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
NG
Email Olugbenga (Gbenga for short) Olatunji | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A memorable prep into the wild beasts of the maasai mara
My wife and I had a wonderful outing into the maasai anchored by Karibu Safari. We're picked up very early in the morning from our accommodation.
We also had a nice drive to the maasai (safe for the part of the road that is very bad-- this is government responsibility though). We got to the maasai a bit late on the first day because Sammy, our great driver, had to fix something in the bus while we ate lunch.
Regarding our game experience, Sammy was no doubt a very experienced driver and tour guide. Because we got there late on day 1, we could only see very few animals. However, his experience as a tour person and wildlife 'hunter' came to fore on the second day. We saw many of the important animals: lion, buffalo, leopard, elephants, hyena, antelope, zebras, and several others. My wife and I really enjoyed the search for animals and the whole maasai mara experience.
Lunch and dinner are great. It's a buffet arrangement where you have to serve yourself (except for the lunch on the second day which is packed because we have to eat inside the reserve).
Accommodation is also acceptable and represent a good value for money paid. Light is on from around 6-6.30pm and goes off by 10pm. It is on again in the morning around 5-5.30am and off around 7am. This is not so bad for us. The only reservation I had is that the link sent to me by the Karibu Safari indicated that we'd be staying at MaraSpring safari camp. Information on the link also stated that there would be solar-powered 24 hours electricity. See http://www.mountainrockkenya.com/marasprings/ But like I said, this did not in any way reduce the fun that we had. The organisers can be more specific in the future though.
Going forward, Karibu Safari's organisers should provide adequate information and advice in certain areas before the commencement of the trip. Two areas affected my wife and I. First, we didn't have sufficient advice about exchanging money. One of the reviews I read about KS on tripadvisor is that if you're paying in dollars and you don't have the exact change, you might be made to pay more than necessary. This was the reason I asked the KS organisers of I could pay in Kenyan shillings. For the sake of next time, kindly advise your clients that money exchanging facility will be available at the park before driving to the destination. In order to pay the exact amount, I exchanged the money with me at one of the malls. However, I was told that I was given a lower exchange rate at that mall (ksh 98/$1 instead of ksh 100. Even though, the exchange rate by the time we went elsewhere was ksh 99.3 to $1). So, I had to pay more than necessary. A clear information that exchange facility will be available at the take off point will guide against this.
Secondly, since we're picked up from our accommodation on Monday, I was thinking we'd also be dropped off at our accommodation. Unfortunately, no one said anything about this. I was going to Langata area but I was eventually dropped off around the city centre. It took us over 2 hours to return to Langata. For future trips, kindly advise clients/tourists on return transportation to their destination. My expectation was that the driver would ask us for our destinations so that he could drop us off at the closest points. This was not done. I didn't know the right place to come down. It turned out eventually that we had already passed somewhere very close to Langata before going to the city centre. We practically had to take a cab back to where the bus already took us through. Please, try to avoid this in the future.
Overall, we had a nice experience on this safari. Thank to Sammy and thank you KS.
Email Angelia Khaterine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good Food, Good Driver
I really like food I have in Masai Mara! And for low-season trip, this is by far amazing! cant wait to go back to Kenya one day!
GR
Email Maria | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour was generally well organized.
All the safari games were excellent the drivers as well. There were often unexpected changes and frequent deviations from the scheduled hotels and transfers .
Service very good.
Hotels very good (if not changes would be excellent)
Price very good.
I would recommend to others and choice Karibu safaris again.
ES
Email Marta | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This was a good experience.
This was just what they proposed. The communication was easy and fast. The driver (Edward) was attentive and we could see many animals!
NO
Email Karolina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experiences!
My boyfriend and I tok the 5 days safari in Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Naivasha, and it was amazing. We arrived day before and there was somebody to pick us up from the hotel the day safari started, then they drive us to the office (a very small room inside some building), since we were earlier than the office worker (it was closed) we had to pay for the trip in the car, what was very weird for me, and i was just praying that it was the wright person i was giving money to, but they had the receipt with my deposit transfer. It went well and when the office lady came we could wait for the bus inside the building with two other clients.
The driver, Sammy, was kind to tell us some informations about places we went to and animals we saw but since sometimes we were sitting on the back of the bus, and there was a lot of noise we couldn't hear everything, such a pity.
Sammy did everything he could to give us the best experience during the whole trip, even when the car broke down he organized an additional activity for the whole group of 7 people, that we did not pay for.
Leaving in tents in Mitimingi Eco Camp was not exactly as i expected but it was enough for two nights of sleep, food was ok and it was almost warm water after some time. We enjoyed the budget tent accommodation. The next two nights were in regular hostel and guest house with good housing standards.
Since people in our group had ordered different tours we had to split on the 4th day and me and my boyfriend stayed alone the last day with our new driver Joseph where we went to Hells gate national park where we rent bikes, were climbing and hiking. It was very relaxing day.
After tour we were transferred to our hotel.
US
Email Susan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Robert the owner, is a very honest, helpful tour operator.
Our experience was positive with Karibu safari. Robert was very helpful and honorable. Our driver, Edward, was a very competent driver and knowledgeable about safari driving. We always felt safe. The accommodations were modest but adequate for the price. I would recommend this company.
MX
Email Karla | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our first safari experience, good relation price-services.
Comunication could be better. On the beginning we are little lost, cause we don't know how was the restrictions. Edward is very good person, we felt very safe with him, but in the begging he don't speak so much, I think that is part of your personality. We tell him that please explain us and he change his attitude. For the rest very good company, we forgot our computer in one of the camps and they help us to take it back. I think was necessary that the company can mantein the comunication with the client. The safari was perfect, food and luch good, transport very good.
TR
Email serpil | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Decent return for the price
we really enjoyed our 5 day safari in masai mara, naivasha and nakuru. it was more than our expectations. the accommodation was satisfactory for a budget tour. raymond is an excellent driver. the roads were awful but he drove very careful. before the safari, whenever i wrote an e-mail, i got a quick answer. bref, karibu safaris is a fantastic tour operator.
Email Cynthia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Richard my tour operator was courteous, respectul and very helpful
I enjoyed the tour tremendously, everything was very well coordinated, the staff at the camp were very hospitable and communication was well relied. For a solo traveler, my needs were very well catered for. I would recommend Karibu Safaris to anyone weather you are alone, with family or friends. They will make your safari memorable for a budget camping safari.
FI
Email Timo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything worked as promised. No complains.
First guide Ambros was excellent. Wery knowing asked allways can we start the car, have all finished photoshooting etc. Also Kobra was helpfull and knowing. Rhino camp was better than expected. Amboseli camp worse. Lake Nakuru really had only Rhinos and Rothschilds giraffes. Cars are a bit too crowded when 6-7 people in. Max 5.
Would leave Nakuru out next time.
Can and will reccommend.