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In 2018, Amana Mbise arrived at the University of Alaska, Anchorage to teach in the Social Work Department.
Mbise’s family is from Arusha, Tanzania. His hometown is in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro in the middle of safari. He and his family grew up around Ngorongoro His Crater, the Serengeti, and many other parks and nature reserves.
As part of his orientation to Anchorage and Alaska, Mbise’s supervisor introduced him to another UAA teacher, Paul Wasko. The two quickly became friends, and it didn’t take long for Wasco to start talking about visiting Tanzania with a group of Alaskans.
Wasco and Mbise found many participants, especially through Wasco’s church. But then the COVID-19 pandemic ruined everyone’s travel plans.
Last year, the duo revived travel, in part because Mbise’s family started a safari company called Lendimi African Safaris, with many of Mbise’s family having extensive experience. “My brother worked as a guide on Mount Kilimanjaro,” he said. “They have climbed at least 100 times.”
When it came time to plan a Tanzania safari earlier this year, interest was waning. Still, there was a solid group of eight Alaskans who bought tickets and said, “Let’s go!”
Mbise pointed out that there are all kinds of safaris. “Some people land at the airport on Mount Kilimanjaro and take another plane to see the animals,” he said. For some people, that’s enough.
But Mbise and his company want to bring a more human element to safaris, allowing travelers to meet the people who live in the area. Each trip also has a strong protective element. “Anyone can plant a tree,” Mbise said.
The word “Rendimi” means “master of the forest” in Maasai. According to the company’s brochure, “We have earned our name by planting trees on the slopes of Mount Meru to protect nature.”
Mbise and his family are members of the Maru tribe, which he says is “the name of the government.”
“We call ourselves Varwa,” he said.
Wasco and Mbise planned a special safari for the people of Alaska, including time to visit Mbise’s family. In fact, the group attended the baptism of Mbise’s young daughter during the trip.
As part of his work at UAA, Wasko teaches students how to create an “e-portfolio” of their work. Of course, he created an e-portfolio of the entire trip, allowing travelers to see their daily itinerary.
Scrolling through the files, Wasko and the group were able to fit a good chunk of Tanzania into their two-and-a-half-week trip. Wasko includes a video clip of the group’s visit to her Hadzabe tribe, who are still hunter-gatherers in the countryside.
As part of an e-portfolio project, Wasko hired a photographer to capture travel high points. “We wanted to be present and available during this trip without living behind the camera,” he said.
One of the thrills for Mbise and his family is providing local expertise while showcasing Tanzania’s wildlife, culture and countryside. “Tanzanian wildlife and culture are like my extended family. Our core value is to embrace and understand Tanzanian culture,” he said.
“I show them my house and my family,” Mbise said. “The Tourist Safari thing is like an add-on.”
But what a great addon! Scroll through Wasko’s e-portfolio and you’ll see lions galore. and an elephant. and rhinoceros. and Cape buffalo. And zebras, hippos and giraffes. Rendimi’s Land Cruiser is set up for the best wildlife viewing on the go, with a pop-top so you don’t have to peek out the window.
“Wow! Besides rhinos, I saw the rest of the Big Five while in the Serengeti,” Wasco wrote. FYI, the “big five” are lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and cape buffalo.
Mbise and his crew customized this trip for Wasko and other Alaskans. If you want to climb Mount Kilimajaro after seeing the wildlife, Rendimi can customize a package for you. Alternatively, there are ready-made packages that include a visit to Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean coast.
The ‘Tanzania Wild’ package is a nine-day, eight-night package designed for animal lovers, according to Mbise. Including his 3 days in the Serengeti and his 2 days in the Ngorongoro Crater. Both areas are teeming with wildlife. You will also have time to visit villages and learn about the culture of this part of Tanzania.
Then we all plant trees.
The Tanzania Wild Package is $350 per person per day. This includes all airport and hotel transfers, all accommodation, safari game drives in the park, and more. Airfare, tips and alcohol are extra. So is essential travel insurance.
One of the keys to the affordability of Lendimi’s package is the accommodation. “You can stay in really luxurious lodges,” Mbise said. “But we choose very comfortable accommodations that have been vetted by the team.” In some cases, like Kubukubu Lodge, Wall in the park he “glamps” in a tent. Overnight at Lions Paw Lodge in Ngorongoro Crater.
Mbise has a 14 day package that includes a trip to Zanzibar. The daily rate is slightly higher at $400 per person per day. Two days are set aside for excursions including spice tours, Swahili food tastings and other options.
Mbise stresses that travelers who just want to stop and see animals may want to look elsewhere for safaris. “They are not for us,” he says with a smile.
“Adding a cultural dimension is relatively new,” he said. “But we want visitors to feel a little bit of history while they’re here.”
Mbise shared that there is another group of four Alaskans booked at Lendimi later this month. show off.
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