KR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This operator just took my money and didn't make a refund until now. Operating skills very poor too.
I would just write facts here. It is your option to judge.
In brief, this operator
1) Took my money(entrance fee) and made me pay twice. Didn't make my refund until now.
2) Didn't inform me about changes within the tour
3) Didn't pay hotel in advance
4) Doesn't keep promises
1. Just took my money and didn't make a refund
I met Cate(Operator) at my hotel before my trip to Masai Mara. I paid the remaining deposits to her, including Masai Mara entrance fee(280USD for 2 pax). However, when I arrived at the national park, the park rangers said no entrance fee was paid. I had to call her(several attempts since she didn't pick up the phone) and she said the queue for the bank was too long so I should pay the rangers 280USD and she would pay back my money once I get back to Nairobi. I told her to tranfer the money directly to my Mara hotel but she said that was not possible. I had no other choice so I paid the rangers 280USD and went for my tour.
Cate promised me to meet me at Wilson airport once I get back, but she didn't show up. (She was in Tanzania) I needed to keep calling her and check how things were going. (Why would I use a tour operator if I needed to do EVERYTHING by myself?) She promised me (again) that she would send someone to my hotel in Nairobi and give me back my money. She didn't. I came back home after my trip and requested online refund. She said she will but kept ignoring my emails and said she needs a month due to funding issues. (She obviously used my money elsewhere) So I waited with patience but she decided to ignore my email again. She knows that she owes me my deposit(she stated that in her own email) but keeps on refusing to pay me back.
2. Not a professional operator.
- This operator must have done hundreds of excursions but never notified me regarding which domestic airport I should book for Masai Mara. I used skycanner and searched an airport and booked it in advance, but Cate said it was another airport few weeks before my trip. Shouldn't I be notified?
- Due to booking a different airport, my hotel was changed to a more expensive hotel. However, since this was my honeymoon, I wanted to have a private game drive. That was why I booked this tour in the first place because it was all private. However, I found out that my game drive was shared by 6 people. I understand what happened with the hotel but nothing was informed. I needed to call her(again) to check.
She insists that she is making nothing from this tour due to a more expensive hotel, but this wouldn't have happened if she informed me about the aiport.
- When I was checking out at Masai Mara Hotel(Serena Lodge), they said my balance was not paid. I paid everything to Cate, but the operator didn't pay the lodge in advance. I needed to call her(again) and check what was going on. The operator was on his/her way to pay and I needed to wait until I was free to go. I had a flight coming up so wasn't comfortable with waiting.
I strongly recommend you to look for another operator. This is how this operator does business.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An outstanding adventure from start to finish!
From the first email exchange I knew this would be the trip of a lifetime. Aenea designed the perfect safari for us. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. The accommodations were first class and each lodge we stayed in was more beautiful than the previous one, which was already amazing. We saw more animals than I imagined possible, from the big 5 to the wildebeest migration! Although this was our first safari, it won't be our last.
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Selous Game Reserve by Marianne Nabaloum
We booked a three day safari at Selous Game Reerve with Hippocamp adventure rufiji river and we spent one of the best moments in our life.
Everything was perfect: the agency, the camp, the wildlife, food, transportation, and specially the guide who was the best who could have to live the great expérience.
He wasn't only a guide. He was always availabe and wanted to be sure that every minutes of out trip was good for us.
He constantly get managed to find all animals to satisfy us.
He was helpfully, always smiling and very professionnal.
We were very sad to leave him after three days.
Donatus was very reactive by email to give us all informations from France before the safari.
Mickael picked up us at the hotel at Dar es Salam with the 4×4 and we drove directly to the camp during 6 hours.
And we arrived, we have been welcomed by the staff.
All food and water is including expect soft drinks and alcohool.
The first day we made a boat safari on the rufiji river during 2 hours. There, we met hippos, crocodiles and a lot of birds.
The sunset was beautiful.
The day after, we made the safari in the reserve near the camp. We spent all the day from 8 am to 6pm.
We saw girafes, hippos, waldos, crocodiles, elephants, zebras, antilopas , birds, monkeys, lions, buffalos.
The landscapes were so beautiful that you have the feeling to be on another planet.
The last day, very early in the morning, we did a walking safari with a traditional hunter, Didi. It was an amazing meeting. Very impressive and unforgettable.
After the safari, we spendt 7 days at Zanzibar, so the agency was very nice to book the tickets boats and to leave us at the port.
The bungalow where we spendt 2 nights was very clean and confortable.
The electricity is cut off the night from 10 pm to 7 am.
To conclude, it was a big experience for all of us and we are glad to have it in these conditions and with this agency.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by Sharon
It met every expectation.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Sharon
It met every expectation.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Hell's Gate National Park by Sharon
It met every expectation.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Amboseli National Park by Sharon
It met every expectation.
NZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Trip to Remember
Wildlife is just amazing! The tour guides were very knowledgeable and knows where to take you to spot all the must-see animals especially the big 5!
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of the best experience in my life.
We booked a three day safari at Selous Game Reerve with Hippocamp adventure rufiji river and we spent one of the best moments in our life.
Everything was perfect: the agency, the camp, the wildlife, food, transportation, and specially the guide who was the best who could have to live the great expérience.
He wasn't only a guide. He was always availabe and wanted to be sure that every minutes of out trip was good for us.
He constantly get managed to find all animals to satisfy us.
He was helpfully, always smiling and very professionnal.
We were very sad to leave him after three days.
Donatus was very reactive by email to give us all informations from France before the safari.
Mickael picked up us at the hotel at Dar es Salam with the 4×4 and we drove directly to the camp during 6 hours.
And we arrived, we have been welcomed by the staff.
All food and water is including expect soft drinks and alcohool.
The first day we made a boat safari on the rufiji river during 2 hours. There, we met hippos, crocodiles and a lot of birds.
The sunset was beautiful.
The day after, we made the safari in the reserve near the camp. We spent all the day from 8 am to 6pm.
We saw girafes, hippos, waldos, crocodiles, elephants, zebras, antilopas , birds, monkeys, lions, buffalos.
The landscapes were so beautiful that you have the feeling to be on another planet.
The last day, very early in the morning, we did a walking safari with a traditional hunter, Didi. It was an amazing meeting. Very impressive and unforgettable.
After the safari, we spendt 7 days at Zanzibar, so the agency was very nice to book the tickets boats and to leave us at the port.
The bungalow where we spendt 2 nights was very clean and confortable.
The electricity is cut off the night from 10 pm to 7 am.
To conclude, it was a big experience for all of us and we are glad to have it in these conditions and with this agency.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
All our expectations were met, and then some!
We booked a six-day safari with Features Africa Journeys, Nairobi. We chose the six-day safari (Amboseli - Nakuru - Maasai Mara) over the usual 4-day safaris because this one included Amboseli and we really wanted to see Mount Kilimanjaro. Who doesn't?! The tour was on the luxury scale (c. $1500 per person, all accommodation, meals and transport included) and it was worth every single cent.
Our guide, Anthony, had the most extraordinary knowledge about the wildlife and local culture; he knew every answer to every question. Not only that, he had the magic touch. Somehow, no matter what we asked for he found it; this included an end-of-season wildebeest crossing. A tall order, but he found a group of wildebeest along the river. It didn't look as though they were going to move but Anthony said, 'Wait 10 minutes'. We did ... and they did. Magical.
Although it would add to the cost, I think two nights at Nakuru would be a better experience. We arrived just before dinner and left very early the next morning, so we didn't get to experience the best that the camp had to offer. Maybe make an extra day an option for travellers booking this safari?
The accommodation in the three camps we stayed at was 5-star in the literal sense. To top it all, we opted for the hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara. An absolute 'must-do' if your budget allows it.
I would recommend this tour company and the 6-day safari without any hesitation. We also did the one-day tour to Lake Naivasha and Hells Gate. Again, our expectation were exceeded.
Our thanks to Anthony and Karanja of Features Africa Journeys. Top notch. I have a feeling we will see you again.