Serengeti Smile Team
Serengeti Smile
- Office In:
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 2020)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Tourist Board & AMREF FLYING DOCTORS INSURANCE
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $160 to $1,200 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
PH
Email Meters | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari Experience from Start to Finish
Our safari with Serengeti Smile Tours was an experience from start to finish. The lodges were fit for purpose, and since the tour was fully onboarded, we never had to worry about getting hungry during the trip.
We saw so many animals, and our tour guide, Hussein, was excellent at spotting them. He was also knowledgeable and shared interesting local information along the way, which made the experience even better.
Thankfully, our safari vehicle did not break down at any point, so everything went smoothly. The locations of the lodges were also great and definitely worth staying at while exploring the Serengeti.
Overall, a memorable safari experience and one I would recommend to others visiting Tanzania.
ES
Email Jose | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari Ok but itinerary was not fully followed
Overall the safari itself and the guide were good, but in the 5 days safari itinerary it was mentioned 2 days in northern Serengeti, including lunch there. But in the middle of the safari they communicated to me that it was not possible. So I had to deal with them for a fix while trying to enjoy the safari, which is the last thing you want to do. I read similar comments on the reviews. At the end we managed to make changes waking up at 5AM and rushing it. I just recommend to ask for specific times and locations, so you don't have to deal with it on the road. The safari itself was great since I saw most of the things I wanted to see.
AE
Email Mohamed | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Service, Thoughtful Planning and an Unforgettable Safari Experience
We had a wonderful experience with Serengeti Smile, from our arrival in Arusha through our visit to Ngorongoro Crater and onward journey to Moshi.
Mr. Fredrick, our tour coordinator, was professional, patient, and extremely helpful throughout the entire process. He responded promptly to our many questions, clearly explained the itinerary and costs, and remained flexible whenever we requested adjustments. His careful coordination gave us confidence before and during the trip.
The safari itself was unforgettable. The arrangements were well organized, the vehicle was comfortable, and our guide, Mr. Zakaria (Zak), was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. We especially appreciated that the pace of the trip was comfortable for us and that our guide helped make the journey both enjoyable and relaxing.
The Ngorongoro Crater experience was truly spectacular, with beautiful scenery and excellent wildlife viewing. We also appreciated the smooth transfers between Arusha, Ngorongoro and Moshi, as well as the approval of our request to modify the itinerary for the final day to include a visit to the Sarval Wildlife Reserve, instead of the waterfall and coffee plantations, at a reasonable cost.
Overall, Serengeti Smile provided reliable service, good value for money, and genuine personal attention.
Our special thanks to Mr. Fredrick for his patience, professionalism, and dedication, and to our drivers/guides, Mr. Zakaria, Mr. Wisdom, Mr. Oswald, and Mr. Ombeni, for making the safari so memorable. We would happily recommend Serengeti Smile to anyone planning a safari in Tanzania.
PT
Email Bea | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Overall it was fine
The safari itself went smoothly, we saw all the animals we wanted to see, the driver Goeffrey did the best he could with the program he was given. We agreed on a 5 day-safari that included Northern Serengeti and that was way too rushed.
We felt that the office should have advised us to do it differently, as the distance and road conditions are not suitable for such a short time. We saw the migration but not the river crossing as there was no time for it.
Also they changed our first hotel which was nice but way out of town, and they should have communicated the change with us beforehand. There’s room for improvement on the operation side of things.
Accommodations with Classic View chain was excellent.
IE
Email John Colclough | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very professional
Very professional from the booking stage through to the guides and safari
CO
Email Doranyela | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very comprehensive tour with several days of safaris
Excellent service, fantastic days with wonderful and friendly people. The guide spoke Spanish, and our driver, John, was always very attentive and willing to take us to amazing places to ensure we saw animals. We even managed to see the Big Five! Thank you, excellent service.
(automatic translation from Spanish)
BE
Email Anaïs El Mrini | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible ! I have no words
Our experience with Serengeti Smile was absolutely incredible! We were lucky enough to see the Big Five while always observing the animals with respect and care.
This experience would not have been the same without Champion and Nickson, who were absolutely amazing. They welcomed us as if we were part of their family. Over the three days, we shared so many moments of laughter and joy and created unforgettable memories together.
If you are hesitating about booking your safari with Serengeti Smile, don’t hesitate any longer — you won’t regret it!
A special thank you to Jeremiah, who was in contact with me throughout the organisation of our safari and made everything so easy. Thank you to the entire team for your kindness, availability, professionalism, and positive energy.
This experience truly would not have been the same without you. Thank you for making our safari so special and unforgettable! ❤️
Email Umesh P | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well-organized and personalized safari experience, with an excellent guide and attention
We had an exceptional safari experience with Serengeti Smile, and we would especially like to recognize Godian for his excellent communication and organization during the planning of our trip, and Domi, who was our main guide for most of the safari and played a huge role in making the experience so memorable.
From the very beginning, Godian was responsive, flexible, and willing to work with us to create an itinerary around what we really wanted to experience. He helped us arrange the accommodations, transportation, itinerary changes, dietary requirements, and other details. He also made sure our anniversary was recognized at the lodges, including cake and wine, which was a very thoughtful touch.
The biggest credit goes to Domi, who was with us for most of the safari. He made every effort to understand what we wanted to see and then worked tirelessly to make it happen. We wanted to see the Big Five, cheetahs, leopards, lions, and as much wildlife as possible, and Domi consistently went the extra mile to find them.
He didn't simply follow a fixed route. He communicated with other guides, followed animal movements, and adjusted our game drives based on what was happening in the park. He made every effort to get us as close as possible to the animals while maintaining safety and respecting the wildlife, which gave us some incredible viewing and photography opportunities.
One of the major highlights was experiencing the Great Migration and the Mara River crossing. Domi put considerable effort into finding the best opportunities for us, and we were fortunate to experience the migration, see crocodile activity and hunting, and witness the incredible wildlife around the river. These were experiences we will remember for a long time.
Domi was particularly good at finding animals that could easily have been missed. Whether it was a leopard hidden in the trees, cheetahs in the distance, lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, or other wildlife, he was patient and persistent. When we told him what we hoped to see, he remembered it and continued looking for those opportunities throughout the safari.
We also appreciated how well Serengeti Smile handled our personal requirements. Our dietary needs were communicated to the lodges and accommodated, and the team made sure the accommodations met our expectations. The anniversary arrangements with cake and wine at the lodges added a personal touch that made the trip even more special.
We also want to acknowledge Stanley, who guided us for part of the safari and continued the same level of effort and professionalism. Having knowledgeable guides who were focused on our experience made a significant difference.
Overall, what impressed us most about Serengeti Smile was that this did not feel like a standard safari where you simply follow an itinerary. Godian listened to what we wanted during the planning, and Domi turned those wishes into reality on the ground.
One issue we did encounter was a problem with the air conditioning in our vehicle, which was uncomfortable during some of the drives. We brought it to the team's attention, and Serengeti Smile responded by arranging a change of vehicle and guide to resolve the problem. We appreciated their willingness to address the issue rather than letting it affect the rest of our safari.
One more area that could have been handled better was the additional fuel surcharge requested after our safari had already been booked. We were asked to pay an additional amount. We would have preferred clearer communication about the possibility of such surcharges at the time of booking.
A special thank you to Godian for the excellent planning and communication, Domi for his dedication, knowledge, patience, and determination, and Stanley for his contribution during his time with us.
We highly recommend Serengeti Smile to anyone planning a Tanzania safari. If seeing specific wildlife and having a personalized experience are important to you, we found them to be an operator that genuinely listens and makes every effort to deliver what you came for.
IT
Email Stefano | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Meticulous and very professional
We had an amazing 5 days private luxury safari. We truly lived the dream of a lifetime and Serengeti Smile has provided an amazing service, fulfilling all of our needs and answering all of our questions before the arrival to Tanzania. The tour was very well organized, everything from game drives to accommodations was nothing but excellent. A special mention needs to go to our tour guide Nicholas, a truly amazing professional, full of enthusiasm, knowledge, passion and also discretion. We were really blessed to share this trip with him and would recommend him to every other customer.
Email Tahir | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They were simply brilliant, I would book again with them.
Had a wonderful experience thanks to Serengeti Smile. Eliad handled my booking brilliantly, guiding me each step of the way. His communication was prompt and very helpful. I had trouble with my Tanzania visa, they were not responding to me with the approval, he even managed to sort that.
Whenever I made payments he ensured I had peace of mind by sending confirmations right away, payments were quick and easy using the Wise App.
My guide was Hussein, he is the reason my experience was brilliant. A good, honest man with so much experience and great driving skills. He ensured i was able to witness all the animals from as close up as possible and even spent from his own pocket to buy snacks and soft drinks for the drive.
All in all a great experience, I will recommend Serengeti Smile to others for sure and definitely recommend you ask for Eliad when booking and Hussein as your guide.