For Travel Advisors & Tour Operators

Kenya, Known Differently. East Africa, Experienced Personally.

Your Client. Our Destination. One Journey.

You know your client. We know East Africa. Together, we bring the two together. Trails & Footprints is a Kenya-based boutique Destination Management Company creating and operating private, tailor-made journeys across East Africa. We work with travel advisors and overseas partners who value strong destination knowledge, responsive communication and hands-on local coordination. Our role is to take what you know about your traveller and translate it into a well-considered journey — then manage the details on the ground that bring it to life. We don't work from a catalogue of ready-made experiences. We listen. We advise. We curate. We deliver.

We Know The Destination, You Know Your Client

The best journeys come from bringing those two perspectives together. You know your client, what they enjoy, what they value, what they have experienced before and what they are looking for next. We know the destination, its landscapes, seasons, properties, routes, guides, experiences and the people who bring it to life. Sometimes the right recommendation is the obvious one. Often, it isn't. It may be the property with the atmosphere that suits a particular guest, a guide who will connect naturally with a family, an additional night that is more worthwhile than another destination, or an experience that would never appear on a standard programme. Our job is to know the difference.

More Than A DMC, Your Partner On The Ground.

We are your partner on the ground. An itinerary can look perfect on paper. What matters is how it comes together once the journey begins. There are flights to coordinate, transfers to time, properties to communicate with, guides to brief and countless details that need to keep moving in the right direction. We take responsibility for that side of the journey. From accommodation and transportation to guiding, domestic flights, safari arrangements, experiences and guest preferences, we coordinate the moving parts and stay close to what is happening throughout. East Africa has its own rhythm. Weather changes. Wildlife does not follow a schedule. Roads and travel times can vary. A guest may discover something they would rather experience differently. Good planning prepares for the unexpected. Experience knows how to respond to it. When plans need to change, we make the call, find the solution and keep the journey moving.

Bespoke By Design

We don't take a standard itinerary and simply put a client's name on it. We start with the traveller. What brings them to Africa? What have they already seen? What are they curious about? How do they like to travel? How much time do they have? What pace will make the journey feel right? Only then do we start putting the pieces together. The camps, routes, experiences and time spent in each place all have a reason for being there. The itinerary is built around the traveller, not the other way around.

The Value Is In What We Know

Much of what makes a journey special never appears on an itinerary. It is knowing when a destination is at its best. Knowing which property has the right atmosphere. Knowing which guide will bring a particular experience to life. Knowing when an extra night is worth more than another destination. Knowing when to linger — and when to move on. This is the value of local intelligence. We are based in Kenya, where our knowledge and relationships have been built over time and continue to grow through the journeys we operate. The details may be invisible to the traveller. Their impact is not.

Relationships Behind The Journey

Good partnerships make better journeys. We work closely with a trusted network of camps, lodges, hotels, guides, drivers, conservation partners and experience providers across the destinations we operate. We know who we are working with, how they operate and where they fit best. For our travel partners, this means having someone on the ground who can communicate directly, follow through and take responsibility. Local relationships. Personal accountability. One team behind the journey.

For Your Traveller

Your client may never know how much work goes into their journey. They don't need to. They should be able to wake before sunrise for a game drive, take their time over breakfast, follow the wildlife for another hour, or change the plan because something unexpected has caught their attention. They should have room to enjoy the moment. We take care of what sits around it. The detail is ours. The experience is theirs.

For Travel Advisors & Tour Operators

When you send a client to us, we understand what is at stake. You have built the relationship with your traveller. We become the team representing you once they arrive. That means communicating clearly, understanding your expectations and looking after your client with the same care you would expect from your own team. We see ourselves as an extension of your business — close enough to the destination to make the right decisions, while keeping you informed and involved.

What We Bring To The Partnership

- Bespoke Itinerary Design

- Journeys shaped around the individual traveller and the way they want to experience East Africa.

- Destination Expertise First-hand knowledge of Kenya and the wider region.

- Ground Operations

- Private vehicles, professional guides, transfers, domestic flights and the logistics that hold the journey together.

- Supplier Coordination Close communication with the people and properties involved in each journey.