our safari group in ngorongoro crater
Dancing Simba Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Member Of:
- TTB, TANAPA & NCAA
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,200 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Tyler | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Choose another company
The Good: The safaris were incredible. Ngorongoro in particular was amazing. Lots of wildlife. We were worried about traveling during the “off” wet season, but it was amazing. Best safari so far in all of Africa. Keep in mind, the safari host is subcontracted.
The Bad: Communication before and during the tour was abysmal. We had no idea what was going on at any time and David did a poor job of confirming plans. We had to have backup plans upon arrival at the airport because we weren’t even sure if we were going to be picked up due to a lack of communication and confirmation.
The Ugly: Fig Tree Lodge, the Eco Lodge with which Dancing Simba contracts several stays, is pretty terrible. Mama Pia is a delight, but the rest of the staff are rude and it feels like a scam. A dirty one at that. Several of the tours felt the same way, including the coffee tour near Materuni Falls, Mto Wa Mbu, and the Maasai people nearby.
All in all, we made the best of it, but Dancing Simba was absolutely not the catalyst that made this trip amazing. We’ve traveled over 75 countries and have done many safaris and weeklong tours with guides. Highly encourage you to do your homework and book this type of trip with someone else, especially at this cost.
Reply from Dancing Simba Safaris
Posted on Jun 1, 2023Dear Tyler,
Thank you for sharing your feedback about your recent safari experience with us. We appreciate both the positive aspects you mentioned and the areas where we fell short of your expectations. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment caused during your trip.
We are thrilled to hear that you found the safaris to be incredible, with Ngorongoro standing out as an amazing destination with abundant wildlife. It's wonderful to know that despite the concerns about the off-wet season, you had a memorable experience. We take pride in delivering exceptional safari experiences, and your positive comments encourage us to continue providing outstanding adventures.
However, we understand that our communication before and during the tour did not meet your expectations. We apologize for the abysmal communication and lack of confirmation regarding your plans. This is not the level of service we strive to deliver, and we take your feedback seriously. We will review our processes and work on improving our communication channels to ensure that our clients are well-informed and have peace of mind throughout their journey.
Regarding the subcontracted safari host, we acknowledge that there were shortcomings in coordinating and confirming plans, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused. We will address this issue with the subcontracted host to ensure better communication and seamless arrangements for our clients.
We are disappointed to hear about your negative experiences at Fig Tree Lodge and some of the other tours you mentioned. We deeply regret that you encountered rudeness and felt the quality of service did not meet your expectations. We will promptly address this matter with the lodge and the tour providers involved to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future. We appreciate your valuable feedback, as it helps us hold our partners to the highest standards of customer satisfaction.
At Dancing Simba, we strive to be the catalyst that makes our clients' trips amazing, and we regret that we fell short of that goal in your case. We understand your recommendation to do thorough research and consider other options when booking a similar trip, especially considering the cost involved. Your feedback will be taken into account as we continuously work towards improving our services and delivering exceptional experiences to our clients.
Once again, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment you experienced during your safari. We appreciate your honest feedback, and we are committed to learning from this experience and making the necessary improvements to provide a better customer experience in the future.
If there is anything else you would like to share or discuss, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly. We value your business and hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future.
Best regards,
Dancing Simba Safaris
Email Gelagay Ayelet Melesse | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best
The vast plains of Tanzania unfolded before me, teeming with life, as I embarked on an unforgettable journey with Dancing Simba Safaris from June 28th to July 3rd, 2024. My adventure spanned the diverse landscapes of Tarangire National Park, with its towering baobab trees and vast herds of elephants. The serene beauty of Lake Manyara offered a glimpse of playful baboons silhouetted against the setting sun, their chatter echoing through the trees. Long-necked giraffes stretched their elegant forms to feed on leaves high in the canopy. The awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, left me breathless. But it was the majestic Serengeti National Park that truly stole the show. Here, a seemingly endless sea of wildebeest thundered across the vast savanna, punctuated by the calls of gazelles and the watchful gaze of lions. The air vibrated with a symphony of bird calls, and the iconic wildebeest and zebra migrations painted a moving picture across the landscape.
With Dancing Simba's expert guides and comfortable accommodations, our diverse group from all corners of the globe (America, Africa - me from Ethiopia, Europe - Norway, Asia - China, and Australia) had an unforgettable safari experience. The shared thrill of encountering Tanzania's incredible wildlife fostered a sense of camaraderie that transcended cultural differences. Our safari jeep became a microcosm of the world, with six of us sharing stories and laughter. I, from Ethiopia, learned a lot from my fellows, while the thrill of spotting a pride of lions sparked lively discussions with our fellow travelers from Norway, America, and Australia.
A special thanks goes to Mr. David John, who ensured everything was perfectly organized, and to our incredible guide, Mr. Joseph. His knowledge and passion for Tanzanian wildlife made the experience truly unforgettable. He expertly explained the tour and the fascinating species of animals we encountered, bringing the wonders of the African savanna to life. This trip was more than just a good time; it was a transformative experience that deepened my appreciation for nature's wonders. From the vast plains teeming with life to the awe-inspiring heights of Kilimanjaro, where I challenged myself with a one-day hike to Mandara Hut, with a special thanks to my incredible guide who expertly paced me throughout the climb, Tanzania offered an unforgettable adventure.
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Email Pierre et Sarah | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Available, kind, attentive, good value for money.
Available, kind, attentive, good value for money..
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Email Anna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a dream - we will do it again!
Our driver Hamza was really helpful and with a lot of knowledge! It was a pleasure to had him on our side. We felt really welcome and enjoyed the whole trip.
Spotting 4 out of the big five and a lot more animals☺️ Definitely do it again and 100% recommended!
Email Silviya and Alex | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Truly unique and unforgettable safari experience
A friend recommended Dancing Simba Safaris and we couldn’t be happier for choosing them for our first safari! Everything was beyond our expectations!
David, you were fantastic from the beginning accommodating all of our requests and organising the best safari experience we could ask for!
Everything was so smooth and so well organised that we didn’t have to worry about anything!
And to our amazing guide Ali- thank you!! You made our safari even more unforgettable with your patience and knowledge of the areas, local culture and wildlife!
We are so happy that we had the chance to see your beautiful country- it truly is a magical place!
Asante Sana!
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Email Patrícia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best experience ever!!
We booked a 4 day safari and it was amazing!!! It is important to highlight the availability and friendliness of the owner, Mr. David, an excellent professional and concerned about his customers. Like all the collaborators, always available and with a huge smile. A special thank you to our chef Mathew who cooks the best soup ever and another thank you to our exceptional guide Praise, he is the best in Tanzania! We recommend this company, they are the best ones!!
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Email Omar | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best vacation of my life
Dancing with simba safari crew were professional, dependable, friendly, knowledgeable.
My plain was running late, I was very concerned about missing the safari and they wouldn’t be there when I arrived with my son. However they help me to find why my plain was delayed and reassured they will wait for me. Once I arrive to the Serengeti my new friend Grayson was waiting for us with a smile. That made all the difference! My tour guide Grayson was the best! Genuine great person, knowledgeable about the Serengeti and made us feel safe. Along the way we became friends and now he is our brother from another mother! The resorts were excellent, the game drive superb!
At the end the owner came to greet us! Gave us a souvenir, and made us feel like family!
Let me not forget Seleka who I initially interacted to build my package and helped me all the to the end of my trip to ensure everything went well.
Thank you guys
Omar and Omar Jr
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Email Jennifer | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable experience that will stay with forever! Thanks Simba Safaris ☺️
From the very beginning we felt very comfortable on the safari. This is especially thanks to our guide Mali. With a lot of specialist knowledge about the flora and fauna, care for the group and a good sense of where to go, he gave us a unique time all round.
Our food during the safari was also excellent. We have our chef Richard to thank for this, who prepared super delicious, freshly cooked food. Our expectations were absolutely exceeded by the large number of animals we saw👍🏼. On the second day we saw all of the Big 5. Since we also paid attention to the small animals and plants and received a lot of information from Mali about them, the safari was always exciting and never boring.
The group feeling was super familiar. The evenings ended in a convivial atmosphere with a glass of wine, good conversations and playing cards. Here too we would like to highlight the positive fact that our guide also enriched the group in the evening with further interesting information about the country and its people.
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Email Travis | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ali is the best guide anyone could’ve asked for. I rarely give 4 or 5 stars, but Ali gets all 5!
When booking please pick Dancing Simba! My wife and I flew from the states and did a 3 day tour with Dancing Simba. Ali is the most friendly guide you’ll meet. He’s very funny, and personable. If I lived closer, I probably would have a new best friend in Ali. He is a great dude! He’s veteran guide who knows the entire park like the back of his hand, he knows the history of the park, and we got to see some really rare wildlife because he seems to know their behaviors and habits. Ali has been a guide for many years and knows it well. You may be asking yourself why didn’t I give it 5 stars. It had nothing to do with David or Ali. They each earned 5 stars. The campsite was 3-4 stars. We didn’t have hot water the 2nd day, they said they’ll do our laundry for us. They didn’t mention we had to pay extra until we were checking out. 15 usd for 8 articles of clothing. 😑 Also the tents are very close to each other. It’s great to hear lions and hyenas making noises in the evening, but it wasn’t so great hearing all the other couples in the campsite making love. 🙄 We paid for the luxury tour and the luxury tent was right beside the dinner and breakfast hall which means we were the last ones asleep at night and the 1st ones awake. Bring ear plugs or a sound machine. The food at the campsite was some of the best food I have eaten! The chefs were on point, and made a delicious meal! The inside of the tents were comfortable and very clean! I would choose Dancing Simba every time! They are the best.
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Email Tim | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional safari experience
An incredible safari experience from Dancing Simba. I booked this for our honeymoon and got in touch with David who was very communicative and informative without putting any pressure on. David is a super nice guy and very professional right up to the point we met after our safari and would help and assist with anything.
Now to the Safari, we started in Seronera Serengeti and finished in Ngorongoro crater seeing all of the big five. Our driver Lunje was a true pro and worked extremely hard to make sure we saw everything and taking time for photos, he was also very knowledgeable and his driving skills were amazing. The tough and varying terrain, plus the sheer scale of the place takes huge amounts of skill and knowledge, Lunje has it all! I even suggested Lunje be a world rally driver for Tanzania as a second career, he was efficient and we always felt safe. Lunje also took good care of us and his vehicle, always doing checks on the car and keeping it clean, very impressive. David also helped give us a lift to Kilimanjaro after our flights were changed from Arusha going above and beyond! I would thoroughly recommend Dancing Simba safaris for your Safari adventure.
