MEET OUR SAFARI DRIVER GUIDE: Zubery Omary Zubery
ABOUT ZUBERY
I realized I wanted to be a guide when I was in secondary school. We did a six-day study tour to Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti! I met a lot of guides at the park gates and inside the parks who inspired me by the way they were explaining information about our country and animals. My dad was also a tour guide and one day he took me on safari and explained in great detail all the things we saw while on our trip. I was inspired by both of these experiences, and I was determined to become a guide.
After I completed my secondary education, I joined college for two years where I took a wildlife course. I did my field studies after six months to different national parks such as Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro Crater to learn about what I studied in the class.
After my two years at the college, I graduated and was rewarded with a wildlife certificate. I then joined Serengeti National Park as a guide at the visitors’ center. I explained to clients about the history of Serengeti, what to see, and its landscape by using a scanned map and a replica structure.
Before getting an official job as a tour guide with a proper company, I worked as a freelance guide with some companies and gained experience which I used later to get employed with a reputable company.
I started to work with Easy Travel after I had heard about them from other guides. They mentioned that Easy Travel was really great with their staff and also tried to avoid problems in advance with how organized they were. When I began working with Easy Travel, it was all confirmed for me – everything they provided for us on safaris was in excellent condition and well maintained.
My favorite thing about being a guide is being able to make my clients happy and satisfied with the things they see. I also like to ask clients questions about whether they have been to any other national parks in Africa or anywhere else in the world and ask what their highlight was. From there, I get to know what they saw or were offered in other places and how I can make this trip even better for them. The biggest challenge comes when clients get sick in the middle of a safari. It forces me to shorten my driving time and we end up not seeing as many animals.
I live in a diverse community with different opinions, perceptions, and traditions. Most people describe me as a good and cooperative person. I’m the firstborn in my family with three younger sisters. I’m married to my wife, and we are blessed to have four kids. I’m now living with my family in Moshi, Kilimanjaro.
Favorite Park in Tanzania
My favorite national park is Serengeti National Park because it is a highlight of our country. With its 14,763 square kilometres, it offers a lot of attractions and events such as the big cats, beautiful landscapes, and the famous Great Wildebeest Migration.
Favorite ANIMAL
My favorite animal is the African elephant. Elephants are the biggest land mammals on earth and are one of the Big Five of Africa. They live in groups of social clans with an alpha female as their leader and are incredibly long-lived – living up to around 70 or 80 years old.
Favorite Food
My favorite food is a cooked green banana mixed with meat – we call it Banana Stew. It is a traditional food from my Chagga tribe. Whenever I eat it, I enjoy it immensely and feel at home.
Favorite Hobby
I like to watch animal/nature documentaries especially on National Geographic because they help me gain knowledge about nature and wildlife that are found all over the globe. Playing the guitar is also a favorite hobby of mine.
Favorite TV Show
I like to watch news and animal channels. Through news channels, I get to know what is going on in my country and other places around the world. Through animal channels, I learn a lot about nature which makes me more comfortable when on safari.
Favorite Singer / band
I like most live bands, especially on weekends and over holidays. I enjoy live music and the vibe that goes with it.
10 Questions with Zubery
Tanzania has many natural resources – beautiful national parks, game reserves, and conservation areas which are all filled with many animals, different bird species, and excellent scenes for taking memorable pictures. Mount Kilimanjaro is also the tallest mountain in Africa and offers a superb experience for adventurous clients.
The most incredible thing I have seen on safari is the wildebeest crossing the great Mara River in northern Serengeti. The first time I saw this, I was amazed to see such a large number of wildebeest accompanied by zebra heading into Kenya. During the crossing, I saw crocodiles killing a wildebeest that was struggling to get out of the river. It was so incredible to experience this after only seeing it on TV before.
Day 1: Arrival and overnight in Arusha city.
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire National Park for a game drive and overnight.
Day 3: Drive to Manyara National Park for a game drive and overnight.
Day 4: Drive to Serengeti for an afternoon game drive and overnight.
Day 5: Full day game drive in Serengeti and overnight.
Day 6: Half-day game drive in Serengeti and overnight Ngorongoro.
Day 7: Crater tour – Arusha/departure.
This tour offers a good chance to see many animals and beautiful landscapes comfortably without rushing. It also gives the opportunity to have excursions such as Mto wa Mbu or a Masai village visit, walking safaris with an armed ranger at Lake Manyara or Tarangire National Parks, or a balloon ride in Serengeti.
Easy Travel is an excellent choice for guests – it is the best company, offers great itineraries, and has stellar customer service before, during, and after your safari. The best part about Easy Travel is that you don’t have to worry about anything – everything is sorted out for you before the trip even starts!
My favorite month to visit Tanzania is August – it is in the middle of dry season and offers some of the best opportunities to see a lot of animals, especially along the Seronera River in central Serengeti. While all months have their advantages, I think the dry season is best to see animals congregated around water sources together.
My favorite part of Great Wildebeest Migration happens between February and March during calving season on the southern plain of Serengeti and the northern part of Ngorongoro known as the Ndutu region.
Most people don’t expect to see so many wild animals. I have experienced this many times – my clients who have been in other national parks in different countries like South Africa or Kenya have told me they spotted only one lion during their safari, but when they travel to Serengeti, they can see more than 40 lions in their pride within the day.
We have more than 120 tribes with people who are speaking different tribal languages and have different cultural practices which are all authentic and unique. My favorite culture is the Hadzabe tribe. The Hadzabe people have their home near Lake Eyasi in the northern circuit of Tanzania on the slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater. Their hunting practices are what I find most interesting. They are very good sharpshooters with bows and arrows, and they purposely hunt for food, not for trophies. They don’t have permanent houses as they live in the caves and temporary grass houses. They also speak in a click language which resembles the Xhosa people of South Africa.
Hakuna Matata – No problem.
Habari ya asubuhi – Good morning!
Lala salama – Have a good night.
I’m a sharpshooter and very good at hunting.
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