35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great trip and I recommend Meru to anyone who wants to go on Safari
The crew at Meru delivered an unforgettable nine day Safari. I have a section on the trip and also tips for souvenirs.
Overall trip - My tour guide Samweli is top notch and one of the best guides around (16+ years experience). He had a great eye for spotting animals, taught us culture/history of the people and lands, knew the answer to every question we had about the animals or flora, respected animals by maintaining safe distance from them while other guides would chase/harass the animals (you can still see them close with your naked eye as they will walk towards you, but many other drivers were obviously doing what they probably thought tourists wanted to maximize their tips). Everyday he cleaned the car thoroughly so it felt new. We saw all the big 5 and more, most of which ended up fairly close because they walk around anyways or they are by main road. His 16+ years of experience shows as other guides were calling him for advice on which roads to take. He also drove safely in general - didn’t tailgate other cars, which avoided dust and ensured safety for passengers and animals that might be crossing; many other drivers we saw were a few feet from the car in front which resulted in a ton of dust being put inside car. He did not off-road, which damages the environment.
Our consultant Leonard was great in helping create a trip that met our budget and placing us in amazing lodges (some of them is what I imagine a billionaire would live like), as well as keeping us updated every step of the planning process. Emmanuel was our driver to and from the airport, and also provided the city tour; he was very knowledgeable about Arusha and open minded.
Souvenir trips to get the lowest prices and most variety: buy paintings at one of the shops near lodge or national park, and buy the carvings/stones/clothes at the Masai market (you can get paintings here too) in Arusha during city tour, and also at Sanaa for glassworks/bags during the city tour (this place is amazing - employs people with disabilities and is also inexpensive for westerners). We bought some glass cups and animal structures they made in front of us at Sanaa. Of course if you aren’t doing city tour or don’t have at least 2 hours in Arusha, you’d need to buy from one of the souvinier shops by the park.
Outside of Sanaa, bargaining is expected by the sales people. Do not come in thinking you are a westerner and will not bargain with poor people because you will get absolutely ripped off, and regret it when you see the same thing in another store a few feet down the road at a much lower rate. If you want to give away your money, do so at a non-profit or a place like Sanaa.
Less applicable for Masai market (significant competition there amongst shops prevents gouging), but all other stores you shop at - they will ask for $400 when they’d settle for $50 and they still make a healthy profit. I saw a family before us pay $700 for some painting and crafts that I saw for $40 at another store later on. Masai market has prices fairly close to the lowest anyways so don’t expect more than 20% reduction. Safari land and its main competitor (don’t know name but not as fancy) are expensive; just go there for the experience. Many carvings you see are NOT unique. I have a hand etched wooden animal which I bought in a distant African country thinking it was unique, but I saw the same thing in Safariland for 6x the price ($20 vs $120). Buy it because you like it, not because it’s one of a kind because it’s unlikely to be.
CM
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect
He was available and highly professional, with nice advices
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most amazing trip ever!
My husband and I had a lovely time on the trip. Nelia was lovely to work with and tailored our trip to exactly what we wanted. The lodges were amazing and the staff was so friendly. What I loved about the trip was the lodges kept getting better as the trip went on. We did the 11 day safari and everything worked out perfectly. We got value for money and everything was so smooth. We stayed at 4 different lodges and all were completely different which was nice because saw all sorts of animals. We are definitely blessed and will be booking with Indigo Safari again.
AT
Brilliant in organizing a really interesting tour. He’s on top of everything and has a great humour
Jophride has put together a really lovely and varied tour for us. It combined a safari with gorilla trekking, sightseeing and a good insight into the lives of the people in the country. Any time again with pleasure .
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, Reliable, and Highly Recommended
Our experience with Dextrip Safaris was simply excellent from beginning to end. The entire trip was exceptionally well organized, and every detail was carefully planned, allowing us to relax and fully enjoy our holiday without any worries.
Our guide, Paul, was outstanding. He was highly professional, knowledgeable, and always placed our safety and comfort first. His expertise in spotting wildlife, explaining animal behavior, and sharing insights about Kenya's landscapes and culture made the safari even more enjoyable and memorable. He was patient, friendly, and always willing to adapt the itinerary to our interests.
We were also very impressed by the quality of the accommodations. The hotels in Masai Mara, Nakuru, and Naivasha were all excellent, offering a high level of comfort, beautiful locations, and outstanding hospitality. A special thank you to the hotel staff, who went the extra mile to prepare delicious halal meals for us throughout our stay.
The vehicles were comfortable and well maintained, the itinerary was perfectly balanced, and the communication before and during the trip was excellent.
We highly recommend Dextrip Safaris to anyone looking for a reliable, professional, and customer-focused safari operator in Kenya. They exceeded our expectations in every way, and we would not hesitate to travel with them again on our next visit.
Thank you to Paul and the entire Dextrip Safaris team for making our trip such an unforgettable experience!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An absolute 10/10 experience with a team that truly goes above and beyond for their guests.
We had the most wonderful family safari in Tsavo thanks to Geemel Safaris. They were incredibly helpful from our very first phone call and went out of their way to make the trip comfortable for our two-year-old. The guide was patient, knowledgeable, and so accommodating to our pace. Excellent service, fantastic communication, and genuine care throughout. They truly went above and beyond for us!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect tour
The tour was great, and the guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and made the experience enjoyable.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professionalism, Punctuality, Experienced Guides !!
My Kenya trip was an unforgettable experience, and a huge part of that was thanks to our tour operator. From the moment of arrival until the departure, everything was planned and executed flawlessly. The accommodations, safari drives, transportation, and overall coordination were excellent.
The guides were incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about wildlife. Their ability to spot animals and share fascinating insights made every game drive exciting and memorable. We were fortunate to witness the Big Five and many other incredible wildlife encounters.
Their professionalism, punctuality, and attention to detail gave us complete peace of mind throughout the journey. They were always flexible, accommodating, and genuinely cared about ensuring we had the best possible experience.
If you’re planning a safari in Kenya, I highly recommend this tour operator. They turned our dream trip into a lifetime memory. Thank you for an exceptional adventure!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A trip of a lifetime, thanks to Venance and African Big Cats Safari
We recently spent our honeymoon on a trip through Tanzania planned by African Big Cats Safari. We had the absolute best time!! From the very start, African Big Cats helped us plan our dream vacation. Naomi was incredibly helpful in tailoring our itinerary and very responsive with our (many) questions and concerns. The actual logistics on our end could not have been simpler. We arranged our flights and when we arrived our driver was ready to pick us up, from there African Big Cats handled everything else.
We spent several days with our driver, Venance, traveling across some of the national parks of Tanzania. Venance was an incredible guide. He was well organized, polite, and wonderfully friendly. His sharp eye and expansive knowledge of the history, wildlife, and culture in each of the different parks ensured that we did not miss a single thing while we were out in the bush. If we are ever so lucky to be back in Tanzania, we will definitely be asking for Venance specifically.
Because our itinerary spanned so many locations, we stayed in a different lodge almost every night. Every accommodation that African Big Cats booked for us was perfect! We got to experience a lovely variety, from the private villa at Kitela Lodge up in the hills near Ngorongoro Crater, to the deluxe tented cabins of the Nyota Luxury Camp in the Central Serengeti. Each place was unique, but they were all equally wonderful. African Big Cats communicated to all of them our dietary restrictions and excursion plans, we never had to worry about a thing. Our only regret is not getting to stay in the beautiful accommodations longer!!
Once our safari adventure was (sadly) over, African Big Cats arranged for our flight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar and a driver to the resort they booked us at. Once again, they handled absolutely everything and it could not have gone more smoothly. Our stay at the Melia Zanzibar resort was the perfect way to relax and decompress after nearly a week of bouncing around in the back of a Land Cruiser. When our trip finally came to an end, African Big Cats again arranged a driver to the airport and we were on our way home.
If you are considering a safari trip, I cannot recommend African Big Cats Safari enough! Our honeymoon was a truly once in a lifetime adventure; and Venance, Naomi, Emmanuel, and everyone else at African Big Cats were a huge part of why it was such a success. Tanzania is a beautiful country, we were so lucky to have had such a wonderful trip exploring it!
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari with an amazing guide and a wonderful travel agency!
Everything was well organized from the very beginning. Winnie was always quick to respond and patiently answered all my questions before the trip. Our guide, Robert, was fantastic—he had incredible eagle eyes and always got us to the best spots for wildlife viewing. He shared so much about the animals and gave us a deeper appreciation of Kenya. Highly recommend!