Reviews

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 101-109 of 109 Reviews
Irini Bua   –  
Mexico MX
Visited: September 2019 Reviewed: Nov 15, 2022

Email Irini Bua  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

James is passionate and makes you feel at home
5/5

If I could give this experience more than 5 stars I would. I learned so much during the tour and got to experience some really rare sightings like the famous fab 5 hunting down their meal, a white rhino and a leopard casually strolling by our van. James is so passionate and knowledgeable about the safari and will take you through an unforgettable experience. He is an amazing person too, always taking care of his community and colleagues throughout the tours.

Mary   –  
United States US
Visited: September 2019 Reviewed: Nov 10, 2022

Email Mary  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The only regret is that we didn’t book a longer safari!
5/5

I went on a 5 day safari in September 2019 with two friends and James was our tour guide. James is warm, friendly, and a good human being!

More than that, James was so knowledgeable about the places we visited and the animals we saw. He knew where to go and when, and told us all about each animal in detail. We trusted James’s tips and guidance and he made the whole experience amazing. There were other vacationers on safari that were jealous we had seen animals that are rarely spotted in the wild!

Don’t look any further if you’re searching for an amazing person and tour guide. James made our trip absolutely unforgettable, and I can’t wait to see James again when I go back to Africa.

Do yourself a favor, book with James, and trust all his judgement and guidance on safari. You won’t regret it for a single moment!

Helena   –  
Austria AT
Visited: March 2022 Reviewed: Oct 30, 2022

Email Helena  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

It was amazing! Fabulous!
5/5

The accommodations were clean and very cosy. James was a perfect host, the communication went smooth and friendly, he was really polite to us and he offered us all extras that we wanted. The trips to the Maasai and Mara Game Reserve was fenomenal. The service was amazing, thank you james.

Molly Jacobs   –  
United States US
Visited: September 2019 Reviewed: Oct 30, 2022

Email Molly Jacobs  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

"Love" can't describe how wonderful this experience was
5/5

Book this company and you will be treated to the adventure of a lifetime. My group spent 5 days with James in Lake Nakuru and and Maasai Mara.
We expected beautiful views and amazing animals, but we got much more beyond that. We found wonderful company, fascinating education on the animals, and expert understanding of Kenyan culture. We felt safe in professional hands for the entire week. Our guide has the unique ability to know when something special is right about to happen. We saw the big 5 in three days, and again saw all 5 again on our fourth day. We came in without too much expectation and we were blown away. He can just sense what you are most interested in, even if you don't know yourself!

James treated us like friends, and cares so much about his country and the environment. This trip is designed around animals, but you may just find a human connection like none other. Asante sana James!

Ahmet   –  
Austria AT
Visited: April 2022 Reviewed: Oct 29, 2022

Email Ahmet  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

More than I expected!!!
5/5

after Covid pandemic we really wanted to go as far as possible.. A friend suggested me why not Africa.. at the beginning we were a bit unsure because we never been there. The entire journey was more than I expected. Our Tour Guide “James “ was amazing he showed me and my family a lot things!! Maasai Mara was one of my favourite..!
Do not forget to ask for Amboselli game we loved it.
the price was Ok and worth because we have seen a lot in such a short time and very very friendly guide !!!!!
thank you James for everything!

Larry   –  
United States US
Visited: February 2022 Reviewed: Oct 28, 2022

Email Larry

professional and knowledgeable about surrounding an animals. made sure we were safe and sound
5/5

great safari.. Saw all animals we were interested in. all big cats, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hyena even crocodile.
were comfortable and well fed.
guides were knowledgeable about all things kenya.
would definitely go back for another trip with the same group.
always had something to do
accommodations first class.
great bargain for my first safari.

thanks for a great experience I will never forget

Thom en Karina   –  
Netherlands NL
Visited: May 2023 Reviewed: Jun 12, 2023

Email Thom en Karina  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

A very friendly team with a lot of knowledge about the country and its animals.
4/5

We had a lovely time in Kenya during our 6-days safari trip through Amboseli National Park, Laka Naivasha and Masai Mara. Most of the accomodations were very good and luxury. We spotted a lot of animals (the big 5!) and learned a lot about the Kenyan culture. For anyone who is looking for a complete and affordable safari, we really recommend Marurumi Safaris.

Enya   –  
Ireland IE
Visited: September 2025 Reviewed: Feb 26, 2026

Email Enya  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The review below is the personal opinion of Enya and not that of SafariBookings.
Distressing incident
2/5

What was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime safari turned into a distressing incident involving our tour guide abandoning myself and my elderly mother at a toilet stop 3 hours into our trip and fleeing in the truck with all of our belongings (money, passports, baggage) leaving us with no resources (including my mothers medications).
The company has avoided my calls and emails and have not provided any compensation for what we endured and have given empty promises of a refund for the alternative vehicle for the past 6 months.
We are deeply disappointed in how this was handled by the company and therefore cannot recommend booking with them.

JIANAN   –  
China CN
Visited: January 2026 Reviewed: Feb 8, 2026

Email JIANAN  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The review below is the personal opinion of JIANAN and not that of SafariBookings.
Not professional, and the response efficiency is slow, without considering the customer's feelings.
2/5

I booked a trip for my guest from January 18th to January 24th, 2026 on November 18th, 2025. Good review:
1. The cars in Tanzania are relatively new and the drivers are also good;

It is bad:
1.our confirmed itinerary was to stay at the Fairmont Hotel for one night and at the Mara Bushtops Luxury Camp for one night. We charged accordingly, but it was very unprofessional to inform us a few days before the trip that we could not arrange Mara Bushtops for at least two nights. Why wasn't the itinerary confirmed?
2.Regarding the bush dinner, it is the same. It was informed at the last minute that there were at least four people and it lacked professionalism.
3.On the second day of the trip on March 19th, from Amboseli to Navasha, the vehicle broke down, causing a delay of at least five hours that day, and the subsequent trips were disrupted.
4.The promised open Jeep on April 20th was not arranged properly, resulting in a delay of over an hour in the afternoon's Safari due to a direct car change.
5.From May 18th to January 22nd, the tour guide service in Kenya was poor. On January 22nd, we were forced to charge $200, but this was not actually required. We have already given enough tips. And the promised refund of $200 has not been refunded.
6.From January 18th to January 22nd, the cars in Kenya were very poor and very old.
7. It should be the boss James Macharia who communicated with me. The response speed is slow, and when problems arise, it's not a sign of good service.

Reply from Marurumi Safaris
Reply from Marurumi Safaris
Posted on Feb 10, 2026

Dear Jianan,

Thank you so much for taking time to write us your review. We truly appreciate both your positive comments and your concerns, as they help us improve our services.

One thing that we strive to ensure is that all our clients are handled with utmost attention, confirming that everything is okay. However, along the way at times, we are faced with challenges, and since you are in this same line of duty, you can attest to it.

On the whole itinerary package, thank you for informing us that the Tanzanian side was good and that your clients were contented. It is still us that made the plans even on that end and a clear indication that the running was as smooth as we intended. At the same time, we sincerely regret the inconveniences they experienced during the Kenya portion of the trip, and we apologize for any frustration this may have caused you and your guests.

On the Kenyan side, we want to inform you that we do not have any other connections with the hotels apart from us providing them with clients. That is why we confirmed to you the itinerary as it was initially, without any doubts that the hotels would respond to us with new rules. Were it that we knew earlier, we would have advised you before you proceeded.

Honesty is of importance. Immediately, the hotels responded, the information was shared with you so that you could communicate with your clients, and together we could make the changes immediately and not wait for the last-minute rush.

On 19th January, the vehicle breakdown resulted from an issue with the car battery, which we explained to you, not because the car is old or poor. There was no earlier sign of the battery causing havoc, thus it could not have been fixed earlier before the clients had started their journey to Naivasha. It would be against our rules to agree on letting any of our vehicles leave Nairobi, knowing very well it will be out for days and provide our clients with a damaged car. The car battery could not have been accessed in Amboseli, thus causing delays on your client's schedule. We are sincerely sorry about that.

On 20th January, the vehicle that they were supposed to use was already in place. The guide communicated with them and informed them that in the conservancy, there were areas that they, as our company guides, could not access, but when they were taken by the hotel's guide, they would be able to view more. This was done to ensure that the clients miss nothing since they were staying in the conservancy. With that, they would later use their designated open jeep the following day, thus doing the normal game drive.

The issue of them being charged $200 was not to be handled by your clients. Any charge not contractually agreed upon is not in line with our company policy, and we take this concern very seriously. That is why the matter was reported to the authorities, and we informed you of the same. We are committed to resolving the refund issue promptly and transparently if only you fulfill our earlier request of sending the details of where the money should be credited. Despite the fact that you sent the money online, your information has been encrypted.

Yes, you have been communicating with James Macharia, owner of Marurumi Safaris. We regret that the communication did not meet your expectations. Mr. James Macharia oversees multiple operational matters; that is why, at times, calls were not answered. We recognize the importance of timely responses, especially when issues arise.

Once again, thank you for your honest feedback. We value our partnership and hope to have the opportunity to restore your confidence in our services in the future.

Regards,
James Macharia.

Average User Rating
4.8/5
Rating Breakdown
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