MEET YOUR GUIDE
Hi!
I’m Malaki Tumsif and I am both the Director of MT Unique Tansania Expeditions and your guide!
I was born in the Ngorongo Conservation area and I am part of the Masaai comminity, the only community within Tanzania allowed to live within the national park.
Growing up our village was often visited by international tourists on safari, who were keen to learn about the unique culture of our tribe. I was inspired by the guides that would regurlarly visit, each time with new curious faces in tow and so I decided to go to College to study Tourism.
In order to pay for college I first had to work as a porter on Kilimanjaro, often carrying 40 kg loads to the top for our customers. The money I earnt doing this enabled me to pay for my education and I now count myself as the luckiest man on earth as I get to share the beauty of Tanzania with international tourists day and day out.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP IN THE MAASAI COMMUNITY?
The Maasai tribes are a normadic and pastoral community. We are not hunters and therefore do not interfere with the wildlife which is why we are the only community allowed to live within the national parks of Tanzania.
The Maasai community is patriarchal, with elders deciding on all important matters for the Maasai group. Every 10 years or so a new generation of warriors will be initiated. This will happen when most boys are between 12 and 25 and who have reached puberty and who were not part of the previous age-set. I was young when I went through my right of passage to become a Junior Warrior. The ritual involves circumcision without anaesthetics as way to prove the bravery of each of us.
As a warrior I dressed in bright red or tartan red blanket which I either wrapped around my waist or slung over my shoulder. I let my hair grow long and wore it in a tight braid. I sometime even painted my body with ochre. I would carry a long bladed sharp spear in one hand and a long-sided knife in the other. My role was to protect our community and cattle from predators and other tribes as well as to search for new pastures.
OUR CORE VALUES
The majority of Tanzanians never get the opportunity to see for themselves the amazing wildlife that roams their country, quite often leading to a disconnect between their lives and nature.
In order to protect the wildlife, and indeed our planet, we feel it is important to create these connections, which is why we have teamed up with “NAME OF NGO”. We work together to provide city kids with access to the bush, giving them the opportunity to track animals alongside our guides, as well as learn about the ecology and the importance of conservation.
We hope that by providing these opportunities to the youth of Tanzania we can help them better apprecoate nature and why it is so important that we take care of it.
Tourism can have a very positive impact on local communities when it is booked with the right provider. Very often there is a lot of “leakage” meaning that the money you pay doesn’t ever benefit the communities that you are visiting.
By booking directly with us, as opposed to through third parties, not only are you getting the best possible price, but all of your money will remain local and therefore will be directly benefiting the local communities. We are currently working with the Masai tribes in Northern Tanzania by supporting the opening of schools so that their kids can benefit from an education.
Having growing up as part of the Masaai community this is incredibly close to my heart.
We run this business because we are incredibly passionate about Tanzania, and in particular it’s wildlife. We love showing off our country to it’s visitors and we want you to have the best possible experience whilst you are with us.
That is why all our tours are tailor made to your needs. We can adapt the accommodation, the length of your stay and the activities to tie in with your budget, your preferences and your available time.
We want you to fall in love with our country and therefore we were go the extra mile for you every time!
One thing we guarantee is your comfort! That is why we have invested in 4WD Toyota Landcruisers. Not only are they perfect for the off road terrain, but they also offer lots of legroom, a must during long days on the look out for wildlife. Unlike other companies, we don’t limit our mileage or the hours we spend looking for wildlife so it is important you are comfortable!
It has a pop up roof which makes it ideal for wildlife spotting and photography! And of course, a fully equipped fridge to keep you hydrated and fed throughout the day. We even have bean bags so your cameras can also travel in comfort!
As you would expect the vehicles are well maintained and equipped with first aid kits and HF long-range radios for easy communication.
