Beacon Safaris Team in Masai Mara
Beacon Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $200 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
We had a fantastic holiday experience
I must admit this company gets good review for a reason. At first i was a little nervous having them as my choice but i tell you i enjoyed everything.
Email Les Daubney | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rescued our holiday and gave us the experiences we always dreamed of.
This company gets good reviews for a reason, although small they are very very good
Robert and his team came to the rescue when we were badly let down by another operator. I was a little nervous about rebooking our trip following our very bad experience but I need not have worried everything went really really smoothly and everything fully met our expectations. Robert went above and beyond when our luggage was delayed in Frankfurt by 24 hours. We went onto Samburu whilst Robert arranged to collect our luggage and reunite us with it at Nakuru a couple of days into the trip.He also arranged our transfer from Wilson to Jomo Kenyatta when we flew back into Nairobi after spending a few days on the coast after our safari. We would have been happy to get a taxi but the transfer was a kind and generous offer.
Eric our driver and guide was excellent throughout. We saw all of the animals we hoped to see with superb views and photos of everything. We also identified almost 200 species of birds!. Eric was extremely patient with us every time we asked to stop to look at and identify a bird although I suspect he did run up a big phone bill!. In the parks Eric always knew where to take us and in the Mara particularly was in his element when the cry went out on the CB that a cat had been sighted. Like a good hunter he thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of the chase!
Just a word of advice based on our experience. You are often advised to travel with US dollars. As residents of the UK we lose some money when we change from GBP into dollars. In Kenya many people will take dollars but always convert to Kenyan Shillings. The exchange rate varied from 85 - 100 Shillings to the dollar. You will likely lose out again when you pay in dollars. If we were visiting again we would just take Kenyan Shillings.
Robert arranged a 12 day safari visiting Samburu, Nakuru, the Masai Mara, Naivasha, and Amboseli. He also arranged and booked 5 days of R&R at Diani beach at the end of the trip. The animals, the birds, the accommodation, the food and the company were all excellent throughout. based on our experience we would recommend that you give Beacon Safaris the chance to make your dream come true
RS
Email Aleksandra Grubin | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Elephants Safari
Beacon Safari is the best! Robert very helpful and full of patience, Eustus my guide went above and beyond duty to help me see elephants, elephants, elephants and enjoy my 50th birthday. Unforgettable trip to Amboseli, Tsavo West and Tsavo East! Excellent for solo travelers.
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Email Ray | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding customer service, superior guide
When you deal with Beacon, you have the rare opportunity to deal directly with the owner--Robert. He was prompt, patient and deliberate in all our conversations. He went the extra mile with being flexible to accommodate our schedules and put together a perfect safari experience in three national parks making each safari incrementally better. Our hotel accommodations were exceptional and the food was so good.
Our guide, Antony, was superior in his skills, demeanor and knowledge. I told Antony he has the eyes of an eagle, the heart of a lion and the memory of an elephant. Not only did we see all of the big five, but we were often the first on the scene. We saw two lion kills within minutes of their occurrences. We were a few yards from 5 cheetahs and a leopard. We were so close to animals and he was do good about putting up in perfect positions to secure outstanding photographs. The other guides were constantly asking for his assistance. His skills are so exceptional he can find animals others were driving by. He tried so hard to please us and make our experience a once in the lifetime event. It was. The depth of his knowledge is so vast. He will give you facts with stories that only a seasoned professional who loves his job can give. When he doesn't know the answer, he will admit it and promise to get back to you with the correct answer. If you want the best safari--go with Beacon. If you want one the top guides in Kenya--ask for Antony. Our family will love and cherish the fun and excitement for the rest of our lives.
US
Email Caitlyn | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful safari experience with Antony!
My family and I went on a 6 day safari through Beacon, and we only have great things to say about the experience! Beacon was helpful and flexible with us during the booking process, and our guide, Antony was excellent. I went on safari with another company recently, and the guide did not even begin to compare to Antony. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and incredibly patient. I highly recommend Beacon and suggest you request Antony as your guide!
CH
Email Roman | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
2-days Amboseli safari
We have chosen a 2-days Amboseli tour with Beacon safaris. A communication with Robert was easy going and without any push from his side. We have all agreements arranged and half of the price paid a couple of months in advance. It is better to arrange in advance, because the price might be lower. At the end we were very much satisfied with the service provided. Moreover, the price was moderate. We were picked up at our hotel at 7 a.m. and in 4.5 hours we arrived to the Kibo safari camp. It was an interesting ride from Nairobi to Amboseli, because Patrick has a lot to say about Kenya and people living on the territory of this country. I must say that the facilities at the camp were much better compared to those that we have had in Tanzanian Ngorongoro and Serengeti. It would be better to call Kibo lodge. The lodge has many well equipped huge tents, which should be better called huts. A big bed, mosquito net, electricity, hot shower, towels, sockets, chairs, armchair and table in front of the hut were provided in the lodge. In addition, the camp has a bar, restaurant, souvenir shop (overpriced). All buffet meals were included in the tour price, except alcohol. A glass of wine or beer is 400 shillings, a cocktail is 500-650 shillings. We were even allowed to put our own wine in the bar fridge and got glasses later on together with chilled wine absolutely for free.
We had our first game drive between 16 and 18:30 on the first day and the second game was between 7 and 11 next day. Patrick (our driver and guide) was ready to stay longer but we wanted to get back to Nairobi before 4 p.m. On the way back we also visited a Maasai village for an additional 10$ p.p. It was pretty nice experience! We were greeted with a song and traditional dance, followed by village visit, during which we had a chance to see their clay huts inside, how they make a fire using a stick made of hard wood and a piece of soft wood, village market and some explanation about traditional medicine.
In 7 hours spent on the territory of the Amboseli National Park we managed to spot avocets, egrets, Goliath heron, flamingo, pelicans, impala, Grant's and Thomson's gazelle, hippos, mad fish, big zebra and wildebeest herds, Maasai giraffes, many elephants, lions, ostrich, waterbuck, buffalo, fish-eating eagle, reedbuck, Egyptian gees, sacred egret, spoonbill stork, hyenas. It turned out that there are 2 types of zebra (one has thinner stripes), 2 types wildebeest (one of them is blueish in color), 2 types of baboons (olive and another one) and 3 giraffe types!
Beacon safari is strongly recommended! Great service!
KR
Email Swann Kim | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most excellent decision in Kenya trip
Actually I and my wife were nervous a bit, since it was our first visit not only in Kenya, but also in Africa. So even after reading so many reviewes of over 10 companies really carefully for some days in planning my schedule in Kenya, it was not easy to choose the one. (I could find really many tour companies with reviews on online, and safari tour was the most important for my african trip...) That was Beacon finally, and this decision was the most excellent one I made during this vacation.
Eric, our driver and guide, was really gentle and professional. He was able to answer any questions of us about animal, plant, life and culture in Kenya and safari. His driving was also perfect and we are suprised that he really knew all the paths and alleys even in savana, so it made us see all the wild animals(without only leopard!!!) and enjoy the long way move even on off road, "African Massage."
My trip was private for me and my wife, and for 4 days including masai mara, nakuru, and naivasha. The best way to enjoy safari tour is just following Eric's guide, (then he would show everything of wild savana), I'd like to recommend to take boat tour and walking safari (it's optional) if you are planned to come by lake naivasha in your itinery. It will be special.
I wish to visit safari again some day, I promise it would be beacon again. I want to say thanks here again to beacon and Eric(to Robert, also).
Great experience with Beacon safaris.
It was our first visit to Kenya and we chose Beacon safaris based on online reviews. We didn't go wrong with that! The communication was great. Beacon provided valuable suggestions and helped to complete our travel plan based on our interest. They were very accommodating. The resorts offered were all great and the game drives were very good as well.
RU
Email Polly | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Safari (with big five!)
We looked into 10 (!) different Safari Tout companies while researching the vacation of a lifetime. Beacon Safaris proved to be the best fit for us with flexible budget and the true ability to customize every step of the itinerery.
We were very satisfied with the level of service and communication Beacon Safaris. All our questions were answered quickly and sensibly. Robert is the best! :)
We were on 4 days (private) trip in Masai Mara NR, Lake Naivasha NP and Lake Nakuru NP, but we saw big five on our first full day game drive!
An abundance of wildlife and stunning landscapes made the experience unforgettable! We learnt so much about the country and wildlife.
There were absolutely no surprises on the trip. The accomondations were fabulous (Sopa Lodges). The van was in perfect condition. Off-road overcame perfectly!
Eric, our guide, was very knowledgeable, friendly and eager to please. The ones who were always late were us, but he was always in a good mood :) He also treated our son very well (5 y.o). We didn't need to worry about anything so we could focus on the wonder all around us. Many thanks to him! And i highly recommend him as a guide for all travelers.
We are so grateful to Beacon Safaris for making this dream come true for our family!
Highly recommend the experience provided by BS to anyone planning a Safari trip to Kenya!
ASANTE SANA!
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Email CMK | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Safari
Beacon Safaris did a great job. Robert was very responsive, answering all my e-mails and questions very promptly. We were sent a detailed itinerary and instructions about pick-up the morning our safari started. Our guide/driver, Antony, was right on time. He was very knowledgeable and went out of his way to make sure that our safari to the Maasai Mara was what we wanted. No one can guarantee what animals you can see, but Antony kept his ears open to the chatter and was able to show us the entire big-5 within 24 hours of our arrival at the Mara. He showed respect for the animals and did an excellent job telling us about them. We had a choice of lodging and the one we picked was great, more than living up to expectations. All in all, our experience with Beacon Safaris was excellent.