Go Different...
Brilliant Adventures and Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Association of Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $250 to $3,510 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
CN
Email Fu | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Unforgettable Tanzania Safari with Perfect Service & Sweet Birthday Surprise!
These days in Tanzania will truly be etched in our memories forever. A special thank-you to the travel agency for specially preparing wine for me on my birthday — this will be a birthday I’ll never forget. Our guide George is an extremely responsible one; he goes out of his way to fulfill our wishes. Thank you to him for taking us to see so many animals we’d been longing to spot, and for letting us be lucky enough to witness the "Great Migration River Crossing". I kept telling him he’s the best guide, and we truly trust him. Thank you for adding so much joy to our journey. This trip was made perfect because of all of you, and we look forward to seeing you again.
HK
Email Terk | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent adventure in Tanzania
We spent 9 unforgettable days exploring Northern Tanzania with our guide and driver, Boni, and overall it was an exceptional experience.
Boni was professional, warm, and incredibly patient throughout the trip. His knowledge of the parks and wildlife meant we were able to witness incredible moments, including the wildebeest crossing of the Mara River and sightings of all the Big Five. His driving skills were excellent, even on the bumpy roads, and he always made us feel safe and comfortable. He was also consistently punctual and respectful, making each day run smoothly.
There was a small miscommunication about the Lake Natron hike, but Boni was understanding and open to feedback, which we appreciated.
Overall, the experience was outstanding, and we would not hesitate to recommend Boni to anyone planning a safari in Tanzania. His kindness, professionalism, and dedication made our journey truly special.
DE
Email Anna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari!
If you book through Brilliant make sure to ask for George as a driver, he made our safari incredible. We saw all of the big fives plus every other imaginable animal. He is an excellent driver, always punctual and made sure we had a great experience. He cleaned the car everyday and answered all the questions we had about the animals and Tansania.
Brilliant provided an overall good service. Julieth’s communication before and during the Safari was helpful. We were disappointed with only one accommodation, but told them not to book it for further clients.
DE
Email Kiklas | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect 10 days Safari
We had an amazing safari experience with Brilliant Safari! Our guide, Aaron, was fantastic – a very skilled driver and incredibly knowledgeable. He speaks German fluently, which made everything so much easier for us, and he was always happy to answer all of our questions in detail. Thanks to his experience and patience, we were lucky enough to see the Big 5!
Everything was well organized by Lightness, and we felt safe and well taken care of the entire time.
"Lightness" coordinated all necessary information and led us through a fantastic itinerary!
We can highly recommend Brilliant Safari and especially Aaron as a guide. It was truly an unforgettale trip!
US
Email Susan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledge and Experience really matter!
Myself and my lifelong friend used Brilliant for our Safari excursion. Lucky us!! "Lightness" coordinated all necessary information and led us through a fantastic itinerary! Our tour guide was "Bony", an experienced and knowledgeable guide. He made sure we were comfortable and satisfied each day of our Safari, exploring Tarangire National Park and Seregeti NationalPark! His kindness and consideration was much appreciated and spending so much time together, a beautiful friendship developed. We got to see so many animals in their natural environment, The BIG 5, and the Wildebeests Migration, crossing the river ... safely. I am missing our "African Massage" riding through bumpy dirt pathways in Bony's reliable and comfortable Jeep to find the best places to see the animals!
I will always remember our Safari experience with fondness and admiration for the Natural world of Nature!
We ended our trip with a few days on Zanzibar Island Beach to relax and reminisce through the wonderful memories created with Brilliant Adventures and Safari and its highly qualified staff! Highly recommended!
Trip of a lifetime- absolutely Brilliant!
We did a custom mid-luxury package with Brilliant Safaris and had a truly incredible time. We did 5 nights on safari on mainland Tanzania, followed by 5 nights in a luxury beach resort in Nungwi, Zanzibar.
On our safari we spent a day in Taranagire National Park, two and a half days in Serengeti and a day in the Ngorongoro crater. We saw so many animals up close, including two prides of lions, a hippo territory fight, a newborn baby giraffe, and so many others including the big 5. All of the accommodation was fantastic with a highlight being the two nights spent in Into the Wild camp with a group of buffalo congregating outside our tent. We had been nervous about food but it was all amazing, with plenty of choice for every meal.
We had booked a private tour so we had our driver and jeep to ourselves and had lots of space with really high quality food and snacks the whole way through.
Our driver George was incredible. His knowledge of the animals and the parks was remarkable. He taught us a lot about Tanzanian cultures (including our new favourite song Jambo Bwana).
He was so flexible and accommodating, always really patient with us being slightly late and finding a way for us to get the best experience possible at all times, knowing when to wait and when to move onto the next exciting adventure. He had such a lovely manner about him, a true gentleman.
We really enjoyed Zanzibar, and could have spent longer there!
Our hotel was great, with wonderful staff, lots of lovely activities like volleyball, a village walk, and leaf weaving with the ground staff.
The food was excellent, lots of choice, and amazing fresh fruits used in drinks at the bar.
We did two tours from the hotel- to a spice farm at which we learned so much, and a dolphin and snorkelling boat trip which was amazing.
Julieth from Brilliant Safaris was incredible from start to finish. She accommodated a number of changes to our itinerary, took care of internal flights, car transfers, Luggage storage- the works!
She had lots of information about vaccines, visas, what to pack et cetera which was so helpful.
Overall we had a Brilliant Safari 😉 Would absolutely book with this company again!
US
Email Neal Patel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Experience in Tanzania
Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Adventure – A Trip We’ll Never Forget!
My wife and I just returned from our Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar trip, and honestly, it was the adventure of a lifetime. From the moment we landed in Kilimanjaro to our final day in Zanzibar, the whole journey was smooth, exciting, and filled with memories we’ll carry forever.
When we first arrived, Julieth welcomed us at the office and walked us through everything we needed to know. She explained the itinerary in detail, gave us helpful tips, and even helped us book a few extra excursions on the spot without any hassle. That personal touch really set the tone for the trip.
But what truly made this safari special — and I cannot emphasize this enough — was our guide, Bony. He wasn’t just a guide; he became the heart of our experience. From Tarangire to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, he made sure we didn’t miss a thing. Thanks to him, we saw all of the Big Five, but it wasn’t just about spotting animals — it was about how much he genuinely cared.
Bony has a way of bringing the safari to life. His knowledge of the wildlife was incredible, and he answered every question with excitement and patience. He clearly loves Tanzania and its animals, and that passion was contagious. He was always on time, never rushed us, kept the vehicle stocked with drinks and snacks, and made every drive feel effortless (even on those bumpy roads). It honestly felt like traveling with family.
What impressed us most was how his care extended beyond the trip. Even after we came back home, he still checks in with us and shares updates of the migration via WhatsApp. That kind of thoughtfulness is rare, and it shows how much pride he takes in making sure his guests feel connected long after they leave. If you’re lucky enough to get Bony as your guide, you’re in for something truly special.
In Zanzibar, Abdullah was our driver, and he too was wonderful. Friendly, accommodating, and quick to adjust when we asked to detour to Old Town so we could get some proper vegetarian food.
Now, for future travelers, a few things to keep in mind (aka the CONS):
• Vegetarian food was a bit of a challenge, especially with the takeaway safari lunches and limited options at the lodges. If you’re vegetarian, you might want to bring some snacks to supplement.
• One of the Serengeti lodges was a bit too remote, which meant when it rained, the roads were tough to navigate. Staying somewhere more central would have helped us maximize our game drive times.
• Our second stay at Escapment Lodge wasn’t as smooth as the first — mosquitos, no hot water, and even early wake-up calls meant for the front desk.
• Zanzibar was beautiful, but our resort was far from most of the main activities. If we could do it again, we’d split time between Nungwi and Old Town to cut down on travel time.
• Lastly, tipping adds up fast. The culture around it sometimes felt a little pressured, so I recommend bringing plenty of small bills in cash.
Despite those small challenges, this was a magical trip. The wildlife, the landscapes, the culture — and most of all, the people like Julieth, Abdullah, and especially Bony — made it unforgettable. We left Tanzania not only with incredible memories but also feeling like we had made a true friend in Bony.
If you’re considering a safari in Tanzania, don’t hesitate. And if you get Bony as your guide, you’ll quickly see why we can’t stop singing his praises. He truly made this the trip of a lifetime!
US
Email Laura Schulz | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
With all the tour companies to choose from, I took a chance and, boy did it pay off!
I chose the mid-luxury option for our 6 day safari, our expert was Lightness and our guide was Boni.
Lightness was super helpful throughout my communication with her. Giving me honest feedback as to what was worth exploring and helping to map out our itinerary and budget! Our flight was looong, Lightness helped me decide to take the time to rest an extra day before our 6 day safari started. We stayed 2 nights at the Gran Melia before we began (excellent accommodation). In fact, every one of our accommodations was clean and welcoming with the friendliest people! We loved staying at Acacia Lodge, Dancing Duma and Mara River Camp!
Our guide, Bony, was the best! With 16 years experience- he knew where to go, when to begin each day and had full knowledge of each place we went. Bony took pride in his jeep - it was clean and comfortable. The experience itself was amazing. Bony knew what we were interested in seeing, and spent time teaching us and answering all our questions as well as giving us all the time we needed to take pics. He checked in with us throughout the safari. We saw the Big Five and witnessed the river migration! We felt so lucky, but know it was because of Bony's expertise! I highly recommend Bony- he was personable, knowledgeable and we had lots of laughs! He will be a friend for life! He was friendly, and kind, and helpful to other drivers. At one point, while driving through a village, a young man on his bike swerved and lost some of the fruit he was carrying- Bony did not hesitate to jump out of the jeep to help him gather what he spilled. We witnesssed his kindness over and over! After evaluating several safari companies, i chose Brilliant because of the value and Lightness' responsiveness and helpfulness. I am so glad, I chose Brilliant and I highly recommend this company. At every turn, we felt our comfort and happiness was prioritized.
US
Email Aria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tuma was fantastic, informative, and kind. He made the whole experience!
We chose the mid-luxury option for our 5 day honeymoon, our expert was Julie and guide was Tuma.
-Julie was really helpful in giving us iterative feedback on how we mapped and utilized the time and budget for maximum enjoyment!
-Mid-luxury was perfect, the accommodations were way nicer than I expected - they were clean, stylistic, excellent food and service. We were sad to leave each place. Each place was slightly different, and it's hard to choose our favorite!
-One thing that stood out to me was the car that Brilliant Safari used. A safari is essentially a multi-day roadtrip in rugged terrain, so having a really comfortable and modern and safe car is really critical. Our car was the best one we saw!
-As a vegetarian, I was a little nervous about the food options, but I was really well taken care of. Things were well-flavored, healthy, and balanced.
-The experience itself was amazing. Tuma knew what we were interested in seeing, and spent time teaching us and answering all our questions. He was willing to wake up early when we wanted to, stay later when we wanted to, noticed when we were feeling tired, etc.
-Speaking of Tuma, I highly recommend him! He was a legend on the road and seemed to train so many folks, so it was nice to be with someone so well experiened.
-After evaluating almost 10 safari companies, we chose Brilliant because of the value and Julie's responsiveness and approachability. After the safari, I'm so glad we did that!
Email Dr Bhavna S | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Joshua and Gladys were extremely professional, kind and clear! Couldn’t fault them.
We had only three days to explore the Serengeti. This happened and we were able to see 71 sightings of animals, 4/5 of the big five! We did manage to get to nearly see the rhino, but missed it by a millisecond. Our operator, Joshua was extremely professional and knowledgeable. The food at the lodge was amazing and the lodge itself was protected by the ranger and Masai. Life changing experience.