Latest Testimonials

  Great logistics for our scientific expedition to Kilimanjaro! - We had a great experience organising a scientific expedition to Kilimanjaro with the wonderful team at Summit Expeditions and Nomadic Experience (SENE).

Simon and Tara were warm, welcoming, and... read more very helpful in coordinating the overall planning and local logistics. Protus and the competent and professional team at SENE managed all the details of the mountain logistics, including meeting our specific scientific needs. Our guides, Jackson and Godlisten, and the porters were not only hard-working and friendly, but also went above and beyond to help us reach the summit in terrible weather conditions, and to collect and carry down heavy equipment.

We appreciate SENE’s commitment to the well-being of their staff and porters, and are impressed by their dedication to environmental sustainability.

We are grateful to SENE for taking such good care of us, both personally and professionally, and we highly recommend them to anyone planning an expedition to Kilimanjaro!

  SENE-- Perfection!  - If planning a Kilimanjaro trip, I highly recommend Summit Expeditions and Nomadic Experience (SENE) I’ve had the honor to summit Kilimanjaro 5 times with my latest summit in January 2025.... read more I’ve used SENE for the last 4 summits. I would not use any other company. From start to finish—joy and perfection!

The crew is professional, competent but also friendly. They’ll do anything they can to ensure a successful summit. A very positive for me was seeing MANY of the crew that I have summited with over the course of my 3 other summits with SENE. This reflects on the quality of this local company. From start to finish, it was fabulous. Tara was so very helpful in the logistics. She was very patient answering all our questions. There was not one glitch in the entire trip.

We were picked up at the airport and stayed at Simba Farm pre-climb. I have stayed there several times before and the place is lovely.

We did the Lemosho route. Jackson was the head guide. I have climbed with him several times and he did not disappoint. He always had a smile and encouraging words. He looked out for all in the group and was a large contributor to all 4 of us reaching the summit. He is an asset to the company.
Gonzo was great as the camp master. Every porter was great. From setting up camps, to the port a john tent, to the dining area, logistics were flawless. They were encouraging in the mornings and as we got back to camp. Such hard workers.
Shout out to Kiplet, the head chef. Meals as well as snacks were fresh, plentiful, and delicious. Roman was our dining host/server—what a gem.
Following the climb, we did a short safari. Daudi was the perfect safari guide.
I reflect on all my SENE trips—a sense of accomplishment, joy with many laughs along the way.
Tara and Simon, and the entire SENE team, a sincere thank you ---- my life has been enriched by the time spent in your care!

  Incredible, phenomenal, a dream... when can I go back?  - Thanks to SENE our trip to Tanzania was phenomenal and was the trip of a lifetime! I felt so well cared for at the Mbahe Farm Cottages and loved our... read more time spent there. The food and the team working at the farm cottages were incredible- Felix was so kind and a wonderful human to get to know! From Mbahe Farm to our safari trip, everything was planned to perfection- we felt so safe and taken care of. Our safari driver, Daudi, was so knowledgeable on the ecosystem and culture in Tanzania. There was not a question he did not have the answer to - he truly made our time at Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater so special. Lastly, Tara and Simon were so helpful through the whole planning process and very responsive, especially when my luggage was delayed! I cannot recommend traveling and booking through SENE enough, it will be the trip of a lifetime!

  Excellent Service!  - Sene organized our entire trip, from staying at the Mbahe Farm cottages to our safari at the Ngorongoro Crater. From the first communication, Tara was detailed and handled every step... read more with care. Both of our stays could not have been more perfect and our travel between our numerous locations was executed without flaw. We felt extremely taken care of the entire time in this beautiful country, which gave us the opportunity to truly enjoy every moment without worrying about the logistics of travel, thanks to Sene. I would highly recommend their services for visiting Tanzania in any capacity. Their expertise and attention is unmatched.

  Unforgetfule Safari trip!  - We had an amazing time. Everything exceeded our expectations. The lodges and camps were incredibly comfortable, and the staff were all exceptionally helpful. To our surprise, there were plenty of... read more ice-cold beer in the middle of the Serengeti, which made for an incredibly luxurious experience for us.

Jerold is an outstanding guide. His wealth of experience allowed us to see all of the Big Five, some of them multiple times, in a short 5-day safari trip. His knowledge of the parks, the animals, and the people living in this land is truly impressive.

Tara is extremely helpful at planning our trip to meet every traveler's needs. Many of us are already considering returning with family members. We will certainly reach out to Tara to plan our next trip!

  SENE Farm, Kilimanjaro and Safari Experience. We loved it!  - My wife and I are in our early 60s and our group also included our son, age 25. We booked 3 nights at the Mbahe Farm to rest up from... read more our flights and start acclimatizing. Then, the 8 day Lemosho route to the summit, followed by a 4 day safari. We had an amazing time! I think the farm might be the most chill place on earth. Great farm to table food as well. The climb was challenging for us but thanks to the guides and wonderful staff, our son and I made it all the way to the summit. My wife had high altitude problems, but the expert guides took good care of her and got her down mountain from base camp where she recovered. The safari accommodations were wonderful and our guide was hilarious. That part of the trip was relaxing and all fun and amazement. The vehicle was a custom Landcruiser - top notch. SENE took excellent care of us from pick up at the airport to drop off. Can’t recommend them enough!

  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!

  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.

  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.

  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!

  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.

  "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)

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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!

  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!!!

  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

  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.

  Amazing Outfit for Kilimanjaro - For the 3rd time I climbed Kimimanjaro with SENE. Such an amazing experience with an amazing company. They are such a pleasure to work with and were... read more awesome at taking care of me throughout the entire journey. I can’t say enough good things about them.

  Amazing trip with SENE!! - I traveled with SENE with "Sistahs to the Summit." The largest group of Black American women to reach the summit. SENE was extremely professional and accommodated our every need! We... read more were a large group of 14, so we had a lot of different needs. From the guides, to the porters, to the cooking staff EVERYTHING was amazing. I was so surprised to see the different variety of food that was provided on the mountain and care that was provided each and everyday when we returned from our long 6-7 hour hikes. I would highly recommend using SENE for your future travel to Tanzania! Huge thanks to Felix and Victor who were our amazing lead guides!

  A trip of a lifetime with SENE - We climbed Kilimanjaro with SENE earlier this month and I cannot overstate how glad I am that we found this company. SENE is unlike other companies in that they are... read more an intimate, locally managed, hands on group that make you feel very welcome and cared for.
We climbed the Machame 7 day route but first we spent 2 days at the idyllic Mbahe farm. We were treated to 3 course meals by the friendly team at Mbahe, all using fresh ingredients from the farm itself. Our guide, Jackson, met us both days and took us on a tour of the massive farmland, showed us the local wildlife and the scenic waterfalls.
By the time we departed for the mountain we were well rested, well fed, and had been prepped by the SENE team on what to expect. On the climb, I felt very safe and reassured by the expertise and care of our guides, Jackson and Adam, as well as the entire team of porters and chefs.
We were treated incredibly well: coffee/tea brought to our tents in the morning, 3 course meals with fresh food 3x per day, a private biotent with our own toilet, vital signs checked 2x per day, etc... I fell sick due to the altitude and our guide and chef were incredibly nurturing, which was so appreciated. We safely and successfully summited the mountain thanks to the SENE team, who worked tirelessly to make us feel comfortable.
I spoke with other hikers who used different companies and they did not receive the same care and closeness that SENE provides. You absolutely should book with SENE for a guaranteed fantastic experience.
The only downside was that I developed such an affinity for these lovely people and the beautiful country they call home, that I was a bit heartsick to leave! Asante sana SENE!