20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great communication, proactive, helpful, informative,
BEST EXPERIENCE EVER ! David was amazing. He was so helpful, informative, reassuring and was super fast at responding. I was scared that it would be a scam however David sent the certificate and all the information and was super understanding when I was questioning him. He even emailed me after the safari to see how the safari went. Thank you so much David ! I saw all the BIG 5 and MORE! It was a surreal experience, no words could describe it. It was amazing and I’m glad I did 7 days as I got to see everything that I wanted at a close range. Cheetahs, leopard, elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hyena, water buffalo, jackal, lions/lioness, all kinds of birds, white and black rhinos and more! Not only this but to see and experience the nature and the terrain of the parks is out of this world ! If you’re thinking of booking with Bienvenido then do it ! However as people have mentioned, all the companies itineraries are similar and you’re with different people from different companies so it really doesn’t matter. However Akira safaris was pretty cheap ! The hot air ballon was such a cool experience, very peaceful and beautiful. The driver Peter, made it 100x better. He was informative, friendly, fun and took his time for us to see the animals and to explain everything about the animals. I tipped him since he was so good! I did a budget safari however the accommodation were great, the tents were pretty cool experience and the hotels were so GOOD considering it was budget. I was impressed and glad I did a budget safari. The staff that worked at the camps and hotels were amazing, friendly and helpful ! The food was pretty good and there were a few options, dinner and breakfast was a buffet style so you self serve and help yourself to as much as you want. Lunches were usually a sandwich, fruit, yogurt, juice and chicken. The portion size was great. I think the group you’re with and the driver you get can really make or break the experience as well as what animals you see ! I had an amazing group for the first four days, we got on so well but after that all of my original group changed and so did my driver. My first driver Morgan wasn’t the best. Not only was he not very friendly but he seemed miserable. I think he did the job just to do the job not because he has a passion for it or enjoys it. I understand he’s done this hundreds of times but it’s a shame when it’s your first time and it’s such an incredible experience and you get a driver like this. On the first day he was fine ( Evening drive in Masai Mara) but the next day we were meant to spend a full day from morning till around 6 pm in the park. By 2:45 pm we were leaving the park while all the other game drivers were still in the park. We were the only ones who left early and this was not a full day nor did we have anything else planned for the rest of the day. Not only this but Morgan kept driving quickly past animals even when we asked if he could stop to see them, the water buffalo and elephants (both animals were a close distance to us and we hadn’t stopped for them before or seen them this close and there were no other drivers there). It got to the point we actually had to ask Morgan to stop many times if we wanted to see an animal. Many times when Morgan did stop he would usually only stop for 1-2 minutes and then drive off which was rubbish as we wanted to take pictures and observe the animals but this did not give us enough time. Along with this he would often stop in rubbish positions where we couldn’t see the animals great. On a few occasions we asked him to stay where we were and then he would move behind another jeep where our vision was blocked. Furthermore, Morgan did not give us any information about the animals unless we asked for this information and he did not have any binoculars with him for us to see animals which were far away, Every driver should have 1 pair. Morgan failed to give us briefings in the morning or have any communication of what was going on or what we would be doing, at what time throughout the day. For example he failed to tell us that we had to pay for the crescent island walk at the same time as the boat tour if we wanted to do it. He only said we were there for the boat tour and not the island so we had no idea and missed out on this opportunity. Morgan also forget someone’s lunch in my group so they didn’t have any food from breakfast at around 6:30-7 am until around 6:30-7 pm. He also didn’t provide lunch on one of the days for four of us. However we demanded it since it is what we payed for and it was in our itinerary. However, he then did get us lunch at a bbq place which he payed out of his own money which I do appreciate. He just seemed to lack organisation and communication. He also wasn’t the best driver, it’s quite rough in the parks anyway but I had two other drivers that drove much smoother. On the other hand, i appreciate that Morgan let us play music in the jeep and that he stopped at a lodge for me to go to the toilet as I was desperate. However, David was very helpful and sorted everything out for us ! We also had a member of staff in Miti Mingi eco camp help us. I think he might have been the leader of the camp. When we got dropped back to our camp early when we were meant to do a full day game drive in Masai Mara he could see we were not happy. He asked us the problem and was not happy with what he heard. He called Morgan and told him to come back to pick us up on take us back to the park (which Morgan did but still didn’t take us deep into the park and only took us to see cheetahs and gazelle in 3 hours). Morgan tried to deny it and had an expression on his face while we were there with the man who called him back. But I called him out on his behaviour and he didn’t argue with it. The camp staff member was very helpful and apologetic. After four days my driver changed for the last three. His name was Ron and he was amazing!! He was so fun,friendly and chatty. His tyre went flat on the first day driving to the next destination but he didn’t stress and fixed it quickly and efficiently. He was very knowledgeable about animals and drove us around to all the places sharing information about the species and the park.He even stopped at a lodge for me to go to the toilet as I was desperate. Ron made sure we were all happy and stopped for long periods of time for us to observe the animals and take pictures of them. He was a very good driver even when going faster or in rougher terrain. He made sure we had our lunches and gave us enough time and did a few toilet stops. He was really passionate about the animals and what he does which made a big difference and made it a great experience ! I also tipped Ron a decent amount. Remember if you’re doing a safari you’re spending a lot of time in the jeep and with your driver. When you’re not doing game drives then you are driving around in the jeep to your next destination. It is A LOT of travelling. From one place to another it’s around 5-6 hours. If you’re going to do a safari I definitely recommend packing enough clothes as there’s not any place to wash and hang your clothes really (for a budget safari). Also make sure you’re clothes are neutral and earthy tones. Also bring a fleece or something a little warmer because at times in can be a little chilly. My 1 piece of advice I have for all of the safari companies is that you should make a small booklet (even if it’s at an extra cost). It should contain all the animals, birds and creatures that we could possibly see in the parks and information/pictures about all the species and things about the animals. Also information about the parks would be nice. That way we can tick off what we see or read information about the different things we see. Then if you have a driver which doesn’t know the information you can read it. I definitely would book with Akira safaris again and would 100% recommend them, a big shout out to David !
LT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Reliable, friendly, and helpful. I was won over by their honesty and experience
A very professional and reliable team that truly keeps their word. Run by local people, and it’s clear they genuinely love what they do. We could really feel that and received excellent service along with great stories. We were especially impressed by the local guide Logan and Baraka.Warmest regards as well to the owners, Moses and Naithie.
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond All Expectations: Our Safari with Serengeti African Tours
We planned our trip just two weeks before departure, and the manager, Linah, promptly selected an option that perfectly suited us, taking all our preferences into account. She answered all our questions both before and during the trip. Among other tour agencies, Serengeti African Tours stood out for the manager’s quick and responsive communication, a great selection of accommodations, a clear and informative itinerary presentation, good price, convenient payment methods, and, of course, high ratings across all online platforms.
During the whole trip everything was great: a comfortable safari jeep, filling and delicious lunches during the safari, and beautiful, comfortable lodges and hotels (we would especially like to highlight Suricata Boma Lodge - it was simply amazing). During our 5-day safari, we visited three national parks - Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro, and saw a huge number of animals, including all members of the Big Five and many others.
We would also like to specially mention the excellent work of our guide, Godfrey. Thanks to him, we always had the best viewing spots on safari and were able to see many animals literally at arm’s length. He also shared a lot of interesting information about animals and wildlife - he is an experienced professional and knows a lot.
Overall, it was an absolutely incredible experience. We gained so many unforgettable memories, and we are truly happy that we chose this tour company!
EG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Domi was very nice and proactive in showing us everything we wanted
We had an amazing time on our safari thanks to our guide, Domi. We explored all parts of the national park, saw an incredible variety of animals, and had so much fun along the way. Domi truly went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience possible. Highly recommended!
EG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Serengeti Smile delivered an unforgettable, perfectly organized safari with an amazing guide (Domi)
We had a fantastic safari with Serengeti Smile. Communication was quick and clear from the start, and everything ran smoothly and on time throughout the trip.
Our guide, Domi, was amazing — friendly, calm, and very knowledgeable. He knew exactly where to go, and thanks to him we saw all the animals we hoped for (and more). He also made sure everyone had great views and enough time for photos.
Highly recommend Serengeti Smile, and definitely ask for Domi if you can.
EG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Domi was very friendly, very helpful and always happy. He always tried to show us all the animals
It was a very nice trip and clearly met my expectations. Domi (out safari guide) picked us up from the airport and the tour already started from there where he explained a lot about Tanzania and the different cities we passed through on our way to the safari. During the safari itself he showed us around and showed us our favorite animals and told us interesting facts about them.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great communication, and super organized, everything was easy
Our Tour guide Adrian was fantastic, he did everything to give us a unforgettable safari trip! We will come back!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Suricata is SUPER!
Wow, there are not enough words to describe how amazing Suricata Safaris was.
I experienced two pretty big problems upon my arrival to Tanzania. (1.) Two of my party members were delayed due to flight issues and (2.) my bag did not arrive on my plane. I was pretty stressed until I met up with Twalbu at the hotel. He helped me rearrange the trip so that I was able to begin my safari early, and meet up with my two party members when they arrived. When my bag arrived late, a member of the team picked it up at the airport for me. I am eternally grateful that they were able to help me with these issues. These things really matter when you are in an unfamiliar country!
Let’s get to the actual safari! My guide was Rasta Man and he was awesome! He shared a lot of information with us both about the animals, and about the Maasi people and culture. We saw MANY animals on our safari (including the big 5!) and we were able to get close to them in a way that still respected the animals, which was very important to me. The lunches provided during the safari were absolutely delicious and home cooked! We ate a fresh lunch every day complete with meat, veggies and rice.
My party chose the mid-range option and the accommodations did not disappoint! In the Serengeti, you may even hear lions outside of your glamping tent. We sure did!
All in all, I am thoroughly satisfied with this trip and my experience with Suricata safaris. My expectations were exceeded in every way. Suricata safaris were recommended to me by a friend, and now I recommend them to you!
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly and welcoming
The safari tour was absolutely beautiful. Our guide, Yona, was very understanding, patient, and helpful. Throughout the entire tour, he fulfilled and accommodated all of our wishes.
The head of the organization is a very kind lady. She came in the morning to personally welcome us, which made us feel very appreciated. The staff overall was truly excellent.
The tour itself is something you simply have to experience. It was truly amazing and unforgettable.
JO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
If I can say more than excellent I would !
Preparing a trip to Africa is not an easy one , but dealing with horizon , their replies are always kind and patient , they provided an extra mile to make our stay wonderful
Thank you for taking care of all the small details and make our stay a joyful one