A Luxury Safari in Tanzania: Review of Sababu Safaris

LINDA D.   // NEW YORK, NY
OCTOBER 2019

Beyond incredible! Sababu is purposeful, personal, and genuine.

If you're looking for an incredible safari and a genuine visit to Tanzania, Sababu Safaris is your guide.

We  wanted to to go through a company that was eco-conscious and  responsibly connected to the country and people of the area. We wanted  our money to go to someone who cared about the animals, the land, the country, and the people of Tanzania. Sababu is genuinely that, and so  much more.

But before I talk about how wonderful the safari was,  what an amazing guide the co-founder Robert is, and how seamlessly easy Denise makes all the planning...

I have to first talk about how Sababu helped us visit the child we sponsor through Compassion  International. We've sponsored a child with Compassion for many years.  And while Compassion organizes group trips and approves individual visits to your child, it's been too complicated and expensive of a process to seem feasible to us. When we realized our safari would take us close to where our child lives, we talked with Compassion and Sababu.  Compassion has their own paperwork and background checks for visit approval. But after that, there are many logistics to figure out:  meeting up with the Compassion International guide/interpreter, setting times with the Compassion Center leaders, and setting up the home visit with the child and family. Sababu took care of all of this for us. They truly went above and beyond. We know for sure that this visit would not have been possible without them. Robert took care of all of the logistics on the Tanzanian side. He worked with Compassion International  directly to make everything smooth for us—so that we could focus solely on visiting our child (rather than all the details surrounding it).  Sababu also helped us find out what our child's family and the local Compassion center needed so that we were able to take personalized  gifts. While Compassion International has general recommendations,  Sababu talked to the local Compassion center for us directly for  specific needs. This visit with our sponsor child was the most beautiful experience of any trip we've ever had. Robert worked out all the details and helped translate the language and the cultural differences while we were visiting with the family—and both Robert and Mohamed (who  was driving for Robert that week) were active, respectful, and kind participants in the visit. They engaged with the family and created an atmosphere for us to have quality and deep connection with our sponsor child and family.

Now on to all the other wonderful safari details!

Sababu makes planning a breeze. We were planning a last minute trip—we planned it only three weeks out! But Denise and Robert helped us create our dream itinerary without compromising any of our priorities. Denise made the planning so simple. She is quick to respond. And she easily guided us through our millions of questions to find the right plans for us.

They work to make it a truly personalized experience. In our first conversation, Denise asked about our priorities. When I told her we wanted to maximize the amount of days we had in Tanzania over the luxury  of the accommodations, she found a way to add three days to our  itinerary while staying within our budget! And that still had us staying at incredibly nice camps with luxury amenities. Sababu gave us options  and helped us achieve all our priorities within our price range.Robert is an amazing guide. He truly loves and knows the animals and the bush—and that passion shows. He is such a joy to be around. He shares his knowledge and experience of the animals and of the communities in Tanzania. He caters each day to what you want to see. He takes you to remote areas of Serengeti that a lot of the big companies won't go to—because he cares more about seeing the animals than about saving the gas mileage. Within just a day, we considered Robert a friend. He is so kind and genuine. And as we went to visit different projects and tribes,  Robert also guided us through those experiences—sharing about the people and the history and helping us to engage and connect well.

The animals! Listen, you will not find a more up-close, in-the-wild experience than you will with Sababu. I can't even begin to talk about this without writing twelve pages. You will NOT be disappointed.

We visited Plaster House in Arusha. We took a solar light to the Datoga tribe. And we visited the Hadzabe huntsmen. All of these experiences were amazing and meaningful. I could write so much about each of them.  But the best thing I can advise is that you talk with Denise about these  projects as you plan your trip. She can work to make it fit well into your itinerary, and she can guide you toward the ones that might work best for you and those you are traveling with.

Denise and Robert suggested that we end our stay at Africa Amini Maasai Lodge. If you can do this, you absolutely should! It's a beautiful and relaxing way to end the safari and reflect on your time. And it's a meaningful way to  get to know the Maasai as they share their culture and stories. They also have a school, orphanage, and healing center that are doing incredible work. While you stay at the lodge, you can take an afternoon to visit and learn more about these projects.

I could say so much more. But let me just end with saying you can't go wrong with choosing  Sababu. They will help you plan a safari that is not only the once-in-a-lifetime dream safari, but that connects you to the people and the animals in a meaningful, life-changing way. #travelwithpurpose

Tanzania Luxury African Safaris: Traveler Reviews

PETER B. - GERMANY
DECEMBER 2019

Woooow !!! It is simply impossible to put into words what an unforgettable time we had - thanks to Denise and Robert!

The most important thing first: If you have any doubts whether Sababu is the right tour operator, then throw them overboard immediately and book your safari with Sababu now!

In our research from Germany to find a suitable safari operator, we were overwhelmed by the number of providers. We had no experience and didn't know what to expect. We contacted several operators in advance, some did not even get back to us, others sent us a generic standard response. However, there was one response that stood out - and that was Denise’s. In the run-up, she took excellent care of us - her guests. We received great advice from the very first contact, and Denise was always available for us. It was the individual support and the good feeling we had that made us book with Sababu. One thing should be clear: a safari costs money! However, saved at the wrong end, it costs nerves and causes stress that no one needs. Denise and Robert have used our available budget perfectly, so we were offered a lot and do not mourn a single cent! Payment via Transferwise worked without any problems and was much cheaper than a regular transfer through our house bank.

When we arrived in Arusha, Robert, the best guide you can imagine, was already waiting for us at the hotel. The greeting was super cordial and we knew from the first second that we were in the best hands. Robert has immense expertise in the wild. You immediately notice that he has experience and knows exactly what he is talking about. Since he has spent several years abroad, he speaks excellent English and it is just fun to talk to him about life in general. What a great person! He then discussed the safari and the upcoming days with us in detail.

The next morning Robert and Mohammed picked us up at our hotel on time. Our adventure could begin. At this point, we’d also like to give a shout out to Mohammed, who did an outstanding job. Where other groups got stuck with their jeeps, he effortlessly tackled every obstacle with his level-headed manner.

Thanks for everything! Sababu is the best!

Tanzania Safari Review: Sababu Safaris

Here's what a recent client of Sababu Safaris, a locally-based Tanzania operator that provides luxury, customized safaris and purposeful travel. Loretta M. said:

From start to end, a perfect personally tailored adventure close to the heart of Tanzania!

We have just returned from our amazing 6 days private safari with Sababu.  From the very beginning when planning our trip, Denise at Sababu was a pleasure to deal with, quick and on-point to reply to us, prompt to answer all of our questions and offering great expert insights on what would suit us best according to our budget and expectations. We felt part of the family from the start.

We chose Sababu exactly for that, to go beyond the big corporate Safari groups and be closer to the heart of Tanzania, its nature and its people, too.

The itinerary tailor-made for us was just perfect, the suggestions offered on accommodation and the well planned out days were just a perfect balance between adventure and some more relaxed times. Each day was different with the complete option to change our schedule if and when we felt the need to.

Robert (our guide) was an incredible source of information on all aspects of the animals and their habitat! He is such an experienced and incredible guide. He was always happy to answer all of our questions about the wildlife and the many questions we had on the history of Tanzania and Africa. He was an absolute pleasure to spend time with and we learnt so much from him and shared many laughing moments together.


We felt extremely safe all along our trip and the amazing off-road experiences we had. Rob knew where to go and when to go to show us the best places to see the animals and incredible  scenery. We saw all the animals we wanted to and got some incredible photos as Rob knew where to locate them all. We couldn’t have asked for a  better guide and company. Thank you Rob sincerely for making our safari so special and we will always remember our fun time together; we had an adventure and fulfilled our life time dream of doing a Safari.

The ethical conscious approach of Sababu gave us the opportunity to contribute back to the country we visited, too. During our Safari we visited a Masai village and handed out solar lights which was an unforgettable experience.

SABABU and their team gave us the trip of our lifetime. Their eco-conscious ethic and friendly approach was beyond welcoming to a country which will always be in our hearts. We are very glad to have chosen Tanzania for our first Safari, an amazing country with such amazing nature from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater to the sandy beaches of Zanzibar, and we can not recommend enough to others that they should use SABABU, as they travel with a purpose and bring an adventure to your bucket list! Go for it, as you will not regret it!!

Tips On How To Pack For Your African Safari to Tanzania

Preparing for your African safari can be an adventure of its own. Along with knowing where to visit and your accommodation settings, it helps to know what to pack. If you’ve never been on safari before, packing can feel intimidating, especially when you start hearing about all sorts of restrictions, like how you can only bring luggage under 20kg/44lbs on small charter planes or how it is better to bring clothes in colors that easily blend with the natural environment.

Not to worry, as we’ve put together this general rundown of what you should definitely include in your travel bags when visiting Africa and what it means to pack for a purpose.




CLOTHING
Apart from selecting reasonably neutral or ‘non-bright’ colored clothing, safari-wear is generally casual and practical. Be sure you take clothes that you feel comfortable in – especially when it comes to walking shoes. Newer quick-drying fabrics, shirts with ventilation and trousers that convert into shorts are all worth considering. Wearing clothes in layers is the most practical way to cope with fluctuating day/night temperatures and cool evenings. As the day warms up you can peel off another layer. Then as it begins to cool toward evening, you can put them back on.

Starting from the bottom, you’ll want to pack at least one pair of sturdy, but comfy shoes. Open-toe sandals and flip flops suffice while you’re in the safari vehicle or at the camp, but you’ll definitely need sturdy shoes/sneakers when you’re out and about in the wild and at night (to avoid mosquito bites).

For the actual clothes, you’ll want to choose lightweight, moisture-wicking materials, preferably in khaki or natural colors that make you blend in with the environment. This is because overly bright colors can cause you to stand out in the bush and may irritate the animals, while dark colors like blue and black attract tsetse flies and other bugs, and an encounter with them can cast a slight pall on your safari experience. Bring a mix of t-shirts and shorts as well as long-sleeved shirts and long pants for different weather situations. Early mornings and late nights can get quite chilly so don't forget to pack a lightweight jacket or a warm sweater/hoodie. Other items to consider include wide-brimmed hats for when you’ll be out on game drives. Bring your swim wear if you will stay at hotels or lodges that have a pool, or are planning a visit to the beaches of Zanzibar after your safari.

Check the weather: ask us at Sababu Safaris (or check online) and find out what the weather will be like where you are going. You may not need any serious cold weather gear at all (and that will really help with the luggage limit!). Alternatively, if you are going to visit Tanzania in the dry season when temperatures drop dramatically once the sun goes down, you may need a scarf, a thick jacket and even a beanie.  Certain spots in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation area can become very cold in the early mornings and late evenings during the dry season/winter months (June through October).

YOUR LUGGAGE
Due to weight restrictions, it’s important that you utilize the space available efficiently and look for ways to reduce the total weight of your luggage. For instance, we recommend opting for a lightweight, spacious duffel bag instead of a regular suitcase with wheels. It is important to know that hard shell suitcases are not allowed on most domestic flights in Tanzania. For your carry on, don’t forget to pack any medications and other essential items just in case your checked bag is lost or delayed by the airline.

Don’t panic about limited space! Same-day laundry service is usually available at most safari camps and lodges. This means you do not need a change of clothes for each day you are on safari! The exception will be for some mobile tented camps where it is often difficult to offer laundry service. It may also be possible to leave a bag with the charter company, or the person meeting you, for the duration of the safari portion. When in doubt, ask us at Sababu Safaris.

SAFARI GEAR
Africa is a photographer’s dream. Not only does the boundless wildlife come in all shapes and sizes, but the continent is also blessed with stunning landscapes, colorful people and fabulous light! Don’t miss out. Buy a camera, if you don’t already have one. If you want to bring your phone and music, do not forget to bring chargers and country-specific adaptor plugs (UK sockets are used in Tanzania). All our safari vehicles have charging outlets so you will be able to keep them charged at all times. However, we encourage you to try to leave your tablet and laptop at home – they can be a distraction from your beautiful surroundings.

Sababu Safaris provides binoculars in each safari vehicle but feel free to bring your own as well, if you like! Binoculars are essential for optimum wildlife viewing on safari (and a good pair of binoculars will make a big difference to your safari).

You’ll also need to bring along a functional bag where you can store your gear and be able to access it quickly. Other essential gears include extras for your camera (batteries, memory cards, lens cleaners, etc). Most camps and lodges will provide a flashlight, and will walk you back to your tent at night as required, but being self-sufficient is always a good idea (usually the flash light on your mobile phone is sufficient as well).


SELF-CARE
Items for self-care include sunscreen, lip balm, polarized sunglasses, medication, personal toiletries and any other items that you may need, like a small first aid kit and hand sanitizer.

If you wear prescription glasses, be sure to pack more than one set (in case you lose one or they get broken). You will be outdoors for much of the time, so be prepared. If you wear contact lenses, definitely bring glasses, too, because it can get dusty!

Just in case the worst happens, consider bringing the following medication: diarrhea and indigestion medicine, pain killers, heartburn medicine; insect repellent, antihistamine (for allergic reactions against bug bites), throat drops (lozenges), eye drops, and most important – anti-malarial tablets.
It is also recommended to bring some cash for tipping the lodges and camps you will be staying at as well as your guide, and for purchasing gifts and souvenirs during cultural visits to local markets, for example.

PACKING FOR A PURPOSE
While it is vital to know what to pack, it is also equally important to understand that you don’t have to just pack for yourself alone. Most airlines allow you to check two full bags (23kg each), so we encourage you to bring a few useful items that some people of Tanzania might not have access to. This is what it means to Pack for a Purpose. Not only does it benefit the local community without adding a burden to you, but it also helps fulfill one of the tenets of responsible and sustainable travel. Families can use this as an opportunity to teach their children a valuable lesson while being on a holiday: it's not only all about making this trip fun for yourself but “giving back” can add a lot of value to your trip.

Packing for a purpose is growing in popularity and local tour operators such as ourselves at Sababu Safaris have seized on the initiative as a way of using travel to create a lasting impact among local communities in Tanzania. If you’re interested in packing for a purpose, you could bring along general school supplies (school bags, books, pencils/pens and educational games, among others). Other helpful items that you could include in your travel bags are art supplies, sports equipment like spring ropes or soccer balls, first aid materials, and office supplies for the teachers.

Nowadays, traveling should be more than just experiencing the thrill of a new destination but also making an impact. Packing for a purpose is a good way to achieve this. Why not give it a go for your next trip?

A WORD (OR TWO) OF WARNING
It is not advisable to wear any form of clothing that may be construed as “camouflage”. By this we mean any form of brown/green “combat” style coloring. Even if it is the latest fashion statement - and even if it is your 14 year old wearing it - and even if it is just a cap. Many African authorities have a disproportionate phobia of such garments and this could conceivably result in you being questioned or harassed by the police. It has the potential to cause you grief, so don’t do it.

Do not take any expensive personal jewelry on safari. Be minimalist or take only those everyday items that you normally wear, like your wedding band, inexpensive earrings.

With regard to securing your luggage, we would strongly suggest using a combination lock to secure zips together if your suitcase does not have its own locking mechanism. Luggage tampering in airports does occur, unfortunately. Luggage straps that wrap around your suitcase can also deter, whilst shrink-wrapping facilities are available at some airports. Most lodges and camps have a safe in the rooms…and if not, these combination locks on your suitcase will keep your valuables safe.

Original source: Sababu Safaris

Things To Do In Arusha Before and After Your Safari In Tanzania

The vibrant town of Arusha is more than just a gateway to Tanzania’s ‘Northern Circuit’. It actually has a lot to offer travelers who are willing to spare the time. Many international travelers often opt to stay in Arusha just long enough to overcome the initial jetlag before heading to the likes of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire or Lake Manyara. But for those who choose to linger a little longer before or after their safaris, Arusha does offer a surprising number of things to do, such as:

TAKE A TOUR OF SHANGA WORKSHOP

This bustling, interactive workshop is one of a kind and dedicated to empowering the local community by employing people with disabilities to create unique, high-quality items like handmade jewelry, glassware, woodwork, and decorative homeware. For these people, Shanga offers more than a new lease on life, but also a community of passionate and ambitious individuals. Spend time with them, hear their stories, watch them do their work with incredible skill and maybe even try to craft something yourself. A visit to Shanga can comprise your choice of free workshop tours, activities, information sessions and shopping. It’s all part of the Shanga experience. This free visitor destination is open every day from 9 AM - 4.30 PM so you are welcome to stop by anytime or make an advanced booking if you are arriving as a large group.

VISIT THE SCHOOL OF ST. JUDE

The mission of The School of St Jude is to educate disadvantaged, bright students from the Arusha District to become moral and intellectual leaders in their country. The School of St. Jude is a bubbling place teeming with bright smiles and an array of fun school-based activities. A visit here gives you the opportunity to participate in a school-based itinerary offering a variety of activities - whilst not impacting the day-to-day education of the students: Sample traditional lunch with the students, visit interactive art, music, PE or library classes or attend a weekly assembly (on specific days only) and watch dance and music performances. You get to see first hand the impact that people from all over the world have achieved together and how that has resulted in a school of three highly resourced campuses changing the lives of 1,800 students, over 250 staff and their families. Should you choose, make a donation to make a small difference in the lives of the students.

LEARN ABOUT TRADITIONAL AFRICAN CUISINES

You can attend a cooking class here in Arusha and gain a deeper appreciation of how local ingredients and spices are skillfully combined to make delightful dishes. You’re in Tanzania for an adventure of a lifetime and it is only fitting that your palate experiences a scintillating journey of its own. By the time you return to your home country, you’ll have more than exciting memories and photographs as mementos of your trip, but also practical knowledge of how to put new kinds of dishes together.

GO ON A COFFEE TOUR

Arusha is surrounded by coffee plantations, so a cup of steaming fresh coffee is never far away. Meander across coffee estates as you learn how pretty flowers transform into rich brown beans that make up one of the world’s most consumed beverages. A coffee tour in Arusha also lets you stock up on fresh coffee beans that you can take home. One of the best-known coffee sites, Arusha Coffee Lodge, is actually the location of the Shanga workshop so you can cross off two items of this list with a single tour.

CHECK OUT LAKE DULUTI

Lake Duluti lies inside a volcanic crater and is located about 20 minutes from Arusha. This crater lake has water year-round thanks to groundwater and seasonal rainfalls. Here you can go canoeing or hike around the crater. The marsh area of the lake is home to humongous papyrus plants and you will usually spot different varieties of colorful bird species.

EXPERIENCE THE NIGHTLIFE

If you would like some nightlife action before or after your safari, don't worry, Arusha’s got you covered. There are several places to go, including sports bars, night clubs, karaoke, and even big-screen movie parties. It all depends on your mood for the night.

VISIT THE CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER

This is the place to be if you are looking to get a closer glimpse of Tanzania’s rich culture through art and artifacts. The eclectic design of the building alone makes it one of the more popular visitor destinations in Arusha. Step in and be wowed by the beautiful wildlife sculptures and amazing exhibits that tell the story of Tanzania and its people. There are also items for sale if you’re inclined to contribute to the ever-growing artistic expressions of the community.

Personalize your Arusha experience with Sababu Safaris today!

At Sababu Safaris, we are committed to providing you with more than a travel package, but a personalized itinerary that lets you travel with purpose and make a lasting impact on the local communities that you visit. Call us today at +1 914-207-4426 or fill out our contact form to get started.

Source: What To Do in Arusha Before and After Your Safari in Tanzania

All About Tanzania, One Of The Best Safari Destinations In The World

Tanzania, one of the premier destinations for a safari in the world, is the 2nd largest country in East Africa. It is actually a combination of two regions/states: the mainland, formerly known as Tanganyika and Zanzibar Island with its clusters.

Almost a third of Tanzania’s land is set aside for national parks, conservation areas, game reserves, and controlled and protected areas. Of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, three are located in Tanzania: the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park (with its Great Migration!) and Mt. Kilimanjaro. Tanzania also boasts six World Heritage Sites: the three named above, the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani, the Selous Game Reserve (the biggest game reserve in Africa) and Zanzibar’s Stone

Town. Tanzania’s famous islands of Zanzibar, Mafia Island and Pemba also attract many tourists to their renowned beaches and diving locations. Kiswahili and English are the official languages. The terms Kiswahili and Swahili are used interchangeably, although the term Swahili normally refers to the people while Kiswahili refers to the language. Originating along the coast, Kiswahili is a Bantu language with many words derived from Arabic. Other African languages such as Bantu and those of Nilo-Hamitic and Khoisan origin are also spoken in the more remote regions.

The currency of Tanzania is the Shilling (TZS). As of this writing, one US dollar is equal to approximately 2,26 TZS and one Euro is equal to approximately 2,54 TZS.

Tanzania is one of the best safari destinations in the world. The Serengeti boasts the highest density of wildlife anywhere in Africa, half of all lions remaining in Africa can be found in Tanzania and the Selous Game Reserve has the largest population of wild dogs. The northern circuit can get quite busy, but the southern parks are relatively unknown so it’s possible to enjoy a more intimate safari experience.

Transformational Travel - Social Impacts Of Journeys Abroad

Want to Help Someone? Shut up and listen! is an excellent TEDX talk by Ernesto Sirolli regarding working abroad for charities. Whether someone is setting up a business, charity, or both -- there exists fundamental problems with how Westerners, in particular, help. In this talk, he points out that many supporters either patronize or are paternalistic towards the communities they are supposed to serve. And they often do this without understanding the history, needs, or region’s current state of affairs. This is a template for failure.

In order for any program to be successful, however, & paraphrasing Ernesto Sirolli, you never arrive in a community with any ideas, instead you sit with the local people. You don't work from offices, you meet at the cafe or a pub. You have zero infrastructure. Instead you become friends, and you find out what the person you want to help wants to do. You don't come in as a hero, you come in as a sidekick.

Denise Brown, Co-Founder and Sales & Marketing Director and Robert Tarimo, Co-Founder and Operations Director of Sababu Safaris are exemplifying this practice in the Safari Industry.


Who are you? What is your organization/business/performance? Who are the clientele/audience that you hope to serve/ help? And why is diversity important to such clientele/audience?
I am Denise Brown, Co-Founder of Sababu Safaris. We are a small safari business operating in Tanzania (with an office in New York) that aims to unite safari guests with local communities to build bridges, foster understanding and ultimately make a difference in their lives. We want to give our guests the opportunity to easily do good while they’re having the time of their lives on safari.

We think it’s important for visitors to not only experience Tanzania’s beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife that is unparalleled in the safari world but to also get to know the human side of Tanzania. This is what made me fall in love with the country in the first place. Tanzania’s people are some of the warmest, kindest, happiest and most welcoming and graceful human beings you will ever encounter in your life. And what struck me the most when I first visited the country was that little to no effort is required on our end to make a positive impact in their lives.

Some people might argue that a white savior complex might play a role here, which is a reasonable assumption. However, I didn't come here to lead but to listen and learn. My business partner and our co-founder, Robert Tarimo, is Tanzanian and has lived there all his life. Together, we want to support and work with local projects that are mostly run by the Tanzanian community. We do not claim to know the answers to all the problems, but communities have a pretty good idea of what they need to be able to help themselves. And we just want to support those existing efforts – together with our guests.


What is it that your organization/performance does? What does it hope to accomplish? What is its purpose/mission? How does diversity concepts tie into it? 
Our mission is to use responsible travel experiences to raise awareness of and support successful community projects in Tanzania. We want to create a win-win situation: on the one hand guests will be able to immerse themselves in the Tanzanian culture and gain experiences that will change their hearts and minds and have a long lasting positive impact on them. We believe in the power of transformational travel and how it can be the catalyst to inspire us, touch our souls and make us feel truly connected and alive.

On the other hand, the local communities we support will benefit in two ways. There is the short-term monetary aspect (our guests are charged a fee for their visit(s), which will go directly toward these projects and of which we will not make any profit) and there is the long-term effect we hope to achieve: that our guests will spread the word and maybe even decide to support the project(s) they visited in the long-run, like sponsoring a child and providing for their education, for example.

Where is the office/performance? Where is most of the work done? Is it local? National? International? 
We have offices in both New York and Arusha, Tanzania. All our operations are in Tanzania, since that is where the safaris take place.


When was your performance/organization created? -- i.e. what is some of the history of how this event came about?
 Sababu Safaris was created early this year. I had fallen utterly in love with Tanzania, its awe-inspiring wildlife, spectacular nature and beautiful people, and it was clear to me that I wanted to stay involved and do something on the ground that has meaning. My business partner Robert used to be my guide on my first visit to Tanzania and we became close friends.
We came to the conclusion that we share a brain and – more importantly - a heart, and that is how Sababu Safaris came about. The idea to create Sababu Safaris came naturally and grew organically. Utilizing Robert’s extensive experience in the safari business (over 18 years!) and my own personal experience in event management and in planning amazing experiences was a no brainer. But we wanted to offer more than just “regular” safaris like so many other safari companies do – it had to be something with a purpose and a meaning. And that’s why we decided to call our organization Sababu - the Swahili word meaning “purpose”.


Over time, how have trends in diversity affected your organization/performance? 
That is tough to answer, since we are such a young enterprise. But there is a clear trend in the travel industry toward transformational travel experiences. People want more than just a simple visit to a new destination and crave an authentic, meaningful and life-changing travel experience. And this involves meeting people from all over the world.


Why was your organization/performance created? What needs does it fulfill? What does it do to promote diversity? 
We created Sababu Safaris because we saw a gap in the safari industry. Most safari companies are all about the wildlife and nature – which is absolutely amazing in and of itself but there aren’t a lot of opportunities for visitors to authentically connect with the communities on a deeper level. You land at the airport, get into your safari vehicle, do your safari and return to the airport afterwards but other than being with your guide, you won’t get to interact much with the local population nor will you get a better idea of the true Tanzanian way of life that exists outside the National Parks.

Most safari companies offer to take you to a local Maasai village on the side of the road but these aren’t authentic; sadly, many of them have been commercialized. These visits also usually only take about a half hour, and you will be pushed to buy some bead work. There is nothing authentic about that. We want to show people EVERYTHING Tanzania has to offer and that includes its culture and people –but it has to be done in a genuine way.

Meeting the people in the community and getting to know them and their way of life puts your own life into perspective and might change your view on others back home. It might open your heart to those around you that you might not have previously connected with in your home town. If travel shifts our perspectives of the world, of our self and others, then we will shift our behavior. Ideally those behavioral shifts are positive shifts. When you have positive behavioral changes, they trickle down to those around you, including family, friends and the community.


How does it accomplish it goals? How can someone help the organization/performance? 
We accomplish our goals every single time we take our guests on safari with us. Every single time we connect our guests with the local communities we hope to change their hearts and minds and to make a difference in the lives of everyone involved.

*Article and Interview by Christine Fischer.