AMS Directors and Tour Guides
Amazing Memories Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- ASTA, KATO, AMREF & Eco Tourism
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $130 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Teresa Davis | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime!
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 the 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!!
IE
Email Rachel Roche | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fun, adventure, organised, safe
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 to 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!
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Email Debbie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari: Into Kenya
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 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.
IL
Email Oded | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An experience we could only imagine - came true
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 guys to take you to an Amazing Safari to Remember.
PT
Email Albano Cortez | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Reliable company .
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 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
MX
Email Javier Gc | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect again and again
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.
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Email Laurena | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
They continue to make my safari the best ever!
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 any 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.
DE
Email Björn | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best honeymoon we could have ever wished for!
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 lot 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!
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Email Laurena | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
My 3rd Amazing Safari with Amazing Memories Safaris
This is my 3rd time making my travel plans with Amazing Memories Safaris. It is not surprising to me why they have "Amazing" in their company name. You could not ask for a better Tour Operator. Anne and Joseph have become like family to me. On this trip, I even got to meet their young son. I was very excited about that but I think he found Baby Shark more exciting. Anne and Joseph's skills truly complement each other. From the minute I contact them to let them know I'm planning a trip, they are there to answer every question, make suggestions and run interference when a curveball comes up. Since this was my 9th trip to Kenya, they know the places I like, my allergies, that I like a full size bed (even though I travel solo), what I like to do while in Nairobi and that although I'm exhausted from the long flight, I bounce back pretty quick.
There is nothing that makes me happier after 17 hours of flight, than seeing my checked bag arrive, and then stepping outside the terminal and finding Anne, her husband Joseph, and my Nairobi driver and friend Joseph 2014 (I first met him in 2014) with smiles and enthusiasm. I know from that moment on, that even if I have a concern, all will be wonderful and I'll be taken care of.
I spent my full Nairobi day with Joseph 2014. He is so engaging. He is always prompt at picking me up to make sure we get to the public visit at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust with plenty of time to spare. He shares my love of the elephants too. This time, in addition to my usual elephant visits, Kazuri and Karen Hub market shopping, we also both enjoyed visiting a new gallery, Matbronze (at the suggestion of a friend). Then at the end of the day, we made our way to Carnivore Restaurant for dinner with Anne and Joseph and an evening of laughs.
Since rain heavily impacted my last trip in March 2018, it was suggested maybe I wanted to try coming in February as it typically is less rainy. I think Mother Nature missed that memo. The rains came early and although it didn't impact the wildlife I saw, it did cause some transport issues. Anne was always on top of it. It is a slower time to travel (good news is that lodging prices are less) (bad news is that the bush planes require a minimum of 2 seats being booked). The heavy rains had caused connecting bridges to be washed away so that meant that air strip and ground route changes were necessary. Anne would keep me informed via email and also let my guide Daniel know the latest updates. There is no controlling Mother Nature and sometimes you just have to go with it. But all was as they say, "hakuna matata".
This was my 5th time having Daniel for my guide. As a fellow photographer, he knows how important lighting and positioning the vehicle can be. We have a great time swapping photo tips, catching up on things since my last visit and solving the world's issues. He has an excellent ability to spot animals, a great sense of humor, communicates well and generally spoils me rotten. A guide can make or break a trip, and Daniel sure makes mine.
Time always flies so quickly and before I knew it, it was time to arrive back into Nairobi, to check into my day room and prepare for the long flight home. Even though sad to leave, it was wonderful to see Anne and Joseph and Joseph 2014 come to the hotel to hear about the trip, go over any concerns, and share more laughs before heading to the airport. Thank you to all for looking after me so well. I can't wait to see you again on my next adventure!
Email Connor | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
4 days 3 nights - Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru
Booking:
Our group of four adults came across Amazing Memories on Safaribookings. After sending off a request for a quote, we got an expeditious response, which characterises our whole correspondence with Anne. Anne was always very courteous, informative, and she was able to provide the flexibility with the itinerary that we needed for our trip (due to onward travel plans). It took us very little time to settle with Amazing Memories and put down the deposit given the very reasonably priced quote for a luxury safari. We had been a little unsure about the option of a direct bank-to-bank transfer for the deposit, though this worry was very quickly allayed.
Hotels:
We were picked up promptly from Nairobi International at 6am and driven to the Masai Mara. We stayed at Mara Serena Lodge, which was a beautiful hotel offering unparalleled panoramic views of the valley. The staff were all incredibly helpful, and made us feel very welcome in our stay.
Our next stop after enjoying the Masai Mara was Lake Nakuru, where we were staying at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge. The views weren't as impressive (to have been so would be extraordinary), however the grounds were beautiful and well presented. Again, the staff couldn't do enough for you.
We were only staying at these hotels for short periods of time, but the room sizes were ample and the food options were always varied and excellent, particularly at Sarova Lion Hill.
Game drives:
You can be lucky or unlucky on a game drive. Our experience was nothing but positive. Every time we left our hotel we were almost immediately greeted by some big game, so much so we ticked off The Big Five in our first afternoon. This was helped by our hugely knowledgeable guide, Steve. His ability to spot game was amazing, and he was very patient when answering our many many questions. He was great fun to be around for the trip, and we were very sad to see him go.
When we next go on safari, we will 100% be using Amazing Memories. There was nothing to fault with the whole process. The booking experience was smooth, the whole experience felt tailored to perfection, we arrived in ample time for our onward flight to Lamu Island, having even managed to fit in a boat trip at Lake Naivasha on the way. You will not regret booking with Amazing Memories!