When we decided to finally make our dreams of an African Safari a reality, I began researching companies and looking at costs - Even though I typically make all my travel arrangements and act as my own travel agent, I knew I would need help planning this trip. I reached out to a few different companies with a broad outline of what I was looking for and a request for some pricing. Anne, at Amazin ... Read moreg Memories, responded immediately and quickly I was able to decide that this was the company I wanted to work with.
The trip was for my family - husband and wife with a 21 year old daughter and an 18 year old son. I outlined the basic things we wanted to see and do and Anne came back with a suggested itinerary. I went back and forth with her asking questions about the places and activities and she modified the plans as she learned more about what we sought. I finally pulled the trigger and hoped for the best - still nervous that I was venturing to Africa and dependent upon someone else's expertise.
Travelling during Covid can be stressful - but Anne spelled out how everything would be handled if we had to cancel at the last minute. Fortunately, we all got our negative tests and were soon on our way to Nairobi. We were met at the airport, as promised, and transferred to the hotel for our first night. We met Steve, who would be our guide for the next 8 days, and then he drove up to the Samburu Reserve so he could be there when our flight arrived the next day.
The eight days with Steve as our guide were amazing. He made us feel so comfortable and safe! We had 2 longer drives (we visited 4 parks in total) and he was an excellent driver. His skills of spotting game were amazing and he provided so much useful information - our whole family loved Steve.
Two places that we stayed deserve special mention - they were fabulous and I would recommend their experiences to anyone. Elephant Bedroom Camp in Samburu and Kichwa Tembo Camp in Masai Mara were top notch. Excellent food, excellent service, excellent location. Definitely try to include those 2 camps on your itinerary.
When our safari came to an end we found out the the testing place for our return Covid test shut down for the day - but Steve was on the phone to Anne and they quickly found an alternate location for us to get our Covid test and Steve took us to the site in Nairobi, escorted us through the process and delivered us safely for our return flight. My enitre family raved about how well organized the trip was and I couldn't agree more. I was thrilled that I used Amazing Memories.
Two final comments - 1. The Kenyan people rely on tourism and they make visitors feel so welcome. I had visions of traveling to places where we were tolerated - but instead I found that the Kenyans treat visitors like family. I would absolutely recommend a trip of this nature to anyone. 2. We went over Christmas 2021, so Covid testing rules required a negative test within 24 hours of departure. Once the regulations ease, the camps can arrange a test collection onsite and then get the results delivered to you. They were doing this for people who were going back to countries that only needed a negative test 72 hours prior to departure.
If you are considering a safari, you should definitely reach out to Anne and find out why the create truly Amazing Memories!

If I could rate Amazing Memories with a higher star than 5, I certainly would. Since my previous safari trip was with a tour group, I wanted the flexibility to arrange this trip as my dream safari. After reading other’s reviews and contacting other companies, I found Amazing Memories to be the right fit for my dream safari vacation. My original dates were for Sept 2020, but due to the pandemic, ... Read moreI had post pone until Sept 2021. The whole time I had been in contact with Anne from Amazing Memories and she was absolutely wonderful with all the changes I made to the itinerary. Her expertise were top notch and every step during the planning she always made sure I was satisfied with the itinerary.

When the day arrived to start my safari tour, my sister and I were met by a representative from Amazing Safari and James our Safari guide. Since they only require a small downpayment prior to the start of the safari, we were able to pay the balance on the day of and off we went on our dream vacation.

James our guide in Kenya was terrific! He was engaging, knowledgeable and lots of fun. He always made sure we had the best animal sightings and all our check ins went smoothly. One night we were exhausted and decided to skip dinner so he had asked one of the staff from the camp to check on us to make sure we were ok. It really showed us how much he cared about our well being. When it came time to change drivers in Tanzania, he waited at the boarder until we passed immigration and exchanged hands with our new guide Donald. We were lucky to have James again for our last night in Kenya after returning from Tanzania. Once again, he made sure we arrived at the airport on time and even got us luggage carts to use for check in. His customer service skills are the best!

Donald our Tanzania guide was terrific. He did our guiding in the Serengeti and it was like he just knew where all the animals were at any given time! Because of his guiding skills, we were able to get some amazing wildlife photos and will be able to enjoy the photos for years to come. He even allowed us to use his WiFi when we needed to access our email to receive our covid test results on the way to the boarder. I don’t know what we would have done without it.

The camps and lodges were great. The two places that really stood our for us were Zebra Plains Camp and Ngorongoro Oldeani Lodge. The service in both places were incredible! Both places made us feel like royalty! Ngorongoro Oldeani Lodge is absolutely beautiful! If I ever have a change to visit Tanzania again, I would love to stay there again. The only place we would probably would not recommend would be Naivasha Crescent Camp. The food was terrible. Luckily, it was only one night so it wasn’t a big deal.

This memorable safari vacation would not have been possible without Anne from Amazing Memories. She made sure everything went smoothly from A-Z and if I had any concerns, she took care of it immediately. She made sure we were up to date with all the mandatory requirements needed before and during the trip so there wouldn’t be any unforeseen issues.

If anyone is interested in booking a safari tour, I would highly recommend booking through Amazing Memories. They are trust worthy and will do everything they can to make your trip unforgettable. Thank you Anne! You are the best!

I researched MANY safari tour operators, many different tours, and many different camps, before selecting Amazing Memories. I chose them because they offered competitive pricing, were very flexible in arranging an itinerary that suited our needs, they are KATO bonded, and they have MANY excellent reviews on TripAdvisor and Safaribookings.com (I used both these sites extensively). I can now add to ... Read morethe many positive reviews on these sites!

I exchanged so many emails with Anne Waithira at Amazing Memories who answered each question and each concern patiently. She spelled out in the contract what my options would be should we have to cancel due to Covid. She offered alternative pricing based on several different camps I was considering. She offered solid advice backed by her years of experience to address all of my concerns. She sent me several different quotes because I kept changing the itinerary or the accommodations! When she realized, the day before our arrival, that we were arriving at 1 AM and would need an extra night at the Crowne Plaza, which had not been included in the contract, she graciously offered to cover the expense, admitting it was her oversight. She also arranged our Covid test at the end of our trip and had them come to our hotel for the test. Anne is responsive to emails and What’s App and very easy to work with.

When we arrived in Nairobi at 1 AM, we were grateful to see the Crowne Plaza shuttle waiting outside the airport for us. The hotel was amazing and so close to the airport! It was a perfect choice especially since we were arriving so late (or early in the morning). Highly recommend this hotel.

The morning of our safari, our driver/guide for the next 10 days, Eliud, was waiting for us in the lobby. He and Anne were there early and greeted us with Amazing Memories safari hats! Our safari vehicle, the Toyota Landcruiser, was in perfect condition and looked brand new. It offered lots of room for the two of us and there was plenty of bottled water waiting on us. Eliud has over 20 years experience and he was more than willing to share all his knowledge with us. Throughout our 10 day safari, he offered so much information on the animals including all the birds, the landscape and the parks in general. It seemed he knew all the other drivers and was able to radio them to find us the very best viewing spots. He knew the best places to use the “bush toilet” (essential knowledge to have!) and the perfect spots for a coffee/tea break and lunch. He also ensured that I received a vegan lunchbox on our full-day game drives. He knew when to go fast and when to slow down to avoid the worst bits of road. He was always willing to accommodate our schedule when we wanted to get a later start or go all day long! He seemed to have boundless energy!! He never tired and truly seemed to love sharing his insights about the parks, the animals, and his beloved Kenya. We so appreciated everything he did to make our safari so wonderful! We saw EVERYTHING we wanted to see, including TWO wildebeest crossings on the Mara River!!! Amazing memories indeed!

The camps where we stayed were wonderful! We were in Kibo Safari Camp in Amboseli, Crescent Camp in Lake Naivasha, and Basecamp Mara in Maasai Mara. All three camps, like the parks themselves, are very different so we got a very different experience in all three. The only hiccups we experienced were no hot water at Kibo and no working shower at Crescent. In both camps, we were told it would be fixed, but it was not. Basecamp Mara had both hot water and the showers (one inside and one outside) worked - at the same time!!! All the camps were able to offer vegan food for me (much appreciated) and the rooms were lovely. They even gave us hot water bottles at night to keep the chill away. YES, it was very cold at night!! We had our hot water bottles and some very heavy wool blankets - so comfy! The sounds at night are incredible and we slept so well in all the camps.

I have to give extra mention to Basecamp Mara, our favorite!! The camp, the tent, the two showers, the hot water bottles, the food, our wonderful deck, and most especially the people who work there, were AMAZING and made our trip extraordinary!! Everyone was incredible and worked so hard to make sure we were taken care of. I can’t recommend this camp enough!

When we returned to Nairobi, we were booked in the Weston Hotel overnight. I do not recommend this hotel. It’s quite dated and the food was terrible. We had an extra day, so Amazing Memories driver, Joseph, took us around Nairobi for a day of shopping. Joseph has such a wonderful and positive story that he shared with us. He was a wonderful driver and I’m a better person from having met him and shared a day with him! I highly recommend asking for Joseph when touring Nairobi!! He is wonderful!

Amazing Memories and everyone there - Anne, Eliud, and Joseph - made our safari extraordinary!! Thank you so much for everything you did!!

Myself and my husband went on a private tour of Kenya to three Safari destinations with James Magi. He was brilliant! He made us have a safe, fun and exciting trip. We loved Amboseli for the food and views of Kilimanjaro and of course the animals which were wandering around in ther natural habitat. Then James drove us to Lake Nivasha/Nakuru to see the flamingos and White Rhinos especially. We had ... Read moreto look very hard to find the rhinos but James never fails! After there, we drove to Masai Mara which really was exciting to see the vastness and the rest of the big 5. Cats!!! It was such an adventure!! James did his very best to make our trip so memorable and flawless! We had a great last evening in Nairobi, visiting the giraffe sanctuary where we fed the giraffes and later we went for amazing food in Carnivore restaurant. Really! This was an amazing Safari trip! We thank you so much!

Anne worked tirelessly with our group of six for over a year and a half as we navigated COVID-19. She kept us informed; always providing helpful information as we prepared for this journey of a lifetime. We did encounter a bump in the road, and she was there to immediately address and correct the issue.
Our accommodations were exciting, ranging from luxury tent to luxury cottage and even a round ... Read more room up on stilts! Our last 4 days were spent at a beautiful resort/spa on the Indian Ocean. So relaxing.
This was the trip of a lifetime, an excellent value, and Steve, our driver/ guide, worked very hard to educate us about the animals, their habitats and insure that this trip would be special.

Thanks to Amazing Memories Safaris team and the wonderful guide James we had a wonderful trip to Kenya and especially to Masai Mara.

Everything was organized for us, so we only had to arrive to the airport.

Our whims and particulars were met with a candid acknowledgment, which built trust and allowed us to ask for whatever we wanted do and accept suggestions.

I highly recommend these gu ... Read moreys to take you to an Amazing Safari to Remember.

Being passionate about photography and African wildlife, this year I decided to visit Kenya.
After an attentive internet search, I decided on an 8-day tour. I liked the itinerary presented by Amazing Memories safaris.
After a first contact with this company, I was positively impressed by Anne's helpful, enlightening and professional attitude.
I changed the program to nine days. I told her that ... Read more my main purpose for this trip was photography and asked for a knowledgeable but above all patient guide.
David was exactly that. A kind and competent guide/driver, always ready to satisfy the customer.
I had the opportunity to take thousands of photos which included the migration by the Mara River, something not to forget.
The itinerary and chosen accommodation fulfilled my expectations.
Were really amazing memories 

It’s our second safari with them, this time in Uganda. Everything was perfect even with the difficulties presented by the pandemic and travel restrictions. We were able to change schedule a couple of times with the help of Anne. If they can help plan and execute a perfect safari during a pandemic i’m sure they can do anything.

Another great safari handled by Amazing Memories Safaris. This was my 10th trip to Kenya and my 4th time working with them. When I purchased my ticket in April of 2020, I planned the trip for January 2021 so I could spend my birthday in Kenya. I had a bit of a concern that the trip would be a go due to the pandemic, but company owners, Anne and Joseph were there every step of the way answering ... Read moreany questions I had as well as adjusting lodging as needed because the flights changed.

For this trip, I chose Offbeat Mara in Mara North, Basecamp Eagle View in Naboisho Conservancy and Amboseli National Park. At each of these locations, Anne had communicated my preferences for rooms as well as my dietary needs and everything was perfect.

Initially, I had planned to be in Mara North for my birthday. But KLM shifted the days they had flights between Amsterdam and Nairobi, so I was actually in Nairobi on my birthday. I spent the day with my great driver (another Joseph), who took me to my favorite spots, Karen Hub, Kazuri, Matbronze and Utamunduni. Normally I would work in the public and adoptive parent visits at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, but since those options closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, I booked the 3pm private visit. Joseph really enjoyed accompanying me too and he also took photos of me with the ellies which I really appreciated.

In the evening, Anne and Joseph and their son as well as my driver Joseph, had a birthday celebration in the hotel restaurant. It was a memorable birthday and a great start to my safari.

Although all was well at the lodging with lots of protocols in place for safety, traveling to and from Nairobi was a bit challenging during the pandemic. Initially, just a PCR test was needed to get into Nairobi taken within 96 hours of arrival. Anne also reminded me to make sure I had my eVisa in hand as they were no longer doing these on arrival. However, during my stay in Kenya, the airlines as well as the Netherlands I was transiting through and ultimately returning to the USA, made changes to what was needed. In order to meet testing requirements, I had to come back into Nairobi a day early from Amboseli. Anne made arrangements for someone from Lancet Labs to come to the hotel (Crowne Plaza) for testing. That was a huge relief. Then another last minute curve, where KLM was requiring a rapid test 4 hours ahead of boarding the plane out of Nairobi, well Anne jumped right to that task and spoke to the Manager of the hotel, who made arrangements with one of his drivers to take me to the nearby test facility, wait while I waited for the results and then take me to the airport. I was so nervous but Anne assured me that all would be ok. She was also checking directly with the airport driver to make sure all was going according to plans.

I could not have been looked after better by what I consider my second family. Their reassurance during a challenging travel time was amazing. There was no question left unanswered and constant follow up to make sure all was going well. Anne and I had lunch together on my last day as she was dropping off a bag that I had left with her in Nairobi and she wanted to catch up about how the trip went. As a caring Tour Operator, they want to make sure their clients are happy, had a good safari and is there anything they need to improve on. In my mind, they checked all the boxes of a great safari experience perfectly. They are truly an “Amazing Memories Safaris” company and one that I will look forward to working with on an upcoming trip.

We explored countries to travel to in September/October 2020 only in the end of August just before getting married in Germany. There were not a lot of countries to travel to and we quickly identified Kenya. We contacted some German aggregators as well as some local agencies in Kenya. The experience with the local German agencies was nice, but they offered a really high price. In the end you pay a ... Read morelot for an expat that lives locally. The experience with Amazing Memories Safari was different, we received the quote from Anne in their Nairobi office very fast and it provided us with exactly what we needed. To give you a perspective, the German agency quoted $4200 for the same itinerary that we booked with Amazing Memories Safari for just $2650. With exactly the same Hotels, the same car (Landcruise) and an even better level of service! Why? Anne was so king to provide us with her Whatsapp Number and we could solve all of the questions just vie Whatsapp..extremely convenient. Also.. Anne was super honest in dealing with us. For example, we wanted to book an extra night at an Hotel in Nairobi and they were happy to communicate the nightly rate to us without hiding everything in a package price. The cost of the night was lower by the way than I could get despite having an Airline Employee Discount with a major international Hotel chain so kudos to the AMS team for offering us the best price. We also checked if we would have one of the transfers done by plane instead of car. The ticket on the air Kenya website was $485 USD one-way but AMS was able to offer us a 50% discounted travel agency rate just a couple of days before the flight. Really amazing!!! I also really liked the payment system that they have on their website, worked with our credit cards. We also transfered money via Transferwise directly to AMS to safe fees and the money arrived even before Transferwise expected it

Hotels/Parks:

Nairobi --> 1 Night in the FourPoints Airport --> HIGHLY recommended, such a warm welcome in Kenya and nice pool
Nairobi --> 1 Night in the Giraffe Manor --> Its expensive, but it was worth it, once in a life-time experience for sure
Amboseli --> 2 Night in Ol Tukai Lodge --> We loved this lodge, Elephants at your door step and also great location in the park
Naivasha --> 1 Night in Naivasha Sopa Lodge --> Highly recommend to break up the drive to Nakuru, really nice lodge with 20 Hippos just meters from our room (behind an electric fence)
Nakuru --> 1 Night at the Cliff --> Best Hotel i ever stayed in, better food and service than Giraffe Manor even, if you can, stay at least 2 Nights
Masai Mara --> 3 Nights at the Basecamp Explorer --> Really nice eco-lodge, really down to earth staff that really care about environment and the park. amazing food, highly recommended in terms of location as the gate offers a lot of variety (we saw the big 5)

One thing also, with our AMS reservation we got the BEST rooms. We stayed in the Obama Tent in Basecamp and a corner Tent in the Cliff!

Our guide and driver David was our life-saver during the trip (literally). More important to being a great guide with a great mood, he is a very very safe driver and this makes all the difference on the crazy roads where trucks and cars are mixing. David also knew the parks inside out with his 10 years of experience and made the game drives very rewarding (we managed to spot Black Rhinos and a Leopard in the Mara). We learning lots of facts about the animals and were also always flexible to acomodate our wishes like seeing the sunrise and so on.

Overall, I can only say that I already spammed all my friends with pictures and the link to the website of Amazing Memories Safari. 1000% recommended, hope you have no doubts, pictures are available here: https://adobe.ly/3i6z3qw

Also one note to the COVID situation. Kenya is handling COVID much more serious than European countries we have been. Our temperature was taken at all Hotels and Parks and the staff wore masks 100% of the time with lots of sanitation going on. Even when driving through the countryside we saw public busses were everyone inside was also wearing a mask as well. If you are in doubt, really thing about the local staff in the lodges that got let go because of less tourists coming this year, you will make a difference with your trip!