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
DE
Email Maja | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cars completely uninhabited and in need of repair. Too many and long car breakdowns.
We were picked up from our accommodation, but in a very different place from our hotel, dropped off by zhe driver on the road. Despite our please to help us, he drove off on the grounds that he had to pick up people from the airport. This situation was NOT safe for us as women, especially as we had all our luggage with us.
The following has to be mentioned about the Tour: The trip with our jeep on the first two days was very pleasant, that the driver was very familiar with the road holding and conditions. His driving style was extremely professional. The problem is that we had a 45 minute breakdown after only a short time after the departure, because the radiator was defective. This took away precious time from our Masai Mara Tour.
We liked the accommodation in the ENCHORO WILDLIFE CAMP because of the very good and personal service very much. However, we are not sure if it really was this camp!
Day 3: Masai mara/L.Nakuru: We were assigned a new driver, another car, other people who had already established a friendship in the previous 2 days. It made you feel like an outsider. The bus was completely overcrowded. All the seats were occupied and far too much luggage was loaded. Sitting was possible only to a limited extent, even though we do not have long legs! The drinking water that was booked was distributed only after repeated demand, after many hours. 500 ml over that long period of time, after so many hours of waiting, just not correct. Why does the driver moult the drinking water like that?
Day 4: Day Lake Nakuru/Nairobi: On our way out of the Maasai area, our bus got stuck, so the passengers had to push the bus out of the mud, as the two buses were blocked. The entire day had to be spent with dirty clothes and smeared skin. It also happened that we had a broken axle on the way. During these, over three hours of repair, we stood by the road in sunnier heat. That time was missing from the Lake Tour.
In hindsight, it should be noted that the cars provided do not match the conditions for such trips. The cars are too old and too fragile. As travellers, this cost us a lot of time from our holiday.
US
Email Megan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Group tours include many changing itineraries and the require flexibility
Karibu Safaris was responsive in the lead up to my tour and picked me up on time.
One thing I wish I knew beforehand is that a "group tour" includes people from different travel agencies with different itineraries. I thought it would be a group of people with the same itinerary, sharing the same experience. However, we would sometimes have to drive people out of the way so they could meet their next driver, or wait around so we could pick-up new people. I wouldn't have minded this if I had known ahead of time. Also, every time we asked our driver/tour guide questions about the itinerary he would get very annoyed. It wasn't until the last day I realized he didn't know the answers either! I wish he had just told us what was going on - it's not his fault the agenda kept changing.
CH
Email Ainara | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The guide made our experience pretty disapointing
The organization and comunication with Karibu has been great. The lodge we stayed at was also very nice and price for the services was also fair.
We are disapointed at the guide. Was not explaining anything to us unless we were asking for something specific and even then he could be wuite rude sometimes. He did not explain what was our program, what we were doing that day, what were we trying to see....nothing at all. He was in the phone all the time and not cooperative at all. Even after the lunch break all the people would be ready and waiting for him to keep going and he would be talking to others, or just chilling or on the phone.
We gave him tip just because we were suppose to and was highly recommended to do so, not from the heart. If I would go back in time I wouldnt give him a cent. He did not do a good job and he knew it, and despite that he was acting quite arrogant. So sad that such a experience was not enjoyed to the fullest.
FR
Email Judit | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Budget experience for MidRange price
First of all - National Parks are amazing!
However, this was no value for the price. I paid midrange and got budget service.
Generically, on the 7D trip 3 middle days are resting. No game ride in the morning before leaving Masai Mara so we arrived early to the next city and nothing to do. Next day after the morning ride there is the optional lake but again quite early finish especially if you dont want to pay for the lake extra. Lastly, again morning park and full day just driving. No sunset game. These 3 days could have been 2 and use the extra day for amboseli/masai mara or anything. Amboseli “full day” is 9.30-16.30 only.
However, more than anything your guide can make it the best experience or the worst. Mine was the latter - Castro. I see some other reviews mentioning his communication skills.
The guide’s communication was lacking. He was not giving us information. Which made the experience lesser. He was straight out annoyed when clarifying questions were asked. Especially about times. 30 min difference is huge when you wake up almost every morning at 6am.
We got very little information about the animals, except the name.
Then, he used our car as a taxi as well between cities.
The promised 1l water was not given. When asked the guide got aggressive. Like you got some in the hotel. That is none of your business. I paid 1l water a day with you and your company.
Everyone in my group paid budget and only me the mid range category. Really have the impression that I also got the budget driver.
Cherry on the top, he started to punish me. Dropping the others first eventhough my hotel was before and making an extra hour of bumping road. He thought I wouldn’t notice but I have GPS and connection.
Finally, I was told 1300$ after paying the deposit they told me 1300$ more to pay. It was quite unpleasant surprise as I checked at least 5 times for the price.
I would have expected higher standards from KATO member company.
AR
Email Virginia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Polite, Nice, good company
Overall the safari was good, except for the accommodation. They had told us we would be staying at enchoro camp in massai Mara, and they took us to another camp, that was of remarkable lower quality!! We were really uncomfortable there. The bathroom was all dirty, the floor of the tent too. And we had no hot water. Really disappointing and made us really mad they changed the camp without telling us. We even asked about it, and they answer it was the same, which was clearly not.
FR
Email Florent | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Average
I did the 6 days safari. The parks are nice, it was a good experience, but I'm a bit disapointed about the tour operator.
Firstly, my plane was late, and I got blame for that because other people were waiting for me, but it's not my fault and nobody told me before the hour of departure of the tour, so I couldn't know.
Then, few times during the trip, we lacked of water and I had to insist to them to buy me some (it's supposed to be included).
The accomodations are very "basic", but it's the same for all tour operators within this range price.
The overall organization was pretty bad, I can understand it was during the COVID pandemy and it was harder to fill groups, but still.
I had to check the day by day program on Safaribookings otherwise the tour guide would have skip some parts.
The tour guide for the last part (Ambelosi) was from an other company and was pretty bad. He was not honest and just rushed the tour.
I guess if you want something really serious, you have to pay much more.
Reply from Karibu Safaris In Kenya
Posted on Feb 10, 2021Hi Florent,
Trust that you arrive back home safely.
Thanks for the feedback and we will work to improve the quality of the service.
It just that due to the covid-19 effects on business we had confirmed group departing the same safari with you but the family did not get there covid negative test certificate on time so they count make it for the safari on the same day and as per our professionality we could NOT cancel your safari even if you were a solo traveler and we put you in a group doing the 4Days Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru and the part of Amboseli we put you in the Kimana tented camp safari van where by you joined the camps group safari and did the amboseli part. we had to make you finish the 6Days safari as planned.
We will improve to streamline the quality service, it has only happened during this pandemic. it has never happened before.
Thanks for your feedback.
Kind Regards
Wanjiku
Guest Relations
IL
Email Aaron | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bad organization, amazing experience
Karibu booked me and another traveler on another company's vehicle without notifying us. This caused some issues as the schedule didn't entirely match the one advertised and the driver had been told that we were going for 3 days instead of the 4 we had paid for. In addition, the vehicles used were really not suitable for the road conditions and we got stuck 3 times, once having to exit the vehicle as it flooded with water and threatened to tip over.
Overall, however, the safari was incredible and our driver and guide Ken was super helpful and accommodating! Do note that if you book the 4 day Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru safari you don't have to pay for the boat tour; Karibu is supposed to pay for it.
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
MM
Email Myintmyat | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One thing I had never done in my life
It was pretty nice game reserve drive. I enjoyed most of the time. But the tant wasn’t what I expected. It was a bit cold at night, maybe cuz of the season. The ranger was very skillful one and he also explained everything he knew, make us to be comfortable. I liked everything overall.
Thanks for everything
AE
Email Ender Tan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good value for money but definitely needs improvement!
Tour started as promised. Julius was excellent on transfers from/to airport to hotels. Our first 3 days were great with Stanley in Masai Mara ( very friendly / good driver) and Lake Nakuru. Our hotels Masai Mara Lodge (very good) and Lake Nakuru (average) were both in excellent locations. We had a very short game drive in Lake Nakuru so it was a bit of a waste of time. Last 3 days of the tour after Nakuru turned into a nightmare, spending long hours in the car with a non-company driver with zero knowledge in animals / safari, Amboseli tour was complete waste of time and very tiring... the connections/ timings / this trip could be improved. Suggest 3 days in Masai Mara and 2 day in Nakuru. Overall great experience seeing all of the animals (we have seen them all) but the entire experience could have been better...