Our Story
From a small room in the Kenyan highlands to journeys beyond imagination.
The story behind Finders & Keepers Safaris — and the belief it was built on.
Every great journey has a beginning.
Ours began rather quietly — not in a boardroom, a luxury office, or a bustling city, but in the Kenyan highlands, at home.
It was there, in a small store within our family home, that our founder, Dereck Kangangi, began building what would eventually become our safari company. That little room became an office, a planning room, a place for research, ideas, phone calls, maps, itineraries and countless hours spent imagining what travel could feel like when every detail truly mattered.
There was no grand beginning. Just a vision, a lot of determination, and a simple belief:
Dereck had always believed that travel should give people something that lasts long after they have returned home. The photographs may eventually fade, the luggage may be packed away, and the passport stamps may become distant memories — but the feeling of standing in the African wilderness at sunrise, watching elephants cross the plains, sharing laughter around a campfire, or seeing a place you once only dreamed of seeing should remain with you.
That became the foundation of our company.
Our Ambition
We wanted to create memories that grow old with you.
Our ambition has never simply been to take people from one destination to another.
We want to be part of the stories our clients tell decades from now.
The story of the honeymoon where everything felt perfect.
The family safari where the children saw their first elephant.
The anniversary trip that brought two people closer.
The friends who finally took the journey they had talked about for years.
The solo traveller who discovered something new about themselves in the wilderness.
And years later, when those same people are older and gray, we want them to look back at those photographs, remember those moments, and say:
That is the kind of legacy we want to create.
How We Work
Crafted from the ground up.
From that small home office in the highlands, Dereck began researching destinations, studying properties, speaking with suppliers, understanding routes, building relationships and learning what separates an ordinary holiday from an extraordinary experience.
Every itinerary became an exercise in asking one question:
The answer was never simply luxury.
It was thoughtfulness.
It was knowing when a guest would appreciate a quiet morning instead of a packed schedule. Knowing when a private experience would be worth the extra effort. Finding the right camp, the right guide, the right route and the right rhythm for each journey.
It was about removing the unnecessary complications of travel so that our guests could concentrate on what brought them there in the first place — experiencing the world.
And most importantly, it was about making sure that every dollar, euro, pound or shilling spent on a journey felt worthwhile.
Our Responsibility
Your money should create memories — not disappointments.
We understand that a safari is not a small purchase for most people.
Our clients work hard for their money, save for their journeys and sometimes wait years to experience the places they have dreamed about.
That creates a responsibility.
When someone entrusts us with their journey, we want them to feel that they received real value for every part of their investment.
From the moment they first speak with us to the moment they return home, our goal is to make the experience feel considered, seamless and deeply personal.
We do not want our guests to come home thinking about what was missing.
We want them to come home thinking about everything they experienced.
Where We Are Today
Crafting out of this world safari experiences.
Today, the little room where Dereck began dreaming may have been the starting point, but the vision has grown far beyond those four walls.
We are building a company around a simple philosophy: travel should feel extraordinary.
Our journeys are designed around people, not templates.
We combine extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, carefully selected accommodation, meaningful experiences and thoughtful service to create journeys that feel personal from beginning to end.
Whether it is your first safari, a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, a family adventure, a romantic escape, a journey with friends or simply the trip you have been promising yourself for years, we believe it deserves to be treated as something special.
Because you are not simply booking a room.
You are not simply booking a vehicle.
You are not simply booking a flight.
And memories deserve to be made well.
Our Promise
From our home to your story.
What started in a small store at home in the Kenyan highlands continues to be guided by the same spirit that started it all.
Dream boldly.
Pay attention to the details.
Treat every traveller as an individual.
And never forget that behind every booking is a person entrusting us with something incredibly valuable — their time.
Our greatest hope is that, years from now, when the photographs have become treasured keepsakes and the stories have been told countless times, our clients will still remember the feeling of their journey.
Because ultimately, that is why we are here.
To create experiences that feel out of this world, give our clients their money’s worth, and become a small but unforgettable part of the stories they carry for a lifetime.
This is where our story began.
Now, we would love to be part of yours.