IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A LIAR AND CHEAT
Below is my letter of complaint to Mr Viktor Ketansi of Tanzania National Park Authority against the fraud, cheating and lies perpetrated by Mr Edgar Sirikwa of Jiwe Adventures:
"Dear Mr. Ketansi,
I am an established explorer and author, Fellow of Explorers Club USA Fellow of Royal Geographical Society, and Editor of Indian Mountaineer. In 2006, when I was leading the Gondwanaland Expedition - a scientific mission and a 25,000km motoring adventure from Indian Himalaya to Cape Agulhus, the southernmost point of Africa, we were provided excellent support in Tanzania National Parks Authority and all our vehicles carried their logo during the course of the three-month expedition.
This is to bring to your kind attention fraud and deceit perpetrated by Mr. Edgar Sirikwa, proprietor of Jiwe Adventures in Moshi.
The facts of the matter are as below:
1. In 2016, I had engaged the services of Jiwe Adventures for my Kilimanjaro climb. As he had provided a reasonable service, I engaged them for my forthcoming visit to Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara with my wife.
2. Edgar agreed to provide the following services:
- pick-up from Arusha airport and drop off at Serena Manyara
- hotel booking at Serena Manyara for two nights
- half-day safari at Lake Manyara on Day 1
- full day safari at Lake Manyara on Day 2
- transfer to Serena Ngorongoro on Day 3
- hotel booking at Serena Ngorongoro for two nights
- half-day carter safari on Day 3
- full day crater safari on Day 4
- transfer to Moshi on Day 5
- hotel booking at Moshi for one night
- transfer to Kilimanjaro airport on Day 6
3. Edgar wrote that he would send me the hotel booking confirmations as soon as he received an advance of US$335.
4. The deposit amount was sent to his account by bank transfer in January 2018.
5. After confirming receipt of advance on January 18, Edgar stopped replying to my emails and to my Whatsapp messages. I finally called him, and he assured me that he would send the hotel vouchers within a day. However, nothing came.
6. After checking directly with Serena Hotels, I was informed that a booking had been made - but for the wrong dates. Edgar apologised for the mistake.
7. Since February 13 I had been writing to Edgar to confirm if the dates had been changed and a fresh booking made. He did not reply for a month!
8. On March 13, I sent him the following email:
Dear Edgar,
I called you three days ago and you promised to send me the hotel confirmation vouchers by the evening.
Further, you had said that the bookings were made under "Edgar".
Serena Hotels has already confirmed that there are no bookings under that name.
I have forwarded you their email.
As I feel that I am being deceived by you for a long time, I am CANCELLING my visit.
I do not get a good feeling about this - and due to this sad and frustrating experience have no desire to visit Tanzania.
You are requested to kindly return the advance of US$ 335 that I transferred to your bank and acknowledged by you.
Incidentally, after receiving the advance you have not replied to a single mail of mine - I must have sent you over twenty of them. You answered the four phone calls I made to you and each time you promised to email the hotel confirmation vouchers. Sadly, you never kept your word. And, moreover, never made the hotel bookings.
In view of the above, please transfer the amount of $335 to my bank.
Look forward to your early action."
Threatened with cancellation, Edgar replied saying everything will be ok and I should not worry.
9. Meanwhile, Serena Ngorongoro was full on the days we wanted. Edgar suggested, on March 15, we revise our itinerary and first visit Ngorongoro and then Manyara. I agreed. However, he did not send any hotel vouchers - but assured on phone that everything was done.
10. Another couple - Mr and Mrs Ravinder Jain wanted to join us on the trip and transferred US$ 330 to Jiwe Adventures as advance deposit. The payslip conforming transfer of funds was emailed to Edgar on March 30.
11. On March 31, Edgar informs me that we can only do one full day crater drive!!! I sent him copies of his emails of January 15 and March 15 - in which he had confirmed one-half-day and one full day crater drive. That is how the tour was priced. Now he was not honouring his agreement.
12. On April 4, Edgar sends me a Whatsapp saying that since Serena Ngorongoro is full, he will book us at Sopa Lodge - to which I agreed. He said that Sopa had been booked. When I checked directly with Sopa, they said NO booking had been made.
13. On April 12, Edgar Whatsapps me saying Sopa is fully booked and he will now book us in Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge. I checked with Sopa again and Ms Innocent confirmed that they had rooms available for the days we wanted. Again and again, Edgar had been lying to me, misleading me.
14. The same day I wrote to Edgar saying that it seemed beyond him to make the hotel bookings for us - so I offered to make the hotel bookings myself directly with the hotels - and he should provide only the ground services - and we would adjust the deposit paid to him against that. Edgar agreed to this proposal.
15. Accordingly, I made the bookings directly with Serena Manyara and Sopa Ngorongoro.
16. Between April 13-26, Edgar again did not respond to my emails and text messages.
17. On April 27, he again texted that we would go down into the crater only once - again retracting on his agreement.
18. As he had been consistently lying, misleading me, not keeping his words or honouring the agreement - I felt uncomfortable dealing with him and informed him on April 28 that I did not wish to deal with him and he should return the deposit amount totalling US$665.
19. Edgar kept insisting through Whatsapp messages that he will provide the services and see us at the Arusha airport on May 26.
20. My last email to him was on May 4:
Dear Edgar,
As I have cancelled the arrangements with you, as you have not adhered to our agreement and have been consistently misleading me about the arrangements, you are requested to kindly refund the deposit amount of US$ 635 paid by Mr Ravinder Jain and me. This amount may kindly be handed over to Mr. Donald (Tel: 78*****81).
If this is not done in the next three days.ie. by Monday, May 7, 2018, I will be reporting the matter to Mr. Victor Ketansi at the Tanzania National Park Authority.
I look forward to your early and positive response.
Best wishes.
21. He has not responded after this. Meanwhile, I have arranged with Mr Donald of Friendship Adventures to provide the ground services.
In view of the above, Tanzania National Parks Authority may like to take appropriate action against Jiwe Adventures and assist me in getting the deposit amount back, so I can pay Friendship Adventures.
Mr Edgar Sirikwa's mobile number is: +255 75***1075
Many thanks and regards.
QA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Poor service and knowledge of the package they are selling.
At the beginning, everything went smooth: Allan replied to all my emails very quickly but the problem is that nearly all the information he gave me were wrong. I spent 8hours in the van from Nairobi to Masai Mara (Allan told me it takes 4hours) and nearly 10 hours from Mara to lake Nakuru. ( was told 6 hours by Allan).
I asked Allan if they have a 4wheel drive car instead of the van he told me yes with a 350$ extra per person. We chose the van as it’s cheaper: the problem is that the roads all around Mara were off roads: ( and Allan didn’t tell us of course) we got stuck maybe 4 times in the Mara reserve and twice when we head to lake Nakuru. We lost lots of time: I spent more time in the van than in the parks I came to visit.
Another thing I didn’t like: as soon as we sent the deposit to book the package, Allan send me an email with what is included and what is not. He wrote that tips are not included and between parenthesis : 10$ per person per day is the minimum. When we arrived to Nairobi and he met us in the hotel, he spent nearly half an hour to convince us to pay the 120$ tips to the driver at the end of the trip. A tip is not a fee or a tax: we are free to pay what we want depending on the service given.
Last thing: in the program there was the lake Nakuru known for the many flamingos that live and feed from it. But flamingos can be seen only in summer, as during the rainy season the level of the lake goes up and flamingos have to go else where to have some food. This of course was not mentioned by Allan: we spent 10hours in the road from Mara to lake Nakuru only to see the animals that we already have seen in Mara.
At the end I felt that the only objective for Allan is to sell his package and make money during the low season.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
This company misappropriates client funds
The itinerary looked good, with 3-4 star hotels on a 14 day safari in Kenya and Tanzania. The reality was a disaster.
1. The itinerary offered a 4WD. In Kenya, we were given a 2WD van (for 6 of us). Had 8 seats so only room for 2 to stand at a time. Van very uncomfortable and not suited AT ALL to Kenyan conditions. Masai Mara in particular has many 4WD roads only, including the road to the border. Because of the van, we were forced to spend 9 hours going around the park to the border instead of 3 hours through the park. Cost us a day as we didn't get through the border until 6 p.m. and couldn't then drive 5 hours to our next stop in Serengeti until next day.
2. Driver/guide in Kenya was a disgrace. His driving was downright terrifying, and his guiding non-existent. He didn't communicate with us and I didn't even know he spoke english until the end of the second day when there was an accommodation problem. My requests to Solaris to replace the driver and vehicle were ignored.
3. We only stayed in the hotels shown in our itinerary for 5 of the 13 nights. All others were a downgrade, once to a place with no water in showers. Looking on TA, the prices for the quoted hotels was about $300+ pn pp, the ones we stayed in as low as $120. Once in Tanzania, our guide there (fortunately we'd left Joe and his van in Kenya) tried his best to get us accommodated each night, and spent hours on the phone cajoling and fighting with the Solaris office staff. He was terrific and his company Cross to Africa to be recommended.
4. Game park fees, included in our itinerary, were paid in Kenya but not in Tanzania. We ended up more than US$2100 out of pocket as we had to pay our own way in. There have been repeated promises to repay the amounts, but of course nothing came of them.
5. I have reported this company to the Kenyan Tourism Regulatory Authority, and trust that they will soon be out of business. The best outcome would be to see the "Boss" and the directors charged with misappropriation of funds and theft. I live in hope! Sadly, when people ask about our East Africa experience, my response is that Uganda and Tanzania are fantastic, but tread warily in Kenya.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible and misleading communication with details left hanging until last minute poor job!
We paid months in advance, yet even the day before each stay we did not have lodging confirmations. They tried to get an extra $200 from us saying the bank transfer we sent was short. They did not advise we would need cash for entrance fees until we were already in Kenya. Left some fees unpaid at lodging which we were forced to pay in order to check out. Did not respond to inquiries in a timely manner. Bonfire does not provide a carefree vacation, as you need to fight for information and details constantly. In the end we got what we needed but only because we actively worked for it. I would not recommend this company. It seems other reviewers have had similar experiences so it is likely a company problem.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Stay away from Solaris Tours & Safaris, a scam tour operator!!
Thank you Safari Bookings! It’s about time this “fraudster Solaris Tours & Safaris” finally be stopped & be exposed for their fraudulent activities as tour operator in Kenya. We became victims ourselves and only recently. Solaris Tours & Safaris a scam , liars and no credibility at all to be in a position as Safari tour operators. To start with, they will offer you, perhaps cheaper than other operators , smooth itinerary & professionally done & impressive (who would have thought...) but reality is once you paid them full 6 months in advanced for all your accommodations, park fees, entrance fees, etc. when we start our supposedly once in a lifetime safari experience, it was all a nightmare!! Complete & utterly nightmare, words not even enough to describe our disgust with Solaris Tours & Safaris. Angry, understatement! All bunch of liars!!! You’re a disgrace to your own country!! Shame on all of you at Solaris!!! You should be all ashamed of yourselves for giving Kenyan tourism in Safari a very bad reputation. Even your Tanzanian counterpart, who witnessed first hand how you operate your scam doesn’t want to do future business with you . To all unsuspecting victims, please don’t use Solaris Tours & Safaris, not too late yet to save yourselves ....
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Patrick Atweng'a (introduced to me by at baboon office) stole 500$ which left as a deposit
A year ago my parents rented a car trough babbon tours from guy named Patrick Otieno Atweng'a...
after 3 weeks of using the car my folks returned it but never saw any of the the deposit, they were left to wait for couple of hours for the thief to come back - which never happened.
Baboon tours admitted their responsebility for Patrick Otieno Atweng'a action and promising me to deal the issue and return the stolen money..
I was in touch with mr. Dennis across the year via watsap and every time he gave me another excuse.
Beware of Baboon budget tours and other scammers...
Thank you for nothing mr. dennis behalf my parents and me
LT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scammers! Avoid this company!
I and my husband have decided to use Arise Special Sunrise Safaris services. We have booked a Safari trip in prior, therefore they asked us to send them 480$ as a deposit and so we did. When we have arrived we payed the remaining amount to them. From the very beginning, our trip was disappointing, as we have visited one National park less than it was promised for us. But the worst thing happened in one of the last days of the trip. The guide of the company came to pick us up in the morning and said that there was a problem with our deposit(which we made before the trip) and it was returned to our bank, therefore they are unable to provide us with our last day trip to the national park. So they asked us to pay it again in cash(480$). As we were in Africa we had no possibility to check our bank account, therefore we were forced to pay them extra 480$ as we did not want to lose our last day in Tanzania. Only in the evening, when we got an internet access we check that the money we paid as a deposit prior the trip did not come back to our account, it was paid successfully. We called our guide and is it was the last day of our trip he promised that a representative of the company will come to the airport tomorrow before our flight and will return our second time paid deposit amount. However, he did not arrive and we had no choice but to get on our plane and fly back to our country. As we came back, we have immediately contacted the director of the company Mr. Owailimu Sosthenes Binyakusha. He replied to us that they will give our money back with a bank transfer. However about for a month, we did not receive our refund, he kept on replying that he made the transfer but there were bank problems and so on. Then for the last month, he is ignoring our emails and we have never received our money back. So please be very CAREFUL AND DO NOT USE THE SERVICES OF THIS COMPANIE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOUR MONEY!
NO
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professional fraudster & scam artist. Don't engage Drive Tanzania/Yoeni Japheth Mkiramweni.
We hired a Toyota Land Cruiser from the sham company Drive Tanzania Ltd for 15 days (June-July 2018), paid in advance. The company address in Arusha is a parking lot! - the office is a cell phone. Despite calling it's self one of the "biggest & best" -we found out as we our trip progressed that everything is just fraud and lies. Yoeni doesn't own a single commercial safari vehicle. The 4x4 supplied was a private vehicle in unroadworthy condition, not commercial, and as such illegal without valid insurance. The brakes and steering were faulty, also no brake fluid & the engine devoid of oil, we had to fill both, not serviced for ages.
In the Ngorongoro Crater the steering main joint broke as we parked. We were lucky it went then as at speed we would have either gone off the road, or the vehicle turned over. We were lucky we weren't killed. We were rescued by the Crater rangers who drove us out of the crater to our lodge. Three weeks later I'm told the vehicle is still in the crater, pending repairs to both steering and radiator before it can be driven out, also daily fines. We had to hire an alternative vehicle for the last 5 days, Yoeni true to form was impossible to contact.
No lodgings had been ordered in advance for the driver, Yoeni told him that we hadn't paid him yet for the safari and therefore we would be paying for all his overnighting and food, also all the vehicles safari fees and expenses which according to the contract Drive Tanzania were responsible for. The driver was shocked when we showed him the contract - a clear breach of contract.
Eventually brought in by the police, in the presence of witnesses at the Arusha Tourist police station Yoeni promised to refund all the money he owed us by a stated date, through "Malaika Tours", also to pay his driver. More lies, the date has come and gone, he still hasn't refunded us anything and the poor driver also hasn't been paid.
Yoeni is now the subject of a police investigation for this case and complaints from other customers, also investigation on suspecion of mis-appropriating WMA fees and Tanzanian VAT. He also offered to pay in the park fees for us in advance, his quote for 14 days was $4.000 which he didn't seem to be able to document. Needless to say the amount we ended up paying by Visa Card at the park gates was just $1.570 !!
An incredible story - yes, and 100% true.
PE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Strongly do not recommend Faustin's tours
I strongly do not recommend Faustin's tours. On June 1, I deposited 200 US dollars in Faustin's bank account as part of a partial payment of a safari scheduled on July 22. On July 20 I read his email saying that he had to cancel the safari because I was the only person scheduled and it was not profitable for him, he asked me the best way to proceed with the refund. I told him to do it through Western Union. He told me he was going to do it the next day, but he didn't and communication with him started to be very low since then. Then he told me he will go on July 22 in the morning. I called and texted him that day in the afternoon and he didn't reply. By that time I was already in Mikumi doing a safari and I asked my safari guide if he knows Faustin and explained him the situation. Fortunately, he knew him and called him to say that we were going to the police if he doesn't give the money back. Only after that, Faustin gave my money back.
I trusted Faustin because he had overall good reviews and he immediately replied to me when I asked for a quote, but if I would have known what was going to happen, I would have never chosen him to do safari.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
FRAUD
FRAUD
This company has cheated us; We hired them with a safari from Spain and the day they had to pick up at the hotel, we could not contact them, we had paid them 60% of the amount (2000€~) ... this supposed us, to lose a whole day between going to the Spanish embassy, put the complaint in the police and Of course, hiring another safari, not counting the economic loss.