We were picked up from Nairobi and after a 5h drive arrived to the best (from what we've seen) ranch in the Masaai Mara area. The vehicle, a custom built safari 4x4 with a pop-up roof based on a Toyota pickup, was among the best equipped and maintained vehicles I've seen in Kenya. Our driver, Ronald, was not just super friendly and knowledgeable about the area, the animals, the traditions, history, but also an experienced off-road driver. And I have a few years of competing in open and extreme categories in national off-road championships to know that this guy had tons of experience and was wisely tackling the obstacles to minimize the chances of getting us stranded (unlike some of the other jeeps I've seen there). I was impressed even before I talk about the Serengeti.
Then the safari, the animals, the action. We had 3 game drives in Masaai Mara, on the 2nd day we went early in the morning for a balloon ride, and the last day we had a game drive at Lake Nakuru. We saw zebras, giraffes, buffalo, ostrich, lions, caught a cheetah chasing and taking down prey, saw crocs dragging a zebra in the middle of the Mara river, elephants, hippos, rhinos, flamingos, lots of monkeys and birds. I got literally blown away. I have amazing footage. I mean stopped in the middle of the road, among some tall trees and vegetation, with a herd of zebras just peacefully grazing next to us, in the middle of the road is surreal. Not a budget affair, this is the real deal. Cannot recommend it enough!