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Brilliant Adventures and Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Association of Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $250 to $3,510 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Heather | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They made our dream trip come true!
Taking my kids on a safari before they all start heading off to college has always been a bucket list item for me. I started looking into options, tours, etc. about a year ago and came across a post/review on a travel facebook page about Brilliant Adventures & Safaris. I looked at their website along with a few other companies and started making inquiries. Brilliant responded quickly (first) and Julieth (the person who assisted me through the entire process) was extremely helpful, answering all of my questions (and I had a lot) and made me feel comfortable booking and kept me informed along the way. I knew we were in good hands and made the right choice just on my interactions with her.
When we were set to leave for the trip, our flight was canceled due to weather and we were unable to rebook until 48 hours later. While we panicked, Brilliant jumped in and quickly got everything rearranged/rescheduled for our new travel times and had us all set - it was amazing and we were truly grateful that they made everything work for us.
As for the actual trip, everything went smoothly and just as we had hoped. Our pick ups were seamless, the accommodations were phenomenal, food was plentiful, etc. We chose to split our time between the Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beaches. For the safari, we had the BEST guide, Tuma. From the moment Tuma picked us up, he made us feel like new friends. He was funny, friendly, calm and just set us at ease. He made sure we got to see everything we wanted to see and he was so knowledgable about the history, the animals, etc. and talked us through everything. There's no doubt in my mind that we had the amazing time that we did because we had Tuma as our guide! We were honestly sad when we had to move on to Zanzibar because loved our time on the safari with Tuma.
As I mentioned, the accommodations were great. All of our lodges felt magical and exactly how we would have imagined. The safari car was spacious and we enjoyed the ride through the Serengeti almost as much as seeing the animals. Snacks were provided in the car and we never felt hungry or like we needed anything more on the trip.
Brilliant arranged our transfer flight to Zanzibar and all of our activities on the island as well. We enjoyed visiting prison island and snorkeling with the dolphins on the Mnemba Island activity. The resort in Zanzibar was just what we needed after the safari and we enjoyed relaxing, participating in dances, and seeing what the island had to offer.
This was our favorite family trip and Brilliant made it special for us - everything went perfectly and they handled it all. I cannot recommend them enough and am grateful I stumbled across the Facebook post/recommendation!
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Email Yv | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best tour operator in Tanzania with exceptional service and insightful knowledge!
We traveled to Tanzania in July 2025 with Brilliant Adventures and Safaris, and the entire experience was outstanding from start to finish. Everything was well-organized, and the communication prior to the trip was clear and helpful.
Our driver and guide, Joshua, was exceptional — knowledgeable about wildlife, local culture, and the best spots for viewing animals. His professionalism and friendly personality made every day on safari both educational and enjoyable.
The safari vehicle was comfortable, clean, and well-maintained, making even long drives relaxing. The hotel and lodge arrangements were excellent — well-chosen for comfort, location, and service quality.
We had a smooth, memorable, and truly unforgettable Tanzanian adventure. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a reliable and professional safari operator!
Email Mark | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant Safaris gave us breathtaking wildlife, expert guides, and superb service.
Our honeymoon and my partner’s 30th birthday with Brilliant Safaris were nothing short of extraordinary. From the very first email to the final farewell, their communication was excellent—clear, prompt, and attentive both before and during the trip. They went above and beyond to make the experience personal, thoughtfully adapting our itinerary so we could enjoy every moment at our own pace. Our guide’s enthusiasm was infectious; his deep knowledge of the animals and determination to help us see as much wildlife as possible made every game drive an adventure. Thanks to Brilliant Safaris, we left with not only incredible photos but also memories we’ll cherish for a lifetime.
FR
Email Alex | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect trip
Brilliant staff made everything for us to have a great experience. Very responsive and flexible at the time of booking and everything well set once arrived. I highly recommend
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Email Ha Yang | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience from beginning to end!
Great experience booking our Tanzania Safari with Brilliant. Communication with Gladys was prompt and professional throughout, even as we requested and repriced many options and changes. Was originally quoted a five day drive-in and drive-out itinerary, and was happy to hear a fly-in and drive-out itinerary could be arranged when we inquired. This cut out about 6 hours of transit for little change in the price, and was favored for our family. We booked rather late into the season so accommodations for Zanzibar were somewhat limited, but Gladys was happy to price airport transport only for this leg of the trip and we booked our own accomodations. We were mostly happy with all the lodges they selected, with our only complaints being one-off quirks (noisy tent neighbors, or low water pressure).
The safari was splendid! George was our driver and guide, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Very attentive and flexible to what we wanted to see during the trip, but beyond that had a sixth sense for where to be to catch animals up close. Saw up close numerous elephants, giraffe, zebra, even lions on multiple sightings. Many animals we were not familiar with or had even heard of, George would whip out a guidebook and show us what we were looking at. Besides just showing us the animals, he had interesting facts and trivia to share for almost everything we saw, and made for great conversation between destinations. Also stopped at a few points of interest (and voluntarily skipped a couple) while we bought local food or snapped pictures of the scenery. We also had a 6 year old who loved to stand on the seat's armrest in order to look out the car's roof, and he always drove carefully or advised her to sit down when the road got too rough.
On more than one occasion when we were at a park for a picnic lunch, George had the foresight to bring tables and chairs, and we enjoyed a meal right away while multiple other groups stood around waiting for a table. The vehicle was well stocked with refrigerated drinks and snacks and kept in great condition.
Highly recommend the crew at Brilliant for the next booking, especially Gladys in the office and George as the guide. Ask for them!
Email Avesta | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Out of this world Brilliant
Me and a friend were trying to find a mid budget, reliable safari for our first trip and we came across too many suggestions, recommendations and companies. Its really overwhelming finding the right tour guide until… I came across Brilliant which matched our needs.
From the minute of emailing to connecting on whatsapp, everything was as smooth as possible.
Wonderful Gladys was on point with her communication and commitment to finding our best budget safari without compromising comfort on this trip of a lifetime. She was fast, reliable and friendly despite me contacting her 2 days before and only giving a very short time to arrange everything. She was continuously available and willing to answer all my questions and changes when needed.
In terms of budget, I believe we received the best out there.
Upon arrival, we were met with Gladys and our tour guide Joshua. Joshua is the best out there. He is reliable, managed our expectations from the beginning and didn’t promise big things. He was incredibly skilled in his job and knew exactly how to find the animals and we learnt so much about the Serengeti, the animals the ecosystem and cultural aspects. He did not leave any leaf unturned and took his time and professionalism above and beyond our expectations.
Thank you so much to the team for making this the BEST trip for me and my friend. We cannot say enough good words about Brilliant - you will not be disappointed.
Email Dr Bhavna S | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Joshua and Gladys were extremely professional, kind and clear! Couldn’t fault them.
We had only three days to explore the Serengeti. This happened and we were able to see 71 sightings of animals, 4/5 of the big five! We did manage to get to nearly see the rhino, but missed it by a millisecond. Our operator, Joshua was extremely professional and knowledgeable. The food at the lodge was amazing and the lodge itself was protected by the ranger and Masai. Life changing experience.
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Email Aria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tuma was fantastic, informative, and kind. He made the whole experience!
We chose the mid-luxury option for our 5 day honeymoon, our expert was Julie and guide was Tuma.
-Julie was really helpful in giving us iterative feedback on how we mapped and utilized the time and budget for maximum enjoyment!
-Mid-luxury was perfect, the accommodations were way nicer than I expected - they were clean, stylistic, excellent food and service. We were sad to leave each place. Each place was slightly different, and it's hard to choose our favorite!
-One thing that stood out to me was the car that Brilliant Safari used. A safari is essentially a multi-day roadtrip in rugged terrain, so having a really comfortable and modern and safe car is really critical. Our car was the best one we saw!
-As a vegetarian, I was a little nervous about the food options, but I was really well taken care of. Things were well-flavored, healthy, and balanced.
-The experience itself was amazing. Tuma knew what we were interested in seeing, and spent time teaching us and answering all our questions. He was willing to wake up early when we wanted to, stay later when we wanted to, noticed when we were feeling tired, etc.
-Speaking of Tuma, I highly recommend him! He was a legend on the road and seemed to train so many folks, so it was nice to be with someone so well experiened.
-After evaluating almost 10 safari companies, we chose Brilliant because of the value and Julie's responsiveness and approachability. After the safari, I'm so glad we did that!
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Email Laura Schulz | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
With all the tour companies to choose from, I took a chance and, boy did it pay off!
I chose the mid-luxury option for our 6 day safari, our expert was Lightness and our guide was Boni.
Lightness was super helpful throughout my communication with her. Giving me honest feedback as to what was worth exploring and helping to map out our itinerary and budget! Our flight was looong, Lightness helped me decide to take the time to rest an extra day before our 6 day safari started. We stayed 2 nights at the Gran Melia before we began (excellent accommodation). In fact, every one of our accommodations was clean and welcoming with the friendliest people! We loved staying at Acacia Lodge, Dancing Duma and Mara River Camp!
Our guide, Bony, was the best! With 16 years experience- he knew where to go, when to begin each day and had full knowledge of each place we went. Bony took pride in his jeep - it was clean and comfortable. The experience itself was amazing. Bony knew what we were interested in seeing, and spent time teaching us and answering all our questions as well as giving us all the time we needed to take pics. He checked in with us throughout the safari. We saw the Big Five and witnessed the river migration! We felt so lucky, but know it was because of Bony's expertise! I highly recommend Bony- he was personable, knowledgeable and we had lots of laughs! He will be a friend for life! He was friendly, and kind, and helpful to other drivers. At one point, while driving through a village, a young man on his bike swerved and lost some of the fruit he was carrying- Bony did not hesitate to jump out of the jeep to help him gather what he spilled. We witnesssed his kindness over and over! After evaluating several safari companies, i chose Brilliant because of the value and Lightness' responsiveness and helpfulness. I am so glad, I chose Brilliant and I highly recommend this company. At every turn, we felt our comfort and happiness was prioritized.
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Email Neal Patel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Experience in Tanzania
Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Adventure – A Trip We’ll Never Forget!
My wife and I just returned from our Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar trip, and honestly, it was the adventure of a lifetime. From the moment we landed in Kilimanjaro to our final day in Zanzibar, the whole journey was smooth, exciting, and filled with memories we’ll carry forever.
When we first arrived, Julieth welcomed us at the office and walked us through everything we needed to know. She explained the itinerary in detail, gave us helpful tips, and even helped us book a few extra excursions on the spot without any hassle. That personal touch really set the tone for the trip.
But what truly made this safari special — and I cannot emphasize this enough — was our guide, Bony. He wasn’t just a guide; he became the heart of our experience. From Tarangire to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, he made sure we didn’t miss a thing. Thanks to him, we saw all of the Big Five, but it wasn’t just about spotting animals — it was about how much he genuinely cared.
Bony has a way of bringing the safari to life. His knowledge of the wildlife was incredible, and he answered every question with excitement and patience. He clearly loves Tanzania and its animals, and that passion was contagious. He was always on time, never rushed us, kept the vehicle stocked with drinks and snacks, and made every drive feel effortless (even on those bumpy roads). It honestly felt like traveling with family.
What impressed us most was how his care extended beyond the trip. Even after we came back home, he still checks in with us and shares updates of the migration via WhatsApp. That kind of thoughtfulness is rare, and it shows how much pride he takes in making sure his guests feel connected long after they leave. If you’re lucky enough to get Bony as your guide, you’re in for something truly special.
In Zanzibar, Abdullah was our driver, and he too was wonderful. Friendly, accommodating, and quick to adjust when we asked to detour to Old Town so we could get some proper vegetarian food.
Now, for future travelers, a few things to keep in mind (aka the CONS):
• Vegetarian food was a bit of a challenge, especially with the takeaway safari lunches and limited options at the lodges. If you’re vegetarian, you might want to bring some snacks to supplement.
• One of the Serengeti lodges was a bit too remote, which meant when it rained, the roads were tough to navigate. Staying somewhere more central would have helped us maximize our game drive times.
• Our second stay at Escapment Lodge wasn’t as smooth as the first — mosquitos, no hot water, and even early wake-up calls meant for the front desk.
• Zanzibar was beautiful, but our resort was far from most of the main activities. If we could do it again, we’d split time between Nungwi and Old Town to cut down on travel time.
• Lastly, tipping adds up fast. The culture around it sometimes felt a little pressured, so I recommend bringing plenty of small bills in cash.
Despite those small challenges, this was a magical trip. The wildlife, the landscapes, the culture — and most of all, the people like Julieth, Abdullah, and especially Bony — made it unforgettable. We left Tanzania not only with incredible memories but also feeling like we had made a true friend in Bony.
If you’re considering a safari in Tanzania, don’t hesitate. And if you get Bony as your guide, you’ll quickly see why we can’t stop singing his praises. He truly made this the trip of a lifetime!