About Active Kili Top

We are a Tanzanian company, based in Arusha, running Kilimanjaro climbs and safaris since 2010. Everything below is verifiable. We would rather tell you less and have it be true.

Who we are

Active Kili Top and Safaris was founded in 2010 by Gabriel Nkini and Edna, and operates from Suye, Arusha — the town at the foot of Mount Meru that most northern-circuit safaris begin from. We are locally owned and locally staffed. Guides, drivers and mountain crew are Tanzanian and on our own books, not subcontracted per trip.

We hold two TALA licences from the Tanzania Tourist Board, one for mountain climbing and one for wildlife safaris, and are registered with BRELA.

BRELA registration 68240 · TALA Mlima licence (mountain climbing) 033955 · TALA Porini licence (wildlife safaris) 033956

We work in English, Kiswahili and French.

How we work

Private by default

Almost every trip we run is private: your own vehicle, your own guide, your own pace. We run shared departures only when someone specifically asks for one to bring the cost down. It is not a premium upsell — a private vehicle is simply how a safari should work, and on the northern circuit the cost difference is smaller than most people expect.

Prices that include the park fees

A day in the Serengeti carries a government entry fee, a concession fee and often a camping fee before anyone has driven anywhere. We quote you a figure with all of it in. A price that looks lower because those are added later is not a lower price, and comparing two quotes where one includes fees and one does not is the most common way travellers get caught.

We will talk you out of things

If you ask for four parks in five days, we will tell you what that actually feels like — most of it through a windscreen. If your dates put you in the wrong place for what you want to see, we will say so and suggest a different park rather than sell you the one you named. That costs us bookings occasionally. It costs us fewer disappointed travellers.

On the mountain

Kilimanjaro is where an operator's ethics show. Our crews carry no more than the legal weight limit and eat the same food as the climbers. Guides carry a pulse oximeter and check every client twice daily. A guide's decision that someone must descend is final and is made on medical grounds alone.

We do not quote summit success rates. Every operator's numbers are self-reported and unaudited, and the honest answer is that route choice and acclimatisation days matter far more than the company you book with.

The people

The company is small enough that you will deal with the same few people from first message to last day. These are the ones you are most likely to meet.

Who runs it

The guides

Samia Asindamu Tarimo

Mountain & safari guide · 25+ years on Kilimanjaro

Samia has guided on Kilimanjaro for more than twenty-five years and has led hundreds of safaris, most of them in the northern parks. He usually walks at the back of the group, where he can keep an eye on everyone and keep the conversation going.

He is known for his first aid and his sense of humour, and has travelled to Poland and the United States. Married, with children.

John Simon Maeda

Mountain guide · 300+ summits

John always wanted to work on Kilimanjaro. When he first asked for a porter’s job he was told he was too weak, so he trained until he wasn’t. Years later a climber who saw his potential paid his way through guide school.

He has trekked every route on the mountain, reached the summit more than 300 times, and knows its plants and animals as well as its paths. He also leads Mount Meru climbs and safaris. Married, with two children.

Innocent Willington Mmari

Trip leader · climbing Kilimanjaro since 2010

Innocent grew up in Sanya Juu, on the western slopes of Kilimanjaro, four villages from the edge of the montane forest. He started on the mountain as a porter in 2010 and worked through every crew role to trip leader; he has climbed it more than 90 times, with clients of every age and ability.

As trip leader he is responsible for his group’s safety and is the link between climbers, crew and office. He also guides walking safaris and game drives.

Languages Chagga, Kiswahili, English; some German, Spanish and Chinese

Gregory Sarme Sulle

Mountain & tour guide · since 2022

Gregory was born and raised in Mbulu District, in the Manyara region. He guides on the mountain and on safari, explaining the wildlife, landscapes and culture along the way and looking after the day-to-day running of each trip.

Training Arusha Wisdom Training College (tour guiding, 2021–22) · Mountain guide, College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka (2022) · Wilderness First Responder (2025) · CPR
Languages Kiswahili, English

Samuel Sylvester Muma

Mountain & tour guide · since 2019

Samuel was born and raised in the Manyara region and has guided treks and safaris since 2019. Safety comes first with him, and so does making sure every client enjoys the day.

Training Arusha Wisdom Training College (tour guiding, 2021–22) · Mountain guide, College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka (2022) · Wilderness First Responder (2025) · CPR
Languages Kiswahili, English

Conservation and community

Every trip contributes in the same direct way: the park and conservation fees included in your price go to TANAPA and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, which fund anti-poaching patrols and park management.

Talk to us

info@activekilitopandsafaris.com · +255 762 914 714 · WhatsApp
Suye, Arusha, Tanzania. Full contact details, or tell us about your trip.