Imara Africa Safaris Team
Imara Africa Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2022)
- Member Of:
- AMREF, KWS & TRA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $2,082 to $26,027 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
IN
Email Sayani | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
From Kilimanjaro to the Mara, every moment with IMARA was crafted with care and heart.
It’s been just over a week since we got back from Kenya, and we’re still talking about it every day. This was our first time visiting, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience—thanks entirely to IMARA Africa Safaris and our incredible guide, Patrick.
We were a family of six, including our 6-year-old daughter, and from the moment we landed in Nairobi, everything was taken care of. Even when our flight was delayed by a day at the last minute, Lewis and his team managed to rearrange all our bookings and permits without any stress on us. When we finally arrived, they were there at the airport early in the morning to welcome us with warm smiles. That small gesture meant a lot and set the tone for the rest of the trip.
Our journey took us through Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and the Masai Mara. On our very first evening in Amboseli, we had one of those moments you never forget—a herd of elephants walking across the plains with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. The light was perfect, the air was still, and it honestly felt like we were inside a nature documentary.
We had some incredible wildlife sightings throughout the trip. At Lake Nakuru, we saw a pride of lions and lionesses feasting on a zebra. It was raw and powerful. Then in the Masai Mara, we came across a huge male lion devouring a freshly killed water buffalo. He was covered in mud and looked like he’d just come out of a serious fight. It was intense. We also got to witness a cheetah go for a kill—twice! Both times it missed, but watching it sprint across the savannah was absolutely thrilling.
Hell’s Gate was another highlight. We started with a peaceful bike ride through the park, surrounded by cliffs and wildlife. Our daughter loved the whispering walls—she couldn’t believe how her voice echoed across the canyon. After the ride, we hiked through the gorges, which was a real adventure. Narrow paths, bubbling hot springs, and towering rock walls led us to the spot that inspired The Lion King. Standing there, it really did feel like we were in the movie.
We also visited a Maasai village, which felt incredibly special. We got to interact with the community, learn about their traditions, and even join in a few dances. It was a beautiful and humbling experience.
Patrick, our guide, was the heart of this trip. He had an incredible eye for spotting animals and always knew where to be at the right time. He was patient with our daughter’s endless questions, shared so many stories with us, and made every drive feel like part of the adventure. He wasn’t just our guide—he became a friend.
The places we stayed were all comfortable and well chosen. One sweet moment that stood out was at Amboseli Sopa Lodge, where we spotted a tiny dik-dik right behind our cottage. It was such a quiet, lovely surprise.
This trip was more than just a holiday—it was an experience we’ll carry with us forever. If you’re thinking of doing a safari in Kenya, go with IMARA. And if you can, ask for Patrick. He made all the difference.
Email Colby S. | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everyone at Imara was fantastic and made the experience unforgettable for us!
Our Safari with Imara was amazing, we were blessed to see so much incredible wildlife up close. What made this so special was the care that Lewis and the team Imara put into making the itinerary to make sure each day was packed with action. The best part by far was our guide Edward! He added so much to the experience through his knowledge and experience. Because he knew all the right places to be (and with some luck) we got to see things that are not commonly seen. He also made sure that we were having a good time when we were traveling from park to park. We had great conversations and he was able to answer all of the questions we had, not just about wildlife but life in Kenya and beyond. When we had a bit of extra time he set us up to do an additional National Park to ensure that we were able to make the most of our time. Overall the experience was 10/10 and we hope to come back and do it again soon!
GF
Email Mia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing school trip
I organised a school trip with a group of 17 students with Imara Afrika Safaris and it was such a wonderfull week !
Wendy, Lewis and Yan were very welcoming and professional all along the trip, they always made sure that everything was going as we wanted and made changes if we needed to.
We did some camping wich was so fun and also stayed in 2 amazing and comfortable lodges. The food was really nice, we were in an overlander truck that allowed us to always stay together and made the driving enjoyable ! They also organised a day with overlanders in masai Mara so that we have the full safari experience.
When organising this trip I had so many options of safari tour operators and I'm am glad that I chose to go with Wendy and Lewis, I would defenetly recommend Imara Afrika safaris !
Thanks again for this amazing experience !
Mia and the GPN students
Email Samwel Dashen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent
One of the most significant thing was that everything we wanted to see was present, we went to Amboseli National Park with my wife and our friends and we do not regret our visit. This was the best trip I’ve had this year.
Email Neo Phetlho | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent
Team Imara africa Safaris.
I just wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for the exceptional support, hospitality and logistics assistance you provided during our Mount Kenya climbing expedition. Your expertise and professionalism made a significant difference in our experience.
From planning to execution, your team's dedication and attention to detail ensured a seamless and successful climb. Your guidance on routes, accommodations, and safety measures helped us navigate the challenges of the mountain.
I appreciate the efficient transportation arrangements, excellent guide services, well-coordinated accommodations, timely provision of equipment and supplies, valuable advice and insights.
Your contributions went beyond logistics, you helped create life-long memories. I, together with the team grateful for your passion for adventure and commitment to making our experience unforgettable.
Thank you for believing in our ability to conquer Mount Kenya. The guides you provided, gave us reassurance during challenging moments, shared knowledge and their expertise.
I will highly recommend Imara Africa Safaris to anyone seeking exceptional adventure support.
Sincere thanks and appreciation.
FR
Email Laurie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Imara Africa Safaris are a great company. This was my first safari and I really didn’t need to do an
Imara Africa Safaris are a great company. This was my first safari and I really didn’t need to do anything. Every question I had was answered almost immediately. Every place we stayed was perfectly fine for us. PATRICK our guide was amazing. He knew how to anticipate the animals so we got amazing photos. He is patient, kind, and amazing driver. Lastly, thank you to Kenya for mandating conservation and preservation.
ES
Email Diane Heston | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fabulous
What a great company - had a great trip with Lewis and his team. They even told the lodge it was our wedding anniversary and they had Masai sing to us and give us a cake making it very special. Would not hesitate to recommend Imara Africa Safaris
Many thanks
Diane and Andy Heston - Spain
Email Kate | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mt. Kenya Trek
Had an amazing trek up Mt. Kenya with Imara Africa Safaris. No complaints whatsoever. The guys were very professional & knowledgeable. Food was delicious & filling. I’ve done a bunch of international trekking, so I knew what to expect. The accommodations were fine. We made it to the summit in time for a beautiful sunrise. I would book with them again.
Email Yu | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It's all about the people when choosing a safari operator
My boyfriend and I did a 4 day trip with Lewis around the Kenyan Great Lakes region. From the moment we reached out to Lewis, we felt that we should go with Imara safaris as we found him to be extremely responsive and attentive. Lewis took great care accommodating a rather complex and non-standard itinerary to fit in everything we were interested in seeing in a short time period of time.
Lewis made the planning process very streamlined by offering us curated experiences, taking care of bookings and park fees, and working with us to understand what we would enjoy.
During the trip itself, Lewis and our driver, Patrick, were extremely professional and always showed up on time. They made themselves very accessible in case we needed anything and accommodated a last-minute change to our flight.
We are especially grateful to Patrick for navigating extremely challenging driving conditions between Naivasha and Nairobi, we feel he saved our lives with his expertise on multiple occasions.
I would recommend going with Imara safaris for your Kenya adventure, these folks will make sure that you arrive where you need to go and have a great experience tailored to your interests.
FI
Email Laura | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great time in Kenya
We had an amazing time with Imara Africa safaris. They were easy to communicate with before the trip, always answered quickly. They were also open to changes to the itinerary. We wanted to visit a place that they didn't offer ready safaris, and Imara Africa safaris organised everything smoothly. I had a food allergy request, and they took care of that well.
They were welcoming us at the airport, and took care of us from the start until the end of our trip, they even gave us a ride to the airport in the middle of the night. Everyone (Lewis, Wendy, Patrick and Brian) were so kind and genuine. Also Patrick, who was our driver, was probably the best driver I've seen. We didn't get stuck in the mud once, although it was the end of the rainy season. With the little van that we were in, Patrick got us to places I was sure were impossible. Also he was very knowledgeable about the animals and the birds. He even had some bird and mammal books in the car that we could also look through. He worked hard that we saw the big five, and at the same time he didn't overlook the "smaller" species, but told us about starlings and always stopped to show us new species of animals.
The safari itinerary was two nights at Masai Mara, two nights at Kakamega rainforest (our addition), one night at Lake Nakuru, one night at Lake Naivasha and two nights at Amboseli. If I would now make a new itinerary for a Kenyan safari, I would go to Masai Mara for two nights, and after spend two nights at Kakamega, which was the most beautiful place. After that, one night in Nakuru, and then I would skip Lake Naivasha. Although the walking tour was nice, the scenery was maybe too similar to Nakuru. Also I would only spend one night in Amboseli, because the park is quite small. The two nights "saved" I would spend in Tsavo national parks.
Some things were a bit misleading in the original quote that we got, for example the quote said that non-alcoholic drinks would be included, but we still had to pay for non-alcoholic drinks in every hotel where we stayed. I hope they fix this to the future quotes. Also in the quote there was a photo of a sundowner experience in Amboseli national park which was of a jeep somewhere that looked like the inside of the national park, it looked like it was a game drive during sunset. But the sundowner we got at Amboseli sentrim lodge was drinks at a hotel terrace facing Kilimanjaro. A nice experience but not what I was expecting. So I hope that there would be more info about what certain experiences include.
The best parts of this safari was seeing so many animals right at the start in Masai Mara national reserve, the whole of the Kakamega rainforest experience. The Rondo retreat where we stayed was perfect, the guided walks in the rainforest where unforgettable. Our rainforest guide, Wycliff, was great. The end of the safari was also memorable, with huge herds of elefants in Amboseli national park.
All in all we had a great time, I'm really happy that we chose Imara Africa safaris as our safari company, and if I go to Kenya again, will certainly ask them.
Reply from Imara Africa Safaris
Posted on Dec 14, 2023Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experiences with Imara Africa safaris. It is truly heartwarming to hear that your trip was a memorable adventure and that our team made your experience even more special. Your kind words about the team and dedication are particularly appreciated.
I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion caused by the initial quote regarding the inclusion of non-alcoholic drinks. Please allow me to clarify that these non-alcoholic drinks are indeed provided complimentary within our safari vehicles, but this does not extend to the accommodations. We understand how this could have been misleading, and I assure you that steps are being taken to make this clearer in our future quotes.
Regarding the sundowner experience at Amboseli, I’m sorry to hear that it did not meet your expectations. We strive to provide accurate and comprehensive descriptions of our experiences, and it seems we fell short in this instance. Your feedback is invaluable in guiding us to enhance our communication about what each experience entails, ensuring that our guests have a clear understanding of what to expect.
We are pleased, however, that you found the experience at the Amboseli was enjoyable, with its stunning views of Kilimanjaro. We hope that, despite these issues, your overall experience with us was a memorable one.
Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience you experienced, and I hope we have the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Thank you once again for choosing Imara Africa safaris and for your recommendations. We are incredibly grateful for your support and look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back to Kenya for another adventure.