35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Kenyan safari with Marurumi—expert guides, seamless planning, and stunning experiences
We just got back from an unforgettable girls' trip to Kenya and are already planning our next adventure!
Planning a safari can feel overwhelming with so many providers out there, but we struck gold with Marurumi. Here’s what we were looking for in a tour company:
Private tour with the opportunity to socialize in the evenings.
Mix of activities alongside the classic jeep safari.
Flexible schedule with a relaxed pace when needed.
Fair pricing without compromising on quality.
Marurumi ticked every box! We chose their 7-day tour starting in Nairobi, covering Amboseli, Naivasha, Nakuru, and the iconic Maasai Mara.
Why we picked Marurumi: Their base package stood out because it already included unique activities like a boat ride and a walking safari. We added on a few extras, like a bike ride in Hell's Gate (a must-do!), a visit to a Maasai village (great for understanding their culture and crafts—book the traditional welcome ceremony if you can), and the once-in-a-lifetime balloon safari. The balloon ride was the most expensive add-on, but worth every penny! From early morning pickup to the breathtaking flight and the Champagne breakfast in the reserve, it was a highlight of our trip.
Our guide, James, made all the difference. As the founder and owner of Marurumi, he brings unmatched experience and insight into the safari world. From the moment we set off, we felt safe, comfortable, and in good hands. Safaris involve long days together, often driving across vast distances, and James made us feel completely at home. His car became our home base, where he shared stories about Kenya's landscapes, wildlife, and culture, and he gave us space to rest when we needed it.
James went above and beyond every step of the way—whether it was arranging late checkouts so we could freshen up after a game drive or adjusting activities to help us make the most of each day. With him, we saw The Big 5, captured incredible photos, and witnessed nature in all its raw beauty. His eye for spotting wildlife, even from afar, is incredible, and he always helped us get the perfect shot and shared fascinating details about each animal.
From start to finish, Marurumi exceeded our expectations. We left Kenya with memories that will last a lifetime and a deep appreciation for the people, wildlife, and landscapes we encountered. For anyone considering a safari in Kenya, I can’t recommend Marurumi enough!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I would not use this company
The safari day and crater day were good everything seemed to be going well.
When we arrived at the second hotel it went down hill from there, the hotel was not as expected. Food took nearly 4 hours to come out and didn’t want to eat it as it was cold and looked awful as such we did not want to eat breakfast and risk food poisoning, when I gave feedback to the person I was in communication with for our tour I was told to “just go and eat the food multiple times.
The next day we arrived at the waterfall experience, where there was a complete lack of communication, I was very clear that we had an older person traveling with us and therefore couldn’t do much physical activity.
There was a 30 minute walk which involved climbing down and up rocks to get to the waterfall.
The lack of communication and the behaviour of the tour guide was unacceptable, the tour guide tried to push us into doing something else when we were very clear we could not do that activity, we lost money as they wouldn’t give a partial refund and made the end of our holiday very unenjoyable.
I would not recommend this company if you are traveling to Tanzania
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable Journey!
I had the most incredible experience booking a safari and beach trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar. From start to finish, everything was seamless and exceeded all of my expectations.
The safari in Tanzania was truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Our guides were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife, making each game drive a truly unforgettable experience. After the excitement of the safari, we headed to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar for some well-deserved relaxation.
Paradise & Wilderness went above and beyond to ensure that every detail of our journey was taken care of. The service and attention to detail made this trip truly memorable.
I cannot recommend Paradise & Wilderness enough for anyone looking to embark on an unforgettable safari and beach adventure in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great 5-day Safari with Agustino
Good value for money Safari. We did 3 days Serengeti, 1 day Ngorongoro and 1 day Tarangire, which turned out to be the best route in our opinion. Our guide Agustino was amazing and had an answer to every question, sharing knowledge about his country enthusiastically.
Some last minute changes in the itinerary were a bit inconvenient, but all in all an amazing experience where we got to see the big 5 and many more animals (some really up close) than we could have imagined.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience with amazing local guide!
Our tour through Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls and Botswana was truly unforgettable, thanks to our amazing guide, Pamela. She brought each location to life, sharing local stories at Victoria Falls and taking us to a fantastic hidden coffee spot. In Botswana, she guided us seamlessly through Chobe National Park, Elephant Sands, and the stunning Okavango Delta, where we experienced breathtaking wildlife and scenery.
Pamela's passion and knowledge made everything feel easy, and her introductions to local music and culture gave us an authentic experience. Touring with her felt like exploring with a friend—thank you, Pamela, for making this trip one for the books!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An experience of a lifetime, with local guides to make it authentic and seamless!
Our recent tour through Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls and Botswana’s Chobe National Park was simply spectacular, and a huge part of that was thanks to our incredible local guide, Pamela. From start to finish, Pamela went above and beyond to make the experience unforgettable. She knew every inch of Victoria Falls and shared stories and insights that only a true local could provide, which made our exploration so much richer.
Pamela’s warmth and friendliness made us feel completely at home from the moment we arrived. She handled all the logistics so seamlessly that we could relax and fully enjoy every moment. Her attention to detail was amazing—she even took us to a hidden gem of a coffee spot in Victoria Falls, where we enjoyed some of the best local brews in a cozy atmosphere.
Our time in Chobe National Park was equally amazing, with wildlife encounters we’ll remember forever. We also visited Elephant Sands and the Okavango Delta. You would think traveling around the country in a van would be tough, as the distance is great, but Pamela was amazing. She handled the roads like a pro, made stops for us to rest, and shared stories to make the time go by. She even introduced us to local music which we blasted throughout our road trip. The trip in itself is an experience like no other, but it truly was made better with Pamela. So if you are going to Zimbabwe and/or Botswana, make sure to choose Africa Zim Travel & Tours and ask for Pamela. I can't recommend her highly enough! This was more than just a tour—it felt like exploring with a friend. Thank you, Pamela, for an experience of a lifetime!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unreliable
I went on a 10 day Safari with this company last July, unfortunately we did not like it.
Before booking they promise
Before departure they promise you whatever you want, but once there you don't get it. We asked to have a jeep instead of a “minibus”, we even paid money on top but we did not get it. It was told we will receive binoculars, so we did not bring ours and even those were not available. For the last we asked for a guide expert in birds since of the group is an experienced researcher in forestal ecology, as you can imagine the guide was not an expert in birds. So we felt like children, promised a lot but it was all a bunch of lies.
Other issues, the plan was changed without even informing us. We were supposed to spend 2 days in a park, but the company changed the plan and neither gave us an alternative, so we spent a day basically doing nothing.
As cherry on top, because of some departures issues, we arrived 2 days late. We kindly asked for a “discount” for the activities not done, and were told that was not possible cause everything was already booked, only later we discovered that the tickets of the parks are paid once only at the entry so our tickets were booked. When we pointed that out, it has been told to us that we will be reimbursed, and as you can get from this review, it has been more than a year I'm still waiting to be contacted.
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable operator that delivers expertly organized and passionately guided adventure.
Swahili Paradise Tours provided us with an unforgettable experience during our safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro in September 2024. The organization was flawless—from delicious meals prepared by a private chef and comfortable tent accommodations to an outstanding guide who knew exactly where to go and shared fascinating stories about the wildlife we encountered. Thanks to him, we explored breathtaking landscapes and spotted incredible animals.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Abel was really kind and caring of all individuals during the trip.
A great experience to learn more about Uganda while travelling to different locations. He had no problem answering all questions we had and ensured of safety at all locations we visited. Water and wifi were given during all rides. The service was great and I would recommend to anyone planning a trip to Uganda to use Las Vegas Tours and Travel!
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience, knowledgeable and friendly guide and great communication
We first booked a 2-day tour to Amboseli with Balu. Morris was very responsive to questions, and also very flexible when there was uncertainty whether we would be able to make the prearranged date.
Ephantus was our driver and guide. A very kind and knowledgeable man. He drove us from our hotel in Nairobi to the Amboseli Sopa Lodge and from there we had our first afternoon safari. Ephantus knew exactly where to go for good viewings, had razor sharp vision to spot animals still far in the distance and had a lot of fun facts to share.
The Amboseli Sopa Lodge was also a perfect place to stay, and the game drive early morning next day was even better than the day before. We ended up seeing a lot of elephants very close, zebras, lions, giraffes, hyenas, ostriches, buffaloes, wildebeests, and much more. It exceeded all our expectations.
We were so happy with Balu Travel (and specifically Ephantus and Morris) that we booked a half day tour to Nairobi National Park two days later with them. Which again was an amazing experience.
Would definitely recommend them!