Safari moments
Inspired Feet Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $170 to $300 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
FI
Email Ville and Pirkko | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari of a Lifetime, September 2024
How did our planned safari (10 days, two countries, several national parks) go? When traveling such vast and differing/difficult areas it is almost guaranteed that not everything go as planned. Having said that, we must say that our safari went 100% as we thought it would! Once there was a public demonstration in Kenya, where the only passable road was blocked for a little while. But our driver Jason still managed to keep the schedule by shifting some priorities. One time the car had a mechanical breakdown on the road, but the driver managed to get help quickly from a nearby village. After an un-scheduled stop we continued our trip, one experience richer. At one lodge the place was over-booked, but next day we got the boarding we had originally paid for and the Safari planner reimbursed us after the trip. Overall arrangements and flexibility of IFS safari operation was excellent and really working package.
How well did the pre-information (what you pay for) keep its "promise"? Our goal was to see and experience as much the Wild Nature of Kenya & Tanzania. Our expectations were met and exceeded by a wide margin! We hoped to see for example few lions, maybe even far away. We got to see 57 different lions on this trip, some almost touching our car. We saw very rare occurrences, thanks to our more than excellent Kenyan driver Jason. He really knew this stuff and was an excellent animal ”hunter”. We saw things we won’t ever forget. Also, his knowledge of the animals was above and beyond the call of duty.
The lodgings were mostly great or what was told us beforehand. To pick some small shortcomings is unfair. The opposite is more true, some of the places we lodged were magical and four stars anyway. Let’s also remember, these places were in the middle of the undeveloped bush in some cases. They still held high standards.
The parks. How good were they and how well did we see animals? We arrived in the dry season, actually towards the end of the dry season. One must always, when planning the trip, take these things into account. The animals are not in a zoo, not for the traveller. We were lucky to have a true professional guide (in Kenya). He knew beforehand what we are going to see next. It was most exciting and enjoyable. The dry season is different from rainy or wet season. Both have good and bad sides. Our dry season was dusty as hell, but you got used to it. We also were reminded how the wet season might be also difficult (we once got stuck in the mud pool with that Land Rover). We literally saw thousands of animals. From dawn till sunset. In some cases we saw animals before dawn and heard animals after darkness. We saw animal in the distance, in the sky, in water, everywhere. One of the surprising detail was that while in the national park, you do not get out of the car, the stop-over places are rare and you must realize that most of the day you spend in the car. So, getting along with other travellers might be important. To conclude: we saw more animals we had ever expected, we saw more different animals we ever expected. And we saw animals do things that we will never forget.
How did the communication work between our safari manager Fiona and us? This is an important aspect of the trip! All of the cases when we contacted her she responded in a minute or less and was always ”on the ball”, managing our problem what ever they might have been. She was 10+ problem solver and truly interested in our situation. This was great to realize early on. That you could trust on her. We wanted to keep her informed so she would know how things were going. This worked so well on both directions.
How was then the safari cost compared to the promises/setup? We thought we got a great deal! Yes, it is not cheap, but it is not too expensive either. It was just right for us, 60+ years old travellers, not always wanting to sleep in sleeping bags. Younger persons might want a budget trip. Fiona was good and honest at suggesting to us a mid range package. I think is was just right for us.
Were there any negative things? Yes, few minor difficulties, like me having a two-three day typical stomach disease. Also, the overbooking on one lodge was a disappointment, but that thing was fixed on the next day. Overall, there were no ongoing problems on this safari.
The summary: The Safari we experienced was an experience of life time for us. We can recommend Fiona wholeheartedly. If I were to use Finnish school grades (4-10) this trip was 10-, because we Finns never give anything ”10”. PS: Don’ leave to this trip without GREAT binoculars. It is a mus for safari, more important than a camera!
US
Email Vivian | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Memorable Safari Experience!
My friends and I went with a budget and shared group safari; it was four of us plus two other people. Inspired Feet gave us a lot of heads up and tips about what to expect on the trip, so we were mentally prepared and not caught off-guard in many situations. Our guide was good at finding animals in the reserve and national parks, so we got to see a lot of animals up-close, which was really great! We were pretty happy with the trip arrangement - we spent good amount of time in the reserve and parks to see the animals, and still have enough time to take good rest; after a few days staying in the camp, we got to spent one night in a pretty nice hotel; restaurants/food places were clean and we had no concern of health issues. We had a wonderful time out there!
Email Sophia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exactly what we wished for
For a budget safari, this experience far exceeded our expectations. Fiona, the owner, was wonderful and maintained excellent communication throughout our trip, from before booking all the way to the end of the safari. She customized our itinerary to fit our specific needs, crafting a perfect journey tailored to what we were looking for. Amazingly, we spotted the Big 5 on the first day while traveling to our accommodation, before the safari had even officially begun! We had incredible wildlife encounters, including witnessing a cheetah hunting and killing its prey, hyenas and lions sharing a meal, and observing migrating wildebeest, among many others. Our driver Abdi was fantastic, extremely knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure we saw everything we wanted, and made sure we had some fab pictures to come home with. The food at each accommodation was excellent, and the campsites and hotels Fiona selected were great (though it was cold in the mornings and evenings, and the showers were chilly, but that’s all part of the experience). If we were to go on another safari, we wouldn’t hesitate to book with Fiona again. This is the most perfect trip, which fit exactly in our budget and gave us everything we expected! X
BG
Email Dimitar Kutrovski | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dedication, dedication and more dedication
The tour itself went above and beyond anything we could have ever imagined.
Even before we had made our booking Fiona went above and beyond what could be expected from her. She was very communicative and really eager to help us with bookings and tickets for our transport. They have organised a truly special tour.
Special mentions should be given to our guide, John. Not only did he know the layout of the parks like the back of his hand he also was really knowledgeable about the wildlife and extremely dedicated to finding us the animals we were looking for. He truly deserves a special mention for all the times he went out of his way to helps.
NZ
Email Stafford | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely INCREDIBLE
Fiona was an absolute dream to deal with! She was very timely with communications, and was always happy to answer any questions. She made sure that the information was clear and easy to understand, so you knew exactly what to expect.
The tour itself was excellent. We made great use of the days, waking up early to ensure we were at the gate of each park soon after it opened. The accomodation provided through the tour was perfect for our budget, had great locations near the gates, and the workers were very friendly.
Our guide and driver, Boniface, WOW. We could not have got any better. What absolute gem of a human, so kind, and an expert in the field. Even while navigating the roads, his eyes for spotting wildlife were excellent.
Finally, I must mention how safe both Boniface and Fiona made us feel, as our Safari was through the Nairobi protests. We never felt in danger, as they kept us safe and well looked after. What an awesome company, 10/10 would recommend!
BE
Email Karla R | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Private Safari
From the beginning Fiona was very receptive and patient in providing us with all the information necessary to choose the itinerary that would meet our expectations.
Everything happened as we expected.
The guide during these 7 days was very friendly, and he also tried to make us see the animals and landscapes that we wanted to see. The guide Boniface explained to us about the parks, the animals, etc., as well as he also answered our questions.
On the other hand, the accommodations were very beautiful, and the staff were very friendly and kind, especially at Sarova Shaba lodge at Samburu and Mara Sopa lodge.
Fiona is reliable and kind. I highly recommend this company.
PH
Email Markie Peter | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service and taking care a lot about the needs,wants and request of their guest.
100 % highly recommended this company. I availed a budget type tour package but I must say that all the services,food,accomodation,tour,guide/driver are great and worth it. Fiona and team quickly respond to all my quiries and she make sure everything will become smooth and convenient.Despite of some issues with transportation,still their team manage to arrange it well with alternative solutions. Our driver/guide KIKITU is superb and knowledgable in telling stories and facts about safaris and he knows how to handle well the tour. The price that I paid is worth it and I didnt feel that I spend budget type tour coz I feel luxurious the way Kenyan people treat me. They are welcoming and hospitable with genuine smile as always. Such an excellent experience with worthy price and priceless memories.I will definitely comeback and I'll make sure I will choose again this company☺️
Much Love,
Markie of Dubai
BE
Email Bieke | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Inspired feet safaris is the best!
We really loved our 10 day safari in Kenya and Tanzania.
We saw a lot of animals. Our guides did the best they could to get us as close as possible to see them. And we were happy that we have seen the big five!
In Tanzania we had the best chef that cooked delicious meals.
A special thanks to Fiona! We could always contact her and she was always ready to help and answered quickly.
US
Email Kristi | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had to cancel my trip, they were very understanding
I had planned to go on safari this September but due to unforeseen circumstances I wasn’t able to go. They gave me a full refund and were very understanding of the situation. I will definitely book with them again in the future. I recommend them if you’re looking for great service, good communication and even solo traveling. Thanks again!
Amazing
Inspired Feet Safaris did not disappoint. They were very accommodating to my specific safari request to make sure I had the perfect experience. The company picked me up at the airport at 3:30 AM and I felt extremely safe. Lilian was very attentive and was very helpful. My main guide was Patrick! He was amazing. He communicated well regarding itineraries and shared information about the locations and animals. Due to me having a special schedule, I stayed at the Masai Mara an extra day. I had Felix as my guide on this day. He was also great and helped us see the leopard! After meeting back up with my original group and Patrick, we continue to have a great time in Amboseli NP. The other travelers in my vehicle were fun to chat with and I made some new friends! I booked a last minute half day safari at Nairobi NP before my flight back home and Lilian was quick to make it happen. I couldn’t be more pleased with the price, services, and locations. Definitely will be booking with Inspired Feet Safaris the future. Can’t wait to come back to Kenya!