#You Deserve An Adventure of A lifetime Experience
Wild Race Africa
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $120 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
BE
Email Andrea | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beware of Wild Race Africa: A Disheartening Experience
Let me begin by confessing that I'm not one to leave feedback often, but my experience with Wild Race Africa and its co-owner, Simon, compels me to share my story to protect fellow travelers from a similar ordeal. I hope my advice can prevent others from enduring unnecessary stress, disappointment, and wasted resources during their highly anticipated holidays.
Before I delve into the details, it's essential to note that 25% of the last 16 feedbacks have rated Simon's services as terrible – that's one in every four tourists. Proceed with caution and read on.
I stumbled upon Wild Race Africa through a Google search before traveling from Europe to Kenya with my fiancé (who is Kenyan) that I wanted to surprise. Though I didn't thoroughly compare options, I was immediately impressed by Simon's responsive and kind demeanor. He seemed genuinely committed to making our customer experience unforgettable, which led me to make a grave mistake.
After a few exchanges via WhatsApp and email, I chose a 2-day/1-night luxury safari to Masai Mara for approximately 1800 USD. Simon requested a deposit of 30% (550 USD) to secure the accommodation.
Here's where the problem started. Simon presented four accommodation options for the luxury safari and insisted on a primary and backup choice. I selected Mara Serena Lodge as my top preference, clearly stating that it was my desired option. However, Simon later claimed that it was unavailable and booked Keekorok Lodge instead.
Subsequent attempts to secure my stay at Serena Lodge were met with delays and excuses. Simon's conduct became increasingly unprofessional, offering reasons such as Keekorok's inability to provide a credit note and false claims of website problems at Mara Serena Lodge.
The situation escalated as I asked for a receipt for my deposit, and Simon's communication became evasive and disrespectful. He even blamed me and others on my side, resorted to threats, and displayed an overall lack of accountability.
My trust in Simon shattered when I requested pictures of the safari vehicle, which turned out to be an everyday Toyota RAV4 rather than the high-profile Safari Jeep promised in the offer. Simon dismissed this discrepancy arrogantly.
After careful consideration and consulting with my fiancé, we decided to cancel the safari to avoid further complications. Simon retained the deposit, placing the blame on me, the customer.
To salvage our holiday, we booked a different safari with Olare Kempinski, which proved to be an outstanding experience with exceptional customer care, top-notch safari jeeps, accommodations, food, and game drives.
In closing, I urge all potential customers to exercise extreme caution when dealing with Simon and Wild Race Africa. Refrain from making any deposit until you receive a firm reservation for your chosen accommodation, and demand a written assurance that any future changes will lead to a full refund.
Based on my experience and years of business leadership, it's evident that honesty, respect, and integrity are not part of Simon's core values. Should you encounter discomfort or unsafe circumstances during your interactions with Wild Race Africa, prioritize your safety, even if you've already paid the deposit. Consider filing a complaint with your credit card provider to protect your interests.
Kenya offers excellent, honest, and reputable businesses worthy of your investment, but Wild Race Africa is not one of them.
Now, brace yourself for Simon's expected reply, where he will likely resort to his typical approach of deflecting blame onto customers and refusing to take responsibility. This will only validate the concerns I've shared above, confirming that any issues during your trip will be blamed on you, the paying customer, rather than the service provider.
Reply from Wild Race Africa
Posted on Mar 13, 2024Dear Andrea,
We sincerely apologize for the negative experience you encountered with Wild Race Africa and co-owner Simon.
Your feedback is incredibly important to us, and we deeply regret any stress, disappointment, or inconvenience you may have faced during your interactions with our company.
We take your concerns very seriously and after conducting a thorough investigation into the issues you have raised, unfortunately, we could not accommodate your trip request as we had hoped.
We understand that this may have caused frustration and disappointment. As a paying client, your views and opinions are highly respected, and we regret that we could not meet your expectations this time.
It's also important to clarify that you had booked a 1 Night/2 Days Masai Mara trip on July 9th, 2023, with a departure date scheduled for August 2nd/2023.
Considering the month of July to October are peak seasons, these last-minute bookings at times come with challenges due to lodge unavailability.
From the mail conversations, in reference to the detailed trip itinerary, Simon did give you different lodges in different categories.
You did settle on category 3, Luxury Safari Lodges, with Mara Serena Lodge as your priority and Keekorok Lodge as the second option.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of room availability at Mara Serena Lodge, we had to confirm Keekorok Lodge as per your instructions.
Regrettably, Keekorok Lodge could not provide a refund or credit note for future use due to last-minute cancellations.
It is our utmost priority to ensure that all our customers receive the highest level of service and transparency throughout their safari experiences.
We understand how frustrating this must have been and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that may have arisen.
Rest assured that we have put measures in place to prevent any kind of reoccurrence of the issues you have highlighted, and there will be no repeat of similar occurrences in the future.
We appreciate your effort and the time you have taken to share your feedback with us. Your insights are invaluable in helping us improve our services and uphold the standards of honesty, respect, and integrity that we strive to maintain.
Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience caused and thank you for bringing these matters to our attention.
If there is anything further you would like to discuss or clarify, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Warm regards,
Sungu
Wild Race Africa Safaris Team
US
Email Brian William Curry | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
If you want your Kenya safari to be a trip of a lifetime, use Wild Race, no need to look elsewhere
A 4-day 3 night luxury safari was arranged thru Wild Race Africa. Family of 4 (me, my sister, my wife, and my 20y old daughter). We stayed at the Sopa Lodge, the Keekerok, and the Sekenani camp. Sekenani is authentic my friends, so be warned - it is not for the faint of heart at night (lions roaring in distance, baboons fighting outside your lodge, etc BUT nevertheless we did not feel in danger at any moment). The MAIN thing I want to accentuate, however, is the customer service we received from Wild Race. Simon! Thank you SOO much for making this trip pleasurable for us. If you want your safari to truly be a trip of a lifetime, let Simon with Wild Race arrange it for you. Ask for George to be your safari guide (George!! Asante sana!!!).
This is the exact safari we took: 4-day 3 night Maasai Mara/Lake Nakuru Luxury Safari. We took the van with the pop up roof option. Safari was March 19 - March 22, 2023
Reply from Wild Race Africa
Posted on Mar 13, 2024Dear Brian,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your incredible experience with Wild Race Africa! We are thrilled to hear that your 4-day, 3-night luxury safari was a trip of a lifetime for you and your family. It warms our hearts to know that Simon and our team were able to make your safari experience truly pleasurable and memorable.
We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at Sopa Lodge, Keekerok, and Sekenani camp, and that you found the authenticity of Sekenani camp to be a unique and exciting part of your adventure. Your description of the wildlife sounds at night truly captures the essence of the African safari experience!
We will be sure to pass on your kind words to Simon and George, who played such pivotal roles in ensuring that your safari was everything you had hoped for. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we are honored to have been a part of creating unforgettable memories for you and your family.
Thank you once again for choosing Wild Race Africa for your Maasai Mara/Lake Nakuru Luxury Safari. We look forward to welcoming you back for more incredible adventures in the future!
Warm regards,
Sungu
Wild Race Africa Safaris Team
FI
Email Timo | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great "6-day Amboseli/Nakuru/Masai Mara"-safari with Wild Race Africa and specially with Hudson
I sent an inquiry through the safaribookings.com-website to five different tour operators at Aug 2022 and after contacted with them, Wild Race Africa Tours seemed to be the right one for us.
We booked Safari for February 2023, paid a 30% reservation fee, received a receipt for the payment and agreed that I would pay the rest in cash on the spot. While waiting for the trip to start, I emailed Simon several times and asked for help with practical arrangements, such as applying for a visa, the necessary vaccinations, etc. He usually answered those questions quite quickly.
Finally, our flight landed in Nairobi and we were met at the airport as agreed and were transferred to the hotel with no extra charge. The next morning, after breakfast, we met Simon at the hotel and paid the remaining 70% in cash. Our guide/driver Hudson was also there so we packed our luggage into the LandCruiser and the journey began.
We spent the next 6 days on safari (2 nights in Amboseli, 1 night in Nakuru and 2 nights in Masai Mara) and it was a really great experience. Big thanks goes to our guide Hudson who was incredibly friendly and knew so much about animals and birds and those national parks. With his help we managed to spot the big 5.
Finally, a tip especially for families with children: Before arriving at the national park, you should buy some snacks from the grocery store, so that is available if someone gets hungry during the game drive.
FR
Email Marion | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful
We spend an amazing safari.
Simon is very serious to organise the personnal trip.
The guide (Benedict) speak French very well and knows all animals.
US
Email Tom, Karen, Pete and Lori | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great communication and very helpful.
This is the best tour! We would highly recommend this tour to anyone. This was our first time in Africa and to take a safari our tour guide George has years of experience and so much knowledge about Kenya and all the wildlife. Wild Race Africa is a terrific company to take a tour with. They were very helpful with whatever we needed. So glad we picked this tour!
DE
Email Ruth und Ulrich Laurenz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unique tour with unforgettable impressions in front of Kilimanjaro, at Lake Naivasha and in Maasai
Very reliable company. Great guide who accompanied us on the safari. Very knowledgeable about nature and the surroundings.
Good accommodations, in Maasai Mara the accommodation was also excellent, but long journey to the lodge.
Overall unique tour with unforgettable impressions in front of Kilimanjaro, at Lake Naivasha and in Maasai Mara
Reply from Wild Race Africa
Posted on Feb 3, 2023Thanks Karen and the entire team, we are so humbled
DE
Email Ulrik | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Superb Luxury Kenya Safari Experience With Wild Race Africa
Wild Race Africa and Rachel was very helpful in planning and organize our 7 Days Luxury Kenya Safari.
We got Wild Race Africa through referral from a friend who had travelled with them 2019. We got into contact with them via mail and soon got a response from Sylvester’s who was very helpful and quite swift in his responses, very detailed and tackle all our questions with a lot of confidence.
The choice of lodges were excellent. We did Amboseli Ol tukai lodge, lake Naivasha sopa, Lake nakuru Sarova lion hill and mara Sarova game lodge.
All all these lodges, the staffs were very much friendly and quite professional. We were treated like Royalty.
We took a Jeep safari and our guide Hudson was quite incredible, very knowledgeable and flexible.
I would highly recommend wild race Africa for anyone who want to experience the best of kenya wildlife.
Thanks Sylvester’s and your team, we will soon come again.
BS
Email missynyads | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Kenya safari Experience
Words alone can not describe the incredible 6 days trip experience we had in Kenya with Wild Race Africa. We settle on the organization after reading their online reviews. We got in touch with them and they were very swift in their responses.
Simon explained everything in detail and answered to our numerous questions efficiently.
The choice f lodges were awesome and the prices were also very pocket friendly.
We made the commitment fee and cleared the balance on arrival by card and off we were to Masai Mara game reserve.
Our guide George was very knowledgeable and very accommodation.
My daughter was so demanding but George handled every demand so efficiently that we were both very much happy with his services.
The Mara Sekenani camp was superb just as simon had promised. The staffs are very friendly and quite professional.
Back in Nairobi, we had a surprise dinner and carnivore restaurant courtesy of simon and wild Race Africa
I highly recommend this organization for anyone looking for a fantastic Kenya Safari experience.
DE
Email Kevin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was very well organized. The Organizers and the Guide were amazing!
The whole package hast been really great. Starring from the communication with the Organizers. They were very Kind and courteous. I did the Tour (Serengeti and Ngorongoro for 3d/2n). And it was really worth the Money.
We had a fabolous Guide that cared about the nature and was very experienced. Thanks to the whole Team.
Email Barranger Michel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A mind-blowing all-around Safari experience
We had a mind-blowing all-round safari experience with Wild Race Africa Safaris. We got to know about Wild Race Africa through a friend who had travelled with them before. From the moment I placed our trip request with them, the service was beyond all expectations. Simon listened carefully to our trip request and specifications.
He perfectly arranged the perfect holiday tour that met all our interest. The proposed safari lodges were quality lodges located right inside the park that help ensure we maximise our time exploring the parks.
He was very much patient with my frequent, unending questions. As the company policy, we placed advance payment via Pesa-pal (Online payment). Simon Responded back with a receipt confirmation of payment and lodges booking reference numbers.
In Nairobi, we met Rachel and Phanuel who took us to the office where we met Simon and clear the Balance via car payment.
Our Guide Phanuel was excellent. From start of our 8 Days trip, he was incredibly knowledgeable about Animals, birds, and local people’s culture.
We had very easy time exploring the parks, he put his experience forward yet listened to our needs and been super flexible.
In summary, Wild Race Africa and the entire team created a fabulous holiday that ticked every box. A perfect service I'm recommending to all and will use again.
Thank you, Simon and the entire Team.
Reply from Wild Race Africa
Posted on Sep 22, 2022Dear Mr. Barranger
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us following your recent 8 days Kenya Wildlife trip with us.
Wild Race Africa Safaris and the entire time are extremely happy to learn you had a fantastic trip experience with us.
We really do appreciate the value in all feedback at Wild Race Africa as we are constantly looking at ways to improve our services.
I sincerely do hope that we will be of assistance with your next East African adventure.
With warm regards
Simon
Client Relations & Compliance Manager
Wild Race Africa – Nairobi, Kenya