The team
Aanika 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
NL
Email Michelle | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great safari trip with a good price
We asked Karibu to arrange a safari trip from Nairobi to Diani beach in four days and they really did a great job. Our guide David was such a nice man. And the lodges we stayed in were amazing. The first one we slept in tents in AA Amboseli Lodge. The second (Ngulia Lodge) had an outstanding view and elephants came enjoying the waterpool just in front of the hotel. We also saw a leopard while having a glass of wine. And there were Baboons al over the place. The third (Voi lodge) also was amazing with a great view and a watch basement from which you can spot elephants drinking on just 1 metre distance. We were really amazed by these lodges because we thought we would have more basic logees. We went to Amboseli park and Tsavo East and West. They are nice parks and we saw the big five. But you won't trip over the animals. I have done more safari trips in which I saw a lot more. But its nature you can't direct animals. I have been told that if you want to see more animals you should go to Masai Mara, but for us this park was too far north, because we wanted to end in Diani. I would highly recommend Karibu safari. A specially because you get great value for your money. Way cheaper than many other safari organizations. We were with three women and five children (ages 11 till 15) and we all sat in one jeep (landcruiser). Really great for we just really had a private safari trip this way. David is a great guide and really tries to make the best of it in searching and searching for the animals you would like to see.
DE
Email Hannane Aghayan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
good value for money
We did a three-day Safari in Masai Mara with this company. My comments fall into two groups, one is our guide, Castro himself and one group is the general organization and points that come back to the Safari company as a whole:
To Castro: he was a really nice guy, very on time and he always made sure that he has communicated every step and time plan with us. In the park itself he was also good in spotting Leopard and crocodiles and we were really excited to know about it. however what I would have wished myself, specially after my nice experience with our guide in Amboseli, was that he would have told us the names of birds and animals spontaneously and on his own, cause at some points it seemed that we were spotting them more than he would do. or maybe he could have communicated more with other dirvers to see if we get to spot more big mammals. It's also a matter of experience and would probably get better with time.
To the Safari company:
the price is a bit high, but the car was ok, there could have been more water provided. the food was also OKish and the eco camp which we spent the night there was good.
Email Challa | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good service
The safari was great. Our driver was able to help us spot 4 of the big 5. The ride was smooth and comfortable in general. Would definitely choose the operator for our next safari as well. My only minor comment is that the additional cost for the Masai village visit that is in the programme but we had to pay to the villagers 10 dollars, and coerced to buy some souvenirs, donate to a primary school (the last one is not a complaint). This should have been clearly indicated beforehand. Otherwise very nice trip.
Email Brook | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Half day well spent
We had a good game drive considering it is not easy to spot wildlife in Nairobi National Park. We owe that to our guide, Arony, who navigated the landscape really well. Recommendable half-day tour!
NG
Email Victor | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very lively and nice guy. He understood the terrain very much and took me round to my satisfaction
My experience is beyond my imagination.
It worth the money spent on it.
It was home in the forest and i really had a nic time.
The operator/ instructor or guard communicate fluently in a friendly manner and able to educate us on various animals we came in contact with.
We had a good tent as accommodation well equipped and the meals were delicious.
Email Paul | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Be Prepared
The best statement I can make is that you really need to be prepared for your adventure. The biggest challenge I found was that I was not expecting the amount of travel time that was going to be required based on the itinerary. Because the infrastructure in Kenya is really not good outside of Nairobi, traveling from one park to the next often took 7 or 8 hours and in one case took 12 hours. Had I been advised of this ahead of time, I might have chosen to book smaller adventures, with a re-charge break in Nairobi, rather than stringing one park to the next next. I booked the budget safari, so I was not expecting a whole lot, and that was pretty much on point. I was OK with that, because that's what I booked. My guide James was fantastic, and really knows how to track animals. Because of him I saw the Big 5. A good guy and deserved every ounce of appreciation. Although I booked a shared tour, I was the only one in the group, so it made for long boring rides. I have no problem recommending this company for Safari, but just be prepared for long days, and early mornings, and consider shorter safari trips to different parks, rather than tying them together.
AE
Email Sherif Albasha | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
James was awesome!!
Everything was excellent, especially James...if anyone wants to do a safari James is the person!!
KW
Email Munta | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Was great tour
Thank you karibu safari, all of you was helpful, the driver Jems had a lot information about safari and roads, the lady in the office she also helpful and too friendly.
I hope next time give costmers many options and choices for the hotels and camping and kinds of safari car, we hope to get a modern car for safari
Thank you so much
Email Florent and Christine | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amboseli Safari
From the point of our first communication with Robert the trip advisor to the moment we made the Safari, everything was flawless. Robert was very professional and he provided us with the best service. He customized our safari to what we wanted and we got the exact bargain. After our experience with Karibu, we are of the opinion that all of our safaris in future will be handled by them. And we highly recommend them as well.
Top notch service.
CH
Email Thierry | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari with some wait times
We had a great time on our 7 day Safari in Kenya. Our driver/guide Arony was very good and experienced. He managed to be the first to find the Lions in the Massai Mara, ahead of a lot of other cars. This led to us having a great and quiet view of them. He was also very knowledgable, considerate and funny. So if you can, Arony is your man!
The parks and animals were stunning and an absolute must see. Accomodation in the budget tour is as you can expect very basic. But besides the occasional power outage we felt well taken care of in all of them. Just don't expect wifi everywhere.
The reason why we can't give 5 star is the organisation of the group tour. We had people joining and leaving which is okay, but the way it is planned it leads to annoying wait times. We started the tour very early on the first day just to wait 1.5hours for some stuff they had to fix at the bank in downtown, only to drive back the way we came. Could have slept all this time to be picked up then. The order of our itinerary also was mixed on short notice to pick up another guest which led to us going back to Mai mahiu (1h each way), again time we could have spent exploring or at least comfortably at a hotel instead of bumpy traffic. Lastly our game drive on the last day was cut short to 1 hour instead of 2.5 hours due to a bus schedule of other guests (again something you could mitigate by getting a second car to pick up these guests). I believe this is not the drivers nor the other guests fault, but the organisation from the office. All this accounts to about half a day lost during these 7 days.
So to summarize: The tour is good, Arony was great and the organisation just okay. I guess the good price compensates a bit.