Big Time Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $450 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Trip, But Very Unprofessional
First I'll start by saying that we had an amazing trip, saw many animals, our drivers were good, and Big Time was much cheaper than the other safari trips that I read about online.
However, I'm rating them a 2 because if you sign up with Big Time, you should understand what you may be getting into. They are slightly dishonest, and they consistently try to get more money from you.
It started by us agreeing to a 9 day safari online in advance of our trip. When we got to the Big Time office, we paid, but they made us pay an extra 5% to use credit card... And they do not accept checks. So they immediately violated the contract we agreed on, but after arguing, there was nothing we could do, because our whole trip depended on this safari, and we had no backup plan. So we paid extra.
Then, we learned that our 9 day safari was actually 2 smaller safaris with travel days in between. And despite the contract saying "all meals and hotels/campsites are included in the 9 day safari price," they made us pay extra for our hotel and meals in between the 1st and 2nd safari. They also charged us $20 if we wanted to use their sleeping bags at the campsite, when bedding was supposed to be included.
Now here comes the most ridiculous part. We were encouraged to change our safari plan by a Big Time manager instead of the one we originally decided on. We finally agreed to do the change. After we arrive from completing the safari, he says that we need to pay extra for changing the route! When this was never mentioned to us before! He even threatened to take the money that “we owed” out of the driver’s paycheck if we would not pay. It was completely unprofessional.
To sum up the experience, the actual safari was wonderful. Our drivers were very nice, and the vans were full (8 person van for safari #1 and 4 person van for safari #2), but we still had great views. However, the management uses too many sneaky tactics to get you to pay extra.
Email HV | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very disappointed
Extremely disappointed with this company. They had good reviews on tripadvisor so I signed up to a safari with this. At 9am I was excited to be leaving my hotel and going on safari. However, it became clear very quickly that I had not been picked up by a Big Time Safari car, but by another company. Big time passed me on to another company without telling me. The company they had sold my trip on to was called Right Choice, and believe me, it wasn’t the right choice. The bus was broken, and it took 9.5 hours for us to drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara. When we finally arrived it turned out that our rooms hadn’t been booked at the camp. Once that was sorted out it turned out that the driver didn’t know what time dinner would be. We went for a terrifying 1 hour game drive that evening. The rain was pelting down and the ground turned into a swamp, and the broken bus (with even less power than these buses normally have) got stuck several times. Fortunately we didn’t end up stuck in the mud in Masai Mara overnight, but between the broken bus and the rain it was more luck than anything else that we didn’t. I cancelled my trip the next morning and returned to Nairobi with a much more professional company. Big Time safari expressed no apology for selling on my trip to another company without notifying me. Nor have they been willing to refund any part of my failed safari.
Reply from Big Time Safaris
Posted on Feb 27, 2015Hello Hillary. Greetings of the day.Thank you for communicating,we really feel sorry for all that happen while on your trip.We confirmed your trip hoping to give you good services and schedule to start your trip with our group which was doing six days.Their flight was delayed and we ended up getting you a group so that we will not delay you too,we did not know this was going to happen and when it happened we were not notified at all.All the decision made including you coming back was not communicate. It happened that there was some wallet which was let at the camp and our camp manage send it to Nairobi.I have being informed that it was yours and when you came for it nobody was aware that you had fallen back to Nairobi.I admit there was poor communication between the two offices.The office is really sorry for this and we really regret having have subcontracted you without being informed.Please it was a quick decision which we though to be the best way but it wasn't. We kindly apologies for all that inconvenience we caused you and letting you down on your holiday.Please if all what happen we are really disappointed and wish such a decision will not be repeated. We are going to investigate this and see what we can do please. with regards Albert
IT
Email Andrea | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Terrible
On the fourth day, when we came away from the masi mara I saw that the driver did not come out of the gate by which we entered, he made a very long ride in the mountains, at least three times the way he should have done, we lost a lot of time .
In the middle of the road told us if we could come up with the wife, we said that was fine.
At one point it was stopped at a checkpoint of the tickets, gave our ticket to the ranger and the driver did not wait for the ranger give back the ticket, he left very quickly.
After about 20 minutes by road stopped in a village and came down from the bus.
While we waited Jackson arrived a ranger and when jacksone back talked a bit with him, then the ranger climbed on the bus with us and made us go back to the point of checking tickets. I asked what the problem was and the ranger said he had to ask questions to Jackson.
the driver came down and it was a long time talking in the office.
While we waited, the ranger came up to me and my wife and asked us how many game drive we did.
I said the truth, 5 game drive, the ranger was surprised and asked me to explain when we made them. I explained what days we did the 5 gamedrive, the ranger asked me how many nights we slept all'Ashnil and I put 3 nights.
At this point, Jackson has returned very angry and menacing tone told me that I had not done as he had said, to say only one day.
I understood that the problem was in the park tickets and I put that I have paid for 3 nights and that was his problem.
The driver is back with the ranger's office and after a while came back and we left.
We lost a lot of time, my wife and I were very scared and did not know what to do. We had lost all faith in Jackson and we wanted to come down and let us return to Nairobi by a taxi.
We decided to continue because the driver was calmer, he drove very fast to recover the lost time.
At Lake Nakuru did his wife get off the bus and arrived at the park after 17.00
It 'was a very bad experience, my wife and I have had a lot of fear and we have lost all faith. We lost a day of safari. We had to get to lake nakuru for lunch and we arrived in the evening before sunset. There you have cheated and deceived.
TR
Email Tunahan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Helpful friendly professional - once in a lif time experience
During covid19 pandemic, i used their service in september 2020. From the beginning to the end, they are so friendly and helpful.
I talked with Martha, we managed to plan 6 days safari tour to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli. Martha helped us a lot even before we arrive to Kenya, like visa process etc. During my stay i had my birthday, and they celebrated! Thank you again :)
Our driver and guide Mr Patrick is so professional and an experienced guide. During our trip with him i had an excellent time, i was able to see the big 5. He knows where to find animals, gives information about them, he has interesting stories about animals. We didnt follow the other vans, we had our path and our group trip became a private trip in the park without other buses. (By the way those vans are very useful and gives you a great 360 view! Not to forget we had enough water always.)
Neither dont panic, nor push him, he knows what he does.
They also take you from the airport and at the end leave you to the airport.
I recommend these friendly and helpful people to you! Dont hesitate to send them a message!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dishonest, bad hotels and unprofessional
The 13 day safari we booked with Big time safaris was massively over priced for what we received. The hotels were poor quality compared to other similar priced tour operators. They advertise as covering Tanzania yet set us up with a completely different dishonest company that did not fulfil the trip we had paid for, cheated us out of our lodge that we had paid for and lied to us the whole time both about animal facts and our trip. Do not use this company under any circumstances.
UA
Email Mark Marcus | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We did it the second time
We did it a second time.
Marta is a wonderful operator.
My first trip was through Kenyan and Tanzanian parks, the second only Tanzania and Marta did not let me down. everything was wonderful and the price was pleasantly surprised!
MK
Email Marija | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly recommended company!
At the beginning we were thinking about 7 days safari in Kenya, but we found out that they do Tanzania as well, so we decided to go with 12 days Kenya and Tanzania tour. For all that time we were constantly back and forth with Martha, which is always available, well informed and very helpful. She was even checking on us if everything's alright while on the tour. They delivered everything they promised.
The driver, Mansoor, was especially professional, punctual and knowledgeable about the wildlife, national parks and Kenya's political and economical system. We were constantly bombarding him with questions and until the last day he kept the pace despite the long driving hours in hectic traffic.
As for the accommodation and food in Kenya, it was good, but you have to understand that the standards in Africa are a bit different, especially in the camps.
Companies from Kenya can't do trips in Tanzania so we were taken over by a partner company from Tanzania. The border crossing into Tanzania was easy but very slow and there was always a person around us to help.
The driver, Abdullah and cook Ibrahim, were also very friendly and professional. This time the accommodation was fully in tents that we carried with us. One thing that would make things better is to bring your own sleeping bag. Other than that the camping experience in the national parks was unforgettable.
Overall excellent experience which I will highly recommend to anyone who is interested!
RS
Email Dragana Radic | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very professional and kind stuff doing a great safari experience!
I have been on safari for a few times with this guys, since 2015.
So good communication and very smooth agreement about everything on the road.
Went in Masai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha, house of Karen Blixen, Sheldrick orphanage of elephants, Giraffe center in Nairobi, Mamba village Nairobi, etc..
All guides were great and I had a lot of fun..
I would like to recommend Big Time Safaris Ltd to everyone who likes adventure and want to feel freedom and sounds of African wildlife
SE
Email Kasia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Dalton - the most committed driver delivered best safari (7 days)
After a few safaris in Kenya we conclude the driver/guide is key! A safari experience is difficult to predict due to things one cannot plan - such as weather, the behaviour of the animals and the health status of the traveling party. At Bigtime Safaris we had the best driver/guide - Dalton - awesome driver, knows the parks and animals, but also friendly, funny, quick and creative with solutions and very helpful! We were on a 7 day safari and every day was worth it! (even tough some days included long drives between parks)
ES
Email Arturo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top comitment to enjoy a wonderful trip
Big thanks to Steve as coordinator of the trip or a lifetime. Excellent communication skills, effort and dedication to ensure a fantastic experienxce. Gibson as a driver has been excellent and I strongly recomend him to guide your tour if possible.
Thanks a lot and all the best for the future!