Luxury Kenya Cheetah Safari: Mara, Meru & Laikipia

Rating this safari tour operator is a little difficult as I believe that a company is only as good as their travel agents and the people they contract with in Africa.  My travel agent was the only reason I chose this company. She made the trip and itinerary come alive for me and I was "sold" the very first time I spoke with her.  Unfortunately, I have heard she is leaving this company, therefore I would have some trepidation about recommending the company.  

The trip did not start out the best. When I arrived at Kilimanjaro there was no one to greet me!  Fortunately two gentlemen from another tour company assisted by calling the contract company in Africa's representative, Justin, for me.  Justin laughed and said he thought I was supposed to have arrived the day before, then had a taxi take me to my hotel in Arusha where he met me and minimized the issue with a brief apology.   Not a good way to start a journey!

Happily, the contract guide was fabulous.  He was with us the entire time we were in Tanzania and not only found game for us, but provided interesting history and facts about the animals and the country.  He was truly amazing and I would not hesitate to recommend him as a guide.  He made the time in Tanzania much more memorable. 

When we flew from the Serengeti to Kenya (several take-offs/landings) we arrived at Arusha where Justin met us and drove us to Kilimanjaro (Serengeti-Arusha-Kilimanjaro-Nairobi Wilson). A very harrowing experience through traffic and nearly hitting a man on a bicycle.  We found out later we could have flown directly to Kilimanjaro, but Justin wanted time to "chat" with us before we left Tanzania!  That does not show thoughtfulness toward the traveler.

Upon arrival at Nairobi Wilson we were met by Daniel, a 'stand in' for our scheduled guide Ken.  On the way to our camp we had a short game drive with very little input from Daniel.  After the experience with our terrific guide we were not impressed with this "welcome".  However, upon meeting Ken later in the evening our hopes brightened considerably - especially since he told us he was the best guide in the Maasai Mara.  He proved to be very good and made sure we had superb game viewing.

The accommodations were wonderful:  Mt. Meru Hotel in Arusha was beautiful - with a large garden area in the back, gorgeous pool (although it was too cold for us to use), friendly & helpful staff, and I had the best Caesar salad ever!

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (Tanzania) is a marvel.  How they got all the materials up there is a wonderment. We had quite a walk to our room (although some were farther than ours), but we managed.  The meals were all buffet and I would rate them only a "good", as I've had much better.  There was quite a variety, but there was just something missing. I'm sure others have rated their food higher - all depends on taste. The rooms were huge and hot water bottles were placed in our beds - a very nice touch since it was quite cold.  The best part of the lodge (in my opinion) was the view into the crater and watching the sunset.

Kati Kati Camp (Serengeti) was fabulous on all counts. Not luxurious, but that's not what we wanted, as we asked to be on the plains surrounded by the sounds of animals.  Our tent was large & clean with a sink, toilet and bucket shower.  Our dining tent was open and faced the plains.  It was staffed by wonderful men who looked after our every need and served the most delicious food - with a new soup each night: tomato, peanut, & cucumber - each one better than the previous.  Sitting around the campfire with our glass of wine watching the hyenas circling was something I will never forget, nor will I forget drinking coffee watching the sun rise on the Serengeti.

Sarova Mara Camp (Maasai Mara, Kenya) was like an oasis. Unless we looked at the sides of our 'room' we never would have believed we were in a tent - beautiful wood floors, marble bath and shower, mosquito netting around our beds (although it was not needed when we were there).  The grounds were beautifully kept and the facilities were exceptional. From the moment we entered the staff was there to assist and during our stay always greeted us by name no matter where we were.  The food here was also buffet and was very good - something different every night and I tried several new dishes. They had a pasta station at night and an omelet station for breakfast, along with salads, pastries, coffee and many kinds of tea.  I also had a wonderful massage the night before leaving - only $60/hour and well worth it after riding the bumpy roads in a Land Cruiser all day.  Sarova Mara would definitely be on my 'recommendation' list!

Maurice did a great job organizing our trip. Our itinerary was thoughtfully planned and the communication to prepare for our trip was superb. We landed in Nairobi and spent one night there before heading to the national parks. Our hotel room was specially decorated for our honeymoon, which we appreciated.

Our first safari was at Maasai Mara. The game drives were spectacular and our guides were very knowledgeable. We highly recommend the balloon safari; it was our most memorable experience. The camp was very nice and the staff extremely friendly. However, we were told the camp was equipped with WiFi, but upon arrival, we learned there was no WiFi there. We ended up paying for an international data plan for three days.

Our next stop was the Serengeti. The driver we were supposed to meet didn't show due to car trouble. Instead, another driver met us, but he was late and not familiar with our itinerary. We got lost while driving to our campground and it took us three hours to locate it. We were too tired to go on the half-day game drive. 

The next day, we had a full-day game drive and saw many animals, making the safari unforgettable. However, our car broke down on our way back to camp and we had to take a detour to a checkpoint to get it fixed. We highly recommend the Serengeti Camp. It was our best lodging experience and the staff were unbeatable.

Our last safari was at Ngorongoro Crater, which was another unforgettable experience. Although we wished we could have spent more than a couple of hours there. Zanzibar was a great way to end our trip and our hotel was a perfect spot for relaxation before heading home.

There were a couple of mishaps during our trip, some of which were uncontrollable and not a result of planning, but overall, we are very happy with the experience. Thanks to Maurice and our travel company for everything!

From the initial email contact and telephone conversation with the Zicasso travel agent, we could sense we were in good hands. He was very responsive to our ideas about a trip to Africa and his vast knowledge of the continent was immediately evident. Based on the information provided he quickly turned around a proposed itinerary for a trip to Kenya. Ultimately, we decided on safaris in Amboseli, Lewa, and Maasai Mara. Each location was beautiful in its own unique way. The accommodations were more than comfortable and the food was excellent. The Kenyan people were beyond friendly and the wildlife viewing was amazing.

In addition, we got some sense of the local cultures and were very pleased to learn that a portion of the revenue generated by our stays in each location went to the local conservation efforts.

The logistics of the trip were seamless, starting with our arrival in Nairobi very late on a Monday night, through to our return to the Nairobi airport on the evening of our departure.

The team at the travel agency handled all of the details and enabled our family to truly experience the trip of a lifetime. We would recommend this travel agency without reservation.

Our travel company was absolutely brilliant! From the very beginning they offered something different; at the price range my wife and I were looking at, most itineraries in Kenya were circuit safaris around the country involving a lot of driving, and only 2 days in the Maasai Mara. Our main goal was to see the migratory herds in the Maasai Mara, and our travel agent was able to offer us a package where we stayed in the Mara for the entirety of our stay. Our Kenya tour company was of great help after we booked as well. A few weeks before we went, the tragic shooting in the Westgate Mall in Nairobi occured. We wanted to cancel our day in Nairobi afterwards, and our travel agent took care of it without a hitch. This was our first time using a travel agent, and this tour company showed just how valuable they can be!

February 2021, I submitted a request through Zicasso to plan a group trip to Kenya,Tanzania and Zanzibar for June 2022. I was matched with Maurice. This travel company has surpassed our expectations and provided an amazing experience we will never forget. The camps were top rated, and we had a fantastic time there. In fact, all the accommodations we stayed at were phenomenal. They were beautiful, clean, each room had an amazing view, the staff were very attentive, and the food was top notch. Maurice even planned a few surprises for our group along the way.

Maurice booked all of our in-country transfers (both by car and plane). All we had to do was show up at the lobby of each accommodation at the time specified and everything else was taken care of. Our drivers were exceptional as well. We spent time in Amboseli National Park, Maasai Mara, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and ended on the beach of Zanzibar. Our drivers at Amboseli had many years’ experience, they were very knowledgeable about all of the animals. Within 5 minutes landing at the air strip, they took us straight to see many of the animals, especially a family of cheetahs eating their prey! Our drivers at the Maasai Mara were great as well. We told him we wanted to see a lots of lions and they didn’t disappoint. On our morning game drive, we saw lions feasting on a buffalo, we also saw a leopard with a vulture in a tree. Our drivers in the Serengeti & Ngorongoro were excellent as well, they took us to all the best locations to capture the animals. We were even able to catch a glimpse of a rhino in the distance. They did their best to ensure we were able to see the big 5 and the ugly 5. We then ended the trip visiting Zanzibar’s beaches, a spice tour & Stone Town.

I highly recommend using Maurice and this travel company for travel tours, safaris and vacations in the future and look forward to working with him again! Asante sana!