Your 'Custom' Kenya Safari Might Be Planned by Someone Who's Never Been There
- Complete Safaris
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 7
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Kenya Safari Planning - And What No Safari Company Will Tell You Upfront
Who actually plans your custom Kenya safari itinerary?
With most companies, your itinerary is created by someone who's never been to Kenya, working from a database. With Complete Safaris, your trip is designed through the combined expertise of Anthony (30+ years in Kenya) and myself (multiple Kenya experiences), creating a personal experience rather than pulling from templates.
What's the difference between having your own guide versus sharing?
Other companies assign you to whichever guide is available and hope they're a good fit. We connect you with Anthony's proven expertise—someone I've worked with personally on safari and can confidently describe the experience you'll have.
Who handles travel documentation like Kenya's eTA?
Other companies leave the electronic travel authorization up to you—something you'll likely navigate once in your lifetime. We handle your eTA completely, removing one more stress from your planning process.
Here's what no safari company will tell you upfront.
Most people booking their first Kenya safari have no idea what they're walking into.
They compare websites, read reviews, maybe even call a few companies. But they're missing the crucial details that separate an extraordinary experience from an expensive disappointment.
After working with Anthony to create personalized Kenya trip itineraries, I've learned that the magic isn't in what companies tell you—it's in what they don't mention at all.
The Person Planning Your Safari Has Never Been There
Here's something that might surprise you: while safari company owners may have visited Kenya, the person answering the phone and planning your trip likely never has.
Your entire trip—your once-in-a-lifetime bucket list adventure—is being designed by someone reading from a database, plugging destinations into software, recommending places they've never experienced.
I've experienced the accommodations I recommend. Stayed in the lodges. Traveled the roads. When I suggest a particular location for your custom Kenya safari, it's because Anthony and I have explored it together.
When I describe the experience you'll have in a specific region, it's because I've been there myself, learning from Anthony's decades of expertise about what makes each area special.
The difference: You're not getting a generic itinerary pulled from software. You're getting our combined personal experiences, curated for your specific interests.
Your Guide Is Assigned at the Last Minute
Most safari companies promise "expert guides" and "professional drivers." What they don't tell you is this: they hire their guides but can't promise which one you'll get until much closer to your trip.
You're trusting your dream trip to someone they hope will be available, someone they may barely know, someone who may or may not understand your cultural preferences or travel style.
I've spent extensive time on safari with Anthony. I know how he reads the landscape, how he creates those perfect photographic opportunities, how he adapts to different client interests. I know the depth of knowledge he brings to every wildlife encounter.
When you book with Complete Safaris, you're getting the combined expertise of Anthony and me—and I can tell you exactly what that experience will be like because I've lived it myself.
The difference: Instead of hoping your guide will be a good fit, you know exactly whose expertise is guiding your journey.
The Small Details That Create Big Stress
Even something as straightforward as your electronic travel authorization (eTA) becomes a complication with most companies. They provide you with government website links and leave you to navigate Kenya's system, hoping you complete it correctly and receive approval in time.
We handle your eTA completely. For something you'll likely navigate once in your lifetime, who wants to deal with the stress of government websites and approval uncertainty?
The difference: We manage details like this so your focus stays on anticipating your incredible Kenya experience instead of handling bureaucracy.
What This Actually Means for Your Safari
When you combine personal Kenya experience with trusted guide relationships and complete logistical support, your safari transforms from a standard tour into something completely tailored to you.
You're not just seeing Kenya—you're experiencing it through our combined knowledge, guided by expertise I can personally vouch for, designed around your specific interests and travel style.
This is why our clients return home with stories that sound different from typical safari experiences. Because their experiences were different.
The Complete Safaris Promise
We don't offer the least expensive Kenya safari. We offer something much more valuable: the certainty that every aspect of your journey has been personally experienced and thoughtfully designed around your specific dreams.
Because here's what I've learned: you can't recreate your first safari. You get one chance to experience Kenya's magic for the first time.
Shouldn't that experience be designed by people who've actually lived it?
Ready to discover what a truly personalized Kenya safari feels like? Let's start with a conversation about your dreams and see how we can make them reality. Email Lutricia.
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