
Joseph Thuo
Born and raised in Kenya, in the land of the Maasai (Narok), I started traveling extensively around the country back in College, exploring unique destinations and cultural experiences one after another. This helped me to build genuine connections with local communities and I realized how powerful these local interactions are in enriching the overall travel experience. For this reason, I really like working with people coming from all over the world and sharing each other’s background. I make it a point to connect guests to local communities to share stories and meaningful connections. Get ready to be greeted by genuine smiles, open arms, and world-class hospitality. Let me help you to choose the best destinations, immerse in rich cultures, meet the warmest people, share stories and genuine connections, and eat the best foods and cuisines that East Africa has to offer. In short - I cannot wait to bring you to this beautiful piece of earth as close as possible to your personal wishes and I look forward to being able to participate in your travel planning.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"All of East Africa from wildlife safari, mountain climbing, beach holidays, cultural safaris, honeymoons, biking, trekking and everything in between. Whether you are looking for luxury, adventure, history, or any combination thereof, we can put together the perfect itinerary for you. "
How did you get involved in travel?
"I was super attached to my Cousin who was more like a big brother to me when I was young. Anything he did, I did, and anywhere he went, best believe, I would do everything possible to be there. In 2008, Mum was making arrangements for a family holiday to the Kenyan Coast. And since we used to live with my cousin, she asked him if he wanted to go and he simply answered “No” without a second thought. OMG I couldn’t believe it. It was my turn in the hot seat. “Joseph, would you like to come?” I could only manage to move my head from side to side which Mum took as a No. I truly wanted to go but sided with my Cousin. Not that he asked me to. I cried and begged to join them when the day finally arrived. Mum explained that it was impossible as plans were already made. I hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
They returned, and kept reminding me of how their holiday was. I told myself that whenever the opportunity to travel presents itself to me, I won’t turn it down. Though I didn’t have any real travel experience, I did the next holiday by myself, camping at the shores of Lake Naivasha. I found it easy to break with routine, meet new people, try different foods, see other landscapes and explore different cultures. Travelling solo is sink or swim, and you have to learn how to survive — who to trust, how to make friends and how to find your way around alone. With all the experiences as a Solo traveler I discovered my passion for traveling and I love helping others find their perfect journey.
"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"Oh, several. But one of my unforgettable experiences was when I decided to return to Aberdare as a Solo traveler for hiking and decided to camp before I would hike. As soon as it got dark and I was falling asleep my tent became covered with hundreds of rats. They were everywhere, climbing up my ropes and over the top of the tent. I shook as many as I could off and started a fire and stayed up all night hoping they wouldn't return. They seemed to be gone so the next night I stayed in the same place thinking they had moved on to another dump or something but no, again as it got dark they all returned bringing some of their friends as it seemed there was more than ever now. I again shook them off the tent and got a fire going.
When morning came, I decided to pack up my tent and head for a new place far from those rats. As I was walking down the trails wondering if I should return to another camping spot where we had been previously, there on the trail near to that place was a dead wild dog which had crawled out from the forest only a few feet from where we had been camping a few months previously. I decided my Aberdares hiking/camping adventure was not meant to be and headed back home."
"
Joseph's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice

This 10-day adventure combines the best safari locations in Tanzania with beach time in gorgeous Zanzibar. However, before relaxing on those white sands, you'll test yourself on...

Experience the very best of Tanzania, from the fertile plains of the Serengeti to the crystalline waters of Zanzibar. This 10-day adventure covers these highlights and more,...

Get ready for a safari adventure in Africa that covers not one incredible country but two. It begins in Kenya with visits to elephant and giraffe sanctuaries, plus a camping...
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Recent trip reviews for Joseph
We had a great experience in Kenya and South Africa
Kenya
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Aug 9 - Aug 17, 2023
We had a great experience in Kenya and South Africa. Joseph did a very good job finding a driver (Alex) and booking us in a lovely and comfortable hotel (the Fairview). Our driver Alex drove very safely. The only glitch was that he was not present when we arrived at the airport, and that is a key moment to be on time and in the right place. Our time in Lake Nakuru was fabulous (love Camp Mbweha), and Alex did a great job connecting us to tours at Lake Naivasha. We really enjoyed our hike in... read more
Family safari and beach trip to Kenya
Kenya
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Aug 7 - Aug 17, 2023

We went to Kenya as a family with our two young adult sons. Joseph was very responsive in tailoring the trip to fit within the limited dates we had available and organized a great itinerary with safaris in the masai Mara and lake Nakuru together with a night under the stars with masai chief seleten. A great trip topped off with 2-3 days at a Diani beach resort. Everything worked very smoothly and really appreciated our drivers Eliud and Richard .

Dear Keith,
Thank you very much for taking your time to leave a review regarding our services! It was an honor to plan this trip for you and your family and I am very happy that you enjoyed it. Many thanks as well for your patience and kindness throughout, you have been so great during the whole planning process, and it was such a pleasure to work with you.
I’ll be more than happy to plan another trip for you in the future.
Wishing you all the best and safe future travels!
Kind regards,
Joseph
Wonderful Tanzania Safari and Cultural Experience
Tanzania
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Jul 16 - Jul 27, 2023
We had an excellent time. All of the accommodation staff were super friendly. Everything was well organized. Rama was our guide and driver for many places and he was excellent. We were sad to depart his excellent service and care. We are excited to return and make another trip. read more

Hello Talia,
Thanks so much for taking your time to leave a review, I'm really happy that you enjoyed your trip and Rama made your safari more enjoyable. Many thanks as well for your patience and kindness throughout, you have been so great during the whole planning process, and it was such a pleasure to work with you. We really appreciate for trusting us with your trip plan. We hope to see you again in the near future with more trips to East Africa (Tanzania, Uganda or Rwanda) or any other part of the world.
Best wishes for your future travel journeys.
Many thanks & kind regards,
Joseph
This was a trip of a lifetime. Everything was...
Tanzania
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Jun 30 - Jul 6, 2023

This was a trip of a lifetime. Everything was great —the accommodations, the good, the tours including , of course, safaris but also a coffee plantation, Olduvai Gorge, a walk along Ngorongoro Crater. Best of all was our fantastic guide, Ramadhani Mmasa, who was friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating and so pleasant. A real treasure! I would recommend Kimkim and their representatives and will use them again. read more

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your trip, we are very happy to hear that you had such a great experience. We will let Ramadhani know how much you appreciated his wonderful presence as your guide, he truly is a treasure. It was such a pleasure to work with you and appreciate for trusting us with your trip plan. We hope to see you again in the near future with more trips to East Africa (Kenya, Uganda or Rwanda) or any other part of the world.
Best wishes for your future travel journeys.
Asante sana, many thanks.
Joseph
Review of trip to KENYA ALL I can say is “WOW..p
Kenya
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Jun 15 - Jun 26, 2023

Review of trip to KENYA
All I can say is “WOW! “ What an incredible adventure! Thank you!
Well planned, well guided, well executed! Every place we stayed was comfortable and clean and the food was exceptional. The guides were excellent, informative, patient
and accommodating.
There were great cultural experiences: most notable was the Maji Moto Cultural Camp where I wore my “shouka” with pride among my Maasai brothers!
At the “Olpal” bush camp, I slept on a fragrant bed of leaves under... read more

It was such a pleasure to welcome you to Kenya, especially the Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp where we are happy to hear you had such a meaningful experience. We will let Richard and Stanley know you’ve sent appreciation for their great care and service. It was such a pleasure to work with you and appreciate for trusting us with your trip plan. We hope to see you again in the near future with more trips to East Africa (Tanzania, Uganda or Rwanda) or any other part of the world.
Best wishes for your future travel journeys.
Ashe oleng, Many Thanks
Joseph
Went for the animals. Will go back for the people.
Kenya
|
Jun 14 - Jun 21, 2023

Loved every minute of my time in Kenya thanks to Joseph, whose expertise made everything go like clockwork, and huge thanks go out to the coolest drivers on the planet, Richard and Stanley. I had an extra day in Nairobi before the pre planned itinerary began. Between Joseph’s and Richard’s suggestions for things to do, the day got filled with sights and experiences that turned out to be some of the highlights of my stay. And I don’t even know where to start to say enough good things about... read more

We are humbled by your high praises for our team’s efforts to create a memorable experience for you here in Kenya. Each of us enjoyed the time spent planning your trip, guiding you through each of the days, and welcoming you to our Maji Moto home. We hope you’ll come back again to enjoy more of Kenya and beyond.
Best wishes for your future travel journeys.
Ashe oleng, Many Thanks
Joseph
Wonderful exploration and perfect balance of ...
Kenya
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Jun 12 - Jun 21, 2023

Wonderful exploration and perfect balance of adventure and leisure. Our guide, Andrew Kamaou was the best part of the trip. He knew the history and safaris well. He provide great insight on the various locations while also keeping us laughing! I teared up when we had to leave him behind to head to Diani beach. read more

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your travel experience with us, we’re happy to hear you enjoyed the blend of activities and locations, and will pass along your high praises for Andrew who is truly a treasure. We have also taken note of your feedback on where things were not up to your expectations and assure you that we will be looking into where we can do better on all counts.
Best wishes for your future travel journeys.
Ashe oleng, Many Thanks
Joseph
Serengeti & Zanzibar
Tanzania
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Jun 17 - Jun 22, 2023

Agrey, Serengeti Guide was simply the best — knowledgeable, engaging, and patient! Neptune Pwani resort in Zanzibar was fantastic — warm , clear, ocean water with sandbar! Make sure to book the restaurants prior to arrival as limited availability. read more

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your trip, we are very happy to hear that you a great experience. We will let Agrey know how much you appreciated his wonderful presence as your guide, he truly is a treasure. It was such a pleasure to work with you and appreciate for trusting us with your trip plan. We hope to see you again in the near future with more trips to East Africa (Kenya, Uganda or Rwanda) or any other part of the world.
Best wishes for your future travel journeys.
Ashe oleng, Many Thanks
Joseph
We are very grateful for a wonderful experien...
Tanzania
|
May 30 - Jun 20, 2023
We are very grateful for a wonderful experience in Tanzania organised by Joseph and his team. Our driver/guide for the safari part of the trip was Agrey who was tireless in ensuring that we had every opportunity to see the wildlife and looked after everything for us. We also enjoyed his company and willingness to share his expertise, experiences and insights. The cultural aspects of the tour gave us an opportunity to interact with the people of Tanzania as much as could be expected in the ... read more

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your travel experience with us, we’re happy to hear you enjoyed the blend of activities and locations, and will pass along your high praises for Agrey’s great service and friendship. We appreciate your recommendations for Kimkim and Nariku Travel Experiences, and was such a pleasure to work with you and appreciate for trusting us with your trip plan. We hope to see you again in the near future with more trips to East Africa (Kenya, Uganda or Rwanda) or any other part of the world.
Best wishes for your future travel journeys.
Many Thanks
Joseph
Andrew (tour guide/driver) is the best guide ever!!!
Kenya
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Jun 12 - Jun 21, 2023

I would like to give a special acknowledgement to Jospeh our local specialist for being extremely responsive, professional and helpful, before during and after our trip.
Also, want to acknowledge our driver/tour guide Andrew Kamau Monge. He was an absolute pleasure and added so much knowledge and enjoyment to our trip. It truly was like having a friend show us around Kenya. He is truly appreciated and will be missed. He is a special person and a beautiful asset to Nariku Travel.
I... read more

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your travel experience with us, I am humbled by your kind words for our planning and preparation, which was my pleasure to provide. I’ll pass along your high praises for Andrew, who is truly a treasure. We have also taken note of your feedback on where things were not up to your expectations and assure you that we will be looking into where we can do better on all counts. It was such a pleasure to work with you and appreciate for trusting us with your trip... read more
A wonderful adventure!
Kenya
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Mar 18 - Mar 29, 2023
Joseph did a wonderful job of helping me put together the adventure of a life time in Kenya. Every detail from airport transfers, lodging, meals, and of course our safaris were taken care of, making for an absolutely stress-free trip. Joseph even went above and beyond to help deliver my fiance's hat when he left it behind at our first hotel. We had the most excellent driver and safari guide (Andrew) who taught us so much about local culture and the animals we encountered. Everyone we met from... read more

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your travel experience with us, it was my pleasure to do everything possible to be sure your travels were enjoyable and memorable. We’ll pass along your high praises for Andrew, a cherished part of our team. We’re happy to hear that Maji Moto was a highlight of your experience, with Salaton and Susan providing a warm welcome and connection to the Maasai people. It was such a pleasure to work with you and appreciate for trusting us with your trip plan. We... read more
Tailored itinerary and brilliant guide.
Kenya
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Dec 24 - Jan 6, 2023
Joseph worked with me to create an eclectic trip that catered to our unusual needs. He managed it while staying within our low to medium budget. Our guide, Andrew Kamau was phenomenal. He has been doing this for 20+ years and was equally good at finding animals in game parks and facilitating our daughter’s need to return to the US right in the middle of the trip. He was fun, positive and knowledgeable. I could not have been happier! read more

Hello Carmel,
Thanks so much for taking your time to leave a review, I'm really happy that you enjoyed your trip and being part of your experience in Kenya, I’m glad you enjoyed your time with Andrew. Many thanks as well for your patience and kindness throughout, you have been so great during the whole planning process, and it was such a pleasure to work with you.
We really appreciate for trusting us with your trip plan. We hope to see you again in the near future with more trips to East... read more
Unforgettable trip to Uganda!
Uganda
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Aug 13 - Sep 1, 2022
Our trip through Uganda was amazing!
The tour was perfect organized, our driver and guide Teo (Able Safaris, a local office, 19 days) was perfect, he managed everything in a good way.
The gorilla-tracking, the beautiful landscape, the game drives, the friendly people,.. all that we will never forget! read more

Hello Irene,
Thanks so much for your review, I'm really happy that you enjoyed your trip, we have taken note of some the hotels that didn’t meet your expectations. Many thanks as well for your patience and kindness throughout, you have been so great during the whole planning process, and it was such a pleasure to work with you. We will definitely share your comments with all the partners involved.
We really appreciate for trusting us with your trip plan. We hope to see you again in the... read more
Absolutely perfect! Didn’t have to worry ab...
Uganda
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Nov 14 - Nov 24, 2021

Absolutely perfect!
Didn’t have to worry about any arrangements. The hotels were exactly what we wanted. Every single hotel was more beautiful than the next. Truly a dream holiday!
Kenya and Tanzania safari
Tanzania
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Jan 2 - Jan 21, 2022
We had an incredible trip! Wonderful guides, amazing stays and great food were all set up for us.
Joseph, our local specialist, communicated well with us and was easy to work with, he answered all our questions promptly and made our requests reality. Richard was our driver in Nairobi and he was welcoming and informative. Our guide in Kenya was Andrew and he was knowledgeable and wonderful, going above and beyond in helping our Dad, and find for us some incredible animals, especially the 4... read more
Outstanding, Trip to Kenya Courtesy of Nariku Travel Experiences.
Kenya
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Nov 26 - Dec 4, 2021
In the past year I have been to, among other places, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Greece and Portugal, and my trip to Kenya was my favorite. This is due in large part to Nariku Travel Experiences. I gave them a basic blueprint of what I wanted to see, do and accomplish and they delivered. Thank you Joseph and Susan. The guide for most of my trip, George, was outstanding. George was knowledgable, personable and downright fun to be around. I miss his and being part of the A-Team. The safari... read more

Hi Michael
Thanks so much for the awesome review! On behalf of the entire team, we are so happy to hear that both we and Kenya lived up to your expectations. Also glad to hear you had an authentic experience with the Maasai People at Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp.
We appreciate for trusting us with your trip plans, and hope to see you again in the near future with more trips to East Africa or any other part of the world.
With warm and best Regards,
Joseph
Best last minute trip + Covid issues
Tanzania
|
May 19 - May 27, 2021

I had Joseph as my contact for this amazing trip to Pemba & Zanzibar. I couldn't be any happier with his great customer service. Due to my busy work schedule, I was unable to book in advance and it was last minute. Finally, when I booked the trip I had a nightmare with CoVid19 as I was coming from Uganda. Joseph was very, very helpful and made sure that I initially received helped with the cancelations, but eventually I was still able to make it to my destinations and he helped me again and... read more

Hi Ivette
Thank you so much for the kind feedback! I'm more than glad to know you had such a good experience in Pemba & Zanzibar. I'm really happy that you enjoyed your trip and that you are happy with our service, and many thanks for your patience and kindness throughout the process.
With warm and best Regards,
Joseph