Sale manager in the office
Josana Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2021)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
IR
Email Mohamed Ghasemim | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
is responsible
I enjoyed this tour, and will choose them if I come to Kenya again
CA
Email Emiliano | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Management good, drivers not
We went on a seven day safari in Kenya with Josana tours.
The positive side was Joseph (the manager). Very kind, flexible, responsive and professional before and during the safari. If the review was only about him, it would definitely be a five stars!
The downside were the two drivers we got (Sam and Joseph).
Just a few examples below:
- On the first day in Nairobi, they were one hour late to pick us up and bring us to the agency for the payment of the balance. As a result we arrived late at Masai Mara (in the program it said we were supposed to get there for lunch, we arrived at 4pm) with a very short safari.
- After that, they have been late (20,30,40 minutes) to pick us up in the morning every day except for one. Twice we faced the bizarre situation of having all tourists in the group waiting outside the hotel with the bags and the driver not being there.
- You get a driver, not a guide. Zero explanations on animals, parks, etc. the driver wasn't saying anything. In other jeeps we could hear drivers providing explanations and even having guide books on animals.
- For the full day safari, instead of leaving early in the morning (prime time to see predators) like you do with other agencies, they would make you leave the accommodation at 8:30. At Amboseli we were literally the last tourists left in the entire lodge waiting for the guide to go to the park and start the safari. Of course, no predators seen that morning. Same for the way back, instead of leaving the park in the late afternoon to see animals (predators in particular) before sunset they would make you leave at 4:30.
- One of the two drivers driving on the highway incredibly slow (being passed by all other jeeps and minivans) to save gas ( and complaining once about how much gas he had used).
- Broken seat belts on both jeeps. Not an issue inside the park but dangerous on the highway.
- One day, no water provided until mid-day (one liter per person was included). We had to write to the manager to finally get the driver to buy it.
- One day the driver brought us to a restaurant at 11am (lunch was included) and wanted us to wait in the parking lot for an hour for the restaurant to open rather than driving ahead and then stopping later (we still had 200 km to go) saying that all other restaurants on the way were too expensive.
- One of the drivers often texting and speaking on the phone while driving.
- Generally speaking, and more importantly, the feeling was that they would constantly try to reduce the time dedicated to safari, rushing you through. A couple of times we had to write to the manager essentially in order to ensure that the program was respected. As an example, at Nakuru they tried to have only a 2-hour game drive. Whilst for the drivers having a shorter safari is good (time, energy and gas savings), this is really bad for you as a tourist, as game driving and animals sighting is exactly the reason why tourists go to Kenya... You should just relax and enjoy the safari, not having to discuss with the agency about the program being followed when it comes to game drive time slots.