35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointing Safari Guide Experience
Kenya is an incredibly beautiful country, and the safari itself was well-planned with amazing scenery and wildlife. The experience had so much potential to be unforgettable. Unfortunately, what really spoiled it for me was the driver-guide. His attitude felt unprofessional and unfriendly — at times even giving unpleasant looks to customers. Instead of engaging with us, he treated the safari like just another task to complete, showing no passion or enthusiasm. This negativity made the journey uncomfortable and took away from the magic of what should have been a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. With a more welcoming and enthusiastic guide, the trip could have been truly perfect.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unsafe Transfers, Safari late morning, Transfers longer than normal.
The first problem is at the beginning, they don't pick-up me and they send a uber driver, that bring me in a unsafe neighbourhood, then it was just wrong and I arrive late at the office. Transfers are longer than normal, because the minibus is very old and because they did detours to pick up tourists from other agencies. So Transfers of 4-5 hours became of 6-7 hours. Safari starts too late, two times at 9 o'clock. During the safaris all drivers go to much nearby the animals and they stressed them. The last safari, the saturday morning, it was not a true safari, we run fast to the border of Tanzania and we don't stop the just time to see a scene with hyenas and lions, because the Driver was stressed to join the border. We cross the park amboseli in one hour and 25 minutes.
At the end the driver bring me at the wrong adress, I suggest that the hotel was another, but it says to entry there (a garage), because was the second entrance. Finally I walked 25 minutes too join my hotel.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
“Don’t Worry About Anything. I’ve Got It Dear.”
“Don’t Worry About Anything, I’ve Got It Dear… Until He Didn’t.”
Those were the exact words our guide used to reassure me at the start of our safari. But what followed was a string of disorganized bookings, vehicle breakdowns, and costly mistakes that turned what should have been a seamless adventure into a stressful experience.
⸻
Review of Kenya Tour Safari Heights
Logistical Failures:
The most critical breakdown occurred with accommodations. We were assigned the wrong room types—or worse, no rooms at all. The only property that met expectations was Miasha Luxury Tent Camp, and even that wasn’t originally part of our booking. Keekorok, the intended sister property, rerouted us after system failures—but without proper coordination, this led to disputes, incorrect room assignments, and long waits to check in.
Worse, due to a failure in securing rooms in Masai Mara, we were forced to drive five hours back to Nairobi after a full safari day, cutting short our planned two-night stay in the reserve.
Despite months of planning, there was no airport pickup for me as the group leader, nor for a participant who had arranged a separate transfer. For a company coordinating premium safari packages, this oversight was unacceptable—especially for a woman traveling and arriving late at night.
Lack of Transparency:
We were asked to make large payments in USD cash with no itemized invoices or receipts provided upfront. Attempts to obtain a clear financial breakdown were met with vague or delayed responses. Even when discrepancies were raised—such as inflated transfer fee claims—the guide avoided direct answers and never provided proof. Meshak also attempted to push the currency conversion fee onto me. This lack of transparency undermined trust and made it difficult to manage the group confidently.
Vehicle Issues & Safety Concerns:
Our safari vehicle broke down multiple times during the trip, including once on a major highway while returning to Nairobi late at night. These repeated mechanical issues not only delayed our itinerary but also posed serious safety risks. Additionally, the guide’s driver drove off-road to get a closer look at a lion, which resulted in the vehicle being pulled over and fined by revenue police—a completely avoidable incident.
Cultural Sensitivity & Conduct:
There was a troubling moment of racial bias during the safari when the guide singled out our white participant for a solo photo, excluding the rest of the group (all Black women). This moment was not only inappropriate but deeply telling. Group travel requires cultural awareness and equal respect—neither of which were demonstrated consistently.
Final Thoughts:
While the country of Kenya is extraordinary, Kenya Tour Safari Heights did not deliver the caliber of service promised. Between disorganized bookings, questionable financial practices, safety issues, and culturally insensitive behavior, my trust and confidence in the owner, his company, and his entire operation—despite using them previously—have been eroded.
I cannot in good conscience recommend this company, particularly for travelers seeking clarity, structure, safety, or group-friendly support. My recommendation: choose a true professional who doesn’t cut corners that ultimately undermine the experience.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip that was planned for us was amazing. What happened leading up to the trip was awful...
I have such mixed feelings writing this review, because the experience when we got there was a 10/10, but the execution/communication leading up to/during/after the trip was a 2/10. Although the beginning of the trip was an absolute disaster and we lost thousands of dollars, I am glad we went and trying to focus on the good. But, I do want to warn others.
Also, Kitawa agreed to pay us at least $500 for the visas we paid to expedite. They asked for our bank information and we have yet to see any money.... They DID upgrade some of our hotels, rooms, and added a free excursion for us (they said it was a cost of just over 3k). But that required a fight and lots of pushing from us.
Pros: The hotels picked for us were stunning. Hard to pick a favorite because they all had their individual charm. The staff at each hotel was so pleasant, warm, and kind. The staff/tour companies selected for our excursions were so nice and did an excellent job. And the tour guides provided to us were so fabulous. I highly recommend Cuthbert if you are in TZ. He was so funny, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond for us.
Cons:
After we booked our trip there was little to no communication. I found this to be a little odd as I have used other tour companies and they check in quite a bit leading up to the trip regarding how to prepare, sending FAQ, asking if you have questions, etc. Days before the trip we were like, “hellooooo. Anyone home? We are leaving in a few days…. What happens when we land!?” They also had no website all of the sudden, so I had a giant pit in my stomach that something was wrong.
I did research on my own on what type of shots and Visas were needed prior to travel (because I saw that visas are required for both countries online). We then confirmed with Kitawa as well to ensure we were getting and doing the right things. Because I know Visas can change from year to year. We were told that the only visas we need, we would get when we land in Africa. Fast forward to when we arrive at the airport and were denied boarding our flight because we were missing our VISA that is required for travel. We ended up paying $500 to expedite the visas at the airport to try to still make our flight. They were not approved in time so we missed our flights and lost $15,000 (mostly booked on points. Thank goodness!) on our airfare. Once our Visas got approved at midnight, we were able to book the last seats on a new flight that cost us an additional $7,000. When we communicated this disaster to the agent, he was in shock that we needed a Visa and was still telling us they are not required in advance for Kenya, and he doesn’t know why we couldn’t get on our flight.
Now, I am fully aware that some of this was on us. And I have learned a major lesson. I should have NEVER taken his word that a visa wasn’t required. I should have followed what I read and confirmed with the embassy and the airline (and will do this moving forward). I just have never had a tour company give me such incorrect information and then double down on it. If you are paying a company over $20,000 to plan a luxury trip for you, then you would THINK that they would be doing their own research and setting their customers up for success and not failure.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Francesca
The dense vegetation makes it difficult to spot many animals. After visiting the other parks, this is definitely the one we would recommend skipping.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointed with unprofessional handling
I booked a safari tour with Africa Keys based on a glowing recommendation from a friend, so my expectations were high. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t quite live up to the hype.
Local Knowledge: Surprisingly lacking one of the biggest letdowns was the lack of insight into the country itself. Our itinerary included Lake Manyara, which turned out to be a major disappointment. Wildlife was extremely limited, and the park felt more like a detour than a destination.
Food: The meals were consistently underwhelming—bland, poorly prepared, and lacking any local flavor. In a place known for vibrant cuisine, this was a real letdown except in one hotel during our stay. Even more frustrating was the complete lack of responsiveness.
Why I Booked: A Friend’s Recommendation To be fair, I can see how someone might have had a better experience—perhaps with a different guide or itinerary. My friend had a great time, which is why I gave it a shot. Sadly, my trip didn’t reflect the same quality. May be the tour company is only good in Kenya but not in Tanzania.
The Good Bits: The landscapes were stunning, and spotting wildlife in their natural habitat was unforgettable. That part of Africa never disappoints. But the tour company didn’t enhance the experience—they just got us from point A to B.
Overall If you’re considering for good safari experience, I’d suggest doing a bit more research. The magic of Africa deserves a team that truly understands and celebrates it.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not worth the money
We had booked a private tour. The number of game drives was not carried out as agreed in the service description. The game drives were shorter than agreed.
The accommodation was good.
I cant recommend the company.
KR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Driver: unpuncture and racist behavior
My driver Sal** was late for the departure in the morning. I had to wait 25 minutes in the morning and two other guests even waited for an hour.
After the tour, on our way back to the drop off (individual lunch), the driver kept on insisted that I get off the car and walk even before arriving the final destination because there is traffic jam and he was unhappy with it. It was a 10 minutes walk. I was okay with walking but there were 3 guests out of 4, including me, who were going to the same destination.
So I told him nicely, even if I get off here, he has to go through all this traffic jam anyways, since two other people are also going to the same place and they are not willing to walk.
However he kept insisting only at me to get off the car because apparently I was the only Asian guest. He kept making gestures showing complaints, kept turning off/on the car engine, and asked “have you made up your mind to get off here?”.
He was clearly discriminative because he didn’t say anything at two other Kenyan guests who were heading to the same destination. I was very upset that the other Kenyan guests even apologized instead for his behavior on behalf of all the Kenyan people.
This has been my third safari tour in Kenya/ fifth in East Aftica and he has been the worst driver ever.
John, who was in charge of the booking was trying to be helpful and was apologetic when I called him about this issue. However, I would like to hear clear follow up measures on how you would deal with this issue and the driver.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
confusing in communication
In the end, I did not book with this intermediairy/travel agency. Also after paying the 10% bookingfee.
- When I asked 3 questions in my email, I only got 1 answer. I had to go back and remind the operator about the other 2 questions. And then he sayd: which ones? This happenend multiple times, and worked very frustrating for me.
- At a certain moment, the travel dates were mixed up by him. This was the start of my doubt and confusion.
- I wanted a confirmation of the safari with the name of the tour organisation, pick up time etcetc) about 2-3 weeks before beparture. He couldnt tell me, it was unclear which one I would be going with, there was no official confirmation for me available. Only his words.
- He would inform me about the safari trip 1 day before the safari starts.
All together, for sure it would have worked out fine, for me this way of working was unacceptable; we didnot match.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Disappointing Safari Experience with Super Eagles
We booked a 6-day safari with Super Eagles Agency in August. While the trip had some highlights, our overall experience left us feeling disappointed and misled.
Pros
- Good itinerary: Covering Amboseli and Masai Mara in one trip gave us the chance for great game-viewing potential.
- Fantastic sightings: Our driver ensured we saw incredible wildlife.
- Accommodation: Comfortable beds with mosquito nets; simple but fine.
Cons
- Lack of guiding: Although the driver secured great sightings, he gave almost no explanations about animals or locations. He rarely communicated the plan for the day and answered questions coldly and with minimal effort. I have been to many safaris in South Africa that had fantastic guides, but this was nowhere close to the quality of previous experiences.
- Misleading itinerary: We were paired with travelers on different itineraries, forcing us to wait or pay extra for activities we never agreed to. This was never communicated beforehand. We ended up doing things we hadn’t planned for, while missing what we had actually booked. We felt cheated.
- Reduced safari time: We had paid for one full-day and one half-day safari in Amboseli and Masai Mara. Instead, the second day in each park was reduced to about one hour only, nothing close to what was promised. When we complained, the agency offered no compensation or solution.
- Meals: The food was repetitive—mostly cold chicken, the same meal across six days. Acceptable for a budget option, but still disappointing.
- Constant attempts to overcharge: Beyond the agency, nearly everywhere we went we felt pressured, manipulated, or overcharged. For example, being asked to pay $25 for a fridge magnet worth $3–4. This created a constant sense of being scammed.
Final Thoughts
While the parks themselves and the wildlife are breathtaking, our experience with Super Eagles Agency was deeply disappointing. The lack of honesty, communication, and respect for the itinerary made us feel cheated. We cannot recommend this agency and strongly advise others to consider alternatives if they want a transparent, reliable safari experience.