Our Consultants in the office
Meektrails Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2020)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $130 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CH
Email Marco | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They may change plans unexpectedly and without informing the clients.
We booked a ten day safari. The original program was changed without informing us and without our consent. The vehicle was downgraded without informing us. They also decreased the number of safari day to 9, leaving us one day without activities. This is especially bad since they erased from the program one day in the Masai Mara. We found out about all of this during the trip, not before. Communication was virtually non-existent.
Reply from Meektrails Safaris
Posted on Jan 8, 2024Many thanks for sharing this with other travelers, we take every review in a positive approach to help us get better, some negative will assist us in knowing how we can do to make it better for clients travelling with us now and in the future.
In Kenya we have 2 vehicles for safaris, 4 X 4 safari minivan and 4 X 4 safari land cruiser, it is important to know which you are booked even by asking for photos for the safari vehicle. The price between the two vehicles is considerably different.
I do not understand what you mean by your tour being cut short yet we dropped you guys at the airport on the same day you were booked for your flight home, you almost did not meet me because of time since you were rushing to board the flight. The flight itinerary was not changed, how could you have missed a day?
I agree about missing a game 1st night in Maasai Mara, I personally asked you what we could do about this since our parks had changed from 24 hour packages to 12 hour packages. I have many clients who have had this issue but we advised them to do something different on this evening to avoid paying a full days ticket that is only used for an hour or so and most picked my advise, you also picked this as there was no need to pay an extra ticket. Had I known you had an issue believe me we would have paid that extra ticket for you to make sure you spoke positive of us and our our beautiful country.
ALL IN ALL THIS WILL HELP US IMPROVE AND THANKS FOR SHARING.
DE
Email Elizabeth | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not customer-oriented, only interested in own profits
Starting with the positives:
* Our driver exhibited exceptional friendliness and punctuality throughout the journey.
* We were consistently provided with excellent vantage points for capturing wildlife photographs.
* Despite encountering dangerous traffic conditions, our driver drove safely, though it's worth noting the necessity for functional safety belts within the vehicle.
However, handling of unforeseen circumstances by Meektrails Safari, particularly regarding our delayed arrival:
On the downside:
* Meektrails initially suggested omitting a day from our Masai Mara itinerary, a significant disappointment given its prominence in our plans and its associated cost, with no reimbursement offered.
* Contrary to their stated cancellation policy guaranteeing full refunds in such situations, we were informed that refunds were not feasible due to upfront payments for accommodations and entrance fees.
* During the safari we saw that these fees were typically paid upon arrival, contradicting Meektrails' explanation.
* Following considerable negotiation, Meektrails agreed to adjust our itinerary to two full days in Masai Mara, yet failed to compensate for the activities and accommodations we skipped.
* Additionally, the promised sightseeing activity in Nairobi on our final day was abruptly canceled without prior notice, leaving us feeling fooled
In conclusion, we recommend you to recognize the potential for abrupt changes in plans during such excursions. However, Meektrails' failure to stick to their refund policy and their apparent attempts to prioritize their interests leave a negative impression. Regrettably, we cannot recommend this agency.
Reply from Meektrails Safaris
Posted on Mar 26, 2024Many thanks for posting your safari experiences with all the people here looking for a good safari in our beautiful country Kenya. This is an eye opener.
I will point out what you did not mention, that your flight was delayed for over a day and it is busy season here.
Despite your flight being delayed for over a day we managed to rework your itinerary making sure you did not miss out on anything without charging you extra for changing some of the dates despite the hotels considering your booking as a last minute cancellation. We actually paid more for the change, some places 100% for the room.
The 100% refund is for us protecting our clients, in most cases we cover the losses as you well know the hotels have different policies, we look at it in a positive way that no one will book a holiday in Africa with the intensions to cancel last minute. We only do it to protect the clients, rarely do the cancellations occur.
This is the same thing that we did for you, just did not find it necessary to tell you we are paying some of the hotels afresh for the changes since yours was considered a last minute no show and we had to push every place a day ahead. Rarely do such cases occur.
I think honesty is very important everywhere as the only place that would not fit inn was a night in Lake Naivasha because of your Flight back home.
Many thanks for choosing our beautiful country Kenya for your holiday.
IT
Email Alessandro | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
7 Days Private tour 4x4 Minivan
We recently embarked on a remarkable 7-day private tour that took us from Nairobi to Ambroseli, Naivasha, Hell's Gate, Nakuru, and finally the renowned Masai Mara National Park before heading back to Nairobi. For our travels, we opted for a comfortable 4x4 minivan, which was perfect for the two of us. However, if you are traveling with a larger group, you may want to consider how everyone’s luggage will fit.
The roads connecting the parks primarily consist of one lane in each direction, often congested with truck traffic and occasionally in poor condition. As a result, expect a driving time of around 5 hours or more between parks.
Our accommodations were delightful. We particularly enjoyed the Sopa Lodge in Amboseli and Mara Kimana near Masai Mara, which stood out as top-notch options. The food served at the lodges was consistently delicious, except for the packed breakfasts and picnics. The Amboseli Sopa Lodge even features a restaurant within the park, offering meals that rival those at the lodge. It's worth noting that none of the lodges are located directly inside the parks, which necessitates a 20 to 30-minute drive to reach the park gates. This can slightly cut into your time for early morning game drives.
We scheduled our safari for the last week of October, just after the Great Migration had concluded, leaving only a few animals in the tail group heading towards the Serengeti. Nevertheless, we were fortunate enough to witness a diverse array of wildlife, with the exception of leopards.
Regarding the organization of our trip, there were moments of miscommunication between the office, our guide, and ourselves concerning the itinerary, activities, and special requests. This did leave us with a sense of disappointment. However, our driver/guide, Philip, was knowledgeable about the wildlife and local culture. He was also accommodating to our needs, such as arranging early game drives offering us his personal binocular (the company told us there were going to be binoculars available for both) and adjusting activities that had been unexpectedly canceled.
One particular activity we experienced but probably avoidable was a walking safari with the Masai Warriors, which began in a traditional Masai village located along the main road to Masai Mara NP. Here, we were provided with insights into construction techniques, cultural practices, and the local way of life. While there were attempts to sell artisan crafts (including a stick and a piece of wood used for old fashioned way of starting the fire for just 20 USD), we found the experience somewhat lacking in terms of genuine information and wildlife encounters. The walking safari took us through an area behind the village where we primarily observed Masai cattle, a few rats, and wild chickens, along with brief lessons about two plant species and a chance to use a traditional Masai bow and arrow. If you’re hoping to see zebras or giraffes during this activity, you may want to manage your expectations.
Lastly, we spent only one full day in the Masai Mara. Our guide did offer us the option to extend our visit for an additional half day before returning to Nairobi, which would require a new entry fee of $200 USD each.
In conclusion, our safari experience was indeed wonderful. With this review, I aim to highlight a few key points for future travelers, ensuring they have a clearer understanding of what to expect when signing up for such an adventure.
BE
Email George | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good 7 days tour with Meektrails with some room for improvement
We are experienced travellers in Africa, and this is our fourth safari destination. We had a good time in Kenya with Meektrails as we visited Amboseli NP, Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara. Overall, Meektrails did well, we had good communication before our trip, our contact Eliud was very quick to reply, we had an experienced guide (Joseph) and they were punctual and professional. However, there were some small issues, many of which apply to most safari tour operators in Kenya. None of these issues, however, got in the way of the overall good experience.
Firstly - the car. We decided to save a bit of money and we went for a 4x4 minivan instead of the classic safari vehicle - Toyota Land Cruiser. We had done that before in Uganda without any issues and we were assured by Meektrails that their vans are new and in good condition. Well, our van broke on the first day, just 5 km after we departed. While this of course can always happen and there is never a guarantee that issues would not arise with any car, it was quite obvious that the van was not in the best condition and our guide was quite careful in driving it for the rest of the trip. Its important to say that they reacted quickly and another car picked us up (with other tourists) and we shared the car for our first day. Even though we had booked a private tour, sharing for a day was not an issue.
An important piece of advice we can give to any traveller is to make sure you have a clear understanding of how many National Park passes you have and for which days. Park fees in Kenya are especially expensive and safari operators usually play around with passes to make budget trips possible and of course have a better margin. We had some small misunderstandings with Meektrails on this point (on one of the days our programme included a game drive, but in practice, it wasn't because of a pass that Meektrails did not pay for). Overall I think it was a matter of misunderstanding and did not take a way of our experience, since on this day we had a long trip in any case.
What was a disappointment, however, is that we specifically requested that on the last day we do a game drive in Maasai Mara and our flight was very late in the evening - 01.30 after midnight. So we specifically paid for the park passes - a total of 200 USD for two people. Yet, both our guide and Meektrails themselves, on multiple occasions, told us that there was not much time for a game drive since we needed to have enough time to get to Nairobi. We insisted that there was more than enough time to get to the airport, and even if it takes 6-7 hours (which usually takes 5, especially on a Sunday), we could have a half-day drive. They didn't agree and it felt like they just wanted the trip to finish earlier, so we did not feel like arguing and our drive was only until 9:30. This felt like wasting 200 USD on park fees for a short game drive. In the end, we arrived in Nairobi at 17:00 (with several very long stops - we just felt that there is a lot of time to spare), or more than 8 hours before our flight.
TH
Email Rapheephan Nattheeraphong | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience with my first game drive.
I contacted different travel agency but Meektrails Safari give me a good deal plus very responsive. We pay deposit first then when we arrive we pay the rest. It is my first time in Africa and it makes me feel so good. I feel more energize in the nature surrounding with animals and local people. Definitely recommend this company.
Email Rory | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic! An experience we will never forget.
We went on Safari in October 2024 with Meektrails and we were looked after by Peter. He was an excellent tour guide with detailed knowledge of all the animals. We were always in the right place at the right time and saw all of the animals we wanted to see including a pair of male cheetahs hunting and killing a baby topi. Peter also had a great sense of humour and kept us laughing and entertained throughout our safari. A once in a lifetime experience we will never forget!
IT
Email Connie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous experience with the best guide
If you are planning to go to Kenya for a Safari do not hesitate to contact them. Safaris personalized down to the smallest details. Our guide, Joseph, an expert driver, excellent professional and a person with excellent qualities. We could not ask for better
(automatic translation from Italian)
IN
Email Amrita D | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Highly recommend for a once-in-a-lifetime African safari experience
I recently had the pleasure of booking a once-in-a-lifetime African safari through Meektrails Safaris, and the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we reached out to inquire about safari options, Pauline was attentive, and eager to craft a tailored itinerary that fit our interests, budget, and timeline.
We wanted a mix of luxury lodges and authentic tented camps, with opportunities to see the Big Five, experience local culture, and relax at the end of the day. Pauline had created a perfect balance between adventure and comfort.
The guide cum driver Anthony during our safari was phenomenal. He was not only experts in wildlife spotting but also had deep knowledge of the ecosystems and the behaviors of animals. His ability to track elusive species like leopards and cheetahs was astonishing. He also prioritized ethical wildlife viewing, ensuring that we maintained a respectful distance from the animals and did not disturb their natural behaviors.
The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the wildlife. We saw everything from herds of elephants and prides of lions to rare sightings like black rhinos, wild cat & many birds. Even we saw the big 5 several times.
The accommodations provided by the agency exceeded our expectations. From luxury lodges nestled in the Masai Mara to intimate camp with the view of Mt. Kilimanjaro , each place had its unique charm. Some of the lodges offered breathtaking views, delicious meals, excellent service and an immersive experience in the heart of nature.
We were provided a 4*4 Land Cruiser for both of us which was comfortable enough. Every detail was taken care of. We felt safe and well-supported throughout the trip. Thanks to Pauline & Anthony!
Meektrails Safaris made our African safari a seamless and unforgettable adventure.
Their attention to detail, expert knowledge, and passion for Africa’s wildlife and landscapes truly set them apart. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a curated, stress-free, and deeply enriching safari experience. We’ll definitely be booking with them again for our next African adventure!
Email Paul and Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic, memorable and enjoyable
I originally saw a safari package with a well known high st travel agent and then I found Meektrails who were offering basically the same safari package but at half the price. I was nervous at first to book as the booking agent is done direct with the company based in Kenya. I can honestly say that Meektrails are a reputable and reliable company. Everything from the booking, transport, lodges, game drives and activities was fantastic. A special thankyou to our guide and driver for the week Joseph who made sure we had the best time. Joseph was very knowledgeable and friendly. Special thanks to William for arranging a special suprise treat for my mum's birthday. Anybody that wants to have an amazing safari should book with Meektrails. You won't be disappointed
Paul and Chris Oct 24
Email Toni | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best time of our Lives, trip of a lifetime with Meektrails.
Meektrails.
We highly recommend Meektrails Safaris.
We went through countless options before we chose Meektrails, for a 5 night, 6 day Safari through Kenya. Meektrails and our organiser William put our minds at ease. The night before I felt nervous & the second we met our Guide Onezmas we felt comfortable and immediately excited.
Each day Onezmas greeted us cheerily and over the 6 days he maintained professionalism, whilst also being warm and friendly with a great sense of humour. We felt like mates in no time.
If you can, ask for Onezmas. He went out of his way for us the whole time, he made sure that anything we asked for, we got to see. He knew the parks better than anyone and we quickly realised we were in the best of hands. We felt like we got the most well rounded Safari with once in a lifetime memories and experiences thanks to Onezmas and Meektrails.
We saw numerous other Meektrails tours along the way and realised we had chosen a great well-known company.
They had great touches, such as a safari hat, drink bottle, personalised jeeps, uniforms and more.
We saw the big 5, a family of cheetahs feeding on a gazelle, a lion praying on zebras, so many cubs, A kill in a tree, we got up close to all the different animals, and each camp we stayed at was better than the next. Meektrails makes sure you have the best options.
I would advise any changes you make with your organiser you get an updated itinerary.
We have no complaints and have recommended Meektrails and Onezmas to all our friends and Family. Everyone is impressed with our
Thank you for providing us with the best Safari we could’ve dreamt of. We hope to return some day.
-Toni and Aidan.
