Barack With His happy Client
Congo Discovery Safaris
- Located In:
-
Congo (DRC)
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $30 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
DE
Email David | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Barack is an amazing guy. He may be perfect if you are on a budget like I am.
My review sounds pretty much like the other ones. If you have time and sufficient money, you might as well stop thinking about it and do the trip. Barack will make it possible. He let me stay at his house. I went to the volcanoe and the Kahuzi-Biega National park with him. I was the only one doing gorilla trekking that day. I had my individual gorilla trek. They have student discounts, making it the cheapest place to see gorillas. Barack is a legend. He let me stay at his home. I even played a little bit with his adorable children.
FR
Email Daniel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great DRC trip with friendly and competent organisation
I did a short trip to Bukavu, Kahuzi Biéga Parc and Lwiro. The organisation with Barack went very smoothly for the visa barely two weeks before my arrival. Once in DRC, our communication stayed very good, adapting to and anticipating constraints when I expressed wishes. The driver called Junior was also very friendly and helpful all the way. There was never any bad surprises with them, always in good hands. If I could give more stars I would. Thank you Barack and Junior!
Email shama | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Life changing!!
Had an amazing trip to see the gorillas, Barack organised everything and picked me up from my Airbnb in Kigali. He was friendly, informative and fun and the gorillas were completely amazing!! Thank you!
NL
Email Diederik | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Congo experience and getting there
Amazing experience in Congo, The Vulcanic crater was surreal, especially in the night, the vulcanic activity lightning up the skies as a huge lightbulb. We had to travel in a big group though, so its something you have to like. And, if youre healthy and if your condition is ok, you can carry your own bag by yourself so dont let yourself being fooled into something different.
Also it was super sweet to see the mountain Gorillas. I liked the way the rangers approached them, taking care that we didnt contaminate them and letting us witness them from real close and at the same time making sure both and our security were provided by making sure interaction between the human and gorillas was minimal, taking care of the future of Gorillas and tourism, hopefully protecting a safe future for the animals.
I didnt like how little information discovery safari offered though about the situation in Congo, prices, how things are organised, where to sleep etcetera.
Fortunately half by accident I met Barack Nari who works for this company, who made it all easy, he gave me explanation and took care of all the shitty parts, as transport to the national parks, information about cheap places, arranging visa in one day. Very trustworthy nice guy. So Id definetely recomend Barack Nari in this.
ES
Email John | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good experience
Great experience at a quite affordable price. They pick you up at the border. They are very responsible and help you with everything, from equipment rent to hotel booking. I strongly recommend to count with them!
IN
Email Suresh kumar-the great indian traveller | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
nyiragongo active volcano
I am a world traveler visited more than 100 countries and all the 7 continents .My travel includes from bottom of the ocean to edge of space that is submarine to stratosphere. Congo was my 123rd country ,Mr. Barak arranged a lovely breath taking tour to the nyiragongo active volcano.it was well organized trip nice guide,security ,good English speaking, wonderful sleeping and food at the top of the mountain,hassle free visa and border crossing.just close your eyes and book.i have uploaded a wonderful video documentary of the tour .
goto google type:
1.The Great Indian traveller at Active Volcano in congo
2.just goto google type my name:t n suresh kumar
Congo Doscovery Safari / Barack - Best option out there
Barack and Congo Discovery Safari are hands down the best option for a tour in the Congo. On short notice, Barack was able to get us VISAs to the DRC, organized our tours, met us in Rwanda, assisted with border crossings both into and out of the DRC, and spent an afternoon taking us on a walking tour and having a couple of beers in Goma. Very knowledgeable, on time for everything, and an overall great guy. Would definitely use him again. Three recommendations - (1) if you will be staying in Goma overnight, discuss with Barack various options for hotels and what each price range gets you - we should have spent a little bit more, (2) while you can get US$ out of an ATM in Goma, you cannot get small bills. There will be numerous people to tip during the trip, and we wish we'd brought more small ($1 and $5) bills with us, and (3) take advantage of the amazing fruit, for example we binged on passion fruit... about five cents there versus ~$3 each at home.
CA
Email Daniel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Ken stole our money
My girlfriend and I booked a 4-day Gorilla and Chimpanzee safari with Ken that was supposed to take place from November 10 – 13. We paid $2608USD upfront for the pair of us for this tour. Ken failed to deliver all aspects of this tour. We were supposed to receive a refund in person in Kigali on November 13, but Ken showed up with no money. He then promised to refund us by November 20, but there was nothing. On November 27 we were supposed to get a full refund, instead we received a partial refund of $570CAD (we live in Canada), about $430USD, but we are still owed $2178. We were then told December 6 that we would receive the rest of the money, but nothing came.
When we first met Ken in Kigali we had some questions about a few recent negative reviews he had written about his businesses. He had excuses for every one, and how the client was wrong and trying to slander him. We gave him the benefit of the doubt, and we were wrong. Do not book with Ken or any of his tour companies. He stole money from us, he has waisted countless hours of our time, and he does not take responsibility for any of it - it is always somebody else's fault. Reports regarding Ken and Congo Discovery Safari Company Limited (incorporated in Kampala on September 19, 2018) are being filled with both the Rwandan and Ugandan Tourism boards in hopes that other travelers do not have to endure what we had to endue in dealing with Ken and his company.
Stole our $3000 Gorilla Trekking Deposit
On June 30th, 2019, we sent Ken $3,000 for two gorilla trekking permits. We were nervous sending so much money to a tour operator in Africa but given his reviews we thought we'd be fine. On July 2, Ken assured us the permits had been attained.
When we arrived in Rwanda on August 31st, Ken met us at our hotel and explained that his company had gone bankrupt, that he didn't have our permits, and that he could drive us to the National Park but we'd have to buy permits a second time. Having flown half way around the world we didn't have a choice. He drove us to the National Park and we paid the park $3,000 directly.
Ken promised he would pay us back within 10 days and when the park rangers heard what had happened they made Ken agree to a contract (attached in my tripadvisor review). Of course, we were skeptical. More than 3 months have passed and, unsurprisingly, Ken has not paid us back.
He has an excuse for everything. A new story every day why he just needs one more day. But ultimately, Ken is a con man. I don't know if he steals the deposits of every customer - other reviews suggest he doesn't - but I know that he's not worth the risk. Do not book a tour with Congo Discovery Tour or Hakuna Matata Safaris - or any tour group Ken Rwema or Barack Nari is involved in
I've attached screenshots of our conversations in my tripadvisor review as well.
IL
Email Einat Shoshani | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing
Amazing trip to Congo.niragongo and the gorillas.Barak made everything for us in a perfect way...good prices and big smile...go do it with him.he is the man for that trip and fir Rwanda also.