Tanzania: Up Close & Personalized

Tanzania: Up Close & Personalized

Tanzania Adventure Tours

By: Erin M. Cowser

“Alone a youth runs fast, with an elder slow, but together they go far.” An African proverb from the Luo has a modern twist: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” That spirit underpins Tanzania Adventure Tours (TAT), a small-but-growing safari company whose U.S. headquarters is unexpectedly based in Tangipahoa Parish.

Since its inception, TAT has broadened the horizons of more than 350 travelers. Clients— ranging from toddlers to 78-year-olds—have crossed the Atlantic to experience Africa’s untamed beauty and enchanting charm. Families, bachelor parties, girls’ trips and honeymoons alike have crossed the Atlantic to revel in the magic of Tanzania.

But how did a TripAdvisor 5-star international safari company come to call Tangipahoa home? The story began with a graduation gift. In 2006, Ryan Barker and his father, Kimble, embarked on an adventure that would change their lives. “When I arrived in Tanzania, it felt like I was home. I got chills. I still get chills every single time I think about it,” Ryan recalled.

During that life-changing journey, the Barkers met safari guide Said Kambelenje, who quickly became a close friend. On the flight home, the pair agreed that if more people could experience Tanzania’s magic, their lives would be richer for it. Eleven years later, Ryan (then director of Chappapeela Sports Park in Hammond) and Kimble (a retired Hammond Police Department officer) couldn’t shake the pull of Tanzania. Ryan and Said, who had remained in touch and become close friends, hatched the idea of a Tangipahoa-to-Tanzania tour company. When they pitched the idea to Kimble, Tanzania Adventure Tours was born.

In June 2018, TAT officially opened its doors. Sadly, Kimble passed away in 2019, but the company continues to honor his vision of expanding people’s understanding through expanding their experiences. Today, Ryan’s 9-year-old son, Reid, has joined the adventure four times—his first trip coming when he was just 4.

TAT’s commitment to its clients has earned nods from TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards and an unprecedented unanimous 5-star rating. “We’re only as good as our next adventure,” Ryan asserts, underscoring the company’s focus on quality and continuous improvement.

The options for those adventures are seemingly endless. As highlighted on the company’s website, TAT knows Tanzania from Arusha to Zanzibar, from the Serengeti to Kilimanjaro—and every village in between. Travelers can explore seven national parks, the vast Ndutu Plains, the iconic Ngorongoro Crater, and Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. For those ticking off bucket-list items, opportunities abound: witness the endangered black rhino at Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary, visit the rock formations in the Serengeti featured throughout “The Lion King,” or explore the paleoanthropological site of Olduvai Gorge, often dubbed the “Cradle of Humanity.”

Ngorongoro Crater, designated a World Heritage Site in 1979 and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1980, is sometimes called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” It was here that archaeologist Mary Leakey unearthed the earliest signs of human technology used by toolwielding humans.

Hiking enthusiasts will find Mount Kilimanjaro irresistible. While summiting the peak is reserved for advanced hikers, TAT travelers can complete the first leg of the famed Marangu Route, trekking through a rainforest teeming with wildlife. Those who prefer flatter terrain can explore the rich flora and fauna at the mountain’s base—no climbing gear required.

Trips can be timed so visitors witness the Great Migration, deemed one of the Earth’s most spectacular wildlife events. Imagine 1.5 million wildebeest, 500,000 zebras, Thomson’s gazelles, Grant’s gazelles and eland braving predators as they traverse Tanzania in pursuit of rain.

For visitors seeking intimate animal encounters, TAT offers guided bush walks with armed park rangers, or snorkeling sessions in the crystal-clear waters of Zanzibar. For those who crave a bird’s-eye view, hot-air balloon rides over the African plains or a stroll along the Treetop Walkway at Lake Manyara—a series of nine suspended bridges, 60 feet above the forest floor—provide unforgettable vistas. If a blend of adventure and comfort is more your style, TAT’s fleet of luxury land cruisers, complete with removable roofs for optimal wildlife viewing, offers both morning and afternoon rides.

“The Tanzania government has truly embraced the hospitality industry, so there are new offerings coming all the time,” Ryan said. “For example, there are now glass bottom submarine tours operating in Zanzibar. It’s a spectacular experience.”

He adds that the safety and security of TAT travelers is of utmost priority. “I have personally done every excursion we offer so I can vouch for their safety,” he says. “Tanzania is the most peaceful and stable country in Africa. Our guides are expert professionals with years of experience and training. They intimately know the land and the wildlife that call it home.”

All those who travel are invited to partake in “sundowner parties.” The tradition of enjoying a drink in the African bush while watching the sun disappear on the horizon dates back to some of the earliest safaris in the 1920s. Gorgeous sunsets and refreshments are provided for all those of drinking age.

TAT caters to every type of traveler. Whether you’re flying solo, with a small group or a large party, TAT offers custom safaris, prearranged itineraries and group trips, available during both the wet season (November–May) and the dry season (June–October). Lodging options range from moderate to mid-luxury to luxury and can be found inside and outside national parks. Some travelers even opt for luxury tented camps, where they can drift off under a blanket of stars.

Ryan encourages clients not to miss the cultural immersion opportunities TAT provides. Business partner Said and his wife, Salha Mbuya—who also manages TAT reservations—invite travelers into their home for authentic cooking lessons. “We’re not talking about a cooking class in some fabricated kitchen,” Ryan says. “They take you to the market to choose your ingredients, then you go to their home to cook, learn and enjoy a meal together.”

Cultural excursions abound, offering a taste of true Tanzanian life. “TAT is a family affair, and the locals embrace our guests as extended family,” Ryan says with a smile.

In Mto Wa Mbu Village, home to more than 100 tribes and over 30 banana species, visitors can meet a local family, tour a banana plantation and sample banana beer. Saadani, a Swahili fishing village of about 800 inhabitants, offers historical tours that highlight remnants from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Stone Town in Zanzibar, a former spice and slave port, stands as a living piece of history. The East Africa Slave Trade Museum commemorates the abolition of slavery and preserves the legacy of those who were brought to the island to be sold. Visitors can also admire colonial architecture influenced by Arab, Indian, Iranian, Portuguese and British styles and tour the childhood home of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. A tour of Spice Island introduces travelers to the archipelago’s rich spice trade—from cloves and nutmeg to cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, vanilla, cocoa, licorice, breadfruit, saffron, iodine, ylang-ylang, lemongrass and every pepper imaginable.

In northern Tanzania and southern Kenya, the Maasai people—semi-nomadic pastoralists—open their villages to visitors. Travelers can admire handcrafted artwork, observe ceremonial dances and learn about Maasai traditions. A full day of immersion might include a Maasai food experience, where guests sample local dishes such as ugali (cornmeal porridge), sukuma wiki (stewed greens), nyama choma (roasted meat), Macharari or matoke (banana stew), Mtori (banana soup), Mbege (banana beer) and pilau (spiced brown rice).

TAT offers various amenities and lodging options. Clients can choose to stay in bungalows, luxury tented camps or structured lodges. The company provides handy resources, including checklists of animals you might encounter and guides for packing. The TAT team—comprising Ryan, Said, Salha, guides Muhidini Mahmoud, John Paul Letara and Dennis Mollel, and transit coordinator Ramadhani Kambelenje—works together to ensure every traveler’s experience exceeds expectations.

Tanzania Adventure Tours is more than a travel company—it’s a family affair that carries forward a legacy of exploration, connection and cultural immersion.

Enrich Tanzania

In addition to TAT, the Barkers founded Enrich Tanzania, a sister organization dedicated to making early education affordable and accessible for Tanzanian children. “Our goal is to connect Tanzanians with the same basic opportunities, education and resources that we take for granted,” Barker said.

Thanks to generous donations, seven acres of land have been purchased, and once Kimble Lee Academy opens, it will serve up to 150 local children, ages 3 to 6. In the meantime, donor support has enabled the hiring of teachers to educate 35 to 45 children in a village near Arusha.

Holding undergraduate and graduate degrees in education and having taught and coached at Hammond High Magnet School, Ryan is particularly proud of this nonprofit work.

“We all know that early education leads to improved academic performance and educational retention,” he said. “Even more important for a country like Tanzania is that it translates into greater income later in life, better hygiene and more cooperation and empathy. They learn things they can use to better themselves and their communities.”

For more information on Enrich Tanzania and Tanzania Adventure Tours, visit TanzaniaAdventureTours.com or follow them on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.