As a child I spent hours looking at National geographic magazines. My favorites were the photos of the animals of Africa. I dreamed of one day travelling there to see the animals for myself – in their world not just on the pages of a magazine.

Fast forward MANY years. My husband and I, along with some friends, started discussing and researching a trip to Africa. We searched the hundreds of options – it was overwhelming. Which country? What time of year? What tour operator? Then luckily, I happened to be talking to a friend who had just returned from Kenya on a golf safari. She could not say enough good about their vacation and the company they had used. Our group wasn’t interested in a golf vacation, but I contacted Believe Safari and was happy to learn that they also did trips that were not focused on golf. We set up a group zoom call to get more information.

During the zoom call they explained how Believe Safari operates, what we could expect and what was expected of us. She answered all the questions that were asked with honest, informative replies. One thing we liked was that when asked if we would see the big 5 – she answered honestly saying there were no guarantees – they are wild animals. My husband and I decided immediately to book the trip. There were concerns from some in the group about sending the full amount of money with a direct wire transfer but it was explained that the resorts needed to be book ahead with their contacts and that Believe Safari works directly with the people and businesses of Kenya – eliminating the middleman. I have to be honest that had I not had several friends who had traveled with this company, giving nothing but rave reviews, that we would have also been concerned. Having firsthand knowledge from people who had been on this trip, helped alleviate the concern for others in our group as well. There were zero issues with sending the money up front.

We all booked the next day and the rest is history. I cannot begin to describe how absolutely incredible this trip was. The attention to detail by Ikua and the team is second to none. Having worked in the travel industry managing guided trips myself, I know how much behind the scenes work goes into making a trip like this seem so flawless. From packing lists to tipping to visas to gear – you are guided through every aspect of the trip.

We were treated like family, from the time we were picked up at the airport in Nairobi until we were dropped off for the flight home. Believe Safari will be there for you every step of the way, making sure every day of this adventure is stress free and beyond amazing. One example is I have some food allergies that often make travel difficult but at every meal I had delicious options available to me thanks to their attention to the smallest of details. Another is that near the end of our trip there was an air traffic controller strike and one of our flights was cancelled. While we all spent the day relaxing at the pool, they worked their magic and got us to Nairobi on time, in style and well rested for our flights home.

I could go on for hours, but words do not do justice. Words, photos, or videos will never fully capture or describe this experience. The people, the sounds, the sights, the smells, the animals… indescribable. It has to be experienced to fully appreciate what it was like.

Our group joked that Believe Safari had ruined all future travel for us…. But truthfully, I’m not sure that there will ever be a trip that will live up to this one. If you want to experience Kenya stress free and with a company who loves and advocates for the people and wildlife of their home – Choose Believe Safari. Ikua and the team are amazing ambassadors for Kenya and its people. Thank you, Believe Safari, for making the dream of a little girl come true all these years later.