CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible Experience: Vehicle Breakdown, incorrect quotes/itinerary, and Completely Blocked
We booked a private safari to the Masai Mara with this operator, and it was a deeply frustrating experience from start to finish. We feel entirely let down by their lack of professionalism and broken commitments.
Horrible Communication: Before the tour, getting basic pickup and driver info was an uphill battle. We had to text multiple times and were constantly ignored or given misleading timelines until we proactively followed up.
Ruined Safari Time: The jeep they provided was old and broke down in the middle of our trip. Despite paying for a private game drive, we were forced into a group safari on day one and then wasted a half-day waiting for repairs. After travelling that far all we wanted to do was maximize our time on safari but were unable to do so due to the old and broken jeep.
Unengaged Driver: Our driver was uncommunicative and silent about the wildlife, unlike other informative guides we have experienced.
Paid for Services Denied: Our official quote explicitly included a morning game drive on the final day. When the time came, they refused to honor it, casually dismissing it as a "quote error" even though it was exactly what we paid for.
Zero Accountability: They promised to discuss compensation once we returned to Nairobi. Instead, after a single phone call where they claimed they needed an "audit," they completely blocked our number to avoid resolving the issue.
We feel we did not receive the services we paid for and were completely ghosted when we asked for a resolution. Save yourself the headache and do not book with them.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A childhood dream come true
My wife and I respectively have wanted to visit Africa and go on safari since childhood. What a fantastic trip it turned out to be, exceeding our wildest expectations and dreams.
We would highly recommend booking your safari trip through “Amazing Memories Safaris” directly, especially if it is your first visit to Kenya. The booking experience was good and hassle free. There was complete clarity on the itinerary, cost and related information. Titus Kinyua was very prompt in responding to our questions and accommodating our requests. All our queries were satisfactorily answered in a timely manner.
The Amazing Memories team led by Titus was waiting to greet us as we emerged from the airport, which was very reassuring for us as first time visitors to Africa in general and Kenya in particular.
The familiarisation briefing we received from Titus before we began our trip was most helpful. The Amazing Memories team provided us with a more than adequate stock of drinking water bottles for the entire trip. We realised the importance of it later as drinking water at meal times in all resorts is chargeable and the water provided by the resorts in the rooms is not always adequate and is replenished only during room cleaning each day.
We had an exclusive safari vehicle and guide dedicated to us the entire trip. The vehicle was very clean and well maintained and it stayed that way the entire trip.
The rooms we stayed at were nice. Fig Tree (Masai Mara), Sopa (Lake Nakhuru) and Oltukai (Amboseli). Sopa was the best hands down, especially the views from our room, the dining area and the bar. Breathtakingly beautiful! The food at Sopa and Oltukai were good. The hospitality at all three places was very good.
We had the most awesome safari experiences at Masai Mara, Lake Nakhuru and Amboseli National Park. We have one person whom we cannot thank enough for making our entire trip so enjoyable and ensuring that we left Kenya with amazing memories for a lifetime! Our safari guide Joseph Mwaniki.
Joseph was extremely attuned to our every need and request the entire trip; from the time he picked us up at the airport till the time he dropped us back. His familiarity with the routes and safari trails ensured that our travel time was optimised and our safari experiences were elevated. He was very fluent in English and a treasure trove of information about Kenya in general and the national parks, flora and fauna in particular. He took great pains to ensure that we took in all the beautiful sights that each safari game drive had to offer. Thanks to his wealth of experience and tireless efforts, we had the opportunity time and again to witness some very rare sightings of animals in the wild in their own element.
We were travelling with our teenage daughter and were particularly touched by the fact that he made it a point during and after each safari game drive to inquire with her whether she was enjoying herself and the animal sightings. One particular instance readily comes to mind. We had only our mobile phones with us (no high end cameras) and were at one point struggling to capture a photo of a rhino in the distance at Lake Nakhuru. Joseph immediately pulled out a device and a pair of binoculars, which when affixed to the phone camera lens, enabled the camera to zoom in and capture very clear pictures. Our daughter could not stop taking pictures after that. It was an extremely thoughtful gesture on Joseph’s part and one that endeared him to us instantly.
Joseph’s soft spoken, polite and easy going nature put us at ease and made us feel very comfortable. He was extremely professional, very punctual and a thorough gentleman. He would always hold open the door of the safari vehicle for us and greet us warmly before and after each game drive. He had a boundless reserve of energy even after long drives between two resorts and wanted us to experience as many game drives as our enthusiasm and interests permitted. What we particularly appreciated about his approach, was that he would make suggestions and even recommendations but would leave the decision to us. We had complete freedom to plan our daily schedule and curate our safaris with informative insights and inputs from him.
We had such a wonderful trip, thanks in no small part to Joseph. He is an outstanding safari guide and a gem of a person!
Thank you very much Amazing Memories Safaris, Titus and Joseph for everything! You made our first safari to Africa a memory to cherish forever.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Safari We Are Most Likely to Repeat
We went on a canoe safari with Natureways and it was by far the most unique safari experience we have ever had.
While planning a three-week trip to Africa, we knew we wanted to do two safaris but didn't want the second one to feel repetitive after spending time in Sabi Sands. As frequent campers in the U.S., frequent kayakers and canoeists, and an adventurous family overall, a canoe safari seemed like the perfect choice.
We spent three days and nights canoeing down the Lower Zambezi River through Mana Pools National Park with our professional guide Mark and learner guide Admire. Mark's decades of experience were immediately apparent. Despite close encounters with elephants, a massive crocodile estimated at nearly 18 feet long, water monitors, and what felt like hundreds of hippos, we never once felt unsafe. His knowledge of wildlife, river conditions, and animal behavior gave us complete confidence throughout the trip.
The wildlife viewing was outstanding both on and off the water. In addition to the larger animals, we enjoyed incredible birdlife, including African Fish Eagles, giant herons, egrets, kingfishers, and many others. We also participated in walking safaris and traditional game drives, which complemented the canoe experience perfectly.
At night we camped along the riverbank in what can best be described as "glamping in the bush." The camp operation, led by Jenni and supported by Sebastian and the rest of the team, was exceptional. Every morning began with hot water delivered to our tents, and every evening ended with a hot shower after a full day on the river. The food was remarkable. Considering everything was prepared over an open fire and in Dutch ovens, the quality and variety of the meals were simply incredible. This was bush cooking at its finest. One aspect of the experience that exceeded our expectations was the time spent around camp with Jenni and Mark. Because this is such an intimate style of safari, meals and evenings around the fire naturally led to conversation. As a husband-and-wife team, they created a welcoming atmosphere that felt more like traveling with interesting friends than participating in a guided tour. Conversations ranged from wildlife and conservation to travel, history, and everyday life. Mark had an incredible breadth of knowledge and could contribute thoughtfully to almost any topic, while remaining genuinely curious about subjects that were new to him. Those conversations became an unexpected highlight of the trip and added another dimension to an already memorable experience.
Two of our most memorable moments came while in camp when elephants walked directly through the middle of camp on separate occasions. Watching these enormous animals move silently among the tents was both humbling and unforgettable.
This is not the right safari for everyone. You need to be comfortable around water, tent camping with pit toilets (in-tent chemical toilets at night), enjoy being active (~55 km/35 mi of river to traverse), and either be willing to fly on a small bush plane or endure a very long road transfer from Victoria Falls. But for travelers seeking a more immersive and adventurous safari experience, it is hard to imagine a better option.
We would not hesitate to do it again. In fact, of all the safari experiences we have had, this is the one we are most likely to repeat.
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gilbert’s Expertise Made Our Tanzanian Safari Extraordinary
We had an incredible 6-day Northern Circuit safari with Gilibert, covering Tarangire National Park, 3 nights in the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater. The experience exceeded all expectations and was truly the trip of a lifetime.
Gilibert is an exceptional guide and a genuine wildlife expert, with over 10 years of experience as a guide. His knowledge of animal behavior, birdlife, ecosystems, and the parks was extensive, and he was always happy to answer our questions with detailed explanations. Throughout the trip, we learned so much about Tanzania’s wildlife and conservation efforts.
One of Gilibert’s greatest strengths is his familiarity with the parks, especially the vast plains of the Serengeti. His deep knowledge of the road networks and wildlife movements allowed us to consistently be in the right place at the right time. He worked tirelessly from early morning until evening and was always willing to go the extra mile to maximize our sightings. Rather than staying on the usual tourist routes, he often ventured off the beaten path to track down wildlife, leading to some truly unforgettable encounters.
We were fortunate enough to see an amazing variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, buffalo, leopards, rhinos, baboons, giraffes, crocodiles, gazelles, impalas, antelopes, cheetahs, warthogs, hyenas, and many bird species such as hornbills, flamingoes, pelicans, lilac-breasted rollers, vultures, marabou storks, and oxpeckers. We also enjoyed seeing the iconic baobab trees in Tarangire National Park.
The highlights were extraordinary. We saw all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), as well as all of the Ugly Five (wildebeest, hyena, warthog, marabou stork, and vulture). We also witnessed the Great Migration, with hundreds of wildebeest and zebras moving across the Serengeti plains. Some particularly rare and memorable sightings included a lion resting in a tree before climbing down, a pride of 12 lions, a rhino with its cub, a cheetah with five cubs, and a leopard lounging in a tree. We also encountered massive herds, including around 100 buffalo, 50 hippos, 50 pelicans, 30 elephants with its calves, more than 100 zebras, and approximately 1,000 wildebeest during the migration.
Gilibert’s dedication, work ethic, expertise, and passion for wildlife made this safari truly special. His ability to spot animals that others missed, combined with his determination to find the best sightings, gave us an experience far beyond what we expected. If you are planning a safari in Tanzania, I would highly recommend Gilibert. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and would happily safari with him again.
MX
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by Ken Rees
A large variety of animals however i would feel that our time was th eperfect time to go without to many people.
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Kruger National Park by David Seymour
We saw four of the Big 5 during our day trip (we didn't see a leopard here, but we did at the private nature reserve where we were staying). We saw lots of other animals too at Kruger, including wild dogs, hyenas, giraffes, wart hogs, jackals and cheetahs.
SA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by Riyadh Abutaleb
It was Amazing trip Really fantastic
BR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful
Impeccable service. I recommend the tour. Driver knew the itinerary and was very functional.
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Combines unforgettable Big 5 safaris with some of the world's most spectacular panoramic landscapes.
This was my first trip to South Africa. It was extremely successful and delivered exactly what I was hoping for from a safari. I saw all of the Big 5 and a wide variety of other wildlife. The guides impressed me with their knowledge of both animals and plants and their remarkable ability to locate wildlife. The ability to leave the roads and track animals in a private reserve was a major advantage over a national park-only experience. I enjoyed additional excursions to the Kruger National Park and the spectacular Panoramic Route, giving me both wildlife and scenery. The lodge itself was peaceful, intimate and uncrowded. I particularly appreciated watching wildlife from the lodge veranda while relaxing between activities. The food, staff and overall hospitality exceeded expectations.
SA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari