Socially responsible safari

I suggest you avoid any company that has touts on this forum...
Unfortunanetly, a large portion (if not the largest) of your money will go directly go to the Tanzanian government, and whether they use it socially responsible or not, I don't know. What you should do, though, is book directly with a (reputable) local company rather than international agencies.
Contact Achnab on this forum (he is a tour operator, but one who gives good advice here without advertising or trying to insult people's intelleligence by pretending to be his own satisfied customer) and everyone I have met who used his company was very happy. It's locally owned, run and staffed.

Geez, shabby/shoko, could you be any more blatant?! Does TT have an award for "most audacious tout"??
To all good TTers, kindly AVOID (just completely ignore for that matter, better yet, SPAM THEM!) the company mentioned in #1/#2.

And I would like to answer the OP by suggesting that whoever you use, simply request/demand that they book you into lodgings/activities own/operated by community groups and associations as much as possible.
Best of luck and enjoy!
Dude

fyi Gecko's run a "clean up kilimanjaro" trip.

Whatever you do, do not use local guiding company Transkili or Norman Shayo. I traveled with them this summer on the recommendation of a fellow traveler only to be robbed blind by Norman Shayo. Literally robbed. He spent all of our safari fees on his personal life and 5 days into a three week safari had run out of our money (we were required to pay in advance as many folks on safari are asked to do)... I have been in contact with our chef for the safari and he has told me that Norman didn't even pay him for his 20 days of work! Please be aware! I can recommend Nature Beauties as a reputable local company, Mike Chatila as a chef (I have food allergies and he was fabulous at accomadating the menu for our entire safari).

Sorry to hear of sunnynd's experience - its what we all fear when setting up our trips from so far away.

I just want to make sure that no one confuses Norman Shayo with Paul Robert Shayo of Moshi. In August I summited Kili with Paul and then had a fabulous safari experience with his safari guide. I've posted many times since coming back, but this is the first time I've mentioned my guides name (I figured if folks wanted info on my guide they could PM me) - I would hate to see people confuse Paul Robert Shayo for the scoundrel that sunnynd traveled with. Paul is an incredibly nice and reliable person.

Just returned from Moshono doing voluntary work at the School of St Jude. A free school for the poorest but bright kids, run by an Australian girl. Her husband runs a Safari company, I did a 5 day camping safari with them while I was there. Don't know the name, but if you Google up the school there are links on the site, under "visit us" (I think).

menthoids, what did you think of the safari? I mean, was it well run and organised?

Yes it was. The guy who runs it has over 15 years as a tour guide and is a local. We opted for the camping safari. The tents and the cooks arrived before us and were all set up, the food was great and we all had a ball. We had 3 cars (troupies) and we swapped around a bit, all the drivers were great and knew their stuff. No hesitation recommending them.