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 $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
Seamless, caring, and unforgettable safari experience with Serengeti Smile
We booked a 6-day safari with Serengeti Smiles covering Tarangire, Serengeti (Central and North), and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and it was the experience of a lifetime.
Patricia, our tour consultant, was fantastic engaged, responsive, and supportive from start to finish.
On the ground, our safari guide John was beyond exceptional. His knowledge, passion, and sharp eye meant we saw the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard), cheetahs, and so much more. Every day brought unforgettable moments. He also took the time to answer my endless questions, explaining the different animals, birds, and behaviors in detail, which made the experience even more special.
Everything was looked after for us meals, transport (during and to airport), and our incredible accommodations. We felt genuinely cared for throughout, with the team going above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and happy. We also had specific dietary needs, and they accommodated them perfectly without ever making it feel like an inconvenience.
The entire trip ran seamlessly, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice. We highly recommend Serengeti Smiles to anyone looking for an organized, authentic, and truly memorable safari.
Email Luca | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Serengeti Smiles is a must for anyone visiting Tanzania. Perfection beyond words, beyond expectation
My partner and I travelled to Tanzania for the first time. A fantastic tour operator, with our guide John making the experience incredible. His knowledge, wisdom and experience made this tour the best we’ve ever done.
He made sure we were looked after, showed us all the best spots to see each animal and guided us every step of the way. We saw the big five and so many more! We could stop whenever we wanted and John was more than happy to provide any information.
All breakfast, lunch and dinner was sorted and we had some great meals and incredible camp stays. The classic view camp we had hyena sounds at night and Lion roars in the morning - incredible and memorable. We were always made to feel safe and the whole experience is handled for you.
We’d highly recommend Serengeti Smiles and especially John as the guide!
Once in a lifetime trip! Thanks to Pius and Godian
If you’re considering Serengeti Smile, don’t hesitate just book it.
Honestly, the photos don’t do it justice to how amazing it really is.
This was a once in a lifetime experience, and I can’t recommend it enough.
First off, a big shout out to Godian, who planned everything for us. From the very first WhatsApp message, he was super responsive and patient with all our questions.
Booking something like this abroad can feel a bit daunting, but he put us completely at ease. He organised every detail, flights, transfers, activities and it all ran like clockwork.
When we landed, we started off with a hike on Kilimanjaro, which was beautiful and also arranged by Godian. Then the safari began, and that’s when we met Pius, our guide and let me tell you, he made the trip.
His knowledge, patience and pure skill at finding animals is unbelievable. He always seemed to have us in the perfect spot at the right time.
We began in Tarangire National Park, spotting elephants, giraffe, zebra, and even two lionesses, a great warm up for what was ahead.
We moved on to the Serengeti, which was out of this world.
In central Serengeti we saw everything we hoped for and more.
Up north, we took a hot air balloon ride over the Great Migration herds which was unreal.
Later, at the Mara River, we witnessed a wildebeest crossing. Again, thanks to Pius, we had the best view.
Over the days we saw (but not limited to):
- 30+ lions, including 8 males and 4 cubs
- 3 lionesses tracking and hunting a warthog, very rare, and Pius was superb
- leopards, one of which gave us an incredible view
- A cheetah
- Loss of Hyenas including 13 feeding on a zebra for breakfast
- A serval cat (a special sighting and hard to spot, but Pius did!)
- Buffalo, giraffe, elephant, zebra, hippo, vultures, eagles and the list goes on
The whole thing was just sensational.
We then went to the Ngorongoro Crater, which is breathtaking in itself.
There, Pius found us a pride of 10 lionesses wandering about.
For anyone wondering, we didn’t see a rhino but that was our own choice, as we decided to stay with the lions. No regrets!
We also had a brilliant cultural day organised by Godian, visiting the Hadzabe tribe where we went on a hunt and tried out the bow and arrow.
Then visited another tribe where we saw traditional tool making. Really fascinating and a nice change of pace.
Our last stop was Lake Manyara, where we saw loads of baboons and a few elephants.
It was a smaller, calmer day compared to the Serengeti, but a perfect way to wind down and wrap up the safari.
At the end, Pius drove us to the airport for our flight to Zanzibar. Godian had organised the flights and the transfer from Zanzibar airport to our accommodation, which was seamless as always.
Another highlight for us was sitting down to dinner with Pius in the Serengeti.
After the excitement of the day, chatting through everything we’d seen while learning from his incredible knowledge was something special.
To sum it up: Godian and Pius made this the trip of a lifetime. Serengeti Smile is an excellent company that you can trust, they’re professional, friendly, and they genuinely care about making your experience unforgettable as they take pride in showing their native Tanzania. We’ll be recommending them to everyone.
Email Tony | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Unforgettable Safari Adventure in the Serengeti with Serengeti Smile!
We wanted to experience the renowned sun-baked plains of the Serengeti, with sweeping vistas, thriving wildlife, and breath taking sunsets. Serengeti Smile promised an adventure of a lifetime, but the reality was even more extraordinary than our highest expectations.
We selected a private, tailor-made, 8-day, Great Migration Tour Safari, culminating at the Mara River Crossing in the Northern Serengeti. The trip took in Arusha, Tarangire National Park, Central Serengeti, Seronera, Northern Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park. From the moment that we first enquired with Serengeti Smile to the end of our trip everything was fantastic!
The highlight of any safari is, of course, the wildlife, and the Serengeti delivered in abundance. Over the course of several days, we were privileged to witness a dazzling variety of animals in their natural habitats. Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide seemed to have an uncanny instinct for locating even the most elusive creatures, but more about him later.
We counted 48 different animal species that we saw, including the Big-5. Prides of lions lounging after a successful night hunt, their cubs playfully tumbling over each other; leopards and cheetahs lying in the tall grasses, scanning the horizon; herds of elephants lumbering peacefully across the savannah, giraffes grazing elegantly on the acacia trees, and zebras moving in perfect synchrony, their stripes creating mesmerising patterns against the golden landscape. Perhaps the most unforgettable moment was witnessing the Great Migration: thousands upon thousands of wildebeest and zebras, while crocodiles and vultures lay in wait. Hyenas, warthogs, hippos, countless deer and gazelles, birds, etc., etc.
Our lodgings perfectly balanced comfort and authenticity. The tents and lodges were beautifully appointed, blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Waking up to the calls of roaring lions, distant hyenas or the gentle trumpeting of elephants felt magical. The accommodations were both eco-friendly and luxurious, with every detail designed to enhance the sense of immersion without sacrificing comfort. The staff at each camp were equally impressive, greeting us each day with warm smiles and thoughtful gestures that made us feel at home in the heart of the wild. Meals were a delight: fresh, flavourful dishes enjoyed under the starlit sky, with the sounds of the nocturnal bush drifting on the breeze.
One of the highlights of our trip was our driver/guide Godlisten! He was truly outstanding and elevated this safari from remarkable to outstanding with his professionalism and passion for his job, the area, and his country. He shared facts, information about animal behaviour, tribal traditions, and the delicate balance of the ecosystem. His respect for the land and its creatures was evident in every aspect of our journey, from the careful navigation of the trails to the quiet reverence when observing a rare sighting. Every question was met with patience and enthusiasm, and his eagle eyes ensured we missed nothing, no matter how well camouflaged. He was a great guy and if we were to go on another safari we would want him to be our guide.
We cannot recommend Serengeti Smile highly enough. Our safari surpassed every expectation; it was not just a holiday, but an amazing adventure.
Thank you!
US
Email Amanda | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari and Beach Honeymoon Success
We did a 12 night safari and Zanzibar trip to celebrate our honeymoon. Jonyo at Serengeti Smile arranged exactly what was requested and added excursions and corrections prior to confirming the trip to ensure we had the itinerary we wanted. On safari, our guide Dale, was knowledgable, attentive, and kept us safe. He was the best guide and ensured we saw many animals and had close encounters with them as well. In Zanzibar, we added a few excursions including snorkeling, dolphin sightings, spice tour, and a trip to prison island. Our resort in Zanzibar was great for relaxing after the long days at safari. We loved our trip and felt the service of all Serengeti Smile guides and employees was exceptional. If we do return for another safari, I would be confident in using Serengeti Smile again!
US
Email Brittany | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
Tour was really great. They handle everything for you. You just have to show up. They picked us up from our hotel close to the airport and got us back right on time for our return flight. Trip was really great. Our guide Saturo was really great. He made sure we saw all the animals and culture.
CN
Email catherine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
wonderful safari tour company！I will recommend it to everyone
they give us a good experience. no matter the tour line setting or service they absolutely professional Safari master.all of the hotels this time I lived in，I love both～ very cozy and comfortable with 24hours hot water. we took a lot of nice pics.
CN
Email Elena | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very nice person
Patricia is very patient and considerate of us. Our tour guides are also very good, introducing various animals to us and having strong observation skills. All in all, we had an excellent safari trip.
Email Aman | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A once in a lifetime experience
I don't know where to start with this review, right from my very first interaction with Patricia from Serengeti Smile I felt in safe hands. I already had an idea of where I wanted to go within Tanzania, so Patricia was able to plan around my requirements. She was very accomodating, replying very promptly over WhatsApp and having a lot of patience whilst planning the trip.
Payment was made via bank transfer which I was unsure about first but Patricia reassured me and also gave the option of paying via credit card for a small extra fee.
When we landed in Tanzania, the smoothness of the interactions continued, we were picked up by a driver and taken to our accomodation. We flew out to Kogatende the next morning where our Safari adventure began.
This is where James, our incredible Safari guide comes in. He had a very straight forward no nonsense attitude and was always extremely punctual. He knew absolutely every animal or tree we encountered, and I mean EVERY one, and was able to show us in his book which animal it was so we could read further. He answered all of our questions along the way and even taught us some Swahili which came in handy for the rest of our trip!
With his knowledge and experience he gave some advice about potentially tweaking our itinerary and checking out Central Serengeti instead of spending more nights in the North. I was able to speak with Patricia and as always she accomodated and made the arrangement to move some of our nights to another camp. This change proved vital as we were able to see the Great migration in the North, then see more variety of different animals and quantity of lions for example in Central as it is more game rich.
Our final stop was the Ngorongoro Crater, and because of James' suggestion we were able to spend more time in the crater and due to his experience of listening and communicating on the radio we were able to locate and spot not one, not two but five rhinos! This final sighting ticked off all of the big 5 for us, James put in a lot of effort to ensure we saw each of the big 5 and not just once but many times in some cases.
I am extremely grateful to James and Patricia for making our Safari a truly once in a lifetime trip. I would thoroughly recommend Serengeti Smile to anyone looking to experience a Safari. You will be in safe hands.
CA
Email Christina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and well organized
We booked a 13- day trip with Serengeti Smiles, split into a 6-day safari and 7 days in Zanzibar.
The safari was incredible, we visited Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara national parks. We managed to see the big 5, the guide worked hard to ensure we had a wonderful experience. The accomodations in the Serengeti were very nice and comfortable, especially the permanent camps! The food was good, sometimes better than others, but overall we were happy with it.
In Zanzibar we stayed in a total of 3 hotels, first one was Tembo hotel in Stone town, this one was very pretty, however we only had one night so we didn't get to do much at the hotel.
The second was Smiles Beach Hotel, the food here was very good but the beach in Nungwi is extremely busy, you can't sit near the beach without being solicited every few minutes during low tide.
The third hotel was Villa Kiva in Matemwe, our favorite! The beach was a lot calmer, much nicer, the only caveat being that you could see the sunrise and not the sunset. We enjoyed our stay at this boutique hotel very much.
Overall, 10/10 experience!