Our Team with guests
Lenchada Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2015)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $400 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
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Email Blair | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great budget safari
This is a great budget safari for those who want a no frills experience where you are immersed in the Masai Mara park and Masai culture. I emailed frequently with the owner Alex before I arrived and he was very helpful! I signed up by myself but was added to a group of 5 others and we had a nice time together. Also, I’m very glad I chose the jeep 4x4 versus the mini van, as we had to help a few vans along the way that got stuck on the treacherous roads!
We spent a LOT of time out on safari-I was pleasantly surprised! Our guide Isaac was very knowledgeable and also did a good job of navigating the awful roads around the park. Masai village tour was included and was wonderful!
Lenchada camp is very basic but fine since you are basically just there to sleep. As a single female traveler, I felt very safe at the camp. Food is nothing fancy but flavorful and plentiful!
Suggestions: don’t drink too much water when you are at the Mara since there are basically no bathrooms; bring cash to the camp to buy beer, water, sodas or snacks. A flashlight is helpful for getting around the camp at night. The animals are noisy-earplugs are helpful at night. Bring layers especially if doing a safari in the colder months of June and July.
A few comments: meal times should be more frequent or we should be told to bring snacks. Most days we would leave the camp at 6am and eat lunch around 2pm, which was too long to wait for most of us. We were all starving well before lunchtime each day. Also, I didn’t like that the camp doesn’t provide any drinking water. The safari vehicle did have water but I also had to purchase bottled water at the camp. That seemed a bit strange to not have water available at meals or in the rooms.
All in all, it was a great experience and first safari for me.
DE
Email Nadine | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The driver adapted to our wishes but it had to be clearly formulated
We have learned little about animals and stories. The guide was very quiet it was often unclear what happened next
ES
Email Marta | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Geeman the best driver!
Very good experience, if you have the option, do the safari with geeman
US
Email Annelise | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome animal experiences, budget safari!
The first thing I would say is if you’re open minded and have a go with the flow flexible persona, then I think you will have a nice time on this safari! And thanks to our guide WILSON for making this an easy solo travel experience that I will remember and always getting us the best view of the animals.
Here’s what I wish I knew before I came:
-We saw so many amazing animals (4/5 of the big five!) and Wilson always helped us to get a good shot of the animals. I was truly blown away with seeing the elephants up close and also so many cute baby animals.
-Wilson was a very skilled driver (which you will come to super appreciate once you fully take in Kenyan roads). We did not get stuck once (writing this on the 5th night so I’ll cross my fingers for the last day haha) while Wilson was receiving calls/radio that other drivers were stuck frequently. I was particularly impressed with his driving in the dark skills and his driving on the Maasai Mara roads which are incredibly bumpy and rough it’s hard to explain you’ll have to see. Wilson was a hard worker and always went above to make the experience memorable and a bit more relaxing for example we stopped a lot for snack/drink or toilet which helped break up the really long drives. (As an aside if you’re wondering if you need to bring toilet paper in your purse I would say no although I always did just in case no matter where I travel, but definitley hand sanitizer as not all bathrooms had water or soap). Also the car was comfortable and I liked that you could stand up because the roof came up)
-Everyone I interacted with was so friendly and welcoming so you will feel at ease even if you’re there alone you’ll have plenty of time to socialize with others
-Depending on the tour you book you might be camping, if you don’t mind camping then you will be fine. Just a consideration if you have a really bad back or are just a bit picky about where you stay, this is definitely budget accommodations. Usually you’d get your own tent but one night I shared with another woman since there was too many people in the camp. This was fine since it was a big tent with toilet/shower. The car will contain not just Lenchada Safari passengers but from various different tours so keep that in mind (several times one person was staying at a different place/food than everyone else due to what they booked but we all did the same agenda). I mention this just to say I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this tour for an extremely important once in a lifetime situation like your honeymoon or if you are older and expect things a certain way, it felt more of a go with the flow and we’ll see what happens, backpacking kind of vibe.
-Bring binoculars because they really made all the difference! Also shampoo and conditioner, sunscreen, good sunglasses, charger and charger converter if you need it and don’t worry too much about exchanging KSH immediately because you can go to an ATM (or at least Wilson took us to one so shout out to Wilson for saving the day when I had no KSH). You’ll need quite a bit of KSH for tipping and misc for example Wilson ended up bringing us to see Lake Naivasha for $50 which I didn’t expect so it was good to take out shillings at the ATM. Try to break your 1000 KSH bills on the way because once you get to smaller places it’s harder to break the 1000 and get change back and you need the smaller bills to tip
-Here are some things I brought but didn’t use: Tide stain remover, Insect Repellent, Travel Size Wipes, Travel Size Tissues, quick dry towel big size ( I did use a smaller size towel to put on my pillow so I didn’t get my pillow wet after the shower though), swimsuit, granola bars/snacks (no need there is plenty of food and can frequently stop at store and get a snack), diarrhea pills (phew), a second power bank (one was definitely enough because you can charge your stuff every night even while camping)
-Regarding the optional Maasai village tour, I have to say it’s the one part of the tour I regret doing and that’s because I felt harassed in their pressure to buy something and spend more money. I read the reviews and thought it would be like a you should buy something but it was a lot more intense than that and really bummed me out. I would be happy to donate more money but I just felt like the atmosphere of the way they applied pressure to you killed the mood for me and I left feeling upset. If you want to go, the best thing is to decide beforehand what you want to spend and put only that bill in your purse in a separate pocket from all else and to pick out just one item that would be reasonable for the price you want to spend (they say to take various and they’ll figure out which to get and the price later but then they’ll try to get you to buy all for a high price which in retrospect is obvious) and just be firm in your decision. Also try to insist on not being separated by yourself out of the group because if you are alone then you will obviously be in a more vulnerable place to pressure tactics. I don’t say this to fearmonger but so that you can make an informed decision about the tour
-I think it was quite a long week with all the driving. If you’re not too social like me or just unsure how many days is good for you I think 4 is probably good although seeing the elephants in Amboselli is really cool (you can also see elephants in other parks but in Amboselli we got close to a big herd and with the mountain in the back got such pretty photos). On days 1-2 I thought no way 6 days is enough but by day 3-4 I was like oh actually this has been a lot haha so just to take into consideration you can very likely always extend your tour as the company was very flexible to trying to accommodate everyone where needed for example being dropped off at boarder with TZ, go to Nairobi go to airport at the end etc.
-Try to be flexible with regards to communication because you might not receive complete or super quick communication about details from the office they are very busy, but this is a legit safari and you will make it to your destination rest assured haha, so try to just wake up a bit earlier and get ready so you can navigate what the situation might be timing wise, and try to be flexible and remember everything will work out in the end!
All in all I feel good recommending this safari to those who are looking for their next interesting animal adventure!
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Email Carol | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic tour guide!
Post
Overall, my safari experience was a mix of highs and lows, sprinkled with valuable lessons for future travelers. Here's my detailed review:
Before delving into the adventure, a vital tip: When booking through TripAdvisor, be aware that there are both luxury and budget options available. I mistakenly chose the budget option without realizing there was another tier. For those seeking a more lavish experience, it's advisable to book directly through Lenchada.
Here's what I wish I knew beforehand:
* During the safari, you'll rarely leave the vehicle, so there's no need for specialized "safari" clothing or hiking shoes.
Day 1:
Positives:
* Promptly picked up from our hotel at 7:00 AM, we arrived at the Lenchada tented camp around 2:45 PM, making a single stop for sightseeing, souvenirs, and restroom use along the way.
* The evening game drive in Maasai Mara was a highlight, lasting about 2.5-3 hours and offering sightings of three of the "Big 5" animals.
* Despite the long drive, the abundance of wildlife and stunning photos made it worthwhile.
Negatives:
* The camp's electricity was only available from 5:30 - 7:00 AM & 6:30 - 10:00 PM in the dining hall via a generator, making charging inconvenient. No outlets in room and lights only work during generator operating hours.
* Hot water in the tent's bathroom was inconsistent, despite assurances of continuous availability.
Day 2:
Positives:
* Full-day safari in Maasai Mara, lasting about 10 hours.
* Unique a sighting of a pride of lions (17!)
Negatives:
* Woke up at 5:30 to charge camera/phones but generator had issues and didn’t work until 6:00 am when we had to leave for the day.
* Lunch consisted of unrefrigerated items (6+ hrs - lunch meat, yogurt & chicken), leading to concerns about food safety as a non local. Limited restroom availability also influenced the decision to not partake.
* Some periods of the safari felt slow, with minimal wildlife sightings as we hunted for specific game or travel from location to location; no one’s fault - nature provides and can’t be rushed.
Day 3:
Positives:
* We had the option to visit a Maasai Village before departing for a travel day ($20 per person), providing unique cultural insights and experiences.
* Interaction with the locals and participation in traditional activities added depth to the safari experience.
Negatives:
* The visit to the Maasai Village included high pressure sales tactics to purchase goods from villagers. Instead of enhancing the experience, I felt swindled and disheartened detracting from the positive aspects of the trip.
* Discomfort from flies and cow manure was unavoidable at the village site.
Day 4:
Positives:
* An early start at 6:30 AM took us to Lake Nakuru, where we completed the "Big 5" sightings with memorable encounters with rhinos, flamingos, and a RARE leopard sighting!
* Brief hippo boat ride allowed for unique photos not available in the previous parks visited.
Negatives:
* The shortage of meat during lunch due to multiple groups converging at the same time was disappointing, impacting the overall dining experience.
* The presence of mosquitoes at Chambai Safari Hotel posed a problem, affecting the comfort of our stay - leave windows closed if at all possible (no a/c in room).
* Staff advised dinner at 7pm at arrival but then woke us in our rooms at 5pm to get our order and advise that dinner would be at 8 pm - dinner did not arrive until roughly 8:30 while we sat and waited as the only diners.
Day 5:
Positives:
* We enjoyed a scenic walk in Hell’s Gate with sightings of zebras and giraffes along the way.
* Visited geothermal generation station which I found very interesting!
* A quick but satisfying lunch capped off our safari adventure before being dropped off at the hotel around 2:30 PM.
In conclusion, while the safari experience was fantastic and filled with unforgettable moments, there were notable drawbacks. Positives: Staff throughout all of our stays were kind and helpful. The vehicle was in fantastic condition, immaculate, and had one window for every person which was great (especially for those of us who get car sick). During the safari, there were no constraints to getting the perfect photo, I always felt like I was right in the action either by looking out the window or over the pop up top! Our guide did everything to get us into the position to see the best animals and was in constant communication with other guides via radio and cellphone to ensure the best experience for every group. The relationships between guides was impressive and enhanced the experience, we would have missed the pride of lions and leopard otherwise! As far as drawbacks, the food was repetitive and very limited in selection, accommodations (specifically the hotels) lacked basic amenities such as functional TVs. Additionally, better communication regarding restroom breaks, lunch times, drive times, arrival times, etc. would have made for a better experience but truly, I couldn’t have asked for a better guide to get us right into the action of it all!
Guide: 4.5/5
Animal Sightings: 10/5
Accommodations: 3/5
Food: 2/5
GR
Email Marianna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Things to be aware of | honest yet a little bit long review
We chose Lenchanda Safaris (or Jockey Tours) because its prices were lower than the other safari companies were offering, and we also read plenty of good reviews on the internet. Considering our possibilities, we chose the Budget 6-day trip for Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli, and a few days before our departure to Kenya we sent an email to confirm that everything was fine, to which we received positive feedback. Our first guide was Francis, and he took us to Masai Mara and then Lake Nakuru. The fourth day, moving from Nakuru to Amboseli (long distance to drive), passing through Nairobi, we learnt that we needed to change guide (Alex) though keeping the same jeep. If it is true that until that moment we had a great time, from that moment on we started having a few issues. While driving to Amboseli through the night we realized that the car didn't have proper lights to drive (Amboseli is 4-5 hours away from Nairobi), something that we didn't know, so the trip after a while got quite scary and dangerous, as a matter of fact we have been also stopped by the police. It goes without saying that driving very slow because of reduced visibility increased the amount of time to arrive, and in the way we found out that the Lodge we were supposed to stay was not available and we were moved to a different camp (this was never mentioned to us at any moment in the past 2 weeks, even when we asked if everything was ok before our departure
Beside the fact that Alex was driving very slow so to be able to see, we were surprised by the fact that multiple times he didn’t know where to go, and not had clear idea of the direction to take. After plenty of hours in the car (it was around 9 pm), we reached our new accommodation, where we learnt that they were fully booked. Alex, even though he was not giving us proper explanations, was trying to talk with the office to find a solution. At the end, at around 11 pm, we moved to another hotel for the night (thankfully it was a 5-star hotel). However, for the last day, we moved again to another one, which was a very bad option, and a quote dirty option we have to say. Unfortunately, this experience had a very strong and bad effect on the overall safari experience.
As for the guides, the first one, Francis, is a very energetic and knowledgeable person about safaris, with many years of experience, so he played a crucial role in the trip for the first 4 days. Alex, on our opinion, is not a safari guide, even though he was giving us interesting infos during the game drives. Multiple times he seemed to not have experienced Amboseli before, and for sure he did not help us to spot animals in Amboseli.
As a whole, the safari trip was affected significantly by all those events. Of course, we enjoyed it because the places are very beautiful and being able to see these animals from such a short distance is amazing, but driving safely and proper organization/communication are key aspects that were definitely missing!
DE
Email Vishnu | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent, well organised, good communication.
The safari was an incredible experience for us first timers. The game drives were quite well planned, and we got to see all the big, but also the small animals and plants! We did a total of 6 days, covering Masai mara, lake Nukuru, Naivasha and Amboseli.
I also have to give a special shout-out to our driver and guide - Gerald, aka, G-Man. If you are to go with lenchada, I highly recommend you request him. The man is not only incredibly knowledgeable but someone who is genuinely passionate about the job. He provided us with a lot of information about nature, culture, society, etc. He was a fantastic companion to have and always took special care of us and our requests.
I also want to give a special shout out to the boss, Mr. Alex, he not only checked on us throughout the trip, but always helped and communicated with us if we had any queries, and we highly appreciated the level of attention to his clients. He is someone who clearly cares about the welfare of the customer and this is the biggest asset to taking Lenchada.
Overall I would give the experience a 4.7/5!
If I had to put any areas of improvement, it would only be our first camp (Mara Lenchada Camp) in Masai Mara, which could be a bit better. There was a bit of mould on the floors and roofs of the camps and the toilets weren't functional. However, the remaining hotels and camps (Buraha and AA Lodge) camps were beyond incredible with excellent amenities and services, including the ability to wake up to a private view of the Kilimanjaro which was a stunning experience, WiFi, bar, room service, incredible buffet and more.
Can highly recommend their services and you will thoroughly enjoy your time.
IN
Email Nishad Tirur | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Safari with Professional Operators
Kenyan Safari
We planned 2 night in MasaiMara with stay at Lenchada camp, third day in Nakuru to see flamingos with stay at Buraha Zenoni and Finally Naivasha boat ride and Hells gate visit with stay at Dove Nest Resort. Assigned guide cum driver was Mr. Dickson
Positive experience: All staffs including our guide cum driver were professionals and helpful. We could spot all the top 5 animal right near without any issues, animal knowledge and MasaiMara place knowledge of Mr. Dickson was outstanding. Our team were well connected and nice. Mr. Dickson explained the plan every time we stopped and it was healthy.
Stay at Lenchada camp was good, clean and no mosquitoes or flies.
Nakuru visit was worth too with flamingoes, Rhinos etc. stay and good at Buraha was excellent too.
Naivasha was excellent with its boat ride with wide variety of birds, Hippos etc. Boat driver John was very friendly. Whereas Hells gate was not upto what they say, except if we could see steam coming out of ground in a nearby point and waterfall.
Areas of improvement : Mr. Dickson had lot of connections all across these places and getting incessant calls which was slightly annoying though he was asking us are you ok?
Some small changes in the plan was bit annoying too.
Dove Nest stay in Naivasha was terrible due to lack of cleanliness and I got food poison too.
Cost of souvenirs were extremely overpriced in the tourist locations whereas we found the same at 10% of its price in a best shop in Galleria Mall at Nairobi further low at Masai Market near diamond Plaza in Nairobi. Mr. Dickson informed the price would be around 50% of what they say but in reality less than 10%.
Email Rocky | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
professional and very corporative, many thanks Anto, the trip was amazing.
professional and very corporative, many thanks Anto, the trip was amazing.
AE
Email Rohit Dhanuka | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Overall Good Experience
I would recommend Lenchada as my overall experience was good. I have taken 3 days 2 nights group safari tour with them and enjoyed it . Our tour guide Evans is a fun loving person and also experience guy, he has a good knowledge about the park and we could see 4 out of Big 5 during the one full day trip. Would suggest to pay them on cash and not through the online link the agency send as it is not secured and will lead to fraud transaction which i experienced.
