HK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Worst nightmare
If you are looking for a tour company for your dream tour in Africa, NOT THIS ONE. Run away!
Only if there was the option of negative stars, this company would deserve 10 of them. Travelling with this company was the most horrifying experience, but trusting his owner John was the worst decision we had in life. He was lying to us till the very end of our tour. Never had I want to go home that badly for any vacation.
My husband and I came for our 12 days honeymoon, paid huge amount of money (50% deposit upon booking with them and 50% upon arrival, totally of $5500 USD per person) for everything inclusive and got the worst nightmare in our lives.
We know for sure we are not underpaying them, but they have not been keeping their promises, not even making sure everything on the itinerary were carried out accordingly.
It was a trip including safari at Kenya, safari at Tanzania and beach holiday in Zanzibar, Kenya.
The trip in Kenya was the first nightmare. The owner John, who was helpful and responsive ONLY ONLINE, turned to this disappearing person that never replied to us when we got here. He outsourced the job in Kenya to a local guide called Rufus, whom had never showed up at all. There was no designated person for our 4 days there, different people were responsible for driving us and bringing us around. They changed our itinerary without prior notice. One day, we left early morning towards the safari from Nairobe Kenya. We were promised lunch on route and afternoon safari game drive once we arrived. But that day, we arrived at 2:30pm to the hotel and didn’t have lunch till then. Itinerary also got changed from an afternoon safari game drive to a village visit which was a complete tourist trap and scam to us. They just found some Masai people on motorcycle and picked us up from the lodge, and told us this is the activity we have for the day.
The next day, we had our game drive at Masai Mara, we had to start late because the driver forgot to order lunch boxes from the Lodge the day before (all the drivers just came and took their lunchboxes and went for the game drive right away). We ended up waiting for 60 mins for lunchboxes to be ready.
At the National Park Gate, there were also some ticketing issues which made us wait for another 30 mins for entrance, which was not seen in the other jeeps. The worst was yet to come, Rufus hired a shabby car to drive us 5 hours to the Tanzania border, very terrible condition of the car and very poor road condition. We got stopped by the rangers at the park gate, and even got pulled over by the police because it was an illegal car for driving passengers.
Luckily, the experience in Serengeti National Parks in Tanzania was good, because John happened to have outsourced the work to a responsible and helpful guide called Michael.
Just as we thought the nightmare in Kenya was going to be over. John threw us a surprise again. Right at the time we boarded the plane to Zanzibar from Arusha, John sent us a hand written letter saying he could not pay for our trip at Zanzibar because his staff made a calculation mistake, and requested a top up of $1000 USD per person in order for him to complete our tour in Zanzibar. That was already the 8th day since we have settled out final payment, this whole calculation thing should not have heppened if he had booked everything for us as soon the payment was received. Therefore, we did not believe him. We didn't pay him, and the nighmare extended till the end of our trip.
These are what happened in Zanzibar:
1. He did not arrange transport for us from the airport to the hotel, so we were left stranded and helpless at the airport at 8:30pm at night.
2. He did not even book the hotel for us that night until our guide in Tanzania Michael helped us to call him. But when we arrived at the hotel, the hotel staff actually asked us to pay the hotel by ourselves. We refused and after negotiation with John, he finally agreed to pay the next day
3. We had to keep asking him for confirmation on the activities written on the itinerary. Eventually, there were 2 days of activities and 1 night of hotel not booked and not paid by him, which include 2 scuba dives ($120 per person), 1 snorkelling tour with dolphins (~$40 USD per person, and 1 night of hotel stay ($230 USD),
4. We had to pay by ourselves the diving we had, which was $250 for 2 persons, and paid $230 for 1 night at the hotel because he stopped replying to our messages. He made a lot of promises, but never came to fulfil them.
We have proof and receipts of everything we had to pay on our own. And we have pictures of his hand written letter.
From our experience this is the worst company you could get, terrible management, untrustworthy and dishonest owner, and all together made our nightmare.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful 5 day trip
We had an absolutely phenomenal time with our guide Aronny visiting Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Hell's Gate. Although we didn't get to see the animals crossing for the great migration, which was a tiny bit disappointing, we were amazed at everything we did see - lions, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, rhinos, warthogs, antelopes... Aronny excelled at getting us through tricky traffic and nimble at maneuvering through the parks to the best spots to see animals. He also shared historic and scientific facts along the way. There was a slight mix up on the price of the Lake Naivaisha boats but we were able to resolve it in the end. Our lodging in Masai Mara park (Jambo Mar) was excellent with a great buffet for breakfast and dinner. Communication with Tegu throughout was easy and clear.
SG
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Experience!
We have Abel our driver and guide. He checked out where we are exactly staying the day before he picked us up early in the next morning.
630am off we went. A long ride to Mikumi National Park from Dar es Salam. But once we reached, we were excited and forgotten our long journey. Abel is experienced driver and he knew where the animals were for us to catch the sight of it. Day end, we have checked into Bastian Campsite. Beautiful place and dinner spread was very good! We have a good catch up with the animals on the plain the next morning before we set off to the capital. A unforgettable experience and wonderful photos collected in our cameras and phones. Thank you Abel!
TT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Moloko was absolutely great! Very patient and knowledgeable.
Wonderful tour! Would absolutely recommend visiting Pilanesberg National Park with MoAfrika Tours.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very well organized, reliable.
Everything was great. Our Guide Moloko was exceptional guys and accommodating. Great job.
Moloko was amazing, patient and informative
Beautiful experience. Animals were majestic and totally awesome.
Guide was fantastic
PT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simple, very good.
We saw a lot of animals , we would like do see leopard but not possible. But the price is good for what we did
BH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Safari with Eddie and Goodluck – Serengeti Wakanda
Our safari with Serengeti Wakanda Tours & Safaris was wonderful. Goodluck took great care of every detail of the accommodations and was always willing to help. Our guide, Eddie (Edward), was simply exceptional, with an impressive knowledge of the animals, nature, and local people. He was also fun, attentive, and even taught us a little Swahili.
The car was comfortable and well-equipped, the accommodations surprised us at every stop, and we even had wine, beer, and personalized gifts like a bottle, t-shirt, and mug. It was an unforgettable experience filled with special memories. We wholeheartedly recommend Serengeti Wakanda and hope to return in the future.
(automatic translation from Portuguese)
SA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Patrick was very knowledgeable and accommodating throughout our trip.
Our trip with Ramja was excellent. We made the majority of our bookings last second but Steve was able to secure us great lodging for the entire trip. Communication was swift and all services and reliability were top notch. Very high recommended for anyone wanting a safari in Kenya.
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kilipath is a tour operator with terrible organization and logistics
I had a "4-Day Majestic Tarangire - Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti" trip. I really enjoyed the safari, but it was the driver's doing.
From Kilipath my manager was Prisca and organization was awful.
I would say a lot of things went wrong after sending the prepayment:
1. They didn't send me information about the trip details until the night before the trip. The manager wanted to meet me, but I wasn't in Arusha that time. Then I needed to push her to say me the time of departure. And I received it only at 21:30. And it supposed to be 7:00. It's first when I got stressed.
2. Also that time they said that my tour company was changed to another company as they don't have place in the car (or something like this). That time I started to fell it's a scam.
In reality it was the third company, different one from they mentioned.
3. Next morning I was ready at 7:00, but there wasn't a car. I asked Prisca and she didn't give me anything specific. Only "let me call the driver". And 20 mins later "He is nearly". But in reality driver came at 8:00 and I was the first in the car (so the delay wasn't on other guys in the trip). It was really stressful.
4. The first night when we came to the camp it turned out there is no room for me. First they asked to wait until they finish cleaning the room. But then some other tourist came (from different car) and I was told there is no room in the hotel. They changed my hotel and I had to drive back and forth for dinner and breakfast. And it's all after the day-trip when you are exhausted. A lot of frustration.
5. They mixed our group. In different ways. First - they put in one car tourists with different accommodations. So the second night we were driving through 3 different camps and the same on the third morning (I was the last and the first in dropping and picking up). I saw others' cars - a lot of them were staying just in one camp.
6. Another way they mixed groups - one guy had 3-days tour. And he didn't have that experience that we had on the first day. So he was slowing our group as he needed more time for watching zebras, etc.
Also with us was a guy with a 5-days tour, but he didn't affect my experience.
So only the third night was good - all in one camp, no delays and other disappointments.
It was my real experience with the Kilipath and how things can be. Of course I complained, they sent a lot of sorryS, but it couldn't change my experience at all. And of course they have explanation to every my complain.