US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Perfect safari arranged by Ker & Downey Africa
We have just returned from a spectacular three week safari in Tanzania and Kenya arranged by Emma Perrin at Ker & Downey Africa. I have been to East Africa a dozen times, and this sarari was the best ever. Emma crafted the perfect trip tailored to our specific desires. I am a nature photographer, and Emma maximized our wildlife viewing and made sure that my camera equipment was accomodated on all our light aircraft transfers. Her attention to detail was simply amazing, and all arrangements were executed perfectly during the entire three week safari. She answered all questions we had and kept in constant communication with us, from the time we first began arrangements until after we returned home. The accomodations and tented camps Emma recommended were steller. I lost a small sunglasses case somewhere along the way, and Emma miraculously had it delivered to me by our transfer driver at the end of the safari. The safari was so wonderful that we are booking the same itinerary for next year with 12 friends. After this experience, I am a Ker & Downey customer for all future travel to Africa and I highly recommend them to all my friends. Friends of mine have already booked a trip to South Africa in November with Emma and have thanked me for recommending Ker & Downey because they are so happy with the trip Emma has arranged for them and for her outstanding service. If you are planning Africa travel, you can't be in better hands than arranging your trip through Ker & Downey Africa.
AR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect experiencie both kili and safari!
Barafu guides and crew were the best. They helped us a lot while having some altitude problems, and managed to get us both on the summit with a big smile!
Both guides Gilbert and Elekim were amazing, helpful and kind.
The crew was the best also, helping us taking all our stuff to every camp without doubting.
The cheff’s meals were very delicious, even though we are Veggies!
Then the safari was awesome! Our guide Ninah was the best. Very funny guy with a lot of experiencie in safaris and animals. It was a pleasure to stay and share 3 days with him! Very qualifyed in his job and very honest in his behaviour.
I truly recommend Barafu tours!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We got the money shots
The briefing was informative and gave us a good idea of what to expect and any questions we asked were answered to our satisfaction. To be honest first impressions of the safari vehicle were that it was dated but we later realized that looks can be deceiving and the vehicle was perfectly designed to get us close to the action and provided a perfect viewing platform once the roof was raised. Although they looked dated the vehicle was mechanically great and obviously designed for the harsh conditions of the tracks.
Our guide (Arroni) was the biggest surprise. He was truly amazing and we soon found ourselves in the prime positions to get the best possible view/photo of the wildlife to the obvious envy of others around us. He was totally devoted to making our experience as safe and enjoyable as possible and we soon built a very good relationship with him. At the end of the day, he knew what was important to us and delivered, we got the money shots we came for including a prime view of the migration crossing of the Mara River by the wilderbeast.
Accommodation at the camps was basic but sufficient. The food tends to be a bit repetitive, but healthy and fills your stomach.
Be prepared for busy roads and African driving which can be a bit scary at times, but we soon got used to that and our guide delivered us safely to our destinations.
If I could offer a suggestion it would be to the camps that hit water is important to most tourists and was at times not available.
All in all, be prepared to live basically but get the rewards of an adventure of a life time. The guide is most important to an enjoyable holiday, we thoroughly enjoyed ours thanks to Arroni.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
4 days/ 3 nights safari
My mom and me went in a 4 days/ 3 nights safari to celebrate her 60th birthday. We went to lake Nakuru and stayed a night there, and then two nights in Maasai Mara.
The agenda for our trip was exactly what we wanted and our guide was outstanding. However, we had paid for a “comfort” room in Maasai Mara ($420 per person each night) and when we got to our hotel (Azure Mara Haven) they told us Spirit of Kenya had only reserved a budget tent for us. I talked with employees of Spirit of Kenya but they only solved the problem until the next day when we had already gone over a hard and cold night in the tent. Second day fortunately we were upgraded to a room like the one we had paid for. Despite asking them for a refund or a compensation for their mistake on the first night, I did not get a positive reply and was just ignored by their employees.
Hope this doesn’t happen to other people traveling with Spirit of Kenya and that you stress out that they should make the hotel reservations for what you are asking and the value you are paying.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect trip with a perfect agency!
Thomas and Kima Adventures is more than just an agency. Thomas lives his job, loves his land and shows this to us as his more than welcome guests.
If you wanna see and feel the spirit of this wonderful country.... if you wanna see more, than the stuff you can book in every travel agency, you should ask thomas and his team. Best service, nice accomondations, deep views into the real life of the people and for sure actions in the wildlife...
Thanks a lot! We will be back again!
Your friends from germany!
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The safari was really good, we enjoy a lot and we saw a lot of animals. Khalifa was a really good gu
All was good, Ibrahim was very attentive in every moment.
KR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect trip and wonderful staff!
My wife and I had a wonderful time with The Reny safaris. Our trip was for 4 days 3 nights visiting the lake Naivasha and the Masai mara safari. Regina and Francis welcomed us from the begining to the end. They told the itinerary exactly and was performed the same as it was told. And most of all, our driver-guide Fredrick was fantastic. He told us about all the animals we seen in the tour and took care of us safe and comfortable.
Thanks to the Reny safaris for the wonderful memories we had in Kenya. I would love to recommend the Reny Safaris to everyone who are willing to visit Kenya.
OM
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fraud Travel Agent in Kenya duping international tourists.
This review is about LIANS Travel – actually LIA'R'S Travel,
Run by a woman named Lilian Maina – actually Lie-Liar.
BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE
This company and the woman are a big dirty fraud, playing with international tourist’s money and time and taking them for a ride completely sabotaging their holiday plans.
Unfortunately, me and my wife (Indians) availed their services for a 10 days tour in 2nd week of August-19, but had to return home within 2 days, courtesy Lie-Liar.
Lilian Maina (Lie-Liar) has absolutely no knowleage of her own country's geography, parks, attractions, logistics, flight network, hotel availability, etc., etc. and is incapable of organizing any tours for the discerning international tourists. They are here only to con international tourists and earn a fast buck. Lie-Liar is an epitome of disrespect, arrogance, rudeness, selfishness and impoliteness and does not care a hoot about international visitors.
Everything went wrong once we paid the initial 30% advance.
1. The responses from Lilian (Lie-Liar) became slow & required follow up for getting things done
2. There was no sense of urgency in booking the hotels and internal flights although our tour was to start in a week’s time. Finally, Lilian (Lie-Liar) sent fake unconfirmed hotel vouchers.
3. Lilian (Lie-Liar) abruptly moved our first hotel stay to a remote location of her choice at the last moment with total disregard to our itinerary. This resulted in compromising our 1st day's itenerary plan and settle for something that we did not want – but which Lie-Liar wanted !!
4. Lilian (Lie-Liar) advised somebody would pick us up at Nairobi airport on arrival. However, nobody turned up for an hour and until we called her up.
5. Lilian (Lie-Liar) demanded for the 70% balance payment on arrival in cash, without providing any confirmed hotel bookings for the entire itinerary. By this time, we had realized that we might not get the services that we are paying for, and deferred this payment for a day, telling Lie-Liar that we shall pay online when we reach the 1st night’s destination.
6. Incidentally, our fears/doubts turned out to be true -
- Lilian (Lie-Liar) had agreed for a 4x4 Land Cruiser initially, but on reaching Kilaguni Airstrip, gave us the oldest possible rickety van (and of course the cheapest possible) which was so uncomfortable & noisy that it frightened all animals from afar making any sightings impossible.
- Lilian (Lie-Liar) had advised the name of particular Guide cum Driver initially but instead sent a shady character at the last moment with whom we felt very unsafe and unsecure. His main agenda was to take us to the lodge as soon as possible so that we can make payment to Lilian (Lie-Liar) who was eagerly expecting her 70% payment.
- Lilian (Lie-Liar) had agreed that all Park Fees are included in the package price, but when we landed at Kilaguni airstrip and entered Tsavo-West National Park, she asked us to pay them instead.
- Lie-Liar had mentioned that bottled water is included in the price, but did not provide any.
7. Lilian (Lie-Liar) had thanked us initially for the business and said she will not disappoint us. However, as soon as she got the 30% advance, she gave us only disappointment after disappointment. What a shame for a woman.
8. Once Lie-Liar realized that we are not falling prey to her tactics and accepting whatever she is doling out to us, she became angry and abusive saying that she does not trust Indians. For a tourist service provider, these comments are in poor taste and clearly reflect that she hardly cares for her international clients and is here just want to make a fast buck.
9. Completely exhausted with her tantrums and upset with the proceedings, we were in no mood to go ahead with the tour and therefore decided to abort the trip and returned home within 2 days.
We are sure this must have happened with many international tourists who may not have posted their reviews for various reasons or would have ignored whatever sub-standard stuff was thrown at them. All the good reviews 4/5 and 5/5 that we read about LIANS (LIARS) Travel on various travel sites are fake and just cannot be true. These are definitely posted by Lilian (Lie-Liar) herself. One personal meeting with her is enough to understand what a criminal woman she is, but by then it is too late for the hapless traveler.
To cut the long story short, once the international tourists have paid the 25% - 30% advance, they are caught in the web of LIANS (LIARS) Travels and are compelled to accept whatever is doled out to them. Thus, their tour is completely deranged and they may even have to return empty-handed as we had to in 2 days.
We would therefore strongly urge all international tourists to refrain from taking LIANS (Lilian Lie-Liar) Travel's services for organizing any safaris in Kenya. There are similar bad reviews and experiences from many international tourists about LIANS (LIARS) Travel that are very clear warnings to all. We therefore urge all travelers not to trust LIANS Lilian (Lie-Liar) in any case and BOYCOTT LIANS (Lilian Lie-Liar) FOREVER.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional service for a budget safari, best value, highly recommended.
Our dream of the great Kenya came crushing a week before commencing when we got a letter from the scammer, Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris saying that they can't provide the service.
Luckily, Sam, the manager of our Hadassah Hotel at Nairobi got us a similar safari at about the same cost. No need for any advance payment which is good. We don't trust paying out-front after losing 50% to Mr Otieno.
We met with KARIBU Safaris Mr Robert at the hotel for briefing and payment and everything went smoothly thereafter.
Our driver/guide, Arroni is the best guide you could possibly have. He had been doing this for 23 years and can sight a selval cat from such a distance from a moving van where all we saw was something lying in the savanna. We got to see so many animals plus 4 of the Big 5 and Arroni had the gift to position us for the best angle to photograph them. And we got to witness the great wildebeest migration up close.
Two of our team members who had been to many Safaris in South Africa were so impressed, they wish they can have him as their driver/guide in South Africa.
We had such a wonderful experience with Arroni that we were actually glad our original tour was cancelled.
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful good quality Safari experience
Paul was very helpful in providing details and responding to questions before the trip. A detailed itinerary was sent out to us months before.
Payment was very smooth and was done in cash at the start of the safari trip. Very trustworthy safari.
Justin who was our driver was really helpful, and brought us around safely. He also made the extra effort to help us spot the Rhino when he could have easily brought us back to the hotel and end his day. 5 star service.