JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A country that makes you genuinely want to return again
I spent four nights and five days in Kenya. Three of those days were spent on a safari tour in Amboseli National Park, and the other two were in Nairobi.
In Nairobi, as long as I followed basic tourist rules like "don't walk around alone at night" and "use taxis for transportation," I could move about with peace of mind.
The safari was a private tour. The guide was highly skilled, allowing us to see many animals in good spots, and he shared our excitement.
Overall, there were few touts, and we weren't persistently asked for tips. Kenyans struck me as gentle, respectful of personal space, and sincere.
Kenya, said to be the birthplace of bipedalism. Why not come back to your roots, everyone (humankind)?
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beautiful with lots to offer
Having left Kenya 54 years ago, I was delighted to go back for a holiday with 2 siblings. As soon as we landed, we felt at home! The first few days were to revisit where we used to live, our primary school [the building is still as lovely as before] and where our father worked. A local taxi driver took us around locally as well as further afield to Thika. Loved the waterfalls there but be careful you don't get ripped off! Check the cost of the boat ride plus the guides. Whilst we had a lovely time, it was a little spoilt by the demands for much more money than we had expected to pay.
Our 3 days safari, organised by Roju Safari was absolutely beautiful. The Masai Mara Park, lodge and 2 Safari drives were brilliant. The early morning drive is wonderful. Saw zebras, giraffes, elephants and many other animals walking around so naturally, it was clear this was their true habitat. A shout out to Samwell, who works for Jocky Tours - an amazing guide with a sharp eye and a willingness to please his clients. He and the Kenyan family who were part of the group safari made my trip even better.
We went to Nakuru for 3 nights, visiting Naivasha and Crescent Island where Out of Africa was filmed. I wish we had spent more than the three hours we stayed on the island. Once again, animals happily walking and sharing their environment.
Our trip finished with 3 more days in Nairobi. The Karan Blixen museum is well worth a visit. There are other interesting places to visit but it's nice to also enjoy the local walks and parks like Uhuru Park.
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Benjamin is super nice. Very professional and knowledgeable.
My travel experience was extremely delightful and very easily handled. I was able to relax while my tour guide Benjamin had everything taken care of in his hands. Would highly recommend this service to anyone looking to just have a very nice, carefree easygoing experience. Seriously couldn’t have had it better.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Responsive and Efficient
Maraways Tours is truly an unforgettable experience. The tour guides work incredibly hard to ensure your trip is both customized and maximized from start to finish. Our guides were kind, professional, and amazing gatekeepers for us four ladies throughout our stay—we felt completely safe at all times.
They are extremely knowledgeable and willing to go off the beaten path to uncover hidden gems within the safari park. Beyond the wildlife, they also took the time to educate us about the Masai Mara people, their land, and their rich heritage, which made the experience even more meaningful.
Booking with Maraways is worth every penny, so don’t hesitate. Ask as many questions as you need to make your vacation enjoyable, then leave the planning to them—you won’t regret it. This was my fourth trip to Africa, and easily one of my favorite revisits!
Thank you so much, Esther, to you and your heartwarming team.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator was absolutely perfect. The guide, the parks, the food... Good memories.
Our guide/driver was very friendly and knew a lot about the flora, and animals.
We saw the Big Five, it was simply magical!
My best memory is still the crater, the most incredible thing I've ever seen in my life.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
5/5! Spotted the Big Five in 4 days with the legend, Yasin!
If you’re planning a safari in Kenya, just book with Axis Safari Africa and pray you get Yasin as your guide. My girlfriend and I did the 4-day Maasai Mara and Nakuru trip, and it was easily the highlight of our entire time here.
The whole "game drive" thing really lived up to the name—it felt like a proper adventure. There was so much adrenaline, especially in Nakuru when we were running for a leopard. Yasin knew exactly what we were going for, but didn’t spoil the surprise at all; he just navigated us right to this tree where a leopard was just chilling 50 meters away. Then in the Mara, we did a 15-minute dash to find a lion family and ended up sitting there with 10 cubs. It was just us and one other Axis jeep, so it felt super private and special.
In just 4 days, we checked off the entire Big Five. We saw two leopards, tons of elephants and buffalo, and somehow managed to see 8 rhinos! One black rhino literally walked right in front of our car because Yasin predicted exactly where it was heading and parked us in the perfect spot before it even arrived.
What really set Yasin apart was how intense our days have been. We were always the first ones to leave our campsite in the morning and the last ones to come back in the afternoon. Yasin made us stay out enough to make sure we saw everything. He’s also just a wealth of knowledge—he was constantly pointing out birds and explaining the culture and plants. You can tell he really studies this stuff and knows all the secret spots.
Such a good vibe in the car and an unforgettable experience. It was very pleasant and funny spending 4 days with Yasin and the rest of the group.
Even after the safari, Yasin went out of his way to help us plan the rest of our Kenya trip by calling up and sharing his own contacts with us.
The logistics were also spot on. The tented camp was actually way better than I expected (private bathroom and a comfortable bed), and communication with Axis was super clear.
Seriously, couldn't recommend them enough!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
KR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Despite language barriers, I thank AXIS AFRICA for making our safari smooth, enjoyable and memorable
It was a truly wonderful time. Our guide, Luzuvi, helped us see many animals. He anticipated the animals’ movements and even showed us a cheetah walking right in front of us. We are very grateful for such an amazing experience!!!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very knowledgeable, reliable and friendly staff.
We had a great experience on our 13-day safari through Kenya and Tanzania. It was once in a lifetime experience.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A tour operator that combines excellent organization with genuine care for the guest experience.
Our safari lasted four unforgettable days across Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Naivasha, and from the very first moment everything was perfectly organized. Pickup from our hotel in Nairobi was right on time, and all the pre-departure procedures were handled quickly and professionally.
Our guide, Yasin, was exceptional. We shared the experience with my partner and five other travelers, and from the very beginning Yasin’s calm, confident driving made the long journey (about six hours) feel effortless, I never felt tired, which I truly appreciated.
Upon arriving at Sankale Tented Camp, we dropped off our bags and immediately headed out for our first game drive. As it was my first safari, the experience was absolutely magical. In just a few hours we spotted zebras, giraffes, warthogs, a family of elephants, and even a cheetah eating its prey while alertly defending it from opportunistic jackals.
The second day was truly special. Early in the morning, Yasin spotted a family of lions along the road. Shortly after, I heard him listening to the radio and speaking urgently before driving us quickly to another location. I didn’t know where we were going, but I felt something incredible was about to happen, and it did. We had our first encounter with two magnificent black rhinos, peacefully feeding among the bushes.
Two other moments from that day will stay in my heart forever: a pride of lions, four lionesses and ten cubs, feeding on an adult buffalo with only our jeep nearby, and a cheetah eating its prey while being closely observed by three giraffes just a few meters away, standing motionless and fascinated, with an eagle perched nearby waiting for its chance. Throughout the safari, Yasin explained every detail about the animals, their behavior, and their habits with great professionalism and passion.
On the third day, we left Masai Mara heading toward Lake Nakuru. Instead of following the original plan of relaxing at the hotel, Yasin suggested jumping straight into another safari adventure at Lake Naivasha, an excellent decision. White rhinos, rare black rhinos, and flamingos were among the highlights.
At that point, I had almost given up hope of seeing my dream animal: the leopard, elusive and nocturnal by nature. While watching flamingos preparing to take flight at sunset, I noticed Yasin suddenly stop to listen to the radio. In that moment, I just knew. We rushed off, and after about 15 minutes we arrived at a road already lined with jeeps. There he was, His Majesty the leopard, sleeping on a tree branch in the distance. That moment was one of the most beautiful emotions of my life. We felt victorious.
As we were leaving the park, another unexpected radio call came in. Yasin turned to us and said, “Let’s go see another leopard.” And unbelievably, we did. We had won twice.
On the final day, we woke up early with our bags ready and headed back to Lake Naivasha. Once we arrived at the resort, we chose to join an optional one-hour boat trip on the lake, absolutely worth it. We saw hippos, African fish eagles, and countless aquatic birds, before admiring a stunning island from the boat, home to giraffes, ostriches, antelopes, waterbucks, and many other savanna animals living freely. It was the perfect and peaceful way to end such an intense and emotional journey.
Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris delivered an experience beyond anything I could have imagined: excellent communication, outstanding service, incredible value for money, and absolute reliability. Above all, Yasin made this safari unforgettable. I would recommend this tour operator without hesitation to anyone dreaming of an authentic African safari.
