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
HK
Email Wong | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scam of USD4968 from the company "Kenya Walking Survivors Safari"
We are reporting the scam from the company "Kenya Walking Survivors Safari" and the owner Mr. Otieno Lysaniash.
We paid an amount of USD4968 deposits to the company "Kenya Walking Survivors Safari" to book a tour to safaris in Kenya and Tanzania for the period 17 Aug 2019 – 30 Aug 2019.
After these payments, we lost the contact from Mr. Otieno Lysaniash, the owner of the company until 7 Aug 2019 that we received an email from Julius Muchiri saying that they failed to provide the required service. He claimed that the refund would be handled between 45-90 days. We replied him immediately to request chargeback to the same credit card that paid. However, we receive no responses from any of them so far since then.
How can we get the refund? Please help!
IN
Email Mithil | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
any collective efforts to get the refund
Has any group/person has initiated any effort collectively to get their money back ? Can we register a complain online somewhere ? police, embassy, etc ? Pls do mention if anyone has initiated. I will get in touch and co-ordinate for sufferers from India.
DK
Email Else | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Good until the last two days
KWSS' website is down and others write the phones are not answered. I guess they're out of business.
Our safari began on the 16th of July and ended the 28th. We had paid the full amount in advance.
After a visit to KWSS' office (O.T. gave a briefing) and we left for Samburu NR.
Zachary, our guide, was very, very good. Amazing wildlife spotting, service-minded, flexible and professional.
From Samburu to Nakuru, Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli, Tsavo West and East.
The minibus broke down the last full day. We had trouble teaching KWSS (did not pick up phone on any number, incl emergency no.), but finally, the minibus and guide were rescued and we were allowed to stay at the Man Eaters lodge where someone had brought us (rescued from the broken down bus). We did realize that there was no reservation at the promised lodge (Voi Wildlife Lodge) and even the emergency number wasn't picked up. Communication during July (before departure) wasn't that great too.
We did finally got hold of KWSS and they provided us with another guide and bus as the minibus could not be repaired. We arrived at the airport and caught our plane back home.
But after all, we were VERY lucky. I guess they closed down right after. A lot of people write SCAM, FRAUD - I think they ran into a liquidity problem. Many had paid in advance (full or 50%) and that money was used on 'something' rather than lodges and park fee etc.
The guide made our trip and I would have given 4 stars, but I don't won't to lead anyone on to believe there nothing wrong with KWSS.
US
Email Brooke | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tour CANCELLED three weeks before departure
Save yourself the headache and do not book with this company. Without warning, I received an email from the company saying that due to "technical reasons" they could not provide services, our tour was cancelled,
and we would receive a refund in 90-120 working days. No replies from them when I asked for more detail. This was exactly three weeks before we were supposed to leave! As this seven day tour included all transportation, lodging and food, we now only had the plane tickets we booked ourselves.
Our trip was saved by African Breeze Tours, who rebooked everything for us in 1 day and have been incredible to work with! We're off on safari with them very soon.
CN
Email fangzhao | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
very bad
I have written my review for the company。They are cheaters。I lost 8307 dollars，but I can't finish my trip。
ES
Email javier | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
scammed by kenya walking
Hello my name is Javier from Spain, my safari was 13 days for Kenya hired in Kenya walking survivors. Mr. Otieno Lysaniash I don't know anything about him but he has canceled the safari, after reading the comments I can not say more that I have been scammed, my steps have been denounced in the police in Spain to be able to claim the credit card in my case mastercard I have contacted the Kenyan embassy in Spain. Any help from others affected will be helpful.
IL
Email Igal | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Con Artist Otieno left a brother who will help
Many of you who have suffered the consequences of Otieno, the owner of Kenya Walking, has a real chance to get their money back!
Mr. Jeremy, his brother was aware of Otieno's plan to cheat his clients, and now he is willing to give back!!
You can chose if yoiu want to call him at +254706892837, or to his Mother at +254725140666
They will gladly pay back.
Or, you can report them to the police, as they knew Otieno's plan to run away with money
CN
Email fangzhao | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
a very bad experience
We had paid for everything before we arrived in KENYA, but during the trip the driver asked us for money every day, at least $100 each time.They changed the bad hotel without inform us。 No one answered the hotline. We can't find staff when we came back to the office. Three travel group suffer from the same problem in the same day, so we had to go the police station, but the money hasn't been returned yet.
Please don't trust their record. This is a very bad company，they have cheated travelers for many times.
IN
Email Sanjay | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fraud. Just two days prior to tour commencement they wrote email that Safari is cancelled
We had booked the KWSS Safari for 13 days on 5th of July 19. Paid them advance of 50 percent of tour cost. It was to be our dream tour. The air Tickets to nairobi were on 19 th aug 19 for two of us. On 17th aug we wrote to KWSS to confirm for airport pick up transport.
They wrote back saying Safari is cancelled due to technical reasons and we may expect return of money paid between 60-90 days. We lost nearly Rs 250000/ besides air tickets and ruining our holiday plans as at this late stage as no other Safari is willing to accommodate us.
There is no contact number for KWSS. It has suddenly turned in to a nightmarish scam. How will anyone ever trust such Safari operators. All those unsuspecting tourists looted like this should join together to get justice.
Sanjay ( mumbai india) - +919867455169
IN
Email Deepak | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fraud!!! Please file police complaint
I had my trip planned for first week August 2019 for which paid over USD 3,800 to KWSS and just couple of days before the trip they cut all communications and just went underground!!!
Called up the hotels who refused to retain our reservations since KWSS had not paid them even for earlier safaris. Had to re-do all the booking again with other operator.
Did file a police complaint on landing at Nairobi and followed-up again on my way back post Masai Mara. Would request all to please file police complaint as well as write to Kenya Tourism Board and other social media platforms to spread awareness and put pressure on authorities to take appropriate action against KWSS ensuring tourist monies are paid back.
There was also an news report in Daily Nation (Kenyan newspaper) on August 11, 2019 - "Duped and dumped: Pain of tourists in hands of fake agents" with reference to KWSS as well as to Mr. Otieno Lysaniash who are fleecing tourist from across the world.
I will also be writing to Kenyan Embassy, Tourism Board, leading influential travel bloggers as well as to the Commercial Bank of Africa (where KWSS has account) to spread as much awareness as possible.