Tanzania’s Leading Tour Operator - Kili & Safaris
Leken Adventure
- Office In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2014)
- Member Of:
- TTB & AMREF
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $189 to $450 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
NL
Email Ivanka | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfection
Hello - We are very pleased with the services of Leken Adventure and would be happy to recommend the company to anyone travelling to Tanzania. We booked our dream Honeymoon trip, and the plan included a 2 day hike up Kilimanjaro (to Madara Hut and back), a 4-day trip to the Serengeti and a 1-day safari in Ngorongoro Crater. We concluded the remainder of our trip in Zanzibar which was the wonderful end. Everything was perfect from the quality of the staff, the places we stayed, transfers and the responsiveness of the team.
For the hike, we had Agri coordinate and Amani as our guide who was fantastic because he had the best botanical knowledge (he also took us on an impromptu walk of the Moshi market and it was great to learn how the locals go about their day to day). Benson was our other guide and was also great as he entertained us with local stories and always reminded us to hike "pole pole" up the mountain. Our chef and porter Eduardo was also amazing and did a fantastic cook for us that included a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. Be sure to tip these guys because going up an down with all that heavy load is no easy feat!
Hamza was our guide for the safari drives and he was the best there is. He gave us the right information, was very cheerful, resourceful and gave us full confidence in seeing all the big 5 animals (lions, water buffalos, rhinos, leopards and elephants) not just once but multiple times! He was also very accommodating and was happy to wake up early to give us as much time as we needed to explore more. We couldn't have asked for a better guide and friend. He truly lives the motto 'hakunamatata' and ensured we were smiling and laughing for four days straight. Also, in terms of places to stay, we really enjoyed the recommendations to stay at Kontiki (an unreal, 5-star camp site in the Serengeti) and Rhino Lodge (by Ngorongoro - the chef here is 1stclass!).
And finally, Alex was our main POC and was always available on WhatsApp for calls, questions or on the spur decisions. He was wonderful and constantly in touch. Big ASANTESAN from us to you for organizing and all your professionalism!
We 100% recommend Leken Adventure to anyone looking to travel to Tanzania. They offer customized plans based on your budgets and will go the extra mile to ensure you have the best time.
Lots of love,
Justin & Ivanka
US
Email Sydney | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Phenomenal Mt. Kilimanjaro Trek and Safari
Fantastic tour company! I booked a 5 day Kilimanjaro trek, followed by a 4 day safari for a group of 4. The scheduling process was seamless. Alex, was always incredibly quick to respond and was very helpful with any and all changes we needed to make.
For the Kilimanjaro trek, our guides were Agrey, Remy and Lemmick, all of which were fantastic! They all spoke very good English and were very knowledgeable about the mountain. Couldn’t have asked for a better team!
The only bit of confusion was at the end of the trek when we were about to tip. When tipping, it’s expected to be $10-15 per person/per day that climbed the mountain with you (typically 3 additional people per hiker i.e. porter, chef, guide) not $10-15 per hiker. This wasn’t outlined very well, so we originally tipped about 1/3 of what would be considered a decent tip. Luckily, our guide brought this to our attention, so we were able to compensate the phenomenal team appropriately. Just wish we had known, so that we would have had the money ready. They were worth every cent!
For the Safari, our guide was Moses. He was amazing! No wonder he’s worked with National Geographic, because he found every animal plus several more than we were expecting. The camps and hotels we stayed at were all very clean, and the people working were all very helpful too.
10/10 would recommend this tour company, and I would absolutely ask for the guides we had again. All great people that made for an unforgettable experience!
Professional
We were 2 people did the Kilimanjaro trek via Machame route from Sep 6th to 12th and very satisfied. Company were able to fulfill all commitment’s as agreed in advance from airport pickup until drop. Many thanks for all your support and help.
Email Alex | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Helpful, hospitable, flexible, made the whole trip fun
I heard about Leken from a friend in Tanzania, at first I was not aware of them or their services, but after reading their reviews and speaking to Alex, I booked my climb of Kilimanjaro.
From the outset they have had transparent pricing and open communication, the pick up from the airport despite a 6 hour delay by the airline really helped and also the transfer back was amazing….any issue however small was taken care of immediately and they did so well in making the whole trip amazing
SI
Email Marusa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Highly recommend
We (me and my boyfriend) did Kilimanjaro and safari tour with Leken adventure. Alex was very responsive and organisied everything we wanted.
We did 6 day Kilimanjaro Machame route tour with guide Leonard and his team (Present, Sadih, Eli,..). They were all very professional and made us feel very welcome. They even taught us a little bit of swahili language.
Leonard made sure that the trip was safe and always reminded us to be confident about reaching the peak. On the peak day i felt very tired and sleepy and i almost gave up but they motivated me to reach the top.
Since i have coeliac disease i asked the company if they could provide me gluten free meals. I was very surprised by Eli (chef) awarness of gluten free diet. He prepared many different and very delicious meals (except store snacks - you better have some with you if you are on gluten free diet).
We also did 3 day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari tour with Jonas. He was very passionate about finding animals and he had a lot of knowladge about them. We found all the big 5 with him.
We were more than satisfied with the services Leken adventure offered.
The following does not have anithing to do with Leken adventure company but it is something i wish i would be aware of in advance: Guides/porters on Kilimanjaro and safari tours expect big tips. For Kilimanjaro it is expected to tip guide 20$/day, guide assistant and cook 15$/day and each porter 10$/day. (this tips were expected for the whole group not per each client) On safari tour guide expected 10$/day and cook 5$/day (from each client on the tour).
Asante sana to all of you that made our trip unforgettable!
DE
Email Flora Pauer | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing time with Leken Adventure
We did the 6 day Kilimanjaro trek (Machame Route) and 6 day Safari (including Serengeti) with Leken Adventure and it was an amazing journey!
We had fantastic guides for both and Alex from Leken was always helpful and quick to respond to any question we had.
The entire team on the Kilimanjaro trek was so helpful and it felt like family! Our guide at the Safari knew a lot about animals and made sure we saw the big 5 :) The accommodations and food was also always really good and they tailored it to us being vegetarian.
We can highly recommend traveling with Leken! 5 out of 5 stars!
US
Email Hardy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great operator, AMAZING wildlife!
There truly aren't words to express how much we loved our tour and loved Tanzania. Leken was a fantastic operator; they were communicative, willing to answer all of our questions before the trip, and able to accommodate our requests. The guide we had, Alex, was truly one of a kind. He was knowledgeable, personal, funny, and felt like part of our group. We LOVED the safari!
We went to Tarangire, Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara NP. Though each park had its own unique charm, Serengeti was far an away our favorite. The vast plains and incredible birdlife only added to African favorites like giraffe, elephants, lions, and cheetahs. We even got a leopard!
I am an avid birder, though my wife and friends were not. Nevertheless, there was something for everyone. Hundreds of species of birds, dozens of species of mammals, and amazing reptiles and amphibians. The vistas alone are worth the trip, but the 264 species of birds I saw were even better!
We cannot recommend Leken enough. The accommodations arranged were also fantastic; comfortable beds, hot showers, good food, and friendly staff.
Email Luke | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic support and great value.
With my wife and two older daughters, we did the Kilimanjaro Machame 8 day trek with hotel first and last day and a safari and it was fantastic from start to finish. Well organised, excellent guides and food and great support from Alex in the office.
IE
Email Petra | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Memorable Trek to the Roof of Africa (6-day Machame Route)
My friend and I embarked on a 6-day Machame Route trek, a challenging yet rewarding path that promised breathtaking vistas and an exhilarating challenge and we definitely enjoyed every minute of this adventure thanks to our amazing guides William and Amani and the whole crew!
Our guides, William and Amani, were the epitome of expertise and support. Their knowledge of the mountain ecosystem was vast, and they shared it with us in a way that made our ascent even more enriching. They were constantly on the lookout for our well-being, ensuring our safety and providing valuable insights into the changing terrain and rising altitude. William and Amani were also extremely positive and supportive, especially during the summit day. I can safely say that I would not have made it to the top without their top-notch support and constant cheering.
Eli, our chef, was a culinary maestro. Each meal was a symphony of flavors and textures, meticulously prepared to fuel our bodies for the demanding days ahead. We were amazed to see how well he was able to cook in the improvised camping environment. His culinary skills were truly exceptional, and we were grateful for his ability to nourish us with such delicious and nutritious meals.
The porters, a tireless and cheerful bunch, were the backbone of our expedition. They carried our tents, food, and equipment with unwavering dedication, their strength and endurance inspiring us to persevere. Moreover, they proved to be also a great entertainers and singers as they greeted us with an amazing medley of songs on many occasions, even after we successfully ascended the Uhuru peak. I would also like to thank Belfast again for helping me walk safely back to base camp when the fatigue really hit me.
Special mention goes to Honest who was taking care of our tent and serving us the amazing food prepared by the chef. He was always very kind and ready to help, ensured that our water bottles were always full and our snacks were readily available, often anticipating our needs before we even realized them. His willingness to go the extra mile added a touch of personal care that made our experience even more memorable.
Lastly, all the preparation before the trip was also smooth thanks to truly 24/7 support from Alex who was always promptly responding via WhatsApp and anything was not a problem for him. Alex was even able to get us a recipe for the delicious banana stew we had for lunch one day during the trek :)
To summarise, our Machame Route trek was an adventure that surpassed all expectations. The occasional bouts of altitude sickness tested our resolve, but the support of our guides, chef, and porters kept us going. Their encouragement and shared experiences helped us push through the physical discomfort and maintain focus on the summit. I would recommend this trek to anyone seeking an unforgettable challenge and a chance to connect with nature on a profound level while being supported by the great team of Leken adventures.
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Email Jeanne Catalano | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Epic Amazing and best kept secret
I found Leken by fate. I was searching for a local small business to worth with to be able to take my clients on a bucket list adventure to hike kilimanjaro and go on a safari. As a business It's important to use the right vendors. From the beginning Alex was amazing he customized what I wanted and helped provide me all the information I needed. We did the 6 day machame route with 3 day safari. They had a sign waiting for us at JRO airport loaded us up took us to the hotel. It was on us that we were delayed by a day due to flights that they quickly accommodated us to get us on the trail on our initial day. Alex met us at the hotel and introduced us to Amani our head guide and we got our rental gear, loaded up and headed to the gate in like a mini with some guides, our cook sadik and more. At the trail head it was overwhelming the amount of porters and support we had for our group of 8. 1 guide for every two people. William, Leonard, Florence, and Amani. Our total support was 28 people. These guides and team protected us. When we were hurting, tired, feeling like we couldn't do it these guides held us up physically and emotionally. For many of my group these guides were their rocks. We had 2 that had to get off the mountain and the guides took care of them, one of them went so we lost Leonard and Leken got them back to the hotel where our bags were in storage. Our porters and group sang to us to introduce themselves and on our last night. It brought tears to our eyes. The cook Sadik was Magic in the kitchen and Bruce our waiter was so awesome I hope he gets to be a guide. These porters told me they were like family. Many of them exclusively working with Leken only. These guides have been there for many years. Amani has a brother also a guide on another route with Leken. Not every one summited but the 2 that did were taken care of beyond measure the whole time. Amani led the group that had altitude sickness and made sure everyone was OK. You are going slow that is not the guides rule that is the parks rule for safety. This was the most epic experience of my life. Leken then took us to the safari where we had 2 jeeps 6 in each with guides Ayub and Hamza were our guides. They were the safari guides beyond measure. We had to pick up Dixon and the camping gear about two hours in. Yes it is a drive to the Serengeti but we had a fully cooked hot lunch in the muddle of no where it was epic. As soon as we got 3.5 hours in outside the reserve the game drive started. We saw giraffe, zebras, gazelles, elephants and more all before we got into the Serengeti. We camped and at the camp site there was bathrooms with a shower, a kitchen type area for cooks and an enclosed dining area but YES we slept in the wide town with animals. The jeeps were comfortable and had charging stations and we spent hours doing game drives. We did help setting up our own tents with help from the guides but there was more of us than them so we helped. It was epic. These guys stopped to help other guides if they broke down and they shared the animal spotting. Our guides gave us so much history about the serengeti and Tanzania. The food was out of this world Dixon is a chef who loves to cook. He even leg me and my friend help cook and taught us. This was beyond my wildest dreams the most epic adventure. From start to finish Lekem and all the team helped us and made this one of my best trips ever. And on the way back our safari guides took us to shop in local markets.
