Hosted Small-Group & Custom Tanzania Safaris

See Tanzania with People Who Know It by Instinct

Instinct Tours creates personal, expertly guided safaris led by Tanzanian naturalists — with small groups, thoughtful planning, and the kind of attentive care that makes a once-in-a-lifetime journey feel possible.

Hosted departures available for travelers who want extra confidence, companionship, and pre-trip guidance.

Plan Your Safari with Confidence

A Tanzania safari is a big journey, and it is normal to have questions. Start below with the topics that matter most — when to go, what is included, how long to stay, what makes Instinct Tours different, and how to shape a safari that fits you.

Start planning your Tanzania Safari

Instinct Tours Toyota Land Cruiser on safari in the Serengeti grasslands

Start with the questions most travelers ask first.

A Tanzania safari is a big journey, and it is normal to have questions. Start with the topics below to compare seasons, understand what is included, think through trip length and extensions, and see what makes Instinct Tours different. When you are ready, our Safari Planner will help us understand who is traveling, when you hope to go, what you most want to experience, and what kind of trip feels right.

Use our Safari Planner to tell us who is traveling, when you want to go, what you hope to see, and what level of trip you have in mind.

The Strongest Review is a Return Trip

Most people imagine an African safari as a once-in-a-lifetime journey. And for many, it is.

But one of the quiet honors of Instinct Tours is how many guests have chosen to return. In just our first few years, we have welcomed travelers back for second, third, and even fourth safaris with Makinda and his team.

That kind of repeat trust is difficult to earn. A safari asks a lot of a traveler: long flights, careful planning, meaningful expense, and confidence in the people guiding you through a very unfamiliar place. When guests choose to return with the same Tanzanian guide and company, we believe it says more than any brochure ever could.

They return for the wildlife, of course. But they also return for the care, judgment, flexibility, honesty, and deep field experience that Makinda brings to every journey.

“Another WOW! for our fourth safari trip with INSTINCT TOURS. We traveled again with its founder, Makinda, and Juma as our guides. Each time we come we feel like we are welcomed back home to this wonderful and beautiful country. Animal sightings are always numerous and more spectacular than the last time. Accommodations are always excellent (very comfortable and safe), and the food offerings are amazing. We couldn’t ask for a better experience in Tanzania, and that is why we keep coming back!”

– Instinct Tours Guest, March 2026

MEET MAKINDA

Travel With One of Tanzania’s Premier Guides

Instinct Tours was founded by Arnold Makinda, known to guests simply as Makinda — a Tanzanian naturalist, senior safari guide, guide trainer, and founder of the Tanzania Tour Guides Association.

For more than 20 years, Makinda has guided travelers through Tanzania’s wild places with patience, insight, and deep respect for the land, wildlife, and people.

Watch Makinda’s welcome message, then explore scenes from the safari experience.

Safari Notes
Field stories, planning insights, wildlife moments, and reflections from Tanzania.

Our Services

Guests photographing wildlife from Instinct Tours safari vehicle in the Serengeti, Tanzania
Wildlife Safaris

Travel in comfort and safety in our specially converted Toyota Landcruisers, designed for an optimal wildlife safari experience

Maasai warriors performing traditional dance in a village, Tanzania cultural safari
Cultural Tourism

We immerse our guests in the heart of Tanzanian culture, Allowing them to discover its rich customs, beliefs, and traditions

Excursions

Enhance your safari experience with curated day trips to Tanzania's cultural, geographic, and archaeological treasures

Traditional wooden dhow sailing at sunset off the coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania
Extensions

Extend your Tanzanian safari with a visit to Zanzibar, the idyllic tropical retreat where adventure meets relaxation

Safari guide Arnold Makinda with camera capturing wildlife photography in the Serengeti, Tanzania
Photography

Our Tanzanian safari guides are specially trained to understand and anticipate the unique needs of photographers

Hippo in foreground with flamingos flying over Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania
Hiking and Trekking

Embark on a thrilling trekking adventure through Tanzania’s diverse landscapes, from ancient extinct volcanoes and lush forests to vast grasslands and the iconic Great Rift Valley.

Behind the Scenes
A view into an Instinct Tours safari experience

What guests are saying ...

EXCELLENT
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5
Based on 27 reviews
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Michael F profile picture
Michael F
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Highly recommend! We had an awesome experience with Instinct Tours on our safari! Our itinerary, accommodations, and service was outstanding at every stage of the trip. Our tour guide, Makinda, had extensive knowledge of the wildlife, geography, and history of Tanzania. I highly recommend using Instinct Tours for the best experience!
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Diane M profile picture
Diane M
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Third trip makes me want to return for a fourth Recently completed my third trip to Tanzania with Arnold Makinda - Instinct Tours. With his guidance I have seen the beginning, middle, and end of the Great Migration in the Serengeti. All 3 safaris were excellent - not only complete with photo opportunities of the amazing animals but also an additional focus on the culture and people of Tanzania including a visit to a Maasai village, coffee farm and an elementary school. The guides share their extensive knowledge of the animals and plants of The Serengeti during the daily game drives. I strongly recommend instinct Tours and Arnold Makinda for anyone considering a Tanzanian safari .
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Stacey W profile picture
Stacey W
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Safari of the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire Park, and the Serengeti Park My husband and I had such an amazing experience in Tanzania because of Instinct Tours. Our visit included exploring Tanzania and meeting the beautiful people there through our guide (who is also the owner), Makinda. His expertise of the history of Tanzania and the parks along with the safari and accommodation package made this a trip of a lifetime for us! Thank you to Instinct Tours, and especially to Philip and Makinda for sharing Tanzania with us!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Rachel F profile picture
Rachel F
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
A Dream Come True! Our experience was truly a dream come true! Your guide/owner of Instinct Tours planned the most incredible experience for our group! Visits to Tarengire National Park, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater as well as cultural experiences such as the Messai Village, coffee plantation tour, and the visit to Unity School in Arusha made our trip exciting, fun, and memorable! Our accommodations at each location were incredible, with each place offering its own unique ambiance! Makinda is not only a knowledge tour guide, but also has vast knowledge of the animals, environment, history, and culture of Tanzania. He is service oriented and works to provide the best possible experience for each member of the group! We cannot say enough about our experience and highly recommend Instinct Tours for the most unforgettable safari experience!
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Jared W profile picture
Jared W
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro — Incredible Value, Excellent Guide! My wife and I booked a 10 day Safari trip with Makinda of Instinct Tours. This trip was an incredible value for the money. We spent 3 days in Tarangire National Park, 4 days on the Serengeti, and 1 Ngorongoro crater, with stops in Karatu and Arusha. Accommodations and food were consistently excellent, but the highlight of our trip was Makinda himself. He was an incredible guide to this amazing country — expert on all the parks, their flora and fauna, guide to the culture and politics, amazing liaison to the hotels and general fixer. I cannot recommend this company enough. Travel with Makinda and Instinct Tours for the “trip of a lifetime”!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Emilio P profile picture
Emilio P
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Our fourth time with INSTINCT TOURS in Tanzania Another WOW! for our fourth safari trip with INSTINCT TOURS. We traveled again with its founder, Makinda, and Juma as our guides. Each time we come we feel like we are welcomed back home to this wonderful and beautiful country. Animal sightings are always numerous and more spectacular than the last time. Accommodations are always excellent (very comfortable and safe), and the food offerings are amazing. We couldn't ask for a better experience in Tanzania, and that is why we keep coming back!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
lori f profile picture
lori f
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Best Tour company in Africa!! A trip of a lifetime!! Highly recommend Instinct Tours for your visit to Africa. Makinda and Juma were our guides and were so accommodating. They set up the entire trip from hotels, tents, tours and shopping. Will being going again in 2027 and using them again!!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
David M profile picture
David M
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Bucket List Trip Wow! Our second trip with Arnold Makinda and Instinct Tours was even better than our first trip in June 2024. We saw 2 leopards on this trip including a fresh kill where the leopard had carried an impala high into an acacia tree. The elephants and giraffes were spectacular along with thousands (yes thousands) of wildebeest and zebras, not to mention so many other antelope species. The cape buffalo were absolutely massive and the 50+ lions we saw were stunning. The accommodations were first class including the tent camp where zebras literally walked right beside our sitting area outside the tent. The food - well let's just say don't expect to lose any weight on this trip. Overall a fantastic experience which should be on everyone's bucket list and there is no better group to go with than Instinct Tours.
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Liz M profile picture
Liz M
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
An Amazing Safari Experience with Instinct Tours We’ve traveled a lot since I retired and my trip to Namibia in 2019 with my brother and niece was my favorite until now. I really wanted my husband to have the safari experience and I thought I knew what to expect – but this trip was way beyond my expectations (and he had a good time too)! So many great things but above all I think Makinda and his team made the difference. They are knowledgeable about the land, the people and most especially the wildlife. They went out of their way to make sure we had an excellent experience. We saw an abundance of wildlife – the big five for starters but a wide variety of birds, reptiles and zebras, giraffe and wildebeest. We visited a Massai village, a family owned coffee plantation and a local school with each visit giving us the opportunity to interact with the tribe, the family and the teachers and students. We felt very welcomed at each of our stops and our accommodations were spacious, clean and comfortable. And if you are a photographer, you will appreciate the time and care they take in positioning (and repositioning) the vehicle so you can get the best shots of the wildlife and terrain.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Michelle V profile picture
Michelle V
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Amazing experience, small group tour beyond expectations Absolutely amazing experience. Instinct Tours strives to give experiences that engage all your senses. Makinda Arnold (guide/owner) exceeded expectations with the planned events and the surprises along the way. You can’t find a better safari experience. I liked the focus on Tanzania instead of seeing multiple countries. Our guide Moses was so knowledgeable about the animals and never rushed us when we wanted just one more shot of a scene. It was billed as a photography tour but you don’t have to be a photographer to be in awe of the animals and people of Tanzania. Several in the group used cell phones for cameras and some chose observation with binoculars. We saw all the Big 5 including a special access to siting the Rhinos that are protected in their natural habitat. We did an early morning drive to see dozens of hippo families trudge to the river and see their interactions. We watched multiple animals arriving and leaving at a watering hole. The places we stayed were great. Food was tasty with lots of options. Maasai village exhibition, family coffee farm, and Unity school visits were amazing. I was blessed to travel with this tour and the new friends I made

Our Partners

Our partnership with these fine businesses helps bring you the very best safari experience.
Clicking below will open a new window where you can learn more about each one.

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