Elevate Your Escapes
Splendid Vacations
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2023)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $120 to $900 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
PL
Email Sergii | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional safari with Timothy: expert guide, skilled driver, and unforgettable wildlife moments
From the first sight, Timothy distinguished himself as an exceptional guide and driver. His professionalism immediately put us at ease and set the stage for an extraordinary safari experience in Kenya.
We were in a 5-day trip through Amboseli, Naivasha, Nakuru and Masai Mara. And we were lucky to meet not only the big 5 of Africa, but also an Ugly 5! Unfortunately, the Shy 5 was too shy 😂
Timothy’s knowledge of the terrain is nothing short of remarkable. Navigating complex safari routes without reliance on maps or GPS, he demonstrated both expertise and confidence, ensuring a seamless journey through diverse landscapes.
Equally impressive was his ability to identify and locate wildlife. Timothy’s keen eye allowed us to witness rare and unforgettable sightings that we might otherwise have missed (like leopards, lions etc).
Moreover, he is a great driver, and while others had problems with Masai Mara routes, we have none.
He consistently ensured that we had the time and opportunity to fully appreciate each encounter, whether observing quietly or capturing the moment on camera. His passion for the region, its wildlife, and the overall safari experience was evident.
Our safari, under Timothy’s guidance, was a real adventure. His professionalism, expertise, and love for a wildlife elevated the experience to the highest standard. For those seeking an outstanding guide, Splendid Vacations and Timothy come with the strongest possible recommendation.
Email Aditya | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointing Experience and Lack of Value
Our experience with this service was profoundly disappointing. We found that the quality was poor, and markups were added without delivering any corresponding value.
Key Issues
Overpriced with No Added Value: Significant markups were applied, but the service did not justify the cost. For instance, our flight tickets show a price in Kenyan shillings equivalent to approximately $470, yet we were billed $698. For such a premium, we expected expertise, local insights, and proactive support, but received none.
Unreliable: There was a lack of rigour in the details provided, and some committed items in the itinerary were left undelivered until we challenged them. We were initially assured of premium room , but when we requested specifics, we discovered that our rooms were merely superior, not premium.
Disorganised: We had to repeatedly follow up for basic details such as driver timings. To us, the experience felt like dealing with a basic middleman service, without any added value. Thankfully, the hotels we booked were excellent and ultimately salvaged our trip.
Detailed Experience
Nairobi: Last-minute changes to our plans resulted in missing most of the elephant centre, skipping a paid-for market stop, and being transported in substandard vehicles for both the airport pick-up and the day tour.
Masai Mara: The vehicle provided was in poor condition—dirty, with some doors that wouldn’t open, and felt generally neglected. The driver was rude and spent the entire six-hour drive and subsequent game drives on their phone. They attempted to skip the paid game drive and were hostile when we insisted on following our itinerary. The day began with no clear plan, and when questioned, the driver was extremely discourteous. Later, they informed us that the paid for village tour could not be accommodated, as we supposedly needed to leave at 7 a.m. to reach the restaurant for lunch by 2 p.m.—none of which was previously communicated. We had to insist (and offer additional payment) for a different driver for the return journey to address these issues. To give them their due, Splendid organised an alternative.
Mombasa: Although we paid for a late checkout, the hotel was never informed. Transfers required constant chasing for details.
Refund and Transparency
We received a small refund for undelivered items, but there was no transparency regarding what these items were. The refund did not compensate for the poor experience. What was most disappointing was the lack of transparency—for example, skipping parts of the itinerary and claiming it was for our safety, yet not communicating this at the time of booking, Or late checkout not being arranged despite charging - with the explanation that they do this only on the last day when flight details are known. However, by then, the hotel had already allocated rooms – so even had they wanted to extend, it would have been impossible. Note - this late check out charge was refunded, on our demand.
Our recommendation based on conversations with other guests and travellers, is that you skip this service as you will receive better value, service, and advice by booking directly with hotels and camps.
Reply from Splendid Vacations
Posted on Sep 1, 2025Dear Aditya,
Thank you for choosing Splendid Vacations Africa to arrange your recent trip, and thank you for the detailed feedback. Allow us to shed more light on the feedback as follows;
Overpricing of the flights: We booked a domestic flight with Kenya Airways in economy class as requested. Flight rates continue to fluctuate daily, depending on demand and supply, driven by factors such as seasonality, holidays, fuel costs, airline competition, economic conditions, special events, and airline operational costs. The rates quoted were based on the date of quotation, and we booked the flights on the exact dates specified in the booking confirmation. However, the in-flight services offered by the airlines are beyond our control.
Unreliable: During the planning and booking of your safari, the assigned tour consultant, who was your primary contact, clearly stated that the rooms booked at the Baobab Beach Resort were superior rooms, an upgrade from the standard rooms. This was clearly indicated on the price breakdown, and the room allocated for your stay in Baobab Beach Resort was the superior room.
Disorganized: We specialize in private safaris, which allows us to accommodate clients' needs and special requests with flexibility. Each day, the driver guide provided a detailed briefing on the day's activities. Additionally, the driver's contact details and pick-up details were shared a day before you arrived in Kenya. Upon your arrival at the airport, you were welcomed by our airport representative, who provided a complimentary transfer to your hotel in Nairobi for your overnight stay.
Detailed experience: We completely understand the disappointment caused by the last-minute change to visit certain parts of Nairobi during the Nairobi City tour. The safety of our clients is our top priority. During your visit, some suggested locations were deemed unsafe, and the driver informed you of this. We also offered a full refund for the areas that weren't visited. On the first day of your safari to the Masai Mara, the itinerary clearly mentions an en-route game drive before check-in and a hot lunch at the hotel. Due to traffic and the fact that your hotel is situated outside the park, the driver suggested checking in first, having lunch, and then proceeding on the game drive at a relaxed pace. After a 6-hour drive from Nairobi to the Masai Mara, you opted not to go to the hotel first and instead suggested doing a game drive until evening. The driver was happy to accommodate this change, even forgoing lunch to enhance your experience. The driver-guide kept in touch with our office to update us on the frequent changes to the itinerary. We have scheduled a meeting with the driver-guide to address the claims of being hostile and rude, which do not align with our company's values. We sincerely apologize for this and will take appropriate disciplinary actions.
Refund and transparency: On the day of check-in at the beach hotel, the office clearly communicated that the hotel check-out is typically booked two days before the guest's check-out date. This is a result of the constant changes in flight timings that we've experienced for quite a while with domestic airlines. The booked airline changed your flight timings from an evening flight to an early afternoon flight (we shared the communication from the airline in advance for your records), and it was pretty evident that we didn't have to reserve the late check-out in advance, as the fees could not be refunded. However, the late check-out fees were fully refunded in cash. The breakdown of items to be refunded was shared a day before you arrived in Nairobi from Diani Beach, and was offered in cash at your hotel in Nairobi.
We greatly value your feedback and are committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that future guests have a memorable and fulfilling experience they deserve.
Thank you!
DE
Email Katarina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our heart's desire was fulfilled
Our trip to Kenya fulfilled a long-held dream. We had our trip planned through Splendid Vacation. Rachael customized our itinerary to our individual needs, and everything was superbly organized. Thank you so much for that. Julius, our safari guide and driver, also did a fantastic job. We had so much fun and saw so many incredible animals and landscapes, and everyone was so incredibly nice. We hope to come back one day. It was simply a dream.
Email Qian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Service from Start to Finish
We had an amazing safari experience with this company, and we’d love to share it.
First of all, our customer service Alice was fantastic. She responded to all our questions quickly and provided us with very helpful information. She arranged our itinerary in advance according to our needs and also reminded us what to prepare before the trip.
Our guide Willy was outstanding. He is extremely professional and an excellent driver. With his use of the intercom and phone, he was able to find the best animal sightings faster and avoid traffic jams. Most importantly, he arranged our daily schedules very thoughtfully, adapting flexibly to different situations. On our last day, when we decided to add an extra day of safari at the last minute, Willy managed to adjust and organize everything right away.
The Land Cruiser was spacious and comfortable, easily fitting luggage for five people. The vehicle was also equipped with a binocular and a camera bean bag, which made photography much easier.
Lastly, for the final two nights, it even offered us a complimentary upgrade, which was a wonderful surprise.
Overall, everything was perfectly arranged, from customer service to guiding, transport, and accommodations.
IT
Email Fabrizio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful safari
Dennis from Splendid Vacations arranged for us a private tour of the best parks of Kenya. He was perfect in tailoring the trip for us, adjusting timing and accommodations according to our needs. Our trip with our 3 young daughters was simply amazing.
James, our driver, guide and part of the family for a week, has been wonderful in spotting all of the animals, including big 5 and ugly 5, and making fun every second of the trip. He is also great as a photographer, we have pictures that you can see only on TV documentary!
Seeing cheetahs hunting was also terrific!
We would definitively choose Splendid Vacations for our next trip to Kenya (maybe including Tanzania as well).
Thank you again James!
Email Rebecca | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kenya Safari
Our safari trip was amazing and the pre trip communication with James was reliable and reassuring. Our driver Steven was fantastic and informative. I would recommend a safari with this company!
IT
Email Saverio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Agency is reliable, but jeep and organization need improvement
We booked this agency through safaribookings.com based on the good reviews and quick communication with Brenda. Everything was easy to arrange and the cost was as expected, with the option to pay part of it in cash upon arrival in Nairobi.
Overall, the experience was positive, but for the price we expected better.
Jeep: ours (plate KBP 454K) was in very poor condition (broken seats, torn upholstery, seat belts not working, serious fuel tank problems). Refueling took over 40 minutes while other jeeps managed in 2. On top of this, we had to deal with multiple flat tires — even the two spare wheels were punctured, forcing us to repair them on the way and wasting a lot of time.
Guide/Driver: Dan did his best, but combining both roles is not ideal. He seemed inexperienced and lacked basic equipment (no binoculars). Driving and spotting animals at the same time is very difficult.
Transfers/Timing: travel times were much longer than promised (about +50%), which cut short our safari time. For example, we paid USD 400 but had only 3 hours inside the Masai Mara.
In short: reliable agency and smooth booking, but the vehicle quality and organization need serious improvement.
Reply from Splendid Vacations
Posted on Aug 25, 2025Dear Saverio,
Thank you for choosing Splendid Vacations Africa to arrange your recent trip, and thank you for the detailed feedback. We appreciate that the booking process was smooth and the overall experience was positive.Â
However, we take full responsibility for the issues you had with the vehicle's condition with registration KBP 454 K and sincerely apologize for any inconveniences caused. The car in question will no longer be doing safaris, as our dream, as evidenced by other reviews, is to ensure our clients have a good 4 x 4 Safari Land Cruiser for a memorable safari experience.
Recently, we implemented a comprehensive program focused on repairing and servicing our fleet after every safari due to the challenging road conditions inside the parks to ensure that our clients have a seamless and enjoyable safari experience. This proactive step is aimed at ensuring that our future clients do not encounter similar problems. Rest assured, this will not happen again to any client.
We completely understand the importance of having a well-experienced driver guide while on the safari. To ensure the expertise of our drivers, we have invested heavily in ensuring that they regularly undergo professional training to maintain set standards in the tourism industry, be well-informed about the parks, and have in-depth knowledge about the flora and fauna. Unfortunately, Daniel, the driver guide assigned to your group, did not conduct himself appropriately, and we will take disciplinary actions to ensure this does not happen again.
We greatly value your feedback, and we're committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that future guests will have a memorable and fulfilling experience they deserve.
Thank you!
US
Email Madhu | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best vacation of a lifetime.
We highly recommend Splendid Vacations! Starting off, James was so helpful in helping us book an 8 day itinerary. He went above and beyond to help us find accommodations as we were traveling during peak times. George was waiting for us at the airport and helped us get settled in. Our tour guide Marsilla (Alex) is definitely the gem of the tour company. He is very charismatic, intelligent and is somehow friends with everyone. He’s an incredible driver and made us feel very safe the entire journey. Our hotels were very unique with amazing view. The food was okay, but the hospitality was excellent. We managed to cover so much of Kenya in our 8 days and are so grateful to the Splendid Vacations team for our amazing vacation.
CA
Email GitaMistry | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent,organized and very professional
James and Alex were excellent, very good drivers, took time explaining and were always cheerful.
Email Susan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded expectations, such an amazing experience.
Wow—what a trip! Our safari and beach holiday with Splendid Locations was absolutely unforgettable. We were a bit unsure at first since they’re a smaller company in Kenya, but they totally nailed it. Everything we wanted, they made happen.
James our organiser, was a star—always reachable and super organised. We left our passports and valuables behind in a lodge safe (oops!), and they got them to us safely at the next lodge hassle free. Steve our safari guide was professional and knowledgeable and we felt in safe hands the entire week. We saw four of the Big Five on our first safari—such a thrill!
We also added an extra day of sightseeing in Nairobi before flying home.
Huge thanks to Splendid Locations for making this holiday so special. We’ll definitely be booking with them again!
