Thomas Kiliholidays HeadGuide
Tours by Locals (aka Kiliholidays)
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2004)
- Member Of:
- TATO, TTB, TANAPA & TPO
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
CA
Email Joseph | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safaris that never disappoint!
In June of 2025 I went on my second safari in Tanzania with Kiliholidays, and it was even better than the first! The management took great care and a great deal of time to customize my 6-day safari to meet my needs, which included almost 4 days in the Serengeti. They had the patience to deal with dozens of messages and questions I sent prior to booking, and addressed all of my concerns. They booked us into the Embalakai tented camp in the Serengeti, meaning we were able to stay out on the game drive until it was almost dark. This made for excellent photo opportunities near sunset! Embalakai is a high-quality tented camp with amazing food and friendly staff. I believe that Kiliholidays provides very good to excellent accommodation and safari service at very competitive prices - it's one of the most affordable options out there, short of sleeping in campgrounds (which we did not do). The best part is that our guide and driver, Thomas, is extremely experienced, knowledgeable, and flexible: an all-around good man and a real pleasure to ride with for 6 days! Unless you want to spend thousands of dollars more, go with Kiliholidays and you won't be disappointed.
Email Emma | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent guides, fantastic safari and Mount Meru experience
Great holiday experience with Kiliholidays.
We did the 4 day Mount Meru hike, followed by 5 day private safari tour. Very knowledgeable and friendly guides and porters.
Meru was excellent - really felt cared for. Lodging basic but comfortable. Only improvement would be sending a kit list before arrival - we hadn't done an activity like this before and weren't sure of clothing needed/if we needed sleeping bags (they were hired for us upon request) or what the facilities were/ whether water would be provided (bring water bladder if you have it; water is provided but you need to take a reusable bottle - these can be hired at entrance to Meru park.) A brief kit list would have put our minds at rest!
Also be aware of tipping rates when factoring in cash ($20 per day for guide, $15 for cook, $10 for porters up Meru; $20 - $30 for safari guide).
Safari also excellent - guide fantastic with 10+ years of experience. Accommodation was excellent, vehicle was comfortable. Saw the big 5, which was incredible.
Only improvement would be communication ahead of arrival - kit list etc would have made the process feel smoother. Once on the trip, however, the experience was excellent. Would recommend.
Reply from Tours by Locals (aka Kiliholidays)
Posted on Aug 14, 2025Dear Emma,
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed feedback and for choosing us for your Mount Meru hike and safari experience. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed both adventures, felt well looked after on Meru, and had an incredible safari where you managed to see the Big Five.
We truly appreciate your suggestions regarding pre-trip communication and the kit list. You’re absolutely right—having a detailed kit list and clear information about facilities, equipment, and tipping guidelines before arrival would make preparation easier, especially for first-time trekkers. Well, we already included this in our last email conversation — perhaps you just missed it.
It’s great to hear that you found our guides and porters knowledgeable and friendly, and that both the accommodation and safari vehicle met your expectations. Your kind words mean a lot to our team.
Thank you again for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future.
Warm regards,
Mack Msechu
Kiliholidays Team Leader