Lilac Adventures
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1999)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $176 to $650 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email JT | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Be very careful with this operator
I was very disappointed with this operator. They demanded payment upfront but then changed the dates of my trip. They lied about there being a 'group' I would climb with (there was no group) and provided unprofessional guides who didn't provide a briefing nor walk with me. I ended up climbing Mt Kilimanjaro on my own. It was an overall traumatic experience. I emailed and phoned the operator MANY times and they denied a problem. This company is not to be trusted. When I got back to Arusha, I was notified by the Tourist Authority that this company is not endorsed due to their poor record.
Great Experience
I was particularly impressed by how organised they were. I took the Amboseli trails which lasted 4 days as they had promised. I toured the most part of Kenya. The staff were hospitable and very friendly. I look forward for another adventure on my next vacation.
DE
Email Esther | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Attention! Lilac Adventures is untrustworthy and unreliable!
For an amount of nearly 6.000 USD, payed in advance for a safari in
Uganda supposed to start in March 2016, Lilac Adventures did not provide ANY of the services promised. Due to
negative reviews by former clients, we asked Lilac some time before the safari was
scheduled for details of the accommodation bookings and for copies of
the Gorilla Permits. The only thing they came up with were ever more
phantastic excuses why they allegedly could not provide us with any of
the documents requested. Therefore we contacted all the lodges ourselves and asked for bookings done by Lilac in our name - there were none. Being confronted with this, Lilac began to run out of
reasons and finally had to admit that 4 months after receiving
our money they had not prepared or booked anything. They also admitted that they would not be able to conduct the safari but did not give any valid reasons for that. At this point they
promised us a complete refund of our money - half a year on, we have not received anything.
So please do not make the same mistake we did, and especially do not
believe a word when they try to coax you into booking: they will go to
great lengths in trying to explain why they could not deliver the
services they were paid for by us and will give different reasons for this (delays in
the financial / banking system, political instability and / or unrest, etc. etc.), or perhaps they offer that you pay only a deposit (f.e. 20%) in advance. But please be aware that they are
completely untrustworthy and very likely they will just take your money without rendering anything for it.
DE
Email Michael | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Beware ! Achtung!
We booked a safari for three people at a total cost of about $ 6000 in Lilac. We have transferred the sum in advance and simply got nothing in return!
Lilac didn't book any hotels and didn't order any Gorilla Permits. Lilac then repeatedly promised us a refund of $ 6,000, but nothing happened until today. Here is the latest news of Lilac from 12/04/2016:
"Good morning,
Thank you for your below email and sorry for late reply.
Yes. I know of your refund and due to constrains financially caused since our bank went into receivership, we have been experiencing some difficulties which led us even stop taking new bookings until we are able to dispose some of our assets including some vehicles to have enough operating capital. This is also indicated on our website www.lilacadventures.com. We expect to be fully operational in few weeks and also pay you the entire refund inclusive of bank charges you may have been charged.
Again, I am sorry for the delay.Kind regards, Irene
A lot of time has passed without any action from Lilac, except some trivial correspondence (no reservations , no permits , simply nothing). The company only collects money and, in my opinion, doesn't come through on the tours (see other reviews on the relevant portals)! You can assume that every dollar/euro, that you transfer there, is lost!
HR
Email Goran | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
unknown egg
Fair organised safari. Excelent experience. Will come back.
Lilac Adventures represented by Mr. Daniel Njamewa is untrustworthy and NO ONE should use them.
UPDATE 9 MAR 2016:
Lilac states that they did what they could to help us thru our safari. The fact is they did nothing but take our money.
Lilac states that their financial problems are behind them and they will refund our money. The fact is that they have not refunded our money and it has been five months since they promised they would. We are still waiting. By anyone's definition, this is theft and they should be prosecuted. We are working with the US Embassy to see that this happens.
I strongly recommend that persons interested in a safari stay as far away from Lilac Adventures as possible. They do not honor any commitments, and are untrustworthy.
There are much better tour operators available that value their reputation and will not leave you stranded.
ORIGNAL REVIEW:
Worse than terrible. This safari tour arrangement did not meet even minimal expectations; in fact, left us to our own devices two days into the vacation, a tough spot to be in when you are in a foreign country. Lilac Adventures appears to have disappeared from normal forms of communication since about August 2015. I strongly advise against anyone contemplating using Lilac Adventures, or any operation fronted by Mr. Daniel Njamwea.
Reply from Lilac Adventures
Posted on Nov 19, 2015Hello,
Thank you for reading all our reviews which 90% are very positive from happy clients.
We wish to clarify on what happened to this family that has posted the 3 last reviews. I agree something went wrong with this safari which was beyond our expectations and control as no one saw it coming. This happened when our main local bank was put on receivership by central bank just few days before their arrival. It was not possible for any account holder in the said bank to access money nor withdraw/deposit. You can read more http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Dubai-Bank-Kenya-placed-in-receivership-for-a-year/-/539550/2832750/-/rp6vfdz/-/index.html . We have changed bank and now dealing with only two strong banks, Equity bank and ABC Bank that all our payments are coming through including Paypal for those who want to pay online.
On the said clients, we did what was possible for them to have a great holiday but something went wrong due to delays as they were doing long safari Kenya and Tanzania among other groups which had a successful safari under prevailing circumstances.
We have already talked to them and agreed to refund their entire payment just to compensate them even if part of their safari went on very good. All in all our posts are positive like you may have noted from happy clients. We are committed to personalized services to all our clients and what happened is highly regrettable even if it was not a mistake of our own making.
Everything is now settled and company back to normal operations with groups departing every week from all our destinations. We have also sold some company shares with now a list of 6 directors and added our savings and insurance to make sure this will never happen again.
Again, we really regret what happened to the family that was the only one affected among many others.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Kind regards,
Lilac Adventures Limited Team
For more details feel free to contact us on info@lilacadventures.com
US
Email Rick | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible experience
We paid for a 12-day safari in Kenya and Tanzania with Lilac adventures. The trip went as expected for 2 1/2 days. After that time we were abandoned by Lilac and manager Daniel Njamwea after repeated attempts to contact him via texts, e-mails and phone calls. To avoid cancelling our remaining itinerary, we were forced to pay again for Serena lodges, meals, driver/guide fees, and Park entry fees. Please take our advice and DO NOT book a safari with Lilac Adventures.
Reply from Lilac Adventures
Posted on Nov 19, 2015Hello,
Thank you for reading all our reviews which 90% are very positive from happy clients.
We wish to clarify on what happened to this family that has posted the 3 last reviews. I agree something went wrong with this safari which was beyond our expectations and control as no one saw it coming. This happened when our main local bank was put on receivership by central bank just few days before their arrival. It was not possible for any account holder in the said bank to access money nor withdraw/deposit. You can read more http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Dubai-Bank-Kenya-placed-in-receivership-for-a-year/-/539550/2832750/-/rp6vfdz/-/index.html . We have changed bank and now dealing with only two strong banks, Equity bank and ABC Bank that all our payments are coming through including Paypal for those who want to pay online.
On the said clients, we did what was possible for them to have a great holiday but something went wrong due to delays as they were doing long safari Kenya and Tanzania among other groups which had a successful safari under prevailing circumstances.
We have already talked to them and agreed to refund their entire payment just to compensate them even if part of their safari went on very good. All in all our posts are positive like you may have noted from happy clients. We are committed to personalized services to all our clients and what happened is highly regrettable even if it was not a mistake of our own making.
Everything is now settled and company back to normal operations with groups departing every week from all our destinations. We have also sold some company shares with now a list of 6 directors and added our savings and insurance to make sure this will never happen again.
Again, we really regret what happened to the family that was the only one affected among many others.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Kind regards,
Lilac Adventures Limited Team
For more details feel free to contact us on info@lilacadventures.com
US
Email Raj Dawra | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Disaster
Confirmed a 10 day safari holidays with Lilac Adventures for Kenya and Tanzania online, did not meet any representative from Lilac only met the freelancing Tour Guide/Driver. At every game drive Park Entrance me and my three friends from Canada and US had to wait for hours for the Entrance fees to be paid since Daniel MD of Lilac had not paid the fees. Also while crossing the border from Kenya to Tanzania had to wait for 3.5 hours to be transferred to another vehicle for Tanzania safari with another tour company in Tanzania. Most of our time in this trip was trying to communicate with Daniel the MD of Lilac Adventures who never called even once after sending several emails while over there. Finally our last three days in Tanzania was in a Resort in Manyara since the tour company in Tanzania did not receive the cash for the Park Entrance fees from Daniel. Would highly recommend to avoid using this Tour company.
Reply from Lilac Adventures
Posted on Nov 19, 2015Hello,
Thank you for reading all our reviews which 90% are very positive from happy clients.
We wish to clarify on what happened to this family that has posted the 3 last reviews. I agree something went wrong with this safari which was beyond our expectations and control as no one saw it coming. This happened when our main local bank was put on receivership by central bank just few days before their arrival. It was not possible for any account holder in the said bank to access money nor withdraw/deposit. You can read more http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Dubai-Bank-Kenya-placed-in-receivership-for-a-year/-/539550/2832750/-/rp6vfdz/-/index.html . We have changed bank and now dealing with only two strong banks, Equity bank and ABC Bank that all our payments are coming through including Paypal for those who want to pay online.
On the said clients, we did what was possible for them to have a great holiday but something went wrong due to delays as they were doing long safari Kenya and Tanzania among other groups which had a successful safari under prevailing circumstances.
We have already talked to them and agreed to refund their entire payment just to compensate them even if part of their safari went on very good. All in all our posts are positive like you may have noted from happy clients. We are committed to personalized services to all our clients and what happened is highly regrettable even if it was not a mistake of our own making.
Everything is now settled and company back to normal operations with groups departing every week from all our destinations. We have also sold some company shares with now a list of 6 directors and added our savings and insurance to make sure this will never happen again.
Again, we really regret what happened to the family that was the only one affected among many others.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Kind regards,
Lilac Adventures Limited Team
For more details feel free to contact us on info@lilacadventures.com
US
Email Diane | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The personalized service expected from a small business making it happen!!
Every aspect of our service was good and was above our expectations. From pick up and transition to proper airport, storage of extra luggage, pick up return from safari, the extra day of personal transport around Nairobi for local sites and prompt arrival to airport for departure home. Daniel was very responsive all the way through the booking process and then Benson greeting and Dominic's service driving all made the best impression.
US
Email Laura | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
10 days/11 nights -- great private tour package!
As this was my first safari, I wasn’t sure what to plan and Lilac Adventures was a big help. I worked with Daniel (over a hundred emails) for more than 3 months to work out details of our 10 nights in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa! Daniel and his team responded to every email and answered all of my questions.
This was a girl’s trip and we both very much enjoyed it. The 10 nights/11 days was the perfect amount of time (although I would have loved longer) to experience the 3 countries. All lodges, game drives and transfer companies were great!
Our tour package for the most part was good with only a few minor issues. We were missing some information that should have been provided ahead of time (transfer times and tour/transfer company names) so we needed to contact Lilac Adventures almost daily to confirm. Also there seemed to be confusion of our arrangements at each lodge. We paid for ‘private tours’ and some lodges had us with groups. Even though the issues were resolved by each lodge, my expectation of hiring Lilac Adventures was to avoid this confusion and that everything was prearranged correctly.
I would recommend Lilac Adventures, but encourage all details be provided prior to the start of your journey to avoid any worry or confusion while on your trip.