ready to serve
Apodiformes Adventures
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Member Of:
- Kenya Tourism Regulatory Authority, AFRICA TOURISM ASSOCIATION & FRIENDS OF NAIROBI NATIONAL WILDILIFE CONSERVATION
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $75 to $250 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
NL
Email Herman | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Good accommodation, unmotivated guide
We did Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli and Tsavo.
Contact with Silas was good before the trip. Accommodation was good and we had a wonderful Christmas at Lake Naivasha. I would give 4 stars for this, but we went to Kenya for the safaris.
On arrival in Masai Mara we would have a late afternoon safari. However, because of too many and ong stops, a lot of traffic and bad road conditions we arrived too late. We were disappointed we missed our first safari. Our guide/driver Isaiah promised we would get a long game drive the next day in Masai Mara till closing time 6.30pm. However, after a good day game driving we arrived at the gate at 5pm. I said Isaiah this is not what he promised us and then he got mad. He first did not want to go back into the park, but when I asked it again he turned around, clearly demotivated and driving very slowly. He also spoke ill over us against other drivers.
After this, all safaris were very disappointing. Isaiah did not even try to look for wildlife anymore. He kept on driving very slowly, did not communicate wit us at all and followed roads in the park were no other driver went.
In tsavo we really had it and I contacted Silas through Whatsapp. He said sorry to hear and he would talk to Isaiah soon. Our last day was a little better, although we did not see much game.
I did not get any response from Silas after this. We really feel it was a very poor trip thanks to isaiah. I did 22 trips in Africa before, but I never experienced such a terrible guide.
Our trip could have been much better
ES
Email Jaime F | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Can't trust Silas
Sadly I have to agree with some of the reviews about Apodiformes Adventures.
During the hiring process, Silas, the owner of Apodiformes replied to my messages right away, adapting to our needs and promising an exceptional quality of service.
Being our honeymoon, we hired a safari considered luxury (over 4000 EUR for 5 nights), requesting booking at very specific accommodations.
Until we formalized the reservation (transfer of 40% of the total) evething was fine. Once the payment was done the problems started to show up. The most wanted accomodation, Enkewa in Masai Mara, did not accept the reservation for not complying with their conditions (minimum 3 nights stay and take care of safaris in Masai Mara). Silas lied that they knew the accommodation and had previously worked.
The alternative was Olengoti Eco Camp, this accommodation has two types of room, tent and bungalow. The bungalow was requested (and paid for). Upon arrival at the Camp, the staff informed that our booking was at the inferior category and that they had no availability to manage the changeo of room. Silas lied again saying that the fault came from the camp (they showed me the booking made from Apodiformes) and that all rooms had the same price.
The third day of safari we had an incident with the car, we were standing 6h waiting for the repair. The guide asked us to take it easy and ask us to eat/drink in the cafeteria that the agency would cover. This never happened, not only that, Silas knowing the issue never got in touch with us in the whole week to check how things were going. We lost one day of safari and he didn't even care.
In the agreed itinerary, later that day we had a stop at Tompson Falls for lunch. We had to argue with the guide because Silas had not informed him and did not want to stop or pay the tickets.
With all the above being said, the overall experience was very good, thanks to John (our great guide) and the staff of the camps/lodges, but I would never hire them again for the lack of honesty and service provided by Silas.
It may be slightly cheaper than other companies but the price difference does not justify having to be constantly alert, feeling cheated and with the sensation that if there had been any problem the agency would not have helped or solved anything.
Reply from Apodiformes Adventures
Posted on Oct 2, 2023Halo Jaime,
We feel sorry and remorseful about the unfortunate experience . We value all our clients and always do our best to ensure they have Wonderful Holidays with us. Your case regarding the few incidents during the trip is an indication that there was miscommunication from both Parties. We promise to IMPROVE and work on the points noted above.
APODIFORMES TEAM
US
Email Ian | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I got scammed out of my deposit by this company.
DO NOT BOOK. "Silas" scammed me. I communicated via the email initiated on safaribookings.com . He told me his credit card machine was down and to wire the money (not uncommon for African safaris to wire money). I double checked other people were satisfied with his safaris, everything seemed extremely legit (they also wired money)
When I wired it he said he never received it then said I should have sent it via credit card on his website. When I showed him the email thread, he confirmed that was indeed his email, but said the invoice never came from him. Yet he denied his email has been hacked.
I'm not sure what's going on with this company and I'm hoping my bank can stop the wire. I'm happy to share the screenshots of my conversation back and forth so you can protect yourself.
When I asked what had happened he immediately shut me down and told me he doesn't want my business. It seems odd to me that a legitimate business isn't concerned that their email has been hacked.
I will update this review once I have reached conclusion on this event. But I wanted this warning published ASAP so other people don't get scammed.
Reply from Apodiformes Adventures
Posted on Apr 13, 2023I want to bring to your attention the issue of Mr. IAN SEWELL
Ian sent a direct enquiry regarding a tour he was interested in booking with us. We shared all the information until it reached a point he was to pay.
We receive all our payments through the website where payments are made through the link below:
https://apodiformesadventures.com/pay/
We shared this link with Ian but he purports to have received another email instructing him to pay through some funny bank account . The Bank whose account number he claims to have paid through is in Nigeria while we are based in Nairobi, Kenya.
I have asked Ian several times where he found the invoice but he cannot answer amicably. Ian claims our emails were hacked of which I have requested him to cooperate with our IT SPECIALISTS to find the source of the hack. This has been in vain since IAN doesnt want to cooperate . He nolonger responds to whatsapp messages and emails, a clear indication that he has not taken this issue seriously.
From our own preliminary investigations where we involved highly trained IT personell, It is clear our emails were never hacked.
We value our clients so much and for this reason we take issues raised by IAN seriously. We will continue digging deep into the issue and still urge IAN to cooperate with us in the investigations if it is true he was genuine in his allegations.
SILAS OWITI - DIRECTOR APODIFORMES ADVENTURES LTD
AE
Email Carlos | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Chased by Armed Park Rangers with kids inside the Jeep
Be very careful, Silas’ tour driver, lied to my an my family about the Jeep being broke down. He stole the money I payed to entered the Masai Mara Park & left us stranded at the hotel instead of taking us to the National Reserve. Silas made excuses not to refund the money stolen and never payed back. The day before, this driver Peter didn’t stop at a Ranger security checkpoint, and the rangers chased our Jeep with guns while I had 3 small kids & 1 baby inside the car. After raising a formal complaint to Silas about his driver, He never reimbursed the money stolen and the time we lost. Be very careful with this company, don’t be fooled. Awful experience in a Africa with kids, being robbed and chased with family when we just wanted to have fun at the Masai Mara Park. I will never come back to that place and never would consider using this thieves’ company.
Reply from Apodiformes Adventures
Posted on Feb 24, 2020Halo Carlos,
We are surprised that you have extended your threats to this end!
I want to state as follows;
1. You did not book this safari through safaribookings.
You were referred by a client who had booked a succesful safari with us through Tourist Link. His good experience with us made you book this safari!
2. We organized for you a 2 night safari to Mara Mara of which I personally picked you from the airport and handed you to our driver who was to be your tour guide.
3. You went for safari and came back a happy man with your family and Upon being dropped to the airport to take your flight home, you gave the tour guide some good tip , an indication that you were so much satisfied by our services. You did not express any dissatisfaction
4. Two days later I got a whatsapp message from you complaining that the same tour guide you tipped some good money did not deliver to you . You have come up with so much allegations that the driver did not take you to all the game drives as required .
For this reason, you have kept demanding and threatening the Company to refund you half of the money you paid ( that is half of 1500USD which 750USD).
When we saw this review on safribookings this morning , we realized that indeed you are not genuine and consider you as someone who is out to destroy and bring down our Company as you have severally indicated in your past whatsapp messages . You have repeatedly made it clear to us that you will bring down this Company by all means.
5. You have gone ahead to say in your allegations that you were chased around by game rangers at the park and that you missed game drives . Now brings me back to my question : Before departing to Masai Mara I briefed you about the tour and made it clear that your tour guide who was your driver had all the money for your park fees. I gave the guide all the money in broad day light with you sitted and watching.
Masai Mara Game Reserve has specific entries where all vehicles use. You cannot get into the park with tourists without paying. I find it hard to belive that you entered the park and the rangers kept chasing you around.
6. Finally despite having two nights in Masai Mara, you never bothered to call me informing me about the problems you were facing. Why did you tip the guide after all this bad experience? Why did you wait to reach home and start threatening me while you had my phone number and email during safari ? If indeed you were genuine you could have called or even informed the lodge to call me following all these problems you were experiencing . You have severally threatened and insisted that you will make sure our Company is bankrupt or closed! Is this the right way to solve issues?
We are a professional Tour Company in Kenya which operates on strict ethical guidlines .
kind regards