FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They’re friendly and I really enjoyed the trip.
The guider was very friendly and the service was perfect. Every group member was very good and I did have a good trip.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gerald was amazing very knowledgeable about all animals and made sure we saw as much as possible
This safari was amazing! Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. I did the camping 5 day safari. Camping whilst the animals were just walking around was so cool definitely think camping was a different and in my opinion better than staying at the lodges. Being able to see the animals in their natural habitat and see their behaviours was amazing. The environment and animals was so beautiful. Our guide definitely made the experience better. Gerald made sure that we saw as much as possible and prioritised the things we hadn’t seen yet. He was able to answer every question and also had information to share about each animal seen. All food was delicious as well and plenty of it.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience!! Very good safari
Such an incredible safari, our guide Gerald was so experienced and knowledgable, and I have no idea how he managed to spot so many animals whilst driving! He was very good at predicting their movements, driving around the other cars to get us the best views, and answering all our questions. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it! Proper hot lunches whilst other tour operators/groups had sandwiches. We stayed in the camping option and it was some of the nicest camping I've done! I only wish it could have been longer. Gerald was genuinely the best guide we could have asked for, and he felt like a lucky charm with all the animals and encounters we experienced! There could have been slightly better communication prior to starting the tour, but once you reach out they are prompt replying and giving you all the info you need.
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our tour operator Gerald it was amazing explain about everything and all the animals!
The experience of a Safari its incredible! We Can do this more than one time to see everything. We are thinking to come Back again, it was amazing!
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolute Phenomenal
Our safari was phenomenal; we saw a wide variety of animals beyond the famous "Big Five"—and, in fact, I was actually most excited about seeing things other than the Big Five. Our guide, Gerald, was incredibly knowledgeable about where to take us and deeply understood the animals themselves. I highly recommend the tour.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It couldn't have been better!
We went on a individual tailor-made (8-day) safari trip. Our experience with LionKing was outstanding from start to finish and simply brilliant in every respect: from the planning & booking of the trip, through the preparation & detailed planning, right through to the actual safari with our guide (really very good guy!), I have nothing but positive things to say. I can wholeheartedly recommend LionKing and would definitely book any future trips with them again.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Delivered on our brief, professional, knowledgeable
This was my first safari which I will never forget because our guide Tony was very professional, knowledgeable, fun and and really showed us his love and respect for the animals. He kept us to schedule making sure we missed nothing. An experience never to forget, thank you
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. The communication was excellent, everything
We highly recommend Joky Tour without hesitation! If you have the chance to go on safari with Alex and Joshua, you will be in very good hands. A huge thank you to both of them for their professionalism and good humour throughout this wonderful adventure! 🦁🐘🦒❤️
KR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable 3-day Masai Mara safari with Balu Travel and our amazing guide Kiu!
We recently went on a private 3-day Masai Mara safari with Balu Travel, and I can honestly say it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Everything from the booking process to the very last day was wonderful, and I'm so glad we chose this company.
I first found Balu Travel through a Korean travel blog. Before booking, I exchanged many emails with them because I had quite a few questions about the itinerary, accommodation, and other details. They always replied patiently and thoroughly, no matter how many questions I asked. That really helped me trust the company, especially since we were traveling to Kenya for the first time.
Our guide was Kiu, who has 13 years of experience, and he was absolutely fantastic.
We actually had a little change of plans before our safari. We had wanted to visit Hell's Gate the previous day but couldn't make it, which was really disappointing. When we explained this to Balu Travel, they and Kiu kindly helped us rearrange our itinerary so we could visit Hell's Gate on the first day of our Masai Mara trip instead.
Of course, we had to pay an additional fee, but it was completely worth it. Thanks to their flexibility, we got to visit a place we really didn't want to miss. We ended up arriving at our Masai Mara camp quite late that evening, but Kiu drove us there safely and made sure everything went smoothly.
The next day was our full-day game drive in Masai Mara, and I still can't believe how much we managed to see in just one day!
We saw lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, zebras, hyenas, baboons, hyraxes, gazelles, impalas, elands, and so many other animals.
One of the most incredible moments was seeing wild lion cubs! I still can't believe how lucky we were. Seeing lions in the wild was already something I had dreamed of, but seeing their little cubs in their natural habitat was on another level. It felt like such a rare and precious moment, and it's something I'll never forget.
We also witnessed some unbelievable scenes, including lions hunting a buffalo, lions feeding on a zebra, and even a pair of lions mating. We got to see a magnificent male lion too. At times, it genuinely felt like we were watching a wildlife documentary, except everything was happening right in front of us.
We almost saw a leopard as well, but unfortunately it had just climbed down from a tree before we arrived. We were a little disappointed, but honestly, after seeing a cheetah, lion cubs, and so many other incredible animals, we really couldn't complain!
What made all of this possible was Kiu's experience and dedication. He was constantly looking for wildlife, communicating with other guides, and doing everything he could to help us see as much as possible. He seemed to know so many people around the park, and his ability to find animals was seriously impressive. It really felt like we were all working together as a team to find wildlife.
He was also incredibly knowledgeable. We asked him so many questions throughout the trip, not only about the animals but also about the trees, plants, and Kenya in general. He always answered patiently and explained things in a way that made everything more interesting. He even told us about the trees around us while we were having lunch. We learned so much from him, and his explanations made the safari even more enjoyable.
Another thing that really impressed me was his driving.
The roads in and around Masai Mara can be extremely rough, but Kiu handled the Land Cruiser so confidently and skillfully. Throughout the entire three-day trip, we never got stuck or had a single problem with the wheels, even while driving through some pretty challenging terrain. His 13 years of experience really showed. He knew how to handle the vehicle in all kinds of situations, and we always felt comfortable with him behind the wheel.
But more than anything, I want to emphasize how much we appreciated his attention to our safety.
As visitors who weren't familiar with Kenya, there were many things we simply didn't know. Kiu was always one step ahead, explaining what we should be careful about, giving us advice before we even thought to ask, and making sure we were safe and comfortable throughout the trip.
He was incredibly observant, thoughtful, and quick to respond to any situation. Even when our plans changed or unexpected things came up, he handled everything calmly and professionally. We never felt like we had to worry about anything because we knew we were in good hands.
He also had a great sense of what we wanted. He listened to us, understood our preferences, and adjusted things whenever possible. Rather than simply being our driver or tour guide, he genuinely felt like someone who was traveling with us and doing his best to make sure we had an amazing experience.
And I have to mention one of my favorite memories from the entire safari: our picnic lunch in Masai Mara.
During our full-day game drive, we stopped under a tree and enjoyed our packed lunches surrounded by the beautiful African landscape. The sky was perfectly clear, the sun was warm, and we were sitting in the shade of a tree, enjoying our lunch in the middle of the wilderness.
It was such a simple moment, but I remember feeling genuinely happy just sitting there. There was something so peaceful about eating lunch under that beautiful blue sky, surrounded by nature. Even after seeing all those incredible animals, that little picnic remains one of my favorite memories of the trip. I think I'll remember it for a very long time.
Our private Land Cruiser was also very clean, comfortable, and well maintained, which made the long drives much more pleasant. We were lucky to have wonderful weather during our safari as well. Everything just came together beautifully.
I've traveled to Europe, the United States, Asia and quite a few other places, but this experience was truly special. Masai Mara had always been somewhere I dreamed of visiting, and actually being there, watching wild animals in their natural habitat, was even better than I had imagined.
Looking back, I honestly can't think of anything I would have wanted to change. From the company's communication and flexibility to the vehicle, the wildlife sightings, the beautiful scenery, and especially our wonderful guide, everything exceeded our expectations.
If I ever return to Kenya, I would absolutely book with Balu Travel again, and I would specifically request Kiu as our guide.
I wholeheartedly recommend Balu Travel to anyone planning a safari in Kenya. And if you have the chance to travel with Kiu, I strongly recommend requesting him as your guide.
With his 13 years of experience, incredible knowledge, excellent driving skills, quick judgment, and genuine care for his guests, you'll be in very good hands. He's not only an excellent safari guide but also a truly kind and thoughtful person.
Thank you so much, Kiu and the entire Balu Travel team, for making our trip so special. We genuinely appreciate all the effort and care you put into our experience.
This was one of the best travel experiences we've ever had, and we'll never forget it. We hope to see you again someday!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A great safari that I highly recommend
Our tour guide, Songe, knows how to find the best places to see the animals. Our contact, Janet, was very helpful on arranging the safari. Accommodation was excellent, with great food. We saw all the animals on our list, including those that are hard to find. We had a wonderful time.