savannah woods safaris consultants team
Savannah Woods Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $1,214 to $6,244 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
DE
Email Michaela | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Savannah Woods Safaris – 6-Day Safari (Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli)
I chose Savannah Woods Safaris because I wanted to support a smaller, local company, and the communication with Lucy beforehand was excellent. Looking back, however, this might have been a mistake.
I had booked a 7-person group safari, but in reality, we were mixed together with people from different companies, and many of us stayed in completely different accommodations. At times, there were even eight of us in the vehicle, which made it quite cramped. Because we were all staying in different lodges, we lost a lot of time every day picking up and dropping off people — it often felt more like a hop-on hop-off bus than a group safari. Guests were frequently exchanged along the way, which made it difficult to build any real connection within the group.
Unfortunately, I got a stomach issue already at the first lodge (Jambo Mara), which lasted for two days. The two other guests staying at the same place also felt sick afterwards, so I suspect the food or hygiene might have been an issue. Lucy did check in once during the trip, but after that, I didn’t hear from her again.
Our driver – I hesitate to call him a “guide” – was careful and drove safely, but he seemed rather bored and disengaged. We received very little information about the animals, and often started so late in the morning that we missed most of the early wildlife activity.
The Masai Mara itself was spectacular and definitely worth visiting; the hot air balloon ride was a real highlight. However, since the guides all share sightings among themselves, we probably would have seen the same animals even with any other tour operator.
Lake Nakuru, on the other hand, was disappointing and involved a lot of unnecessary driving for very little reward. I would personally skip it next time. Amboseli can be stunning, especially early in the morning when Mount Kilimanjaro is clear — unfortunately, we arrived too late to enjoy that view.
On a positive note, the Amboseli Sopa Lodge was fantastic — a truly beautiful place to stay.
In hindsight, I would rather book with a larger, more established company, or even through a European operator, to ensure better organization and reliability. It’s really important to confirm that all travelers in the group are on the same itinerary and staying in the same accommodations; otherwise, you lose a lot of valuable time waiting around.
I can’t recommend Savannah Woods Safaris based on my experience. No one ever asked me for feedback afterwards, and after the booking was completed, I felt pretty much left on my own — which was disappointing, especially as a solo female traveler.
PT
Email Filipe | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Okay, but
The safari experience was incredible, we were able to see the animals up close, we just didn't see the rhinos, but we saw many other animals.
Positive points: water was provided during the safari, driver/guide was very friendly
Negative points: in our jeep with 8 people we were in 4 different hotels, which delayed the start of the tour on the 2nd day, during the tour we were given little information about the animals, a 3-day tour that is only worth it for the second day, the rest of the days are long trips on very damaged roads, although this is not the fault of the company that organizes the tour, however, the jeep could be more comfortable, the semi-reclining seats could not be adjusted, in short the jeep was very worn and not very comfortable
(automatic translation from Portuguese)
IN
Email Divya | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The driver was good and knowledgeable.
The safari was good, the vehicle was well maintained. Only bummer is they fill it with all 7 people and during Safari no-one wants to sit in the back seat as the view is limited.
Otherwise, we could see most of the big five except the rhino and buffalo
KR
Email Soohyun | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Outstanding Safari Led by an Exceptional Guide, Despite Operational Issues
The four-day, three-night safari tour was truly breathtaking. Being able to witness animals living their lives freely, exactly where they belong, with my own eyes felt like a profound blessing and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
My driver, Moses, had deep knowledge of both the safari and the wildlife. He was exceptional at tracking animals and always attentive to their movements. He also thoughtfully considered the direction of the light and positioned us in the best spots, allowing me to photograph the animals in the most beautiful way possible. I was genuinely impressed by both his professionalism and his considerate attitude.
The safari experience itself deserves a 10 out of 10. However, there were significant issues with the lodges where we stayed. In both lodges, internet access was not available in the rooms and could only be used in the communal areas, which was frustrating. Neither lodge provided a hair dryer either.
More disappointingly, the staff at Masai Mara Sopa Lodge repeatedly made mistakes and behaved rudely, despite this being a service-oriented environment. There were no apologies offered unless I raised strong complaints, and only then were the issues addressed with delayed apologies. Staying there felt unpleasant and uncomfortable.
In addition, the tour payment was split into two parts, and there was a serious issue with the second payment. The amount communicated to me was incorrect, and as a result, I almost overpaid by 500 dollars. This caused unnecessary stress and should not happen in a professionally managed tour.
The contrast between the wonderful safari experience and the disappointing lodge stay was quite stark. If these issues, including accommodation and payment accuracy, were properly addressed, this tour could truly be an outstanding experience overall.
Email Hezekiah Wamurwa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Caring
The tour operators were keen to know what we needed during the tour. Provided us with sanitizers, ensured all the questions we heard were answered and got us a magnificent hotel to stay in
Email Anca | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A safari dream
Our safari adventure began when we contacted Savannah Woods Safari and from the very first message we knew we were in good hands. Lucy was absolutely fantastic throughout the entire process. She was incredibly responsive, patient, and helpful, answering all our questions and making sure every detail was taken care of. What impressed us most was that her support didn't stop once the trip started! She continued checking in and helping whenever needed, which gave us great peace of mind.
We chose a 6 days safari trip, covering Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable trips we have ever taken.
A huge part of that experience was thanks to our guide, Papa John. He is truly exceptional. His knowledge of the parks, wildlife and animal behaviour was remarkable, and his ability to spot animals was nothing short of incredible. Thanks to his expertise, we managed to see all of the Big Five, including a leopard, which many visitors never get to see. He always seemed to know exactly where to be and when, giving us amazing wildlife sightings and fantastic photo opportunities. Beyond that, he was friendly, professional, passionate about his work, and made every game drive enjoyable and exciting.
The Sopa Lodges were also excellent. The accommodations were comfortable, the food was delicious and varied, and the staff were warm, welcoming, and genuinely hospitable.
We would highly recommend this itinerary, Savannah Woods Safari and especially Papa John as a guide. If you're lucky enough to have him leading your safari, make sure you clear plenty of space on your phone or camera, you'll come home with hundreds of incredible photos and unforgettable memories!
Thank you, Lucy and Papa John, for making our dream safari a reality.
DE
Email Chary | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfectly organized and unforgettable safari with an amazing team and guide!
We had an absolutely amazing experience on our safari from Nairobi to Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru! Everything was perfectly organized from beginning to end.
The hotels were beautiful, the food was great, and every person we met during the trip was incredibly kind and welcoming. A very special thank you to Lucy, who organized everything so perfectly. She always made me feel safe, was constantly checking in on us, and responded incredibly fast whenever we had questions or needed anything. Her communication and support throughout the whole trip were truly exceptional.
And of course, a huge thank you to our driver and guide, Kikitu — he was absolutely AMAZING! He had the best energy, gave us so much information, amazing tips, and made the whole experience even more special and fun. We always felt safe, comfortable, and well taken care of.
If you book this safari, definitely ask for Kikitu — he truly made our trip unforgettable! We saw incredible animals, enjoyed stunning landscapes, and created memories we will never forget.
We highly recommend this company 10000000% and would absolutely book with them again when we come back to Kenya!
NL
Email Arnold | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional, friendly and knowledgeable
Brian was a great guide who has a lot of knowledge about the area and the animals.We felt at comfort and had a pleasant trip and drive to Amboselli. We stayed at Prato lodge and it was the best experience ever. Highly recommend.
Email Ute | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amboseli Tour - absolutely fantastic!!
I did a two-day tour from Nairobi to Amboseli.
What a fantastic experience!
I was very lucky in terms of the weather with a fantastic mountain and animal experience.
I went on a solo trip, and stayed in Ol Tokai Lodge, which was fully worth it.
My guide Antony absolutely deserves 5 stars - the tour was great!
I fully recommend this tour!
DE
Email Udo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simply amazing.
I have only praise for my experience with Savannah Woods Safaris. From the get go, Lucy and her team answered all my questions, made a really fair offer and accomodated any extra wishes I had. I booked a 4 day group tour to Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru with a short stop in Lake Nashiva. Our driver Robert was the best guide I could have wished for. He did everything to make sure we get to see all the animals in the park, and had so much background knowledge on the animals and parks. The accomodations were really great, food was ok and service was 10/10. Will never forget the memories made. Thank you for your professionalism and I will definitely come back for another Safari with you some day.
