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
Email Tony | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Unforgettable Safari Adventure in the Serengeti with Serengeti Smile!
We wanted to experience the renowned sun-baked plains of the Serengeti, with sweeping vistas, thriving wildlife, and breath taking sunsets. Serengeti Smile promised an adventure of a lifetime, but the reality was even more extraordinary than our highest expectations.
We selected a private, tailor-made, 8-day, Great Migration Tour Safari, culminating at the Mara River Crossing in the Northern Serengeti. The trip took in Arusha, Tarangire National Park, Central Serengeti, Seronera, Northern Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park. From the moment that we first enquired with Serengeti Smile to the end of our trip everything was fantastic!
The highlight of any safari is, of course, the wildlife, and the Serengeti delivered in abundance. Over the course of several days, we were privileged to witness a dazzling variety of animals in their natural habitats. Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide seemed to have an uncanny instinct for locating even the most elusive creatures, but more about him later.
We counted 48 different animal species that we saw, including the Big-5. Prides of lions lounging after a successful night hunt, their cubs playfully tumbling over each other; leopards and cheetahs lying in the tall grasses, scanning the horizon; herds of elephants lumbering peacefully across the savannah, giraffes grazing elegantly on the acacia trees, and zebras moving in perfect synchrony, their stripes creating mesmerising patterns against the golden landscape. Perhaps the most unforgettable moment was witnessing the Great Migration: thousands upon thousands of wildebeest and zebras, while crocodiles and vultures lay in wait. Hyenas, warthogs, hippos, countless deer and gazelles, birds, etc., etc.
Our lodgings perfectly balanced comfort and authenticity. The tents and lodges were beautifully appointed, blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Waking up to the calls of roaring lions, distant hyenas or the gentle trumpeting of elephants felt magical. The accommodations were both eco-friendly and luxurious, with every detail designed to enhance the sense of immersion without sacrificing comfort. The staff at each camp were equally impressive, greeting us each day with warm smiles and thoughtful gestures that made us feel at home in the heart of the wild. Meals were a delight: fresh, flavourful dishes enjoyed under the starlit sky, with the sounds of the nocturnal bush drifting on the breeze.
One of the highlights of our trip was our driver/guide Godlisten! He was truly outstanding and elevated this safari from remarkable to outstanding with his professionalism and passion for his job, the area, and his country. He shared facts, information about animal behaviour, tribal traditions, and the delicate balance of the ecosystem. His respect for the land and its creatures was evident in every aspect of our journey, from the careful navigation of the trails to the quiet reverence when observing a rare sighting. Every question was met with patience and enthusiasm, and his eagle eyes ensured we missed nothing, no matter how well camouflaged. He was a great guy and if we were to go on another safari we would want him to be our guide.
We cannot recommend Serengeti Smile highly enough. Our safari surpassed every expectation; it was not just a holiday, but an amazing adventure.
Thank you!
CH
Email Valentin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Banabas was very friendly, reliable and talkative
We did a 3 day / 2 nights trip to Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara. Tarangire and Ngorongoro were amazing. However, in comparison to the former two, Lake Manyara was less spectacular. Next time, we would rather opt for two days at Ngorongoro or a day at Serengeti instead. Otherwise, the accomodations were beautiful, food was good and the people were very friendly and accomodating. The trip was very well organized.
Top organized tour
We did a 2 nights/ 3 days safari in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake manyana. It was a great experience, everything was very well organized. People were super friendly and accomondations were great. Especially the second one in the Ngorongoro crater. The third day we spent at Manyana which was, apart from a lot of monkeys, not as interesting as the days before.
US
Email Amanda | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari and Beach Honeymoon Success
We did a 12 night safari and Zanzibar trip to celebrate our honeymoon. Jonyo at Serengeti Smile arranged exactly what was requested and added excursions and corrections prior to confirming the trip to ensure we had the itinerary we wanted. On safari, our guide Dale, was knowledgable, attentive, and kept us safe. He was the best guide and ensured we saw many animals and had close encounters with them as well. In Zanzibar, we added a few excursions including snorkeling, dolphin sightings, spice tour, and a trip to prison island. Our resort in Zanzibar was great for relaxing after the long days at safari. We loved our trip and felt the service of all Serengeti Smile guides and employees was exceptional. If we do return for another safari, I would be confident in using Serengeti Smile again!
US
Email Brittany | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
Tour was really great. They handle everything for you. You just have to show up. They picked us up from our hotel close to the airport and got us back right on time for our return flight. Trip was really great. Our guide Saturo was really great. He made sure we saw all the animals and culture.
CN
Email catherine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
wonderful safari tour company！I will recommend it to everyone
they give us a good experience. no matter the tour line setting or service they absolutely professional Safari master.all of the hotels this time I lived in，I love both～ very cozy and comfortable with 24hours hot water. we took a lot of nice pics.
CN
Email Elena | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very nice person
Patricia is very patient and considerate of us. Our tour guides are also very good, introducing various animals to us and having strong observation skills. All in all, we had an excellent safari trip.
Email Aman | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A once in a lifetime experience
I don't know where to start with this review, right from my very first interaction with Patricia from Serengeti Smile I felt in safe hands. I already had an idea of where I wanted to go within Tanzania, so Patricia was able to plan around my requirements. She was very accomodating, replying very promptly over WhatsApp and having a lot of patience whilst planning the trip.
Payment was made via bank transfer which I was unsure about first but Patricia reassured me and also gave the option of paying via credit card for a small extra fee.
When we landed in Tanzania, the smoothness of the interactions continued, we were picked up by a driver and taken to our accomodation. We flew out to Kogatende the next morning where our Safari adventure began.
This is where James, our incredible Safari guide comes in. He had a very straight forward no nonsense attitude and was always extremely punctual. He knew absolutely every animal or tree we encountered, and I mean EVERY one, and was able to show us in his book which animal it was so we could read further. He answered all of our questions along the way and even taught us some Swahili which came in handy for the rest of our trip!
With his knowledge and experience he gave some advice about potentially tweaking our itinerary and checking out Central Serengeti instead of spending more nights in the North. I was able to speak with Patricia and as always she accomodated and made the arrangement to move some of our nights to another camp. This change proved vital as we were able to see the Great migration in the North, then see more variety of different animals and quantity of lions for example in Central as it is more game rich.
Our final stop was the Ngorongoro Crater, and because of James' suggestion we were able to spend more time in the crater and due to his experience of listening and communicating on the radio we were able to locate and spot not one, not two but five rhinos! This final sighting ticked off all of the big 5 for us, James put in a lot of effort to ensure we saw each of the big 5 and not just once but many times in some cases.
I am extremely grateful to James and Patricia for making our Safari a truly once in a lifetime trip. I would thoroughly recommend Serengeti Smile to anyone looking to experience a Safari. You will be in safe hands.
CA
Email Christina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and well organized
We booked a 13- day trip with Serengeti Smiles, split into a 6-day safari and 7 days in Zanzibar.
The safari was incredible, we visited Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara national parks. We managed to see the big 5, the guide worked hard to ensure we had a wonderful experience. The accomodations in the Serengeti were very nice and comfortable, especially the permanent camps! The food was good, sometimes better than others, but overall we were happy with it.
In Zanzibar we stayed in a total of 3 hotels, first one was Tembo hotel in Stone town, this one was very pretty, however we only had one night so we didn't get to do much at the hotel.
The second was Smiles Beach Hotel, the food here was very good but the beach in Nungwi is extremely busy, you can't sit near the beach without being solicited every few minutes during low tide.
The third hotel was Villa Kiva in Matemwe, our favorite! The beach was a lot calmer, much nicer, the only caveat being that you could see the sunrise and not the sunset. We enjoyed our stay at this boutique hotel very much.
Overall, 10/10 experience!
US
Email Salisha | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Extremely Knowledgeable and dedicated to ensuring we saw as much animals possible!
From the very start, everything about our safari experience was absolutely amazing. Gideon, who handled all of our bookings, was incredibly responsive and professional. He made sure that every detail, from arrival and departure airport transfers, to coordinating with the hotel for a birthday suprise cake for my husband and the safari itinerary, was handled smoothly. Our drivers were always on time, polite, and safe, and the vehicles were spotless and comfortable.
Once the safari began, we were in the best hands with our guide, Walter. He made the experience enjoyable, and his deep knowledge of the parks and wildlife made our experience enjoyable. Walter made it his mission to ensure we saw everything possible, and he delivered! Not only did we see the Big Five, but we also saw servals, giraffes in abundance, elephants, ostriches, flamingos, buffalo, warthogs, a pack of hyenas with a pup, hippos, a bat-eared fox, several species of vultures, and endless herds of zebras and wildebeests. Watching the wildebeests attempt to cross the border (again and again!) was a sight we’ll never forget.
Our journey took us through Tarangire National Park, the Central and Northern Serengeti, and ended with the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, where we were lucky enough to see two rhinos in the distance. All the camps we stayed at were great and better than what we envisioned and the food was amazing. We visited the Masai village, which was rather enlightening and educational. Each location had its own magic, and Walter always went above and beyond to make sure we had the best views and photo opportunities. His passion for wildlife and dedication to giving us an unforgettable trip really shone through.
A few takeaways: if you are staying at Ngorongoro Crater, take a jacket; it gets cold regardless of the season; take hand sanitizer and a rag, it will come in handy, as dust is unavoidable; be prepared for locals wanting to sell you their crafts, which is common throughout Africa and Asia - do not be afraid to negotiate.
Overall, I have been on safaris in Kruger and Chobe, but this one was without question the very best. From the seamless planning with Gideon to the expert guiding from Walter, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend this team to anyone considering a safari, you will not be disappointed!
