Taata Discoveries
About Taata Discoveries
Our Mission
We are committed to providing a world-class safari experience for our guests while contributing positively to local Indigenous communities.
Eco-tourism by and for Indigenous People
Tanzania’s people are among the most welcoming and approachable on earth with diverse and unique cultures ready to be shared with visitors. Cultural tours can be half day excursions or customized to longer stays for a couple of days among local people in their home villages and towns. Various local communities run their own cultural programs and welcomes visitors to their homes, bringing income directly to local community while giving local people an opportunity to showcase their way of life to the outside world. This creates mutual understanding and friendships between guests and local people, offering guests from all over the world the possibility to experience Tanzania’s cultural diversity and providing local people in various rural areas the opportunity to build sustainable livelihoods. Cultural Tourism is beneficial to everyone since the guests get unforgettable and unique experience while the local people generate income that improves their standard of living.
Our Story
Sharing Culture | Sustaining Nature
From our Founder, Killing'ot Lembikas
Taata means “today” in Maa language. We are founded by a Maasai warrior and this warrior stands today to share my culture and promote sustainable tourism that gives back to Indigenous communities.
The idea for Taata Disoveries came when I was herding our livestock on the savanna and a honey guide bird appeared and its of call beckoned me to come, almost saying: "follow and I'll take you to the place where the bees are."The bird, which was originally created to eat the remains of honey from humans when gathered from the hive, acquired that personality and a very strange characteristic of knowing where bees live and it came to the place where herders were to tell them where the bees were. I followed the bird with my spear, bush knife and clubs in my hands and before we could reach the beehive I emerged into a jungle and soon encountered a tourist vehicle on safari to watch elephants, lions, leopards and antelopes.
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The guests were very surprised to see me walking on my own and at a certain distance the elephants were seen dropping trees to eat the branches while they also watched lions and leopards. The foreigners spoke to me and fortunately I knew their language. The guests with their driver guide summoned me and when I spoke to them I gave a description of the land of acacia and jungles, animals, our herding culture and more of my honey guide bird story. They were surprised to hear I was following a bird that took me to a place where bees live to produce offspring and natural honey as food.
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When I was with the bird here listen to its voice of telling me to follow it, the driver guide turned off the car engine and they actually heard it then I told them if they are ready to follow me to see the wonders of nature I welcome them. They agreed to follow me, the driver drove slowly while I followed the bird on foot talking and I told the bird say my friend, do not be afraid to continue until you tell me where they are with sweet honey. When we got to the part where the bird was pointing while lowering the voice to the end of the silence I saw bees entering the middle of two rocks on the ground and there I showed the guests who were very happy and willingly gave me good free money in the form of American dollars.
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So a Maasai warrior was in a nature walk on the boundary of nature near the protected area. He met the travellers while he was herding cattle on the plains and the travellers were attracted by the warrior bravery of walking on foot as they also wanted to see a boy with plaited hair, a spear and bush knife as he didn’t afraid the dangerous animals on foot as the travellers were in a safari vehicle for game watch. The Maasai warrior later went to school; he got education and thought to have a traveling company that benefits the people of his community in different ways. He has a curiosity to show others the real experience he encountered during his childhood in the physical manifestation of the environment that accommodated humans and wildlife sanctuaries at the same time.
Our Team.
We are one of the only Maasai-led safari companies in Tanzania. Our team – including our experienced drivers and expert Maasai guides – are professional, ethical, and committed to your experience.
Our Safaris Make a Difference
Why Choose Taata Discoveries Limited?
Adventurous.
We connect adventurous and open-minded travelers with the indigenous people and their rich livelihoods in the most beautiful wilderness and conservation areas in the world. You get closer to nature and indigenous knowledge than ever before.
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Authentic.
Our Indigenous hosts and guides open the door to their homes and culture. You can observe and participate in ancient traditions and rituals that an average traveler can't see. With us, you are a guest, not a tourist.
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Unique.
Our experiences are one of a kind. You explore remote areas, sleep in a hut or in a tent, eat local food and live everyday life with your Indigenous hosts. We make your travel deeper and with a purpose. You'll have something to remember for the rest of your life.
Travel and do good.
We make travel with passion and respect. We believe in fair tourism where nature and Indigenous peoples are respected. From every stay booked with us, the local Indigenous families and community benefit the most.
The Indigenous people are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. We maximize benefits to our indigenous hosts and the environment. We use our revenue to protect indigenous heritage while enhancing indigenous peoples' capacity and economy.
Guides
Our guides are reliable, knowledgeable and committed to providing the safest and most enjoyable trip possible for our guests. Our guides begin each adventure with a detailed orientation; all are qualified in food handling education and Leave No Trace. Many have earned credentials as wilderness First Responders. They are all exciting individuals who have a passion for sharing the outdoors. We take pride in having the nicest vehicle fleet in the industry operated by our guides. Our safari vehicles roof opened are all cleaned and updated regularly, to insure that you arrive at your destination in comfort and style. Our driver guides are professionally trained and experienced at navigating the roads on which we operate.
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Be a Kind Traveler.
Traveling can positively impact local communities when it is managed and planned well, respecting indigenous people and the environment. When you travel with us, you can leave more than just a footprint behind while having an unforgettable time exploring new cultures and ways of life. We are a social enterprise whose primary mission is to make tourism sustainable, fair and ethical for the indigenous people and extraordinary, meaningful and authentic for you.
Give families medical Insurance
We listen to the voices of the Indigenous women who want to invest in healthy families. With every single booking, we purchase a medical cover for one or more Indigenous family most in need. Our Indigenous families live in remote locations, where access and quality of health services are limited. With our comprehensive medical cover, the families can go to any government hospital to get treatment and free medication.
Provide an income for a family hosting you
Our trips employ and give economic benefits directly to local indigenous people who run our programs and host our guests in their homes and villages. From each trip, local Indigenous hosts receive fair payment. Sustainable indigenous tourism can provide an additional income for indigenous people so they don't need to move to cities if lack employment opportunities which can result in a loss of indigenous heritage and values.
Contribute to preserve Indigenous cultures
Our mission is to preserve Indigenous cultures and traditional knowledge. We value and embrace indigenous cultures; languages, heritage and livelihoods, and its transmission from one generation to the next must be protected, preserved, and encouraged.