Safari vehicle in Safari
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
SG
Email Jan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Glorified accomodation booking service
The booking process with Spirit of Kenya started positive. However when trying to get more detailed information on the accomodation booked, itinerary specific etc things started to get less impressive. I never managed to get booking details from our Tanzania accomodation from the operator. So we tried to get this info from the accomodation. However without the booking confirmation code ( which Spirit never provided) they could not helps us either. So it became a guessing game in what kind of room, which what inclusions we would stay. Worst part was that Spirit seriously understated all travel times. As I read in a few other recent reviews. This seems to be serial. A quoted 1.5 hrs drive would be 3 hours. And a 6 hour drive became a 11.5 hrs on the road!!!! On top of this they forgot to book Serengeti entry tickets. Causing a 90 minute wait at the gate while our guide was trying to sort this out.
In regards advise on what parts of the parks were good or not to stay in we received absolutely no recommendations leading to very long drives from accomodation to known hot spots for animals.
MA
Email Celena Gilbert | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great, with the ride guide!
I went on this trip as a solo traveler, which was a great choice for me because everything was pre-planned. I had a generally fantastic time and saw some amazing sights and animals! Overall, I am very happy with my experience!
My only feedback, and why I'm not giving 5-stars, is because my guide was knowledgeable, but hard to understand and communicate with. He sometimes seemed a bit harsh in his tone and when it's just the two of us for 7-days, it would have been nice to have a more personable host. Also, there were times when he didn't know what was scheduled and this led to uncomfortable situations; for example, I had booked a walking tour at Lake Naivasha and the guide didn't know about this, until he was putting me on the boat. This lack of knowledge led to me taking the walking tour in flip flops instead of close-toed shoes (I still have scratches on my feet) and I was carrying a heavy bag. Additionally, the vehicle was not what I expected; very old and uncomfortable.
IT
Email Sergio | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very excellent guide and hotels, but not exactly a “luxury safari”
We started Safari with a van that, fortunely, had a problem before we started the road to Masai Mara. They kindly give us a jeep to excuse of it, but to reach the car the travel was very long and “adventurous”. First guide was very helpful, but for a “luxury safari” we were expected to have a different treatment.
When we reach the jeep in Narok, our guide was excellent. He knew very well masai mara and show us bigs 5 and all possible kind of animals live in Mara.
Ilkeliani camp was very good, in service and for food!
Lunch for the last day we were expected Spirit of Kenya provide a en route lunch packed by the hotel, but we payed a full day safari but Did only 2 Hours in the morning without a hotel meal.
Last thing that can’t allow to us to define this a Luxury Safari was the cars condition ( vero vero old) and lack of uniform for guide.
CL
Email Agustin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great trip but tour guide below expectations
We book a 5 day "High End" in Amboseli, Navaisha and Masai Mara. The email comunication to prepare the trip was tediuos. We expected the executive to give us better recommendations for planning the trip. They never let us know that they were going to pick us up at the airport in Nairobi! I had to made the transfer on my own.
Regarding our guide, he comply with the schedules and he was friendly. He was very worried that we could see all the animals as well. However, he did not communicate much with us during the games drives and did not keep us informed of what we were going to do during the day. Moreover, he was not very open to listen to questions or explain. Finally, the day we were arriving at Masai Mara's tented camp, the guide got lost along the way.
Accommodations were great. Excellent attention, great food, very comfortable rooms and very relaxing surroundings.
We had lunch outside our acomodation just once. The last day, when we went from Amani Mara to the airport we stopped for lunch on the way in a restaurant that was far from being the standard of the tour I booked (High End). I will not extend talking about the supposed high-end binoculars and the surprise charge of 3.5% to pay by credit card (unacceptable).
AE
Email Bree | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Could have been better
We booked a 4-day safari in Amboseli and Tsavo with the company. The initial booking of the trip was a bit tedious with us having to call them a few times since we were not getting responses to emails, they explained this was due to an overload of bookings.
They failed to inform us that one of the safari camps they suggested, Kibo Safari Camp, (which we chose from the list of options they provided) didn't have electricity for most of the day, which would have been nice to know in advance. And there was a small mess up on our return airport transfer.
Also, since we were first time visitors to Kenya, it would have been great to have some expert advice from them on the various options for safari locations, hotels, food, etc.
However, the rest of the trip and the other hotels were great. The driver-cum guide they provided, Steve, was a very nice guy with a wealth of information about everything around us.
TR
Email Doruk Muderrisoglu | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Tour Guide but needs better cars
We have been to a 4 day Safari Tour which was held by Spirit of Kenya.
Small Notes about our experience..
Tour Guide - Our tour guide Martin helped us a lot to find out many exotic animals in both Lake Nakuru National Park and Masai Mara National Park. He was so friendly and helpful with both safari trip experience and while we are driving between the different parks. He knows a lot about the animals and the national parks also and he knows where to drive for when looking for the animal. Great tour guide !
Cars - We had a Toyota Van for our safari. I personally do not have any preference when it comes to the car but on our way back to Nairobi, the car had some engine issues. I am not quiet sure if it a coincidence but that was kind of unlucky for us.
Food - Martin had some pre-prepared lunch for us for 2 days and I think they were pretty decent.
I can easily suggest Spirit of Kenya for your safari trip and especially Martin as your tour guide :)
US
Email Juan Andrés Páez | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
4 days/ 3 nights safari
My mom and me went in a 4 days/ 3 nights safari to celebrate her 60th birthday. We went to lake Nakuru and stayed a night there, and then two nights in Maasai Mara.
The agenda for our trip was exactly what we wanted and our guide was outstanding. However, we had paid for a “comfort” room in Maasai Mara ($420 per person each night) and when we got to our hotel (Azure Mara Haven) they told us Spirit of Kenya had only reserved a budget tent for us. I talked with employees of Spirit of Kenya but they only solved the problem until the next day when we had already gone over a hard and cold night in the tent. Second day fortunately we were upgraded to a room like the one we had paid for. Despite asking them for a refund or a compensation for their mistake on the first night, I did not get a positive reply and was just ignored by their employees.
Hope this doesn’t happen to other people traveling with Spirit of Kenya and that you stress out that they should make the hotel reservations for what you are asking and the value you are paying.
Very good experience !
I had a trip with them on feb 2017 and really enjoyed it with my family
NL
Email Marcos | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
All according to expectations and as agreed.
We arranged a personalized safari which was all that we expected and more. The places recommended by the agency were fantastic. We did not encounter any problems with what was promised and all went according to plan. We even saw a place which was not in their recommended list but they still arranged to book it for us without hesitation. Again, all was as promised.
Vanessa was our contact in Spirit of Kenya and she always answered promptly to our questions. There were some minor changes to the timing of our flights booked with Spirit of Kenya and we were informed immediately. The only thing that was not that swift was the confirmation of the receipt of our payment and remaining balance to pay. In the end all was clarified, but there was a small confusion on their side.
The safari itself was an incredible experience that I would definitely recommend!
CI
Email Hichem G | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The experience was just perfect. Wonderfull Experience...
The experience was just perfect. All the hotels that were listed and recommended by Its starts in Africa were good and especially Mahali Mzuri. We have appreciated a lot the interaction that we had with (i) the team of Its starts in africa but also with the guide, the staff of the hotel and the local people.
Thank you again for all the arrangements and looking forward to talk for a new adventure
Best regards