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
NO
Email Tony | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This is a scam operation - please avoid
I am truly sorry for not writing this review before as I can see that others have had the same experience as me. I paid them $1000 up front and when Ken met me in Rwanda he told me that they had made a mistake and bought the gorilla permit for the wrong day. Also - since this was a weekend, the banks were closed and they didn't carry that much cash on them. So he requested me to put up the money for a new permit and he would refund me the money later. What choice did I have? I was then taken to the Uganda border and more or less left on my own.
Of course - no money was ready when I returned, and no money was deposited to my account when I got home either. After several weeks of mailing back and forth I contacted the guys behind the site for which the safari was booked. They were very helpful and leaned on CDS so they eventually refunded my money. See - they depend on these sites as the money flow comes through here. If you paid directly to them - God help you. Or - the credit card company may be able to help.
Even with my harrowing experience I wanted to give them the benefit of my doubt as I don't want to take away the livelihood from people, but after reading these reviews I'm certain that these are bad guys that you should just definitely avoid at all costs.
US
Email Lisa | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Ken stole our money and is lying about it to other customers
My boyfriend 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. You can find my boyfriend review about the tour, and the fact that Ken did not provide the services nor a refund below. I am writing this review to warn other travelers that Ken is lying about the facts surrounding the review. We have been contacted by numerous other travelers who told us when they questions Ken about those reviews that he had some sort of excuse that showed it was our fault. We have heard that we actually booked a Congo gorilla tour instead of Uganda, and refused to go to Congo when we arrived. We have also heard it was something to do with ebola. This is a lie. You can see the attached image where we have in writing Ken stating what we were supposed to receive, and what we did not get. We also have a video confession from Ken we are happy to share. Since posting our review we have heard of dozens of other people who are dealing with similar issues with us. DO NOT BOOK WITH THEM! They also have another safari company called Hakuna Matata Safaris.
US
Email Brian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stole our money - do not book with Ken Rwema or Barack Nari
Congo Discovery Tours / Ken is a con artist - do NOT book a tour with them or send them money. He stole $3,000 from us.
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). 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 and a new story every day about why he needs just one more day. But ultimately, he is a con man. As per the reviews below, we aren't the first he's stolen from. 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 (passport attached below).
Since he's the king of excuses - I've attached screenshots to my tripadvisor review of our Whatsapp dialogue, his passport and the 'contract' the Park Rangers at the National Park wrote up when they heard what had happened.
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.
Fraudulent Tour Operator
Baraka and Ken with Congo Discovery Safaris have refused to refund me for a portion of the tour they weren't permitted to take me on. I booked a 4 day gorilla trek and volcano climb in Virunga National Park with Congo Discovery Safaris last year and upon arrival in Kigali in February I found out they could not take me to Virunga as promised because of a rule change with the National Park and I would have to book directly with the National Park, which more than doubled my cost. I ended up having to pay the national park directly for my tour and only used Congo Discovery Safaris for help with my visa and transportation across the border to Goma. Because of this they promised to refund me $850 of the $1050 I paid them since I could not go with them for gorillas or the volcano. I was told they didn't have the cash because they spent it on a mineral investment and would send me a refund once I got home. For months they asked me to wait for the refund because they weren't getting a lot of business and I was patient, but it's been many months since then and they have stopped responding to any of my texts or emails. Ken and Baraka were really helpful and nice to me while I was there with the problems with the national park, but they will not refund your money if you have any problems. There is no reason to book anything in Virunga including transportation there, gorillas, and the volcano hike through Congo Discovery Safaris because you can book directly with the national park on their website.
Email Lee | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fraudulent operator
I need to make people aware of a major issue and prevent others being ripped off. I have travelled in 80+ countries, and never had an experience like this.
Initial contact: speedy response by Barack to all queries. I booked a gorilla trek plus volcano climb in DRC, and paid the deposit. It then became difficult to get a response to further messages.This was until asking me for a balance payment 2 months before the tour - he said the national park had started calling them 'asking for the money'. They also asked for a scan of my passport, to arrange my DRC visa directly.
However, Virunga Park closed several months ago, due to safety concerns, plus an ongoing ebola health risk. I contacted the park directly - they confirmed they will be closed for at least another 4 months, have not been and will not be taking payments for permits, and nobody can (legally) enter the park.
This company never told me about the closure, and tried to fraudulently obtain funds from me for permits and a tour that can not exist (in addition I have heard no reply about refunding my deposit - surprise surprise). Also, a DRC visa can not be obtained with a passport scan, other documents/photographs are needed to make an application.
Do not give this company you money under any circumstances!
TH
Email Petch | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fraud
I booked a tour with full payment but had to cancel because I was worried about Ebola outbreak in DRC. Barack, the head of the company, promised to refund me 80% of my payment according to the policy. It's been more than 3 months now but still hear nothing from him. Very dishonest and unreliable.
US
Email Le | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Celebration
I just returned from the 11 Day Uganda/Rwanda/DRC trip with Congo Discovery Safaris and I had a wonderful time. Barack and his brother Ken took very good care of me during this trip. Vincent was my driver throughout Uganda and he is extremely knowledgeable about Ugandan and other African countries’ history and about nature. Barack took over as my driver throughout Rwanda. I felt pretty lucky that I was able to see chimpanzees, gorillas, different bird types and lots of monkeys. I have previously been on a safari in Africa but seeing the primates up close was an incredible experience. We also spent lots of time visiting the villages and meeting local people. The village children were just as amazed at seeing a foreigner as I was with them. My tour was detoured from the DRC due to the closing of Virunga park but Ken and Barack were able to fill in the gaps at the last moment. If ever in this part of the world again, I will definitely purchase a tour from Congo Discovery Safaris.
IL
Email Guy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We had an amazing experience visiting virunga!
The service was exceptional, everything was very organized and ticked like a clock. We did both gorilla tracking and climbing nyiragongo. Total of 3 days and came back to Rwanda.
We highly recommend doing this with them.