We Design Safaris the Way We’d Want to Experience Them Ourselves
Active African Vacations was built in Kampala and later expanded to Tanzania after our founder, a senior safari guide in East Africa, fell deeply in love with Tanzania, not in a call center, not outsourced, and not run by people who’ve only seen the Serengeti in photographs. We are a locally based, owner-led luxury safari operator, and every itinerary on this site was built by someone who has personally stood in that landscape.
Since 2010, we’ve designed and operated private, tailor-made safaris for more than 10,000 travelers: honeymooners watching the sun rise over the Serengeti plains; families reuniting for once-in-a-generation trips; photographers chasing the exact week of the Mara River crossing; and returning guests who no longer want a “typical” itinerary because they’ve already done typical.
We don’t sell packages off a shelf. We listen first, then build.
Our Story
Ssali Billy founded Active African Vacations in 2010 after years working as a safari guide, and a specific moment led to starting the company: what was broken about how safaris were being planned at the time.
What started as a small venture, a single vehicle, and a handful of trusted camp relationships in Uganda has grown into a full-service luxury safari operation in the whole of Eastern Africa, but the founding principle hasn’t changed: every safari is designed around the traveler, not around a fixed template.
Today, we are based at our offices in Kampala, Arusha, Nairobi, and Kigali, the capitals of East Africa. This means our team is just minutes from the airport where our guests arrive and is in constant contact with the camps, guides, and conservancies we work with. We’re not managing your trip from another continent; we are right here on the ground.
Why Travelers Work With Us
We know the ground, not just the brochure. Our team has personally visited the parks, camps, and lodges we recommend. When we suggest a specific camp for the Mara River crossing weeks or a particular Ngorongoro Crater property for a honeymoon, it’s based on firsthand experience, not a commission arrangement or a marketing photo.
We build one-of-one itineraries. No two safaris we design are identical, because no two travelers want the same thing. We ask about your pace, interests, physical ability, budget range, and what “luxury” means to you private comfort, remote exclusivity, photographic access, or all three before proposing a single day of your trip.
We stay reachable throughout your trip, not just before you book. From your first inquiry to your flight home, you have a direct line to a real person on our team via WhatsApp, phone, or email who knows your itinerary in detail. If a flight is delayed or plans need to shift mid-safari, you’re not calling a support queue.
We work only with vetted, trusted partners. Every camp and lodge featured on this site from &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge to Singita Sasakwa is a partner we’ve personally vetted and worked with directly, not an affiliate listing.
