Amazing Memories Safaris

This is my 3rd time making my travel plans with Amazing Memories Safaris. It is not surprising to me why they have "Amazing" in their company name. You could not ask for a better Tour Operator. Anne and Joseph have become like family to me. On this trip, I even got to meet their young son. I was very excited about that but I think he found Baby Shark more exciting. Anne and Joseph's skills truly complement each other. From the minute I contact them to let them know I'm planning a trip, they are there to answer every question, make suggestions and run interference when a curveball comes up. Since this was my 9th trip to Kenya, they know the places I like, my allergies, that I like a full size bed (even though I travel solo), what I like to do while in Nairobi and that although I'm exhausted from the long flight, I bounce back pretty quick.

There is nothing that makes me happier after 17 hours of flight than seeing my checked bag arrive and then stepping outside the terminal and finding Anne, her husband Joseph, and my Nairobi driver and friend Joseph 2014 (I first met him in 2014) with smiles and enthusiasm. I know from that moment on, that even if I have a concern, all will be wonderful and I'll be taken care of.

I spent my full Nairobi day with Joseph 2014. He is so engaging. He is always prompt at picking me up to make sure we get to the public visit at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust with plenty of time to spare. He shares my love of the elephants too. This time, in addition to my usual elephant visits, Kazuri and Karen Hub market shopping, we also both enjoyed visiting a new gallery, Matbronze (at the suggestion of a friend). Then at the end of the day, we made our way to Carnivore Restaurant for dinner with Anne and Joseph and an evening of laughs.

Since rain heavily impacted my last trip in March 2018, it was suggested maybe I wanted to try coming in February as it typically is less rainy. I think Mother Nature missed that memo. The rains came early and although it didn't impact the wildlife I saw, it did cause some transport issues. Anne was always on top of it. It is a slower time to travel (good news is that lodging prices are less) (bad news is that the bush planes require a minimum of 2 seats being booked). The heavy rains had caused connecting bridges to be washed away so that meant that air strip and ground route changes were necessary. Anne would keep me informed via email and also let my guide Daniel know the latest updates. There is no controlling Mother Nature and sometimes you just have to go with it. But all was as they say, "hakuna matata".

This was my 5th time having Daniel for my guide. As a fellow photographer, he knows how important lighting and positioning the vehicle can be. We have a great time swapping photo tips, catching up on things since my last visit and solving the world's issues. He has an excellent ability to spot animals, a great sense of humor, communicates well and generally spoils me rotten. A guide can make or break a trip, and Daniel sure makes mine.

Time always flies so quickly and before I knew it, it was time to arrive back into Nairobi, to check into my day room and prepare for the long flight home. Even though sad to leave, it was wonderful to see Anne and Joseph and Joseph 2014 come to the hotel to hear about the trip, go over any concerns, and share more laughs before heading to the airport. Thank you to all for looking after me so well. I can't wait to see you again on my next adventure!

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We contacted Amazing Memories Safaris for the second time in January this year for our second safari in Tanzania. Right from the start, we loved the way Denis and Anne were quick to respond to our endless questions throughout the planning process.

Together, we were able to come up with an itinerary that suited all our interests as well as our budget. We visited Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire in 10 days. We stayed at midrange Tented Camps and lodges and what we loved most about all these lodges was their strategic locations. At Tarangire, we stayed at Maramboi Tented Camp, In Serengeti at Katikati Tented Camp, In Ngorongoro, The Rhino Lodge and finally the most beautiful of all was at Lake Manyara where we stayed at Lake Manyara Serena Hotel.

Our guides Ikamba and Santos can spot and identify birds, plants and animals both large and small – way before any of us are even aware they're around. Their knowledge is legendary.

Our grandkids loved the animals. They also liked the visit to a local village and a local school.

We'll be happy to tell you about our experiences with Amazing Memories Safaris. Give us a call or send an email.

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I traveled to Kenya in January 2016 with Amazing Memories Safaris. I was a senior citizen traveling with my two sons.

We were met at the airport and lodged in a very nice hotel in Nairobi, The Eka Hotel. The security was visible and everyone was welcoming and pleasant. The next week was spent traveling with a guide/driver, Joseph, who was extremely informative, courteous, attentive to all of our needs, and always let us know about our next day's agenda.

We were really well taken care of. We stayed at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru Lodge, and Amboseli Sopa Lodge. The staff at each place, including restaurant staff, reception, and security, were friendly and accommodating, service was excellent. The lodges were perfect...pools, gardens, wildlife, and wonderful views. We felt very safe everywhere we went. The wildlife we saw in the game parks was a lifetime dream. There were giraffes, zebras, hippos, black and white rhinos, lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, cape buffalo and lots of different birds and gazelles. We went on a beautiful boat trip and visited a Masai village. At one point during the trip at Amboseli, I had an eye irritation and Joseph, the guide, took me to a nearby lodge for medical attention which cleared everything up in hours.

Back in Nairobi, Amazing Memories Safaris hired a guide for us to take us around the city as we had a twelve hour wait for our flight. Chege was very friendly and knowledgeable. He took us to excellent restaurants and also to the Karen Blixen Museum and the giraffe park. We were very well taken care of. We learned a lot from both guides about Kenyan wildlife and also about the people and their culture. We would return in a heartbeat!

It was an amazing trip, a dream come true organized by Amazing Memories.

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Family Safari from July 16th to September 2nd, 2017.

For my wife and I, this was our second safari. This trip, we brought along our daughter (16) and son (12) to see the splendor for themselves. Our vacation consisted of an 8-night deluxe safari with a 5-night beach getaway.

Our quest to find our safari provider began with many hours of reading reviews and visiting sites like “Safari Bookings” and “Trip Advisor”. After corresponding with several companies (and clients) we ultimately selected Amazing Memories Safaris (A.M.S) for the following reasons...

1-Our correspondence was directly with co-owner Anne. Anne was professional, informative, and articulate. She was quick to respond to all our question and requests even though we had a 7-hour time-zone difference.
2- We are firm believers of doing business with smaller/family run businesses without having to compromise quality of course. Amazing Memories is exactly that. A family-run company whose focus and attention to detail was undiluted. We wanted to be a customer NOT a number.
3-Price!!! From the get-go, Anne was very forward in stating that she would not be undersold. After comparing all quotes, she was true to her word.

Our Trip-
Upon our arrival in Nairobi, we were astonished by our airport reception. Co-owners Anne, Joseph and driver Kennedy met us with huge smiles, warm hugs, embroidered safari hats and beautiful bouquets of flowers! They quickly shuttled us to the EKA Hotel where we had a late supper but not before they treated us to a ceremonial “Welcome Toast” (another a nice touch, one of so many).

On safari, we flew several legs and drove the balance in a 4x4 Toyota van equipped with beefy off-road tires. Our drivers Kennedy and Joseph were very capable of getting us through every obstacle that came our way. We did not opt for the Landcruiser. Having had experience with both type of vehicles, the van had a smoother ride and plenty of space for the 4 of us. Ultimately, this was a great savings to our overall expenses.

Our safari took us to the following places…
Serena Amboseli Lodge
Excellent hotel! The rooms are a little dated but the excellent location and service more than make up! Plenty of animals with the iconic Kilimanjaro as our backdrop. Gorgeous!

Sweetwaters Serena Camp in Ol Pejeta
Amazing Camp!!! The Rino Sanctuary and the Chimpanzee exhibit make this park a one-of-a kind place. We were surprised by the amount of game animals in this conservancy as well. Would highly recommend this reserve AND Sweetwaters Serena Camp (especially with kids)!

Enashipai Lodge in Lake Naivasha
This hotel disappointed. The actual hotel was quite beautiful however, the overall experience was terrible. This hotel didn’t have that friendly vibe that we’d come to know in almost every other Kenyan hotel. The dining service was lousy. The worst part about our stay there was crazy person protesting on a loudspeaker at 5 AM (no joke). This person who the staff later referred to as “the Preacher” was a commonplace occurrence and “beyond their control”. It was terrifying and unsettling to say the least. I would never recommend this hotel unless this was addressed.

Mara Serena Lodge
Excellent hotel!! The crown jewel of Mara lodges. The rooms are little small but this was trivial because the Serena is the best location in the Mara, especially during the Great Migration. We saw all the big five and a legendary wildebeest crossing. We also did the Balloon safari which always concludes with a Champagne Bush breakfast. On our final evening, Amazing Memories Safaris treated us to a surprise a private VIP Bush dinner. That night is something that we soon will not forget.

Beach stay at Diani Beach - Swahili Beach Resort.
This resort is surreal. Its Swahili architecture was like something out of a fairy tale (striking). Everything about this hotel was top-notch. The only thing that would be a problem for some was the actual beach. Water access during low tide was almost impossible without shoes. We made the best of it especially because we love exploring tide-pools.

All-in-all, this holiday was truly a trip of a lifetime. Anyone considering a safari should take a moment to get to know Anne and her staff at Amazing Memories Safari Co. It’s not easy to put blind faith (…and a lot of money) in the hands of a complete strangers that are a world away. We did it with A.M.S and have no regrets.
Call them, you will not be disappointed.

On a more personal note, Anne, and co-owner Joseph, along with the rest of the staff quickly became like family. Our safari-driver’s Kennedy and Joseph both ensured our comfort and safety on our voyages. I would also like include a “third” Joseph (from the Nairobi head-office) into this mix. Although we did not spend enough time together he, too, was a very enduring person who helped us during a particularly difficult moment. Thank you ALL! You found a way into our hearts and we miss you very much!!!


Suggestions for future visit...
-If traveling from North America "with" a stopover- (unless the stop is short), I would strongly suggest staying a day or two in your stop over city especially on the return voyage.
-In July-August, do not underestimate the cold temperatures in the evening and mornings especially in the higher elevations

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I went on a 8-day safari trip to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Naivasha recently (March 2016). I have nothing but praises to extend to the Amazing Memories Safaris company staff who has been instrumental in making the trip a memorable one.
Many thanks and gratitude to the following folks which I have had the honor and pleasure to interact and/or meet before and during my trip in Kenya:

Anne, the reservations manager, right from the start, demonstrated that she is a very hands-on manager who is in personal contact with potential and present clients. She is very responsive towards emails inquiries and client requests and offer insightful suggestions on how to improve itineraries during the planning stage. Beware, however, as emails from Anne come at all hours, so if there’s any constructive criticisms I should raised, it is for her to go to bed a little earlier and get more sleep!

It was also a very nice gesture to have her personally checked-in with me towards the end of the safari trip to ensure that everything went well.

Moses, (driver/guide #1) with a fantastic sense of humor and many years of safari guiding experience under his belt. Moments with him as the driver/guide is never dull, as he will entertain you with many animal facts, as well as … human’s – be sure to ask him the story of Masai warriors with muzungu women. Efficient and with a keen sense of animal identification and detection, game driving with Moses is always a new adventure. Special props to him for locating me a black rhino in the vicinity of Talek Gate at Masai Mara – rare sighting!

Simon (driver/guide #2). One gets the sense of hakuna-matata (no worries) and pole-pole (slow-slow) when having Simon as the driver/guide. Both are desirable qualities, because Simon has incredible amount of patience in indulging in photography opportunities, possesses a wealth of animal knowledge that he happily shares with others, and most importantly, loves the wildlife. Much appreciation to him for bringing me on a boat ride at Lake Naivasha (a stop that was not planned on the original itinerary) for some birds and hippo-viewing within the peaceful, serene surroundings.

Amazing Memories Safaris may be a smaller company compared to the big safari outfitters out there in Nairobi, but its strong work ethics has bought me over: reliability, driver/guides’ acumen for animal detection/identification, and infectious enthusiasm for the wildlife. Based on my experience with Amazing Memories Safaris, I have no hesitation in engaging them again or recommending them to friends/families who are interested in going on a Kenyan safari trip.

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Traveling to Kenya is not new to me. This trip in March 2017 was my 7th visit. When trying a new trip operator, I have typically put them under the microscope. For the last 3 trips, I traveled with All Seasons Safaris. My first trip went well so I traveled with them the next 2 trips. All went well with only a couple of minor issues revolving around the mPesa system. More recently, a couple of clients I had referred (which I have always followed up with) had more significant issues. Based on those issues, I decided to get quotes from other operators.

I requested a quote from Amazing Memories Safaris. From my initial contact, Anne was extremely helpful and communicated professionally. For this trip, a slightly shorter one, I decided to go to only 2 different camps but stay 4 nights in each. The most significant change was that instead of traveling in a van with the same driver/guide throughout the whole trip, I opted to fly to locations. This was a big challenge to me because of the total weight restriction of 15 KG (33 lbs total for all luggage). My camera gear weighs almost half of that allowance. Anne assured me that I could do it, but also offered to store anything I wished to leave in Nairobi with her to decrease weight to the bush. Excellent. The challenge was on.

Originally I was thinking I’d travel in June but the international flights were a lot higher in price. By traveling in March, the low season, I took advantage of the lower air fares, as well as one camp (Offbeat Mara) offered a special, pay for 3 nights, stay 4. The other camp (Laikipia Wilderness Camp) had low season rates. And the best part, both camps did not have a single supplement which is good because I travel solo.

On my initial arrival into the Nairobi airport, although the plane was on time, clearing immigration (with my eVisa in hand) took 1 hour plus 20 minutes. I was one of the first persons to exit the plane but due to some sloppy handling of the lines, one of the last to clear their check point. Luckily my bag was still there waiting for me. I was never so happy to see my tour operators waiting for me. It was a very late night for them as we didn't arrive at Southern Sun Mayfair until 12:30am.

Even though I had been to Kenya 6 times, I had many questions for Anne, especially those that involved the air travel portion on the domestic flights. I was unaware that during the low seasons, often the small planes either don’t fly or if they have only 1 passenger, that person has to purchase a 2nd seat (the policy on Safarilink). Now I’m all for feeling like you have your own plane, but I didn’t want to have to book an extra seat. Anne said she could find a solution. What she was able to do, was to have me fly to Nanyuki and then instead of flying directly to the Mara (where I was the only passenger), she had me fly back to Wilson and then fly from there back out to the Mara. That solved purchasing the extra seat. She also said someone from the company would come to Wilson on that day I had to make the transfer to another domestic airline to help me with my luggage so I wouldn't have to carry it and strain my back. I was impressed. As it turned out, there must have been a change on flight passengers because I was the only person on the flight from Nanyuki back to Wilson but Anne said they would take care of the charge.

A big concern I had during this trip had to do with the disputes going on between the cattle herdsman and the ranch owners in the Laikipia area. I was extremely nervous not knowing what was happening on the ground. Anne stayed in continuous contact with Annabelle from Laikipia Wilderness Camp as to the situation and said there were no problems there and there were currently guests at the camp. This reassurance from Anne went a long way to making me feel more comfortable (as well as my husband at home who was very concerned).

Anne also communicated well to the camps about my preference to have a larger bed as well as my dietary requests. On arrival to the camps, they verified this information.

Upon arrival at Wilson (coming back from Laikipia) Anne and company co-owner Joseh met me at Safarilink to assist me with my bags to SAX airline. Since there was some time between flights, we had the opportunity to talk more. They wanted to know all about my experiences so far and was there anything they needed to correct. No, all was perfect. They waited until my flight was called to make sure I was off on the next part of my adventure, the Mara.

When I arrived back from the Mara, Anne was there to greet me again. I had a day room at the Eka Hotel and she got me checked in, even getting them to extend their normal 6pm check out time to 7pm to give me some extra time prior to my flight home at midnight. At 8pm, I was picked up promptly by my driver for the short trip to the airport and the long flight home.

My experience with Amazing Memories Safaris was excellent. They are very professional and go the extra mile to make sure all your desires are met (and then some). They have bumped to the top of my list of tour operators to use when I return and I would definitely refer others to them.

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Amazing Memories Safaris has become to me like an extension of my family (all positive). Anne and Joseph are a wonderful couple whose skills complement each other to make sure no detail is missed. I had such a pleasant experience with them in March, 2017 that there was no question about choosing them again and no need to get additional quotes because their pricing is very fair.

Even though this was my eighth trip to Kenya, there are always a few questions that come up. Anne is prompt to respond with the answers. I had chosen my own itinerary and lodging for this trip. But we got a big curve ball the day before I was to leave the states. Anne notified me that the camp where I was to stay five nights (Offbeat Mara - where I stayed last year) had been flooded and they told her I would have to find other accommodations. Anne immediately sent me an email to let me know. I felt a panic. She suggested two other places for me to consider that were comparable prices. I looked at their reviews, got back to her with my choice, and she immediately confirmed my new lodging.

Offbeat had a special offer of getting one night free when paying for three. Unfortunately, Eagle View did not offer this. When the change was made, Anne informed me that Amazing Memories would take care of that added cost. Thanks to her quick action, it all worked out.

On arrival into Nairobi, Anne, Joseph, and another Joseph (my Nairobi guide) were there to greet me with big hugs and smiles. After the long flights and the late hour, it is so nice to see such welcoming people waiting. The trip to the Fairview Hotel was short and they made sure everything was perfect on check in. We discussed my arrangements for the next day for my pick up time by Joseph in order to do some shopping and visit my elephants at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust both for the 11am public visit as well at the adoptive parent visit at 5pm.

After the evening elephant visit, Joseph and I met Anne and Joseph at the Carnivore restaurant where I was treated to a lovely dinner and great conversation. Such a special time.

Joseph N., my Nairobi guide, that I first met in 2014, is amazing at navigating the traffic in Nairobi. His pleasant personality and sense of humor go a long way to making you feel at home.

Communication with the camps was perfect. On arrival, they all knew I preferred a tent with a full size bed and what my dietary requirements were.

As a photographer, my guide Daniel, who I have traveled with 4 times, is a real gem. He is an excellent spotter, even in challenging situations. As a photographer himself, he knows how to position the vehicle to get the best shots. He's a great conversationalist, and always fun to travel with.

When arriving back into Wilson from Meru, I changed airlines. Joseph, my Nairobi driver, was waiting for me to assist with the transfer. There was a three layover between the flights so I was taken to Aero Club to enjoy lunch. The food there was very good.

On my final day in Kenya, Anne met me at Wilson after my flight from the Mara, with driver Joseph. She wanted to know how everything went, especially at Eagle View which was not my initial choice. All went fantastic. She was also able to extend the Eka hotel regular day room check out time from 6pm to 7:30pm which really was nice and gave me time to repack and have some food before I was taken to the airport for my midnight flight.

I can't say enough good things about Amazing Memories Safaris. They are extremely professional, going above and beyond to make sure every part of your trip expectations are met perfectly. They are much more than a tour operator. Their warm, welcoming hospitality is yet another reason why I return to Kenya over and over.

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I first contacted Amazing Memories Safaris via e-mail and Anne from the very beginning was very responsive and accommodating to our needs.

We were a group of 10 friends traveling. We did a road-trip from Nairobi to Watamu at the Kenyan Coast, stopping to Naivasha, Masai Mara , Amboseli and Tsavo West on the way to Watamu and to Tsavo East on the way back. We covered a lot of ground, yet our drivers have always been available to take us to as many game drives as possible. Spotting wildlife was easy for them and again we enjoyed the amazing landscape, especially in Tsavo West.

Daniel, one of the driver guides, was of great company and has a great sight and instinct for finding animals. He showed a very respectful, passionate and enthusiastic knowledge and professionalism, often giving so much extra time and effort to find the next memorable moment. Each piece of information was a revelation only adding to our whole Amazing experience. He was also very flexible and found us some batteries for our camera in town in between our safari. Again, he asked us if we wanted to visit a Maasai village which was not part of our itinerary but ended up being one of the best parts of the trip!

The hospitality was 5 star. Tented, lodges or luxury were all to the highest standard of presentation and each meal was beautifully served and so tasty. My favorite moment, was to come back after the sunset drive and be offered a hot facecloth to refresh my face.

The few issues encountered were promptly managed. We cannot fault our trip.

It was a great experience and I would definitely recommend Amazing Memories Safaris!

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I started interviewing tour operators in January and chose Amazing Memory Safaris based on their level of communication, pricing, as well as feedback from past clients. I started planning the trip with Anne in February. Amazing Memory Safaris has a number of package tours but I chose to customize the trip based on our criteria. Throughout the entire process Anne was extremely responsive, flexible, friendly & communicative despite the time zone difference.

We ended up with a 7-night flying safari covering multiple parks in Kenya & Tanzania flying between the parks as opposed to driving. With Anne I worked out a balanced diverse itinerary that included lodges of different sizes, a luxury tented option in the Masai Mara conservancy, as well as large and small national parks.

The lodging options as well as drivers/guides suggested by Anne turned out to be excellent. Our Kenya-based driver stayed with us for 4 nights throughout the Kenya portion. As a guide he was very reliable, knowledgeable & friendly. The Tanzania driver was provided by our lodge. That guide was super excellent because he knew the land well and could go off road since private conservancies don't need to follow public park rules.

I could go on about the great experience we had but the critical thing is this. We had to pay up front for the entire safari so you need to have some trust even after doing a lot of due diligence. Anne and the Amazing Safaris team made us feel secure, planned a great trip, took care of attention to detail before AND during the trip, had great follow through and all at a relatively good price.

I would highly recommend Amazing Memory Safaris to plan your African safari! I would recommend them over non Africa based operators because they provide personal service in Nairobi and can assist with travel logistics locally while in Africa.

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