Guide Ken with one of our 4x4 Land Cruisers
Spirit of Kenya
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2014)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $300 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
Email Dr Rohit Sachdeva | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Deflections and Deflated
To the Management of Spirit of Kenya
I am writing to express my profound disappointment and concern regarding the manner in which our cancellation and refund request has been handled.
This journey was not merely another vacation. For me, it was deeply personal. I was born in Kenya and had been looking forward to returning to my country of birth after an absence of nearly forty-five years. This safari represented far more than a travel itinerary—it was an emotional homecoming, an opportunity to reconnect with a place that shaped my earliest memories.
It is therefore particularly distressing that what should have been a meaningful and joyful experience has instead become a prolonged dispute characterized by delay, inconsistency, and a complete lack of transparency.
When circumstances beyond our control forced the cancellation of our group’s booking, valued at approximately $27,726, we expected a professional and good-faith discussion regarding the disposition of the funds. Instead, we encountered a series of shifting explanations, prolonged delays, and interpretations of contractual provisions that appeared to change depending upon the response being given.
At various stages:
• Responses were delayed through references to holiday closures and operational limitations.
• Responsibility was repeatedly shifted to third-party suppliers and hotels, despite our contractual relationship being with Spirit of Kenya.
• Contract language was reinterpreted in ways that were never apparent when the agreement was signed.
• Cancellation fee calculations were introduced that do not appear anywhere in the executed contract.
• Communications became increasingly sporadic, and substantive responses ceased when legitimate questions were raised.
As consumers, we do not object to reasonable contractual obligations. We do object to contractual provisions being redefined after the fact and to the apparent creation of financial penalties that were never disclosed or agreed to by either party.
The true measure of a travel company is not how it behaves when everything proceeds smoothly. It is how it treats its customers when unexpected events arise. Unfortunately, our experience has demonstrated a troubling lack of accountability, transparency, and customer stewardship.
As a result, we have been forced to pursue remedies through credit card disputes, regulatory complaints, and legal consultation—steps that no customer should have to take simply to obtain fair treatment.
What is most disappointing is that this dispute has overshadowed what should have been a celebration of Kenya itself. After nearly forty-five years away, I anticipated returning with excitement, gratitude, and pride. Instead, this experience has been dominated by frustration and distrust created not by the country, but by the conduct of the company entrusted with organizing the journey.
I urge Spirit of Kenya to reconsider its position and to resolve this matter in a manner consistent with both the letter and the spirit of fair dealing. Businesses that rely on trust, reputation, and international goodwill cannot afford to treat customers as adversaries when circumstances become difficult.
We remain hopeful that Spirit of Kenya will choose transparency, fairness, and integrity over continued resistance and delay.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rohit C. L. Sachdeva
Email Pawan J | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bad business practices and deceptive contracts
Do not let the Travelers Choice award fool you. We learned the hard way that Spirit of Kenya’s business practices are deceptive and predatory.
When we needed to cancel our $27,726 group booking they immediately began stalling, shifting their position with every email, and hiding behind hotel partners to avoid their obligations. They fabricated holiday closures to delay responses. They tried to reframe their own contract language to suit their position. And when all else failed they invented a cancellation fee calculation methodology that does not exist anywhere in the signed contract.
When we pushed back they went silent.
We have been forced to file credit card chargebacks, federal complaints with U.S. government agencies, and engage legal counsel just to recover our own money.
This is not a company that stands behind its customers. Their contract is written entirely in their favor with loopholes designed to trap you. Read every single word before you sign — or better yet, find a safari operator who actually values their customers.
I recommend you book elsewhere. You have been warned.
Email Bernie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The only safari operator you need to consider and we researched plenty
We were a group of seven and chose Spirit of Kenya after being impressed by how quickly and helpfully Filipa responded to our initial enquiries. That responsiveness honestly set them apart from every other operator we contacted, and it turned out to be a good sign of things to come.
Our guides Nester and Joseph exceeded all expectations. Nester in particular has an exceptional depth of knowledge wildlife, birds, local ecology that none of us had encountered in previous safari experiences. He also has a wonderful rapport with communities around the Masai Mara, which gave our group genuine, unscripted insights into Maasai culture and daily life.
When local protests created potential disruptions to our itinerary, both guides handled everything calmly and expertly, getting us to each destination safely. It was reassuring to be in such capable hands.
Logistically, the trip was flawless every hotel check-in was smooth and well arranged, and thoughtful touches like the Spirit of Kenya branded water bottles showed real attention to detail.
If you are considering Spirit of Kenya, don’t hesitate. Ask for Nester and Joseph as your guides, and you will not be disappointed :-)
TW
Email Skylar | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing 14 Days in Kenya & Tanzania – Highly Recommend!
They seamlessly combined the wild adventure of Kenya and Tanzania with top-tier customer service, made even better by our exceptional and knowledgeable guide who ensured our comfort and peace of mind throughout the trip. As a highly responsible operator, their team demonstrated absolute integrity, flexibility, and prompt problem-solving whenever unexpected schedule adjustments arose.
Email Olga | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible trip, 5 out of 5
We have done a 10 days safari for our honeymoon covering Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. The experience with Spirit of Kenya was amazing, from meeting us at the airport throughout the whole trip everything was well-organised, communication was great and we were very happy with the choices of hotels/parks/activities.
Would like to really recommend our guide Thomas as he made the safari incredible. Really knowledgable about all the animals and birds, it was really interesting to talk to him and he could spot animals in places where they are super hard to spot.
Would definitely recommend!
Email Ethan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible, was determined to show us the big 5 and was successful
Our trip to Kenya was truly unforgettable. Everything about the experience felt special from start to finish. We were lucky enough to see the Big Five, which was absolutely incredible and something we will never forget.
The accommodation was fantastic – comfortable, welcoming and perfectly suited to the surroundings. Every detail made the stay feel relaxing after full days of adventure.
A huge thank you to our guide, John Ole Tompoi, who was outstanding. His knowledge, professionalism and genuine passion made the whole experience even more enjoyable. He always went the extra mile to make sure we saw amazing wildlife and had the best possible experience. You can really tell he loves what he does, and it made all the difference.
This trip felt like pure magic. We are very happy we chose this experience and would highly recommend it to anyone considering a safari in Kenya.
Thank you John for making it so memorable – we really appreciate it!
Email John | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service, great guide, thoroughly enjoyed our trip.
We really enjoyed our trip with Spirit of Kenya. We took the 5-day safari and chose a Toyota Land Cruiser. Our guide, Charles, was excellent, he was friendly, knowledgable and was great helping us spot the animals as we toured around. I'd definitely recommend the Land Cruiser option, it's so much more flexible than some of the other transport we saw people using.
DE
Email Tuna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything was well planned!
We had an amazing time in Kenya with Spirit of Kenya tour. Our expectations were far exceeded.
Our favorite stay was in the Masai Mara. The proximity to nature and the beautiful green park truly astonished us. Lake Nakuru and Naivasha were also stunning, with their incredible animal diversity, breathtaking landscapes, and luxurious hotels. The food was always so tasty. The drive to Amboseli was quite long, but seeing so many elephants gathered together in the swamps along with my personal highlight, -a python- made it absolutely worth it.
Overall, we could not be more thankful for Charles -our guide-, who was our feet, ears, and eyes throughout the entire week. He is a very knowledgeable guide with a kind heart!
Everything went perfectly, and we truly appreciate the tour provider being so responsive over the past few months. I highly recommend Spirit of Kenya as your tour provider in your next trip in Kenya!
SG
Email Cheryl | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
Did a 3D2N private tour to Maasai Mara. From the get go, i loved that it was completely customisable based on your schedule, to your desired comfort level for accommodation and even the vehicle! what i loved about them was the price transparency- you knew exactly what you were paying for. on the day of my tour, i was told the road to my accommodation was blocked, and we’d had to shift to an alternative one. Both the company and my guide handled it with such expediency and professionalism. I ended up staying somewhere just as comfortable, and was even refunded the price difference. The game drives were needless to say, amazing. My guide took the time to explain the history / culture of Masai Mara in great detail, and the species that we encountered, big or small. It was amazing; worth every dollar i paid. I’ll be back again ❤️
CN
Email Luca | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Expected Safari Journey with Surprises
Spending five whole days immersed in the wild, four in Masai Mara and one in Lake Nakuru, left us buzzing with excitement. The tour exceeded our every expectation. Despite a minor hiccup with a workers' strike at Nairobi Airport, the overall trip was impeccably organized.
Nothing could’ve prepared us for how close we’d get to the animals. Being a couple of meters away from lions and elephants felt surreal, like the wildlife documentary suddenly let us step inside. Luck was definitely on our side; we managed to see all the Big Five, each sighting more exciting than the last. On top of that, we encountered plenty of creatures we hadn’t even dared to hope for—cheetahs lounging in the tall grass, flamingos painting Nakuru pink, small mammals darting around as if they were performing for us. Every drive brought some unexpected surprise.
Our accommodations were on point. Zinwa Bush in Nakuru was quiet, clean, calm in the best way, and the food hit the spot after long game drives. Slope Mara delivered nicely too—comfortable, welcoming.
I'd like to thank Gerardo, the sales manager, meticulously planned every aspect of the trip. This had been in the works for a good three months, and the itinerary was solid gold. Also Gideon, our guide and driver. His experience was obvious from the start: spotting animals at impossible distances, picking clever routes that brought us close without disturbing anything, handling the vehicle with calm confidence.
