IL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
worst company ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As we arrived, at the airport, we went to the car and the guide wanted us to pay the parking bill.
At the first day of the safari after about 30 min driving the manger called our guide and told him he need to pick up other clients from the airport ( our driver doesn't speak english!!!!!) And we had to insist he will stay.
At the end of the first safari day, there was a problem in the car (red charging light) but they kept driving. The guide didn't know where our accomodation was, and we got lost in the area. he missed the turn and got us into mud and the car got stuck. We had to walk in the rain, mud and in the dark for 20 minutes to the accomodation while
Our bags are in the car.
When we arrived we realized this was a solar accomodation (Sunrise) which has no warm water after 9pm. We were cold, upset and without any other clothing.
We called the manager (tarimo) to ask for some warm water but he ignored us.
The guide finally came back and promised us that there will be hot water but there wasn't and he just went away.
The next morning was a big waste. We were told to be ready at 8am but they didnt fix the car at night and we had to wait for 6 hours!!!!!!!!
6 hours was waste of time!waiting for the guide
To solve the problems that he should have solved at night. He lied to us all the way. He said he would bring another car but of course it never happened. We lost a full safari day.
Again, Tarimo was ignoring us and even hung up the calls from us.
When we faced the guide and asked him for the truth he was rude and ignored us the whole day.
Also the car was slower than the other cars and every ride took much more time than the others .
Dont spend your money on this company!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very unprofessional... Horrible - a scam
I was suppose to go on a safari to tsavo East and West parks. Everything was arranged and the previous day some "clients" never arrived. I don't know if these clients ever existed but Eric the "manager" put me on another trip to masai Mara. I was supposed to leave the hotel at 9 am to go to Nairobi on the next day but Eric never shows up nor returned my calls. He took my 60$ as well as my 200$ deposit. I hope you never go on a safari with this guy (in any case, let me know if you see any animal...) basically a scam!!
CZ
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They stole 2000 USD from me, horrible cars and services.
First I sent 50 % of the total cost and then Mr. Kabalo Mathias from the agency pushed me to send him more and more money to make all reservations. If not, he threatened me that nobody is going to pick me up from the airport. So I sent him another 2000 USD and in the end he dennied I sent it to him.
Their car was the oldiest in the safari and after an hour it broke down. We had to wait hours and lost half a day in Serengeti! No compensation was offered. The only thing he was interested in was tips, tips...
Do not use this agency, you will be very disappointed!!!
JP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Please confirm your itinerary carefully
We booked a 3 day tour exchanging mails with Suricata Safaris. We selected their tour from many options because they offered a tour with a luxury tented camp by a reasonable price in Safari booking.com. We carefully confirmed their offer many times before the booking, since a safari tour was our main purpose to go to Tanzania.
However, we realized they had prepared just a budget tent for us on arriving at a camp site in the evening on the first day. Here, what I want to say is that there might be difference between their offer shown in Safari booking.com and their actual tour. I recommend you to ask them to make precise itinerary for your tour in order to avoid any misunderstanding. I hope no one have such a disappointing experience anymore.
Finally, though I think it was quite expensive as a safari tour with the budget tent compared with other offers, the only salvation was quality of a driver and a cook.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cheats and liars! Do no trust! Do not book with them!
My family and I recently travelled to Kenya and Tanzania to catch the Great Migration. Overall, the trip was fantastic; the wildlife and beauty of both countries was far superior to what one sees on TV!
However, we made a mistake by trusting local (Kenyan) travel agent – Meshack Mutinda Kiilu from Tour Kenya Safari Heights, Nairobi. His agency booked the Kenya part of the tour for us while their partners, 7 Wonders Safari (Tanzania) booked the Tanzanian part.
The stark difference in both parts was surprising, especially given that positive word of mouth is important, and we expected much better service. Not only that, we never thought we would be blatantly lied to and misled.
Firstly, the car and guide we had in Kenya versus what we had in Tanzania were vastly different. The Kenyan car was in poor condition, the radio system didn’t work (which is vital if you want your game drives to be successful), the windows didn’t open, the car wasn’t well maintained, the driver didn’t speak good English and the car frequently broke down – it basically didn’t reverse without stalling.
Secondly, we were promised and had paid for a full day game drive followed by a morning game drive in Amboseli before departing to Nairobi. When we reached Amboseli, our guide informed us that he hadn’t received the money for the morning drive. When we tried reaching Meshack he started dodging our calls and eventually became incommunicado – forcing us to miss the morning drive. Not only that, we reached Nairobi and our driver told us that there was no dinner for us that day or meals the next day (although we had paid for all meals for all days as part of the package) and also that after dropping us off at the hotel in Nairobi (around late afternoon) we would need to pay him for taking us anywhere else since Meshack had not paid him for that.
While planning the itinerary, we had been promised a city tour and visit to a restaurant in Nairobi where guests can feed Giraffes. Our driver informed us that this wasn’t part of the package as per instructions given to him; not only that, Meshack had not even paid him for our last day in Nairobi. The worst part was, we had earlier planned to depart Nairobi the same day we arrived from Amboseli but we spent extra for the hotel for an additional night in Nairobi because Meshack had said that there were planned activities in Nairobi as part of the package.
Not only did we end up having to pay an additional $80 for the vehicle for two days, we had to spend additionally on meals for two days and also pay for airport drop off, which was supposed to be part of our package.
This was in stark contrast to our experience in Tanzania, where the driver, car and tour agency were excellent and gracious and even called us
multiple times to ensure we were having a good time and that everything was going well.
Even the Kenyan driver told us that Meshack had lied to him and not paid him properly, and this was actually the first time he had worked with Meshack and it was going to be the last time.
Our excellent trip and opinion of Kenyan hospitality was marred by what were basically, outright lies and misrepresentations. When we got back and checked, we realized that there are few other reviews also where people have faced the exact same issue with Meshack and Tour Kenya Safari Heights. Anyone reading this review and planning to book through Meshack or Tour Kenya Safari Heights, do so at your own peril!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Worst company ever we had accident and we were injured from the reckless driver
Worst company ever
We had a very serious accident. And we were injured because of the reckless driver (the car fliped over)and the company didn't even took care of us , and not even make sure if we were ok
We had blood all over us and broke my SAMSUNG NOTE 8 in the accident
And they refuse to refund us ( although we payed 600$ ) or even compromise by anymeans i have pics and videos of the whole accident .. Be aware find another company trust me
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Pathetic
Very unprofessional... Don't plan with them if u want a peaceful trip...
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Awful experiences
Robert at Wanderlust promised me a tour with two nights in the Serengeti, and after arrival, he made up a sob story about why the tour had to be cancelled and tried to push my child and I to take a generic tour. We had just been to Masai Mara and weren't desperate to see the Serengeti, so I said No. I initially felt sorry for him, even though he'd messed up the dates we were supposed to be in the Serengeti in his "story," so I agreed to take it day by day and perhaps go on day trips with his company.
Before our first trip, we agreed that I'd pay by Western Union, just as I'd done for the deposit, but then he emailed to say he preferred Cash to exchange into USD to pay for our park entry fee. Initially, I preferred this over using my limited US$, but as it got later and later into the evening, I emailed to say I would give 100 USD to his driver tomorrow for the park entry fee. He wouldn't take No for an answer, saying he needed the cash Now to pay for the park fee online, and showed up at my hotel around 9:30 pm. He said we'd just be going to the "nearest ATM," but after we got in the car, we passed by ATM after ATM. More than twenty minutes later, he pointed at the exact ATM he wants me to use and waits outside. Luckily, the machine wouldn't let me take more than 350 USD, and he let us leave. It felt like we'd been kidnapped by loan sharks and forced to go to an ATM. On the way back to the hotel, he greedily counted the cash while talking non-stop on the phone. Very scary.
Via email, we were then informed that instead of 6-7 am, we'd be picked up at 5:40 am the next day. Then at 5:00 am, the lady from the hotel knocked on my door to say the driver was here. The name of the driver was different from the one I'd been given, so I had the hotel staff take down the license plate number. The van then picked up a couple who'd book through another middleman and were told their pick-up time would be 5:10. We then arrived at a camp to join a couple who were on a 3-day safari, but were told they be waking up in about an hour. This couple had booked through yet another company, and the safari itself was operated by another company in an almost unmarked safari jeep.
It turns out that nobody had informed the safari driver that the first couple had to be at the airport at a certain time. So our time on the actual safari was cut short to accomodate this.
Although we still had 50 USD with Robert, for safety reasons, we opted to leave Arusha as soon as possible. I sent him a Paypal request for money, but we never saw those 50 dollars again.
RO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Avoid them!
Ibrahim, the manager, is an asshole! He was rude and unprofessional. The accomodation provided was terrible. I would never ever book another safari with this guy.
The driver, Johnson, was ok and also the lady working for him, who arranged our transfers, was ok. But Ibrahim, the man who owns the bussiness, should find something elso to do for living, as in tourism he's a disaster.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stole our $4000 deposit and still waiting to hear back! DO NOT USE THEM!
We planned our honeymoon to Tanzania and after paying a $4000 deposit we were told corrupt people within the company stole money. Apparently they filed a lawsuit and Baraja has been telling us the money will be returned to us but now my emails have not been replied too. I cant believe they are still operating when they owe people SOOOOOO much money. Avoid this company at all costs as it could have ruined our honeymoon.