Here is the team at Beyond the Plains
Beyond The Plains Kenya Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2021)
- Member Of:
- ASTA, Kenya Association of Tour Operators, East Africa Wildlife Society, AMREF, Nature Kenya & Tourism Regulatory Authority
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $130 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Wyatts | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dan is the Man, and Kenya is a Must!
We had such a great time in Kenya! My spouse and I went with our three kids, ages 16 yrs, 11 years (who celebrated his birthday on the trip!), and 6 years old. Dan was very knowledgable and was great with our kids (and their plethora of fart noises). He was great at working with other guides and finding where the tougher animals were tucked away. We had incredible luck thanks to his experience and attention. Some highlights included: seeing a cheetah on a successful hunt and enjoying her meal, seeing multiple leopards up close, getting to touch and feed a black rhino and some giraffes, and just seeing SO many animals! I won't lie, that I LOVE animals, but I was concerned about 7 days straight of safari drives, multiple times a day. That is a LOT of animals and seemed like a bit much and redundant to me, BUT I couldn't have been more wrong. The kids loved bouncing around in the Jeep, the scenery and animals varied from stop to stop so it was always exciting getting to see new places and creatures. There were a lot of souvenir shop stores with local handiwork on sale and being made in front of you (note, these were quite expensive and we don't like haggling for prices and probably aren't very good at it- the final stop back in Nairobi we went to an AWESOME and HUGE souvenir shop with incredible prices. If I could do it over, I would have saved all my souvenir shopping for there, or at least 90% of it, but I still love the items that we purchased and I am happy our purchases supported local artisans throughout Kenya and not in just one location).
He took the time to teach us so many Swahili words and share so much information about Kenya as well as his family and life. Dan was so friendly and we really enjoyed our time with him. We had a nice variety of accommodations, some quite luxurious, and other quite rustic. I am a huge Ernest Hemingway fan, so I was beside myself to stay at an accommodations that housed Hemingways African home! Sitting in his living room drinking a cocktail and overlooking Kilimanjaro was surreal. We got to see the sunset illuminate Kilimanjaro and it was just the absolute perfect ending to our trip. It was neat to have different experiences and it also helped make the trip affordable for us. So many people thought our trip was extravagant and just out of the realm of possibilities, but I cannot stress enough that really the price was comparable to US vacations and definitely cost less than Disney for example. If it is a trip you are interested in, it is definitely doable and there are so many options to make it work for so many price points.
The food was great, we enjoyed the variety of options and we were always able to find things for everyone to eat (we have one family member with severe food allergies, another that is pescatarian, and then a young child that isn't always the most adventurous eater).
I'm sure I am forgetting things, but again, just a wonderful experience overall. so many memories were made and I couldn't have been happier with the trip. 10/10
Email Kristen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic family safari
We had a fantastic experience with Beyond the Plains from start to finish. The office staff, particularly Alex, did a great job customizing our trip so it was exactly as we wanted and answering all questions. Once booked, they were extremely responsive to any messages sent- even going so far as to call the Kenyan immigration authorities when I was having trouble getting the payment for our ETAs to process.
After our arrival in Kenya, our guide Ian was also amazing. He knew everything about the animals and parks. He also shared tons of info about Kenyan culture and way of life. He was able to find all the animals- we saw the big 5 and also giraffes, a bunch of cheetahs, and tons of other animals. We also saw babies of almost every animal.
We were happy with all our lodges, particularly Aruba in Tsavo East and Zebra Plains in Amboseli- but the service in all of them was amazing. Kenyan hospitality cannot be beat!
I would highly recommend Beyond the Plains for anyone looking to book a safari
Email Sean | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Kenyan Safari with Beyond the Plains
TAKE THIS TRIP! Before we booked our trip to Kenya for our family (2 adults and three teens), we were a bit unsure we would get what we wanted. There were worries about heath risks, shady businesses and political unrest. I can say that our experience in Kenya with Mike and Beyond the Plains couldn't have been a more magical experience. Mike was always ready on time, always positive, and skilled at delivering on what we wanted. Everyone we met, from the hotels to the shops, were pleasant and focused on amazing customer service. The second best thing about our trip, after the people, was the wildlife. Because Mike was an expert guide, he always asked what we wanted then delivered (which is difficult when at the mercy of nature). We can say we enjoyed 3 national parks (Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara), each with different offerings. If you love wildlife and have been thinking of traveling, don't hesitate to book with Beyond the Plains.
ES
Email Ben | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Quick to answer any questions and provided an amazing itinerary
An amazing experience. Alex helped us plan a brilliant itinerary and Dan our driver was fantastic, he was kind, courteous, knowledgeable and happy to explain and answer every question we had. He delivered 10/10
We saw everything from huge herds of elephants in Amboseli ( dont forget to being a dust mask or scarf as Amboseli is very dusty in dry seaon) to lions cheetahs, hyenas and leopards as well as the migration in Masi Mara.
A once in a life time family holiday.
IN
Email Sunil | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An Unforgettable Adventure at Masai Mara!
"Incredible lifetime experience from start to finish! Felix organized a flawless Masai Mara, Nakuru lake & Amboseli safari for us. Our guide, John, was exceptionally knowledgeable, patient, and made sure we saw the Big Five in our game drives while keeping us safe and comfortable. Beyond their tracking skills, he taught us so much about the Mara's ecosystem and local Maasai culture.
In spite of dusty game drives, The vehicle was clean everyday, comfortable and well-stocked water equipped with refrigerator , the accommodations were incredible, and the entire itinerary felt perfectly paced.
The lodges offered were fantastic, the food was great, and the logistics were stress-free. Highly, highly recommend this team!"
Email Tom | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
excellent
Incredible experience led by our guide Ken to Kenya. We arranged the trip directly through beyond the plains, who organised everything and tailored the trip to our requests - itinerary / hotels / travel. Our guide and driver Ken was excellent and ensured everything worked seamlessly every step of the way. He always seemed to have the local knowledge and connections, and knew where to take us for the best opportunity for seeing the animals - thank you for what was an incredible family experience.
Email Kira | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional Safari!
hn and Beyond the Plains quite literally saved our trip! We had booked with another company, only to arrive in Kenya at 1am to learn that the company had cancelled our bookings.
We were lucky to find Beyond the Plains! John and his team stepped in immediately and salvaged our entire itinerary. We contacted him at 6:30am, he had a driver to us within an hour, had us rebooked and on our way by 7:30am.
The team at Beyond the Plains is exceptional, we cannot recommend them highly enough! We cannot stress how important it is to go with a reputable, local company, and John is simply remarkable.
Email JB | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly, trustworthy, and motivated safari company that is committed to customer satisfaction
Big thank you to John and the crew at Beyond the Plains for helping to fill in some missing pieces in our 8 day safari trip with some initial booking challenges caused by another agent. With literally zero notice, John was able to coordinate with airlines, hotels, and businesses to ensure that our trip was memorable. The staff was attentive, friendly, and went out of their way to make sure we felt comfortable.
Pricing is very reasonable. When we visit again, John will be our first call! Thank you!
Email Aileen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience from planning to driver to food to accommodations!
We had a fabulous time on our 11-day Kenya and Tanzania adventure. The guides, accommodations, food, and game drives all exceeded our expectations.
Harun and Peter were fantastic guides and drivers. Please see our additional comments regarding both of them. As for the lodges and camps, we were very happy with our accommodations throughout the trip.
Starting at the Crowne Plaza, we felt safe and comfortable after two long international flights.
Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge was the perfect start to our adventure. The grounds and accommodations were beautiful, and seeing so many wild animals roaming the property immediately got us excited for the trip ahead. The boat ride and walking tour provided an intimate and memorable wildlife experience.
Tipilikwani Mara Camp offered a wonderful glamping experience. The chef, waitstaff, and security staff helped create an authentic and welcoming atmosphere. The only drawback was that the camp is located outside the Masai Mara Reserve. We loved our stay, but if we were planning the trip again, we would likely choose a similar camp located inside the reserve to avoid the daily drive and park entrance process.
Serengeti Serena Lodge was an excellent choice. The drive there was long, but Peter turned it into an additional game drive, making the journey much more enjoyable. We debated whether we should have flown instead, but after seeing so much wildlife along the way, we appreciated making the drive. The thatched-roof rooms, buffet, and the opportunity to stay in the heart of the Serengeti made for a wonderful experience.
Acacia Farm Lodge was a beautiful boutique hotel and one of our favorite stays. The staff genuinely seemed to love their jobs and went above and beyond to make every day special. From our housekeeper leaving Swahili messages made from leaves to the spa experience and farm-to-table meals, every detail was thoughtfully executed. While we know some lodges near the Ngorongoro Crater offer spectacular crater views, we do not believe we would have enjoyed our stay more elsewhere.
Tarangire Sopa Lodge was very good. While it was not quite as impressive as Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Lunch by the pool was delicious, and the evening entertainment provided a fun and authentic cultural experience.
Our final day was long due to our afternoon and evening flights, but Peter kept us engaged and entertained throughout the day. We initially wondered whether visiting Tarangire National Park was necessary after seeing so much wildlife elsewhere. However, Peter shared extensive knowledge about the birds, vegetation, and ecosystem, which made the visit worthwhile.
If we were to do the trip again, we might consider adding Zanzibar in place of Tarangire National Park. The challenge would be working out the flight and transportation logistics, but it is something we would explore.
Overall, this was truly the trip of a lifetime. We enjoyed every minute and deeply appreciate all of your help planning the journey and answering our many questions along the way. Thank you for helping create such an unforgettable experience.
Email Marion | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
I cannot sing the praises enough of Beyond the Plains. Maurine was amazing with every step of arranging the trip and was so responsive with any questions we had during the trip. All of our lodging was wonderful and Mike was a great guide. We made a lot of wonderful memories and would choose them again in a heartbeat!