Leading THE WAY SINCE 1969...
In 1969 the Dharamshi Bhimani family also known in tourism circles as - The Simba Family - established Simba Safaris and began leading adventurous travellers through Tanzania's Northern Circuit. They were joined by two other tour operators, and these three pioneers opened the Northern Circuit to a broader travel market. The modern luxury safari was born in Tanzania.
Those were heady days, with plenty of challenges to meet, lots of trial and error, lots of mistakes and lessons learned until the right practices were found and refined.
One thing remained consistent, however: the conviction that strong family values translated to strong business values. Clients must be cared for in the same way that family is cared for.
With that truth as our guide all the struggles that come with creating an industry from the ground up - literally from the ancient volcanic ash that is the dust of the Serengeti - could be met and overcome. The practices we developed and perfected over the years reflect that truth - and they have become industry standards, widely emulated. Of those three pioneering operators in Tanzania, only Simba Safaris remains.
Safaris are more than second nature to us. It is more than what we do today and have done for almost 45 years. The modern safari in Tanzania reflects the very nature of who we are.
Simba Products & Services
We provide luxury safaris in Tanzania, trekking services on Mt. Kilimanjaro, beach vacations on the island of Zanzibar, plus many special interest tours and outings. We have decades of experience leading travelers to Tanzania's popular destinations in the Northern Circuit, the Southern Circuit, and the more recently opened Western Circuit.
Simba Guaranteed Departure
We offer guaranteed departure, small group guided safari tours and private, and custom guided tours. We have crafted an attractive collection of carefully planned itineraries, featuring lodges and camps that meet our stringent requirements for comfort, luxury, value, and natural setting. The reputation of the entire Simba family depends on the quality of these destinations, and we take great care in making our selections and reviewing them frequently.
Guaranteed Departure Group Tours
Our guaranteed departure programs range from one to nine days. We are careful to balance many clients' desire to "see everything" with the logistics of travel between parks. We have been doing this long enough to know how much road travel is enjoyable and how much spoils the adventure.
Private Tours
Private, custom tours of two or more travelers depart daily, which affords travelers the greatest flexibility and intimacy. Clients may choose from our expertly crafted itineraries or they may craft their own (with your own expert guidance). We are especially proud to be able to offer this level of customized, hands on tour guide service, at very reasonable rates. It perfectly reflects our beliefs about personal client care.
Simba Mount Trekking Services
Simba Safaris has led more than 7000 climbers to the summit of Kilimanjaro, with a success rate of 96 percent. We are serious about climber success, safety, and comfort. Just as importantly, we are deeply committed to the safety and well being of the guides, porters, and cooks with whom we live and work.
Spice Islands and Beach Vacations
We offer short Zanzibar beach resort stays and cultural tours as add-ons to dusty safari itineraries. We also offer lengthier itineraries for those travelers seeking to dive deeper into the mysteries of Zanzibar past and present.
Simba Special Tours
In addition to our popular safari itineraries, we also arrange several special interest tours and outings. These include the Chimpanzee Trail in Mahale National Park; Game Fishing in the waters surrounding Mafia Island, south of Dar es Salaam; and Camping Safaris in the Northern Circuit.
Our Professional Guides and Staff
A lot of advance planning and preparation go into a successful safari - many moving parts are set into motion through the efforts of many skilled people - but the key cog is the safari guide. It is a rare person who has the ability to combine the skills of the naturalist, the mechanic, the driver, the anthropologist, the teacher, and the hotel concierge. Yet all of that is precisely what our experienced guides have delivered to thousands of safari travellers over the years. Cheerfully.
On average, our guides have 12 years of experience leading safari travelers. Our most experienced guides train our newer guides. All are certified and receive ongoing training and education. All understand what it means to be a member of the Simba Safaris family and the exceptional attention with which they must attend to our clients' expectations.
Our Support Staff
Our wonderful guides are supported by more than 70 in-country staff based out of our Arusha, Tanzania headquarters. Mechanics and travel agents, planners and administrators work together to deliver consistently high quality travel experiences. No detail is overlooked.
Our Arusha offices are staffed night and day, 365 days of the year. If a guide or client needs to reach operations staff - for any reason - we are there to take the call and provide advice and assistance.
Simba Vehicles and Infrastructure
While the skill and knowledge of safari guide is the most important component of client satisfaction, the comfort and reliability of the safari vehicle is also critical.
Simba Safaris has devoted considerable resources to developing our custom 4x4 Land Cruiser safari vehicles. Of course, every traveller gets a window. Every guest is outfitted with binoculars and all the other standard safari practices that Simba has been at the forefront of for nearly 50 years. We continue to refine and upgrade our vehicle design and amenities for client comfort and for a deeper connection to the landscape that draws them here.
We ensure the safety and reliability of our vehicles with a rigorous maintenance schedule that includes a 52 point inspection before and after every tour. This work is carried out in our own fully equipped garage by our own qualified and experience mechanics.
The Simba Family
The Dharamshi Bhimani Family also known as - The Simba Family - established Simba Safaris in 1969, at the inception of the modern luxury safari. The founding brothers remain active in the company to this day. Presently, day-to-day operations are directed by Firoz, Kurban, Mohamed and Arif, who quite literally grew up in the safari travel business.
The Simba Family takes a lot of pride in Simba Safaris and the work we do. The reputations of both the company and the family depend on our ability to meet each client's highest expectations, time after time. It is a responsibility we are honoured be offered and that we humbly accept.