Kimkim Trip Reviews for Kenya

We went to Kenya as a family with our two young adult sons. Joseph was very responsive in tailoring the trip to fit within the limited dates we had available and organized a great itinerary with safaris in the masai Mara and lake Nakuru together with a night under the stars with masai chief seleten. A great trip topped off with 2-3 days at a Diani beach resort. Everything worked very smoothly and really appreciated our drivers Eliud and Richard .

Thanks to Joseph and Susan for planning an amazing trip in Kenya. They were very helpful throughout the entire booking and travel process. We spent 12 days and visited Amboseli, Naivasha, Nakuru and Masai Mara. Our guide George was great! He was very experienced and knowledgeable about wildlife especially birds! Each time he found the perfect spot to make sure that we saw all the animals we wanted to see. We loved every place we stayed and always felt safe. We hope to come back soon!

Review of trip to KENYA
All I can say is “WOW! “ What an incredible adventure! Thank you!
Well planned, well guided, well executed! Every place we stayed was comfortable and clean and the food was exceptional. The guides were excellent, informative, patient
and accommodating.

There were great cultural experiences: most notable was the Maji Moto Cultural Camp where I wore my “shouka” with pride among my Maasai brothers!
At the “Olpal” bush camp, I slept on a fragrant bed of leaves under the stars after a night of dance, chants & goat roasted on the fire. I was even blessed by a Maasai elder. It was such a highlight! Before I departed Maji Moto, I took part in ”warrior training” with 6-8 young Maasai men and witnessed first hand why they were a fearsome tribe in the day. Now I would describe them as gentle & jovial!

There were historical highlights: We toured the Nairobi National Museum and learned of the intense commitment of Ann Thompson who chronicled the life of the tribesmen and documented the flora of Kenya in her art .
We also visited the Karen Blixen Museum and grounds. She respected the native tribesmen and worked tirelesssly to improve their treatment by the British colonizers. Her writings include “Out of Africa” & a movie chronicles her heroic efforts on behalf of the African people.

As well, the nature adventures were spectacular from hands-on feeding of the gentle giants at the Giraffe Center to “up close” orphan young elephant feeding at the David Sheldrick Trust in Nairobi. And of course safari game drives in the Masai Mara National Reserve where in our first hour out we saw a big leopard in a tree! It just got more exciting from there with cheetahs “jetting” across the plains after wildebeest, lion cubs in “nursery time” while their moms luxuriated in solitude & a “ baby-free” nap close by, a pair of “honeymoon lions” taking a break in the hot afternoon sun, birds galore gloriously colored, tons of Zebras, elephants, topi, waterbuck and water Buffalo, hyenas,giraffe, hippos, warthogs, ostrich, gazelles, impalas, baboons & colombo monkeys, etc!
Everything ran like clockwork and we received lots of practical information on how to best manuever in Kenya from Richard and Stanley, our guides. I will always be grateful for their care and concern.
I say, by all means, go with KimKim!

As someone who has traveled to over 30 countries, I can easily say that this was the best trip of my life and the best trip of my wife's as well!
When we booked the trip, we were both excited and apprehensive. While we had used Kimkim before, we were not familiar with East Africa.
From the pre-booking process, to the entire trip, and even post-tripm our host/guide, Nicholas of Animal Kingdom Safaris was the best that we could ever ask for and truly feel that we made a friend for life!
From the hospitality to the humor to allowing us to use his camera to making sure we were well taken care of: Nicholas did it all! One specific example is when our bags got delayed from the United States. Nicholas was in constant commnication with the airlines, organized the bags to be flown to a nearby airstrip, and had a colleague pick it up for us. I could never have imagined doing that without him.
Since returning, I have told dozens of family / friends about the trip and Nicholas!

Loved every minute of my time in Kenya thanks to Joseph, whose expertise made everything go like clockwork, and huge thanks go out to the coolest drivers on the planet, Richard and Stanley. I had an extra day in Nairobi before the pre planned itinerary began. Between Joseph’s and Richard’s suggestions for things to do, the day got filled with sights and experiences that turned out to be some of the highlights of my stay. And I don’t even know where to start to say enough good things about Stanley, our guide and driver, for the safari portion of the trip. Great company! He managed to get us close to more animals than I could have ever imagined in my brief two and a half days. And last but not least I enjoyed getting to know Susan and all of the lovely people we encountered at Maji Moto. Although I went for the animals, I will go back for the people.

Hotel Review

Ashnil Mara Camp

Maasai Mara

If you like a touch of luxury in remote surroundings with wildlife at the gate, impeccable service, scrumptious food at every meal, hippos singing in your front yard in the evening, song birds waking you in the morning, and so much more, then this is the slice of paradise you need for your next safari. Sure was for me!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

Mid June was a perfect time to be in the park, if you like cooler weather and fewer people. The wildebeest migration wasn’t underway, but there was an abundance of wildlife to be found in every direction.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonderful exploration and perfect balance of adventure and leisure. Our guide, Andrew Kamaou was the best part of the trip. He knew the history and safaris well. He provide great insight on the various locations while also keeping us laughing! I teared up when we had to leave him behind to head to Diani beach.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Rudi

Nice facility, great staff and cooked to order meals.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly and helpful staff. However, charged for items that were not made clear were not apart of the covered meals.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naivasha Sopa Lodge

Nairobi

Beautiful hotel and great friendly staff. Great views of open terrain and wildlife.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashnil Mara Camp

Maasai Mara

Love the luxury tents!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Being able to see the wildlife in the open front tents.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake Nakuru Lodge

Nakuru

Beautiful location and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No hot water for our showers.

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

Maji Moto

Great immersive cultural experience. I would like to commend the Maasai community for accepting and immersing our group into the Maasai culture. The Maasai warriors and women shared a special piece of Kenya that I will carry in my heart forever. To say this was a riveting cultural experience would be an understatement.

Authenticity & Character

Susan was very critical of everything the various staff did. It was very distracting from the cultural experience. She should learn to operate behind the scenes.

Location

Beautiful campsite.

Staff

The Masai warriors and women were a real treat. Very welcoming and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and neat bathrooms. Even the bed of leaves at the overnight camp was very neatly laid.

Diani Sea Resort

Great beautiful location. Nice eatery area and pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Most staff were friendly and helpful. That were are few individuals who were not friendly nor helpful. Always seemed irritated.

Cleanliness & Comfort

New linens. Towels were a faded red color. Rooms are in much need of some maintenance. Shower handle broke in 2 separate rooms.

Activity Reviews

Giraffe Center

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maji Moto Maasai "Olpul" Bush Camp

Maji Moto

First, I would like to commend the Masai community for accepting and immersing our group into the Masai culture. The Masai warriors and women shared a special piece of Kenya that I will carry in my heart forever. To say this was a riveting cultural experience would be an understatement. With that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share my concerns with Susan, manager or overseer. As a liaison for the Masai people. I think you could be more effective behind the scenes of the operations of the Masai cultural camp. Through my own observation, your persistent interruptions, comments and corrections were condescending and ill mannered. For someone who has lived among the Masai for 13 years I found some of your comments to be culturally insensitive. Your presence gave the experience a corporation type feeling as opposed to providing historical and cultural value. You were a distraction and made this experience seem like a workforce instead of authentic Masai culture. I encourage you to read about African history and colonization, cultural relativism, cultural influence and ethnocentrism to understand better your own prejudices and better effect change among the Masai community. I hope this criticism is constructive and I would be more than happy to provide additional guidance upon request.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Diani Beach Activities

Diani Beach

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Street Kid City tour

Nairobi

We decided to skip this experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Nakuru National Park Game Drive

Nakuru

Quality of Experience

Food

No

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Naivasha Boat Tour

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I would like to give a special acknowledgement to Jospeh our local specialist for being extremely responsive, professional and helpful, before during and after our trip.

Also, want to acknowledge our driver/tour guide Andrew Kamau Monge. He was an absolute pleasure and added so much knowledge and enjoyment to our trip. It truly was like having a friend show us around Kenya. He is truly appreciated and will be missed. He is a special person and a beautiful asset to Nariku Travel.

I highly recommend working with Joseph and Andrew for Kenya trips.

Hotel Reviews

Diani Sea Resort

Most staff were awesome, a few were snooty. The water was intermittently hot and/or cold and extremely salty. The power went out occasionally, but for short periods. The pool and ocean were lovely. The snorkeling excursion was amazing. The evening entertainment was so-so. Room amenities were an issue. I had to change rooms due to telephone and shower not working. In my new room, AC stopped working. Friends had to change room due to AC not working. Food options were plentiful and offered almost around the clock. Cocktails included in the all inclusive package were prepared well and not watered down. Onsite amenities were basic but enough. Massage was priced well and enjoyable. Overall, a nice stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashnil Mara Camp

Maasai Mara

Very cute and well-appointed luxury tents. The property allowed us the visit of many animals and spottings along the river. The food was okay, but the scenery and lodging made up for what it was lacking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

Maji Moto

I don't really know how to rate this establishment. On the one hand, the staff, food and overall experience were memorable. On the other hand, the owner was extremely off putting and offensive. The owner also owns Nariku Travel. She is a white woman and served as the face of the cultural camp during our stay. She "educated" us on the life of the Maasai people. She often spoke harshly and in a condescending manner to the staff, attended all meals and most events with us and was overheard telling her husband (the chief) that she was not going to sleep outdoors with us because she could not go another night without running water. She should serve her function behind the scenes. It was mentioned that she lives in a house with running water and electricity not far from the camp; while all the members live in much less modern conditions. She found a way to profit from what used to be a journeyman's layover location. What a shame. I wish I knew more before attending. Despite her interference, the Maasai people deserve your love and support.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake Nakuru Lodge

Nakuru

No hot water in the shower, room untidy and full of insects. However, the property is charming.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naivasha Sopa Lodge

Nairobi

Reserved a room for 3 people. Was given a third make-shift bed in the sitting area that did not include a mosquito net around the bed. Felt we did not get what we paid for. The food was really good though and grounds are beautiful. Recommendation is for carpeting to be removed from rooms and dining in order to reduce the musty odors.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rudi

The hotel and staff are lovely. We felt special and like part of the family. Two issues: the amount of time it took to prepare meals, considering we were on time constraints and being charged for a bottle of wine that was placed on our table that no one requested. We assumed that it was included, only later to be charged. Deceiving practice that should be eliminated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lake Nakuru National Park Game Drive

Nakuru

The guides were excellent, ensuring that we saw all the "big five." They were well-coordinated with other tour guides, sharing information about animal sightings so that we could have the best experience possible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Naivasha Boat Tour

Kenya

This was an enjoyable experience. The boat driver worked hard to give us the best experience, even arranging for us to see a bird catching a fish. We also saw hippos and crocodiles, which were impressively large.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giraffe Center

Kenya

This activity was well-organized, allowing us to arrive before larger groups for a more individualized experience. The staff was informative and cautioned us about getting too close to the giraffes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Joseph did a wonderful job of helping me put together the adventure of a life time in Kenya. Every detail from airport transfers, lodging, meals, and of course our safaris were taken care of, making for an absolutely stress-free trip. Joseph even went above and beyond to help deliver my fiance's hat when he left it behind at our first hotel. We had the most excellent driver and safari guide (Andrew) who taught us so much about local culture and the animals we encountered. Everyone we met from the Nariku team was so friendly and their customer service was excellent.

Hotel Reviews

Peponi Hotel

The food at the Peponi was truly excellent! Still dreaming of the Swahili feast we enjoyed by the pool. The owner, Carol, was very helpful when it came to giving us local information, booking excursions, and generally helping us to structure our time in Lamu. It was the perfect place to relax after a week of safaris.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful view of the water and a short walk to the beach.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashnil Mara Camp

Maasai Mara

The food and customer service at Ashnil were excellent. We loved our waiter Timothy! Maasai Mara is a magical place and we loved returning to Ashnil at the end of our game drives to relax in our tent or at the bar. We got to see hippos from the camp as it is situated on the Mara River - they were a little loud at night but that added to the adventure!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Because Ashnil is situated in the middle of Maasai Mara, it was easy to get to different parts of the reserve.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

Maji Moto

Our visit to Maji Moto was probably the most magical part of our trip to Kenya. Susan, Salaton, and all of the staff at the camp were so welcoming. We experienced Maasai culture and a taste of daily life in the village in an authentic way. The Maasai we encountered did a marvelous job of bringing us into the experience, rather than simply having us observe. Our experience at Olpul Bush Camp was truly special and we cannot recommend it highly enough. We loved watching and participating in the Maasai traditions of building the fire, preparing the goat, telling stories, singing, and performing sacred rituals. It ended up raining while we were there so we did not get to sleep on the leaf beds, but our tent kept us dry and the morning trek back was spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Lake Nakuru Lodge

Nakuru

The staff at Lake Nakuru were wonderful and the view of Lake Nakuru and the surrounding landscape was absolutely stunning. Would absolutely go back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wildebeest Eco Camp

Langata, Nairobi

This hotel is a bit outside of downtown Nairobi, but it was perfectly situated for our excursions to the Giraffe Center and Sheldrick Trust. The staff were friendly and having breakfast/dinner on the deck was wonderful. Excellent coffee.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

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Activity Reviews

Lamu Island

Lamu

Extremely interesting stop on our trip. We got to see traditional Swahili architecture and learn about Swahili culture and food. Sunset sail on a dhow is a must and the beach was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Lake Nakuru National Park Game Drive

Nakuru

We got to see so many rhinos and the views were beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

The landscape is stunning and we saw every animal we were hoping to see! Such a magical place - highly recommend!

Maji Moto Maasai "Olpul" Bush Camp

Maji Moto

Absolutely worth doing! The most magical experience we had while in Kenya which is really saying something. Truly an authentic cultural experience. The Maasai did a wonderful job of bringing us into the experiences of building the fire, preparing the goat, singing, and performing rituals.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giraffe Center

Kenya

Getting to feed the giraffes was simply magical. The guides are also very knowledgable and we learned a lot from them!

Quality of Experience

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Kenya

Seeing the baby elephants up close and personal was truly magical. The keepers knew every elephant by sight and name and answered questions in addition to giving information about conservation efforts.

Quality of Experience

Joseph worked with me to create an eclectic trip that catered to our unusual needs. He managed it while staying within our low to medium budget. Our guide, Andrew Kamau was phenomenal. He has been doing this for 20+ years and was equally good at finding animals in game parks and facilitating our daughter’s need to return to the US right in the middle of the trip. He was fun, positive and knowledgeable. I could not have been happier!

Hotel Review

The Ark

Great food. The views of the watering hole were wonderful, watching a pack of hyenas try to take down animals for hours was fascinating as was the following night seeing herds of buffaloes and elephants come through with their young babes. Having said that, the rooms are cramped and one can feel trapped. It is a good first stop out of Nairobi and a great place to have jet lag because one can wander downstairs and watch animals at all hours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Maasai Mara National Reserve - Siana Conservancy

Masai Mara

We did not go during the migration but we saw all the major cats and lots of large herds. Our Guide Andrew Kamau was so knowledgeable and thoughtful that it was a joy. We liked birds and he found and identified them all.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Outstanding trip. Local guides were amazing and the trip was full of adventures and wildlife.

My family's trip to Kenya was wonderful! Joseph and Susan worked so hard and so patiently with us to make sure we got to do and see everything we wanted to. Our guide, Alex, was kind and very knowledgeable and we felt very comfortable traveling with him. While we loved all the game parks we visited, the Maji Moto Cultural Camp was definitely a highlight for us all, especially the kids, who greatly enjoyed learning warrior skills. We left Kenya with heavy hearts, but with amazing photos and memories. We hope to return sometime in the future. A huge thank you to Joseph, Susan and Alex!

Kim Kim did an amazing job. Our Safari between July 3 and 10 not only met but exceeded our expectations. Joseph and Susan kept close contact with us from the gecko until the end.

We especially appreciated the consideration given to selecting the base camp in the Maasai Mara as an example of a lodge that is designed to support conservation and to benefit the community.

Our visit to Maji Moto was a very special highlight. Special thanks to Susan for arranging this wonderful stay and to all of the Maji Moto staff.

In the past year I have been to, among other places, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Greece and Portugal, and my trip to Kenya was my favorite. This is due in large part to Nariku Travel Experiences. I gave them a basic blueprint of what I wanted to see, do and accomplish and they delivered. Thank you Joseph and Susan. The guide for most of my trip, George, was outstanding. George was knowledgable, personable and downright fun to be around. I miss his and being part of the A-Team. The safari experiences at Maasai Mara, Hell's Gate and Shimba Hills will be forever an amazing memory -- and they delivered incredible photos to match. And if you want to immerse yourself into the culture of the Maasai people, Nariku Travel Experiences is the only way to go.

So again, thank Susan, Joseph and George -- I am truly grateful for what you came up with -- and you delivered 100%.

I recently went on holiday with Joseph from Jossy Travel for a 3 week solo safari. The holiday was planned last minute due to some personal issues and I simply gave Joseph a short description of what I wanted to do (Im a photographer who also loves hiking), a request for a driver with a truck for viewing and an idea of my budget. From the first contact, Joseph himself planned and organised the holiday from start to finish! He prepared a detailed itinerary within 24 hours which covered most of what I wanted to do, and after a call to agree the details, he booked all the hotels within 2 days without issue. Joseph also recommended a flying doctor service and provided a packing list. Best of all, he also said he would be happy to act as my guide for the 3 weeks!

Joseph picked me up at the airport directly and we spent the next three weeks driving through national parks and across Kenya. Joseph was fantastic from start to finish. He organised every day from the moment I woke up, until evening and nothing was forgotten. We stayed at multiple hotels and camps throughout the 3 weeks and the quality and service was perfect. On christmas eve, I had a problem with one camp, and Joseph immediately moved me at no additional cost, without effort to a new camp....Joseph seems to know most of the camp and hotel owners in Kenya as they always welcome him!

Joseph's guiding skills are also excellent. On average, we spent 10-12 hours per day in a park or reserve and every day was always interesting as he taught me about the animals and local customs from each of the local tribes. Aside from all that, Joseph was simply fun to be with! We laughed a-lot throughout the trip and I also had the pleasure of meeting his family during the trip.

I would have no hesitation recommending Joseph and Jossy Travel to help plan and run your safari holiday.

Amazing experience!

Oh my, what an amazing experience. Susan was just absolutely fabulous. Answered all my questions promptly and just truly arranged an amazing trip for my 50th birthday. Zanzibar was incredible, Stone Town a delight. The hotels we stayed in were to die for. Truly works of art. The highlight of my trip was climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our guides Sinaí and Amsi were amazing, kept my daughter and I entertained and safe. They were so knowledgeable of the área, plants, animals, everything. They took our oxygen level and heart rate every night to make sure we were safe. Our cook made the most amazing meals, I wish I could take him home with me, and I miss the banana stew, I want the recipe for that, I was so good!! He even made me a cake on my birthday! I couldn't have asked for better porters, they sang and danced for us, and at the end of every day they would meet us on the trail and carry our packs to camp for us. On day 7, summit day, they met us 2 hours from camp and brought hot tea and juice! I miss the crew so much. Our hotel in Arusha had the nicest staff and most beautiful grounds. Albert from DiscoverTZ arranged for an Arusha city tour on our free day and we got to go to the Women's Market and a true highlight for me - see Masaai medicine (I'm an ER nurse in the states) My daughter's favorite part was the safari (which I loved too). Albert was also our guide for the safari and was knowledgeable and took us to out of the way places so we weren't competing with other drivers. He has the best philosophy - its all about the experience, and it was!!! We saw lions, elephants, lion cubs, cheetahs and cheetah cubs - even saw cheetahs in a tree which is unheard of! Our accommodations for the safari were amazing - tent camps where the animals came right up to the tenis. I looked out at one point to see a zebra eating the grass right next to my tent and then walked next to the monkeys cavorting on the pathway. You don't get a better experience than that! I truly miss Sinaí, Amsi and Albert as I have made new friends. A perfect 50th birthday.

The whole experience was great and everything worked like clockwork. Susan was helpful and very efficient in planning and organising the trip. She responded very quickly to all my requests and came up with some very useful suggestions. Daniel, our driver and guide was a carful driver and knowledgeable guide who was also friendly. I particularly rated him meeting me before our trip to introduce himself and go through arrangements. The lodge, the Lion's bluff , was superb, great location, good food and friendly, helpful staff. Thank you Kimkim.

Kenya Game Drives and Much More (December 8 – 22, 2018)

Our family vacation to Kenya was exhilarating and surpassed our high expectations. Joseph Ngigi of Jossy Travel helped the “vacation of a lifetime” become a reality through his role as our planner, driver, and guide. Joseph carefully listened to our desires for the trip and developed an itinerary that completely met those needs. The trip encompassed exposure to: Kenyan culture (attending performing arts, visiting a Masai village, viewing a historical home); the beauty of the country (through scenic drives, a hike to the peak of Mt. Longonot, a bike ride and trek through the deep canyons of Hell’s Gate by Lake Naivasha); and of course, lots of game drives. We crisscrossed Kenya, above and below the equator, visiting eight different parks. Joseph’s knowledge of the parks, animals and birds was encyclopedic. We took morning and late afternoon safaris most days, and he was extremely committed to making sure we saw the broadest range of wildlife possible. Joseph’s relationships with individuals in the parks and other tour drivers also helped toward that end. Finally, Joseph was simply fun to be with. He always greeted us with a big smile, told interesting stories about Kenya, treated us to snacks on our trips between parks, was flexible in adjusting plans to meet our needs, and always checked to make sure we were enjoying the trip. Any family would be very lucky to have Joseph Ngigi plan and guide their trip to Kenya.

Susan was very flexible and patient with numerous changes to our itinerary. She uses fabulous guides and booked wonderful lodges. Her expertise was invaluable in making our trip to Kenya fantastic!!!
Virginia

Everything was wonderful! Joseph was our guide and his knowledge of the area and animals was amazing. Wilson and William, our waiter and security to and from our tent, where very welcoming and fun to talk to. The views from our Chalet was unforgettable. Sunrise and sunsets were always surrounded my giraffes at Mara West.