Marurumi Safaris
Marurumi Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Member Of:
- AMREF, Magical Kenya & Tripadvisor
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $130 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
IT
Email Federica | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience
My partner and I have just returned to Italy after spending 13 fantastic days in Kenya!! .....The safari organised by Marurumi Safaris was impeccable, with attention to the smallest details. James accompanied us to the various parks with great patience, showing great experience and professionalism, giving explanations and valuable advice.
NO
Email Jan Henrik | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Marurumi Safari delivered
Planning our first safari, we were stunned by the large number of providers and all the different tours to choose from. We ended up choosing a tour were the duration, price and bush camp option fitted us - 4-Day Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru/ Masai Mara Mid-Range Migration Tour.
The later mail dialogue gave us a feeling of seriousness.
Our guide and driver, James, was punctual, safety- and very service-minded. He was experienced, knowledgeable and respectful regarding wildlife and all other aspects of Kenya.
He even took us to a coffee plantation in the outskirts of Nairobi on our way back.
Bush camp accomodations, cleaning and food were good and gave us a more authentic feel of a safari.
We were advised to bring warm cloths for the safari. Coming from Norway and being used to cool summers, we thought that was an exaggeration. Fact was that we were glad we brought the warm clothes and raincover. It gets surprisingly cold standing up in an moving open jeep for hours at almost 2000 m altitude.
With our experiences from this safari we have no doubts recommending Marurumi Safari.
CN
Email JIANAN | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not professional, and the response efficiency is slow, without considering the customer's feelings.
I booked a trip for my guest from January 18th to January 24th, 2026 on November 18th, 2025. Good review:
1. The cars in Tanzania are relatively new and the drivers are also good;
It is bad:
1.our confirmed itinerary was to stay at the Fairmont Hotel for one night and at the Mara Bushtops Luxury Camp for one night. We charged accordingly, but it was very unprofessional to inform us a few days before the trip that we could not arrange Mara Bushtops for at least two nights. Why wasn't the itinerary confirmed?
2.Regarding the bush dinner, it is the same. It was informed at the last minute that there were at least four people and it lacked professionalism.
3.On the second day of the trip on March 19th, from Amboseli to Navasha, the vehicle broke down, causing a delay of at least five hours that day, and the subsequent trips were disrupted.
4.The promised open Jeep on April 20th was not arranged properly, resulting in a delay of over an hour in the afternoon's Safari due to a direct car change.
5.From May 18th to January 22nd, the tour guide service in Kenya was poor. On January 22nd, we were forced to charge $200, but this was not actually required. We have already given enough tips. And the promised refund of $200 has not been refunded.
6.From January 18th to January 22nd, the cars in Kenya were very poor and very old.
7. It should be the boss James Macharia who communicated with me. The response speed is slow, and when problems arise, it's not a sign of good service.
Reply from Marurumi Safaris
Posted on Feb 10, 2026Dear Jianan,
Thank you so much for taking time to write us your review. We truly appreciate both your positive comments and your concerns, as they help us improve our services.
One thing that we strive to ensure is that all our clients are handled with utmost attention, confirming that everything is okay. However, along the way at times, we are faced with challenges, and since you are in this same line of duty, you can attest to it.
On the whole itinerary package, thank you for informing us that the Tanzanian side was good and that your clients were contented. It is still us that made the plans even on that end and a clear indication that the running was as smooth as we intended. At the same time, we sincerely regret the inconveniences they experienced during the Kenya portion of the trip, and we apologize for any frustration this may have caused you and your guests.
On the Kenyan side, we want to inform you that we do not have any other connections with the hotels apart from us providing them with clients. That is why we confirmed to you the itinerary as it was initially, without any doubts that the hotels would respond to us with new rules. Were it that we knew earlier, we would have advised you before you proceeded.
Honesty is of importance. Immediately, the hotels responded, the information was shared with you so that you could communicate with your clients, and together we could make the changes immediately and not wait for the last-minute rush.
On 19th January, the vehicle breakdown resulted from an issue with the car battery, which we explained to you, not because the car is old or poor. There was no earlier sign of the battery causing havoc, thus it could not have been fixed earlier before the clients had started their journey to Naivasha. It would be against our rules to agree on letting any of our vehicles leave Nairobi, knowing very well it will be out for days and provide our clients with a damaged car. The car battery could not have been accessed in Amboseli, thus causing delays on your client's schedule. We are sincerely sorry about that.
On 20th January, the vehicle that they were supposed to use was already in place. The guide communicated with them and informed them that in the conservancy, there were areas that they, as our company guides, could not access, but when they were taken by the hotel's guide, they would be able to view more. This was done to ensure that the clients miss nothing since they were staying in the conservancy. With that, they would later use their designated open jeep the following day, thus doing the normal game drive.
The issue of them being charged $200 was not to be handled by your clients. Any charge not contractually agreed upon is not in line with our company policy, and we take this concern very seriously. That is why the matter was reported to the authorities, and we informed you of the same. We are committed to resolving the refund issue promptly and transparently if only you fulfill our earlier request of sending the details of where the money should be credited. Despite the fact that you sent the money online, your information has been encrypted.
Yes, you have been communicating with James Macharia, owner of Marurumi Safaris. We regret that the communication did not meet your expectations. Mr. James Macharia oversees multiple operational matters; that is why, at times, calls were not answered. We recognize the importance of timely responses, especially when issues arise.
Once again, thank you for your honest feedback. We value our partnership and hope to have the opportunity to restore your confidence in our services in the future.
Regards,
James Macharia.
DE
Email Becci | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect choice for the most magical trip
My best friend and I went on a (slightly customized) 7 day Safari. I did all the planning/booking and am beyond happy that I picked Marurumi out of quite a lot of options. It was the perfect fit for us. The communication(via email)/ reaction time for my many questions was easy, super quick and always lovely. We got to travel with Peter for the week and he was so much fun, knowledgeable, very well connected and an experienced and very safe driver (if you’ve been to Kenya before you might know how much it’s worth to feel safe on the roads in between the destinations as well) and just an incredible guide in general. After a couple of days it felt more like being on a trip with a (very well organized) friend which was a big part of us enjoying our trip as much as we did. The mix of accommodations was perfect for us (resort, hotel, bush camps). We also got pretty lucky with the views (like visibility of Mount Kilimanjaro), weather (we didn’t mind some mostly short rains in the afternoon and enjoyed the not too hot during the day and mild enough temperatures during the night ) and animal sightings (completed the „ugly five“ day 2 and got to see 4/5 of the „big five“ by day 4 plus a ton of other incredible animals, many of them also with pretty fresh babies and generally nearly all of them very very close to us at least once)! This is a trip we will never forget and I can’t recommend Marurumi Safari enough!
BE
Email luc | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
a very good and reliable company
We booked our safari directly with them. First, we spent two nights at Ol Pejeta, Sweetwaters Camp. It was a very good camp, with lots of buffalo, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, and even our first lion sighting. This was thanks to Peter, our driver and guide, who drove into the bush with a ranger (allowed, of course). Then we spent one night at Lake Nakura, where we saw lots of Rothschild giraffes, flamingos, and many other birds, water buffalo, and baboons on the road; we were able to see them up close. We spent one night at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, where we had fantastic hippos in the garden in the evenings, behind an electric fence. Zebras, giraffes, and elands were in the garden.
The last three nights were in Mara Masai at the fantastic Mtito Safari Camp, beautifully situated, with incredible staff and exquisite cuisine. In short, nothing was too much trouble. Only nine tents, so we could relax and enjoy ourselves after a long day of safari. We saw many predators in Mara Masai thanks to Peter, who followed the radio like a true tracker. We are extremely satisfied with the service provided by the Marurumi team. Everything was arranged perfectly and tailored to our needs, and especially with our guide and driver, Peter, we had a lot of laughs with him. Definitely worthy of your trust.
Gina and Luc
HN
Email Astrid | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Don’t second-guess it—book your safari with Marurumi!
We had an exceptional 11-day safari in Kenya and Tanzania with them, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. James was incredibly kind and made sure every detail of our trip was perfect, creating memories we will always treasure. We feel so lucky to have found a company that genuinely cares about its guests, not just profit. A special thanks as well to Ivy and Peter for their wonderful contributions to our journey.
DE
Email Vivek | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
the Best and Most memorable experience
I Solo traveled to Kenya for a 6-day Safari with Marurumi, covering Masai Mara, Amboseli, &Lake Nakuru. I was very anxious when i started planning my trip as i had never been to Africa before. I did a lot of research and found "Marurumi Safaris". I had a lot of questions and the team was very friendly to answer all of them and made me feel comfortable. They were flexible to offer me a package based on my needs and offered me various options.
On the other hand. Lawrence (Lawrenzo), my guide was very friendly and informative. I am a photographer. So, i had to take a lot of pictures from various angles. Lawrence was very patient and made sure i got the best angles. He was definitely a best and very experienced guide.
Trip info (5 days): 2 days - Amboseli, 1 day - Lake Nakuru & 2 days Masai Mara with Hot-air balloon ride.
Package: Silver Accommodation - Amboseli sopa lodge, Lake Nakuru Sopa lodge (best one) & Mara Bush camp on a 4x4 Land cruiser
Overall, an amazing trip and i will definitely recommend it. Just book without having any second thoughts. You will not regret it.
NL
Email Burak & Cansu | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a lifetime, superb experince!
It was our first time in Africa. Our guide Tony was so helpful and caring, he made us feel like home. Because of our flight uncertainty, the plan need to be adjusted so the days were switched, but Tony made sure we have done everything that was on the plans. It was a very packed schedule, a lot of things to do, but everything was very punctual and practical. Tony was super energetic, even we got tired but he did not! He made sure we spot all the animals. Our local guides were also excellent, they told us about many things. Accommodation choices were great. One of the best things about this tour was in addition to game drives, there were many activities like the boat ride, walking tour, bike ride. We even added rock climbing in the hell’s gate and a visit to maasai village with an extra fee, and both were totally worth it. Overall it was a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you very much, hope to see you again!
AE
Email Alessia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Unforgettable Safari Experience in Kenya
From start to finish, our safari in Kenya was absolutely incredible — and it’s all thanks to James and his amazing team. Every detail was perfectly organized, from the warm welcome and seamless transfers to the carefully planned game drives that left us speechless day after day.
James and his team truly went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Their professionalism, kindness, and deep knowledge of the wildlife and landscapes made every moment special. We felt safe, cared for, and always in the best hands.
The highlights of our trip — spotting the Big Five, watching elephants at sunset, and waking up to breathtaking views — will stay with us forever. But what really made the difference was the passion and dedication of James and his team. They don’t just organize safaris; they create lifetime memories.
We are deeply grateful for their hard work, attention to detail, and the personal touch they brought to every step of the journey. If you’re considering a safari in Kenya, look no further — James and his team will make it the trip of your dreams.
Thank you, James, for everything — we can’t wait to come back!
IT
Email Gianluca Crippa | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
SafariBookings, could you add a sixth star for reviews?
We dreamt this family trip for long time.
We had the chance and honour to be guided by James, the owner of Marurumi, quite recent and small safari operator: a sincere and true passion for nature and animals!
Respectful for environment and animals, incredibly competent, always polite and careful to our needs.
Jeep in good conditions and always clean in the morning, power and wifi always available for devices (clearly not a primary need for a safari but very appreciated), water always available.
Always concentrated driving in the kenyan roads, not the easiest ones in the world...
Accomodations accordingly to our mid-range choice. Special mentions to the accomodations at Nakuru and Masai Mara: the proposed ones were quite small and unique for environment and service.
Parks. Difficult to describe. James continously shared with us his know how feeding our curiosity. He was able to allow us to find all our targets and even more: 2 servals in masai mara had been the icing on the cake.
We had the chance to meet several times his collaborators leading other groups: the impression is that James had the capacity to choose them very well.
Competitive prices.
More than satisfied. We will suggest Marurumi to all our friends and we would recommend it to anyone else.
If we will have the chance to get back to Kenya we will definetely have no doubts.