Wildlife of Kenya's Maasai Mara

It was all amazing....the stay at Elsemere was fabulous, the staff there looked after us so well, the chef fed us too well. Wildlife visits on the lawn outside of the restaurant...Hippos, Warthogs, Zebra, Dik Dik... wow. It was lovely to have the contrast of these surroundings with Lake Navaisha in the background and then move onto the Maasai Mara which was so different. The spine tingling wildlife encounters in the Mara... a Leopard with a kill carrying it up a tree right in front of us... Lions deciding to hunt a small herd of elephant presumably after the baby elephant, their circling strategy and then the elephant matriarch turning and telling them to back off, which they did, thank goodness. Another great experience.

Some of the girls had been on this trip before and I can see why they had repeated it. The cheetah family, the cheetah brothers, the three beautiful male lions, the five lion cubs, the super model of the leopard world (which way would you like me to pose?)and of course the two servals. I loved Elsamere and felt very honoured to stay there, Born Free was the first film I ever saw at the cinema and Virginia McKenna was one of my customers at Wisley Gardens. Our guides Davies and then John, who took over, were excellent. Our 'relief' driver Hassan was superb, great at spotting, driving and such a nice guy. Told him I wanted a serval (my ghost animal after 40 years of travelling in Africa) and he found me two, one hunting, one sitting, posing. Thank you Naturetrek.

Our first trip to Kenya and we felt that the inclusion of Elsamere at the beginning of the trip was an excellent way to start the holiday. The staff at both Elsamere and Base camp were very friendly and helpful. The opportunity to see the bird life on the lake and see the hippos at Elsamere made a good contrast to the Maasai Mara. We were particularly pleased that both the places where we stayed were very involved in conservation and education. We were very lucky to spend a long time with two lionesses and their five cubs - it was absolutely magical and I never expected to be so close to big cats - so close you could almost touch them! Davies was an excellent driver - very aware of how the ridges and furrows of the tracks on the Mara would impact the comfort of his passengers and managed to smooth our passage around the park. He always ensured that we were well positioned for taking photos with the light behind us whenever possible. On the road he was careful and kept to the rules of the road. He was immensely knowledgeable about the bird and animal life of the park and was exceptional at finding the things that we were hoping to see. I feel that the success of the trip was hugely influenced by his expertise.

One of the best wildlife holidays I have experienced! We enjoyed the lake trip and our visit to Hell’s Mouth NP. We were lucky with the weather as it was fine for the walking safari. The game rides were all full of interest and there was plenty of free time at the camp to choose what we wanted to do. Davies, our guide, was brilliant. Owing to his skill at locating animals, we saw big cats every day and plenty of other animals. I think that the balance of staying two nights at Elsamere and five at Maasai Mara Base Camp is good. Davies is easy to get on with and he always answered questions put to him. He is knowledgeable, an excellent driver, both on the tarmacked roads and on the roads in the reserve, which can be quite tricky. Davies also respects the rules regarding viewing animals, in particular the big cats. Davies always gave photographers plenty of time to take images, so most of us of have taken home our memories to keep.

It was our first time in Africa and the whole holiday was a highlight! We were extremely well looked after by our driver/guides, hotel and base camp staff. The jeeps were comfortable and well maintained and with the pop up roofs made excellent viewing platforms. Our guides approached a reported Leopard location and with their expertise, knowledge and patience we were rewarded with excellent viewings of the cat soon after other less professional safari guides had left the scene. John, our driver and guide was incredible, he knew every mammal, bird, flower, tree and even butterflies and dragonflies. He was full of interesting information about the different fauna and flora that we encountered. He also had the ability to park our Jeep in the right location to see and photograph the more elusive animals. Elsamere and Base camp were excellent, wonderful locations, friendly and helpful staff and very good food indeed. There was no doubt we were ‘in’ Africa when there were Zebras, Bushbuck and giraffes on your doorstep in the mornings and hyenas laughing at night not that far away from the tent. The word tent does not do the camp justice, they were so luxurious with all modern conveniences and comfortable beds. It was reassuring to know we had our Maasai guards (Askari) looking out for us after dusk and until dawn.

A 10 day wildlife watching tour to Kenya. Whilst the main objective was to search out the exciting animals to be seen on Kenya's wide open plains the trip was memorably varied. A day in Nairobi, a stay by Lake Naivasha followed by the magnificent Masai Mara made for a wonderful trip. The organisation was excellent and accommodation perfect - all the facilities one might need but in a wonderfully African setting. If you are looking for a tour operator who always answers the phone (no numbers to press, no music, just a real person!), who produces a sumptuous brochure, provides excellent pre-trip information, is always friendly and helpful (and tolerant!), and in our experience comes up with a wonderful holiday experience, then Naturetrek are the company for you.

A wonderfully planned trip to Kenya. Two excellent locations providing stunning views, delicious food and incredible experiences. We were very lucky to have two wonderful guides who knew their stuff! Lake Navashia gave us our first view of hippos and at least 52 new birds! Basecamp on the Masai Mara was a fantastic location and incredibly comfortable, with great staff who couldn't do enough. The trips onto the Mara included picnics, elephants coming to breakfast, watching lions hunt, giraffes wandering across the grasslands and crocodile waiting for the great migration! A totally mind blowing experience! Naturetrek were organised, easy to contact, gave us clear and concise information at the time of booking and pre flight. A great tour operator, we have used them before and will again.

This safari was an amazing adventure full of excitement from beginning to end. No sooner had we arrived at Elsamere and enjoyed our first delicious lunch on the lawn with the haunting calls of the fish eagles and in the company of a troop of colobus monkeys, we were guided around the extensive grounds along hippo trails, clambering over fallen trees to see spotted owls, love birds and bee-eaters as well as the resident, rescued birds of prey. After a lovely evening meal there were opportunities to watch films about the life of Joy Adamson or browse in the museum before an exciting night watching hippos graze on the lawn outside our rooms. On our full day at Elsamere we had a fabulous boat ride on Lake Naivasha with a superb local guide who pointed out pied kingfishers, giant kingfishers and a wide variety of waterbirds as well as pods of hippos where we watched a baby hippo riding on its mother's back. Fish were thrown to tempt the fish eagles to swoop down so we could watch them in action and just when the critical moment came, a pelican snatched the fish and the fish eagle then dive bombed the pelican and a struggle broke out. Our experiences were not just limited to wildlife activities and during our afternoon excursion to see giraffes, warthogs and flamingos, we were invited to join a group of local people celebrating a baptism in the lake and were enthralled by their beautiful singing. After our massage on the African Highway, we had our first taste of the Maasai Mara, being treated to a meeting with the unusual coalition of five male cheetahs before our arrival at Ilkeliani Camp, which was truly spellbinding as we were greeted so warmly by the friendly staff and with dancing, singing and jumping by the Maasai warriors as we were led through the camp to a champagne reception. Amongst many wonderful wildlife sightings were large families of elephants, prides of lions feasting, a beautiful leopard exploring a gully, fighting topi and buffaloes, baby jackals and the thrill of watching the famous coalition of five cheetahs stalk, chase and bring down a wildebeest right in front of us. Davies and Eustace were outstanding in their ability to predict the behaviour of the animals we watched and we were always in the best position to observe the action whilst allowing the animals the freedom to continue their lives and activities without interference. Another highlight for me was enjoying this safari with friends and having the opportunity to visit the Maasai village to learn more about the traditions of this unique tribe. The choice to take picnic breakfasts on our morning game drives meant that we were able to see as much as possible without the need to rush back to camp, thus we were privileged to watch hyenas running home with their stolen bounty, lions feasting on a buffalo as the vultures crept closer, hippos returning to the river after their night's feeding, a tower of twenty-three giraffes and elephant families strolling along the skyline as hot air balloons floated by at sunrise. Many of these sights would not have been possible without the tremendous generosity of Davies and Eustace who were always willing to give their time to show us that extra surprise whenever the opportunity arose. Asante sana.

Ok so it is my third visit to Elsamere and the Mara with Naturetrek - the same tour - it really is the experience of a lifetime - from the spiritual home of Joy Adamson - the road trip through the heart of Kenya to the plains of the Mara with an experienced guide who is a delight to be with - so knowledgeable and articulate - then the visit to the colourful Masai village - and home with treasured memories of sharing the trip with a wonderful group of fellow travellers and an abundance of photographs to relive every minute - all thanks to NATURETREK.

The two locations provided a careful balance allowing us to enjoy both birds and mammals in their own habitats. We were treated to a magnificent wildlife extravaganza with a wide variety of water birds and owls at Lake Naivasha and amazing sightings on the Mara. Our guide Davies' understanding of animal behaviour and his ability to predict their movements allowed us to enjoy fantastic views of cheetahs, lions, hyenas and a leopard that we might otherwise have missed. At our accommodation, the staff anticipated our every need and we were treated royally. Our welcome by the Masai warriors, the champagne reception and the warmth extended to us by every member of staff made our arrival very special. I loved every minute of this holiday.

We have used Naturetrek several times and have been more than happy with their service and their holidays and this was no exception. This trip was to Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara - both were perfect for nature watching and relaxing. We were very fortunate with wildlife sightings and our driver/guide was excellent. We booked an extension which also worked well, with transfers and tours being really great.

This holiday was undoubtedly the trip of a lifetime! Everything about this tour was perfect. The accommodation was excellent, the food delicious and the safaris far exceeded my wildest expectations. The staff at Elsamere and Ilkeliani Camp were delightful, a special thank you to them all. The guides, Davis and Nicholas, were brilliant. Their knowledge, passion and field-craft was truly amazing. The views of all the animals and birds were exceptional and this was possible because of the expertise of our two guides. Our group of 12 was a great bunch which only enhanced the enjoyment of the trip. Thank you Naturetrek for an experience that will stay with us forever, priceless!

A visit to Elsamere and the Masai Mara in Kenya was a truly spiritual and educating experience - the places themselves are magical, the accommodation staff genuinely caring and attentive, the tour guides extensively knowledgeable on the wildlife and their land. Davis our guide put us at ease as soon as we met up and any reservations we had were dispelled immediately and holiday mode kicked in. This was my second year on the trip and was as good if not better the second time around and the group bonded so well that we have formed an email group to share photos, experiences and keep in touch.

This was a fantastic trip, a truly magical experience. We had great company and saw a wealth of wildlife, not to mention the stunning scenery. The trip was extremely well organised and run; the local agents were so helpful and obliging and our particular leader was always ready to go the extra mile to ensure our satisfaction. We couldn't have asked for more. We look forward to travelling with Naturetrek again.

I enjoyed this trip very much. As I am a photographer I was very pleased to get a wide range of shots including mammals and birds. Lots of zebra, wildebeest, Thompsons gazelle, impala, giraffe, waterbuck, eland and hippo... and a 15 strong pride of lions. I am most delighted with the shots. I am trying to organise some fellow photographers to make a trip in the near future. I can't wait.