KY
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Shanjoy delivers exceptional bespoke service
We just returned from an epic 9 day (first time) Kenya trip. Our itinerary, which was meticulously crafted by the Shanjoy team, took us to Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Nakuru and Masai Mara. They were ultra responsive, available, patient, adaptable and overall lovely to deal with throughout the planning process and, since it was a last minute trip, had to contend with the added pressure of limited hotel availability. Rodah and Patrick (1) warmly greeted us at the airport, took us to our hotel in Nairobi and waited with us until we received our room key to ensure that checkin went smoothly. The next morning, we were met by our guide, Patrick (2), and the adventure began. Our land cruiser was excellent - very comfortable, huge windows, pop up roof, ample room for the three of us and stocked with snacks and beverages - and Patrick (2) was its master handler. Whether it was negotiating highway traffic, weaving around potholes or dealing with bumpy trails and challenging terrain for hours on end, Patrick (2) handled it like a boss, all while being on the lookout for wildlife. Speaking of which, Patrick (2) made it his mission to find the Big Five, which we did (a few times over)! We also had several exciting up close big cat encounters, including a couple of fresh kills. While luck undoubtedly had a role, Patrick (2)’s knowledge of the parks and animal behavior and patterns, his easygoing way of speaking with other guides (which led to information on sightings), his patience and his own genuine passion for seeing the animals set us up for these amazing moments. We enjoyed spending time with him and he was a big part of the reason our trip was such a success. We would definitely recommend specifically requesting Patrick (2) as guide when working with Shanjoy. Back at home base, Patrick (1) was busy troubleshooting when I accidentally left my phone behind, handling our mid-trip requests to make some changes to our return itinerary, taking care of us in and around Nairobi and just making sure that every moment of our trip went smoothly, all with a huge smile. A million thanks to the Shanjoy team!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Did his very best to ensure you saw what you wished to see .
Very good experience and very lucky to see everything we saw. If you were interested in something particular (say birds for example) he would stop so you could take pictures or spot some other birds out. Same goes with mammals. I was very excited to see so many birds in and around the parks ! My only suggestion would be for all the tours/guides to really advocate more to not litter and not feed the animals and ensure the area is clean before leaving. Brown paper bags to contain used toilet paper perhaps? It’s disheartening as a nature lover to see plastic bottles, caps, tissues, etc around the parks .
IE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An excellent 👍 tour around Addis & 1000 year old churches carved into rock in Lelabella (in north)
An Excellent Service, I was able to book on WhatsApp & they arranged an all inclusive tour of Rock Churches of Lalibela & half a day around Addis.
I got the 3day Package which included:
- Flights from Addis to Lalibela
- Transport to hotel & back
- All Food
- Accommodation in hotel
- Guilde to show you around
- Fees into the Churches/ Parks/ Pictures
- Taxes etc for the above
(See https://www.safaribookings.com/rates/t80447 for more details & exemption)
The flight by Ethiopian Airways was good, with the twin propeller plane flying low you could see the country side. The mountains, gully & valleys with fields (If I had gone in rainy season I’m sure it would have been very green). The Ethiopian were having a great time taking pictures of the Birds Eye view.
The driver & Guide/Fixer (Young YIBELTAL ABEBE BlHONENG ) were waiting at the airport to collect me at the Airport.
The hotel was a good quality, with bath room, German sockets for electricity when ether the main grid or generator is on. Food was good with tea & coffee, note what you would like to eat before arriving. Breakfast was fruit juice, bread & eggs (cooked in different ways). Nice thick (tog 13) blankets because the temperature drops at night. Shower was good with good pressure in full tiled room, with toilet & sick.
Short walk to the churches in a manageable 25’celcus, with Mesgan the guide for churches; I wore long sleeves shirt & trousers. (As much because to stop sun burn & as I would do in temple, Vatican or Mosque). Take off hat & shoes for walking inside, so some of the other guests had plastic raps.
Sounds silly, but I thought Mesgan expectation gave for the churches, how they were built, cooling wholes, sound channels and water collection based on his religion beliefs was great. I been to many a place where the guide goes “we just don’t know” / “forgotten lost to time”. (I’m sure a person can google the answer) Each church was distinctive, and definitely in my list of wonders of the world; and sensibility built at night. (One believer said)
When I was there the market was meeting, all had come into town with donkeys with food etc to sell. I’m a vegetarian since birth so if you’re like me, the open hanging cut meat can be a bit shocking.
The local pub was good and seemed to be the place with flowing electricity, good food, cool design. Me being me got chatting with a lads, some were into the soccer on smart phone.
The town is like a big jobs bridge project, so expect to be passed from billy to jack & spreads the business about. There has been a lot of investment in tourist industry before Covid19, which like world wide never really recovered; so they could do with your business.
Then did a tour driving around Addis, saw a market, the architecture (which I love), the Museum in University, then on to a bit of food & drinks in a nice bar. Kenaw Ayalew was a good city guild & safe driver. Personally, I would rather not do the market as i’m vegetarian.
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great
Tony was a great guide! He knew all the right places and never rushed. It was truly a great experience .
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely recommendable
Lukiano and Dorit gave us a perfectly organized safari experience. Super friendly, perfect local knowledge, great lodges, routes perfectly tailored to our needs - highly recommended.
(automatic translation from German)
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best company I could have chosen
The gorilla trekking was an amazing adventure. Everything worked smoothly. Best guide (Meddy) you can think of. Everyone was very friendly and the accommodation had good food, greatly views and comfy beds.
MA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent
I had a memorable 4-day private safari to Naivasha and Masai Mara with Kichaka Tours. Their organization and attention to detail were commendable, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish. Douglas was an incredible guide—his expertise and hospitality made the experience truly memorable.
Keekorok Lodge, situated within the Masai Mara Reserve, offers the advantage of immediate access to safari game drives, allowing for more time observing wildlife and less time commuting. However, the accommodation could benefit from updates, as some facilities felt dated, and we experienced occasional electrical shortages. The on-site Hippo Bar provides a unique setting, though viewing hippos can be challenging as they often remain submerged, and the area carries a noticeable odor due to their presence. Despite these minor drawbacks, the lodge’s prime location within the park is a significant plus.
Overall, Kichaka Tours provided an excellent safari experience, and I would recommend them to others seeking a well-organized adventure in Kenya.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience for small budgets
We were able to see all animals that we hoped for and waking up in the middle of the Serengeti was truly magical. Organisation was good and we really loved the food that the chef prepared for our group every day (breakfast, lunch and dinner)!
We picked the low budget option and stayed in a tent, which was spacious. The facilities are truly low budget but for two nights it was tolerable.
Thank you for the great experience!
LT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great organisation from Axis safari, great guidance from Dickson
It was a great experience. However, be prepared to be driving for 95% of the day. And only 20% of the time is in the parks or doing any other fun activity. Still the best thing to do in Kenya. Our guide's name is Dickson, he was a very great at his job, he done his best to answer all our questions and give us the best experience.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic tour! Sorted from door to door!
We had an amazing tour for our mount Kenya hike. We were a team of 5 and had 6 people takin care of us. Everyone is so friendly and they go above and beyond to make sure you can complete the hike but to your level. The team goes ahead and a couple of guides stay with you. They put a lot of work in. Views were stunning and plenty of food!
The pick up and drop off service is good, they use public's transport but make sure everything runs smoothly for you even if one of the team has a very complicated detour to make...
