Reviews of safaris to Maasai Mara Conservancies
360 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Mara Conservancies.
"My Feb 2023 trip"
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
"My Feb 2023 trip"
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
"My Feb 2023 trip"
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
"My Feb 2023 trip"
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
"My Feb 2023 trip"
"My Jan 2023 trip"
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
"Jan 2023 - Fantastic trip."
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
"Our Jan 2023 trip to Kenya"
"My Jan 2023 trip"
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
"Return to Kenya after 36 years"
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
Where to stay in Mara Conservancies
Our suggestions for safari camps in Maasai Mara Conservancies
Kicheche Bush Camp
Kicheche Bush Camp is a smart and intimate tented camp with a relaxed atmosphere and the perfect base in the Mara for keen photographers.
Kicheche Mara
Kicheche Mara Camp has just eight tents and a rustic and comfortable feel. It is set by a stream in a pretty area of the Mara ecosystem's Mara North Conservancy.
Kicheche Valley
Kicheche Valley is a boutique tented camp in a wooded district of the Mara ecosystem's Naboisho Conservancy, with plenty of wildlife in the area.
Naboisho Camp
Naboisho Camp is one of the most luxurious of the handful of camps in the Naboisho Conservancy. It offers day and night game drives, game walks and full creature comforts in the bush.
Offbeat Mara
Offbeat Mara is a small traditional camp that appeals to safari traditionalists, located in one of the Maasai Mara’s quiet conservancies.
Elephant Pepper Camp
Elephant Pepper Camp is a small 10-tent bush camp, put together in the traditional "campaign" style, and including a large honeymoon/family tent.
Encounter Mara
Encounter Mara is located in the private Naboisho Conservancy – a game-rich area of the Mara ecosystem – and offers a contemporary take on the traditional, low-impact luxury safari camp.
Serian
Serian is a luxury tented camp on the east bank of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy. It is the sister camp of Ngare Serian, on the west bank.
Mara Plains Camp
Mara Plains is one of the very best camps in the Mara ecosystem. Located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just outside the Mara reserve, it has access to three wildlife-viewing areas.
Basecamp Eagle View
Basecamp Eagle View is a community-focused safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy, with a strong emphasis on responsible tourism and a spectacular location.
Kicheche Fly Camp
Kicheche Walking Wilderness Fly Camp is a temporaray dome tent camp set up for participants in Kicheche's two-day walking safari between Kicheche Valley and Kicheche Bush Camp.
Porini Lion Camp
Porini Lion Camp is a pioneering, community focused eco-camp, with excellent guides and game viewing, in the predator-rich, Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Hemingways Ol Seki
Magnificently located tented lodge on a bluff looking south across the Naboisho Conservancy toward the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Ol Kinyei Adventure
Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp is a satelllite of the larger Porini Mara Camp. Both of them are located in the Maasai-owned Ol Kinyei conservancy, the oldest community conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Saruni Wild
Saruni Wild is a rustic and traditional safari camp in the Lemek Conservancy, with just three tents and limited electricity.
Ngare Serian
The luxurious Ngare Serian and its sister camp Serian face each other across the Mara River on the western side of the Mara North Conservancy
Porini Mara Camp
Porini Mara Camp is a small, pioneering eco-camp in the first private conservancy in the Mara region, with comfortable accommodation and a range of activities.
Cottars 1920s Camp
Cottar's 1920s Camp is a classic, luxury tented camp with a 1920s safari theme, located in its own conservancy on the southeast border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Offbeat Ndoto
Small and intimate, Offbeat Mara is set in a valley above the (often dry) Olare Orok River within the Mara North Conservancy.
Karen Blixen Camp
Karen Blixen Camp sits on a meander of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy, just beyond the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Basecamp Leopard Hill
With six beautiful tents, Basecamp Leopard Hill is a smart safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Leleshwa
Leleshwa was a delightful, boutique safari camp on the picturesque banks of a tributary of the Talek, with an extensive, little visited game area on its doorstep.
Mahali Mzuri
Mahali Mzuri is a strikingly modern tented camp in the Virgin Limited Edition group, in a remote part of the Mara ecosytem's Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It has lovely views and all the luxuries of a five-star hotel.
Mara Nyika
Mara Nyika is one of the newer additions to the Naboisho Conservancy and offers a luxurious and exclusive safari.
Basecamp Wilderness
Basecamp Wilderness Camp is a simple, traditional tented camp, set in a remote valley in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Mara ecoystem.
Saruni Mara
Saruni Mara is a luxurious permanent lodge, on the remote northern edge of the Mara North Conservancy, with stunning views, good guiding and very private and comfortable rooms.
Mara Bushtops
Mara Bushtops is a luxury safari hotel on a private concession, outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the emphasis on comfort, relaxation and good food and wine.
Entumoto
Entumoto is a high-end tented camp, with a swimming pool, situated in a very pretty location on the east side of the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Cottars Private House
Cottar's Private House is one of the few truly luxurious, modern private houses in the Mara ecosystem, spoiling its guests with first-rate staff, a swimming pool and wonderful views.
