CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
very good，It was excellent. We departed on schedule every day and arrived early—very punctual.
It was excellent. We departed on schedule every day and arrived early—very punctual. The itinerary was well-planned. It was a fantastic first trip.
CN
Serengeti Smile: Excellent guide Domician Panga and an unforgettable Great Migration crossing
We explored the Northern Circuit including Ngorongoro and Serengeti on this safari booked through Serengeti Smile, and were lucky enough to witness the Great Migration crossing. It was a powerful, authentic wilderness experience, and overall highly recommended. Breakdown below:
Guide: Domician Panga (the highlight of our whole trip)
Our guide Domician Panga is extremely professional. He knows the terrain and animal patterns across Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater very well, with an incredible eye for spotting hidden leopards, lions and cheetahs from far away. He helped us check off the Big Five and capture amazing moments of the Great Migration crossing.
He has solid knowledge of animal behaviour, birds, local Maasai culture and conservation rules. His explanations were thorough, and he always gave us plenty of time for observation and photography. He drives smoothly and respects wildlife; he never off-roads or gets too close to disturb the animals.
Minor downsides: his knowledge on specialised bird species is somewhat limited. He focuses heavily on his work rather than constant casual chatting during drives, so he is not the type to keep the mood lively nonstop.
Itinerary
The route planned by Serengeti Smile was well thought out. It prioritised morning and late afternoon golden game-drive hours, avoiding the midday heat. Transfers between conservation areas were optimised with no unnecessary detours. The schedule was flexible — we could extend our stay whenever we encountered remarkable wildlife sightings, instead of rigidly sticking to a checklist.
The trade-off: some stretches involve long drives on bumpy dirt roads, which can be tiring. On travel days between camps, game-drive time gets reduced. Still, this is the price to pay for venturing deep into untouched wilderness and getting the chance to see the crossing, bringing us much closer to nature.
Lodges & Camp Service
All camps arranged by Serengeti Smile were beautifully located inside or on the edge of protected areas, with stunning sunset views right at our doorstep. The tented rooms were clean, with reliable hot water, electricity and comfortable bedding. Camp staff were friendly and responsive to requests. Meals were varied, mixing Western and local Tanzanian flavours.
Small caveat: safari camps are wilderness accommodation and cannot match city 5-star hotels. A few camps had more mosquitoes at night and some older shared facilities. That said, this rustic setting is exactly what lets us immerse ourselves in the natural world.
Price & Value for Money
We compared proposals from four different tour operators before booking with Serengeti Smile. Tanzanian safaris carry high fixed costs, including steep park entry fees, fuel, camp lodging and guide services. Our quotation was fully transparent with no hidden charges, everything listed upfront.
Considering Domician Panga’s expertise, vehicle condition, camp locations, plus our successful sightings of the Big Five and the Great Migration crossing, Serengeti Smile offered the best value among the four we evaluated. Budget travellers can opt for basic camping, but if you prioritise a reliable guide and stable logistics, this package delivers great value.
Summary
Domician Panga deserves a strong recommendation — he single-handedly elevated our safari experience with Serengeti Smile. The itinerary is well structured and the camps are pleasant. Bumpy roads and rustic camp facilities are inherent compromises, yet they grant the true immersion into African wilderness, culminating in the breathtaking river crossing. This is a high-quality wildlife trip, recommended for travellers who want to see the Big Five and crave genuine raw nature.
NL
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Driver
Rudzani Did a good job gor driving us on the South African roads
CN
Shafino was an amazing guide throughout our trip in Africa. He was friendly, professional, knowledge
Everything was well organized, and our guide Shafino was friendly, professional, and very helpful.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Shafino is a really professor of wild animals and a very very nice guy
This was a very memorable trip. The itinerary was well arranged, our guide was very professional and very kind, and I highly recommend KLA
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Flawless organization!
The trip was fantastic! The staff and the driver were friendly and helpful, making the five-day safari wonderful experience. A trip we will remember. Thank you
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experienced and well organised.
We engaged Imani for our honeymoon trip and it was such an amazing experience! The team was incredibly patient, accommodating and responsive throughout the planning process, always taking the time to answer all our questions and requests.
Our safari guides were experienced and really knew their stuff. They were incredibly good at spotting animals from a distance that we would have definitely missed! They were also able to explain the behaviours, traits and habits of the different animals which made the game drives much more interesting and meaningful.
We were incredibly lucky to see all of the big five, and even managed to catch the migration twice!
It was truly an unforgettable experience, and we’re so glad we chose Imani. No regrets!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic time in Kenya
Our operator Jael is very warm and responsive, showing great care about our itinerary and whether we are enjoying ourselves both before and during the trip.
Our guide Jonathan is outstanding—he takes us to see the Mount Kilimanjaro and spots many animals along the way. We're truly grateful!
Overall, the trip is wonderful, and we have a fantastic time in Kenya. 😆
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They are well organised and communication lines are short
Last July, our family went on a month-long holiday to South Africa. We came into contact with Safaries op Maat through friends. Communication has always been good and pleasant. We were able to contribute a lot of our own ideas, and they listened carefully to them. Together, we planned a wonderful, varied trip that included everything we wanted. The tips they gave us always worked out well. The travel guide we received by post shortly before our trip began was also absolutely lovely and very useful.
What we particularly appreciated during the trip was that whenever we had questions or needed help, it was provided very quickly via WhatsApp. We always received an immediate helpfull reply within a few minutes.
We can highly recommend Safaris op Maat to anyone who wants to discover the beautifull country of South Africa. .
BR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good.
The guide was very good! Been with my daughers Glenda and Sophia at the safari in South África. Cacá Antolini, from Brazil.
