Reviews of safaris to Maasai Mara Conservancies
390 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Mara Conservancies.
Mr W
Stockton
"My Oct 2017 trip"
I visited Kenya between 29 Oct 2017 and 12 Nov 2017
"My trip as a whole was better than I could have hoped for. It was actually James Denny that organised the trip but he is off on his own adventure now. The service I got from him and Richard was excellent. Very helpful in understanding my requirements and organised a wonderful trip. Next time I'm in Africa I will not hesitate to use you again and would highly recommend you to anybody looking to do the same. Thank you for such a memorable experience."
Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs Jane C
USA
"My Oct 2017 trip"
I visited Kenya between 13 Oct 2017 and 25 Oct 2017
"Exceptional. Just sign up and go.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Overall, the most amazing trip of our lives. We recommend ExpertAfrica without hesitation.
(See earlier comments on Tortilis and Lewa for improvements)" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Kenya safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Overall, the most amazing trip of our lives. We recommend ExpertAfrica without hesitation.
(See earlier comments on Tortilis and Lewa for improvements)" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs R
Ashbourne
"Our October 2017 trip"
I visited Kenya and 1 other country between 13 Oct 2017 and 25 Oct 2017
"Very enjoyable trip combining a safari in two contrasting areas of Kenya (Samburu and Mara Naboisho) with a beach holiday in Zanzibar. it was a particular pleasure that we were not bothered by mosquitoes.
Expert Africa's recommendations and organisation were spot on." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
Expert Africa's recommendations and organisation were spot on." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr B
Hertfordshire
"Eventful"
I visited Rwanda and 1 other country between 4 Oct 2017 and 16 Oct 2017
"Our trip to Rwanda unexpectedly turned out to be rather dramatic following the first and only gorilla trek which left us total exhausted and me seeking medical help resulting in leaving the Volcanoes National Park earlier than planned and a 2 night stay at the King Faisal Hospital in Kigali following a diagnosis of pneumonia from which I'm still recovering and will probably do so for possibly another 2 weeks or more. We would not have got through this unfortunate episode without the help of our Primate Safaris driver/guide Sura who assisted in so many ways from paying a hospital bill with his own money to procuring cups of coffee from a cafeteria for me while I was in hospital. Well beyond what was expected for which we are truly grateful.
Having spoken with several people who were trekking it seems to us that better briefing beforehand is required. With trekking up to 3000 metres you have to be physically fit and acclimatised which were not although of course I did not know at the time I was suffering with pneumonia. Comment was made that it's always best to do one trek before committing to another. Appreciate that could be a problem as permits often should be booked in advance. It's not unusual for people to abandon the trek part way and in my case the guide did mention (at the end) there was a thought that I might need to be stretchered off the mountain. Among the people I spoke with was an American lady doctor who said she had to give up on her trek but then again she should not really have been on it as she's asthmatic but no one told her how difficult it might be. Nurses at the hospital in Kigali said they often had patient referrals from the gorilla treks as many underestimate the difficult terrain involved.
It would seem there is a perception among a lot of people that seeing the gorillas in the wild is a trip for everyone. Don't believe it is and can be a lottery. At least we have experienced a meeting with gorillas but at some cost and now plenty of paperwork associated with the insurance claim for reimbursement of hospital fees and the non-refundable trek permit. Would advise would be visitors to seriously think about the risks involved." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Rwanda safari
Having spoken with several people who were trekking it seems to us that better briefing beforehand is required. With trekking up to 3000 metres you have to be physically fit and acclimatised which were not although of course I did not know at the time I was suffering with pneumonia. Comment was made that it's always best to do one trek before committing to another. Appreciate that could be a problem as permits often should be booked in advance. It's not unusual for people to abandon the trek part way and in my case the guide did mention (at the end) there was a thought that I might need to be stretchered off the mountain. Among the people I spoke with was an American lady doctor who said she had to give up on her trek but then again she should not really have been on it as she's asthmatic but no one told her how difficult it might be. Nurses at the hospital in Kigali said they often had patient referrals from the gorilla treks as many underestimate the difficult terrain involved.
It would seem there is a perception among a lot of people that seeing the gorillas in the wild is a trip for everyone. Don't believe it is and can be a lottery. At least we have experienced a meeting with gorillas but at some cost and now plenty of paperwork associated with the insurance claim for reimbursement of hospital fees and the non-refundable trek permit. Would advise would be visitors to seriously think about the risks involved." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Rwanda safari
Overall trip
Good
Mr & Mrs P
Wiltshire
"Our Kenya 2017 trip"
I visited Kenya between 18 Sep 2017 and 4 Oct 2017
"An unexpected and excellent surprise"
Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 16 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Peter LeVine
USA
"My September 2017 Visit to Kenya and Botswana"
I visited Kenya and 1 other country between 17 Sep 2017 and 26 Sep 2017
"This was my second vacation planned with Expert Africa and was, once again, exceptional. The assistance of Richard Trillo and Rich Ball was invaluable. It is very true that you are working with true experts on Africa who listen carefully and plan an exceptional visit accordingly."
Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 5 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr W & Ms W + kids
NL
"A week in the Mara"
I visited Kenya between 16 Sep 2017 and 23 Sep 2017
"It was an amazing trip.
The Serian camps are really our type of place with a good focus on wildlife and quality guiding. We could spend ages in such camps.
We had some amazing sightings this year as well, and are again thinking about how soon we can return (probably not next year, but who knows...)." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Kenya safari
The Serian camps are really our type of place with a good focus on wildlife and quality guiding. We could spend ages in such camps.
We had some amazing sightings this year as well, and are again thinking about how soon we can return (probably not next year, but who knows...)." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Wokingham
"Fallen back in love with Kenya"
I visited Kenya between 31 Aug 2017 and 17 Sep 2017
"Our first trip to Kenya as a family was some 25 years ago when we had 12 nights on the beach at Mombassa and a couple of nights in Tsavo East. We visited a couple of times since but couldn't imagine ever wanting to return. My husband wanted to do the migration so it was a decision between Kenya and Tanzania but the time of year suited us best for Kenya.
On our last day in the Mara we were lucky to see not only wildebeest crossing the river in their hundreds if not thousands and a lioness picking them off as they came up the bank. She took three down and went for a fourth but failed. What a spectacle!
But the Toyota Migration was something else! Way too many vehicles, too much speeding and too many vehicles (probably unlicensed) out from Nairobi with their customers. We came across one vehicle who'd got stuck in mud. The driver didn't even have a tow rope.
The Naboisho Conservancy was much quieter without the crowds, the beach divine. Yes, we've fallen back in love with Kenya." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 17 on a Kenya safari
On our last day in the Mara we were lucky to see not only wildebeest crossing the river in their hundreds if not thousands and a lioness picking them off as they came up the bank. She took three down and went for a fourth but failed. What a spectacle!
But the Toyota Migration was something else! Way too many vehicles, too much speeding and too many vehicles (probably unlicensed) out from Nairobi with their customers. We came across one vehicle who'd got stuck in mud. The driver didn't even have a tow rope.
The Naboisho Conservancy was much quieter without the crowds, the beach divine. Yes, we've fallen back in love with Kenya." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 17 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs Muriel B
USA
"To say "A Dream Come True" is to Understate.."
I visited Kenya and 2 other countries between 30 Aug 2017 and 13 Sep 2017
"I feel so lucky and grateful to have made acquaintance with Justin Huff from Expert Africa. His knowledge was so thorough and immediate that I knew I had to take advantage of his service to plan our African adventure-- even to the extent that I risked a relationship with a very important friend who is a travel agent. I just didn't want to make any mistakes, traveling so far and at such expense!
We met someone on our trip who had spent the equivalent of four months at a full time job researching his trip to Africa, rejecting agency after agency when they didn't include or provide the amenities that this man deemed essential to a perfect safari. I was BEYOND DELIGHTED to learn that every single thing this man had learned was the best way to go, Justin at Expert Africa had included in our trip to the extent that it was literally perfect. I don't think I can put it any more succinctly than that.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Only one. I felt that canvas wallet you provided was a tad excessive, as I have no future use for it, and didn't really need it during the trip. Maybe others feel differently, but I do plan to send ours back.
Thank you so much for running a fantastic operation!" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
We met someone on our trip who had spent the equivalent of four months at a full time job researching his trip to Africa, rejecting agency after agency when they didn't include or provide the amenities that this man deemed essential to a perfect safari. I was BEYOND DELIGHTED to learn that every single thing this man had learned was the best way to go, Justin at Expert Africa had included in our trip to the extent that it was literally perfect. I don't think I can put it any more succinctly than that.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Only one. I felt that canvas wallet you provided was a tad excessive, as I have no future use for it, and didn't really need it during the trip. Maybe others feel differently, but I do plan to send ours back.
Thank you so much for running a fantastic operation!" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr Dario
Richmond
"My Aug 2017 trip"
I visited Kenya between 9 Aug 2017 and 23 Aug 2017
"The 3 safari destinations (Laikipia + Maara) were great, all of them. The fact that we were first timers probably helped, but we were gobsmacked day after day seeing these beautiful places accompanied by excellent, smart, friendly, local guides.
The bit on the coast a bit less exciting as we were not quite ready to confront the beach boys so we ended up staying inside the hotel most of the time: good thing the hotel was very nice!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I think Richard has done a great job with us, nothing in particular i can think of." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 17 on a Kenya safari
The bit on the coast a bit less exciting as we were not quite ready to confront the beach boys so we ended up staying inside the hotel most of the time: good thing the hotel was very nice!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I think Richard has done a great job with us, nothing in particular i can think of." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 17 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
390
reviews of Mara Conservancies by travellers since August 2007
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