Kenya: reviews from our travellers

"It was simply wonderful to be back in Africa. If you're even slightly thinking about making a trip, take the plunge if you can. Everywhere felt safe (more so than at home) with the coronavirus being treated very seriously and the camps were clearly delighted to be back in operation.

Everyone was beyond welcoming and emphatic that we tell friends and family that Kenya is open for business and welcoming travellers.


At a personal level we were aching to return to the bush having had to reschedule this trip three times. We had been in Ethiopia and Kenya (the Mara conservancies) in February and early March 2020 and got home just as the world went into lockdown and it was a privilege and pleasure to finally return.

There was some additional hassle with paperwork, testing et cetera but once on the ground it felt almost like old times and was totally worth the effort. And in Meru we barely saw another visitor during our stay. Just awesome.

Planning was inevitably very last minute due to travel uncertainty and changing entry requirements but Richard was very patient and did a great job. The entire trip went like clockwork and we couldn't be happier with the arrangements made for us. We have already made plans for another trip in early 2021.

Last minute trips are great :-)" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Kenya safari

"Our safari was truly a trip of a lifetime. My husband and I planned this trip as our honeymoon, and it was originally supposed to take place in Summer 2020. When Covid hit, the Expert Africa team made what seemed like a terrible stressful thing (changing our honeymoon plans) a breeze. I cannot speak enough to the professionalism of the Expert Africa team. They rescheduled our trip, and made doing so stress free.

This trip was planned to perfection, and the details all fell into place without a hitch. We are looking forward to planning future safari trips, and I know that I will be coming back to Expert Africa for the knowledge, skill, and genuine kindness we experienced while planning this one. You won't be disappointed if you plan your safari with Expert Africa!

Thank you Olivia for a perfectly planned trip and for giving us a honeymoon we will never forget. I blame you now for the fact that I'm already dreaming up the next opportunity for safari.

It was perfect. Thank you!

And sorry for doing this form over a year after our trip! It's been a crazy year." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"I credit Claire Scott for having listened carefully to our wishes and replying with a spot on proposal that fully addressed the wishes of all family members. I had given her "any place in Africa with great wildlife, good service and some days to relax, while being able to pull out on short notice if Covid required it".

Planning was unpredictable but offered the opportunity to see places on short notice that were normally booked out, and we settled on Kenya, the classical safari location, in a country that is well organized and has good control over Covid.

We benefited from Claire's wealth of experience that saved us weeks of finding places ourselves (if we found them), and she stayed fully engaged at all times. It was key for us that Expert Africa offered a peace of mind guarantee relating to the pandemic." Read full review: 51 nights in Africa; 14 on a Kenya safari

"The trip was perfect!

Everything was very well organized, i feel 100% safe and satisfied I was traveling alone but did not have any problems as everything was perfectly organized and under control!

I highly recommend to visit Kenya and see its beauty!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Richard did his best, was very helpful and fast in problems solving.

Richard Trillo is very very professional!" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Kenya safari

"This was a last minute safari holiday which suddenly became an option when South Africa was put on the UK's Red List of banned countries and we wanted to fly back to the UK without going into hotel quarantine.

We were already about to fly to Kenya when we contacted Olivia and gave her a list of our requirements, including quite detailed covid concerns. She did an absolutely brilliant job organising a trip to Hemingways Ol Seki which delivered everything that we had requested despite having next to no time to arrange it. We travel a lot and regularly go to Africa.

This was our first experience of using Expert Africa and they absolutely lived up to their name and we will be in contact before our next trip." Read full review: 4 nights in Africa; 4 on a Kenya safari

"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

"Don’t let C-19 put you off travelling. Kenya - its wildlife and people - need you.

Work out what tests and paperwork you need to get into the country (there is a lot of information on various websites), JKIA entry is very efficient and tests can be arranged for departure with no fuss.

If plans change (as mine did whilst there) Expert Africa sorted everything with no fuss." Read full review: 42 nights in Africa; 56 on a Kenya safari

"Our trip to Africa was truly a dream come true! We planned this trip two years in advance, and due to Covid needed to replan the trip again, with endless back and forth to ensure we got the itinerary to a place that met the regulations and restrictions of each country.

Our trip exceeded every expectation, and while we initially thought it was going to be a once in a lifetime trip, we are already talking about when we will return. Richard helped to organize the trip and make the endless changes for us. While he was generally patient, I couldn't help but feel like he was sick and tired of me in the final months of planning.

Perhaps there's a difference between how Americans communicate and how the British communicate, as I found that getting on the phone helped tremendously. Overall, the trip was one we will never forget and we are beyond grateful to Richard and Expert Africa for all of their assistance in planning." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 9 on a Kenya safari

"What was special for me on this trip, my second to Kenya and fifth to Africa, was the opportunity to see more of the country at eye level. Meaning that in driving ourselves around we could more easily stop in little towns and villages along the way.

Kenya, like much of Africa, is bustling with people walking to and from work in the larger cities and towns, or shuttling a goat to market on the back of a motorbike, or working a corn field with a hoe. The individual sellers in a street stall or market are invariably friendly and, they are always happy to show you what they've got and encourage you to negotiate if you like something. The park rangers and guides love sharing their knowledge of the plants and animals.

These are what earn Kenya the nickname, the warm heart of Africa.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I WAS SUPER IMPRESSED AND THANKFUL THAT RICHARD CAUGHT A MISTAKE IN MY FLIGHTS which gave me time to correct the oversight. I ran into a snafu with my outbound flight that caused me to have to rebook on a different airline and would not have noticed the error on the return flight until I got to the airport, potentially either missing my flight or losing my last day of the trip.

So kudos again, Richard, for your thoroughness!

[Ed: This traveller booked her own flights. As is our usual practice, we'll always try to bring any flight issues the the attention of our travellers as/when we become aware of them, even if our travellers have arranged their own flights.]" Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari

"If it wasn't for Richard Trillo, I wouldn't have taken the trip at all.

It was an extraordinary and wonderful experience. I am very grateful and felt very protected by him every step of the way.

Considering 4 or 8 flights were cancelled, and considering what a crazy time it is, I feel very grateful and fortunate." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Kenya safari