The Story Behind The Expedition Tours
I started The Expedition Tours in Arusha because I believe travel in Tanzania should be slow, personal and well planned.
Safaris and Kilimanjaro climbs, planned with care
The Expedition Tours is a Tanzanian travel company based in Arusha, at the edge of the northern safari circuit and a short drive from Kilimanjaro. I founded it to design and run safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs and Zanzibar extensions that are well planned, unhurried and honestly priced.
Every trip begins with a conversation. I learn how you like to travel, then build a route around your dates, your pace and your budget, with the price shown up front and nothing hidden.
On the ground we work with experienced Tanzanian guides, carefully chosen camps and lodges, and reliable vehicles. We stay in touch with you from your first message until you are home, so you always know who is looking after you.
How We Operate
The standards every trip is planned and run to.
Small groups
We keep groups small. A small party is quieter in the bush, easier to look after, and flexible enough to stay longer when something special turns up.
Local knowledge
Tanzania is best seen with people who know it. Your trip is guided by Tanzanians, and before you book we tell you who will be with you and what they do.
Fair treatment of the crew
Every trip depends on guides, cooks and porters. We pay fairly and look after our crew properly, and on Kilimanjaro we follow the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) guidelines.
An unhurried pace
We favour seven days in three places over five days across four. Time in one place is when you start to notice things, and our routes are built around that.
What We Do
Four things, done carefully, rather than everything done quickly.
Private safaris
Northern circuit, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and the quieter southern parks, planned day by day around your dates and how much driving you enjoy.
ExploreKilimanjaro climbs
Machame, Lemosho and the other routes, with honest advice on which one suits your fitness, your time and the season.
ExploreZanzibar and the coast
A few slow days of beach, Stone Town and spice farms after the bush or the mountain, or on their own.
ExploreCamps and lodges
A hand-picked list of places to stay, from tented camps in the bush to quiet hotels in Arusha, matched to your budget.
ExploreHow a Trip Comes Together
A simple process, so you always know what happens next.
- 1
You tell me what you hope for
Use the planner, send an enquiry or message me on WhatsApp. Rough ideas are fine, and so is not knowing yet.
- 2
I reply with a written proposal
A day-by-day plan, the camps and lodges, what is included and what is not, and a clear price for your dates.
- 3
We shape it together
Swap a park, add a night, slow the pace, change the style of stay. The proposal changes until it feels right, with no pressure to book.
- 4
You confirm and pay a deposit
When you are happy you pay a deposit to secure the trip. The full terms are set out in the Booking Terms before you commit.
- 5
I prepare, you travel
Before you fly you receive the practical details: meeting points, packing, health and entry requirements. On the ground you are looked after by your guide.
- 6
We stay in touch afterwards
I want to hear what worked and what did not. It is how the routes keep improving.
Ready to start? Use the trip planner, read the Booking Terms, or browse Travel Essentials.
Northern Tanzania at home, the rest of the country in reach
Arusha is the gateway to the northern circuit, and most of what I plan starts there: the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, with Kilimanjaro on the doorstep.
For quieter, wilder country I also plan trips to the southern parks, to the chimpanzees of Gombe, and to Zanzibar for the coast. Each place has its own guide page with when to go and what to expect.
What to Expect
Straight answers to the questions I hear most before a first message.
- Who will I deal with?
- Me. Enquiries are read and answered by a person, and I stay your point of contact from the first message until you are home.
- Is the price really shown?
- Yes. Every route lists a starting price, and your proposal gives the exact figure for your dates and party, with what it covers listed plainly.
- Can I change a route?
- Routes are starting points. Most travellers adjust the length, the parks, the style of accommodation or the pace, and I am happy to build something fully custom.
- What if I am not sure what I want?
- That is a normal place to start. Tell me your dates, who is travelling and what you enjoy, and I will suggest options and explain the trade-offs.
- Is the business registered?
- Yes. The Expedition Tours is registered with BRELA, the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency of Tanzania, under Business Name No. 717897.
More answers are in the FAQ, or you can contact me directly.
If you are considering a trip to Tanzania, I would be glad to hear from you. Tell me what you hope to see and how you like to travel, and I will recommend what suits you best.
Noel Ndalu
Founder, The Expedition Tours
Tell me about your trip
Send an enquiry or message me on WhatsApp, and I will reply myself.