Tanzania Blog

Tanzania’s land is a compilation of diverse ecosystems; from the dry grasslands to the lush rainforests and towering volcanic mountains. Nearly 100,000 square kilometers are protected as one of the 22 National Parks. Amongst these protected areas is Mkomazi National Park, a hidden gem in the Northern wilderness. The common sightings of…

The Maasai Indigenous Group has a rich history in East Africa. Their beautiful culture and customs are paired with a unique nomadic lifestyle that makes it possible for them to live off of the unforgiving arid lands of Tanzania and Kenya. Maasai live as pastoralists, which, similar to hunter-gatherers, involves grazing and migrating across…

  The unity of humans and nature can often be lost in the flurry of daily life. It is important to take moments to step away and reflect on the ways in which everything is connected, and to set as a reminder for what further purpose daily tasks might hold. Human to human connections and […]

This fall SENE participated in a week-long Leave No Trace event on Mount Kilimanjaro. The main concept of Leave No Trace is to “enter the wild, enjoy the wild, then leave it as you found it…without trash, cigarette butts or a smoldering fire” (Julia Hubbel). 15 companies with 400+ mountain crew members participated in this event […]

Since 2016, Dr. Linda Beck, Associate Dean of Experiential & Global Education at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF), has taken groups of students to Tanzania on a short-term travel course to learn about sustainable tourism and environmental activism in Tanzania. Linda lived in Tanzania with her husband, Dr. Mark Pires, and their…

As many of you may have seen in the news last month, a fire raged over our beloved Mount Kilimanjaro for a week, from October 11th to October 18th. The fire burned 70 square kilometers of Kilimanjaro’s vegetation in the Whona area. This included the razing of nine huts at Horombo Camp, but the newer […]

Revise your knowledge about Tanzania and SENE! You will find below 5 quizzes with different subject. Each quiz has 10 questions. Click on the photo to access the quiz of your choice! Good luck!

The Maasai are an indigenous ethnic group in Africa of semi-nomadic people settled in northern Tanzania and Kenya. They are among the foremost African tribes and are known internationally due to their distinctive traditions, customs, and dress, and their residence near many of the safari game parks of East Africa.   1. Origins Because…

Tanzanian cuisine has been influenced by a number of cultures and flavors. Indian, Middle Eastern, and local African ingredients and cooking techniques have been combined over the centuries to create the basis of Tanzanian food culture. The staple that is considered the country’s national dish is ugali, a stiff porridge made of maize meal…

There’s much more to Mount Kilimanjaro than just standing on the summit.  In addition to stunning vistas one sees every day on the climb, the brilliant star-filled night sky, and the marvelous glaciers, the mountain possesses from four to six climactic zones (depending on how you measure them) and a multitude of unique plant species. …

What is the migration? The wildebeest migration is a continuous cyclical process that occurs primarily in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and to a lesser extent the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.  One and a half million wildebeest accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebra, gazelle, eland, and impala move in a clockwise…

In 2019, where do SENE clients come from? What adventures did they have? How many touched the Roof of Africa? How old were the youngest and oldest Kilimanjaro summiters? Check out our 2019 Kilimanjaro summit rates and other fun statistics! (data from 2018-Dec through 2019-Nov)   Clients by Nationality   CLIENTS BY ACTIVITY  …

Martha Phillips spent four days at SENE’s Mbahe Farm Cottages after climbing Kilimanjaro in September 2019.  She wrote eloquently about her experiences and emotions during her adventure. Below are the sections from Mbahe.  Read Martha’s complete account at The Imposter of Kilimanjaro. Mbahe Farm I woke up suddenly in the darkest…

Upmarket Dunia Camp from Asilia is astonishing visitors with exquisitely personalized service that makes everyone feel like the most special guest. Exceptional service requires engaged employees and Asilia provides just that at its exquisite specialty camp, Dunia, in the sweeping Serengeti National Park. In a traditionally patriarchal…

The Ngorongoro Crater, centerpiece of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area World Heritage Site, is the world’s largest inactive, unbroken and unfilled volcanic caldera. A trip down into the Crater, 2,800 feet below the rim, is an unforgettable experience. Find out 10 little-known facts before being amazed by its beauty!   1. The Maasai…

New SENE employee Wandi Steward recently visited the coastal city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest and the economic and cultural hub of the country.  While it is certainly not the tourist capital of the country, she did find a few gems. Though we advise an open mind and sense of adventure for those wishing to […]

        … enumerating actions, initiatives, objectives, and work toward environmental sustainability – to help preserve Tanzania’s beauty for future generations.  

You want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro but you know the daunting height of 5895m/19,340’ makes it a challenging mountain to summit. Remember, it is the altitude and not the long uphill hiking distance that prevents most people from reaching the Roof of Africa. You probably know that « high altitude » goes with « lack of oxygen ». […]

Who are the WaChagga? The Bantu-speaking indigenous Africans, who would become WaChagga, settled on the southern and eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in waves of migration around five to six centuries ago. They migrated from other regions of what are now Tanzania and Kenya, attracted to the fertile soil and high altitude climate…

1. Your Safari Guide is Your New Best Friend While on safari you travel with highly knowledgeable guides who have extensive training in East African wildlife, birdlife, and ecology, each of whom has many years of experience in the bush. Listen. Your guide has a nearly limitless repository of knowledge. Ask questions. Your guide will […]

Where do SENE clients come from? What adventures did they have? How many touched the Roof of Africa? How old were the youngest and oldest Kilimanjaro climbers? Check out our 2018 Kilimanjaro summit rates and other fun statistics! (data from 2017-Dec through 2018-Nov) Clients by Nationality   KILIMANJARO ACHIEVEMENT BY ROUTE

Steve Reinhardt is a photographer from Australia who visited Tanzania with his extended family in September 2018 with SENE. He agreed to exhibit several of his favorite images taken in Serengeti National Park along with his thoughts about each photo. We thank Steve for offering to share these with us and you.   The Wildebeest […]

After a successful ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro or during a stopover before safari or other SENE adventure, you may find yourself overnighting in Moshi Town at the Ameg Lodge, Hibiscus B&B, or other accommodations.  And you may ask yourself, “This is a nice neighborhood… where am I?”  You are in Shantytown.  Yes, Shantytown.…

Those who have climbed Kilimanjaro know the mantra of our mountain guides: pole pole (po-lay, po-lay), which means slowly. Walking slowly up the mountain and keeping your heart rate low is the tonic that helps your body acclimate better and reach the summit. Pole pole is also the way of life in Tanzania (“no hurry in Africa!”) […]

Over the years we have received hundreds of photos from our clients.  After seeing the incredible images taken by them during their adventures, we realized that the photographs tell a story – the story of Tanzania through a tourist’s eyes.  We hope to inspire future travelers to visit this beautiful country and see what catches…

After some setbacks even before the climb started, the SENE guides and crew have now run into yet another challenge – virtually non-stop rain. The team is in the midst of the lush rainforest that encircles Mount Kilimanjaro, with the most formidable sections of their 50 kilometer hike to the summit still ahead. CCTV’s Ramah […]

Mount Kilimanjaro, an iconic symbol of Africa, has been for centuries a mythic destination for adventurers and explorers.Every year the highest free-standing mountain in the world draws tens of thousands of climbers, all pushing themselves to reach the top of Kilimanjaro. The mountain, however, is changing, as the snowcap on its peak shrinks…

In 2018 Summit Expeditions & Nomadic Experience celebrates 20 years of sharing Tanzania with guests from across the globe.  Here are a few fun facts and highlights from over the years.   1998  In January founder Simon Mtuy registers SENE in Tanzania.  He is the only employee.  First clients are climbers from Germany and the […]

Last year, American photographer Drew Simms climbed Kilimanjaro with SENE. Back home he produced a short video with favorite moments from his climb and safari.   “Back in July of last year, I had the incredible opportunity of traveling through Tanzania with my family. We started our trip on Kilimanjaro. We spent our mornings…

Up until recently, traveling to Africa, just by being Africa, was considered adventure travel.  It was the wild and untamed Dark Continent where travelers endured hardships and inconveniences to enjoy rare experiences. This notion had validity even into the mid-1990s as accommodations, roads, flights, communication, and electricity were…

With its 4 million wild animals that include 364 species of mammals, Tanzania has the largest concentration of animals per square kilometer in the world!  Plus it boasts 1108 species of birds, 130 amphibian, and over 275 reptile species. Here are some fascinating facts about a few of the animals you will encounter on your Tanzanian safari…

Explore one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa with this list of quick facts that you may not have known.   1. The Serengeti is one of the oldest and most scientifically significant ecosystems on the planet. Its weather patterns, fauna and flora are believed to have changed very little over a million years, […]

Funny and interesting facts about Swahili, the language of the people of the East African coast.   A- like Asante. The most important Swahili word (along with jambo), since Tanzanians hold politeness in high regard.  Asante means “thank you!” B- like Bantu. Swahili is a Bantu language. C- like Coast. The name Swahili comes from the…

Just the name brings images of an exotic far-off land filled with mystery and scented by the aroma of clove and cardamom. For centuries Zanzibar has been a crossroads of peoples from Africa, Arabia, and India that has created its own unique cultural mélange that exists into the present. Zanzibar history is also tainted with […]

Are you ready for your upcoming adventure to Tanzania? Have you learned a few words and phrases in Swahili, the most widely spoken language in Tanzania and all of East Africa. Swahili has adopted many words from Arabic and English, as well as from Portuguese and German, all of whom have had interaction with the original […]

Where in the world do SENE clients come from?  For those climbing Kilimanjaro, how many reach the crater rim, and how many reach the summit? See below our 2017 success rates on Kilimanjaro! All our clients on the Northern circuit route and on Umbwe route made it to the top! Hongera Sana! SENE Clients by […]

The baobab tree is easily recognized by its enormous trunk and scrawny stems and twigs. It is one of the most distinctive symbols of Africa. In Tanzania, visitors can admire baobab trees within all national parks, but particularly in Tarangire National Park, which is unofficially known as the “Baobab Capital of the World.” About this […]

Never one to slow down, Simon’s latest endeavor is beekeeping and honey production.  He maintains about 80 hives around the land near his Mbahe Village cottages, at his new home in Mweka Village by one of the Kilimanjaro National Park exit gates, and at the TPC sugar plantation off the mountain south of Moshi Town.  […]

After encountering wildlife in its natural habitat or conquering the summit of Kilimanjaro, how can one discover the human dimension of Tanzania?  There is no better way than to explore, preferably on foot, the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.   NATURAL AND CULTURAL TREASURES ON KILIMANJARO FOOTHILLS Kilimanjaro is known worldwide for…