Overwhelmed Choosing a Tanzania Outfitter—Help!

Hi all, I’ve been planning a trip to Tanzania for November 2026, and I’m currently working with seven different safari companies (I know… too many!). I’m starting to get totally overwhelmed and would love some advice from those who’ve been through this process. I looked through the forum first and did not really find any answers. I’m currently in contact with Sababu, Yellow Zebra, Soul of Tanzania and African Big Cats Safari just to name a few. They all seem reputable, but the pricing and communication styles vary a lot. Most of the itineraries I’ve received are pretty similar and include the same accommodations, so it’s been surprising to see how wildly the prices vary. I’m wondering: • How do you really choose the best outfitter? • What accounts for the big price differences when the lodges are the same? • How do you know if your guide will be any good? • Besides reading reviews, what else should I be paying attention to? At this point, I’m trying to focus on the quality of the accommodations, knowledge of the guides, reliability, and customer service—but it’s tough to tell that from emails and sample itineraries. If anyone has tips on how they narrowed it down or has a company they loved, I’d be so grateful to hear from you!we have around an 7k budget per person and are looking at luxury lodging. Thanks so much! 🦁