Testimonial from Riyazi Muzammil & Michelle Mendis, (April 2010 Safari)

Even though we have always wanted to do a wildlife trip to Africa, we had been postponing it for years due to cost or time commitments. However, in February 2010 we decided that we should delay it no further. Even though we had only 2 months for our planned departure in April, we did a lot of research in planning the trip. 

One of our "golden" finds was As You Like It Safaris (AYLIS) - a unique safari operator headed by the charming Vivien Prince. There are quite a lot of tour operators in Kenya and we were quite concerned about the quality of service that we could expect and at the worst, of being conned of our hard earned money. These worries were eased considerably when we talked to a few of AYLIS's previous clients who praised them considerably. After a bit of correspondence, Vivien and George (Administrator) came up with a customised itinerary, tailor made for us. We were in contact with a few other safari operators as well but it was AYLIS that came up with the best service and a very competitive price. Some of the things that put AYLIS on top of our list was 
a) Efficient and quick replies to emails/queries
b) Vivien and George were easy to talk to, understood our needs and were very honest about what they can and cannot do
c) 4x4 jeep especially customised for photography
d) Highly recommended by previous clients
e) Competitive price

When we arrived in Kenya, we realised that the claims of AYLIS's service were indeed true and we were treated to a fantastic trip right throughout. Kamara, our driver/guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. He was very polite, mindful of our requirements, careful with his driving and always kept the jeep clean every morning. We had a fantastic time visiting Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara and Amboseli and seeing/photographing the wonderful animals and birds of Kenya. What impressed us most was the attention to detail and guest comfort that AYLIS does eg: beanbags for photographers, biscuits/sweets for snacks, etc. Vivien has extensive knowledge of every lodge in Kenya and her first hand experience helped her make the right choice for us. We were glad that we took up Vivien's suggestion of staying at Nyumbu camp which turned out to be a fabulous experience.

You can read about our experiences on our blog and view our pictures at the following links

Lake Naivasha - Blog - Pictures 
Lake Nakuru - Blog - Pictures 
Masai Mara - Day 1 & 2 - Blog - Pictures
We are also extremely grateful to Vivien for taking care of us when we were stranded in Kenya after our return flight was cancelled due to the Icelandic Volcano eruption. Her genuine concern and care for our well being, safety and comfort went way beyond the call of duty and made that distressing time a bit bearable. We will always fondly remember the mad last-minute dash we had to make to  the airport to catch a special flight and how Vivien packed our bags much better than we could ever have. 

Thank you very much Vivien, George and Kamara for making our first trip to Africa such a memorable one. We can't wait to come back.

Seeing wildlife in Africa was my dream although I have never been to it. Therefore, when I planned it for the first time, it was very important for me to select the correct tour operator. I spent a considerable amount of time to select one. I finally ended up with As You Like it (Safaris) Ltd. I made the right choice in many aspects.

Safarying in Kenya is not just getting in to a jeep and seeing some animals. People who spend money to have an unforgettable experience expects much more. Good photographic opportunity, comfortable accommodation, healthy food, competent guides, security, customer-oriented itinerary, road-safe vehicles and (last but not least) trust on financial transactions.

AYLIS is a very customer oriented company which designed this Safari to my taste. They operate true 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers. The guide I had – Dedan – was competent, punctual, knowledgeable and a remarkable spotter of animals. Their admin staff and Vivien have taken all measures to make me happy from the time I landed in Nairobi.

I covered Amboseli, Mt Kenya, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara in 10 days. They have taken special care to provide me the best accommodation including the world famous Nyumbu camp in Mara. I have seen the big five (and much more) including a Leopard mating! Although it was my first visit to Africa, I have traveled a lot in Sri Lanka with various guides. But I was really impressed with the guide they provided me who had a deep knowledge of the animals and habitats.

I was very concerned about sending my money to an unknown company in Kenya before I started my Safari. But I was very fortunate to find a trusted company who gave me much worth than I spent!

Last but not least, I must thank George and Vivien who planned and executed my Safari. I couldn’t recall a single moment of distress or disagreement.

I fully recommend this company to anybody who is serious in an African Safari.

Susantha Sampath (A Sri Lankan living in KSA)
sus123mail@yahoo.com

The first thing I commented to all my friends who were eager to hear about my last safari was that this one was probably the most interesting...full of action safari I have yet done! I will start with...Gabriel.

What impressed me the most about this man is his incredible knowledge of animal behaviour. He knows how to "read" the signs of the animal body and this is a crucial thing for a guest who does wildlife photography. There were occasions where he could see from a whole herd of zebra which individuals are ready to produce action scenes and this fact helped me a lot cause I was always ready to press the shutter button the right moment. No need to mention that his general knowledge about photography made my task easier cause I didn't need to explain him all the time where to stop the car in order for me to be in the best position to shoot my images. So in summary Gabriel is an ideal guide-driver....experienced, good spotter, with knowledge of what a wildlife photographer needs. He was also very punctual we were never late, everything worked perfectly and in time.

Your suggestion for Nyumbu camp proved to be very successful, because I noticed that those 3 days in this area were by far the most interesting. The migration was present...so every day was wonderful. Thousands of herbivores and of course a lot of predators too! I would definitely recommend this camp to anyone who might think visiting Masai Mara due to it's excellent position. It lies in a strategic place. The other lodges in Nakuru, Samburu and the Mara Serena are all excellent choices for your future clients. Nice facilities, tasty meals, friendly staff too.

My final comment is that you proved to be a reputable tour operator who executed with accuracy and care my whole itinerary. My little experience in safari trips in Africa and India has taught me that if you return back home and can't recall any serious problem which might distress you during the safari then this operator is worthy to use the next time. This is the case with you. I'm very pleased with the quality of your service.

Thank you very much

Teo Mattas

I have been asked to write a reference with regard to Vivien Prince and her company As You Like It Safaris. If you are organizing a trip to East Africa, or have ever thought of doing so, and are obtaining information on itineraries from companies that run safaris in Kenya, my highest recommendation is with As You Like It Safaris.

I will be short and to the point. I have been to Kenya from the USA almost 10 times now. I have led numerous groups (mostly teachers and lawyer friends of mine). I am a photographer and I am writing a book on the Masai Mara and Samburu game parks. I have worked with 6 different Kenyan tour companies (big and small) and have met and talked with the owners of many others. The tour business is very competitive in Kenya. Many companies are desperate for business and promises are made and rarely kept. Vivien Prince runs a very small company which caters to elite travelers. She only runs a few tours each season and so she manages her trips with infinite care. You won't be lied to. You will be given a level of service that is rare in the Kenyan travel business.

I caution you to be very careful in the selection of your company and your guides because they make the trip not the itinerary. Vivien is "old school", and it is important, if you care about the people you are taking, to put your trust in a company which will live up to their contract. Vivien will honor all promises. I can tell you from painful experiences that this does not happen often in Kenya. Bad vehicles. Poorly trained guides. "Bait and switch" techniques on lodges and camps. All these occurrences do happen and with regularity in Kenya.You get what you pay for and this is true world-wide.

Go with a big company and you are just part of their seasonal business. In fact you are expendable. Go with Vivien and you can rest assured that you will be treated honestly and you will get what you have agreed upon. Feel free to email me if you need any more information.

Regards,

Jeffrey C. Sink
alaskakd@adelphia.ne

Dear Vivien,

As convinced, I would like to give you some comments and feedback about the Mt Kenya climb I made with your organisation As you like it Safaris in April 2009.

I found your services on your web site, simply by writing Mt Kenya on Google !

I was searching an all inclusive package with personalization according to my specific needs (date, pick up location, only 4 days, only one person... ) Your answer to my request was quick and complete. The program was well describe and attractive, totally correct with what I expected and asked for.

The entire organisation was perfect, always on time for transport, respect of the organisation and so on.

I would like to specifically recommend Symon Mutuah as an excellent guide for climbing Mt Kenya.

We climbed from Chogoria gate and finished at Naro Moru gate. This east to west journey was strongly recommended by you and I have to say that it was a very good option, because I saw very different scenery on both sides of the mountain. Symon knows the mountain as the bottom of his pocket. He has climbed it more than a hundred times, witch is for me very secure, regarding the risk of fog near the summit and the easiness to get lost !

Apart from that, Symon has a very good sense of “customer experience”. He was for me more than a mountain guide, always at disposal to provide friendship and help. It was a real pleasure to be with him during 4 days. And I think I can say now that he his one of my friend.

For the mountain organization part, he is very efficient. He had selected and manages a porter and a cook/porter with all what I could have expected from them. Very good food, very well prepared. Everything was delivered on time; with no hurry, no stress and always in a very good mood and attitude.

I perhaps had to take a little risk to trust you when I paid all the fees one week before the trek, but I have to say now that you can be fully trustable. No problem, I had all what I paid for; and let says a little more (friendship ... ). If you want, you can give my email (jadenoyes@orange.fr) to any of your future client if they want to contact me directly. You can also publish this email and the attached pictures on your website.

To end this recommendation, I can say that anyone who has the project to climb Mt Kenya can fully trust As you like it (safaris) Ltd and Symon as very professional and trustable.

Al the best to Vivien and the rest of the team.

Regards,

Jean Alexis Denoyé

We often (very, very often) think of you and about our wonderfully, amazing Kenyan holiday with AYLIS! If you can believe, Mitch is still going through our 6000 + photos. He’s almost at the end, and when he’s done, we absolutely promise to send you the very best ones. It is difficult to put into words our experience in Kenya. It was, in a word - amazing - and that still doesn't say enough. So, thank you, everyone at AYLIS, for giving us our best trip ever. We will never forget you!

The visit to the school was the highlight of our trip. We will never forget how touched we were by the experience and those beautiful children. They are always in thoughts…We miss our friends Kamara, George and the rest of the team. We wish the very best for you and your business, Vivien. You’ve helped to create some of our very best memories. And we thank you profoundly for that.

Our formal recommendation is to follow.

I truly wish we had travelled to the Mara with you and your company. Our driver was inexperienced, the vehicle was not road-worthy, and the "hotel" (while it did have a splendid view) was entirely too difficult to get to. We were exhausted and ill-tempered by the time the journey ended. 

At one point, Andrew had to get out of the VAN (yes, a VAN in the muddy Mara!) and push it out when we got stuck. This was a terribly long and drawn out and intensely messy affair... and when he got back in the van, we saw there were THREE LIONS only 50 feet from where we were, camouflaged by the grass. Thank God Andrew was not attacked!!! AND this is only ONE of MANY things that happened!! You cannot be too careful.  

This trip has been a lesson in patience for me. Plans keep changing. People are late or they never show up. It has been mostly business and very little holiday