Tanzania Safari Reviews & Testimonials | Real Guest Stories 2010–2025

Tanzania Safari Reviews & Guest Testimonials – Real Stories from Real Travellers

Nothing tells the story of a Safari Desire trip better than the words of our guests. Below you’ll find hundreds of honest Tanzania safari reviews from families, couples, honeymooners, photographers and solo adventurers who have experienced our private safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs and Zanzibar extensions. From the moment they landed in Arusha to the final farewell on the beach, these are their unfiltered stories – the tears at their first lion sighting, the laughter around the campfire, and the lifelong friendships made with their guides.

We’re incredibly proud to be a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice winner every year since 2022, consistently ranked among the top 10 safari companies in Tanzania. Whether it’s the perfect surprise proposal in the Serengeti, watching a newborn elephant take its first steps in Tarangire, or reaching Uhuru Peak at sunrise, our guests say it better than we ever could.

Scroll down to read the latest reviews, or jump straight to our live Tripadvisor feed below. When you’re ready for your own life-changing adventure, just say the word – we can’t wait to help write your story too.

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 ""
  
 58 Tripadvisor reviews 
 
 Write a review 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Pioneer39248106870 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Highly recommend! We had a fabulous 3 day, 2 night safari that included Tsavo East, the Taita Hills Sanctuary, and a stay at the Salt Lick Safari Lodge. It began with excellent communications and contracting with Lucas—with everything delivered as promised. Our guide Pascal was really exceptional. Despite a delay being able to get off our ship, he was patiently waiting and got us moving immediately. He altered our lunch plan, after asking our thoughts, to let us maximize our safari time and make up for our late start. He’s a very competent driver, experienced guide, and a way cool person to spend time with. He knows the parks, the animals, and coordinates well with other guides. He was committed to having us see all the animals we wanted to see at close range, as well as show us many we have never heard of or seen. We got phenomenal pictures with iPhone cameras—and even better memories. Some of our favorite moments were when we turned everything off and just got to watch and listen. It’s amazing to see a lion, lioness and cubs at close range, be surrounded by zebras, watch giraffes watch an elephant parade, or simply be surprised by yet another creature you never knew existed. The Salt Lick was also a delightful place to spend two nights. It has such unique architecture, a warm lodge and deck environment and it sits in an expansive nature setting. The food and staff are the best. Our stop at the Maasai Village on our return to the ship is the only part we had mixed emotions about. It is that perplexing crossroads between tradition, poverty and tourism. While it touched our hearts to meet the people, particularly the children—and to walk into a mud and dung house—there was much that felt extractive in nature, both demanding and overwhelming. As people around the world seek to maintain their cultures and also adapt and evolve, I find myself wondering how tourism can be part of a larger solution and not part of the problem.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Roshini W 
 
 
 
 Verified 
8 days in Tanzania - Kilamanjaro Mandara Hut, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Ndutu Plains, Serengeti Thank you, Lucas, for a wonderful safari trip. We had an amazing time and everything was perfectly organised. Gabriel was exceptional 👏 He was calm, caring, and an absolute pleasure to travel with. We felt very safe with him, and he did a fantastic job throughout the trip. Thank you for allocating Gabriel to us — it truly made the experience even more special.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 PHALLON G 
 
 
 
 Verified 
#1 Guide Company in Tanzania from Kilimanjaro to Safari and everything in between! If you are looking for a guide company for your Tanzanian adventures, look no further. Safari Desire will coordinate your trip from Kilimanjaro mountain top to the plains of the Serengeti, and everything in between. After much research, we chose Safari Desire. They are locally owned and operated, which was very important to us- many operators are from other countries. We wanted the our money to go into the Tanzanian economy- not elsewhere. In addition, Lucas was very attentive and helpful from booking to planning. Our itinerary was laid out beautifully with full links to the accommodations we would be enjoying. And every time I had a question about gear requirements, Lucas was prompt to supply us feedback, to make our planning and purchasing seamless Safari- Salomon! The guide with Eagle Eyes and has a deep understanding of the behaviors of the all the animals; allowing him to position us to see a plethora of animals, including all of the big 5! He presented us with many surprises including a cheetah and her cubs with fresh prey, to a leopard who drug her prey up into a tree and numerous up-close and personal encounters with lions, giraffes, elephants, zebras, and so much more! If your question is, did you see xxx? The answer is yes! Together with Salomon, we explored Tarangire, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater over a span of 4 days. In addition, we had the opportunity to visit a Maasai Village, where we enjoyed learning about their customs and were treated to a welcoming ceremony and warrior ceremony. Salomon is a wealth of knowledge, and was a pleasure to be with, and become friends with on our safari! We stayed in beautiful resort lodges to amazing boutique tents on the Serengeti- Unbelievable experience. *** On a side note- we visited on Dec 3-Dec 16. These were times where the U.S had travel restrictions on Tanzania. We never experienced any turmoil or unrest and always felt safe on our travels in and out of Moshi, Arusha, the national parks and Kilimanjaro. Our trip was absolutely perfect! Crowd size: 2 Best for all over Tanzanian adventures!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Andrea S 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Wonderful trip It was a great experience. The communication and organization were excellent, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. I would definitely recommend it.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Balogh P 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Unique and authentic I highly recommend the company. I have done the Southern Tanzania Parks and it was a unique and exclusive experience travelling through scenic landscapes. Special thanks to Otto without whom the vast distances could not have been completed!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Linwow 
 
 
 
 Verified 
So Many Animals & So Much More! We just finished our 11-day Tanzania safari and we really want to give a shout out to Yusra and the entire team at Safari Desire. Yusra was a dream to work with helping us craft our perfect Safari. Always responsive and incredibly patient (and kind!) with the many changes we made before finalizing the itinerary. It was one of the highlights of the trip to meet her in person in Arusha. Our guide, Gabriel, was so much more than we imagined. His deep knowledge of the natural world, love for animals (especially the babies!), and teaching us about Tanzanian culture made the Safari truly special. Yet, it was his kind and loving soul that truly inspired us. We loved every minute with him. The lodges and tented camps in Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti were all lovely with great food and big smiles. The hot air balloon at sunrise was spectacular. The four days in Zanzibar were the the perfect ending to a life-altering trip. Thanks to everyone at Safari Desire, we will carry our memories of Tanzania in our hearts for the rest of our lives.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Pierce Rubenstein 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Memories for a Lifetime Based on all the indescribable experiences we had on our 6 day safari with Safari Desire, many would say we were lucky, but we weren't. We didn't have Luck, we had Gabriel. He was the most amazing safari guide we could have asked for. He knows the national parks and the habits of the animals so well that he's able to find secluded spots to witness the most magical moments of life unfold. Despite the many hectic and busy attempts to see a Great Migration Mara River crossings that we heard about from other lodge guests, Gabriel trusted his experience rather than chasing the radio waves to find a river crossing that we witnessed up close and by ourselves. On top of all of this Gabriel was a joy to spend the day and meals with and was always there to help us find or accomplish anything we wanted. As for the tour company, Safari Desire, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. It's a newer and boutique operation, which means Lucas, the owner/operator can provide a hands on and exceptional experience to make sure we customized the perfect trip. All his recommended accommodations, experiences, and routes worked out wonderfully and we're even nicer than the pictures on the tented lodges websites. I'd 100% reach back out for any experience in Tanzania and/or Kenya in the future. The jeep itself was very comfortable and had larger windows than some of the other ones we saw, which was nice for the times we didn't feel like standing to see out the roof. I'd 100% reach back out for any experience in Tanzania and/or Kenya in the future.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Brenda H 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Kenya/Tanzania Safari + Zinzibar We just came back from our Kenya/Tanzania Safari + Zinzibar trip with my family & friends of eight. Our trip was great overall. Saw the Big Five & more. Our tour guides, were great as they were very knowledgeable on the animals on our safari. Would definitely recommend Desire Safari. The only negative was our vehicle on the Kenya side did not have air conditioning but theTanzania side was fine.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Carissa B 
 
 
 
 Verified 
3 Day Safari in Tanzania! We had a fabulous time on safari with Safari Desire! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, fun, and made the entire experience unforgettable. We loved visiting the different national parks and conservation areas, seeing so many animals, and experiencing such wonderful hospitality. We had an amazing time and are so grateful for Safari Desire fort the great experience!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
  
 
 
 Daniel Palacios 
 
 
 
 Verified 
Unforgettable Safari Experience! Our recent safari was spectacular. From start to finish, Lucas and the team ensured our experience was seamless and unforgettable. The lodge facilities were amazing — comfortable, well maintained, and perfectly set in the heart of Serengeti. Our guide named Goodluck, was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating, going above and beyond to make sure we didn’t miss a thing. The abundance of wildlife was breathtaking. Breakfast and dinner were excellent, offering delicious, well-prepared meals in a warm atmosphere. The only area for improvement would be the packed lunches for the game drives; adding small carry-on fridges or offering hot food (as we noticed some other safari companies do) would take the experience to an even higher level.
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 

Tanzania Safari testimonials from clients who have done tours with us at Tanzania Safari Desire, all happy and willing to recommend us to family and friends.

January 2023

John & Elena Hunyara

February 2020:

Mette og Klaus Rasmussen x 05, Denmark

Hi Elvice,

We are now back in Zanzibar. Everything went according to schedule and we had a really good time with Solomon. I can really recommend both him and Tanzania Safari Desire to others.

Thank you for your assistance and an experience of a lifetime.

Best regards

Klaus and Mette

September 2016:

Miriam & MAK GROUP x 09, Hong Kong

Hi Elvice

Hope you are well.

We arrived home safely last Thursday. It was an amazing trip in Tanzania and we all enjoyed. Thanks very much for great arrangement, it was highly appreciated.

Attached with some photos we took with your guys. Have fun

Take care

Best regards

Miriam

April 2012:

Bonnet Family , Nether lands

Hi Elvice,

Sorry for the late reply, back home was really busy.

We arrived safely back home and we really enjoyed the safari.
We had a very good time with our guide Gillard. We learned a lot of
him about Tanzania, about the landscape and the animals. I liked it
that he really loves his country especially this time of the year when
all is green.
We also liked this period to travel, green landscape, temperature not
to hot, lots of animals and the baby animals.
Please send Gillard our best wishes. We made a picture of him with the
kids, we will send you later on because at the moment we have some
troubles with the pictures;-(

It was very relaxed that during the whole trip we didn’t have to worry
about anything. Everything was perfectly arranged from arrival at
Kilimanjaro Airport till departure from Zanzibar airport.
We liked the lodges and hotels. It was a good start at mount meru
lodge, first animals before breakfast!
I think we were very lucky to see a lot of animals and also at the
last day to complete the big five, thanks to Gillard.
It was also good that he advised the village tour (Lake Manyara). It
is good to meet some people and see how they live. We met very
friendly people everywhere.

The trip was also perfect for travelling with kids. There was time to
relax and it was good that we didn’t have to move every day. It was
really good to finish with relaxing some days at Zanzibar. There we
had some time to think about the lot of impressions we had from the
safari.
Also there the accommodation was very good and again we met very nice
and friendly people. We learned also a lot from our guide Abraham the
last two days with the spice tour and the Stone Town tour.

Thanks for organizing everything.
I will recommend your organisation to everyone who wants to. Actually
I already did to a colleague. We were really satisfied!
Also in preparing the trip we were satisfied with the email contact.

I liked Tanzania and I hope we will come back sometime.

Best regards,
Jolanda Bonnet

March 2012

Jambo Elvice,

Just wanted to thank you for making our trip to Tanzania so wonderful. We were so lucky to have Godwin as our driver and tour guide. He was so wonderful and we enjoyed his company throughout the week. Godwin made our safari a trip of a lifetime. He was professional and kind and ensured all of our needs were met. We were lucky to have seen the top five and so much more. I have recommended your company and Godwin to several of our friends.
Again, many thanks to you and Godwin. Tanzania will always be very special to both of us.

Asante sana

Mara and Steven Mara

October 2011:

Alexander Ivanov, St Petersburg, Russia

My friend and I made a seven day safari in Tanzania with Tanzania Safari Desire in October 2011! It was great! We asked in advance to book Elvis for us the hotel in Dar es Salaam and organize all flights to Arusha and Zanzibar. Everything was organized at the highest levels. Ni any claims! On safari special thank you! This is not forgotten. And our guide showed Gilliard all this mastery hunter. We recommend that all use the services of this company.

August 2011:

Donna Thomas & Chris Van t Hoff, Netherlands

Hi Elvice,

Happy to inform you that we are back home safely. We are now back to work :(.

Many thanks for an exceptional safari that you arranged for us.

We had a wonderful safari and Malisa was a great guide.  We really enjoyed our time and were lucky to see all the big 5 plus many more!

We will definitely recommend you to all our friends and family. We also definitely come back for safari again and next time we would like to include Kenya as earlier discussed..remember?

Have a wonderful day and once again thankyou!!!!!!!!

February 2011:

Danny Neil & Shanine, Toronto  Canada

What was a huge gamble to me came out to be the best trip I and my wife have ever made. First of all I should confess that I was a little bit nervous when we had so many bits and details that we wanted looked into before we fly out to Africa. It seemed an impossibility so I had braced myself for anything incase all does not go well, but I was surprised at the end. Everything went so systematically than I never imagined. We arrived in Nairobi and stayed in a hotel that Safari Desire had arranged for us then flew to Kilimanjaro next morning. We had our Kilimanjaro Climbing via Machame route arranged for the next morning so this day we relaxed and the guide came to see that everything is in place. After a wonderful hike up to the summit with our “amazing Ben” (the Cook) and Eliamani the head Guide, we went for a 6 days Safari to the parks in Northern Tanzania then flew to Zanzibar. By the way Sopa Lodge at Ngorongoro was Amazing!. At Zanzibar we stayed at Ocean paradise resort and it was fabulous. The whole crew at Tanzania Safari Desire was so helpful. What surprised me was the coordination and as I flied out of Dar es salaam Airport I promised myself that I will come back to Tanzania one day!