Email Emma Deards | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect tour!
Our guide Jackson was fantastic! He was helpful and professional the whole time, and we felt very safe with him. He was also very knowledgeable about all the animals and birds we saw, and he made sure we had a great time. The food and accommodation was also excellent, it was the trip of a lifetime! Maggie was helpful and responsive when it came to answering our questions, could not have asked for a better trip!
US
Email Dan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kenan Travel and Tours was first class for our once in a lifetime African Safari!!!!
This was our first family trip to Kenya. Traveling from the USA we wanted to use a Kenyan company that was reliable of course it is hard to find a lot of information on companies but was able to research Kenan Travel and Tours and note that they were part of KATO. Still until you actually take the trip it seems like a "leap of faith." Well let me tell you for anyone considering going to Kenya-- Kenan Travel and Tours is the way to go!!
From the beginning Geophrey was extremely easy to get in contact with and responded to emails very quickly which was a great start. When we arrived in Kenya after a long flight Geophrey was there at the airport to greet us and get us to our hotel in Nairobi. We were a group of nine and Geophrey handled all details leading up to our arrival to Kenya. Our trip was customized to include the things we wanted to do unlike the USA travel companies that required so many days in certain areas this personal touch was something that allowed us to go to the places we wanted not the places that the "USA tour companies" required-- Kenan delivered on a first class private tour.
The following morning in Nairobi we met in the hotel lobby and our itinerary was reviewed and we were escorted to our six seater Land Cruisers. Since we were a group of 9 we had two four wheel Land Cruisers that had plenty of room with comfortable seating--two to a row with sliding windows and a roof that popped open. The drivers were first class with incredible knowledge of the parks. Our driver was James and he did an absolutely incredible job of driving through the many bumpy back roads and national parks of Kenya. Our trip was 12 days and we traveled to Samburu, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara, and Amboseli. James was absolutely incredible as a tour guide---and for a point of reference we have travelled extensively across the USA, Canada, Europe, South America, and now Africa. He had extensive knowledge of the parks and animals-- he was an like an encyclopedia when came to the many various animals--- everyone knows the big animals but his knowledge extended even to the small wildlife I don't there was a bird that I asked about that he was not able to educate me on. Of course we saw all of the Big 5, but we saw so many of the other mammals and birds and James was able to get us in a position to take pictures of a lifetime. The places that we stayed were extremely nice the food was excellent and the staff was very enthusiastic. Of course you can customize your trip with Kenan to stay at different levels of hotels. We found the Sopa lodges to be very nice. Everyone has their own level they desire and would encourage all to read about hotels booked and where they are located in the parks but we enjoyed our stays at Sopa and then Kibo at Amboseli. I would encourage anyone who is considering going to Kenya that they use Kenan Travel and Tours you will not regret it!! They will give you that personalized experience and allow you to customize things that you want so that you can have the level of luxury that you desire. I would give a big thanks to Geophrey, Shem (who drove the other Land Cruiser for other family members and he to had an extensive knowledge of Kenya!!) and James. James for my family you created an absolutely incredible once in a lifetime African Safari. James we hope to see you again in the near future!!!!
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Email TR | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Adenture
Our 10-day tour of Kenya was perfect for my son and me. The trip covered 4 major preserves - Samburu, Nakuru, Masai Mara and Amboseli, as well as, time in the rift area at Lake Naivasha / Crescent Island. We saw the Big 5 - Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Rhino and Water Buffalo - plus hundreds of other animals and birds. Elephants, Giraffe, Impala, Gazelle, Toppi, Wildebeest, Water Buffalo, Water Bok and others were in large herds including babies. White Pelicans and Flamingos were in massive flocks. Several days were in floored tent accommodations within the preserves so you could hear the animals at night (resort was fenced). In the Lake Naivasha area where there were no predators, Giraffe and Zebra crossed the resort yard at dusk. This tour covered much of middle and southern Kenya, so you saw varied landscape (Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro) vegetation and life styles besides the variety in wildlife.
Kenyans were lovely, and food was excellent with many fresh fruits and vegetables. Accommodations were excellent though smaller and more personal than the 5-star International hotels. Our guide had over 20 years in the business, so he knew where and when to go on game outings and was willing to make changes to suit us. We traveled in "shoulder" season about 3 weeks before high season so there were fewer crowds everywhere and the weather was great. Not too hot and not rainy.
This trip was a great balance of value and comfort for an African Safari. We have incredible pictures and memories! However, in our experience it is not a Luxury tour to American standards. There is a lot of time in the van over pretty rough roads, long days, much standing to view game and moderate walking. Since we arranged for 2 of us in a van which could hold 6 persons, I suggest that each party carefully review the size and type of transportation, road travel times and distances and confirm schedule details with your agent. Some days are longer than the materials indicate, and lunch is on the road not at the hotel. Best to travel with one suit case and light weight sun protective clothing. A camera with optical zoom is a must.
ENJOY A TRIP OF A LIFE TIME! FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN A NEW VERSION OF OUT OF AFTICA!
FR
Email Gérard Marie-Hélène | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wildlife and emotional excursion in Kenya Mountain, Amboseli, Nakuru, Masaï Mara
With my wife, we have chosen to go to Kenya for our 30 years wedding anniversary. We started to climb the Kenya mountain followed by safaris in Amboseli, Nakuru and Masaï Mara for 12 days trip. The experience was great and we would like to highlight the following:
We chose Beaconsafaris as our agent for the stay due to their excellent service when designing the trip. A big thank you to Robert and his team for always following up on our queries and responding quickly on all matters with flexibility and keeping a good balance in the schedule. The service during our trip was also excellent with very good support and smooth transition.
The team for the trek were right sized, supporting us with kindness allowing us to succeed to reach the top of the mountain at 4985 meters.
The safari driver and guide, was very friendly and kind and drove us comfortably and safely to interesting watching spots for the animals. He also had very good knowledge of the area and the animals we saw. He also facilitated contact with a Masai community that we will keep in our memory.
We were able to watch the "Big five" and so many other animals. The natural beauty and the "authenticity" of the experience were very different from visiting a zoo. Among others, we will remember the elephants bath in front of the Kilimanjaro at Amboseli, the sunset in Nakuru with the buffalos and rhinoceros, a leopard hunting scene in Masai mara,…
We chose a Toyota Land Cruiser, very much appreciated for his capacity to get through « everywhere » and it is sometimes necessary ;-).
The lodges were very confortable contributing to the very good experience with a special mark for the Flamingo Hill camp in Nakuru.
Overall, we can highly recommend Beaconsafaris as your partner in designing and arranging your Kenya/Safari vacation. If you chose the Kenya mountain trek, do not compromise with the recommended equipments.
IT
Email Pierluigi | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Feeling the real wildlife, silence of nature, sounds of animals, lights of sky, smell of earth
Excellent nature. Very nice people. Kelvin was a super driver and guide, very nice person. Excellent and perfect accomodations. Very good food. Great experience...
TH
Email Chotirot Chalaruk | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful experience to see such creature in a wild
An experience guide-driver deliver a great trip. So wonderful weather in July. Food was so great at Flamingo Hill camp with professional and friendly staff. Zebra Plain Marra Camp in contrast food was so plain but local staff are trying do to everything to make you comfortable.
More than my expectations
CO
Email Diego Higuera | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kenya is a good place to visit wildlife
The best of Kenya are its natural parks and its ancestral tribes, it is a country to visit, and safaris are available at good prices.
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Email Ryan Hutchison | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
So happy I had The opportunity to see animals in their natural habitat
This company was fantastic. The price was incredibly reasonable. I only had 2 days available for a safari. So I did the 2 day 1 night safari. However, in hindsite I would have changed my schedule to make it a 2 night 3 day. The guides were fantastic, accommodation great. I am a solo traveler who was in a budget. This exceeded my expecations.
BG
Email Svetlin Siderov | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
I spent 10 days in Kenya,I saw most of the parks and so many animals,Everything was perfect( accommodations, food, transportation, guide).
Wildlife was incredible can not be described, must be seen. Obligatory you should visit this place.
Thanks to my tour operator "Kichaka Tours and Travel"
HK
Email Katie Tang | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Falling in Love with Kenya
I was a bit worried before my trip to Kenya, wasn't sure about the culture, the food, the place, the tour operators etc. Though upon meeting our guide and driver, I immediately knew that this will be a good trip!
The weather is a bit cooler than we thought, we did not bring enough clothes, so we were freezing in some nights. But generally the hotel will provide enough blankets for us to get thru the night, which is fine.
The accommodations were much better than I thought they would be, and the services were always top notch. All the people in Kenya seems to be happy all the time, we were greeted with big smiles everywhere we go. The food inside the hotel were absolutely amazing!
We went to 4 different places for game drives (Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli) , and they were all pretty good! Although we did not see all the big five (we missed the leopard), but we saw a Cheetah climbing a tree during the sunset time, which made up the loss we have. And hey, this just gives me an extra reason to come back to Kenya!
Our guide Francis was very lovely. He was super attentive, polite, knowledgeable, and have eyesight like eagle. He can spot animals miles away, and we were just so amazed all the time!
A big shout out to our tour operator Heritage of African Jungles Tours & Travel, they were super professional, organized, and attentive. Naomi who was the owner, made sure that we were very well taken care of thru out the tour, and even before our tour started, she was super responsive on e-mails, and is always happy to answer any questions from us.
I'm already planning my next trip to Kenya.
