Lion King Safari Guides
Lion King Adventures
- Offices In:
-
Canada
United States
Switzerland
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $1,115 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 Robert & JoAnn | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A GREAT experience
Wow, what a great time we had on our safari. After a beautiful night at the hotel, we were picked up by our driver, Gilbert, who, we didn't realize at the time, would be the one to help make this trip so special.
Gilbert sat down with us and explained what was to come, also asking what we expected from our trip. Gilbert was attentive, caring, and very knowledgeable about what was going to come. We set out for five days traveling to four different parks. Gilbert was very knowledgeable with every aspect of each park, he was able to explain the history of the park. Any wildlife that we saw he knew in detail, he was knowledgeable in plant life and every bird we came across.
Each morning Gilbert greeted us with a smile and explained what was to come for the day.
It was amazing that the Jeep that we traveled in seemed to be brand new each day as he took the time to make sure everything was in tiptop shape. The lunches that Gilbert set up were unexpected and amazing.
We stayed at 4 different hotels/lodges and each one was beautiful. The staff at each one could not have been more attentive and caring.
We like to thank Lion King adventures on the professional way they handled on Safari from our first email to Nickson until the end of the trip. Everything was explained in detail which made it very comfortable and stress free.
Thank you Lion King Adventures
Email Max&Sakiko | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and extremely helpful for an unforgettable first time safari experience
We booked this couples trip as our honeymoon. We will address three elements of the experience: 1) Booking & Preparation; 2) Accommodation; and 3) Safari & Guide.
1) Booking & Preparation
We requested a quote via SafariBookings.com. We were a bit concerned because we wanted to book a luxury safari tour for our honeymoon and there were very many options. We let the many positive reviews we saw for LionKing Adventures guide us and we were not disappointed.
Once we requested the quote, Rose reached out to us and she supported us through the entire process. Generally, the staff was very responsive to all our questions.
We were especially impressed with the guidance PDFs we received. They explained the payment process, which is a little tricky because addresses work a bit different in Tanzania and banks sometimes do not process payments properly. However, the guidance was very useful.
The PDF packages also explained items to be sure to bring such as sunscreen, bug spray, bandages and band aids, antiseptic cream, layers because the temperature differentials were quite extreme due to different altitudes.
Finally, the info packages were very helpful for the visa application process. You can do this on arrival in Tanzania, however if you give yourselves 15-20 days before the trip to submit the application you should be fine. We left it a little late (maybe 12 days?) and so it was a bit of a nail biter. However, the PDF package did offer an email address to contact in case of delays. We reached out to them, not expecting a response, but we did receive a response to our email and the visa service told us they would have the visa done by the time we land. When we got on the plane we had not received notification but on our stopover in Doha we saw that it had in fact been approved. So, 5/5 for the Tanzanian Visa Service!
2) Accommodation
We stayed at 1 hotel and 3 lodges: Gran Melia Arusha, Manyara's Secret, Nyota Luxury Camp, and Ngorongoro Lion's Paw Camp.
The Gran Melia is a five star resort, which we enjoyed very much. Manyara's Secret was probably our favourite, it is located on the shore of Lake Manyara and you can swim in a pool and eat on a veranda that look out over the lake as the sun sets. Perfect for a romantic couples trip. Nyota Luxury Camp is a camp we were told is managed/owned directly by LionKing Adventures and it is in the middle of the Serengeti National Park. You have a pool looking out over the Savannah with a bar and our tent/hut had an outside bath. You can hear birds and insects chatting, and the occasional friendly visit from a buffalo during the night - it is impossible to be more immersed in the Serengeti. Finally, the Lion's Paw lodge is on the Ngorongoro crater in the middle of the jungle. It was quite chilly but the accommodation provided heated duvets and hot water bottles.
Every lodge meticulously sprayed bug repellent while we were at dinner and prepared mosquitos nets. We saw fewer insects in the rooms than in the UK to be honest. Also, every room has at least two bottles of filtered water, one in the bathroom for brushing teeth and face and one for drinking, so you never run danger of drinking water that might upset your stomach.
And we have to say that the service was always fantastic - the people make the impression of being genuinely kind and so professional and welcoming. Everyone just wants you to feel at home and enjoy your stay, and we are sure you will.
As far as food is concerned, the staff try to cater to the guests, so the meals are pretty international. We might have preferred some more local dishes to add to the immersion, but your mileage may vary. At Nyota Camp, there was a big Chinese group with us and the cooks prepared food that catered more to an Asian audience for instance. All the food was always tasty, although if you go on safari for a culinary experience you are not in the right place. We should add though that the food at the Gran Melia was genuinely very good.
3) Safari & Guide
We did five days of game drives with our guide Enock. Enock was a great guide, he made the impression of being one of the younger guides, but he had such a depth of knowledge and experience as a guide, we managed to see literally everything we wanted to see, including the Big Five, the Big Nine, and the Ugly Five. As we were on honeymoon, we were very glad that Enock also respected our privacy and gave us time to enjoy each other. Still, when we were on the drive or having lunch together out at picnic spots around the parks, he was really great company. Every guide seems to have their own style, but for us Enock was basically the perfect match.
We were a bit worried about the timing of our safari because the first week of June is just after the rainy season and before the real peak season for safaris in Tanzania (we understand that the peak season is July to October). However, we were lucky with the weather and there were only a few showers, and we were pretty glad because the parks weren't too crowded yet. At peak season, we can imagine that when there is a lion or leopard spotting, there won't be five or six trucks crowding around the spot but even more.
So, in conclusion, if you want to have a great safari experience with comfortable lodges and great guides, we can wholeheartedly recommend Tanzania, LionKing Adventures, and the package we had booked.
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Email Eugene | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Personalized and Budget-Friendly
Let me start off by saying that if you are looking to do a Tanzania safari, look no further than Lion King Adventures for a more personalized, budget-friendly, and complete experience.
From the beginning, Caroline was the most responsive amongst all the different companies. Many companies ghosted me. She was also very patient with my group’s decision making and review process as we had many iterations and change requests. I learned later that Lion King Adventures have their own sales teams as opposed to other companies outsourcing their sales to third parties. The personalized touch really set Lion King Adventures apart. My group ultimately landed on a 6-Day Mid-Luxury Highlights of Tanzania, which included Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. The quoted price ended up significant cheaper than the other companies as well for the same exact itinerary.
Next, I worked with Rose with regard to logistics. All communications from the initial deposit to final installment were very clear and responses continued to be timely. A member of my group was continuing onto a trek of Mt. Kilimanjaro afterwards and they coordinated with the trekking company for a smooth transfer.
My group had Enock as our guide and I will simply say that my group unanimously agrees we could not have had a better guide than him. If you want to personally select your guide, I recommend him in a heartbeat. He was very informative throughout the safari with his knowledge of the animals we encountered, fun facts, ability to spot animals that my group with our untrained eyes could not see, made sure we got to each location safely, and did his best to make sure we got to see everything we wanted. Enock’s first question upon meeting my group was, “what do you want to see?”. I saw this as a reflection of him making sure his customers get all they want out of their experience and it showed. My group wanted to see the Big 9 (lions ✅, leopards ✅, elephants ✅, buffaloes ✅, rhinos ✅, cheetahs ✅, giraffes ✅, hippos ✅) and the Ugly 5 (warthogs ✅, hyenas ✅, maribou storks, vultures ✅, and wildebeests ✅).
Lion King Adventures vehicles are fitted with radios which allowed Enock to tap into the network of all safari drivers (not limited to Lion King Adventures vehicles) within a 5km radius. It came in clutch when someone mentioned a rare sighting through the radio chatter.
I was glad that my group decided to go with Lion King Adventures instead of the hundreds of other companies we could have chosen.
NL
Email Wouter Vergeer | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent and professional tour operator
I've been fortunate to have been on quite a few safaris with different safari companies and my experience with Lion King Adventures was among the best of them.
The safari vehicles were in great condition with several extras to ensure for a comfortable trip, such as electronic sockets for charging, a fridge with cold drinks and extra pillows to ensure a more comfortable journey over the gravel roads in and to the parks.
We were with a bigger group of four vehicles and that gave me the opportunity to spend time with three of the four tour guides (Ozzie, Jusuph and Emanuel). All three were knowledgeable about the wildlife and eco systems and were also very service minded towards us, clients. The tour guides really made the trip special.
I haven't been on a game drive with the fourth guide (Saleh), but the other members of our travel party who did were also very positive about Saleh (and some of them are also more experienced safari-goers).
We visited Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara and we saw tons of wildlife (all big cats and all Big Five species). We hardly had any rain and the scenery was a beautifully of yellow and green vegetation.
I would recommend Lion King Adventures to friend at family without any doubt.
Keep up the great work team!
NL
Email Robin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
What a brilliant experience!
From the first second until the very last moment: Lion King Adventures made sure we had the best possible experience. When we arrived at the airport there was a driver, George, waiting for us to bring us to the hotel. Our safari started with a domestic flight to Seronera, which was a really nice experience. Flying that low over the Tanzanian reserves is a mindblowing experience. Then we were awaited by our guides: Saleh, Ozzie, Yuzuph and Emmanuel. They were all very passionate about guiding us through Tanzania and tell us everything about the African wildlife, nature, and culture. We learned a lot from them and they brought us to beautiful places. We saw a lot of leopard and lions, but we also did a special drive to get to the migration. After a thorough search we found thousands of Wildebeast, as far the eye could see. But they also appreciated the safari etiquette, no offroad driving even seeing other operators and guides doing this. I really appreciated that they care about the wildlife and nature, and still gave us an amazing experience.
From the Serengeti, to the Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, we had an amazing trip. We even did a walking safari through Lake Manyara, also a really amazing experience. We didn't see a lot of animals, but learned a lot about nature and animal behavior from our armed guide.
Saleh, Ozzie, Yuzuph and Emmanuel, and obviously the entire team of Lion King Adventures: Thanks for your great hospitality and experience during our safari! I will never forget this.
Email Stefan du Plessis | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A professional, personal and stress-free experience throughout.
I was part of a 21-person group tour with Lion King Adventures for 12 days.
My first contact with the company was with the friendly Simon, who warmly welcomed us with a signboard at Kilimanjaro airport and took us to our accommodation in Arusha. His vehicle was very clean and comfortable.
Safari Week
We had a special welcome in the form of the owner of Lion King himself, James, who received us at the Seronera Airstrip in the Serengeti. This is where we also met our safari guides – for our northern circuit (part thereof) tour – Emmanuel, Ozzie, Saleh and Yusuph and enjoyed welcoming drinks. We saw a lot of animals during the trip, with our first leopard sighting only a few minutes into the first game drive. Amazing! My personal highlights were the endless plains of migrating Wildebeest & Zebra in the Serengeti and the splendor of Ngorongoro Crater. Warm lunches every day at very scenic spots were delicious and always more than enough – even catering for the various dietary requirements of the group. I favored Emmanuel's style of guiding and made sure I was always the first to jump in his 4x4. The guides shared valuable insights of the animals, people and environments throughout the tour, all the way from the Serengeti, through Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and back to Arusha. The vehicles were like new and very comfortable to travel in the parks, as well as on the longer travels between them.
Mt Meru Hike
Four of us remained behind to go on a 4day/3night hike of Mt Meru. We were joined on the hike by Godwin, the IT guy from Lion King, which was really pleasant. Our guides Saladin and Emmanuel were great and came to our hotel the night before, to meet and brief us on the hike. We were picked up at our hotel by bus the following morning, where we met the rest of the team of kitchen staff, waiters and porters – all absolutely great people – real professionals who made our entire hiking experience super enjoyable and memorable.
A special mention and huge thanks goes to Rose in the Lion King office – she is someone I have never met of spoken to, yet her name always seemed to come up when things needed to be arranged. The entire trip ran like clockwork – everyone knew where they needed to be and at the right time – this is something that really stood out to me during the trip and ensured a stress-free experience throughout.
On the last day, we were picked up on-time by Charles and taken to Kilimanjaro airport, again in a spotless and very comfortable vehicle. Charles was very friendly and polite. He was quiet, the perfect driver for the end of a tiring but very exciting trip. :)
Asante sana Lion King, for the great memories! I would certainly recommend you to others wanting to experience the best that Tanzania has to offer.
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Email Bina and Falgun | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent
Our family had been dreaming of going on a safari in Tanzania this June, and once we decided to make it happen, the next big question was: which tour company do we choose? With no clear starting point, I reached out to five different companies for quotes. Right from the beginning, Lion King Adventures stood out. Their itinerary was detailed, they offered a great selection of accommodations—especially Nyota Luxury Camp, which was a real highlight—and they were able to provide two private, air-conditioned jeeps for our group of seven. They also made sure our dietary needs were fully met, which was a huge relief.
I worked closely with Caroline and Rose on all the planning and booking, and honestly, the entire process was incredibly smooth. Most of our communication happened through WhatsApp and a few phone calls, and they were always warm, responsive, and flexible with our schedule.
Once on the ground, our guides Freddie and Joseph made the experience truly unforgettable. Their knowledge of the parks, wildlife, and even the history of the areas we visited was amazing. They drove with such care and patience, which made a big difference given how bumpy the safari roads can be (we jokingly called it our daily "African massage"). What made the trip even more special were the personal stories they shared—about their lives, their families, and the passion they have for what they do. We even taught each other a few words in our respective languages, which was a fun bonus.
Every hotel we stayed at was wonderful, with friendly staff and great vegetarian options—something we really appreciated. From the concierge to the housekeeping teams, everyone made us feel welcome and well taken care of.
A special thanks to Tuma, who greeted us at the Kilimanjaro airport with a smile after a long journey, and to Jafery, who drove us safely to Moshi at the beginning of our trip.
This was an unforgettable adventure, and our experience with Lion King Adventures was nothing short of fantastic. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to explore Tanzania. They helped turn a long-held dream into a beautiful reality.
Email Jason | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unforgettable Experience!
From the moment I arrived at the airport and saw Justin from Lion King Adventures waiting for me I knew I was in good hands. He took me to the first accommodation in Arusha, his car was clean and he gave me a lot of interesting info about Tanzania.
For the safari week we started with a flight to Seronera, flying low over the Serengeti which was incredible and then we we greeted by our four tour guides: Saleh, Ozzie, Yuzuph and Emmanuel. The game vehicles were clean, comfortable and in very good condition. Each one had charging ports and a fridge full of cold drinks, a really nice touch!
These guides were absolute legends. Their knowledge and friendliness made every moment enjoyable as they shared countless facts about the wildlife and nature. We explored Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, and were incredibly lucky to spot many animals, including the Big Five. A highlight was when they took us to a part of the migration, what an unforgettable experience!
I would highly recommend Lion King Adventures!