FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience
Amazin 5-day safari experience! Our guide Amos was amazing and he really has a deep local knowledge. This experience was absolutely fantastic - it really couldn’t get any better than this! Higly recommended⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
IE
Once in a lifetime trip! Thanks to Pius and Godian
If you’re considering Serengeti Smile, don’t hesitate just book it.
Honestly, the photos don’t do it justice to how amazing it really is.
This was a once in a lifetime experience, and I can’t recommend it enough.
First off, a big shout out to Godian, who planned everything for us. From the very first WhatsApp message, he was super responsive and patient with all our questions.
Booking something like this abroad can feel a bit daunting, but he put us completely at ease. He organised every detail, flights, transfers, activities and it all ran like clockwork.
When we landed, we started off with a hike on Kilimanjaro, which was beautiful and also arranged by Godian. Then the safari began, and that’s when we met Pius, our guide and let me tell you, he made the trip.
His knowledge, patience and pure skill at finding animals is unbelievable. He always seemed to have us in the perfect spot at the right time.
We began in Tarangire National Park, spotting elephants, giraffe, zebra, and even two lionesses, a great warm up for what was ahead.
We moved on to the Serengeti, which was out of this world.
In central Serengeti we saw everything we hoped for and more.
Up north, we took a hot air balloon ride over the Great Migration herds which was unreal.
Later, at the Mara River, we witnessed a wildebeest crossing. Again, thanks to Pius, we had the best view.
Over the days we saw (but not limited to):
- 30+ lions, including 8 males and 4 cubs
- 3 lionesses tracking and hunting a warthog, very rare, and Pius was superb
- leopards, one of which gave us an incredible view
- A cheetah
- Loss of Hyenas including 13 feeding on a zebra for breakfast
- A serval cat (a special sighting and hard to spot, but Pius did!)
- Buffalo, giraffe, elephant, zebra, hippo, vultures, eagles and the list goes on
The whole thing was just sensational.
We then went to the Ngorongoro Crater, which is breathtaking in itself.
There, Pius found us a pride of 10 lionesses wandering about.
For anyone wondering, we didn’t see a rhino but that was our own choice, as we decided to stay with the lions. No regrets!
We also had a brilliant cultural day organised by Godian, visiting the Hadzabe tribe where we went on a hunt and tried out the bow and arrow.
Then visited another tribe where we saw traditional tool making. Really fascinating and a nice change of pace.
Our last stop was Lake Manyara, where we saw loads of baboons and a few elephants.
It was a smaller, calmer day compared to the Serengeti, but a perfect way to wind down and wrap up the safari.
At the end, Pius drove us to the airport for our flight to Zanzibar. Godian had organised the flights and the transfer from Zanzibar airport to our accommodation, which was seamless as always.
Another highlight for us was sitting down to dinner with Pius in the Serengeti.
After the excitement of the day, chatting through everything we’d seen while learning from his incredible knowledge was something special.
To sum it up: Godian and Pius made this the trip of a lifetime. Serengeti Smile is an excellent company that you can trust, they’re professional, friendly, and they genuinely care about making your experience unforgettable as they take pride in showing their native Tanzania. We’ll be recommending them to everyone.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing Safari experience- the best!
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel a lot, but this Kenyan safari stands out as one of the best journeys of my life. Every lodge, every experience, every detail was thoughtfully curated, making it a seamless and unforgettable adventure.
Masai Mara Serena Lodge was our first stop, and it set the bar high. The spa was a perfect way to relax after exploring the Mara, but the absolute highlight was the balloon safari. Our guides chose a fantastic company, and floating quietly above the plains as giraffes and zebras ran alongside us was simply magical. We ended the flight with a breakfast in the Mara, surrounded by breathtaking scenery—it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
At Lake Naivasha, gliding across the lake among hippos and then riding at the stables gave me a new appreciation for the beauty of Kenya’s diverse landscapes. One of the unexpected highlights was simply driving through the country—the journey from the dramatic cliffs of the Great Rift Valley down to the sweeping savannah plains was breathtaking, a constant reminder of how diverse and spectacular this land is.
Moving on to Amboseli Serena Lodge, the hospitality was unmatched. Watching elephants roam against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro during sunset felt almost spiritual. But if I had to pick the single most extraordinary highlight, it would be Salt Lick Lodge. From the moment I stepped onto the balcony, I was captivated—elephants, zebras, and more animals gathering right before our eyes, as if the savannah put on a private show just for us. The sundowner was absolutely electric with great food, live entertainment, and lots of dancing under the stars—one of those nights that makes you feel fully alive. The night game drive that followed was thrilling, especially photographing lions in their nocturnal world.
At Taita Hills Resort, we were treated to sweeping views, a fascinating WWI museum, and a final safari through Tsavo National Park. Everywhere we went, the food was outstanding, and the staff were some of the warmest, most welcoming people I’ve ever met—they made us feel at home instantly.
I cannot thank our guide Shem enough. He went above and beyond every single day—patient, funny, and always making sure we felt safe and cared for. His warmth and genuine nature made him more than just a guide; he truly became part of our experience and a friend we’ll never forget. Riding in the brand new Toyota Land Cruiser added both comfort and style to the adventure.
This was a five-star safari in every sense—Kenya at its very best, and hands down our most memorable trip to this incredible country.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing guide!
Abdul was awesome! Very knowledgeable and very friendly. We were able to do and see a lot of stuff. His take on a game drive is unique and he knows where the action is! I’m very lucky to have spent the last 7 days with him! I highly recommend him if you’re planning go to Tanzania!
Epic Safari tour!
Our safari across Kenya was nothing short of magical. From start to finish, everything was planned to perfection, and the experiences felt like stepping into a dream.
We started at Masai Mara Serena Lodge, where we enjoyed the spa after a long day of game drives. The massages were rejuvenating, and waking up to the sounds of the Mara was unforgettable. At Lake Naivasha, we took a boat ride and floated right past hippos before heading to the stables—riding horses while surrounded by wildlife was surreal.
Driving through the Great Rift Valley on our way down to the endless savannah plains was an adventure in itself—the dramatic landscapes shifting from escarpments to flatlands made the journey just as memorable as the destinations.
Amboseli Serena Lodge completely stole my heart. The service was outstanding, and watching elephants with Mount Kilimanjaro and those fiery African sunsets in the background felt like a postcard come alive. Then came Salt Lick Lodge—absolutely the highlight! Sitting on the balcony, sipping a drink, and watching elephants gather at the waterhole beneath us was breathtaking, like witnessing a scene from The Lion King. The sundowner was magical: delicious food, the warmth of the fire, incredible entertainment, and lots of dancing that made the night so lively and joyful. Our night game drive was thrilling—we captured epic photos of lions under the moonlight.
At Taita Hills Resort, we explored the stunning landscapes, enjoyed another round at the spa, and even visited the WWI museum. The safari through Tsavo National Park was an adventure in itself. The food everywhere was consistently delicious, with staff at every lodge and resort welcoming us with genuine warmth and care.
A huge shout-out to our guide, Shem. His driving skills were impeccable, his knowledge of wildlife was inspiring, and his kindness and humor made us feel so comfortable. Shem is not only a brilliant guide—he’s a genuinely great person who became such an important part of this journey. Traveling in a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser made everything even more enjoyable.
This was, without question, a 5-star holiday—the best of our trips to Kenya, and one we will never forget.
under20 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Theodore was Very friendly and very hospitable making me feel very save and well looked after
Have had a great experience with them, great driving also very clean bus
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exactly what I wanted
I worked with King Solomon Safaris for several weeks to design a safari. The lodging was very good at all our stops. We visited the Ngorongoro Conservation area, NGorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and the Serengeti. My tour was well organized and a good value. My guide Amani was excellent and helped me to get great photos, plus he explained cultural areas and traditions. Solomon and his team were excellent, even retrieving my baggage that went missing with the airline and getting it to me a few days into my trip. A great experience!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wunderfull experience, fantastic guide and professional booking
We took a 2,5 day trip to different park with the absolute highlight the Ngorogoro crater. Lots of different animals upclose and good explaination from our guide Jonas. You could ask the guide everything, on wich he always had an answer.
For lunch we sat on a beautiful picknick spot inside the park, on wich we ate good food. At night we could relax in our lovely hotel. So as a family of 3 we absolutely loved this trip! Highly recommended.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
INCREDIBLE 3 Day Gorilla Trekking tour from Kigali!
We booked a 3 day Gorilla Trekking tour from Kigali with Standard Safari’s and it was INCREDIBLE!
The whole process of booking this tour through Coleb was so easy and everything went smoothly! We booked budget lodge options but these lodges were amazing! Great views, yummy food and super comfortable for us.
The Gorilla Trekking was a once in a lifetime experience and we couldn’t thank our driver George enough for hooking us up with a wonderful guide & group. Our second night was at Lake Bunyonyi and it was such a peaceful experience after the hike.
We had a boat tour of the lake the next morning and it was wonderful!
Couldn’t recommend a better company to book this tour through than Standard Safaris ☺️
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing 10 day trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar
We took a 10 day trip, includeing a safari and stop in Zanzibar. This was an amazing trip. Our guide, Eric, was superb, funny, and pleasant. He was attentive and looked for ways to help accommodate my older parents who have difficulty getting around. He was very knowledgeable of the animals, which greatly impressed my father. We were able to see all of the big 5 plus more. We wish everyone could have a guide like Eric.
