We can't say enough good things about this trip. There were 5 of us (all family) in a private safari tour starting and ending in Nairobi and visiting Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. Grace and Patrick came to where we were staying in Nairobi and personally greeted and welcomed us, which was a very nice touch. My mother-in-law was the one who coordinated this trip and said that Patrick was very easy to communicate with via e-mail while booking and planning our trip.
Our driver and guide, Anthony, picked us up there and was with us for the entirety of the trip. We were in a large van that had 3 rows (two benches with 3 seats each and 2 free-standing seats in the middle). There was plenty of room in the van to be comfortable while driving hours between the different reserves. Although we often spent hours in the car communting, there was plenty to look at out the window as we drove by little villages, markets and farms. We also stopped a few times each drive at small shops or for a good view. The top of the van could come off for when we were on safari so we could see the wildlife better. We can not say enough good things about Anthony- he was absolutely amazing. He was very knowledgable and provided history about Kenya, cultural information and information about all the animals we saw. He spoke numerous languages and his English was great. He was able to spot any animal from so far away and help us to see it- definitely bring binoculars (although he also had an extra pair for us too). He was a great driver and was able to drive in severe terraine without a problem- we always felt safe when he was driving. Anytime there was noise on the radio that there was something good to see, he rushed us there and got us right into the action, even closer than other guides.
The amenities at the SOPA lodges were amazing. All locations had nice, clean bathrooms and mosquito nets over the beds. At Amboseli, we had free standing private rooms that had a porch, a large bed and a desk. Lake Naivasha had 4 rooms to a building with balconies and great views out onto a large lawn where giraffes and other wildlife would freely stroll by. At Lake Nakuru, the rooms were on the edge of a mountain with an amazing view of the lake that can't be beat. Masai Mara had private cottages with 2 rooms and a great walk to get to where the rooms were. All lodges had central areas where there were bars, dining areas, and lounges where you could access wifi. Tea and snacks were served every afternoon. The meals were excellent and were served buffet style with a huge variety to choose from, we never got tired of eating there. The rooms were attended to twice a day- once in the morning to make your bed/put away the mosquito net and another time at night set up the nets and turn down the bed. There was not electricity all the time- these locations are very remote and run by generators, so the electricity was only available in the early morning and evening. We didn't mind this- it added to the experience and during the day you don't need electricity anyway. Plus there were flashlights for if you had to get up in the night for any reason. At Masai Mara, locals came and showed us their traditional dance/singing which was awesome, and had a little nightly market at the lodge where we could purchase handmade jewelry and blankets. There were also pools at all of the lodges.
The safaris themselves were amazing. I have previously done a safari in South Africa, but this one blew my expectations away. The amount of animals we saw was breathtaking. We did many days of the traditional in the car safari and had no problem seeing the big 5, the great migration of the wildebeest, lion cubs, cheetah cubs; we saw a lioness and then hyenas/vultures devouring a carcass and countless other sights. In addition to the normal car safari, we did other types of safaris that were fun. We did a bike safari at Hells Gate national park, which included a long bike ride while viewing wildlife very close to us (at some points scary, but fun!) followed by a hike through the gorge. Another day we did a boat safari in Lake Nakuru where we got up close and personal to some birds and hippos. There was also a walking portion where we walked by a lake and saw hippos and crocodiles. It was nice to do other things besides just sit in a car. Some days the safari was only morning or night with a break between, where we would be at the lodge and have lunch, while other days we were out all day for about 8 hours. On the days we were out, the lodge would pack us a lunch to take with us so we could have a picnic.
One of the highlights of the trip was Anthony took us to a Masai village, where we met the local people and saw where they lived- how they cooked, what their beds/houses looked like, the animals they kept. It was truly eye-opening.
Overall, I have nothing negative to say about this trip. It was amazing and we all had a great time. I don't think there could be any better way to explore Kenya, see so many diverse areas of the country and participate in so many different activities than this trip. We highly recommend!