- Latest Testimonials
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- Testimonials 2019
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- Testimonials 2016
- Testimonials 2015
- Testimonials 2014
- 2013 and earlier
If you wish to contact past SENE clients directly, please contact us to obtain a list of references.
Our clients speak
We had a wonderful safari with our family (kids, parents, grandparents), and are so appreciative of the fantastic work that Summit Expeditions did to make it so memorable. Our... read more guide was incredibly friendly and knowledgable, and the route + lodges/camps they chose for us were all great. Would not hesitate to recommend the Summit team to anybody else!
October 30, 2023
Kilimanjaro Experience - Joel, Manuel, and the Porters made this trip unforgettable! I had a medical emergency on the mountain. Instead of turning around, Joel guided me to the top of the mountain... read more and (Joel and the Porters) down the mountain safely. I'm grateful for the entire experience. This is a great Team, from Felix and the staff at the farm and to every single guy who assisted with the climb, if you decide to visit Tanzania please consider SENE for a top-notch experience. You will not be disappointed!
October 18, 2023
Best Tour Company - I must say the trip far exceeded our expectations. We felt like we were treated like family throughout the duration of the trip, whether it was SENE employees or the... read more genuine hospitality of Tanzanians. The food was always incredible, I cant remember a single meal we didn’t enjoy. Our guides were incredible as well. Gerard made our Safari 10x better than I could have asked for. He is one beautiful human being. His countless laughs and stories really made the safari that much more special. Accommodation was always incredible as well.
Thank you for running such an incredible company and treating your employees so well.
October 15, 2023
Unforgettable! - SENE is a 100% local agency providing an in-depth insight of Tanzania of the highest quality.
Tara tailor-made a perfect planning of our project to discover Tanzania and left... read more no question unanswered. Simon, Gerald, Felix, and many others ensured a fantastic experience out of it. At all times we knew we were in the safe hands of people whom we could - and did - trust.
We had highly interesting conversations with Simon and with Felix about their country, their daily life, their families, their close relationship to the nature; we benefitted from Gerald’s endless experience of the national parks and his impressive knowledge of both fauna and flora. We could alternate seating in the 4x4 with beautiful tours walking. We were virtually spoiled with excellent food and talented cooking, especially both in the Mbahe Farm and during our cycling tour – not an easy job in the rain forest. We could meet many different local people who were always happy to share with us their experiences and point of view.
Back home and rich with these many memories, we wish to express the big “Asante Sana” we feel in the bottom of our hearts for countless unforgettable moments we owe you.
October 10, 2023
Amazing Safari with SENE - We had an amazing safari with SENE. The team went out of its way to ensure the whole experience was kid-friendly, and our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely patient.... read more I 100% recommend!
September 18, 2023
Owned and operated by locals - SENE is locally owned and operated. The owner has hiked Kilimanjaro over 500 times. We were referred to SENE by friends who worked with them to summit Kilimanjaro. We went... read more as a family of 5 (3 teens) in July 2023 and booked a private, 8 day Lemosho trek. For the 5 of us, they organized a 35 person crew which included 3 guides, porters, and a chef. The 3 guides all spoke perfect English, were knowledgeable and extremely competent.
We went to Tanzania on safari a week in advance of our trek (different company) so we were already adjusted to the time zone when we started our trek. Given this, we didn’t need to spend the first night at Mhabe farm, which seems to be mostly used to accommodate guests’ jet lag prior to beginning the trek; however, the farm is very serene and the guides do a gear check. Note that the farm is located 3 hours from JRO (not the 2 hours quoted). If you are staying at the farm, ensure you bring travel size toiletries as the farm only has soap (no shampoo, conditioner or other amenities). There is only WiFi in the dining area and it’s spotty.
Most of the food and ingredients for the 8 day trek come from Mhabe farm. We had a picky eater in our group, so we brought ramen, pasta, and Nutella. Be sure to bring any comfort foods from home you might want on your trek. The chef is accommodating and can prepare whatever you bring.
Snacks: we were advised by our friends who went before us to bring enough snacks and electrolyte mix for our family plus the crew. I packed an entire duffel bag of snacks and was able to give each crew member at least 1 snack/day, often more.
Gear: the SENE packing list is accurate but we also brought the following and advise others to do the same:
- hand warmers
- selfie stick (guides are not great photographers)
- croc clogs for camp/shower shoes
- camelback (or similar) water carrying system for lower altitudes that can fit in your day pack. Nalgene bottles are still required for higher altitudes.
- travel size toiletries
- solar power charging block plus cords
We are avid hikers and most days, we only had 3-4 hours of hiking other than on Summit day. For these short days, you will want reading material, downloaded movies/TV shows, card games, etc. There is no reliable cell/WiFi despite what the guides may say so download books and movies prior to arrival at the farm.
SENE arranged for us to spend our last night at the Pink Flamingo in Moshi. Please see my separate PF review. It is delightful after 8 days on the mountain.
Overall, we were very pleased with our SENE experience and recommend them to others who want to summit Kilimanjaro.
August 6, 2023
"Your dream is our dream." This is the mantra of the staff at SENE and they sincerely fulfill this promise. In my travels, I have never come across a group... read more of people who not only cater to the individual needs but genuinely share the joy of their customers success and happiness.
Beginning at the Mbahe cottages, the staff was warm and welcoming, food delicious and the surroundings are so serene. It was a perfect way to begin our journey. We were prepped perfectly for the upcoming trek to Kilimanjaro.
The 8-day Lemosho trek to Kilimanjaro was the choice for our group. The changes in landscape, gradual acclimatization and extra time with our SENE family made the journey unbelievable. Our guides, Jackson and Innocent indulged every question about the environment, past experiences and set the perfect pace so we didn't feel overexerted but still covered the ground each day that was needed. So many laughs and stories from this trip- just too many to share! It is because of them that we all reached the summit but the journey there was the highlight.
Kiplet, our chef, made incredible farm to table meals with ingredients brought fresh from Mbahe farm. And he laughed (put up) with our joking and silly-ness. Please take the opportunity to interact with everyone in the group when you go, absorb some Swahili, and watch the chef prepare a meal in the kitchen tent. Each member of our 17 person crew felt like family.
Our end trek joke to Innocent and Jackson was "Are we doing an acclimatization hike at the bottom?" Everyone had some good laughs but last laugh on us, as they didn't tell us that there was indeed a little hike past the gate to the farm where our beautiful end celebration was! Ultimate payback to us for the incessant goofyness that we subjected them to on the mountain 😉
Simon (the owner) and Felix (his brother) spent time with us before the trek and Simon even met us at the conclusion of our trip!
The next leg of our trip was a safari with the clever, hilarious Gerald as our guide. Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater are not to be missed. But it was Gerald's expertise that truly enhanced the experience. He took us to places that were not overcrowded with other visitors and we were able to see a hyena nursing her young, a giraffe on guard against a predator and so many other unique sights.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, to all the staff at SENE, including Tara, whom was an excellent contact to curate our trip. We will be back and this time, with more of our family!
Sincerely,
Marisa and Matt Wilson
(aka Pili Pili Mama Africa and Rafiki)
July 22, 2023
tanzani - Our SENE guide and all of the camp site staff provided the most wonderful safari experience. We enjoyed all the animal viewing, the cultural experience and the beautiful landscape. Words... read more cannot express our gratitude to our guide Hilari for his attention to our interests and preferences.
July 17, 2023
Best Trip of My Life - It takes experiencing it to truly understand how incredible the trip was. We saw amazing landscapes, various types, and a bunch of animals. Our guide was fun. He had us... read more laughing a bunch. He can spot the animals a long ways out, well before we can, and then take you over there. I wouldn’t want the days to go any differently.
We have no complaints about our stays either. The lodging is beautiful. The places we stayed were perfect. SENE did a great job selecting those. The people were all really nice and fun to hang out with. The food was a treat. I had no idea what the food would be like, and I was happy to find out. Very good!
Everyone asks me about the trip and I always tell them I need several hours, if not days, to truly describe it. I know I’m going back to do it all again in a few years.
June 14, 2023
Summit Expeditions or Bust. Second to NONE. - To say the least, Summit Expeditions went above and beyond with curating this trip for us. I'm specifically using the word 'curated' because they designed this trip with the understanding... read more that we were not just a group of 5, we were a group of 5 with two young children. They designed the day to day expeditions while being cognizant of the fact that 8 hours in a car might be too much for children. SE also made sure the accommodations we stayed at were "child friendly". Honestly, it made a huge difference and if you're a parent reading this, I'm confident you know what I'm talking about.
In addition to building this trip in a way that kept the kids smiling, SE assigned us the BEST driver and guide we could have ever asked for. Jared is his name and he will forever hold a place in our families minds and hearts. One of the most authentic and genuine people Ive met. What a legend.
And lastly, the communications the SE operations team were second to none. By the time we landed in Tanzania, I dont think we had any questions for them to answer since they had thoroughly answered anything and everything.
I rarely write reviews, but felt I'd be remised if I did not share the magic the Summit Expeditions is able to create if given the opportunity.
June 14, 2023
Amazing trail running and safari! - Simon, Tara, Gerald, Emmanuel, Adam, and the rest of the Mbahe cottages and Kilimanjaro guide team were amazing! We planned a very last-minute trip (a few weeks notice), and Simon... read more and Tara were able to put together an amazing 2 week itinerary for us to trail run on Kilimanjaro and go on Safari. All were professional, kind folks with a love for the environment. After doing a little research, it became clear that SENE and Simon's amazing guide team are the only ones properly equipped to lead trail runners and mountain bikers in the Kilimanjaro region, so if you are a mountain athlete looking for guides that can truly deliver a unique experience, look for further.
April 26, 2023
Exceptional SENE Experience! - My experience climbing Kilimanjaro with SENE exceeded all expectations!! The deep commitment by Simon and the entire team at SENE to create a climb that was memorable in every way... read more began the moment we arrived at the beautiful Mbahe Farm. After traveling twenty four hours to Tanzania and adjusting to the time change, I never imagined having one of the best sleeps of my life in one of the wonderful, serene cottages. There is a peacefulness that permeates the Farm and the people that are a part of the SENE circle.
Fresh, healthy, delicious meals were served from the start and the quality of the food was exceptional for our entire climb. The amazing meals offered as we continued to gain elevation, not only fueled us, but brought great comfort. A truly exceptional part of SENE, topped only by the quality and competence of the guides, cooks and porters who assisted our climb.
There was never a moment when I did not have complete confidence in our extraordinary guides. They were not only exceptional people but were clearly deeply experienced in their knowledge of the mountain. Our entire group's arrival at the Summit, was surely the result of our guides' skill, patience, and steady perseverance. They were so attuned to every detail of our experience. Celebrating with our guides at Uhuru Peak at sunrise was one of the most extraordinary moments of my life!
I can not imagine a better team than the SENE team - exceptional in every way. Choosing a local Tanzanian team for our climb felt very important and added greatly to the richness of our experience. I have the deepest respect for every member of the SENE circle, and remain awed and eternally grateful for the all the ways SENE created a true adventure of a lifetime. Endless gratitude to Simon and everyone at SENE!
February 23, 2023
SENE's leaders/guides, cooks, porters, and support staff made our experience climbing Kilimanjaro especially rewarding. We felt extremely well supported as we faced each day's unique challenges. The guides... read more were very experienced and knowledgeable. They enriched our experience of the mountain and collaborated with us regarding the itinerary in response to changing conditions on the mountain. The food was delicious, carefully prepared, fresh, and healthy. And the porters and other support staff were kind and demonstrated a genuine desire to make our experience the best possible. I loved witnessing how the team worked together -- they seemed like a family enjoying the journey as much as we were.
I appreciate that SENE is locally owned, providing competitive compensation -- tip generously.
If you choose to climb Kilimanjaro (you should), use SENE. Listen to their advice regarding your preparation and your packing and you will be well-prepared for a rewarding, challenging experience. With luck, you will make the summit feeling great.
Best,
James
February 19, 2023
Amazing climb up Kilimanjaro with SENE! - We had the most amazing experience climbing Kilimanjaro with SENE. Our guides were fantastic - so competent, comforting, kind, and also enjoyed joking around with us. And all of the... read more porters were terrific too - so warm and helpful. They all seemed to want to just make the experience the best it possibly could be for us. We also had delicious food! Even when we were 14,000 feet up, we were getting hot soups and fresh fruit. Additionally, we had a wonderful stay at Simon's Mbahe Farm for two days before starting out climb. I would HIGHLY recommend doing your hike up Kilimanjaro with SENE - they really were incredible from start to finish!!!
February 19, 2023
An Adventure of a Lifetime - made possible by SENE! - A group of 6 of us just got back to the states from an adventure of a lifetime - climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. EVERY single day of the trip we commented... read more about how lucky we were to have found SENE. If you are thinking of climbing Kilimanjaro - DO IT and... Do it with SENE - they are the BEST!
The guides and porters were friendly and knowledgable, trustworthy, kind, and thoughtful. Choosing a local company gave us the opportunity to learn about the culture and the people which was a highlight of the experience. And the food on the climb was incredible. We had heard from people who had climbed with other outfitters that the food was terrible so we had very low expectations. We were amazed how delicious and FRESH the food was meal after meal.
February 18, 2023