The Team Behind Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris
Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris Ltd
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2003)
- Member Of:
- Eco Tourism & Kenya Wildlife Services
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $64 to $490 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CN
Email Poor Communication | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The guide was great but the rest was lacking
The communication was poor. We did a Maasai Mara tour with this company and the guide was excellent, the food was poor though as we had lunches that we a slice of tomato and a slice of onion between three pieces of bread. Despite this we decided to book another safari from Mombasa to Nairobi with stops in Tsavo West and Amboseli. Although we sent them a map showing where the pick up would be, the company went to our previous hotel in Nairobi. They tried to skirt blame over this putting it squarely on us, even though on several occasions we made it clear where we would be. Thankfully we were able to find another tour company which provided us with great service.
CH
Email Tobias | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unsure solvency of the company - Definitively not a care free safari!
First of all: this review has nothing to do with the beauty of Kenya and Tansania nor our personal tour guides or cooks (they have been super helpful)! Both countries are beautiful and their people have been exceptionally friendly and accommodating!
However, if you want a carefree safari tour in which all bookings/reservations/parking fees are payed in advance (as discussed and payed for) then we suggest to book with a different company. We cannot express how disappointed and frustrated we were in regards to the organizational skills of Kenya Walking Safari's (KWS) management. It caused us many nerves/patience and most of all time during our 10 day safari.
In order to be fair with KWSS we would also like to say the at the end of our tour KWSS compensated us with approx 5% of the tour price for lost time and wrong calculations.
Anyway we would like to explain what happened:
We booked our safari tour in April 2016 for our trip in August 2016. We had extensive contact with KWS which gave us confidence because they were always very responsive and answered all of our many questions. We payed well in advance (a good amount of money!) and expected that all accommodations/services/park fees would be payed/booked for us in time for our arrival.We are very well aware that we can come across unforeseen circumstances and that flexibility is required. However only to a certain extent.
During our tour we encountered four issues which we would like to explain for others in more detail:
The first issue we encountered was during our first lodge in Maasai Mara. Taking KWS's suggestion, we swapped 1 day in our tour due to ongoing animal migration in the region (adding 1 day in Maasai Mara and take 1 day off from our Tanzania tour).This was a good idea because we were able to see the river crossing. However, we didn't receive the same standard room we booked for originally.We wrote KWS a mail to see how to proceed (since there was a clear down grade on our room).They didn't reply to us until the end of our safari tour.
Second issue:after wonderful game drives in Maasai Mara and a great time at Lake Navaisha we headed off for a very long drive (8h) to Amboseli National park. According to our itinerary (which was reconfirmed verbally and on print during our face to face briefing in the Nairobi office) we were booked at the Kibo Lodge (high class safari lodge). We were then surprised to hear from our tour guide that he had just received a text message from the office saying we would be spending 2 nights in the AA lodge instead of Kibo (another down grade as they have different room rates). Apparently Kibo was fully booked due to government officials.We decided to see for ourselves and were more surprised to hear onsite from Kibo lodge that they did have available rooms and no government officials! We of course did not take the room in the AA lodge and insisted on taking a room in Kibo (according to our tour program we had payed for). We then found out from the hotel manager that they no longer accept KWSS clients because the company has outstanding payments. We (including our tour guide) tried to call the KWSS office many times (including the "hotline number") because this was a situation we were not going to accept. We were not able to get the manager of KWSS on the phone and waited 4 long hours until we reached someone from the office.They suggested that we pay the 2 nights ourselves (400$) and we will get a refund. Obviously, after all that we had heard and experienced we were not ready to pay ourselves. Due to the kindness of the Kibo hotel manager and our persisting tour guide we were able to check in at 8.30 pm. KWSS had promised to send the money to Kibo the next day, which they then did the next afternoon.However, low and behold,we encountered another group from KWSS on the second night at Kibo. They had the same problem! Unfortunately they weren't as lucky as we were and had to go to another lodge.
Third issue: after transferring from Kenya to Tanzania,we slept a night in Fanaka lodge to be ready early morning to go to the famous Ngorongoro crater.We were supposed to depart at 8am.However, our tour guide told us that there was a problem because KWSS had again not yet sent the money for our accommodations and park fees for Tanzania. KWSS's Tanzanian business partner, contacted us and suggested we pay 440$ and KWSS will refund us as soon as the money has been wired (apparently there was a technical problem so money transferring was not available). As you may guess, this was not an option for us.KWSS's credibility was non existent. So we called the KWSS office and were surprised that they actually picked up the phone. However this wasn't very helpful and the Tanzanian business partner had to borrow the money from his relative (!) so we could go on with the tour.We waited for almost 3 hrs until we were able to leave.
Fourth issue: after all that had happened, we decided to cross check our past accommodations and realised that KWSS had double calculated the first hotel night in Nairobi. By the way: don't accept a booking at Henessis Hotel.This is a shabby hotel which by far did not meet the standards of our other accommodations. This could have been an honest mistake but we decided to list all the issues we had during our tour for full transparency.
To come to an end: After many emails and involvement of a 3rd party, KWSS management was cooperative and quick in refunding us (after we finished our tour) for wrong hotel accommodations and lost time (several hundred dollars in total).
In short:
- If you want to do a safari tour do it definitively in Tanzania and Kenya - people (incl. tour guides and cooks), nature and food are amazing!
- If you are looking for a carefree package KWS is not the best option
- If you insist and put pressure on KWSS you probably will get refunded for issues, however we believe this only worked for us because we involved a third party
FR
Email stuart mcinnes | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
thieves...... stay well clear
i booked my safari in july and paid half up front over $3000 and then not even a couple weeks later i got the email on the 9th of aug that the company could not fulfill the tour and that it was cancelled, i will get a refund in 90-120 days..... fast forward we are not at 112 days later and still no money, no answer to e-mails, or calls. foolishly i paid by debit card via a link and now that the 120 days is almost up i can see what my bank can do but im not hopeful...... the amount of stories that are the same as mine is horrendous
CA
Email Jeffrey | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scam
I am in the same boat as many people. We paid in full along with our friends to find out that the company is a scam. Has anyone had any luck recovering their money? I hope the owner goes to jail.
SG
Email Wesley Leon Aroozoo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Cheated by the Company
I made a Safari Booking on July 3rd, 2019 with Kenya Walking Survivor Safari for our safari to happen in December 2019. We paid the full amount of $4936 USD to Kenya Walking Survivor Safari on the 3rd of July 2019 via online credit card payment.
On the 9th of August, we received an email from Kenya Walking Survivor Safari informing us that they have a technical difficulty and will not be able to provide us the tour, and that they will refund us our payment in 90-120 working days. But since August 9th, they have not replied my emails or phone calls. Website is down as well.
I checked out Tripasdvisor and Safari Bookings and found customers who are in similar situation as me.
For me, I am trying to hopefully be able to claim some insurance as I do not feel confident Kenya Walking Survivor Safari will pay me back. Does any one have any updates? Please help!
Email Philip | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scam and terrible experience
This is a scam, terrible experience and the Kenya authorities should take action against this man called Otieno
Email Liam and Jasmine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fraudulent company stole our money and ruined our holiday.
In March my partner and I paid for and booked a safari with KWSS for 21 days, over July and August.
Things started okay, as we met an amazing driver named Sam, however things didn’t run smoothly.
Upon arrival we went to the KWSS office and a slight change was made. To save on driving times the owner (Otieno Lysaniash) recommended we would spend an extra night in the Masai Mara and not spend any time in Amboselli. It’s also important to know that the accommodation that was being changed was a 4.5star camp to a 2 star camp.
As we set off, Sam was keeping all his receipts and paying with his own money, and always on the phone away from us. When we questioned him he said ‘You shouldn’t have to worry about this’. After our 4 days with the driver, we exchanged numbers and were told a new driver would pick us, Sam was not sure what time, but said be ready at 6am.
We have not heard anything from the KWSS office since meeting them in the office. We tried calling Otieno or his team over 100 times and sent emails to no avail. We were very lucky to have met Sam, as he was in contact with us from 9am, letting us know any updates as he found them. At approximately 7pm Sam was in Nairobi and confirmed with us the Mr Otieno had run away with our money, and the police were at the office.
I feel horrible as it’s very hard to get my money back whilst living in a different country. We are also aware that Sam paid for the first 5 days of our safari out of pocket, and he hasn’t received any money back. We are in contact with Sam, trying to get updates, however he is a very busy man who has a family to feed.
If you were looking for a different company we can recommend Bateluer Eagle Safari’s, as they saved our holiday. Sam sent his brother to come and pick us up, who drove us around for 2 days to the police in Nairobi. The owners also went above and beyond, spending over 7 hours as we tried to get a payment sorted for a new safari, on last minute notice. Everything with them ran very smoothly and the upfront communication was very much needed, at a time where we had zero trust in anything.
KWSS was run by a thief who stole our money and many others. I just hope he doesn’t use that money to bribe the officials and get off without paying. We need our money back!
Email Theresa | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disaster see Insolvency Act dated 10th August 2019
GAZETTE NaticE No. 7968
THE INSOLVENCY ACT
(No. 18 of 2015)
IN THE HIGH COURT AT NAIROBI
COMMERCIAL AND ADMIRALTY DIVISION
AND
IN THE MATTER OF KENYA WALKING SURVIVORS SAFARIS
LIMITED
INSOLVENCY PETITION No. E 158 OF 2019 '
NOTICE is given that a petition for the winding up of the abovenamed company by the High Court of Kenya, Commercial and
Admiralty Division, Milimani Commercial Courts, Nairobi was on the
10th day of August, 2019 presented to this court by Otieno Lysaniash
Onjwayo, of P.O.-Box 7184, Viwandani.
And the said petition is directed to be heard before the Court
sitting at 9.00 a.m. on the 28th November, 2Q19 and any creditor or
contributory of the said Company desirous to support or oppose the
making of an order on the said petition may appear at the time of the
hearing, in person, or by his advocate, for that purpose; and a copy of
the petition will be furnished by the undersigned to any creditor or
contributory of the said Company requiring such copy on payment of
the regulated charge for the same.
Dated the 2nd August, 2010.
MERITAD LAW AFRICA LLP ADVOCATES,
Pitman House, Ground F7oor, Wing "B"
Jakaya Kikwete Road,
P.O. Box 2368-00100, Nairobi.
NOTE
Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said
petition must serve on or send by post to the above-named address in
writing of his intention so to do. The notice must state the name and
address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm,
and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their advocate, if
any, and must be served, or if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient
time to reach the above named address not later than, four o'clock in
the afternoon of the 27th November, 2019.
MPJ6722312
IN
Email jmindia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
This tour operator is fraud, the owner Mr. Otieno is a con man.
This tour operator is fraud, the owner Mr. Otieno is a con man. We lost 3300 US dollars. Our tour was booked with them from 9th Aug to 17th aug. On 7th they wrote they are cancelling our entire trip due to some technical issues, since then they are not replying our mails, neither their phone numbers are working.
We made a police complaint after reaching nairobi, but they didnt seem serious, their expressions were like "so what!, it happens here often.
US
Email LHL | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nightmare
Please Jimmy, do not go on your trip. You will be stranded. I was supposed to start my safari on 9/5. You were horribly scammed and should not go. Please anyone reading this do not go expecting a trip. You will be very sorry and not in a safe situation. Report this immediately to your credit card company. I do not want to see anyone else go through what I have gone through.
PS. Never went on trip...just had to input something, so I put August.