Travel reviews by R&G from Seattle from USA
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
3
Lodges stayed in
8
Excursions taken
3
My Jul 2023 trip
Kenya and 2 other countries between 24 Jul 2023 and 15 Aug 2023
"This was the trip of a lifetime. We wanted something really special and unique, as it was my 10 year work anniversary and sabbatical, and the team at Expert Africa delivered in a big way. Thank you Lyndsey!
The lodge recommendations were 100% on point; we knew it was going to be great, but we were still blown away by the places and the unique experiences Expert Africa lined up for this trip. It's rare that you do a 2.5 week holiday and everything just works, but in this case it's true. And the logistics could have been a nightmare, as we didn't spend more than 3 nights in any one location, but every transfer, every flight all went smoothly!
I think the real difference-maker was in how seamless the experience was. From the moment we flew into Nairobi until our quite literally boarding for departure back to the US the team at Expert Africa and their partners in Kenya and Tanzania made sure everything went without any trouble. Even a short delay at a local airstrip was met with surprise and delight as instead of being picked up by car for a 2-hour drive a private plane showed up and we had our own 15 min flight to the lodge - very cool!
In hindsight would we have done anything differently? Maybe, starting with just doing more of what Lyndsey said to do. :)
In all seriousness she guided us towards an amazingly unconstrained experience and we are tremendously grateful. If you are willing to commit the resources it is amazing what is possible when working with Expert Africa.
We have already referred multiple friends and colleagues to the Expert Africa website and to her directly, it will be fun to see if or when anyone else gets inspired to pick up the phone and book their adventure.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
In terms of improvements it's hard to say; your website is 1st class, Lynsey provided great advise, and payment and such were easy. I think the guides for obtaining visas and such were also easy to follow and made the process simple. The price of the holiday we booked was staggering, but I suppose that was a feature not a bug and mostly our fault. :)
In a perfect world more guidance on where to see villages (Sarara was great for this!) and where to avoid (At Entamanu the Masai are a bit "Disneyland" about it - hard to describe) would have been nice as instead we found ourselves a bit at the mercy of the local lodge managers. "Do you think it's worth visiting a village here?" is a bit of an unfair question, although credit to the team at Serian for the honest answer "no not really, there's better places for that if you want authenticity". We figured it out and are very happy with the results but we should have asked more questions in advance about where to lean into cultural experiences and where to say forget it, just stick to wildlife.
A few thoughts on the trip we booked that I didn't want to drop in reviews as they're somewhat unfair or too individual.
Sarara, Serian and Chem Chem were incredible. Continue to recommend them without hesitation.
-John at Sarara was one of the best drivers and provided an authenticity we found nowhere else, and I wish I lived in Sarara house. It's that nice and we regretted having to leave, even if the wildlife in Samburu isn't as abundant.
-Grace (sp) at Serian was simply talented beyond belief, her and Gisoi (sp) were one of the best guide/ranger duos anywhere. We would go back simply to have her guide us again she's that good!
-Isaac at Chem Chem had 20+ years of experience and it showed, he was such a pro and made the Chem Chem experience complete.
Those three properties are worth the expenditure without any qualifiers or concerns. Lyndsey was 100% right to recommend them and we hope to return to them in 2025.
Entamanu was also so good. I'm torn; we did one day in the crater, and it was so special. Would a second day have made sense? Who knows. Maybe it's too much, maybe not, but it's a lot of coming and going for what is essentially one long day of game drive. So glad we went, so that's a win! I think it just comes down to not having the time and budget to do it all, and this was the right place to shave a day. But we found ourselves thinking now that they have really nice structures to stay in a 2nd day could be worthwhile? Very subjective.
Nimali Mara is a tale of two cities. I left them a great review, and they deserve it! Really special place and the staff, including our butler Bethod (sp) were simply the best! But also worth noting our guided experience there with Moses was just so different lol! I'm talking tie-die sweatshirt, car falling apart (driver had to literally hold his door shut as it wouldn't latch while driving), cooler full of waters and sodas but no bottle opener, etc. it was just such a contrast with how over the top luxury the place itself is. The guy had a heart of gold and tried so hard, so nothing but respect there, but it's worth thinking about given the price point and contrast with the other guided experiences. We are travel veterans so it didn't phase us but I can imagine others really being shaken.
White Sands was also great but there is an element of the hussle in Zanzibar. It reminds me more of visiting the national parks vs. conservancies, they monetize differently (on the go vs. pay up front but then feel insulated from it all). That's ok! I think it was just so different to go from the Chem Chem experience into White Sands and Zanzibar. We wanted Zanzibar so that's on us, but in hindsight Chem Chem should have been the capstone experience, nothing was going to top that. We also didn't quite understand if we were supposed to book our experiences with the local team you sent our way or via the hotel property, but in the end it all worked out so no worries.
Our last day in Nairobi was long but that isn't your fault, the flight was set to depart late (we booked it) and was then delayed further. The guide was so nice and did his best to keep us entertained but by that point it was the end of a long trip and we were cooked. The Karen district is nice but after a few hours there just isn't much to do, but again, not the fault of the team at Expert Africa.
All in all we've now recommended Expert Africa and Lyndsey to multiple parties, as we are comfortable having our name attached to the referral.
We started this journey with you probably close to a year before our travels and are so happy we did, thank you for everything!"
The lodge recommendations were 100% on point; we knew it was going to be great, but we were still blown away by the places and the unique experiences Expert Africa lined up for this trip. It's rare that you do a 2.5 week holiday and everything just works, but in this case it's true. And the logistics could have been a nightmare, as we didn't spend more than 3 nights in any one location, but every transfer, every flight all went smoothly!
I think the real difference-maker was in how seamless the experience was. From the moment we flew into Nairobi until our quite literally boarding for departure back to the US the team at Expert Africa and their partners in Kenya and Tanzania made sure everything went without any trouble. Even a short delay at a local airstrip was met with surprise and delight as instead of being picked up by car for a 2-hour drive a private plane showed up and we had our own 15 min flight to the lodge - very cool!
In hindsight would we have done anything differently? Maybe, starting with just doing more of what Lyndsey said to do. :)
In all seriousness she guided us towards an amazingly unconstrained experience and we are tremendously grateful. If you are willing to commit the resources it is amazing what is possible when working with Expert Africa.
We have already referred multiple friends and colleagues to the Expert Africa website and to her directly, it will be fun to see if or when anyone else gets inspired to pick up the phone and book their adventure.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
In terms of improvements it's hard to say; your website is 1st class, Lynsey provided great advise, and payment and such were easy. I think the guides for obtaining visas and such were also easy to follow and made the process simple. The price of the holiday we booked was staggering, but I suppose that was a feature not a bug and mostly our fault. :)
In a perfect world more guidance on where to see villages (Sarara was great for this!) and where to avoid (At Entamanu the Masai are a bit "Disneyland" about it - hard to describe) would have been nice as instead we found ourselves a bit at the mercy of the local lodge managers. "Do you think it's worth visiting a village here?" is a bit of an unfair question, although credit to the team at Serian for the honest answer "no not really, there's better places for that if you want authenticity". We figured it out and are very happy with the results but we should have asked more questions in advance about where to lean into cultural experiences and where to say forget it, just stick to wildlife.
A few thoughts on the trip we booked that I didn't want to drop in reviews as they're somewhat unfair or too individual.
Sarara, Serian and Chem Chem were incredible. Continue to recommend them without hesitation.
-John at Sarara was one of the best drivers and provided an authenticity we found nowhere else, and I wish I lived in Sarara house. It's that nice and we regretted having to leave, even if the wildlife in Samburu isn't as abundant.
-Grace (sp) at Serian was simply talented beyond belief, her and Gisoi (sp) were one of the best guide/ranger duos anywhere. We would go back simply to have her guide us again she's that good!
-Isaac at Chem Chem had 20+ years of experience and it showed, he was such a pro and made the Chem Chem experience complete.
Those three properties are worth the expenditure without any qualifiers or concerns. Lyndsey was 100% right to recommend them and we hope to return to them in 2025.
Entamanu was also so good. I'm torn; we did one day in the crater, and it was so special. Would a second day have made sense? Who knows. Maybe it's too much, maybe not, but it's a lot of coming and going for what is essentially one long day of game drive. So glad we went, so that's a win! I think it just comes down to not having the time and budget to do it all, and this was the right place to shave a day. But we found ourselves thinking now that they have really nice structures to stay in a 2nd day could be worthwhile? Very subjective.
Nimali Mara is a tale of two cities. I left them a great review, and they deserve it! Really special place and the staff, including our butler Bethod (sp) were simply the best! But also worth noting our guided experience there with Moses was just so different lol! I'm talking tie-die sweatshirt, car falling apart (driver had to literally hold his door shut as it wouldn't latch while driving), cooler full of waters and sodas but no bottle opener, etc. it was just such a contrast with how over the top luxury the place itself is. The guy had a heart of gold and tried so hard, so nothing but respect there, but it's worth thinking about given the price point and contrast with the other guided experiences. We are travel veterans so it didn't phase us but I can imagine others really being shaken.
White Sands was also great but there is an element of the hussle in Zanzibar. It reminds me more of visiting the national parks vs. conservancies, they monetize differently (on the go vs. pay up front but then feel insulated from it all). That's ok! I think it was just so different to go from the Chem Chem experience into White Sands and Zanzibar. We wanted Zanzibar so that's on us, but in hindsight Chem Chem should have been the capstone experience, nothing was going to top that. We also didn't quite understand if we were supposed to book our experiences with the local team you sent our way or via the hotel property, but in the end it all worked out so no worries.
Our last day in Nairobi was long but that isn't your fault, the flight was set to depart late (we booked it) and was then delayed further. The guide was so nice and did his best to keep us entertained but by that point it was the end of a long trip and we were cooked. The Karen district is nice but after a few hours there just isn't much to do, but again, not the fault of the team at Expert Africa.
All in all we've now recommended Expert Africa and Lyndsey to multiple parties, as we are comfortable having our name attached to the referral.
We started this journey with you probably close to a year before our travels and are so happy we did, thank you for everything!"
Arranged By Lyndsey Marris
Four Points Nairobi Airport
"Four Points Nairobi Airport review"
1 night
Arrived
26 Jul 2023
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Sarara
"Sarara review"
2 nights
Arrived
27 Jul 2023
"Sarara was a real highlight of our experience. The lodging itself exceeds all expectations and is memorable in its own way, but the truth is the staff and management are what make this such a special place. Of course the food and service are all top notch, but there's an extra quality to every interaction that leaves an incredible sense of welcome. This was our first stay on our Safari holiday and it set the bar for everywhere else. Sarara House is a particularly unique experience and not to be missed for those looking for a little more space for family.
It's also worth noting our driver and ranger were excellent, making each day an adventure and making sure we had the right balance of game drives and cultural experiences we were looking for. This isn't the Mara, terrain here is close and varied, so finding wildlife and such requires skill and patience. That said the drivers at Sarara are more than up to task.
So many unique moments at the Singing Wells, the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, it's just a shame that 3 nights goes by so fast. Our last night was spent at one of the standard rooms and these are also quite exceptional.
It is no exaggeration to say we are already planning our return visit."
It's also worth noting our driver and ranger were excellent, making each day an adventure and making sure we had the right balance of game drives and cultural experiences we were looking for. This isn't the Mara, terrain here is close and varied, so finding wildlife and such requires skill and patience. That said the drivers at Sarara are more than up to task.
So many unique moments at the Singing Wells, the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, it's just a shame that 3 nights goes by so fast. Our last night was spent at one of the standard rooms and these are also quite exceptional.
It is no exaggeration to say we are already planning our return visit."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Zebra
10+ sightings
Serian
"Serian, a wildlife lovers dream"
3 nights
Arrived
30 Jul 2023
"If you are after wildlife this is the place to be. The camp location is ideal for quickly engaging in nature, and the staff and drivers know how to bring the best of the Mara to each moment.
It is worth calling out that the staff here are truly exceptional; mealtimes are a treat, the drivers and guides are world class, and you really feel like you are part of something special when staying with them.
The facilities themselves are top notch although guests should know you are definitely in nature when you stay at Serian. But it's very comfortable, and our family ranged from a young child to a senior and everyone was more than pleased with their accommodations and amenities.
We will certainly be returning and requesting the same guide, as she was one of the best we've ever seen. This is one stop where we could have spent another day or two as the wildlife experience was just that good, and if there's an animal you haven't seen on your trip yet this is where you're likely to find it. Highly recommend."
It is worth calling out that the staff here are truly exceptional; mealtimes are a treat, the drivers and guides are world class, and you really feel like you are part of something special when staying with them.
The facilities themselves are top notch although guests should know you are definitely in nature when you stay at Serian. But it's very comfortable, and our family ranged from a young child to a senior and everyone was more than pleased with their accommodations and amenities.
We will certainly be returning and requesting the same guide, as she was one of the best we've ever seen. This is one stop where we could have spent another day or two as the wildlife experience was just that good, and if there's an animal you haven't seen on your trip yet this is where you're likely to find it. Highly recommend."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
Many sightings
Cheetah
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
Many sightings
Leopard
Many sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Nimali Mara
"Nimali Mara review"
3 nights
Arrived
2 Aug 2023
"The facility and staff at Nimali are simply exceptional. Everyone from the manager to the bulters and wait staff, etc., are all amazingly welcoming and kind.
This was probably the most modern and contemporary of our stops on Safari and was an oasis of comfort. It isn't hyperbole to say that our bathroom in the separate house by the lodge entry was spa-like in quality and finishing. All of this is true while at the same time you're going to have wildlife on your doorstep and hear the great migration passing your room at night.
The game drives and wildlife are everything you'd expect from this part of Africa. Big herds, landscapes, and an abundance of animals. The river crossing is accessible, although we gave up on it after an hour or two and decided to ditch those crowds of humans and find our own adventure in the bush - but that's what is nice about Nimali, you can go either way when it comes to how you want to experience the great migration.
This is a truly unique place."
This was probably the most modern and contemporary of our stops on Safari and was an oasis of comfort. It isn't hyperbole to say that our bathroom in the separate house by the lodge entry was spa-like in quality and finishing. All of this is true while at the same time you're going to have wildlife on your doorstep and hear the great migration passing your room at night.
The game drives and wildlife are everything you'd expect from this part of Africa. Big herds, landscapes, and an abundance of animals. The river crossing is accessible, although we gave up on it after an hour or two and decided to ditch those crowds of humans and find our own adventure in the bush - but that's what is nice about Nimali, you can go either way when it comes to how you want to experience the great migration.
This is a truly unique place."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
Many sightings
Cheetah
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
Many sightings
Leopard
Many sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Balloon Safari over the Serengeti
"Balloon Safari over the Serengeti review"
3 Aug 2023 • Morning excursion
This was a total blast. I could write up all the details on how fun it was, and how worthwhile it was, but I don't want to spoil the fun.
If you're debating it my advice? Just do it.
It'll be a highlight of the trip and you'll be smiling and laughing about it for days and months to come.
If you're debating it my advice? Just do it.
It'll be a highlight of the trip and you'll be smiling and laughing about it for days and months to come.
Excellent
Entamanu Ngorongoro
"Entamanu Ngorongoro review - a hidden gem!"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Aug 2023
"Entamanu completely took us by surprise. At the time of our booking this was a tented facility that looked very nice but rustic. By the time we arrived they'd renovated much of the lodge and to our great delight the rooms were some of the best we found in both Kenya and Tanzania. At night the crater rim is quite windy and cold but the rooms were so comfortable, the modern fireplaces so warm and the views so spectacular that we enjoyed the benefits of life on the crater without the drawbacks. The common areas are still tended and blow a bit in the wind but the staff do a great job of keeping it warm and comfortable inside.
It's a reasonable drive from the entry to the crater, meaning we were able to be one of the first cars entering the park when it opened. This made a big difference as the early part of the day had some of the best - and least crowded - moments in Ngorongoro. The driver we had was simply world class; every detail was thought of in advance, his knowledge of the crater was limitless, and what must have been a long and exhausting day and drive for him were handled with ease.
The lodge itself puts you in short distance to Masaai villages and other experiences of note, but the crater is a highlight and not to be missed. It's also worth noting that Entamanu has a few surprises up its sleeves; our final dinner was authentic local cuisine and some of the best food of the trip, even though they don't heavily advertise or promote their dining. And the management and staff took excellent care of us from the moment of arrival until departure. For anyone visiting the crater this is a place I'd easily recommend, particularly given their recent upgrades."
It's a reasonable drive from the entry to the crater, meaning we were able to be one of the first cars entering the park when it opened. This made a big difference as the early part of the day had some of the best - and least crowded - moments in Ngorongoro. The driver we had was simply world class; every detail was thought of in advance, his knowledge of the crater was limitless, and what must have been a long and exhausting day and drive for him were handled with ease.
The lodge itself puts you in short distance to Masaai villages and other experiences of note, but the crater is a highlight and not to be missed. It's also worth noting that Entamanu has a few surprises up its sleeves; our final dinner was authentic local cuisine and some of the best food of the trip, even though they don't heavily advertise or promote their dining. And the management and staff took excellent care of us from the moment of arrival until departure. For anyone visiting the crater this is a place I'd easily recommend, particularly given their recent upgrades."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Buffalo
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
Many sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
"Safari in Ngorongoro Crater review"
6 Aug 2023 • All-day excursion
The crater is simply a must do if you find yourself in the area. It's such a unique ecosystem with so many micro-environments inside; there's forest, there's savannah, lakes, etc. all within this special place.
One pro tip our driver gave us that payed in spades; wake super early, go early, beat the crowds. It's worth it as those early hours ended up being our best in the crater.
Also keep your eyes peeled driving in, we had a leopard cross the road right in front of us and stop to check us out. Special moments indeed!
One pro tip our driver gave us that payed in spades; wake super early, go early, beat the crowds. It's worth it as those early hours ended up being our best in the crater.
Also keep your eyes peeled driving in, we had a leopard cross the road right in front of us and stop to check us out. Special moments indeed!
Chem Chem
"Chem Chem - the pinnacle of our Safari!"
3 nights
Arrived
7 Aug 2023
"Chem was a late addition for us; we had debated it, but it was a significant commitment and required other scheduling and budget trade-offs for us to make happen.
That said we are 100% thrilled we made the trip to Chem Chem. This was the finest Safari experience we had - period! As another guest remarked to us the dining "is better than the Four Seasons". This is not an exaggeration, if you are looking dinner under the stars, or in the library, or in the bush, they make it happen and at a standard you won't believe.
Of course none of this is possible without staff who work so hard to make it the best possible experience - they are the magic behind this place that makes it work! The rooms are finely appointed and you'll be walking by Giraffe, Zebra, etc. on the way to and from your room, the spa, the pool. Simply stunning - and this was after we'd already experienced much of the best of east Africa and thought we were getting jaded by luxury and experiences.
It's also worth calling out the concession / conservancy. This is a really special place to visit, as you're getting an experience much like Tarangire (lions in trees for starters!) but with no crowds and with guides who know every nook and cranny. The photos of the wildlife we have from Chem Chem are unique in how intimate and engaged everything was, but without being intrusive or feeling like you are disrupting the animals as they go about their day. The terrain here is quite close unlike the open plains of the Mara or Serengeti, so amazing guides make all the difference and the team at Chem Chem does not disappoint!
We consider ourselves seasoned travelers, this being my 3rd Safari and another member of our group being at 6+ Safari's, and we all agree that Chem Chem is easily a top 3 lodge if not #1 across our experiences in Africa.
We 100% intend to return."
That said we are 100% thrilled we made the trip to Chem Chem. This was the finest Safari experience we had - period! As another guest remarked to us the dining "is better than the Four Seasons". This is not an exaggeration, if you are looking dinner under the stars, or in the library, or in the bush, they make it happen and at a standard you won't believe.
Of course none of this is possible without staff who work so hard to make it the best possible experience - they are the magic behind this place that makes it work! The rooms are finely appointed and you'll be walking by Giraffe, Zebra, etc. on the way to and from your room, the spa, the pool. Simply stunning - and this was after we'd already experienced much of the best of east Africa and thought we were getting jaded by luxury and experiences.
It's also worth calling out the concession / conservancy. This is a really special place to visit, as you're getting an experience much like Tarangire (lions in trees for starters!) but with no crowds and with guides who know every nook and cranny. The photos of the wildlife we have from Chem Chem are unique in how intimate and engaged everything was, but without being intrusive or feeling like you are disrupting the animals as they go about their day. The terrain here is quite close unlike the open plains of the Mara or Serengeti, so amazing guides make all the difference and the team at Chem Chem does not disappoint!
We consider ourselves seasoned travelers, this being my 3rd Safari and another member of our group being at 6+ Safari's, and we all agree that Chem Chem is easily a top 3 lodge if not #1 across our experiences in Africa.
We 100% intend to return."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
Many sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
White Sand Villas
"White Sand Villas, a Zanzibar paradise"
3 nights
Arrived
10 Aug 2023
"We were fortunate enough to stay at a villa in White Sands and let's just say that the room shattered all expectations. Luxury bed and bathrooms, rooftop sunning area, separate living and dining area, private pool, hammocks, etc. You will want for no creature comforts staying here.
And the dining and guest experience is great, particularly when they hold poolside events with live music and such. Very memorable!
The beach is true to form. White sand, soft, almost like kitchen flour underfoot. Note that this isn't Hawaii, you'll have random locals passing on the beach trying to sell you trinkets and experiences. The property has security who work hard to keep this to a minimum, but be prepared for an unexpected conversation or two with someone selling their wares and mastering the art of politely declining.
The menu of activities is expansive, and given our limited timetable we couldn't take up most of them but the snorkeling was certainly memorable and a story we share to this day.
Ultimately this was our relaxation post safari, and our young daughters favorite stop of the trip. So if you're looking for sun and sand you're going to have a great time here."
And the dining and guest experience is great, particularly when they hold poolside events with live music and such. Very memorable!
The beach is true to form. White sand, soft, almost like kitchen flour underfoot. Note that this isn't Hawaii, you'll have random locals passing on the beach trying to sell you trinkets and experiences. The property has security who work hard to keep this to a minimum, but be prepared for an unexpected conversation or two with someone selling their wares and mastering the art of politely declining.
The menu of activities is expansive, and given our limited timetable we couldn't take up most of them but the snorkeling was certainly memorable and a story we share to this day.
Ultimately this was our relaxation post safari, and our young daughters favorite stop of the trip. So if you're looking for sun and sand you're going to have a great time here."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Palacina
"Palacina review - a Naoribi oasis"
1 night
Arrived
13 Aug 2023
"We spent a night at the Palacina waiting for our departure flight the next evening at the end of a long Safari holiday.
This is a very comfortable property with a lovely restaurant attached. The dinner here was a treat, and the property location gave easy access to the Karen district and related points of interest like the Giraffe center, etc.
Note that the rooms here are very large and finely appointed, so you'll be comfortable during your city stay. It reminded us more of a London stay in Mayfair at someone's flat than a traditional hotel, but for most travelers that isn't a bad thing. And the staff are very helpful with managing bags and making sure the stay is a good one."
This is a very comfortable property with a lovely restaurant attached. The dinner here was a treat, and the property location gave easy access to the Karen district and related points of interest like the Giraffe center, etc.
Note that the rooms here are very large and finely appointed, so you'll be comfortable during your city stay. It reminded us more of a London stay in Mayfair at someone's flat than a traditional hotel, but for most travelers that isn't a bad thing. And the staff are very helpful with managing bags and making sure the stay is a good one."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Nairobi Giraffe Centre visit
"Nairobi Giraffe Centre visit review"
13 Aug 2023 • All-day excursion
What a fun place to visit!
Feeding the giraffes is a highlight, and there is a solid educational component as well. We went early in the day to beat the crowds (recommended) and had a wonderful time. It's fun for adults but quite magical for children and even a bit scary at first, as you're feeding the animals from a raised platform and they really want their food!
Note that you won't spend hours here, it's a good "stop along the way" but certainly not a half day excursion. There is nearby shopping making it a highlight of a morning or afternoon spent in the neighborhood.
Feeding the giraffes is a highlight, and there is a solid educational component as well. We went early in the day to beat the crowds (recommended) and had a wonderful time. It's fun for adults but quite magical for children and even a bit scary at first, as you're feeding the animals from a raised platform and they really want their food!
Note that you won't spend hours here, it's a good "stop along the way" but certainly not a half day excursion. There is nearby shopping making it a highlight of a morning or afternoon spent in the neighborhood.
Nice jump off point for our safari holiday."