Salina Staff
Salina Wild Adventures
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2018)
- Member Of:
- Kenya Tourism Regulatory Authority & Kenya Association of Tour Operators(KATO)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $70 to $500 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
DE
Email Katharina Senzenberger | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Complete Nightmare & worst tour operator in EAST AFRICA
This tour has been the worst tour of my life. The guide was aggressive and lying to us about park-openings, schedule etc. He turned up late 1 hour in the morning, so everyday we missed the best time of the safari. We were not briefed upon what was the schedule going to be. In the end our old car broke down and we were left without food or water in the heat. I strongly urge you to stay away from this operator. There are amazing safari companies in Kenya. This is not one of them.
Reply from Salina Wild Adventures
Posted on Feb 21, 2023Catharina was just manipulative and had no ear for anyone. I accompanied the driver to pick them from their Nairobi hotel on the first day of the tour and it is them that showed up 2 hours later. Her problems started immediately; she would google routes and force the driver to use particular routes. So even before they reached their destination she was already causing trouble. I was in constant communication with her but at no time did she complain about wildlife sighting, that was perfect. It's her manipulative tendencies that made the driver a puppet that couldn't be left to do his job professionally. Catharina would even use abusive language on the driver. Then she suggested that she wanted to have a bush lunch on the last day of the tour, something that wasn't included in the package. Upon enquiring from the hotel and telling her the cost of the same,she said we were trying to exploit her and we agreed that she buys directly from the hotel. In the end she was told the very same price and she refused to buy therefore her claims of being left without food was her own decision. She even forced the driver to do game drive on the last day past the normal time. On their way back to Nairobi the Land cruiser developed a mechanical problem. And because they were left alone in the park as all vehicles had gone to Nairobi, we had to organize for another vehicle to go for them in Emali and drop them in Naivasha. I even checked on her the following day to know she was ok but she neither picked my call nor answer my messages.
We did all that was possible make Catharina happy but she couldn't listen and take our advices. It was a nightmare working with Catharina but we did our best. The driver even gave her binoculars which she deliberately misplaced and insisted she left in the vehicle. The following it was found lying down in the park, broken. Catharina had no apologies to make and nobody asked her to pay/buy another one.
Email Hannah | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic - made for an unforgettable family adventure!
Last year, we booked a 5-day safari covering Amboseli, Tsavo East & West, and Taita Hills for our family of six, and we had the pleasure of enjoying a private land cruiser for the entire journey.
From the start, Charles was incredibly responsive and crafted a fantastic itinerary tailored to our needs.
Our tour guide, Patrick, was the highlight of our trip—he deserves a full 5 stars. His extensive knowledge, dedication to finding the best game views, and warm, engaging personality made the entire experience truly memorable.
However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind when booking:
As noted by others, the quality of accommodations varied. While one lodge offered a unique leopard experience, the room itself was too uncomfortable for a good night's sleep. Given the long days of travel and game drives, we found that restful sleep was essential.
Additionally, although the itinerary mentioned "time at leisure" at the lodges, in reality, there was little downtime between lunch and the evening game drives. Unless you plan to stay in one location for a couple of days to truly unwind, I recommend prioritizing accommodation comfort over amenities like pools.
Despite these minor points, the trip was absolutely incredible and one we will cherish forever!
US
Email Sabyasachi Basu | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent trip of a lifetime! 2-weeks Bush and Beach Safari
We – 3 couples in our 50’s and 60’s –returned yesterday from a 2-week Bush & Beach Safari from Kenya. In this trip, we covered game drives in Masai Mara NP (1 ¼ days), Amboseli NP (1 ¼), Nakuru NP (1 day) and Naivasha (1 day). We enjoyed 3 nights/4 days beach vacation in Diani (Mombasa) and also had city tours in Mombasa (1 day) and Nairobi. The entire trip was organized by Salina Wild Adventures.
We approached several tour organizers listed in safaribookings.com. In the end, we selected Salina for their competitive pricing and responsiveness. Our initial contact was with Charles and were handed over to Teddy, who was very responsive to all our queries and demands. He customized a tour based on our necessities. Teddy is based in Nairobi but kept in touch with us throughout the tour.
The accommodations were superb – special mention for Lotos Inn and Suites in Nairobi for their cleanliness and superb Chinese food, and Sentrim Elementaita on the shores of Lake Elementaita, for the excellent location, comfortable accommodation and the excellent buffet spread.
We travelled in a 4 x 4 Toyota Landcruiser during the safari section and had 1 – 2 cars during the city & beach sections of the tour. We always had a vehicle at our disposal and 95% of our meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) was included in the tour price.
Our driver, John, during the safari section, was fantastic. He was Masai and was very knowledgeable about the animals, the local customs and traditions. He took extra effort to drive great distances in the National Parks to spot the animals.
Future travelers should take note that the luggage space in the Safari vehicle was quite cramped for 6 travelers and their 6 suitcases and personal baggage.
Perhaps the only complaint we had during the trip was that the vehicles provided during the city parts of the tour both in Nairobi and Mombasa could not accommodate all 6 of us in one vehicle. We had to constantly call Teddy to make alternate arrangements. This was annoying at times, especially after tiring journeys. Also, the bottled water was a tad inadequate during whole-day car travels, though it was supposed to be covered by Salina.
Overall, we were quite satisfied with the arrangements made by and the competitive pricing of Salina. We will certainly recommend them to our friends and families who would like to undertake a journey of a lifetime in Kenya. We wish our very best to Charles, Teddy, John and everyone in Salina for their future.
Email Craig | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Personalised focus to match your Kenya holiday aims.
Having decided that we wanted to explore Kenya with its acclaimed wild life and pristine beaches, we made comms with Charles at Salina Wild Adventures who was very attentive and flexible in creating a bespoke 8 day tour of Kenya.
We took in the sights and sounds of Masaai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha and Diani Beach.
He offers a wide range of options and price points - be as precise as you can be and Charles will make it possible.
He took care of every detail and was very responsive.
The hot air balloon flight over the Mara will live with me forever!
Thanks Charles
Email Louise | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Customer Care
I did a 9- day safari with Salina, visiting Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks.
I chose Salina after spending quite a bit of time researching on safaribookings.com.
From the beginning, Charles responded to me quickly and was very helpful, tailoring the safari to suit my needs.
The safari itself went well, although it was probably a little bit too long. I figured I was only going to do a safari in Kenya once in my life! My favourite parks were definitely those further East - Amboseli and the two Tsavos. Masai Mara was disappointing- very dusty, very busy, poor roads and a lack of infrastructure.
My only criticism relates to the accommodation. I stayed in five different places, and the quality varied a lot- it was very hit and miss. I think part of the challenge was that I travelled in high season, and despite booking 6 months in advance, some of the better places (within my budget) were apparently booked out. The cream of the crop are most definitely the Sentrim properties.
US
Email Dave | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari for the price, but budget level is quite basic.
First off, communication with Charles was excellent. He was responsive to all of my questions and helped with other travel arrangements.
We did a 7 day budget group tour to Massai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha, Hells Gate, and Amboseli. We usually had 6 people in our van and occasionally 7.
The wildlife viewing was simply incredible. The guides are constantly communicating to each other what they're finding. The parks are gorgeous, and it was interesting seeing the differences between each of them. Our guide was great about stopping for as long as we wanted at each viewing.
So much of your experience depends on the guide you get, which I don't think you'll know till the morning of your trip. Ours was great at finding the animals and answering our questions, but he didn't really offer information without us asking.
Things to be aware of:
This tour included a substantial amount of driving, and you're also in the van during all of the game drives except for Hell’s Gate.
This was a budget tour, and accommodations reflect that. We had broken mesh and zippers at one of our tents. Hot water was not consistently available. There was some construction until pretty late at night. Food was very functional. Not a lot of variety, but it'll keep you fueled.
Each of our accommodations had wifi sometimes, which was great for checking in with family.
Ask about how much drinking water you're allowed.
Game drives typically start very early to get the best opportunities to see what you're there to see....wildlife!
Overall, it was a very positive experience, but I wish Charles had explained a bit more what "budget" really meant.
FR
Email Elisa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience
We had a good first safari experience with Salina Wild Adventures.
Charles is very kind and avalaible.
During our 6 day safari, we had 3 different drivers-guide (so 3 cars and 3 different groups), which was ok for us but there was a little disorganization because of it. Nevertheless, Charles managed it and it was ok.
Our drivers were determined to find animals but we think they could have explained us more things while searching for animals. It is always better to learn things!
Accommodations and food were good.
IN
Email Veera | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent.
Excellent tour.
Great hotels and Jonathan was a wonderful driver cum guide. He was always smilng, very knowledgeable about the wildlife and always knew the best placement for getting superb photographs.
We will always ask for him whenever we return.
Food could be better . The Quality of Indian food was not good.
Need a better car.
But hotel rooms were very good.
Email Nikki | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Trip, Highly Recommend. Great experience with Charles and Salina Wild
We had a brilliant trip with Salina Wild. Communication was great before the trip - every question answered and lots of helpful tips. We loved spending time with our guide, Charles. He was incredibly friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the animals, areas we visited and life as a guide. We learnt so much and saw all the big 5 several times. In our trip we went to Masai Mari, Nakuru, Amboselli and Diani Beach. Everywhere we went had something new and beautiful to see, ranging from multiple lion prides, illusive leapards or herds of dozens of elephants. We even spotted a pod of wild dolphins at the marine park in Diani beach. We'd highly recommend this once-in-a lifetime trip with Salina - and you'll be extra happy if you end up with Charles. Thank you Charles and Henry, and all the staff at every hotel. We will never forget waking up to a herd of zebra walking past the tent.
MX
Email Silvia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly
The hotels that Henry selected for me where awesome, the comunication also great, will definitely come back. Also our guide Kikitu was great