Frequently Asked Questions

Booking and Planning

  • Start by filling out the Design My Trip form or emailing us directly. We'll arrange a call to talk through what you're looking for, then put together a tailored itinerary with transparent pricing. Nothing is confirmed until you're completely happy with the plan.

  • We recommend at least three to four months for peak season (June to October), as the best lodges fill up quickly. Calving season (January to February) is just as competitive, because the camps near the herds are few and book up early, so the same three to four months applies. For the green season (March to May and November), two to three months is usually fine. The earlier you get in touch, the more options we have.

  • Yes - the itineraries on the site are starting points, not fixed packages. We tailor every route, lodge, pace, and detail to how you want to travel. Some clients follow them closely, others use them as loose inspiration.

  • Private guide and vehicle, all accommodation, all meals as specified, national park and conservation fees, Ngorongoro Crater descent fee, airport transfers, and unlimited drinking water and refreshments on the vehicle. Full details are listed on each itinerary page.

  • International flights, Tanzanian visa, travel insurance (which is a condition of booking), tips and gratuities, alcoholic drinks at lodges, and optional extras like hot air balloon safaris. We provide guidance on all of these when you book.

  • Yes - we'll recommend the best options and timings for your itinerary, but you book your international flights independently. This keeps your trip flexible and usually means better fares.

The Safari Experience

  • Every Makoma safari is led by Willie Mollel or by a guide he has personally selected and trained. Willie leads the majority of trips himself. If he's unavailable for your dates, he will recommend a specific guide and brief them on your itinerary personally.

  • No. Your vehicle is private for the duration of the safari. You set the pace, you decide when to stop, and you choose how long to stay.

  • Yes. Willie has extensive experience with families and adjusts the pace and structure of each day to suit children of all ages. We've travelled with him with a five-year-old and a nine-year-old - he was exceptional with both. Let us know the ages of your children when you get in touch and we'll plan accordingly.

  • Extended Toyota Land Cruisers with a pop-up roof for 360-degree viewing, large sliding windows, a fridge for cold drinks, binoculars for everyone, African Wildlife textbooks, and charging points for cameras.

  • Every lodge and camp on a Makoma itinerary has been personally visited by Willie and his team. We look for places with genuine character, high standards, and strong settings - not necessarily the most expensive option, but always the right one. If you prefer ultra-luxury, we can arrange that too.

  • Don't let the word "tent" put you off. A tented camp in Tanzania is a permanent or semi-permanent structure with full-size beds, en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, and a private veranda. The canvas walls and open-air feel are the whole point - you fall asleep to the sounds of the bush and wake up to birdsong. Most of our tented camps also have a central dining area, a bar, and staff who look after everything. It's comfortable, atmospheric, and a completely different experience to staying in a conventional hotel - in the best possible way.

  • Yes, most of our clients do. We choose the property to match what you want from the beach, whether that's reliable swimming, snorkelling, or a quiet stretch of sand, and we'll talk you through the differences. Most people typically stay three to seven nights.

  • We can incorporate bush flights into any itinerary - either one-way to save a driving day, or between remote airstrips to access parts of the park that overland safaris don't reach. Mention it when you enquire and we'll show you what's possible.

Practical Details

  • There's no bad time, but the experience changes with the seasons. June to October is dry season - the wildlife concentrates around water sources and the vegetation is thinner, making animals easier to spot. December to March is calving season in the southern Serengeti - spectacular in a completely different way. The green season (March to May) is quieter and more affordable, with lush landscapes and fewer vehicles. We'll advise on the best timing for what you want to see.

  • Most UK passport holders need a visa for Tanzania. You can apply online in advance through the Tanzanian immigration portal. We'll send you the link and guidance when you book.

  • A yellow fever certificate is required if you're arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever zone. We recommend consulting your GP or a travel health clinic at least six to eight weeks before departure. They'll advise on malaria prophylaxis, hepatitis, typhoid, and anything else relevant to your trip.

  • We send a detailed packing guide when you book. In general: neutral-coloured clothing, layers for cold mornings and warm afternoons, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, a good camera, and binoculars if you have them. Lodges offer laundry, so you don't need to pack for every day..

  • Tanzania is one of the most politically stable countries in East Africa and has a long, well-established tourism industry. You'll be with an experienced guide throughout your safari, staying in vetted lodges and travelling in a private vehicle. We wouldn't send you anywhere we wouldn't go ourselves.

  • A standard safari doesn't require any particular fitness - you spend most of the day in the vehicle. If your itinerary includes walking with the Hadzabe or a visit to a Maasai community, these involve light walking on uneven ground. Let us know if you have any mobility considerations and we'll plan around them.

  • US dollars are widely accepted at lodges and for tips. We recommend bringing small denominations ($1, $5, $10, $20) as change can be difficult. We'll provide a detailed tipping guide with your booking.

About Makoma

  • We're a tour operator. We don't sell other companies' packages - we design and manage every safari ourselves, in direct partnership with our ground team at Serengeti Wilderness Calls in Tanzania.

  • Yes. Makoma Expeditions Ltd is a UK-registered company (Company No. 16976519), and your booking is protected under the Package Travel Regulations 2018. Your payments are held in a trust account with Protected Trust Services (PTS), so your money is safeguarded from the moment you pay. We are PTS member number 6525. We also carry full tour operator liability insurance. If you have any questions about how your money is handled, just ask, and we'll talk you through it.

  • Makoma Expeditions launched in 2025, but the expertise behind it is not new. Willie has over 22 years of professional guiding experience, and the founder has extensive travel and expedition planning background. We're a new company built on deep experience.

  • Yes! We encourage it! We're happy to put you in touch with previous clients who can share their experience. We also have reviews on SafariBookings and TripAdvisor under Serengeti Wilderness Calls.

  • Email jake@makomaexpeditions.com, call +44 (0) 7397 120320, or fill out the Design My Trip form on the website. You'll hear back from Jake directly - not a call centre, not a sales team.

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