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
CN
Email Tony Rong | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This Tanzania safari was wonderful, with rich wildlife, a well‑arranged itinerary and nice accommoda
We had an absolutely wonderful safari experience in Tanzania. We were lucky to spot a rich variety of wild animals during game drives, including the Big Five and countless other species across Serengeti and Ngorongoro. The whole itinerary was thoughtfully arranged with reasonable pacing, leaving us plenty of time for wildlife viewing without feeling rushed. All the lodges and tented camps we stayed at were comfortable and well‑maintained, with friendly service and nice meals. It was truly a memorable once‑in‑a‑lifetime African adventure, and we would highly recommend this tour to anyone planning a safari in Tanzania.
Email Nasir | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rasta man was brilliant got us the big and much more… loved the lions all accomidation was brilliant
Saw lions leaped kill and eat sat all animals elephants zebras
DE
Email Sarah | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Breathtaking
We had an amazing experience. 4 days safari. Our Guide was Rasta Man and he was amazing. He took care of us very well, a lot of information about the animals and the Masai. I felt very safe all the time. We saw the big 5 and it’s definitely a lifetime experience. If you are looking for a safari company, do it with Suricata :)
Email Francine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience with amazing hospitality
Was briefed for day to day activities and the location of the stays and activities were spectacular and exceeded our expectations. Rasta gave wonderful in depth information during our excursions!
DE
Email Marco | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friendly, good experience, he is really good in getting a good spot to see the animals.
We did a 4 day Safari, and we saw the big 5 and we had an amazing experience, we saw a leopard eating a gazelle at a tree, we could see lions eating a buffalo it was amazing. Thank you Rastaman for that experience. Would definitely recommend
Beyond my expectations
It went beyond my expectations, i not only could see the big five, but also counted around 30 different animals, many of them just a few meters away, our guide Rasta man was the best one we could have for sure, thanks a lot for such amazing experience.
FR
Email Fatou | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari with Gerald! 🤩
I just finished an amazing 5-day safari with Suricata Safaris, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
From Tarangire to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, every day brought incredible moments. We were lucky enough to see the Big Five, along with cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, flamingos and so many other animals. The landscapes were breathtaking, and the whole experience exceeded my expectations.
A special thank you to our guide, Gerald, who truly made this safari unforgettable. He was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, friendly and always happy to answer our questions. His passion for wildlife really shone through, and he made sure we enjoyed every moment. I was also really impressed by his driving skills, especially on some of the challenging roads we encountered!
Everything was well organised, the accommodations were lovely, and the whole team made us feel welcome.
A big thank you to Gerald, Jackson and the entire Suricata Safaris team! These five days will definitely remain one of my favourite travel memories. I couldn’t recommend them more highly!
PT
Email Pedro | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Melita is the best. We saw many different species with him.
Very good safari. We saw many things , many animais. Different species. And we had what we need.
DE
Email Paul | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
While the wildlife was extraordinary, the safari was tainted by bad guiding, poor gear, and delays.
Incredible Wildlife, but Disappointing Tour Organisation and Guiding
We went on a 5-day safari with Suricata Safari, visiting Tarangire National Park, spending two nights in the Serengeti, and exploring the Ngorongoro Crater.
First of all, the safari itself was incredible. These parks are among the best wildlife destinations in the world, and we were fortunate to see an amazing variety of animals. The overall itinerary was generally well planned, and the wildlife experience was unforgettable. Unfortunately, several aspects of the tour operator’s organisation and service significantly affected our experience.
1. Poor communication and last-minute changes
Our pre-safari briefing did not take place as scheduled and was delayed by approximately three and a half hours. Furthermore, when we arrived at Twiga Campsite, we were informed that our planned visit to Tarangire National Park would be postponed. We had specifically wanted to visit Tarangire first, allowing the safari to build towards the highlights of the trip. This change was communicated only briefly upon our arrival at the campsite, without any prior notice or explanation.
2. Our guide was essentially just a driver
This was by far the biggest disappointment. Our guide provided very little information about the wildlife, the national parks, or the itinerary. There was almost no communication, and we were rarely informed about the plan for the day, the expected schedule, or what we could expect to see.
A safari guide should do much more than simply drive from one place to another. Explaining animal behaviour, sharing knowledge about the ecosystem, and helping guests understand what they are seeing are essential parts of the experience. Fortunately, another traveller in our group had studied biology and was able to explain many things about the animals to us. Without this person, our safari experience would have been considerably less informative.
3. Poor camping equipment and repetitive food
At the public campsite in the Serengeti, the sleeping equipment was disappointing. The mattresses and sleeping bags were visibly worn out, and the mattresses varied considerably in quality, with some being extremely thin. One traveller in our group did not even receive a pillow.
The food was acceptable and there was enough to eat, but the meals were very repetitive and not particularly enjoyable. This was not a major issue in itself, but overall, the quality could have been better.
4. Too much time wasted coordinating different accommodation categories
Another significant issue was that our vehicle carried both budget and mid-range travellers who were staying at different accommodations. As a result, we repeatedly had to pick up or wait for the mid-range guests. This cost us valuable time that could otherwise have been spent in the national parks.
Consequently, we often entered the parks relatively late and sometimes spent only three or four hours there. For example, our descent into the Ngorongoro Crater took place quite late, and we had to leave again around midday because other members of the group needed to return to Arusha that day.
I also felt that we missed opportunities for early-morning game drives in the Serengeti. Instead of starting around 6 a.m., as would have been possible, we generally set off at around 8:30 a.m. Early mornings are among the best times to observe wildlife, and when travelling all the way to the Serengeti, I believe these opportunities should be taken seriously.
Conclusion
I would absolutely recommend visiting Tarangire, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater. The wildlife and landscapes are extraordinary, and the safari itself was an unforgettable experience.
However, I cannot give Suricata Safari the same recommendation. The lack of guiding, insufficient communication, worn-out camping equipment, and inefficient organisation meant that we did not get as much out of the experience as we could have. In particular, combining budget and mid-range travellers in a way that repeatedly reduced our time in the parks was frustrating.
The parks themselves were outstanding, but the tour operator did not fully deliver on the experience I had expected. With a knowledgeable guide, better communication, improved camping equipment, and more efficient scheduling, this could have been a much better safari.
DE
Email Manuel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible Wildlife, but Disappointing Tour Organisation and Guiding
Incredible Wildlife, but Disappointing Tour Organisation and Guiding
We went on a 5-day safari with Suricata Safari, visiting Tarangire National Park, spending two nights in the Serengeti, and exploring the Ngorongoro Crater.
First of all, the safari itself was incredible. These parks are among the best wildlife destinations in the world, and we were fortunate to see an amazing variety of animals. The overall itinerary was generally well planned, and the wildlife experience was unforgettable. Unfortunately, several aspects of the tour operator’s organisation and service significantly affected our experience.
1. Poor communication and last-minute changes
Our pre-safari briefing did not take place as scheduled and was delayed by approximately three and a half hours. Furthermore, when we arrived at Twiga Campsite, we were informed that our planned visit to Tarangire National Park would be postponed. We had specifically wanted to visit Tarangire first, allowing the safari to build towards the highlights of the trip. This change was communicated only briefly upon our arrival at the campsite, without any prior notice or explanation.
2. Our guide was essentially just a driver
This was by far the biggest disappointment. Our guide provided very little information about the wildlife, the national parks, or the itinerary. There was almost no communication, and we were rarely informed about the plan for the day, the expected schedule, or what we could expect to see.
A safari guide should do much more than simply drive from one place to another. Explaining animal behaviour, sharing knowledge about the ecosystem, and helping guests understand what they are seeing are essential parts of the experience. Fortunately, another traveller in our group had studied biology and was able to explain many things about the animals to us. Without this person, our safari experience would have been considerably less informative.
3. Poor camping equipment and repetitive food
At the public campsite in the Serengeti, the sleeping equipment was disappointing. The mattresses and sleeping bags were visibly worn out, and the mattresses varied considerably in quality, with some being extremely thin. One traveller in our group did not even receive a pillow.
The food was acceptable, but would have loved to have some Proteins for Vegetarians . This was not a major issue in itself, but overall, the quality could have been better.
4. Too much time wasted coordinating different accommodation categories
Another significant issue was that our vehicle carried both budget and mid-range travellers who were staying at different accommodations. As a result, we repeatedly had to pick up or wait for the mid-range guests. This cost us valuable time that could otherwise have been spent in the national parks.
Consequently, we often entered the parks relatively late and sometimes spent only three or four hours there. For example, our descent into the Ngorongoro Crater took place quite late, and we had to leave again around midday because other members of the group needed to return to Arusha that day.
I also felt that we missed opportunities for early-morning game drives in the Serengeti. Instead of starting around 6 a.m., as would have been possible, we generally set off at around 8:30 a.m. Early mornings are among the best times to observe wildlife, and when travelling all the way to the Serengeti, I believe these opportunities should be taken seriously.
Conclusion
I would absolutely recommend visiting Tarangire, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater. The wildlife and landscapes are extraordinary, and the safari itself was an unforgettable experience.
However, I cannot give Suricata Safari the same recommendation. The lack of guiding, insufficient communication, worn-out camping equipment, and inefficient organisation meant that we did not get as much out of the experience as we could have. In particular, combining budget and mid-range travellers in a way that repeatedly reduced our time in the parks was frustrating.
The parks themselves were outstanding, but the tour operator did not fully deliver on the experience I had expected. With a knowledgeable guide, better communication, improved camping equipment, and more efficient scheduling, this could have been a much better safari.