Nov 29, 2024
11 days kenya and Tanzania safari - 11 Days Outstanding Safari with Grayton Expeditions in Kanya and Tanzania
What an amazing experience with Grayton Expeditions gave us. We used them 3 years ago and, when we decided to do another safari in Kenya and Tanzania, this time with friends, there was no question about which company we would use. From the time we emailed Sandra with suggested dates until we left Heathrow, the booking process was straightforward and very smooth. When we booked, we didn’t know exactly which lodges we would be staying at (although we knew the Reserves (Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro Creator); this is because until we confirmed dates, Sandra couldn’t make bookings with the lodges. From experience, however, we did know that the quality of them would be exceptional – we were not disappointed!! We stayed at Offbeat Mara Camp, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Ol Tukai Lodge Serengeti Wild Camp, Lake Manyara Tortilis Camp, and Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge.
We were thoroughly spoiled at each lodge in so many ways: the accommodation, the food, the Driver/guide, and finally, the sightings. Grayton Expeditions specializes in small group safaris in support of leopard conservation, meaning that the lodges are chosen because they are great, which means that everyone has a good view from the game vehicle, and because they offer accommodation of a very high standard. We appreciate that the animals don’t appear on command and that there may be game drives when you see not a lot but we had exceptional Drivers/guides who went out of the way to safely track animals for us. We were lucky enough to see not only the Big Five but also the Ugly Five and enjoyed a very informative morning bush walk whilst at Amboseli National Park. We met some lovely people at each lodge. We have great photos. We have fantastic memories and we wouldn’t hesitate to use them for a third time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 23, 2024
6 Days safari - 6-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli Private Safari
We have just returned from a brilliant safari with Grayton Expeditions. We have undertaken safaris previously within Kenya and other African countries and feel we can reflect on our most recent safari and write a review based on a fair amount of experience. From the moment we arrived in Kenya, we were welcomed to what would prove to be a warm and very knowledgeable family operation as we toured the region and visited several private game reserves. Everything was well-organised and the personalised itinerary ran like clockwork. As well as visiting the reserves we were able to accommodate other points of interest en route. Nothing was too much trouble and we left Kenya with a stunning collection of photos we took of the extensive wildlife we encountered and the ever-changing natural landscape in this beautiful part of the world. Sandra runs a terrific outfit in Grayton Expeditions, and we were able to experience first-hand how their activities bring genuine benefit to the wider community in which they operate their safari business. We had the privilege of visiting a local school with which Grayton Expeditions has close links and it is really good to see how tourism can so effectively benefit wildlife conservation and the wider community in which it operates. All accommodations on the safari were comfortable and of a high standard, ranging from zero carbon, traditionally oil lamp-lit keekorok lodge to the sophisticated design of Ol Tukai lodge. Wildlife encounters were second to none and we highly recommend Grayton Expeditions to supply a highly personalised, friendly and relaxed service of the highest quality.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 18, 2024
6 days Safari in kenya - 6- Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Ol pejeta Conservancy
25th wedding anniversary
Our whole trip was exciting from beginning to end. The three lodges we stayed in Kenya were of high quality and very individual, the staff very friendly, the guiding brilliant and the food excellent. We saw many animals, including leopards, cheetahs, lions, ellies, rhinos, black & white, wild dogs, and antelopes and were often the only 4x4 jeep in sight. Dan picked us up from the airport and supplied us with many 'bush' stories and information about the Rhino conservation programme at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Sandra organised our trip and even arranged a special evening for us to enjoy our 25th wedding anniversary. The lodges support local charities in the area, employ local people, use local produce, use water from boreholes and not plastic bottles and use recycled materials for building. The lodges are on private reservations, the driver/guide is very conscientious and mindful of the animals' well-being. There are no more than 4 vehicles at any sighting and no high-speed chasing either. We have been to Africa and on safaris before, but this rates as one of the best, and we will be travelling again with Grayton Expeditions!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 1, 2024
6 days safari - 6-DAY Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli private Safari
This is my first safari in Kenya, so I have no expectations, but I suspect the bar has been set so high that the next trip will have to be of the same standard or surpass it. Well-chosen reserves, wonderfully curated for a unique and rewarding experience you wouldn't know you'd missed if attempting the safari by yourself or a travel agent. One can never guarantee sightings (except maybe impala, zebra, buffalo, giraffe and other herbivores wild animals), but we saw all that we hoped for: the Big 5 and then some small birds. The best part is witnessing natural animal behaviours - and having a driver/guide who can track, teach and look after you. His enthusiasm was so great that one of us has become a bird watcher guide!
As a vegetarian, a definite effort was made to cater for our different diets. Food was not bland and most certainly did not go hungry. Sandra was passionate about giving us the best safari with every detail considered. Communication was excellent from the first enquiry up to pick up from the airport and throughout the safari, leaving us feeling confident and informed. In short, a 5-star experience. We were looking for an Eco-friendly company, and we found Grayton Expeditions on TripAdvisor; we had a wonderful time and found excellent value for money. Thank you once more, Sandra and the team at Grayton Expeditions; we are planning our next safari to Tanzania with Grayton Expeditions next year.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 25, 2024
6-Day Kenya safari - 6-Day Masai Mara,Lake Nakuru & Amboseli Private Safari
Wow! We had an amazing time with Grayton Expeditions. They have put a lot of thought into their itineraries and provided us with a well-planned and varied holiday experience. From making our first enquiry to our return home contact was excellent and reassuring for 2 first-time visitors to Kenya. We stayed in various lodges and a tented camp all of which were top class offering us excellent accommodation, food, hosts and game drives with knowledgeable Driver/guide. We were taken to each safari camp by a member of the Grayton team and everywhere we went people were very welcoming and couldn't do enough for us.
The game viewing exceeded our expectations - we saw the big 5 and many more animals and birds, the smaller creatures just as interesting as the larger ones, as we learnt about them from our driver/guide. We saw 3 Aardvarks in 3 different reserves. The places we stayed were lovely, with great hosts, good food and with wildlife on the doorstep on Mara river bank - perfect setting, fabulous game drives with the most knowledgeable driver/guide, authentic experience with excellent game viewing We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Grayton Expeditions for another person to book with them again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 2, 2024
6 Day masai mara north,lake nakuru and Ol paejeta Private safari - 6-Day Masai Mara North, Lake Nakuru & Ol pejeta Conservancy
Grayton Expeditions created a bespoke package for me and my daughter for 5 nights. In the planning stage, they were very helpful and responsive, selecting 2 excellent tented safari camps, Masai Mara for 2 nights and Lake Nakuru for 2 nights. Both provided high-quality and comfortable accommodation in delightful settings from which it was possible to see some of the larger animals. The game drives were excellent with very knowledgeable driver/guide. We saw all of the big five and had a few jaw-dropping (in a good way!) close encounters with some of them - magical! Food at both camps was very good and the small size of the camps ensured easy, friendly relations with camp staff and guests alike. I would wholeheartedly recommend Grayton Expeditions who, in my view, offer great and carefully chosen safari packages, with attention to the client's wishes and at very competitive prices.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 29, 2024
6- days Masai mara , Lake Nakuru & sambur safari - 6-Days Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Samburu Safari
This was our first safari with Grayton Expeditions, and what a fantastic time it was in Kenya; the lodges were all different, the terrain was quite diverse, and the animals were different in the parks. Although we had a flight delay after this everything ran like a clock, pickups and drop-offs on time, and nice 4x4 Toyota land cruiser vehicles with a pop-up roof with everyone on a window seat.
The food and service at the lodges were excellent, and all the facilities were of a high standard, especially at The Cliff Nakuru National Park. We thought we had been dropped off at the wrong lodge. It was such good 5-star accommodation and food. I forgot to mention the Driver/guide in the vehicles, he was very knowledgeable, good-humoured and seemed to work almost a 24-hour day. Altogether, a fantastic holiday and good value, we are looking at booking a longer safari in both Kenya and Tanzania with the same company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 23, 2024
6 Days Masai Mara Lewa private Safari - 6-Days Laikipia,Mara & Lewa Private Safari
This was a great Safari, one of the best in my lifetime. Grayton Expeditions was amazing, take great care in looking after us, we were collected from the airport and taken from lodge to lodge. It was more than just straightforward game-watching with a bush walk and taking photos for our memories of watching the big 5 including the black leopard in Olpejeta Conservancy. The 3 conservancies used are actually in private reserves, which limited the traffic whilst game viewing is a bonus. The driver/guide was extremely knowledgeable. The lodges were very friendly and welcoming with good quality food. My highlights included a wild dog pack greeting the puppies, lions at a giraffe kill and, of course, the elephants at Mount Kenya, a water hole whilst we were eating dinner!
Taking into consideration how it is not easy to plan a safari, I will not miss this opportunity to recommend Sandra and the great team of Grayton Expeditions for the great work of coordinating the safari, I will give them a 5-star rating.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 28, 2024
6 Days Masai Mara lake Nakuru and Amboseli - 6 Days Masai Mara,Lake Nakuru-Hells Gate budget Safari
Congratulations to Grayton Expeditions for another enjoyable 6 Days Masai Mara,Lake Nakuru-Hells Gate budget Safari my third with them, in special selected game reserves, once more seeing the big five in there natural surroundings and staying in tented campsite located close by to the animal wildlife. Great evening atmosphere with a select group of other enthusiasts, discuss days sightings around a log fire with good food and planning with their drive/guide experts future treks, endeavouring to cater for all of our expectations and in my case obtaining the best photographic opportunities. Very personalised Safari maintaining a continuous high standard wherever I’ve travelled with them. Looking forward to next year with Grayton Expeditions and finding new Safari destinations.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 23, 2024
10 Days Kenya Classic Safari - 10 Days Kenya Classic Safari
It's been a couple of weeks now since we returned from our first safari trip. We booked a 10-day Kenya Classic Safari and tried to keep our expectations in check, hoping to see the wildlife in their habitat rather than expecting to. Well, we could never have expected to see what we did anyway, the number of times our driver/guides at Masai Mara told us we were lucky to be seeing this and that was special, from an Aardvark to honey badgers two nights running, a Pels Fishing Owlet to the leopard female with her two cubs with a kill. In total we kept a list of everything we physically saw and this total reached 70 by the time we left. Our first stop was Mara Sopa (where we also finished and it was like coming home) which was in a beautiful location and the whole staff were just first class. The next stop was Lake Nakuru Lodge which whilst very nice, didn't have the same 'personal' feel we got with the other lodges. The last stop was Olpajeta Conservancy which again was terrific and was an excellent place. We also learnt so much, about the animals from the very knowledgeable staff, and also about the ecology and environment of this spectacular part of the world. We finished our trip with a two-night stay over in Amboseli National Park which is breathtaking and again got lucky seeing a herd of elephants and spectacular Mt Kilimanjaro, Overall the Safari was wonderfully organised and the locations each had its charms, we couldn't recommend it enough. We are already planning a visit to Tanzania for the Chimpanzee which we will do through Grayton Expeditions given the excellent service and value for money we received from this trip. Thank you, Sandra and all the staff.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
