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 Steve | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beyond the plains safari tour company review
Beyond the plains prepared a custom private safari tour for us to the Maasai Mara that was done extremely well by their office team and payment processes were extremely smooth and communication was great. On the start of our safari the team got us safari hats which was a nice touch and we were accompanied by one of their drivers called John who is very knowledgeable with the nomenclature of the animal species in the Mara and familiar with the vast Mara ecosystem.
A point of concern is the driving which was not particularly safe especially overtaking on the escapements trying to dodge in and out of traffic. This can lead to serious fatal accidents. Another point of concern is that our driver was constantly using his mobile device even when driving and did not have his seat belt on for majority of the trip. This is being extremely casual on the road and not respecting the Highway Code.
All in all we had a good experience at Amani Mara and had lovely game drives where we saw the big four (no rhino) and other wildlife animals.
Reply from Beyond The Plains Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 5, 2026Thank you for your thoughtful feedback and for choosing Beyond the Plains for your Maasai Mara safari. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the smooth planning process, the special touches from our team, and the memorable game drives with John.
We also truly appreciate your comments regarding road safety. Please be assured that we take this feedback seriously and positively, as the safety and comfort of our guests are always very important to us. Your observations have been shared internally to help us continue improving our service standards.
It was a pleasure hosting you, and we hope to welcome you back for another incredible safari experience in the future.
Email Shiori | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable guide but disappointing service and communication
We booked a private safari with Beyond the Plains, and our guide was Douglas. He was very knowledgeable about wildlife and answered our questions thoroughly. However, several aspects of the experience left us disappointed.
Before our arrival, the company told us that our guide would be waiting at the airport arrivals exit holding a sign with our names. Despite receiving our flight information in advance, the promised pickup did not go as expected. We could not find Douglas and were kept waiting. We later learned that he had apparently been in the parking lot. We never saw a sign with our names, even inside the vehicle.
During our highway journey, Douglas was involved in a road accident while driving us. Afterward, we had to stop at a vehicle dealership, which reduced our time on safari. At the time, he offered neither an apology nor a clear explanation of what had happened or why the stop was necessary. He apologized only after we reported the incident to the safari company.
Douglas told us he had more than ten years of experience. While his wildlife knowledge was a strength, his manner sometimes came across as overly proud of his experience. We did not feel involved in planning the game drives. He answered questions when asked, but rarely proactively suggested areas to explore, explained his plans, or discussed options based on sighting information from other guides. We would have appreciated more initiative and communication.
During game drives, he drove very slowly, and other safari vehicles frequently passed us. We understand that slow driving can help with safety and spotting wildlife. However, without an explanation of his approach, we were often unsure of the plan or whether we were making the most of our time.
There were also two occasions involving additional passengers whom Douglas described as friends. We agreed to the first person’s joining us. However, we did not give our consent for the second person to join, yet that person rode with us for approximately five hours from our hotel to Nairobi. We had booked a private safari and expected the vehicle to be exclusively for our party. Having an additional passenger for such a long journey without our consent did not match that expectation.
During this journey, the second passenger threw a plastic bottle out of the vehicle. Douglas said nothing in response. We were shocked by the littering and disappointed that our safari guide did not speak up, particularly given the importance of protecting the environment and wildlife.
Overall, we appreciated Douglas’s wildlife knowledge, but knowledge alone did not make up for the shortcomings in communication and service. The airport pickup, the handling of the accident, the additional passenger without our consent, and the response to littering fell short of our expectations for a private safari.