Hilary and Martin - owners of Suricata Safaris
Suricata Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $190 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
CH
Email Fabian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great value for money
Just came back from an amazing 3 day safari through Serengeti and Ngorongoro national park. Our guide Felix was very knowledgeable about both flora and fauna within the parks. He answered all our questions and also told us many interesting stories throughout the day and during our meal breaks. He was accompanied by Jeremiah, our group's cook. The food was always delicious and plenty. I did not expect such a good quality given the simple infrastructure that they are working with. Highly recommend this safari.
Email Joe McCarthy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Logistical Issues
We booked a 4-day, 3-night safari through the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park through this company on TripAdvisor. We paid about $1,750 per person for the mid-range lodging package.
Before the safari, John scheduled a briefing the day before departure. He was polite, but the meeting felt mostly repetitive since the information had already been covered in the materials we received. Communication was also difficult at times because he spoke very quietly. The other uncomfortable part was the discussion around tipping, which felt more expected than optional. Tipping should reflect appreciation for excellent service, not feel mandatory before the trip even starts.
There were definitely positives to the safari itself. The mid-range lodges were very nice overall — clean, comfortable, and better than expected for the price point. The food was decent overall, especially on day two, although day three’s meals were mediocre. Lunches were usually only warm at best due to the catering setup, but we genuinely appreciated that hot sauce and salt were always available because they helped a lot. Dessert was bananas all three days, which became repetitive quickly.
We were fortunate enough to see all the major animals, and some sightings were truly memorable. Our drivers, Adam and Steve, were both friendly and knowledgeable. Adam was easier to understand and drove aggressively to maximize sightings, while Steve was more cautious but equally professional.
The biggest issue — and ultimately the reason for the low rating — was the logistics.
Right from the start, our itinerary was changed. We were originally scheduled to visit Tarangire first, then the Serengeti, and finish with Ngorongoro Crater. Instead, the order was rearranged, which appeared to happen because the company combined our tour with guests on shorter three-day itineraries.
From that point forward, the trip constantly felt like a compromise between different budgets, tour levels, and schedules. Mid-range guests were mixed with budget campers, creating constant delays for campsite drop-offs, gear pickups, loading supplies, chef coordination, and other camper-related logistics. It honestly felt like the camping guests’ schedules were prioritized over the mid-range guests who paid for a different experience.
The issue was never the early mornings or long safari days — we expected that. The frustration was paying for very nice lodges and arriving so late each evening that we barely had time to enjoy them. Guests should ideally arrive at the lodges at least an hour before sunset to actually experience the accommodations they paid for.
One suggestion that could improve the experience significantly would be replacing the catered hot lunches with well-prepared box lunches. It would simplify the logistics, reduce delays, and likely improve the overall flow of the safari.
Another major issue was the constant focus on reviews. Both during and after the trip, it felt like there was a strong effort to manage and secure five-star reviews rather than simply letting the experience speak for itself. We experienced similar behavior on another East African tour as well. Multiple debriefings and repeated reminders about leaving reviews started to feel disingenuous rather than genuine hospitality.
Honestly, the aggressive push for five-star reviews became a turnoff for us and directly impacted our final rating. Companies should focus on delivering a seamless experience instead of trying to influence guest feedback afterward. If anything, the review pressure lowered our rating from what likely would have been a three-star review down to a two-star review.
Overall, we had some incredible wildlife sightings and enjoyed the lodges, but the poor logistical planning, mixing of incompatible tour types, and heavy-handed review solicitation left a disappointing final impression.
Email Heather | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience at a great value.
Our family just completed a 4day camping safari. What a great experience! We saw all the "big" animals and so many smaller ones. Nothing left off our list. Damien our guide kept the vibe fun and James our cook kept us well fed. Daniel helped is wrap up our experience professionally. The camping made the whole trip so authentic. Rustic but comfortable, with clean facilities. Hearing the wildlife from our tents was such a unique experience. Would highly recommend.
A true waking dream!!
Unforgettable! What an extraordinary adventure… a true waking dream from beginning to end.
Don’t waste your time looking for a safari agency in Tanzania: Suricata Safaris turned my trip into an unforgettable experience. Everything was perfectly organized, and from the very start I felt I was in excellent hands.
Daniel briefed me with great professionalism and kindness. He took the time to answer all my questions and was always available on WhatsApp throughout the trip, which was incredibly reassuring.
The lodges and hotels were beautiful, comfortable, and very well chosen. The food was excellent throughout the entire stay! A huge thank you as well to Samson, the adorable and talented chef who spoiled us with delicious meals every day.
A special mention to the guides/drivers Anthony, Charles, and Joël, who made this adventure even more magical. Charles truly went above and beyond to make sure I could see the Big Five, and thanks to him, this safari exceeded all my expectations. His passion and dedication made all the difference.
Between the breathtaking landscapes, the incredible wildlife, and the kindness of the entire team, I experienced emotions I will never forget.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the entire Suricata Safaris team for these precious memories that will stay with me forever. I recommend them with my eyes closed!
DE
Email Thomas Schneider | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
First class Tour Operator
Great Safari with Suricata! Saw the Big Five. Accomodation for the Midrange Safari is very good!
CH
Email Patricia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing First Safari Experience with Suricata
Our safari experience in Tanzania was absolutely incredible from start to finish. Everything was perfectly organized, including airport pickups, transportation to the safaris, the daily planning, and the food, which was always delicious.
The safari itself was unforgettable. Our guide, Melita, was amazing — always attentive, kind, and making sure we were comfortable at all times. Since it was our first safari, he explained everything to us in detail and made sure we could see as many animals as possible. He truly made the experience extra special.
A special mention also goes to the chef, Smson. The food was excellent throughout the trip and exceeded all our expectations!
We chose the economy experience, and overall we were very happy with it. However, since you sleep in tents, we would have appreciated a bit more cleanliness regarding the sleeping bags.
ES
Email Patrizia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing First Safari Experience Thanks to Melita and Smson
Our experience with Suricata Safaris was truly unforgettable. From the beginning, the organization and communication were excellent. Everything was arranged perfectly for us, including airport pick-up, hotel transfers before and after the safari, transportation to the parks, and the camping stays. It made the whole trip very easy and stress-free.
What made this safari really special were our guide, Melita, and our chef, Smson. Without them, the experience would not have been the same at all.
Melita was absolutely fantastic. He understood how excited we were about our first safari and did everything possible to help us see all the animals we hoped for. He was always sharing interesting explanations about the animals, nature, and the parks, and he patiently answered all our questions. You could really feel his passion and experience, which made every game drive even more enjoyable.
Smson was also amazing. He was always very polite, friendly, and prepared delicious meals throughout the trip. We were honestly surprised by how good the food was during a camping safari.
We chose the economy camping option because we wanted to save some money, so it is important to expect basic camping conditions and not too much comfort. However, everything was well organized.
I would definitely repeat another safari with Suricata Safaris and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a well-organized and authentic safari experience.
Thank you, Suricata Safaris, for this incredible adventure, and especially a huge thank you to Melita and Smson for making our first safari so memorable!
CH
Email Paula | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Melita was the best tour guide, we got to see the big 5 in three days, always keepimg us safe :)
The tour was well organized, they picked us up and drove us from place to place. The food was super good and the chef Samson was also really nice to us.
The guide and driver Melita was fun and kind, we could not have asked for a better guide!! We loved the experience, even though we chosed the cheapest safari and we slept 2 nights on a tent. That’s the only point we would not repeat, as the showers and batthrooms were not so clean and the water was cold. Also the tent and sleeping bags were a bit old and dirty and you heard many animals outside the tent during the night.. which was a bit scary. Even though, it was the real african experience, and we got to see amazing sunsets/sunrises and had a lot of fun.
Thanks again to the Suricata team and to Melita and Samson specially for taking care of us!!! :)
Incredible experience
Incredible experience, the guide Luther was an excellent host, he always tried to show all the animals and explain all the details about the parks and species. Recomended!
PT
Email Ana Luísa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Amazing Safari
We are a family of 4 adults. We went on a 4-day, 3-night mid-range safari, which turned out to be an unforgettable experience. We managed to see the Big Five and much more! Our guide was Luther, and he did everything he could to make sure we found all the animals. He always positioned us to get the best photos and videos. I definitely recommend Suricata Safaris, both for the experience in the various parks and for the accommodations where we stayed for the 3 nights. The Suricata Boma Lodge accommodation completely exceeded our expectations. Thank you!!!