Kilimanjaro Select
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2023)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CN
Email Dan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kilimanjaro Select is a professional tour operator offering excellent mountain hiking and safari.
I had an absolutely fantastic trip across Tanzania booked through Kilimanjaro Select, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
This operator works with many Chinese travellers, which was really convenient for me. I reached out to the owner after arriving in the country, and their fair pricing and well-organised staffing made me confirm my Kilimanjaro climb straight away. Our climbing guides were incredibly responsible. I suffered badly from altitude sickness with almost no appetite during the hike, but they kept motivating me and took amazing care of me. I truly wouldn’t have made it to the summit without their support.
Right after our mountain expedition, they seamlessly arranged a 7-day shared safari for me. The owner offered excellent rates, including one of the cheapest hot air balloon safari prices I researched locally. I was lucky enough to get Tuma as my safari guide, who turned out to be the highlight of my wildlife tour.
Tuma is passionate, professional and reliable. We went out for full-day game drives daily from morning till evening. We saw every animal on our bucket list. He has an eye for spotting hidden wildlife and shared extensive knowledge about animal habits, acting as a walking wildlife guidebook. He also knew all the best photo spots with ideal lighting and helped us capture countless stunning photos.
Their customer service extended far beyond our scheduled tours. When I needed transport from Arusha to Moshi after the safari, the team gladly assisted me. The owner responds very quickly via WeChat and is always available to solve any problems at any time.
If I ever return to Tanzania, I will book with Kilimanjaro Select without a second thought. They are trustworthy, great value for money and deliver an outstanding experience overall.
Email Alvin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great value, run by the owner directly, and the guide Tuma makes the whole trip
After doing this safari, my honest takeaway is that the real difference between companies comes down to your guide. Once you are inside the Serengeti, almost everyone has the same Land Cruiser, so what shapes your experience is the driver and guide: how professional, knowledgeable, brave, accommodating, and friendly they are, and how good their English is. On that front, my guide Tuma was fantastic. Knowledgeable, easy to talk to, great English, and he went above and beyond every single day to get us close to the animals and into good photo positions. He also understands photography, which mattered a lot to me. Whenever I brought out my zoom lens, he would cut the engine so the vibration would not blur my shots. A real pro. Honestly, about 70% of my recommendation comes down to my experience with Tuma, so if you book with this company, ask for Tuma.
A few words on the company itself, because the structure is part of the value. Kilimanjaro Select is big in Tanzania and in the Chinese market, but they have not pushed into the US market because of the advertising cost here. The upside is real. Prices are fair, and the operation is local, so you talk to the owner directly instead of paying for agencies and flashy marketing. The owner is candid and honest. We were not familiar with local tipping norms, so we just asked him directly, and he gave us a straight answer.
The food deserves its own shout-out. Having a chef with you is a real advantage when you stay in campsites, especially for travelers from Asia. Our chef knew how to cook for an Asian palate, and the meals were consistently excellent. There were several moments where other groups looked over at our table and said our food looked delicious. We watched other groups eating cold sandwiches and bread while we had hot, fresh meals. That difference clearly comes from the company's experience catering to Chinese guests.
The whole thing is essentially full service from the moment you land to the moment you leave. You can also build your own custom itinerary. You tell them what you want, they come back with a new quote, and it is easy. I extended my tour from eight days to nine, and they even gave me a free extra hotel night and dropped me at the airport at the end. They take care of everything in between.
One small wrinkle: I booked a private tour, but the day before the tour started, they told me another traveler would be joining me. The overall experience was good, and they gave me a generous discount, but it wasn't communicated in advance, so it felt a little abrupt at the start.
Overall, this was a great experience from beginning to end. I would happily book with them again on a future trip to Tanzania, because I trust their experience, and the value is hard to beat. Just make sure you get a good guide. If you trust my word, contact Kilimanjaro Select and ask for Tuma. You will have a great time.
amazing trip
It was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Thank you for taking such good care of us. Please send our thanks to the whole team. We really appreciate everything you did for us.
CN
Email 陈梦月 | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great, they actively address and respond to issues.
Our Safari guide, Sam, and our Kilimanjaro guides, William and Alfred from Moshi, were all incredibly professional. The chef and the porters were also absolutely fantastic and provided such great emotional support！
