Our UK groups right from the summit of Kilimanjaro
Barafu Tours & Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Mid-range & luxury)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $250 to $550 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Ash | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An epic climb with a great company
I'm so glad I went with Barafu for my climb. Having completed a few different similar trips around the world, I can easily say Barafu is among the best. Being a smaller company, you get a very personalised service and it really makes a huge difference.
Our guides, Sauly & Jonas were awesome. They were always in touch with where we were and made sure we always knew what was happening and were safe/comfortable. Our vitals were checked nightly during a briefing about the next day.
The food was amazing, with a good variety and great quality. The porters and whole team during the climb were great. They were friendly and engaging with us and getting into camp each day to find warm washing water, a setup tent and fresh popcorn was a welcome treat.
While on our climb, it became very obvious that there is a big difference between companies and the level of service - it made me really glad we went with Barafu. I honestly can't say enough good things about the whole trip with the Barafu team, especially our guides, they were amazing.
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Email KateV | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trek with Barafu tours and our fantastic guides, Sauly and Jonas.
Our experience with Barafu Tours on our Kilimanjaro climb was absolutely wonderful. From start to finish we knew the plan, what we needed to achieve each day, did some afternoon acclimatization hikes and made it to the top in one happy group! We took the Rongai route, 6 day trip. Our trek was 4.5 days up and 1.5 days down via Marangu. There wasn’t a moment where I was scared or felt overwhelmed or unprepared.
Our guide Sauly and assistant guide Jonas were exceptional. Each evening we had a briefing where our vitals were checked and Sauly did a check in with us to see how we were feeling to gauge the inevitable effects of altitude. In our briefings we discussed what to expect next on the trail and what to expect along the trail. Sauly was extremely knowledgeable, not only about the mountain and the trek but also about the tribes living on the mountain, flora and fauna we passed along the way, interesting sights, histories of how people have used and revered the mountain throughout history, things along the way to entertain and educate us. Other climbers would ask him questions because their guides weren’t a good resource. If I hadn’t had such an experienced and knowledgeable guide, I may not have made it! It certainly wouldn’t have been as much fun.
Our porters were fantastic and enormously impressive, breaking down camp for us each morning, sprinting up the mountain and setting it up before we arrived. I have nothing but great things to say about Charles, the cook. The soups we had every night were delicious and soothing after the day’s trek.
An added benefit, and one of the reasons we chose Barafu, is because they are a locally owned Tanzanian company, so we felt good that the fees were staying in the country and benefiting the local economy.
Also, book your hotel through Chance at the Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel, it is lovely, convenient and they will let you store your extra luggage there while you trek.
One thing to warn you about, while it’s a good idea to rent a few items, note that the price list online doesn’t match what you are quoted. It seems to be out of date.
IL
Email Talia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing experience, outstanding staff & service!
We had an amazing, trip of a lifetime through Barafu Tours! We did both the Kilimanjaro trek and the safari and both were outstanding!!! It was very important for us to book our trip through a locally owned tour company, nevertheless, we were a bit nervous. After speaking with Chance, I was reassured we would be in good hands, but once we got there I realized we were in excellent hands.
We hiked on 6 day Machame route and reached the top due to our outstanding guides, Mohammed and Juma, who were 100% dedicated at all times to making sure we would succeed and were committed above and beyond to our safety. Thanks to Abbas, the stomach engineer, we were very well fed and fueled at all times, and I very very much appreciate the extra mile they went especially to make sure I had plenty to eat (I'm a vegan). The porters gave us top-notch service, made us feel at home at each stop along the way and went the extra mile to lift out spirits. Shout outs to Pray, our server, who always put a smile on my face, and to Amiri, who saved me going down the mountain. We had the BEST crew!!! The attentive, personal support and the warm dedication was really what made the trek and our summit so memorable.
We originally had booked a 7 day trek, but we finished Kili in 6 days, so when we got back from the trek, Chance was awesome and made last minute arrangements for us to have a super cool day in Moshi where we had a cool coffee-making experience/tour and swam in really sweet waterfalls.
Our safari was outstanding as well - Cippy, our guide, is the man! We saw the Big Five - rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and buffalo, all on our first 2 hours at Serengeti. He was always making sure we got the photos we needed, finding for us the local banana beer we discovered 8-), knowing exactly where to spot the big cats and the other animals, and overall had a great playlist of Swahili rap/reggae during the jeep rides. Each park has its unique view and wildlife, and Cippy made sure we made the most out of each day. For accommodations, Chance hooked us up with really luxurious spots to sleep at where we immensely enjoyed our nights.
Overall, we are super super glad we booked through Barafu and recommend our trip to all our friends and family. We couldn't have asked a better experience! If I could give 10 stars here, I would!
Email Charlotte | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Literally breath taking
After scouring the internet for a tour company that was regarded as high quality, safe, respected its porters and local to Tanzania, we came across Barafu Tours. Seven other climbers and I took a leap of faith and contacted this small company to find out more information. We received rapid and detailed responses from the director of the company, Chance. We had already completed extensive research related to the risks of the climb, the gear needed, the available routes and what to expect and felt pretty clued up. However the advise and guidance from Chance was invaluable to anything we found on the internet. No question was too small (or silly) for him to answer. After bombarding Chance with questions and realising just how flexible and accommodating he was willing to be, we booked with Barafu; best decision ever
As soon as we arrived in Tanzania we were picked up by Barafu, which Chance had arranged for us. Alex, the driver who picked us up was completely friendly and gave us a warm welcome, he even taught us our first Swahili words on the way to the hotel. The hotel we stayed at has a contract with Barafu tours and is amazing. It is called the Kilimanjaro Wonders hotel and I would highly recommend it. It is more than comfortable, offers lovely views and the staff were exceptional. They didn't just help us with everything but were warm and friendly too.
After the first night in the hotel, we met up with Chance the next morning, he was just as friendly and helpful in person as we'd imagined. He introduced us to our team that were to take us up the mountain. We had three guides; Mohamed, Dula and Amidayus, they were high spirited, knowledgeably and completely professional and were a huge factor in making our trip so memorable. Dula knew everything about the mountain, including all fauna and flora and was happy to point it out along the way. Amidayus taught us some great Swahili and didn't mind our terrible pronunciation too much and Mohamed ensured we were safe at all times. By the end of the trip it felt like we were saying bye to friends.
As well as our amazing guides, we met our cook, Abbas, the stomach engineer and our waiter-Pray. The food on the trip was amazing-especially the soups. You have to expect your appetite to drop as you go up the mountain, however the quality of the food made you want to eat. Pray the waiter had to be one of the highlights for me. Nothing was ever too much for him and by the end of the first two days im pretty sure he had a nickname for every one in our group. The one day i didn't feel too great he was continually checking I was ok and raising our spirits with songs. Finally, we are not to forget the 23 porters that made the climb with us. Never have I had so much respect for anyone. They happily carried around 25kg each up the mountain and offered to carry our day packs too if we were struggling :O. They always had a smile and the welcome song they gave us at Barranco camp was nothing less than amazing.
Thanks to this amazing team, all 7 of us successfully reached the summit and have memories I'm sure we won't forget.
After a short break we carried on with Barafu tours on a 2 day safari with our tour guide Richard. Richard again was highly knowledgeable about the national parks and the animals within it. After only half an hour into our safari we saw almost all the animals we had wanted to see, which was mind blowing. Richard managed to get us up close and we had some amazing views. In fact the views were almost as good as the animals themselves.
The safari van itself was extremely comfortable and offered a new experience of driving altogether.
If I could go back and do it all again with this company I would.
Ice team!
8-Day Lemosho Route - Awesome!!
I recently (and successfully!) did a climb and safari with Barafu Tours and Safaris and I could not recommend them highly enough. One of the things I liked is that they are a locally owned and operated company. As we were comparing companies, and throughout the entire experience, Chance the owner was always available and cheerfully answered all of our exhaustive questions. He was there to meet us when we arrived and made sure every detail of our trip was taken care of. He even went far above reasonable expectations when my brother had multiple flights cancelled and arrived two days late without his baggage; Chance made sure he was taken care of and provided the necessary equipment, transportation, and help to get him caught up with the rest of us!
Our group of 8 had 4 guides, Mohammed, Raphael, Mohamud, and Abu. They were all experienced and very knowledgable, and as the trek went along it became evident how attentive they were to each of us and aware of our individual needs, plus they were fun to be around. I couldn't help but notice on summit night they were the most positive and energetic guides on the mountain, and this went a long way to helping us reach the top.
This trek was one of the hardest things I've ever done and I know I couldn't have done it without our great team. The food was excellent and plenty, and delivered with a smile. The level of physical, technical, and emotional support from the entire group was fantastic. The singing and encouragement from the team goes a long way when you're nearing your physical limits. We left with 25 new friends and feeling truly part of the Barafu family.
After the climb we took a 4 day lodge safari also with Barafu, visiting the Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorogoro Crater. We had really high expectations for this part of the trip and we were still blown away. The quality and quantity of close animal encounters, and stunningly beautiful accommodations and cuisine were truly top notch. Our guides Chris and Joseph were a pleasure to be around and extremely knowledgable about the animals and plant life. The vehicles were state of the art LandCruisers and provided comfortable and reliable transportation. They have the pop-up tops so you can stand up inside the vehicle and have a 360 degree unobstructed view.
If you're planning a climb on Mt Kili or a safari and considering choosing Barafu, do it!! You will leave with an unforgettable experience, new friends, and the satisfaction of memories that you know couldn't have been any better.
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Email Jeremy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Barafu Tours & Safaris is the way to explore Tanzania!
My friends and I used Barafu Tours and Safaris to climb Kilimanjaro (8 day Lemosho Route) as well as partake in a 4 day safari afterwards. They took care of us every step of the way from airport pick-up to airport drop-off. Our climbing guides were amazing in getting us to the summit and the cook did a tremendous job feeding us. The rest of the team always had camp set up by the time we arrived, supported us, and were a pleasure to be around! The safari was an great experience as well. The guides were really friendly and informative. We saw plenty of animals from lions and leopards to elephants and giraffes. The accommodations we spent our nights at were absolutely amazing. Barafu is the way to explore Tanzania!
Glad I chose Barafu for Kili trek
I had a great time climbing Kilimanjaro and couldn't have done it without Raphael and his crew. The summit day was brutal and Raphael pushed me harder and I was able to make it to the top. Excellent crew, porters and cooks. I wanted to do the 7 day Lemosho route but after the second day, I knew it would take 8 days for me. Raphael had gladly accommodated my request.
Chance is a very honest and professional guy to deal with. Right from the airport pickup till drop off, everything went so smooth and their service exceeded my expectations. I did a lot of research and spoke to a number of different people who had booked through Barafu and was glad I chose them.
Climbing the mountain itself was pretty tough and the summit day can get brutal. But when you make it to the top, it's such a rewarding experience. I am already looking forward for my next climb to Mt Meru.
Ascent to Kilimanjaro
Unforgettable experience to the top of Africa through Machame Route. Getting to the top is not only a mountaineering trip but a travel into human boundaries. Crossing multiple ecosystems from the forest to the glacier is something unique. Sharing the experience with the the team and in particular the magnificent guides and porters has been simply wonderful. Thanks to everybody and Barafu Tours and Safaris for accomplishing my dream
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Email Traci | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Barafu is first class all the way!
My experience in Tanzania was far better than I had hoped, greatly due to Barafu and Chance. I booked my Kilimanjaro climb and a two-day safari with Barafu. As promised, I was picked up at the airport at 10 pm on arrival day by Barafu and taken to Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel in Moshi, which was awesome. The day after I arrived I went on the two-day safari to Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. I highly recommend this tour; I learned a lot, the landscape was gorgeous and the wildlife was more than I expected. I chose a 7-day Kilimanjaro climb via the Lemosho route. There were 4 other climbers in my group and we ended up completing the climb in 6 days. I am a 50 year old female and I hiked with a mix of 20+ year olds. It was a steady pace and we all summited. For the most part nobody had too much trouble. We all took Diamox. I’m sure our guides and porters deserve much of the credit. They were fantastic. They were professional, supportive, fun, energetic, encouraging, knowledgeable, interesting and more. Mohamed was my guide and I loved him immediately. I trusted his judgement implicitly. The best crew on the mountain! And the food was incredible! Barafu cares about every part of the experience; safety, nourishment, knowledge, achievement, fun and entertainment.
Recommendations:
Book with Barafu.
Take the Lemosho route.
Go to Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire.
Bring Diamox.
Follow Barafu’s gear list.
Rent a sleeping bag and then...
Use a Sol Escape Lite bivy as a sleeping bag liner.
(Best thing I did. I believe I was the only warm one at night.)
One Dream, One Team!
I had originally planned my trek with another company; however, the group I was going to join cancelled at the last minute, and thankfully, a group going with Barafu was willing to let me join them. I consider this a great stroke of luck, because I could not imagine a better tour company. We did the eight-day Lemosho route, which was gorgeous and allowed us to acclimatize properly. Barafu rented me a few things I needed for the journey and even lent me a water bottle when I found out at arrival that plastic water bottles couldn't be taken into the park. The staff members for Barafu are what made the trek so great; our guides were knowledgeable, intuitive, friendly, and always put our safety and well-being first. Indeed, the head guide, Shani, and the server, Willy (or Yoda, as we came to call him), felt like family at the end of our eight days together. The sleeping mats and tents were really comfortable, and the food was great - especially the hot and delicious soup at every lunch and dinner, the many varieties of veggie sauce, and fresh fruit at almost every meal. The mess tent was super comfy too, and we always had coffee or tea available. Chance, the manager of Barafu, was great at replying to my emails quickly and answering every question I had! A driver picked me up at the airport at 2:00am, which blew my mind, and the hotel that Barafu put us up in the night before and after the trek was by far the nicest place I've ever stayed while traveling internationally. The only thing I wish were different is our summit time; because we left from base camp before midnight, we got to the summit before sunrise, and it was too cold and windy to stay there for more than a few minutes. This was the choice of the group, however, and not the guide's choice. If he recommends a 3:00 am ascent to you, I'd take the suggestion! As a solo traveler on a budget, I cannot recommend this tour company highly enough - they made my trip outstanding, and I can never forget this experience!