Our Head Guide Nico and our Signature Hot Lunches
Soul of Tanzania
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2015)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $400 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 Greg | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect safari experience with our amazing guide Azaria!
You know when you first meet someone and you instantly know you're in good hands? Thats how we felt from our first moments with Azaria - kind, warm, flexible and professional from start to end.
He began by carefully and thoughtfully checking alignment of his proposed scheduled with our itinerary, catching and immediately rectifying a discrepancy between his provided notes on our departure flight time and our actual departure flight time. From that moment on, for 5 days straight, he cheerfully toured us from park to park, telling us about Tanzania's culture and history, informing us of the names and significance of local villages we were passing, enthusiastically calling out animal after animal (with mad sharp eyesight and comprehensive knowledge of everything), skilfully navigating us to rare sightings (multiple cheetahs and leopards) with a combination of intuition and communication with other safari guides in the field, hustling through the inevitable safari related wear and tear of flat or damaged tyres, graciously accepting of us being a little late some mornings after breakfast, swiftly handling the paperwork and inspection processes for entering in and out of parks and always making sure we were safe and sound in our next lodge at the end of the day.
The jeep itself was perfect - well maintained, stocked with more drinking water than you'd ever need, packed lunches (sometimes cooked, sometimes sandwiches) every day with wine (!!) for lunch, two binoculars for us, and as already stated, always swiftly repaired when running into issues.
And with that jeep, and our amazing guide Azaria, we saw lions, cheetahs, leopards, gazelle Thomson, wildebeast, zebras, giraffes, elephants, hippos, crocs, Dik-diks (so adorable!), vultures, eagles, hyenas, adorable giant rodents and so much more! Highlights include a whole pride of lionesses up a tree, with the cubs stuck at the bottom and daddy lion patrolling around all the on-looking jeeps, another lion chilling at the top of a caved over tree, a lion literally sitting atop a huge rock in the middle of plains of nothingness (a la pride rock from the Lion king!), a trio of cheetahs playfully rolling in the grasp, hyenas totally disdainful of us trying to get their attention at just two meters range, a leopard snoozing up an isolated tree with a half eaten gazelle in reserve impaled on a branch in the tree, the endless cute hilarities of the warthogs who can't decide wether to be your friends or terrified of you, 8 giraffes having a tense standoff with 2 lionnesses chilling in some shade in some midday sun (they literally couldn't care less about the giraffes) as they tried to muster the courage to pass nearby, when they had all the room in the world to take a wide berth, the majestic wisdom of elephants in general, and 50 hippos all in a huge clump in a small pond could hardly be forgotten...
The lodges we stayed in were fantastic as well - ranging from the stunning Best View lodge (Lake Manyara), an exciting lux tent in the Serengeti (Nyikani camp) sleeping amidst the animals (which was quite honestly terrifying the first night when we thought what was in hindsight wind rhythmically flapping the tent to be an animal motorway crossing out tent at night), to even more on the ground camping at Pakulala with stunning views over the (Ngorongoro) crater and a camp staff member powering our hot water bush showers. Food was always good, with 3-4 course evening meals at every accommodation.
Finally, kudos to our tour planner Manuel as well, who made the creating of our customised tour effortless as well - always quick to respond, totally flexible, always grasping our needs instantly, and never giving even a hint of trying to hard sell anything - always from a place of genuine enthusiasm of improving of adjusting one's experience, if and only if requested.
Soul of Tanzania says it prides itself on creating a tailor made experience with warmth and connection and top notch service for every customer, and that is exactly what we got through every stage of the process. Absolutely nothing in the experience that I could dock points for - this is exactly what they delivered from start to end!
10/10, would go in a heartbeat again - thank you for the unforgettable experience Soul of Tanzania! :)
SI
Email TOMAZ | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
EXCELLENT
All credidts for execelent and profesional organization of the safari to Soul of Tanzania, especially to our brave guide- friend Prosper, everything was porfect.
These are the memories we wont forget ever.
Highly recommended
Tomaz
CA
Email lawncareblues | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
not all guides are the same-request peter alex to guarantee a 5 star experience
we heard of this company through safaribookings. com hugo was quick to respond and tailor made our 11 day safari starting in arusha through all the major parks in tanzania and we also did 3 nights in kenya.ending in nairobi. our guide in tanzania was amazing. peter alex was knowledgeable, courteous to us and everyone we came into contact with and navigated the bumpy roads with comfort in mind. the guide we were handed over to in kenya(spirit of kenya)was the opposite. when we asked him to slow down as we were getting tossed around as he zigzagged potholes, he said it "cant be avoided". he also said there would be an extra charge for having the popup roof opened, then changed his mind. if we were to do another safari or recommend to others we would ensure peter was our guide, regardless of which company he worked for. we saw every animal imaginable. i couldnt believe the quality and quantity in our midst, and how close we got to them despite having to stay to the roads. hugo's choices for lodging were fabulous, however a couple of places did not have wifi extending to the rooms. had we have known we would have stayed elsewhere as we need 24/7 contact with family back home. also, another distatsteful part of kenya was the scam at the land border. an employee assists you in clearing immigration then asks for $20 cash for his troubles.
PL
Email Aleksandra | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most memorable tour ever❤️
I would highly recommend this company to anyone planning a safari in Tanzania. From the very beginning, I was impressed by how professional and friendly everyone was. Months before our trip, the communication was excellent — our itinerary was customized exactly as we wanted, all costs were clearly explained, and we knew exactly what to expect upon arrival.
We spent 10 unforgettable days on safari, starting in Tarangire, through the Ngorongoro Crater, and finishing in Central and North Serengeti. Every lodge we stayed in was beautiful, spotless, and run by incredibly kind staff.
Our guide, Oscar, was simply amazing — passionate, knowledgeable, and genuinely engaged. He not only shared fascinating insights about the wildlife but also told us so much about Tanzanian culture. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better guide ❤️
The lunches kept getting better every day, and the entire trip was perfectly organized. Everything ran smoothly and on time, yet there was always flexibility — if we wanted to leave earlier, later, or stop along the way, it was never a problem. The safari vehicle was reliable, cleaned daily, and super comfortable.
We saw all the animals we had hoped to — often from up close — and it truly felt like a dream come true. Thank you so much for making this trip so special. We will never forget it!❤️❤️
Email Kyle & Steph | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best trip of our life with best guide, Willy!
We had an unforgettable honeymoon safari experience thanks to Soul of Tanzania and our amazing guide, Wilbard "Willy" Kivuyo. Our journey designer, Marta, helped us customize the level of accomodation for each stop, which allowed us to be specific with our preferences and cost, which was unique to Soul of Tanzania. We also appreciated the detailed itinerary that she created. One of the biggest things we were nervous about leading up to the safari, no matter which company we chose, was who our guide would end up being. If you're spending 7 days on the road with someone, you'd want it to be with a guide like Willy! He's a joy to be around and we appreciated his sense of humor and positive energy — he was somehow always upbeat even after hours of driving on bumpy roads and long travel days. We were grateful to have such an experienced guide. He's been doing this for years and guiding runs in his family. This meant Willy knew where to look for animals while also avoiding getting stuck behind other tour groups. He was always sharing interesting, fun facts and was flexible based on what we wanted to see/do. We saw all the animals we could have ever hoped for and it was a truly magical, life-changing experience! We made the choice to travel to the northern Serengeti in hopes of seeing the Great Migration. Without having to wait long we saw not one, but two incredible wildebeest crossings. Willy got us great viewing positions and it made the extra driving so worth it... just WOW!
We were also very satisfied with the accommodations. The staff, views, comfort, and cleanliness were second to none. We just wish we had more time at each lodge and that is the one thing we would've done differently. We pretty much stayed only one night in each lodge and it made for some long drives. Some of the travel times quoted in the itinerary were shorter than in reality, so that could be improved as it may have changed some of our travel decisions.
While this safari was definitely a splurge, we spent every second in awe and are so thankful to Willy, Soul of Tanzania, and each lodge for making it an unforgettable experience. We are fortunate to travel a lot and we both agreed that this was hands down our favorite trip ever, and one we won't soon forget!
FR
Email Pierre J | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
TOP NOTCH 6-DAY SAFARI EXPERIENCE
6-day safari including Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti Central.
Very professional and efficient journey designer (Jose) helped tailoring this safari to our needs months before we landed in Tanzania. From selection of parks to lodges, to duration of stay in each place - all was discussed, we received insightful information and advice and were able to make this safari our exclusive trip, not a copy-paste of a brochure.
On the ground, everything was smooth and well organized making it a highly enjoyable experience. Needless to say we did see the Big 5 and more, and discovered a variety of ecosystems. Observing a leopard in a tree less than 5 meters away will stay in our memories and hearts forever - and this was just one of many magical moments.
When you spend 8 to 10 hours with your chauffeur/guide every day for 6 days in a row ... he'd better be good. Ours (Wilson) was outstanding: experienced, knowledgeable, flexible, open to conversation on Tanzanian culture ... a WOW factor for sure!
Nimali lodges in both Tarangire and central Serengeti are great premium choices, very comfy, excellent food.
In a nutshell, Soul of Tanzania know their turf, can be trusted, and definitely delivered on expectations for us (and we are quite demanding and used to luxury travel around the world)
Email Cameron Norsworthy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Transparent, Flexible, Fantastic
It was a fantastic time! Everything was customised to our needs, from the time in each location, accommodation options, and our guide...everything. I especially appreciated how they conducted themselves during the sales process. I spoke with six companies, and I had the best feeling with Soul of Tanzania. Many other companies were limited to which accommodations they worked with, but SoT seemed very flexible. In fact, I accidentally booked a year ahead, and at the last minute, they reorganised the entire trip in only a day (during high season) to make it work. They were also very transparent in their pricing, which was great. I would highly recommend them.
PT
Email Susana | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing 5 day safari in Tanzania
It was our honeymoon and we went on a private 5 day safari tour (just us and the guide in the car). Overall, we absolutely loved the experience!
Our guide, Denis Moshi, was truly amazing — always cheerful, available, and very attentive. The food was excellent, both lunches and dinners.
The first lodge was spectacular (Mawe Mawe Manyara Lodge), especially the room, which had a pool and an incredible view of the elephants. We also really liked the second accommodation (Enkirari Camp).
However, we do not recommend the third one. When you’re given a choice for Ngorongoro, don’t pick Embalakai — it’s located on top of a mountain with extremely strong winds, the tent makes a lot of noise shaking, and it’s impossible to sleep with all the banging!
We saw lots of animals and only missed the rhinoceros from the Big Five.
Four to five days seemed like the perfect length for a safari.
We’ve been recommending Soul of Tanzania to all our friends and family!
Email Abby | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wilbard, the man, the myth, the legend— a knowledgeable soul with a generous heart
We loved having Wilbard as our guide. From the moment he picked us up at the border crossing, we knew we were in knowledgeable hands. But what I loved most about Wilbard (Willy) was how he prioritized connecting with both of us during our journey. I spent many hours laughing and learning from Wilbard in the front seat. And as much driving as there is from place to place, it’s a real gift to have someone who makes the more mundane parts fun. He also bought some baobab fruit for me to try and cracked it right there! Such a unique experience that u wouldn’t have otherwise gotten.
I only wish that the tour company allowed him to drop us off at the border crossing as well instead of a driver we didn’t know. Wilbard would have ensured clearer and safer handoff to the Kenyan guide than what actually occurred.
Within the tour itself, my husband Drew favored Ngorogoro while I really enjoyed Tarangire. We of course saw some highlights of the whole trip when in the Serengeti. If we did it again, we would prioritize a minimum of two nights in a location to space out the logistics of driving and increase down time .
HK
Email Samantha | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An absolutely incredible safari experience
Soul of Tanzania delivered a flawless trip from start to finish. We had game drives in Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park, our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable, his tracking skills ensured we witnessed breathtaking moments—from lions in a tree to a massive herd of elephants. The accommodations were beautiful and comfortable. A truly unforgettable adventure. Highly recommend!