I was in Tanzania for almost a month and went through Kilisa to arrange my activities on the mainland. This was a last-minute trip, and I contacted several tour companies with basic questions. Naick at Kilisa was the most responsive addressing my questions in a prompt manner. Kilisa's rates are competitive and they use quality equipment. I spent several days based in Moshi during this time. Nickson picked me up from the airport, and was my guide for day trip to the Materuni Waterfalls. He was very knowledgeable about the plant life, and the area. He's very accommodating.
When I had a needed to buy a shaver and had a question about a flight to Zanzibar, he took me to a mall, and also to the airline's office in town. I also booked a 5-day safari with Kilisa. Chris was my guide and was great in finding animals and catered the trip to animals and attractions that I was interested. He answered all my questions about animals, history, & Tanzanian culture. It was just Chris & I for the safari, which involves a lot of driving, so glad that we got along well. The time went by really fast. Chris also made sure everything went smoothly with the hot air balloon ride company (add-on activity to the safari). The Land Cruisers they use are well-maintained, and very capable of handling rough terrain. The canopy lifts up giving you a panoramic view of the wildlife. The vehicle is equipped with USB chargers and Chris had a pair of binoculars. No AC, but you don't really need it as you are constantly opening the windows for photos anyways. The lodge selection for the safari was very good. I stayed at Marera Valley Lodge & Embalakai Authentic Camp. (also stayed at The Panama Garden & Parkview Inn in Moshi). Lunch on the safari was prepared by the lodges and fancier than I was expecting. We'd find a picnic table each day, lay out a tablecloth and enjoy rice/pasta with an entrée. Kilisa provides water, coffee & tea for the trip. Kilisa has a safari packing list and FAQ on their website. For camera gear, a telephoto lens (more than 300mm) gives the most flexibility for capturing wildlife, but I used my phone quite a bit as well. I wish I had brought a tripod or bean bag to rest the camera on. I was expecting the top of the vehicle to be flat when canopy is raised, but it's actually slightly curved. It also gets dusty inside the vehicle so bring something to wipe your lenses with. If you have luggage that you don't need for the safari, you can leave it at the hotel in Moshi.
I also booked a Kilimanjaro Trek though Kilisa with the intention of joining a group going the week I wanted to go, but one person got sick the day before, so they cancelled. Naick gave me the option of doing the trek on my own (supported by a full team), or joining a trek with another company (there weren't many tourists in Tanzania when I went due to COVID & climbing season just started). I went with the 2nd option and was glad Naick was able to find another high-quality company for me to complete the trek with.
In summary, Kilisa offers good value for the tours they offer (competitive rates, high-quality experience). Being able to make all your arrangements through one company simplifies trip planning. I really enjoyed my time in Tanzania and much of that can be attributed to working with Kilisa. I would recommend them to others.
