About Us - Jambo Masai Tours guides in Tanzania

Born in Tanzania. Guided by Experience. Driven by a Love for the Wild.

Raphael Salewa and the Jambo Masai Tours team in Tanzania
2010Founded in Tanzania
Our Story

A local Maasai guide, a lifetime in Tanzania’s wild places

Jambo Masai Tours was founded in 2010 by Raphael Salewa, a local Maasai guide whose life has been deeply connected to the mountains, wildlife, people, and landscapes of Tanzania.

Long before Jambo Masai Tours became a Tanzania safari and trekking company, Raphael was already spending his days in the field: guiding travelers through remote wilderness areas, climbing Tanzania’s legendary mountains, and exploring some of East Africa’s most remarkable national parks.

His knowledge was not learned from a guidebook. It was built through years of experience on the ground.

Raphael came to understand Tanzania from a local perspective: the rhythm of the savannah, the behavior of wildlife, the challenges of the mountains, the traditions of Maasai communities, and the stories that make each landscape more than just a place on a map.

In 2010, he decided to turn that experience into something of his own.
That vision became Jambo Masai Tours.

Today, the company continues to grow while remaining firmly rooted in the values on which it was founded:

Local knowledgeAuthentic experiencesProfessional guidingRespect for natureGenuine connections with Tanzania
Our Team

From One Local Maasai Guide to a Team of Tanzania Specialists

What started with Raphael’s personal experience has grown into a team of 30+ professional guides, naturalists, mountain guides, safari specialists, and travel professionals.

But our growth has never been about moving away from our roots. It has been about bringing more experienced people together to help travelers discover Tanzania in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Our team creates tailor-made journeys across Tanzania, from classic wildlife safaris and Great Migration adventures to Mount Kilimanjaro treks, cultural experiences, and Zanzibar holidays.

We specialize in

Whether you dream of watching lions beneath the Serengeti sky, standing above the clouds on Mount Kilimanjaro, discovering the Ngorongoro Crater, or experiencing Tanzania beyond the usual tourist trail, our purpose is to make your journey personal.

Our Perspective

Tanzania Through Local Eyes

A safari is more than a list of national parks.

A Kilimanjaro climb is more than reaching the summit.

And visiting Tanzania is more than taking photographs.

At Jambo Masai Tours, we believe travel becomes truly memorable when you understand the place you are visiting.

It means knowing where to look for wildlife, understanding changing landscapes, listening to stories behind local traditions, appreciating the importance of conservation, and giving travelers the opportunity to experience Tanzania beyond the surface.

Our guides bring years of practical experience to every journey. They know the roads, seasons, wildlife, mountains, communities, and landscapes because Tanzania is not simply where they work.

It is home.

That local connection allows us to create experiences that feel less like a standard tour and more like a journey shared with people who genuinely know Tanzania.

What We Do

More Than a Tanzania Safari Company

Tanzania is one of the world’s great wildlife destinations, but its greatest strength is not only its wildlife. It is the relationship between its landscapes, animals, people, cultures, and communities.

From the endless plains of the Serengeti to the volcanic landscapes of Ngorongoro, from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro to the shores of Zanzibar, Tanzania offers an extraordinary variety of experiences. Jambo Masai Tours brings these experiences together.

Our Tanzania travel experiences include

Tanzania Wildlife Safaris

Explore Tanzania's famous national parks in search of lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and hundreds of other species. Our safari experiences can be tailored for couples, families, solo travelers, photographers, honeymooners, and private groups.

See safari tours

Great Migration Safaris

Experience one of Africa's most remarkable wildlife spectacles in the Serengeti. We create safari itineraries around the seasonal movements of wildebeest, zebras, predators, and other wildlife, helping travelers experience the Serengeti according to the time of year they visit.

Explore the Migration

Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking

Climb Africa's highest mountain with experienced mountain guides who understand the terrain, altitude, changing weather, and physical demands of the journey. From choosing the right Kilimanjaro route to preparing for the trek, our team helps make your mountain adventure safe, organized, and memorable.

Plan your climb

Maasai Cultural Experiences

Discover another side of Tanzania through meaningful cultural experiences with local communities. Learn about traditions, knowledge, history, daily life, and the relationship between people and the land while traveling with respect for local communities and their way of life.

Discover cultural tours

Tanzania Adventure & Nature Travel

Tanzania has far more to offer than its most famous destinations. We help travelers discover different landscapes, wildlife areas, walking experiences, cultural encounters, and destinations that can make a Tanzania holiday uniquely their own.

Browse destinations

Zanzibar Holidays

Extend your Tanzania adventure to the Indian Ocean. Relax on Zanzibar's beaches, explore Stone Town, discover Swahili culture and history, enjoy the island's coastal landscapes, or combine Zanzibar with a Tanzania safari or Mount Kilimanjaro trek.

Safari + Zanzibar
Responsible Tourism

Responsible Tourism Is Part of Our Journey

We believe exploring Tanzania comes with a responsibility to help protect what makes the country extraordinary.

Wildlife, landscapes, and local cultures are not simply attractions. They are part of Tanzania’s heritage and future. That is why responsible tourism is an important part of the way we operate.

For us, responsible tourism is not simply a phrase used on a website. It is part of what it means to be a Tanzania-based travel company.

Our approach focuses on

  • Respect for wildlife and natural habitats
  • Responsible travel through protected areas
  • Respect for local communities and cultural traditions
  • Supporting local employment and professional guides
  • Encouraging meaningful cultural exchange
  • Protecting Tanzania's natural environment
  • Creating travel experiences that can benefit local communities
Why Us

Why Travel With Jambo Masai Tours?

There are many ways to see Tanzania. We believe the experience begins with the people you choose to travel with.

01

Local Tanzanian Roots

Founded by Raphael Salewa and built in Tanzania, Jambo Masai Tours remains deeply connected to the country's communities, landscapes, wildlife, and culture.

02

Experienced Professional Guides

Our team of more than 30 guides, naturalists, mountain guides, and travel specialists brings practical field experience to every safari, trek, and cultural journey.

03

Tailor-Made Tanzania Safaris

Your Tanzania adventure should fit you, not the other way around. We can create private and tailor-made itineraries around your interests, available time, travel style, budget, and priorities.

04

Authentic Experiences

We want travelers to experience more than famous attractions. We want you to discover the stories, people, wildlife, landscapes, and traditions behind them.

05

Local Support From Start to Finish

From the first conversation about your Tanzania holiday to the moment your journey ends, our local team is here to help organize and support your experience.

Our Memberships, Licences & Registration

BRELA · Company Registration

We are a genuine tour company in Tanzania, officially registered with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA). We follow all the laws of the country so that you receive reliable and safe service throughout your journey.

TATO
Tanzania Association of Tour Operators

We are proud, active members of TATO, the leading association of tourism professionals in Tanzania. Through TATO we make sure you receive a reliable, professional and safe experience on every wildlife safari and national park visit.

TALA
Tourism Agency Licensing Authority

We are proud, active members of TALA, and we operate in line with the law and the tourism licensing standards set in Tanzania, so that you enjoy a memorable and peaceful journey.

KPAP
Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project

We believe in ethical, fair tourism. We stand up for the rights of our Kilimanjaro porters: fair wages, good accommodation, proper equipment, correct load weights and a safe working environment.

Community-minded tourism

We believe the best tourism benefits local communities and protects our environment for future generations.

Licence Number
022741
TALA Number
035421

When you travel with us, you are served by trusted professionals who care for the environment and follow the highest standards of sustainable tourism in Tanzania.

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Our Journey Continues

More than a decade of sharing Tanzania

More than a decade after Raphael Salewa founded Jambo Masai Tours, the original idea remains at the heart of everything we do.

KnowTanzania
RespectTanzania
ShareTanzania
ProtectTanzania

From one local Maasai guide to a growing team of more than 30 passionate professionals, our journey has always been about creating meaningful connections between travelers and the country we call home.

We are proud to be a Tanzania-based safari and tour company, offering wildlife safaris, Great Migration safaris, Mount Kilimanjaro trekking, Maasai cultural experiences, Zanzibar holidays, and tailor-made Tanzania adventures.

But our story is still being written.

Welcome to Tanzania.
Welcome to Jambo Masai Tours.

We don’t simply take you to Tanzania. We help you experience it through the knowledge, stories, and perspective of people who know it, live it, and love it.