US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Robert the owner, is a very honest, helpful tour operator.
Our experience was positive with Karibu safari. Robert was very helpful and honorable. Our driver, Edward, was a very competent driver and knowledgeable about safari driving. We always felt safe. The accommodations were modest but adequate for the price. I would recommend this company.
MX
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our first safari experience, good relation price-services.
Comunication could be better. On the beginning we are little lost, cause we don't know how was the restrictions. Edward is very good person, we felt very safe with him, but in the begging he don't speak so much, I think that is part of your personality. We tell him that please explain us and he change his attitude. For the rest very good company, we forgot our computer in one of the camps and they help us to take it back. I think was necessary that the company can mantein the comunication with the client. The safari was perfect, food and luch good, transport very good.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly recommended! Beautiful safari with reliable and well prepared guide!
We booked a private jeep safari for 4 nights. The vehicle was perfect and the driver/guide David was fantastic: great driver, full of information and anecdotes, he speaks excellent English.
We recommend choosing the jeep that allowed us to cross even the paths where the vans had to stop.
We loved the tour between Tsavo East & West and Amboseli, they are very different parks and the variety of landscapes is fantastic.
Some uncertainties, however, during the negotiation: the tour has changed compared to what was initially proposed because the camps were not available as budgeted and we had to renegotiate both the tour and camps and we had to return to Mombasa by train instead of jeep. A few days after our arrival they had to change again one of the accommodations.
Very convenient to pay both the deposit and the balance with PayPal.
Overall they are super recommended and reliable but we suggest to start booking your safari in advance (at least 3 months) especially in high season to make sure you have the best choice of accommodations.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari and wonderful stay at Zanzibar
Communication was excellent. The service was perfect and we loved our guide. The safari tour was just as we had hoped.
PT
Despite teething troubles at the beginning it was really really fantastic!
All in all our safari was truly fantastic and we were very impressed by the amount of wildlife we saw. However, what was not so good was that our first hotel was changed. It was supposed to be upgraded but it turned out that we had actually been downgraded to a horrible Chinese owned lodge that was still in construction. Their was a distinct smell of open sewage from our terrace. Food was like being in a self service canteen. It was a TERRIBLE start to our holiday. We complained bitterly about this to the safari operator and in the end we got better hotels in compensation. So it worked out well in the end. What we also didn't like and I think is really worth saying is that we heard of some drivers being drunk on the job and turning up late for their clients. When you have paid a lot of money and flown half way across the world then you want to have a driver who cares and is responsible. The roads in Kenya are particularly rough and you need a good and competent driver to make sure you are all safe. Our driver was competent and always on time, however, he did have a bit of an attitude problem which was very unprofessional. However, all in all it was a fantastic trip and I can't thank Mr Othiellon of Kenya Walking Survivors enough for all his organisation. He was always very co-operative and answered any email queries I had straight away.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Mikumi National Park by M.
This park it's perfect if you don't have enough time to do a long safari. The park is big but not huge, and there are a lot of animals.
The only point to remark, it's not as close as it seems from Dar Es Salaam.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Barbara
There were not so easy to spot animals at Lake Manyara - compared to other National Parks.
No flamingos at the time of our visit.
Lake is beautiful though, and view at the Great Rift - stunning.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Upmarket Safari trip with some amazing animal moments
We went to see animals and that is what happened. It was sometimes hit and miss but we were covering vast areas and animals don't stand around waiting for us to snap them. The safari guides/drivers were very knowledgeable and capable bushman able to see animal tracks when they were driving. They were incredible drivers and tried to get us up close to the animal without causing either the animals or ourselves any harm. We enjoyed the accommodation especially the unfenced stays that we had, on those nights we had a lot of elephant activity and it is a wow factor to have large animals so close. All in all looking forward to going back to Africa.
TR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Safari , Trustworthy Operator, Friendly Staff
With Hekima, we did a 4 day safari (Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro) and 2 day trips to Kikuletwa Hotsprings and Kilimanjaro.
Safari experience was really good. Our driver/guide Moses was really experienced and friendly. He knows where to drive and when to start the game drives. In Serengeti, we started the game drive at 6:00 and saw a kind of conflict between a lion and hyaena clan just at the beginning. Many safari cars came half an hour later and missed the whole show.
The food in safari was above my expectations. If protein is important in your diet, you must bring it for yourself. Meat amount was little as expected.
The sleeping bags and tents are taken from a place in Mto wa Mbu. I guess most operators do the same since I saw similar tents in campsites. Tents were a bit smelly at first night. Sleeping bags have different models and conditions. Some of them are not suitable for the night at Ngorongoro especially for the girls (5-10 'C). But wearing layers during the sleep can suffice.
The only problem in our experience with Hekima was in Kilimanjaro Day hike. We started the day nearly 2 hours later than suggested time and we needed to rush a lot for completing the hike before 6pm (after 6 hiking is prohibited). Because of this we could not see Maundi Crater and did not enjoy the hike since we did not give breaks and need to complete the whole hike in 4 hours (nearly double speed). They must be more careful on this kind of arrangements and must consider the traffic and park rules.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good communication, great animal safari for the budget - but lots of travel and a moving itinerary.
I travelled with my sister on the 12 day safari in Kenya and Tanzania.
David is an excellent communicator, which made booking informative and simple.
Collection from the airport prior to the safari was a nice complimentary service.
When we were collected to pay our itinerary was changed.
Our driver in Kenya, Stanley (Stano), was fantastic. He knew where to go to find the animals and was always happy to pause so we could take photo's. The accommodation in Kenya was varied from very nice to functional. Keep in mind its a budget holiday so manage your expectations on the temperature and volume of water in your shower.
Do take a power bank to recharge your phone - electricity access is variable. I took a solar charger and power bank and didn't need any mains supply.
Minivan transport in Kenya was fun as we shared with 6 other people, who helped make the holiday. The roads are bumpy and some of the driving styles are not what you might normally expect - but its fun.
We did the hot air ballon, which is very expensive for an hour's ride and it is hit and miss what you drift over. The champagne breakfast is also nice and we were glad we took the opportunity.
The transfer from Kenya to Tanzania was lengthy and involved a series of transport changes. The shuttle bus is public transport to Arusha and would have been improved by a dedicated tour operator vehicle.
We were issued a revised itinerary in Tanzania, same places but in a different order - which was fine. It appearered this part of the safari had been subcontracted out to another company. Our booking of tents with bed and bedding was downgraded to tent with mat and blanket. We did ask for the original but when we got to the camp we still got the mat and blanket.
Accommodation in Tanzania was mixed, some very nice and some a basic tent which you take with you on the 4x4.
More great travel mates - 6 of us plus the driver, Gervas - who was excellent and the cook.
The food is mixed but good considering its travelling with you and cooked on site.
The trip back from Arusha to Nairobi is again very long after a long safari, but I must say both companies were very helpful in adjusting our travel arrangements after my sister was unwell and unable to travel.
Overall I would probably just stick with Kenya for safari. I'm not sure adding Tanzania added to what we saw but did significantly add to the travel time. As long as you can go with the bumpy roads and 'flexible' itinerary its a great budget holiday.
