Your Local Safari Agency in Malindi
We are a safari agency based right here, on the coast of Kenya. Malindi. Watamu. Mombasa. Diani. This is where we live, where we work, and where we have spent over 15 years learning exactly what a safari from the coast should be.
Not in theory. In practice, on the road, in the parks, with real guests who trusted us with their Kenya experience.
A Local Safari Agency Serving the Entire Coast
We are a small safari specialist based in Malindi, operating along the entire Kenya coast. We are not a large agency with offices in six countries and a call center answering your requests. We are a team of guides, drivers and logistics staff based on the coast who organize safaris in Kenya, especially from Malindi, Watamu, Mombasa and Diani, as full time work and genuine passion.
Our guides have worked in Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Amboseli, Shimba Hills and the Maasai Mara for a combined total of decades. They hold Kenya Wildlife Service licenses and know the parks not from a guidebook, but from years of repeated visits.
Our drivers know the coastal roads the way most people know their own neighborhood streets. The shortcut from Malindi to Sala Gate that saves forty minutes. The back road to Shimba Hills from Kwale. The Likoni ferry schedule that lets you avoid the morning traffic.
We are not a booking platform that takes your money and hands your group to whoever is available. Every safari we sell is a safari we organize ourselves. Our vehicles. Our guides. Our responsibility.
Callimero, Professor of the Kenyan Savannah
Ali Hinzano (Callimero), Founder and Lead Guide
Ali Hinzano, but my friends call me Callimero. I am a certified Kenya tour guide with over 45 years of personal experience guiding safaris across the country. In 2009, I founded Callimero Safari to bring that experience to travelers along the coast in a more structured way.
Since 1979 I have been taking guests from Malindi, Watamu, Diani and Mombasa to Tsavo, Amboseli, Shimba Hills and the Maasai Mara. My team and I are known all along the coast for our professionalism, local knowledge and attention to detail.
I still personally guide safaris today. After 45 years, I have not stopped learning, and I have not stopped loving this work.
Our Guides
Our guides are people who live on the coast. Tsavo East is not an abstract destination for them. It is a place they have visited hundreds of times, in every season.
They hold Kenya Wildlife Service guiding licenses. They have first aid training. They speak fluent English, and many also speak Italian, German or French.
But the most important thing is their genuine interest in what they do, the way they read the landscape, how they position the vehicle, and the stories they tell.
When you book with us, you do not need to worry about the quality of your guide. That is our core responsibility.
Why a Safari Agency in Malindi Is Different From a Nairobi Operator
| Factor | Coastal Agent | Coast Based Operator |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Management | Takes the booking at your hotel and passes it on to an operator in Nairobi. | Manages the booking and safari organization directly. |
| Control Over Vehicle and Guide | No direct control over the vehicle, guide or logistics. | Direct control over vehicles, guides and service standards. |
| Handling Problems | If problems arise, responsibility passes to the operator in Nairobi, hours away. | Immediate intervention, direct assistance and fast problem solving. |
| Communication | Requests forwarded through internal systems and distant offices. | Direct response from Malindi or Mombasa, even in the evening via WhatsApp. |
| Up to Date Road and Park Knowledge | Indirect information, not always up to date. | Direct, current knowledge of road and park conditions. |
| Real Service Value | Intermediation with a commission fee. | Local presence, transparency and stress free management. |
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Top safari kenya - Esperienza fantastica! Ali e suo figlio super gentili, servizio impeccabile. Consigliatissimo!
Miglio safari di sempre
Barbara T
April 16, 2025 - Safari in Kenya - E’ stata un esperienza entusiasmante i parchi del Kenya sono bellissimi!!
Ragazzi dello staff sempre molto disponibili ci siamo sentiti coccolati.
Un grazie di cuore ad Ali e ai suoi... continua a leggere 
Cinzia P
March 17, 2025 - Safari Tsavo Est - Safari a Tsavo Est svolto il 24-25 Aprile partendo da Malindi.
Il nostro safari in Kenya è stato un'esperienza indimenticabile! La guida era molto competente, conoscitore della fauna... continua a leggere 
LauraGhetti97
April 27, 2025 - ALI’ top guide - Ali’ e’ una guida esperta della zona, con lui farete una esperienza unica, ci siamo trovati molto bene.
Sia per l’esperienza in barca che esperienza safari, indimenticabile. 
Leonardo Z
July 20, 2025 - Safari fantastico - Appena rientrato dal safari con Calimero Tour e ho ancora negli occhi la bellezza di tutto ciò che abbiamo vissuto. È stata un’avventura incredibile, curata in ogni dettaglio e accompagnata... continua a leggere
lucadom2018
April 30, 2025 - Safari - Un viaggio bellissimo da Nairobi a Malindi con safari e varie tappe trai meravigliosi paesaggi kenyoti, le guide sono state molto gentili e disponibili consigliando anche ristoranti dove mangiare pietanze... continua a leggere
Escape16492187453
March 31, 2025
Ready for Your Safari From the Coast? Let's Talk.
If what you have read here matches the kind of safari agency you want to book with, we would be happy to work with you. Send us a message on WhatsApp or fill out the contact form. We will reply quickly, honestly, and with a clear plan.