CR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best Safari
Beacon Safaris surpassed all of our expectations. We are a family of five adults who booked a 10 day safari. Everything from the hotels to the game drives was amazing. Ken, our guide, made our experience unforgettable. He was extremely nice, knowledgable and accommodating. He made sure that we always had everything we needed and went the extra mile to make sure that we saw all of the animals we wanted to see. From the first day, we saw a pride of lions, a leopard kill and family of elephants right next to our car. Everyday after that, we continued to be amazed by all of the animals we saw. The hotels booked by Beacon were great. The only complaint would be in Flamingo Hill Camp, in Lake Nakuru, where our rooms where located near the town border and that night the music did not stop until four am. Apart from that, all of the other places were amazing.
When we began talking to Robert to book our safari, communication was great and very efficient. However, once we got closer to the date and during the safari, communication with Robert became more difficult as we wouldn't receive answers from him until days later.
Despite this, we would recommend Beacon for any future safari booking and we would definitely ask for Ken!
FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable 10-day safari in Kenya and Tanzania
We booked our 10-day safari with Twinkle Star. We visited in Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara with our amazing guide Alfred. In Tanzania, our guide came from Twinkle Star’s local partner because the companies cannot operate on both sides of the border. Not only got we see the big five but also a lot of other species, beautiful sunrises, and great views.
To be honest, looking into safari operators and their reviews can be a lot of work and overwhelming. However, the work really pays off, at least for us. We wanted to book with a local company which turned out to be beneficial thanks to their contacts (for example when choosing the accommodations) but also in terms of the price (a Scandinavian travel agency would have added a large margin).
Our contact James was very kind from our first inquiry and was ready to go the extra mile to arrange our safari. We had never been in Africa before and James made sure that our arrival to Nairobi was convenient. We had the best accommodations for our budget even though we booked quite late, thanks to James. We really appreciated the care James took of us before, during and after the safari as well as all the time and effort he put into the arrangements. In particular, James responded always promptly and provided us with an itinerary really professionally – he made suggestions based on our wishes and made them come true.
When planning our safari, the price was pretty much our main factor in choosing the operator. Twinkle Star was able to meet our expectations without leaving anything out of the itinerary. The pricing was clear and transparent (a tip: always ask if there are charges for bank transfers or other hidden costs along the way which are not outlined in your itinerary).
However, during the safari and even more thereafter, we recommend looking into the guide even more than to the price. You’ll sit with your guide so many hours in the car that it’s essential that the guide is professional: knows the parks, animals and roads, listens to your wishes and is fun and trustworthy.
Our guide Alfred was amazing. He had been in the industry for long and had a lot of knowledge of all the parks we visited. Also, he was always early to our meeting times and hold on to his promises. Alfred helped us if we had any requests and proposed activities to be included into our itinerary along the way such us nature walks, visits to villages etc. We appreciated that he respected our wishes not to surround the animals with many other cars and go too near them which is one of the problems of the safaris from sustainability perspective. In addition to nature and animals, it was interesting to learn about local culture and history. Alfred really exceeded our expectations for our guide.
When choosing the operator, we also asked about their vehicles. It was important to us that they commit providing a 4x4 with a pop-up roof. In our opinion, this enhanced our experience.
In summary, we really recommend booking with Twinkle Star. We had unforgettable time and would definitely book with them if (when) returning to Kenya. You can make an inquiry with a low threshold and they are happy to help you further!
RS
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant Safari Trip Organization in Kenya - Masai Mara!
As a passionate nature lover and adventurer, I recently had the privilege to travel to Kenya and explore the enchanting Masai Mara reserve. I couldn't be more satisfied with the experience provided by Rocktrek Safaris.
Prior to the trip, their communication was outstanding. Mr. Silas, with his kindness and professionalism, ensured I felt completely safe and welcome. With his exceptional support, the organization of the entire journey was flawless.
The adventure itself in Masai Mara is something I will cherish forever. From incredible safari drives to unforgettable encounters with wildlife, every moment was filled with excitement and admiration. The quality of the vehicles and guides was exceptional, enhancing the overall experience.
I highly recommend Rocktrek Safaris to anyone dreaming of a safari adventure in Kenya. This review serves as my most sincere recommendation for this outstanding company. Thank you for the unforgettable experience, Rocktrek Safaris and Mr. Silas!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Goodluck Kombe is a vibrant, knowledgeable, excited and passionate leader and teacher of all of the
I would never have thought I would be so blessed to experience the people, animals, culture and stunning Beaty of Africa. Although amongst the wild animals and terrain, I never felt unsafe. We were given detailed instruction of how to behave and operate in order to ensure our safety and security. I always felt well informed and had understanding of the adventure at hand. I was filled with so much knowledge and history of the people and wild animals in their habitat. A dream come true for me and I would recommend Habitat Adventure Travel to anyone who wants a life changing experience! Totally AWESOME!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari trip
My brother and I had a great safari trip. Right Choice were very communicative and helpful from the start. Although we did have a small issue with the hotel check in in Nairobi, this was the hotel's fault and was quickly resolved. During the safari itself, I got food poisoning at one of the lodge's and Right Choice were kind enough to move the itinerary around and let us stay a further night at a different lodge and didn't charge anything more for this. Much appreciated! Our guide Smart was super good at finding all of the animals we wanted and drove around like a champion.. seeing a leopard was the highlight and absolutely incredible! My only wish was that we could communicate a little better in English.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They are the best at what they do. Good job Imara Africa Safaris
I had an incredible experience visiting Amboseli National Park organized by Imara Africa Safaris. From start to finish, the trip was nothing short of amazing, and I can't recommend them enough. The first thing that struck me was the exceptional level of organization. Imara Africa Safaris took care of every detail, ensuring a smooth and worry-free journey. The accommodations were top-notch, offering comfort and a genuine sense of being in the heart of the African wilderness.
The real highlight, of course, was the wildlife. Amboseli National Park is home to some of the most stunning and iconic creatures on Earth. Imara Africa Safaris' guides were not only experts in their field but also passionate about wildlife conservation. Their knowledge and dedication added a whole new dimension to our experience. We had the privilege of witnessing incredible elephant herds, lions, giraffes, and countless other species up close, often in the shadow of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro.
The memories created during this journey will be cherished forever. If you're considering a safari adventure, I wholeheartedly recommend Imara Africa Safaris for their professionalism, expertise, and genuine commitment to delivering an unforgettable and responsible travel experience.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
unforgettable experience
We booked a 3-day game drive to the Serengeti National Park with our kids (7 and 9 years old) with wild pride safari and were more than thrilled. Our guide Deo explained a lot to us about the animals and their behavior. We had so much fun with him and he found the best spots. We saw 4 of the big 5 except the rhino. It was a great and unforgettable experience. We can only recommend it. Thank you!!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a dream !
The Safari with John was absolutely amazing. We went with all my friends in the park Masai Mara and it was stunning ! The prices are very good compared to a lot of other Safari companies. John is very friendly and always there to help you if you have any questions. The measures taken were good, we felt very safe during the home experience. The accommodations and food were super also !
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reassuring, Professional and Elite
Pre-Booking:
Upon our initial enquiry, we were greeted via email by Vanessa (personal journey designer at Spirit of Kenya), who proved to be extremely helpful, patient, informative, kind and reassuring throughout every step. Communication was fast and efficient without feeling rushed or pressured. As this was a significant deal of money being handed over to a person or a company of whom we had never heard of before, trust was paramount and this was immediately gained through the official proceedings. By the end of the booking stage, we were incredibly satisfied and excited about the itinerary.
Safari:
A once in a lifetime experience in the sense that this was the first time we had embarked on such an adventure. Our driver and expert guide Steve aka Stevo, was polite, warm and welcoming from the very moment he'd picked us up from our apartment in Nairobi. From Amboseli to Lake Nakuru and finally Maasai Mara, Steve provided what can only be described as a top-tier experience. His ability to stay composed, friendly and energised were easy for him because as we had discovered, this is the kind of human being he was and is. We got to know each other on a personal level and treated the other like family (having dinner together, too). We mentioned on a number of occasions to Steve how fortunate we were to have him as our guide/driver on this 5-day (almost non-stop) trip across Kenya. The long drives in between felt at times like bonus additions as we could still see other parts of Kenya, of which Steve was just as knowledgeable about. It was the best of both worlds.
As for the safari itself, luck was truly on our side. I believe we saw, photographed and videoed most of the animals (expect the rare leopard). Highlights included the abundance of buffalos, elephants, zebras, giraffes, antelopes as well as the wide rhinos, lions, ostriches, cheetah and her cubs (Steve's favourite), warthogs, baboons, flamingos and an array of other birds like the waders, peafowls, eagles, starlings, barbets etc. Words can't describe the visual splendour of it all. It was a scenic meditation where we'd stop, watch and admire these beautiful beings in their natural state, even if it included the humbling ecosystem food chain of live hunts.
Steve had no problem stopping for us throughout the reserve and even encouraged it. He, too, found himself documenting moments on his phone adding to the fact that as many times as he had embarked on safaris, neither one was ever the same. There was always a different experience each time.
In terms of the lodges, all three were above expectation. Food was phenomenal including the staff and the head chefs. Each of whom, were so accommodating due to our dietary needs, fixing up off-menu dishes in no time at all. They really helped to hold our transitory periods between the game drives together with their kind hearts and humour.
Conclusion:
A professionally-handled and client-friendly experience, which we may in the future look to experience again. Thank you to Spirit of Kenya and all of the staff at each one of the lodges, where we stayed at. It was great to be in the country where many of our family were born and the safari was an immeasurable addition to our trip back in the birthland.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Best tour planned and best guide to do it
I loved this tour, it was very special, perfectly orchestrated and then guided by a fantastic caring guide ....Gunn Highly recommended -- from airport pick up until drop off 9 days later .... seamlessly done with so much knowledge and care.