Hilary and Martin - owners of Suricata Safaris
Suricata Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 20-50 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
BG
Email Zlatin | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience with great staff and organisation
Going on a safari has already been a dream for me. So, when we decided to make the step forward and go to Tanzania, we (as many others) decided to research online about the companies, offering safari services. It turned out that there are so many of them so I just checked the reviews on Safaribookngs and Tripadvisor and sent a request to 4-5 different companies. From the first mail Suricata made an impression with the well structured and minute-by-minute schedule of the safari, sent by Hilary. So, after a week of discussion and some tailor-made changes, we had the final schedule: Lake Manyara on the day of arrival (1/2 day), 1 full day in Tarangire, 2 days in Serengeti and 1/2 day in Ngorongoro crater.
The price was ok compared to the other offers we had but the communication was really smooth and quick and that is why we chose Suricata.
Honestly, I had high expectations but these guys managed to exceed them.
The safari was perfectly organised and the whole experience was amazing. Special thanks to our guide Freddy and our cook Tito. Freddy was so knowledged, with lots of information not only about the wildlife but also about the country, economy and practically everything we asked him about. He was always smiling, positive and we learned a lot a lot new things from him. Tito on the other side was preparing delicios and freshly-cooked food even at 2300 metres above sea level (on the edge of Ngorongoro crater). We had breakfast, lunch, dinner + coffee breaks every single day and the food was amazing.
These two guys were working really hard but they enjoyed their job and it was so obvoius. You can't just escape from falling in love with the place, the mood, the whole atmosphere.
Few words about the safari itself - we had 2 overnights in Twiga Lodge which was ok, 1 night in Seronera camp and 1 night in Simba - both campsites were quite good and we had even hot water in Simba. It was again above my expectations. Last overnight we stayed in Arusha in Gateway lodge.
I can hardly recommend more these guys and the Suricata safari in general.
There was only one thing I did not like and it was an additional stopover we payed for - in a Maasai village just near the Simba campsite. It did not look authentic and all the time they were trying to sell us staff with very few words about the history and the customes of the tribe. But it was our decision to visit a Maasai village, after all. Nobody pushed us to do it.
So, yes, you should believe all the positive reviews. I recommend Suricata and if one day I have the opportunity to come back to this nice country, I will definitely choose them again!
Email Roman and Dominic | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Best Safari Company
Suricata are the best! We spent 10 days exploring Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara with them and it was amazing. The guide Freddy could answer everything and you could really feel his love for the wildlife and nature. And I can tell you: you are going to leave this safari with some more weight. Because the chef Jazz cooks like a 5 star cook and I am sure that you will eat 2-3 portions every lunch and dinner :D it was an amazing experience, thank you for that Suricata! Will be back very soon!
DE
Email Sandra | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
4 unvergessliche Tage
Die Safari war super und hat meine Erwartungen übertroffen. Unglaublich viele Tiere aus nächster Nähe. Kann ich absolut weiterempfehlen. Alles war gut organisiert und hat super geklappt. Auch vegetarisches Essen war kein Problem. 4 unvergessliche Tage. Warme Kleidung nicht vergessen, da es Nachts kalt wird.
DE
Email Liane | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We have always had the best views!
Since years already i have been sending all my friends, couchsurfers and visitors with the Suricata Safaris on adventure and never anybody complained. The communication is at anytime excellent and everything happens in time. This time it were my parents visiting me from germany to go with me and my friends to Serengeti, Ngorogoro and Tarangire to have the full african feeling in tents. So it was very important to me that everything would be perfect. And it was! It was more than ever expected! Our Tourguide Mandela has been doing an amazing job. Even in critical situations he was able to lead our group of 6 people through in total safty! We had kids with us and sometimes if you are very close to the giant animals its important to keep calm. In addition under all safari cars we always had by far the best views on the animals really close to us due to our guide. Also we have to thank our cook Ben for the delicious food we got every day freshly prepared and for being every time very happy and in a good mood. The kids loved him so much!
My parents are super impressed about our adventure and super super happy here in Tanzania thanks the Suricata Safaris. My father found it very educational for all, the kids and us. And i am most happy about the professionality of Mandela, which provided us safty at all times. But also he was super brave. As close as we got to really big Elefants and even a Leopard we all were scared to death but Mandela was still relaxed to indicate us to enjoy the moment! We really really did! Big thanks to the whole team from us! We will never forget the nights together with the baffalos, lions and hyennas at night! It was stunning and magic!
Amazing 3 days full of impressions! We saw a lot of animals but also beautiful views.I recommend all
Everything was great and fast communication the personnel.
JP
Email Yoshi | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Please confirm your itinerary carefully
We booked a 3 day tour exchanging mails with Suricata Safaris. We selected their tour from many options because they offered a tour with a luxury tented camp by a reasonable price in Safari booking.com. We carefully confirmed their offer many times before the booking, since a safari tour was our main purpose to go to Tanzania.
However, we realized they had prepared just a budget tent for us on arriving at a camp site in the evening on the first day. Here, what I want to say is that there might be difference between their offer shown in Safari booking.com and their actual tour. I recommend you to ask them to make precise itinerary for your tour in order to avoid any misunderstanding. I hope no one have such a disappointing experience anymore.
Finally, though I think it was quite expensive as a safari tour with the budget tent compared with other offers, the only salvation was quality of a driver and a cook.
Reply from Suricata Safaris
Posted on Nov 14, 2019We are very sorry to hear that you had a disappointing experience. our company offers safaris of certain quality standard and we are also very disappointed that you didn't enjoy it. we are briefly replying to your comments,
1. you booked this trip via safari bookings we received a quote for the private budget camping safari, we sent you an offer with all details day by day with the camping accommodation listed on each day you accepted it and confirmed as you can see below
On this 3-day camping safari you will be well looked after and see some of the best that Tanzania has to offer. You will experience breathtaking wildlife in the midst of some of the most diverse landscapes; monkeys in the forest, lions in trees, elephants among acacias and a huge variety of animals inside a collapsed volcano. Not only visit Serengeti and ngorongoro Parks but also drive into the world-famous rift valley.
DAY 1: ARUSHA-SRERENGETI
After the breakfast early in the morning our drive guide will drive you
from Arusha to Serengeti National Park Set out for the endless open
plains and stunning skies of the Serengeti. A good-looking four hour
drive, day game drive together with late evening game drive. Dinner
and overnight at Seronera Campsite.
DAY 2: SERENGETI-NGORORNGORO
Serengeti to Ngorongoro, after a relaxing morning and an early lunch,
proceed to Ngorongoro, our well proffessional and experienced driver will
drive you all through Serengeti way to Ngorongoro crater explain enroute
wildlife and natural beauty of Tanzania. We will spent the night on the
crater rim, dinner and overnight will be at Ngorongoro simba campsite.
DAY 3: NGORONGORO-ARUSHA
Ngorongoro Crater tour - back to Arusha. Early breakfast, proceed directly
to the Crater floor for a day crater tour with picnic lunches. Later
proceed back to Arusha.
Included in the tour package are:
• Camping Accommodations
• Meals: Full Board - Breakfast, Hot Lunch or Picnic Lunch and Dinner while on Safari
• All Transfers and Transport, Park Fees
• Game viewing activities as stated in the above tour/safari description
• Services of a Safari Driver/ Guide
• Safari tent, Safari cook and camping supplies
Not included in tour:
• International air fares
• Any required Visas
• Travel Insurance
• Items of a Personal Nature
• Tips to Staffs
What to bring:
• Appropriate clothing for Safari: A warm sweater as the nights can be chilly at high altitudes
• Sun Glasses
• Binoculars for better sightings
Send us your arrival time and date so that we can arrange pick up for you.
Looking forward for your positive reply.
2. As you can see the above itinerary is also published on safari bookings the same, after we sent you the above itinerary and a reasonable price that is on the site till now you confirmed right away and asked for our bank details so you could make the deposit in order to confirm your spot with us,
3. When you arrived on the 5th of September I came to your accommodation in Arusha and briefed you all about the tour and again I explained about the accommodations you were fine and never doubted,
4. when you arrived to Serengeti at 5.pm I received a call from our guide Lewis that we took you to a wrong accommodation I tried my best to explain you and resent you the itinerary we confirmed initial but unfortunately we could not understand each other because you had a language problem,
5. when you arrived to Arusha I asked you to have a talk about the situation but you said it happened and there is no way we could change anything and you promised when you get back hone you would review the emails and let me know if you find out anything but unfortunately you never replied to our emails that were following up the situation you ended up giving us a negative review,
6. our itinerary are well confirmed and well shown on safari bookings we hope that you would find out that we never intended to provide you a wrong service.
KR
Email CHOI HYUNJ | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Surikata safari was the best and highly recommended.
Everything was perfect. A guide to driving and looking for animals, a cook who cooks all the meals deliciously, and the people who were with him were all kind and sensible and able. Thanks to them, I could see many animals. It allows me to find the best location and capture it with my eyes and camera at leisurely. If I go back later, I will make another reservation as a suricata company. 한국인들도 있을 거 같아서 남깁니다. 무조건 수리카타로 예약하세요. 그리고 에제키엘과 프린스는 최고의 직원들입니다. 진짜 강추에요.
RU
Email Dmitry Suhadolsky | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safaris in three parks (Serengeti, Ngorogoro, Tarangiri)
I went on a Safari from the company Suricata. I found them on the website: www.safaribookings.com I really liked the service provided. The price was average market. But the price included meeting from the airport and transfer to the airport after the safari. The price also included hotel accommodation before the safari and after the safari. The hotel is very decent. The company is run by three very active and friendly men. All with good English (one of them is American). The service was provided at a very good level, so I recommend choosing them.
If we talk about the Suricata company itself, I liked the guide, the cook (as it turned out later, in comparison with all the others he cooked very tasty). Every evening, as a gift, well, dinner was given a bottle of wine. Food was always prepared in excess. The guide drove fast, but very carefully. Car: six-seater Land Cruiser.
Now about the trip itself: the safari lasted 4 days (3 nights). Parks: Ngorogoro, Serengeti and Tarangiri. Tarangiri is separate from the other two parks. All parks are different and differ from each other in nature and animals. Therefore, it is interesting to see all three, but you need to correctly evaluate your strength and desire. Drive 300 km from Arusha to Serengeti Park, the road is bad, so be patient or choose other parks. But the Serengeti is the largest park.
I went in August 2019. When they tell you, take warm clothes, this really means that you will need them. Be sure to take pants, a sweatshirt, a windbreaker, possibly another sweater. Also bring along a headlamp, pillowcase, soap, small shampoo, wet wipes, mosquito repellent. Personally, I did not take a windbreaker with me and regretted it. In the evenings there is a very cool and strong wind.
Bargaining in shops, taxis and markets should be 3-4 times. Everyone wants to make money on white tourists.
Yellow fever vaccine is best done just in case. Whether to be vaccinated against malaria, everyone decides for himself. Locals get malaria like a cold. Many tourists even having vaccinated have a high chance of getting sick. Just fly to Tanzania, before you go on a safari, buy a malaria test. If your temperature rises, you can immediately use the test.
Paying all the more profitable in shillings (you pay the safari in dollars). Therefore, change dollars at the airport or immediately after arrival in the city.
Have a good holiday and interesting adventures!
That was amazing!
This was our first experience on safari. Everything was great. We met at the airport, placed in the hotel. In the evening came, Hillari, we paid main amount for safari. He asked our preferences in food, when my wife learned that cook can cook separately for her food without gluten, she was very happy! Was one confusion with paying, in the contract not mentioned on the amount of a tip for guide, they were fixed, 10$ with person per day. I think you need it to write in the contract! In our country tips are not mandatory and fixed. But guide the Mandela and cook Salim, great fulfilled his work and very tried, so we were pleased to pay a tip! We really liked it, we will recommend to our friends! The price is very good.
ES
Email alex moreno | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Enjoyble and responsible safari
Me and my girlfriend organized a safari with Hilari´s company Suricata T & T. Since the beginning I had an easy, fluent and effective communication with Hilary. Our safari was 3d/2n visiting Tarangire,lake manyara and Ngorongoro crater.We had Harry as driver and Miren as cook.both of them really good and proffessionals.After we finished the safari and with sort notice,we´re backpacking in Tanzania,we decided to get our chances to join a safari giving us the opportunity to visit serengeti.Once again after speaking with Hilari,we embarked on a new adventure;this time ourdriver/guide was Mandela and Jeez as cook.I´m gonna put it sort and simple;"DREAMTEAM".Mandela has shown very good driving skills no matter the road conditions,really clear and effective with logistics and planning.Jeez was offering a nice variety of meals for all sorts of customrs,no matter age,nationality....
I´ve witness many drivers from other TO not respecting the path,to approach closer specially to predators (big cats) and cutting their way (I´ve got even proof). This is not responsible behaviour;our drivers at Suricata always respected that.It´s a really competitive industry, the safaries, in tanzania.Many times thnking of tips, drivers get closer to animals unresponsibly.don´t encourage your driver for such behaviour.Us, being people who pay to have a wonderful safari experience,doen´t give us any right to go over driver´s .Your driver/guide is the boss,liten to them.Get a closer experience helping the staff members when setting up campsites,assist your cook to prepare meals;,learn a bit of swahili;that will give you a closer and more balanced experience,not just being a white person pying money.I can´t tell anyone who to go with...but Suricata T & T yu should be on your list when planning excursions.we had 2 great safaries and I have only good words for Hilari and his team who made that possible.
assante sana and kwaheri rafiki