CATS Africa Tours Team..Connecting you with Nature
CATS Africa Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- ESOK & ASTA Kenya
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $118 to $676 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CA
Email Crystal and Matt | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experice with the best guide on a private tour
I researched tours for weeks before we decided on CATS for our honeymoon. We stayed one night at Lake Nakuru Lion Hill Sarova (in a little cabin) and two nights at Mara Sarova (in a canvas tent). Sarova is a high-end hotel chain and CATS gives you a great price considering all you get for the trip. Huge buffet for every meal, outstanding accommodations. Swimming pools, darts, pool tables, mosquito protection, stunning and immaculate grounds, friendly staff, excellent cocktails. Both lodges have a spa.
I can’t say enough good things about our driver, Duncan (Ndegwa). He has been delivering these tours for 14 years, and is extremely knowledgeable about the parks and wildlife. We were on this trip specifically for animals and my husband is a biologist. We would ask one question about a giraffe and he would be able to share a full range of knowledge from the species throughout Kenya and Africa to how to tell them apart, to gestation and lifespans. Outstanding. He was an excellent driver despite chaotic Kenyan roads. He was respectful of the wildlife, maintaining a respectful distance from animals while getting us close enough to take amazing photos. Other drivers would pull up three feet from a lion’s sleeping face for their tourists to take their pics, and it was horrible. We even saw a bunch of safari vehicles herding a large group of wildebeest purposely at a croc-filled river for the photo opp and we appreciated that our driver didn’t participate. He also stuck to the trails as you’re supposed to. He was excellent at spotting wildlife, from distant rhinos to discreet leopards to snoozing camouflaged lion cubs. We appreciated this even more after we did a three-hour tour with a guide from another company in Nairobi National Park, and that guide couldn’t spot any animals and had little knowledge of species or park management. Duncan ensured we stopped at safe places and even took us on a sensible detour on the drive back to Nairobi to avoid a serious accident (and extensive wait) on a main highway. We have amazing photos! Note: your guide will stop to talk to other guides to discuss sightings.
On our next trip, we would skip Lake Nakuru and head straight to Maasai Mara, as it's a very long drive to both and between the two parks.
Note that the road from Nairobi to Maasai Mara is ~170 kms but takes 5 hours, and the 2 hours or so near the park aren’t paved. And because they are in the process of paving it, you can’t drive on the gravel road, you have to drive on a temporary side road which has large boulders instead of the small crushed gravel we’re used to at home and it’s a very slow, jarring drive, no matter what vehicle you’re in. Motion-sick people beware! Next time, we'll book the land cruiser instead of the van, as they have better suspension.
Overall we had a wonderful honeymoon adventure and are eternally grateful to Joyce for booking us exceptional accommodations and going the extra mile, and Duncan, for being the greatest guide and helping us stamp our Big-5 bingo card.
Email Shira | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent experience from start to finish
I enquired about a safari with CATS Africa through Safaribookings, and they replied very quickly with all relevant details. Joyce was then very helpful and responsive in planning my safari until we got to the perfect trip for what we wanted and our budget. Payment was confirmed very quickly, which was reassuring. Everything was very professional, and other members of the office (John and Anne) were also helpful.
On the actual safari, everything went perfectly! Our driver/guide, Cyrus, picked us up exactly as arranged and off we went. Cyrus was not only very knowledgeable about the parks we went to and the wildlife, but also about modern Kenya in general and he was very interesting to talk to over our 5 day trip. He was experienced, kind and helpful. We went in 4x4 (Which I would personally recommend over a minibus) and it was really comfortable. We visited Nakuru, Naivasha and the Masai Mara - the trip was well planned in terms of time spent in each area and our accommodation was great. And of course we saw some amazing wildlife! The variety of the three parks was excellent, and while there was a fair amount of driving, it didn't feel like too much to me - especially as the road to the Mara is now pretty much fully paved. It was a bit wet in the Mara but that's December I think, and can only be a good thing. There was still a really high density of wildlife to be seen.
Overall, a fantastic experience that we won't forget for all the right reasons! CATS Africa are a trustworthy and experienced operator and I'd have no hesitation recommending them to others arranging a safari in Kenya.
Amazing Adventure tour
Thank you CATS Africa for a wonderful 6 day safari to Kenya, It was professionally organized and we had a fantastic stay. Everything was great, the food was awesome! I would definitely recommend you to anyone looking for a safari company.
AE
Email Edwin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organized Tour by CATS Africa
We had a wonderful 9 day tour to Kenya. CATS Africa organized our safari so well and everything went smoothly. They gave us a pleasant program that we had never dreamed of. Jack our driver guide was so kind, helpful and patient with us. We will definitely use CATS Africa in our next visit and will recommend it to our friends here in UAE
Email Priscilla | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This safari travel coordinator was definitely the right choice to plan our trip.
We gave CATS Africa Tours a budget, a timeline, and a list of things we wanted to do on our trip and they made it happen. It was almost effortless for us as they took over planning every detail. We knew nothing about the areas that we were travelling to so it was very nice to have people that were knowledgeable that could set us up with the appropriate accommodations for the types of things we were hoping to do and see while we were there.
Reply from CATS Africa Tours
Posted on Feb 10, 2017Thank you so much Priscilla. We are humbled that you really enjoyed our services and the safari in particular
Email Leila Nthenya. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect adventure safari experience!
My trip to Kenya was superb. The breathtaking landscape and rich wildlife, the people's culture was unimaginable.
It was a great safari and opportunity of meeting people of different cultures. Cats Africa Tours really took care
of us from the start until the end of the trip. Our guide Jack, was very knowledgeable, competent, and caring.
I highly recommend this team!
SG
Email Jayaraman | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
CATS Africa - Prompt, Experienced, Reliable
When I was looking for a Safari Operator, I sent mail to couple of operators. I got a prompt response from CATS Africa (Joyce, Operations manager) with a response.
The response was specific to my trip and addressed clearly the pickup and drop places time and the schedule.
It had the full program details on places that we will visit and what is included or excluded with options for accommodation.
It also stated my hotel from where I will be picked up, The driver name. There was also an image of the van I can expect for my travel - very transparent.
Later I was asked to pay. A proper invoice was provided to me to make payment along with their Bank details. I transferred money to their bank.
I also spoke to Joyce. Joyce confirmed the receipt of money promptly.
On the day of our trip Patrick ( our very experienced guide) greeted us(Me and my son) on time.
He briefed us and offered water bottle. We had a good travel to our Hotel in Masai Mara ( Mara Sopa Lodge).
On the way we visited the Great the Great Rift Valley floor. A sight not to be missed.
Patrick shared his experiences and we had a good long conversations on various aspects of Kenya.
He was a very kind, nice, friendly and knowledgeable person.
After checking into Mara Sopa lodge, we went for our first days short Game Drive .
It was a great experience seeing the Lions, Elephants, Cheetah, Antelopes, Wildebeest, Impala, Buffalo, etc on the first day itself.
Due to his experience, Patrick was constantly communicating with his "network of people" to know to find the animals.
This is the key to the trip. On top of getting a good operator, you should be lucky to get experienced and efficient guides.
After this first days's trip we returned back to rest in Mara Sopa lodge.
I will strongly recommend Mara Sopa for families and others due to Safely, excellent food ( including Vegetarian food), hospitality.
On Day 2 we promptly started at 6:30 to do a full day drive. Patrick was constantly checking with his network to take to us key points where animals can be found.
We saw - Elephants ( a lot), lions( plenty), Hippos (in Mara River), Hyenas, Banded Mongoose, zebras , Warthog , Giraffe
Saw the beautiful mara river and the points where animals migrate. we had lunch in the middle of the forest. First time and one time experience of life.
Thanks the Sopa Lodges who packed neatly our food and passed to Patrick.
After the trip we returned to Sopa Lodges to rest for the day and had an excellent dinner.
On Day 3 we visited the Tribal village to get to know their culture and customs:- Tribal welcome dance, their houses ( with no lights), houses with shelter for animal babies, sheds for Sheep, cows,
How the fire is made even today with sticks,
After this Patrick dropped us back to hotel. Patrick was an unexpected pleasant surprise to us. Well experienced, very friendly, always jovial and most importantly had the network and connections to know where to find animals.
In short, i will strongly recommend CATS Africa for any trip in and around Nairobi. If you are lucky get Patrick to guide you. I hope CATS Africa have more experienced and good Guides like Patrick.
CO
Email MARIO HERNANDEZ | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This safari was absolutly wonderful, easy and well planning
It was very easy and clear to programme the tour and to pay for it from our country. The information that the company brought us was precise. All the plan was fulfilled. The places for lodging were confortable with variety of well done food. It got over our expectations. The driver-tour guide was very solicituos. Because of his knowledge of the places, we could see many animals, including the big five, in only three days. We enjoyed this tour as one of the best in our traveling experience.
HU
Email David | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing adventures with CATS Africa
This was an amazing adventure for us. We saw the Big Five and many other animals and places. We visited Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and the Masai Mara. Our tour was organized professionally by the CATS Afrika. Everything went as planned. Big thanks for this to Joyce.
During our safari, our guide was Duncan, who is an experienced driver and he loves and knows the nature so much.
We highly recommend the CATS Afrika and Duncan, and we hope we will have a chance to come back sometime.
What we learned for the next time:
We selected the safari van for our tour, and it was the proper vehicle in Amboseli and in Lake Nakuru. In the Masai Mara the roads are extremely bumpy, so a Land Cruiser would be possibly better choice there.
CH
Email Rolf | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience, great support, great driver, great animals in Maasai Mara
Joyce from CATS Africe answered all our question promptly by e-mail before the booking. The payment by wire transfer to the CATS bank account was completed without problems in one day and Joyce confirmed immediately.
As agreed in the contract, Moses, our guide and driver for the next 3 days, picked us on time with a Landcruiser from Karen little paradise, were we've been pampered by a wonderfull staff for the last 3 days. Moses is a very experienced guide and driver, we never felt unsafe during the trip, neither on the 4.5 hrs way to Maasai Mara nor in the Natl Park itself. Moses answered all our questions very professionally and he found all the spots where we could see hyaenas, lions, cheetahs, hypos and even a leopard and of course elephants and so on. At the mara river we finally witnessed the migration of thousends of animals which was a very magnificient nand unique spectacle. All things considered, we really can recommend CATS Africa, everything was perfect, from the booking until the return to the hotel in Nairobi. Thanks again to Joyce and Moses, we always felt to be in good hands.
