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Email Torsten | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible wildlife and amazing life-time experience!
Fantastic wildlife! We got to see all of the "big five" except the rhino. Very skilled and professional guide. The accommodation was very cozy: a tent close to the national park. Out in the wilderness, yet with electricity (via generator) and proper bathroom and shower. Surprisingly good food. An experience for a lifetime!
MX
Email Andre Breton | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Westernized Africa
You can't beat the wildlife and scenery of a safari, that's for sure and it's worth every buck. However, it did feel heavily commercialized and not very authentic in terms of the people and the vibe. It's the first safari I ever take and my views could be exclusive to Kenya, Amboseli NP or the company I chose (which was very good by the way), but to me it felt artificial in a Disney-like manner. Please don't get me wrong: I stayed perhaps in the best hotels I've ever stayed and got some of the best customer service; the guide and all the staff were always trying to please us and make us happy. Maybe this was the problem ... it felt like Cancun, Miami or anything else but Africa, a standardized and westernized vision and feel of tourism. If what you are looking for is to get to know Africa's epic wildlife with international comfort then a safari is your best choice, but if you want to discover a new culture, then make a change of plans or balance your trip with something else. We also went to Ethiopia and while the comfort standard was light years away from Kenya, the social-cultural component of that part of the trip was much more genuine and memorable. In terms of wildlife, orangutan trekking in Borneo or walking among gellada baboons in Ethiopia feel much more authentic, although not as impressive as what a safari reserve can offer. I think it's a matter of what your profile is and the expectations you have. Again, my only safari experience is in one reserve in Kenya and things could be very different in other places, I don't know but I doubt it. Personally I would take a safari again (tampering my expectations) if I was traveling to Africa on a longer trip. I would never plan a trip exclusively for a safari.
Email Ffyonna Scott | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trip of a Lifetime
We all absolutely loved our trip to Kenya in October! Our tour company, Wildlife Sun Safaris ere fantastic! From the moment the met us at Jomo Kenyatta Airport the we’re a joy to be with. We had drivers for a couple of days in Nairobi, visiting DSWT, Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Museum. Then our wonderful driver and safari guide, Japheth. Thanks to him, we saw 4/5 of the big 5 in Masai Mara, and more elephants than I could count in Amboseli, much to my absolute delight! We saw leopards (and a live kill), cheetahs and lions. I would go back to Kenya in a heartbeat and would ask James at Wildlife Sun Safaris to organise my trip before considering anyone else. James, Japheth, thank you so much for such a special trip, for looking after Penny and for helping us create such beautiful and everlasting memories.
Email Sharon | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
All our expectations were met, and then some!
We booked a six-day safari with Features Africa Journeys, Nairobi. We chose the six-day safari (Amboseli - Nakuru - Maasai Mara) over the usual 4-day safaris because this one included Amboseli and we really wanted to see Mount Kilimanjaro. Who doesn't?! The tour was on the luxury scale (c. $1500 per person, all accommodation, meals and transport included) and it was worth every single cent.
Our guide, Anthony, had the most extraordinary knowledge about the wildlife and local culture; he knew every answer to every question. Not only that, he had the magic touch. Somehow, no matter what we asked for he found it; this included an end-of-season wildebeest crossing. A tall order, but he found a group of wildebeest along the river. It didn't look as though they were going to move but Anthony said, 'Wait 10 minutes'. We did ... and they did. Magical.
Although it would add to the cost, I think two nights at Nakuru would be a better experience. We arrived just before dinner and left very early the next morning, so we didn't get to experience the best that the camp had to offer. Maybe make an extra day an option for travellers booking this safari?
The accommodation in the three camps we stayed at was 5-star in the literal sense. To top it all, we opted for the hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara. An absolute 'must-do' if your budget allows it.
I would recommend this tour company and the 6-day safari without any hesitation. We also did the one-day tour to Lake Naivasha and Hells Gate. Again, our expectation were exceeded.
Our thanks to Anthony and Karanja of Features Africa Journeys. Top notch. I have a feeling we will see you again.
Email Lynne | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We visited Katanga forest, Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara and Amboseli over 9 days
Kenya is a great place to visit on safari. We enjoyed everywhere we went - which was a self picked itinerary. In retrospect I think we should have visited fewer parks in the time available as we did have some long days driving. Our driver was excellent at finding game for us - and was always keen to find as much as possible for us to see!
Food and accommodation everywhere was very good.
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Email Patrick C | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Overpriced Destination
Safari was great. Guide was knowledgeable. Balloon was a rip off. Way overpriced at a ridiculous 400 USD/per person for an hour flight. Then poor quality photos were an optional extra 40 USD. Kenya would be great if they didn't automatically screw you and charge you double/triple on everything just because you're white or a westerner. Also there is a sense of entitlement among those providing services, like they deserve to screw tourists, or that you must tip as they feel owed!!
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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 Ronald Prentkiewicz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We enjoyed Kenya wildlife.
Loved seeing and learning about the wildlife. Since that was our purpose and goal for the trip, Kenya surpassed our expectations in that area. There was an abundance of wildlife at all the locations visited and we would not have skipped anything on our itinerary except for Lake Bogoria. Masai Mara, Ambroselli, and Lake Nakura were our favorites,
Most accommodations were adequate.
I did not think Kenya or its wildlife parks were tourist friendly. The lack of bathrooms was surprising.
Mixed review for tour company and guide. They kept changing our lodging and trying to give us lesser quality lodging. Guide knew a lot about wildlife but would only share what was specifically asked. I felt like I had to fight to get all that was included on the itinerary either to save money on park admission or make the job easier for the driver/guide. Driver had very good driving skills.
High pressure sales tactic used at rest stops which were not appreciated.
Incredible
We visited Kenya in March, the start of the wet season. I was warned that wildlife isn't good this time of year. However, on our way to our first camp in the Masai Mara, we saw almost every animal we wanted to, and that was just on the way in! The wildlife here is abundant and varied. Our accommodations were absolutely beautiful and comfortable, with all of them offering delicious food. The roads can be a very bumpy, and the country is quite big so traveling by car can give you a sore behind! I certainly couldn't help but wonder how some mature travellers were handling it.
The weather through the day was lovely, not too hot, not too cold. The rains did set in in the afternoon, but it always cleared by morning. It didn't interrupt our game drives too much.
We loved our time in this country and highly recommend it to others interested in a safari.
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Email Anna & Gunnar Wikmark | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A perfect trip to Maasai Mara, Kenya
Maasai Mara was a must for our first visit to Kenya and we wanted to experience both the national park and the Maasai living there, if possible. Not merely as spectators but as part of the daily life. We were looking all over for a tour company or guide that could help us to that experience and finally found what become the perfect match for us in Mpario (John) and Corinna at Namayiana Safaris. A more devoted and friendly couple would be hard to find elsewhere and their sense for our, sometimes not so clearly articulated, wishes was outstanding. They arranged everything we asked for, from picking us up at the airport in Nairobi, lodging and allowing us to get to know Nairobi, lodging at the camp in Maasai Mara, game drives, introduction to the Maasai and the Maasai culture (John being a Maasai warrior himself), a most pleasant night in the Maasai village and even a hike to the mountain above the village, including an insight in Maasai medical plants. In Maasai Mara we were provided exactly the kind of tented camp we wished for, the Fisi Camp. We made visits to the park three days in a row, at evening, mid-day and morning. Johns driving skills on the sometimes quite challenging dirt roads and even more skills to be where the animals appear gave us fantastic opportunities to be close to many lions, elephants, fighting hippopotami and many more animals in various surroundings and situations.
When their spare driver, Jimmy, four nights later dropped us at our friends place in Kakamega, also a part of the agreed arrangements, we had a camera full of astonishing photos and our hearts full of Kenya and several new friends, not only John and Corinna. We now recommend all our friends to visit Kenya and to ask Namayiana Safaris to be their guide we and long for the next time in Kenya.
