Yellowstone Safari Company — Attraction in Bozeman

We did 2 days with Yellowstone Safari, the first being an Animal Safari and the 2nd day was the best of Yellowstone.

Overall, we enjoyed the tour but the first day was a bit of a disappointment and lack of value compared to the second day.

The next day we had a new guide and she informed us that there are no herds of bison in Hayden valley, we were less likely to see bear there and highly unlikely to see goats/shwep. She pointed out the whole reason of waking up early on the animal day this time of year was to go up to Lamar valley. We later got the same info from other guides we met and from concierge at our lodging. Our 2nd day guide apologized that we did not have a good Animal Safari day and said she could change our best of your day to a mix of animal and geothermal and waterfall but we would sacrifice half of the usual best of Yellowstone sites. We were bummed to miss a guided tour of some of sites but liked her idea of getting to see the herds.

True to her word, she drove us up to Lamar Valley and herds of bison and calves were all along the roads and she showed us recent bear sign in the area. We didn’t have time to go farther up north where the sheep/goats were unfortunately because that should have happened on the first day.

Anyway, overall it was a good experience. Our guide on the 2nd day, saved the experience for us by finding the bison herds/babies and just providing a wealth of info and correcting some incorrect info we got from the first guide.

We were disappointed with the fact that we did not get a true animal Safari day because the lack of experience and knowledge of our first guide who had only been guiding for 6 months. Our second guide had been there for 10 years. It made a world of difference but we still paid the same price for the first day even though we were not provided with an expert experience and were misled on where to go. In the end our second guide saved the trip for us and the kids got to see the bison herds. I miss we would not have been misled so we would have had time to go further north to see the bighorn sheep or goats (our second day guide said she rarely fails to find them in that area and apologized for us being misled the first day).

We ended up having to wake up early the day after our tours to squeeze in the highlights we missed because of being misled the first day. I feel like we got 1.5 days worth of tour but paid for 2 days. I am still annoyed with the lack of knowledge of animal location by our first guide. He was so sure there would be the same animal viewing in Hayden valley as Lamar valley in July. We found out this was incorrect by our 2nd guide and pretty much everyone else we spoke with. We were paying for an expert experience but instead got a newbie without the proper knowledge(although he was very nice and knew a lot about bird

Anyway, I would give the first day 3 stars and the second day 5 stars. I am giving 3 stars overall because I feel like we received a poor value. I would have thought we would have been assigned highly experienced guides for both days instead of just one day especially since we were customers doing 2 days. Instead we got a guide in training the first day. I am thankful for our second guide saving the tour for us.

I would not use this company again without confirmation that you are going to get an experienced guide. You need to make...

While I can't speak to the quality of the guides or trips (I imagine they are informative and worthwhile), I will say that as park visitor earlier this spring, I had the unpleasant experience of being yelled at by a gentleman who was assisting with one of these tours. My husband and I have visited the park many times and were with our three kids in Lamar Valley when we spotted a number of cars in pull-outs and alongside the road watching a wolf approximately 100 yards away and retreating. We pulled to the side of the road, admittedly straddling the white line like several cars in front of us, but the traffic was extremely light, unencumbered, and we didn't plan to stay for long. When I decided to get out my camera and tripod for a few quick (although impossible) shots and allow my husband to move the car, an employee with this company (I identified the logo on the van) immediately screamed at me to get back in my car. Knowing I was definitely more than the recommended distance from wildlife, I was confused at his behavior and attempted to ignore him, take a few photos a few feet from my car, and move on. He was nearly a quarter mile up the road when I got out of my car, but he began yelling so loudly and walking so aggressively toward me, that my husband was uncomfortable moving the car and leaving me to take photos. I am not one to be bullied, so I stood my ground. I was not approaching wildlife, was very well outside the recommended viewing distance, and was watching a wolf that was already moving steadily away. When he finally approached, I was told very rudely that his anger was apparently with our parking. I admit that we, along with a bout 5 other vehicles, should driven a little farther to see about another pull-out instead of pulling slightly off the road. Had this employee approached us with any amount of civility, I would have apologized and obliged to move the vehicle right away. If he had real concerns about what I was doing, there was opportunity to act like a considerate adult instead of an entitled bully who started threatening to call park officials. As it was, his behavior put a real damper on our visit and a really bad taste in my mouth. I book tours often in the winter, and I will remember this experience when I consider other companies to support. The employee's behavior and aggressiveness ruined the viewing experience for our family and, I imagine, others. The wolf was quickly out of sight. I understand that these folks come across bad behavior often in the park--I do too-but his behavior was rude and...

Our day with Yellowstone Safari Company was absolutely phenomenal, and our tour guide, Grant, made it an unforgettable adventure! We chose a private tour, and from the moment we met Grant, his infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge of Yellowstone National Park set the tone for an extraordinary experience. Grant’s warmth and friendliness immediately made our family feel comfortable, as if we were exploring the park with a trusted friend. His expertise in Yellowstone’s wildlife and history was truly impressive, and he shared captivating stories about the park’s past and its animals that kept our family enthralled. His ability to weave historical context into every stop brought the park’s legacy to life in a way that was both engaging and inspiring. The wildlife we encountered was nothing short of spectacular! We were incredibly fortunate to see coyotes, wolves, pronghorns, bears, and, of course, the iconic bison. Grant’s deep understanding of the park’s ecosystem ensured we were in the perfect spots to witness these animals in their natural habitat. His insights into their behaviors—whether explaining the pack dynamics of wolves or the grazing patterns of bison—added such richness to the experience, making every sighting even more memorable. What made Grant stand out was his ability to tailor the tour to our family’s interests. He was patient, always ready to answer our questions with thoughtful, detailed responses, and his passion for Yellowstone’s animals and history shone through at every turn. Each stop felt like a new chapter in an epic adventure, and Grant’s storytelling made the day truly special. The private tour was perfectly paced, with comfortable transportation and well-planned stops that allowed our family to soak in Yellowstone’s beauty without ever feeling rushed. Grant’s professionalism and genuine care for our experience made the day seamless and extraordinary. Yellowstone Safari Company delivered an unparalleled experience, and Grant deserves all the credit for making it so remarkable. If you’re looking for a personalized, awe-inspiring tour of Yellowstone’s wildlife and history, book with Yellowstone Safari Company and request Grant as your guide—he’s exceptional! Thank you, Grant, for giving our family a day filled with wonder and memories we’ll...