Email Chloe | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing wildlife
We were a group of 5 colleagues who had some spare time at the end of our trip and decided we wanted to do a safari in the Masai Mara. I found Hyrax safaris and they were extremely responsive over what’s app which was really handy due to the time difference. Hyrax were good at sorting out our different room configurations and found us great quality accomodation at Sarova Mara. I would recommend the hotel, we had a room looking out over the reserve. We opted to be driven to the Mara (about 6 hours), I’m glad we did because we saw so much on the journey and there were plenty of stops to stretch your legs. Our guide Aaron was excellent, really knowledgeable and was also flexible about what times we did our drives. I enjoyed doing a full days drive as we saw so much but some of my colleagues found a whole day game drive a bit too much. I’m sure you’d be able to split it into two of you wanted. I would recommend using Hyrax safaris for your safari booking.
NL
Email Mees | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A beautiful country with beautiful people
'Habari' after 43 years arrival in Mombasa Port, experienced in that time already a Safari with a big part of the Crew. I was told to take this opportunity as possible will never come anymore in my life. People from Kenya are where I am always looking for as living in a country full expat and found a few always friendly and 'Hakuna Matata'. This time arrived in Nairobi and now with a family, picked up from the airport by a friendly Maasai, 'Jambo Bwana' (Brighte Maasai Adventures). Above all we had two Maasai people who took care of my family, if their own and did everything to have the best time of their life. Thanks to 'from above' we had beautiful weather! (for us temperatures in heaven specific in the summer, as living in one of the hottest places on earth) And so many animals let us make beautiful photos in all 3 parks, to remember as from 43 years earlier 'only in my mind'.
Hakuna Matata, as holidays should be different from our daily 'struggle of life.' Thanks for our great experience, and our kids, both already adults shall never forget.
US
Email Preston | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wide ranging wild life in large numbers throughout the country marred by inadequate infrastructure.
My Blue Mountain Safari 5 day tour was very much as advertised, both positively and negatively and overall quite enjoyable.
Positively, I can say that during the 5 days we say virtually all the animals it had indicated we likely would, often in large numbers and at times close up. In the parks the animals showed almost no fear of man as we stayed within the vehicles as directed by guide/driver and they have been conditioned not to be concerned about them since they have not been hunted. In our limited interaction with the Keyan service workers before, during and after the safari they were always polite and generally quite helpful once the issue was clearly understood.
Negatively, I had chosen a budget level of accommodations and at times it showed more than expected. Also, the Masai Mara tribal visit and vendors were overtly always seeking to profit of one's interest in their tribal / cultural traditions so limiting the quality of the interaction and to a degree diminishing their dignity and limiting what could be learned from them directly.
ES
Email Feliciano | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Worrhy destination
Worthy destination, nice people but with bss comunications
IT
Email David Gambuzzi | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
amazing charm from Nature
we traveled with Beyond your plains and eberything was wonderfull, even it was a not luxury safary we found everything confortable and well organized.
Kenya wild life is incredible, people are kind and gentile.
An experience that will last for all life long
QA
Email Alexander Gomez | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A superb safari at an affordable price
Kenya was beautiful! The weather was pleasant throughout and there was not even one mosquito! The people were friendly and the food was good, definitely recomnend the sadari at Lenchada Safaris!
ES
Email Cesar Cuellar | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
AMAZING BREATHLESS COUNTRY WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF THIGS TO IMPROVE
I never expected how much and deeply this country impressed us.
We have been for two weeks in Nairobi, Massai Mara Nakuru Naivasha Hell´s Gate Mombassa Diani Beach, and Lamu.
No words to describe all the wild beauty of the country
Six National parks, big five, ugly five, elephants orphanage, and giraffe orphanage, snake park...
We meet people Massai and Kikuyu and are with them (out of the tourist ambiance) and speak with foreign residents from Italy Spain and England.
We read the history of the country and visited Nairobi's museums where our guide explain us much more than a book.
We feel very safe
But, it's so obvious that the country needs to improve a lot of things in order to attract tourism to visit this impressive beautiful, and historical country beyond visiting national parks.
Roads, trains, unexisting public transport, cleaning and appearance of the cities and beaches (look at the capital)
Nonetheless, I'll be back the soon as I can
An experience to remember
Our trip to Kenya was one to remember indeed! We enjoyed the cultural insights we experienced visiting local villages and markets. We imagined a more thrilling experience during game drives but timing and drought were against us. If you are planning to visit Kenya, trust you will have great times there but plan carefully for the time of your visit and your food :). It is quite hard to find convenient food options if you are traveling on a budget Safari thus plan accordingly. We will revisit the country with family members definitely.
US
Email Mark Hale | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Trip
It was an easy flight from Addis to Nairobi where I caught an afternoon ride to the Sankara Hotel. I had a pleasant evening and was met promptly at 7:00am as promised. The 5 hour ride to the camp just outside the Masai Mara Reserve went smoothly and included vistas of the Rift Valley and a couple of opportunities to do some shopping.
The camp was welcoming and the room generous and comfortable. The only surprise was the hot water bottle at the foot of my bed, which I thought was a small animal!
The afternoon included a stop at a Masai village where, for $30, you could get a tour of their homes and see some dancing. It was a fine experience, but I would have preferred not to have been given a tour of their wares with the expectation of a purchase at the end.
The ride to the game park was only interrupted by a gaggle of women animatedly selling their wares with calls of “Jambo, Hello! All for $10!” As I awaited my driver paying the entrance fee.
The park was amazing! I was able to see Zebra, Giraffes, and Water Buffalo within minutes of entering. The next two days were equally exciting as we saw Cheetah, lions, Hippos, Topi, Hyenas, Impala, Elephants, a Leopard, and many birds. The only one of the Big Five I didn’t see was a Rhino.
Overall, it was a great trip and made even greater by my guide, with his eagle eyes and kind demeanor, Charles.
US
Email Elizabeth | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gaps in infrastructure, but beautiful wildlife
More than anything, a good guide and driver makes all the difference! We went to Maasai Mara through Perfect Wilderness Tours and Safaris, and Khalifa absolutely made our trip. He was knowledgeable, insightful, funny, and a good driver (despite the extremely rough terrain). More than that, he's fostered good relationships with everyone in and around the park, from rangers to locals to other guides, which gave him an extra edge in creating a memorable experience. If you book with Perfect Wilderness, ask to have him as a guide!
With accommodations, I would recommend skipping the luxury spots and sticking with a basic option. Lenchada Tourist Camp wasn't cushy, but had everything we needed. When you're only going to be there to sleep and have breakfast, it's not worth it to spend the extra money.
One thing I can't recommend is the Maasai cultural experience. If you want to support the tribe beyond your park fees, I would donate to a community fund and skip the show.
