The Team Behind Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris
Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris Ltd
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2003)
- Member Of:
- Eco Tourism & Kenya Wildlife Services
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $64 to $490 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
QA
Email NASEEH | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good Time!!
We traveled to Africa,Kenya to be specific,we were a group of 12 guys and we were conducting volunteer job there for one month.We later decided to do a 7 day trip for Kenya and Tanzania.The whole trip was awesome and relaxed.Thanks KWSS for your good work.
GREAT ADVENTURE
My colleagues and I booked a tour with Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris. We could access them at any time we wanted and they always had a solution to all our questions and fears.They booked nice tented Camps and gave us 2 private cooks who were cooking for us.Thanks to the drivers and the cooks for their good job.We are very very happy about them.This company is commendable!!!
Awesome Experience ever
We travelled in Kenya under volunteer program where we stayed for a month.After we were done we did an enquiry through their website and within few minutes our mail had already been answered!Mr Otieno even made a phone call to us which made us gain some trust with them.The trip was organized in 3 days and we were good to go.Their prices were fair and their services were trhe best.It was very nice that such a big number of people could be managed that fast.I would refer anyone who wants to travel in East Africca to o for this company.
THANK YOU THANK YOU KWSS!!!!!!
In Late October we travelled to Kenya for some work we were doing there.later we booked a Kenya and Tanzania trip with this Kenya Walking safaris.They realy pleased us for their good services and quick response.With this company you can never go wrong….
Email Al Danger | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent experience!
I honestly cannot say enough good things about KWSS. The organisation of my safairi's was exceptional, communication was always timely and appropriate and nothing was too much trouble for OT to sort out very quickly and professionally - including last minute changes to the itinerary (cause by me!).
KWSS played a large part in making my trip to east Africa the trip of a lifetime. Don't hesitate to use them if your planning a trip.
IN
Email Bharat Joshi , President & MD, IGP | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari - Lifetime Experience - Worries? Leave it to KWSS. They will take care.
My wife Hansa and I had unbelievable amazing Safari Holiday experience. I was very much worried about food, stay and vehicle but EVERYTHING was taken care by KWSS with complete perfection. We stayed at Nakuru one day - fantastic rainy game drive with Rhinos, Lions, Zebras..., 3 days at Masai Mara - THIS WAS OUR LIFE TIME MEMORABLE EVENT. We had seen total 39 Lions with every daily activities of their life... it was so close that we could stretch our hand & just touch, Cheetas - great.... Leopard - great, Tens of Hundreds of Zebras - Tens of thousands of Wilder Beasts ....No words to express the feelings - the food - the arrangement and the game drive - never match able. Naivasha - One day, Amboseli - one day - great Lioness hunting chase, One day Arusha + Ngorongoro - Fantastic View of crater and scenic panorama. I have no words to explain as seeing can only be expressing.
All the stays were perfect. Kilimanjaro from Kibo Safari Camp was magical view
KWSS - Director: Mr. Otieno is great friend, facilitator and supporter, he is always smiling and helping hand. He is in the center of EVERY COMFORT of every visitor. He managed excellently our (change of) one day program and returning to Nairobi. ALL THE BEST Otieno:). We are your friends in India you ever need us. Great Work Keep it up!!!!
Guide+Driver : Nguta is the best. He had excellent knowledge and very active in driving and reaching the place of animal presence. He has shown us Leopard driving (fastest) 20 kms after hearing the radio. Never tired and always ON TIME ON DOT. Nguta - All the best.
I recommend 'Kenya Walking Survivors Safari Ltd' to every one who would wish to visit Safari and read my review. I will ask any one of my personal contacts and all the visitors ......."LEAVE YOUR SAFARI WORRIES TO KWSS ....& YOU ONLY ENJOY"
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Quick response with good service and very affordable price.
This trip to Kenya & Tanzania was fantastic, all the hotels we have stayed were excellent, all with different and new experience. And the tour operator's quick response with good service and very affordable price. The best time to Visit Massai Mara End of July and August. All other places ( Naiversha, Amboseli, Manyara & Serengeti are just average places). If someone is planning for exploring wildlife alone, the best place would be Massai Mara (3-4 Days) and if you want to explore more places then Naiversha(1day), Amboseli(1day), Ngorongoro(1day) and Serengeti(2 days) would be better option. You will have to travell a lot, so be prepared for this. Also note: older USD notes before 2004 will not be accepted in Kenya, so make sure you have USD currency printed after 2004.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari with Kenya Walking
Had a very good experience and time with a safari organised by Kenya Walking Survivors. Great availability of the director Mr Otieno who follows everything and monitors the quality of their services. Special thanks to Silas our super guide and Jacob the great cook. Even with a budget Safari everything was great (except the masai village where I was expecting to spent more time)
HU
Email Eszter & George | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Communication with Kenyawalk
We found KenyaWalk on this website and we chose to contact them because of the excellent reviews we read here. Though our safari is due in July, we can say that we already have very good impressions on KenyaWalk and the company's boss, Oti. He is very quick and effective when it comes to communication and it is also easy to contact him on Skype. We think he is funny, open, flexible and patient with his clients. We are very excited and can't wait to meet Oti and his team and go on a safari with KenyaWalk.
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari!
Before the trip many times I wrote letters and called to Mr.Otieno about our route. He helped create the best route. In nine days we visited 5 parks in Kenya and Tanzania. Total we had four people from. When we arrived Otti already waited for us in airport. He took us to a nice hotel and organized a tour of Nairobi. All hotels and campgrounds where we stayed was consistent with price and quality. The driver was a good guide and very well known parks. Addition to the driver , with us the whole trip was a great cook who always cooked delicious food. During Safari had no problems, we saw all the big five, made the best photos and went to rest on Zanzibar. If you need more information, Otti have my contacts.
US
Email Nola Lara | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our Amazing Ten Day Kenya, Tanzania Safari with Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris
I cannot thank Mr. OT Otieno and Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris enough for the absolutely amazing 10 day safari that Mr. OT and his company arranged for us. My review is long overdue because after our safari, we continued on in Zambia, South Africa, and Qatar for 5 more weeks. So, in order to help people decide if what we chose to do is right for you, I will first give a short highlighted summary, and then will follow with a more detailed version.
We chose a driver/guide type safari and NOT a fly in,out safari because we wanted to see the land and meet more people. The roads are rough, very rough at times. So keep that in mind in what type of transportation you choose. Other roads are perfectly paved and smooth. But you have the whole safari van/ jeep to yourselves. I took some Dramamine because I get motion sick in a tub (seriously) used my jacket as a pillow, and enjoyed the ride because I was in the real world of the Great Masai Warriors, the Great Migration, the fabulous Serengeti and everyday people. We saw it all. We loved it all. We felt safe at all times, even when we heard the lions roaring at night from our tented lodge in the Masai Mara.
We chose the 10 day luxury upgrade Kenya/ Tanzania safari and paid a fraction of the cost that other big name safari companies were charging. (We originally chose the standard tented lodge safari, but we are closer to 70 than 60 years old and wanted a few more comforts. But the standard ensuite lodging probably would have been just fine) Also, only lodging changed when we upgraded, not itinerary or mode of transportation.
The upgraded version included 2 nights Masai Mara at Osero Tented Camp, 2 nights Lake Naivisha at Sopa Lodge, 1 night Amboseli at Kibo Tented Lodge, 1 night Lake Manyara at Serena Lodge, 2 nights Serengeti at Sopa Lodge Serengeti, 1 night Ngorongoro Crater at Bougainvillea Lodge. Several of the places included authentic evening entertainment. (Separate reviews for each lodge will be written under each lodge's name). In summary, each tented lodge/ lodge was beyond luxury, (Osero even had a bath tub) each lodging gave turn down service during which the mosquito netting was set up for extra protection. We never saw a single mosquito in our lodging. There were fans but no AC, but not needed. It really cools off at night as you are pretty highly elevated most of the trip. Hot water bottles were provided in our beds at a couple of places for heart. This was more than enough and we had plenty of blankets. Never slept so well.! (We went end of December/beginning January) They seem to go above and beyond for getting rid of mosquitoes at these camps, lodges. However we still did all the recommended precautions, malaria meds, vaccinations, and sprayed 30% deet morning and night. We were picked up by our first driver, Ken, at our Nairobi hotel(Fairmont Norfolk where we left our 2 big suitcases)got to meet Mr OT, went on our way for 10 glorious days and night, and we were safely returned 10 days later to our Nairobi Hotel, where we stayed for one night before flying onward in Africa.
1. We researched over 500 different safaris and over 100 safari planning companies and decided on Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris (KWSS) because of the high praise and reassuring reviews we read on TripAdvisor and other safari review sites.
2. We chose a locally owned company, (Mr OT, a Kenya native) because we wanted to use a company that gave back to the local community.
3. Mr OT returns emails and phone calls swiftly and thoroughly, even once final payment is made and even while on safari.
4. You must have an open mind to other cultures and be willing to see the real Africa or you may not enjoy yourself.
5. I requested of Mr OT safe, knowledgable drivers. Ken (Kennedy) was our driver/ guide in Kenya and Khalid in Tanzania. They were fantastic drivers, very knowledgable, and courteous beyond fault.
6. My husband did the hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara. He really enjoyed it. But I would not prepay. Too many weather conditions can prevail. You can book it at the Masai Mara lodge. However, if you go in high season, you may want to firm things up, but I still would not prepay. But that would be your call, of course.
7. At the border, you change cars and drivers. I requested that Ken stay with us until we cleared customs and met up with next driver and of course he did.
8. Because roads are very rough in spots you may be lucky enough to have a couple of flat tires along the way or need car repairs, another area we were lucky enough to experience. We met so many more locals and never felt unsafe. Never once felt unsafe. Mr OT 's driver have 2 way radios at all times, as well as phones. And there are other safari vans passing all the time. One flat tire is how we met a family from France. Another flat tire we met many locals who invited us to their local shops for 30 minutes. The drivers always have spares, but the passing drivers all know each other and want to help. I might add that we saw some very pricey safari companies having similar problems along the way. It is one of the chances you take driving with your own driver versus flying. But flats can happen anywhere and do can repairs.
9. I only point out the above #8 in order to help you decide what type of safari to choose. We had fun through it all. Always felt safe. We never once regretted what we chose. (Driving everywhere versus fly in,out safari) I just want to share our experiences and we enjoyed ever single experience. And I will hopefully help you in your decision making.
10. Mr. Ot's drivers knew how to find the animals sooooo well. We saw lions mating from 15 feet away, we saw the Great Migration where it is in January (Serengeti at that time) We saw all big 5 and many many more. Our road blocks were herds of wildebeests crossing or families of elephants, babies included. Our "selfies" were "photo-bombed" by giraffes and monkeys. All meals were included and we had some picnics in the most beautiful spots.
I hope I have given you the "feel" for what our safari experiences were. Please keep in mind that no one can guarantee duplicating any life experience. The safari is what you make it, with Mr OT's help, and your drivers' help, and all the wonderful people you meet. But I can add this, just in case one of your worries is safety: I am an adventurous scaredy-cat. That means I am cautiously adventurous, always, always putting safety first. And I can honestly state the Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris and Mr. OT and his wonderful drivers Ken(Kennedy) and Khalid delivered to us an enjoyable, amazing, safe safari. My husband and I hope that amazing and safe travels will always follow you. Salvador and Nola Lara
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
fun fun fun
me and my wife visited kenya and we went to Masaimara,Samburu,Lake Nakuru and naivvasha.it was fun to be there and we saw many animals.the food we ate was great.the manegement was well organized and we did not have worries.Kenya walking Survivors thank you..see you in coming years.
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An amazing safari!
We had a very good week on the safari.
We contacted Kenya walking Sunday and Thursday morning we started the safari
Mr.Otieno was very quick to answer the emails even on Sunday's. We also changed the trip a bit so it fit to what we wanted to see. Even in the middle off the trip we wanted to go to a different place, we just call mr Otieno and changed it. It was so flexible, we have never experienced that before.
The cook made nice food and the driver did everything he could so we could have the best experience with the animals. The only thing was that we had to ask him about the animals, he didn't just tell about them himself.