r/safaris

Looking for recommendations on safari operators in Tanzania!

I've spent countless hours on Safari Bookings & TripAdvisor and I'm SOOO overwhelmed with the thousands of operators out there.

I've read so many reviews, but it's truly been hard to tell if reviews have been coerced, or paid for. And even a lot of the ones that have great reviews, also have horrific reviews regarding things of great concern.

Just wanting real, honest, recommendations. :)

I'm looking at booking a safari in Tanzania as a surprise for my mum's birthday this year - the big 50. Will be, myself, my mum & my sister.

Here's what I'm after:

- We definitely won't mind a shared tour - we would love to meet new people, and also have other people to talk to so we don't drive each other insane. And I know this will help budget wise.

- I'm looking for somewhere locally owned & operated in Tanzania - no big companies owned by someone in the USA or elsewhere.

- Also wanting somewhere ethical - guides, drivers & cooks paid fairly, no risk taking or unethical practices for/during animal sightings, and community support.

- Mid-range budget, with a mix of different accommodations - will be fine camping for a couple of nights, but don't want to go full on budget in a tent the whole time.

- 5 - 7 days covering a classic northern route (Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara)

- Includes cultural experiences

- Good food & ability to accommodate dietary requirements (vegetarian for one of us)

This will be my mum & sisters first trip out of the country, and this will be my first multi-day safari (have done safaris in Sri Lanka & India) so also if anyone has any advice or tips, would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks all in advance!!! 🫶🏻

I am in the early stages of planning our trip for later this year and am ready to book flights. Curious if this itinerary makes sense? I have read that a 5 day safari can be enough and thats fine by me to get a bit more variety and visit Zanzibar and Istanbul since we have a layover there anyway.

Would also love any recommendations on a Tanzania / Zanzibar safari package if anyone has experience with that. Here is my shortlist of local companies I was going to reach out to for quotes:

Serengeti Smile, Safari Soles, African Big Cats Safaris, Daylight Adventures and Safaris

https://preview.redd.it/wbslcs36pq0h1.png?width=650&format=png&auto=webp&s=3cd64c7664f69fdaba55f6af53b4cfedc771a7f5

Hello,

I am currently looking for an affordable safari to Masai Mara from Nairobi, Kenya. The trip will take place in August 2026. On websites, such as safaribookings.com, I see offers for a 3 day (2 nights) safari trips for as low as 310 euro. I am looking at the right date. It also says park fees are included. However, park fees are 200 USD per day from July 2026, so I am wondering if it is some sort of a trick or a scam?

I have looked at other options for around 500 euro, but that also seems unrealistic considering all the fees I see people paying in this sub reddit. Has someone here had similar experience with budget safaris? Do they make you pay the park fees there despite what it says on the website?

Also, is there any other offers you think are better for my case?

Thank you in advance!

We’re finalising our honeymoon trip to Kenya & Zanzibar for this September, and am looking for feedback on our itinerary

It’ll be our first time on safari, so we chose to focus on one location to be able to really immerse ourselves rather than loads of travel time.

Is this the right choice, are we missing out by not seeing more? Is Masai Mara a good choice for that time of year or will it be extremely crowded? We won’t be specifically tracking the great migration or trying to see a river crossing, but obviously it would be great to see some of it.

Any feedback on the lodge and it’s location?

Thanks in advance!

Day 1

- Transfer from Nairobi to Masai Mara by plane, via Wilson airport

- Arrive at Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge at lunchtime. Afternoon game drive (shared) in 4x4.

Days 2-5

- Stay in Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge for 4 nights

- Morning and afternoon game drives

- Including walking safari and hot air balloon safari (timings tbc)

Day 5

- Transfer back to Nairobi by plane

- Stay in Nairobi overnight

- Visit Elephant sanctuary in morning

- Afternoon transfer to airport and fly to Zanzibar

Days 5-10

Stay in Zanzibar

I’m thinking about booking a safari in Tanzania or Tsavo and still trying to make my mind up about the specifics. With a lot of organisers you can choose different categories of camps depending on the price range. For those of you who did it: were the more expensive accommodations worth the price difference?

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking at doing a safari for the first time in august 2027 solo, I've spent hours researching and have recieved multiple quotes.

The best quote I have received is for $8500 usd for the following (private tour, mid range lodges and tented camps):

- 1 night Lake nakuru

- 2 nights massai mara

Long drive to border crossing tanzania

-3 nights north serenghetti for great migration

-1 night Central serenghetti

-1 night ngoronghoro crater

-2 nights tangerine national Park

-1 night arusha

-1 night amboseli national Park

Return to nairobi

I am very excited to relax, take in the wildlife and beauty of the landscapes and hopefully meet people at tented camps, but I am a bit wiery of feeling a bit isolated being solo.

Would love advise on the above itinerary and whether any other travellers would be keen to join maybe?

We have time and are wondering if staying a night and Moshi when we first arrive would be worth it. I almost feel like we would be missing out if we go to Tanzania and don’t see it. We could arrange a short hike or coffee tour? We are also planning on spending two nights in Arusha anyway just to adjust to jet lag. I’d rather have a few nights before going on Safari and enjoy it rather than be eight hours behind the time zone and so jet lagged we can’t function.

Another question, is it worth booking Arusha independently and arranging transport from airport ? It seems the Safari companies count and charge this as nights of Safari, but you’re not actually really doing too much. So I am thinking it would be cheaper to just book on my own. We really just want a few days to relax and let ourselves adjust to the jet lag so that we can properly enjoy the Safari.

Any advice?

3 nights = 4 days, including 2 days of transiting in and out of Serengeti. So essentially, two full days of safari.

This is my third time of safari. First one was in Maasai Mara. Also stayed for 3 nights there with two full days of safari. And honestly, that was already enough for me, granted I went there on November so there was no migration action.

My trip in Serengeti is leaning towards seeing a portion of migratory herds (not necessarily the river crossings).

I already have booked a noncancelable accommodation in Serengeti (for 3 nights) a month after my trip to Maasai Mara and back then I most likely felt that 4 nights in the bush is something I probably would not want. But I know Serengeti is way bigger than the Mara.

Hey everyone!

I wss thinking of doing our honeymoon in Tanzania, a 5 day safari departing from Arusha (going to Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro crater), ans then catch a flight to Zanzibar and enjoy an all inclusive for 7 nights.

Some travel agencies in my home country offer this service, but for the two of us its abour 4k € more expensive than booking on my own.

I was thinking of booking the flights and rhe zanzibar hotel on my own, and then book with a local tour operator for the safari - I really liked a Ozon Light Tours package from safaribookings, has anyone used them, and if so, whats your feedback?

My question is - would it be too risky to book without a travel agency? You don't have the security of paybacks after possible cancellations, and you have to manage most thing yourself. But really i'd just be booking the flights, hotel for zanzibar, and tanzania safari experience. I would need to check about airport transfers and one extra night in Arusha as well, but it seems doable. Also would have to get travel insurance and deal with the visa myself, but it seems like Tanzania is pretty tourist friendly in those matters, at least Africa-wise. And it would be much cheaper, and we would have a private safari, whereas the travel agency its a shared safari with up to 7 people per car.

I've only self organzied trips inside Europe. Do you think this is risky, completely smooth, or somewhere in between?

Thanks!!

I'm starting the process of planning my first safari. I am really open to anything and trying to figure out what is worth it and what isn't. I would potentially be going in November or could push it back to January, maybe even through March. I know this is the off season, that doesn't specifically bother me unless it really wouldn't be worth my time. There is a tour that has a day hike at Mt Kilimanjaro. It goes to the Marangu Gate and back. (I have no desire to completely climb the mountain) But I am also very aware that mountain climbing is not always ethical. That is a big thing for me and do not want to partake if it isn't.
Here is the itinerary I found online:
Days

Main Destination

Day 1November 3, 2026

Tarangire NPBudget camping

Day 2November 4, 2026

Serengeti NPNyani Campsite

Day 3November 5, 2026

Serengeti NPNgorongoro Simba Campsite

Day 4November 6, 2026

Ngorongoro CraterBudget camping

Day 5November 7, 2026

Lake Manyara NPSerengeti Home

Day 6November 8, 2026

Kilimanjaro day hike(No accommodation)

So my questions: 1. Is a day hike to the gate ethical? 2. Is doing this worth it or should I omit it?

I'm not dead set on Tanzania and I am also looking at Kenya. From what I've found, the months I'm looking at going, I should look at these two countries for better weather than others. It's the wild, I know I may not see every animal so I would not be going in with super big expectations of seeing every animal all day. With that being said, would I also be setting myself up for failure by going during those times? And is there a better month between end of November to March better than the others?

Thank you in advance!

Hi there, doing some prelim research for May or June 2027 safari to Tanzania. Trying to balance relaxing pace with seeing the sights. This will be a honeymoon type trip. Thinking of just doing Melia brand, great reviews.

Day 1 - Gran Melia - Land in Arusha, relax from Traveling

Day 2 - Gran Melia - Day trip to Arusha National Park

Day 3 through 6 - Melia Serengeti - Fly from Arusha, relax at hotel. Do a handful of half day game drives and ballon ride

Day 7 and 8 - Melia Ngorogoro - Drive from Serengeti, game drive

Day 9 - Drive back to Arusha

First time Safari. Dream trip in September. Others with experience please provide advice critique the itinerary and suggest alternatives camps. Thank you.

London – Addis Ababa – Kilimanjaro (Arusha Coffee Lodge?) 1 night view of Mount Kilimanjaro
Arusha – Ngorongoro Crater (Nomad Entamanu?) 3 nights Crater safari
Ngorongoro – North Serengeti (Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp) 3 nights immersive camp safari experience
North Serengeti (Namad Lamai Serengeti) 3 nights, balloon flight and safari
North Serengeti – Kilimanjaro – Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Skylight Hotel) 1 night, coffee ceremony (AI says Ethiopian Airline sometimes includes the layover hotel for free?)
Addis Ababa – Cairo (Marriott Mena House) 2 nights, Pyramids and museum
Cairo – London

Hope this is the right place for this. Planning a trip to Botswana from Victoria Falls and my understanding is that a typical itinerary consists of driving from Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park and then continuing to Moremi and Maun using charter flights with "bush pilots". I am skeptical of the safety standards followed by any operators flying small aircrafts. Im used to flying with large commercial airlines so the thought of getting in a small Cessna with no knowledge of saftery standards followed terrifies me. Anybody with experience and knowledge of the region can advise on 1) safety standards in this area and how to vet such operators or 2) alternative routes that dont require flying with small aircrafts. For context I will be entering and exiting the region through international flight into Johhanesburg.

We were supposed to fly out of Kilimanjaro Airport after doing Serengeti and Ngorongoro but due to flight rearrangements, we are forced to either fly out of Nairobi or Dar.

Points for choosing Nairobi

1. We have to obtain e-Visa.

2. Flight going to Nairobi (than Dar) is more expensive.

3. More appealing as daytrip to Nakuru or Amboseli is possible.

4. Consequently, we should spend at least 48 hours here.

Points for choosing Dar

1. No need additional visa.

2. Flight is less expensive.

3. Basically nothing to do?

4. Therefore, literal layover with 1 night acommodation before fly out.

For Kenya/Nairobi, I know we can choose to do land transfer to Amboseli from the Northern Circuit but I honestly do not want to deal with the border crossings and finding tour operators that would sync our itinerary after doing Serengeti and Ngorongoro. I feel the flight to Nairobi is a good break from days of game drives and land transfers (not going for bush planes).

A few years ago we did a safari through Kenya and absolutely loved it, but looking back I think we underestimated how much a really good guide changes the experience.We saw plenty of animals, but there were so many moments where we realized other vehicles seemed to understand behavior, tracking, and timing way better than we did. Meanwhile we were mostly just reacting to sightings. Now we’re thinking about going again, probably to the Maasai Mara National Reserve or Serengeti National Park, but this time with a dedicated guide/private setup instead of a more generic tour.