Company Owners, Mathew Jensen and Albert Keronye
Tapestry of Africa Tours and Safaris
- Offices In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2024)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $199 to $1,999 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Al | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tapestry had outstanding communication throughout our trip and a great personal booking experience.
Tapestry of Africa was the perfect choice for us.
After doing a group tour in southern Africa the previous year we realised that this time we wanted to maximise the time spent in the national parks with the animals so Kenya was perfect. I was looking for a longer trip, around 3 weeks, that was packed with safari days.
There were only a few companies I could find doing longer trips that included Tsavo N.P. We wanted to go to Tanzania as part of the trip, specifically the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. I found Tapestry on Safari Bookings as they had a perfect trip listed.
Tapestry had amazing communication and flexibility when booking, allowing me to get my dream trip to everywhere I wanted to go for a suitable budget and timeframe.
Matt at Tapestry will make sure your trip is exactly what you want, you won’t just be another booking as you will be with some other companies. We also contacted a larger company who were too pushy to get the sale, only focusing on telling us how many reviews they had.
We had separate guides and vehicles in Kenya and Tanzania but we had a great time in both. Our guides were both very experienced, friendly and professional (and we had a really great time with them). Thanks to the knowledge and networking of our guides, the overload of animals we saw made sure that our cameras were never put away.
We will go back for another trip in a few years and we will talk to Tapestry because they listened to what we wanted and we trust them to deliver a great trip.
Email Peter | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Matt and the Tapestry of Africa team gave us an East Africa safari experience that we won't ever for
This is a long review so apologies in advance.
Last August we travelled to Africa for the first time. We joined a small group (16 person) safari tour that travelled overland from Zimbabwe to South Africa. It was an amazing holiday and we saw things we’d only dreamt about and it left us wanting to see more.
We knew we wanted to visit eastern Africa, roughly where, when and for how long for. We also knew that even 16 was too many. SafariBookings is such a great resource to search for operators that can deliver what you’re after. We were amazed to find for not a lot more than last year’s trip we could actually take a private safari.
Tapestry of Africa was one of a couple of companies we contacted. One was very well established and Tapestry was a very new operator. We were initially looking at Kenya and Uganda/Rwanda. Both companies responded quickly and with great options but they weren’t working for us. We asked Matt if they were operating the 20 day Grand Kenya and Tanzania Expedition we’d seen on SafariBookings and when Matt said yes, we knew it was the tour for us. We also really liked Tapestry’s payment and cancellation policy.
Matt worked to make the tour fit our budget and our needs. We weren’t looking for a luxury tour. Mid-range is our thing. For medical reasons we just needed a guarantee of an ensuite bathroom. Matt prepared a quote with the details of proposed lodges and mid-range looked pretty amazing!
Over the next short while we worked closely with Matt to get the tour to be exactly what we wanted. We then added a friend to the tour and now it was just a matter of counting down the months until we made the long journey from Australia to Kenya.
We had more questions and these were answered quickly by Matt and Hilda.
Regular emails were sent to us with important information regarding what to expect, and to remember to organise visas and vaccinations. The one list that wasn’t really great was the packing list. If we’d used the provided list and packed for four weeks we would have needed an extra vehicle!! Every lodge we stayed at for two nights offered laundry. Our advice is to pack light and smart and plan to wash regularly.
As a gay couple we also had some concerns about travelling to two countries with laws/policies that could affect us but Matt assured us the safari industry was welcoming and not to be worried.
Itinerary - five stars
Price - five stars
Communication - five stars
Our friend travelled on his own to Nairobi and arrived early on the same day as us. Albert met our friend at the airport, and Kevin, another Tapestry staff member, met us. My partner and I are quite independent travellers and we booked our own airfares, and the hotels we stayed at the start and end of our tour.
The safari. Just one word describes it - amazing.
Our guide to be Jackson contacted me the night before to let us know what time he would be at the hotel to pick us up. He was there waiting for us the next morning when we came down from our room. It was a surreal experience to realise that Kigwara, the Landcruiser safari vehicle in the hotel driveway, was just for us.
Then we were on our way to Meru National Park and it was very clear we were all going to get on fantastically. And we did. Jackson was brilliant - funny, caring and organised. He was a great driver, a great spotter and became a great friend.
Safaris are always pot luck as to what you’ll see. Go expecting to be surprised. We chose not to travel in high season to try to avoid the crowds. It means the animals might not be as abundant but it also means you might be alone when you do see them. And see them we did.
We visited Meru, Samburu, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara in Kenya before crossing into Tanzania. For all of us, Samburu was the highlight of Kenya part one. Gorgeous landscapes, an amazing lodge and so many animals. Big five and special five already seen in the first four days of our safari!
On the whole, travel days were quite short, nearly all under five hours. The one day that was very, very long was when we crossed the border into Tanzania and travelled to the Serengeti. Considering the Mara and Serengeti are the same gigantic reserve, 13 hours is a long day, lodge to lodge. One thing I have to stress here is to make sure that you have the little vaccination book with your yellow fever vax recorded. Our friend had the vax but not the book, and had to pay USD50 to get one.
Ernest, our Tanzania guide, was very different to Jackson. Quiet and reserved but so knowledgeable and a great wildlife spotter.
The Serengeti was awesome. 40+ lions over two days. Ngorongoro was like being in a giant open range zoo. Lake Manyara and Tarangire, elephant heaven.
Only one itinerary glitch. When we drove straight past the entrance to Lake Manyara NP I asked Ernest why we hadn’t entered. I showed Ernest our itinerary and he just wasn’t aware. A couple of quick phone calls back to the office and the issue was resolved. Lake Manyara was really fantastic. I’m glad I spoke up.
Then it was back to Kenya for elephant overload - Amboseli, where we went on a balloon ride gazing at a perfectly clear Kilimanjaro, and finally the two Tsavos.
You can’t do anything about the roads and some of them are bad, REALLY bad. Be prepared. Into and out of our lodge at Masai Mara won the prize for worst, followed closely by the road out of Lake Naivasha. The road from Serengeti to Ngorongoro was high speed corrugated hell as well.
The seats in our vehicle were super comfortable, and for three the vehicle was perfect, as we could slide the first and middle row seats to make more room for each of us.
Our lodges without exception were all excellent. We slept in a mix of large safari tents and permanent structures. We had just one issue. This was at Fig Tree Camp after our first night and it was resolved by Jackson the next morning. Don’t ever hesitate to raise issues with your guide. They are there to help you.
For me the highlight was Acacia’s Enkirari Wilderness Camp in the Serengeti, a tented camp surrounded by gnu and zebra massing before the migration. Meals were usually served as buffets, were freshly prepared and there was good variety. Some will of course not do it, but I ate salads and fruit, and drank cocktails with ice and suffered no ill effects.
Hilda and Albert were in constant contact via WhatsApp, checking how things were going and asking us to let us know if anything needed following up.
We can’t recommend Tapestry of Africa highly enough. If I could have, I would have turned around and retraced our steps in the reverse order.
US
Email Rahul | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional
Tapestry of Africa planned and executed a phenomenal safari tour of Tanzania and Kenya. It was a luxury tour, with knowledgeable and caring tour guides, comfortable safari vehicles, exceptional hotels/lodges and many well planned safari tours.
Planning and booking with Matt was an absolute pleasure. Matt gave some great recommendations, suggested many well thought through alternatives and helped plan around all my needs!
Hilda booked all the places and provided great details on what to expect. Hilda and Matt were fantastic in helping us replan as I moved some dates and extended some stays and added some flights. They were a joy to plan and book with.
The Kenya and Tanzania guides they arranged were fantastic! We got to see all the big five (many times), plus lots and lots of animals, birds and reptiles. It was a truly mesmerizing experience, mainly because the guides knew where to take us at what time of the day.
Visited Nairobi, Masai Mara NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro, Arusha, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Serval and Amboseli NP’s. All accommodations were five star, all food was exceptional and the safari times were well paced.
I would absolutely recommend booking with Tapestry of Africa for all your African safari and travel needs. I certainly will be booking through them again very shortly.
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Email Madhu | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Matt and Team are THE BEST !!! Highly recommend them for affordable prices and great experience.
When we decided to take our kids to Kenya and Tanzania this summer, I reached out to more than 15 tour agents. From the very first conversation with Mathew, we knew he was the right person to trust. Matt immediately understood our needs and tailored a 9-day itinerary that was perfect for our family.
He was incredibly responsive, answering all our questions with patience and guiding us through every step of the process, from visas and insurance to travel logistics, clothing, food, and more. No matter the time of day, Matt was always available for a quick call to clarify any doubts.
Matt also has an outstanding team. Albert, in particular, was fantastic. He worked closely with us as our travel dates approached, always available and willing to go the extra mile even helping us purchase a few essentials before we arrived in Kenya. His kindness and support made a big difference in our experience.
Hilda, on the other hand, is truly exceptional. She went above and beyond to make sure we were enjoying every moment of our vacation. The campsites and lodges she arranged for us were not only beautiful but also incredibly comfortable.
Her thoughtfulness really stood out, she surprised me with not just one, but two birthday celebrations during the trip, which was incredibly heartwarming. When our return flights were delayed and we were left stranded at the airport, Hilda immediately stepped in. Even on a Sunday night, she managed to arrange comfortable accommodation for us, ensuring we were taken care of.
Her dedication and passion are clear; she didn’t treat us like just clients, but like family, making sure we were okay every step of the way until we arrived home safely :-)
Our guide in Kenya, Saami was truly outstanding. We learned so much about the country through him—his deep knowledge, passion for wildlife, and insights into Kenyan history and culture made every road trip memorable. He kept us entertained and informed the entire way.
Thanks to his sharp eye and expertise, we were able to spot so many incredible animals. One of the most unforgettable moments was waiting with him for 90 minutes just to see a leopard climb down from a tree, leaving his kill on the tree. It was absolutely worth it and one of the highlights of our trip.
He’s not only an excellent guide but also a truly remarkable person.
Our guide in Tanzania, David, was equally impressive. Incredibly knowledgeable and reliable, he made sure we reached every destination on time and never missed a moment of the action.
One of the most unforgettable experiences with him was witnessing 3 or more lionesses hunt zebras and gazelle early one morning, an absolutely breathtaking sight. David has an amazing eye for spotting wildlife and seemed to always know exactly where to be. Thanks to our guides, we were able to spot the BIG FIVES
Above all, what truly sets these individuals apart is that they are not just tour agents or guides—they are genuinely kind and caring human beings. They went out of their way to ensure that every moment of our journey was meaningful and that every penny we spent was truly worth it.
What we thought would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip has now left us wanting to return again. Huge thanks to the entire team—kudos to each one of you, and to Tapestry of Africa for creating such an unforgettable experience to cherish for a lifetime.
Email Samantha Banton | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tapestry of Africa Tours and Safaris are outstanding with an excellent service!
Where do I begin, the safari was a 50th birthday gift from my husband, and I thank God that I came across Tapestry of Africa Tours and Safaris when I began looking into booking the safari, there were other tour operators that I came into contact with but, there was something about the warm, welcoming service I received from Matt, who was always on hand to answer any questions I had, at anytime. This is one of things that helped me in making my decision to book with Tapestry, also knowing that they are a company that gives back to the community was even more of an incentive for me to book with them. As the safari approached I was in contact with the team who assisted in guiding me every step of the way. Albert who kept in contact via WhatsApp to answer any further questions I had, and to let me know he would be the one meeting me at the airport, and checked in to make sure everything was alright. Hilda who made sure that our vaccinations and visas and insurance were done which was really helpful when crossing the border from Kenya to Tanzania, and on to Zanzibar, it made the process run smoothly, as I saw people who had to be stopped for not having their visas or insurance. She also kept in contact to make sure everything was going well and that if I had any issues, which thankfully I didn’t have I could let her know.
Let’s talk about the safari it was one of the most amazing experience's I’ve had thanks be to God! We spent 3 days in Kenya, 6 days in Tanzania and 3 days in Zanzibar. Our guides made it unforgettable experience starting with our Kenyan guide Ephantus who looked after us and made sure we were always comfortable and endeavoured to take us to the places where we had the opportunity to spot one the big five, which we did the first day we saw a rhino on the way to Lake Nakuru, the second day at the Masai Mara NP we saw the king of jungle up close feeding on his prey amazing, pictures really don’t do this experience any justice!
Our Tanzanian guides Eddy and David were outstanding and stood out! They always made sure we were ok and reminded us that they were always there for us. They made our daily long drives fun, entertaining and enjoyable the days went by too quickly. David and I shared the same faith so we taught each other worship songs from our churches amazing! They taught us the Jambo song which I love and can’t stop singing.
Not forgetting our Zanzibar guide Yohana who picked us up from the airport when we got to Zanzibar. We had a day to rest from our safari and then the following day he took us on a Stone town and spice farm tour which was a really enlightening. He picked us up on our final morning and dropped us to the airport.
I must add that the guides are all knowledgeable in their fields. The team are willing to go above and beyond to ensure an amazing experience. My husband had left the binoculars in the Kenyans guide car when we changed over to our Tanzanian guides, by the time he realised he had gone too far. The team arranged for it be delivered to the hotel we were staying at before our flight home.
To conclude I want to say a big thank you to the partners Matt, Albert and the team at Tapestry for making my 50th birthday safari experience an unforgettable one.
CA
Email Michael B | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing experience! Totally recommend!
I just finished a 10 day Kenya safari with Tapestry of Africa and could not recommend them more! From my first exchange with Matt, I could tell I was dealing with a professional company that care about client service. Responses to questions were always quick and complete. Matt took the time to understand my needs and helped craft an itinerary that would meet them. I was travelling with my wife to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary as well as a couple of friends. Everyone was extremely satisfied with the camps and parks. Matt’s team, notably Hilda and Albert were also checking in regularly to see if everything was going well and if we needed anything. Hilda also arranged for a lot of special recognitions of our anniversary at the different places we stayed. It was not expected so these touches really made the holiday extra memorable for us. I’ll also call out how even if we booked our pre-post hotels ourselves (outside our package), they still offered to organize transfers to and from the airport for us pro-actively which is another demonstration of client care. The last person I’d mention was Mbuthia (Peter), our guide and driver who is a man of few words but when you engage him in a conversation, he’ll go on as long as you like, share his thoughts and feelings about Kenya . He’s also EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE about each of the parks we visited, as well as the animals and birds we saw in each one. He was a good tracker and because of him we saw the big five and many other!
It was really an exceptional trip and I recommend using Tapestry of Africa without reservation! If you’re clear on your needs, they will make it a trip of a lifetime for sure!
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Email EB | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Magical Kenya and Tanzania
Tapestry of Africa did a fantastic job organizing our luxury itinerary to Kenya and Tanzania with just a party of two. Since we were crossing countries, we were a little nervous about the process, but everything went smoothly. Our guides were very knowledgeable, answered our many questions and were with us the entire time through border crossings :). Matt and Albert were also wonderful, checking on us often. The safari itself was just “magical”, as my traveling partnered would put it and I would fully agree. Based on the cost, knowledgeable guides, and the experience, I would highly recommend Tapestry of Africa as a tour operator, particularly with the added bonus of the company giving back to the community.
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Email Jeff | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience, saw a ton of amazing animals and stayed in awesome lodges
Our guides new how to find all the animals, which I really appricated. The lodges were great and I felt overall that we got great value for our money.
CA
Email Rob | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic first safari experience !
I just got back from my first safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Our group had the best time! We were very happy with our experience with Tapestry. Right from the start they were quick to give us a quote for the trip and so good at responding to our emails. Their team is incredibly well organized. Our trip went so smooth there wasn't a single issue. We went at the end of May/early June and it ended up being a great time to travel because it was less busy but also not the rainy season. The hotels and food were great and we loved our guides. So knowledgeable about the wildlife and they knew the parks so well. We saw so many animals including the big 5. Would highly recommend this company. Part of their proceeds go to dental outreach which is also nice :)
CA
Email Rachel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best experience ever! We loved every moment of our 11 day safari in Kenya + Tanzania
I just got back from an 11 day safari with Tapestry and our group of 6 had the most fantastic time! From the moment we landed everything was perfect. The hotels were beautiful, the food delicious and the guides were amazing. We were a bit nervous going at the end of May with it being the end of the rainy season and the grass being longer at that time. We were told not to worry and that we would have an amazing time and we did. It barely rained, and only at night time so we were unaffected. We saw an incredible amount of animals and had actually seen the big 5 by the end of our second day of safariing. Our guides George (in Kenya) and Joseph (in Tanzania) were fantastic. You could tell they truly cared we had an amazing experience and wanted us to see as many animals as possible. The schedule was very flexible. We could start our game drives as early as we wanted and end whenever we liked. Everything was so well organized we didn't have to do a thing. Throughout the trip we were followed up with several times to make sure everything was going as planned. Tapestry even organized a birthday cake for my brother's 30th birthday which was such a fun surprise. There are so many safari companies to choose from it's overwhelming but I'm super happy we went with Tapestry.