Reviews
SG
Email Zing | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unprofessional, deceitful and greedy Kenyan operator
- We booked a 7 day Masai Mara, Lake Naruku, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli safari with Wildbound Safari from 3-9 August through their consultant, Electine.
- Wildbound Safari is a terrible operator who outsources to other operators, in our case - Jocky tours and does not bother to follow up on the itinerary. Thankfully our guide Joseph from Jocky tours was great.
- There have been multiple hiccups with them right from the start. First, we booked a mid-range safari experience with all Sopa lodges accommodation and paid the 50% deposit weeks in advance. Weeks later, on the actual day of our flight to Africa were we suddenly informed that all our Sopa lodges are full and our accommodation have been downgraded.
- Fine, we accepted that but then again they downgraded us to a tent/ campsite on the last day instead of the hotel that we had paid for. There was no refund of the amount we paid.
- Wildbound Safari also misrepresented and gave us a deceitful proposal with 2 game drives (1 in Lake Naruku and 1 in Amboseli) omitted as we were merged with another tour group who paid US$1,000 less per person than us.
- They then failed to refund us the entry fees for those 2 game drives that we missed which amounted to US$240.
- Wildbound Safari is super unprofessional as when they picked us up at Nairobi airport, Electine gave us the wrong bank account info for us to complete the rest of our payment here despite us checking multiple times with them.
- After our funds were transferred with proof of payment that the funds have left our bank account, they insisted on us paying a double amount to them again through no fault of ours.
- They called our guide Joseph everyday to bug us and we never got a good night of rest, and we were constantly bugged throughout the long car rides.
- Speaking of which, our itinerary guaranteed no more than 6 passengers in a group per land cruiser but they squeezed in 8 people and it was so uncomfortable!
- Their director Duncan did not take any responsibility and instead disrupted our schedule by insisting that our entire group stop by Nairobi to pay them and even go to the bank which is known for ridiculously long queues.
- Duncan also threatened us and said that our accomodation for the rest of the trip isn't booked if we don't pay them again.
- Duncan then also threatened us with police at the airport.
- Basically this has been a shit show for what was my birthday trip and I would never ever deal with them again.
- Deal with them at your own peril. This trip is an absolute disaster!
Reply from Wildbound Safari and Tours
Posted on Aug 31, 2024It's true that the trip was not smooth and I apologize. But it should also be pointed out the first trigger of all these hiccups was when you guys credited the remaining 50% balance payment in a wrong bank account, and given that our financial situation at that time was not okay, the company we hired could not prioritize you(our clients) over the other. And it's true that I had to do something to make you pay us before you left the country because you claimed the money had been credited to our account even after me proving otherwise. I am sorry that the fact that I also informed you that I would inform the airport police, and this was just to ensure that we get what we agreed upon in our contract before you go vack. Remember we agreed that you were supposed to pay us that remaining balance in cash, upon arrival. That's where hell broke loose regrettably. It should be noted that a group joining safari is never smooth, as you get different guests with not
soo similar itineraries joining safari. So the delay in our payment, made us pay the tour company we hired their van for the safari receive their payments late and so the service could never be as expected. Personally it was my first time handling a joining safari and I learnt the hard way that there are nitty grities that should always be ensures are put inorder team. I really regret whatever happened. We are in business and would only wish the best thrilling moments in their safaris.