HU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Luxury price, budget experience with plenty of lies and excuses (AVOID!)
I want to share my disappointing experience with the 5-day Kenyan safari my wife and I went on. To put it bluntly, it was far from the “luxury” experience we were promised. I’m sharing this to hopefully save others from the frustration we went through.
0. Lies and Excuses: I first shared my review back in September, and we eventually reached an agreement with the agency for compensation. They claimed to have transferred the funds, but guess what? It never arrived. For nearly a month, we were strung along with endless excuses. Safe to say, our trust in them evaporated.
1. Guide (or rather, driver): We had a “driver-guide” who seemed to only focus on the “driver” part. We expected a knowledgeable guide for the price we paid, but instead, we got someone who could barely tell us the names of animals. We learned more from Google and ChatGPT than from him. His English was poor, and he couldn’t answer basic questions. To top it off, on the first day, he was 20 minutes late, and the vehicle’s fuel tank was empty, so we had to stop for gas. Water for the trip? Had to pick that up, too. Not the best start to a “luxury” safari.
The worst part? The guide didn’t even know the way around. He managed to get us lost in the Maasai Mara on Day 1, and we arrived at our hotel over two hours late. He wasn’t particularly attentive either—no door-opening, lots of time on his phone (without a headset, mind you), and some reckless moves, like speeding through a busy market.
2. Dietary Disregard: Both my wife and I are vegan, and I also need to avoid gluten. I made this clear to Silas multiple times on WhatsApp. He assured us everything was in order. But of course, neither the guide nor the hotel staff had a clue. We had to re-explain at every meal. For three days, we ended up searching shopping malls for vegan food to eat on the go. The “picnic” lunch we got on the last day? A random assortment from a supermarket that cost them maybe $3 per person. Luxury, indeed.
3. Ignored Anniversary Request: I’d told Silas several times that our wedding anniversary would be during the trip, and we’d like a special dinner. He promised to set it up, but the lodge staff had no idea when we arrived. We eventually arranged a bush dinner ourselves, costing us an extra $180.
4. Payment Surprises: Initially, we planned to pay the balance with a card, only to be told there would be an extra 4% fee—something that wasn’t mentioned when we paid the deposit. We ended up doing a bank transfer instead, but the lack of transparency was frustrating.
5. Lack of Pre-Trip Info: There was no pre-trip info about the country, packing tips, or what to expect. While it might seem minor on its own, given the other issues, it was just another sign of how little they cared.
There were other smaller annoyances, but these were the main issues. Right from Day 1, it was clear things were going downhill. I messaged Silas immediately, requesting a different guide. His response? The guide “knew the park” and “breakfast wasn’t typically provided on Day 1” (so why was it on the itinerary?).
All in all, this was a complete letdown. The agency is responsible for hiring competent guides and ensuring dietary requests are communicated, especially when they’ve been assured in advance. My advice? Avoid this agency. Find a reputable company that delivers on its promises.
The cherry on top? We’re still waiting on that “compensation” that never arrived.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It's really a terrible experience! We feel that we have been cheated !!!
Before our trip to Kenya on September 28th, we had paid the full amount for the tour. However, on the morning of October 5th, the last day of our stay, we were informed by the hotel that Morningstar had not paid them, and therefore we were not allowed to leave. We were forced to stay at the hotel for nearly 2 hours. During this unexpected situation, our contact person Alice completely disappeared and refused to answer our calls and WeChat messages. In order to catch our flight back home, we had to pay nearly $4500 for the hotel fees in advance. But right after we paid, Alice showed up and claimed that she had an emergency and would refund us later. Out of trust in this company, we kept communicating with them actively after returning home. But until today, we haven't received any refund, and the people from this company are full of lies! They said the refund had been sent to us at one moment, and then claimed they needed to confirm the specific details of the expenses with the driver at another moment. They always put off giving us the remittance receipt! We also confirmed with the bank over the phone that we hadn't received any remittance information.
If you don't want to advance payment for a fraudulent company and don't want to be helpless in a foreign country, please don't choose this company. It's really a terrible experience!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing customized safari!
Edmand was unforgettable. He made our tour so special and customized just for us. We will remember Uganda as our favorite place forever, because of Halloo Uganda’s unique and client-driven service. Even when we got in a pickle with the Jeep in the muddy rain, Edmand was there to guide us through. I also really appreciated the knowledge he has about Uganda and the stories he would tell us. I am so glad we found this company, and didn’t go with anyone else!
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The whole trip is fantastic
This October, we 2 families embarked on a journey with Jocky Tours and Safaris that exceeded all our expectations. Our guide Rodger was incredibly knowledgeable about the Animals. He Drive very carefully the whole trip. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the close encounter with a pride of lions, Cheetahs and Rhinos an experience I'll cherish forever. The accommodations were comfortable and the meals were delicious, adding to the overall enjoyment of the trip. I would highly recommend Jocky Tours and Safaris to anyone looking for an authentic and thrilling safari experience.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service from start to finish
We booked a two night safari from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park with Plex Africa Safaris. We dealt with Edward for the booking and he tailor made the itinerary to suit what we wanted to do. The booking process was easy and Edward always responded quickly.
We had a very full three days of safaris with our guide, Omari and driver, Keresa, both of whom were excellent. Omari explained everything to us with enthusiasm which made it very enjoyable. Our dream was to see Painted Dogs and on the third day they both worked tirelessly, following information from other guides to try to find the dogs, and eventually we saw just one dog, but it was definitely worth the wait!
We stayed at the Kinga Safari Lodge which was very comfortable and I was surprised on the second night by being presented with a birthday cake by all the staff singing Hakuna Matata and Happy birthday! A lovely thought. All in all we had an amazing experience which was enhanced by Omari and Keresa's efforts. I would definitely recommend Plex Africa for a safari in Nyerere.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Incredible Experience Leonard is a well connected, knowledgeable, respectful, and attentive guide
I have now done three safaris with Leonard and Animal Action Safari. Each one was different and more amazing! I have a keen interest in learning about diverse natural environs and cultures. Leonard was able to design affordable safaris that satisfied me and my interests. He arranged for me to spend time with indigenous peoples and see their way of life, as well as the incredible wildlife and foliage.
I found Animal Action Safari to be reliable with good communication that lended to 3 fabulous trips!!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our tour operator was knowledgeable, kind, answered all our questions, and was funny!
Ron Adventure is an incredible safari tour company. I've never been on a safari and I must've asked him over 100 questions, changed dates and details multiple times and Ron was always gracious, kind, and accommodating and made sure everything worked out for the trip. He planned an incredible adventure for me and my friend and we had the entire safari vehicle to ourselves. He personalized the trip for us and took care of everything - from transportation to and from the airport to hotel accommodations to a wonderful safari camp that was five star. Ron Adventure is responsive and always wants to build a trip for you! The safari camp was luxury - the food was delicious, the staff was kind and incredible and the lodging was beautiful and peaceful. Safety is a priority and there was never a time where we worried or felt that things were not taken care of. Ron even surprised us with a wonderful dinner treat that was totally unexpected and showed such kindness and respect. Ron runs his business with integrity, honesty, and always listens to the clients to create a beautiful experience for them. I cannot recommend him enough. Our safari guide, Henry, was incredibly knowledgeable about the region and all the animals and there were lots of them! He was respectful to all the animals and always knew where to go to watch them.
Ron Adventure is a gem!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Simply amazing!! Vincent our tour guide truly made our experience extraordinary!
I 100% recommend booking your safari with Kitawa African Safaris! It was everything and more we could have wanted!! Vincent our tour guide was excellent and so knowledgeable he really made the experience unforgettable! To top it off we saw the BIG 5!!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic!
Fantastic trip!! Elias was our guide and he was phenomenal, we saw about every animal you can see and more! Lunches were delicious and home cooked, accommodations were lovely and I felt safe the whole time. As a solo female traveler I was a little nervous before I joined the tour but felt safe the whole time and our group had a great vibe! Would definitely book again!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
perfect organisation!
super organization! together with the owner in advance a trip put together on our wishes and his advice. 2 trips put together; climb mount meru and 6-day safari. many options, from camps to lodges. during both trips super service, good food and nice guides. friendly people and able to offer you a fantastic trip!