IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
David & Suzzy - Incredible Duo
Thank you Suzzy and David for the 7 days safari in Kenya.
Thank you for the prompt email replies Suzzy (plus safari merchandise at the airport) and for David taking us on safari on four different parks and seeing the Big 5 of Kenya.
We highly recommend Epic Star Holidays. With Suzzy and David you have the best combination.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Quick to respond and easy to work with
It was such a pleasure working with this company for excursions to do on our Africa trip this summer. They were professional and responsive. They made booking easy and everything worked without any complications. We would definitely use this company for future travel plans.
US
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!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unforgettable family safari at Mikumi — great service, stunning wildlife, lasting memories.
Unforgettable family safari at Mikumi — great service, stunning wildlife, lasting memories.
The team was so easy to communicate with, everything was well organized, reliable, and truly worth the value. The tour itself was smooth and exceeded our expectations as a family.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
With all the tour companies to choose from, I took a chance and, boy did it pay off!
I chose the mid-luxury option for our 6 day safari, our expert was Lightness and our guide was Boni.
Lightness was super helpful throughout my communication with her. Giving me honest feedback as to what was worth exploring and helping to map out our itinerary and budget! Our flight was looong, Lightness helped me decide to take the time to rest an extra day before our 6 day safari started. We stayed 2 nights at the Gran Melia before we began (excellent accommodation). In fact, every one of our accommodations was clean and welcoming with the friendliest people! We loved staying at Acacia Lodge, Dancing Duma and Mara River Camp!
Our guide, Bony, was the best! With 16 years experience- he knew where to go, when to begin each day and had full knowledge of each place we went. Bony took pride in his jeep - it was clean and comfortable. The experience itself was amazing. Bony knew what we were interested in seeing, and spent time teaching us and answering all our questions as well as giving us all the time we needed to take pics. He checked in with us throughout the safari. We saw the Big Five and witnessed the river migration! We felt so lucky, but know it was because of Bony's expertise! I highly recommend Bony- he was personable, knowledgeable and we had lots of laughs! He will be a friend for life! He was friendly, and kind, and helpful to other drivers. At one point, while driving through a village, a young man on his bike swerved and lost some of the fruit he was carrying- Bony did not hesitate to jump out of the jeep to help him gather what he spilled. We witnesssed his kindness over and over! After evaluating several safari companies, i chose Brilliant because of the value and Lightness' responsiveness and helpfulness. I am so glad, I chose Brilliant and I highly recommend this company. At every turn, we felt our comfort and happiness was prioritized.
CH
50-65 years of age
Professional and luxurious way to get to the top — and reasonable too
We climbed Kili with Nafika as a family of five (our 'kids' are 17, 21 and 22) and had a superb experience all the way (even with very cold and cloudy summit). Nafika are highly professional and it was a luxurious experience. Camps were always set up in the best spots, the food was amazing and plentiful and the guides were encouraging, fun and knowledgeable -- and caring/super safe with daily health checks for everyone (oxygen levels, blood pressure etc). I could not recommend them more highly. And they were great value for money.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
overall great organisation of our 8 day safari despite some flaws
Overall, I had a great 8-day safari experience with Active Wonders Safari. Communication before and after the booking was always prompt and effective.
The lodges during our trip ranged from decent to good, and the food was mostly good—sometimes even excellent.
When we booked our safari a few months in advance, our most preferred lodges were already fully booked. So, if you're planning to travel during high season, I recommend booking at least 8 months in advance to have more choices in terms of accommodation and location within the national parks.
Our safari vehicle (a Toyota) was very spacious (we were a group of four), new, and in great condition—no complaints there.
Our guide, Prime, was a very nice guy (though sometimes a bit shy) who clearly knows and respects the rules within the national parks.
This worked very well in the less crowded areas, especially around the Mara River during the annual wildebeest migration. However, since many other guides don't obey the park rules, we occasionally missed out on the best spots or views near the Mara River.
At times, we felt we had to tell Prime where to stop or where to go for the best sightings—something we had expected our experienced guide/driver to manage more proactively.
That said, he still made my trip very enjoyable.
My friends would have also liked some more proactive communication from Prime’s side; especially in terms of information regarding wildlife, geography, NP etc;
I, However, prefer to watch and enjoy the scene, rather than hear too much talking. This is matter of taste.
The Flaws:
Communication and transparency:
When we booked our trip, we specifically requested a particular guide with excellent references. He was already booked on another trip, so we agreed on our second-choice guide—an arrangement Active Wonders confirmed.
However, when I asked for our guide's contact details one day before the trip, we were surprised to receive the contact for someone else—Prime—who ultimately acted as our guide. We were told our originally agreed-upon guide had fallen ill and was therefore unavailable.
This change came as a surprise, and no proactive communication was provided by Active Wonders regarding the switch.
Additionally, our guide didn’t seem to be fully informed about what was included in our package.
Sodas and wine as well as water were promised as part of our tour, and Prime was supposed to purchase them before picking us up in Mwanza. We were only offered water the first 4 days during the Safari. When we raised this issue with Active Wonders Safari, they apologized and promised that Prime would buy them after four days when we reached a larger town outside of Serengeti National Park.
Clearly, the company failed to communicate the package details to our guide before the trip started. No compensation or alternative solution was offered for the first four days.
Overall, I still recommend Active Wonders Safari and would consider traveling with them again—but make sure to clearly communicate your expectations well in advance of the trip.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
African Big Cats Safaris delivered a wonderful, safe, and unforgettable adventure.
We chose African Big Cats Safaris based on a link in The Lonely Planet of trusted safari companies. They arrived on our long list and finally on the short list. We picked them because of the interaction, price and the customisation of the trip. We initially drafted our route (Tarangire – Lake Natron – Serengeti – Ngorongoro – Lake Manyara), and the company helped us fine-tune it. The direct booking process was very good: emails were answered swiftly and clearly, and we even had a helpful video call beforehand.
Our driver was truly outstanding: highly experienced, deeply knowledgeable about flora and fauna, and always prioritised safety. He knew his way around the national parks, handled check-ins smoothly, and gave us useful briefings each day. We appreciated his punctuality, the way he coordinated with other guides to locate interesting animals, and even how the car was cleaned daily despite all the dust. We also liked the thoughtful planning of arrival times—always before 4:30 pm—allowing us to relax and enjoy the scenery before sunset.
Overall, we would rate the company as very good, a 4.5. The only reason we cannot give a full “Excellent” rating is due to a last-minute change in accommodation caused by a mistake on their side. While we had approved the lodges in advance, they had to make a change just days before the trip began, and unfortunately the replacement was a slight downgrade.
This safari was truly “Memories for life.” Despite the minor hiccup, African Big Cats Safaris delivered a wonderful, safe, and unforgettable adventure.
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Smooth!
Did a day hike from Kigali with Muhwezi as our driver and main point of connection. He was incredibly helpful throughout the journey, and I felt safe with him around! On the way back to Rwanda, we took a quick short at his favourite local diner for lunch and to the markets to experience local life. It was a pleasure to be in the company of such a caring presence.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thank you !!
We booked this company for our Akagera Safaris and we all saw big five at a time, We cannot thank you enough you are excellent at the time ! Our Guide Damascene has been amazing and we shall recommend you! Cheers