Alfred Nyairo, Co-founder.
Iyana Africa Tours and Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2022)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Pauline | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Iyana Tour was very professional and kind to me and my kids. Would highly recommend!
Communication was top notch.. the guides were knowledgeable and considerate- allowed a good mix of adventure and rest. Reliable and affordable. I’ll definitely be using them again next time.
Email Matthew | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional Safari, great guide, and wonderful accomodation, all perfectly planned and communicated
We had an amazing safari experience in Kenya with Iyanaa, visiting Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru. Our guide Jackson was amazing and always made us feel safe and worked exceptionally hard to find all the animals we wanted to see. We saw all the big 5, cheetahs, rare monkeys, hippos and a whole host of other animals.
The accommodations provided, Zebra Plains at Masai Mara, and the cliff at lake Nakuru were wonderful, and it was amazing everything was booked and paid for, including the park passes in advance, so we had nothing to worry about.
We also did the early morning hot air balloon add on and this was an unforgettable experience, seeing the Masai Mara from above at sunrise. We were able to see lions, giraffes, hyenas and even the great migration from the sky!! While there were some issues with communication and a last minute pick up from the hot air balloon company, our guide Jackson and Alfred from Iyana woke up early to help us resolve it and make sure we were on our way in time.
All throughout our trip, Iyana communicated clearly, and helped us resolve any issues we had that came up. We had an unforgettable stay and hope to take more trips with Iyana in the future - thank you!
CA
Email Jane | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip of a lifetime - Alfred and Jackson treated us like family
I cannot recommend this safari company highly enough! From the very first morning to the final goodbye, Alfred and Jackson provided an experience that far exceeded our wildest expectations.
Jackson: The Best Guide in Kenya
If you are lucky enough to get Jackson as your driver/guide, you are in for a treat. His experience and skill are unmatched. He worked incredibly hard to ensure we saw everything on our list—we actually spotted all of the animals we wanted to see on the very first day! He never gave up on finding the action, especially when he knew how much we wanted to see a crossing. His connections with the other drivers meant we always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
But beyond the animal spotting, Jackson’s character is what made the trip special:
· Patience & Care: I was dealing with back pain, and Jackson navigated the terrain with incredible skill and patience.
· Joy & Enthusiasm: Even though he has likely seen a lion a hundred times, he celebrated spotting one with us as if it was his first. He took genuine joy in our happiness, greeting us every morning with a smile that set a positive tone for the day.
· Knowledge & Experience: He is an encyclopedia of animal knowledge, but we equally enjoyed learning about Kenyan culture, language, and even how to sing "Hakuna Matata" properly during our drives.
· Professionalism: He was always at least 30 minutes early, always helped in any way he can to make the trip smooth, kept us safe, and made sure we followed park rules. He was also incredibly thoughtful, checking our seats for us for any forgotten items before we moved on.
Alfred: The Master Organizer and Communicator
A huge thank you to Alfred, the co-owner, for putting together such a seamless trip. He was a fantastic communicator throughout the trip, checking in, and answering all my questions promptly. He went out of his way to ensure every detail was perfect and that the logistics were smooth. It is rare to find this level of personalized hospitality.
Overall, the hospitality and care we received were unlike anything I have ever experienced. They didn't just treat us as clients; they treated us as family. If you are considering a safari in Kenya, book with this team. You will not regret it!
Asante Sana, Jackson and Alfred!
CA
Email Tatiana | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Experience with the Highest Level of Care
We had an incredible experience with Iyana from start to finish. What really made them stand out from the very beginning was their excellent communication and their attention to detail. We contacted a few companies to explore custom safari options, and Nicholas immediately impressed us with how responsive, thoughtful, and helpful he was in putting together exactly what we were looking for. Their pricing was very reasonable as well considering a few quotes I received from various companies, and they helped ensure we were able to get our priorities and stay within budget. We went through a few variations and changes and they continued to patiently put everything together until we had the final perfect plan. Thank you, Nicholas!
Once we were on the ground, the excellence continued. Alfred took great care of us throughout the trip, with the same exceptional attention to detail, care, and communication we had experienced from the start.
And then there was Jackson, who was the best driver and guide we could have imagined. He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, kind, professional, and his passion and expertise made the experience truly special. Thanks to him, we were able to see all of the Big Five up close right away! Some of our favorite moments were getting so close to the elephants that we could actually smell them, and watching a lioness with her two playful cubs. But there were really too many unforgettable experiences to count. Jackson's stories were also a highlight of our trip and I'm sure we will be remembering and recounting them for years to come.
We highly recommend this company to anyone planning a safari in Kenya. From the initial planning to the experience on the ground, we could not have asked for better. Our expectations were high coming in, and were far far surpassed. An absolutely unforgettable trip!
CA
Email Ernesto | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One in a lifetime experience
Iyana was outstanding from the beginning. Nicholas was very responsive and had a great attention to detail to make sure our itinerary matched what we were looking for. We booked late and they managed to find us accomodations that met what we were looking for. Our driver, Jackson, was incredibly knowledgeable and did an outstanding job showing us around, making sure we got great views of the wildlife while also being respectful and considerate towards the animals. He truly cares about wildlife and the environment and that's something I really valued. He also was very welcoming and made us feel at home. During our trip, Alfred was also constantly checking on us to make sure everything was smooth.
Iyana is a company that really cares and it shows. I would definitely recommend them for your Safari trip.
Email Lucy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My dream come true
The 3 day safari experience with Iyana was by far the best travel experience of my life. The ease of communication with my driver and the tour operators helped us feel supported and prepared before we even left. Every single detail of this experience went above and beyond my expectations. The safari experience itself was my dream come true, our driver, komora, went above and beyond to give us the most magical game drives and customized the experience to what we wanted at all times. The accommodations we stayed at were so clean, comfortable, and so much more luxurious than we expected for the price we paid. We especially loved the food and drinks at both hotels, it was one of the best breakfast and dinner buffets we have ever had! I seriously can’t think of a single complaint about this experience, it was truly a dream and I would recommend booking with this company to anyone who wants to do a safari.
AE
Email Rajeev verma | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very active, Kind and organised person with good knowledge of the places.
It was our first trip to Masai Mara, the trip was very nicely organised by Alfred from Iyana africa tours, guided me all the time on the choices and pricing part, during the safar he kept checking on how our safari is going and wheather we are comfortable and enjoying gje safari or not and if any issue where he can assist, this is very commendable and highly appreciated.
Our guide Mr. Komora has been an amazing person who drove us everywhere and very nice person to talk to, very good knowledge of the places, park and most amazingly about Animals, he gave us all required details, information and he was very kind and happy with our kids, he become best friend with our younger son who asked him like thousand of questions and he was very nice with him..
I would highly recommend Iyana Africa tours for safari trip and Komora as your go to guide anytime.
Email Bruce | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Superb wildlife tour of 7 parks in Kenya
I have just returned to Nairobi after a superb 10-day photography tour of seven national parks and nature reserves in Kenya (Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Hells Gate, Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli). The opportunities for wildlife and scenery photography were surreal. It was quite uncanny how my driver/guide Shem delivered us to so many amazing wildlife encounters with perfect timing, so that I could get some beautiful photos. We saw so many elephants, rhinos, hippos, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, cheetah and leopard, plus many species of antelope, small mammals and birds. The tour was fast paced but well organised and accommodations, food and service was of high quality. Overall it was a fantastic experience and excellent value for the price. I highly recommend the friendly and professional team at Iyana Africa for your wildlife adventure in Kenya
Impactful memories for a lifetime
Iyana Tours and our driver Komora gave my husband and I a trip we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. We’re already looking forward to our next safari in a couple years.
From the beginning, communicating with Alfred via email was quick, efficient, and he had a high level of accuracy in the planning that made me trust Iyana even though they had few reviews when I began communicating last fall. I’m glad I took a chance with this company because the safari turned out unforgettable. Not a single detail was spared and I truly appreciated the care and attention given to our itinerary.
We spent three days in the Mara, then went to Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. At each location, Komora did his best to ensure we saw all the animals we possibly could. We saw the big five, ugly five, and endless birds. We had an amazing time and now I truly understand why some people say Africa touches the soul. It undoubtedly touched mine.
Thank you to the team for everything!
Email Abbey | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A faultless compact safari
From the start I communicated with Nicholas , who got back to me so quickly, was so friendly and professional and was happy to tailor my tour how I needed and gave me multiple options.
Then we were met by Nicholas, Alfred and our driver Samson at the airport which was a lovely welcome.
We did the two day private Masai Mara safari with a balloon ride as we were limited on time but we did not leave feeling like we were missing out on any experiences.
As soon as we arrived in the Masai Mara we were very lucky to see so much so soon. In one afternoon game drive we saw many iconic animals, as well as 4 of the big 5 (no rhino) but to be expected. But also was lucky enough to spot a Marshall eagle with a fresh kill dragging it along the grass, a serval hunting and a hippo asleep on the sandbank at the hotel where you wait for your balloon ride.
The Balloon ride was unforgettable. Really recommend this addition for a special touch to your safari.
All of the above was so seamlessly organised from start to finish and Samson made sure everything ran smoothly whilst we were under his care and had great knowledge to share.
Thank you all so much for a memorable experience in the Masai Mara , if I ever come back to Kenya I will be contacting this safari company again.