family-pumpped-up-for a classic family safari
Doyen Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2004)
- Member Of:
- Kenya Tourism Board
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $480 to $1,200 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
AE
Email Ashley Vera | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Liar, Thief, Coward and an Overall Scam!
I am absolutely disgusted with how horribly I was treated during my stay in Kenya after booking through Doyen Safaris. The owner, Kennedy, is the biggest liar, thief and coward I have ever met in my life. When we booked the trip in December, Kennedy was very responsive to my questions and concerns and gave me an itinerary with all of the hotels I would be staying in, so I felt comfortable and excited for the trip. But that was all a lie. From the moment we arrived in Kenya, there were several mix-ups and we were not delivered what we were promised. The hotels we stayed in were 3 of the most disgusting, dirty, old, and unsafe accommodations I have stayed in. The sheets we marked with blood from the mosquitoes and the beds had dirt on them. We were supposed to stay in glamorous tents when we went to Masai Mara, but I was shocked when we got there and I learned that first off I had to share a tent with a total stranger I had met in the car an hour before and second the place was a complete dump and even had a mouse in it. My group was promised a private tour but soon realized Kennedy had placed us with two other travelers. Every time we tried calling Kennedy to fix these issues he would tell our driver, Stanley, he was too busy to talk. The one great thing about the trip was our driver. Stanley was absolutely amazing and made the safari worth it, but anything else Kennedy was involved in was a complete disaster. The food was included in our package and it was the worst food I have ever eaten and I actually came home with typhoid fever because of the dire conditions of the camp. On my last night in Nairobi I was supposed to stay at the hotel Kennedy listed in my itinerary but of course when I got to Nairobi he said the plan had changed because the hotel was booked (he had already done this to us the day before with another hotel as well). I became very angry with Kennedy and began listing all the things that had gone wrong since the start of the trip and he acted like this was brand new information to him even though Stanley had been telling him all along what was going on. He denied everything and seemed shocked when I told him I had to share a tent with a stranger and he blamed the camp. He refused to take any responsibility and promised me he would put me in a 4 star hotel to make up for it. He had a driver take me to another hotel and as soon as we pulled up I knew this was not a 4 star hotel. It was a complete dump. They showed me to my room and when we walked in it turns out there was someone staying in that room already, so we went back to the lobby. I called him and told him this was not acceptable and that I had paid him a lot of money in order to stay in a nice hotel. I sent him several pictures of acceptable hotels I had found online and told him any of those would be fine. He asked me to go to booking.com and pay for the room and that he would send me money a week later through PayPal. Obviously I refused and told him he had to come to the hotel and sort it out right away. He finally came to the hotel and looked upset and annoyed and tried to convince me to stay there. I told him I would not stay there and he just sat around not saying or doing anything for about 20 minutes. Finally he got up and walked out of the hotel without saying a word. After 10 minutes I had the driver call him and he said he was figuring something out. An hour later I was still sitting in the lobby and now he was ignoring the driver's phone calls. I had the hotel call him and he told them to tell me I could either stay there or find my own place and pay for it myself. I was SO upset. What a liar, thief and a coward. Absolutely disgusted that these kinds of people actually exist. Do NOT book with this company. This man is only out for one thing. Your money. My goal is to spread this to as many people as possible so they don't have to experience what I did.
DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE. They ripped me off TERRIBLY.
I previously wrote a review on this company for January 2015. IGNORE IT. please make your booking elsewhere. Unfortunately I discovered too late that these people ripped me off. They stole money from me which I could then not spend helping children from the poorest regions in Kenya. When they were caught out recently, they just denied everything and disappeared. I came to Kenya to set up my charity for abused children, which these people knew. They charged me what I now know to be extremely overpriced amounts for multiple driving services. Despite my best intentions for the poor children in Kenya, these people from this company still had the audacity to rip me off and steal from me. The amount they took from me has greatly deprived the little kids in my charity whose lives I am trying to save. I am ashamed that I trusted these people.
Email Sam | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable, friendly and client-centered service
My family and I had a wonderful experiemce visiting the Masai Mara for 2 days tour, organized by Kennedy Sagwe of Doyen Safaris. Kennedy was very helpful right from the first start when I made an inquiry all the way from Solomon Islands. He kept advising both by email, phone calls and WhatsApp to ensure I received the required info on time to inform my decision. Kennedy organized comfortable accommodations and great meals as part of the package, and I must say my wife and kids had a great time.
I intend to visit Kenya again in Dec 2017 or Jan 2018, and I shall confidently rely on Kennedy's advice to plan the activities of this second trip with my family.
Kennedy was entirely trustworthy with money and we got exactly what we paid for. He was humble and respectful to us during our entire engagement with him.
IN
Email Madhukar B | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience!
We were 4 family friends who visited Kenya in March. We got in touch with Kennedy in February, much before our visit to Kenya. He was very responsive right from the get go and gave us a very good deal :) We visited Masai Mara, Nakuru and Naivasha for a 4 days and 3 nights safari package. At one point Kennedy was so nice to accommodate a boat ride. The driver who led us to the game drive, Joseph was very experienced. He knew the exact corners and places in Masai & Nakuru where we were fortunate to witness all the BIG 5 of Kenya! We got lucky :) I'd really recommend Kennedy for anyone who is willing to explore true wilderness of Kenya :)
CN
Email Amon | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a good experience, but some options are not in the package and we were not been informed.
Just put all options on the list to show to customs, let them know at the begining
PH
Email Ethel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
safe and leisurely tour
we felt comfortable and safe throughout the entire trip. be ready for accommodations that do not necessarily have all the comforts of city hotels, but meet the basic needs of a traveller (clean tents/rooms, adequate water, limited or 24-hour electricity). despite some very minor inconveniences, Kennedy and Maxwell made sure we are well taken care of and safe. we enjoyed the trip. Kenya is beautiful!
DE
Email Natsumi | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great time in Kenya!
I have to say that I had really really great time at the tour. First I would like to huge thank to driver guide Stanlly! (sorry If I misspell it) He has great knowledge about Animals also great eyesight! With his eyesight I could see many rare animals include all BIG FIVE!
Accommodations through the tour were ok. Cozy, clean, hot shower. This was my first time to see mosquito nets in my life and it was fun. Also they served delicious foods include many vegetables everyday.
Kennedy was my contact person and he respond me all the time really quick. That's why I choose this tour and it was right decision.
Just one thing I would like to request this tour is, maybe nice to inform us in advance what kind of optional tour you are planing during the tour and how much it will be. Then much more easy to plan how much money I will carry for this tour! I did know about masai village visiting but didn't know about boat tour. And the price was double price as I have told.
Anyway, thank you again for your great tour and I wish I could come back one day with my child!
Email Kader | Experience level: first safari
Comprehensive Safari
Excellent Safari, 7 days been everywhere, worth it, no need to stay at all in Nairobi. Driver was a bit fast on uneven and unpaved roads. Was picked up and dropped to the airport, which is useful in Nairobi. Camps and food were basic but where OK. No wifi in camps so one better buy a Safaricom SIM card with a data bundle
Email AMOS | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Two weeks ago went 3 days mara with my family,it was awesome,so i recommend the outfitE
Everything was well coordinated i would not ask for anything more Given my wanting schedule.
Safari as we planned it
Very satisfied with the commonly organised Safari for our small (5p) group.
Selected Parks / resorts and very good guide.
Every body enjoyed it