Our Consultants in the office
Meektrails Safaris
- Office 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
CN
Email Kai | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful trip with guide Peter
This is an exciting journey in search of animals, and driver Peter takes great care of us 2 tourists. We spent 7 days in Kenya and our daily itinerary has been arranged properly. In terms of accommodation, there are several nights when it is a campsite and the nights can be relatively cold. There are self funded projects at the Hell's Gate and the Mara River. The Mara River guide will take the initiative to ask you for money and is not very friendly to us. Everything else is arranged very carefully. In the future, I will recommend it to friends!
CH
Email Avaz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari Trip with Meektrails Safaris
My recent safari with Meektrails Safaris in June was absolutely incredible. Over 7 days, my wife and I were amazed by the meticulous planning and expertise of the team. They curated our journey to showcase Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife. We spent two nights at Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Amboseli, each location offering its own unique beauty and wildlife experiences. From observing majestic lions in Masai Mara to marveling at the colorful birdlife in Lake Nakuru and exploring the serene Hell's Gate Gorge in Lake Naivasha, every moment was filled with awe and discovery.
We were fortunate to have close encounters with the wildlife, though this may vary for others—it's like embarking on a photo hunt. It's important to note that while the chances of spotting animals are high, they are wild and unpredictable. This unpredictability added an extra thrill to our safari, reminding us of the true essence of wildlife in their natural habitat. Despite not seeing every species up close, this unpredictability made our adventure feel authentic and exhilarating.
A major highlight was encountering the renowned "Big Five" — lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos — across different parks. We also cherished discovering the "Ugly Five," which includes distinctive animals like the warthog and hyena, deepening our appreciation for Africa's rich biodiversity.
In Nairobi, our safari concluded with a visit to the Giraffe Center, where we interacted closely with these graceful creatures, adding a memorable cultural touch to our journey.
Our guide, Ben, played a pivotal role in the success of our safari. With over a decade of experience, Ben's expertise in animal behavior and knowledge of the parks ensured optimal wildlife viewing and photography opportunities.
Meektrails Safaris impressed us not only with their well-planned itinerary and knowledgeable guides but also with their commitment to our satisfaction. From booking to the safari's conclusion, their team, led by our contact person Paul, was responsive and accommodating, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable experience.
Please prepare for hot days and chilly nights, along with bumpy roads during the safari. The adventure can be physically demanding, so consider planning an additional 2-3 days for relaxation afterward to recharge.
I wholeheartedly recommend Meektrails Safaris to anyone seeking an unforgettable safari adventure in Kenya. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, Meektrails Safaris will exceed your expectations with their professionalism, attention to detail, and passion for showcasing Kenya's natural beauty and wildlife.
In conclusion, Meektrails Safaris offers an exceptional safari experience that blends adventure, education, and unparalleled wildlife encounters. Thank you, Meektrails Safaris, for a journey that has left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. We are already looking forward to the day we can return and explore more of Kenya's remarkable wilderness with your team.
SG
Email Leah Tuluan-Romualdo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
No one does it better than Meektrails Safari - they know what their clients want!
During the trip planning, our safari specialist - Meektrails would always have detailed conversations with my husband to understand our preferences and offer advice. Our preferences were amazingly captured just by merely whatsapp conversations which was convenient granting our hectic schedules and fast paced city life.
Both of us are seasoned travel experts, with almost 20 years of global travel industry experience. We have been all over the world, we didn't expect that we will get the bestest tour experience in Kenya.
We always travel smart - skills that are apt for seasoned specialist of the industry. So we know how to negotiate and how to plan itineraries. We know what to expect and we have insiders knowledge of how things go around. We know how to procure suppliers whom will give value to our dollars.
When we received the itinerary from Meektrails, I initially dismissed it as something I see everyday in my office and a mere document with empty promises. I never expected that a reasonably priced, tailored fit private Safari tour would have much to offer. (We have worked in the travel industry long enough and our exposures with MNCs, VVIPs etc. pegged our standards high and made us somewhat fussy).
However, when I actually sat down and read Meektrails itinerary - I was quite impressed. What's on their itinerary are exactly what we want and more! Their itinerary copy was succinct with the right amount of details and I never felt so excited. I have seen things in the industry, and an expert knows that a mundane thing (itinerary copy) with such attention to details speaks a lot about a company. It then awakened my curiosity.
I then started researching about Africa, Kenya etc. And I had to reach out to Meektrails separately (unbeknown to my husband) because I wanted to get into the Giraffe Manor. The replies I receive were always prompt and they were always pleasant to correspond with. They gave me honest information (no sugar coating, no false hope) and offered me the best solution.
Days before our trip they have reached out to us to remind us of our tour and told us of gifts awaiting us when we arrived. When we left, they checked back on us and verified if we have safely arrived home. During our trip, we
had the entire hotel crew taking care of us. From the hotel managers down to the waiter who is solely dedicated to serve our family and oh wait! there is even a personal Maasai warrior (armed with a spear) that ensures our safety in our tent. They will come promptly as soon as we leave our camp and they will patiently escort us - guiding our path with their torch light. In the current travel era, this level of white glove service is only for the ultra rich. Thanks to Meektrails, this type of ultra personal service is still alive.
We were honored to meet their humble CEO - Daniel, who is very humble and hands on. He is also very flexible. He acceded to our requests without judgement and offered his priceless time to accommodate us and made our trip memorable. It is no wonder that his staffs are well trained and well mannered. The welcome gifts are useful and practical too! Not to mention, they are of good quality materials.
The top notch caliber extends to their vehicles as well. At the airport when they met us, their uniquely and tastefully designed 4x4 jeep stood out.
Valentin, our tour advisor - knows her job pretty well, she is very consultative and friendly. James, our driver guide - is unassuming, gentleman, cautious, always ensuring safety and a professional - he is somebody we easily grew fond of (and we don't normally get attached to our guides).
The entire tour was greatly executed. Meektrails delivered exactly what they have written on the itinerary and MORE! They have even exceeded our expectations because they have surprised us in every stages of our journey specially towards the end of our trip.
When they say "they know what their clients want" - it isn't just a catchphrase, it is something that they deliver!
If you find yourself itching up to an optimal Safari escape, dreaming of hearing a thrilling whoop of a hyena at night or slept soundly drunk on fresh air ; experience your lifelong travel dream without breaking your bank or perhaps splurging a little or too much - Meektrails Safari is your go to guys. They have all the capabilities to be named GREAT as opposed to MEEK but then again, meekness is a virtue - most specially in the wild.
We have arrived to our home country two days ago and we are still nursing our Meektrails Safari hangover.
No one does it better than Meektrails Safari - they know what we want.
And that's the bottomline! :)
Email Keven | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
My partner and I had the Kenyan safari that we've dreamt about thanks to Meektrails. We did an 8 day tour with stops at Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate, Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara.
Our tour consultant, Valentine, was friendly, quick to respond and always willing to help - despite our constant bombardment of questions leading up to the trip! She also offered a very good price which suited our budget while ensuring the best value and accommodation for our preferences.
Our guide Ben was an absolute legend! He was super knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. And best of all - he somehow managed to always get us really close to the animals even as the other Land Cruisers were crowding around. Ben really went above and beyond to make sure we got the most out of our game drives. We managed to see the Big 5 and so much more. We also lucked out and got a brand new Land Cruiser which was clean and comfortable.
Highly recommend Meektrails and we'll definitely be using them again when we come back to Kenya!
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.
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.
CN
Email ran | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing tour EXCELLENT!!! Anthony is very friendly and excellent!
这是我们第一次的非洲之旅，非常棒的一次体验！没想到找到了一家特别靠谱的旅行社，向导兼司机除了专业以外，非常的友善！是一位非常值得信赖的朋友！能在旅游当中及时响应我们的需求，在整个行程中有求必应，相处的非常愉快，而且向导非常的暖心、体贴、周到！不仅找到了我们list上所有的动物，而且还主动给我们找到一些以外的惊喜！而且，当他得知我们喜欢拍照后，每次都能帮我们找到最佳拍摄角度！真的非常优秀！五星推荐！
This is our first trip to Africa, it was an amazing experience! I didn't expect to find a particularly reliable travel agency. Besides being professional, the guide Anthony is very friendly and excellent! He is a very trustworthy friend! Being able to respond to our needs in a timely manner during the trip, responding to every request throughout the entire journey, and getting along very happily. Moreover, the guide is very warm, considerate, and thoughtful! Not only did we find all the animals on our list, but we also took the initiative to find some unexpected surprises for us! And when he found out that we like taking photos, he always helps us find the best shooting angle! And safari jeep was best for photography and comfortable for travel. Really excellent experience! Five star recommendation! Everyone want to travel to kENYA , book MeekTrails Safari!
CN
Email Tanya Tang | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful Safari journey in Kenya provided to my whole family, safari guide Gideon is excellent.
I'm so grateful that I finally chose Meektrails as safari company because several reasons:
- The service reps Pauline obtained all my requests and response with an agile attitude, such as whole family including two children need enough beds to ensure comfortable sleeping, arranged whole journey schedule catering for my flight time, very comfortable and impressive hotels, and stay longer days in major national parks to obtain sufficient safari experiences.
- Our 11 days safari guide Gideon is amazing. From the 1st day when I shared with him the safari target is not only capturing Africa big five, but also looking for those small ones and typical in east Africa, then he used his shape eyes and rich experiences to support whole family capture every animals he could see, and found the best viewpoint to take photos to record those beautiful animals and moments. Besides accurately located animals, Gideon also proactively shared lots of Kenya culture to us, I must say, those sharing information is a big surprise to the whole family that besides animals, we could learn more about Africa, Kenya and local culture. My two sons likes Gideon so much, because he always think about their request and adjust schedule with flexibility.
With 11 days, I should say our whole family treat Gideon as a good friend not only guide. We all treat this great journey as wonderful memory.
AE
Email Mariya and Stan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Adventurous,reliable,accommodative, friendly,fun
It was our first safari tour and we had the time of our lives! The process of planning and arranging the details was very straightforward with Daniel being always available to answer our questions. From the moment we were greated at the airport by Daniel,Lukas and our guide Timothy we felt welcomed and well cared for. Tim was very knowledgeble, funny and friendly. His knowledge and stories about the wildlife of the savanna made the londhours drives funny and most enjoyable. Tim was very flexible and went above and beyond to meat our needs during the trip. He was excellend driver,very relyable. There were periods of rain and flooding on the roads during our trip and few other chalenges but we didn't miss a bit of our plan and we thank Tim for that. The accommodations were the closest possible to the wilderness which we found very exciting. From Sentrim lodge in Amboseli we were lucky to see the snows of Kilimanjaro before the sunrise- one of my dreams came true! Every night we listened to the voices of the savanna and early morning we were greated by the symphony of the birds songs- absolutely amazing! The food was delicious and there were many varieies and options.
The wildlife and vegetation in savanna was like another world experience. We saw tons of animals and birds, we saw 4 of the Big 5. We only couldn't see any leopards but we took it as a sign that we have to come back another time
CN
Email David | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A fantastic trip
I have done my shares of safaris and they are absolutely the best. Everything was arranged to perfection and our guide/driver really tried to ensure that we saw all animals possible. Would definitely book with them again.