Luxury African Safari tours in East Africa
Natural World Kenya Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, ASTA, KATO, MCTA & Ecotourism Kenya
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $310 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Jeff | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable trip with many great surprises!
My wife and I found this safari company by searching TripAdvisor for safaris in Kenya. We compared prices and tour options for the top ten rated companies and found Natural World had the best-value offering for us. We took the 3-day (2 night) tour from Nairobi out to Masai Mara. We elected to stay at the Mara Engai camp.
Upon inquiring about tour options and pricing I was put in touch with Esther. Others on this site have noted but it bears repeating: Esther is top-notch. She is fast to reply, very detailed, and aims to please. After we agreed on an itinerary, I was naturally nervous to send money to a foreign country, but Natural World offers a credit card option for no extra charge. I fired off our deposit payment with the comfort of knowing that I could always contest the charge with my card issuer if any issues were to arise.
Fast forward to 6 AM at our hotel in Nairobi on the morning our safari begins. Our assigned guide, Dik Dik (Dickson Wamanji) is at the hotel on-time and ready to begin. We knew who to expect because his picture is on the company's website. He greets us with a smile, reviews the itinerary, gives us a bottle of water, and lastly ensures we're buckled up. This was a great first impression. Just as we're about to depart, he also gives us a gift from Natural World's headquarters: two Masai tribal garments that are traditional wear for the area that we're going to safari in. We then drove out to Masai Mara park, and went onward to our chosen camp Mara Engai. The camp was awesome: service was wonderful, food was delicious and safe, and the high elevation meant no mosquitoes. Especially important is the great value you get by booking the luxury camps through Natural World. Look the camps up on any travel site and see how much the nightly rate is, then compare that to the value you get from a Natural World tour that includes the lodging, driver, vehicle, insurance, security, etc.
On the first day of our safari, Esther called our safari vehicle and spoke with me directly to ensure the trip was going well. This company goes out of its way to ensure you are comfortable and that your expectations are exceeded. The jeep upgrade is the absolute way to go, by the way. 90% of vehicles on safari that you'll see are the full-size jeep vehicles. Touring in the default van looks a bit amateurish and does not give you nearly the same vantage point on the wildlife. The van windows slide open left-to-right for limited access, and the pop-top isn't very high off the ground. Pay for the jeep supplement to get a serious vehicle with spare tires, a second gas tank, a very high vantage point, and all-around roll-down windows (not sliding windows) that give you full access to the wildlife for viewing and photos.
I can't emphasize enough that this tour company has a no-nonsense reputation in Kenya. The company has arrangements with all the stops on the way to the camps. We stopped several times for bathroom breaks, meals, souvenir shops, etc. Most stops had security guards that were writing down license plate numbers and keeping an eye on everyone. Not once did anyone approach us or hassle us. This was an enormous relief. You don't have to worry about your bags or suitcases in the safari vehicle, the bathroom facilities are functional and clean, the food is safe, and vandalism/theft are non-issues.
As we were about to be dropped off at our hotel near Nairobi airport, Dik Dik dialed up the owner of Natural World named Mr. Humphrey. He wanted to be sure that our safari experience was excellent in every aspect and welcomed honest unfiltered feedback about every aspect of our journey.
Before our trip I searched Natural World reviews on TripAdvisor for our guide Dik Dik to see what we could expect. All the reviews said he was fabulous and I'm happy to report that he was a stellar safari guide for us. He has decades of experience as a professional guide and knows customs/languages from around the world which make all guests feel welcome. During our 3-day tour, he greeted numerous other safari-goers in a total of five languages and he had a great rapport with the other safari drivers. That rapport shouldn't be understated--it's actually quite critical that you have a guide who is on good terms with the other driver guides. If you have any issues (flat tire, get lost, searching for specific rare animals like leopards, etc.) then having a popular guide like Dik Dik will be enormously in your favor.
The first day of our safari tour was meant to be driving from Nairobi directly to our Mara Engai camp. You can take main roads (which are bumpy) or you can take the Natural World route which takes you through the Masai Mara game reserve. This turned out to be a huge benefit for us. Once we entered the reserve, Dik Dik turned on his long range 2-way radio and immediately caught wind of a leopard. Leopards are exceedingly rare in the wild but he was able to make a 6km detour and spot us a beautiful leopard sitting up in a tree eating something. It made for an incredible photo op that we didn't expect to have on our 'boring' drive out to the campsite. By the time we got to camp, we had already seen 4 of the Big 5. I was absolutely stunned by how much wildlife Dik Dik found us in our first few hours in the reserve.
It is 100% worth investing in an SLR/DSLR/mirrorless camera if you don't have one. A cell phone camera will not do justice to the gorgeous wildlife and you will feel extremely let down that you didn't bring a serious camera. Think about when you take a picture of the moon with your cell phone; the moon comes out tiny! The same thing happens when you take a selfie with a herd of elephants. Your big face obscures the beautiful wildlife in the background which is teeny and barely recognizable.
Over the 3-day tour we saw everything we could have hoped for. Dik Dik found us hundreds of hippos, giraffe, and elephants; 2 groups of female lions, a group of 4 male lions, a cheetah, a leopard, 2 black rhinos, ostriches, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, topi, buffalo, crocodiles, mongooses, all of the Big 5, and countless fascinating species of colorful birds. Our lucky break came on May 30 as we were leaving the Masai Mara reserve: we spotted the front line of the Great Migration. As far as the eye could see there were thousands of zebras and wildebeest. This year the migration came a month early which gave us the views of a lifetime. Dik Dik did an amazing job of getting us up close with the wildlife. He really went out of his way to give us the experience of a lifetime and we can't thank him enough. Dik Dik: Thank you again for your great work and excellent game spotting; you gave us an unforgettable experience.
Safety: I was worried about personal security and food safety before embarking on this trip. As it turned out I had nothing to worry about (a huge relief). Natural World is top-rated for a reason. For personal safety they have all the pit-stops arranged (see above) with security. In the reserves we saw park rangers all the time and never felt any concern for our personal safety. At the camp there was essentially a small army on guard. Most critically, the jeeps all have long-range 2-way radios that can be used to reach rangers and other guides instantly in the event of any issue. As for food safety, we felt very well taken care of at the Mara Engai camp. The all-inclusive (food) at the camp was top-notch--for example our arrival lunch was sirloin steak and fondant potatoes with soup and salad. We ate everything the camp offered and had zero stomach problems. The free wifi was an incredible feat too.
To summarize, Natural World is a Kenya-owned and operated company that legitimately takes pride in its work. Dik Dik is a wonderful guide that you should request by name. We can't thank this company enough for its organization, scrutiny with respect to selecting guides and staff, and overall value for safari tours. Thank you Natural World. We look forward to the next adventure.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jun 12, 2019Jambo Jeff,
Thank you for joining Natural World Kenya Safaris on your 3 days (2 nights) Kenya tour to Maasai Mara.
Thank you for your positive feedback on our value-for-money tour packages, the luxury-level accommodation at Mara Engai Camp with wonderful service, delicious food & free Wi-Fi, your fast to reply, detailed & pleasing tour manager Esther, your punctual, experienced, professional & stellar tour guide/driver Dickson (Dik Dik) having great rapport with other tour guides/drivers, the 4x4 pop-up top Land Cruiser Jeep with a long-range radio, the clean & functional bathroom facilities on the various stops, as well as our Director Mr. Humphrey.
We are happy that you & your wife spotted the front line of the Great Migration!
Hopefully this shall not be your last visit to Africa, Kenya.
From us to you we say, in Swahili Kenya, "Asante & Karibu Tena!"
IE
Email Sheena Harley_Peters | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
EXCEPTIONAL WONDERFUL EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE! CANT WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN!!
Weeks before we even left on our holiday, Caroline Mugo had been there every step of the way. Any information that we needed or unsure about, any questions or even just advice, Caroline emailed straight back to help in any way she could. We were so excited to begin our holiday. From the time we landed we were transferred to our accommodation even tho our flights had changed and it took more than 2 hours to get out of the airport due to security and customs delays, Hosea was still there waiting for us and take us to our accommodation for the night. Ken collected us early from there the next morning and I am finding it hard to express in words what an absolutely outstanding, exceptional experience the 3 days on Safari were for us. Ken could not have done any more for us to give us the best possible safari, and it was. Ken had a world of Knowledge about all forms of wildlife from the BIG FIVE, plants, flowers, birds, fish and he had a lovely sense of humor which was a pleasure. It was one of the best memories of our lives, we were so sad to leave and we cant wait to go again.
Even as we moved on to continue our holiday in Mombasa, Natural World Kenya Safaris were still there to assist us with obtaining train tickets, with our baggage, and transferring us between stations, hotels and airports. Harrison, Michael and James all lending a hand, sometimes on the spur of the moment, always so friendly and cheerful. The accommodations while on the actual Safari were phenomenal, we were given the most exciting welcomes, singing staff and huge friendly smiles. They could not have done any more to make us feel comfortable. Could not recommend this company, and their wonderful staff, highly enough.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jun 10, 2019Jambo Sheena,
Thank you for taking your 3 days (2 nights) Africa, Kenya tour with Natural World Kenya Safaris.
Glad to note your commendations for your constantly dedicated tour manager Caroline Mugo, your patient transfer driver Hosea, your punctual, knowledgeable & humorous tour guide/driver Ken, our services, the friendly & cheerful Harrison, Michael & James, phenomenal accommodation, as well as the wonderful staff.
We are happy that you had an exceptionally wonderful holiday!
From us to you in Kenya Swahili, we say, "Asante & Karibu tena!"
FI
Email Erik | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tour with Ezekiel!
Our driver and tour guide Ezekiel was wonderful. The accomodations and food were way better than we thought and the overall experience was really great. Highly recommend for other tourists in Mombasa or Nairobi region!
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jun 7, 2019Jambo Erik,
Thank you for making Natural World Kenya Safaris your safari company, to plan your tour to Africa, Kenya.
Glad to note your appreciation for your wonderful tour guide/driver Ezekiel, as well as the accommodation with good food.
We are delighted that you had an excellent safari!
Hopefully this shall not be your last tour to Africa, Kenya.
From us to you we say, in Swahili Kenya, "Asante & Karibu Tena!"
US
Email Andrew | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome tour, great value
Julius took us out for a 3 day safari from Nairobi and it was a blast. Very experienced driver knew all the spots and found us some incredible animals, including a pack of lions taking down a buffalo. We stayed at the Mara Serena, which was a great stay. Overall, a pretty incredible value.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jun 6, 2019Jambo Andrew,
Thank you for traveling for 3 days (2 nights) with Natural World Kenya Safaris.
Thank you for appreciating the services of your experienced tour guide/driver Julius, the luxury level accommodation at Mara Serena, as well as the value for money tour package.
We are glad that you had an awesome tour experience!
We hope this is not your last visit to Africa, Kenya!
"Asante & Karibu Tena!"
Well organized, exceptional staff!
Everything went smoothly and was absolutely perfect. Questions were answered before arrival and itinerary was explained throughout. Our guide was terrific! I'll never use another company and will recommend Natural World to everyone.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jun 6, 2019Jambo Jessica Barrett,
Thank you for joining Natural World Kenya Safaris on your Africa, Kenya tour.
Thank you for your positive feedback on our well organised & exceptional team especially by your tour manager, as well as your terrific tour guide/driver.
Hopefully this shall not be your last visit to Africa, Kenya.
From us to you we say, in Swahili Kenya, "Asante & Karibu Tena!"
NO
Email Thor Ervik | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
reliable, proffesionale employes in all functions gave us a memory for life :-)
we are very pleased with the quick and correct info and service we got through the hole experience from booking to airport transport.
the possibility to get quick contact and good answers in different channels made the hole trip feel safe and relaxed.
we stayed at Mara serena 4 nights and did max. safari trips, we liked the guides experience and the way he shared this. he also showed a natural respect for the wildlife witch we appreciated.
all in all everybody we encountered from Natural world Kenya Safaries exceeded our expectations.
Thanks.
btw. we missed the Rhino so maybe we have to come back :-)
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jun 3, 2019Jambo Thor,
Thank you for traveling for 5 days (4 nights) with us to Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
Thank you for appreciating our reliable, quick & correct services, accommodation at Mara Serena, your experienced tour guide/driver, as well as the whole professional Natural World Kenya Safaris team!
We are glad that you created memories for life!
We hope you will come back and not miss the Rhino on your next visit!
"Asante & Karibu Tena!"
CH
Email Kantarama Gahigiri | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great day trip to Amboseli! So lucky!
Great day trip to Amboseli! Even though we only had one day, we saw a lot thanks to our guide who was the best at spotting all the animals. He told us how lucky we were to even see lions!
Thank you very much Natural World Kenya Safaris. Very well organised. Our guide was super nice, very knowledgeable, punctual (which matters when you depart so early) and a safe driver (we did a day trip, so we had to drive from and back to Nairobi, a good driver is essential!). I will definitely travel again with you in the future. Highly recommended!
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jun 3, 2019Jambo Kantarama,
Thank you for making Natural World Kenya Safaris your choice of safari company in Kenya.
We are happy that you had a 1-day great excursion to Amboseli National Park.
We appreciate your kind words about your nice, knowledgeable, punctual & safe tour guide/driver, as well as our organised services.
Thank you once again for your feedback.
From us, we say in Swahili Kenya to you, "Asante & Karibu Tena!"
US
Email Megan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This is the second safari I've taken with Natural World and I could not be more pleased!
Everything about this experience is spot-on, at a really affordable price!
1. You get very quick and helpful responses in your planning from the team on the ground
2. The drivers arrive to pick you up and take you on your adventure! The drivers are so knowledgeable and so very experienced.
They know the roads and they know the safari lands. They'll be so intentional to give you the very best experience possible.
3. The lodging is beautiful -- just a dream! The food and amenities are wonderful. A lovely respite after being on safari for the day.
4. The safari experience itself can't be beat. The drivers are connected to one another, sharing what they see and encouraging others to come find it as well. You will be in awe and in wonder throughout the experience. I highly recommend the Masai Mara 3 day/2 night tour, to include an afternoon safari after you've arrived for lunch, then the sunrise safari on your last morning. Magical!
The only thing I haven't seen is that evasive Leopard!!
Everything about the experience with Natural World is WORTH IT!
This is a once-in a lifetime experience (or twice, if you're super fortunate!) and you would not want to let the opportunity pass!
Natural World is a SOLID choice that will provide you with a wonderful experience!
Cheers to Safari with Natural World!
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on May 30, 2019Jambo Megan,
Thank you for making Natural World Kenya Safaris your choice of safari company in Kenya for a second time!
We are happy that you had a once-in-a-lifetime experience on your 3 days (2 nights) Kenya tour to Maasai Mara, at a really affordable price!
We appreciate your kind words about our quick & helpful responses from our team, your punctual, knowledgeable & experienced tour guides/drivers, the beautiful accommodation, as well as the wonderful food & amenities.
Thank you once again for your feedback.
Hopefully we will see you again to find the evasive leopard☺
From us to you we say, "Asante & Karibu Tena!"
CH
Email Dahinden Rita | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Tour with an excellent guide, who knew like a wizard, where the animals will be.
The whole journey was very interesting. We saw so much animals, I never dreamed about. Only in the Rhino Sanctuary we saw no Rhino, for that we were very lucky to see a leopard very close for a long time. And in Amboseli we could observe the chase of four cheetahs. So the safari was exciting.
Our guide and all the other people here in Kenia were extreme friendly, attentive and talkative. We enjoyed many encounters.
Communication before and while the safari was excellent too.
Summary: We recommend this tour operator.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on May 13, 2019Jambo Dahinden Rita,
Thank you for making the right choice with Natural World Kenya Safaris on your tour to Tsavo West & Amboseli National Parks.
Thank you for the appreciation of services rendered by your tour guide/driver & your tour manager. We appreciate their high level of knowledge, friendliness, attentiveness & communication, which is line with our aspirations as a Company.
We are glad that you had a great safari experience! We apologise that the rhinos in the Rhino Sanctuary may have been shy for you to see them.
Hopefully this shall not be your last visit to Africa, Kenya!
"Asante & Karibu Tena!"
US
Email Eileen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We couldn't imagine a better experience!
We did a 6-day, 5-night driving safari with Natural World in April, and I cannot say enough good things about it! Email correspondance was prompt, polite and helpful; the itinerary was excellent (wonderful hotels!) and the price was a superb value. We left Mombasa on day 1 and spent 1 night each in Tsavo East, Tsavo West, and Taita Hills, plus 2 nights in Amboseli before finishing in Nairobi. Our driver and guide was Albert, and he was friendly, flexible, and knowledgeable. He was a wonderful guide with a good eye. Plus, we always felt safe and well-taken care of, whether in the parks or on the road. We saw an unbelievable amount of wildlife: too many zebras, giraffes, Cape Horn buffalo, antelope, and elephants to count, plus lions, leopards, baboons, hyenas, hippos, jackals, African wild dogs, and more. Every day was better than the one before. We opted for the Moderate price bracket, but the accomodations were so wonderful, I honestly couldn't imagine the Luxury bracket being any better. The Jeep Landcruiser is an upcharge from the standard minivan, but we thought that it was absolutely worth the extra -- the landcruiser was very comfortable with excellent sightlines. All in all, I can't imagine a better safari experience. Now I want to go back to Kenya and take another safari with Natural World...this time to the Masai Mara and Samburu! Thanks to Lillian and Albert for an unforgettable African adventure!
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on May 8, 2019Jambo Eileen,
Thank you for visiting Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Taita Hills & Amboseli and making your safari with Natural World Kenya Safaris for 6 days (5 nights).
Glad to note your appreciation for your prompt, polite & helpful tour manager Lilian, the excellent itinerary, the wonderful accommodation at comfort level, your friendly, flexible & knowledgeable tour guide/driver Albert, the comfortable Land Cruiser Jeep, as well as the value for money tour package.
We are happy that you had a memorable safari experience!
"Asante & Karibu Tena to Maasai Mara & Samburu!"