DE
Not a legitimate company !!! - Nairobi Parklands Police Station proved
We believe that Bon Voyage Safaris is a fraudulent company that offers regular tours to four famous National parks in Kenya. They lure people in by offering a luxurious stay at the well-known Mara Serena Lodge in the Maasai Mara as part of the itinerary. They then increase the deposit from 50% to 75%, claiming that all hotels and itinerary have been confirmed. However, upon arrival in Kenya, all accommodations are changed to extremely poor quality hotels. They falsely claim to be working on behalf of the government to extort park fees and service charges from customers without providing any receipts.
Despite customers' objections, they constantly change the itinerary and accommodations. For example, they may charge customers $600 for a three-day pass to Maasai Mara National Park but only allow entry once, continuing to scam money from customers. The overall experience is extremely poor.
When customers try to report this company to the authorities, the police discover that the company's address (The Urban Queen Properties,S.K offices suit B5 on Google) and phone number are fake. The company does not exist. The Nairobi police called each and every one of them, but none of them exists. These telephone numbers are +254 114 192199, +254 797 922062, +254 105 167866. Alle this information is proved by Nairobi Parklands Police Station.
It is important to warn everyone not to choose this fraudulent company.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tarangire National Park by Aruna Marathe
Grossly over rated park. Not worth the visit.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Budget customer service is what you should expect
Day 1 of the 7 day Safari with Jockey Tours my husband and I were picked up from our hotel on time where we were then taken to the head office which is downtown Nairobi, very busy and no parking. My husband told the driver (Peter) that I had medical issues with my back and then he was then pushed off to pay the remainder of the safari, leaving me at the 4x4 with our luggage. I was immediately told that one of my suitcases would not be accommodated and needed to be left behind. I was then forced to make fast decisions on my luggage and had no room for my special order pillow and my TENS machine (all needed for my medical conditions) settling on my much smaller heating pad and blister packs of medications that I absolutely needed for my back/neck issues. We then head out with Peter and the 7 others ( although all Jockey Tours advertising we read for the 7 day tour said MAXiMUM 6 ppl on tour) maybe if it was only 6 I could of brought all my needed medical equipment……..
Peter and the 7 tourists continue onto the roughest road I have ever been on while driven in a 30plus year old 4x4 Land Cruiser that the seat my husband and I sat in had metal springs which was felt through the worn out padding, my lap belt buckle would only 1-10 times properly latch and the truck had no shocks anywhere on the vehicle as we witnessed the driver on 3 occasions pull over in an attempt to fix the back shocks that completely broke and were dragging. We then proceeded to the night safari at Masai Mara park were during the drive thru the park, Peter who was told about my medical issues managed to hit a bump so hard that it bounced me out of my seat to the floor of the truck where I hit my left hip. Finally making our way to the tent camp, we noticed Peter to be constantly on his cellphone talking to various callers like mama and luv as I was sitting directly behind him and could see which were work and others that clearly weren’t. I only bring this up because on the drive back to the camp he almost had a head on collision with a motorcyclist, narrowly missing a fatal collision and this was the first day. Day 2 I had to miss the village walk to rest my bruised hip and sore back, I could go on about numerous other things but I want to focus on the main issues. It only got worse from here and we left the safari on the morning of day 3 after another hideous road was taken as a “short cut “ as Peter described to us because the tarmac was too long to take. This was only revealed after yet again he was reminded of my back issues and that we were done. He tried at first to say the roads to Amboseli were bad but then when he realized we were serious about leaving the tour he then tried to convince us that the roads would be that bad. Fool me once and I was in so much pain that we knew I was done. After staying in bed from the time we were dropped at 1100 until the next morning at 0630 and still unable to walk without bawling, my husband was told we would have to pay $85 USD to take us back to Nairobi to pick up our suitcase then go to a hotel that we also had to pay out of pocket since all the office offered us was a “sorry”. When we got to the hotel we went to pay with a $50 that Peter had given us that morning for a park fee he supposedly had issues getting into and my husband being nice volunteered to put on his credit card and then given cash from Peter instead. The driver (Daniel) hired by Peter and supposedly associated with Jockey Tours said he would not take that specific and only $50USD we had as he didn’t think the bank would take it…. Like I said just bad customer service on every level.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Bad tour company
Me and my wife booked an 13 day safari in Nairobi Kenya with African Sunset Safari. After the 3rd day into the safari, we was told we couldn't continue because the owner Haron. had not payed for the rest of our trip. The owner was payed Months in advance by us,but did not use our money to pay for our accommodation and game drives. On the 3rd day we had to pay out of pocket for the nights we stayed in order to leave the hotel. This company had good reviews is why we went with them. Now I don't know how thy got the reviews they have. We did report him Kenyan Tourist Police and File report to US embassy. If you get an quote from this company beware.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unreliable
We booked a 10 day African safari tour in August , 2024 .
Travel experience was good , Guides were good . Accommodation was good .
Most communication were through whatsapp with Lucy and Haroon .
We booked a balloon ride in Masai mara and it was planned for 19th August . Once we reached Masaimara we were suddenly informed that they cannot do it in Kenya,though we paid full amount in advance.
It was organised in Serengiti instead in 24th August .
On the day of balloon safari weather was bad and it was cancelled .
We were informed by tour provider that they will refund fully to African Sunset Safari . I have informed Lucy and she confirmed that she will refund full amount by 26th , the day we are flying back to UK .
Total anount is $844 .
3 weeks gone , we are still chasing Lucy and Haroon .
We initially told that they have transferred the money to our account .
I have asked for screenshot never received that .
I received a call from Haroon saying he was away in safari for 9 days hence couldn’t do it . Apparently transfer can be done only by signatory and his staff didnt know .
This information was shared on 13th September . Today is 18th September , I have messaged Lucy and Haroon they are not responding .
We had a good holiday but this experience making us worried about retrieving our money .
I will not recommend this company to anyone untill I get my money back
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing nature, inappropriate driver
The safari was satisfactory, as was the hotel, the food and the car.
However, a few days after the trip ended, I received messages from the driver (Branson) asking if I was ok, saying that he could not sleep and asking if I had saw the “African cork”.
For context, I travelled alone. Maybe this person thought I was available for harassment because of that.
That is inadmissible.
(images removed for privacy reasons)
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Worst Company ever. Do not use canceled 1 week prior to start and we still have received no refund
Well can not talk about my tour experience since the operator canceled the tour one week prior to our departure Operator we iffy from the start alway wanting more money to cover new expenses. William from overland has told me repeatedly that the money has been wired but he refuses to provide any type of proof of the wire. We filed a police report for theft and when we get back to the US we will file a report with the FBinsince he used International wire transfer to take our money. Beware and find a reputable company before you book.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
He cheated us, took our money but dont paid to hotel, park fee etc.
Bongo International travel is real cheater from our experience, he does not book anything after taking money. I had pay to hotel etc as i was standing outside the hotel. I paid twice for my trip.
FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We felt scammed
I booked the 3 day safari tour for the 5th of August 2024 for 3 people including me. Mariam requested i send her the first half of the payment which she received successfully. A few weeks before the safari I emailed her asking when the next payment was to be made and she replied a week before the trip. I sent her the money and it was deducted from my account successfully. Two days before the safari Mariam informs me she has not received the payment. I shoe her screenshots of payment and questioned why she did not ask me earlier about the payment and decided to inform me two days before the trip. She said if she does not receive the second payment the trip will be cancelled and no refund will be made for the first half. My friends and I obviously panic because we travelled to Kenya mainly for the safari and we did not want to miss it. I asked her to meet me the next day so I could pay her in cash because making a bank transaction would take days to reflect on her account. At this point we were taking a big risk giving her money again but we also thought the fault could have been with my bank but it would take me days to figure the situation with my bank all the way from Kenya.
Mariam assured if the money reflects in her account she would transfer it back to me. The sum of it was nearly 1400 USD. We were able to leave for the safari and had a lovely trip. Our tour guide mentioned he does not work for Mamu Travels and the other people in our group had also booked with different companies.
After the trip I contacted Mamu Travels regarding the money and she claimed to not have received it. I told her my bank confirmed the money is in her account since it had been weeks. Mariam was very frustrated and accused me of being a liar. She was VERY unprofessional during phone calls and raised her voice MULTIPLE times at me. Mariam ended up blocking me and till this day we have not received our money.
US
Be carefull with this company. They do not comply and after paying they do not refund money. P
Please do not take this safari. It is false. It's fake. You woll probably lose your money