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
Email Brittany | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A HUGE disappointment. Don't waste your money on this tour!
While looking in to this tour I was excited about the advertised "We shall be on the lookout for the endangered Sable Antelope, Elephants, Giraffe, maybe Leopard, civet cat, monkeys, shrews."Unfortunately this was far from reality of the situation. After further talk with locals we realized that there have not really been animals in the park for over 5 years or more. I felt like I was taken advantage of with this "tour" for $300 USD for two people.
The planned itinerary: "At the Shimba Hills National Reserve proceed for a morning game viewing drive. We shall be on the lookout for the endangered Sable Antelope, Elephants, Giraffe, maybe Leopard, civet cat, monkeys, shrews. For the bird watchers, more that 100 bird species have been recorded including Ostrich, Eagle, African Hawk and Honey Guide. We shall further explore the Shimba hills on foot where accompanied by our guide, we shall walk on the Shedrick Falls on a 1/2 hour hike as we marvel at the water cascade. We shall later stop for lunch at the Shimba lodge where we may have an option to take a nature walk around the tree lodge or simply enjoy the surrounding views from the balconies of the lodge."
What actually happened:
We were picked up on time by our kind guide Ali. He was very nice and did a wonderful job all day. He was basically the highlight of this poor tour. The morning game drive was very telling of the lack of animals present in Shimba Hills. Once entering the park we drove for about an hour to the walking destination and literally saw only warthogs. No monkeys, antelope, or even birds really. Our driver pulled over because he thought he saw a chameleon, thats how desperate he was to find animals for us to see. This was the first sign that the day was not going to go as planned.
Once we arrived to the walking destination, we were talked to by the Park Rangers and informed that this was was very strenuous walk and be prepared to be walking for about 2 hours (not 1/2 hour as advertised). The walk was beautiful and scenic of trees and water, but of no animals. Also, as a tour company, you should be more upfront with your customers of the type of walk that is going to happen. There were so many stairs and even walking on small slippery stones up a hill at one point. While this was fine for my husband and I, we had no idea that this was the type of activity that we should have expected, not to mention the vast difference in walking time.
Then on to the lunch destination. Another huge red flag in the state of Shimba Hills. Once arriving to Shimba Lodge we were met with no electricity in the ENTIRE lodge. While this was not a huge deal, when it came time to pay it was. My husband had to walk out of the lodge and hope to get service to pay the pill. The only person working at the Lodge was our waiter and he had informed us that there were no other guests at the Lodge at all. There were no other people in the restaurant either. It was literally silent. It was honestly creepy, and not the place I'd like to have lunch on a tour. The food was deceit, but not great.
We decided to cut our "tour" short after lunch. It made more sense to us to go enjoy the beach that drive around in an EMPTY park for another few hours. I was honestly so incredibly disappointed in this "safari." I feel as though I was scammed. We were promised a lot in the description of the tour and the experience fell very short. There were no animals. Literally we saw more monkeys and birds outside the park than in. I feel you as a company should EXTREMELY revise the description of this tour as well as the price. I was lead to believe by your website and Lilian that this tour would be something very different that what it actually is.
As someone that has been to many safaris/tours in Kenya, this was by far the WORSE experience. Sadly because of this experience I will not be using this tour company again as well as warning my friends. What a waste of $300 USD as well as a full day of my vacation.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 23, 2019Dear Britanny
Thank you for joining us on the Shimba hills national park day tour.
We sincerely regret that the activities on the Shimba hills day tour did not meet your expectations
The Shimba hills national park is gazetted by the government of Kenya as a National park
It is managed by the Kenya wildlife service which is a quasi government and also a conservation body.
It is further described in Wikipedia and all other main tourism forums in Kenya and abroad.
It is thus not justifiable to indicate that our Shimba hills national park description is misleading.
A few hours visit in a national park cannot justify a holistic condemnation of the same ,even in the more popular national parks ,a bad spotting day do occasionally happen because both the wildlife and national parks are natural and wild..
Your driver guide did try to the best of his ability to make wildlife spotting happen ,but sadly sightings cannot be guaranteed on any safari tour
Walking time at the Sheldrick falls is approximate and cannot be exactly precise . The nature walk at the Sheldricks falls is provided by the Kenya wildlife services rangers and participants' ages and capacity are taken into consideration.
The Shimba hills lodge is the only lodge at the Shimba hills national park , it is meant to be a silent place because it blends with nature ,we regret that you did not like the quiet atmosphere .
The price captures the Park entrance fees for guests , the safari tour vehicle and driver / guide entry fees .It also includes fuel ,taxes and operational costs .It is also well advertised to enable people make informed decisions .
It is important for visitors to read broadly on intended places of visit to capture a wider perspective and thus enable themselves make informed decisions on tours to undertake .This manages expectations
The feeling of inadequacy may have been due to your comparing Shimba hills national park with the other several national parks you have visited in Kenya safaris before .
We regret that the tour did not appeal to you as well as we had intended..
We shall however endeavour to always make wonderful safari tours for all
Email Deepti | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding customer service and professional and knowledgeable guides and drivers.
John who took care of our booking answered every possible question swiftly and accurately. He and his team delivered a well thought out bespoke itinerary nd handpicked our driver Kim who was phenomenal. Family holiday of a lifetime successfully delivered and we had a final day check in with owner Mr. Humphries made us feel that the whole service from beginning to end was professionally run with pride taken in all aspects. Brand new vehicle top spec when we compared to other 4wd we saw. Would not go with another company. Huge thanks to Kim for being top notch and delivered everything with genuine smile and care.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 18, 2019Jambo Deepti,
Thank you for letting us be your travel partner on your Africa, Kenya tour.
Thank you for appreciating:
- your swift & accurate tour manager John who gave outstanding customer service,
- the bespoke itinerary,
- your phenomenal, professional & knowledgeable tour guide/driver Kim,
- the concerned owner Mr. Humphrey,
- & the 4x4 pop-up top Land Cruiser Jeep.
Natural World Kenya Safaris wishes you all the best as you plan to come for more safaris!
IT
Email Stefano Capriotti | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari!
We are really enthusiastic about how our safari was managed. Booking has been really easy and each topic we discussed with Patricia was clearly covered. Safari was customized according to our request. At our arrival our driver and guide Anderson was outside the airport waiting for us; he's been a wonderful fellow for our one-week safari.
All aspects of safari was complying to what we had agreed during booking phase. We've visited masai mara, lake naivasha, amboseli and tsavo west. All accomodations were very good to us and the food was ok too.
I reccomend to rely on National Word safaris Kenya to arrange the awesome experience a safari can be!!!
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 20, 2019Jambo Stefano,
We thank you & your fiancee for choosing our 7 days (6 nights) tour to Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli & Tsavo West.
Glad to note your appreciation for:
- our booking process,
- your tour manager Patricia,
- the customised tour,
- your great tour guide/driver Anderson,
- & the good accommodation with good food.
Karibu Tena for another safari experience with Natural World Kenya Safaris in Kenya!
Asante.
DK
Email Annett | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything well planned. Natural World Safari have made the best tour for me and my husband.
We went to Tsavo East and West. First of all the tour guide came before time waiting to pick us up from our hotel. (fantastic)
On the way we got a lot of information of what we were going to see.
And really we did see all the animal promised in the brochure. Buffalo, elefants, lions, girafs, all what we hoped to see, came true.
We stayed overnight in a lovely camp, where we got very good food and slept well.
On the second day we stayed in Tsavo West, Serena Lodge. It was an amazing place. From the lodge you could watch animals
drinking by the waterhole a bit below. Fantastic service and food.
This safari totally fulfilled our expectations.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 23, 2019Jambo Annett,
Thank you for booking your 3 days (2 nights) safari with Natural World Kenya Safaris, to Tsavo East & Tsavo West.
Thank you for appreciating your punctual & informative tour guide/driver, as well as the accommodation at Kilaguni Serena Lodge with fantastic service & food.
We are glad that you saw all the animals you hoped to see!
We look forward to seeing both of you again in Kenya!
Asante.
US
Email Olga Lexell | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience with a knowledgeable guide
Natural World Kenya was amazing to work with. Super communicative, completely surpassed my expectations. Prince was a fantastic guide for my unforgettable Amboseli day trip.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 25, 2019Jambo Olga,
Thank you for traveling for 1 day with us to Amboseli National Park.
Thank you for appreciating our communication to you by your tour manager, as well as your fantastic tour guide/driver Prince.
As Natural World Kenya Safaris we look forward to seeing you on your next incredible experience!
Asante Sana!
US
Email Anne McCarthy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They made sure we had the best expereince!
Since traveling to Kenya in and of itself is expensive, my friends and I chose the economy 5 day safari. We were all pleasantly surprised by the sleeping accommodations and dining provided. They made sure we were pleased with our service by calling twice during our safari and our driver, Peter, made sure we saw the big 5 and everything else we wanted to see. We could not have been more happy with our visit to Kenya and Natural World Safaris was a huge part of that. Thanks you! Plus, the gifts of shukas for all of us was a very nice added touch and a souvenir of our trip.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 25, 2019Jambo Anne McCarthy,
Thank you for choosing Natural World Kenya Safaris to plan your 5 days (4 nights) tour.
Thank you for recognising:
- the great economy level accommodation,
- the regular calls from our office,
- your great tour guide/driver Peter,
- as well as the deserving gifts.
We appreciate the feedback, as this accentuates our core purpose which is to make your dreams come true.
We look forward to planning your next safari experience!
Asante.
MX
Email Pedro Ardines | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I can't imagine this experience without the magic of service from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Just finished a week ago our Safari with this company. We went through Kenya and Tanzania. Drivers were AWESOME. Always making an effort for us to watch all the animals. Ask for Thomas or Paul Mbaya in Kenia. they both are AMAZING!
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2019Jambo Pedro,
Thank you for being with Natural World Kenya Safaris from the booking stages of your Kenya & Tanzania tour till the end.
We appreciate your comment on your awesome tour guides/drivers Thomas & Paul Mbaya.
We all look forward to planning your next tour when you come to Africa!
Karibu Tena!
US
Email Mieke L. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Dream safari!!!
From beginning to end our Safari was absolutely fantastic! Our driver and guide, George, was super friendly and knowledgeable and he was a great fit for me and my husband’s trip. We did a private safari which was perfect for us. He let us choose what we want to do and where we wanted to go and how long we wanted to spend. Everything was perfectly arranged from the food the accommodations with good communication.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2019Jambo Mieke,
Natural World Kenya Safaris thanks both of you for allowing us to plan & make happen the fantastic Africa, Kenya safari you had.
Thank you for your feedback on your super friendly & knowledgeable tour guide/driver George, and your tour manager who arranged the whole tour including the accommodation & food.
Asante & Karibu Tena!
CA
Email Jeff M. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
You won't find a better safari company!
We booked two safaris through this company. The first was a four-day safari to Masai Mara in a 4x4 Land Cruiser; the second was a one-day safari to Hell's Gate & Lake Naivasha in a mini van. Both bookings were completed entirely online, although we made phone calls the day before the safari to ensure that there were no issues. We did not book the Hell's Gate safari until we returned from the Masai Mara trip.
The booking staff are quick to respond to emails, professional in providing details of the proposed safari, upfront about extra costs, and helpful in terms of special requests--we had two vegans in our group who were anxious about having their needs met. Payment was not directly through my credit card but through a PayPal like system called Pesapal. It worked without an issue. Duncan organized our Mara safari and Michelle the Hell's Gate safari.
For the first safari we requested George Mbugua, who turned out to be excellent. Not only was he great at spotting the animals, including a kill on our second day, but he was professional in respecting the animals. We saw everything except a rhino, (no one seemed to see one as they are rare and elusive), including numerous cheetah and lions. One lion was in a tree. We saw a leopard close up. However, we noticed some other companies' drivers interfering with the animals' movement. George clearly was opposed to such practices, as were we. George was always early for any meeting, and took steps to ensure our safety and comfort throughout the trip. We met other travellers with Natural World who reported similar experiences with their drivers. The 4x4 is worth the extra cost for game drive experiences.
We stayed at Enkorok camp in Masai Mara. It was an excellent budget choice, reviewed separately.
The trip to Hell's Gate was guided by Mike Kioko. This was in a minivan, as the trip didn't include game drives in a vehicle. Instead, we rode bikes through the park, hiked through the gorge, boated on the lake, and walked on Crescent Island. Essentially, Mike had to ensure we arrived at the designated times and arrange things with the other guides. He did so perfectly. Again, safety was most important. Note that on this trip you should bring some money to tip at least two additional guides.
We would highly recommend this trip. It gives you a chance to be active, although the hiking and riding might be too strenuous for some people. We saw a variety of wildlife on bike or foot, including giraffes and zebras crossing our paths very closely. Lunch at the Sopa Lodge was fantastic. The trip took a full 12.5 hours.
Natural World was an excellent choice. I can't really compare it to other agencies, as we didn't use them, but we have nothing but praise for this company. They even called after both trips to ensure that our safaris were great. The end of safari "gift" was very welcome icing on the cake of two fantastic experiences with this company.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2019Jambo Jeff & Family,
Thank you for choosing Natural World Kenya Safaris to plan your two tours: 4 days (3 nights) to Maasai Mara, & 1 day to Hell's Gate & Lake Naivasha.
Thank you for recognising:
- our online booking & planning process that's efficient,
- your tour managers Duncan & Michelle, who were responsive, professional, upfront & helpful,
- the online payment system PesaPal,
- your excellent, professional, punctual & safe tour guide/driver George Mbugua for the Maasai Mara tour,
- the worthwhile 4x4 pop-up top Land Cruiser Jeep,
- the excellent economy level accommodation at Enkorok Mara Camp,
- your great & safe tour guide/driver Mike Kioko for the excursion,
- as well as the gift.
We appreciate the thorough feedback, as this accentuates our core purpose which is to make your dreams come true.
We look forward to planning your next tour to Africa, Kenya to spot the elusive Rhino!
Asante.
AE
Email Robert And Tanja | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari so good!
Just back from a wonderful Kenyan safari with Natural World. And I have no hesitation in giving them five well-deserved stars.
From the initial quote and the fine-tuning of the itinerary to the post-tour customer care by Humphrey and Caroline, this company was excellent.
Our superb driver Moses picked us up from our Nairobi hotel, the (upgraded) Land Cruiser full of wildlife guides and Moses' head full of the knowledge of 19 years as a safari tour guide.
He took us on a 5-night (bumpy - wear a sports bra, ladies!) road trip to Tsavo West, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha and the Masai Mara, and made it his personal mission to ensure we saw as much of Kenya's amazing fauna and flora as possible.
We managed four of the big five (no rhino sadly, but understandably) after a very determined day seeking out a leopard, and then spotting two!
We opted for Comfort-level accommodation, which was actually very, er... comfortable, though the first night's camp at Rhino Valley Lodge was very basic. But it made up for that with incredible panoramic views. The other camps were lovely and the food was very good too (with a special mention for Zebra Plains Mara Camp).
Crescent Camp at Lake Naivasha initially seemed as though it would be disappointing, as the lakeside was strewn with litter (one would think the camp might make an effort to clean up its lake front, even if it is public access), but the boat tour and walking safari on the island more than made up for this - as we strolled among the zebra and giraffe.
All in all, it was an amazing experience, and we have with wonderful memories and spectacular photographs to cherish.
Thank you to the team at Natural World Kenya Safaris, and Moses in particular.
Reply from Natural World Kenya Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2019Jambo Robert & Tanja,
Thank you for traveling with Natural World Kenya Safaris on your 6 days (5 nights) tour to Tsavo West, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha & Maasai Mara.
Thank you for appreciating:
- the fine-tuned itinerary,
- customer care by the owner Mr. Humphrey & your tour manager Caroline,
- your superb & knowledgeable tour guide/driver Moses,
- the 4x4 pop-up top Land Cruiser Jeep,
- & the comfort level accommodation with good food, especially Zebra Plains Mara Camp.
We look forward to seeing you again to spot the Rhino!
Asante!