AQON Safaris Ltd Reviews 

I don't know how to explain how amazing our tour guide was. Samwel made the trip six stars with his knowledge and personality. I miss him greatly.

Samwel is simply the best. He has an immense amount of knowledge on every single animal, including birds and reptiles. He also shares so much education on the habitation as well as the animal behaviors. I will never, ever forget our time with Sam. Going on safari is very inspirational and he has eagle eyes and doesn’t miss a thing. He’s so focused on giving each client THE best experience and we will forever be grateful for his service and his kindness.

The guides were very knowledgeable and treated my family like we were their family! Will absolutely use them again!! Highly recommend!!!!

Wow!! Not only is Sam an expert guide, incredibly knowledgeable and truly fabulous but he is so much more!! From the moment we met Sam, he felt like an old friend. He shared about his culture and country. We experienced all the things you hope for on Safari, the Big 5, and all the animal sitings. We visited local tribes sharing our culture and learning about the local cultures. We had so many laughs, and joyful moments!! Our drivers/guides were equally amazing!! My daughter (15) and I were traveling in a group of 12. Sam accommodated each of us individually making all of us feel comfortable and created the best possible experience!! Sam is brilliant!!

Our family of 8 from California had the privilege of being guided through the multiple Tanzania National Parks by Sam on an unforgettable 2 week adventure. Sam's knowledge of the land, animals, people and culture is deep, powerful and authentic. His communication skills are impeccable and his interest and willingness to share his knowledge is rapacious. The best word to describe being on adventure with Sam is "joyful." Our family would travel anywhere with him and Aqon Safari.

As for specifics on our trip, the accomodations were perfect and the food was first class. Sam and Aqon Safari have relationships with a host of companies and service providers across northern Tanzania that make for his ability to tailor your adventure to meet your needs and desires, and to even pivot and adjust the adventure when you are there. His experience, knowledge and connections puts you in very safe hands and ensures your trip is an epic and unforgettable experience.

Finally, Sam's knowledge of land meant we experienced the wild lands of Tanzania like few others. Sam likes the paths less traveled and enjoys finding the wildlife in places where others are not. Most adventure companies we saw traveled around in "packs" and stuck with crowds. Sam and Aqon Safari are just the opposite, seeking out the untrodden areas and finding the wildlife where others are not... for which we have incredible pictures, stories and memories.

Our entire family cannot recommend Sam and Aqon Safari more highly. We feel lucky to have selected his company for our once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

There’s something about Africa.

Something that’s difficult to put into words. Something deep inside, like a feeling of coming home to your family after a long trip, or watching your baby sleep, or waking up from a joyful dream, not knowing for sure what it was about, but knowing it was “real” …and it was meant to be, that stays with you all the day long. T.I.A., This Is Africa!!

A safari with Aqon is like no other vacation you can possibly envision. From the minute you arrive from the minute you sadly leave, Aqon has it covered. Literally everything was thought of. From his awesome jeep (it’s not really a jeep, it’s a safari trekking, but comfortable beast of a vehicle), to the camps and accommodations, to the delicious food, exciting game drives, and nights watching bush TV with a cold drink, reliving the day with your fellow travelers…it’s all been considered and taken care of for you!!

The camps Aqon selects are unpretentious but exceptional to say the least. Simply put, they were all absolutely wonderful! Beautiful lodgings, great lounges, enjoyable food, and the staff at every one we had the pleasure of staying with went above and beyond to make us feel so welcome, comfortable, and at home.

Of course, there’s the wildlife…. what ‘s a safari without it? With Sam and Aqon there’s no shortage of game sightings. From birds to reptiles, insects to the big 5 plus, we watched them all, spent time with them all, and “connected” with them all. That’s what so different about Sam, his style of game driving is so informative, and his enthusiasm is so infectious, every interaction just gets progressively better! Just when you think you’ve seen everything imaginable, you turn a corner and another door into this marvelous, awe-inspiring world opens and you’re just as enthralled as you were when you came across your first elephant, looking you in the eye, deep into your soul. What a magical place it is.

This was our second trip to Tanzania, and just like last time, we were blessed to have Samwell as our guide. Guide isn’t quite the right word to describe Sam though. He’s more of an emissary, or ambassador for a land he’s so proud of, and the natural world he’s genuinely in sync with. His knowledge of literally every living thing is truly astonishing to behold, and his ingrained sense of conservation is not only impressive, but enlightening! Spending time with Sam has honestly changed the way we see the world. He’s the best teacher I’ve ever had, an inspiration, and we’re honored to call him our dear friend.

When you’re standing outside your exquisite tent, watching the sun set with a cup of the most delectable coffee you’ve ever had, delivered to you by your personal attendant with a huge smile that makes you feel more welcome than you can imagine. Looking out over the Serengeti and reflecting on another day spent with Sam…wondering how you got there but knowing in your bones it’s right where your supposed to be…right where you belong. That’s when you’ll get it. That’s when you’ll understand.

Thanks again Sam, and everyone at Aqon for another trip that we’ll never forget!!

We will be back, and when we do it will be with you!

A Tanzanian safari is a bucket-list item if ever there was one. And, while it would be difficult to have a "bad" time there, your overall experience depends almost entirely on your guide. Everything you do and everything you experience (or don't) is made or broken by their skill, knowledge and understanding -- of you, of those you are with, of the people you encounter, of the environment and of the animals you're hoping to see. Samwel Girwawe, owner and principal guide at AQON Safaris, made what would have been a special experience for me and my family and elevated it to a truly life-changing one.

Sam is a member of Tanzania's Iraqw tribe, one of the more than 120 tribes who have occupied the country for hundreds (if not thousands) of years. He lived in the bush through his teens when he left his small village and attended university in Kenya to become a guide. He is patient, kind, funny, humble and smart. Like, really, really smart. He speaks six languages. He knows every name of every plant and animal (English, Swahili and Latin) that you will ever see on Safari. He knows how they behave, how they are used and the role that each plays for those who live there. He has likely forgotten more than I will ever know about wildlife and the environment and he has the kind of lived experience that adds context to all of it.

Sam doesn't just tell you about the things you are seeing in some kind of dry, academic way -- he tells you about how things are seen or used and what they mean in real, everyday life for the people who exist there and depended on them. Because he existed there and depended on all of it himself -- again, he lived in the bush until he was 21-years-old. One thing you come away with early in your trip is that Sam has lived a very interesting life already.

All this is to say that Sam is unlike any guide I have ever had in Africa or anywhere else. During our time in Tanzania, he rarely went where the animals were, he went to where they were *going to be*. And when we found them, we spent time with them. It wasn't about a photo or checking some box, it was about something more. An understanding. A connection. An appreciation. This, in turn, allowed us to do and see things that other people with other guides didn't get to enjoy. Time and time again, we returned to the camps at night and spoke with other travelers. And, while it isn't a competition, when we talked about the things we experienced that day, it was far more than others had been lucky enough to enjoy. This wasn't an accident. I feel honored to know Sam and that I and my family were all able to share this experience with him.

Ultimately, there are two things I hope everyone reading this will do. First: I hope you will put a Tanzanian Safari on your own bucket list. Save up your money, throw caution to the wind and go. Just GO. It will change the way you see and exist in the world. It will be more than worth both your time and your money (and, quite frankly, AQON is more reasonable than most). Second: I hope you will go with AQON Safaris. Africa is incredible, Tanzania takes conservation and hospitality VERY seriously and Sam and his team have the ability to help you see and appreciate all of it. You will have the experience of a lifetime and you will receive context for everything. For why this place, these people, these animals and these things matter. Together, they will change your life. You can thank me later.