US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beware: worst tour operator
Beware of Mamu Travels - they are truly the worst tour operator I have ever encountered in my decades of traveling! Mariam, the owner of the company, was very responsive in the beginning, sending through a full quote quickly after my initial outreach. She seemed very thorough in her communications and continued to be responsive after I pre-paid for our safari in full (nearly $3000 for two people). Then, the week of our safari, she went completely dark. She didn't send through a final itinerary so we had no idea who was picking us up, when they were picking us up, their name or contact information - NOTHING! We emailed and messaged her before our pick up date and she was completely unresponsive. We got ready for our pick up the morning of our first day and no driver came. The main phone number for the company listed on the website, which was Mariam's number, was completely offline - no one would pick up or see our messages on WhatsApp. The only way we were able to get in touch with someone at Mamu was through the Safari lodge reservation desk, which happened to have another phone number for the company. That new person, Patronilla, picked up but had no records of our safari or our itinerary because she did not have access to Mariam's files. She said she herself could not get in touch with Mariam. After much struggle, she was able to convince the transfer driver to come back and get us (he said he apparently came at 6:00am and waited 30 minutes for us but the hotel front desk said that was a lie). When he picked us up, he couldn't tell us much about where we were going, just that we were going to meet the safari driver. When we got to the original meeting up point, a run down gas station in a very run down part of Nairobi, the safari driver had already left! So now we had to chase the driver around the outskirts of Nairobi, culminating in us speeding down a cliffside road to finally catch up to him on the side of the road. When we finally got to him, he broke the news to us that Mariam had not sent him the nature reserve entrance fees ($800 for two days for two people, which we prepaid) so we would have to pay him cash and get reimbursed by Mamu. For her part, Patronilla sent us a note that the company would honor the refund, but unfortunately, no one from the company had access to the bank accounts except for Mariam, who was still missing, so the refund could only happen when she came back online. Well, we completed our 3 day safari, which was great, especially the lodge Emayian as well as our safari driver, Charles, but Mariam was still missing the entire time. We checked in again a couple of days after, but her team said she was still missing, so we just ended up doing a chargeback through our credit card company. Needless to say, this was the most AWFUL travel experience of my life and I caution everyone before working with this incredibly unprofessional company that will put you in stressful, dangerous situations!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Guides often lack adequate knowledge about wildlife and the environment
Tourist line safaris are known for providing subpar experiences that fall short of expectations. Guides often lack adequate knowledge of the wildlife and environment, leading to an uninformative experience. I noticed their guides were new. Vehicles are poorly maintained, making travel uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe. Customer service is also lacking, with complaints about rude or unresponsive staff common. Additionally, the housing provided is often below standard, with reports of unsanitary conditions and misleading descriptions. Overall, the company fails to deliver the quality and professionalism expected from a safari tour operator. Many customers feel that they are not getting good value for their money, making tourist line safaris a less than ideal choice for those looking for an unforgettable safari adventure.
US
Guides often lack adequate knowledge about wildlife and the environment
Tourist line safaris are known for providing subpar experiences that fall short of expectations. Guides often lack adequate knowledge of the wildlife and environment, leading to an uninformative experience. I noticed their guides were new. Vehicles are poorly maintained, making travel uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe. Customer service is also lacking, with complaints about rude or unresponsive staff common. Additionally, the housing provided is often below standard, with reports of unsanitary conditions and misleading descriptions. Overall, the company fails to deliver the quality and professionalism expected from a safari tour operator. Many customers feel that they are not getting good value for their money, making tourist line safaris a less than ideal choice for those looking for an unforgettable safari adventure.
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Be careful, not reliable and fraudulent!
We recently tried to book a safari with them but after a deposit was paid they stopped all communication, since about 2 weeks now. If you want to avoid a lot of trouble which ruins your holidays, do not book with them!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Scammers- BEWARE
Honcho took my 50% deposit over a year ago and now they are off the grid- emails and websites gone, the lodge had NEVER gotten the money OR the booking. So now 2 weeks prior to the trip I have no safari booked.
It is too late to get Visa to cover the fraud and they are not to be found anyway.
What horrible people to rip innocent travelers off like this.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scam!!! Azas are con artists and scammer who did not deliver on anything we paid for.
Azas Safari Uganda SCAM
My husband and I are in Africa on our honeymoon. We booked a 3 day Azas Safari to see the Mountain Gorillas at $4180USD. Our trip included return flights from Entebbe to Kihihi, accomodation at Mahogany Spring Lodge, Gorilla Permits, guide, meals and park entrances. We arrived in Entebbe and stayed at the recommended hotel, we were in constant contact and communication with Azas the entire time however they began to get less and less responsive on sharing required details around flights, permits etc. We were told, by Azas, to go to the Aerolink office at Entebbe where we found out we were never booked on flights and had to pay for our own return flights $895USD. Azas, still in communication with us via WhatsApp, assured us the permits were sorted so we proceeded to purchase the flights and flew to Kihihi. We were met by a guide who took us to our accommodation where we found out that no permits had been secured. After speaking with anyone and everyone that we possibly could to rectify the situation we then had to purchase the permits ourselves $1600USD.
Azas are awful human beings who have scammed and completely ripped us off and continued to string us along.
We have reported them to the Ugandan police and tourism authority.
Scammed
Trevaron tours started to “allegedly take people outside countries for greener pastures. I was recommended to them by a close relative, met with the founder and I counter mr and Mrs Kaniu. They guided and explained to us the process and payments. This was 2022 Feb . So they convinced us and even lied they had been taking people abroad… here we are 2024 no “abroad journey” just back and forth to get our refund. Their lines not going through and emails are unanswered . Please help me spread this .. it’s so wrong keeping in mind we explained to them we are taking a loan for this.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not what we expected- close to Terrible
We had an absolutely terrible experience with this tour company. The issues we encountered were numerous and deeply impacted the quality of our trip:
Booking Issues and Payment Pressure
We booked our trip last year with several promises made about the quality and nature of the tour. The agreed payment terms were 10% down to secure the booking, with the remaining payment due when the tour began. However, we were constantly pressured to pay the full amount upfront, despite this agreement. We were also assured that all hotel bookings had been secured, which turned out to be false. This led to several complications and last-minute changes during our trip.
Last-Minute Price Increase
Just 1.5 weeks before our scheduled travel, the company unexpectedly increased the tour price by $400 per person, including for a child, citing a rise in park fees. After confirming with fellow travelers, our driver, and park authorities in Masai Mara, we found that the actual increase was only $120 per adult, with no increase for children. This resulted in an unjustifiable overcharge, which we found to be deceptive and unethical.
Accommodation Issues
We paid an additional $400-$500 per person for accommodation upgrades from budget to a higher category. Despite this, we were placed in budget or even lower budget hotels, with no upgrades provided due to late bookings made just 1.5 weeks before the tour started. This downgrade severely impacted our trip.
Balloon Ride Booking
We paid $430 per person for a balloon ride with Balloon Safari, a premium company. However, we were booked with a lower-tier company instead, which led to a landing accident and injuries. This discrepancy in service was completely unacceptable.
Delayed Hotel Bookings
Even though we paid for the trip 9 months in advance, hotel bookings were delayed, resulting in subpar accommodations. This was far below the quality we expected and paid for.
Missed Great Migration
The trip was planned specifically to witness the great migration in Masai Mara and Serengeti. Upon arrival, we were informed that this was not possible, despite the company's promises. This was a significant disappointment and a waste of our time and money.
Unreliable Itinerary
The itinerary provided at booking listed specific activities, accommodations, and schedules. However, upon starting the safari, changes were made on the fly, leading to skipped game drives and missed excursions. The initial morning game drive was never arranged, which seriously affected our overall experience.
Baggage Issues
We were told we could bring one bag per passenger, but upon arrival, we had to leave two bags behind, which were never returned as promised. This caused significant inconvenience and stress, including missed game drives and a disrupted itinerary.
Serengeti Safari Issues
We faced numerous issues during our Serengeti safari, including delays at the entry due to incomplete paperwork, an accommodation downgrade without prior notification, being grouped with campers, wasted time during game drives, and substandard hotel accommodations. The safari vehicle was in terrible condition, the driver was rude, and we missed planned excursions and the wildebeest migration.
Specific Issues with the Serengeti Safari Vehicle:
The safari vehicle was in deplorable condition, repeatedly breaking down and requiring assistance from other vehicles.
At one point, the gas tank was hanging down and was dangerously secured using seat belts cut from the passenger side. The driver continued to drive on bumpy roads, putting everyone’s lives at risk.
Despite the hazardous situation, the driver did not call for a backup vehicle, further endangering our safety.
The passenger door of the jeep was broken, creating a serious safety hazard.
The jeep's radio was broken, preventing the driver from communicating with others to locate animals, rendering the safari pointless.
The fuel tank in the Jeep was broken, which was very dangerous. Despite this, the driver continued to drive the same Jeep for three hours. It was late evening and dark, and we were in the deep jungle where wild animals roam. Anything could have happened to us, and the rescue Jeep arrived very late.
Additional Warnings:
This company declines any refund requests despite the numerous issues encountered. Their lack of accountability is alarming.
They are mere agents who sell your booking to cheap, poorly reviewed safari companies. This practice led to our terrible experience and is something potential customers should be aware of.
In conclusion, our experience with this company was a disaster on multiple fronts. The level of unprofessionalism, dishonesty, and disregard for customer safety was shocking. I strongly advise others to avoid this company and choose a more reliable and ethical operator for your safari experience.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scam! Be very careful with this Company!
I was terribly scammed by Lamara Tourism! I booked a 3 day Masaii Mara fly-in safari which required a deposit of 862 USD. After the deposit was received, they started ignoring my messages once I asked for further details which was the first sign that something was wrong. I then reached out to Mara Serena Hotel where we were supposed to stay but they confirmed they never received any payment from Lamara Tourism and therefore the booking was cancelled. Lamara Tourism is a highly fraudulent company, please avoid them at any cost to avoid a lot of trouble and a loss of money.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unprofessional and unreliable
I don't know if the 2000+ positive reviews for Karibu we saw on safaribookings.com were fake or were they just related to mt Kenya climbing. I wouldn't recommend our 7 day safari experience to anyone.
When I was booking the safari, I was a bit hesitant since their package is cheaper than most other operators and therefore I was expecting barebone properties and campsites. Surprisingly, the accommodations were mostly decent and the cost cutting was done at the expense of the safari experience which was really unfortunate.
Robert was quite good with communications before the safari started, afterwards he stopped responding to messages or calls. So no matter what the issue is, if the safari is not happening as per the itinerary, or if the hotel is different than what was specified as part of the quotation, or there's some other issue, don't expect Robert to be available. Instead you are stuck with Edward, the guide + driver who was a moody individual with moments of courteousness sandwiched between rude and abrasive behaviour.
The itinerary promised 1 full day safari and 2 half day safaris at Masai Mara. On the first day of the trip, we reached Masai mara campsite and faced 2 separate issues - first that the evening safari is not going to happen and that the campsite was different (+inferior) than what was promised (I had confirmed the names of the properties that very morning at their office in Nairobi and still they preferred to not disclose the truth). We let go of the campsite issue and focused on the promised evening game drive. Robert obviously did not answer my calls and Edward in a passive aggressive manner threatened to organize a half-assed safari the next day if I continued to find discrepancies in the written itinerary and what was happening in reality. When I pressed further he called Robert, who answered his call(!) and said that the itinerary that I booked does not exist anymore (they took the webpage down from Safari Bookings that very instant)....luckily I had taken screenshots of the itinerary to share with my mates so they had to oblige. But not really in a way that counts. We did do one full day game drive as promised + 1 evening drive near the entry gate that was around 30 minutes + on the 3rd morning of the trip, we drove in from one gate and exited from another gate, a 40 minute ride that doesn't really count as a half day game drive. During the game drives, Edward mostly drove around quietly, sharing very little insight into the national parks or wildlife. If you pointed towards any animal and asked he would accurately name it. Compared to other game drive experiences that I've had, Edward was more like a driver than a safari guide. To be fair though, Karibu arranged a very comfortable 4x4 Land cruiser for us and Edward was a highly skilled driver (the 5 of us slept through bad roads and highways alike).
On the third morning of the trip, we reached the vehicle before our driver and since he was still having breakfast, I started loading everybody's rucksacks in the back of the vehicle. I was half way done when Edward showed up. He looked at me for a minute as a I stood there waiting for him to take over. Instead he told me to hurry and finish the job. I dont mind putting my bags in the car and dont really expect anyone to do it for me but I didn't see any reason why I should load rucksacks of the other group members. I dont see the point in treating your clients like that either, maybe he just got a kick out of it.
The quotation included drinking water but in reality that meant only 5.5 litres per person through 7 days so keep that in mind when choosing your operator.
Regardless of whether you go with Karibu or someone else, if you're keen on making the most out of your itinerary, I would recommend the following -
1. Start with Amboseli or Nakuru instead of Masai Mara
2. Skip Hells Gate if you are short on time. If you're going there for the lava wall, that section is inaccessible to tourists now.
3. Skip Naivasha unless you are into birdwatching. And if you are, spend some time near the lake and find a legit boat tour. The current version of the boat ride is a tourist trap where you'll see 1-2 hippos in the water (that was pretty cool) otherwise it'll be an hour long uneventful boat ride with 3-4 bird sightings that are anyway commonly seen in other parks. Not really worth $30 (additional 30$ to step foot on the island)
4. One full day safari in Amboseli is probably going to be enough. Half day in Nakuru is sufficient. Try to spend some extra time and money for Masai Mara. On day one, let the guide hurriedly take you across the park to tick off all the major sightings. On day 2, you go with a plan to focus on only the things that you missed out on day 1. Finish the itinerary with 2 days in Masai Mara so that you end on a high note.
Property Review -
1. Mara Enkajiang - Clean tents but dirty toilets. Bad food. This was given to us instead of Enchoro Wildlife Camp (highly reviewed). If any tent turned on their bathing shower the whole row of tents would lose electricity till a staff member repaired the fuse. This happened 5+ times in one night.
2. Lanet Matfam - Resort property with a nice swimming pool. Best food but very small and weirdly constructed rooms.
3. Leisure Apex - Overall best - new property, clean rooms, good food, no nonsense motel.
4. Nyati Safari Camp - Clean and spacious tents, well maintained, good food. This was given to us instead of Manjaro Campsite but we were happy either way.
