Tailor-made & affordable Kenya safaris
Africa Kenya Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2011)
- Member Of:
- Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO), MINISTRY OF TOURISM OF KENYA & Ecotourism Kennya
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $165 to $250 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Patrick D | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great group safari at an affordable price
A few friends and I booked this safari and had a great time together. Everything was well planned until the return from Nairobi. Our guide Joseph took us to the right places, showed us the animals, and shared many interesting facts about the animals. The camp was comfortable, the food was good, and the campfire was organized in the evening. Seeing the Mara River and the wildebeest crossing was the highlight of the trip. I would recommend this tour to anyone coming to Kenya.
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Email Ross | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
You've Been Warned -- Choose Another Safari Company
We planned our safari to Kenya and Tanzania with Aggrey at this company one year prior and paid our deposit in July 2024. We saw many good reviews at that time and felt confident that we would have an incredible trip. Aggrey was always responsive to our questions and we had our itinerary and hotels all planned and (supposedly) booked. Our trip was scheduled for August 2. A few weeks before our departure, we emailed Aggrey about paying our balance and received no response. This caused us concern, so we tried calling the company offices on WhatsApp. We finally got through to their Nairobi airport office and learned from Purity that Aggrey had left a month ago and that Esther was in charge of our safari now. Purity said she would have Esther email us, which Esther did, after an unsettling delay. We heard from her on a Friday, and she promised to email again Monday with guidance for paying our balance. Monday came and no word, so we emailed her back and got an email from her finally on Wednesday. In that email, she suggested we pay the balance when we arrive in Nairobi and again put off giving us the payment details until the next day. This seemed unusual, so we called her (her direct number was on her email). She told us that she had been put in charge of all of Aggrey's clients and that she was focusing now on the July safaris, but would get back to us. No word the next day so we called her again Friday morning. This time we learned that none of our hotels had been booked (!), so she'd had to change some in Kenya and was waiting for confirmations from the ones in Tanzania. Not booked? It had been over a year. That was definitely alarming, but nothing compared to the shock we got when she finally emailed us with the hotel changes in Kenya. Buried at the bottom of her email were these two sentences: "Am also afraid your deposit was not allocated to the file and right now we are having a cash flow challenges. Please let us know how you can assist then we refund to you later as the balance payment will not be enough to facilitate the full safari." (see attached)
Well, that was the end of our trip of a lifetime. How could we give this company more of our money after a confession like that? We wrote her back immediately and, in no uncertain words, told her that her email left us speechless, that it was not our responsibility to bail out her company, that we were canceling our trip and wanted our deposit back in full. She wrote back with an apology, accepted full responsibility for her company's breach of trust and said she would refer us to the accounting department. Believe it or not, the accounts payable person's name is Honest and, to date, all our emails to him have gone unanswered.
The fact is, we consider ourselves lucky because, even though at the moment we're out thousands of dollars, at least we didn't fly to Nairobi and have to shell out even more money while experiencing some of the hellish circumstances described in other reviews (not just here but under Natural World Kenya Safaris, which appears to be the same company operating under a different name).
If you look below, you'll see some good reviews, so maybe this was once a good company, or perhaps sometimes they do fulfill their obligations. But why gamble when there are surely safari companies out there that are truly reputable? All we can say is that in our case, and so many others, they turned the promise of a bucket-list trip into a nightmare -- and have so far not returned the money we paid them for services they failed to deliver.
We've written to all the organizations referenced on their website, including ATTA, TRA, East African Wildlife Society and Ecotourism Kenya. ATTA said their membership was terminated earlier this year and is trying to get them to remove their logo. TRA has asked that we file a formal complaint which we intend to do. Ecotourism is looking into our complaint at present, and we have yet to hear from the Wildlife Society.
We're heartbroken over this fiasco, but if we can prevent other people from falling into this trap, at least that's some consolation.
PL
Email peeryz | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Four wonderful days in nature
This 4 day trip was a dream come true. On the first day at Lake Nakuru, we saw the white rhino and the rare Rothschild giraffe. The crowd of birds in the lake and the pink flamingos are a sight to behold. The next day the experience of passing by a hippopotamus in Lake Naivasha by boat was thrilling. On a safari on Crescent Island, I saw zebras, impalas, and gazelles - all from close quarters. The Masai Mara area was very spectacular - the lion, the cheetah, the jungle kingdom. The entire trip was well-planned and organized.
DE
Email Loris Meier | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wild thrill in the middle of nature - overwhelming
What everyone says about the Masai Mara – in reality, it's much more than that. On this three-day group safari, we got up close and personal with nature. Watching the wildebeest crossing the Mara River was a magnificent experience – crocodiles were lurking, and the whole group was flinching in fear. We saw all of the "Big Five" (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, buffalo) in two days! The camp where we stayed was very simple but comfortable and completely surrounded by nature. // AFRICA KENYA SAFARIS // ensured that the entire tour was smooth and enjoyable.
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Email Tafisa L | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experienced guides, friendly service - great teamwork
My experience says that half of the credit for a good safari goes to the guide, and in this regard, Africa Kenya Safaris is absolutely the best. Each of their guides, such as George, Michael, or James Mwangi, is experienced, patient, and very knowledgeable about the animal world. They're not just a guide, they're a storyteller. Every moment was vivid in its description. Their teamwork is what makes Safari memorable.
LU
Email Johnson Antony | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable four-day African expedition on the canvas of nature..!
During this four-day trip, Africa Kenya Safaris held the biodiversity of Africa in our hands. It started with Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha-where the boat slowly moved between endangered rhinos on one side and hippos floating in the water on the other. Walking on Crescent Island, we saw giraffes, zebras, gazelles, and small dik-dik. Walking with a guide to see animals so closely-it was not like a nature documentary, but like the story of your own life. Masai Mara was the highlight of the trip-lions, cheetahs, gazelles, and the endless savannah were like a beautiful work of art painted on the canvas of nature. A journey not only to see, but to feel. Africa Kenya Safaris is the perfect ..
PL
Email Anna | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Avoid Africa Kenya Safaris at all costs.
Do not commission Africa Kenya Safaris to organize your trip if you do not want to be scammed.
We paid in advance for a 13-day trip in Kenya and Tanzania and had to pay for the hotel in Masai Mara and entry to the park ourselves during the trip, because the company had not paid for it and over the phone they claimed that their accounting system was down and they could not make the payment on the spot. In two other hotels, we were informed that our stay had not been paid, or had been partially paid, and each time we had to call Africa Kenya Safaris multiple times before they finally paid for our stay.
Additionally, we had to pay for fuel for the car, because the driver did not receive money from the company. We were assured multiple times (via email and phone) that this was just a temporary setback and that the money was already being sent to us. This was a lie. It has been almost a month (the trip took place in the second half of February) and we have not received a refund. The people we corresponded with are Mary and Humphrey. They owe us $1260 and it looks like we will never get it back.
Avoid Africa Kenya Safaris at all costs.
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Email Lajos | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Left me in Tanzania without booked hotel on 12/31/2024.
Be very careful to book through this company. Took our money advanced for a 7 day 6 nights safari for a Kenya/Tanzania package including everything: transportation, accommodation, park fees…etc. After they change the hotels on us for the first 2 nights in Kenya (since the original hotel didn’t know about us at all) soon as we entered Tanzania and changed driver at the border we had to find out that the haven’t even booked 1 hotel for the rest of the trip, no park entry and tickets either. They advised us on the phone that we should pay for the first night and they will reimburse us for it later in Nairobi and also take care of the rest of the trip. Did not happen at all, we had to pay for everything through the entire trip in Tanzania. Our driver was demanding us to pay for transportation also because his company did not get pay either at least until he dropped us off at the border. After a nasty email and and a call to the American Embassy in Tanzania at least we did not have to pay for the transportation.
In my opinion this a fraud in our case.
US
Email Mudumbai | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Buyer beware - you might not get what you paid for from Africa Kenya Safaris
We booked a 7-day private safari for two people with Africa Kenya Safaris, Nairobi. It covered Masai Mara (2 days), Lake nakuru/Lake Naivasha (2 days) and Samburu (2 days). It cost more than 4,000 USD and included all accommodations, food, transportation, Game drives, and park fees.
When we got to Masai Mara we were refused entry because the Park fees had not been paid. We were made to wait at the gate for more than 2 hours. When the park fees finally came through we were still not allowed in because the company had not paid the full fees. I had to pay the shortfall out of my own pocket. I have still not been reimbursed for this added cost. All attempts to contact the company went unanswered.
On the second day our guide was able to convince the Park Warden that the fees would be paid by 11 am that day. On this assurance we were admitted to the park. During our Game drive (around lunch time) our guide told us that we had been ordered back to the Park gate by the Warden because the fees had still not been paid. We returned to the gate and were made to wait more than two hours. The warden threatened to confiscate our vehicle and detain our driver. This would have left us stranded at the Park gate with no means to get back to the hotel. I desperately tried to contact Africa Kenya Safaris but got know response. Finally the park fees came through after 4 pm but again the company did not pay the full amount and our driver paid the shortfall this time so that we could continue our game drive. During this episode over two days multiple attempts were made to contact company management by phone, email and text messaging but all went unanswered. Our driver was also unable to contact his bosses. Bottom line was that lost about half our game drive time over the twp days at Maasai Mara- the most prominent park in Kenya.
Unbelievably, the same thing happened again when we got to Lake Nakuru - the Park fees were not paid. We again had to wait at the park gate till well after 2 pm - about 3 hours. We could not even access our lodge to eat lunch because the lodge was located inside the Park. We were finally able to do a severely shortened game drive that afternoon. At Lake Naivasha our activities were also shortened because the fees had not been paid on time.
Multiple attempts were made to contact the company management daily for four days but there was no response. In all we lost more than half the game viewing time over the FOUR days due to the their incompetence. No explanation for their acts of negligence has been provided by the Africa Kenya Safaris.
Email Tom | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unforgettable 2 day Masai Mara Safari Experience.
Our trip to Masai Mara National reserve was the best. The day started well with our pickup guide Humphrey arriving even earlier than expected. He was an easy guy who got along well with everyone and made our whole trip worthwhile. He was also very knowledgeable about game drive and made every effort to spot all the big five animals with ease. It was just fun and many thanks to Humphrey.
For our stay we were booked at Mara Engai Lodge where again everything met our expectations, the staff were very hospitable, Meals were superb, and accommodation was great . My family even got an opportunity for evening Masai dance experience. I would highly recommend Africa Kenya Safari to anyone looking for a wonderful Safari experience.