Latest Testimonials

  Such an incredible and memorable trip of a life time to Tanzania, all made possible by SENE!! My husband and I booked a 13 day Northern Circuit Kilimanjaro climb with... read more SENE in late September 2024. Hands-down, SENE had the best operator, guides and porter team that we ever could have asked for. Even before we left the USA, SENE was extremely responsive and made sure all our pre trip questions were answered. From the moment we arrived and departed Africa, SENE always went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, safe and immersed in their beautiful culture and nature. Our operator, Protas, was always extremely welcoming and thoroughly communicated logistics and expectations throughout our entire trip. Our guides during the climb, Victor and Innocent, were such amazing, smart and caring individuals. We absolutely enjoyed spending every day of our climb with them both, listening to their amazing experiences on the mountain and learning about their life/culture. They really taught us so much and we even learned some Swahili! Additionally, we stayed so well nourished by our amazing cook Juma! Every meal, snacks, tea time was incredibly delicious and fulfilling, Juma is so talented and a great guy! We were so amazed by how much fresh fruit and vegetables we had during the trip. It truly was some of the best food we have ever tasted! Lastly, our entire porter crew was incredible, hard-working and so friendly. Every crew member helped out so much at each camp, we were so grateful for every single one of them and how comfortable they made our climb. Above all, the entire SENE team made us feel extremely safe, kept us healthy and truly made it possible for us to reach the summit! SENE is THE company to climb Kilimanjaro with, and if/when we return to Tanzania, we certainly will be reaching out to them for our next adventure! Thank you SENE!!

  Extraordinary - We spent 15 days on a Safari with SENE. It was an amazing experience far better than I could imagined. We had an incredible crew with us. A friend and... read more I did tent camping..it was great. We did it the Tanzanian wayvery laid back and got to see just about every animal in Tanzania. We had a very knowledgeable guide/driver and a great cook/set up and take down camp person.We discovered by talking to other visitors that our guide had given us information their guide didn’t even know.so we became their”guide”. We felt very safe and got to visit different tribes and participate in their way of life. We went hunting with the Bushmen and I proved failure in making fire and shooting with bow and arrowif I had lived there I would have starved. But I can grind barley on a stone and work the bellows for metal work. With 400 Safari companies and for some of them their office is a cell phone we realized how lucky we were to have had the chance have chosen SENE as our company. We’re now part of the family.

Just a foot note: an example of Tanzanian laid-back style. If you make an appointment for 9am and you show up at 9:45am they’ll sayyou’re early. So my advice is do the Safari the Tanzanian way.

  Would absolutely love to do it all again! - After touring in Tanzania we came to rest and then go on to hike Kilimanjaro and safari in Tarangire and Ngorongoro crater. It was fabulous from start to finish. Tara... read more helped us in every step to make sure our trip included what we wanted and that all arrangements were complete and out trip seamless. When arrived at Mbahe Farms we were greeted by wonderful staff who helped us with our bags and guided us on the short hike to the farm. Once there we were given refreshments and then shown to our rooms. They were very cozy, with comfortable beds and attached bathrooms.. The views were beautiful. Felix was the perfect host. He took us on walks, was our patient guide , along with Jackson, on the hike to Kilimanjaro and was a fun part of our meals. Chef Alex's meals were mouth watering and Lillian was our ever attentive server. All of them made us feel welcome and right at home.. The sitting areas lended themselves to rest and conversation.. Felix and Lillian gave us a delicious and informative coffee demo and tasting.. It was a great experience all around.. We left Mbahe Farm to go to Tarangire Park for safari. We met Simon and his staff and our guide Gerald. Gerald was funny, informative and showed us everything we could have hoped for and more .The vehicle was clean and comfortable. It was well maintained and safe. We stayed at beautiful locations -the kati kati tented camp and the isoitok village.. Our lodgings were comfortable, beautiful and a great reflection of the surrounding culture. All ou meals were superb.. I hope some day to return. I would use SENE again and have recommended it to friends and family.

  Robust and safe adventure. - I can't say enough good things about our experience with SENE. From booking with Tara, and being taken care of by Pascal in Tanzania on safari we felt welcome... read more and safe.

Pascal was informative and knew his way around the parks we visited (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire). He was very concerned with us seeing all the animals, and made every effort to get us to the places where they were.

Accommodations were good in both the tented camps and the lodges. Tivuli was like an oasis.

Definitely recommend.

  An unforgettable Tanzania adventure! - We had an amazing two week stay in Tanzania thanks to SENE! Tara, Simon and their team greeted us as we arrived in JRO, coordinated all of our travel for... read more the next 14 days, and saw safely back to our return flight to the US. We cannot say enough great things about this team!

SENE arranged for our accommodations in Moshi (Ameg Lodge) while we were visiting friends there. I appreciated this as I was having some trouble booking directly with the Lodge. Tara made our reservation, which went perfectly, and ensured we had comfortable and well appointed rooms. We couldn't have been happier with our 5 nights in Moshi!

We spent the next 9 nights on safari, with SENE drivers, guides, and reserved accommodations. Our SENE driver got us safely to the Arusha airport in time for our flight to the Serengeti. We had four fabulous nights in the Serengeti. There was one hiccup, which SENE quickly addressed and corrected for us. We were so appreciative of their responsiveness and attention to detail. While in the Serengeti (at Lahia Lodge) we also enjoyed a sunrise hot air balloon ride, which was incredible. I highly recommend! Our guide, Daudi, was excellent! He was engaging for our family of 5 (13 years - adult). He always had some wisdom to impart and did so in a way that was engaging for everyone! And wow, he had a knack for finding unique wildlife sighting. It was incredibly special!

After 4 nights in the Serengeti, we departed for two nights on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater at Entamanu, at the recommendation of SENE. This was an incredibly special experience! The environment was so different and our family really enjoyed our two nights at the intimate retreat. Daudi continued to be an excellent guide during this time; we can't say enough good things about him!

We spent our last 3 nights in Tarangire NP, at Mpingo Ridge. Wow! The views, the service, the game drive experience. Everything was fantastic! Daudi knew the excellent spot for a family photo, and we so appreciated everything we saw and learned.

We wrapped up our trip with a half day in Arusha and a delightful dinner at RiverTrees before boarding our flight home. From start to finish, SENE provided an excellent experience. We hope to return to Tanzania, and will certainly engage SENE to help us plan an unforgettable trip! Thank you Daudi, Tara, Simon, Maureen and the team at SENE!!

  I didnt conquer Kilimanjaro: I had a team that made it possible - Thanks to Simon Mtuy's SENE: I didn't conquer Kilimanjaro. I paid attention, cooperated with the mountain in optimal conditions. Made the summit on Mar 10 2024; and more importantly, made... read more it back down safely on my own steam.

I'd first met Simon in June 2007, having photographed him after his sub-24hr finish at the Western States 100. Friends told me about his tour company, and i'd always wanted to do it. Finally I was able to.

I'd booked the longest trip possible [11 days Northern Lemosho Route] with Simon Mtuy's Summit Expeditions to get as much altitude conditioning possible. A shorter trip [5-6 days] would've been a brutal pounding; like a tent-peg in the dirt, with a likely non-summit finish.

The team is completely professional-- med checks AM & PM, with oxymeters to make sure you're at your best that day. The Gamow Bag was there, but not needed, as nobody went into extremis.

The support team of cooks [who performed miracles on large single burner propane stoves] were amazing. The porters were utter professionals. I bow down to them. All I had to do was to stay competent. I told them "Babu makes it back to airport in one piece", which got a laugh, since i kept humble and watched my footing at all times. FWIW I ran ultras for 30 years, and Kili trails are no joke.

  There are many American, European and African adventure travel companies offering Kilimanjaro climbs. After considering several expedition companies, the one I chose is Summit Expeditions & Nomadic Experiences (SENE).... read more While NOT the least expensive company, I choose SENE for several reasons:

1) A good friend of 20 years, and fellow REI Co-Op member, climbed Kilimanjaro with SENE back in 2010 and highly recommended SENE to me. He has always had very good things to share about SENE. Also, I work part time at REI and I helped a REI Co-Op member in early January 2024, who also had climbed Kilimanjaro with SENE in 2010, again in 2014 and is going back a THIRD time to climb Kilimanjaro SENE in July with his now teenage son. Both are huge fans of SENE, as I now am, too.

2) SENE is based in Tanzania and owned by Tanzanian, Simon Mtuy, who after working for several other foreign climbing companies wanted to start his own high-quality, safe, and ethical Tanzanian-owned adventure travel company (back in 1998). I wanted to help support such a local business.

3) SENE is an international ‘Leave No Trace’ partner. They follow the seven principles of outdoor ethics. Additionally, they use portable port-a-potties on the mountain and Cleanwaste Wag Bags for human waste. They pack out what is packed in – and they collect garbage left behind by others along the climb route and in designated camping areas (which I also typically do when hiking).

3) SENE is also a partner with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) and follows KPAP guidelines for the proper treatment and compensation of their local guides, porters, cooks and other support staff on the mountain.

4) With bases of operation in Moshi Town at the foot of Kilimanjaro and the village of Mbahe at 6,000 feet (1,800m) on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, SENE is firmly rooted in the mountain community from which it came from.

While at the Mhabe Farm Cottages, I first met SENE owner Simon Mtuy who provided a very nice welcome and took time to review and explain the ten-day mountain route that I, and my two other climb partners (Larry and Megan), would be embarking on.

Simon’s brother, Felix Mtuy, hosted us at the Mhabe Farm and led us on a tourof the land surrounding the Mhabe Farm before we traveled to Kilimanjaro National Park. He was our lead mountain guide on Kilimanjaro and also led a very enlightening half-day walking tour of Moshi after we were off the mountain. Felix was awesome and a truly wonderful person, as were all the 20 porters, cook, food server and secondary guide, Adam. They all worked very hard and were all great people.

Felix shared with me that bedside he and his brother, Simon, his father and grandfather were also guides on Kilimanjaro. Now in his early fifties, Felix, has a deep and long connection with Kilimanjaro and knowledge of what the mountain was like 10, 20 and even 50 years ago. Whenever Felix offered advice or a recommendation, I always took it – and was better off for doing so.

Additionally, Simon’s spouse, Tera, was my primary email contact assisting with most of the pre-planning, logistics and coordination of my trip to Kilimanjaro. She answered all my questions, and her pre-trip advice and guidance was great. I got to meet Tera (and Simon again) at dinner on my last night in Tanzania. Both Simon and Tera were a pleasure to meet and a delight to visit with.

I have been a backpacker for forty years with many multi-day treks in the mountains out west, and a rock climber and mountaineer spanning 30 years. I have also completed a month-long Outward Bound alpine mountaineering course in SW Colorado (between Durango and Silverton) in 1996. I have climbed at Devils Lake State Park (WI), the Devils Tower National Monument (WY), the Wind River Range (WY), and in Teton, Rocky Mountain and Yosemite National Parks. With this personal experience, I can attest to the experience and knowledge that Felix and our secondary guide, Adam, both have regarding Kilimanjaro. They kept Larry, Megan and I all well supported, informed and safe on the mountain. With their support we all successfully summited Kilimanjaro without problems.

In addition to Kilimanjaro climbs along various routes, SENE also offers a 3-4 day climb on Mt. Meru (the second tallest peak in Tanzania at 14,980 feet and only 70k from Kilimanjaro), lower altitude backpacking treks on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, various safaris, bicycle tours, multi-day trail running trips, and excursions to tropical Zanzibar (off the coast of Tanzania). Based on my recent experience on Kilimanjaro, I plan to do some safaris and a stay on Zanzibar in the future with my spouse through Summit Expeditions & Nomadic Experiences (SENE).

Without reservation, I highly recommend Summit Expeditions & Nomadic Experiences.

  Superior experience! - SENE was the exceptional combination of professionalism, thoughtfulness and long experience. Attention to detail ranged from food and drink to the 2x daily oximetric measurements to monitor your health from... read more start to finish.

  Service and Safari Trip of a Lifetime! - I can't say enough about the care and support our SENE staff shared with us on our recent trip to Africa. SENE arranged both our fabulous week long service trip... read more in Tanzania and our week long safari in Kenya, and we couldn't be happier with our experiences in both countries. Our service trip and time spent in Mbahe Village was so personal and special, it was a truly soulful journey that we were so happy to share with our traveling group of 10, as well as the kind, considerate staff at Mbahe Farm Cottages. Though spent outside of Tanzania for the second leg of our trip, SENE was able to coordinate us with 2 wonderful, luxury safari lodges in Kenya that were absolute gems (Borana and Lewa Wilderness Lodges). Thank you to SENE for crafting the most magical service and safari experience we could have wished for, we are so grateful for your stellar itinerary planning services!

  Incredible Bike Adventure - What an incredible trip! SENE knows how to organize adventures off the beaten path. We biked through the Usambara mountains with incredible guides, cook and crew. The food was delicious,... read more the views outstanding, campsite serene and the friendliness unmatched. It was a pleasure to spend time with and get to know our crew. This was the last leg of a three week trip and honestly it felt like the first time we were seeing Tanzania; it's people, it's culture and it's landscape.

  SENE IS TOP NOTCH - SENE are hands down the best company to book with for your African adventure - we booked our Kilimanjaro summit with them after researching many companies. It was very apparent... read more that SENE was top notch and there was no other company that I wanted to book with from the beginning.

The process was made very easy from initial contact to booking, to arriving. The SENE staff always had your back, you felt safe, and welcomed by all every step of way. The mountain crew were the best bunch of people, there were many times it all felt overwhelming and just looking around at those there to help you succeed gave me great comfort.

The guides and senior SENE staff quickly became friends during our 8 days on Kilimanjaro. I will forever hold a place in my heart for Octavian, Emmanuel, Alex, David, Godfrid and the porters. They made my summit experience memorable.

Meeting Simon pre-trip, and having him meet us at the gate on our final day was a highlight. He is an interesting man who has built an amazing company in Tanzania, that really gives back to his village and community.

We did the Lemosho 8 Day route with SENE.

  Kilimanjaro climb - Lemosho route - Outstanding service from start to finish, from the first email to the final drop at the airport. This company have a deep routed love for the mountain and it shows... read more every step of the way. They want all their clients to achieve success with the summit but not at the cost of ill health. Our ability was assessed from the moment we arrived to the moment we hit summit, our guides worked with us to ensure we were all safe and comfortable in our journey which took longer but the whole group managed to summit!
I travelled alone from the UK but felt part of the family the whole trip, the locals are so welcoming. I also felt that the stay at the farm cottages prior to the climb made the trip feel more authentic, a service you will not get with other tour guides.

  Friends recommended SENE to organise our trip to Tanzania and it was perfect!
We had planned to do Kilimanjaro followed by 3 days of safari and finally end our... read more stay in Zanzibar!
SENE was on hand to organise all our transfers, advise us on lodges and help us prepare for the Kilimanjaro (thanks Tara).
For Kilimanjaro, we were first welcomed by Félix on his farm for 2 days (an exceptional cultural and culinary discovery)! On the Lemosho Road, we were accompanied by a team of incredible guides and porters (we recommend Octavian and Innocent, our fanstastic guides!) and thanks to them, we succeeded :).
For the 3-day Safari, Paschale (our guide) was awesome. We were able to see the Big Five thanks to him!
Really, if you want a unique experience and come away enriched, SENE is really top notch.

  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!

  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!