The team
Karibu Safaris In Kenya
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1986)
- Member Of:
- KATO, Tourism Regulatory Authority & Eco Toursm Kenya
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Mid-range & luxury)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $80 to $280 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Penelope | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Beautiful- 5 Days Masai Mara And Lake Nakuru
I arrived I Nairobi the day before and arrange for the driver (Peter) to pick me up at the hotel and he was punctual and very welcoming. We drove to “offices” more like meeting point with other guests.
Day 1: on the way to Masai Mara, lunch at Narok. Arrive in the afternoon for evening game drive
in masaai mara game reserve. Dinner and overnight at the Onchoro campsite.
Day 2: Masaai Mara full day game viewing a cross the rich, tree studded grassland and
rolling hills. All meals and over night in the Onchoro campsite.
Day 3: breakfast, visit the Masai village for a cultural experience
drive to Nakuru
Lunch - most delicious I’ve had
Book in local hotel and dinner
Day 4: half day at Nakuru NP
Drive to Naivasha
Day 5: Naivasha- nature walk at “Hell’s Gate”
Drop off at airport
Likes:
- the tour was well organized
- the guide, Raymond, was very kind, patient and accommodating. He is guest focus, he took us around the town to local spots and went all out to give a memorable experience
- the camp site has good facilities
- the hotels are clean and comfortable
- the food is very good but a memorable meal was in day 3, when we stopped for lunch from Masai Mara to Nakuru, it was excellent.
All food is good and safe to eat.
- the tented camp staff was just awesome (John, Jacob, Tumuti and the rest of the kitchen staff)
Dislikes:
- payment is cash local currency or usd, ask for a receipt as I had issues payment and it was difficult to prove that I paid 50usd extra as the money was exchanged in a vehicle with one of the guides (Dan) and no paperwork or witnesses.
Otherwise; I highly recommend the tour!
AE
Email Slim Daddy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
First class company for our safari adventure
After years of planning we have just returned from our first safari trip and we could not be happier. Karibu Safaris in Kenya took care of everything- despite the time difference Victor never took more than a couple of hours to reply to our many questions as we prepared ourselves to this journey. From the moment we landed to the moment we arrived safe and sound back at the airport our trip was simply outstanding. Not a single issue faced prior to, during or after our adventures in Nairobi and the Masai Mara. The highlight of our trip was definitely David, our guide and driver he is one of the best professionals I’ve ever met- a reliable, hard-working and committed individual . In addition to his impressive driving and animal tracking skills, level of excellence. Thanks to his well-trained eye and skills we managed to not only see the Big 5 in great style but also learn much more than what we could from books and websites. Our memories of a lifetime are simply unbelievable – from witnessing dozens of lions, elephants and cheetahs enjoying family life right next to us to the hard-to-find leopards and rhinos looking us right in the eye. We stayed at Mara Serena for three nights and I am already looking forward to returning. I highly recommend booking different kinds of activities through Karibu Safaris in Kenya.
IN
Email Tapas | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent - fantastic
Had a fantastic time, driver was superb, rates were economic yet the experience was out of the world
AT
Email Annika | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible experience with karibu safari
We had an unbelievable time on a 6 days safari. Everything was perfectly organized. Our driver Richard was the best one and found every kind of animals and made everything possible no Mather what wishes we had!!! As a New Years Special the agency booked me a flight ticket to Mombasa! Thank you so much highly recommended
AE
Email Loks | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They really took care of me & my expectations
Overall the safari was good. Robert answered all questions that I had before joining in. The service was caring was upto expectations.
Safari tour was a great experience alltogether.
CA
Email Will Ramirez | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible Adventure
I could not have imagined how truly amazing our 6-day safari would be. Though the living conditions and food are not luxurious by any means and the long hours in the van can get uncomfortable, i found myself missing every minute of it once it was over.
I made a few videos about our journey that you can watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxBjpmGuagqgrw4FrjNemRLZoI7xV2wCB
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A_61BcGTYMo" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
NO
Email Anna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
My husband and I were on a 6-days' safari in Kenya with Karibu safari. they did great job from the start, were quick to reply and follow up. I was pleasantly surprised by the standard of accomodation, seeing that we were on a budget safari. Our driver, Arun, was very professional at all times and it was clear that he's had vast experience with safaris. We got to see much more than I could have ever imagined thanks to him. All in all, a fantastic trip and value for money!
Quick tip: even though it says that water is included, it only includes full-day safaris in Amboseli and Masai Mara. You have to pay for water at lunch and dinner.
CN
Email Likun Tang | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari with Karibu was pretty good this time, everything was well planed.
Compare with the price you pay, if you have compare to other agency, this 6 days safari was really good for me.
Like I said, you have to have a expectation with the price you paid and what you want to get out of the safari. It was not a fancy new car, but safe, well modified and big enough for our luggage and watch the animal while in the park. Our guide/driver Arony had 18 years of safari, he was very patient, professional and have many knowledge of animals and culture of Kenya, you can ask him anything if you have questions. Other than that, food, transportation, tent/hotel was well planed. Also include pick up and drop off from the airport and to your hotel after.
So I'm really satisfied with Karibu this time, and thanks to Arony and my friend Dan.
MY
Email Boey | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thanks Karibu for the amazing tour. All the arrangement is great and smooth, and good follow up.
Special thanks to Robert, Raymond and Dan Castro.
Raymond, our safari's guide is very patient and knowledgeable about the animals, he always try his very best to show us as many animals as possible, therefore, we were able to spot all the big 5!
Dan Castro, friendly, very enthusiastic and passion for his job, the tour to the elephants orphanage & giraffe center wouldn't be great if without Dan. We had great time!
And thanks to Robert for arranging the tour, speedy response regardless day or night, really salute that!
Glad that we have chosen Karibu Safaris. No regret at all.
US
Email Metira | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
3 day Masai Mara with cool driver
This review will be long but I will tell you everything I could.
The tour is actually below $300. I guess maybe I went to the off migration season. I’m solo/female which actually have to share a room with another female so I paid a little extra to make sure I’ll get my own room. Our group was lucky because turn out it’s only 3 people total so we feel like a private tour. Haha
It’s a van not Jeep but this price you will always get a van. The van is an open roof. There are 3 seat rows. They said maximum will be 7 people so that means 2 people per row. Everybody gets window and 1 will be at the front seat next to the driver. The front seat will not be able to stand but you get the nice view as well. The passenger side, definitely the 1st and 2nd rows are the best because you can get to stand easily to the roof and last one in the back can get to stand too but quite difficult and have to share with the middle. Like I said we are only 3 people so plenty of room to move around for us.
Karibu offered airport pick up or hotel pick up for free while the others charge extra for airport pick up. My flight supposed to arrive at 5am and Robert said no problem to pick up that early but I was delays 2 hours and they still wait for me! I was so impressed. I was so scared on the plane that they will leave me behind and I can’t call or contact them because I was inside the plane already so there was no service and it just parked there for technical problem. As soon as I got off, I call right away and he said still people wait for me outside. Thank you, Karibu.
After the airport pick up, we headed to the city to pick up another 2 and we made a cash payment USD on the van. Then we drove off to Masai Mara national park which took us around 6-7 hours but we had lunch break and souvenir stores in the middle. The road was good for the first half and you can sleep but the second half were so rocky and dusty. You definitely cannnot sleep and have to find something to cover your nose.
The accommodation is actually better than I thought. It is not exactly what they say on the website but the same class/level. Mine called ‘Miti Mingi Ecocamp’. You will find out there will be a lot more people from the other tour joining as well so I guess they have all connections. It’s like a place for budget travelers. You get to sleep in the big tent with your own bed. The bathroom is en suit so no sharing. There is no lock only zipper and they have hot water all the time but light only certain hours in the morning and night. No more light after 10pm. No internet. No outlet in tent. You have to charge everything in the dining room in centaines hours. They provide the 2 kind of sockets. One is normal local(same like England) and another one the same type of American can use but always busy. So if you are from America like me, bring your own adapter to make your life easier. The meals are all included and surprisingly good and a lot better than I thought. Come early because almost the end everything almost gone. I guess they don’t wanna make more to waste the food for left over. Water is included and you get from the driver. We actually didn’t get the water until almost the end of the first day. We should have mentioned it earlier. I should minus one star for this but there are still plenty of good things.
After arriving first day, right away 1 game drive started around 4:30pm. The driver will take you out until almost dark. The second day will be all day long game drive which will be 2 separated with lunch break at Masai river. There will be a park ranger show you around no extra fee but you have to tip him. The second day is the highlight since it’s the longest drive. We saw lions and elephants on the first day and all big 5 on the second day! Yay! It was really really nice. Oh, there are actually bathrooms you can use during the day. 1 at Masai airport(yes! Airport in the middle of the park) and another one by the river but don’t expect much.
The drives are really adventurous and somehow relaxing also. We saw a lot of animals more than just big 5. I was really happy.
On the second day from the program, the drives supposed to finish around 4:30pm and then it’s your option to visit Masai Village $10 cash extra. Then there will be one more drive on the third day around 1 hour before leaving. However, my tour is different. We stay in the park longer until 6:30pm I believe. It was a long day drive from dawn till dusk so our driver suggested it was too late to see Masai Village already. How about we skip the game drive on the third day and visit the Masai Village instead. It will be on the house. Since we saw all the big 5. We’re ok with his offer. It was nice to always see something new. After that, we head back to Nairobi and everybody gets hotel drop off for free as well.
It was really really nice experience and very adventurous. If you’re type of easy person and travel on a budget, this is perfect for you. It’s safe for a solo woman. You don’t get out alone from the tour to do anything tho. Of course, you can’t expect luxurious accommodation and decent meal. You have to be prepared to get out of your comfort zone to eat and live easy because until now still I can’t think about taking any friend of mine. I’m pretty sure they will complain how difficult and inconvenient things will be. But put it on the bright side, you are in Kenya and you pay a lot less than the other so just live with it. My tent has some small amount of water flooded after the rain and my bathroom has a big hole on the wall covered with paper but I can still live with it. So like I said you have to be kind of easy and more on adventurous side. It’s not even a budget hotel but a camp! If you’re ok with it. Go ahead and book this tour rather than spending more even if I’m sure people who spend more will have decent experience as well but if you have limited budget, this is it to explore.
What make you take this tour and what different from others? I guess seriously every tour agency has almost the same schedule and accommodation. They even have walkie talkie while driving so every driver can communicate and get to drive to see animals quickly. So you pretty see almost the same scene with other tours within the same day but what make I go with Karibu and what make me really happy and satisfied and feel lucky I picked this one is their service and the driver. They reply email quickly. They’re very attentive. They have been in the business for long time so they know what to do. I asked them so many questions. I emailed them like I guess almost 10 times back and forth. Popping every new question everytime I’m curious because I have to compared with the other tour to make a decision. I even asked about the bus to go to Tanzania and they have this option available. They’re the second quickest to response tho but their price is cheaper than the first reply so I went for them. What really matters is the game drives which I know everybody hope for the highlight of the trip. Our driver is Raymond. He is really awesome. He is actually driver and guide. He doesn’t talk much like a tour guide style but he has skills. He will answer with helpful info if you ask but mostly he stay quiet but I kind of like that. It’s more peaceful and not annoying. What make the really big impression of him is his skills and knowledge of directions. There are so many times that we are the first car to see animals. He knows where they are. He really has good eyes. He said he’s been driving with Karibu for 7 years already if I remember right. We were so surprised when he found animals that very hidden in the wood. We’re like ‘omg, Raymond, how did you know!’. The other van just drove pass the same spot and didn’t notice. There was the route that Raymond took us and we were the only car there alone for the whole route. It was nice and relaxing. We found it very exclusive. Lol. He surely has skills for this business and that makes it different from the others. At the end of the second day everybody in my group was so happy. We stay silent and enjoy the drive and I just said, guys, I’m so happy I made a right decision and the rest of us felt the same way. Thank you Karibu for the memorable experience.
