booking of in-country guide and vehicle driver, private vehicle, medical evacuation insurance, and detailed information about clothing, medical preparations, summaries of accommodations and services.

Date of Travel – March 2004

In 2003, I contacted Abercrombie & Kent following a recommendation given to me by a friend of my son John, who used A&K to plan his journey to Kenya two years before.  From the outset of my first contact with A&K I was impressed by the knowledge and the professionalism of the individual who was my primary contact and planner.  Using both email and telephone the flow of information between me and the A&K was constant and detailed.

It was attention to detail that impressed me about the planning process that included everything from what medical conditions existed in Tanzania, where I would go and where I would stay, my vehicle and guide, to securing medical evacuation insurance out of remote regions should that be necessary.  All of my airline flights and all my ground transportation was outlined in detail and I received a detailed itinerary for my approval prior to booking.  Payment for the itinerary was made by credit card.

I made it clear from the outset of the planning that I wanted a private vehicle for my son and I to use while in Tanzania, that I wanted a personal guide who would accompany us, and that I wanted to stay in remote camps.  I knew that such requirements would be expensive, but I did not want to travel 10,000 miles to be disappointed because my son and I were with a larger group of people that we did not know.

After the planning was completed my son and I each received detailed itineraries and a very nice travel bag and flashlight.  And, a leather case for our passports and itineary.  Ah, the little things that A&K does!

Essentially our visit to Tanzania followed the classic tour.  Begin in Arusha, then to Tarangire National Park, then to the Ngorongoro Crater, then to the Serengeti, then a flight to Arusha.

Travel from Arusha to the Serengeti was done in a large Land Rover with a special body constructed especially for A&K that had a hard roof that could be raised for wildlife observation, thus one was protected from the sun but one had unlimited ability to move from side to side or from front to back to capture a photograph.  While this vehicle configuration may seem unimportant, in reality it was perfectly designed for a photo safari.  We observed other tour company vehicles during our safari that had open roofs but no protection from the sun, or worse, crowded vehicles with as many as eight people standing together while all trying to photograph the same animal.

Arusha:  Accommodations were made at Mount Meru Lodge for our night of arrival and our day of departure.  A delightful lodge with large rooms in cabins surrounded by large well-maintained grounds and a private preserve filled with wildlife.  The main lodge is tastefully decorated and has large open rooms and verandas.  Food was good, freshly prepared, and served promptly.  Staff were professional and helpful and interacted well with guests.  Extra luggage was stored at the lodge during our journey at no cost.

PTR ratings for Mount Meru Lodge:

• Overall rating:  Three stars ***
• Lodge and grounds:  Four stars ****
• Guest accommodations: Three stars ***
• Restaurant, food, and service:  Four stars ****
• Professionalism and ethics of staff:  Four stars ****

Tarangire National Park: Accommodations were provided at Swala Camp, privately owned by Abercrombie & Kent.  It is impossible to describe how wonderful Swala Camp is, it is probably Africa’s most secret and exclusive camp.  Situated in Tarangire National Park, the camp is made up of large tents with wooden floors.  The main tent overlooks a waterhole, has a very large open porch with comfortable seating, a fire pit for evening enjoyment, a bar, a large library of books, and a wonderful dining area decorated with rich furnishings, linen table cloths, real silverware, fine china, expensive crystal glassware, candles, and decorations made of african arts and crafts.

From the second of arrival and our introduction to our private butler, to our departure the staff was highly professional and helpful, the camp manager was a superb chef, entertaining, intelligent, and thoroughly knowledgeable about Tanzania.  Camp staff were all too eager to please and interacted with us genuinely and honestly.

Accommodations were provided in a private tent, tastefully furnished with two single beds, dressers, mirrors, lighting, shower, and toilet.  Hot water was provided each morning, or upon request, from boilers attached to the tent.

A small porch on the tent provided a comfortable place to sit and observe wildlife, enjoy coffee, tea, or wine.

Generators provide electricity for charging batteries, lighting at certain hours, and operation of DVD players and a large TV display for use of guests.

Swala Camp is situated in the middle of Tarangire National Park, wild animals move through the camp at all hours.  Cape buffalo, impala, and water bucks were commonly seen in the camp, friends who have been to the camp informed me that lions sometimes roam through the camp as well.  One evening my son and I were awakened by a Cape Buffalo that was grazing next to our tent!  Birds, especially horn-bills are seen throughout the day at the camp.  Tents occupy areas under very large trees with plentiful shade.  The entire area is simply stunning.

Meals were world class and served by highly trained waiters.  It was impossible to finish a beverage as it was constantly refilled by a waiter.  Wine was superb, mostly from South Africa with a large selection.  A variety of dishes were offered, in fact so many that it was nearly impossible to sample but a few of them.

PTR ratings for Swala Camp:

• Overall rating:  Five stars plus  *****+
• Lodge and grounds:  Five stars plus *****+
• Guest accommodations: Five stars *****
• Restaurant, food, and service:  Five stars plus  *****+
• Professionalism and ethics of staff:  Five stars plus  *****+

Ngorongoro Crater. Accommodations were provided at the Serena Lodge on the rim of the crater.  The lodge has a magnificent view with wide open porches. It lacks the intimacy of a private camp and it very much like a large hotel that would might encounter anywhere in the world with similar services.  What makes the lodge a good place to stay is it’s location.  One cannot describe how breath-taking the Ngorongoro Crater is and the abundant wildlife that roams it floor.  Common areas of the lodge are decorated tastefully with African art and rich furnishings.

Accommodations were average.  Our room was furnished with two single beds and a private bathroom.  The room was clean and it’s one excellent feature was a private porch that overlooked the crater.  The room was clean but in need of a renovation.

Meals were served buffet style with a very large selection of fruits, cheeses, salads, main courses, desserts, and beverages.  Service was good.  The bar area was large and the center of evening entertainment by a local Maasai tribe, the highlight of our stay at the lodge.

Our journey into the crater was magnificent and provided us with many opportunities for photographing some of the most endangered species on earth including the Black Rhino.  This experience was world class.

A&K did offer us the opportunity to stay at one of its mobile camps on the rim of the crater.  I now wish I had stayed there instead of the lodge.

PTR ratings for Serena Lodge:

• Overall rating:  Three stars  ***
• Lodge and grounds:  Five stars *****
• Guest accommodations: Two stars **
• Restaurant, food, and service:  Two stars **
• Professionalism and ethics of staff:  Four stars  ****

The Serengeti.  Accommodations were made at Kusini Camp, a privately owned tented camp in the heart of the Serengeti.  The camp is situated in the middle of a large rock formation which made for a wonderful experience sitting each evening enjoying a glass of wine at sunset.  Our private tent was equipped in a similar manner to what we experienced at Swala Camp.  Service was  outstanding and meals were excellent.

It is in close proximity to Ndutu and also the Moru Kopjes. Part of Kusini’s charm is its remote and private location within the park borders. With no other camps in the near vicinity, Kusini offers exceptional and essentially private game viewing.   Secluded amongst the rocky outcrops of this private swathe of paradise, Kusini’s nine tents feature ensuite bathrooms with showers and elevated terraces overlooking the Serengeti plains.

Given its very remote location, it is hard to believe that A&K is able to provide the level of service and quality of accommodation that we enjoyed at Kusini Camp.

Our photographic opportunities were boundless in the surrounding areas of the Serengeti.  Here we observed tens of thousands of Wildebeests, several groups of lions, flamingos feeding in lakes, a lioness in a tree, and countless birds.

Unfortunately, we were at this location in March, just as the rainy season had started.  This made for gray overcast days and frequent downpours that meant roadways and areas were difficult to traverse, even with the skills of our guide and the Land Rover.  I should have been at this location in February, but chose to schedule the journey in March because reduced costs for airline flights were available.

PTR ratings for Kusini Camp:

• Overall rating:  Five stars   *****
• Lodge and grounds:  Five stars  *****
• Guest accommodations: Five stars *****
• Restaurant, food, and service:  Five stars  *****
• Professionalism and ethics of staff:  Five stars  *****

Conclusion:

My son and I shall never forget our journey to Tanzania.  It will always remain as one of the highlights of my life.  The services provided by Abercrombie & Kent were outstanding from planning through execution.  A&K deserves it reputation as the best travel agency on earth.

What cannot be measured is the professionalism of our guide and now friend, Elvis Barnabas.  Outstanding is not good enough to describe his skills, his professionalism, and his willingness to provide opportunities for photography.  Moreover, his constant good humor and philosophical advice were treasures I will retain throughout my life.  He is the best of the best.

PTR recommends A&K to anyone who wants the best of the best in travel planning and execution.

PTR Rating of Ambercrombie & Kent:

• Cost of tours, very expensive ($800-$1,500 per person per day or more)
• Overall rating, five stars *****
• Staff support and assistance, five stars *****
• Environmental concerns and practices, five stars *****
• Family friendly, five stars *****
• Safety and medical support, five stars *****
• Professionalism and Ethics, five stars *****