ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I have felt cheated with this service
I do not recommend SAFARILINE DEFENDER to anyone. We did a safari with them and they cheated us with the contract terms. My recommendation is that if you do not pay attention to this comment CLEARLY LEAVE EVERYTHING IN WRITING WITH THESE PEOPLE, or they will deceive you as they did us.
When we decided to call her to clarify what had happened, she pestered us all the time saying that she was very busy and couldn't. She only called us back when we said we would speak to the police, and it was to yell at us and speak to us in a very rude and obscene tone.
In addition, our driver throughout the SAFARI, did not stop doing a reckless driving with the phone in his hand all the time and in the other driving talking on whatsapp, calling on the phone and playing mobile apps or games while he had to drive and be attentive To the road.
(automatic translation from Spanish)
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unprofessional tour operator
I would not recommend booking a safari through Kenamoti Tours.
We booked a 3-day Masai Mara safari through safaribooking.com (3-Day Masai Mara 4x4 Land Cruiser Safari). An important criterion for us was to have a real 4x4 safari vehicle (as opposed to minibuses). Therefore, we booked a safari that included the 4x4 vehicle.
Communication with the tour organization was mainly through a man named Amos. He was flexible with the tour dates, which was nice since our itinerary changed slightly.
However, when we got to his office to discuss final details and make payment, he wanted the money in cash, which we were not prepared for. During our trip we learned that it is common in Kenya to pay even larger amounts in cash. We were able to arrange with Amos to pay only a deposit in cash and pay the rest when we were picked up, which seemed more convenient.
On the day of the pickup, we were picked up around 9am by two people (the booked tour originally stated 7am) who drove us to the bus. It turned out that our safari vehicle was one of the minibuses and not the promised 4x4 vehicle. After some discussion with the staff, our only options were to cancel the tour (and probably not get our deposit back) or settle for what we got and pay the full amount. We decided to go ahead with the tour since we didn't have time to find another tour. When we arrived at the camp, it turned out to be a different camp than the tour description stated. Also, the tour description said that there was a maximum of 6 people per vehicle (we were 8), which was quite uncomfortable at times. According to the tour description, there was supposed to be another morning game drive on the third day. The driver informed us that the plans had been changed and instead of the game drive we would only have the option of visiting the Masai village (for $10). We were able to negotiate with the driver and he organized an alternative "plant medicine walk" with one of the Masai for free. In the end, it was a nice tour with good game drives, but the fact that we were tricked into a tour that was significantly cheaper than what we paid was very disappointing. Therefore, we give this tour provider a poor rating and would not recommend anyone to book with this provider. Amos is not able to properly plan the bookings he receives, which ends in chaos and disappointment.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We felt scammed and lied to. I believe they are not honest.
We felt scammed. I do not recommend you book, you won't get what you pay.
We booked a Safari in Tanzania (Luxury), and everything seemed ok and professional until we paid the down-payment and got in Tanzania. The first day we arrived:
1) itinerary was completely changed (they said due to availability, even if they confirmed the plan and bookings with the downpayment months ago), resulting in a less efficent tour (hours lost compared to original plan), but less fees for them as we spent less time in parks.. they told us this change only when we were departing for safari, so we had to accept
2) the same day (we arrived) they also told us they changed from a Luxury lodge (Lobo) to a mid-tent (Kati kati)..we protested and they told us lobo was ok; the day we were departing for Lobo they tried to propose to us Savannah (another mid tent) and we said no, so they told us Lobo had problems in availability..we told them to stick with original plan or gave them an alternative luxury lodge (matawi, in which we stayed and liked): they said ok matawi but at 6.30 pm., when we were in front of the lodge, they sent our driver to Osupoku (a mid-tent) against our complaints and we had no chance since the park was closed..at the end they succeded in sending us to a cheap mid-range camp (which we always said no and we paid way more to have a luxury lodge) instead of a luxury lodge we paid for..and they even said it was our idea!!! we protested and promised a refund, never happened
3) the car they gave us was rubbish, having a broken differential, battery and fuel mixer from the beginning (we had to push the car from day 1 every time to make it start), had no long range radio, no emergency kit, no binocular. Every day there were 2 more problems with the car (day 1 broken radiator, day 2 broken tire support, day 3 broken roof top support, day 4 broken fuel tank) and the car was completely given broken and full of problems.
Every day we went to a different mechanic and waited hours stopped on the road
4) in Ngorongoro we spent only 2 hours (instead of a full morning) and with a Masai not speaking english and not knowing where to go as the car let us down (even if we espressly requested to be changed or to be checked the day before for Ngoorongoro as it was having problems).
We raised all these problems and all they said was that the car problems were maybe 'imaginary' and that we chose the change of accommodation and that they did not change the plan. You will lose money booking with them, I had the worst experience.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY THIEFS
Paid $ 3,700 plus $500 to the owner called Benard Orero and ended up in a really bad situation okay, at the Airport this Benard never came, the Hotels This Benard never paid so I had to pay again..I reported this to the police already...never fall for his cheap promotion totally not worth you will end in shit hole situation with this unprofessional company.
To add he even close the comment section on his Instagram account for people not comment because he is a wanted thief and fraud.
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rubber
We asked for reimbursement of 1300 euros sent before covid period.. Basili told us to wait due to lack of travellers he had problems to refund tje money. We understood. Now 2 years after we ask for reimbursement and Basili does not reply. WhatsApp email... incredible... i definitely not recommend this tour operator
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible service
This company is lacking service and professionalism. Due to a technical failure, we had to pay the safari in cash - which at first is not a problem at all. However, the staff member took us to distant ATM machine where we had to take cash out. While counting the money, the staff member pulled the money out of our hands! He very aggressively took the money out of our hands. Also, we paid too much and the guy did not give us any change back.
Nelson is in charge of the company but he is barely available via phone or email. They are responding very slowly and they are blaming everyone else but themselves. They offered to have a chat in Arusha, while I was already back in my country.... after that they never handled the situation appropriately... If you can book with a different organisation, please do so!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Bandits
I went on a mount kenya safari and would not recommend this firm at all.
They charged extra when i arrived in the morning and we also ended up paying for items that should have been included (like transport back to nairobi).
Additionally, the pre-trek guidance was awful - they didn't provide an accurate itinerary or a list of required items. This meant we had to buy extra stuff when we arrived. We were also very surprised (and disappointed with the lodgings).
There are better and professional operators available!! From now on I will only use KATO-certified operators!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bait and switch!!! Lier!!! Find a different safari operator!!!
Afrishare does not even rate one star!
Let me start by telling you that I am in the charter business and very familiar with bad tour operations. We did a seven day private tour in 4 parks. The Masai Marain in Kenya The Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater and Tarangire in Tanzania.
If Abrahim Juma Mkwizuthe (the owner) lips we’re moving he was lying, He lied about vehicles, time spent in wildlife parks, accommodations, travel times, and what was included in his advertised package. On your website!
Meet and great at the airport upon arrival in Nairobi Kenya to meet our driver and taken to our hotel. Afrishare did not show. We had to get a taxi. The guide was not informed of our arrival until we were at our hotel.
The drivers were great but the vehicles were junk, absolutely trash, you could not see out the windows, the seats were not functional, not safari vehicles, one was a 20 plus year old two wheel drive van with no working Vhf. bald tires. The radios that professional operators use to communicate with other drivers to locate the animals. We were sent pictures of new safari vehicles that we would be in, these were not the ones provided. You had to lay the seat back to see out of the window! And could not see out the front! I cannot imagine if there were more than my wife and I in the vehicle.
Once deposit was made Accommodations that we’re advertised in the park we’re now fully booked and unavailable Afrishare replaced these with inferior lodging outside the park. Afrishare then saved money by having the driver do a game drives outside the park, therefore only having to pay for one day in Serengeti park, not two as advertised saving park entrance fees ( anyway this man could cheat you out of a dollar he would)
Travel times between masía Mara park and Serengeti 5 hours turned into 11 hours on the road in a beat up old dusty truck going down washboard back trails at 10 to 20 mph. We could not look out window without laying the seat at a 45 degree angle, then no time for game drive, regardless we did not stay in park.
Driving between saringett and Ngorongoro he took us down backroads where Afrishare wasted time so he would only pay for one day in crater park fees
Promised a full day in Ngorongoro crater we maybe got 3 hours in the bottom as we had to be outside the park by 1 in the afternoon so he did not have to pay park fees.
Afrishare promised a 7 Days safari inside these wonderful parks! He only paid park fees for 4 and a half days, pocketing the remaining entrance fees! We were asked to leave as early as 5 in am to accommodate him saving money on park fees!
Afrishare should not be able to advertise on your website, he gives Africa, it’s wonderful parks, animals and it’s great people a bad name!
Shame on him!
David Rothschiller
AL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beautiful place but needs a lot of work .
Is the most bad experience of my life !.
So we start from Zanzibar to Safari by boat and on fort way was good . We arrived there meet our guide and everything was good in Safari . When we be back by boat the beach was really bad and we say to Capitain of boat to be back because we cannot go with this weather in Zanzibar . And he said it’s okay . And after Everyone was feel like
50-65 years of age
Terrible terrible roads- ruins the experience
My first time visiting the park - The facilities are run down - the roads are disgusting- even the toughest 4x4 is gonna need attention after visiting etosha - I camped there and have to say its expensive - the wildlife is amazing but I definitely won't b back. Etosha is totally overated- other parks like kgalagadi or kruger national park have more to offer