Kenya & Tanzania Safari and Mt Climbing Adviser
Adventure Africa Expedition
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $120 to $295 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Charles | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We believe we got scammed by Dickson
Four of us were referred by my friend’s sister to the owner, Dickson, of Adventure Africa Expedition over six months ago. All communications were very good at the begining. We were so exited and looking forward to the great migration in Masai Mara and Serengeti. We even wired him extra fund after the contract due to park fee increase from July 1st in Masai Mara. But during the tour, we realized we were scammed. He charged us 5 day Masai Mara park fees ($4,000), but we should only pay for 4 days. We have confirmed with the driver that he only paid $3,200 for 4 days. We brought this fact up to Dickson as this is an integrity issue, but he has been running around and refused to refund $800. We have reported this scam/integrity issue to Kenya’s Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) and we are waiting on the reply. But we really don’t know how Kenya authority will do. We were told that government has got so corrupt. Hope that is not the case. I have all the facts including the contracts and communication. I like to share this true experience so you can avoid falling into the same trap. Safari is great, but you need to stay away from this company.
IT
Email Hannah | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
8 Day Safari to Northern Kenya - highly unprofessional management
Itinerary: Nairobi – Maralal – Loyiangalani (Lake Turkana) – Kalacha – Marsabit – Samburu
First of all, this itinerary is really worth following, especially if you don’t want to just follow the usual touristic path.
Unfortunately, during those 8 days we encountered several grave problems with the tour operator and the manager Mr. Dickson Wambugu. The organization and also the handling of occurring problems was highly unprofessional and therefore we do not advise future clients to book tours through this tour operator!
We booked the tour well in advance, and about a month before departure we transferred the total amount (about 4800$) to the tour operators bank account as requested. Apparently the money was needed in advance to book rooms and organize car, driver and cook.
Several problems occured during the journey :
-Money: The driver and guide were not provided with enough money for the package we had booked. So at some point we had to lend them money in order to proceed with our journey, because the tour manager Dickson Wambugu was not to be reached. Highly unprofessional handling of the whole situation and we had to fight really hard to get that money back! Voluntarily almost no communication with the client throughout this whole situation.
-No accommodation was booked in advance even though the tour operator clearly indicates that in the program. That always made us loose precious time.Some of the campsites do not even exist anymore.
-We booked fullboard. Apparently the driver and cook had not been informed and we had to fight to get it. The food cooked the cook was good, whereas the restaurants offered were very basic and sometimes not very proper.
-Old car with many security issues: no seatbelts, no equipment (e.g. shovel), broken battery (with no money left to fix it)
Overall, the organization and also the handling of occurring problems was highly unprofessional and therefore we do not advise future clients to book tours through this tour operator! Back in Nairobi we reached out to the tour operator to discuss all problems in person. It remained really unsatisfying, because nothing was really explained and no real apology was presented.
We had a good time during this safari because we tried to concentrate on the positive things, have a good time as family and learn about the beauty of this country. However, having chosen a different tour operator surely could have improved the experience and saved us a lot of stress!
NL
Email Tom | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Strongly recommend not to book here...
I had a bad experience with this travel company, therefore I would not recommend anyone to book here:
Some good points:
- Pick-up at the airport was well arranged.
- Plenty of game in Masai Mara (but you can see that with any company).
- Good communication before the travel.
However:
- I was booked for a Masai Mara + Lake Nakuru safari. Only upon arrival I was informed I would not go to Lake Nakuru.
- I was put in a different camp than promised on the website. On booking.com it turned out it had a much lower rating than the original proposal. Most people had small to medium stomach problems in the camp.
- On the last day, the driver 'forgot' to pick me up so I missed a morning game drive.
- The trip from Masai Mara back to Nairobi was in a very unsafe van (we broke down once as well) and the driver was driving like crazy and mainly paying attention to his phone. He didn't want to slow down while everyone was asking for it. At one point we slipped off the road and the car finally stopped about half a meter in front of a tree.
I informed the company on this after my trip. For the first weeks I did not get any response. As I kept reminding them they finally gave response saying everything that happened was out of their control. I asked for a refund however they were not willing to compensate.
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Email Lucy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Needs better organization/communication
I successfully climbed up Mt. Kilimanjaro last year, but there were many things I felt the company should improve on.
#1: The day they picked me up from the airport, the driver asked if I had paid for the transport. Yes I had. I don't understand why the driver would not know this. I paid for this trip as a complete package. The tour operators should communicate this. I received no pamphlet, brochure, or information packet upon arriving at my hotel. I was told to go to bed and rest and the next morning I would be given an orientation.
#2: The morning of my trek, I woke up to have breakfast and was told I would have an orientation. I was expecting a detailed orientation, but didn't get this. Instead, a man in a business suit sat down next to me at breakfast, asked if I had comfortable shoes and everything I needed. He looked at me and said, "You look fit, you'll be fine. Your guide will be here soon." I was very shocked at how little information and preparation I was getting given how big this trip was to me!
#3: My guide was very nice and very patient. However, he spoke very broken English and could not offer me much guidance other than to walk beside me. My porters, cooks, and servers also did their job fine, but I could see that other trekkers had more guidance, advice, and preparation from their guides. They all had described a proper orientation. Their guides had devices to track their heartbeat and even oxygen supply. I had nothing.
#4: After the trek, I was transported to the hotel for my final night. I confirmed that next morning I would have a transfer to the airport. Again, I was asked if I had already paid for this. Why is there such a breakdown in communication among the staff? Anyway, I confirmed I had paid, and I wanted the pick up for 8am.
#5: The next morning at 7:55am, I report to the reception desk and ask for my driver. It turns out he already left with another customer to the airport! They left without me, and the boss had to call the driver to turn back! Both the other customer and I were frustrated by this lack of communication. Again, the driver asked if I had already paid for the service.
On a good note, prior to me booking, Dickson answered all of my questions thoroughly. He asked for all of my flight details and assured me I would be taken care of. However, his high level of professionalism led me to think that I was signing up with an organized company who managed all the details. But when I arrived in Arusha, it appears they had turned over my business to locals who lacked organization, communication, and professionalism. It's a good thing I'm an overall experienced and independent traveler and trekker who managed with such little guidance and ZERO orientation. But for someone who needs more guidance, this would be a disaster. Also, you are paying over $1000 for this once in a lifetime trek. You definitely need more than something so minimal. I honestly wouldn't recommend this company unless it's to someone I know is an experienced trekker who wants the lowest budget trek and doesn't mind little guidance and organization. I tipped my guides and porters well because they work SO HARD and deserve it. They are not educated, just extremely hard workers. You read stories about the harsh life these guys have without being paid a proper wage. I did not have the heart to complain about the service for fear they would suffer from my criticism. Truly, it is the responsibility of the tour operators.
Email Gary | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good safari, but had problems at start and end of trip
I went on a trip with Adventure Africa Expedition in November 2019 in Tanzania (through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro). Whilst we had a fantastic trip, and I would recommend booking with the company, we did have a few problems on occasions throughout the trip.
Whilst booking, Dickson from Adventure Africa was very communicative, explaining exactly what we were booking. He was very accommodating and willing to change our tour based on what we wanted to experience. Whilst this changed slightly whilst on the trip (only the order of areas visited), we still visited all the places we wanted to.
On departing day, the tour owner was very late (nearly two hours). After he finally arrived, after trying to contact Adventure Africa many times, it was evident that the company that would be taking us on the tour, was different. This company was called Martial Eagle Safaris. This wasn't communicated during booking that.
We still had a small balance to pay upon the tour owners arrival, which we all had the money for (in cash) and had been communicated to us, at the time of booking. However, when paying, the owner of Martial Eagle Safaris was adamant that we had been quoted the incorrect amount and demanded that we paid another $100 USD each to start the tour. Upon managing to speak with Adventure Africa, Dickson told us that they had miscalculated and given us the wrong exchange rate. This meant that we had to fork out. I'm not sure if this was a scam or a genuine mistake, but I was extremely annoyed by this as we spent the morning trying to sort this out and it meant that our trip started badly.
After this, we stated our tour with our safari guide named China and our cook name Wiz. Both of these guys were fantastic and I couldn't fault either of them. China went out of his way throughout the trip to keep us happy and to find animals in the bush. He was an expert and we saw everything with his guidance. Wiz cooked up some brilliant food given the very basic facilities he was using to cook. If I was going on another safari, I'd want these guys to take me.
We had some fantastic days, seeing great wildlife. We camped in some great locations - including two locations that wildlife came through the came. These places were basic (and the bathrooms we not for the faint-hearted) but this is what we were expecting. All of our tents were also made for us upon arrival which was an added bonus.
Unfortunately, despite the amazing time we had on the trip, it ended on a low. On our final day, upon exiting the Serengeti, we were stopped from leaving as the owner of Martial Eagle had failed to pay the park fees. This meant we were stuck at the airport for over 5 hours. After China spent a lot of time negotiating, we managed to get out. This delay meant we arrived back in Arusha at about 10pm (and we were not able to see the town at all). This meant we ended our tour on a low.
Overall we had an amazing time on our trip, as the bulk of it whilst on safari, exceeded expectations. But the problems at start and end had a negative impact and were extremely annoying, putting a downer on our trip. Anyone booking with either of these companies should be aware of this.
Also, if you are planning on visiting the Serengeti area in late November, it's a really good time to go. It wasn't particularly busy and we saw everything!
BE
Email Lily | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magical experience with great people
This was a magical experience! Kata ans Paul were amazing. Great food and excellent driving. Would definitely use the company again for future tours.
Email Margaret Wamui | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Services and communication skills great experience
I and my family booked our 5 days safari with them, they were very good in communication and accurate in information, it was taking less than 5 min before we got the replies which built our confidence. We had other quotation from other companies but we liked Adventure single answer though their package was slightly higher than others but at the end we felt it was worth it. From day one we were well received from our apartment in Nairobi westlands, we were picked on time and headed to their office to make our final payments which worked very well with us.
Our driver was knowledgeable with animals and he took care of us and our kids were well entertained by him all through, the food was good and our cook was great, he provided us with the diet we had requested with fresh fruits every day. The camp was clean and we were happy to be booked in one family tent which was selfcontained.
When traveling dont forget to have your personal effects and more so towels, the tent had only 2 towels which we shared but I highly advise others to carry their own just in case. Our van was comfortable but for those who wanted air conditioned van its Africa and it may not happen but the natural air and kool wind was what we wanted.
Only one thing to put in mind the last part from Norok is hell bumpy and dusty, this is the only part we felt Dickson would have advised us before but they whole safari was more than we expected and we witnessed the great migration along mara river.
Finally the speed limit is 70-80km/h which made us to spend much more time from mara to nakuru but we realized its a regulation for all tour operators, the vehicle beeps when the speed is 80km which makes it uncomfortable for your ears.
We highly recommend Adventure Africa whom we trusted with everything even before we met him and we look forward in booking Tanzania tour with them in December again. They are the best choice
Email Caroline | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic time!
This was my second time up the mountain with the same company. The crew is well prepared, accommodating and very supportive. Mt Kenya is just the most spectacular hike you will find in Kenya and I look forward to a third time some time soon.
Email Dr.S.Radhakrishna | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Africa at its best
I went to Masai Mara after my teaching commitments at Mombasa by the Air safari,a direct flight to masai mara. This is a low flying aircraft that seats 10 and is a two engine aircraft. I passed mount Kilimanjaro and had beatiful camera shots of the twin peaks. As we approached the masai mara we could see troops of Widebeast nad Zebras marching towards their annual migration. a few warthogs and a male ostrich standing tall and still.
As I landed and got of the flight, Joseph was waiting to pick me up and take me straight in to my first leg of the safari. The time was 11:00 AM and within 2 hours of the drive I had already seen the wild elephants, scores of antelopes, wild buffalos, vultures and a variety of birds. The group of seven occupants of the van were all strangers but soon we were chatting and got acquainted. We stopped for lunch under the sausage tree. Packed lunch was provided and my vegetarian ooption catered to.
Second day I saw lions just passing our vans, a magnificient male lion roaring, a black rhino, a Leopard, cheetahs, hyena, giraffes and many wild lifes that I could capture on my DSLR.
Third day, more lions, rare species of birds and rreptiles, elephants, girrafes, and scores of antelopes, a hyena on the prowl and lionesses planning an attach on zebras. We also went to the mara river to see the migration. the crocodiles had fed and the wildebeast and zebras moved across without damage much to our relief but there was fear in the air for the animals as theuy approached the river. The crocodiles ar massive.
Go with a good camera and a zoom lens, have ggoggles and a mask to keep the dust out as it can sometines get very dusty. Hat and sun screen and appropriate clothing essential.
What can improve?
1) The driver could interact more with the occupants rather than talk on the mobile all the time! he is getting information about the spottings of wild life on the phone but a lot of it was chitchat and a distraction for the team!
2) day three was changed as the two other team members wanted to go in a different direction and I needed to be dropped off at the airstrip
3) The Sopa lodge has rooms that are far away from the reception and can involve several steps and walking in the dark. Not a pleasant experience as there are wild animals around! The rooms have no telephones, no internet and you can not call anyone in an emergency!
4) the communication from Dickson regarding the booking could be better. I had a response only when I asked, instaed of getting a full tick list of all the arrangements. I find he is trustworthy and make this change.
Mosquitoes are humming in the rooms.
Otherwise the rooms are large, breakfast and lunch excellent and seating areas have wifi in the reception and bar.
I am planning another trip but would prefer a better lodge and my own safari driver and vehicle.
Email Eunice | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mt Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro expeditions
I have climbed both Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya with Adventure Africa. I especially enjoyed the Mt Kili experience. The food was great over the seven days and the staff were very resilient and patient for a first timer on the mountain. They are reliable and quick to respond on communication. Their guides are the best I have experienced through my hiking experience in Kenya and TZ.