Kenyan safari-booking platform Tukio, which currently offers 18 destinations across Kenya and Tanzania, is set to expand its reach across East Africa, with new locations in Uganda and Rwanda planned for 2025. This expansion follows a recent infusion of angel funding, helping the startup to grow its platform and meet the rising demand for convenient safari bookings.
Launched last December, Tukio was founded by Natalia Cubillos and Marina Cangelaris with a mission to modernize the safari-booking process. Through its online platform, Tukio allows safari lodges, transportation providers, and activity organizers to list their services directly, giving travelers an entirely online and transparent booking experience. Unlike traditional safari planning, Tukio enables users to select and customize every component of their trip—whether it’s accommodation, activities, or transportation—and seamlessly check out online.
“Our smart booking wizard allows users to dynamically generate their own quotes and book directly without the need for back-and-forth requests for custom quotes,” explained Cangelaris in an interview with Disrupt Africa. This booking wizard, backed by partnerships with local tour operators and accommodations, brings safari planning into the digital age, allowing travelers greater flexibility and control.
Tukio was born out of an Antler startup cohort in Nairobi, where Cubillos and Cangelaris identified a gap in the safari-booking market. “Booking a safari is like stepping back into the ’90s,” said Cangelaris. She noted that travelers typically need to contact numerous operators, wait for quotes, and manually compare prices—leaving the tech-savvy modern traveler with limited options. Tukio changes this by offering pre-set prices for lodges, activities, and transportation that can be added to a user’s itinerary instantly. Travelers can adjust the itinerary as needed and complete bookings through a secure payment gateway.
One of the standout features of Tukio is its customer support, designed to reassure users trying the platform for the first time. “As this is a very new concept for the safari industry, our team is available to answer questions via WhatsApp, email, or scheduled calls,” Cangelaris shared.
Tukio initially operated on a bootstrap model, reinvesting revenue from early bookings to sustain growth. But with recent angel funding, the startup is scaling up for peak travel seasons and laying the groundwork for a broader East and Southern Africa expansion in 2025. New destinations like Uganda and Rwanda will appeal to adventure travelers keen on experiences like gorilla trekking, while future plans include expanding to Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa.
The startup operates like a typical online travel agency, earning a commission or markup on bookings. “We have agreements with each of our partners on the pricing of accommodations, transportation, and activities,” explained Cangelaris. The transparent approach offers both travelers and local operators a streamlined booking process, allowing Tukio to meet the needs of today’s digitally-minded travelers while supporting local tourism economies across East Africa.
As Tukio sets its sights on further growth, the startup aims to become a go-to platform for safari bookings, providing an accessible, user-friendly alternative to traditional agents and transforming the way travelers experience East Africa’s iconic wildlife and landscapes.
