Selecting an outfitter is the most important decision when planning your safari.

In this section we provide the background information you need to choose an outfitter!

selecting a safari outfitter,

types of safari operators

Many different kinds of businesses arrange safaris to East Africa (in order of recommendation). Kiliwarrior Expeditions is a combination of 1 and 2! We are a local outfitter and an East African Specialist:

Look for those who specialize in East Africa! 

Some lead safaris for groups but most don't operate their own safaris! They don't own safari vehicles, they don't own camps or lodges, they don't own safari equipment and they don't employ safari guides! They outsource their safaris but they take time to know you and they take care to match your personality and interests with suitable lodges and local outfitters.

They spend many weeks every year in their area of expertise - exploring new ideas, visiting old friends and refreshing their knowledge. When talking to a Destination Specialist ask how much time they spend in East Africa - at least 4 weeks per year is needed to be a Specialist. 

We firmly believe that Destination Specialists are key to the future of safaris in Africa. The industry itself is becoming specialized and no single person can stay abreast of all the changes in the safari industry across more than one region. 

These companies are based in East Africa. In Tanzania they have to pay $2000 per year for a safari license and they are approved by the Tanzania Tourist Board. If you go on safari with a unregistered company you are taking a huge risk as you may be denied access to the the National Parks, or worse.  For a complete but outdated list, visit the Ministry of Tourism.  Approved outfitters also appear on the Tourist Board web site. Unfortunately, they only list licensed outfitters who are smart enough to place an "approved" free ad!

Unfortunately, most Tanzanian outfitters are not very imaginative! Very few are able to design sensible itineraries from scratch and most don't keep abreast of new safari developments such as new camps and lodges. Their booking agents rarely visit the parks and accommodations.   If your trip involves more than one country, you can mostly forget about decent advice. For anything more than the most standard safaris, it is better to work with a Destination Specialist who partners with top local outfitters, than to go direct.

Once you arrive, it is important to know that your outfitter is licensed - here is a quote from the Tanzania Ministry of Tourism.

"(1) Tourist Agents who are not listed here are carrying on Tourist Agents business without valid license contrary to the Tourist Agents Licensing Act of 1969. The Ministry wish to inform them that this is an offence under section 3(1) of the above Act and are therefore directed to stop forthwith the operations of those businesses.

(2) Given the above context in paragraph one, it should be further noted that only bonafide Tourist Agents will be allowed to enter the National Parks."

Dependable outfitters in Tanzania are also members of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO). It costs $300 a year to be approved and join.  The equivalent in Kenya is the Association of Tour Operators (KATO). Membership fees are between $100 & $800 depending on gross earnings. In Uganda, outfitters belong to the Association Of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO).

Membership in Tour Operator Associations has critics and there are no guarantees that your outfitter or guides will be better than others but you can at least contact the Association if you are unhappy with your safari! If your outfitter is not a member then there is nowhere to go. As expected, the outfitters who are not members (their reasons vary) are the ones who lobby the hardest against these Associations!

The top few local outfitters have international contacts - simplifying communications and payment especially if they accept credit cards.

Be aware that a few licensed outfitters and lodges/camps in East Africa don't sell directly to the public. When you contact them they will send you a list of agents in your home country.

It does not matter how fancy the title; these operations share two common facts - they don't operate their own safaris and they have only limited knowledge of the many destinations in Africa. !

They don't own safari vehicles, they don't own camps or lodges, they don't own safari equipment and they don't employ safari guides! Instead, they invest in elaborate web sites, trade shows, brochures and sales people.  In other words,  MARKETING is what they do best!

They don't specialize in one region; they carry brochures with safaris to all of Africa. Because of their large coverage and limited experience they add little or no value to your safari.

When you book with these individuals or companies, your safari will be outsourced to a licensed local outfitter and in most cases you will pay more than going direct with no added benefits.

If the company you are dealing with is NOT based in East Africa, then consider the following:

Insider TIP #1: Always ask the following question - do you operate your own safaris in East Africa, or do you outsource to a ground operator? There is nothing wrong with outsourcing - unfortunately not all local outfitters offer the same quality safaris so you  should research a particular local outfitter on the internet before booking a safari with its overseas agent.

Insider TIP #2: Beware of paying too much! When using an agent or consultant, ask yourself how much value are they adding to your safari? Many agents add no value (except inflated prices) and you can do the exact safari for much less if you contact the ground operator directly! Instead of paying high fees to consultants, use the internet to research your safari.

Insider TIP #3: Beware of group tours! Safaris offered by agents are often group departures. Unless you have specific reasons for joining a group tour, DON'T! A group on safari in the bush is different from a group on a tour of Italy! The roads are bad, the vehicles are small with no bathrooms (a real drag if someone has stomach problems so common in Africa), it is hot with biting insects and each individual wants to see different animals. If one person is an avid photographer, then matters  can quickly escalate to a really unhappy experience.

Insider TIP #4: Beware of generalists! Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda are diverse countries with so much to offer that few agents can keep up with new developments. If your agent also sells South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe then he or she cannot possibly know all the latest camps, attractions, wildlife movements, restaurants and hotels in each country! Nowadays it crucial to book with country specialists, not Africa specialists (there is no such person as an Africa specialist - trust us)!

Insider TIP #5: Who are you dealing with? A true destination specialist or  someone who travels to Africa once a year on a short fam trip? Or someone who has not been to Africa in years?