HM Safaris is run by people who share a passion for the people, land and wildlife of Tanzania.

Peter

Peter was born in the Mbulu District, one of the five districts of the Manyara Region in Tanzania. He grew up surrounded by the farm lands near Lake Manyara National Park in Arusha, where he developed a deep understanding and strong interest in nature. From an early age Peter knew that his career path would lead him to guiding. His family provided him with the opportunity to continue with his secondary education in the town of Moshi, which is located in Kilimanjaro. It was here that he was able to learn English and further his studies in African wildlife. After he finished his studies Peter joined a professional tour guide college in Arusha and obtained his certification in wildlife and field guiding skills.

His first professional experience as a guide was with Hoopoe Safaris, where he led walking tours in Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks. Many people don’t realize the amount of training required to be a walking guide. The guides are not given any form of protection against the animals and they must therefore be in tune with all the elements around them. To be a walking guide is the ultimate in safari guides, it requires one to be acutely aware of, and able to react to, the most subtle of changes that most others would not take notice of.

Peter then spent several years working with ‘And Beyond’, where he had the opportunity to work as a ranger, driver and guide. He currently has over 15 years of guide and driver experience. He is extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife of Tanzania and has a passion for giraffes, the great cats and birds.

Peter is easy going and enjoys meeting people from all over the world. He particularly likes learning about their way of life and what brings them to Tanzania. He in turn is able to enlighten his clients about the country, history and politics.
In his spare time Peter spends time with his family and continues to work with locals on improving farming techniques.

Peter's favorites:

• Animal sound: Lion roar
• Bird: Red chested cuckoo
• Mammal: Cheetah
• Park: Serengeti
• Time of day for animal sightings: Dawn
• Tree: Acacia

Raphiele

Raphiele was born and raised in the Tanzanian tourism capital of Arusha. Raphiele’s background involves many years of walking safaris and mountain climbing. His outgoing personality means he brings enthusiasm and expertise to any safari – walking, driving or other. In 2000 Raphiele joined &beyond (formerly CC Africa), and worked in the vast Serengeti National Park for five years. He then wanted more of a challenge and joined Nomad doing long tours over East and Central Africa.

With his strong love of nature, Raphiele enjoys twitching (bird watching) because he believes when you’re looking for the small stuff, the big things naturally appear. His patience has resulted in an amazing set of discoveries about the behaviors and social relations of animals and bird life. His contribution can be found in annual ecological journals of Tanzania.

While he is not out on a safari, Raphiele spends his time at an orphanage teaching children conservation of the land. He also supports a group of young deaf tailors who design batik and khanga items. To spice things up, (and anyone who knows Ralph knows how much he likes to spice things up!), he occasionally takes his binoculars on early morning strolls out of Arusha to see what small stuff he may find.

Raphiele's favorites:

• Animal sound: Leopard roar
• Bird: Short-tailed Eagle
• Mammal: Leopard
• Park: Serengeti
• Time of the day for animal sighting: Dusk
• Tree: Frangipani

Jennifer

Jennifer is from Jackson Hole, Wyoming and grew up in the Rocky Mountains. Wyoming is the least populated of the fifty states and the majority of her childhood was spent on her family's three acre property near the base of the Grand Tetons. It was not uncommon for them to have moose, deer and even antelope in their backyard, and when she was eight her swing set was completely trampled by a herd of errant cattle. Her father owned and operated one of the original snowmobile tour companies that took people into Yellowstone National Park, the world's oldest and arguably the most famous national park in the world. She was educated and raised in the mountains, where the base level is around 2000m (6700 ft), and she feels extremely fortunate to have been brought up in a very natural environment where elk, buffalo, moose, deer, coyotes, bears and eventually wolves were all present.

Jennifer has a strong interest in preserving national parks and conservation lands so that they may be enjoyed by all for an indefinite amount of time. Her professional background is in online media and she focuses on the sales and marketing at HM Safaris.

In her spare time Jennifer enjoys traveling and getting out in nature. She has been to many countries and, like Peter, enjoys meeting people from all over the world and experiencing their culture, particularly their foods and languages.

Jennifer's favorites:

• Animal sound: Hyena call
• Bird: Paradise Flycatcher
• Mammal: Leopard
• Park: Serengeti
• Time of day for animal sightings: Dusk
• Tree: Candelabra