We could not have been happier with Off season Adventures. We're pretty seasoned travelers, having planned our own trips to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, southern Mexico, and other remote places, but I was pretty overwhelmed on where to begin with Tanzania. In stepped Off season Adventures, who worked with us on a custom itinerary that included exactly what we wanted to do, plus activities we had hadn't considered or even knew were possible. On top of that, they matched us up with a great driver who was with us the entire way. What was supposed to be trip to the Serengeti turned into so much more. We went to elephant and giraffe sanctuaries, stayed in a Masai lodge/hut, went on a morning hunt, and saw 4 different national parks. Our driver was very experienced and managed to get us up close to leopards, cheetahs, and the big 5, while also knowing the names of every plant, tree, and bird we saw. We were happy with every lodge we stayed in (impressive, as we stayed in 7 different ones!). We had a few unusual activity requests and Off season went above and beyond to incorporate all of them. Off season worked through every detail with us, responded to every question we had (usually within minutes), compiled every bit of information we needed, and were with us every step of the way. They did all of this all within a pretty aggressive budget and schedule. On top of all of that, Off season prioritizes responsible tourism, with important social projects, carbon offsets, and an emphasis on not just visiting Tanzania but learning about and understanding the people who make it such an amazing place. Thank you for the amazing trip, Off season Adventures! read more

A safari was on our bucket list -- some day. In January we attended the Boston Globe travel show for the first time and our name was randomly picked out of a jar for $500 towards a safari from a company exhibiting at the show: Off Season Adventures. I turned to my partner and said "I guess this is the year for that safari." We met Tanner and his Tanzanian partner Hosea. We talked and expressed one concern: we're gay and would that be a problem. We were assured it would not be. Over the next several months we worked with Tanner to develop a trip that met our interests. We wanted to add a couple of extra days, to get to know the people not just go on game drives, to have a private tour, and to end the trip with one week on the beach. Tanner listened. The trip Tanner and Hosea put together was perfect and it resulted in one of our best ever vacations. The trip started with three days of game drives through Tarangire and Lake Manyara parks, followed by two days of meeting with local tribes and residents in their environments. The last three days were wonderful game drives through Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. We then flew from the Serengeti to Zanzibar and the beach. Each game drive was filled with watching animals roam and live in their environment and each held surprises and rare sightings of cheetahs, lions, leopards and even a rare rhino. Over the course of the game drives we saw more that 40 different animals and numerous bird species. Hosea had an amazing ability to spot animals hundreds of yards away when we needed our binoculars to discover what he had seen without them. We learned much about how animals live, interact, and use their environment for their benefit, how giraffe's tongues were designed to avoid the sharp spines of the acacia tree, how elephant dung was a vital component of the ecosystem, watched as ostriches enacted their mating ritual, learned why zebras migrate together with wildebeest, and watched the antics of blue monkeys and baboon families. Lions, elephants, zebras, and giraffes wandered within feet of our safari vehicle. We visited with three tribes - the nomadic bush-living Hadzabis, who led us on a two-hour bush hunt, including eating a bird that they had killed with their bow and arrow and cooked in the bush. Back at their camp we watched as they joyously sang and danced. The Datoga Tribe is noted for their metalwork, using rudimentary tools we watched as they turned a 4-in. nail into an intricate barbed arrow. Finally, we went on a walk with a leader of the Iraqw tribe, herders and farmers. He invited us into this home where we watched as his wife cooked a meal. We also visited a water well partially funded by Off Season Adventures and Dry to Green, which supplies several villages. A visit to a school, including a math class with complicated equations on the blackboard, opened our eyes to how education was a serious endeavor despite rudimentary facilities. Thirst for learning was palatable. All this was organized because of our interest in learning more about the people and the country. All the camps and hotels that we stayed at were top notch. Every person we met throughout the tour was unreservedly happy, I can't point to another country where the people were as friendly as here. Off Season Travel also organized our final week on Zanzibar, including finding a local architect to give a half-day tour of historic Stonetown -- because of our stated interest in architecture. The hotel they found for us was on the best part of the beach in Kendwa, with great facilities and a wonderful, friendly staff. A great sunny ending to our Tanzanian visit. We would recommend to any of our friends and family or anyone else who is curious about going on a safari to work with Tanner at Off Season Adventures. They will get an experience that will not only live in photos but also in their memories. read more

Off Season Adventures - Zebras grazing by the road - Tours Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

Wow. Just wow. My daughter and I had the adventure of a lifetime, exquisitely planned to the ultimate detail by the folks at Off Season Adventures. I was impressed by the environmental focus of OSA, and the fact that a percentage of what we paid would be directly channeled back into the local communities. The carbon offset for our trip clinched the deal. The planning, communication, and execution of our trip was flawless. We were met with smiles at the airport in Nairobi and delivered as changed people to the airport in Zanzibar two weeks later. Throughout that time we were incredibly well cared for. The direction given to OSA was that we wanted "to go on safari" - but we did so much more. After a few days exploring Nairobi (Giraffe Manor!!!) we headed to Tanzania. On arrival in Arusha, Hosea, a most remarkable & patient soul, met us at the airport. Hosea stayed with us throughout the remainder of our time on safari, escorting us safely through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & the Serengeti. He continually spotted lions, leopards, cheetah, hippo, giraffe ...... pointing them out to our unseeing eyes. A remarkable new experience unfolded each and every day. We arrived to song at the Maasai village and learned to throw spears like warriors. We traveled through small villages, were greeted by locals thrilled to have clean water thanks to a recently completed water treatment facility funded by Second Look Worldwide. We crossed dry lakes to hunt with the indigenous Hazda people, sampling honey carved from the hives in trees along the way. We drove through herds of tens of thousands of wildebeest and watched in awe as they crossed the Mara River. The hotels & camps we stayed at were exceptional and the timing was well planned throughout. We met many people along the way who were traveling with other companies and no one had stories like ours to share. Our experiences felt very authentic and not touristy. I would travel with OSA again in a heartbeat. read more

This trip by far exceeded my expectations. We took several safaris and saw every animal imaginable including lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, baboons and hippos. Our guide in Tanzania was beyond phenomenal. He knew his business so well. We spent time with the local tribes and he explained everything very well to us. The food was great and the accommodations varied from tented camps (a must do on safari) to extremely nice lodges. Always felt very safe even when hearing the animals next to us at night! When we drove up to each accomodation at the end of the day, we were meet by the staff with warm, wet washcloths and a glass of fresh squeezed juice! The food was amazing. Don't plan on losing weight! This trip is unbelievable. I can't say enough about how satisfied I was with it. Off Season Adventures is top notch! read more

We used Off Season Adventures to plan our safari in Tanzania and our trip to Zanzibar. OSA was outstanding. Tanner Knorr, the owner of OSA, went beyond our expectations in ensuring that we would have an unforgettable experience. Every question and concern we had was addressed timely. He planned everything from the moment we stepped off the plane until we were leaving Zanzibar 14 days later. This was our first safari and it was absolutely amazing, thanks to Tanner and our wonderful and extremely knowledgeable safari guide, Hosea. Although Hosea told us luck was on our side when he saw rare animals, we believe the credit goes to his knowledge of the animals and the park. Tanner genuinely cares about his clients. Along with giving useful advise, he was accessible throughout the trip (including during our layovers!), something that we believe was invaluable. He was a true pleasure to work with. Because of him and Hosea, our trip ended up being an experience like no other. Cost was comparable or better than similar length packaged tours. We would recommend OSA, and will do so, to anyone planning this type of trip. read more

We had a trip of a lifetime with Off Season Adventures in May 2019 to Tanzania and Uganda. They crafted the perfect itinenary for us based on our interests and recommendations. We had nothing to worry about all of our logistics were taken care of. From nature and wild life, to people and culture OSA made sure we had an immersive and relatable experience not only with the places we visit but also the people. For an authentic and well coordinated trip I recommend Off Season Adventures. They're the best. read more

Our family (kids 9 and 12) spent nearly a month in Uganda, Tanzania, and Zanzibar on a trip organized by Off Season Adventures. This was our first ever tour with an organization. From our first conversation with Tanner, he understood deeply what it was we most wanted to accomplish on this travel - real cultural immersion, time in villages with the people living there, eating the local foods, and learning as much as we could about each place. He created an amazing schedule and set of experiences with terrific guides in Uganda (Timothy), Tanzania (Hosea), and Zanzibar (Said). We couldn't be happier and felt like the travel was paced ideally for a family, with big adventures (safari!) and some down time too, as we asked. This is a truly special organization, and Tanner has created something deep and real with the partners on the ground. read more

Though our first stop in Africa was Kenya, the trip and its planning began months earlier. Tanner Knorr was meticulous in his explanations of alternatives and his ability to explain OSAs approach both to touring of and investment in the land. We had a carefully detailed itinerary and were fully prepared long before we boarded a flight. Our trip started in Kenya - focused on the elephant and rhino orphanage and the giraffe hotel. OSA arranged the entire experience from local guide to accommodations. The close-up experience with the animals, including the short introduction to Kenya and Nairobi were superb. We then went on to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and other locations along Northern Tanzania. OSA arranged all aspects of the trip and it was unforgettable. We saw all the animals for sure, and our guide, Hosea, was as knowledgable and personable as they come. However, our visits with a number of the local tribes juxtaposed unbelievable an cultural experience and education into life in Tanzania with the majesty of safari. Meeting the locals put into stark and relative perspective the differences between Africa and and other places in the world. In particular, OSAs involvement in improving life for 3 tribes by developing access to clean drinking water was impressive. The interactions with local people, from leaders to chiefs to ordinary people provided a perfect complement to the safari adventures. We ended our trip in Zanzibar, which again, was fully orchestrated by OSA. The contrast between the predominant muslim island to the mainland was profound. Moreover, the Zanzibar resorts compete with any in the world - and are so unexpected given the simplicity of the surrounding communities. All considered, this was an impressive trip, all thanks to the wonderful planning and execution of OSA. We are all eager to go back and explore other regions of the country. If you are going to Africa, we highly recommend you consult with OSA! read more