We booked Catman after a friend’s recommendation, and it turned out to be the best decision we’ve ever made for a holiday. On our second day in the Maasai Mara, our guide quietly pulled the jeep off the main track and said, ‘Wait.’ Within minutes, a lioness appeared, followed by her cubs. He knew exactly where they would cross — as if he had studied their calendar. Watching the cubs tumble over each other in the early light was something I’ll never forget. It wasn’t just a safari; it was like being let in on a secret world.

I’ve been to Africa twice before, but Catman made this trip completely different. They didn’t just drive us from one animal sighting to another. They explained the patterns — why hyenas were waiting near the lions, why the vultures circled when they did. One night in Amboseli, we stopped and listened to elephants communicating in low rumbles, something I had never noticed before. Our guide translated the behavior in a way that made me feel connected to the animals. I left Kenya with not just photos, but stories I’ll tell for years.

Traveling as a family of five, I was nervous about how my children (ages 9, 12, and 15) would manage long game drives. Catman absolutely thought of everything. They made sure each day had breaks, little surprises like spotting giraffes on the way back to camp, and even arranged a visit to a local school which my kids are still talking about. The highlight? Watching a cheetah stalk and sprint after a gazelle, explained step by step by our guide. My children weren’t just entertained — they were educated and inspired. That is priceless.

What stood out most with Catman was their honesty and care. From the moment we landed in Nairobi, we felt taken care of. Our guide didn’t rush us once, even when we wanted to spend nearly an hour just watching elephants interact in Tsavo. He explained their family structure in detail, even showing us how to tell the matriarch from the younger females. Later, we witnessed lions dragging their prey to the shade — exactly as he predicted. It was raw, real, and unforgettable. Catman gave us not just a tour, but an experience we lived fully.