Guide Ken with one of our 4x4 Land Cruisers
Spirit of Kenya
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2014)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $300 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Andy and Sophie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best tour operator we have ever used...
Spirit of Kenya were the most fantastic company to deal with from start to finish. We booked this safari for our honeymoon and I can honestly say it was the best week of our lives and that is largely to do with Spirit of Kenya, our tour guide Michael and the amazing places we were able to stay as part of our package.
I found Spirit of Kenya through their great reviews online and after enquiring I was immediately contacted by Vanessa who was excellent at explaining the different accommodation, vehicle type, locations and activities we could choose from. The thing I liked the most was that there were 3 or 4 different accommodation options for each leg of our stay that ranged from more affordable to luxury so we could tailor our stay within the budget. There was never any kind of attempt to upsell us or get us to spend more money which I certainly appreciated. Vanessa was then always on hand from the point of booking to when we arrived on the tour to quickly answer questions for us. She was great throughout the whole process. My advice, if you are willing to pay the 5% charge, would be to pay by card as my bank would not release the payment when I tried to pay through bank transfer and the card option was much easier and gave peace of mind that your payment is protected.
When we arrived in Nairobi we were picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel ready for our safari to start the next day. This process was easy and worked well. The next morning, Michael (our tour guide) was waiting for us early to start the safari. Michael was outstanding from the start until the finish of our trip. We honestly could not have asked for anything better from him. He was well presented, polite, eloquent in his explanations, had great knowledge of anything we asked and went above and beyond at every stage to make sure we had the best possible safari. Right from the very start it was obvious how passionate he was to deliver the best service possible. He was always willing to tailor our activities and what we were doing around what we wanted to do but we were so confident in his ability to deliver the best service that most of the time we said 'whichever you think is the best option' and it always turned out just as we would have liked. Again, if your budget allows, I would recommend getting the 'private' vehicle so it is just your group in the vehicle as it makes the experience more intimate whilst also not having to worry about what other people would want to do on the trip.
The 3 locations we stayed in were the Kongoni Lodge, The Cliff and Amani Mara. Kongoni Lodge was our more affordable choice but we were actually pleasantly surprised at how good it was. We were only staying for a night stop and it was exactly what we needed. Very spacious lodges, comfortable and the food was good. The people taking care of us there were also very polite and we enjoyed our time there. The Cliff was our luxury option and it was spectacular. The view was incredible and we loved our luxury tent room. Do not think of it as a tent, I haven't stayed in many actual hotel rooms that were better! On request, the staff even come and bring the blinds up on the tent in the morning so you can watch the sunrise from your bed. It was just amazing. The staff here were also brilliant and the food was lovely as well. Our favourite place was Amani Mara - I do not think I have ever stayed in a more amazing place. You are right in the middle of the Maasai Mara and are surrounded by the animals and when it gets dark you even need to be walked to and from your room by the staff. It is completely safe but really makes you realise just how close you are to the wildlife. The views were stunning and the staff were out of this world. Sallie and William were particularly great and made our stay beyond memorable. Another thing we loved about Amani Mara is the amount of conservation work they do and my wife and I got to plant a tree on their grounds as part of one of the projects which I thought was a lovely touch. We paid extra to have a bush dinner and it was worth every penny. You get driven right out into the reserve, watch the sunset and then get served a lovely dinner surrounded by the zebra, wildebeest and the other animals settling down for the night. We even got visited by some curious hyenas but, again, we were perfectly safe as the staff were all there to make sure they did not get too close! I could not give Amani Mara high enough praise, they were just amazing.
I would recommend all of the activities we did - we did the Crescent Island walk, rode bikes through Hells Gate National Park and visited the Maasai Village. The Crescent Island walk was amazing and highly recommended. You are able to walk in amongst all the animals (avoiding the hippos!) and you get so close it is surreal. We had the giraffe's walking around us completely unbothered by our presence and it was just the nicest experience to kick start the safari. The bike ride was also great fun and a different way to experience some of the beautiful scenery. My wife and I are pretty active and found the riding great but I would caution someone that perhaps is not particularly active that it may be a struggle, especially if it is very hot. We were very glad we went to the Maasai Village to experience some history and culture. We were well looked after and we did leave with some goodies from their stalls. It is more expensive to buy stuff from their stall (make sure you negotiate hard as they will try and get a lot more from you!) but we were happy to do so as it was money going to the local villagers and we thought that was something worth paying a bit more for.
Finally, the game drives. They were all fantastic and Michael could not have done more than he did to maximise our experience. We did game drives around Lake Nakuru and then in the Maasai Mara itself. Michael was so patient and expertly navigated his way around to make sure we saw everything that was possible to see. We saw 4 of the 'Big 5' and despite everyone's best efforts including the other tours and even Sallie from Amani Mara, we did not get to see a leopard because they decided to take a few days off and hide. Literally nobody saw them for that few days but this did not take away from our experience in the slightest. It is nature and nature does not always go how you intended. We saw so many lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, hippos, wildebeest, cheetahs and every other kind of animal you could imagine. It shocked us how much you would get to see them as we thought you might be lucky to see a few here and there but we got to see so much of them we felt extremely lucky. I could have driven around for 8-10 hours a day just taking in the scenery and wildlife and been completely happy. We really did feel so lucky to be there and experience what we did.
Michael then drove us to our hotel in Nairobi to end the tour. Although booked separately from Spirit of Kenya we would recommend the Villa Rosa Kempinski (although quite expensive) and to visit Sheldrick Trust elephant orphanage before you go home. Sheldrick Trust was also incredible!
All in all, this was a 10/10 experience and Spirit of Kenya / Michael could not have done more for us. I would recommend them 100% and if we were to do the same or something similar again in the future they are the company I would go for without a doubt.
CN
Email Xue | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was so excellent！Our guide James found lots of animals for us and he is so friendly！
Our guide James is very responsible and found every animal we wanted to see.He is good at driving.Everything was so nice！
US
Email Ryan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and patient. Always responded right away and answered all my questions.
Started planning our safari in Oct 2023 and after communicating with 3 tour operators me and my wife chose Spirit of Kenya.
Our tour planner Filipa was amazing! She answered every question I had and always responded right away and was really patient during the process. We exchanged over 100 emails before the safari and she was able to make a custom itinerary to exactly what I wanted.
2 nights Tsavo West - Salt Lick lodge
2 nights Amboseli - Amboseli Serena
1 Night Lake Nakuru - Lake Nakuru Sopa
3 nights Masai Mara - Malaika Camp
2 Days before arrival I was still communicating with Filipa and was able to book a last minute hotel in Nairobi.
The safari was the best travel experience I ever had. Was blown away from the start at Salt Lick Lodge my favorite lodge during our stay. By the 2nd day I wanted to extend our tour by adding another day. I messaged Filipa and within an hour I had an extra night booked.
Our guide George was able to find all the big 5 and in Masai Mara we were able to see a migration crossing. Our last 2 days there was a bit of miscommunication with our guide but it didn’t take away the experience of the safari. I give spirit of Kenya 5 stars.
Special thank you to Filipa. She made everything happen and made the experience that much better.
AL
Email Nazim | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Safari Experience with Spirit of Kenya!
We had an incredible time during our trip with Spirit of Kenya. The first two days on a safari trip at Lake Nakuru were absolutely fabulous. Our guide, Bonny, ensured we saw as many animals as possible, including lions, rhinos, giraffes, and even a leopard! Bonny's knowledge and dedication really enhanced our experience, as he took the time to explain everything and made sure we saw the animals we were most excited about. Big shoutout to him for making those days unforgettable!
The Nairobi city tour was equally enjoyable. Our guide, Gideon, was wonderful and made the entire experience insightful and fun. He provided us with lots of interesting facts and went above and beyond to make the day special.
While we were exploring places, museums, markets, he waited for us at the car to make sure that all our stuff are safe.
We've traveled a lot, but this time with Spirit of Kenya was exceptional. Despite minimal email and message exchanges, everything went smoothly. The logistics were flawless, and the guides were always there ahead of time, ready and waiting for us.
Thank you for an amazing trip, and I highly recommend Spirit of Kenya to anyone looking for a seamless and memorable experience!
Great Kenya Safari!
We had one of the most incredible and unforgettable experiences of our lives during our 10-day safari expedition with Spirit of Kenya. From the moment we arrived at the airport, Moses warmly welcomed us, putting us at ease and took great care of us throughout the day.
The following day, we met our wonderful guide, Nesta, who accompanied us through the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru/Naivasha, and Amboseli parks. Thanks to Nesta's deep expertise, we were able to witness some truly extraordinary moments—like seeing a rare white rhino, watching a newborn impala take its first steps, and observing a lion hunt its prey. Nesta seemed to have an intuitive understanding of the animals' movements, positioning us perfectly for the best possible views. His knowledge was astounding, effortlessly identifying every species we came across.
What left an even deeper impression was Nesta’s kindness and respect for both nature and the people he met along the way. Everywhere we went, he was greeted with smiles and admiration. His generosity, warm spirit, and genuine care for his surroundings made our trip not just an adventure, but a truly magical experience.
IT
Email Max | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience...to be repeated again
One week safari with Spirit of Kenya. Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Naivasha and Amboseli, definitely a great choice 👍. From the planning with Jorge, always patient in answering our requests, to the game drives with our driver Samuel, always ready to find animals in the most unexpected places, everything was beautiful. Spirit of Kenya has truly transformed our dream into the trip of a lifetime 💪🏽
PL
Email Anna i Sławek | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good choice.
Spirit of Kenya organized our 8-day adventure on Safari in Kenya and Tanzania. During the trip, the organizer met our expectations in terms of transport, accommodation and food. What's more, we were lucky and nature revealed its secrets to us, allowing us to see its beauty with our own eyes. Thanks to our adventure, we looked at the life of wild animals in their natural environment. We would like to thank Immanuel and Gitari for drawing our attention to the smallest details, allowing us to better understand the behavior and customs of the nature around us. We definitely recommend everyone to overcome the hardships of the African wilderness and go on an adventure with Spirit of the Kenya.
ES
Email Luisa Moreno | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Kenya specialists and it shows
It has been a wonderful experience touring Kenya with Spirit of Kenya, you can tell that they are specialists in it, they have adapted to our needs and have made a tailor-made tour.
Our guide, Mike is totally recommendable, he has taken care of us and guided us very well, we have felt like his family.
I would definitely recommend this agency for tours in Kenya, we even did an extension to the coast and it was equally satisfactory, special mention to Kevin, our driver in Diani Beach.
Email Sa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari
My wife and I went on our first safari and booked through Spirit of Kenya based on positive online reviews. Spirit of Kenya organised every aspect of our trip including our accommodation before the safari and a once in a lifetime hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara. We spent 2 days in the Masai Mara, 1 day in Lake Nakuru and 1 day at Lake Naivasha before finishing the trip at Hells Gate national park. Lenny, our guide, was excellent. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the animals, answered all our questions, and his passion really shone through. Thanks to Lenny we saw all of the big 5 and many other interesting animals, and our first safari beat all expectations.