The Team Behind Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris
Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris Ltd
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2003)
- Member Of:
- Eco Tourism & Kenya Wildlife Services
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $64 to $490 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Tina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome nature and fantastic service….!!
After such diversified experience from all corner of East Africa with Kenya walking survivor safaris. We have just returned from a this mind-blowing safari , arranged and done by kwss. We like to travel with a private company but were unsure if we could navigate three distinct parks in Kenya and latter go for a gorilla trek in Uganda. Kenya walking proved to be a valuable and trusted advisor in coordinating the logistics, mapping out a clear and seamless itinerary, and offering great insider information and tips to further enrich our touring. As a result, we were really able to sit back and enjoy our trip from start to finish, stress free. It was full time of enjoyment and anything else was out of mind only adventure was the word and our song during this great visit since kwss was also extremely responsive in remedying the situation so we had no reason to worry. During our trip, they checked in with us to make sure everything was going smoothly. A nice gesture that reinforced their commitment to customer satisfaction and gave us added assurance they we had a support network to fall back should the need arise. So vast accommodation and great guide.
US
Email Ali | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing safari
Very well organized. I recommend. Mr. Otieno is highly responsive. It all went well. Ask to have Benson as a driver if you can. He is a safe driver, is polite, patient and will get you to see all the animals, some in action like the entire hunt from start to finish. I just returned from a safari with them. Though I was alone, they proceeded and I had the car and the guide, Benson, to myself for 9 days. That was great. Not all companies proceed when they only have one participant.
There was a hiccup and I do not doubt Mr. Otieno will see to it this never happens again. I got food poisening in Naivasha. I recovered fast as I had no plan to let this incident curtail my trip. Bottom line is this: look out for your safety: only eat fruits served with a peel or that are less likely than others to harbor bacteria (crispy fresh pineapple for example); only drink ice water made of purified water and send back to the kitchen food that is warm and that is not completely cooked and sizzling hot right out if the pan. You will be fine! I overlooked my own strict rules in Naivasha. Also, I suggest that in lodges in which the rooms are lacking telephone, issues such as potential need for assistance be addressed beforehand so that you can get assistance if you are unable to leave your room especially at night and especially if you are likely to encounter wildlife on the grounds.
FYI, I think 3 nights in Naivasha is a bit long. Once you have seen the lake and done your drive at Hell's Gate, there is not much more to do and see. All this can be done in one day. Naivasha is a good rest stop driving from Masai Mara to Amboseli but that's all. Visit the market of Naivasha and mingle with the people. I liked going where the regular folks go. An hour at the market should suffice.
I loved my lodge in Masai Mara, the safari was great ( be prepared to spend 6 hours on the game drive on rough trails, but that's how it goes for everybody). Amboseli was awesome, lodging there was awsome and I can't wait to return there.
If you want to see how it went, I kept a journal/ blog of it on my Instagramaccount daleelah2018. You will even get to see clips I made of conversations I had with Benson, and a hunt and kill Benson got me to watch from beginning to end so knowledgeable and persistent he is in finding animals.
Benson dropped me off at the train station at Emali after visiting Amboseli Park and I continued my journey solo to Mombasa, Diani Beach, Wasini Island then Nairobi for 3 days. Kenya is a special country and it's people are beautiful, gentle and welcoming. The hiccup in Naivasha should not dissuade anyone. Mr. Otieno took action and really, I can tell this was not the norm for Walking Safari. In sum, this was an amazing experience, I am happy and I would do business with Walking Safari again without hesitation.
IS
Email laura | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable incomparable experience!!!
Kenya walking survivor safaris has a warm welcoming approach and while booking for safari destination, the booking team were openly engaged to help us enjoy the trip. Our holiday target was met. Our guide Paul, had a very wide knowlage about the animals and parks which he willingly shared with us. We were never rushed and took as much time as we needed. We learned a lot and had a really great time together doing the game drive. The places we visited are just wonderful. There service is 5star.great staff and the timing just perfect ,what a trip it was.
Date of experience: March 2019
Ask lauraj348987 about Kenya Walking Survivors Safaries
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.i
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Email Tonis | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An awesome safari with a great our guide.
We took a 4-day safari trip in the beginning of April. It was a super awesome safari with great views, animals and a very professional tour guide Zachary, with such a fun personality. All the animals and stuff we wanted to see, Zachary organized all of this for us. We had a couple of small communication errors with the office, but the enterprise owner, Mr. Otieno Lysaniash, resolved the situations quickly and professionally. He always responded super quickly to the e-mails, made sure we are happy and on the last day organized us a delicious lunch in a restaurant with nice atmosphere.
It was an A+ safari and we definitely recommend this company!
Email Zayvyer | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
15-day Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania safari
In February 2019, my friend and I finally embarked on our 15-day journey around East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) with Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris after planning, then booking the trip via their online payment platform months ahead of departure (in May 2018). Our itinerary included the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Jinja, Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro crater. From the first day we made contact with KWSS and throughout the entire trip, their founder, Mr Otieno, showed incredible professionalism, always responding to all our requests / questions in a timely manner. We enjoyed spending time with our three very experienced guides. In Kenya, Ken showed incredible determination to track various animals during game drives, even managing to show us the Big 5 within a day. The Uganda leg consisted in a lot of driving all the way to the extreme south west of the country with Daudi who proved to be an excellent driver. In the Bwindi forest which is shared between Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, we got the chance to spend one hour with a family of wild gorillas. This was probably the shortest hour of our lives, an absolutely breathtaking experience which we will cherish forever. The last days of the trip were spent in Tanzania with Godlove who's communication, plus knowledge of the region, wildlife and flora impressed us greatly. KWSS being on the more cost effective end of all the safari solutions we found online, it wasn't without some apprehension that we made the choice to go with them despite their good feedback online overall. Reflecting back on the experience, I have to say that they absolutely delivered and that we were glad we chose to support a great local business. Keep it up KWSS, you guys rock!! Check out my instagram feed for pictures / videos. It's "zayvyer" :)
Cheers!
FR
Email Guy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Safari de rêve
In all respects this safari is very well done. Paul the driver always attentive, motivated and attentive. We quickly saw the big five. Vehicle in very good condition the masai mara is really the top of the park, but Lake Nakuru is also wonderful. Finally happiness thank you to you
CA
Email Maria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome experience! Thank you
Mr. Otieno and his team were always in good communication with us
Our guide in Kenya , David was an amazing guide, he has a lot of knowledge about the animals, their names
behavior and a lot of patience with us, he helped us with every request we had.
I felt we hit the jackpot with him, I can't thank him enough for making this trip the adventure of my life.
If I have the chance to do it again with no doubt will do it with Kenya Walking Safaris
thank you very very much!
CA
Email Karan Patel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing service! Fabulous! Definitely recommend!
Amazing service! The owner Otieno replied himself for every questions in a very polite manner and with detailed explanation!
The lodges provided were of nice facilities. I went with my mom and she loved the arrangements! The drivers were great and respectful too!
I highly recommend Kenya Walking Survivor for a Royal African Safari experience. They are best to customize safari tours.
Thank you!
CA
Email Ruth | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Excellent Adventure - The Trip of a Lifetime
My husband and I just returned from a trip with Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris to Uganda to hike with the Mountain Gorillas and to Kenya for game drives/safari. It was an outstanding trip - well-organized, with excellent guides, good lodges and incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. It was the trip of a lifetime.
One of the things that really stood out to us was the professionalism, knowledge and absolute dedication to make sure that we were having a great experience of both the owner of Kenya Walking Survivor Safaris (Mr. OT) and the guides. In Uganda, we had Peter - who went out of his way to make sure we saw everything we could and who took such pride and delight in sharing his knowledge and love of his country with us. This young man has such heart - and he really cared about our experience. In Kenya, we had John - we affectionately nicknamed him 'Smilin' John" because - you guessed it - he always had a big smile and was FuLL of positive energy. He made sure we were well taken care of and he patiently answered ALL of our (many, many) questions. He also was exceptional on game drives - he knew every animal and his behaviour AND within the first 12 hours of being in the Maasi Mara - we had seen the big 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo). Actually we saw four of the big 5 - on first game drive on the way to the lodge. He is a master tracker. And an incredibly kind and caring human being. We enjoyed our time with both Peter and John - in fact, they added so much to the trip, I can't imagine it would have been as good without them.
I know it's not easy to choose a tour company for Uganda and/or Kenya. It can feel overwhelming and - especially when you choose one that is local - you worry about everything. Kenya Walking Survivor Safaris is an excellent company - and worthy of your trust. Before we left, I must have sent Mr. OT more than 2 dozen emails asking questions about specifics (I am a planner and a worrier!) - and he answered every one of them with care and kindness - and very quickly. I often wondered if he ever slept or was just there answering emails to me! This is a company filled with people who want you to have a trip of a lifetime and who go out of their way to make it happen.
Everything was organized and efficient, we always felt safe and secure - and the tour we choose with Kenya Walking Survivor Safaris provided HUGE value for our money. If you are considering booking with them - do it now! You will have your trip of a lifetime!!
--- Original review (Jan 6, 2019) ---
I am going on a safari and silverback gorilla tour with Kenya Walking Safaris in mid- February. I just want to address a few comments I have seen online because I feel that as a result of a horrific car accident, this company and its people are being criticized unfairly. (I will update this review post-tour). In my experience to date – this is a great tour company with exceptional people who care about giving their clients an amazing experience in Africa.
The owner of the tour company (Mr. OT) was in a terrible car accident in the fall of 2018. He was in a coma for several weeks. As a result – there were some issues with communication. As soon as Mr OT was able to return to work (thank goodness he recovered!) – he began working to sort everything out. Were mistakes made by his staff – yes. But a) they were trying there their best in a very difficult situation and b) as soon as Mr. OT came back, he went to work putting everything back in place.
One person in our group had to cancel for personal reasons and it took a bit of time to get a refund. She got her refund – and Mr. OT apologized many times about the time it took for her to receive it. Let’s give this man and his team a little bit of compassion and cut him some slack – I have read all of the reviews and everyone who needed a refund appears to have received it, they are working hard to sort out anything that happened because of Mr. OT being IN A COMA!! And it matters to them.
This was a serious accident that almost took Mr. OT’s life. That he is back at work – making sure everyone is taken care of is a testament to his – and his company’s – integrity and honesty. He – and his team care – and are responsible, responsive and proactive. I have emailed them with A LOT of question of over the past few weeks. They answer quickly, provide information that is useful and have gone out of their way to ensure that the trip we have planned will be great.
I own and run a small company and if something horrific like what happened to Mr OT were to happen to me, there are many elements of it that would abruptly come to a halt. And some of my clients would likely be inconvenienced. That is just how life plays out sometimes. In my experience with Kenya Walking Safaris, they have done everything possible to make up for the issues a very small number of people faced because Mr OT was so seriously hurt in a car accident. They care. And – they have been more responsive and professional in their communication and planning with me than many other tour operators I have worked with on other trips.
The best thing I can say about this company is that if a member of my family or a friend was considering booking a trip with Kenya Walking Safaris, I would encourage them to do so.
I have posted this on several review sites because I feel strongly about the integrity and honesty of this company and Mr. OT.
Email Andy and Karin Beaver | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely well planned tour with awesome and knowledgable guideculminating in the trip of a lifetime
From: A 50 year old man... ( please note we visited 5 parks over 11 days driving 1800 Km)
Thank you for the most amazing trip you organised for my family. It
was my 50th birthday on the 20th of Feb so we came to Kenya to
celebrate that and to spend time seeing the beautiful animals your
country has. I must say that you delivered on all levels way above any
expectations any of us could have had. On top of providing our best
holiday experience you provided us with David our guide. He truly is
exceptional! He has educated us as a family about your amazing
country, animals, people and politics, and for him I cannot thank you
enough!! He has spent 11 days with us and has become a part of our
family. We will not forget him, his comments, your animals or your
country. We are very privileged to have spent time with David here in
Kenya. He is a real asset to your company and I hope you value his commitment fully ! !
I will share with you the reviews separately from our two children below.
From my 16 year old daughter
This trip was by far the best out of all the trips I’ve ever gone on.
We where lucky enough to see the big five and so much more. There’s
not a lot that we didn’t get to see. But I don’t think it was only
luck. It was also based on the fact that our guide David was so
amazing. I’m really thankful for him because he made this trip
eventful, educational and just fantastic. Not only did we see loads of
incredible animals, we got to see Kenya and how Kenyan people live.
I’m really happy about all the places we stayed at too. I didn’t mind
the long drives between hotels because that made sure that we got to
see a lot of different types of habitats and animals. It was a very
well balanced vacation. Everyone here is so kind and lovely and I really hope to come back to Kenya in the future.
From my 12 year old son:
David has been a really good driver and I have learnt a lot about
Kenya too. He doesn’t just talk when we are in the park. He talks all
the time teaching us about Kenya and the people who live here. David
is very funny and he is very nice. The safari was very good I loved
it. We saw the big five. That was what I wanted to see. I love all the
people, they are very nice and I love the countryside and I love the
parks. I love Kenya. I hope we come back again. Thank you (Asante).
