About Us

Nicholas Patrick Minja was born on October 23, 1973 in Komela village Marangu, Kilimanjaro Province. He started his education at Komela West School. Growing up at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro made him develop an interest in Mountain climbing as he was living with his elder brothers and an uncle who were involved in Mountain climbing. When he was 13 years he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for the first time after pleading with his uncle to let him climb, despite facing many challenges on his maiden climb it turned out to be the experience of a lifetime. Nicholas became very passionate about Mountain climbing and nothing could discourage him from climbing Kilimanjaro during school holidays. He became very famous at his school and he freely shared his passion for the mountains with his fellow students. This background of adventure stories helped inspire some of them who eventually became Mountain guides. After climbing Mount Kilimanjaro several times, he eventually became a porter, a very diligent one and through sheer hard work, determination and dedication to his work, he rose through the ranks to become one of the most exceptional and dependable guides on Mount Kilimanjaro.

In one of the expedition he was leading back in 2002 he did not realize that in the group there was an American tour operator who was really impressed by Nicholas’ guiding and leadership skills. After the completion of the climb the American asked him whether they could form a partnership so that Nicholas could host his clients in Tanzania.Since Nicholas was already organizing private climbs and Safari s even though he had no registered company, he readily accepted the proposal. He wanted to establish his own company that will be more customer focused than the companies he was working for as he believed that that all aspects of his company should put its customers' satisfaction first. Big Expeditions and Safaris was officially founded in 30 th January 2003.Managing a company represented challenges and aspirations to Nicholas as it was a totally different ball game.. After realizing this he decided to recruit the best team to help him run the company. Through provisions of personalized services that are second to none, Big Expeditions & Safaris has made a name for itself in the tourism Industry in Tanzania and East Africa in General. The company continue to make a huge difference to the lives of hundreds of Porters, mountain & Safari guides who depend on it to make a living, he has also shaped the future of many orphans and children from poor background who have benefited immensely through provision of free and quality education by his school, Mkombozi school for the orphans that he founded with his wife Mrs. Angel Minja. Big Expeditions & Safaris continues run this school as part its corporate social responsibility. Nicholas believed in fighting poverty through education.

Big Expeditions &Safaris is a qualified partner company with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), a nonprofit porter welfare organization (www.kiliporters.org). We voluntarily participate with, and are evaluated by, KPAP’s monitoring activities every climbing season. Our climb price reflects our providing proper working conditions for our porters. Lower climb prices may be possible because an operator is not adhering to fair and ethical standards. Please contact KPAP at info@kiliporters.org to confirm our Partner status. Nicholas got married to his childhood Sweetheart Angel Richard Mngoya in November 27 th 2004 and together they were blessed with two children, Wily and Winnie. Nicholas and his wife have been managing Big Expeditions together. Through a tragic road accident that occurred on the 28 th of July 2017 Nicholas lost his life. His death has stunned and saddened many who knew him. Nicholas was a decent and kind man, with a warm, gentle soul. He was Much loved by the people who worked for him and he shall be greatly missed by all. To honour him the team will continue with the legacy he left behind of selflessness and being good to all people.

Our Values are core convictions that our employees have about how they must behave themselves in the fulfillment of Big Expeditions’ mission.

• Accountability – Without being pressured, we acknowledge and assume responsibility for our actions, services, decisions, and policies.
• Balance – We take a proactive stand to create and maintain a healthy work-life balance for our employees.
• Commitment – Committing to exceptional and amazing service, and other initiatives that impact lives within and outside of Big Expeditions.
• Community –Contributing to society and demonstrating corporate social responsibility.
• Diversity – respecting the diversity and giving the best of composition. Establishing an employee equity program.
• Empowerment & Autonomy– We encourage our employees to take initiative and give the best. Adopting an error-embracing environment to empower employees to lead and make decisions.
• Integrity – Big Expeditions’ foundation. We act with honesty and honor without compromising the truth.
• Ownership – Our employees are encouraged to give their best and take care of our guests as they were one’s own.
• Safety – We take seriously health and safety of our guests and employees and go beyond the legal requirements to provide a risk free environment to our guest. We work diligently and safely in a manner that protects and promotes the health and well-being of each of our guest.
• We are Adventurous, Creative with energy, enthusiasm and have courage to lead.
• We strive to build long lasting relationships with our customers. To achieve this objective, we build Open and Honest Relationships that make a positive difference.
• Customer Support: We aspire to support our customers' success by creating exceptional value through amazing product and service solutions.
• Excellence: We are always working hard to meet and exceed the expectations of our guests and to do that we relentlessly pursue excellence in everything we do, every day.

Angel is the widow of the late Mr. Nicholas Minja, the founder Director of Big Expeditions & Safaris. After the death of her husband she has assumed the position of Managing Director and she is the sole owner of the company. Angel attended the prestigious Msalato Girls High School in Dodoma for her ”A” Level. While waiting for her university admission, she joined Tropical Centre College in Arusha for a course in Tour Operations. She later joined University of Dar es salaam, the leading university in the country where she earned her degree in public Administration. After her tertiary education, Angel was training to become a mountain guide and she trekked up Mount Kilimanjaro several times. She however did not realize her dream of becoming a mountain guide as her knowledge and skills were more needed in the office.

Angel is also a Director at Mkombozi School, a prep & primary school she founded with her late husband. The school was established to provide free and quality education to orphans and children from poor families. With the death of her husband, Angel will now be the driving force behind the company; she will make things happen, put together the resources to support the company and help introduce the company’s services to new markets. She will ensure fierce dedication to putting our guests at the center of everything we do. Driven to ensure that every interaction is extraordinary, with our sole focus being what’s best for our customers.

Amani is a trained mechanic and he is in charge of our workshop. He makes sure that all our vehicles are in good mechanical condition. Before each vehicle goes on safari he has to inspect it and when the driver returns from safari he hands over the vehicle to Amani with a list of probable mechanical problems that need to be fixed before next safari. He also purchases spare parts and also takes new driver recruits on test drives. You will also see him more often driving one of the company buses or our rescue vehicle.

Jonas Rutta is our head guide Mountain Guide at Big Expeditions. He boasts of 15 years of climbing Expedience. Jonas has a calm manner, enthusiastic attitude with a wealth of experience and knowledge that will make your time with Big Expeditions a memorable one. He is very passionate about taking people of all abilities out and sharing the mountain experience. His ultimate goal is to make sure that when you climb with Big Expeditions, you summit successfully. Jonas is a certified mountain guide and a first responder. He has worked and guided extensively around East Africa, due to his outstanding work Jonas has been invited by several clients to visit their home countries. He has climbed mount Kilimanjaro more than 300 times and has seen the mountain in all its moods and have learnt from all its secrets. He has also climbed Aconcagua in Argentina.

BIG Expeditions and Safaris Limited uses three different kinds of cars for touring in Tanzania all of them having open roof and they are 4WD. Most of our tourists have been enjoying the comfortability of the Land cruisers both the ordinary which takes 5 passengers as well as war bus which carries 7 passengers. Other useful vehicles include the Toyota Hiace and Land Rovers.

All our vehicles have radio calls for better communication with the office incase of any breakdown. However with the growth of mobile telephone technology all our driver guides have mobile phones as a primary mode of communication to the office. Additional facilities such as baby seat, cooler box are among the need services by our extreme clients. In most cases you will be driven by a drive tour guide who speaks fluent English and probably your mother tongue.