About Off The Beaten Path Safaris
Off the Beaten Path Safaris is a locally owned and operated safari company based out of Arusha, Tanzania. We pride ourselves on personalized service with a high standard for all of our customers.
Vision:
To explore Tanzania with our clients in a trailblazing manner, providing them with unique experiences that combine wildlife safari with social activism and environmental conservation, benefitting the local citizens and wildlife. In turn, these unique opportunities for tourists will build our company into a successful Tanzanian owned and operated safari business that can sustainably employ at least 3 full time expedition leaders and the necessary office staff to run our business daily while providing a salary to the owners.
Mission Statement:
To provide our clients with an exceptional safari experience that combines unique itineraries with immersion into local communities while having a positive impact on both the local people, animals and environment in which we venture.
Motto: Tourism with a conscience
Core values/objectives:
- To increase awareness and advocate for wildlife conservation amongst tourists and indigenous people
- To increase awareness and advocate for environmental conservation in communities surrounding the national parks.
- To empower our employees and future generations of Tanzanians to work hard and live comfortably while respecting nature.
- To provide an exceptional wildlife safari experience for our clients while respecting those areas that we visit.
Why the name “Off the Beaten Path Safaris”
We chose the name, Off The Beaten Path Safaris, purposefully to embody the mission of our company. The phrase “off the beaten path” means to visit a remote, less traveled or less-known location. This is how we set ourselves apart from most other safari companies in Tanzania – our top goal is to provide our clients with an exceptional safari experience by providing unique itineraries that combines traditional safari with immersion into local communities all while having a positive impact on the environment and communities that we visit.
Our guides are professionally trained and have a passion to deliver a special safari adventure to our clients. Rather than relying so much upon the radio to find out about the ‘hot spots’ where there are several cars of tourists viewing the same thing – we prefer to venture out on our own for a more private game drive experience. We love the thrill of clients spotting wild animals for themselves or us locating an exclusive view for them.
Founder And Directors
Off the Beaten Path Safaris was founded in 2018 by Salim Mrindoko, in pursuit of merging his passion for wildlife conservation, his gift for genuinely interacting with people, and his educational background in business. Salim is also a certified wildlife guide by training. Our mission is to provide tourists with the top safari experience by employing the most passionate guides, providing the most well-maintained vehicles and really listening to the customer’s needs.
Off the Beaten Path Safaris is locally owned and operated, with our office based in the Njiro district of Arusha. Our fully staffed office and reservations team is available 7 days a week to respond to your inquiries as quickly as possible.
Off the Beaten Path Safaris may not be the largest safari outfitter in Tanzania, but we promise to be the best!
Off the Beaten Path Safaris is locally owned and operated, with our office based in the Njiro district of Arusha. Our fully staffed office and reservations team is available 7 days a week to respond to your inquiries as quickly as possible.
Off the Beaten Path Safaris may not be the largest safari outfitter in Tanzania, but we promise to be the best!
Rebecca Syring is our other director at Off the Beaten Path Safaris. Her entire life, Rebecca has harbored a strong interest in nature and wildlife. During her first visit to Tanzania in 2019, she fell in love with the country - the people and its magnificent landscapes, flora and fauna. She has a passion for photography and also understands the need for conservation and protection of Tanzania’s parks and wildlife. She met Salim when on safari and the two quickly formed a strong partnership. Rebecca resides in the United States where she is a critical care veterinary specialist for cats and dogs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rebecca has an unwavering commitment to Off the Beaten Path Safaris where she serves as their marketing and communications director in the United States. Her goal is to transition to life in Tanzania someday, but in the meantime she visits as often as possible!
OUR GUIDES:
Humphrey was born and raised in the tourism capital of Tanzania - Arusha. His passion for nature and wildlife started at a young age. During his 7 years of primary school, he embraced a fanatical interest in the Wildlife Club, where he was frequently naming trees and flowers around the school compound. After high school graduation, he joined the Tourism College in Arusha where I obtained a Certificates of Tourism, Wildlife Management, Tour Operation, Travel & Basic First Aid Operations.
Thereafter, he joined And Beyond Trainings and then was employed as Guide in for their camps and lodges. There he acquired his guiding and walking guide certificate. He has also participated in birding courses through Wayo Africa, obtaining an Advanced Birding Certificate, He also worked hand in hand with the Tarangire Lion Project, where they researched aging, lifespan and diseases affecting the lions as well as determining the extent of their territories.
Humphrey’s favorite animal in the wild is a Leopard, due to its coloration and elusiveness.
Thereafter, he joined And Beyond Trainings and then was employed as Guide in for their camps and lodges. There he acquired his guiding and walking guide certificate. He has also participated in birding courses through Wayo Africa, obtaining an Advanced Birding Certificate, He also worked hand in hand with the Tarangire Lion Project, where they researched aging, lifespan and diseases affecting the lions as well as determining the extent of their territories.
Humphrey’s favorite animal in the wild is a Leopard, due to its coloration and elusiveness.
Joel was born and raised in Arusha town, the safari capital of Tanzania, near the slope of Mount Meru. His father worked in the tourism industry as a camp manager during his childhood. This allowed him to experience life on safari - memories of spending time with one of his father’s friends who worked at Sopa Lodges from when he was around 9 years old instilled a love of wildlife and nature and influenced his career choice.
Following high school graduation, he joined Mount Meru Tour Guide College earning both basic and advanced certificates in tour guide management. After completing his certificates in wildlife management, he spent 3 months as a field guiding trainee in Tarangire National Park - during this time he focused on bird watching as well as walking safari training in order to expand his knowledge and training. In 2015, he joined Melia International Hotels as a safari tour guide driver. After 1 year, he was promoted to Head Guide level in Melia Lodge—Serengeti. There he received many specialized trainings in wildlife and gained experience handling VIP guests. During his time at Melia Lodge—Serengeti, he was awarded Employee of the Month two times!
Joel likes to travel and discover new adventures everywhere he goes! Because nature is so vast, he continues to learn at every opportunity by reading and watching documentaries concerning wildlife and nature conservation. This helps him remain a top level expedition guide.
Following high school graduation, he joined Mount Meru Tour Guide College earning both basic and advanced certificates in tour guide management. After completing his certificates in wildlife management, he spent 3 months as a field guiding trainee in Tarangire National Park - during this time he focused on bird watching as well as walking safari training in order to expand his knowledge and training. In 2015, he joined Melia International Hotels as a safari tour guide driver. After 1 year, he was promoted to Head Guide level in Melia Lodge—Serengeti. There he received many specialized trainings in wildlife and gained experience handling VIP guests. During his time at Melia Lodge—Serengeti, he was awarded Employee of the Month two times!
Joel likes to travel and discover new adventures everywhere he goes! Because nature is so vast, he continues to learn at every opportunity by reading and watching documentaries concerning wildlife and nature conservation. This helps him remain a top level expedition guide.
Wilson was born and grew up in Tanzania a little bit out of Arusha town near the boundary of Tarangire National Park. He is passionate in traveling, nature photographing and
conservation since his childhood, as he grew up in the wildlife management Area. The passion of traveling and nature led him to pursue his carrier in tourism industry and became a Tour guide in early age of his life and later underwent different trainings in tour operations and photographing.
conservation since his childhood, as he grew up in the wildlife management Area. The passion of traveling and nature led him to pursue his carrier in tourism industry and became a Tour guide in early age of his life and later underwent different trainings in tour operations and photographing.
He says that he was born to be a tour guide and while it is always good to see and experience different destinations and cultures, there is so much to offer in Tanzania and East Africa. Wilson’s favorite destination is Ngorongoro Conservation Area the most diversified of the other protected areas. His favorite wild animal is hyena as they play a major role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Further more he is a fast leaner and more than ready to learn from others.
Zainab was born and raised locally in Arusha town, Tanzania. Zainab attended Mount Meru Tour Guide College and has spent 3 months in the field with Jairos Adventure. She is a recent graduate and we have employed her at Off the Beaten Path Safaris as a junior guide - we are very excited to grow her skill set from within the company and one day she will be an excellent wildlife guide for our clients. Zainab has a strong passion for tourism and wildlife - she loves to spend time in the the outdoors with wildlife. Her favorite animal is the zebra because of their coloration - they are black and white and therefore nothing is hidden - this is how she likes to live her life.
OFFICE STAFF:
Jacqueline is our sales and booking agent in the office. She has over 10 years of experience in the tourism industry, working previously for some larger safari companies in Tanzania. Jacqueline is the one who communicates with and develops client itineraries, ensures payments are complete for park fees and lodging, and makes sure we show up where we are supposed to be at the proper time, making sure your safari runs seamlessly.
Edison is our marketing and IT support in the office. He works along side Jacqueline to ensure the proper permits are obtained for safari and fees are payed in a timely manner.
Salim is our handyman around the office and caretaker for our dogs. Salim makes sure that everything is running smoothly at the office while we are away on safari. He is in charge of vehicle and grounds maintenance at the office.
Josephine is an integral part to our every day at Off the Beaten Path Safaris. She keeps our office clean and cooks meals for our staff every day while they work. She helps to provide food for when the office welcomes guests and clients. We couldn’t survive without Josephine!