Shani Muro's Biography

photo of Shani Shani began working in the safari industry in 2001 after completing one year of tour guide school at Mount Meru Tour Guide College. Shani worked on a temporary basis for Scantan Tours and Nyika Tours, and then he worked for Kili Crown Birds Tours from 2003 until 2007.

Shani is also a skilled mechanic as he spent six months working at a garage in Dar es Salaam. He completed his mechanics training in 1999 before moving to Arusha.

Customers' Praise for Shani

"Shani was very knowledgeable about all the animals we saw. He spotted the rhino and cheetah for us. He has a wonderful eye for seeing wildlife in the bush. Shani was an excellent guide."

"Shani was very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. He worked well together with Andrew and I enjoyed being with both of them. Everything we agreed upon with the guides was followed and they were always on time and smiling when they met us."

"Shani is a keeper. He had so much knowledge about the parks and was very easygoing."

More on Shani

Shani has visited all parks in Northern Tanzania and Ruaha, Mikumi, Udzungwa, and Lushoto in other parts of Tanzania. He has also visited Maasai Mara and Amboseli National Parks in Kenya. Shani has climbed Kilimanjaro three times and Oldonyo Lengai. He spent five nights on the summit of Oldonyo Lengai with a group studying the volcano.

Shani's favorite park is Lake Manyara because it has a permanent water source and is thus green all year round. He also likes the park's location of the park on the slope of the Rift Valley.

Shani likes studying animal behavior and especially enjoys learning about the way different animals interact with one another. His favorite animal is the cheetah because of the way it is adapted to hunting. He likes to watch the way the cheetah uses its tail to balance itself during chases and also likes to observe the specialized tear mark underneath the eye that absorbs sunlight. Shani also enjoys watching antelopes, especially the impala and waterbuck.

Shani's favorite birds are the Secretary Bird and all hornbill species.

Most interesting wildlife sightings on safari:
Ngorongoro Crater in 2006: Shani saw a cheetah try to hunt a hare. Every time the cheetah tried to chase the hare, the hare would run in a zigzag pattern and outwit the cheetah.
Ngorongoro Crater in 2003: A leopard killed a lion club and took the dead cub up a tree. The lioness spotted the cub and waited under the tree for three days hoping that her cub would descend.

Shani likes to answer questions about animal behavior. He likes to go on early morning and evening game drives because more animals are visible during those times and the sun is not as hot.

Shani was born in 1978 near Singida. He is a member of the Eraq tribe and moved from his rural birthplace to Arusha in 1999 to look for a job. Shani is marrying his fiancÃ© in October, 2007. He lives in Arusha Town in the Mianzini Area. Shani's young brother also lives in Arusha.

When Shani is not on safari, he likes to read wildlife behavior books. He also likes to watch TV and meet with friends.