MAASAI MARA
Balu Travel
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2022)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $70 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 Anja | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful safari with a great guide
Our safari was really great! We wrote to several providers in advance and Morris (the owner of Balu) always replied very quickly! We also had lots of questions, including the wish to be picked up in Kisumu. He was able to answer all our questions and it was also possible to be picked up there for an extra charge. It was really great! He also provided us with our own "programme booklet" in which we could read everything in detail. On the first day of the safari we were picked up very punctually by our guide, Derrick. He was very reliable, very friendly, punctual and showed and explained so much about the national park. He also knew all about the animals and had a wealth of knowledge about the national park, its inhabitants and Kenya. We were also able to express our own wishes (as example the departure time) and ask questions about everything. Derrick was always very flexible and explained everything to us in detail. We had a really great time with him and are grateful for his patience and friendly manner. Morris also asked us every day how we were doing and whether everything was to our satisfaction. We booked the 4-day tour with Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru in the safari van. This proved to be a great combination as we were able to spot the big 5 and many more animals. You can also see a lot of the country on the journeys and the van is very comfortable. In Masai Mara NP we stayed at Jambo Mara Safari Lodge and in Lake Nakuru NP at Sopa Lodge, with magnificent views! Both accommodations were very clean and beautiful! We also have to emphasise that Morris really tried to organise everything perfectly for us and at a really fair price! We felt completely at ease the whole time from booking to arriving back in Nairobi and thoroughly enjoyed our time and the safari. We would definitely book with Balu Travel again next time!
US
Email Thomas | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome, exhilarating, unforgettable, experience of a lifetime
We had the most incredible experience with Balu Travel. We booked a 4-day 3-night tour with stops in Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mari. We stay at the Ziwa Bush Lodge (awesome) and the Enkorok Mara (awesome, too). We did a few add ons like the hot air balloon and village tour. Everything was excellent. But what really made it beyond incredible was our tour guide, David. He made sure we enjoyed every minute. From his warm greeting at our hotel, to friendly conversation during the tour, to the hug and high five goodbye at the airport drop off, we could not have asked for anyone better. And let me tell you - his knowledge of the parks is amazing. He knows the animals, the terrain, the culture, and everything else about the area. We learned so much from him. He is engaging, friendly, knowledgeable, and just an all around pleasant person. Ask for David. You will be very happy you did. To summarize everything, I offer that everything is thoroughly organized up front (by Morris) and exceptionally well done along the way. Morris even showed up for a bit a short ways from the airport enroute to drop off to visit with us and to say farewell. That was an unexpected and thoughtful touch. We really could go on and on. We can’t say enough great things about this incredible experience. It was exciting. It was exhilarating. It was unique. It was educational. It was relaxing. It was thought provoking. It was unforgettable. Simply put, it was the experience of a lifetime. And, best of all, we made a good friend in David along the way. Thank you, Balu and Morris for everything. And a special thank you to David, who, to us, is so much more than a tour guide.
Email Tom | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic tour operator!
Exceptional service and organisation, Morris arranged everything for us and the whole experience was easy from start to finish.
James, our driver, was incredibly knowledgeable and worked with us to ensure that we had the best experience possible. The Safari was amazing and we saw "the big 5", plus a lot more, and the extra opportunities to explore Kenya further, were very welcome.
Hotels were fantastic, Emayian Luxury Camp was especially breathtaking with fantastic food and a truly unforgettable experience.
Thanks to Morris and James for making our experience one to remember.
Email Dale | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Brilliant experience
Everything was perfectly organised. The transport, the safari, the accommodation. Every detail was taken care of by Morris and his team. Evans was a great driver and safari guide. Would highy recommend Morris and Balu Travel.
AE
Email Muhammad | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Pathetic customer service by someone named Morris who contacted me on my WhatsApp
My friend liked the safari combo and I sent $725 as Mr Morris who was in communication with my friend demanded 50% money in advance. After 2 days Morris confirmed he received the money and to my disgust sent me an invoice that he received only $695 where as I transferred $725 on his insistence, moreover this man is also very impolite and talks too much. He had the audacity to suggest I should not ask him and refer to my bank for further details. I am very disappointed as I have already paid and this man did not confirm anything as yet, also threatened my friend that he will cancel the safari which we have asked him to book for us and had already paid 50% money in advance. Totally non cooperative person who has no sense of customer service. I would like to request safaribookings.com to take action against Balu Travels and I will share all the relevant evidence to support my claim.
DE
Email Melike | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing tour operator, top safari! Highly recommandable
I can honestly recommend Balu Travel to anybody who is looking for an authentic, uncomplicated, and well-organized safari experience in Kenya.
We organized a very last-minute weekend trip to Masai Mara and not only did we get a great offer but also super fast and easy communication. They had great options for low-, mid-, and luxury safari options, and could advice us on each accomodation according to our wishes. We had a great guide who was very knowledgable and friendly and went out of his way to show us wildlife. We felt very well taken care of which is why I recommended this tour operator to all my friends as well!
Asante sana for everything. Looking forward to booking the next safari :)
DE
Email Sophia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect 😍
The tour was amazing. The driver was always well on time, was taking good care of us. He knows the good places to see animals. The car was very comfortable and always clean. The organisation and also the communication with the driver was very easy and good.
The Camp Little Amanya was in a stunning area with direct view to The Kilimandscharo. The personal there was very friendly and nice to us.
We can recommend balu travel very much!
RU
Email Vlasta | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best tour operator!
We are very happy to have chosen BALU to organise Safari. We took a tour to Masai Mara for 3 days! Everything was great! Many thanks to Morris, he helped us a lot!!! I met, conducted, explained everything! It was very nice! Special thanks to our guide Joseph!!!! The best guide in the world!!! The organisation is at the highest level, we were very satisfied! Definitely recommended!!
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Email David | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Value and wonderful service
Morris was fantastic right away. Most operators will test you to see what you are willing to pay. He was fair and honest and the service he provided was second to none. I did try a few other operators that a good friend suggested and the were overpriced and the accommodations were second rate. Morris was fair and provided exactly what we wanted and nothing we didn’t. It’s important that you communicate exactly what you want ahead of time so he knows your expectations. I’ll use him again and I’ll recommend him to anyone. It was the trip of a lifetime.
DK
Email Camilla | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip
I can highly recommend Balu Travel.
Communication with Morris was easy he was quick to respond and he accommodated all our requests and needs.
We had Joseph as our driver, who was very professional, a terrific driver and guide, kind and patient with our family of 7 including 3 kids. He did everything in his power to show us as many animal as possible.
We stayed at The Emayian camp, which was good, food was very nice, 4 courses for lunch and 6 for dinner! Beautiful sunset view from the deck which we enjoyed with a glass of bubbles. No aircon, but the temperature was comfortable in the tents as night. There was also a pool which was nice to jump into after an all day safari. Jacuzzi at all the tents were a nice touch and bush breakfast with Masai dance on the last day was a nice touch too.
Very good value for money. Thanks again 😊🙏🏼