Taking you to the exotic African wild!
Morning Star Tours & Travel
- Office In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2018)
- Member Of:
- IATA, KATO, AMREF & TOSK
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $134 to $806 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
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Email Debbie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Comprehensive Tour Operator with Great Drivers
My husband and I along with a good friend and her husband had an eleven day safari and beach trip throughout Kenya. I went in knowing where I wanted to go mostly, and worked with Dennis at the front office. He was able to put together an itinerary that took into account what I had asked for, but also expanded it to address what my friends and husband would want to experience, considering this was their first time in Kenya and on safari. He put together a packed itinerary that hit so many things (Nairobi, Samburu, Aberdares, Naivasha, Mara and the Coast). We were always on the move with our driver, Alex. Alex was great - some amazing driving skills and good eyes. Also very sociable so always connecting with the other drivers to find the good spots and sharing perspective on life in Kenya.
The accommodations were great, the land cruiser was relatively comfortable and well stocked with water.
During the planning, Dennis was very accessible and communicative. He was willing to make small changes to the plans as I had some particular notions of what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. Having Whats App downloaded allowed me to connect with the front office while we were traveling around Kenya, which was helpful when we were at the coast.
We greatly enjoyed working with Morningstar! The only issue I would mention is that if you have questions or concerns, speak up clearly and early. It's not a bad idea to review the itinerary with your driver/Morningstar upon arrival to make sure your understanding of what is included and what isn't is still the same and has been confirmed with the driver and the accommodations. Especially if you are going off the regular tourist track (out of the major parks).
There were a few communications transparency concerns where I think the office had everything under control, but plans had changed and we had not been updated. There were some miscommunications at the end between Morningstar and the accommodation, that seemed to have been based upon expectations and not confirmed commitments from the accommodations.
When I spoke up or contacted the office or mentioned something to Alex, a fix was often figured out (or at least they attempted to figure it out) but you need to speak up early if you have questions or concerns and don't make assumptions that just because something is stated on your itinerary, everyone involved is aware of what the initial travel itinerary was and is and has the same understanding of what's included and what isn't.
The experience we had for the money we paid was a great option and Alex was there and ready for us on time every day. He had a great energy and was flexible with our irregular requests (finding a pharmacy in Nanyuki, going to my old house in Nairobi, visiting Sarit Center/Westgate in Westlands.
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Email Jim and Chris | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Both of our guides were extremely kind and very knowledgeable
Willie was our first guide. He was amazing driving our jeep on the dirt roads, holes in the ground, and through the water. He was very attentive to both of us. He made every effort for us to get to see as many animals as possible.
Haran was our second guide. He provided so much information on the animals and their habits. We were enthralled by his knowledge. No request was too much to ask of him because he was going to please.
I would recommend both of these guides to anyone thinking about a safari.
CN
Email Cynthia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Full score travel agency
Morning Star gave me a very good experience, which made my family and I successfully complete this trip to Kenya，and Morningstar has a WeChat account, which brought great convenience to China tourists. As a China person, I highly recommend this travel agency.
Dennis is in charge of contacting me. He is very warm and considerate, and we all like him very much.He patiently helped us work out the itinerary and gave us a reasonable quotation
Originally, I appointed Alex as our guide. He is modest, polite and experienced.Due to some small circumstances, Willie finally became our guide.Willie's personality is very interesting, and he takes us everywhere to find animals.Although we didn't communicate much because of my poor English, we got along very happily for eight days. Although we returned to China, we still missed everything in Kenya, as well as Willie and Dennis.Willie is highly recommended. He is a great guide, and he is very safe and happy to get along with.
DE
Email Manuel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing 8 Day Safari - perfectly organized
We chose Kenya for our first safari because of the incredible diversity of wildlife. As complete novices, we thoroughly researched various agencies on safaribookings.com, reading numerous reviews. Morningstar stood out for its positive feedback, and now we know why. We had an unforgettable 8-day safari across Kenya, and we’re happy to add another 5-star review for our tour provider.
From the very start, Dennis made us feel like we were in great hands. He was always quick to respond, providing detailed and professional advice. He even sent us a comprehensive PDF with suggestions for our tour, including prices for each activity – an impressive level of transparency that we didn’t see from other agencies. Everything was extremely well-organized, from the accommodations to the overall logistics.
Our next stroke of luck was our tour guide, Rono. He was the perfect guide for us – incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and an excellent, safe driver in the Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4. During the game drives, he consistently found incredible wildlife and positioned us perfectly for photos. Thanks to him, we had an extraordinary experience, spotting all of the Big Five within just three days! Every day brought new highlights, making it hard to choose a single “best” moment.
We wholeheartedly recommend Morningstar for an unforgettable safari experience.
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Email Eve | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Trip
We had the pleasure of working with Wanja to plan our first trip to Kenya. We received several quotes but Morningstar stood out based on their attention to detail and excellent communication. As far as pricing is concerned, it was comparable to others. We went on safaris Nairobi, Amboseli, and Tsavo national parks. We stayed at luxury lodges and had the best experience. Our tour guide Francis was exceptional and made us feel very comfortable and safe. He was extremely knowledgeable about the animals and the terrain. For each location of our safari we had no worries and all we had to do was show up. We saw almost all of the animals we wanted to except for a leopard. We finished out our trip with a few nights at Diani Beach. There was a little snag upon arrival in Mombasa but the issue was resolved and we were on our way. We used multiple forms of transportation and went on some amazing excursions...train, plane, jeep, hot air balloon, and Dhow boat. It was an adventure that my entire family enjoyed and was suitable for the varying age groups ranging from 40-70+. Definitely give them a shot and choose the higher end lodges. I can't say enough about Kilaguni Serena in Tsavo. The view was breathtaking. Also, the hot air balloon safari with Killamanjaro in the background was another unique and Soul satisfying moment. Our stay at Diani Beach was wonderful and the food was perfectly balanced, fresh, and delicious. Kudos to Swahili Beach resort (old but well maintaine) a very beautiful property with beautiful grounds. Definitely get a spa treatment.
CN
Email Junjie/Marshall Ding | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Shocking Experience with Morning Star - Held at Hotel Due to Unpaid Bills
On the final day of our African safari tour , we experienced an unacceptable situation with Morning Star Travel Agency. At check-out time (8 AM), the hotel staff informed us that Morning Star had never paid for our stay, despite us having paid the full tour amount two weeks before the trip.
After two hours of unsuccessful attempts to contact Morning Star (our agent Alice became mysteriously unreachable), we were forced to pay $4,532 out of pocket for the hotel bill to avoid missing our afternoon flight. This was the second time during our trip that we had to cover Morning Star's unpaid fees, following a $1,600 payment we were forced to make for Masai Mara park entrance fees.
Most concerning facts:
Morning Star had received full payment from us two weeks before the trip
Their agent disappeared when the payment issue arose, only to reappear after we paid
One month has passed with no refund or explanation
I am sharing this to warn others about Morning Star's practices and will continue to pursue this matter until I receive a full refund.
Reply from Morning Star Tours & Travel
Posted on Nov 20, 2024Hello,
We would like to take a moment to address the concerns raised in the review mentioned above.
Our client, Junjie/Marshall Ding(the same group with Shi and Lingwang), had booked an 8-day Kenya Safari, starting and ending in Nairobi. Due to unforeseen failures with our banking systems, our clients faced unexpected challenges while checking out of the hotel, which forced them to pay the outstanding hotel balance. We fully understand how frustrating this situation must have been for our clients and sincerely empathize with the inconveniences they experienced.
To ensure that they did not miss out on their game drives, we suggested they pay the park fees directly with the assistance of the driver-guide, assuring them that we would refund these costs as soon as our banking systems were stabilized.
Our technical team has worked tirelessly over the past three weeks to resolve the issue, and we are relieved to share that we have successfully processed a full refund for our client.
It saddens us to see our clients dissatisfied, especially when we strive to provide memorable experiences, as evidenced by other client's feedback.
We are committed to learning from this incident, and the following actions have been taken to ensure a similar situation won't happen again in the future;
1. Transitioning our banking operations from the current bank to a new bank.
2. Adding an additional signatory to our banking operations.
We want to assure you that this situation is taken very seriously, and we remain dedicated to providing all our clients with the attentive service they deserve.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
CN
Email Huang | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A once-in-a-lifetime experience
I am writing to express my heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding service provided by Morningstar company during my recent trip to Kenya. Specifically, I would like to commend Dennis for arranging a truly unforgettable itinerary that surpassed all expectations.
My journey through Kenya, organized by Morningstar Tours, was nothing short of remarkable. From the moment I embarked on the game drives, I was captivated by the breathtaking beauty of Kenya's wildlife. Thanks to Dennis's meticulous planning, I had the privilege of witnessing some of the most awe-inspiring sights, making it an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.
Moreover, I must commend the excellent accommodations and dining arrangements. The comfort and convenience provided throughout my stay were exemplary, ensuring that I could relax and fully immerse myself in the wonders of Kenya.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to Rono, our driver and guide, whose dedication and professionalism greatly contributed to the success of the trip. Rono's expertise behind the wheel was truly impressive, especially when navigating through busy highways with heavy truck traffic. His commitment to safety was evident at every turn, instilling a strong sense of security in all of us throughout the journey.
In conclusion, I want to commend Morningstar Tours Kenya for delivering a truly exceptional travel experience. Their attention to detail, commitment to customer satisfaction, and passion for showcasing the beauty of Kenya have left an indelible mark on me. I wholeheartedly recommend Morningstar Tours to anyone seeking an unforgettable adventure in Kenya, especially my Chinese friends.
NL
Email Lisa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trustable and organized
Our trip was 12 days: divided into 8 days Safari and 4 days at the beach. Dennis, was our travel consultant, he organized every single detail for us and he was very available to adjust the plans according to our wishes.
The lovely Simon picked us up from the airport and he immediately let us feel welcomed.
Augustine was our driver and guide for the majority of the trip. He is a very skilled and experienced driver, a prepared guide and an amazing person. He shared with us all his knowledge about animals, nature, culture and traditions during our game drives and the long transfer rides and we couldn't have wished for a better guide. He has an amazing eye and energy and we got to see all the big five multiple times.
The accommodations chosen during the safari were in perfect location: inside the parks or near the gate. Hopefully, we will come back in the near future!
CN
Email Becky | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not a pleasant experience - unpaid park fee and unfulfilled refund as promised
We recently booked an 8-day trip to Kenya and Tanzania through Morningstar, hoping for an unforgettable adventure. Unfortunately, our experience was far from pleasant.
While we were excited to see a variety of wild animals, our trip was marred by significant issues. We were forced to pay for everything twice in Tanzania, which was incredibly frustrating. Moreover, we lost a full day of safari time due to problems with our bookings.
Despite assurances from Dennis, the owner, we did not receive the promised refund for these expenses.
Additionally, we were disappointed to discover that Morningstar does not have staff in Tanzania. Instead, they work with a partner agency, which led to a lack of coordination and support on the ground.
We made our full payment two weeks before our departure, believing Dennis's claim that it was necessary to ensure everything was booked and our trip would run smoothly.
However, upon arriving in Tanzania, we quickly learned that fees-such as park entry and transportation-had not been paid. This left us in a difficult situation; we either had to pay again ourselves or risk being stranded in the Serengeti.
Dennis cited a hacked bank account as the reason for the missing payments and promised that we would receive a refund once we returned to Kenya. Unfortunately, this promise went unfulfilled as well.
In conclusion, our experience with Morningstar was disappointing, primarily due to poor management and lack of support during our trip. I cannot recommend them based on our experience, as the dream safari we anticipated turned into a series of frustrating challenges. Though our first guide Caleb in Kenya is great. He has 20 years experience and always wants to show the best to us.
Moreover, till today, we still have not received the refund. It's been 15 days since he promised to refund.
Reply from Morning Star Tours & Travel
Posted on Nov 20, 2024Hello,
We would like to take a moment to address the concerns raised in the review mentioned above.
Our client, Becky ( same group with Matt), had booked an 8-day Kenya and Tanzania Safari, starting and ending in Nairobi. While the first four days of the safari unfolded beautifully, our clients faced unexpected challenges as they entered the Serengeti due to unforeseen failures with our banking systems. We fully understand how frustrating this situation must have been for our clients, and we sincerely empathize with the inconveniences they experienced.
As soon as we became aware of the issue, we immediately prioritized communicating with our clients. To ensure that they did not miss out on their game drives, we suggested they pay the park fees directly with the assistance of the driver-guide, assuring them that we would refund these costs as soon as our banking systems were stabilized.
Our technical team has worked tirelessly over the past three weeks to resolve the issue, and we are relieved to share that we have successfully processed a full refund for our client.
It saddens us to see our clients dissatisfied, especially when we strive to provide memorable experiences, as evidenced by other client's feedback.
We are committed to learning from this incident, and the following actions have been taken to ensure a similar situation won't happen again in the future;
1. Transitioning our banking operations from the current bank to a new bank.
2. Adding an additional signatory to our banking operations.
We want to assure you that this situation is taken very seriously, and we remain dedicated to providing all our clients with the attentive service they deserve.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
CN
Email winkle | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
healing&soothing
We booked a 9-day, 8-night trip with James as our driver. For the first 7 days, we were very happy and grateful to James for his patient explanations about the animals and his enthusiastic efforts in finding them. We also want to thank Dennis for helping us with flight delays. However, there were some issues that made us unhappy, and these seemed to worsen in the last two days:
James' personal state: James seemed to be a bit late every day initially, which we didn't mind at first, but by the eighth day, he seemed quite distracted. While waiting for the elephants to pass, he was even watching TV shows. Additionally, we felt we could have had a priority spot to view the elephants, but it was taken by others.
Tip issue: We initially communicated with James that we would give him the tips on the last day. However, the day before, we felt he was urging us to give them. After giving the tips, he was very late the next day, claiming he was waiting for us in different places, which was quite frustrating.
Duration of Game Drives: According to our communication with James, each day's Game Drive was only five hours, including the time from the hotel and back. However, we met other people who said their Game Drives lasted more than five hours.
Lunch issue on the ninth day in Nairobi: Dennis informed us that James was aware, but James claimed he had no knowledge that our booking included lunch in Nairobi. He even blamed us for not informing him in advance, which led to the possibility of having to eat packed lunches in the car on our way to the airport. The lunch fee was non-refundable. Eventually, after much effort on our part, we managed to have lunch in Nairobi, and for the first time, we saw how fast James could actually drive!