NAIROBI KENYA
Balu Travel
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2022)
- Member Of:
- KWS & TRA
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $175 to $700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
KZ
Email Ainur | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An absolutely flawless safari experience — this tour operator delivered top-notch service from start
Balu Travel exceeded all our expectations — from the very first message to the final drop-off, their team was professional, responsive, and truly passionate about what they do. Communication was smooth and prompt, every detail of our Masai Mara safari was thoughtfully arranged, and we felt safe, cared for, and completely immersed in the experience. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and kind, the accommodations were comfortable and scenic, and the game drives were unforgettable — we saw the 3 out of Big Five and so much more. The value for money was outstanding, with no hidden costs and excellent service throughout. I wholeheartedly recommend Balu Travel to anyone looking for a reliable, top-quality safari operator in Kenya. Thank you for making our dream adventure come true!
FR
Email Bonhoure | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
very good trip. no problem
Thanks to the excellent driver Isaac our safari was a complete success. We had a pleasant stay both in the car and at the hotel. We were able to see them all. animals . Truly excellent. Thank you ISAAC
IT
Email Axel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredibile value for money, an unbelievable experience
An incredible experience in our 3 day safari. We managed to see almost all kind of animals: lions, cubs, leopards, cheetah, giraffes, elephants just to name a few.
Communication was great with our guide Meshack, he explained us the Masai history and he spoke a great English. He was always available to take on our queries and he drove safely.
Overall a great experience that I would recommend to others
ES
Email Elishka | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An outstanding, well-organized tour led by a knowledgeable and friendly guide
I had a fantastic experience with Balu Travel and truly enjoyed every part of the tour with my group. From the beginning, everything was well organized and communication was clear, which made the entire experience smooth and stress-free.
Our tour guide was one of the highlights of the trip. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history, culture, and places we visited, and he shared stories and context that made each stop more meaningful. He was also very patient and always happy to answer questions, no matter how small, which made everyone feel comfortable and engaged.
The team was also extremely understanding and flexible. One person in our group experienced a flight disruption that delayed their arrival, and Balu Travel kindly waited a bit longer in the morning so they could still join us. That level of patience and accommodation was truly appreciated and made a big difference for our group.
What I appreciated most was how easy our guide was to talk to. He created a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, making it easy for everyone to connect and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.
Overall, Balu Travel delivered excellent service, great value for money, and a memorable experience. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable, professional, and enjoyable tour.
TR
Email Gökhan Ünal | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator quickly assessed our application and perfectly accommodated our request for a phot
Our driver James was smart, attentive and friendly. He took us to all the photographic spots in Amboseli. Our 4x4 vehicle was spotless on every new game drive in this dusty region. I thank him and Balu Tours.
CZ
Email Filip Hrdlicka | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic 3 day trip to Meru NP
We were picked up at our accomodation early morning by our driver - Carlos. And we proceeded straight to our accomodation near Meru NP - iKWETA safari camp. Scenic drive by Mt Kenya.
Accomodation was beautiful tent with everything needed, pool in camp and delicious food. We went for few hour long game drive in the afternoon/evening. We sadly didnt see many animals but the sunset was beautiful.
Early morning next day was a start of full day safari again in Meru. We saw a lot of animals - hippos, a lot of different types of antelopes, hippos, elephants, rhino, lions... etc. We also saw a lot of baby elephants, baby giraffe and baby lions.
Third day after breakfast was the start of our way back to airport. Stopping for a quick break at the equator line. Our driver was very professional and knowledgeable.
Email Dorsel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Balu Travel exceeded my expectations - and they are very high - 10 stars
This summer, my family visited the Masai Mara Reserve for a safari with Balu Travel Limited, so our 8-year-old son could experience wild animals in their natural habitat, and we had such an incredible experience.
Upon our arrival at Nairobi International, the Balu team met us at the airport and transported us to our hotel. This was a no-hassle experience which started the trip on a wonderful note. After a long flight and landing in a strange international airport for the first time, it was awesome to walk outside and have someone meet you right where you were. We stayed overnight at Hotel Boulevard. This hotel was one of about 5 recommended by Balu and it was a great choice. The hotel had all the toiletries and a very attentive front desk staff. There is a restaurant on site.
I was in constant communication with Mr. Morris, who always answered my many many questions – thoroughly. He told me exactly what time our guide would pick us up the next morning.
The next day, our tour guide, Mr. Isaac, picked us up from the hotel at about 6AM and transported us via our private tour bus to the Masai Mara.
When we got to our luxury hotel, ‘Jambo Mara Lodge,’ we were welcomed with watermelon juice and a wet warm rag to wipe and refresh ourselves. The staff provided exceptional service, and we were escorted to the restaurant because we were on time for lunch. We were then escorted to our personal glass cottage. The meals we ate there for the duration of our time were wonderful as we enjoyed African dining at its finest. The water/juices were safe to drink. The spreads and varieties of food – for every meal – was awesome. It was all displayed so elegantly, and tastefully. The staff was so wonderful, pleasant and helpful – attending to our every need.
Later that afternoon, we embarked on our first ever -Game Drive (safari) where we saw a wide array of animals in their natural habitat including gazelles, impalas, zebras, wilde beasts, vultures, elephants, baboons, and lions. That was a taste of great things to come.
On day 2, we started our game drive at 7:30AM, and we shared our anticipated animal encounter list with Isaac, and he said he will take us to the various animals. First up, we saw a lion and lioness up close, along with other tour trucks, as they gave us a dating and mating show. The experience was amazing, and Isaac told us that this can happen many, many times a day. From there, Isaac took us where we saw a giraffe tower (many giraffes together-tallest animal in the world). We also saw cheetahs, cranes, ostriches, warthogs, meercats, water buffalos, hippos, crocodiles, and many more lions, gazelles, impalas, zebras, wilde beasts, giraffes, and many others. Many of the animals walked alongside our vehicle on the tour trail, and this was very exciting to behold. We always felt safe with Isaac and focused on enjoying the experience.
Around midday, we found a balanitis tree in an open area where we had our first bush lunch with many wild animals in the background. This was in the Serengeti Park in an area were Kenya borders Tanzania. The feeling we experienced during this moment was phenomenal. We were able to call family back home as far as the Caribbean (via what’s app - video) and share the experience with them.
After lunch, we continued our game drive where we saw many more animals. We were taken to see Crocodiles and hippos, where a special ranger took us along the bank of a river to see them. This was one of the animals my son wanted to see. This is an experience we will never forget.
We enjoyed every bit of our game drives.
Now I will talk about our tour guide – Isaac. I do not have enough positive words to describe Isaac. This man was exactly what we needed. On the way to the Maasi Mara, he introduced us to the local music and had us dancing and learning Swahili very early on the trip. Isaac is down to earth, warm, friendly, caring and just downright awesome. He bonded with my 8-year-old in a way that makes this mother’s heart so happy. Isaac is now part of our extended family. We gave him a list of the animals we wanted to see and (I still don’t know how) but he knew how to maneuver that great span of Safari and find the animals we wanted to see. There are no road or directional signs on the safari. It is amazing to see how he knew where to go.
We had so many questions, he answered them all, he went above and beyond each time. He was always on time to start our days. He left no stone unturned for us. He was obviously known and respected by his peers (he seemed to know everybody, and everybody knew and respected him). Our tour guide- Isaac was very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. I could not ask for a better experience than we had with him. We were sad when the safari ended, and my son cried.
As a reference point, we are a family of 3 - 2 parents and an 8-year-old boy. We travelled from Tampa Fl, went through London, to get to Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi – Kenya. I was anxious leading up to the travel date. This was a whole new world for us and the media can be cruel. The places we stayed at were top class. I remember contacting one of the hotels and asking if they provide towels and toiletries. I needed to know how to pack. They provided everything – from shower caps to bedroom slippers, toothbrushes and Jambo Mara even had robes. The experience we had was better than most top-class hotels in the US.
If you are reading this and are apprehensive in choosing a company, choose Balu Travel. Morris took care of all the details, and it was a seamless transaction. I had no issues – NO ISSUES. From the time we exited the airport, until Isaac dropped off at our hotel in Nairobi, we were taken care of to the utmost degree. We have no reservations with recommending Balu Travel – there is nothing they could have done better – it was the best.
We will never forget his experience and will be forever grateful to Balu Travel and by extension – Isaac.
RU
Email Vladimir | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very attentive
We went to Crescent Island from Nairobi. Everything was organized perfectly!
Friendly and thoughtful, providing a quality individualisedexperience
We had an amazing four days in Samburu National Park
We had a very experienced and intuitive guide who knew the park like the back of his hand and took great care of us, tuning into our needs and interests. We saw a spectacular range of animals and birds and the scenery was stunning.
Communication with the tour operator was smooth, clear and supportive at all times - from start to finish.
The mid range lodge, Simba Lodge, exceeded our expectations. It was super comfortable with very friendly and attentive staff. We had a beautiful room with a balcony overlooking the river. Endless views of elephants - magical. The lodge was very well run in terms of housekeeping and meals and generally made everything look effortless.
It's setting was just lovely.
Email Brinda | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional & Patient
We worked with Morris and he was very patient answering all our questions and looking into all our requests. We visited Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. We stayed at wonderful accommodations and our driver Wilson who was from masai mara was an excellent tour guide. He ensured we saw all the animals we possibly could in addition to being very patient and caring about our family needs. Despite the short trip we felt like we accomplished a lot! Thanks Morris and Wilson!