About Us

Who we are

Awareness Africa Safaris is a locally owned and operated company with over a decade of experience in offering exceptional Kilimanjaro tours and wildlife safaris in Tanzania. Our team of experienced guides and porters are passionate about creating life-changing experiences for our clients and are committed to making your tours or safaris as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

We stay ahead of the game when it comes to tourism in Tanzania. Our team is constantly up-to-date with the latest news and trends, giving us an advantage over other tour operators. This means we can provide our customers with the best experiences possible, whether it’s real-time information on Kilimanjaro routes, updated equipment, working with great accommodation or spotting new wildlife.

We understand that traveling to a new place can be intimidating, so we offer a friendly and personalized service from start to finish. Our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your tour or safari and help you prepare for your trip. We believe that a successful adventure starts with planning and preparation, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER?

We at Awareness Africa Safaris pride ourselves on our exemplary customer service. Every member of our team has a huge passion and knowledge when it comes to Africa. From our local staff to our international agents, every member of the team can claim to be a safari expert.

Richard V. Matowo

Owner

I am Richard Matowo, Founder and Managing Director of Awareness Africa Safaris. I am Tanzanian, born and raised in the Kilimanjaro region. I have strong experience and a great team that guarantees the highest quality. As a director, I focus on organizing tours with an ethical and professional approach that exceed the expectations of tourists. All our tours benefit the indigenous people, the hardworking local porters and guides, by creating employment opportunities to eradicate poverty. We utilize natural resources sustainably for the benefit of present and future generations. We do not hire tour guides. WE are the guide and always ensure your satisfaction.

Our Mission

We are committed to providing a responsible and personalized safari experience that combines leisure, environmental and cultural awareness.

Our Vision

We are committed to making Awareness Africa Safaris a high quality brand that is reliable and value for money, providing our valued customer with an experience and lifelong memories.

What Our Clients Say

Average rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 200 safari and Kilimanjaro reviews. Read our customers’ reviews of safaris and mountain climbing in Tanzania. Here’s a quick guide and check out the ratings and honest reviews too.

claxou

2024-06-14

Most professional and friendly Kilimanjaro tour ! We did the Machame Route with Awareness Africa. Excellent company. The guides (Richard and Emmanuel) were very professional and friendly during the whole course of the trek. We appreciated the support of the guides as well as the whole team especially on summit day. The rest of the team is extremely friendly, professional and will provide you with a warm welcome and excellent service. We loved all the details such as the excellent breakfast (the pancakes were delicious!)

Julie M

2024-06-14

Best hiking adventure ever!! We did the 7 days Kilimanjaro Machame trip, amazing time! Richard and his team took care of us and make sure we all made it safely! Recommended!

Morgane M

2024-06-14

Kili hike with Richard and team Amazing Kilimandjaro hike with Richard and his team! They were very professional and supporting, especially in the hard moments during summit day. The quality of service was great (food was very good!) and his team was super nice! I would recommend 100%!

kcerberus

2024-05-22

Knowledgeable and Professional! We booked our Kilimanjaro trekking with Awareness Africa through another agency. My friend and I met Richard for the first time the day before the climb. He gave us a briefing and did a thorough check of our hiking gear and made sure we got everything we needed. The next day we were picked up by Richard on time and we were then driven to the Machame Gate. From there we started our hike. Throughout the whole journey Richard and his team (including assistant guide Emanuele, six porters and a cook) were absolutely professional, attentive and thoughtful. We felt very much looked after. For example both Richard and Emanuele walked very slowly with us and emphasised on "Pole Pole" , which was important to me as I was struggling with altitude. They even offered to carry my day bag (as I probably foolishly packed too much). Every night at the camp Richard would come and do our oxygen reading with his oximeter, which was very helpful. We were also very well fed during the whole time as the cook did an amazing job. I'd also like to make a special mention to Isa, one of the porters who took great care of us everyday. With their expertise and guidance, we successfully climbed Kilimanjaro. Everyone in the team put in a 100% effort to make us feel comfortable and we are grateful for that. On the last day their team got together and celebrated with dancing and singing. It was an unforgettable experience. After the hike Richard drove us all the way to Arusha which was a two hour drive. I very much appreciated that as I know he's based in Moshi. Overall I highly recommend Awareness Africa for the Kilimanjaro. My friend and I had the greatest time.

steven c

2024-04-17

Not good I wouldn't recommend this company for this sort of trip. Lots of other companies have more reviews and are more established.

Magnus G

2024-04-10

Excellent and pleasant guide Competent and in good company! We travelled with Richard to kilimanjaro in january 2019. Excellent guide, both in terms of managing the physical toll of the climb and the needs of the group. Handled acute onset of altitude sickness calmly and professionally. Furthermore, the Crew was very pleasant and created a great basis for the trip. We recommend this guide very much!

HirotakaX

2024-04-08

best guide, teams with hospitalities Richard, and his team (Fred, Oswaldo, Nestori and everyone climbed together) were amazing tour guides with hospitalities and support. We climbed with 3 of our friends and they always cared about our health, safety, and pace that everyone could climbed to the top. the team provided sufficient hot waters, great foods, and all camping facilities. definitely highly recommended.

Kristine N

2024-03-20

This is a very good company !! You should give yourself the experience to see Tanzania with Awareness Africa Safaris - The guide is so good and professional ! My best recommendations.

krzysztof f

2024-03-19

Good company for Kili climb! We went together on the Kilimanjaro. I was not a perfect customer and the fact that I have reached the Uhuru Peak after 8h climb is the best review of the Richard service. Everything was organized well and we Were in good hands all the time. Definitelly recommend.

Hannah S

2024-01-17

Amazing experience I went in September with Choose a Challenge for a uni trip with other students. It was an incredible experience, we were very well looked after, everything was organised well. Richard and his team were incredible, setting up camps, walking at our different group paces and helping us reach the summit. They helped me achieve my bucket list goal and its an experience I've never forgotten.

Tanzania Safari And Travel Faqs

What's The Climate Like?

Tanzania offers a tropical climate in mainland Tanzania, while the coastal areas are hot and humid. The climate of the Northwest Highlands is cool and temperate. There are two rainy seasons, one is the short rainy season, which usually lasts from October to December, and the other is the long season, which lasts from March to June. However, the central plateau is dry and arid throughout the year.

What Kind Of Weather Can I Expect On Safari?

Due to the closeness to the equator, a seasonal fluctuation of temperature is observed in Tanzania. The weather is generally warm here however the temperatures can drop significantly during and after rainy weather, and at night. The coastal region is hot and humid throughout the year.

Can I Take My Children On Safari?

Yes you can surely bring your children on Safari. But you must be aware of the minimum age restrictions at various national parks and lodges which is about 4 and 12 years of age. As all safari activities are not open to children, you must check with our travel exerts regarding the age criteria at the different destinations planned in your itinerary.

What Size Are Your Safari Groups?

In a safari group in Tanzania we take anywhere around 4-6 people in our vehicle depending on the type of safari you have chosen. In group tours six people are taken at max. While for a private tour less than three guests will accompany in the safari vehicle.

Do I Need A Visa To Enter Tanzania?

To enter this marvellous country of diverse wildlife and unique culture, some countries like USA, Australia, UK, require a Tanzania Visa which cost around $50 US cash for non US citizens and $100 for US citizens. You can obtain this visa on arrival at the airport as well.