Hilary and Martin - owners of Suricata Safaris
Suricata Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $190 to $600 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
KR
Email CHOI HYUNJ | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Surikata safari was the best and highly recommended.
Everything was perfect. A guide to driving and looking for animals, a cook who cooks all the meals deliciously, and the people who were with him were all kind and sensible and able. Thanks to them, I could see many animals. It allows me to find the best location and capture it with my eyes and camera at leisurely. If I go back later, I will make another reservation as a suricata company. 한국인들도 있을 거 같아서 남깁니다. 무조건 수리카타로 예약하세요. 그리고 에제키엘과 프린스는 최고의 직원들입니다. 진짜 강추에요.
RU
Email Dmitry Suhadolsky | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safaris in three parks (Serengeti, Ngorogoro, Tarangiri)
I went on a Safari from the company Suricata. I found them on the website: www.safaribookings.com I really liked the service provided. The price was average market. But the price included meeting from the airport and transfer to the airport after the safari. The price also included hotel accommodation before the safari and after the safari. The hotel is very decent. The company is run by three very active and friendly men. All with good English (one of them is American). The service was provided at a very good level, so I recommend choosing them.
If we talk about the Suricata company itself, I liked the guide, the cook (as it turned out later, in comparison with all the others he cooked very tasty). Every evening, as a gift, well, dinner was given a bottle of wine. Food was always prepared in excess. The guide drove fast, but very carefully. Car: six-seater Land Cruiser.
Now about the trip itself: the safari lasted 4 days (3 nights). Parks: Ngorogoro, Serengeti and Tarangiri. Tarangiri is separate from the other two parks. All parks are different and differ from each other in nature and animals. Therefore, it is interesting to see all three, but you need to correctly evaluate your strength and desire. Drive 300 km from Arusha to Serengeti Park, the road is bad, so be patient or choose other parks. But the Serengeti is the largest park.
I went in August 2019. When they tell you, take warm clothes, this really means that you will need them. Be sure to take pants, a sweatshirt, a windbreaker, possibly another sweater. Also bring along a headlamp, pillowcase, soap, small shampoo, wet wipes, mosquito repellent. Personally, I did not take a windbreaker with me and regretted it. In the evenings there is a very cool and strong wind.
Bargaining in shops, taxis and markets should be 3-4 times. Everyone wants to make money on white tourists.
Yellow fever vaccine is best done just in case. Whether to be vaccinated against malaria, everyone decides for himself. Locals get malaria like a cold. Many tourists even having vaccinated have a high chance of getting sick. Just fly to Tanzania, before you go on a safari, buy a malaria test. If your temperature rises, you can immediately use the test.
Paying all the more profitable in shillings (you pay the safari in dollars). Therefore, change dollars at the airport or immediately after arrival in the city.
Have a good holiday and interesting adventures!
That was amazing!
This was our first experience on safari. Everything was great. We met at the airport, placed in the hotel. In the evening came, Hillari, we paid main amount for safari. He asked our preferences in food, when my wife learned that cook can cook separately for her food without gluten, she was very happy! Was one confusion with paying, in the contract not mentioned on the amount of a tip for guide, they were fixed, 10$ with person per day. I think you need it to write in the contract! In our country tips are not mandatory and fixed. But guide the Mandela and cook Salim, great fulfilled his work and very tried, so we were pleased to pay a tip! We really liked it, we will recommend to our friends! The price is very good.
ES
Email alex moreno | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Enjoyble and responsible safari
Me and my girlfriend organized a safari with Hilari´s company Suricata T & T. Since the beginning I had an easy, fluent and effective communication with Hilary. Our safari was 3d/2n visiting Tarangire,lake manyara and Ngorongoro crater.We had Harry as driver and Miren as cook.both of them really good and proffessionals.After we finished the safari and with sort notice,we´re backpacking in Tanzania,we decided to get our chances to join a safari giving us the opportunity to visit serengeti.Once again after speaking with Hilari,we embarked on a new adventure;this time ourdriver/guide was Mandela and Jeez as cook.I´m gonna put it sort and simple;"DREAMTEAM".Mandela has shown very good driving skills no matter the road conditions,really clear and effective with logistics and planning.Jeez was offering a nice variety of meals for all sorts of customrs,no matter age,nationality....
I´ve witness many drivers from other TO not respecting the path,to approach closer specially to predators (big cats) and cutting their way (I´ve got even proof). This is not responsible behaviour;our drivers at Suricata always respected that.It´s a really competitive industry, the safaries, in tanzania.Many times thnking of tips, drivers get closer to animals unresponsibly.don´t encourage your driver for such behaviour.Us, being people who pay to have a wonderful safari experience,doen´t give us any right to go over driver´s .Your driver/guide is the boss,liten to them.Get a closer experience helping the staff members when setting up campsites,assist your cook to prepare meals;,learn a bit of swahili;that will give you a closer and more balanced experience,not just being a white person pying money.I can´t tell anyone who to go with...but Suricata T & T yu should be on your list when planning excursions.we had 2 great safaries and I have only good words for Hilari and his team who made that possible.
assante sana and kwaheri rafiki
FR
Email Zakaria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari. Totally recommended !
We totally appreciated our Safari with Suricata Safaris.
Hilary was very accomodating. It was easy to communicate with him before the trip to arrange all the details. Our guide Ezekiel was really nice and know a lot about Tanzanian wildlife.
Suricata team is the best in class !
Hakuna Matata.
KR
Email Eunjee kim | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Never better than this.
Quick reply , all inclusive, well explained etc.
When I met them first in Arusha, Suricata people Welcome us. They try to explain everything in detail.
Furthermore, we did not like the accomodation they recommend us, so I found the other one, but they came to our hotel and explained tomorrow schedule.
Also I was afraid that they would not come to pick me up, but they came to pick me up very correct time(like 6:30am)
I have never found they were late. They were very promised people.
Also when I had 3days tour, the safari car had no problem at all. I found they always fill the fuel fulled.
I actually have got quotation more than 10 company. However I never regeret that I have chosen Suricata safaris.
I strongly recommend suricata for young 20~40years old people.
Never better than this.
This company is quite young, so I am sure that young people will like it.
Asante.
US
Email Ian | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible wildlife, in-depth knowledge, delicious food, safe driving and all around unforgettable
So, how do you choose a safari company? I'm sure you've read tons of reviews, looked over dozens of itineraries and read page after page of tips and recommendations. Let me help you out: pick Suricata!
I took a 7-day camping safari with Suricata to Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. Of course the wildlife and landscapes were breathtaking, but what really made the experience unforgettable was the professionalism, hospitality and humor of Hilary (the owner), Mandela (the guide/driver) and Dionis (the chef).
A few highlights:
- Hilary picked us up from the bus stop with a huge smile even though the bus was 2 hours late.
- The safari vehicle is one of the best we saw in the bush. Tons of room inside, very comfortable and very safe.
- Mandela, the driver and guide, has super human abilities to find animals. He makes it a point to take his own path instead of following dozens of other vehicles. This means that you'll often get to watch animals without any other cars around. And you'll be able to look out into breathtaking landscapes and actually hear the wildlife versus sitting in the middle of 20 cars revving and idling the entire time.
- Mandela was also a great storyteller and knew information about wildlife, trees, plants, food, history, culture, etc etc.
- Dionis, the chef, will make the best soup you've ever eaten. He even made pizza... in the bush, without an oven. Make this man an Iron Chef!
- Mandela and Dionis also listen to what you want out of a safari and go out of their way to make sure your trip is comfortable, stress free and safe.
I could go on, but you get the idea. Can't wait to go back!
US
Email Heather | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very smooth and fantastic experience, once we got the kinks worked out
Suricata Safaris is a shining new company in a competitive field, and you should absolutely book them. I recently did a 6 day/5night camping safari with them, and they handled everything so nicely, from the itinerary to choosing the best campsites. They have (as of right now) three drivers—Frederick was our guide, but we also met Mandela, who was super charming and enthusiastic.
You could not ask for a smarter, more informed, funny, patient person to show you the wilderness than Frederick. He knows his field incredibly well, from who/what/how every predator hunts, to understanding where to find the action. (We saw a cheetah take down a zebra, and a lion miss one in the same day.) He’ll answer all your questions and include information you never knew to ask, all with a great sense of humor. He's patient, and it pays off in the best sightings.
Dioniz was our chef, and I guarantee you’ve never eaten better while camping. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all multi-course affairs with a million choices. You’ll be spoiled by him for sure. He’s up at the crack of dawn to set a table with a tablecloth for your breakfast and the food is *chefkiss* He’s got skills.
We had some communication difficulties with Hilary, but all were sorted quickly. Most stemmed from him getting emails from two different people, so I recommend having one point person as the organizer. Be prepared to pay the receiving end Tanzanian bank fees for a wire transfer as well as your own bank’s. BUT, he personally drove us to the airport, which was lovely.
Suricata can’t guarantee a specific driver, although we were told we were confirmed with our request. It wasn't a big deal, just another communication issue. You won’t go wrong with any of the guides, though, so it’s ultimately nbd. We also requested separate accommodations but were in shared tents (just my friend and me together) the whole time. Again, re-confirm all the details of your trip a few days before to make sure Suricata is on the same page.
I would have preferred a more detailed itinerary, like an easy to print pdf including drive times between sites (some are 6 hours) and a recommended packing list, but that’s nitpicking (which, I learned from Frederick, is a term that comes from baboon grooming habits). You will need this for your visa, so be sure to ask Hilary for a list of each day.
Don’t go crazy with safari gear—you’ll rarely be out of the car, and then only at picnic sites/washrooms. Pack comfortable shoes you can take off quickly so you can hop up onto the seat fast enough to get that once-in-a-lifetime photo. Basically dress like you’re going on a road trip. I never even considered wearing the safari hat I brought, and hiking boots were definite overkill.
Don’t forget binoculars, a towel, bug spray, itch cream, soap/shampoo, tissues/tp, and a few warm layers. There is a charger for all your devices in the safari vehicle! I don't think I was below 80% charged the entire week.
Suricata did well by us. You can feel confident you’re getting an amazing trip with super smart people you’ll be happy to spend a week with. I had an unforgettable time and made some new friends along the way!
Email Gennady | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hillary has jointed us to company Blue mountain safari. Before he didn't tell
Hillary sold us the tour from company Suricata safari, but when we come to Arusha he has jointed us to freelancer how he have said, but later we have known that it's the company blue mountain. So Hillary has layed to us. That's terrible.
Plus Hillary asked to pay a tips for 10 dollars from each per day. That's terrible.
Guide Emanuel has ugly behavior. Every questions from us and others make him angry.
When we asked to stop him behind the animal he become angry too. We didn't asked him to stop more then one two time per day.
Reply from Suricata Safaris
Posted on Mar 11, 2018Dear Gennady,
we are very sorry to hear your complaint via the safaribookings feedback form.
We were not aware of the situation you were in, and would have done everything to fix the situation.
We can only ask for appologies.
We are really sorry and again would have done everything to correct the situation in case you had informed us before.
Kind regards.
BE
Email Wouter | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
On adventure with Hillary to Tarangire and Ngorongoro
At the end of July I went on safari with Hillary to two of the most famous national parks in Tanzania. Tarangeri and Ngorongoro. It was amazing. Where other guides did not succeed in other parks, I was shown cheetas that brought their boys to a group of friends, monkeys who were mating and rhinos inside the crater. These things are very rare. It is not easy to say whether it's a coincidence or the guide to see these things. But it were two days apart, I do not think it's a coincidence anymore. That's why I say a big "merci" to Hillary !!!