The team
Karibu Safaris In Kenya
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1986)
- Member Of:
- KATO, Tourism Regulatory Authority & Eco Toursm Kenya
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Mid-range & luxury)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $80 to $280 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Kevin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We got the money shots
The briefing was informative and gave us a good idea of what to expect and any questions we asked were answered to our satisfaction. To be honest first impressions of the safari vehicle were that it was dated but we later realized that looks can be deceiving and the vehicle was perfectly designed to get us close to the action and provided a perfect viewing platform once the roof was raised. Although they looked dated the vehicle was mechanically great and obviously designed for the harsh conditions of the tracks.
Our guide (Arroni) was the biggest surprise. He was truly amazing and we soon found ourselves in the prime positions to get the best possible view/photo of the wildlife to the obvious envy of others around us. He was totally devoted to making our experience as safe and enjoyable as possible and we soon built a very good relationship with him. At the end of the day, he knew what was important to us and delivered, we got the money shots we came for including a prime view of the migration crossing of the Mara River by the wilderbeast.
Accommodation at the camps was basic but sufficient. The food tends to be a bit repetitive, but healthy and fills your stomach.
Be prepared for busy roads and African driving which can be a bit scary at times, but we soon got used to that and our guide delivered us safely to our destinations.
If I could offer a suggestion it would be to the camps that hit water is important to most tourists and was at times not available.
All in all, be prepared to live basically but get the rewards of an adventure of a life time. The guide is most important to an enjoyable holiday, we thoroughly enjoyed ours thanks to Arroni.
Email Lynna | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional service for a budget safari, best value, highly recommended.
Our dream of the great Kenya came crushing a week before commencing when we got a letter from the scammer, Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris saying that they can't provide the service.
Luckily, Sam, the manager of our Hadassah Hotel at Nairobi got us a similar safari at about the same cost. No need for any advance payment which is good. We don't trust paying out-front after losing 50% to Mr Otieno.
We met with KARIBU Safaris Mr Robert at the hotel for briefing and payment and everything went smoothly thereafter.
Our driver/guide, Arroni is the best guide you could possibly have. He had been doing this for 23 years and can sight a selval cat from such a distance from a moving van where all we saw was something lying in the savanna. We got to see so many animals plus 4 of the Big 5 and Arroni had the gift to position us for the best angle to photograph them. And we got to witness the great wildebeest migration up close.
Two of our team members who had been to many Safaris in South Africa were so impressed, they wish they can have him as their driver/guide in South Africa.
We had such a wonderful experience with Arroni that we were actually glad our original tour was cancelled.
MY
Email Alice | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Arroni is the knowledgeable driver and guide. We are lucky to have him
Karin Safari is Reliable, experience and customer oriented .Highly recommended for friends to use their services when they come to Kenya
MY
Email Jasmine Ng | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience the Real with Karibu Safaris In Kenya
We had an Excellent safaris driver , Arroni. He had many years of experience and make great effort to ensure we see everything that is our there. Services at all the accommodation is excellent too. Setback are the accommodations are lacking in amenities like poor lightings and low water pressure for showering. Besides that all is excellent.
IT
Email Maria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a very good experience
Everything was good, communications, safari, driver!
SA
Email iMino | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
5 STAR to the drivers/tour guide of the itinerary, dissatisfied with the tour operator Robert
PLZ READ MY REVIEW AS A REFERENCE BEFORE YOUR BOOKING
Overral it's a fantastic experience of safaris in Kenya, I went different national parks or reserves with 3 different drivers, Stanley, Leban, Manifest, under their expertise, I saw all the BIG FIVE and other species of wild animals and birds, even stepping on Tanzania for couples of hours.
But I still wanted to highlight the problems I was facing, leaving other travelers a kind reminder.
1. Generally speaking, there is NO big difference to book a tour from any operator from this website. Cuz all budget tour they mix ppl with different group, for example, my Masai Mara tour, 8 ppl from 6 agencies, my Ambselli tour, other 6 ppl from 4 agencies.
2. Dishonesty of Robert: Operator Robert PROMISED me in email, his agency is the operator, but actually not even 1 driver is working for him. He's the guy attracting customers from website, hotels, streets etc. then he handled ppl to drivers/ tour guides. Therefore, the experience of safari good or not, definitely depends on your luck to meet a driver. So why spend so much time to compare different agencies here?
3. Robert PROMISED in email, single room is provided during the whole itinerary. But in Masai Mara, Ambesselli, 4 nights I stayed in a shared room (tripple room in Masai, the worst room in Ambesselli). even in Nakuru & Naivasha, i need to negotiate with hotels by myself to get a single room, reception said never receive the request from Robert! WHAT A BIG SHAME! After paying off the money, Robert broke all the promises and disappeared, no replying my emails and phone calls
4. the first day is diastrous, they picked up at 7am from my hotel, then we started the tour 10am, Robert spent 3 hours in downtown to looking for ppl and agencies to make up a group. then he asked 8 ppl packed in a 7 seated sedan, 4 ppl seated on 3 chair, 2 hour driving to meeting point... it was HORRIBLE... thanks God Koreans travellers are slim
Reply from Karibu Safaris In Kenya
Posted on Aug 20, 2019Jambo Imino,
Sorry for the bad experience you had,
It all started after you were conned off money by the Kenya operator(kenya walking safaris) who went missing after you had paid for your safari and when you contacted us 3Days to safari we said charged you money for group joining safari and we never asked for single room supplement as we knew getting accommodation was a problem in the Masai Mara especially for last munite bookings and it was peak season and if you have any prove that we promised a single room, kindly attached it below please and since we had group departures we decided to have your booking confirmed and you were picked and safari departed Nairobi by 8.30am.
During peak season because of many clients we hire out freelance driver guides on contract bases from other tour operators who usualy dont have clients but have free safari vans for hire so we hire our the vans from the companies with there driver guides too, when we hire we brand the vans(if you noticed they were all branded with KARIBU)
Also during peak season we receive alot of bookings directly from small tour operators who cant operate the safari themselves, thats why you found to be on safari with other clients who booked safari from different companies but you are with them on the same van.
I was always on reach on phone (24hours) but you were calling on whatsapp where by if am not where there is WIFI i cant see you calling.
All our vans take 7 people and i should summon all the drivers you mentioned there to find out what happened as sometimes they carry trainee safari vans but if there vans are full they are not allowed to carry.
Sorry ones again for the miss communications.
ROBERT
Trip Advisor
Email Blaauw | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari with James!!
It was really great! James made the safari wonderfull. Good communication, good hospitality and because of James we saw the big 5 very closely. He is a good driver and very kind and helpfull!
The service from Karibu is good! Thank you - you made it a excellent trip!
DE
Email Ralf | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great first impression of Kenya in a few days
It is amazing how much we saw in just a few days. It is not a trip when you want to rlax, bcause it is a lot of driving. Ialways felt safe on the road, because our driver Richard was excellent. If you only have afew days and want to see a lot, choose this kind of trip.
ES
Email Helena | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience! We saw the Big Five!
The communications were very well organised, the camp where we slept was also very nice. Our tent had a private toilet and a bed. The safari tour was also great, we saw many animals and cheetas hunt. It was very exciting!! I recommend it.
ES
Email Sergio Sanchez Hernandez | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just perfect!
I am a Spanish solo traveller and booked a 12-day safari with Karibu Safaris and I can say that I am satisfied 100% with the experience. This has definitely been a trip in a lifetime!
My itinerary was all about covering as many national parks as possible and I am glad to have done so. Otherwise, I would have surely missed the chance to see some animals. The parks included Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Tarangire. I have seen ALL kinds of animals: the big five from a close distance (leopard and rhino are quite difficult to see) and others such as jackals, hyrax, adama lizards, crocodiles, hippos... We even had hyenas and mongoose freely wondering around our camp in Serengeti!
I have to say that as chaotic as the organization may seem, everything turns out fine at the end. Do not expect great communication or information from the company in the western european style. Neither do so with following your schedule as previously stated. Some changes are always made on the go, but at least in my case, always for the better. African people are most of the times nice and friendly and won't try to scam you. In my case, the company even arranged one extra day and were helpful at all times.
