IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari not delivered as planned; promised refund not received
I booked a seven-day Kenya safari for my wife and myself through Inspired Budget Safaris, represented by Lina Margaret. On 3 August 2026, I paid USD 630 through the DPO Pay payment link provided for the booking.
Our safari was scheduled for 10–16 October 2026. After arriving in Nairobi, I repeatedly tried to contact Lina to confirm the arrangements. I also contacted the accommodation properties listed in the itinerary and was informed that bookings had not been made in our names.
We were left uncertain about whether the safari would take place and had to arrange an alternative at short notice, resulting in additional expense and disruption to our trip.
On 7 October, Lina acknowledged in writing that my deposit remained owed and asked me to wait until 12 October for a refund. I gave her the additional time requested, but the promised refund did not arrive.
I have retained the payment confirmation, itinerary and message history. I am pursuing the matter through the relevant payment provider and authorities.
Based on my experience, I would strongly advise prospective travellers to independently verify all accommodation bookings and obtain reliable written confirmation before relying on this operator. I hope the company provides a proper explanation and resolves the outstanding refund.
IE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional, friendly and efficient company - Bayona (our guide) and Namayani were just great.
Thanks to Namayani, our contact at Serengeti Africa Safari. Anytime we had a question she replied very quickly and sorted everything out for us, both before we left home and during our trip. All the transfers from airports to accommodations were 100% reliable.
Special thanks to Bayona, our safari guide, an absolute gentleman, who seemed to know Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorogoro like the palm of his hand. We got to see too many animals and birds to mention, but that included the Big 5. In many cases they animals came close to our jeep or Bayona managed to drive very close to the animals. We saw Hippos fighting, we saw Cheetah mam with her 3 week old cubs right beside our jeep, we sat under a tree with a Leopard and their kill (a poor gazelle). Giant sized elephants walked right up to our jeep, we could almost touch them.
Of all the accommodations we stayed at Land of Nature was my favourite, with Suricate Boma Lodge in 2nd place. Truly an amazing trip.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable and wonderful
We had a wonderful day with our guide David in Serval wildlife sanctuary ! We pet several different wildlife species and our private tour guide took a lot of pictures for us. It’s a unique experience to get closer to the wildlife. We highly recommend it! Our guides are so patients and friendly!
PR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
VIATU made our family’s South African adventure unforgettable with thoughtful planning, top-notch gu
We just had the most wonderful vacation in South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia! Every stay, tour, safari, and dinners were fantastic—it felt magical from beginning to end. The locations were incredible, the staff at each stop were wonderful, and all the special little details made the trip feel extra special. The tour guides were top-notch, and VIATU’s follow-through as we traveled between destinations was superb. We always felt well looked after.
We chose VIATU from four quotes, and we’re so glad we did. Mardi did a wonderful job listening to what we wanted, putting together a fantastic proposal, and making sure the trip fit all of us. She even helped us name our vacation “#Santiago-Walker Vacation: Better Than Blended,” inspired by the movie and the feedback we shared with her. That personal touch really showed how closely she listened and how much she cared about the details.
Thank you so much, Mardi and the VIATU team, for all your hard work. I’m already recommending you to everyone who asks about our trip! 🙏
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
We had an incredible safari experience with Safari Soul, and a huge part of that was thanks to our guide and driver, Jackson Masong!
Jackson was fantastic from start to finish. He made us feel safe and comfortable throughout the entire trip, even while navigating some very challenging roads. He was an excellent driver, incredibly knowledgeable, and always had such a positive attitude. He went out of his way to get us as close to the animals as safely possible, giving us some unforgettable wildlife experiences.
What really stood out was how accommodating he was. He regularly asked what we wanted to see and do, listened to our preferences, and tailored the experience around us. He was patient, flexible, and genuinely wanted to make sure we had the best possible experience. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide!
A few things to know before going on safari:
The roads are extremely bumpy, and that’s something you should be prepared for. If you’re visiting multiple national parks, keep in mind that they can be several hours apart, so expect long days of driving. The highways and roads could definitely benefit from more government investment in paving and maintenance, as the travel between destinations can be quite rough.
Also, be prepared for what they call “African makeup” — the dust! You’ll get covered in it, especially during game drives, so pack extra clothes and don’t expect to stay clean for long.
Another important tip is to bring plenty of snacks. You’re travelling through very remote areas, and there aren’t restaurants or convenience stores inside the parks. Lunches are generally pre-packaged, so having your own snacks makes a big difference during the long days.
Overall, the safari was an unforgettable experience, and we would absolutely recommend Jackson to anyone booking with Safari Soul. His professionalism, positive energy, excellent driving, and willingness to cater to our interests made the trip special.
The wildlife is incredible, the scenery is breathtaking, and the experience is worth it. Just come prepared for the long drives, bumpy roads, and lots of dust!
Thank you, Jackson, for making our safari such a memorable experience!
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything went great—they pick you up, take you where you need to go, and the food is excellent. Highly recommended—100%!
An incredible experience—everything went perfectly, from the pickup times to the food, which was excellent. Both the driver and the chef were very friendly; they truly made our adventure an unforgettable one. Highly recommended! They would stop whenever an animal was spotted, point them out to us, and answer every question we asked. Everything was very well organized, and they were always punctual. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!
50-65 years of age
Day tour Addis Ababa —solid
Took the day tour of Addis Ababa with Peak Ethiopia.
1. Booking process was online, paid day of tour
2. Pre tour logistics responses were VERY fast via email and What’s App
3. Day tour itinerary was comprehensive— could have spent more time at the market. Guide /Desale was high energy and had good English
4. Driver was excellent—really required for AA traffic
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Amazing Safari Experience with Iyana Africa!
We had an incredible experience with Iyana Africa on our safari to Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru! Everything was extremely well organized from start to finish, making the entire trip seamless and stress-free.
A special shoutout to our guide, Ambrose, who was absolutely fantastic! He was knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and genuinely passionate about wildlife. His expertise and enthusiasm made our game drives so much more enjoyable, and he went above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing experience.
The wildlife sightings were incredible, the landscapes were breathtaking, and the entire experience was everything we had hoped for and more. We really appreciated how smoothly everything was handled, allowing us to simply enjoy every moment of the safari.
I would highly recommend Iyana Africa to anyone planning a safari in Kenya, and if you get Ambrose as your guide, you’re in great hands! Thank you for such a memorable experience!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable and Experienced
Literally look no further! This was the absolute perfect Safari. From the time of booking with Evaline to the end of our Safari with our guide Abdi it was stress free and seamless. I have a million questions when I book and Evaline was super patient with me and went through the entire itinerary with me before booking.
Our guide, Abdi, was absolutely perfect for us. We had a private safari and hit all of the major parks. We saw FOUR leopards. We bypassed seeing some lions (we had spent hrs already with them earlier that day) bc of a baby leopard he had heard over the radio and we were literally feet from it. Wow - it was an amazing experience. We really took into account what we wanted to see and made it happen. We had so many questions about the animals and he was so knowledgeable. We made a couple of pit stops per our request like the gift store and a pharmacy and he worked it into our itinerary for the day. You can tell Abdi takes pride in being a guide and loves what he does and is always safe! We are so so so appreciative of him! We went for our honeymoon and every accommodation was perfect. The picnic lunches were a highlight of our trips. Thank you Mountain Warriors! We hope to be back when we start a family.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Martin was great, he cares about everything and made the Safari to a different level
Great Safari, we saw a lot of animal, like a leopard, elephants and lions.