HISTORY

African Environments was officially registered in Tanzania in 1987 by Wes Krause (American), Isack Leserwa (a Maasai Tanzanian) and Francis Kishingo (a Chagga Tanzanian). The aim was primarily to offer safe and reliable Kilimanjaro Climbs, bush walks and safaris during a period when Tanzania was the domain of tough and hardy travellers. Isack and Francis eventually retired and Janice and Richard Beatty joined the company in 1998. Since then the company purchased a 3 acre site one the edge of town and built a new complex to allow a larger vehicle and camp equipment maintenance facility and many more buildings to provide additional space and storage. There are now separate mountain, safari and walking departments a large centralized kitchen for food production, a sewing room where gear is both manufactured and repaired, a full time carpenter designs, makes and repairs equipment for the camps. The office has grown as well and the new spacious building now houses 10 people handling bookings, accounts and logistics. African Environments has a permanent staff of 45 people and contract staff of about 350 people who strive to make your trip go perfectly.

THE DIRECTORS

Wesley Krause is a Co-Founder of African Environments. Wes began his love of the outdoors in the rock & ice climbing community of the Western United States in the 70’s. He then graduated on to high altitude climbing in Alaska and the Himalayas. He was Climbing Leader of the 1987 American Everest North Face Expedition. Wes came to East Africa in the early 80’s and was for several years the Director of the NOLS school in Kenya. During this time he and Scott Fischer made the 2nd successful climb of the Breach Icicle on Kilimanjaro. He founded African Environments in 1987 and has been pioneering routes up Kilimanjaro, researching new walking safaris and mountain biking in the bush ever since.

Richard Beatty started his career in the outdoors as an Outward Bound Senior Instructor in England, America and Asia running mountain and sea programs for more than 8 years. He came to Africa in 1990 and set up and ran a European based safari operation before joining African Environments in 1998. He and Janice have built a house in Arusha and are raising three daughters.

Melly Reuling stared mountaineering and guiding in the wilderness in the early 1980’s.  At University she studied Ecology and was a part-time instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School.  On graduating from university she climbed mountains around the world and was a climbing member of the 1987 American Everest North Face Expedition. After Everest, Melly and Wes shipped their climbing gear from Tibet to Tanzania and African Environments was founded. Once in Africa her attention turned back to ecology and wildlife and in 1989 she earned her Masters Degree in Wildlife Ecology.  Her Graduate work was focused on the elephants of Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania.  In the early 1990s she moved to Kenya to work on elephants with Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton and also to work with Kenya Wildlife Service under Dr. Richard Leakey.  On returning to Tanzania, she continued wildlife work and started several community conservation projects with the nonprofit, Tazama Trust, of which she is a founder and board member.    She and Wes have two children. 

Janice Beatty came to East Africa in the early '90's and worked for 7 years as Film Production Manager for Hugo Van Lawick assisting in the making a numerous wildlife films for TV, video and 35mm cinema. She has a extensive time both in the field and in govt offices and has wealth of experience to draw on. A keen equestrian in her spare time she enjoys cross country riding from her home in Arusha. Janice heads up the Filming Division of African Environments. She and Richard are raising 3 daughters in Arusha.