Kenya Expresso Tours and Safaris (KETS)

Visited: Feb. 2023 Reviewed: Mar. 29, 2023 Submitted in:

Have used KET Safaris 3 different times dating back to 2016. Always had great experiences with communication prior to the trip and the trip itself. Have seen the big 5 on several occasions, the lodging has been great, and KET has been willing and helpful in customizing parts of a journey or helpful in booking ancillary services (ie a train ticket).

Thanks to the team for great experiences.

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Visited: Aug. 2022 Reviewed: Aug. 26, 2022 Submitted in:

We booked a 5-day safari with Kenya Expresso Tour (KETS) and it was amazing. Paul responded quickly to all our questions prior to arrival as well as helping guide us to what we should do as a family of four with relatively young children. This was our first safari and it was perfect! Service was excellent, experience was amazing and Paul went over and above to make sure we got to see as many of the animals as possible.
For anyone planning a Kenya safari, KETS should be your first contact!!

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Visited: Apr. 2022 Reviewed: Apr. 25, 2022 Submitted in:

This is the second time I have used KETS and I was not disappointed in the slightest. Once again I had an amazing experience and was extremely lucky to see the animals in very close proximity. All correspondence with Paul via email was great and he was very responsive. I was very happy he was our driver for the trip! Paul is extremely knowledgeable, punctual and a credit to the company! The safari van is very comfortable with plenty of water bottles/juice provided. I highly recommend this company for a personalised experience and a lifetime of spectacular memories! I can't wait to return to Kenya with friends for another amazing safari experience with KETS

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Visited: Aug. 2021 Reviewed: Sep. 20, 2021 Submitted in:

We booked a 7-day safari with Kenya Expresso Tour (KETS). The owner, Paul Mwendwa, responds quickly to inquiries. This was my fifth safari with KETS, so I know what to expect: a competitive quote, excellent service, integrity, a reliable vehicle, and a world-class experience that is both unforgettable and safe.

We are patrons of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, so this safari was customized to allow us to spend time with out foster elephant babies at both Ithumba and the Voi Stockade, as well as the Nairobi Nursery. Paul was also our driver, and was always punctual with our visitation schedule at the orphanages.

Ithumba must be the only place on earth where one can view wild elephants in such large numbers as they mingle with the orphans... an extraordinary experience.

We enjoyed several game drives in Tsavo East National Park. Paul has a good eye and strong instinct when it comes to viewing wildlife.

Regarding the exit covid test requirement, Paul made it easy: he took us to West Nairobi hospital that emailed results in 4-hours.

For anyone planning a Kenya / Tanzania safari, KETS should be your first contact.

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We have just had a fabulous fortnight in Kenya organised by KETS. I gave Paul an outline of all the parks we wished to visit and he organised everything. Lodges were fantastic and the whole trip made so memorable by our wonderful driver and guide Benedict. We particularly requested him as we had such a good time in the Mara in 2013 with him. Thanks to Benedict we saw a kill, chases and the elusive leopard, apart from all the other wonderful sights you would expect to see in Kenya.
A wonderful safari and, if we were to return, we would definitely be contacting Paul again.
He is actually arranging a trip for my sister's friend in December and I am sure he will have a great time, like we did.

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We just returned from our safari in Kenya with KETS, and it was incredible. Specifically, our package included Tsavo East & West, Amboseli, Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara. Our driver Sammy was clearly very experienced, informative and genuinely wanted us to have a great time. He definitely made the trip as great as it was. I have wanted to come to Africa; Kenya specifically for most of my life, so it was a dream come true. When planning the trip, you won't have a better contact than Paul! He was always quick to respond, organized and helpful with any questions we had.

Thanks KETS, we'll definitely be back to Kenya someday!!

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I have been in Kenya with KETS in 2011 and 2018. Thinking of next adventure, there is no question in our mind about which agency to contact: Paul and KETS will always be our choice.
Paul is always helpful with any questions you may have and flexible to organize trip you want. Both times drivers were absolutely great, teaching you a lot about all the animals and parks.

In 2018 Paul made our honeymoon absolute dream! Camp rooms were beautiful, WE DID SEE A BIG 5, we enjoyed different scenery (Nairobi, Tsavo east, Aberdare, Masai Mara, Amboseli, Nakuru, Naivasha, Taita hills). In my head I am already planning for a next trip :)

Thank you Paul and KETS!

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15-day Kenya-Tanzania Safari

We completed a 15-day Kenya-Tanzania Safari in August, 2015.

After witnessing the Great Migration in Masai Mara on Day 2 of the safari, it was easy to think it couldn’t possibly get any better. But it did…repeatedly.

This was our second safari with KETS, so we had the highest expectations and weren’t disappointed. In Tanzania, we followed the northern circuit: Serenageti (Western Corridor and Seronera), Olduvai Gorge, Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Manyara. We returned to Kenya via Amboseli, then spent the final 5-days in Tsavo East, at Bigi camp on the Galana River. For elephant lovers who enjoy being in the middle of remote wilderness, Bigi Camp is for you.

A few highlights: spent 2-nights at Sarova Mara. The buffet alone would make this a destination, but add Masai Mara and brace yourself for stellar experiences. In the Serengeti, we stayed at Mbalageti Lodge. The sweeping views across the plains of Serengeti are unbeatable. A lion spent the night under our cabin, and its low rumblings kept waking us up…but we didn’t complain! At the Bigi Camp, we loved observing tuskers wandering around the tents. As vegetarians, we were pleased to see that most of the buffets at the lodges we stayed were free of animal products.

Video 1 captures the Great Migration and Tanzania:

https://youtu.be/20XmqGOcZwE

Video 2 includes Bigi Camp and the elephants of the Galana River:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulmiDTHZvTk

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We can highly recommend KET Safaris - Paul Mwendwa.

Everything went great, from the booking and preparation to the end of our trip. We have seen many beautiful places and animals of course - hiking in Mount Kenya NP, game drive in beautiful Samburu NP and Sweetwater's Wildlife Sanctuary, relaxation and recreation on Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha, and finally the magnificent Masai Mara.

The accommodations were all very good and the food was excellent. A big thank you to our super driver/guide Patrick, he has kept calm in all situations and always brought us safely to the destination. We will definitely come back as soon as possible, there are still many places to visit in Kenya after our second trip, but above all the warmth and kindness.

Thanks again to Paul, Patrick and the whole team. Best regards from Switzerland - Zinedin, Esma and Jan

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Ithumba & Tsavo: Elephant-Palooza

We recently returned from a 10 –day safari in Tsavo, including 4 days at Sheldrick’s Ithumba camp.

If there are 11,000 elephants in Tsavo, it felt as if we encountered nearly all of them. In an 8 sq km area west of Luggard Falls, we encountered 10 families in quick succession. Driving along the Galana River at sunset, our driver needed to brake repeatedly as waves of elephants crossed the road. On a continent where ellie populations are plummeting, to see such large concentrations of pachyderms was exhilarating.

We spent 5-nights at Epiya Chapeu (Bigi Camp) on the Galana River, an ideal base camp. In addition to frequent elephant sightings in the Galana region, we encountered large concentrations of wildlife near Aruba Dam, and Pipeline Rd by Voi.

We were very fortunate to have Ithumba to ourselves. We joined the elephant orphans for breakfast, mudbath at noon, and pre-bedtime routine. Lead keeper Benjamin and staff were kind and attentive. Ithumba must be the only place on the planet where one can be surrounded by huge numbers of elephants, a combination of orphans, ex-orphans, and wild pachyderms

We stayed at Ithumba Camp. The accommodations were very comfortable, and the staff of 3 met our every need and made us feel right at home. We bought our groceries in Voi, and delivered them to the kitchen upon our arrival. We requested vegetarian meals and the cook worked his culinary magic….finest cuisine in Tsavo.

We toured the nearby Hill Camp, which is more upscale and has a pool. It offers a stunning view of the plains and Yatta Plateau.

Our safari van and driver, Daniel, were provided by Kenya Expresso Tours (KETS). The van was in excellent condition, and Daniel is a superb guide. This was our 3rd safari with KETS. Paul, the trustworthy manager, is a whiz at handling all details and communicates well. Whether you’re a safari veteran or timid first-timer, KETS will provide intimate experiences with wild Africa…the stuff of dreams.

Logistics: We flew San Francisco-Nairobi redeeming United Airlines frequent flier miles, paying $38 in taxes. Flying time SFO- Nariobi was 20 hours, with a short layover in Frankfurt. We also redeemed miles returning from the Seychelles: SEZ-ADD-CDG-SFO. Flying Ethiopia Air was a positive experience. We spent a total of 42 hours in the air, and it was literally smooth sailing the entire way.

We were glad we added the Seychelles to our trip. Kenya Air flies NBO-SEZ 4x weekly, RT ~$500.

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