abhimanyur215
26 Jun 2025
Booking our 5-day, 4-night Tanzania safari with Suricata Safaris through TripAdvisor a couple of months back was unbelievably easy. Seriously, within a day of hitting "confirm," a super helpful person from Suricata got in touch to double-check everything. That speedy response really set the tone for the whole adventure: everything ran like clockwork, totally dependable, and top-notch from beginning to end. We even asked them to arrange a hot air balloon ride over Central Serengeti with Nyssa Balloon Safaris, and they handled every little detail. We didn't have to lift a finger or chase anyone down.
The minute we touched down in Arusha, John from Suricata was right there to greet us. He gave us a thorough rundown of our entire itinerary, including where we'd be staying and what we'd be eating, right down to the tiny particulars. He patiently answered every single question we threw his way. Meeting him instantly melted away any travel jitters we might have had.
Our very first game drive in Tarangire National Park was absolutely breathtaking. We watched colossal elephants munching happily under massive baobab trees, and we saw so many different kinds of birds, it was incredible. Lunch was this amazing Ethiopian-style pilaf and chicken, all wonderfully prepared by Tito, who was the chef. It felt like we were having a fancy meal right out in the middle of nowhere. As we drove towards the Twiga campsite that evening, we stumbled upon an enormous African bull elephant. It was so much bigger than any elephant we'd ever seen before, even those in Amboseli, Kenya.
The Twiga campsite, which felt more like a safe, well-equipped compound than a bare-bones camping spot, had fantastic amenities. We had refreshing hot and cold showers, really cozy mattresses, sleeping bags, excellent security, and sturdy tent walls. Just a friendly tip: remember to pack a rechargeable lamp with a hook for nighttime.
Day two took us to Lake Manyara National Park. We saw more elephants, graceful waterbucks, quick impalas, and enormous groups of baboons. We even had an incredibly close encounter with a lioness that definitely got our hearts racing! For lunch, we had spaghetti, which was exactly what we needed after all the excitement of the morning. We then headed back to Twiga for another restful night under the vast African sky.
Bright and early on day three, we drove through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a place where the Maasai people live alongside wild animals, on our journey to Serengeti National Park. The Maasai lands were truly stunning, with countless gazelles, zebras, and Maasai giraffes peacefully munching on the rolling plains. Once we entered the Serengeti, it was pure enchantment around every corner. We got up-close views of cheetahs streaking across the savanna, lions (including playful cubs), and a leopard perched high in a tree, enjoying its recent catch. And that's not even mentioning the elephants, hippos, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, and hyenas we encountered. That night, we bunked down at Dik-dik Campsite, which is located near Seronera.
Dik-dik Campsite truly immerses you in the Serengeti; it's rugged and puts you right in the heart of the wild. There wasn't any hot water and there are no charging facilities for devices. Make sure you bring a power bank, a hanging lamp, and your own toilet paper. Despite those little inconveniences, drifting off to sleep with the calls of hyenas and warthogs echoing around us was an experience unlike anything else.
Before the sun came up on day four, we were picked up at 5:20 AM for our Nyssa Balloon Safari ride. Even though the big migration had moved west by June 25th, the balloon ride was absolutely amazing. We had incredibly strong coffee before the flight (a lifesaver!), a very thorough safety talk from Captain David, and then an hour soaring above giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests peacefully grazing below. We finished it all off with champagne and a delicious omelette buffet right out in the wilderness. Nyssa really nailed it, from picking us up right on time to making a perfectly smooth landing.
After the balloon safari, we rejoined Suricata's group for lunch (more fantastic pasta!). Then, we drove to Simba Campsite, which is perched right on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater. This place was camping paradise: hot showers, places to charge our gadgets, and an absolutely unbelievable vista overlooking the crater. It felt wonderfully wild, yet also incredibly comfortable. During the night, we could hear monkeys scampering on our tent, and other travelers nearby mentioned seeing zebras and even a water buffalo wandering around the grounds.
Our final day brought us down into the Ngorongoro Crater itself. We saw enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra munching on the grasslands and watched flocks of flamingos on the volcanic lakes. It genuinely felt like stepping into a vibrant, living painting. And to top off our animal encounters, we finally completed our "Big Five" checklist by spotting two black rhinos in the distance. Lunch was more scrumptious pilaf and chicken, followed by our drive back to Arusha.
But the real star throughout our adventures in all these parks was Edgar, our driver-guide. He had an uncanny knack for getting us ahead of the crowds and seemed to know exactly where to find all the animals. His understanding of animal behaviors, their natural surroundings, and the best angles for taking pictures was truly next-level. He genuinely made every single moment smoother, more meaningful, and far more memorable.
When we planned this trip, we honestly figured five days would be plenty, but by day two in the Serengeti, we realized we should have opted for the 6-day version. For an extra $500, that additional day out there would have been truly invaluable. You're definitely going to wish for more time in the Serengeti.
Every single detail, from the easy online booking, the quick confirmations, and the perfectly coordinated balloon safari to the expert guides, delicious food, comfortable camps, and incredible animal encounters, made this trip absolutely unforgettable.
If you're looking for a genuine, stress-free, and truly unforgettable taste of Tanzania, I wholeheartedly recommend Suricata Safaris' 5-day journey. Just do yourself one kindness: spring for the 6-day upgrade, especially if you're as crazy about wildlife as I am.