Private 6-Days Tour Exploring in Amboseli & Nakuru National Park

Distressing incident

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.

via Tripadvisor

Poor professionalism, worn-out vehicles, inefficient service, and evasion of responsibility

I booked a trip for my guest from January 18th to January 24th, 2026 on November 18th, 2025. Good review: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.

Response from the operator: 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.

via Tripadvisor

Fabulous experience!!!

My partner and I have just returned to Italy after spending 13 fantastic days in Kenya!! .....The safari organised by Marurumi Safaris was impeccable, with attention to the smallest details. James accompanied us to the various parks with great patience, showing great experience and professionalism, giving explanations and valuable advice.

Response from the operator: Dear Frederica, We want to take this moment to express our sincere gratitude for taking the time to write us a review about your recent safari experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, and it helps us continually improve our services. We are thrilled to hear that you had the BEST safari adventure experience with us, and your kind words are a testament to our team's hard work and dedication. We are committed to providing exceptional experiences for our clients, and your review reinforces that we are on the right track. If you have any further comments or suggestions, or if there's anything else we can do to enhance your future safari experiences, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to ensure that your next safari with us is even more remarkable. Once again, thank you for choosing us and for sharing your thoughts. We look forward to welcoming you back on another exciting safari adventure in the future. Warm regards, Marurumi Safaris

via Tripadvisor

Enjoyed the Safari, Communication Could Improve

Our safari tour with Marurumi in late August was somewhat of a mixed experience for us. We visited Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, and Masai Mara, and truly loved every park we saw. The wildlife, scenery, and Sopa lodges were incredible, and Peter, our driver, did help us spot many of the animals we wanted to see. However, we felt that the communication throughout the trip could have been much better. On the first day, James picked us up and took us for an evening game drive in Amboseli but had to leave that same evening due to an emergency, and Peter took over for the rest of the trip. While he ensured we reached every destination safely, it didn’t feel like a guided safari where you learn something new about wildlife, Kenya, or the parks you visit. Peter didn’t share any fun facts or interesting information about the animals or the places we were seeing, unless we asked. There were also instances where better communication would have made so much difference. On the way to Masai Mara, the road was unpaved and extremely rough for about an hour, and we didn’t see a single other safari vehicle which was very odd, given that we weee seeing them for most of the route. Naturally, we were concerned, but when we asked, Peter got frustrated. A simple explanation and headaup beforehand would have completely put our minds at ease. We also had an unfortunate moment during our sunset game drive at Masai Mara when the front tire of our vehicle came off. The car swerved suddenly, and it was a frightening experience. Thankfully, another safari car stopped and escorted us safely back to the lodge while Peter stayed behind to arrange repairs late night. What disappointed us most was the lack of follow-up. We had to reach out in the morning to find out if the vehicle was fixed as we hadn’t heard back from our guide on the status of the vehicle. Despite these challenges, we are grateful for the memories and experiences we had in Kenya. It’s a beautiful country with so much to offer, and we can’t wait to return someday. This trip holds a special place in our hearts. I just wish the tour operator’s communication and guiding experience were stronger, as it would have made our trip much better overall.

Response from the operator: Dear Pranav, Thank you for sharing your detailed and thoughtful feedback. We’re very happy to hear that you loved Kenya’s wildlife, scenery, and the parks you visited and that your safari created lasting memories. We sincerely apologize for the areas where we fell short, particularly regarding communication and the guiding experience. James’s unexpected departure disrupted the start of your trip, and while Peter ensured your safety and logistics, we recognize that clearer explanations, more proactive communication, and a more informative guiding approach would have significantly improved your experience. We look forward to making a change on this on your next Kenya safari. We are especially sorry for the distress caused by the rough road conditions and the vehicle incident in the Masai Mara, as well as the lack of follow-up afterward. Your safety and peace of mind are extremely important to us, and your feedback is being taken seriously as we review our procedures and guide training. Thank you again for choosing Marurumi and for your honest review. We truly appreciate it and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide a much stronger experience in the future. Warm regards, Marurumi Safaris.

via Tripadvisor

Excellent Trip Made possible by Marurumi Safaris

My wife and I went on a safari in Kenya. Visited Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara. James planned a great itinerary and met us at the airport with some small gifts/souvenairs (a cap and a water bottle). Our driver, Peter, was excellent and we pretty much got to see all the wildlife. The vehicle, LandCruiser , was as comfortable as it can be when you are on unpaved and uneven roads in the jungle. The lodging was excellent particularly the Mtito Camp at Masai Mara. Highly recommend that you stay there if you are going to Masai Mara.

Response from the operator: Our Dear Esteemed Client, We want to take this moment to express our sincere gratitude for taking the time to write us a review about your recent safari experience. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, and it helps us continually improve our services. We are thrilled to hear that you had the BEST safari adventure experience with us, and your kind words are a testament to our team's hard work and dedication. We are committed to providing exceptional experiences for our clients, and your review reinforces that we are on the right track. If you have any further comments or suggestions, or if there's anything else we can do to enhance your future safari experiences, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to ensure that your next safari with us is even more remarkable. Once again, thank you for choosing us and for sharing your thoughts. We look forward to welcoming you back on another exciting safari adventure in the future. Warm regards, Marurumi Safaris

via Tripadvisor