THE A TEAM
Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Member Of:
- KATO & TRA
- Tour Types:
- Mid-range & luxury tours with set start dates and a fixed itinerary
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $2,583 to $20,667 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Astrid | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
If you book with Axis Africa, make sure Jeff is NOT your guide
To be clear, it wasn't all bad. The booking went fine, the agent was informative and helpful, the price was right, and the tented camp we stayed in was pleasant. But what you need most on a tour is a tour guide, and Jeff was anything but. He was our driver, and nothing more.
At the beginning of day 1 Jeff told us to ask questions, and generally one would expect those questions to be answered in addition to the guided tour, but what we got was a few, simple words to answer questions, and further questions seemed unwelcome. In what probably amounted to 20+ hours in the vehicle over 3 days, he maybe said a total of 200 words to us. He would stop, point, and say "impala" (or something similar) and then continue once we were finished taking photos. We got no information about the reserve, the animals, or what to expect from the day. Over several meals at the camp we heard all the other groups talking about what great guides they had and that saddened/angered me.
So, my review is simple: If you book with Axis Africa make sure Jeff is NOT your guide.
EC
Email Elena | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
do not perform scheduled tour
chose by rating, not my first safari. feeling that the comments are paid. instead of 3 promised visits to Maasai Mara. only 1, they got underweight back to the hotel, the guide did not hug anything, pulled from the place so that everyone flew around the cabin. people were stuffed into the car like sardines in a jar.
FR
Email Naj | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Disappointing and Overpriced Experience with a Problematic Guide
I regret to say that my safari with Axis Safari fell far short of expectations, especially considering the significant price I paid. I booked what was described as a mid-luxury tour to Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru.
My primary issue was with the value. For the price (approximately $1000), I expected a consistently good standard. While the first lodge was excellent, the accommodation at Lake Nakuru was, in my opinion, very poor. The room was tiny, the food for dinner and breakfast was disappointing, and excessive noise made it impossible to sleep well. I was traveling with others who had booked the cheapest option, and from my perspective, I could not see a justified difference in the quality we received for the extra cost. I feel I did not receive value for my money.
Unfortunately, the experience was significantly worsened by our guide/driver, Yasin. His demeanor was consistently grumpy and he appeared annoyed by our questions about the animals or the tour. He was frequently on his phone while driving and while we were on game drives. He would often start driving without warning while we were still standing up taking photographs, which felt disrespectful and unsafe.
The most unacceptable incident occurred one day in the vehicle. After a misunderstanding about the itinerary for the following day, I tried to clarify. Yasin became very angry, stopped the car, and raised his voice at me in front of the entire group. This outburst made everyone extremely uncomfortable and was utterly unprofessional. While he apologized later that day, the incident left me feeling very upset and it ruined that entire day of the safari for me. His general inattentiveness, fast driving, and lack of guiding commentary made me feel he was more of a disinterested driver than a guide.
The Masai Mara itself is absolutely breathtaking and worth visiting. However, based on my personal experience—feeling overcharged for uneven quality and being subjected to a guide whose behavior was, at times, unprofessional and intimidating—I cannot recommend Axis Safari. I believe there are operators who would provide better value and more respectful, engaged service for a similar price.
Reply from Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris
Posted on Jan 27, 2026Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry to hear that parts of your safari did not meet your expectations.
We would like to clarify that the tour booked was our standard 4 days Group Joining Safari, Cost Option 3 which clearly involves a mix of mid-range and budget accommodations, as outlined in the itinerary and final confirmation voucher provided before travel. During your safari, you stayed at Jambo Mara Lodge (Mid-range Hotel) in Masai Mara for two nights and Buraha Zenoni Hotel (a well-rated budget hotel) in Lake Nakuru for one night. Guests seeking uniform mid-luxury accommodation throughout are always offered dedicated mid-range or luxury itineraries at a higher cost as indicated in Cost Option 4 of the Standard Itineraries. That said, we regret that the Lake Nakuru accommodation did not meet your personal comfort expectations, particularly regarding noise and room size.
Concerning your experience with the guide, we take such feedback very seriously. We have followed up internally regarding the incident mentioned, as professionalism, safety, and guest comfort are extremely important to us.
We truly appreciate your acknowledgment of the beauty of Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru. Thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention, as they help us improve our services.
CN
Email Wilma | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The guide is lazy and less experienced.
I regret to give him too much tips .I gave him 2000Kes . Later I ask several other teams other groups other friends they join other company’s safari team,they told me they gave their guides less tips ,they only gave there guides 1000 Kes every one person for three days safari ,but their guides lead them find much more animals ——They saw Five Majestic Beasts of the Maasai Mara Grassland . They also saw lots of wild animals cross the sand river during 11:00~12:30 at noon on 17 July. But our guide only find three kind of Five Majestic Beasts. He even didn’t want to bring us to the sand river to wait for the wild beasts crossing the river at the same day . Although I already told him to give us chance and time to wait for the famous and precious crossing . At last at the afternoon he lead us to the sand river after we ask him go there but we saw nothing because the crossing finished already that time. He said several times it’s too far away to go to those crossing points of sand river to wait the crossing .
Reply from Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris
Posted on Jul 21, 2025Dear Wilma, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are truly sorry to hear that your safari did not meet your expectations, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.
July is indeed one of the peak months for the Great Migration in the Masai Mara, and many travelers hope to witness dramatic river crossings during this season. However, even during this period, wildlife sightings, including the iconic crossings, remain natural events, influenced by unpredictable animal behavior and environmental conditions. The crossing is not something that any Safari operator or guide can guarantee. While we understand your desire to witness this iconic moment, sightings vary greatly each day, and even with the best planning, nature follows its own course.
We also wish to highlight that for group joining safaris (like the one you had chosen), our guides do their best to balance the interests of all guests in the vehicle. This means that the guide needs to make choices that suit the whole group, including how much time is spent at each spot. For travelers with particular interests, such as spending extended time at potential crossing sites, we usually recommend a private safari for a more personalized experience and itinerary control.
Regarding tipping, this is an open gesture left entirely to the guest's judgment. We provide general guidance, but the final decision is always yours, and we are sorry to hear you later felt unsure about it.
We have taken note of your concerns about the guide and will follow up with our team accordingly to ensure every guest receives the best possible experience.
Thank you once again for choosing to travel with us, and we hope you will give us another opportunity in the future to deliver a more fulfilling experience.
Email Ljubo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bad
the mini bus was terrible, everywhere we ate the food was bad, our main day was delayed by an hour because of other passengers and at the end of the day we ran into a rhino and 10 lions on the hunt and the driver hurried home and didn't let us enjoy the scene 10 minuts more
the only reason for rating 2 is that we saw a big five
Email Kandice | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was ok, but overpriced and kind of sketchy
The van was comfortable enough but very old and without AC, so be prepared for that. Our driver was nice, the places we stopped for food were not clean. (Bring toiler paper and hand sanitizer with you) All the restaurants are buffet style and left in serving wear that was sitting out for much longer then I feel is safe.
We were meant to go into the Masai Mara for 2 days, but the driver talked us into only going for one "extra long" day, which was only an hour longer then the day was originally meant to be. He also told us we could go into the Serengeti and instead took us to the border and told us that was it. In the end we paid for two days when we only had about 12 hours, allowing them to pocket the extra cash that would have been spent on the next days entry fee.
The place we camped was ok, not like it was pictured but it was acceptable and the people who worked there were nice. There was an overwhelming pressure from Axis to pay up front and in cash. One day included a picnic lunch, which was precooked chicken that wasn't kept in a cooler, but in cardboard box and ended up giving me food poisoning. I would recommend brining your own snacks.
After the trip we were informed that they are being looked into for questionable practices.
I wouldn't book with them again, especially since there are rumors surrounding the legitimacy of their practices.
Reply from Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris
Posted on Mar 26, 2019Hi Kandice
We are very disappointed for this negative feedback that you have chosen to share , there is no way that one can go to Serengeti national park in Tanzania the same day he is doing Masai Mara, the program indicated very well that during the full day you will be inside Masai Mara park and visit the Masai Mara river which is close to the border separating Masai Mara and Serengeti, no where we mentioned that you will cross to enter Serengeti on this day, this is a language misunderstanding that you did not understand even after explaining to you physically.
About the food, we highly apologize, we have since made the camp partner aware of this case and they have promised to change there packaging of picnic lunch.
About overcharging, that's also not so, you were doing a safari that is longer compared to the rest in your group and that would only mean a slightly higher price for you.
We would like to clarify that we are not illegitimate company as you have mentioned, we have an office which you came to and are licensed by the government, this was a case of misunderstanding on the wording of the itinerary, which if you engaged us we have amicably resolved.
We however believe that the customer /client has to be always right and therefore highly apologize for everything that went negative.
MY
Email co | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
cool
Papa John tour driver very patience,
very understanding client need
Email Becca | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari, bad timing
I want to first say that our guide, Rodger, was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and helped us find all the ‘Big 5’ and many other beautiful animals. The accommodations were lovely- the campsite was great to connect with nature, and the hotel was comfortable and clean with tasty meals. The game drives were fantastic.
The reason I gave this safari a 3/5 is not the fault of the guide. On May 18th, the 3rd day of the safari, there were massive protests over gas prices all over Kenya, which turned into rioting, blocking roads and stopping cars. This is not the fault of Axis. The issue was the way the company handled the situation (this does not include Rodger- he was calm under pressure and kept us as safe as possible). Part of the issue here is that Axis combines travelers who are on different tours without clarifying it. There were people on the tour that were only there for 3 days, while others booked for 4 or more. This means that our third day involved bringing the people who had to go back to the office to a drop off point near Nairobi. This is where we got stranded for multiple hours with very little communication or assistance from the office. We spent the whole morning driving, leaving at 6 am, arriving midday and then staying in place. When asked about a refund of some sort for the day that really only included 2 hours of activity, we were told ‘well, day 3 is always a travel day’. The itinerary does not disclose that. They make it look as if there’s multiple activities that happen on day 3. On top of that, guests on our safari had to pay to change flights, without help from the office or clarification on what would happen to help them. Two of the people who were split from the group eventually to go to the airport were hit with a bag of rocks through the window of the car they were put in, leading to them being covered in glass. Again, this isn’t something the company can necessarily control, but the things they can control were handled poorly in my opinion.
Again, this would’ve been a great safari. The issues I had were partially the situation but mostly the office’s handling of it. Rodger was an excellent guide.
CO
Email Maria Patricia | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excelent Safari Experience
Instead of foreign companies operating in Africa, we wanted to hire a local company for our safaris in Kenya, so we booked Axis, but the experience was a bit of a struggle. They weren't very assertive in suggesting itineraries, they took an excessively long time to reply to messages or emails, and they weren't very careful with the information that should give clients peace of mind. At 8 pm the day before the private safari, which we had paid for months in advance, we had to anxiously search for them to get information about the pickup, schedule, guide, etc.
Thanks to the guide, Raymond, our safari was a wonderful experience. Besides being a very skilled driver, he is passionate about the game drives and search of the animals.
RS
Email Aleksandar | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Satisfying, but somewhat disappointing
We (my partner and I) were part of a safari tour that lasted 6 days, 5 nights in Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru (we were supposed to go to Naivasha but we didn't) and Amboseli.
Let me start with the positives first... during this tour we managed to see all the big 5 and ugly 5 animals, as well as many other ones, met interesting people along the way and managed to take pictures and record content that will serve as eternal memories of these wonderful places. While I don't regret doing this tour, I have to leave my honest comment and complain about the following… Our guide Dennis made this trip less than perfect with his inappropriate behavior. From the very beginning, he did not get off his phone, he was not in the mood for a friendly conversation (on the contrary, he made rude comments on several occasions), and when he did talk, he was so quiet that if you weren't sitting next to him, you couldn't hear him. At some point I gave up trying to hear him altogether and just watched what was going on outside the vehicle. On top of that, on the third day of the safari, when the optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha was planned, Dennis decided not to tell anyone that we would skip this ride due to the alleged bad weather. Although optional, this would've been our only activity on that day. Later, I found out that people from other tours were actually going on boat rides during this day. Dennis preferred to talk on the phone during the lunch breaks, which were taking too long for no reason. So long, that upon arriving at the hotel in Nakuru, after a 7-8 hour drive from Masai Mara, the hotel pool was not working because we arrived too late. Even though we had no other activities on that day. So on day 3, we were pretty much just driving in the vehicle with no activities. On the following day, after doing an early morning game drive in Nakuru, we were informed that we had to change vehicles and continue our tour with another group. At the place where we were having lunch and where we were supposed to change vehicles, Dennis was rushing us while we were eating (literally 5 min from the start of the break). The other guide was more friendly but was driving like a mad man, and we felt quite unsafe in the vehicle driving for another 7 or 8 hours from Nakuru to Amboseli. So on days 3 AND 4, we were just driving around doing nothing except for an early morning drive in Nakuru.
Only later did I find out that most of these budget safari companies work together and that in case one company does not have enough passengers on a certain day, it will use the services and employees of another company, and mix their passengers with people who booked through another company. Which is something that we would not accept and agree on, if we had known in advance.
Axis did offer us a tour of lake Naivasha free of charge at a later date, but we couldn't accept it because our schedule did not work. The communication with the company in general was clear, but we had to remind them of a couple of things during the booking process and later.
I would repeat a safari tour with a budget company only if I were staying in the same place for several days (Masai Mara for example).