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
Email Vanessa Smith | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent customer service and attention to detail. Would definitely use again
Right from the outset Serengeti Smile have been a pleasure to deal with. Erick looked after all aspects of our holiday and was so helpful answering all our questions as we designed our perfect safari holiday together. Every time we had a new request he responded very quickly.
From the minute we landed everything was taken care of. Our transfers were always on time and very comfortable, big thank you to Oswald who took us around Arusha for a visit.
Our safari guide Daniel was very knowledgeable and we felt well looked after and safe at all times, and we had a lot of fun!
The standard of all accommodations and dining was excellent and service was very good.
One of the highlights for us was the hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti, an amazing experience!
This was a holiday of a lifetime and we are so pleased we chose Serengeti Smile. We would not hesitate to use them again if we are lucky enough to come back to beautiful Tanzania one day! Thank you Erick, Oswald, Daniel and all the team at Serengeti Smile!
HK
Email Tiger | under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Responsive and flexible company with Champion guiding tours full of energy and local insight!!
From the moment we landed at Arusha Airport, our Tanzanian adventure unfolded into something far beyond our expectations—thanks entirely to our phenomenal guide, Champion. Young, energetic, and deeply knowledgeable, Champion transformed every moment into a thrilling discovery. Our journey began with a game drive through Tarangire National Park, where he expertly navigated the terrain and spotted wildlife with uncanny precision. At Neptune Ngorongoro Lodge, we explored the crater’s astonishing density of animals, and Champion’s insights into behavior and conservation made each sighting come alive. We then immersed ourselves in the rich traditions of the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes, a cultural experience that added depth and humanity to our safari.
The Four Seasons Safari Lodge in the Central Serengeti was a luxurious base for witnessing lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and nearly all of the Big Five—Champion always knew exactly where to be and how to position the vehicle for the best view. His passion for wildlife and respect for the environment were truly inspiring. The highlight of our trip came at Aurari Camp in the Northern Serengeti, where we witnessed the Great Migration in all its glory. Incredibly, we saw two massive river crossings within hours on our first day, followed by three more over the next two days. Champion’s professionalism stood out—he parked respectfully away from the ravine, abiding by park rules even when others crowded the edge. Though we were initially frustrated, we quickly realized his approach allowed the wildebeest to cross naturally, giving us an unobstructed and authentic experience.
Throughout the trip, Champion’s warmth, humor, and attentiveness made us feel safe, cared for, and constantly entertained. He was always early, drove with care on every kind of road, and ensured every detail—from delicious lunchboxes to clean picnic spots—was thoughtfully arranged. Saying goodbye in Tanzania was bittersweet; we left with full hearts, unforgettable memories, and immense gratitude for a guide who turned a safari into the journey of a lifetime.
US
Email Alkesh patel | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service and value for money
Driver picked us up on time, stayed in wonderful small town Moshi.
Went to coffee farm how it’s grown and made to final step.
Went to Arusha and started safari trip with the best driver you can have (Libe), very knowledgeable on area, history and animals. We daughters learnt to speak a little Swahili which was great. Every where we went people are always smiling.
We went to Dar-es-salam and finally to amazing beaches on Zanzibar
IE
Email Tom | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari Experience
We had a great safari experience in Tanzania that exceeded our expectations. The Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara were great with some incredible wildlife. Our guide Lucas did an excellent job also. He had a great skill for spotting animals and gave us lots of information about the locations and wildlife, which made the trip very rewarding and interesting. I’d recommend him and Serengeti Smile to anyone interested in taking a safari in Tanzania.
US
Email Janisha | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic, well organized, amazing safari guide!
Traveled to Tanzania with my family to a few areas – we started in Moshi/Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro area, then did a Safari for five days (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater). Our experience was absolutely exceptional. Our trip was well organized and we had a clear itinerary from the start.
Our guides for Mt. Kilimanjaro (we just hiked to the first base camp), were amazing!! We were there with my parents, so they needed to go a little slower and our guides paced us well so that everyone could complete the hike.
Not enough good things can be said about our safari guide, Libe. He was absolutely exceptional, he was extremely friendly, informative, and respectful of the wildlife and land. We learned so much about all of the habits and lifestyles of the wildlife, the land and the local tribes in the area, because of him. We were able to see (from small to big animals) and learn so much! Would highly recommend!
Our tour organizer, Eliad was also great to work with - he helped create a perfect itinerary. He was easy to reach and was extremely communicative, especially if there was anything we wanted to adjust along the way. All of our lodges/ camps were exceptional- very clean, the people were all friendly and the food was delicious! We especially loved Kon Tiki Serengeti camp.
Overall an absolutely unforgettable experience, would definitely use Serengeti smile and Libe as a tour guide if we were to come back in the future!
FR
Email Adrien P. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful
We spent an incredible safari journey of 8 days, beyond all our expectations. Since the first contacts with Erick until the last day with our guide Simon, all the trip and the experience with Serengeti Smile was perfect. Very friendly, clear and reliable on communication, we enjoyed all the time spent in Tanzania. We managed to see the big 5 five, to see so many animals, and so many birds as we are wildlife photography lovers.
We really recommand this company to plan your trip, we can feel the experience they have on safari trips. A very special thanks to Simon, our guide, who turned our travel so special, with so many explanations not only about the wildlife but also about tanzanian culture, geography, geology and also good plans for activities. It will remains in our best memories!
NZ
Email Key Chen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Joseph is great to trip with. He has showed us all we expected in this trip.
Excellent trip. Joseph is very professional. He did all his best to make sure we would be able to see the big five and great migration. Balloon is definitely a must to go.
US
Email Charlotte | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent value!
I have been waiting for this trip my whole life. Serengeti Smile exceeded all of my expectations. They responded promptly to our requests. We had one excellent customer service representative, Eliad, who worked so well we us and our changes. We arrived to be met by THE BEST GUIDE ON THE PLANET, Zack. You MUST ask for him. He found the Big Five for us and many, many other amazing animal encounters. His knowledge of the animals, terrains and country was extensive. And he was an amazing driver-through dust, mud, and fog. We felt so safe with him. We loved all of our accommodations. Glamping is all it is cracked up to be. The Tanzania people really GET hospitality. The staff at each stop were real professionals. So kind and fun. Ultimately the most incredible part of Serengeti Smile is the cost! Never thought I could afford such an incredible experience. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Email Maggie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The secret of an unforgettable Serengeti Safari is our guide Champion
I cannot recommend Serengeti Smile highly enough. Our experience started from the informative suggestion from Erick during booking, tailoring our trip, always responding our questions promptly even during evening and weekend.
Our Serengeti Safari was one of the most incredible experiences of a lifetime. The vast landscapes, golden savannahs, and sheer abundance of wildlife were simply breathtaking. Every game drive felt like stepping into a nature documentary—lions resting under acacia trees, herds of elephants moving gracefully across the plains and river bank, giraffes stretching above the horizon, and endless wildebeest and zebra dotting the land
What made this journey truly exceptional, was our safari guide Champion. His knowledge of the Serengeti was outstanding—not only could he spot animals from incredible distances, but also shared fascinating details about animal behavior, conservation, and the ecosystem that brought every sighting to life. His passion and respect for the wildlife and environment were truly inspiring. Beyond expertise, his warmth and attentiveness made the entire trip comfortable and enjoyable. He was patient, ensuring we had enough time at each sighting, and always made us feel safe and well cared for. His enthusiasm was contagious, and it turned each drive into a thrilling adventure filled with learning and excitement.
If you are considering a safari, contact Serengeti Smile as we had , an experience that will stay with us forever
Email Martin Mouton | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Safari with Serengeti Smile from enquiy to booking and Safari the experience was excellent
We chose to book with Serengeti Smile direct after reading many reviews and talking with Eric (one of the sales team). Our family group had a mix of four, one and no previous Safari experience.
Big 5 was an obvious target, however we also wanted to see Cheetah close up, and the Great Migration at the Mara River. Erick tailored our trip to include specific areas to try to allow us to see our target species.
Covering Tarangire, Central and Northern Srengeti and on the way back Ngorogoro Caldera. Staying an extra night in the North to increase our potential to see a crossing.
Erick responded promptly to questions before during and after booking right up to our travel date and was very informative. On arrival we were met by a transfer driver who took us to our first lodge where we met our guide and relaxed by the pool after long flights and drive on tarmac roads.
The Safari began with Elephants and a very young baby, and Lions with cubs at Tarangire. We moved to Central Serengeti no more tarmac. We saw on the way Cheetah with 4 cubs in the open close up and Lions sleeping with their kill. Northern Serengeti we arrived late afternoon and had our first view of the Wilderbeast gathering on the opposite side of the river. No crossing today or for the last 4 days. Early morning Balloon flight was amazing over the river and the wilderbeast, baby Hippo. We arrived back at Mara river late morning to see a small group gathering at the same spot 6B to 7. We moved from point 7 to 10 which is a long drive winding inland, and arrived to see the Wilderbeast crossing, it was amazing we were so lucky. Overall on the Safari We finished up also seeing Leopard in a tree, Water Buffallo, Lions in a tree 12 Cheetah overall one very close as we drove out from a tented lodge. Giraffes in large groups and to put the icing on the cake a Black Rhino in the distance in the last 10 minutes in Ngorogoro.
A fantastic trip which exceeded our expectations due to our Guide 'Champion' who was young energetic, informative, was able to spot the animals and positioned the vehicle perfectly, to make it a trip of a lifetime.
