Kimkim Trip Reviews for Kenya

Nicholas helped us plan and experience highlights of Kenya in a trip well tailored to our family of 6 (including children ages 8 through 13). He was very knowledgeable, flexible, and professional in ensuring that our trip went smoothly and maximized everyone's enjoyment.

We enjoyed a full 4-day itinerary in Nairobi to enjoy some city experiences before heading out on safari. We enjoyed the David Sheldrick's rehabilitation center, the Nairobi national park, the Giraffe center, the Bomas of Kenya homesteads, and the Nairobi national museum. Transportation to and from these locations was comfortable and smooth, in a minivan that fit all of us easily. We hesitate to give a full 5 stars for the Nairobi stay only because our hotel (Fair Acres Boutique), while it was comfortable and nicely located, hosted a large party (conference? wedding?) on our final night there and loud music/speeches kept us all up close to 1am. This was just as we had finally recovered from jet lag so made the following day a bit of a struggle.

Our next stop was Ol Pejeta, where we enjoyed 2 nights at the Sweetwaters Serena camp (beautiful grounds right within the conservancy, including a watering hole frequented by many animals day and night; cozy and well appointed tents; great meals in a beautiful central lodge; very kind and thoughtful staff). Nicholas took us on safari throughout the conservancy and also to visit various programs including the Chimp exhibit and a Rhino rescue center.

Next we spent two nights at the Sopa Lodges in Naivasha, where we enjoyed a boat tour of the lake and a walk on Crescent Island - for beautiful distinctive scenery compared to the prior few days at Ol Pejeta. Sopa Lodge was a very impressive property - comfortable rooms within private cottages, spread across large lake-front grounds with tropical landscaping. Another excellent dining experience with a large buffet for every meal and very kind staff.

Our final stop was 3 nights in Maasai Mara, where we stayed at the Ashnil Mara camp. Another excellent lodging option - comfortable and cozy tents, beautiful dining/common area with views of the river (and occasional hippos/crocodiles), bar with a firepit, pool that the kids enjoyed greatly, fantastic food and very friendly staff. Nicholas again took us on game drives each day (based on the frequency/duration we were looking for) which were highly successful thanks to his knowledge of the park and connections with other guides.

Nicholas was an excellent host throughout the week - always pleasant, open to changes in the itinerary, ready to offer his recommendations, eager to get to know us. Our itinerary required lots of driving (3-5h between destinations, plus the game drives) on roads of varying quality and often with hectic traffic. He is an excellent driver and his 4WD vehicle was roomy enough for all 6 of us plus our luggage, and well suited for safari drives with its pop-up roof... however I would have felt a bit safer (especially on the long highway commutes) if it had cross-body seatbelts rather than just lap belts.

Overall, this is a trip that we invested a large amount of time and effort in planning, and it turned out even better than our high expectations, thanks to the dedication and expertise of Nicholas. Would not hesitate to recommend other travelers to work with Nicholas to enjoy a tailored visit to Kenya.

This was the second epic trip that we booked through KimKim and could not speak higher of the knowledge, professionalism and dedicated support we received once again on this two week trip through Kenya. Both Melvin and Stephen took care of every detail of accommodations, tours, side trips and dedicated drivers. They really listened to what our goals were for the trip - both adventure and budget wise - and customized a trip that we could never have put yigether on our own.

The safaris were all memorable as were the hotels and provided meals. They were also wonderful to work with in terms of answering questions and really picking our brains to find things to see that were attuned to our ideals of fun stuff to do.

Most impressive was their availability while on the trip. Whenever we had a question or perhaps hit a small snag, they were immediately available to right any wrong or perhaps instant ways to make quick changes to the itinerary. When we wanted to add a visit to a museum that wasn’t on the original plan, they immediately made it happen.

It was also clutch to have our own driver, Peter, for the entirety of the trip who was friendly and always open to our whims of stopping at a roadside attraction or taking us to a specific spot for lunch. He was so nice and so pleasant to let us just wallow in the beauty of the countryside without always feeling the need to create conversation.

Can’t speak highly enough about KimKim’s partners that they chose to work with. They take the headache out of travel and let you just sit back and enjoy the wonders of your trek.

Can’t wait for our next adventure and working with another top notch team!

Nicholas was the perfect local specialist, planner, driver, game spotter, and friend! My daughter (16) and I had a wonderful trip!
After telling Nicholas a little bit about what we wanted, he put together a draft of a trip that we then went through, asked questions, and made some changes. I’d been to Kenya 43 years ago and wanted to stay at one of the same hotels I’d stayed at all those years ago, and Nicholas had no problem accommodating my request. I had also been to Zanzibar before so wanted to revisit that island, which again Nicholas had no problem arranging.
Once the trip started, Nicholas continued to be able to accommodate us as needed. Our arrival was delayed by a day, but we were still met at the airport at the new arrival time and given options on how to try to make up for the lost time. Additionally there were times when my older body needed a little extra rest, so we could decide on the fly to start a game drive later or finish early. When I struggled with getting in and out of the truck, Nicholas got a milk crate step to help me and always was near by in case I needed an extra hand. A truly personalized experience that I appreciate so much!
The hotels that were picked out for us were wonderful. We particularly enjoyed the Ashnil camps (Masai Mara and Samburu). On top of that, Nicholas made sure our rooms/tents were located perfectly. At Ashnil Samburu, we looked out on the river where elephants gathered - what a way to wake up! At Ashnil Masai Mara, he got us a table that looked out at the river where the hippos would climb in and out.
Nicholas also has a great sense of humor and is easy to talk to. My normally shy teenager was joking with him and asking questions right away. He even let her use his personal camera to take photos and she now wants to take photography classes thanks to Nicholas.
Across our game drives, we saw not only the big 5, but a plethora of birds and animals. Cerval cats playing, a cheetah, black rhino, and baby leopard were some of the more special sites . What I enjoyed the most was finding a quiet corner of the park with no other trucks around, turning off the truck and watching a herd of elephant pass right in front of us. I can’t even imagine going on one of those big group trips now!
I plan to use a local specialist for any future trips from now on, and to anyone going to Kenya, highly recommend Nicholas of Animal Kingdom Safaris.

We spent a magical week of wild life safari in Kenya thanks to the extraordinary services provided by Joseph and his team at Nariku Travel Experiences. Andy, was our personal guide and jeep driver who ensured that we had no difficulties in checking in to the various lodges and kept us informed and entertained during the several game drives we went through. Andy went above and beyond to ensure that we got to see the Big 5 animals and much more!

Joseph addressed all of our questions and concerns before and during our trip very quickly to give us peace of mind. There were no surprises either in the itinerary or costs - everything was well designed and transparent.

We very highly recommend Nariku Travel and will most certainly be using their services in the future…

Hotel Reviews

Kibo Safari Camp

Amboseli

Lodging is good , food is excellent and people are the best! My spouse fell sick while we stayed here, and the Asst Manager Mr. Joseph helped us so much, I will always be grateful to him.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fair Acres Boutique Hotel

Karen, Nairobi. P. O Box 1121 – 00208 Nairobi.

Rooms are good and clean. Room service is non responsive. Breakfast menu is very limited, Restaurant service is very slow.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake Naivasha Simba lodge

Naivasha

Good accommodations, and wonderful food! Hotel grounds are v exquisite. Hippos are shy didn’t come out of water

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake Nakuru Lodge

Nakuru

Location and rooms are good. Food was below average, and not many vegetarian options. They let the bonfire die by 8pm, and didn’t kindle the fire even when requested

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pride Inn Mara Camp

Accommodation is excellent, and we loved the outdoor shower experience. Lots of modern amenities provided. Indian food here was the best we had on our trip, really fantastic. We celebrated my son’s birthday here, and they baked a cake for us, and had the Masai tribesmen wish him.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom shower and sink is very luxurious

Activity Reviews

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lake Naivasha Activities

Kenya

Lake Naivasha Hells Gate National Park

Kenya

Our guides Kevin and Dennis made Hells Gate very memorable for us! Their energy and enthusiasm kept the trip very interesting and fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lake Nakuru National Park Game Drive

Nakuru

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

Maasai Mara Game Drives

Masai Mara

I loved the customized trip and personal service, it made everything so easy! The excursions and accommodations were amazing. All the drivers and guides were very good, but especially our guides in Cape Town and Amboseli, who treated us like family.

Our trip to Kenya, organized by Joseph from KimKim, was nothing short of a dream come true. My partner and I, now happily engaged, wanted to witness the Great Migration and experience a hot air balloon ride over the breathtaking landscapes of the Masaai Mara. Joseph meticulously planned every detail, making this a trip we will cherish forever.

During our stay in the Masaai Mara, we were fortunate to have Thomas as our private game driver. His kindness and extensive knowledge of the area truly enhanced our safari experience. We stayed at the Matira Bush Camp, which exceeded all our expectations. The service was exceptional, and the staff went above and beyond to make our stay special. Matira played a crucial role in organizing our engagement, arranging private cocktail drinks in the bush followed by a romantic private dinner. It was an unforgettable experience.

After the excitement of the safari, we transferred to Diani Beach for some relaxation. Our stay at the Diani Beach Resort was equally incredible, with top-notch service and a beautiful setting. We even had the opportunity to snorkel with the vibrant marine life, which was a perfect way to unwind after the adventure-packed days in the Mara.

In summary, this trip was a perfect blend of adventure, romance, and relaxation. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a memorable and personalized safari holiday in Kenya. Thank you, Joseph, and everyone who made this trip so special!

Hotel Reviews

Fair Acres Boutique Hotel

Karen, Nairobi. P. O Box 1121 – 00208 Nairobi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Matira Bush Camp

Nairobi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Diani Sea Lodge

Diani Beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Maasai Mara National Reserve Game Drives

Masai Mara

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

same as previous answer

Maasai Mara Game Drives & Hot Air Balloon Ride

Masai Mara

Quality of Experience

Food

Breakfast was incredible.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

David the pilot was incredible!

Transport

Was a very smooth, magical ride. We felt safe the entire time.

Diani Beach Activities

Diani Beach

Quality of Experience

Food

Deserts can be improved. And for the buffet, a lot of flies. Need some kind of solution. (Eg: Maybe citronells scent / fly strips to catch them.. something.)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The car made a beeping noise constantly, it was frustrating.

Our Kenyan guide George was awesome- such personality and so joyful! From the moment he picked us up at the airport, we felt comfortable and well cared for- we didn’t have to think at all about next steps, where to go, what attractions to see, where our meals were, etc. Everything was exquisitely planned.
We saw the big 5 before we left Kenya!
Our Tanzanian guide, Francis was great too and this part of the trip was also well planned without us having to think about a thing! Francis is passionate about the animals and knows so much about them. Francis found remote spots in the parks, which gave us a different perspective.
The Serengeti is HUGE! We finally saw lion cubs and a hunt!
Unfortunately, the vehicle needed some repairs and he was struggling with it stalling and having to restart along the way. Thankfully with his mechanic background he figured out how to keep it moving.
The only general feedback (for the whole trip) I would give is that the travel time on travel days was underestimated and we often arrived at the next spot later than anticipated.
The lodges and camps were all wonderful in their own ways. Not being a fan of camping I was worried about the tented camps, but they were all so comfortable and the staff so accommodating. The food was great and the wine was always pouring. My favorite lodging experience had to be the Kilimanjaro Coffee House. We were the only guests and felt so pampered!
While the kids hiked, we took a tour of the coffee farm, hiked to a waterfall nearby and enjoyed a massage. It’s a magical place.

Wow. Just Wow!
Four of us made a last minute decision to go to Kenya to revisit some places my husband and family remember as children and to create new memories now as adults and to bring their spouses to share those experiences with. Within a very short timeline Joseph at KimKim created an itinerary and plan that was nothing short of perfect. Joseph delivered this itinerary in a very short time span.

Joseph was incredibly responsive and no questions were left unanswered with great attention to detail. Throughout our trip he was quick to respond and ensured all was going
As planned. No stones were left unturned.

Our group of four were paired up with our driver and guide Eric. Eric was truly exceptional. He helped to find all the places my husband and brother-in-law wanted to visit with ease and coordinated admittance with grace and ease. Eric was patient, kind and thoughtful as the brother visited and reminisced at places of their childhood. He enjoyed looking at the pictures of their childhood and listening to the stories of their life in Kenya in the late 1960’s.

Eric introduced us to Kenyan Life as he drove us around the countryside. He was our drive during our game drives and we could not have asked for better. He wanted to ensure we saw everything there was to see. He spoke with staff at parks and with rangers to enhance our experience. No one could ask for more than he provided to us.

Some of the roads were encountered along the way were pretty rough. It was a bit disconcerting at times when the bottom of the vehicle scraped along. Eric took this all in stride. A vehicle with higher clearance would be ideal for these types of situations.

The attention paid to each and every aspect of this trip was really beyond compare.
Each hotel/accommodation was unique and varied. All were fantastic. Joseph provided us with some many new experiences and honored the old. Not a detail was missed from flights, hotels and lunch reservations.

Joseph, Eric and the team at KimKim made the whole African experience of old and new memories so incredibly special and for that we are truly grateful.

When we decided last minute to take a trip from Calgary to Kenya I had no idea where to start. With only days to to plan a deeply personal and emotional trip for our group and given our tight timeline and the complexity of our needs, (and specifically my lack of knowledge of where we were going!!!), I was initially apprehensive about the trip and how everything would come together. I sent a simple message to a website called KimKim and all my worries vanished. Joseph connected with me immediately and exceeded all expectations and delivered an extraordinary experience. Truly.

From the very beginning, Joseph demonstrated an incredible sense of urgency and responsiveness. Within hours of our initial contact, he provided a comprehensive outline of our potential itinerary, tailored perfectly to our specific desires and requirements. His quick responses to emails and phone calls ensured that every detail was addressed promptly, leaving no room for stress or uncertainty. I truly wonder when he sleeps!!! Right up until the very last day he organized us and ensured our safety from the first to the last day.

In addition to Joseph's perfection in planning, our trip driver/guide , Eric, went completely above and beyond. We went to Kenya to re-vist the places my husband and his family lived in 1967, 1968 and 1969. Eric, our guide and now our friend, was able to connect with the local people in a capacity that we never would have been able to communicate properly. He spoke so well with guards at the college where my father in law taught and lived at, enabling us the opportunity to enter the community and see the home they lived in. We visited the school where my brother in law attended, which was a truly moving experience seeing where he spent years as a young boy. The golf courses their father played and the hotels the favoured. He found and took us to places that we were unsure we would even be able to find.

Half our trip was old memories then the next half was new memories. Eric took us on a few safari's where we saw the most beautiful animals and we were able to get closer to some than we ever thought imaginable. He was relentless trying to find us a lion! He talked with the rangers with such respect and taught us so much.

The only suggestion I would have is that we wished the vehicle we had was better. Eric did an incredible job driving on very poor roads, through the safari and from location to location. The vehicle should have been raised higher. I would only suggest when using this company that you request a better vehicle for the roads.

Accuracy was another area where both Joseph and Eric were incredible. They meticulously arranged every aspect of our journey, from flights and accommodations to local tours and special activities. Despite the short timeline, there were no errors or misunderstandings; everything was exactly as promised. It was evident that they paid close attention to every detail, ensuring our trip was seamless and enjoyable.

Communication was clear, consistent, and compassionate throughout the entire planning process and during our trip. Eric took the time to understand the emotional significance of our trip and handled all arrangements with a level of care and sensitivity that made us feel valued and understood. They kept us updated at every stage, providing reassurance and support when we needed it most.

Our trip turned out to be a profoundly moving and unforgettable experience. Their ability to deliver such a well-organized and meaningful trip on a short timeline was truly impressive. I wholeheartedly recommend Joseph at Nariku Travel to anyone in need of a travel agent who is not only professional and efficient but also empathetic and dedicated to creating memorable journeys.

Thank you, Joseph & Eric, for turning our vision into reality and for making our trip so special. We will always be grateful.

I booked a safari with Animal Kingdom through Kim Kim and it was an absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. There are so many options of safaris to choose that it can be daunting. From the moment I messaged with Nicholas, I felt completely at ease. In the process leading up to the trip, he answered all of my copious questions. He was always quick and kind with his responses. He made sure we go our vaccinations and the proper visa. Once we arrived, he and our driver, John, picked my wife and I up from the airport. This was the biggest relief since we landed at 11:00pm local time. Nicholas rode with us to the first hotel we stayed at and he walked us through what most of the trip would look like beyond the itinerary he provided. For almost the rest of the trip, my wife and I were just with John, our driver. I cannot talk highly enough of John. We told him all of the animals we wanted to see and what pictures we wanted. He made sure we got and saw everything we wanted. He also did an amazing job of answering all of the questions we asked throughout the trip. On our last day, we had many hours between our last safari and our flight out of Nairobi and Nicholas and John helped my wife and I out by recommending a good area of Nairobi to stay in until the flight and then John took us to the airport.

For the trip, we went to Nairobi National Park, David Shedrick’s Elephant Preserve, Giraffe Center, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Amboseli. All were fantastic but Lake Nakuru was our biggest surprise. Do not skip it!

Hotel Reviews

Fair Acres Boutique Hotel

Karen, Nairobi. P. O Box 1121 – 00208 Nairobi.

Fantastic hotel! Staff was attentive. The room was nice and clean. The restaurant had delicious food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashnil Mara Camp

Maasai Mara

The lobby area was very nice. The buffet was good for all meals. WiFi was only available in the main area which was a challenge. You also could not bring food to your room because monkeys would break in and steal it. Otherwise, great experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake Naivasha Simba lodge

Naivasha

The grounds of this hotel are amazing! Very cool area to walk around and be amongst zebras, giraffes, and other wildlife.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kilima Safari Camp

Nairobi, Kenya

The first room we were put in smelled like an animal had died inside of it. There were also many bugs, living and dead, in the room that was “freshly cleaned.” We switched rooms without issue from the staff but the lack of cleanliness persisted in the second room. It was also incredibly hot when we were there. There was no portable fan in the room. There was one fan which was mounted on the wall in the room. This would be fine but they put a twin bed with a full wooden bed frame in front of the fan so you couldn’t use the queen bed without sweating all night. Then, at night, there were thousands of grasshoppers. This would not be a problem except for the fact that they kept getting in the room so I heard them all night trying to get past the mosquito netting. Worse yet, the hotel didn’t have any protection for the outdoor buffet. So while we were trying to eat, grasshoppers were jumping into our mouths and food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Giraffe center

Nairobi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

David sheldricks

Nairobi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic trip!
Joseph was extremely helpful, patient, and always responsive. He worked with us and adjusted the trip to all our requests until we had the trip we always dreamed of. During the journey, it all went smoothly, and he was still available when we needed him. Somewhat more expensive than anticipated, but truly a great experience.

Activity Reviews

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Kenya

It was so heartwarming to see all of the great work that is happening at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and of course, who doesn't love seeing these amazing beings up close. Loved every minute of the experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Naivasha Hells Gate National Park

Kenya

So fun!! Beautiful place

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hello Joseph, I wanted to give you a feedback about Andrew who was great with us during our trip who was able to answer all our questions and adapt according to our needs. Andrew is very professional and I plan to come back with my mom and would like to do the same trip with Andrew again. The trip was fantastic and very interesting we saw everything we wanted to see. Compared to the hotels they were all very good but on the 2nd a lake navaisha the room was not terrible and the food too. And for the last one in masai Mara this one was top but no wifi in the room which is a pity. So much for my little return I wanted to thank you and thank Andrew.

Had a wonderful safari with Alex as my guide. Thanks Joseph for fitting so much to see in the few days I had in Kenya!

My 2nd time in the Maasai Mara and every time it just gets better & better. Our local specialist, Nicolas, was exceptional. His knowledge of the country, the Maasai Mara, the wild life was top notch. He also had a great attention to detail to make our trip a memorable one.
We managed to see so much wild life it felt we were in a Netflix nature documentary at times.
The accommodation recommended was perfect, from tents on the river over looking hippos and crocodiles, to the food and massages. Perfect places to rest after full days of safari.
I can’t recommend Nicolas and a trip to Kenya enough

I and my husband had an amazing time in Kenya, at both Maji Moto cultural camp and Maasai Mara. The staff at each place we stayed was exceptionally warm and helpful, and we could see that every detail of the trip had been planned meticulously. My only concern was during the planning phase of this trip, where responses to our messages were quite slow at times. Even though the team was working in the background (as was evident later), there were times when we were in panic mode because we had not heard back from the team faster, and were also dealing with lot of issues at home at the same time. Communication is the only area that needs some improvement, but that did not stop Joseph and Nariku Travels from planning a superb experience for us. The trip was our honeymoon and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect and memorable time. Thank you Joseph and Susan!!

We booked a trip to Masai Mara in Kenya and Victoria Falls in Zambia and our local guide was Joseph. Joseph handled the bookings and management really well, taking into consideration what all we needed as part of the itinerary. The travel and schedule was planned in such a way that we never felt rushed and also were able to cover the places and experiences which we mentioned we wanted to do.

The safari driver and guide Andrew was also excellent and an expert in game drives because of whom we got to see lions many times, and leopards, which are considered to be a rare sighting, on two consecutive days.

This trip was technically our honeymoon as went right after our wedding. Joseph had conveyed the same to all the hotels where we were staying and they took extra care of us, including a mega upgrade during our stay at Victoria Falls. This was a very pleasant surprise for us and made our experience memorable.

The trip originally had a South Africa leg as well, but we had to cancel that last minute due to unforeseen visa issues. Joseph promptly helped us in getting us the refund of whatever was refundable from the South Africa leg.

Hotel Reviews

Fair Acres Boutique Hotel

Karen, Nairobi. P. O Box 1121 – 00208 Nairobi.

Good hotel, but with some flaws. Slow food service, and no elevators which is a big deal while carrying luggage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

Maji Moto

Fantastic experience. The activities were interesting and the staff was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashnil Mara Camp

Maasai Mara

Excellent serrvies, very friendly and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

Our guide Andrew was an expert in game driving and because of him we saw all the rare animals of the Mara

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Activities

Maji Moto

Very friendly people. Had fun

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maasai Mara Game Drives & Hot Air Balloon Ride

Masai Mara

Good new experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Victoria Falls Tour

Livingstone

The guide was knowledgeable and helpful

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We all (4 of us) had a fantastic time in so many ways. Andrew, our driver was experienced and brilliant at getting us to the right places at the right time in the Kenyan National parks - he made a great holiday Excellent. We saw all the big 5 as well as a cheetah family, a lion pride doing a multiple hunt, and Wildebeest migration across the R Mara. Our favourite park was the Maasai Mara, and we loved visiting the Maji Moto Maasai Cultural camp and engaging with the Maasai culture and school. In addition we had a great time in Nairobi at the Giraffe centre and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, as well as 3 museum visits to Karen Blixen, Nairobi Railway museum, and the National Museum, all of which were substantially enhanced by having personal guides showing us around. Finally we went by train to Mombasa and spent a few days relaxing at the beach and exploring Mombasa. The accommodation was generally good, with the Ashnil Mara Camp being the standout excellent - the staff were all so friendly and helpful and facilities and food excellent. The plans all worked well and had a marvellous balance in the 4 parks - Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli. Day after day, when we thought things couldn't get better - we would experience something even better! The one time we had a hiccup in the accommodation it was sorted out quickly and effectively. Thank you to Joseph and Andrew in particular.

Hotel Reviews

Ashnil Mara Camp

Maasai Mara

The best hotel we visited in Kenya. The rooms were spacious, well appointed and equipped. On chillier nights, we came back to find hot water bottles in our beds! Very friendly, discretely attentive and effective staff who obviously take a huge pride in their work and made us feel very welcome. Great views of the river and hippo, with antelope and other animals around the lodge grounds but not intrusive. Great facilities, including a fire pit in the bar in the evening. A convenient and inviting pool. Great meals (every time) and waiters to welcome you back each time we came in. At 5.30am on the morning we left, there was someone waiting to take our bags when we came out of our tent!! A delightful place to relax after a day on safari.

Authenticity & Character

The staff were genuinely friendly and went the extra mile to make our stay great.

Location

brilliant ambience, with sound effects at night and hippos in the river by day!

Staff

They quickly learnt our names and everyone was friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfortable and the tent was fully equipped with everything we needed, including en suite facilities.

Wildebeest Eco Camp

Langata, Nairobi

The tented accommodation was adequate, set in a pleasant environment. Food was fairly basic and lodge routines weren't explained very well - the evening meal is a communal meal at 7pm, and you need to be there at 7! Some staff were friendly, but we detected some tensions among the staff.

Lake Nakuru Lodge

Nakuru

A beautiful situation, with views down to the lake and the park, with the Rift Valley on the horizon. Accommodation was good with plenty of space and en suite facilities. A great dining room with good views of the lake. Friendly and helpful staff. A good pool. Comfortable. We enjoyed our time here.

Authenticity & Character

Good views and location

Location

Views to the lake and park and the rift Vally on the horizon

Staff

Friendly and supportive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

No problems here

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

Maji Moto

An authentic experience of living with the Maasai people, who are very warm and welcoming. We were a little nervous when we arrived but we're made to feel fully at home and shown around everywhere. We loved the visit to the school and the village, and a real taste of the Maasai culture and community. We were welcomed into their lives and it was wonderful. The meals were all excellent, and particularly the evening meal, with the traditional entertainment afterwards. Though living in a Maasai hut, we felt very safe at all times, protected by the warriors from any wild life. In 24 hours we had made friends and experienced something of the life of the Maasai living at one with each other and with nature. I wouldn't have missed this experience for the world!

Authenticity & Character

Living in Maasai built huts and accommodation. Living like they live.

Location

Staff

They welcomed us as friends and family, and that is what we felt like all though the time we were there.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sentrim Amboseli

An open, quite large lodge just outside the National park. Elephant and giraffe could be seen around it, and a baby antelope was resting in the shade of our hut. The accommodation is quite spacious and well fitted out, with the outer walls of the hut being mosquito proofed. It was clean comfortable. The pool is pleasant and has a pool bar. The dining area and bar are open and give the place a very relaxing and pleasant environment. The buffet food was good with variety, as most of the hotels we stayed in. An enjoyable stay here for 2 nights. There is a balloon safari camp close by, so we were aware of the balloons being filled and fired up on the first morning, but it was not intrusive.

Authenticity & Character

Pleasant but fairly functional lodge.

Location

Outside the national park, but still quite close. No views, but an airy and spacious site with views to Kilimanjaro.

Staff

some seemed to be a bit new and confused about dining room protocols!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Liked the mosquito nets in the tent/hut walls.

Lake Naivasha Country Club

Naivasha

A beautiful setting, with an old style lodge fronting onto the lake, with a huge lawn running down to the water. In the evening, the hippo family come out to graze the grass. During the day baboons play in the garden. The lodge has an early 20th Century country club vibe, but is slightly run down. Our tent/huts were very compact and the bathrooms were in need of upgrading. From 7pm to 6am guests have to be escorted by security because of the presence of the hippos, but that adds a certain charm to the site. The bird life and hippos (in the water during the day) make the setting very attractive, though the abandoned chalets on the waterfront add to the run down feel. The food in the dining room is excellent and the staff are friendly and attentive. Recently taken over by Muthu, so may get the conference centre make-over!

Authenticity & Character

Olde world feel, but somewhat neglected.

Location

Excellent site on the edge of the lake

Staff

Friendly and efficient.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our rooms could have done with some updating and were very cramped.

Muthu Nyali Beach Hotel & Spa

This has fairly recently been taken over by the Muthu group and is set up as a conference hotel. There were several large conferences taking place the first few days, which affected the busyness of the dining room at lunchtime adversely. Our rooms initially were sub-standard and in need of refurbishment. Showers and Aircon didn't work and decor was distinctively worn and shabby. However our complaints and kimkim representation produced significant upgrades to fully functioning rooms with sea views. There are two outdoor pools, a pool bar and access to the beach (public) which we enjoyed. However, the conference focus of the hotel means there is very little to help tourists in terms of available excursions or activities, or support for getting around Mombasa. This hotel has no currency exchange or cash facility, we needed to get ourselves to a local ATM. The food in the dining room was good quality, but on the Sunday the dining room closed as there were no conferences, and we had to order food in the cafe (which was very good - but less choice). The staff were generally friendly, but the management (while responsive to our complaints) are oriented to a conference clientele, not tourists. We organised our own visit to Mombasa and spent most of the rest of the time relaxing by the pool. There is a bar which is very dark and has a large sport TV display, and a cafe terrace overlooking the beach. Also a gym and spa.

Authenticity & Character

Much of the hotel rooms need refurbishment. Public rooms are functional

Location

Its on the beach, and close to Mombasa, but not set up for tourists.

Staff

Staff were polite and very responsive to complaints ....

Cleanliness & Comfort

decor and furnishings are somewhat tired. Beddings and towels were clean.

Activity Reviews

Nairobi National Museum

Kenya

A guided tour of some of the history of Kenya that is so fascinating. It combines some of the human history with the rich natural history.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Kenya

Amazing privilege to watch orphaned elephants being fed! Informative background information about elephants and the work of the Trust. Lots of "Aah' moments

Giraffe Center

Kenya

Being able to get close to Giraffe is a privilege, as well as to feed them and find out about the work of the centre. The interaction with the giraffes is fascinating.

Karen Blixen Museum

Nairobi

We had a guide around the museum which was brilliant as it gave us real insights into what we were looking at. This museum starts to paint the picture of part of the history of Kenya and how people have contributed towards that history. I hadn't realised that coffee doesn't grow well at the altitude of Nairobi!!

The Nairobi Railway Museum

Kenya

A gem of a museum, that also came alive as our guide explained the history and significance of the different artifacts. It has a unique collection of locomotives and the history of the building of the railway is a key to understanding something of the development of Kenay over the last century. A fantastic experience, not simply for railway enthusiasts but also those kenn to understand a bit more of the history of Kenya.

Lake Nakuru National Park Game Drive

Nakuru

A wealth of natural birds and animals in their own environment. A privilege to witness these - particularly the Rhinos. In addition to lions, Giraffe, Antelope, Zebra and Warthogs, we also saw a Leopard! Such and abundance of nature in all its forms - and so many birds!!

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Activities

Maji Moto

We found this a really moving experience, to be welcomed and included in the family of the Maasai culture. See the Hotel review.

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

Our favourite Game park. Here we had some unique and special experiences. Seeing prides of lions close up, Cheetahs and their cubs, lion's hunting, Antelope and wildebeest in such large numbers, and then Wildebeest migrating across the R Mara. A wonderful God-given privilege.

Maasai Mara Game Drives

Masai Mara

These game drives, as described in the Reserve description above, were facilities by Andrew our driver. His experience and expertise enables us to enjoy and have the experiences we had. Thank you Andrew.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

His skill to get us close to the action and to find the action - Thank you Andrew.

Transport

And Andrew's skill in driving a 4x4 across such rough country.

Lake Naivasha Activities

Kenya

WE enjoyed walking around with the animals - as a contrasting means fo transport!! Also the boat ride, with its sights of so many different s[ecies and the demonstration of the Fish Eagle swooping to catch its food! Incredible.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park

Elephants having fun, elephants keeping cool, young and old. Incredible animals. And also plenty to reflect on with the changing nature of the park and climate change.

We had a great experience in Kenya and South Africa. Joseph did a very good job finding a driver (Alex) and booking us in a lovely and comfortable hotel (the Fairview). Our driver Alex drove very safely. The only glitch was that he was not present when we arrived at the airport, and that is a key moment to be on time and in the right place. Our time in Lake Nakuru was fabulous (love Camp Mbweha), and Alex did a great job connecting us to tours at Lake Naivasha. We really enjoyed our hike in Karura Forest and highly recommend the cafe there. Thankfully we ended up with a guide there (David), and he was able to provide some fascinating info about the Mau Mau caves.

Our time in Cape Town and its environs was terrific. We had a very safe and knowledgeable driver and guide, Graham. The tours we did were very well planned although I did more of the planning for our time at St. George's Cathedral.

There were some details that were oddly off (a dinner was scheduled for when we were flying), and I would have appreciated a more detailed itinerary with more explanations. We also were not informed until the day before we left that all of our transfers to the airport were not included in the package (although the cost for an Uber was reimbursed to us). Even so, overall, the trip was a wonderful success.

Hotel Reviews

Fairview Hotel, Nairobi

Nairobi

The grounds of this hotel are beautiful, and the staff is very friendly. The breakfast was delicious, and we had two great meals in the restaurants. The rooms are simple, but comfortable. My only concern would be that the hotel doesn't have a/c, and if the weather had been hot, we would not have enjoyed our stay as much.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The only reason I did not give 5 stars is due to the hotel not having a/c. We didn't need it during our stay in August.

Mbweha Camp

Nairobi - Kenya

This camp is absolutely lovely. The service is fabulous, and the rooms were very comfortable. The food was delicious. We also had a wonderful experience taking a night safari.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Commodore Hotel

Cape Town

This is a very comfortable hotel with friendly staff. It's a bit hustle-bustle, but it's in a great location. Our rooms were very comfortable, and the breakfast was delicious. We ate at the restaurant one evening and were delighted at the quality of the food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Dine at GOLD Restaurant

Cape Town

This restaurant provides a unique experience. We really enjoyed the celebration of African culture and cuisine. The service was quite off, but we attribute that to having a new server.

We went to Kenya as a family with our two young adult sons. Joseph was very responsive in tailoring the trip to fit within the limited dates we had available and organized a great itinerary with safaris in the masai Mara and lake Nakuru together with a night under the stars with masai chief seleten. A great trip topped off with 2-3 days at a Diani beach resort. Everything worked very smoothly and really appreciated our drivers Eliud and Richard .

Thanks to Joseph and Susan for planning an amazing trip in Kenya. They were very helpful throughout the entire booking and travel process. We spent 12 days and visited Amboseli, Naivasha, Nakuru and Masai Mara. Our guide George was great! He was very experienced and knowledgeable about wildlife especially birds! Each time he found the perfect spot to make sure that we saw all the animals we wanted to see. We loved every place we stayed and always felt safe. We hope to come back soon!