Open trips

We have several upcoming open trips available. Please check our open trips page for details.

Staff Highlight: Msuri Moshi

Duma Kilimanjaro guide, Msuri Moshi, attended the Bridge Institute of Business Studies from March to May, 2012. He was awarded a certificate of excellence and achieved the highest score in the class. The course is promoted by the Kilimanjaro Guide Scholarship Foundation and takes place during the rainy season each year. Msuri received his scholarship from MACS Adventure in Scotland.

Staff highlight: Sifuni Mungure

In May, Duma safari guide Sifuni Mungure completed a 30 day course with the Field Guide Association of South Africa. The first time an internationally recognized guide certification course has been run in Tanzania, Sifuni was awarded Level 1 Certification. He completed three courses covering mammals and amphibians, plants and insects, and birds and reptiles.

Duma guides in Southern Tanzania

Duma's safari guides toured Southern Tanzania in early May. They toured Ruaha, Mikumi, Udzungwa, Saadani and Mkomazi National Parks with a wildlife expert. It was some of our guides' first trip to Tanzania's southern Parks.

Staff highlight: Isack Msuya

We've just updated Isack's customer feedback page. Click here to read what clients have to say about him!

Upcoming open trips

We have many upcoming open trips available. Please check our open trips page for details.

Great news! The Tanzanian government has announced that they will not move forward with the Serengeti Highway. Continue to read Serengeti Watch's website for further updates -- http://www.savetheserengeti.org/.

Serengeti Highway Update

On July 31, the Tanzanian president stated that construction of the Serengeti highway will move forward, but that the section that crosses Serengeti National Park will not be paved. Even if the road is not paved, hundreds of large trucks will cross the Serengeti each day, having a devastating effect on the entire Serengeti ecosystem. Please visit Save the Serengeti's website for more information on what you can do to help stop the Serengeti highway.

KPAP clothing drive

Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project is having a clothing drive in the USA to collect 10,000 pieces of mountain clothing and gear by October 1. Entitled '10,000 for 2010', donations are currently being accepted at Ranier Mountaineering Inc's base camp below Mt. Rainier in Ashford, WA. Please visit Ranier Mountaineering's website for more details.

New highway in Serengeti National Park

The Government of Tanzania will begin construction of a highway through Serengeti National Park in 2012. 'By cutting through the northern part of the park, the proposed road would sever a critical corridor for the annual migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebra, which has been rightly called one of the 'greatest spectacles on earth'. African Wildlife Foundation believes such a road would negatively impact conservation, wildlife and human security, and park revenues. Most importantly, the road would mar a national and global asset in which the rule of nature still predominates and the footprint of human activities is hardly visible.' (African Wildlife Foundation website)

Please visit the AWF website for more information and images of the current road plan.

Kolo Kondoa rock art

Duma Explorer recently visited Kolo Kondoa, a World Heritage Site 275km south of Arusha. We highly recommend a visit for those interested in learning about Tanzania's early history. The paintings depict both human and animal figures and scenes and are believed to be at least 2000 years old. Please visit our new Kolo Kondoa page for more information.

Duma guides complete training

Duma's safari and mountain guides the last four weeks in an in-depth training course on wildlife behavior and ecology. The course included three weeks of classroom lessons and one week of field training.

Recommended Lodge: Plantation Lodge, Karatu

We recently visited Plantation Lodge in Karatu and highly recommend the property for safaris including Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. Each room has its own style and there are fresh cut flowers throughout the common areas and rooms. Plantation has beautiful gardens, many seating areas, a pool, and delicious food. However, the best thing about Plantation Lodge is that it is just as nice or nicer than other properties charging twice the price!

Wilderness First Responder training

Five of Duma's mountain guides successfully passed Wilderness First Responder certification classes in April, 2010. The WFR course is an intensive, ten day course designed to train participants how to respond to emergency situations in remote settings.

Power restored in Zanzibar

After months without power, electricity has finally been restored in Zanzibar. Power reaches Zanzibar via a dilapidated underwater marine cable from the mainland. This is the second time Zanzibar has gone without power for an extended period of time. There are plans to upgrade the cable with support from USAID.

Migration Update

The wildebeest migration continues to stay in the Ndutu area as it continues to rain in Masek, Ndutu and the Ngorongoro slopes. Game viewing is excellent although some game drive roads have been closed.

Wildebeest Migration Update

The wildebeest migration is currently in the Southern Serengeti area around Ndutu and Lake Masek. The recent rains have resulted in a very green Southern Serengeti which means ample food for the wildebeest and other ungulates in the area. Large lion prides and other predators have followed the migration into the Southern Serengeti.

Electricity in Zanzibar

Zanzibar continues to go without electricity as the energy company has been unable to fix the underwater power cable from the mainland. Most hotels and restaurants have generators so the lack of electricity should not disrupt those visiting Zanzibar for holiday.

Porter English Course

Duma's porters are currently taking a two week intensive English course in Ndatu Village near the town of Arusha. The course is conducted by an English instructor provided by Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) based in Moshi, Tanzania. Duma Explorer, a partner for responsible travel with KPAP, is able to take advantage educational opportunities provided by KPAP during the low season. Peak Kilimanjaro season will start again in mid-December.

Rain in Arusha

The short rains have started in Arusha at last. The long rains that usually occur from March until May did not reach Arusha this year so the recent rains have helped relieve extreme drought conditions in the area.

Ndatu School update

In August 2009, Duma finished construction on Ndatu Kindergarten, the school it supports in a rural area outside Arusha. The building consists of two classrooms and an office. For more information and photos, please visit our giving back page. We would like to thank everyone who donated time, money and supplies to the school over the past two years.

Safari praise: Isack Msuya

Isack was a wonderful guide, and we really enjoyed our safari! As we were especially interested in birds, we were so pleased that he knew all the species names and that he got us to the locations where we could photograph them. He seemed to enjoy watching the animals as much as we did, which made him a pleasure to travel with. He worked hard every day to make things comfortable for us, and the safari turned out perfectly. I would give him the highest possible recommendation.

The Bay Leaf

Duma has a favorite new hotel in Arusha. The Bay Leaf opened its restaurant in 2008 and the hotel in 2009. The food is excellent and the rooms are beautifully decorated. Whether stopping by for lunch or staying the night, you're sure to have a wonderful time. Email us if you want to include The Bay Leaf as part of your Tanzanian vacation.

Open trips in September

We have several open safaris and treks in September. Safari start dates are September 3, 5, 15 & 26 while climb start dates are September 8, 10, 15 & 29. Please email us for itineraries and pricing.

Recent trip comments

We both miss your country dearly as well as the fantastic company of Isak and Amini. Besides the majesty of the country those two guys could not have been better hosts if their lives depended on it. It was so obvious that Isak was one of the elite guides out there. He always knew where to find the animals and did it with the utmost respect for the animals and the parks themselves. At no point did we ever feel like we were in danger, or that we would get lost as long as we were with Isak. Being in the hands of Isak embraced the feeling of no worries. He is a fantastic man and one you are probably very proud to have as one of your team members.

Now for Amini, well, we rarely eat with such abundance and flavor. He is truly a master at what he does. What is even more admirable is how he does what he does with such pride and genuine concern for appealing to our likes, needs and wants. We were always so well fed and cared for, that, in the amazing surroundings we were in is what fairy-tales and dreams are founded on. I could go on forever ranting and raving about these two but words are almost not enough to give them the praises they so merited. We miss them very much!!!!

New extended Land Cruiser

Duma Explorer has purchased a 2009 Land Cruiser which will be ready for safari in August. The vehicle has an extended cab which can fit up to eight passengers comfortably. The new Land Cruiser is perfect for group safaris.

Volunteers at Ndatu Kindergarten

We've had three groups of volunteers spend time at Ndatu Kindergarten over the last month. Volunteer teachers spent time organizing the classroom and teaching students. A family of volunteers spent time in the classroom and decorated the walls and painted furniture. Five groups of high school students are currently finishing a second classroom by cementing the floor, painting the walls and furniture, and decorating. This group of students will also lay water pipes and level the future playground. If you are interested in volunteering at the school, please email us for details.

300 trees planted

Duma planted 300 indigenous trees in the Arusha area in April and May. As safaris have a heavy carbon footprint due to the amount of diesel fuel used, Duma plants trees each rainy season to offset its carbon emissions. Trees are planted during the rainy season to ensure survival. Average diesel fuel consumption on a seven day safari is 200 liters which produces approximately 0.50 tonnes of CO2 emissions (www.carbonfootprint.com).

Last minute camping safari

We have just posted a last minute camping safari. The trip is five days long and starts June 3. The price ranges from USD 1000 - 1150/person depending on how many people join the trip.

Porters complete first aid training

Twenty-five of Duma's mountain porters will complete their first aid training course May 11, 12 & 13. This is the second session of training and it is conducted by a Wilderness First Responder licensed instructor. After completing the course, some porters will continue with English lessons.

Guides complete Wilderness First Responder course

Kilimanjaro guides Msuri Moshi, Thomas Mambali and Godbless Suma successfully completed a thirteen day Wilderness First Responder training and practical in April. The internationally recognized program trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote settings.