CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unreliable trip with a severe overload of passengers in the vehicle
First of all, I need to clarify that the scenery I saw during this trip to Kenya was very beautiful. However, the services provided by travel agencies are extremely unreliable. The travel agency originally said there would be no more than six passengers on the bus, but they ended up arranging seven adults and two children. This family of Indian tourists with children was extremely noisy and almost treated the bus as their own private car, which was very impolite! The travel agency doesn't seem to consider children as "human beings". The children sat on adults throughout the journey or were crying and fussing. They didn't have their own seats.
I think that when travel agencies encounter such passengers, they should allocate personnel based on the number of people. Are children no longer human beings? Don't children need seats? Why let this extra child affect others' travel experience? We can only squeeze in the middle of the last row, which is ten times more dangerous and crowded!
Besides, the tour guide and driver on the bus are not fixed. When your itinerary changes compared to others, you will be "sold" to another tour guide, and you don't know at what time the next tour guide will come to pick you up the next day. This is a very nerding thing. Moreover, once you have paid, the travel agency will not reply to any of your messages.
All in all, the irresponsible behavior of the travel agency made me dissatisfied with this trip. Overloading of personnel not only leads to a noisy environment inside the vehicle but also poses a threat to personal safety. I'm really speechless.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointing Experience with Dextrip Safaris – Would Not Recommend
Our recent family safari to Maasai Mara had its memorable moments, especially thanks to our ranger, who was incredibly kind, attentive, and clearly committed to making the most out of our time in the park. He went out of his way to accommodate our needs, and we truly appreciated his efforts.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Dextrip Safaris, the company that managed our trip. Despite having a confirmed written agreement for game drives on all three days of our safari, the third day was abruptly cancelled by the company, with the justification being the increase in park ticket prices. This change was not communicated in a transparent or timely manner, and we were left feeling disappointed and misled.
On the second day, our itinerary stated a full-day game drive, yet we were taken out of the park by 3 PM to visit a Maasai village—an activity we had not requested and were not interested in. This caused us to miss the late afternoon hours (4–6 PM), a peak time for wildlife activity in the reserve.
Additionally, the vehicle had flat tires three times in just two days. While we were patient and understanding about these delays, expecting such things can happen in remote areas, it made the lack of honesty and flexibility from the company even more frustrating.
What troubled us the most was the lack of responsibility and push for silence. We received several calls and WhatsApp messages from Dextrip Safaris urging us not to leave a negative review. But we feel it's important to be honest so that other travelers can make informed decisions.
In summary, while the Maasai Mara is breathtaking and our ranger was fantastic, our overall experience with Dextrip Safaris was far from smooth. We felt scammed, unheard, and disrespected. Sadly, I do not recommend this company and would advise others to book through a more reliable operator.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beware of Sun Safaris – they did not pay local vendors
We recently went on a safari to Kenya through Sun Safaris. We worked with Natasha, who was very professional and responsive. HOWEVER, when we were on our trip, we received a very concerning phone call from one of their local vendors. They informed us that we owed $21,994 even though we made final payments to Sun Safaris months before. We were also told that after repeated phone calls and emails, they couldn’t reach the owner, Brett, and that we needed to pay the amount the following day. Apparently, they were never paid. While we were able to reach Natasha, who said things would be sorted out, we were very worried that arrangements (hotels/services) might be cancelled. We never heard back from Sun Safaris until we returned home from our trip.
Based on another review I saw after our trip, I learned that this is not the first time the owner hasn’t been responsive or paid vendors in a timely manner. While the safari overall was great, the incident was very concerning. Based on this experience, I would not recommend Sun Safaris.
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.
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.
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.
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.