Team Hyrax Safaris
Hyrax Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2018)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $80 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
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for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
NL
Email Roger | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
THE best tourguide to Masai Mara!
We only had a week in Nairobi and it was difficult to squeeze Masai Mara and Amboseli in one week. After a lot of browsing on Safaribookings.com I came across the company Hyrax Safaris. After reading positive reviews, I send them a request for quotation, Roselyne was real quick with a reply and after sending her a lot of questions we decided to book the 3 day tour to Masai Mara.
Roselyne even helped us with booking other activities, not related to the tour! Really kind and helpfull because we were not able to make the reservations from the EU.
Early in the morning Pirrah picked us up at the hotel in a really cool Safari jeep, and after an amazing trip he brought us back to the hotel. Zero stress and no difficulties to get to a meeting point.
If you're looking for the best driver and guide in the Masai Mara (and Amboseli!) you need to have Pirrah, he's so good in finding wild life and explaining everything about the area! He even knows all the other guides in the area, and they help each other in finding wild life. He even tried to make a bet, if we were able to find a lion before he did.. we would get a $1.000,00 -impossible..!
We had an amazing time and I highly recomment that you contact Hyrax, you will experience their expertise and warmth from from their company.
Enjoy your trip and I hope you will have the same wonderfull experience with Hyrax!
SG
Email Raj | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good overall but 2 bad experiences! Do your research before booking
We booked a 4D3N midrange safari to Maasai Mara and lake Nakuru with hyrax. We had a great time with Hyrax Safaris and both my parents were extremely satisfied. We saw the Big 5 and our guide Solomon went the extra mile to show us the animals. He did all he could to show us a leopard and we ended up being the first ones to see it. He was also very knowledgeable on all the animals and shared interesting facts about each animal. He was also quick to rectify any problems that came up along the way. On the first day we had a flat tyre and Solomon took care of it quickly with the help of his other Safari guide friends. He also placed my bag in the wrong camp but quickly realised and had it brought back to me without 15 minutes. With the above being said, we had 2 BAD EXPERIENCE which you should read before booking Hyrax
Roselyn agreed to provide us Jambo Mara lodge and Saravo woodlands in her original quote. After we made the down payment, she told us that saravo woodlands is no longer available and instead proposed another accommodation. However, the other accommodation is much cheaper and there was no mention of discounting the price difference until I brought it up. She also did not apologise for her lack of oversight in accepting down payment before checking availability of hotel. After I brought up the price discount, she quoted us a discount which definitely did not seem enough. True enough, when I checked the hotel price online, the discount was supposed to be greater. When I brought this up to Roselyn, she did some calculations to show us that she was right. However, in her calculations she calculated the hotel price per person instead of per room, so the total cost was higher than what it should be. I pointed this out to her but she didn’t agree. In the end, I made it a point to call the hotel and recorded our call with them showing that we were right. Afterwards Roselyn told us that the hotel told them the higher price at first and that she will check with them and in the end she gave us the correct discounted price. While I do appreciate that she finally gave us the right price, it should not have been after such measures from our part. Also, it’s extremely hard to believe that a tour company which has been booking hotels for their business does not know that hotel prices are usually quoted per room and not per person. I do suspect that it was an attempt by Hyrax to take a larger profit but I will give them the benefit of the doubt.
Secondly, before our safari Roselyn provided us with an itinerary. However, during our Safari, our guide changed the itinerary without asking us first. To be specific the change was as follows. We were originally supposed to have a pre-breakfast game drive on Day 3. However our guide changed it to Day 2 and on Day 3 we did not have the pre-breakfast game drive. Yes, in the end we got the same amount of game drive. However, I want to point out that entrance fee to Maasai Mara is on a 80 USD/24 hour basis if you are staying outside the reserve. By doing this shift, Hyrax is able to pay only 80 USD for entrance instead of 160 USD. However, they were not transparent with this information. I believe this is done so that when unsuspecting customers such as ourselves ask for the safari price breakdown, they can quote the entrance fee as being 160 USD but get away by only paying 80USD and hence have an extra 80 USD profit. We would have been okay with this had they been transparent. It is not professional to change an itinerary after we paid for it.
The above experiences might not be unique to Hyrax and might occur with any tour companies possibly. So for anyone reading this review, please do your research beforehand and do not let them get away with your money! If the review is confusing but you want to understand more, feel free to contact me.
Reply from Hyrax Safaris
Posted on Jun 22, 2023Thank you for booking your safari with us. We are glad to learn that you enjoyed the safari.
We value your feedback.
We would like to address the complaints raised as follows:
1. Group joining tours are dynamic and complex. Sometimes, groups tweak the program to accommodate their collective needs and inform the guide. For instance, the group opted to visit the Masai village instead of doing the morning game drive on day 3.
It's unfortunate that our tour consultants at the office were not notified of this matter. We have learnt about it here. Had we known about this that morning, we would have liaised with the guide to ensure you go for the morning game drive as per the itinerary provided.
We encourage our clients to inform us about any changes in itineraries that were not communicated prior to the safari so that we address the issues immediately.
We have a 24/7 customer support that resolves matters as and when they arise.
We regret that this happened and take full responsibility.
2. It's unfortunate that the hotel you chose was fully booked hence our decision to provide an alternative since this was a last-minute booking. It is important to note that some hotels have offers on their websites that are cheaper than the rate provided to tour operators. This is beyond us because we can't dictate how much a hotel should charge; it's a free market.
We refunded the difference between the 2 hotels before the commencement of the safari and communicated the same.
We are transparent and endeavor to give our clients value for money.
We apologize for the inconvenience caused.
Best regards,
Roselyne
Email Pierre | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience
I booked only a few weeks before the trip and everything went smoothly. Our experienced guide Jeff was amazing, the accomodations and food very good value for money. I would totally recommend!
IT
Email Ilaria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very professionals and attentive to every need
We have booked this safari to the last minute, we did not expect such a
grate service. Starting from the fast replay to all our questions, the car for the Safari a new jeep very comfortable, the Safari game we saw such a lot of animals of the big five ( at least the one guaranteed- you do not have to expect to see always all the animals - some like leopard is shy
US
Email Glenda | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hyrax Safaris was great a phenomenal experience!
I had a unique, mind-blowing experience with Hyrax Safaris!! We decided to do a 3-day private Safari in a jeep and it was well worth the money. You pay for what you get, and I feel that I received the experience of a lifetime. The company's owner was friendly and extremely helpful from begging to end. Months, before booking, I inquired about the safari packages and options. The owner and assistant answered all of my questions thoroughly and in a timely manner. Furthermore, she was able to share additional information about the city of Nairobi regarding great hotel options for tourists. I would also like to give a huge shoutout to our safari game driver Aaron Kasaine Senei. He was phenomenal during the game drive. Aaron was nice, welcoming, and extremely knowledgeable about all the animals. I really appreciate that he was patient and allowed us to get as close as possible to the animals while giving us time to take plenty of pictures. Honestly, I was drawn to this company due to their ratings and I can vouch for the excellent service and communication, hence why I decided to leave a review myself. Please book with Hyrax Safaris, you won't be disappointed; 10 out of 10, would recommend it!
IN
Email Samarth Singh | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly recommended!
Last month we booked a tour to Kenya with Hyrax safaris. We covered Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Masaai Mara. Our experience with Hyrax was amazing. Their team of experienced professionals is passionate about creating memorable experiences for their clients, and their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction is unparalleled. During our tour, Roselyne, the owner of Hyrax Safaris, was incredibly helpful in planning our trip and took care of all the minute details, allowing us to relax and enjoy the experience. Even while our tour was ongoing, Roselyne was very fast in responding to any communication, demonstrating her dedication to ensuring our trip was smooth and enjoyable.
Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of our tour was our guide, Dan. He is a true professional who goes above and beyond to ensure that his clients have a safe and enjoyable trip. His impressive knowledge of the area, wildlife, and culture was evident as he shared his insights and answered our questions with enthusiasm. Dan's speed and efficiency in navigating through the terrain allowed us to make the most of our time and experience the stunning landscapes and wildlife. Thanks to his expertise, we were lucky enough to spot a Black rhino within three minutes of entering the reserve.
We were also impressed with Denis, our guide on the last day, who was very knowledgeable and pleasant. He gave us a detailed city tour, covering all the important places in the city of Nairobi.
Overall, we highly recommend Hyrax Safaris to anyone looking for a well-planned and guided tour in Kenya and Masaai Mara. Roselyne's amazing planning and coordination skills, combined with Dan's outstanding guidance, make for an exceptional experience. If you are planning a trip to Kenya, we would highly recommend asking Roselyne if she can get Dan for you as your guide as he truly made our trip unforgettable.
DE
Email Ashkira | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our experience with Hyrax Safaris was great!
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Hyrax Safaris. The booking process was smooth and well organized. The team was always available to answer our questions. We can only recommend booking with them.
Great experience
My friend, my son and I were in a budget safari. The places we stayed in were ok and the staff very nice.
Our guide, Edward, did everything for us to feel good and see most animals it is possible to see.
Moreover, the agency booked our tickets to go to Mombasa, and everything was perfect.
I will definitely recommend Hirax Safari, a serious agency.
CH
Email Sagnik | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great guide, excellent communication, and stress-free visit
We did a three day trip with Hyrax at Masai Mara between 3-5 April (non-private tour). Emmah was excellent in communicating all the details of the trip in advance, and was very prompt in responding to all our queries before and during the trip. Ben, our driver and guide was very knowledgeable and thanks to him we managed to see a lot of the wildlife at Masai. We stayed at the glass house in Jambo Mara, which had excellent facilities. Do note that because the place is run with solar power, the power is cut off between midnight and early morning at Jambo Mara. But the weather was cool at night, and it did not bother us. Highly recommend Hyrax for making our trip stress-free and very enjoyable.
FR
Email Anna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome tour !
The Safari was awesome and really well organized.
Many thanks to our Driver Patrick, the best of the town!