FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
DRC
Hi!
I’m Sakari Hassan, (Sheikkihassan) instagram and I make videos for YouTube. I paid $5,000 to Obedi, also known as Kumbutumbu Tours, and they promised to take care of the flight tickets and hotel payments for a two-week stay. However, when we arrived in Kinshasa, the hotel had only been paid for one night, as that's required when making a reservation. Now, the person who made the booking—an associate of Obedi—has also disappeared. Do not pay them anything in advance, as written receipts won’t be of any help.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Buyer beware - you might not get what you paid for from Africa Kenya Safaris
We booked a 7-day private safari for two people with Africa Kenya Safaris, Nairobi. It covered Masai Mara (2 days), Lake nakuru/Lake Naivasha (2 days) and Samburu (2 days). It cost more than 4,000 USD and included all accommodations, food, transportation, Game drives, and park fees.
When we got to Masai Mara we were refused entry because the Park fees had not been paid. We were made to wait at the gate for more than 2 hours. When the park fees finally came through we were still not allowed in because the company had not paid the full fees. I had to pay the shortfall out of my own pocket. I have still not been reimbursed for this added cost. All attempts to contact the company went unanswered.
On the second day our guide was able to convince the Park Warden that the fees would be paid by 11 am that day. On this assurance we were admitted to the park. During our Game drive (around lunch time) our guide told us that we had been ordered back to the Park gate by the Warden because the fees had still not been paid. We returned to the gate and were made to wait more than two hours. The warden threatened to confiscate our vehicle and detain our driver. This would have left us stranded at the Park gate with no means to get back to the hotel. I desperately tried to contact Africa Kenya Safaris but got know response. Finally the park fees came through after 4 pm but again the company did not pay the full amount and our driver paid the shortfall this time so that we could continue our game drive. During this episode over two days multiple attempts were made to contact company management by phone, email and text messaging but all went unanswered. Our driver was also unable to contact his bosses. Bottom line was that lost about half our game drive time over the twp days at Maasai Mara- the most prominent park in Kenya.
Unbelievably, the same thing happened again when we got to Lake Nakuru - the Park fees were not paid. We again had to wait at the park gate till well after 2 pm - about 3 hours. We could not even access our lodge to eat lunch because the lodge was located inside the Park. We were finally able to do a severely shortened game drive that afternoon. At Lake Naivasha our activities were also shortened because the fees had not been paid on time.
Multiple attempts were made to contact the company management daily for four days but there was no response. In all we lost more than half the game viewing time over the FOUR days due to the their incompetence. No explanation for their acts of negligence has been provided by the Africa Kenya Safaris.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My experience is that this company is not genuine. The owner does not give his real information on invoices.
I traveled with Marhaba Holidays in October 2024 for my 30th birthday trip. The highlight of this trip was supposed to be the safari I organized with Marhaba Holidays. Unfortunately, the experience was disastrous from the start.
There was an issue with the vehicle, which disrupted a significant part of my stay. The program I paid for was not respected at all. I did not get to experience the hot air balloon safari, and I was supposed to have four game drives but ended up having only one.
Since mid-October, I have been trying to get a refund for the activities that were not provided. However, the director of this agency—an agency whose office locations and contact details appear to be fake—refuses to refund me.
If I can offer one piece of advice: avoid this so-called agency. They can ruin your vacation, shatter your dream of going on a safari, and steal your money. I trusted them to organize this safari, and I also trusted them when they assured me that I would be reimbursed in the weeks following my complaint. This has not happened.
Felix has not been honest with me.
Please save your money and run !!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I was not happy with my experience.
I was not happy with my experience as it relates to MoAfrika Tours.
I recommend that you take look at what is and is not part of the experience carefully, an additional cost may be required to participate in all of the safari's drives being offered while there. In the tour I took, and addition cost and reservation was required for the last morning safari drive, which led to a unfortunate complication for me. Should you decide to buy this safari package, the decision to participate in the morning safari should be made prior to departure. The problem that I have is that there is an additional cost, and reservation needed at all for this drive.
4day Luxury Radisson Kruger Safari, has a stated cost of $882 to $970pp(USD), however you can see here that an additional cost is required for the last morning safari drive. "On your last morning, you have the choice to unwind at your hotel for the day or depart on an optional 3-hour morning safari adventure (additional R1250)."
Make sure you understand what you are buying. I would not recommend MoAfrika to anyone that I know, or encountered looking for a safari. Caution, and buyer beware.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
"Unprofessional & Unreliable Safari Experience"
I would not recommend Gladiola Adventure to anyone planning a safari. They don’t own any vehicles and rely entirely on renting from others. Worse, they fail to pay the vehicle owners, leaving many frustrated and unpaid.
The vehicles they use are often in poor condition, which not only affects the comfort of the trip but also raises serious safety concerns. It’s clear they don’t prioritize proper maintenance or quality service.
This level of unprofessionalism is unacceptable, and I strongly advise choosing a more reliable and trustworthy safari company for your adventure.
CA
35-50 years of age
Not to be trusted
After paying for the trip and when it was near the time of the trip, we learned that Nancy (CEO) had not booked anything, lied about booking Baobab beach resort in Diani. She blamed the resort for not communicating with her and providing the rooms as agreed prior to their renovations.I called the resort only to find out that we had no reservation and that the renovations were completed back in September. Once confronted Nancy has ghosted us and has been using Nicholas (accountant )to fool around with us claiming to refund with different excuses,it's been over a week and there is no refund,no trip to baobab and zero communication.Apparently it seems that the company literally utilized our money in the company to do their shady business providing us no service.We are currently taking legal action sadly because this is unacceptable.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Not to be trusted from my experience
Travel agency is nice when booking with them but the moment you pay for the booking they are no where to be seen or even someone to communicate with and they don't even book anything for you while they use your money to do other business and will not even refund you without shame with full of lies.
Free advice: Don't book with them otherwise you will end up frustrated. Don't be deceived by the pictures and profile of the management. What you see is not what you get.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
In liquidation
3 family members in Sydney Australia booked an expensive itinerary having taken over R300000 only to be told on 2.12.24 they have gone into voluntary liquidation. Only one lodge had received a deposit from us. They appear to have been trading while insolvent. Very unhappy and don't expect to receive any reimbursement.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unfortunately the tour operator took our money but did not provide the safari experience
Unfortunately it was a bad experience, as Croy Mara Journey asked for the whole amount in advance, which we paid, but they only booked one hotel for us, for 2 nights only. When we showed up at the park, we had to add $800 of park fees, which was not what we agreed as it was clearly stated that all fees were included. We also had to pay for the 4x4 vehicles, for the food, for the drivers and for another night in hotel as nothing was booked. We ended up paying more than $3000 more than the agreed price. Croy Journey Mara did not ever reply to us, terrible experience, we can only recommend to be aware and stay away from companies that are not serious, do not pay them in advance, ask for evidence that all the bookings of park entrance, hotels, food and transfers are made. We thanks Steve and Matthew, the drivers, who helped us to have an amazing safari even if Croy Mara Journey failed to deliver the service.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lack Of Communication
I have never written a negative review but I feel it is important for anyone who is considering using Features Africa Journeys to read what my experience was like. When I reached out to Features Africa Journeys the owner Karanja was phenomenal to work with. During the planning phase Karanja replied in a timely manner, he answered all my questions clearly and concisely, and he worked with me to finalize our tour. I was very comfortable with booking with Features Africa Journeys. My group of six booked the 12 day Kenya and Tanzania tour over a year in advance in order to have the best options for lodging.
After we paid the deposit for the tour everything changed. Karanja stopped communicating with us and I often had to beg him to reply. There was a point where we all thought he may have gone out of business. It was quite concerning.
Prior to arriving in Africa we discovered the hotel confirmation Karanja booked for us in Nairobi was incorrect. When we arrived in Nairobi the driver Karanja hired dropped us off at the wrong hotel. Thankfully the hotel brought us to the correct hotel.
The 12 day itinerary included staying at 6 different lodges. Karanja changed 3 out of the 6 lodges without our knowledge which caused undo stress every time we drove by the lodge we thought we were staying at. The second change was a serious downgrade from what we paid for. We paid for semi-luxury lodging and ended up at an eco lodge that had no other customers, no amenities, no hot water, and holes in the floors where snakes could get in. I spoke with Karanja and explained changing the lodges without telling us was not okay and the downgrade was not acceptable. I ended the conversation asking that he not surprise us with a lodge change again and he agreed. The very next day he did it again! It appeared he had no idea where we were staying and was trying to figure it out while we were driving around the park. It added a lot of unneeded driving around and once again a downgrade from what we paid for.
Entering the parks also proved difficult. When we arrived at the entrance to the Serengeti our tour guide, who was a contracted guide in Tanzania and not an employee of Features Africa Journeys, struggled to get us through the gates. Karanja had only paid 2 out of the 3 days we were scheduled to stay in the park. After 1 1/2 hours we were given permission to enter the park but our guide would have to resolve with Karanja how to pay the third day. If not resolved we would have to leave the park early or be arrested. It took our guide a full 24 hours to resolve the issue and then the following day we had to drive out of our way to a ranger station to finalize the park pass.
When we crossed back into Kenya Karanja became our tour guide. When we arrived at the entrance to the Masai Mara we once again sat outside the gates waiting for the park pass to be processed while watching other tour companies pass into the park.
Near the end of our tour Karanja came to me and blindsided me by asking for a considerable amount of money due to an increase in the cost of the park passes and lodges. I could not believe it. We booked our tour more than a year in advance therefore the lodges should have been booked at the lower prices if they did go up. I also believe the park passes should have been purchased at the lower cost but I am not sure what the process is for obtaining the passes.
All the difficulties we had could have been avoided if Karanja had communicated with us regarding unexpected expenses he encountered prior to our arrival. We would have worked with him and paid the additional cost of the park passes. Instead he downgraded our lodging and caused undue stress when entering the parks. He never explained why all these changes happened until my group was already agitated and confronted him. Being small business owners and understanding things happen we stupidly agreed to give half of what Karanja asked for. We knew the cost of park passes had increased a considerable amount. But, after the last downgraded lodge and extra unnecessary driving and frustrations I asked for half of what I paid to be refunded. Karanja agreed, he showed us the request for the refund, we shook hands and said we were trusting him to make sure the refund happened and he said it would.
Unfortunately, two months later we have not seen the refund and Karanja stopped communicating as soon as we left Africa.
My advice to anyone looking to book a safari tour is there are plenty of other tour operators to choose from. The safari itself was EPIC but my review is based on Features Africa Journeys.