This Tour Is Offered By
THE STAFF
Kinfolks Africa Gateway
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2022)
- Member Of:
- Kenya Wildlife Service & Tourism Regulatory Authority
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
-
BWBIKERWTZUG
Kinfolks Africa Gateway is a premier tour company with offices in Kenya and Tanzania, specializing in unforgettable travel experiences across Kenya, Tanzania, and the wider African continent. Offering personalized services and expert knowledge, they create unique and tailored journeys, showcasing Africa's rich cultures, landscapes, and wildlife. Whether you're seeking adventure, luxury, or cultural immersion, Kinfolks Africa Gateway delivers exceptional travel experiences.
Reviews8
ES
Peaceful Environment of Lake Naivasha Deeply Affected
After visiting Lake Naivasha, I never thought that the place could be so peaceful and beautiful. I went there through Kinfolks Africa Gateway, and my guide Saitoti was very experienced and kind. The boat ride was absolutely amazing! While floating in the calm waters of the vast lake, I got to see hippos and a variety of birds. The scenes completely captivated me. During the sunset in the evening, the view of the entire sky changing colors as I floated on the boat was absolutely magical. The nature, the peaceful environment of Lake Naivasha deeply affected me.
PE
Our safari experience was amazing
We booked the most luxurious safari with Kinfolks African Gateway agency. They had planned everything in advance to give me the best service and it was great that we were able to enjoy and have fun in such a beautiful way. Our highlights were the Serengeti National Park, as well as visiting the Ngorongoro Crater. Our safari experience was amazing. We are so glad we did this trip.
It was an unforgettable travel experience!
The combination of Kenyan safari and Diani Beach really made our trip a dream, and we booked Kinfolks Africa Adventures, a renowned Kenyan company, to organize the trip perfectly. Seeing the wildlife in the Masai Mara was a thrill, especially the lions, elephants, and cheetahs. Our guide Mr. John was very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional, who made the entire trip more enjoyable. Then when we reached Diani Beach, the white sand beach and the blue waters of the Indian Ocean brought an otherworldly peace. The excitement of the safari during the day and the tranquility of the beach at night this is what makes Kenya unique to us in terms of its tranquility and excitement. Without a doubt, it was an unforgettable travel experience!
US
Amazing
We booked our safari with this tour company to Kenya and it was amazing !
Wasnβt difficult to coordinate with Brigid and she made sure everything went smooth according to our expectations
HK
Dangerous, Disorganised, Misrepresented & Overpriced Safari Experience
I booked a safari with Kinfolks Africa Gateway expecting a premium, stress-free experience β having paid USD 4,600 for what was described as a carefully curated and fully coordinated itinerary. What I received instead was a series of breakdowns, delays, miscommunications, and deeply disappointing outcomes that left me feeling misled and severely let down.
βΈ»
ποΈ Detailed Safari Schedule with Kinfolks Africa Gateway (USD 4,600 Package)
Travel Dates: 14β20 July 2025
βΈ»
Day 1 β Arrival in Nairobi (14 July)
3:00 PM β Landed in Kenya
4:00 PM β Transferred to hotel
β No activity scheduled for the entire day
βΈ»
Day 2 β Masai Mara Chaos (15 July)
7:00 AM β Picked up from hotel
π¨ Was asked to pay an additional USD 250 to another driver (Daniel) because Kinfolks failed to prearrange the original pickup for Mara Ngenche
8:30 AM β Dropped at Kinfolksβ office
8:30β10:00 AM β β Waited 1.5 hours doing nothing β no updates, no plan
10:00 AM β Departed for Masai Mara
2:45 PM β Arrived at park gate
2:45β3:45 PM β β Stuck at gate for 1 hour β driver lacked park entry cash and asked me to cover it
6:00 PM β Finally reached Mara Ngenche Lodge
β No lunch provided the entire day (originally scheduled 1:00β2:00 PM)
πΈ Total delay: ~5 hours
πΈ Passive wait time: 2.5 hours
βΈ»
Day 3 β The Only Flawless Day (16 July)
β
Arranged directly with Mara Ngencheβs in-house guide, not Kinfolks
7:00 AM β 4:30 PM β Full-day private game drive with picnic breakfast & lunch
5:30 PM β Returned for spa
7:00 PM β Dinner
π Smooth, on-time, and well-managed β Kinfolks had no involvement
βΈ»
Day 4 β Abandonment & Cancelled Game Drive (17 July)
7:00 AM β Departed Mara Ngenche
9:00 AM β Dropped off to join a group
9:00 AM β 12:00 PM β β Left alone at a bus stop for 3 hours
12:00 PM β Picked up by new driver
4:00 PM β Arrived at Sarova Woodlands, Lake Nakuru
β Afternoon game drive at Lake Nakuru cancelled
β Hotel spa unavailable (under maintenance)
βΈ»
Day 5 β Compressed Game Drive & Transfers (18 July)
7:30 AM β Picked up
8:00β11:30 AM β Game drive at Lake Nakuru National Park
1:30 PM β Arrived at Lake Naivasha resort
2:00 PM β Lunch
4:00 PM β Boat ride
6:00 PM β Dinner
βΈ»
Day 6 β Long Delays & Cramped Transfer (19 July)
10:00 AM β Informed pickup time
10:00 AM β 12:00 PM β β Waited 2 hours in hotel lobby post-checkout
12:30 PM β Arrived at Buffalo restaurant
12:30β2:00 PM β β Waited 1.5 hours for another traveller to fill the vehicle (cost-saving measure)
2:00β8:00 PM β 6-hour road transfer to Amboseli
β Missed scheduled lunch at Kibo Safari Camp
βΈ»
π§Ύ Additional Notes & Issues
β’ I was left alone at a roadside cafΓ© for 1.5 hours, and the second driver had no knowledge of my itinerary β I had to explain it myself.
β’ The Lake Nakuru drive was cancelled, then βreplacedβ the next morning β not an acceptable fix.
β’ The promised spa didnβt exist, and only after I arrived was I told it was under maintenance.
β’ Kinfolks never confirmed my flight time. Had I not raised it, I would have missed my flight.
β’ I paid an extra USD 250 out of pocket to cover Kinfolksβ failures in basic coordination.
β’ Just 12 hours before my Amboseli transfer, the CEO admitted I had been given the wrong itinerary. I compared with other guests in my Land Cruiser β they followed that same (pure travel) schedule and had only paid USD 1,000, while I was unknowingly grouped with them despite paying USD 4,600.
βΈ»
π΅ Final Refund Offered: USD 250
Kinfolks eventually refunded USD 250 β barely enough to cover what I was forced to pay myself. This did nothing to compensate for the poor experience or service gaps.
βΈ»
π Final Verdict
I remained polite and cooperative throughout, giving Kinfolks several chances to resolve things fairly. However, the false promises, last-minute changes, lack of coordination, and bait-and-switch itinerary have made it clear: I cannot recommend this company.
If you value clarity, safety, accountability, or even just getting what you paid for β I strongly suggest booking with someone else.
βΈ»
π Additional Context
β’ Day 7 (20 July) β I am paying again out-of-pocket for a 1:1 private game drive because I cannot risk another mismanaged group day from Kinfolks.
β’ Day 8 (21 July) β Pure travel back to Nairobi for my international flight.
Reply from Kinfolks Africa Gateway
Posted on Jul 28, 2025On behalf of Kinfolks Africa Gateway, I would like to express my sincerest apologies for the inconveniences and frustration you experienced during your recent safari with us.
For clarity, It is important to note that we initially gave you a suggestion to Fly into maasai mara since you insisted on a stay at mara ngenche but after lots of back and forth and price comparisons you settled on going by Road. We even gave a suggestion for private safari since you also wanted to do a safari alone in an open land cruiser not with the rest. But after sharing prices you eventually agreed to join a group but with private safari experience at maasai mara using mara ngenche open landcruiser. We were sure to inform you this would cause a bit of inconsistency and inconveniences but you went ahead and settled for it.
Nothing was done blindly.
You checked in to the park at around 3pm and had a game drive as you headed to the hotel. You missed on lunch at mara ngenche and sarova Woodlands due to time constraints that was encountered on the way which we wholeheartedly refunded without any disputes. As for Kibo no lunch was missed since you had packed lunch from Lake naivasha resort and we sent an email to Kibo to give you packed lunch on your day of check out. As for day 6 when the rest were going to Hell's Gate we gladly offered you to join the rest there on our own account since you were the only one not going to Hell's Gate but you declined the offer. We explained to you that this being a group safari all members must be catered for. It'd be unfair to cancel their safari to Hell's Gate simply because you didn't want to be part of it. Also during planning stage we ensured to inform you that group safari follows a certain schedule that is fair to all clients. Furthermore we gave you a cheaper offer that was budget friendly for group safari but you refused and insisted on a stay at mara ngenche and Kibo Camp. These are top luxury and luxury hotels which caused a general rise on your quotation. We even shared receipts of payment and a breakdown of how the money was spent. So by you saying we are overpriced is very misleading whereas we gave you cheaper options and you opted for the pricey ones. A group safari is meant to be budget friendly but you mentioning that the other clients paid only 1000usd pp for a 7 day safari is not true. Park fees alone for the 4 parks you visited is roughly 600usd. So how's 400usd enough for accommodation and transport for 7 days. We really appreciate feedback but we appreciate genuineness more.
We agreed on doing a 250usd refund which you agreed to yourself. You later came with a new scheme to milk us more money by asking us to pay for your one on one game drive in Amboseli so that you'd give us a 5star review. When we declined your offer you started threatening us. We are a company that is guided by our core values and our clients satisfaction is our first priority you being one of them and the group you were with. Anywhere we go wrong we do our best to correct and make ammends which we really did. You deleted messages where you had agreed to our 250usd refund so that we'd not have any evidence on our end. This act alone goes out to show your intentions were quite unclear.
As Kinfolks Africa we take full responsibility for ensuring our guests receive not only exceptional service but also the highest levels of safety, transparency, and hospitality most importantly we are guarded by integrity.
