Reviews of safaris to Maasai Mara Conservancies
390 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Mara Conservancies.
Ms K.
USA
"My Feb 2023 trip"
I visited Kenya between 17 Feb 2023 and 9 Mar 2023
"The overall trip was amazing.
Truly a "trip of a lifetime" but I don't want to say that because I plan to come back!!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I would recommend getting materials out much earlier, like the guidebook on Kenya and the travel wallet (which was lovely but we had all already bought one by then). However, the friendly service is much more important to me and it was superb from Richard." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Truly a "trip of a lifetime" but I don't want to say that because I plan to come back!!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I would recommend getting materials out much earlier, like the guidebook on Kenya and the travel wallet (which was lovely but we had all already bought one by then). However, the friendly service is much more important to me and it was superb from Richard." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms J.
USA
"My Feb 2023 trip"
I visited Kenya between 17 Feb 2023 and 9 Mar 2023
"It was the trip of a lifetime.
Nancie and Richard took care of all of the details and I can't thank them enough!" Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Nancie and Richard took care of all of the details and I can't thank them enough!" Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms A.
Manchester
"My Feb 2023 trip"
I visited Kenya between 10 Feb 2023 and 23 Feb 2023
"I decided to return to Kenya for my first post-covid trip about 10 weeks before I planned to travel. For me, this was "spur of the moment" as I normally book 10-12 months out! I reached out to Richard and hoped he'd be able to pull my desired camps together on short notice. He did it and made a few tweaks that truly made this a trip of a lifetime (that charter flight was absolutely unforgettable!)
Everything was flawless and it all came together for my best safari yet. I can't really ask for more than that!
Knowing Richard from his online posts, I trust his judgement and experience and I'm so fortunate to have gotten the chance to work with him. He knows the ins and outs of the camps and locations and makes great suggestions. I'm already working on my next safari with him, and see that that's the case again! Thank you Richard!!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
Everything was flawless and it all came together for my best safari yet. I can't really ask for more than that!
Knowing Richard from his online posts, I trust his judgement and experience and I'm so fortunate to have gotten the chance to work with him. He knows the ins and outs of the camps and locations and makes great suggestions. I'm already working on my next safari with him, and see that that's the case again! Thank you Richard!!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs P
Teddington
"My Feb 2023 trip"
I visited Kenya between 2 Feb 2023 and 18 Feb 2023
"An excellent holiday. Thank you.
Well organised and all arrangements through Expert Africa ran smoothly and as planned.
Thank you.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
A single sheet (as a pdf) with pictures of all mammals you could see. This could be attached to the wildlife survey. There was a poster on the wall at the Northern White Rhino sanctuary in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
Well organised and all arrangements through Expert Africa ran smoothly and as planned.
Thank you.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
A single sheet (as a pdf) with pictures of all mammals you could see. This could be attached to the wildlife survey. There was a poster on the wall at the Northern White Rhino sanctuary in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
York
"My Feb 2023 trip"
I visited Zanzibar and 1 other country between 1 Feb 2023 and 16 Feb 2023
"Our trip was a fabulous experience, we would not hesitate to recommend Expert Africa to our friends and family."
Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs AJ
Thatcham
"My Jan 2023 trip"
I visited Kenya between 27 Jan 2023 and 5 Feb 2023
"Really pleased with all the planning although the travel pack only arrived a week in advance and it would have been helpful to have this earlier.
Although the advice was to take anti malaria tablets we didn’t see any mosquito at either lodge." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
Although the advice was to take anti malaria tablets we didn’t see any mosquito at either lodge." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr R.
Malmesbury
"Jan 2023 - Fantastic trip."
I visited Kenya between 26 Jan 2023 and 7 Feb 2023
"The two safari lodges suggested by Claire were a great compliment to each other both in style of lodge (more homestead based individually managed camp vs. professionally run luxury bush camp that is part of a safari group) and area (Northern Kenya/rhino intensive/hilly vs. richness of the Mara plains ecosystem). Kinondo Kwetu was a lovely boutique style restful beach option at the end. All of our arrangements went without a hitch and everyone we met was charming including the Southern Cross safari employees who looked after us on arrival/departure from Nairobi.
We saw some amazing game and were spoilt throughout. The Kenyan people are wonderful and the country is world leading in several areas - such as the long term ban on hunting and the high penalties for poaching which has curtailed such practices. The private conservancies provide an exclusive experience and carry out best practices in game conservation as well as getting buy in from local tribes by ensuring they are compensated and by ensuring traditional grazing can continue but subject to restrictions.
Our one negative comment on Kenya is how the departure experience (arrival is fine) at Nairobi international airport lets the country down - the queues for passport control and the four security scans are excruciatingly long and mis-managed (on airport perimeter arrival, to enter the terminal, at security and again at the gate!!). There were no queues for the BA flight check in and we had fast track status and it took us 1 hour 40 minutes of queuing to get through.
We spoke to a man traveling on a different airline (there were some huge check in queues for other airlines) and the whole process took him 4.5 hours. Our flight was delayed 40 minutes waiting for some passengers. The terminal is too small for the amount of flights and there aren't enough staff. Arrive 3 hours before flying as a minimum.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None - absolute first class service from beginning to end.
Thank you." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
We saw some amazing game and were spoilt throughout. The Kenyan people are wonderful and the country is world leading in several areas - such as the long term ban on hunting and the high penalties for poaching which has curtailed such practices. The private conservancies provide an exclusive experience and carry out best practices in game conservation as well as getting buy in from local tribes by ensuring they are compensated and by ensuring traditional grazing can continue but subject to restrictions.
Our one negative comment on Kenya is how the departure experience (arrival is fine) at Nairobi international airport lets the country down - the queues for passport control and the four security scans are excruciatingly long and mis-managed (on airport perimeter arrival, to enter the terminal, at security and again at the gate!!). There were no queues for the BA flight check in and we had fast track status and it took us 1 hour 40 minutes of queuing to get through.
We spoke to a man traveling on a different airline (there were some huge check in queues for other airlines) and the whole process took him 4.5 hours. Our flight was delayed 40 minutes waiting for some passengers. The terminal is too small for the amount of flights and there aren't enough staff. Arrive 3 hours before flying as a minimum.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None - absolute first class service from beginning to end.
Thank you." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dr W & Dr D
Leeds
"Our Jan 2023 trip to Kenya"
I visited Kenya between 21 Jan 2023 and 4 Feb 2023
"It was good to have the contrast with the arid Samburu area and the abundance of wildlife in the Mara."
Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
N & J Lancs
UK
"Return to Kenya after 36 years"
I visited Kenya between 20 Jan 2023 and 4 Feb 2023
"On the whole it was an excellent and well organised trip to some vastly different parks. Amazing numbers of lions seen (70).
With hindsight we would have flown from Sand River to Elephant Pepper.
All the staff at the lodges were extremely welcoming and helpful." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Kenya safari
With hindsight we would have flown from Sand River to Elephant Pepper.
All the staff at the lodges were extremely welcoming and helpful." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
The EZies
Zurich
"My Jan 2023 trip"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 20 Jan 2023 and 5 Feb 2023
"We, honestly, cannot recommend this enough!!
We are already looking forward for further trips with you guys! Indeed, we might even change future itineraries, to have the chance to organize something with you. Richard, especially, although we have been very demanding (and sometimes specific and persistent.. borderline annoying) customers, was extraordinarily helpful and patient and flexible.... so many iterations, changes, discussions, clarifications.. it was all the ULTIMATELY PERFECT TRIP, with even extra credits given in quite a few occasions where it was all so organized as a relay, as a well functioning machine!!
Richard, truly thanks for this!!
It was a life-savings-splashing trip for us, it was a big gamble, and we could not even have imagined it being THAT perfect!" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
We are already looking forward for further trips with you guys! Indeed, we might even change future itineraries, to have the chance to organize something with you. Richard, especially, although we have been very demanding (and sometimes specific and persistent.. borderline annoying) customers, was extraordinarily helpful and patient and flexible.... so many iterations, changes, discussions, clarifications.. it was all the ULTIMATELY PERFECT TRIP, with even extra credits given in quite a few occasions where it was all so organized as a relay, as a well functioning machine!!
Richard, truly thanks for this!!
It was a life-savings-splashing trip for us, it was a big gamble, and we could not even have imagined it being THAT perfect!" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
390
reviews of Mara Conservancies by travellers since August 2007
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