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
PT
Email Francisco | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Welcoming, hardworking and helpful
Our safari in Tanzania was an absolute dream from start to finish! Everything went perfectly throughout the entire trip. We visited Lake Manyara, Tarangire, and the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, and each park offered something unique and spectacular.
A special mention to our guide, Samuel, who was top-notch from start to finish—attentive, professional, and knowledgeable. The ultimate highlight was managing to spot all of the Big 5! From the iconic elephant herds in Tarangire to seeing lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes in their natural habitat, every single moment was unbelievable. The organization was seamless, and the whole experience exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended!
Email Stevie T | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent
From the moment we landed in Kilimanjaro the service was excellent, friendly and professional.
Having never done a holiday like this before we were a little wary of what it would be like but the driver who picked us up from the airport was very helpful and then the next morning when we met our tour guide (champion) the service continued.
We were with him for 4 days and covered a day in tarangirie, 2 in the Serengeti and one in the Ngorongoro crater.
Each day was unbelievable and champion’s knowledge and experience made the days something that we’ll remember forever.
NL
Email Ana | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing week long safari with Serengeti Smile
We did a week-long safari to Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Central + Northern Serengeti. We had an amazing time, not only because the nature and wildlife we saw were epic, but also because everything was well organized and ran smoothly. Our accommodations and transportation were great from start to finish.
It was our first time on safari, and Piniel helped us customize our itinerary to match our interests (elephants are my favorite, so we spent an extra night and day in Tarangire), timelines, and budget. Our guide was an excellent driver, especially on the rough Serengeti terrain, and had years of knowledge and experience to share with us, especially when it came to spotting big cats.
Overall, Piniel was friendly, responsive, and made sure that everything was well arranged and ran smoothly. Even with a few minor hiccups, he made sure that everything was sorted before we arrived to the next stop. Thanks again for your hard work, we really enjoyed doing our safari with you!
CO
Email Margarita Gómez | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kindnes
It was a spectacular experience. Our guide, a very kind, patient, and accommodating man, was a tireless worker. He always had a smile and the best attitude at all times. The hotels and their staff were very friendly. The safari itself is a unique and unforgettable experience.
CH
Email Jan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well-organized and safe Mount Meru trekking
We are a couple from Switzerland and did a 4-day Mount Meru tour with Serengeti Smile in early October. Everything went smoothly and was well organized, and we felt safe at all times. The whole team was very friendly and helpful. Communication could have been a bit more proactive, as we sometimes had to ask for information. Overall, a great experience. Thank you!
CN
Email yikang zhou | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
very successful safari with reasonable prices
we saw big five and ugly five，cheetah hunting which is very rare to see，and wildebeest migration and so on. our guide names Goodluck，very experienced guide. strong recommend
AE
Email Amogh | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing experience
We had a truly wonderful experience with Serengeti Smiles. Our contact Baraka helped plan our itinerary, accommodated multiple dietary restrictions and special requests and had detailed responses to all our queries. At Arusha, one of us left our passport late night at the airport, but this was very effectively handled by Baraka and our driver Joel. Our safari guide Charles handled all aspects of the experience with expertise and patience, answering our queries with detailed answers, picking great spots to drive to and showing us a lovely time at Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro, where we were fortunate to see the big 5, among many others. He also calmly handled several obstacles including flat tires in the middle of the safari. Overall we are highly satisfied and would recommend this experience to everyone, especially at this price point
Serengeti Smile: Excellent guide Domician Panga and an unforgettable Great Migration crossing
We explored the Northern Circuit including Ngorongoro and Serengeti on this safari booked through Serengeti Smile, and were lucky enough to witness the Great Migration crossing. It was a powerful, authentic wilderness experience, and overall highly recommended. Breakdown below:
Guide: Domician Panga (the highlight of our whole trip)
Our guide Domician Panga is extremely professional. He knows the terrain and animal patterns across Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater very well, with an incredible eye for spotting hidden leopards, lions and cheetahs from far away. He helped us check off the Big Five and capture amazing moments of the Great Migration crossing.
He has solid knowledge of animal behaviour, birds, local Maasai culture and conservation rules. His explanations were thorough, and he always gave us plenty of time for observation and photography. He drives smoothly and respects wildlife; he never off-roads or gets too close to disturb the animals.
Minor downsides: his knowledge on specialised bird species is somewhat limited. He focuses heavily on his work rather than constant casual chatting during drives, so he is not the type to keep the mood lively nonstop.
Itinerary
The route planned by Serengeti Smile was well thought out. It prioritised morning and late afternoon golden game-drive hours, avoiding the midday heat. Transfers between conservation areas were optimised with no unnecessary detours. The schedule was flexible — we could extend our stay whenever we encountered remarkable wildlife sightings, instead of rigidly sticking to a checklist.
The trade-off: some stretches involve long drives on bumpy dirt roads, which can be tiring. On travel days between camps, game-drive time gets reduced. Still, this is the price to pay for venturing deep into untouched wilderness and getting the chance to see the crossing, bringing us much closer to nature.
Lodges & Camp Service
All camps arranged by Serengeti Smile were beautifully located inside or on the edge of protected areas, with stunning sunset views right at our doorstep. The tented rooms were clean, with reliable hot water, electricity and comfortable bedding. Camp staff were friendly and responsive to requests. Meals were varied, mixing Western and local Tanzanian flavours.
Small caveat: safari camps are wilderness accommodation and cannot match city 5-star hotels. A few camps had more mosquitoes at night and some older shared facilities. That said, this rustic setting is exactly what lets us immerse ourselves in the natural world.
Price & Value for Money
We compared proposals from four different tour operators before booking with Serengeti Smile. Tanzanian safaris carry high fixed costs, including steep park entry fees, fuel, camp lodging and guide services. Our quotation was fully transparent with no hidden charges, everything listed upfront.
Considering Domician Panga’s expertise, vehicle condition, camp locations, plus our successful sightings of the Big Five and the Great Migration crossing, Serengeti Smile offered the best value among the four we evaluated. Budget travellers can opt for basic camping, but if you prioritise a reliable guide and stable logistics, this package delivers great value.
Summary
Domician Panga deserves a strong recommendation — he single-handedly elevated our safari experience with Serengeti Smile. The itinerary is well structured and the camps are pleasant. Bumpy roads and rustic camp facilities are inherent compromises, yet they grant the true immersion into African wilderness, culminating in the breathtaking river crossing. This is a high-quality wildlife trip, recommended for travellers who want to see the Big Five and crave genuine raw nature.
CN
Email CHENYINAN | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Guide，helping us to find bi/ugly/beautiful five!
We had an absolutely incredible Safari with [GOODLUCK]. From the very first day, his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm made this trip unforgettable.
He has an amazing ability to spot animals from far away — lions, leopards, elephants, you name it. He explained animal behaviors in a way that was both informative and entertaining, and his driving on the rough Serengeti roads was smooth and safe. He also went out of his way to accommodate our requests and made sure we got the best photo opportunities.
If you are planning a Safari in Tanzania, we highly recommend [GOODLUCK]. You won't regret it!
CN
Email Shuaiyu Zhou | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
very nice
Our guide（GOODLUCK） is very reliable. The accommodation is comfortable, and he spots animals with great accuracy. It’s been an amazing experience.
