Reviews of safaris to Maasai Mara National Reserve
110 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Maasai Mara.
Geoff @ St Albans
UK
"My Feb 2022 trip"
I visited Kenya between 27 Feb 2022 and 11 Mar 2022
"We have enjoyed many safaris, several with Expert Africa but also with upmarket competitors.
We were delighted with the way that Richard Trillo listened to what we wanted and then shaped a trip to meet these criteria.
We would strongly recommend booking with Richard for anyone going to Kenya." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
We were delighted with the way that Richard Trillo listened to what we wanted and then shaped a trip to meet these criteria.
We would strongly recommend booking with Richard for anyone going to Kenya." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs E
Northumber
"My Feb 2022 trip"
I visited Kenya between 12 Feb 2022 and 21 Feb 2022
"The trip overall was excellent. We have followed this itinerary before and it is always excellent.
We must mention the support offered by Richard Trillo. Richard is always helpful and on this occasion he was put to the test due to the documentation requirements for travel. He always offered timely and accurate advice and did so with a high degree of patience which was probably necessary at times. We have total confidence in Richard organising these trips for us.
We must point out that Heathrow airport was extremely well organised in terms of documentation etc. Nairobi airport was the opposite.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
We must mention the support offered by Richard Trillo. Richard is always helpful and on this occasion he was put to the test due to the documentation requirements for travel. He always offered timely and accurate advice and did so with a high degree of patience which was probably necessary at times. We have total confidence in Richard organising these trips for us.
We must point out that Heathrow airport was extremely well organised in terms of documentation etc. Nairobi airport was the opposite.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs L
Netherlands
"My Feb 2022 trip"
I visited Kenya between 2 Feb 2022 and 14 Feb 2022
"I had a wonderful stay at Tangulia Mara camp. The people are warm and welcoming, the service is impeccable. I like the rustic style with a design that shows an eye for detail. Half of my 11 days stay I was the only guest in camp, which I enjoyed very much.
The wildlife in the Masai Mara was abundant. We saw 50+ lions, 7 cheetah, 3 leopards and 4 serval cats. Lots of elephants and topi. My guides Sophia and Dalton were very knowledgeable and good drivers. I loved our conversations over the picnic breakfasts. It was a real bonus that Tangulia gives every guest/couple/group a private car if possible.
The roads in the Masai Mara were often very bad due to the rains we would have during almost every night. In the Mara Triangle the roads are better, but there we saw less wildlife partly due to the long grass at the time.
Expert Africa has organised my stay very efficiently, as usual. I had to defer my trip twice, which was dealt with in a pleasant way by Richard Trillo." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
The wildlife in the Masai Mara was abundant. We saw 50+ lions, 7 cheetah, 3 leopards and 4 serval cats. Lots of elephants and topi. My guides Sophia and Dalton were very knowledgeable and good drivers. I loved our conversations over the picnic breakfasts. It was a real bonus that Tangulia gives every guest/couple/group a private car if possible.
The roads in the Masai Mara were often very bad due to the rains we would have during almost every night. In the Mara Triangle the roads are better, but there we saw less wildlife partly due to the long grass at the time.
Expert Africa has organised my stay very efficiently, as usual. I had to defer my trip twice, which was dealt with in a pleasant way by Richard Trillo." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Lancs
"My Jan 2022 trip"
I visited Kenya between 29 Jan 2022 and 19 Feb 2022
"Excellent holiday all round
Expert Africa were excellent through the whole booking and travelling process
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
It was all first rate so no improvement necessary!!" Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 19 on a Kenya safari
Expert Africa were excellent through the whole booking and travelling process
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
It was all first rate so no improvement necessary!!" Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 19 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms K
Florida
"My Jan 2022 trip"
I visited Kenya between 22 Jan 2022 and 31 Jan 2022
"The trip went very well and Lyndsey's recommendation of Kicheche was a good one.
I especially appreciated her extra effort in altering arrangements to include my friend in the itinerary. Any glitches were small ones." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
I especially appreciated her extra effort in altering arrangements to include my friend in the itinerary. Any glitches were small ones." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
The VD family
London
"My Nov 2021 trip"
I visited Kenya between 27 Nov 2021 and 6 Dec 2021
"Fabulous and extremely well advised by Claire who made sure we had a great trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
On the last day I would next time spent my late afternoon/dinner at Talisman restaurant instead of the Four Points as it has more authenticity and character though Four Points is extremely convenient location wise." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
On the last day I would next time spent my late afternoon/dinner at Talisman restaurant instead of the Four Points as it has more authenticity and character though Four Points is extremely convenient location wise." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr B
London
"Fantastic safari to Kenya!"
I visited Kenya between 13 Nov 2021 and 29 Nov 2021
"What a really wonderful trip! After waiting almost two years to travel internationally because of the pandemic, it was so fantastic to be away on safari again.
Aside from a few extra bits of paperwork to organise before flying, everything on the ground felt very 'normal'. The camps felt very safe and were mindful of covid protocols (all staff were double vaccinated), without detracting from the experience. If anything, being outside in the fresh air all day is probably safer than being in a UK city anyway! It was also clear that all of the camps were so happy to be welcoming guests again.
A big thank you to Expert Africa for all of their help organising such a memorable trip." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Kenya safari
Aside from a few extra bits of paperwork to organise before flying, everything on the ground felt very 'normal'. The camps felt very safe and were mindful of covid protocols (all staff were double vaccinated), without detracting from the experience. If anything, being outside in the fresh air all day is probably safer than being in a UK city anyway! It was also clear that all of the camps were so happy to be welcoming guests again.
A big thank you to Expert Africa for all of their help organising such a memorable trip." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
Caterham
"My Oct 2021 trip, long awaited return to favourit"
I visited Kenya between 2 Oct 2021 and 13 Oct 2021
"As I said I could not wait to return to Africa and I was not disappointed!
I love staying at the smaller lodges, never tire of game drives, guides stories and a chill out by the coast." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Kenya safari
I love staying at the smaller lodges, never tire of game drives, guides stories and a chill out by the coast." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Miss P
London
"My Oct 2021 trip"
I visited Zambia and 1 other country between 1 Oct 2021 and 25 Oct 2021
"As a solo traveler, the lesson from this trip was what a massive difference the hosting and management can make to my enjoyment of a camp. In this respect, it really highlighted the appeal of owner run camps like Tafika where, as a repeat guest, you know you can expect to see the same faces (more or less) and get the same welcome time after time. Whilst I did also really enjoy Rekero, I know that there would be no guarantee of the same experience in a couple of years time as managers move on.
It was wonderful to be back in Zambia, and I was determined not to go another year without a Zambia safari, so I departed for this trip before Zambia was removed from the red list. The 10 days in Kenya were to "launder" my red list trip, although this was rendered unnecessary during the trip by the removal of Zambia from the red list.
The two days walking in Chikoko were a highlight of the trip and I wish I could have done more walking, but my timings were constrained by needing to fit in the 10 day "quarantine" in Kenya.
One disturbing development I found in South Luangwa was the proliferation of film crews, both on the Kaingo side of the river and the Nsefu side. These do negatively impact game viewing for tourists as the crews monopolise access to certain high profile animals and either don't allow tourist vehicles to approach or at least only allow access when nothing interesting is happening. I understand that next year there will be SEVEN film crews operating in the north part of South Luangwa. I appreciate that some operators have had to find other sources of income in the absence of tourism due to covid, but when tourism returns to normal levels (hopefully next year) I can see this becoming a major issue." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zambia safari
It was wonderful to be back in Zambia, and I was determined not to go another year without a Zambia safari, so I departed for this trip before Zambia was removed from the red list. The 10 days in Kenya were to "launder" my red list trip, although this was rendered unnecessary during the trip by the removal of Zambia from the red list.
The two days walking in Chikoko were a highlight of the trip and I wish I could have done more walking, but my timings were constrained by needing to fit in the 10 day "quarantine" in Kenya.
One disturbing development I found in South Luangwa was the proliferation of film crews, both on the Kaingo side of the river and the Nsefu side. These do negatively impact game viewing for tourists as the crews monopolise access to certain high profile animals and either don't allow tourist vehicles to approach or at least only allow access when nothing interesting is happening. I understand that next year there will be SEVEN film crews operating in the north part of South Luangwa. I appreciate that some operators have had to find other sources of income in the absence of tourism due to covid, but when tourism returns to normal levels (hopefully next year) I can see this becoming a major issue." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr B.
Colorado
"Bucket list trip to Amazing Africa"
I visited Kenya between 4 Feb 2021 and 17 Feb 2021
"Kenya was the most genuine, helpful, kind, place I have ever visited. It was like stepping into another world. Everyone was wonderful, Kenya has definitely taken conservation and hospitality to the next level. I believe that Kenya is the best place to visit in all of Africa. Definitely something that nature lovers have to put on their bucket list.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
When Richard organized this trip, he used the word "bespoke". We had no idea what that meant. We do now and will be forever grateful. He did an amazing job. I have done planned tours before where I felt that I could have planned the same trip and saved money. But on this one, I was quite certain that I could never have done what Richard did, and it was absolutely magical. We looked at economy, budget, comfort and the luxury Expert Africa tours. At the beginning of the process I was quite sure that we could not afford the high end. But after seeing the packed economy tour vans, and experiencing Africa the Expert Africa way, I would never even consider anything else. It would be like going to Disney Land and staying in the parking lot.
There is nothing that can substitute for experience and knowhow." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
When Richard organized this trip, he used the word "bespoke". We had no idea what that meant. We do now and will be forever grateful. He did an amazing job. I have done planned tours before where I felt that I could have planned the same trip and saved money. But on this one, I was quite certain that I could never have done what Richard did, and it was absolutely magical. We looked at economy, budget, comfort and the luxury Expert Africa tours. At the beginning of the process I was quite sure that we could not afford the high end. But after seeing the packed economy tour vans, and experiencing Africa the Expert Africa way, I would never even consider anything else. It would be like going to Disney Land and staying in the parking lot.
There is nothing that can substitute for experience and knowhow." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
110
reviews of Maasai Mara by travellers since August 2007
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