Africa Celebrity Tours and Travels
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- KATO, Eco Tourism & Kenya Wildlife Service
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $250 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
ES
Email Beatrice | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The experience was ok but not over the top considering the name 'celebrity tours'
The lodge was great, the safari was not good, there were no animals to see. Our driver din't communicate clearly e.g he Said it was 20 dollars to visit a masaai village n on arrival to the village, it was 20 dollars Per person. Some drivers were getting to close to the animals n he Said it was not allowed and he was actually obligated to report if he saw one but he din't coz he Said they were masaai's. Our car had a problem driving back to nairobi which made everyone tense.
CN
Email BB | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointing Safari Experience: A Detailed Feedback
I'm glad our Safari trip has concluded, but there are a few points I want to give feedback on.
1. The contract mentioned a full-day Safari, but what Patrick provided was not a full day. Patrick took us out daily from 8 AM to 4 PM, or from 8 AM to 12 PM and then from 4 PM to 6 PM. He said this was the park's requirement. However, as far as I know, other drivers booked through your company were out from 8 AM to 6 PM, or from 7 AM to 12 PM with lunch in the park and then from 4 PM to 7 PM. This does not align with your promise of a full-day Safari.
2. Patrick drove steadily and had a good attitude, but he wasn't good at spotting animals. He always waited for others to find the animals first, and then he would follow. We didn't get to see the leopard we wanted to see.
3. On the last day, we returned to Nairobi with a flight at 6 PM. We arrived in Nairobi around noon and wanted to go to the Maasai market to buy some things. There was enough time, but he insisted on taking us to another shop we didn't want to go to. He was unhappy when we insisted on the Maasai market, saying it was unsafe and that maps were useless. In the end, we went to the market he suggested and bought some overpriced souvenirs. I don't know if there was any commission involved, but it left a very bad impression on us.
We chose your company based on your reputation in China, but I didn't expect such an experience. I wanted to give honest feedback and decide whether to caution other Chinese friends about choosing your services.
CN
Email Yiyun | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
a guide who was inattentive, dishonest, and only cared about money
Although our guide John might not be the absolute worst, I still want to write about some of the unpleasant experiences during our trip, both for your reference and in the hope that it will catch the attention of the tour operator's management.
1. Suspected Ticket Fraud:
· Our scheduled 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM safari on Day 1 was reduced to 30 mins.He took us to two overpriced souvenir shops. At the first, he disappeared; at the second, he pressured us to buy, saying it "helps the locals."
· Arrived late at the park gate ~5 PM, but he kept us waiting at the gate, claiming the "ticket system was down." We entered near 6 PM.
· We later learned that entry after 6 PM is free for guests staying inside the park. Our $100/person fee (included in the package) was likely pocketed. He refused to provide a receipt.
2. Poor Game-Spotting Skills:
· Spent more hours on common animals (giraffes, zebras) while other groups saw leopards and cheetah kills.
· Claimed he "discovered" a pride of 4 lions and bragged to every guide, then demanded $10/person tip for it. We gave $5, and he sulked afterwards.
· When we asked him to find the scene that the other group has already seen, he was very serious and told us not to give pressure on him.
3. Safety & Scary Incident (Nakuru transfer):
· Stopped on a roadside for a boxed lunch; a nail punctured the tire, according to his words, when parking aside, the nail punctured(I was doubtful). During fixing the tire, a mentally unstable local opened our car door, shouting aggressively. It was terrifying. John just told us to hold our valuables on the car. We are confused and scared and not dare to get off the car, though they are fixing the car.
4. Rushing & Dishonesty (Crescent Island):
· Gave us only 1 hour at Crescent Island, rushing us back for his own schedule (wanted to "wash the car" and meet friends).
· Later asked for Day 1's tip again, hoping we forgot. We paid for safety.
5. Tardiness & Lies (Amboseli transfer):
· Arrived 3 hours late, lying about "car repairs." Hotel staff helped us to urge him.
· "Compensated" us with a cheap fast-food meal, claiming it cost him $70. We checked the menu – it was about $15. At first, he said he will compensate 3 hours late, but finally he said he catched up with the safari 3:30pm, actually it was 3:40pm and haven't reach the Amboseli gate.Not a word was mentioned about the loss of out hotel rest and leisure time.
6. Final Day Greed:
· Rushed us through the market/supermarket (total 2 hrs).
· Demanded $20 for highway tolls (far exceeding actual cost). We paid the actual receipts.
· Dropped us far from the terminal.
I hope this feedback will make them reflect on the essence of doing business—it should be built on integrity, not on deceiving customers for short-term gains. As for the guide's misconduct(other frustrating details I won't mention more), much of it was obvious to us at the time; we simply chose not to confront him for the sake of our safety and a smooth trip.
Reply from Africa Celebrity Tours and Travels
Posted on Apr 14, 2026Hello Yiyun,
Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your recent safari with us. We take all guest comments seriously as they help us improve our services. Please find our remarks regarding the points you raised below:
1. Park Entry Fees: Please note that since your three-night stay was at Muthu Keekorok (located inside the park), entry fees are calculated based on the duration of your stay. We purchased three sets of tickets for your Masai Mara duration. Regarding the delay at Sekenani Gate, this was partially due to the additional passenger you requested we transport, who had a disagreement regarding their own entry fees. I have the official receipts and will share copies with you for your records.
2. Game Spotting & Tips: While our guides are experts, game spotting does involve an element of luck. Regarding the tipping issue, as we briefed you at the airport, tips are strictly voluntary. We are concerned to hear about any "demands" for tips; this is not our policy, and we are investigating John’s conduct during your trip as we have not received such reports before.
3. Safety Incident: Regarding the encounter with the individual in Nakuru, John’s primary focus was your safety. Unfortunately, in certain areas, individuals may feign mental instability to approach vehicles for theft. He instructed you to stay inside and hold your valuables as a standard security precaution.
4. Crescent Island: We would like to clarify that the guide at Crescent Island is a local site guide and not John. However, we sincerely apologize that you felt rushed during this portion of the trip. We have shared this feedback with the island’s management to ensure it does not happen again.
5. Tardiness & Meals: The delay was unfortunately due to an unavoidable mechanical issue that required immediate repair for your safety. To compensate for the missed lunch at Amboseli Sopa Lodge, we provided a meal at KFC at no extra cost to you. While you arrived at the park later than planned, the scheduled game drive was still completed, and a boxed lunch was provided on February 25th for your return to Nairobi.
6. Final Day & Drop-off: John provided time for local shopping based on the remaining schedule before your flight. Regarding the airport, Terminal 1A has a specific designated drop-off point which all drivers must use, which may be why it felt a distance from the main entrance. Kindly note that Johns car express is always prepaid. Johns car express way is prepaid from the office. John never requested for express way money.
While we understand you requested a refund for entry fees, these were paid to the park authorities for your stay inside the reserve and are non-refundable. Thank you for your feedback; we are committed to using these details to ensure our future guests have a seamless and memorable safari.
Best regards,
[MULI MUEMA/Management]
Africa Celebrity Tours