The History of Red Rhino

As the founder and owner of Red Rhino Tours, I would like to thank you for making it to this page and considering traveling to Africa with Red Rhino. We will make sure your experience in Africa is everything you have always dreamed it would be.

Speaking of dreams, when I set out on my own to travel across Africa in 1993 with only a day pack, I had no idea it would lead to what is now Red Rhino Tours. Such is the serendipity of travel. I traveled solo -- hitchhiking, walking, and canoeing across the continent for several months. The richness of my experience, the incredible warmth and generosity of the people, the thousands of animals I witnessed in their natural environment, and the awesome reality of being in the land known as the "cradle of humanity," was a life-changing experience indeed and a source of great inspiration for my life. Out of this adventure the concept of Red Rhino Tours was born. I know that if you travel to Africa it will add richness and depth to your own life and give you renewed perspective and inspiration.

Over a period of eight months, I traveled through Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), Central African Republic, and Cameroon. The main goal of my adventure was to cross the continent of Africa from east to west--from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic-- through the rainforest wilderness of the Congo. By the end of my trip across the Congo Basin I had lost 50 pounds, got malaria, never met or saw another traveler, slept in remote villages, and had the greatest adventure of my life.

My goal of crossing the continent attained, I flew back to Kenya where I was greeted by Anthony Matuku John and Joseph Wambua (Tony and Joseph), who had a couple months prior arranged all of my safari experiences in Kenya and Tanzania and had helped me with my planning for the Congo Expedition--my solo journey across the breath of Africa. Joseph and Tony and I became good friends and I felt a special bond with them. I met Tony initially as I was searching for a company to arrange safari visits to Masai Mara, Nakuru, Samburu, Ngorongoro Crater and other parks of Kenya and Tanzania.

On the day I met Tony, I was exhausted as I had been traveling overland straight from Malawi to Kenya. Just after I arrived in Nairobi, Tony approached me on the street to see if I was interested in a safari. I told Tony I was interested in going on safari but was exhausted and I didn't want to discuss anything at that time. Unlike so many hundreds of people who had approached me in Africa regarding safari tours and the like, Tony was completely low pressure and just told me he understood and that maybe we could talk later at some point if it worked out. His relaxed and considerate approach--very unique in the ruthlessly competitive safari market--made a lasting impact on me. After some rest and a meal, I ran into Tony and his best friend and partner Joseph. There was something about the two of them that I recognized as being unique from the beginning--though I had no idea that this would turn into Red Rhino Tours!

Tony and Joseph are originally from the countryside and did not know each other until they met in Nairobi. They had independently left their homes to come to Nairobi to seek work in desperate need to provide for their families. The conditions in Nairobi were extremely tough, but they had a natural talent for helping travelers arrange safaris. Tony had come to Nairobi with nothing in his pockets, and worked his way into the safari industry. Joseph met Tony six months later on his very first day in Nairobi, and Tony took him under his wing. On Joseph's first day in Nairobi, Tony showed Joseph the ropes and when Tony arranged a safari for some clients, he instantly gave Joseph half of the profit. Joseph was taken aback by Tony's generosity, as it was very unlike how things usually work in Africa. Joseph told me that he was so astounded by Tony's generosity at this very tough time in his life that he instantly considered Tony his brother. They have worked and lived closely together with their families ever since.

The trust and bond between Tony and Joseph was something I picked up on from the start and it is what drew me to them. When I returned from the Congo Expedition, we eventually discussed the idea of forming our own safari company. After a few years of planning and communicating--including several return trips to Africa to meet with Tony and Joseph to meticulously arrange everything--we formed Red Rhino Tours together. Since the forming of Red Rhino hundreds of travelers from all over the world have gone on safari with us.

Following the bombings of the embassies in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam in 1998, the tragic events of September 11th, the uncertainty of what the war with Iraq would bring, and the continued general ambiguity regarding the future of adventure travel, the safari market has become more and more competitive. More than ever people are concerned with safety and need a tour company that will go to great lengths to make sure they are safe and well taken care of. Travelers need a company that they know they can trust to look after them in every regard. Tony, Joseph, myself, and our staff here and abroad unite western expectations with African sensibilities, and we rest our business philosophy on meeting the expectations that travelers have and fulfilling the trust that travelers place in us.

Africa is a life changing experience for many people--it certainly has been for me. In fact, people who tour with us tell me that their lives have been deeply affected by travel to Africa. When designing tours we keep this in mind at all times and take seriously the "adventure of a lifetime" that we know it is for our clients. We hope you will consider Red Rhino to be the company to look after you from start to finish and introduce you to the magic of Africa - its people, land, and animals.