Alliance Destinations - Kenya
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2011)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Caroline & Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip
Right from the start James responded very quickly and was very helpful. He took on board our request and suggested the best plan for our safari. We stayed 2 nights in the Masai Mara, 2 nights in Lake Nakuru and 1/2 day around Nairobi. Up to a day before our departure, James was still answering our last minute queries and panics!
Once we arrived in Nairobi, John our guide for the next 5 days was there waiting for us and explained step by step what was going to happen for the following day. He was very patient, extremely knowledgeable with the animals, birds and Kenyan culture. All along we felt really safe and knew what was happening.
We celebrated our 20th Anniversary, this will be a trip to remember and I would definitely come back here and choose Alliance Destinations without any hesitation. They might have less review than other companies, they are slightly smaller but I am glad I followed my heart an de pick them. Thank you
US
Email Justin | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Safari but Problematic Management
The safari, in and of itself, was great. Our accommodations were good, our driver/guide George was fantastic, and the parks were unbelievable. The only negative about the safari itself was there was too much driving -- no matter what company you use you should confirm driving times before signing up.
My gripe is with how our safari was managed:
1 -- The order of parks that we visited was switched last minute and without my approval. I found this out after I sat down in the jeep on the first day. This is totally unacceptable. James and I even discussed this option months before and decided against it. This is bordering on breach of contract.
2 -- James's communication left something to be desired. At first, James was super prompt, always responding within a day. As we closed in on the trip, he took multiple days to reply to different questions, and when I asked the name of our driver he didn't bother replying. This all left me sketched out and worried that we were being scammed.
There's too many safari operators out there to bother with a company like this one...
Reply from Alliance Destinations - Kenya
Posted on Jul 19, 2019Jambo Jruby19 and thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Please accept my sincere apology once again for not informing you when we changed the start/end order of the safari that saw you start the safari in reverse. We had the advance groups of the Wildebeest migration approaching the Masai Mara reserve and we had hoped that the change would see you in the Masai Mara in time for some action. It's pleasing to hear that despite the changes you had a wonderful time on safari with our guide George. We hope that you will visit again and allow us to exceed your expectations.
US
Email Robert Herbruck | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
This was one of the most professionally done tour that we have ever been on.
As I stated above the tour could not have been better. The gentleman that organized it for us in Nairobi was excellant. The guide Patrick was excellant. Accomodations first class. We now have two friends who want information about you. I would Like the name of the gentleman in Nairobi who organized the trip so I can give it to our Friends Thank you
Email Nilesh | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari of a lifetime Masi Mara
What an amazing experience of a lifetime. Elizabeth was amazing and the communication in organising the trip was exceptional. Our guide Joseph was amazing. On the second day we left our lodge at 6.30am to do a full day of safari and by 10.30am we had seen the majority of the Big 5.
The amount of animals was behind our expectations.
I will definitely be recommending Alliance Destinations to all our friends and family.
BE
Email M.M. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
AVOID !!! .... you must pay a deposit and then he runs away with your money and no safari !!!
in the beginning (before payment deposit) , he answers very quickly .. everything looks okay, but 2 weeks before start, you can't reach him anymore..
we paid already a deposit of 2.000 € and never see it back...
nothing was booked (no car, no lodges) .. so bye bye safari
please don't book this touroperator ... he is a swindler
GR
Email Stamatis | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This is FRAUD
We three families from Greece paid to this operator more than 14.000 USD and still wait for the refund. Non of the money was used on our safari we had to pay everything again and at a higher rate.
this is a disgrace for all the nice people we met in Kenya, and this lovely place
Email Helen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
FRAUDSTERS - DO NOT BOOK
James was very charming and, even up to a few weeks before we departed he accepted extra money from me for an additional safari day. While we were on the runway in Cairo, on the way to Nairobi, I got an email saying the safari was off. We had to book a new safari, with a day's notice (Amazing Memories - highly recommend them and Tony, our guide) at the cost of another USD7500. James from Alliance Destinations owes us USD7000 and, despite promises to refund the money, we haven't heard a thing and not a penny has been refunded. Disgusting behaviour and we could not be more disappointed with James and this company. Of course, they'll reappear under another name so be cautious when dealing with any James at a safari company in Africa. Make sure it's not the same one.
DK
Email Simon | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
No safari - no refund
We paid to go on a safari but when we arrived the guide didnt show up and James could not book another safari for us. Now 9 months later we still havent recieved our money we paid! James keeps telling me that he will pay soon. We went to Africa to go on a safari.. Dont book with this company!
US
Email Patrick | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
James has to refund my 900 dollars! He was to take me to the mara and went under when I cancelled.
This is a shameless scammer!Menya Mbia niukuriha!!
CA
Email Hilarie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
James Ripped me off!
I took a 21 day safari that James had arranged for me in June 2019. Everything went fine until the last week of the Safari. James started phoning me to ask that I pay for things like fuel and entry fees to the Massia Mara. I also had to pay some of the fees at the hotels. What’s a person to do when stuck in the middle of Kenya but pay to continue the journey. Of course, James assured me that he would reimburse my money and of course he never did. I kept in touch with my excellent driver/guide Martin from Voi and except for a small initial deposit James did not pay him his contracted fee for the entire 21 day safari. I felt very bad for Martin and forwarded his tip to him after I returned home because James had bled me dry in Kenya. I’m assuming that the Covid crisis has probably put his company under, again, but I’m sure he will pop up under another name, BEWARE!!!