The review below is the personal opinion of Manju and not that of SafariBookings.
They are good but can organise themselves better.
Our guide Andrew, also known as Kamou, was extraordinary. He was incredibly patient with all our questions about wildlife and beyond, and his overall knowledge made the trip special. Never missed an opportunity for a good animal sighting.
I would definitely request him as our guide for our next visit to Northern Kenya. He’s a total rockstar!
The locations — Mara, Nakuru, and Naivasha — were all breathtaking and truly speak for themselves.
*Food*
Meals were fairly standard across all locations: boiled, fried, or sautéed vegetables, rice, lentils, and chicken or beef. Nothing stood out in terms of flavor.
*Overall*: It was a great experience.
*Areas for Improvement with Jocky*
1. *Pickups*: On the day of hotel pickup, we had to follow up multiple times. One co-traveler wasn’t picked up at all and only joined us 2 hours later.
2. *Itinerary Changes*: Plans with Jocky often seem to change last-minute based on logistics. On the last day, drop-offs to hotels/JKIA were inconsistent — some of us got a separate car, others were booked an Uber/Bolt. Eventually, we all got dropped off as promised.
3. *Accommodation*: For the price Jocky charged, the accommodations were below average. I recommend customizing your stay — photos online can be misleading.
*Accommodation Notes:*
- *Masai Mara - Mara Lenchada Tented Camp*: Very basic. Bathroom was run-down. Lights are off from 11:30 PM to 4:30 AM, which seems standard for Mara camps. Bring a torch/phone light.
- *Nakuru - Hill Court Hotel*: Cold morning with only lukewarm water. Dinner and breakfast buffet were decent. We were originally booked at Nakuru Buraha Zenoni
Hotel — not sure how it compares.
- *Naivasha - Chambai Hotel*: We got a good 2-bedroom flat for 3 people. However, no fan or AC made it warm with poor air circulation. Keeping windows open meant dealing with mosquitoes and traffic noise all night.
Overall, we had a great experience, but accommodation and logistics need work.