Meet Our Team
-
Ally Kileo
Principal & Master Guide
Ally is a world-class naturalist and fantastically enthusiastic guide. He is one of just 26 Gold Level* guides, and has been leading safaris in East Africa for almost 20 years.
Ally grew up on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro chasing away vervet monkeys from their bananas farm. His interest in monkeys fostered a lasting passion for wildlife and fueled his ambition to continue his education in naturalism. Ally moved to the U.S. in 1997 to study Zoology at Wichita State University and perfect his English. He returned to Tanzania in 2009 to pursue his passion.
While his knowledge of the bush and wildlife is vast, he has a particular passion for big cats and has conducted thorough research on carnivores. He is an exceptionally skilled driver who can navigate through the bush to track prides of lions and elusive leopards. He tells amazing stories.
*Gold level is the highest safari guide accreditation possible from the Tanzania Tour Guide Association.
-
Genice Jacobs
Principal & Adventure Consultant
Genice is Guided Tanzania’s U.S. based travel advisor. She met Ally on safari and they bonded over their shared love of big cats. They teamed up to expand Ally’s tour company, with a commitment to support big cat conservation projects.
Her background includes recruiting for and leasing contractors to tech companies for 14 years. Her last major recruiting role involved helping establish a U.S. subsidiary of SolveDirect, a Vienna-based software company, through its acquisition by Cisco Systems. She has held fundraising roles in nonprofits and created campaigns and promoted laws and policy to prevent human trafficking for 13 years.
She also advanced a solar lighting project in Ghana and served as Associate Producer for the award-winning documentary California’s Forgotten Children.
Genice has a deep understanding of people at the base of the pyramid and a commitment to fair wages for safari guides. She is a veteran of unique journeys who delights in helping others achieve their dream adventures.
-
Rahim Mohamed Kiata
Operations Manager
Rahim is a statistician with six years of experience, but his true passion lies in the natural world. His love for the environment led him to pursue further studies in tour operation and planning. Rahim has also volunteered with various NGOs, working on programs designed to raise environmental awareness among schoolchildren. His aim is to instill a sense of responsibility in young people to care for our planet.
Recently, Rahim made the transition to the tourism industry, where he can remain closely connected to nature. "My fascination with the environment began early, during my primary school years in a Maasai village within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. I vividly remember mornings when giraffes would graze less than 50 meters from our dormitories, an experience that left a lasting impact on me."
As the Operations Manager at Guided Tanzania, Rahim is responsible for organizing tours that allow others to experience the splendor of nature and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the environment.
-
Joseph Kassian Mapima
Mountain Guide
Joseph is a world-class mountain guide with more than 17 years experience climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. He has successfully led more than 200 trips to the summit. Joseph deep passion for communities and conservation. He is particularly driven to improve the livelihoods of communities living alongside wildlife, especially cultures that are steadily vanishing.
Joseph has trained at Mweka Collegebof Wildlife Management and the Tanzania Red Cross. He has been awarded several certificates from Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (Wildlife and Forest Conservation Service. and the Prime Minister’s Office).
Joseph has training in CPR, wilderness first aid, high altitude supplementary oxygen systems, Health Problem identification, Assessment and Management, Bleeding, breaks and injury in the Mountains and on Safari.