Reviews

Average User Rating
4.7/5

Rating Breakdown
  • 5 star 33
  • 4 star 2
  • 3 star 0
  • 2 star 2
  • 1 star 0

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 1-10 of 37 Reviews
Mark B   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: October 2024 Reviewed: Oct 22, 2024

Email Mark B  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Once in a lifetime Safari didn’t disappoint.
5/5

We had a 4 day safari - Masai Mara, lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha and had an amazing time
Firstly I would say that the extra £500 we spent on having a private jeep rather than sharing was well worth it.
It gives you more space to move around, a view for everyone to look out both sides of the jeep and space for everyone to stand up while touring. It also means that the flexibility of the schedule that was necessary due to a little rain, and excellently accommodated, was in our control rather than having to negotiate with other passengers. Especially the early starts as we were keen to use entry second of our trip and not be delayed by other passengers being up late or slow at breakfast.
We saw everything we wanted too and much more, the big 9 and loads of birds.
Thanks to John’s constant communication with other drivers on the Masai Mara we saw an extraordinary lion hunt and kill, and a resting male lion lying next to his Hippo lunch.
The Masai Mara was far the best part of the trip as there is the ability to go anywhere and follow the animals rather than sticking to roads. It was slightly frustrating in Nakuru being just too far from some animals to see them clearly and get good photos after being spoilt on the Masai Mara but that is the case in many more managed parks.
That’s not to say the more controlled Nakuru wasn’t good but just not as wild.
The Masai Mara village visit was well worth it as was the boat trip at Naivasha but I would also recommend adding the conservation walk for around $20 a head as walking so close to the animals was magical and great for photo ops.
The hotels were lovely and well styled - especially the Navaisha hotel where you shouldn’t miss a hippo walk after dark which finished off seeing them from the boat wonderfully.
One point to note is that many roads are not the best in Kenya, which is just how they are, but don’t used Google maps other anything similar to calculate journey times - they widely underestimate, unlike John who knew the times all to well.
Finally the communication via WhatsApp was rapid and constantly helpful.
Well done Jamlan Safari’s

Ulrich   –  
Germany DE
Visited: August 2024 Reviewed: Aug 29, 2024

Email Ulrich  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

The review below is the personal opinion of Ulrich and not that of SafariBookings.
Very good guide but lack of organisation and support by operator
2/5

First of all: Our guide was friendly and competent, so we spend a pleasant time.

Now the reason for the two star review:

- First of all, we did two gamedrives less compared to the itinerary. This was strongly recommended by the guide since the location of the lodges would not allow to complete the program as it was foreseen by the operator.

- Second, the transport to our hotel after completion of the tour was organized poorly and took several hours more than necessary. After suggesting an alternative transport I was offered transfer by car for 230 US Dollars, more than three times the price charged by our hotel.

- In the morning of the last day the operator approved our request to be dropped at Sala Gate, instead of Voi Gate. Thereafter I ordered a transfer to the hotel. Two hours later, shortly before departure and after I ordered the driver, we were told that a transfer to Sala Gate would not be approved, since the operator did not want to pay the fuel for an extra 150km (of course, the two gamedrives less were not refunded).

- Instead we should rush to Voi, where we were supposed to take a car from Voi to Malindi. So we left the lodge early and skipped the gamedrive scheduled for this day

- Arriving in Voi it turned out that there was no space for us in the car - so we had to wait two hours two hours to take the train to Mombasa.

All in all there was a total lack of organisation and support once the money was paid. The refusal of driving us 75km to Sala Gate was rediculous, considering the price of the safari and the fact, that the operator delivered two gamedrives less than promised.

Reply from Jamlan Holiday Safaris
Reply from Jamlan Holiday Safaris
Posted on Sep 3, 2024

Dear Ulrich, Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you found our guide to be friendly and competent, and that you enjoyed your time with him. However, we are deeply sorry to learn about the logistical issues you encountered during your safari. Your experience does not reflect the high standards we strive to maintain.

We apologize for the changes to your itinerary, including the missed game drives and the confusion regarding your transport arrangements. We understand how frustrating this must have been, especially given the expectations you had based on the original plan. The miscommunication regarding the drop-off at Sala Gate and the subsequent transportation delays are not acceptable, and we regret the inconvenience this caused you.

Please know that we take your feedback very seriously and will be reviewing these issues with our team to ensure that such problems do not occur in the future. We value your business and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a much-improved experience should you choose to travel with us again.

Thank you once again for your honest review.

Pam   –  
Kenya KE
Visited: December 2023 Reviewed: Jan 2, 2024

Email Pam  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Isabella displayed an impressive breadh of knowledge and obvious passion for her work!
5/5

My family and I recently had the pleasure of visiting Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru National Park, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience, all thanks to Isabella and the incredible team at Jamlan Holiday Safaris.

From the moment we started planning our trip, Isabella's expertise and attention to detail were evident. She took the time to understand our preferences and crafted a personalized itinerary that perfectly matched our interests. Throughout the entire process, she was extremely responsive, addressing all our questions and concerns with patience and professionalism.

Isabella's dedication to ensuring that we had a memorable and seamless journey was truly exceptional. Her passion for providing outstanding service was evident in every interaction we had, and it made a world of difference to our overall experience.

If you're considering a safari adventure in Kenya, look no further than Jamlan Holiday Safaris for an exceptional and personalized experience.

Thank you, Isabella and Jamlan Holiday Safaris, for an incredible journey that we will cherish for a lifetime.

Sara   –  
United States US
Visited: August 2023 Reviewed: Sep 6, 2023

Email Sara  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Very responsive
5/5

Our family had a wonderful time in Kenya. Bella was very responsive and always answered my messages quickly. If I had one suggestion, it is to have more discussion with Jamlan upfront about desires, needs, travel times between locations, and modes of transportation. We were not expecting to spend as much time traveling as we did. That was not the fault of our agent, but perhaps we’d have developed an itinerary better matched to our family’s needs had we had more discussion at the beginning with Jamlan. Kenya is an amazing country with much to see and experience!

Cecilia   –  
China CN
Visited: June 2023 Reviewed: Jul 2, 2023

Email Cecilia  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Excellent journey and unforgettable experience in Maasai Mara
5/5

We booked a 3-day trip with Jamlan and the lodge we stayed at 1st night was fully booked. So Isabella recommended another luxury camp to us which was much surprisingly fantastic. The driver/tour guide is experienced and kind. The balloon company they booked was also professional. I will rate 10 out of 10 to the journey we had.

Vitalii   –  
Russia RU
Visited: June 2025 Reviewed: Jul 4, 2025

Email Vitalii  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Wonderful safari experience
5/5

We really enjoyed our 7-day safari with Jamlan. We visited parks such as Amboseli, Naivasha, Mara, and Nakuru.
In Amboseli, we stayed at the Elerai camp, which offers stunning views of Kilimanjaro and incredible wildlife views from the restaurant. The only downside was that it was June, and the nights were very cold. We had to sleep in our clothes and under 2-3 blankets :) In Amboseli, we saw elephants, hippos, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, impalas, giraffes, flamingos, and warthogs.
In Naivasha, we stayed at Enashipai, which was a luxurious hotel with a stunning waterfront area where hippos could be observed at night. We also recommend taking a tour of the island, where the guide provided excellent information and guided us around the area, allowing us to observe the animals up close.
Afterward, we traveled to Mara, where we stayed at Mara Ngenche Camp. This hotel left an incredible memory. Right in front of our tent, we saw wildebeests and warthogs running around. At night, we heard the sounds of hippos, leopards, and lions. It was an incredible experience. We also went on a hot air balloon ride and saw many cats in the wild.
In Nakuru, we stayed at the luxurious The Cliff Hotel. The hotel was absolutely stunning. The views of the lake and the breathtaking sunrise were breathtaking. The food and service were exceptional.
Any interaction with Teddy, the safari organizer, was as easy as possible. He was always available and helpful with any questions we had. I also want to mention his excellent advice on hotels. Everything he recommended was amazing. We were extremely satisfied with his service. This safari was our best experience ever.
The only aspect that could be improved was the guide's performance. We would have liked him to provide more information about the animals and spend less time on the phone. This was sometimes a bit of a hassle.
Overall, the safari was an excellent experience. We will definitely come back to finally see the leopard.

Lejay and Kamryn   –  
Bermuda BM
Visited: May 2025 Reviewed: May 19, 2025

Email Lejay and Kamryn  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Experienced, Knowledgeable and Helpful
5/5

My daughter and I booked a 7 day safari with Jamlan that originated in Tanzania and finished in Kenya. The itinerary covered all of the main parks. Although we had kept our expectations low since we were traveling during the rainy season, the trip was an amazing and unique experience; exploring the different terrains, seeing wild animals up close, and driving through local villages. This was truly an awe-inspiring experience.

We were guided through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater with our tour guide, Jobin, who was very experienced and knowledgeable. There was a smooth transition from Tanzania to Kenya, where our new guide Jonathan added his own knowledge and perspective to the game drives.

The accommodations were absolutely amazing, however one downfall was although they were within the parks, it was quite the journey to get to them. The long journey was worth it, as the hotel staff were amazing, with great service and rooms were impeccable to say the least.

Teddy was a great tour operator answering all kinds of questions and making suggestions that led to us having a trip of a lifetime.

Brad   –  
China CN
Visited: October 2024 Reviewed: May 12, 2025

Email Brad  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

The review below is the personal opinion of Brad and not that of SafariBookings.
Jamlan's trip arrangement is disappointing
2/5

Last Oct, we booked two trips from two trip operators in Kenya. One 8 - day trip from Nairobi to Amboseli, Tsavo and Diani, which turns out to be perfect; the other from Nairobi to Nakuru to Masai Mara operated by Jamlan Holiday, which is quite disappointing.

We soon found all the hotels Jamlan booked for us are outside the park upon the start of the trip (in most cases, the hotels and lodges outside the park are cheaper than those located inside the parks). That truly cost our much time on the way and largely reduce our time inside the park. For example, when reaching Nakuru, we had to go through traffic jams of a city besides Nakuru to eventually arrive at the hotel inside the city. I then asked Jamlan to make adjustments but was refused with nice excuses like their operation cost is too high.

It seems they don't understand tourists can calculate the average price per day and compare it with that of other trips. Also they don't understand we can talk with other tourists to make comparisons.

So, I strongly suggest all guests planning to book the trips operated by Jamlan Holiday to check the locations and prices of the hotels, as that is an important part to decide the quality of your trip.

Reply from Jamlan Holiday Safaris
Reply from Jamlan Holiday Safaris
Posted on May 12, 2025

Dear Brad,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We genuinely appreciate your insights, as they help us continue improving our services.

We are glad to hear that you had a wonderful experience on your first trip and regret that the second trip did not fully meet your expectations. Our team works hard to design itineraries that balance quality and cost-effectiveness, and we always aim to provide accommodations that align with our clients' preferences and budgets. The hotels selected for your journey were chosen with these factors in mind and were shared with you before your trip, with your approval.

We apologize if the location of the hotels outside the parks impacted your experience. We understand the importance of proximity in maximizing time inside the parks, and we are always open to customizing itineraries and accommodation options when requested. We value your feedback and will use it to better communicate with future guests regarding accommodation options and their impact on travel time.

Thank you once again for your feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again and provide a more tailored experience.

Nacereddine Bouk   –  
Algeria DZ
Visited: January 2025 Reviewed: Jan 27, 2025

Email Nacereddine Bouk  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

excellent agency
5/5

agency with a very responsive sales agent Teddy and a guide Richard who provided us with a very rich safari.
to recommend without hesitation.

kumpa   –  
Denmark DK
Visited: December 2024 Reviewed: Dec 18, 2024

Email kumpa  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Was Excellent
5/5

We had a great time with Jamlan Holiday Safaris. They were responsive to our needs (which included a group member arriving in the middle of the trip due to a complication) and always communicative. The experience itself was excellent, great wildlife watching and quality accommodation. You can definitely take the tour

Average User Rating
4.7/5
Rating Breakdown
  • 5 star 33
  • 4 star 2
  • 3 star 0
  • 2 star 2
  • 1 star 0
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