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
CA
Email Daniel Simpson | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing!
It was an exceptional experience in more ways than one. We saw so many animals and the beautiful African landscape. Our Guide, David, knew all the good spots to go to, and knew how to have fun while we were searching the game. David is also an exceptional barista for those afternoon coffees!
The accommodations were fantastic and the Tanzanian people are so friendly and welcoming, we truly felt at home wherever we went.
We highly recommend Lion King Safari!
Email Becca | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a life time, fully recommend Lion king adventures!
We just finished our five day safari with Lion King Adventures and our guide Mwita truly made the experience unforgettable.
This trip was a dream come true- not only did we get to see the big 5, many of them up close many times, our guide Mwita truly made the experience. He grew up in the Serengeti and it is clear he feels at home there. He would get just as excited as we would about animal spottings which made it feel even more special.
He has an amazing ability to spot animals from far away all while driving along the park roads and then is able to find a closer position to get the best views. He has an in depth knowledge of all of the animals and it felt like we had our own encyclopedia in the car. Mwita went out of his way to make this a trip of a life time and if you have the chance to request him as your guide I would highly recommend doing so.
We did a 5 day safari visiting Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and ending in lake Manyara. I worked with Godwin and Pedro to adjust the typical 5 day safari slightly so we could stay two nights in the Serengeti which I would recommend- you have some early mornings but having a full day to enjoy the Serengeti and relax at the lodge in the mid afternoon made it all worth it. Fully recommend booking with Lion king!
Email Nick | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lion King Adventures - Top of the Pecking Order!
We are completely new to the whole Safari experience, having talked about it for years. Our honeymoon was the perfect excuse to indulge. A little research online yielded that Kenya / Tanzania were both good options for September when we wanted to go away, and provided the opportunity to witness the great migration and crossing of the Mara river. We read that Tanzania may be a little quieter than Kenya, and saw the opportunity to visit the Serengeti, so we contacted a number of companies to enquire about options.
Lion King provided us with a selection of options for different tours of different lengths, which was very helpful in understanding the expected cost for the experience. They were vey helpful in customising our trip to add a walk in the foothills of Kilimanjaro and then onto Zanzibar for some R&R. They were also sympathetic to keeping within our budget, in stark contrast to some other providers who charged significantly more. Massive thanks to Pendo for answering all our questions kindly as we tweaked the programme before booking to include a walk in the foothills of Kilimanjaro and a few days in Zanzibar after Safari.
We paid by credit card and incurred a small fee for additional payment security. If we booked again I would probably make a direct transfer having been before.
Prior to arrival, we received a final more detailed agenda, allaying any fears about collection from the airport, transport etc. This all went very smoothly. Recommend applying for VISA online to skip the queue for forms on arrival at Kili airport.
After a day to rest at the lodges we were collected by our guide Yusuph who confirmed the agenda and we set off in our Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle was comfortable, well equipped (fridge, some drinks etc.) Note that all vehicles seen on safari were land cruisers of the same variety. We noted Yusuph was also well equipped with tools for maintenance - a critical safety requirement we noted some other providers didn’t have as the odd spanner was lent along the way to others.
Our Safari included Tarangire, Central Serengeti, Northern Serengeti, NGoroGoro crater and Lake Manyara areas. We were very fortunate and saw the big 5. Highlights included a lion stalking prey, a cheetah at full speed chasing Zebra, monkeys playing… It was the experience of a lifetime, and we are incredibly thankful to the team for making it happen, and especially to Yusuph for sharing his knowledge about all things safari including game, birds, flora and forna and also answering our questions along the way about life in Tanzania and teaching us a little Swahili along the way. We made a good little team working together to spot animals which made the whole experience even more rewarding.
Accommodation throughout included a mix of lodges, including 2 tented lodges which were the highlight for us. Having no idea what to expect, each ‘tent’ is generously proportioned with a king size bed, normal toilet and hot shower. At night the team escort you back to the tents after dark with communication via 2 way radio, ensuring you are kept safe from the animals that roam after dark. We heard wilderbeast, hyena, and lions nearby in the night to name a few.
The food in these tented lodges was excellent and we were also provided with a substantial lunch every day which was eaten in dedicated picnic areas throughout each of the parks along with a glass of wine. Note that these parks also have toilet facilities at regular intervals throughout.
So, if you are on the fence about safari - book it now with Lion King! Our conclusion is that spending 25% more with other providers would’ve still landed us in a land cruiser in this beautiful part of the world.
DE
Email Ovidiu and Mariachiara | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Honeymoon Safari Experience!!
Fantastic Safari experience. Beyond our expectations! We did the 5 day mid range Safari with one night luxury Kilimamoja Lodge. Our guide Immanuel was great. Very knowledgeable, professional and a great driver. He had a great eye for all the animals. We saw all the big five, lions, rhino, buffalo, leopard and elephants and many more. Each park was special in its own way. Tarangire was great for the elephants, ngorongoro for its variety and Serengeti for the big cats. The accomodations were very clean, comfortable and spacious. Our luxury accomodation, Kilimamoja Lodge was something else! Two showers in the room, one outdoor shower and a bath! Phenomenal view of the Rift Valley! And the staff was extremely attentive.
We highly recommend Lion Kind Adventures. A very professional company. Ask for Immanuel as your tour guide! He did a great job with us.
Email Michelle Helou | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience. Highly recommend!!!
Going on a Safari has always beem my dream and doing it with this team was the best experience!!! I highly recommend the Lion King Adventures and Joseph.
Hubby and I chose the 5 day safari tour and it was just perfect! I fell in love with Serengeti. The experience of sleeping in a lodge inside Serengeti for the night was amazing as you can enjoy the day much more.
Joseph, our guide throughout the trip, was the very best! He answered all our questions and taught us a lot about the animals, the parks, the culture and the language. He is also an amazing photographer. We became his favourite mzungus for sure
US
Email Mike | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top Notch Adventure. Highly Recommend.
Lion King is the King of Safari's. They were so easy to work with. From setting up the safari to the tour itself was so easy. When setting up the safari, Godwin and Pendo were very timely in their responses and ensured that all my questions were answered to my satisfaction. I went on the mid price 9 day Migration Crossing. Everything that was advertised was as stated. All accommodations were very satisfactory, with good food, and the vehicle/land cruiser that we travelled in was well taken care of and comfortable. They were also helpful in setting up a balloon safari for one of the mornings.
Our guide David was a great guy and guide. He knew right where to go for the prime viewing locations of all the animals that we seen, and there were plenty to see. He spotted them very quickly and many times from afar. He was very knowledgeable about the animals that we saw, their habitats, and more. David ensured that the vehicle was cleaned every day and well stocked with drinks for those dusty roads, and that we had delicious lunches with plenty to eat each day. I highly recommend Lion King for safari adventures.
US
Email Dave | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lion King Adventures, provide superior service and guided tours
Our once in a lifetime dream safari trip, came true! Lion King made arranging the safari easy while providing great options and communications of changes. Many safari’s were more expensive, while our safari went beyond our high expectation. Our guide, was an expert at finding animals, ensuring we were present for a Wildebeast migration across the Mara twice in one day and seeing almost 100 lions and other large cats, our personal favorite. Thanks Lion King
AE
Email Mike & Natalia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely professional and knowledable tour operator who will make sure you have a great safari
We had an amazing time with Lion King on a 4-days luxury safari tour though Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire national parks seeing lots and lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery staying at some fantastic accommodation.
From the booking everything was extremely professional. We reached out via email and got a well laid out itinerary for the time of our holiday. The team helped us with any follow up questions and adjusted the plan to our needs. All the comms were clear, timely and useful. I would have been impressed if a company operated like this in the UK and I’ll admit I was very surprised for a Tanzanian based company to be so easy to plan with!
Our guide Aroni was one of the highlights of our trip. He shared his good knowledge of the wildlife and nature and ensured we got to see some of the best sights on our safari (some examples - a group of cheetahs, up close with elephants, lions feasting on an unfortunate zebra and much much more). We also had some great chats about Tanzania in general which we really appreciated. Aroni is very responsible - he took into account when we needed to be someone by a certain time (our flight times and arrival) but we also never felt rushed and is a careful driver. With Aroni you always feel like you’re in safe hands. Overall, you’ll have a great time if you get Aroni as your tour guide.
The Lion King organised accommodation was top notch with great hospitality, rooms and facilities. Two of the locations we stayed at inside the Serengeti and you can watch the wildlife from the comfort of your hotel. It was always exciting to pull up to the next place and be bowled over again by the amazing setting and high standard.
Lion king also make things even better with the little details. They provided plenty of drinks, including red and white wine with mine and my wife’s name on them. The lunches we had while out for the day were tasty and each time Aroni would set up with a table cloth, drinks and nice cutlery. We felt pretty spoiled.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with Lion King. They are extremely profession, have some great guides and take extremely seriously taking care of you and making your safari an amazing experience.
US
Email Adur | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Such a unique experience. The better-prepared you are on your knowledge, the better it is.
Our guide Saleh was excellent. He put in so much work in finding animals, handling dietary restrictions, and planning for the next days. His knowledge of the ecology of the entire surrounding region is very in depth, and he's a expert at spotting and identifying things from a distance. We saw a lot of rare sightings - a rhino in the Serengeti (there weren't supposed to be any, this one was just released there), 4-5 leopards, lions mating. The Mara River crossing was definitely worth it and he was extremely patient. Rose set up the the trip for us and was very accommodating. She even set up an Arusha tour for the first day, and Brighton was the guide for that.
Speaking of Arusha, the Cultural Center is very nice and worth a visit, but there's no need to buy all your souvenirs there. There are much cheaper places elsewhere. Just ask your guide - you'll be driving through towns in between safari parks. Also, the Tanzanite Experience in Arusha is definitely the best combo of trustworthiness and expertise, and price, for buying Tanzanite of the quality that you want.
Just FYI, tipping is expected, but don't tip too much at the beginning in the airport. There's a reason why bag helpers are only at the arrivals and not at the departures. Your money can get drained quickly. Maybe tip them a dollar or two if they help, but you probably don't need help anyway. Also, only tip lodges and hotels at the end of your stay there. Don't tip all the staff. 20 dollars per day is enough for a family. It will be split among the staff. As for the guide, it's customary to tip $15 per person per day, although I hear most guests don't tip that much. The typical number of guests they get is 2, so larger groups may not have to tip as much per person. However, more people = more work since the guide has to handle your food as well. So maybe $14 minimum for a group of 3 and $13 minimum for a group of 4. Don't bring more people than that - the car can get crowded. 5 if you have zero luggage.
Speaking of luggage, DON'T OVERPACK. Wear each pair of clothes for 2 or 3 days before washing. You REALLY do not need to wash everyday here.
Bug repellent is very important. Get the high quality creams from REI. There aren't many mosquitos, but Tsetse flies can swarm you sometimes, no matter how fast you're driving.
Also, remember to bring lots of cash and remember to have new bills, like after 2016.
US
Email Kelly | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
He is friendly, kind, attentive, respectful
Lion King Adventures was an amazing company. They were very responsive with our initial inquiry and sent us the perfect itinerary for the limited time we had for safari. They ensured all of our requests were realized from accommodations to transports. Our guide Meshack was wonderful. He made us feel very safe and was extremely respectful. He made sure we were able to see all the animals, including the big 5. He is an excellent driver on the rougher terrains of the parks. Overall, we had a great experience and recommend Lion King Adventures and Meshack to all who are looking to go on safari.