Lion King Safari Guides
Lion King Adventures
- Offices In:
-
Canada
United States
Switzerland
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $1,115 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Andrew and Tea Massey | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Absolutely magical 21 day safari
The two of us spent 21 days camping (some public campsites, some tented camps) through Lake Manyara, Serengeti Central, Serengeti North, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire. This is our second trip through Africa and Tanzania; we had certain expectations and Lion King Adventures consistently exceeded them. This was our first with Lion King.
Our first contact with Lion King was via email with Wilbard. He answered all our questions clearly and fully, was flexible and tailored the trip to exactly our needs, and provided comprehensive (and as we found out on the trip) very good advice to us. His service and attitude was one of the main reasons we went with Lion King. Once the itinerary was nailed down we were in contact with Anna to sort out payment and the finer details; she was as attentive and detailed as Wilbard, and responded quickly to questions and acknowledging payment. The whole process before we arrived in Tanzania was smooth and worry free. We met James (the owner) and Wilbard at the end of the trip; Wilbard was keen to get our feedback and thoughts to improve the service he and Lion King offer.
We travelled with a guide / driver, Salehe, and a cook, Kurimu. They were both fantastic fun, professional and considerate for the entire trip. They were extremely flexible, tailoring and fettling the trip for us as we progressed, such as tweaking the food and seeking out quieter, less ‘touristy’ places. Each and every day they worked unfailingly hard to ensure we had the trip of a lifetime.
The food prepared by Kurimu was exceptionally good, even better than that at the tented camps, and was made to our preferences and tastes as we had outlined to Anna. There was lots of variety, fresh fruits and vegetables, and the meals were so big that there were always leftovers (though not for our lack of trying). Given the conditions, facilities (or lack thereof) and the distances involved it was a fantastic effort on Kurimu’s part.
Our driver / guide Salehe was with us all day while Kurimu generally stayed back at camp. We enjoyed Salehe's company very much. He was friendly, informative and very flexible. He had eyes like an eagle, seeing things we would definitely have missed without him. He was adept at placing the car in the best possible position for us (a miracle as one of us was operating a long lensed camera, the other a video) and always ensured we had enough time. He was patient, especially with the migration crossings over the Mara river. We saw more than we could have ever expected – including over 150 lions and cubs, 8 migration crossings, a serval, multiple cheetahs and cubs, leopards and cubs, baby giraffe, incredibly coloured lizard and birds – and with many of the animals we saw them at very close range. Truly magical.
Salehe was flexible with the timing and duration of the daily drives. We stayed out all day as long as possible to maximise our chances of seeing animals. There was more than enough water on board and, with Kurimu’s packed lunches, it was more efficient than returning to camp for lunch.
The car, a Toyota Land Cruiser, was great. There were only the two of us in the back, giving us more than adequate room and great visibility with the pop top roof and four seats. The windows were different from other vehicles out there; they could be wound right down (rather than sliding half way across like others) allowing lots of room to 'hang out' and take photos and video. The car had a power-board with multiple points which allowed us to always keep our batteries fully charged and avoid the camp site scrum for power. The video battery, which usually takes overnight to charge, charged fully during the day as we drove. Mechanically the car was well maintained and had no issues on the trip. It was always kept very clean and well organised, Salehe spending hours at the end of each day cleaning and prepping the car for the next day.
From start to end (right from first contact to being dropped off at the airport), there is nothing we can think of that would have made the trip any better. Lion King more than delivered what they said they would.
In the end we simply did not want to come home.
A few tips for the Serengeti:
Show your driver/guide your camera gear early, tell them what it can do and what you want. That way they will work for you in getting the best position for the gear you have.
Disposable underwear. Washing takes your time and in most of the places they will not wash your underwear for you. Buy cheap undies, shed them as you go, it’s easier and simpler. Shirts, jeans and the rest usually costs around USD 2 to 3 per piece for next day laundry.
Your mobile phone isn’t good enough for photos. You’ll get some half-reasonable happy snaps but honestly, it’s not good enough. If you’ve paid to get to the Serengeti fork out the extra $200 to $500 for a zoom digital camera – you’ll not regret it.
You don’t have enough memory. Bring extra memory cards. You’ll need them.
Email Joe & Jess | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime, Lion King were amazing!
We did a 6 night safari in August for our honeymoon and it was an amazing experience. We changed our itinerary 3 or 4 times and Lion King were very accommodating. The accommodation was incredible and the food was excellent. My wife has a nut allergy and Lion King let the hotels know so that we didn't need to worry about it. Our guide, David, was fantastic and went above and beyond to ensure we got the most out of the experience. I would definitely recommend using Lion King Adventures!
FR
Email Charlotte & Nicolas | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful experience
We spent 5 amazing days discovering the Tanzanian Savannah. Lion king aventure understood immediately our expectations and adapted the program according to our schedule and our budget.
Our guide was very competent and friendly.
A big Thanks for this perfect holidays !
ES
Email Emilio Renes | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable experience
We have just made a 7-day Safari with Lion King adventures . The experience has been very satisfactory in all aspects. Regarding the organization, the Lion King Staff was able to organize a tailor-made trip just 3 days in advance(!).Our driver & guide, David , spokes Spanish fluently.This is a bonus value, as many Spanish people visit Tanzania.
It was a 7-day Safari visiting Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Manyara. The type of Safari included hotel accommodation, camping site with cabins and camping with tents in the camping areas of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro parks. The agency provided the camping equipment. The vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser had a lifting roof to facilitate the observation of animals, plugs with AC supply and USB port for charging batteries and electronic accessories and refrigerator, as well as enough the for luggage.
In addition to the driver-guide David, we were accompanied by a chef, Yusuphu, who prepared breakfast, dinner and picnic meals daily.
David is a great professional, with the qualities of a safari guide: knowledge of the terrain, animal behaviour and enough patience. We were fortunate to watch many wild animals, including leopards, cheetahs and lions that inhabit the trees of the Manyara park. There really are no words to describe the beauty of landscapes; The 4 parks we visited were very different although they had wildlife in common.
It is admirable how Yusuphu was able to prepare fantastic meals with very limited items and without repeating the menu. Few things are better than a splendid dinner after a day of safari.
It is necessary to highlight the organization of the national parks of Tanzania, with an excellent care of the surroundings, many rest areas where the state and the cleanliness of the facilities is excellent, including the bathrooms so for public use.
The attention and treatment received from David and Yusuphu have been top.
Taking a trip like this is an unforgettable experience, which has been possible thanks to Lion King adventures.
US
Email Cristina C. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome, A-rated Tour Company!!!
I want to thank Lion King Adventures for providing a very efficient and reliable assistance to make our first-time ever African tour really worthwhile and hassle-free. We love all the accommodations and all the staff in these accommodations have very good customer service and comfortable lodging/food. I want to thank our Safari Guide, Goodluck for the wonderful experience!!! The staff of Lion King have been supportive and very responsive since day one. Their vehicle/jeep is one of the best. They helped set-up an itinerary that suit our needs and budget.
DE
Email Stephen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tour and perfect organization
We had an incredible 6-day tour with Lion King Adventures. From the very beginning of the first contact the service was great. We changed our trip plans several times and we always received an updated offer or answer to our question within one or two days (sometimes even only hours).
The trip itself was also incredibly well organized, which I really didn't expect. Our driver and guide Gilbert was greeting us at the aiport and from the very beginning we felt super comfortable with him. On the way to the first hotel he already explained a lot about the country and the people. All accommodations were excellent and clean. The food in the hotel and the huge lunch packages were always delicious and we didn't miss anything (we had as much water as we wanted during the trips and even had beer and softdrinks in the car!)
I have to say that Gilbert made the whole trip very special. He knew all the good spots in the parks, was able to answer all our questions and even more and allways did his utmost to make the trip as great as possible for us. During our second night in Serengeti he even arranged a surprise birthday cake for me :)
Thank you very much for this great experience Gilbert!!!
Memorable Life Experience
We selected Lion King Adventures for our 8 day Safari because of all the previous good reviews, and their prompt response time with quotes and various communications. We were assured from the start we were dealing with a professional tour company. From the moment we were picked up at 9:00 PM at the airport we knew we were in good hands. Our accommodations were pleasant, comfortable, clean and surprisingly like an oasis where we could be refreshed. Our guide Mwita was outstanding. He made our Safari one we will never forget. Mwita gladly embraced the challenge to make our safari a memorable one. He shared his vast knowledge of the all the wildlife as well as the land we were visiting. He came back to camp one early evening before sunset to pick us up to be treated to seeing a group of cheetah being robbed by a hyena right before our eyes. Mwita made sure we saw a river crossing migration, saw the big five and so much more. We laughed, shared life for 8 days with Mwita and looked forward to ending the day by sharing supper with him and planning our course for the next day. Our expectations for this Safari were exceeded because of the standard Lion King Adventure maintains for itself and the service they provide in every aspect of making a successful safari.
US
Email Dom B. | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mufasa was Incredible!!
We booked our tour in September 2019 and it was perfect. Lion King found us amazing accommodations and set a great itinerary of things to see. With pickup and dropoff from the airport, we didn't have any worries. We saw so many cool sites and animals. Our guide, Saleh, who we had for 8 days, was really smart and fun. He showed us all the animals, birds and landmarks along the way. He taught us some Swahili and we had great conversations with him. He answered every question we asked and was a great guide for the week. I highly recommend Lion King tours and Saleh!!
CA
Email Daniel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lion King Adventures, truely an exciting adventure. Very professioanl, well organized and flexable.
This was an outstanding experience from beginning to end. Our tour guide was outstanding, knowledgeable and flexible. He adjusted our daily outings to meet our needs and put best chance on our side. The choice of lodging during our Safari was very comfortable and unique providing for a memorable experience. Our once in a lifetime trip was great value for our dollar and more than I expected.
US
Email ML Kehler | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding 9-day Safari with Excellent Guide and Cook
My daughter and I just completed a fantastic 9-day safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks. We chose Lion King because, among the 5 tour operators we contacted, Lion King was the one which was most responsive to our interests and budget and consistently responded to us more quickly and fully than the other companies.
However, what made our safari so spectacular were the individuals who accompanied us: our driver & guide, Mwita, and our chef, Alute.
Mwita, the son of a Serengeti park ranger, was born and raised in Serengeti and has been guiding safaris for ten years. As a result, he has an uncanny ability to spot animals and anticipate opportunities to see them in action. When all the vehicles in the park seemed to be going in one direction, Mwita often took us in another. As a result, we often saw nature in action-- many times all by ourselves.
For example, thanks to Mwita, we watched a leopard descend from a tree, stalk and kill a gazelle and drag it back up into the tree for a leisurely meal; three lionesses hunt together to corner and kill a warthog; two lions mating, while a third stood guard; a crocodile grab a wildebeest from a riverbank and drag it into the water for a community feast by some 25 or more waiting crocodiles; a cheetah dining on fresh gazelle, as vultures waited their turn and then were frightened away by two hyenas, which bolted into their midst and then ran off with the carcass. Mwita also saw to it that we were in the right place at the right time to see black rhinos in Ngorongoro Crater on a day when very few other visitors did. He also adjusted our program on the fly to make sure we saw the animals and habitats we most wanted to see. His instincts, judgement and suggestions were spot on!
Our chef, Alute, who cooked for us for five nights (four nights we camped out in Serengeti and an additional night at a tented lodge near Lake Manyara), also did a magnificent job. Our breakfasts and dinners were tasty, wholesome and varied, and they appealed to me (a vegetarian) and my daughter (an omnivore). The lunch boxes that Alute packed for us were much better than those we received at various tented lodges where we stayed. Given that there are no fresh provisions in Serengeti, and I still marvel at how Alute managed to give us such great breakfasts, dinners and lunch boxes five days in a row. He even turned out a delicious quiche and perfect loaves of bread baked in a metal box nestled among the embers of a charcoal fire. Impressive!
All in all, thanks to Lion King's organization and gear (sturdy tent, comfortable jeep, lots of bottled water, and the extra pair of binoculars we requested, etc. ) and Mwita and Alute's outstanding skills and enjoyable company, our safari far exceeded our expectations. If you are going on Safari to Serengeti and neighboring parks, I highly recommend choosing Lion King and requesting Mwita as your driver/guide and Alute as your chef. Safari njema! (Have a great safari!)