YES WE ARE RELIABLE TOUR OPERATOR
Okoa Africa Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- Kenya Tourism Federation, Museum of Kenya under Nature-Kenya & TRA under Ministry of Tourism in Kenya
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $559 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Ben | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Average company lacking transparency
Please note that Okora safaris is part of Big Time Safaris and is simply one of around 12 separate agencies all operating under Big Time Safaris.
We booked a 7 day budget sharing safari in Kenya. What we didn’t realise, and weren’t told, until we turned up at the office on the first day, was that this meant different members of the group are doing different itinerary’s. So for us we had a group of 7, 3 doing 3 days, 2 doing 5 days and the two of us doing 7.
We had assumed “sharing safari” meant we were joining a group of others all on the same trip rather than a private trip for the two of us.
The different schedules therefore resulted in swapping drivers at various points and wasted time dropping people off at inconvenient times and places. For example of day 3, on the way back from Massi Mara, rather than arranging a pick up point for three of the group In Narok, we ended up spending an extra 3 hours in the car as we drove most of the way back to Nairobi rather than going straight from the Masi Mara to Lake Nakuru via the road in Narok.
In Amboseli we were a group of 8 people in the mini van making it very tight for the game drive and with all of the bags. Please note all of the group had been told different things about maximum group size, some were told a max of 4 people some 6 people so 8 wasn’t acceptable to anyone.
The organisation and communication on the whole was poor and whilst everyone in the group appreciated we are in Africa and not Europe, the trip simply did not run as scheduled with all the car journeys taking hours longer than had been indicated.
Our guide was very knowledgeable but wouldn’t volunteer information unless asked and seemed content with doing the minimum required. For example On Day 3 in the Masai Mara, the guides view was that we had a good day on day 2 and saw lots of animals therefore the sunrise game drive that was scheduled for Day 3 was not required. After some awkward conversations he eventually agreed that the sunrise game drive could go ahead on Day 3…not the attitude you are looking for in a guide…He was also late on 2 occasions by over 45 minute late each time meaning we lost valuable sunrise game time in both the Masai Mara and Amboseli.
What was also disappointing was that we confirmed that we could pay by card, accepting a 2.5% charge for doing so. Our quote for the trip was priced in USD. However when arriving at the office the agency said this needed to be converted into Kenyan shillings at the rate that they would then need to convert Kenyan shillings back into dollars. In effect paying two conversation rates on the same payment. We challenged this and the “quoted exchange rate” was reduced albeit this seems completely unreasonable and unnecessary and still cost us almost $100 when compared to the market rate USD to Kenyan shillings rate on the date of transaction. It is my opinion that this is simply a scam so the agency can pocket some extra cash. Having booked other tours with other Kenyan companies priced in USD these “double exchange rate” payment did not exist.
All that being said the beauty of the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli is amazing it’s just a shame that the tour company were not transparent about what to expect on the trip and that our guide was context with doing the minimum required rather than trying to maximise the time available in these locations to give the best experience possible.
Reply from Okoa Africa Tours
Posted on Aug 29, 2022Dear Ben
Thank you so much for your comment and we are glad you have done your safari with us safely. The itinerary you requested before booking your safari with us was and is joining group safari and the amount you pay is and was budget joining group safari and NOT private safari we can't afford to operate your safari private if you pay for joining group safari this is because joining safari is affordable than private which is costly and this is why you chose to shared the cost with other travelers. Okoa Africa Tours is NOT Big Time Safaris but Okoa Africa Tours share operation office with other 5 companies and Big Time Safaris is one of them. Is expensive to have office in Nairobi city so Okoa Africa Tours and other companies work at one offfice to help us shared the cost just like you booking joining group Safaris to help you get affordable safari. On the rate of exchange this issue really give us challeges with travellers who don't prefer paying the safari in Cash or online paymeny by card 7 weeks before safari, And prefer paying by card in the office at the office the card payment machine is in Kenya Shllings and if you were to pay by card in the office your dollars payment we will receive it in Kenya shillings because of that card machine at the office is Kenya Shilling account and because of this we will convert your dollar payment with the currect bank rate which is not in our hand but BANKS which KEEP CHANGING SELLING DOLLAR RATE and online selling dollar rate is always lower compare to local bank rate. And atually we always gave you option to pay in cash in dollars to avoid giving banks adavatage of getting extra ksh or pay in dollars by online card payment 7 days before your arrival day
DE
Email Olivia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The tour itself is very nice but be careful with the payment
Basically, the tour is quite well organised and planned and everything worked out. We saw a lot of the country and even more animals. It was really nice.
But be careful with the payment. The organisation tries to take money out of your pockets wherever possible. It starts with a very bad exchange rate and allegedly high bank fees that you have to pay additionally to the tour operator and then again afterwards to the bank. In addition, you often have to pay for two days' admission to the park, even though you only spent one day in the park. However, you do not get the money back.
In addition, they are very uncooperative and unfriendly when you ask them questions about this, put you under a lot of pressure and immediately threaten you with the police if you try to defend yourself.
The tour itself is highly recommended, as long as you pay attention to the payment.
Reply from Okoa Africa Tours
Posted on Jun 14, 2022Dear Olivia,
Thank you so much for your review and we as Okoa Africa Tours glad to heard you had a great Safari and you saw a lot of animals due to your luck during game drive. But what you mentioned on payment is NOT true because we explained to you before you pay that when you pay via card the local bank will convert the payment because the account is in Kenya shillings and meaning we received the payment in Kenya shillings then again we buy dollars for operations and what we gave you was bank rates which is in the control of bank not us and your friend who paid for safari and you were OK with it because you had option to pay in cash to avoid local bank exchange rate.