GR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Four Days of Dust, Distance, and the Real Kenya
Look, I'm not going to tell you the usual safari picture- the majestic sunsets, the circle-of-life nonsense, the Instagram-ready shots of giraffes silhouetted against an orange sky. That stuff happens, sure. But here's what actually matters about this trip with Beyond the Plains Kenya Safaris: the people gave a damn. Maurine built this thing from scratch with me. Not some cookie-cutter, check-the-boxes package tour where you're herded like cattle through the greatest-hits compilation of African wildlife. This was different. Maurine listened. Asked questions. Built something that made sense for what I actually wanted, not what some marketing department decided tourists should want.
Then there's Ben. The driver. Which is a completely inadequate title for what this guy does. Ben's not just steering a Land Cruiser through the Mara he's reading the land, the light, the behavior of animals you can barely see yet. He's anticipating. Always working an angle to get you closer, to position you better, to show you something most people miss. No autopilot. No phoning it in. Every day, he's working. Respecting the animals and disturbing them.
Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara yeah, they're spectacular. The landscapes do their thing. The wildlife shows up. But the accommodation is where a lot of these operations reveal themselves as either authentic or pure tourist extraction. The places Ben and Maurine put me? They felt real. Comfortable without being sanitized. Nice without that gross, performative luxury that screams "We think you're an idiot with money."
No one was performing Africa for me. No one was selling me a fantasy. This was just Kenya. The actual place. With actual people who happen to be exceptionally good at what they do.
Would I recommend Beyond the Plains? If you want the real thing, handled by people who actually care whether you have a meaningful experience or just another transaction to forget? Yeah. Absolutely.
Contact: Maurine Nyabuto, Beyond the Plains Kenya Safaris.
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great!
I loved Soul Of Madagascar! It was easy to communicate with them, and got good answers, and updates. The drivers and the tour guide we got was so good! Pretty hotels that got booked, even on a budget. I have nothing bad to say about this company, they did a great job!
GR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!
We used Safarilink for our 6 1/2 hour drive from Johannesburg to Kruger Park. Our driver, Theodore, was excellent and got us to our destination safely and quickly. He had planned the route carefully, with enough stops to make the journey comfortable. The van was spacious and had comfortable seats and good air-conditioning. In total, a very nice experience.
SE
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great tour operator
I had a great safari trip. We saw a lot of animals. The tour guide Champion knew where to go to see the animals and it was interesting the hear about them.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent and outstanding.
Our family travelled with Lion King Adventures, and the experience exceeded our expectations in every way. The entire trip was extremely well organised and ran smoothly from start to finish.
The planning and coordination were handled with great efficiency and promptness. Caroline and Naurey deserve special recognition for their exceptional attention to detail and clear communication. They were proactive, responsive, and ensured that every aspect of the itinerary was carefully thought through, which made travelling as a family completely stress-free.
The accommodation arranged for us was very good. We stayed in comfortable and well-maintained lodges in Tarangire National Park and Serengeti National Park. The lodges were clean, pleasant, and ideally suited for resting after full days of game drives, adding to the overall quality of the safari experience.
Our guide and driver, Fredrick, was outstanding and played a major role in making this trip so special. His knowledge of the parks, wildlife, and birds was excellent, and he shared it generously throughout the journey. He was consistently punctual, kept the vehicle clean and comfortable, and always ensured we had enough water, soft drinks, and beers available during the drives.
Fredrick’s dedication truly stood out — he went out of his way to ensure we had the best possible sightings and a memorable experience. His professionalism, work ethic, and genuine enthusiasm made this safari one we will remember for a very long time.
We highly recommend Lion King Adventures to anyone looking for a reliable, well-organised, and high-quality safari experience in Tanzania.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent planning and execution of multi day safari tour including chimpanzee and gorilla tracking
I had a great experience with Ngoni safari for this multi day itinerary. The team planned it very well and it happened perfectly. I would strongly recommend them for organizing this tour. I just focused on the experience and they did all the hard work.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Grassrootz offers well paced, authentic adventures that reveal Uganda in all its wild richness
We travelled through Uganda with Grassrootz for two weeks, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish.
From the first communication with Sander van Zanten, everything was clear, honest, and very well structured. The itinerary made sense and was exactly what we were looking for. Long travel days were balanced with calmer moments, and intense wildlife experiences were followed by time to rest and absorb everything.
Travelling through Uganda requires experience, flexibility, and good planning, which is exactly where Grassrootz really stands out. Despite long distances, rough roads, and changing conditions, everything ran smoothly. We always felt well prepared, well informed, and in very good hands.
A huge part of the experience was our guide and driver Bob Magezi. Calm, reliable, and extremely knowledgeable, he took great care of us every single day. His ability to spot wildlife was remarkable, and many of our best sightings happened thanks to his experience and patience.
The route itself showcased Uganda’s incredible diversity. Savannah and rainforest, rhinos, chimpanzees, lions, leopards, elephants, and gorillas. Over the course of the journey, we saw more than 150 bird species, over 50 animal species, and countless butterflies and insects. At times, it truly felt like being in a living nature documentary.
We also deeply appreciated how respectfully Grassrootz handles cultural encounters and wildlife experiences. Nothing felt staged or rushed, and there was a strong sense of responsibility throughout the trip.
Grassrootz offers real, well-thought-out adventures with strong local knowledge and genuine care. We would absolutely travel with them again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for an authentic Uganda safari.
Unforgettable Safari Experience with the Best Guide Fadhil and Safari by
We spent 9 fantastic days with friends from Safari by Z.
Bashir meticulously organized the trip for us.
The fantastic Fadhlili (an expert driver) who is always able to take unique roads, allowing us to find ourselves alone in fantastic situations and an excellent guide with his knowledge of the territory helped us discover all the secrets of the animals seen in the savannah, turned it into magic.
We visited the Tarangire park, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro conservation area and the very famous Serengeti!
Thanks to them we were able to see the big 5! And above all the very rare Leopard. Our guide was sensitive towards animals! Never a risky maneuver (like others do), never any disturbing actions and above all PASSION FOR YOUR JOB!
The reason why we saw so many animals is that the guide wanted to see them first! The guide on a safari is the most important thing!
We will forever thank SAFARI BY Z - Bashir, Fadhlili
under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kind and well prepared
Other travellers will love how the guide is well prepared and ready to meet all your needs
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Exemplary
We had a great Safari, the hotels were great especially Serena Kilaguni, where you watch animals come to water hole from the dinning.
Our tour guide Mugambi was so nice with a keen eye on spotting animals. We got to see the rare Leopard in Tsavo West among other animals.
