Serengeti Smile Team
Serengeti Smile
- Office In:
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 2020)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Tourist Board & AMREF FLYING DOCTORS INSURANCE
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $160 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
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Email Nalini | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service. Very happy with my decision to book with Serengeti Smile.
Jambo! Thank you, Serengeti Smile, for a fantastic once in a lifetime experience. I booked this solo trip to mainly witness the great migration in Serengeti and wasn't disappointed. I started my search in March. I contacted a handful of companies but wanted to work with only Tanzanian owned company. Lambert was my contact, and he was very responsive to my questions and concerns and very prompt on Whatsapp. He suggested visiting July end which was perfect. From start to end, I was very happy with my experience but for a few things which I will address at the end.
Oswald received me at the airport and next day was a packed but relaxed pace tour of Arusha. Oswald was very helpful and good local guide. It was reassuring to see Oswald waiting at the airport after a long journey, He taught some Swahili words and shared some history about Arusha and Tanzania. Thank you, Oswald, for the warm welcome and introduction to Tanzania! Also, on the last day taking me the airport at 2 am and waiting patiently and cheerfully until I was through security was greatly appreciated.
My safari guide was Deo, and he was excellent. His knowledge of the parks, animals and roads (you really need to know where you are going) was incredible. I felt very safe and well cared for throughout the journey. He took off the beaten roads and did his best to find every animal I wanted to see. I saw all Big 5 except rhino much to my disappointment. He drove tirelessly with genuine care and has eagle eyes in spotting animals. He knew the right time when the wildebeests would cross 2 days in a row and got me front row seats. He truly wanted his guest to have an amazing experience. He was also an excellent photographer, and I was more than happy to entrust my camera to him. I couldn’t have asked for a better companion for this journey. Jeep was kept clean, and the glass was clear to take pictures. Thank you, Deo, for being my guide and sharing your knowledge and country. I hope to come back and see more animals, more chases, all the Big 5.I highly recommend Deo as a guide.
About the itinerary, I would've preferred to skip Tarangere and spend more time in Serengeti. About the accommodation, I really liked the Classic Safari Camp Lodge in Central Serengeti. The hotel at Karatu, Omega wasn't up to par. They included beef samosas for a vegetarian in my packed lunch. I know mistakes happen, but I wasn't happy biting into beef. Staff was great in all the lodges. All the lodges were clean and well maintained. They tried to make my stay very comfortable. Many vegetarian options. Packed lunches were good.
About things that should've been handled better, I had requested rooms close to the reception since I didn't want a long walk, but that didn't happen. There was some breakdown between the hotels and Serengeti booking staff. I would also like Serengeti Smile to organize better cultural experiences for the guests such as Masai village. They weren't very organized or well prepared in this area.
Overall, the trip was amazing and met my expectations. I highgly recommend Seregeti Smile for your next safari.
Email Janos Mouton | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a Lifetime
The safari trip was kindly gifted to us so I cannot comment on the communication, however the service has been 5 star from the moment we landed. Taxi waiting for us at the airport, travelling across Tanzania to sort local SIM cards and grab lunch boxes for a long journey ahead and welcoming us with open arms.
The safari itself was a once in a lifetime experience that everyone should experience in their lifetime. Seeing animals in their natural habitat roaming free is not something to take for granted and cannot be explained with words. We were so lucky to see the Big 5 in our trip and it’s an experience I will never forget.
As for our guide, Champion, words cannot fully describe the experience. Incredibly enthusiastic and loves his job, not only keeping everyone entertained with his cheeky sense of humour, but knowing exactly where to be to find the most amazing sightings and give you a full background of every animal and area found in Tanzania. If I ever have the privilege to come back and do this all over again I would not hesitate to make sure I can have him as my guide again!
Email Aleisha | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience - Champion in the best!!
Champion - Where do I start…a massive thank you to our tour guide Champion, he made us feel so welcome from the get go, and incredibly safe at all times. He was very engaging and full of energy. Our dream was to see the migration which he made come true, he was extremely patient and consistent throughout. Safe to say he was our good luck charm as we got to see every animal!! He exceeded our expectations and we were beyond grateful, our trip would not have been the same without him. I would recommend to anyone, do not hesitate to book him, you won’t be disappointed. Thank you again for an unforgettable experience.
Email Ciara | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simply the best.
As this trip was booked by a family member, I did not have any direct liaison with Serengeti Smile. However, I have been informed that the service received from Eric the agent was fantastic. He was prompt at responding to any and all queries, and informed our itinerary with his sound knowledge.
The safari itself was absolutely amazing thanks to our guide Champion. I don’t know where to start because he was fantastic! His energy and enthusiasm each day was second to none. His knowledge was impressive and on the rare occasion he wasn’t sure of the answer to the multitude of questions we were throwing his way, he always ensured that he found out for us. Champion made this the trip of a lifetime and was a key part in happy memories that will last forever.
Make sure you specifically ask for Champion when booking your safari with Serengeti Smile, you won’t regret it.
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Email Avni | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Libe is knowledgeable about all the animals and land. He gave us an unforgettable experience.
We had the most incredible safari experience, all thanks to our amazing guide, Libe. From the very start, it was clear that Libe is not only extremely knowledgeable about the animals and the land, but also truly passionate about what he does.
He made sure we saw all the animals we hoped for, and many more. All while sharing fascinating information about each one. He explained their habits, behaviors, and fun facts that made the experience even more engaging. His deep respect for the wildlife and his ability to spot and track animals was very impressive.
Beyond the game drives, everything about the trip was top-notch. The lodges and campsites we stayed at were very comfortable, well-maintained, and perfectly located. Each place had its own charm, and we always felt well taken care of. And the food is absolutely amazing! Every meal was delicious, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the trip.
If you’re looking for a safari that combines adventure, education, comfort, and incredible hospitality, this is it. We can’t recommend this company, and especially Libe highly enough. A five-star experience all around!
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Email Kaajal | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This safari experience was a life changing experience with an incredibly knowledgeable guide.
I cannot recommend this safari experience more! We were so impressed with how organized everything was. The safari and animals were of course amazing but our guide, accommodations, and food made the trip so memorable. Our guide Libe, was a wealth of knowledge, passionate about wildlife, and navigated the terrain incredibly well. He made our experience unforgettable. Our accommodations were clean and really great; we especially loved Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp where the food was awesome, staff was welcoming/caring/made us feel safe, and wildlife was close by. The food at all our accommodations and lunches on the road were also fantastic. Overall this experience was really great value for the money and Eliad, our trip organizer was really awesome at answering all questions in detail and quickly from the time of booking to the end of the trip.
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Email Mayura Patel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Libe greets with a smile & converses with in depth knowledge about the culture, foods, animals
Libe is patient & knowledgeable in all the the places we visited from culture to foods to animals and much more. We enjoyed every aspect of our trip especially his patience so we could see as many animals as possible even the black rhino in Gorongoro. And mostly connecting with him and his life during evening meals and throughout our journey. Such a lovely lifetime memory and experience for my family. We all love Libe for his love of his lands and people.
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Email Ronak Mistry | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely responsive and accommodating!
I cannot recommend Serengeti Smile enough. From the very beginning, our travel agent, Eliad, was extremely responsive to any and all inquiries and worked with us as we created the perfect itinerary for our Tanzania journey. He included opportunities to explore local areas, as per our request, and created the perfect blend of experiences while doing the Safari. All accommodations that he had included in our booking were also excellent. The food was super fresh and very high-quality at all places that we stayed. We cannot say enough good things about our tour guide/driver, Libe. Not only was he incredibly kind and hard-working, he ensure that we got to see any and all animals on our Safari. Any request that we had, he made them happen. Asante sana, Serengeti Smile!
SG
Email Christel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best safari experience with Serengeti Smile!
Had the most amazing Safari experience with Serengeti Smile! John (our guide) was very knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make sure we saw all the animals we wanted to see and always positioned the vehicle perfectly for the best viewing.
We mentioned wanting to see baby lion cubs, and he managed to find us not just one or two, but 14! Later, when we asked if we could see elephants up close, he immediately started searching and soon drove us right to the spot where an elephant crossed the road just behind us — it was magical.
We are very amazed at how well he knows the huge Serengeti roads and gets us to our camps and lodges safely and comfortably.
Really appreciate and want to thank Jeremiah (office rep) as well for putting together this amazing itinerary and suggestions of lodges to fit our budget. He was very responsive to all our questions and messages from the start!
Highly recommend Serengeti Smile to anyone wanting a truly memorable safari experience!
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Email Donovan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
IT WAS EXCELLENT!!
Our tour guide Lamek was very friendly, knowledgeable, safe and reliable. The tour itself was awesome! The first day we watched a leopard in a tree eating a fresh kill, a warthog. Then we drove for about 4 km and came upon a cheetah who must have just killed a gazelle.
But OMG! Lameka must have known where the actions were, because after we left the cheetah he took us a short distance away and we saw a lion hiding in the grass watching 2 zebras. Then she crept forward raised up and started chasing the zebra which she killed. The chase was very quick, however the suffocating bite to the neck took a while for her to release zebra ensuring the zebra was dead. Awesome 👌 👏