65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
We received same email as others about technical difficulties for September 2019 8 day safari for 4.
if you paid by credit card, you can try to get refund from credit card company by claiming paid but services not provided. It is a shame he would steal all this money after good reviews on this site and trip adviser. We have had no response from tour since giving information for refund.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Do NOT book with this company
Communication with this guy Joseph was terrible. We booked a 3 day trip to Masai Mara. We were supposed to meet them at 9am in the hotel, he arrived by 10 am with another couple saying he had a problem with another driver(probably a lie) and told us we had to share the safari, although we had paid for private safari. Finally we went to Masai Mara, we had our game drives and when we were leaving the camp site on the final day we were told we could not leave because the company hadn’t paid our stay. So to be able to leave we had to pay AGAIN for something it was already included. Terrible company, don’t even think to book with them.
TH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I paid $2985 in full for my trip on May 18, 2019. and now I can't contect them
I paid $2985 in full for my trip on May 18, 2019. KWSS also confirmed our contract on June 18, 2019 and has sent me detailed itineraries, including the name of accommodation, telephone number, address and other information, as well as invitation. and Then I applied Visa Kenya and vaccination. I look forward to Kenya with KWSS. On August 8 (80 days after I paid) KWSS suddenly sent me an e-mail informing me that it was cancelled for technical reason, not for political reasons, Ebola virus, terrorists reasons.That is to say, KWSS has made the mistake and should responsible for it. So I sent 2 E-mails to KWSS and try to get the refund but I can't contect them at all.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scam
Exactly one year after we booked a 10-day safari and two weeks before it was to begin, we got an email saying that the services could not be provided. Calls said phone service was disconnected and emails went unanswered. I filed a complaint with my credit card company and hope for good results.
I am grateful that we lucked out and found out before our trip. I rebooked with a different company and we leave in a week but am nervous after my KWSS experience.
I hold Safari Bookings responsible for sponsoring such a scam company. Service providers should have been fully vetted and investigated by them before offering their service to customers.
Safari Bookings must follow up on their end and pursue prosecutions against KWSS!
If anyone has information on where to report this in Kenya please let me know.
This is outrageous and a black eye on the country.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scam!
We are a family of 6 people who booked a 15 days trip through Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar. The first week in Kenya went well, but with quite a few issues in the plan, that always got sorted out thanks to our driver.
From day 8 they just let us down, the driver informed us that the boss Mr. Otieno had left with the money and all employees and clients were left with no bookings, no money and no info... We basically had to pay the rest of the trip ourselves. When going to the police station they informed us that many other groups of tourists had filed a report against the company for the same reasons. We then got informed that Otieno got arrested and is now under investigation. We have not yet gotten our money back, and waiting for more news on what is happening next.
KWSS was a successful business, all it took to ruin this was a BAD and selfish person. The employees lost their jobs (and God knows that jobs are gold in Africa) and certainly some lives got ruined, all this for a few $$$... Shame.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Needing information
On the recommendation of one of our parties family member (who had been on safari with KWSS Ltd last year) we booked to go on a Safari in Sept 2019. We just received an email stating it is cancelled due to technical difficulties. Now we can not view terms and Conditions.
I cannot claim on insurance if firm defaults or is in financial difficulties. We have lost a considerable amount of money, have no holiday, have had to cancel flights( getting only a small refund which did not cover costs)
Now need to know how to go about getting money back from KWSS.
Could only choose one star in review would like to have given none!!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What else can I add?
Everything that has already been said is too true. I too have been scammed by this company. I've lost $2,000 which was 1/2 of my original deposit. I did receive 1/2 of my money back, but it took 10 months and what seemed like hundreds of emails. Unfortunately for the latest victims of Mr. OT, I don't think you will see your refunds. I booked my trip based on the positive reviews on this site and Tripadvisor. This is unfortunate for the honest tour operators.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
KWSS IS JUST ANOTHER NAME FOR THIEVES AND CON ARTISTS
This company is just a bunch of thieves running a con game. Apaprently they do this every year. take bookings and then run off during peak season. i mean what the hell ? I just got to know today that they have conned even some local hotels in nairobi. for anyone interested, here's the link to the local news about this thieves.
https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Duped-and-dumped--Pain-of-tourists-in-hands-of-fake-agents/1056-5231206-tx2h8d/index.html
We paid 2000$ and now i am sure we are not seeing it ever again. We are now spending more to book another company. I hope these criminals get caught and spend the rest of their lives in prison for being such frauds !
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
SCAM Company
We booked a 9 day custom safari. As with the most recent review, communication was poor, but they did continue to respond. We have just landed in Nairobi. No guide has shown up to meet us. The number on their website is not working. We called the business that is supposedly located physically next to them and they have never heard of them. This company is a scam. They even placed reservations at some of the camps but never paid so that if we had called the camps to check on the reservations they would have existed at the time. Currently trying to figure out what to do with the next 9 days in Kenya.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari cancelled
Hi, we got an email saying that for technical reasons the safari we had in September is cancelled and if we provide a method we will be refunded in 90-120 days. I sent an email with the method for refunding and no more answer. Our fear is that this is a fraud but this company has a lot of good reviews, that's why we took the safari with them. I see more people in the same situation and we do not know what to do. Please if someone has an idea or receive the money back could you write again a review for the rest? This is really frustrating basically for the lack of communication. Hope it is not a fraud and just as they said technical issues and the company will return the money back. Thanks