Reviews

Sort By: Date Most Helpful 21-30 of 207 Reviews
JJ   –  
Singapore SG
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Aug 18, 2024

Email JJ  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Guide Big Tom was great, but we were temporarily switched to Ol Tukai as the operator
5/5

Guide Big Tom was great, but we were temporarily switched to Ol Tukai as the operator.

Lucky Kenya trip: We saw the wildebeest migration, the "Heaven's River Crossing," the Black Rock family, the Big Five of Africa, and more. Special thanks to guide Big Tom for his strong social network and for letting us experience the wild Africa in its entirety. The "Heaven's River Crossing" was particularly rare and unforgettable. We drove 4 hours through a private park to catch this rare sight. Tom was also very meticulous about the lunch view locations, always taking us to enjoy different views. Highly recommended!

Hotel Reviews:

Kibo Lounge: A standard 4-5 star hotel, with some wind, and the water was quite cold on the first day but better on the second day. Not sure if it’s related to solar heating. The second day had more sunlight (Originally Ol Tukai switched us to this hotel; we had visited Ol Tukai and felt it was better).

SOPA Lounge: Located by Lake Naivasha, focusing on close animal encounters. We really liked it. At night, hippos and zebras come into the park to graze. The hotel facilities are the most refined among those we stayed in, and the rooms have WiFi coverage.

Sarova Lounge: Near Lake Nakuru, it has the simplest decor among the hotels we visited but is located within the park, which may justify its price.

Mara Engai: Luxurious, with a "Lion King" view overlooking the savannah. The wooden furniture and large tents are impressive. Located within the park, it is said that elephants may migrate through the hotel in August.

Metikurke   –  
India IN
Visited: August 2024 Reviewed: Aug 10, 2024

Email Metikurke  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Best experience with knowledge
5/5

Embarking on a Masai Mara and Kenya safari is an unforgettable adventure that immerses you in the heart of Africa’s natural splendor. The Masai Mara, with its expansive savannahs and rolling hills, offers an unparalleled wildlife experience. Witnessing the Great Migration is a spectacle like no other, where thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles traverse the plains in a breathtaking display of nature’s grand design. Our guide Nick was the best!

Kenya's diverse landscapes, from the lush highlands to the arid deserts, provide a stunning backdrop for this journey. The safari experience is enriched by encounters with the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—each sighting a thrilling testament to the region's rich biodiversity.

The Masai people, with their vibrant culture and warm hospitality, add a unique cultural dimension to the trip. Their traditional dances, crafts, and stories provide a deeper understanding of the region’s heritage.

Accommodations range from luxurious lodges to intimate tented camps, ensuring comfort while maintaining a close connection to the natural world. Guided by knowledgeable and passionate rangers, every game drive is a new discovery, filled with insightful observations and thrilling moments.

Overall, a Masai Mara and Kenya safari is a mesmerizing journey through some of the world’s most iconic landscapes, offering a profound appreciation for wildlife, culture, and the wild beauty of Africa.

Sally   –  
New Zealand NZ
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Aug 8, 2024

Email Sally  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Fabulous Attention to Detail
5/5

Our family of 4 siblings arranged a 21 day holiday in Kenya and Tanzania, through Silas of Apodiformes adventures. It was many months in the planning, and Silas was helpful, always available, ready to discuss and advise. We stayed in Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara in Kenya, then a land border crossing into Tanzania and Northern Serengeti, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro, then back to Kenya for Amboseli and Tsavo. So we packed a lot into our 3 weeks, but all the parks are so diverse, we're glad we did it this way.
This is my 3rd time to East Africa but my first time with Apodiformes. As advised, I got 5 quotes, but Apodiformes were significantly cheaper, for much the same accommodation, parks, etc. We paid the deposit through the banking system, but Silas then mentioned the remaining amount should be paid in US$ cash - I was a bit wary. I rang Silas, and he explained it is because of credit fees, we could pay that way, but would incur significantly higher costs. We brought the cash! 😊 It was fine.
Our accommodation was of a lovely standard, a mixture of Serena and Simba Lodges. Food was buffet style, something to suit everyone, and tasty and nutritious. Our guides were friendly, and knowledgeable, Michael (Kenya); Hosea (Tanzania); Daniel (Kenya). Fortunately not the sort to spend all the driving time talking on their cellphones. They were great, especially Michael and Daniel - Hosea was lovely, but drove very fast at times, without explaining we were heading to see something!
On that score - we were so lucky with what we saw; we saw everything! The big 5 (several times); the Samburu 5; so many of the cat family - right down tothe elusive serval, and the Caracal!
We absolutely loved our time in Kenya and Tanzania, and owe many thanks to Silas for his experience and planning.

Zhou Huijing   –  
China CN
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Aug 6, 2024

Email Zhou Huijing  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Most memorable and unforgettable trip of this year!
5/5

This was our first trip to Kenya, and our guide, Big Tom, made it an unforgettable experience. Tom was incredibly dedicated throughout the journey, ensuring that we visited all the key attractions and went out of his way to accommodate every request we had. Despite our packed schedule, he was always nice and professional, taking great care of us every step of the way. Tom's expertise was evident as he guided us to see a wide variety of animals. His driving skills were excellent, and he managed our time perfectly, ensuring we made the most of each day. We felt safe and well looked after throughout the trip. We highly recommend this travel agency and especially Tom for anyone planning a trip to Kenya!

Li Yang   –  
China CN
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Aug 6, 2024

Email Li Yang  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Best memory of the year with apodiformes!
5/5

We were on a Safari adventure in Kenya on the end of July. It was truly a splendid journey. A heartfelt thank you to Fred for his patient communication throughout the preparation phase. Our guide, big Tom, exceeded all expectations with his dedication, vast experience, and unparalleled friendliness. He led us on an unforgettable journey, ensuring every moment was captured with awe and wonder. Tom is extremely dedicated and conscientious, ensuring that every request we make is meticulously fulfilled. He takes great care of us and goes above and beyond to satisfy our needs. A truly remarkable trip, thanks to the exceptional teamwork of Fred and Tom.

Jon   –  
United States US
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Aug 4, 2024

Email Jon  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Communicative but does make changes to itinerary
5/5

Dickson was an great guide that respected the animals and pacing of the trip. He was patient and flexible with our scheduling. I would highly recommend him as a guide.

In terms of the company we worked with Syprose who did make some changes mid trip but took care of things like our lost luggage and items.

Ultimately be careful with what lodges and activities they book or change to as they may make changes after the original agreement is made or not as ideal locations.

Diana   –  
United States US
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Aug 3, 2024

Email Diana  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Great planning with wonderful experienced driver/guides for both Kenya and Tanzania
5/5

My mother and I did the 12 day golden safari tour of Kenya and Tanzania. Silas did really great booking everything and Lio our Kenya driver/guide and Vincent were both really experienced amazing guides and drivers.

We went in early July and if I had done more research I would have booked for mid-august or so for our tour since the migration can take place anytime between July and October and the beach weather was cooler and a bit rainy so I didn't get as much beach time as I was hoping.

I was surprised to find that we had the entire vehicle to ourselves so be aware that you can work with Apodiformes to change any itinerary before you book everything. Also if you have a larger party take smaller items since there is not a lot of space to put luggage in the vehicle you will be traveling in. You will mostly just be riding in a vehicle all day so you do not need to be in shape at all. I for some reason thought we would have nature walks, but it was really about getting up early and going out all day to see the animals.

I recommend googling every park and time of year to see what is more the peak time to go depending on your interests. If you go for the migration and visit the Serengeti I would make sure you get one night in northern Serengeti since most of the zebra's and wildebeest will most likely be up there and depending on where you stay the travel time from masai mara to serengeti can be quite long. We went Amboseli and it was amazing, watching the elephants cross the road at night or early in the morning was such a wonderful site, however in July Mt Kilamanjaro is mostly cloud covered to my understanding so take these into consideration. And of course the animals will do what the want, if it is a nice sunny day you will have a great game drive, if it is colder and cloudy or too hot and you might not see much. Also I thought lake Nakuru was the most beautiful place I have ever seen and the only place we got a good view of rhinos (the flamingos had left for better food sources) and we were only there for a little over 4 hours because it just takes a while to get there from Nairobi so think about what you really want to see to spend more time at one place. It is hard to say what I would have changed other than the time we started our trip, but 12 days was a long time to sit in a vehicle so I think maybe it would have been good to do 4-5 days of safari then beach time and then maybe switch it up to go see chimpanzees, but when you travel so far (we came from the California) it is hard to know what to cut out since it all sounds amazing. I guess you just have to decide what you want to see the most. For me I would probably stick with Nakuru lake, Masai Mara and/or Northern Serengeti, and Amboseli but I love the beautiful trees, lakes, and birds. In any case you can't go wrong with Apodiformes, although I recommend you request Lio to be your guide and driver.

Kate Wang   –  
Germany DE
Visited: June 2024 Reviewed: Aug 2, 2024

Email Kate Wang

Apodiformes Adventure is just great!!!
5/5

We would like to express our many thanks to Silas of the Apodiformes Adventures for the organization of our 13-day private safari. It was a great tour!!! Our guide Tom in Kenya and Emanuel in Tanzania are both very experienced and tried their best to let us see what we would like to and we do appreciate it very much.

Wiwiana   –  
Poland PL
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Jul 31, 2024

Email Wiwiana  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Amazing "life yourney"
5/5

Trip to Kenya was on my Bucket list since many years. Silas did a fantastic work arranging our 12 days trip to Kenya, combining 7 days safari and relax on a beach.
We visited 3 parks: Masai Mara, Nakuru & Amboseli. Our guide Wilson, did an icredible job to show us and provide valuable information of the Kenyan wildlife. Thanks to his passion, knowledge and experience we learnt a lot and saw the Big Five, Ugly Five and many, many more! Apart of sharing his knowledge and being fantastic Masai guide, Wilson took care of us and was a great companion, everyone of our family appreciated his way of communication, sense of humour and care.
After safari we went to Diani, to relax few days at the ocean. The hotel we stayed was perfect.
Overall we are very happy with all the arrengaments. Silas was very responsive, patient with all my questions and queries and very flexible. The guide, Wilson, was the best! Tha all other drivers who picked us in different places were also very helpful.
I recommend Silas and his team to anyone who want to experience an amazing life journey. The memories and emotions will stay in our hearts and we took thousands of pictures and films, so we will have them also in our album to get back to the memories whenever we want and get back to this amazing time we had in Kenya.

Thank You Silas!

Wiwiana



Simone   –  
China CN
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Jul 28, 2024

Email Simone  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Everything we'd hoped for and more
5/5

We recently had the great opportunity to embark on a 7-day Safari, and our experience was truly unforgettable, thanks to our safari guide, Denis. We'd never been on safari or to Africa before so we didn't entirely know what to expect, and we were very happy with the outcome.



Our trip itinerary was as follows: Day 1-3, Travel Nairobi to Masai Mara, Day 4 Lake Nakuru, Day 5 Samburu, Day 6-7 Amboseli, and Day 8 flight back to home.

Denis was great. From start to finish, his expertise for the wildlife and attentiveness made our adventure both thrilling and reassuring. He was tireless and enthusiastic, admirably drove us many many miles for many hours over incredibly rough terrain and still was keen to take us out on a game drive the same evening, he was very receptive to our questions and taught us a lot about Kenya. Of course though one of the best things about Denis was his knowledge of all the areas and was very patient with us. He always found the way to get the best angle of the scene for us to witness and take photos. 


Our trip was a private tour, and so it was just my best friend and I with Denis in the vehicle. We had loads of space and it was great this way because we had the freedom to do exactly what we wanted, like go out on an epic 9-hour game drive (well done Denis). It also meant that everything was done at our convenience, we could choose what we wanted to see and also always have the best views out the vehicle. The roof was open on the van for game drives so you could stand and look out, which was great fun and the breeze was lovely.

We saw some absolutely incredible sights while we were in Kenya. We saw all the animals from the “Big five” and not only, lots of lions, including some mating and hunting, and the tree-climbing lioness with her cubs looking up at us from the bushes in Lake Nakuru. We saw loads of hyenas with prey in their mouths. Samburu was also so picturesque, we saw different species of zebras and giraffes. In Amboseli we saw lively herds of elephants bathing in the sand and swamps as well as different species of birds. And of course the most prized sighting in the Masai Mara: we were treated to the sight of wildebeests running through the grassland and huge male giraffes watching us from afar as if they were standing still in the morning mist, and great herds of hippos in the river. On the border between Kenya and Tanzania, the sun is slowly setting, and in the distance a herd of elephants is slowly making its way towards us. The wind blowing through the African savannah at sunset feels like an eternity.

We really had such a fantastic time with Denis, he also arranged a picnic lunch for us in the wilds of the Masai Mara. It was wonderful just knowing that everything was taken care of for us, and we had absolutely nothing to concern ourselves with during our trip, except having an amazing time and learning about the beautiful Kenyan wildlife.

The only disappointment was that when we chose our hotel no one informed us in advance that our accommodation in Amboseli was outside the park, which meant that it would take more time to get there and back, and that we wouldn't be able to get to the park early enough to see the sunrise. Also, we would have liked to have been told beforehand about the time we would need to spend on the road and other details so that we could understand our options and better tailor our itinerary, otherwise the long drive would have been exhausting for both the guide and us. Other than that, everything's just perfect.

Asante sana, Kenya.
See you next time.

Simone

Average User Rating
4.5/5
Rating Breakdown
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  • 3 star 7
  • 2 star 4
  • 1 star 7
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