Operations Staff at Safari Gates
Gates Adventure Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Member Of:
- IATA, ASTA & UFTAA
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $65 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CA
Email Jean | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Horrible, No Show No apologies
I have been communicating steadily with Safari Gates since March 2018 (after seeing an ad on safaribookings.com) regarding a one day safari to Nairobi National Park on July 18th 2018. Jose was supposed to pick us up at our Hotel on July 18th 2018 but never did. He even sent an e-mail saying he would be there 15 minutes late but he never showed up. No apologies and no reasons given. No more communication after that very cheap shot.
We are so deceived by Safari Gates that we will let many people on the internet know beginning with SafariBookings.com (service with them was always good, no blame here), a major source of clients for Safari companies and also on social medias.
To Jose @ Safari Gates, You cannot just not show up and not say a word afterwards. That is not a business option. Very poor service. Very bad move ! Stay away from them, they will never show up !
Reply from Gates Adventure Safaris
Posted on Mar 24, 2022Hi Jean, thanks for this review!.
We start this with a big apology!
Its true our former office staff Jose didn't show up on pick up day. The safari was Day trip to Nairobi National Park and the pick was at the Kahama hotel in Nairobi Central business District. He communicated while in traffic along Thika road, one of major busy roads in Nairobi with heavy traffic in morning hours. He advised he would be at the hotel in 15 minutes but didn't make to the hotel in time due to heavy traffic. We sent another vehicle only to arrive 1 hour later. On arrival we were advised Jean had been picked by another operator.
We really apologize for this misfortune and also time lost and hope this will not occur again. Failure by this former staff led to disciplinary measure.
AE
Email Veronika | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
WORST TOUR AGENT. They will fool you and take your money.
Me and my friend traveled with Safari Gates and had the worst experience ever. The tour operator and guide did not live up to our expectations and what the itinerary had mentioned whatsoever. Our guide Ben was always late in the morning. We had agreed to meet early morning by the car for our morning game drive 6am. One morning the staff at Enkorok lodge had to WAKE him up because he was still sleeping and we were waiting by the car ready for our game drive. Also, we were promised to go to the Mara river to see the great wildebeest migration/ crossing but he took us to some small tiny lake and pretending “this was the Mara river where the animals cross but the crossing stopped in June”, which is all bullshit. This is not my first time to Masai Mara and I have been here before and witnessed the great migration and crossing. Also want to mention we were here during the best time of the year to see this (beginning of September) which is the exact same time of the year I have been here before. Also want to mention that we talked to other people who were there but with other tour agents and they confirmed that they had seen the migration / crossing just the day before. So this was all lies from our guide. He was just being lazy and didn’t wanna take us to the right place / river. Also, on our final day before heading to the airport, we were promised a final morning game drive. We were supposed to meet by the car at 6am. But Ben our guide showed up at 8am!!!!!! 2 hours late on our FINAL day. And if we hadn’t called the tour operator asking where is he , for sure he would never even show up. We have lost so much time and viewing because of this. We always departed late in the mornings because he was late and sleeping. Missing out on the great migration/ crossing because of his lies and didn’t take us there. We have spent so much money on this trip and are so so so disappointed with this trip and operator. We made a complaint before flying back and met with the “owner” at the airport before departing and were promised a compensation for this. It’s been more than one month now and haven’t heard ANYTHING about this. Safari gates have really tricked us and fooled us and just taken our money for NOTHING. Even the owner / manager Rihal (also called Rocky) at flamingo hill camp where we spent the last night along with the rest of the staff there witnessed all this and was furious for our sake. Being 2 hours late on our last day and missing our SO much. This is the worst experience I’ve ever had with a safari tour. And being promised a compensation before flying back , but still haven’t heard ANYTHING.
Reply from Gates Adventure Safaris
Posted on Oct 18, 2022Hi Veronika,
Many thanks for your review and coming back to us. You had booked a 4 days private safari in Mara national park and Lake Nakuru National Park, With a 2-night stay in Enkorok Mara camp and a night in Flamingo Hill Camp. We did pay your accommodation, transport and park fees. All this was paid for, we have all receipts and service vouchers for this safari. So we did not take your MONEY without the required service. We pick you on time from the airport, personally briefed you on the safari at the airport and also advised you to discuss with your guide the daily pick-up time the evening before. The office received your communication regarding pick-up time while in Nakuru(3rd day) , only one day to departure and you demanded Full refund because the driver was late. While in Nairobi you still demanded full refund .
The driver was one hour late in Nakuru. We agree he did a mistake and we reprimanded him. We always do our best to make sure our guest are happy. We go an extra mile to make sure all details a followed as per our terms and conditions.