Africa Marvel Tours

4.7/5 – 105 Reviews

$540 to $612 pp (USD)

2 travelers   on   Start date
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*This tour does not accept children under 6.
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Melvin and Ann from our office during a game drive

Melvin and Ann from our office during a game drive

Africa Marvel Tours

4.7/5  
(105 Reviews)
Office In:
Kenya Kenya
Size:
5-10 employees (Founded in 2014)
Member Of:
Kenya Association of Tour Operators
Tour Types:
Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
Destinations:
Kenya KE
Rwanda RW
Tanzania TZ
Uganda UG
Melvin and Ann from our office during a game drive

Melvin and Ann from our office during a game drive

Africa Marvel Tours is a premier East African safari tour operator, with professional safari experts organizing amazing tours in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania/Zanzibar. Whether you’re looking for wildlife or cultural experience, travelling on a family safari holiday, with friends, or solo, our knowledgeable tour guides will take you on the best African adventures of your lifetime!

Reviews105

Not Recommended
1/5

Unfortunately I have to write this to warn other people as we had a bad experience with Africa Marvel Tours.
We went in August but it took several months to recoup some money from them and have only just got around to writing this report.
I had high hopes for this trip and spent almost a year planning the trip of a lifetime for my 40th birthday with my family. I had decided years earlier that I wanted to do an African safari in style for this milestone.
When I contacted Perminus, I was very specific with what I wanted and we went back and forth a lot fine tuning our itinerary (10 nights Kenya and Tanzania) and I spent a lot of time researching and selecting specific accommodation based on the effect each would have on the total cost of the trip. I wanted to stay in some more luxury lodges but mix it with some mid range lodges so that it wasn't as expensive in total.
Perminus was very helpful in the planning process and I felt confident that this was going to be the trip of the lifetime I'd dreamed of. We were able to secure all but 2 (out of 6) of the lodges I'd selected but we booked into good alternatives for those 2 that we couldn't get.
Between paying the deposit and the final balance our group had gone from 6 people in 3 rooms to 4 people in 3 rooms. We paid extra to have 2 people in their own rooms.
Fast forward to 3 days before the tour began. I contacted Perminus on arrival in Nairobi (our tour started from a hotel we had booked ourselves in Nairobi) to ask what time we would be collected on Day 1. At this point, he informed me that 3 of the lodges that we have confirmed had been changed. All 3 were the best, most luxurious properties that we had paid a hefty premium for. I was furious. The alternatives were significant downgrades from what we had been told was confirmed prior to paying our final balance.
On arrival at the first alternative property, the reception staff handed us 2 keys instead of 3. They informed us that the booking requested was only for 2 rooms. In fact, they had more rooms available but had just sold them to a family who just arrived and were still there in the reception at the same time as us. So this first lodge was not only quite a lot cheaper than the one we paid for, but we only got 2 rooms instead of 3. We were there for 2 nights.
The same thing happened at our third stop. Exact same story except a bigger downgrade. The poor hotel staff having to be the one to break the news to us because despite our driver confirming with Perminus that we had 3 rooms for the rest of the trip, he lied and said we did, when we didn't.
The 4th stop (the third changed lodge), we had our 3 rooms but this was the biggest downgrade of all. We'd booked a really nice luxury property in Serengeti with a pool and sweeping views over the plains. We were put into a perfectly fine tented camp with no view or pool and it was baking hot there when we were trying to rest in the afternoon. It was worth significantly less than what we'd paid for.
There was no effort to warn us about these things or provide an explanation. I had to call Perminus to demand an explanation during the trip. The explanation given was that his colleague had accidentally cancelled all our bookings instead of amending the number of people from 6 to 4 (this would have been several months earlier and still we weren't told). They were able to get back all the accommodations except the best ones.
Unfortunately I don't believe that is what happened. I believe that this was intentional to make a bigger profit or perhaps, to survive another few months if the company is in trouble. The reason I think this is because I have read reviews of other companies in Kenya doing this, so it seems to be common practice. In addition, a family who went the week after us with Africa Marvel had an even worse time. You can read their review on SafariBookings (Li, Sep 12 2024).
I had to chase and chase them to organise some kind of refund. It was incredibly frustrating. I did my own research and based on published rates, the DIFFERENCE in what we paid and what we got in terms of accommodation was about USD5600. But these safari companies access agent rates which can be 20-30% cheaper. Even so, that would mean that we overpaid by about USD4000. After 3 months of chasing, I finally received USD1600 back. Better than nothing, but we were totally and utterly ripped off and I would hate the same to happen to anyone else.
The places we visited and the lodges were all good and the wildlife was truly amazing. But this experience made what was meant to be the trip of a lifetime, an unpleasant experience where I was having to ignore this stuff in the moment in order to try an enjoy myself. I would be wary of any Kenyan tour company after this and would rather book my own accommodation and fly to each place than risk being ripped off again.
That said, both our drivers in Kenya (Joe) and Tanzania (Medy) were great and I feel sorry for them that they have to be the face of this unprofessional and dodgy company.
Book at your own risk. If you do, go for the cheaper accommodation as you will probably end up there anyway!

Magical Experience
5/5

My partner and I did a four day, three night tour. Our guide Sammy did an exceptional job, keeping clear communication, always prompt, cautious and skilled driver/ navigator and informative host. He was always considerate of our particular interests and allowed us to have some beautiful and possibly somewhat rare experiences in the national parks. If you’re looking for an incredible experience, please book with Marvel and ask for Sammy.

Very good
5/5

Despite the mishap with the car breaking down when leaving the airport and needing to be replaced with another one, the trip went very well.
Driver/guide Samuel (Samy) was very pleasant and professional.
Without a doubt an excellent experience

(automatic translation from Portuguese)

Right on time every as promised, very professional and nice.
5/5

Africa Marvel tours is a very adequate Safari Tours Company. They help swiftly, and can easily adapt if necessary. We were to be picked from two locations and joined in Tsavo East. The drivers, Lydia and Keith were really nice and cheerful. We enjoyed the stories of Keith during the safari, explaining the animals and birds, he has a lot of knowledge and is good company. Lydia brought us from Tsavo to Mombasa, a very joyful nature and safe driver. We were in excellent hands!

Awsome!
5/5

I am very pleased with Marvel Tours. They did an excellent job and gave us the opportunity to have one of my best experiences in Kenya. I highly recommend them. They are professional and very good at communicating. Especially Mercy who helped us and was always available.
Ronny, our safari guide was extremely open minded and made sure we had fun during our safari. He also showed us the best parts and I was also impressed by his in depth knowledge of the animals in Kenya. I would recommend him and would book with him again.

Other Safaris & Tours6  – Offered by Africa Marvel Tours

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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Africa Marvel Tours, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
  • If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
  • This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of Africa Marvel Tours.