Back of Africa Adventure ltd
Back of Africa Adventure
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2014)
- Member Of:
- Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) & KWS
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $180 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
BA
Email Amer | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Strong recommendation for excellent service!
I wish to thank Allan for his excellent service and great safari experience. His more than friendly approach and timely communication exceeded my expectations. He is top class professional in safari tours branch of business. In addition, he provided me a necessary support and help in Nairobi where I experienced some difficult moments. He is truly a great guy who I strongly recommend to anyone interested in safari experience in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
QA
Email Essid | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Poor service and knowledge of the package they are selling.
At the beginning, everything went smooth: Allan replied to all my emails very quickly but the problem is that nearly all the information he gave me were wrong. I spent 8hours in the van from Nairobi to Masai Mara (Allan told me it takes 4hours) and nearly 10 hours from Mara to lake Nakuru. ( was told 6 hours by Allan).
I asked Allan if they have a 4wheel drive car instead of the van he told me yes with a 350$ 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.
Reply from Back of Africa Adventure
Posted on Jun 27, 2018Dear Ms Essid,
How are you?
Thank you for your kind and honest review on your just ended trip with us.
With due respect I have for all my clienteles across the globe, I beg to apologize for the troubles and frustration that you experienced lately. I want you to know that your complaint and feedback will give us the chance to resolve any problem that may occur and assist us in making our services better today and tomorrow.
We also observe some crucial information in your complaint concerning the time of travel from maasai mara to lake Nakuru National park… to be honest it is NOT 10 hours since the distance from Talek gate to Narok town where you both stopped for lunch is approximated to be 109 kms and then from Narok Town to lake Nakuru National park main gate is approximated to be 123.2kms. Just a simple arithmetic total kilometers is 232.2 kms. It is true the road from maasai mara (109 kms) is all terrain and is bumpy that normally takes much time for all travelers (2hrs 45minutes on this bumpy road) upon completion of this stretch the road is tarmacked and the driving is easy all the way to Nakuru. So Ten (10) hours is unrealistic. I beg to add that the speed limit in Kenya for all PSV vehicles is 80kms/hr.
For the mode of transport it my tradition to provide adequate information to all my clients across the globe as “I do not keep any cards under the table” for my packages. In our mail conversations with you I gave options and you landed on a safari van as your budget bracket could only fit on the safari van and not a jeep 4 x 4.
As a person in charge I have never compromised any of my services at the cost of my clients and I’m so sorry a thousand time if at any point you felt short changed.
Once again, we are sorry for the inconveniences we have caused you and we hope to offer you better services in future.
For any questions or further assistance, feel free to call us on +254 722 570 722 or drop us an e mail.
Best regards.
Allan.
US
Email Brett | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Overall very good, some logistical issues.
Pros: 1. Allan from Back of Africa was great and delivered on everything he promised within his power.
2. the parks and animals in both Kenya and Tanzania were amazing.
3. the camps for the most part were as or better than expected in almost every instance.
4. the employees of Back of Africa were all very friendly and helpful.
Cons: 1. because Back of Africa can't operate in Tanzania they subcontract out a tour company in Tanzania to complete the trip there. That company (SouthSand Tours) was also perfectly fine. The only issue was the communication between the two companies. Our itinerary in Tanzania was changed multiple times because the tanzanian company informed us the way that Allan and I agreed to it was not possible based on park rules. Also, when we were dropped off back in Nairobi on the last night we were told by SouthSand Tours that someone from Back of Africa would be waiting for us at the bus stop to take us to the hotel, however, when we got dropped off in the middle of the night on the street no one was waiting for us (luckily a hotel was nice enough to let us borrow their wifi to uber to our hotel).
Recommendation: My overall recommendation would be to use Back of Africa for your Kenyan trip and another company individually if you leave the country, I think it would result in a smoother and less frustrating process. If not for this I would have given Back of Africa 5 stars and westerners should feel completely safe using them in the future.
Email Alexandra Bayne | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
It was a fantastic 5 days, a truly memorable experience, highly recommended.
I have just returned from a trip to Kenya, which I did on my own. I booked all the flights and accommodation in Nairobi and Mombasa myself. After extensive research into safari tour operators online, I came across Back of Africa Adventure Ltd. I was not disappointed. I dealt with Allan by e-mail and he responded very quickly to all my queries regarding the 5 day safari that they offered which covered the Masai Mara, Nakuru and Amboselli. The trip was beyond all expectations. My driver, Obama, had 20 years' experience and was extremely professional throughout the trip. I felt very safe with him. He was determined for me to see 'the big 5' which I did, and so much more. I also booked my sightseeing tours in Nairobi through Back of Africa Adventure Ltd going to the elephant orphanage, giraffe centre and the Karen Blixen Museum.
IE
Email Aaron McNulty | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic first Safarai experience!
I've just returned from my first trip to Kenya and Africa.
Before I left I was, maybe unjustifiably, wary of many bookings and reservations we had made... thankfully there was absolutely no need.
Allan provided a very quick response to my request on Safarai bookings and followed with a detailed itinerary. He was also very quick to reply to any questions I had regarding the planned trip.
Allan and Obama (our soon to be driver and friend) arrived to meet us at the hotel before we set off. From there everything ran smoothly and was well organised. We chose the rainy season, or more accurately, the rainy season was when we could travel to Kenya. Therefore certain detours and alternate routes had to be taken. Obama was a safe and reliable driver who always chose the best route for our overall gain even if it meant a slightly longer route... we got there without incident or breakdown when other drivers seemed to encounter many problems.
Obama himself was an excellent driver and guide. He provided lots of information on wildlife, culture, local politics and even some Swahili lessons. We all got on great and he made it feel more like a group adventure rather then a generic tour.
I would highly recommend Obama and Back of Africa Adventure Ltd if you are considering a Safarai in Kenya.
SE
Email Fredrik | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
4-day budget safari to Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru which me and my brother was super happy with!
Did a 4-day Mara and Lake Nakuru with this company and we were very satisified! The price was low which of course can be notised compared to the tours that would have been a few hundred dollars more expensive but it did not make any difference. Happily positive with the "tented" camp which is more like a hotel room with canvas walls. The food during the trip is absolutely decent, nothing more nothing less. The guides made the experience even better!
Email Alice Poliani | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One life experience!
My first time in Africa has been amazing, and for sure the safari was the best part!
Everything was perfect, Allan has been super helpful, clear and precise, starting with our pick up at Kilimanjaro airport.
We did 4 days 3 nights low budget safari in Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro Crater. We have seen 4 of the big 5 and many more animals.
Food was good and always more than enough, camping sites good, car quite comfortable considering the roads' conditions.
Unforgettable holiday!
FR
Email erwan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good safari !
everything went very well.
we did 2 parks, massai and amboseli.
thank you for organizing!
AT
Email Florian | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly professional organizing of an unforgetable 7 day Masai Mara, Serengeti & more adventure
We booked a 7 day safari with Allan from Back of Africa Adventure for January 2018 on short notice. During planning he was very flexible in his offering and responded to all of our requests within few hours. He gave as a very detailed description of the safari in advance which was customized to our needs. Payment of deposit through wire was easy to handle as well as the final payment when we started the safari. The guides he hired were very knowledgeable, flexible, warm-hearted and open people and we spent great days with them and learned tremendously much not just about the wildlife but also about the people of Kenya and Tanzania. The standard of the accommodation was above our expectations and convenience was assured throughout our trip. In terms of accommodation, the highlight for us was the wildlife experience in the tended camps inside the Serengeti. Allan kept in touch with us during the safari and made sure everything worked out. Definitely, Back of Africa Adventure is a tour operator to recommend.
US
Email Dean | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful wildlife viewing; logistics could use some work.
I took a 6-day tour of Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli. Leading up to the tour, Allan's communication was excellent, and he answered all of my questions, sometimes within minutes. The two guides I had were very adequate, especially Obama, who was exceptionally knowledgeable and pleasant. The wildlife viewing went beyond my expectations, which made the safari highly worthwhile. When we arrived at the Maasai Mara camp, there was a problem with my accommodation reservation, so Allan helpfully arranged for me to stay at another camp. The vans we traveled in were functional for a budget tour. However, on the way back from Amboseli to Nairobi, we had to stop twice for flat tyres, and at one point I had to wait for an hour alone in the van beside the highway while my guide went to purchase a new tyre. It ended up taking nearly 12 hours to get back to my lodging in Nairobi! However, Obama handled the adversity well, and it was not nearly as unpleasant an experience as it might have been. Allan was very apologetic about the mishaps. In sum, the time in the game parks was wonderful, but if you book with Back of Africa Adventure, you should probably be prepared for an "adventure."
Reply from Back of Africa Adventure
Posted on Feb 12, 2018Jambo Pro. Dean,
We would like to offer our deepest apologies for the trouble you had to experience due to the flat tires on your last day trip with us from Amboseli National park.
This situation is not ordinary and these incidents are not typical of us as a company. We are very serious when it comes to our client’s satisfaction and have a zero tolerance policy in this respect though at times we fail.
We appreciate that you understand that mistakes sometimes happen despite the numerous checks and measures. We are very sorry that this happened to you on your way back at the end of your trip. Be rest assured that we are having our “lenses on” just to ensure that we have zero tolerance to flat tires on the African roads.
After studying the matter, we found out that the cause was as a result of low quality tires that were supplied to us from our new dealer and since that time we switched back to our original suppliers which is Yana tires. This is clearly a mistake at our end and we take responsibility for it.
Due to this unintentional error and as a token of appreciation to you as our client, we are going to extend a day trip offer to hell’s gate National park any time you get time off your busy schedule.
This is the least that we can do to compensate for the inconvenience caused on your last day journey back to Nairobi. We do hope this resolution fulfills your expectations on our services.
To make things even better, we have taken a number of measures by strengthening our transport department to ensure that we eradicates flat tyre issue do not happen again in the future. It is due to you that we have realized this and we thank you for sharing your experience with us across the globe. We prefer to learn and improve under better conditions but sometimes this is just not possible.
One more time we apologize and we hope to keep you as part of our valued customer base for a very long time.
Please do not hesitate to share your thoughts and feedback with us at any time via e mail or phone calls. We are here for you.
Back Of Africa Adventure.