IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari
I had a very good safari with porcupine tours!
They customised the safari for me to add an extra day at lake Manyara into the 5 day tour and the communication and value was great.
The tour itself was incredible and I saw so many mammals, plants and birds over the six days! The driver was very good at navigating the wet season tracks in the park. An incredible experience. The food the chef cooked was really great too. (I am vegetarian and there was always nice vegetarian options)
They were also very helpful arranging onwards travel.
Thank you very much Porcupine expeditions.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing First Safari in Kenya – Incredible Guide, Seamless Planning, and Unforgettable Wildlife
We had an amazing first safari experience with Leisure Escape Safaris. From the beginning, Esther was incredibly responsive and detailed with every question I had. I compared quotes from several companies, and their pricing felt the most fair for what was included. They handled everything — accommodations, park logistics, and meal arrangements — so aside from researching itineraries and booking flights, the rest of the trip planning was effortless.
Our driver-guide Duncan was fantastic. With over 20 years of experience, he knew the roads and parks extremely well and always made sure we traveled safely. We visited Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Lake Naivasha. Unfortunately the rains came early this year (we traveled the second week of March 2026), causing some flooding and road closures, but Duncan handled it like a pro — navigating muddy terrain and alternate routes while coordinating with Esther when adjustments were needed.
Despite the weather, the wildlife sightings were incredible. We saw 4 of the Big Five (elephants, lions, rhinos — both black and white — and Cape buffalo). One of our most memorable moments was watching a cheetah take down an impala while her three cubs waited nearby. Duncan positioned us perfectly so we could see the entire moment. On our last day in Amboseli we also saw elephants crossing with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background — an unforgettable view.
Game drives were flexible: either full-day drives with a packed lunch or sunrise and sunset drives. We preferred the sunrise/sunset option because it allowed time to relax at the lodge midday.
We stayed at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Sawela Lodge, and Ol Tukai Lodge. Our favorite food was at Sawela Lodge, while Ol Tukai had the best wildlife sightings and an incredible Kilimanjaro view when the skies were clear.
A highlight activity was the boat ride and walking safari at Crescent Island, where you can actually walk among wildlife — definitely worth the extra cost.
A few tips for future travelers:
• Bring some Kenyan shillings for tips and small purchases.
• Expect long drives between parks (4–6+ hours), but there are stops along the way.
• Lodges generally don’t have AC, but they do have hot water.
• Bring a camera with a zoom lens if possible — we used a 75–300mm and it made a big difference for wildlife photos.
Kenya’s landscapes are breathtaking, and this safari exceeded our expectations. We would absolutely book another trip with Leisure Escape Safaris again — possibly in another country. Huge thanks to Esther and Duncan for making our trip unforgettable.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari operator
Superb 1 day safari. We saw the wildlife up close and everything was organized perfectly with the hotel pickup and transfers. The buffet lunch was very good.
I highly recommend Rockfowl Safaris.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very enthousiastic with a touch of humour
Pick up in Johannesburg went smoothly. Our guide, Rudzani, wat very enthousiastic and provided us with a lot of information about the African culture and nature. He guided us to the best spots with magnificent views on the panoramic route. Would recommend this tour to everyone!
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!
Tiyani was a nice person, helpful and generous. Really good driver! Good service, value, and reliability. I highly recommend his service and Safarilink SA!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tiyani was very kind
Safe and very comfortable drive with a very nice driver. We experienced no issues
CA
Great
Great experience. Ride was smooth, no complaints. Tiyani was a good driver.
LT
Guide Allan, with the driver both were amazing!
The whole trip was nice and comfortable, the guys took us from the hotel in the morning, and even earlier then was agreed. At safari we have seen a lot of animals, lions elephants giraffes, antilopes, zebra, and all the other small animals including exotic birds.
First day was two part, so morning safari, then lunch at the hotel, and also accomadation, which gave more expierence to live in safari territory, was something new and interesting! And also evening ride through safari. Second day early in the morning was more extreme , because all the animals more active and you might see what you can only see in national geography channel! I suggest choose only two days trips !
IT
A Perfect Day at Lake Manyara
I had an amazing experience visiting Lake Manyara today thanks to our guide, Omary. He was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything in a clear and interesting way. You could really feel his passion for the place and for wildlife.
Omary was also very friendly and fun, which made the whole trip even more enjoyable. He made sure I felt comfortable the entire time and was always attentive, answering all my questions with patience. Thanks to him, I learned a lot and was able to appreciate the beauty of Lake Manyara even more.
I truly recommend Omary as a guide to anyone visiting the area. His professionalism, kindness, and great sense of humor made this tour unforgettable. Thank you, Omary, for such a wonderful day!