Happy kibera holiday safaris team
Kibera Holiday Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2007)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $550 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
OM
Email Oleg | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely Disappointing Safari Experience with Kibera Holidays
Unfortunately, my experience with Kibera Holidays was extremely disappointing and frustrating on many levels. I feel obligated to share my story so that others can make an informed choice.
1) Major Route Change Without Notification:
The original itinerary clearly stated that we would spend the first two days in Amboseli National Park — the main reason I booked this tour, as seeing Mount Kilimanjaro was my top priority. However, without any explanation or prior notice, the route was changed, and we were taken to Tsavo East instead. I only found out at the park gate. As a result, I missed the one clear day to see Kilimanjaro. By the time we returned to Amboseli, the weather had turned cloudy, and when it finally cleared, we were already rushing to the airport.
2) Extremely Poor Vehicle Condition (Plate: KDL 368Y)
The safari vehicle (plate number KDL 368Y) was in terrible condition. Over the course of the trip, we lost around 10 hours trying to fix mechanical problems — valuable early morning hours that should have been spent on game drives.
On the first day, after my early arrival, the driver (Jacob) spent two hours unsuccessfully trying to repair the windshield wipers.
On multiple occasions, we had to divert to garages for repairs instead of going on safari.
On the final morning, when we should’ve been looking at Kilimanjaro, we were inflating a tire for an hour.
Later that day, a flat tire left us stranded on the roadside. Jacob was unable to change the tire on his own until other safari drivers stopped to help.
3) Uninformed and Unprepared Driver:
Jacob seemed completely unprepared for the trip. He did not know the route or even the names of the hotels where I was staying. He constantly had to ask other drivers for directions, which caused further delays and unnecessary stress.
4) Long Delays at Park Gates Due to Ticket Issues:
At every park entrance, we experienced long and unnecessary waits — often 30 minutes to over an hour — just to process entry tickets. Other safari vehicles were cleared within minutes, while rangers themselves seemed confused by our repeated delays.
The worst delay happened at Amboseli, where we waited over 1.5 hours to enter. Shockingly, Peter (the manager) asked me to pay the park fee using my personal credit card — something that should never happen on a prepaid tour.
5) Terrible Quality Lunches:
While breakfasts and dinners at the lodges were fine, the lunches provided by Kibera were awful.
On the first day, I was taken to a filthy roadside café with flies everywhere and food I couldn’t even eat.
The following days, I received “lunch boxes” with dry bread rolls, a tiny piece of cold boiled chicken, stale fruit, and cheap juice.
There were no picnic setups — I had to eat under a tree without a table. At one point, rangers in Amboseli felt sorry for me and invited me to eat in their office.
6) Water Not Provided Despite Being Included
The tour description clearly said that drinking water was included. However, Jacob was unaware of this, and I had to buy water myself throughout the trip. Only on the last day did Peter acknowledge the issue and resolve it.
Final Thoughts
Poor communication, disorganization, lack of professionalism, and vehicle neglect ruined what could have been an unforgettable adventure.
I strongly advise others to look for more reliable and reputable safari companies. I hope this feedback helps improve Kibera Holidays' operations, but based on my experience, I cannot recommend them.
Reply from Kibera Holiday Safaris
Posted on Jul 3, 2025Dear Oleg
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are genuinely sorry to hear that your safari with Kibera Holidays did not meet your expectations, and we truly regret the frustration and disappointment it caused.
Please allow us to address the concerns you raised:
Itinerary Change to Tsavo East
We sincerely apologize for the unexpected change in your itinerary. While rare, such route adjustments sometimes become necessary due to park availability, road conditions, or logistical challenges. However, you are absolutely right — But on the other hand this changes were made when you provided your tickets for flight back which forced us to change the route and start with tsavo east instead of amboseli to meet your arrival time at the aiport.We couldnt afford you missing your flight because of distance and this also gave you more game drives compared to the previous itinerary we were suppossed to use.
Vehicle Condition
We’re deeply concerned about the issues you encountered with the safari vehicle While our vehicles undergo routine checks, it’s clear that this particular unit did not meet our standards during your trip. but somethings are unavoidable but its wrong to state 10 hours of fixing yet most of the time you were in the park
Driver Preparedness and Delays
We take full responsibility for the confusion and delays caused by lack of route familiarity and ticketing inefficiencies. Jacob has more than 25 years experience of doing the safari. He was doing every thing to find animals to satisfy your safari and this happens when he here something from the radio he must find good routes to arrive where the said unseen animal
is. In just 4 days you had seen the best 4 of the big five.
Meals and Water Provision
We are very sorry that the lunch experiences fell far below expectations and that water — which is indeed included — was not consistently provided but this was provided on day 2
Your safari was a 4 day safari covering the biggest parks in kenya, which on our side hotels provide picnic lunch during our safari but will review with the hotel on the same. When providing picnic lunch we want guest to have more time in the parks and this allows guides to move to different areas of the park.
Request for Park Fee Payment
It is not our policy to ask guests to pay for anything already included in the package. For the park entrance it was not our fault and iwas beyond us,we communicated with you on the same because we had been charged more from our accounts and this was explained to you by the park management and we had to apply again for a new ticket which i requested you pay with your credit card at the gate for easy entry and as agreed we fully refunded you the money at the aiport.
We understand that no apology can undo the inconvenience you faced, but please know that we are taking your feedback seriously. and we are committed to ensuring future guests have a much smoother, more enjoyable experience.
And for seeing mt kilimanjaro .This is nature ,Nature is unpredictable, wild, and free — that's what makes it beautiful. When you go to see something like Mount Kilimanjaro, you can plan the trip, choose the best time, and prepare — but:
You can't control the weather. Kilimanjaro might be covered in clouds the day you arrive.
You can't force wildlife to appear. Animals live by their own rhythms.
You can't command the sunrise or guarantee a clear view.
But what you can do is show up with respect, patience, and curiosity. When nature decides to reveal its beauty — a clear sky over the summit, a sudden glimpse of a colobus monkey, the quiet majesty of the mountain — it's a gift.
So maybe it's not about controlling seeing nature, but rather being open to experiencing it — however it chooses to show itself.
We would welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly, should you wish to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
kibera holiday safaris