CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience!
We had an absolutely incredible safari experience with Splendid Vacations, and every detail from start to finish was handled with the utmost care.
Working with Dennis to plan our itinerary was a pleasure. He paid incredible attention to detail, was extremely quick to reply, and answered all our questions thoroughly throughout the planning process. His expertise made us feel completely prepared and confident leading up to the trip.
From our initial pick-up in Nairobi to our final drop-off, the service was seamless and stress-free. Our driver and guide, Timothy, was exceptional. Not only was he a knowledgeable and engaging guide, but he was also a fantastic driver. We always felt completely safe with him—he was especially mindful and always made sure we were securely seated before moving during game drives. Timothy was very knowledgeable with his years of experience. We had many questions throughout the safari and he was able to answer them all. We were able to get amazing pictures and Timothy always had a great suggestion or shot in mind.
Every camp and lodge we selected was amazing. The facilities were beautiful, the accommodations were comfortable, and the food throughout the trip was outstanding.
If you are looking for a reliable, thoughtful, and well-organized travel agency for your safari, we cannot recommend Splendid Vacations (and Dennis and Timothy!) highly enough. We would definitely book with them again!
Our Itinerary - 8 Day Best Kenya Adventure Safari:
Masai Mara National Reserve - Mara Maisha Camp x 3 days
Lake Nakuru - Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge x1 day
Lake Naivasha - Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort x1 day
Amboseli National Park - Ol Tukai Lodge x2 days
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dennis Koome Kithinji is the best!
Our tour was great we got to see so much and learned about the big 5, the ugly 5, and the super 7 as we got to see them all. It was an action packed time
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari team
Great safari, Paul was really good at finding the animals and making sure we had a great experience
Food was okay, similar for every meal but expected
Tents were very nice - bathrooms inside and tin roof - heavy rain overnight and no problems with water
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing animal sightings, authentical lodges, knowledgeable guide!
Serengeti + Ngorongoro with Melita
We booked a 3-day group tour and had an amazing time! Our guide Melita spots every animal, no matter how well hidden, knows where to find the best coffee on the way to the park, and is miraculously able to avoid (almost) every pothole.
The roads are very bumpy and you have to cover many kilometers, but thanks to our guide Melita, the time flew by - filled with interesting conversations and sightings of several Maasai villages and various animals. Cold water is provided in the car and tjere are pleny of bathroom breaks on the way.
On the game drives, we saw an incredible variety of animals.
- The Serengeti seems endless, and you have to search a bit for the animals—which is no problem thanks to the experienced guide—but in return, you stay at a very authentic yet no less comfortable lodge (Tanzania Bush Camp). Dinner is a buffet with fresh ingredients, followed by a drink at the bar or by the campfire. You’ll spend the night in luxurious tents, complete with hot water and a comfortable bed. Since you’re in the middle of the Serengeti, you’re only allowed to leave the camp after dark with an escort, whom you can contact via radio. You’ll be woken up by the most beautiful sunrise, followed by a breakfast you definitely wouldn’t expect “out in the middle of nowhere.”
- The Ngorongoro Crater offers a wide variety of scenery, ranging from arid areas to green pastures and lakes. Accordingly, you’ll find all kinds of animal herds there (except giraffes)—they literally run right in front of your car. You’ll take a break at the so-called “Hippo Pool,” where there’s also a coffee stand serving delicious Tanzanian coffee. Unfortunately, you can’t spend the night inside the crater, so you’ll stay at one of the lodges (concrete cabins, not tents, but no less beautiful).
The nights before and after the safari are included in the tour as well but as I had private arrangements, I cannot rewiev this service. Also included is an airport pickup and dropoff, which was well-organized and on time.
It’s also worth mentioning the organization behind the scenes—in our case, Jesca. The booking process takes place via WhatsApp. It seemed a bit suspicious at first, but all questions were answered within what felt like 24 hours, and in the end, everything worked out—including a follow-up request for feedback after the tour. Many thanks for the professional and very personalized service!
Note: On such short lowbudget group tours, you should be aware that you'll spend a lot of time in the car and that driving on unpaved roads can be tiring. Alternatively, Suricata Safari also offers “more comfortable” tours.
= I can highly recommend both this tour and this provider! A tour with absolute value for money!
SK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excelent Tanzania safari tour
Samora Explorers provided excellent service in our 6 days safari tour in northern Tanzania. Everything was perfectly organized by Asia Juma from the beginning-planning and booking, until the end of jorney. Hotels knew in advance what meals they should serve due to our dietary. Our guide Aron was kind, experienced person, he knows a lot about animals and maasais. Thanks to him we saw big five. Thank you, Asante sana!
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
10/10 once-in-a-lifetime experience
1. Surprisingly easy to book and arrange everything. Basically you pick any route at any date, and it all can be arranged. We had to change the dates just two weeks before the start and the company was totally cool about it. Moreover, the couple who was supposed to climb with us cancelled just several days before the start - and we still managed to do the tour, just the two of us, with no change of the price.
2. The price really does include everything except for the tips and gear rental - no hidden expenses
3. The team of guides, porters and chefs were just amazing, very professional, helpful and friendly. Highly recommend climbing with Joshua and Patrick, two great pros with over 15 years of experience. Also special thanks to Charlie who was always staying in touch ready to answer all the questions during the preparation period.
4. I was a bit surprised when no one asked us about our hiking experience or health conditions before booking. Also our gear was not checked before the start which I guess would be better to do just to be on a safe side. Medical reports during the hike are also not very comprehensive, so up there you can rely only on your guides' professionalism and experience.
5. As for the tips. At first we were advised 10% but the figures recommended by professional unions and associations are quite different so we ended up with 25%. Absolutely deserved!
6. If you're not professional climbers or athletes I would personally recommend you to do as many days as possible. We did a 7-day Lemosho route and I wish we did 8 days. We reached the summit anyway but the headache was just impossible.
7. Karanga river lodge in Moshi is absolutely beautiful, with kindest staff and best breakfasts ❤️
PT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Sos was an excellent guide. His warm and welcoming demeanor made the journey pleasant.
Unforgettable Kenyan Safari with Eliteways Travel & Safaris!
We recently returned from a wonderful safari trip to Kenya in September booked with Eliteways Travel & Safaris, we had a fantastic experience. The team at Eliteways was extremely friendly and managed our group seamlessly from start to finish.
A special shoutout goes to our guide, Sospeter! The long game drives could have been tiring, but having such a knowledgeable and engaging guide made all the difference. Sospeter set proper expectations, helped spot wildlife along the way, and shared insightful facts about the animals and local environment.
Accommodations & Highlights Breakdown:
• Vehicle & Drive Experience: The rugged vehicle was as comfortable as possible for long days on the road and allowed us to see almost every angle around the vehicle as we moved.
• Standout Lodging: The Tamarind Tree Hotel in Nairobi and the Swahili Beach Resort both provided outstanding service and were beautiful properties.
• Bush Lodges: The sleeping quarters in the bush lodges were clean and adequate. However, the menus at two of the lodges were not very extensive and struggled to cater well to dietary restrictions.
• Minor Hitch: Our one-night stay at Travelers Beach Hotel was sub-par, but we’ve passed this feedback to Eliteways so they can adjust their hotel rotations for future guests.
It was a memorable and highly enjoyable trip. We would definitely recommend Eliteways Travel & Safaris to anyone planning a safari in Kenya.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best tour guide, kind & with great knowledge
Raheem Mweman was the best tour guide we could wish for. He answered all of our questions and took us to the best places to see all the animals. We saw all of the Big Five in one day, incredible! I would recommend going with him on a safari trip!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional
We did a 4 day safari through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro with Lekobe Adventures Safari and had an amazing time! Mathayo helped curate an itinerary that fit our schedule and what we wanted to see and was always very responsive and accommodating. Philip was our guide throughout the safari and he was very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. We got to see so much wildlife and had a fantastic time. Would definitely choose Lekobe again for any safari adventure!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and talented tour guide that makes it fun and safe for everyone!
From start to finish our safari to the Masai Mara was incredible all because of SAFARIS WITHOUT BOARDERS. I took 5 of my best lady friends into the wild and we fully trusted Simon and his team and they delivered the best adventure we could has asked for! From the second we landed to the time we departed they were taking care of us. They are so knowledgeable about the animals and as locals - could fill in cultural questions and tips to help our stay become even more special. Would do it again 10/10!!