- Call: +254 711 547299 / +44 7441 477005
- info@majesticsafaris.co.uk
Karibu means welcome in Swahili. We mean it. It’s the first word you’ll hear when you land in Nairobi.
We are Kenyan owned and have been operating safaris since 2015. We are members of the main professional tourism associations and are licensed by the Tourism Regulatory Authority. We live and work here and what keeps us going is sharing the country with UK visitors as we know it, not the postcard version.
Our founder, Stanley Gichuki, was brought up in a village on the outskirts of the Aberdare National Park. As a boy he spent his days watching wildlife and listening to the old stories about the land and the animals in it. That never went away.
He was guiding for years and then he realised something was missing. There were few companies that combined local knowledge and responsible tourism and really meant it. So he assembled a group of Kenyans who wanted to do it right: guides who knew the terrain, those who could manage the logistics, and those who were interested in conservation. We opened with five of us. Today we are over ten people and have escorted hundreds of visitors from the plains of the Masai Mara to the forest slopes of Mount Kenya.
The guides are the essence of this. They point at animals, but not just that. They are the custodians of the country’s history, they know how conservation is done on the ground and they are good ambassadors for Kenya as most of them are from the areas we pass through. They are familiar with the terrain as if it were their own street.
Our head guide has been at it for over two decades. He once saw a leopard crouched in a tree that three other cars had driven past. It isn’t just the eyes, though. He explains to you why the animal does what it does, where it fits in the food chain, and how it fits the country around it.
From your initial email to the day you fly home, our customer service manager is here to take care of you. She’s the one who reminds your lodge that you have a nut allergy, or that you’re on your anniversary and may want something planned. She is the one who is responsible for the warm feedback that we get.
The logistics team behind them ensures that the vehicles are in good condition, the camps are properly arranged and the transfers are made on time.
A good safari is not a list of animals. It’s time spent getting to know a location, a bit about the people who live there, and a few days you won’t soon forget.
Built around you. No two travellers have the same travel plans. First we ask what you are interested in and how you like to travel. Then we plan from there. Photography, kids in the car, quiet romantic getaway, we make it happen. If you don’t know what you want to do yet, that’s okay too. We will discuss it and assist you in figuring it out.
Local knowledge. As Kenyans, we have access to places that the regular tourist doesn’t. We can introduce you to people, show you viewpoints where no one else is, and tell you how things really work here. Our guides are fluent in the local languages and have knowledge of the families in these areas.
Conservation that counts. Tourism, if managed properly, is a source of protection funding. We partner with lodges and camps that are environmentally conscious, and a portion of your fee is donated to local conservation efforts. During game drives we maintain a distance, stay on course and never chase an animal for a better picture.
Space for various budgets. From luxury lodges to mobile camping. A Kenyan safari shouldn’t be reserved for the wealthy.
Properly looked after. We take care of the details from arrival to departure. You’re here to have fun.
Masai Mara. The Great Migration, when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River. Our guides are aware of the locations where they should sit for the crossings, where the resident lion prides hunt and where the leopards move.
Amboseli. Elephants with Kilimanjaro standing behind them. The park is famous for its big tuskers, and the combination of old elephants and Africa’s highest mountain is unbeatable with a camera. Our photography trips here fill up fast.
Samburu. Dry, rugged country in the north with animals you won’t find further south: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk. A line of green runs through it, the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
Lake Nakuru. Rhino, flamingos (when the water is right) and the tree-climbing lions, all set in the Rift Valley.
Mount Kenya. We lead treks up the second-highest peak in Africa for those who want the challenge.
Cultural visits. Time in Maasai homesteads, traditional skills, community projects. These aren’t staged shows. They’re genuine exchanges that invest in the community and provide you with something to bring home.
We take our safaris seriously and want to leave wildlife and people better off. In practice:
Environment. Low-emission vehicles, reusable water bottles and solar-powered lodges with proper waste disposal help keep our footprint low.
Wildlife. We maintain proper distances, do not interfere and help anti-poaching efforts with local conservation groups.
Community. We employ local people, purchase from local farmers, support community-managed conservancies and sponsor a scholarship for rural students.
Culture. Our cultural visits are designed with community elders and are genuine and beneficial to the people involved.
It’s a long flight from the UK. We know. But there’s a reason why people make it and then come back. From watching lions at dusk to walking through the forest of the mountains or sitting with the Maasai herders, we can make it happen.
The website provides you with the form of what we do. Each trip we do is different, however, as each client is different. Whether it’s photography, birds or just being somewhere other than Britain, tell us and we’ll design the trip around it.
Almost 10 years on, we have found that the safaris that pack in as much as possible are not the best. The best ones have time to pause, to ask questions, to take it in.
If Kenya’s on your mind, get in touch. We will discuss what you are looking for and create an itinerary that suits your interests, time and budget.
We’d love to show you our country. Contact us and we’ll begin planning.
Karibu. Welcome.
