Crater Explorer Tours And Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $185 to $550 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
JP
Email ok | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
価格を抑えながら、ヌーの川渡りとビッグ5を見られた
From July 25th to 30th, 2026, two of us participated in a 6-day, 5-night tour. We obtained quotes from about four companies before booking, but Crater Explorer Tours & Safaris was the cheapest and best met our requirements, so we chose them. Our desired conditions were as follows:
* A 6-day tour
* A lodge or tent lodge with beds, private bathroom, and hot shower, rather than basic public camping
* A trip to Kogatende/Mara River in the northern Serengeti to witness the wildebeest river migration
The price was US$3,600 for two people during the high season. This was about US$300-500 cheaper than other companies' quotes. (Apparently, the cost is higher than usual because it includes two nights in the Serengeti and a trip to the northern Serengeti.)
The actual tour was a shared vehicle with four other groups, and it seemed that participants were gathered through multiple tour companies.
The places we actually stayed were listed below:
• Marera Valley Lodge
• Shuhudia Adventure Camp
• Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp
• Jambo Lodge & Camping Site
Jambo Lodge & Camping Site was downgraded because the company explained on the afternoon of the tour that "the lodge originally planned for us had been broken into the previous night by thieves, and the accommodation was changed for security reasons."
The vehicle had shoddy windows compared to other companies and broke down twice due to poor maintenance, but such troubles are part of the fun of a safari, so it wasn't a problem.
Apparently, vehicle troubles are actually quite common.
(If you want a higher grade of vehicle and accommodation, or want to avoid trouble as much as possible, I think paying for a more expensive plan would be stress-free.)
Overall, we were able to see the wildebeest river crossing, the Big Five, and numerous lions and elephants. While the facilities and vehicle were commensurate with the price, we were able to fully experience the wildlife and scenery of the Serengeti, and spent six days like being in the world of The Lion King, so we were satisfied with the tour.
(automatic translation from Japanese)
FR
Email Helena | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
4 days Safari to see the best places
The company is serious and helpful.
We spent a good trip. The food was good and the vacation confortable.
FR
Email Leandri | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice experience with Crater Tours
This was my first safari, and it was a marvelous experience .
Organisation of the trip was absolutely ok. A special thanks to our guides, Charles, Asman, and and our special chief Emmanuel. All of them were warmfull, kindly answered all my questions and professional. Emmanuel fed us so nicely and is able to cook pizzas in the middle of the savanna !
The lodge and camps was ok, especially the camp above Ngorongoro crater, so beautiful.
We saw everything we wanted to see ! Plenty of animals of course but also so amazing landscapes !
There are many safari companies to choose from, notably very big companies. I am pleased that we chose this one. I would highly recommend this company to my friends and family. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!
DE
Email Felix | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable adventure
From the very first contact, Emanuel made planning our safari completely stress-free. As first-time visitors to Africa, we had many questions, but everything was handled with professionalism and care. The entire trip was seamless, and every part of the itinerary worked flawlessly. It was an unforgettable adventure, and we couldn’t have asked for a better tour operator. Thank you, Emanuel and Crater Explorer—highly recommended!
DE
Email Paulina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Experience ever !
Our first trip to Africa exceeded every expectation we had. We were a little nervous before the trip, but Emanuel took care of absolutely everything, and every detail was perfectly organized from start to finish. Everything ran even better than we could have imagined. As they say in Tanzania, Hakuna Matata! Thank you, Emanuel, for making this such an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend Crater Explorer to anyone planning a safari.
The operator was very kind!
This was my first safari, and it turned out to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life! We saw so many amazing animals during the four days, including the Big Five up close.
A special thanks to our guide, Bato, whose knowledge and efforts made this trip truly incredible. Every day was exciting, and we created memories that we will cherish forever.
The food was also delicious every day, and all of the staff and operators were kind, professional, and very helpful. They even assisted us when we had trouble with transportation after the safari.
There are many safari companies to choose from, but I am so happy that I chose this one. I would highly recommend this company to my friends and family. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!
ありがとうございました！
Email Jacob | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Safari + Kili Experience
Found the provider randomly on Safari bookings and had a great time!
Was able to see the big 5 + a variety of rare birds.
One of the things I appreciated was the ability to customize lodgings based on desired level of spend - I opted to camp in the wild two of the nights, but upgraded to a lodge the other two, which I thought was a good balance.
My guide was very knowledgeable, and he tailored our sightings based on the group’s bird interest, which I thought was a nice touch.
Emmanuel runs the company - it’s a family-run Tanzanian-owned business, so you don’t see the same mark ups you might from Western tour providers. Additionally, he acts essentially as a personal concierge upon arrival - shuttles you around.
He also arranged a Kilimanjaro trek for me, which was great. I was in a private group on a 7 day Lemosho route trip. It was nice having continuity between both experiences. Kilimanjaro is definitely not for the faint of heart - I struggled with the conditions, but the porters and guide did everything they could to help me summit (including carry my day pack) and ultimately I made it. Relative to some of the bigger brand names you’ll see out there (Altezza, Climb Kili) - honestly I felt like I got a pretty similar experience. I didn’t have a large group of fellow western tourists, but I got more personal time with my guide, Mike - and felt like I learned a lot more about the culture.
Overall a great option for Safari / Kili.
IL
Email Elliot | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Emmanuel is the best there is. Takes care of the whole trip and gives an unforgettable experience!
Crater Explorers is a special company and we highly recommend it. We were a family of five coming to Tanzania for our first Safari. Emmanuel Julius catered the tour to our needs and what we were looking for and provided the best service in all ways. Charles, our guide, was the best we could ask for. He knew how to navigate the safari and find the most special wildlife, from lions to cheetahs and rhinos. He is extremely knowledgeable and patient and a great driver. Emmanuel was available throughout, taking care of the logistics, hotels, planning and adapting and making sure we got the most out of our three day safari. We highly recommend Emmanuel and Crater Explorers.
IL
Email Naomi | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari extraodinaire!
Emmanuel created an amazing itinerary. After meeting in person, he tweaked it on the fly, making it even better! Charles, our driver, was fantastic -- he was super knowledgeable, and knew the parks inside out, able to show us just about every animal there was to see on safari. This was an experience I will never forget. Everyone should go on safari with Crater Explorer -- and ask for Charles to be their driver!
Email Maayan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Customized Experience with a Personal Touch
Emmanuel Julius created a personalized safari experience for my family with under two weeks’ notice, packing everything possible into our timeframe while accommodating our needs and preferences. He offered tours at every price point and helped us settle on the right one for us. Our guide Charles led us through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater with amazing talent and shared incredible knowledge, navigating us to all of the animals we had hoped to see and giving us a front seat to the great migration. Emmanuel also connected us to guides in Zanzibar before our safari, which was extremely helpful, and he continued to be available to make changes and show up in person to our hotels throughout our trip. If we are ever lucky enough to take another safari, we know where to go!
