Discover Wild Friends.
Rafiki Tembo Tours and Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2025)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $120 to $550 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Jami | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great adventure made possible by a professional, trustworthy team!
QUICK SUMMARY: We loved the tour; we felt we were in excellent hands; the guides and chaperones were exceptional; any hiccups were smoothed over quickly and professionally; the team was very responsive and proactive with communication throughout the entirety of trip. I would definitely book with Rafiki Tembo again.
Before booking, I asked a friend which tour company she used when she went on safari in East Africa 8 years ago. But after searching for the company online, I learned they had since gone out of business. I chose Rafiki Tembo from the listings in SafariBookings based on the positive reviews, the destinations included, and price point. It was a leap of faith, but it turned out to be an excellent choice!
Rafiki allowed my group (3 travelers total) to customize our trip, so we added an extension from the mainland to the island of Zanzibar for the last 3 days. We also chose to arrive in Nairobi from the U.S. a day before our official tour began so that we could visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nursery and the Giraffe Center, both of which are in the Kenyan capital. While we made our own hotel arrangements at the Fairview Hotel for this pre-tour time in Kenya, Rafiki offered to arrange all transportation, from airport pickup to our hotel, and to and from each of our Nairobi destinations. (Shout out to our driver George, who was so sweet and patient!)
After Nairobi, our official safari began with our Kenyan guide Unique Gee, who whisked us away from our hotel to the Great Rift Valley. He was funny and engaging and answered all of our many questions about wildlife and Kenya in general as we made our way through the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. He also shot quite a few photos which he shared with us for free. (Thanks Gee!)
We stayed at 2 different Sopa lodges on the Kenyan safari and the accommodations were excellent. Beds were comfortable, views were sweeping, and the food was delicious and abundant with a wide variety of options (it was buffet style). The staff were also very pleasant and helpful. In addition to the game drives, we also did a hippo cruise and walking safari in Naivasha. I recommend both!
For our next stage of the trip, we flew from Nairobi to Arusha, then to the Seronera Airstrip, where we met our guide Deo, who took care of us throughout our Tanzanian safari. Like Unique Gee, he too was amiable and very knowledgeable about the wildlife, land, and people. We really enjoyed getting to know both Unique and Deo, who seemed more like friends showing us around than hired guides.
For our time in the Serengeti, we stayed at the Osero Serengeti Luxury Tented Camp. As the name suggests, we stayed in tents, but it was more "glamping" than camping as they had comfy beds and full ensuite bathrooms. While the food wasn't quite as good as the Sopa lodges, it sufficed. The staff and service was excellent, and we enjoyed chatting with them. Note: wildlife are free to roam through the camp at any time, but we never felt unsafe.
Our drives were longer in the Serengeti because the park is larger than the Maasai Mara, and wildlife is more dispersed. In addition to the larger game, we were able to spot some of the smaller animals, like a klipspringers, colorful lizards, a serval, hyrax, banded mongoose, and more.
After the Serengeti, Deo drove us to the Ngorongoro Crater, where more wildlife and awesome views awaited us. We stayed at the Farm of Dreams Lodge in Karatu, which was very charming. The next day we opted to do a cultural tour of Mto Wa Mbu. Don't miss out on this!
We had the choice between biking and walking, we chose the latter. Rafiki arranged for local guide Abdul to take us to a Maasai boma, a local wood workshop run by members of the Makonde tribe, a community kitchen where we ate some of the best food on the trip, a banana beer bar, and a primary school. Again, be sure to add it to add the cultural tour to your itinerary. (Thank you Abdul for sharing your town with us!)
For the final part of our trip, we flew from Arusha to Zanzibar. Here, we were taken excellent care of by Joshua and Yusuph. The first day we went on a snorkeling trip arranged by Rafiki with Jofari Safari Blue to a sand bar and smaller island. It was great fun! The second day we toured the Hakuna Matata Spice Farm and then did a walking tour of Stone Town. We really loved our time in Zanzibar and wished we could have remained there longer, but we had to get back to the U.S. (Thanks again, Joshua and Yusuph!)
What a fantastic trip! Traveling can be stressful, but we had a lot of peace of mind thanks to Rafiki Tembo. We felt like they had our best interests in mind throughout our time in East Africa. They had so much to coordinate on their end (accommodations, domestic flights, various tours in 2 different countries, guides, drivers, etc.). Even though they are a newer company, they were consummate professionals. They are also good people who you will come to know and love as we did! For real!
Thank you Lowassa and team for everything!
P.S. Rafiki Tembo have the best safari company name. "Rafiki" means "friend" and "Tembo" means "elephant" in Swahili. Elephant Friend! What's better than that?
Email Emily | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We had an amazing time with Abdull & Frank!
We had a stay in the Serengeti with a hot air balloon & trip to Tarangire National Park. Everything was organised in a good manner and we got to do everything we wanted to. Nothing was too much for these guys, who helped create everlasting memories for us. Thank you to Rafiki Tembo Tours!
CH
Email Joe | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable experience organised by amazing people
This tour was incredible. It was one of the most affordable options for the Kenya & Tanzania tour that we wanted to do. The payment process was smooth, a 50% deposit initially, then the remaining 50% two weeks before the tour begins. Everything was organised perfectly: pick-up from our hotel in Nairobi, long drives to destinations, the border crossing. Our guides (Mayunga, George, Joseph) were friendly and communicative and helped us spot everything in the parks. As for the tour itself, it was magical. Six days in the Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro spotting incredible wildlife will never leave you. Such a unique experience. To top it all off, Rafiki Tembo organised a private sunset evening on the final night in the hills opposite Lake Manyara for me and my partner to celebrate seven years together. Absolutely surreal and unforgettable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone considering safari. Thank you Rafiki Tembo!
DE
Email Pedro | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once-in-a-Lifetime Safari Experience with Incredible Guides
We booked an eight-day private safari through Kenya and Tanzania for our honeymoon with Rafiki Tembo, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. Lowassa and his team went above and beyond to ensure an unforgettable trip, exceeding all of our expectations. We wholeheartedly recommend Rafiki Tembo to first-time and seasoned travelers alike. We’re already looking forward to planning our next safari adventure!
Here’s a summary of our incredible experience with Rafiki Tembo:
1. The planning phase: finding the perfect itinerary
Although my wife and I are experienced travelers, we quickly realized that planning a safari requires extensive research and expert guidance. From the first email, Lowassa stood out with his prompt, thorough responses. He provided invaluable insights into the various national parks, unforgettable wildlife encounters, and different accommodation options. He took the time to tailor every recommendation to our preferences. Communicating with Lowassa was effortless. He was always quick, transparent, and dependable, which made the planning process smooth and stress-free.
After a few exchanges, Lowassa sent us a solid offer tailored to our requests and expectations, which we confirmed without delay.
2. First stop: the Maasai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
We were fortunate to spend an unforgettable three days exploring the breathtaking Maasai Mara National Reserve. George, our guide for this part of the journey, was nothing short of extraordinary. His sharp eye and unmatched knowledge of the reserve allowed us to spot all of the iconic "Big Five" animals in an impressively short time—including the elusive leopard, a true highlight of our trip. George’s exceptional skill and experience always ensured that we had the perfect vantage points for each wildlife sighting, enhancing the magic and wonder of the entire experience.
As a fellow photography enthusiast, George had an innate understanding of what makes a picture truly remarkable. He expertly positioned the vehicle at just the right angles, making it easy to capture breathtaking shots of the wildlife in their natural habitat. Thanks to his attention to detail and instinct for the perfect moment, I was able to take some once-in-a-lifetime photos.
Beyond his expertise, George brought so much joy and energy to the trip. His warm personality, extensive knowledge of the animals, and fantastic sense of humor added a whole new layer to the experience, making it as fun as it was educational. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide, and we’ll always be grateful to him for making our safari adventure so special.
3. Second stop: Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)
Our adventure continued in Tanzania, where we explored Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. For this part of our trip, we were fortunate to have Mayunga and Abdul as our guides. They were both absolutely fantastic.
Both Mayunga and Abdul had a unique ability to anticipate animal behavior, which gave us an unforgettable opportunity to observe and photograph the animals in their natural habitat. Two of the highlights of our time with them were the day we spotted six leopards – including a playful cub attempting to climb its first tree – and the champagne lunch accompanied by an unexpected elephant parade. Moments like these were made possible because of their dedication and skill.
Their passion for wildlife and commitment to providing the best possible safari experience were unmatched. As photography enthusiasts, we greatly appreciated their efforts to position us in the perfect spots to capture amazing photos of our favorite animals. Thanks to their sharp eyes, patience, and expert knowledge, we witnessed spectacular wildlife moments.
Thanks to their attentiveness and expertise, the beauty and magic of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro were brought to life in a way that we’ll never forget. We’re so grateful for all their hard work and care in making this part of our journey perfect.
Thanks a lot for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, dear Lowassa and Team!