Tropical Wild Expeditions

Horrible, disappointing, empty promises

As a freelance conservationist and wildlife photographer, my first trip to Kenya was meant to highlight the wonderful work the Kenyan government is doing to save various wildlife from extinction. This trip was self funded and my way to developing a story/book I could use to show the world how well conservation works when we put the welfare of animals first. Each location I requested to visit had a very specific purpose. Ol Pejeta for their work with bringing back the black and white Rhinos, Masai Mara for the Wealth of wildlife thriving due to conservation and Amboseli National Park for the Super Tuckers like Craig. After reading positive reviews of this company, from travelors who mentioned DAVID numerous time as a great tracker who was great at finding animals, I felt confident that they would be able to give me the safari experience I wished for.. (and honestly, the reviews of David is the only reason I chose Tropical Wild Expedition because I wanted a guide who knew what he was doing and was recommended by so many people)

I expressed to Susan what I was looking for and she assured me her company could fulfill my goal. I ask if I could get this DAVID as a guide. Her response was that I would have to wait til closer to my safari date to see if he was available. I ask if I could request him, I never got a response. Susan was well aware of who I was and what my purpose was because once I booked.. she stated she would save me a window seat as well as a beanbag to use for my long lens.

What I was met with however was completely opposite. The disorganization was more and more profound each day. When told this would be a group joining safari, it was only explained to me I would be joining other people (up to 7 others in the same safari truck). I asked if those people would be from the same company.. I never got a response. I figured how bad could it be, joining others to experience the same beautiful animals of Kenya. Aren't we all there for the same reason? But the reality of group joining Safari was so much harsher then I could ever imagine.

The real reality is there could be 7 additional people from up to 7 other companies staying at 7 different accommodations on the same tours. By having so many different companies staying in so many different accommodations, it made actually having a real meaningful safari impossible. Drivers weren’t trackers as promised.. they were simply just drivers taking people from point A to point B completely ignoring the purpose of the safari. Had I known this up front I would have never gone with this company or group joining.

My experience prior to this safari took place in Kruger Nation Park, South Africa.. Drivers/guides had us in Kruger NP before the sun came up and we stayed during the most active part of the morning (and evening) to ensure we saw as many animals as possible. We took breaks during hottest part of the day.

The Kenyan itinerary sent to me by Susan stated AM/PM Safaries at each park (Masai Mara, Amboseli). But the only time I had a pm safari was the first day in Masai Mara. The other days we were lucky if we got into the park before 9:30am and drove around aimlessly during the hottest part of the day while all the animals hid in the shade. Each day we left the park just as other companies we're arriving for the pm safari and we were always back at our accommodation by or before 5pm.

I had 5 different drivers throughout the 8 day safari. It is my understanding (from previous safari) that safari vehicles are equipped with CB Radios so drivers can communicate with other drivers when a sighting occurs.. 2 of the safari vehicles didn’t even have a CB Radios. When I asked the one driver how he will know where there is a sighting, all he said is he’ll get a call on his phone. First full day in Masai Mara, We sat in a cue for nearly 2 hours at a leopard sighting, only to never actually see the leopard because we sat so long the leopard moved. I knew the leopard moved before our driver by watching other drivers interacting with the rangers ( he never got a call bout anything). When it was confirmed the leopard moved (by the rangers moving as well) our driver just sat there letting the other 50 vehicles behind us to go in front of us. I was in Masai Mara for three days, where I was told I would see every animal.. It ended up being the biggest waste of time never shooting a sunset/sunrise, a leopard, lions, lion cubs, cheetahs, ect. We did find a momma lion take a kill to her babies only be to told we couldn’t follow when other vehicles were.. this happened several times missing prime the photographic opportunity I has stated I was looking for prior to booking.

On our way to Amboseli the truck broke down and left us sitting on the side of the highway for nearly 2 hours. I found out through the companies of the other people in my group that we were getting a new truck. When I reach out to Susan, it took her nearly an hour to say, “the driver is handling it”.., no reassurance, nothing. That’s when I was thankful I was in a group with other companies..

The most devastating memory I’ll have forever, is while in Amboseli for 2 days, I begged the driver to try and find CRAIG (the famous Super Tusker). This was a very specific request I made in my first email to Susan nearly 8 months prior when I asked if I could get David as a driver. I even asked if David could track CRAIG. Well I never got David. Nor did I ever meet Craig because the driver I did get didn’t care. I found out within an hour of leaving Amboseli on way to Nairobi, that Craig was in the conservatory not far from the park. If I could find that out within an hour of leaving the park, why couldn’t the driver find that out before leaving the park when I had been asking him for two days. I woke up yesterday to the devastating news that CRAIG PASSED AWAY in the early morning, just 2 days after I returned home.. I was so close and this company ruined everything.

This company only cares bout making enough promises that you given them your money, and while you are there, they do what they want and you can’t do anything about it. They couldn’t care less fulfilling request and giving their clients the experience they requested.

If you value the money you work so hard to earn and use to go on a safari in Kenya.. DO NOT HIRE THIS COMPANY.. they will take your money, make you promises and give you in return nothing but headache and bad memories. Oh.. and I never got the beanbag either. At this point the bean bag is trivial , I only bring it up so show even the smallest requests get ignored. You would think at least the bigger request we get honored and they weren’t.
If this experience sets the precedent for how tour companies work in Kenya, I will be very hard-pressed to ever return because how could I ever trust another company’s word if this is how they work in Kenya.