BG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic safari in Kenya
Me and my family, in June 2023 we were in an organized safari trip in Kenya. The trip was organized by our travel agency PENGUIN Travel through their Kenyan partner Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris. We must say that the safari trip was organized perfectly. Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris made it possible that all went by the clock which is a great achievement having in mind that in Africa one might expect some organisational issues. This was one of our best adventures ever as our experience. Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris and especially our guide Khalifa took care of the minutest details, thanks to him we had an unforgettable time. Khalifa did not spare any effort to show us everything, the Big 5, the awesome mama's with their babies, the birds, nature, history of the local people. Very professional guide, excellent English, knowledgeable.
We strongly recommend Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris and Khalifa as a guide .
Daniela Panayotova
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond expectation!
Incredible African adventure! Our guides showed us everything they didnt disappoint!! Awesome team, highly recommend.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
BEWARE- Did not refund whole deposit for TZ after referring us to a tour operator in Kenya who scamm
Beware of the company and proceed with caution if you need help with major issues. I reached out to Glory around May of 2022 to start planning my trip. The trip was revolved around getting a stay at the Giraffe Manor.
She referred me to her partner in Kenya who she raved about. Lucy with Splendor Holidays, she seemed very responsive and provided a decent itinerary, price and promised she got the room for June 5, 2023. Glory planned her side, and I paid both deposits. There were three people going and I paid $10,477 for Kenya and $2850 for TZ USD.
Everything seemed fine and we kept in touch here and there and as the date inched closer, Lucy claimed in March that her sister passed. By the end of April I started chatting more frequently. On May 2, we were trying to fill out the visa when the website on Splendor Holidays was down. We found out that Lucy wasn’t being responsive or making up excuses. Glory went up to Kenya to have Lucy arrested and she documented everything. Glory provided a police number and the court documents, which was a little off. People on social media and a journalist had pointed out the number wasn’t right, but I gave the benefit of the doubt that there was no way Glory was involved.
Glory said she felt so terrible and that she wasn’t attentive to our tour. She said she had personal reasons and that she let us converse directly with Lucy. Normally, she would arrange things with Lucy (Splendor Holidays) and take the money. I asked her multiple times, why did she change protocol on us, and this happened?
Glory tried to suggest another tour guide to do driving and to pay nearly another $1000. When I reached out to the company, their website was down as well for “reconstruction.” Glory promised she was going to come meet us when we landed in Kenya and she didn’t. Glory did not reach out to us at any point during our Kenya trip, she was silent. We received help from strangers in Kenya.
Due to the complete change in itinerary, my friend and I had originally booked to fly from two different airports in TZ. There was no way to make it work and be able to fly home with a reasonable price. When I reached out to Glory, she only gave us 50% of the deposit back. When I asked why, she said last minute cancellations are very difficult. I asked her to provide the cancellation invoice to submit for my travel insurance or something. She then stated that she doesn’t have them, and it is very exhausting to get the evidence I need.
I told her if I can reach out to the hotels, I think anyone knowing I got scammed would make an exception. She said that her reputation is already ruined, and she will not give me access to the hotels and ruin it by reaching out to them. She also claimed that she respects the hotel’s time and policy. I got upset and said so you don’t respect me and the money I’ve lost. How I spent my dream vacation going to the police, embassy, and running around trying to get my money back from her “wonderful Kenyan partner.” Glory claims she had no idea that Lucy could do this and that she did what she could. She kept saying no one else would do this for me when she caught Lucy.
I finally called Glory out on the fact that she never checked in on me in Kenya and broke her promise of being there. She stated she was following me on social media and gave me space to deal with the embassy and that they would help. She said she had stuff back in TZ to manage and she lost money. I told her it costs $0 to check in.
I had been warned before that there was a chance Glory could be involved and I gave a benefit of a doubt because she was friends for so long with my best friend in the States. There is a chance she has nothing to do with it, but the way she handled it has been terrible and she will not give you back money. She said she’ll make me whole, but in November. It is very odd that she will pay out of her own pocket versus trying to reach out to the hotels to get the deposit back. There is another person on tripadvisor that left very similar feedback about her lack of help. She had mentioned this, and I thought she only had one bad review, but I do believe the validity at this point.
I can give the benefit of the doubt that she had no idea all these tour operators weren’t scammers as she claimed, but the way she responded was unacceptable and because I had questioned Pesapal, the payment platform why Glory required all my banking account including my SWIFT to give my deposit back, she blamed me for the delay. She sent emails calling me a liar, etc…gaslighting me.
CN
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing!
I spend 6 great days in the national parks.The trip was so amazing that beyond my imagination,.There is nothing to complain while l got this great journey with a good prize!
Thanks to Nelson,thanks to the agency! I
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
He was a competent, efficient, organized task master with a sense of humor and an excellent driver.
Pamoja Tours, led by Charles Oyer is a company that is diverse and comprehensive with their itineraries, culturally conscious, flexible and efficient. They did exactly what they said they would do from reservations to the National Parks, cruises, accommodations and planning.
Our diversified life affirming experience was created with input from my travel companion, myself and our extraordinarily knowledgeable guide Charles. He did everything in a timely fashion so that we had reservations for the Gorilla Habituation, Chimpanzee trekking, Golden Monkey tracking, cruises, rhino sanctuary and visits to Diann Fosseys’ museum, walk almost to her gravesite and , Genocide Museum. He arranged for us to visit his home village Mubaku, meet the people, see how they live and visit the schools. It was enriching and beyond measure to be with the big 5, LIons, Buffalo, elephants, rhinos and leopards in their natural habitat during two Safaris. It was humbling to meet and talk to the people in Mubaku to learn about the efforts being made to improve their situation. Our accommodations were comfortable. We moved every two days which was very doable. We were able to cover a lot of ground with experiences along the way so the drives were just fine.
Overall we absolutely thoroughly and completely loved this entire trip.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Experience
Welcoming staff, communication skills excellent, tour guides excellent, budget friendly, I totally enjoyed the experience and explored uganda( Kampala and other cities like Jinja). I believe when you get in touch with them you will surely enjoy your holiday/vacation in Uganda.
Thankyou promote Uganda safaris, I will surely be back next year
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful safari with experienced guide and professional throughout the booking
We can really recommend traveling with African Big Cats Safari. It was important for us to go with a local company and we did not regret our choice. They were very professional and so helpful already from our first contact when we had so many questions about where to go and how and all sorts of things. Communication worked very well in all aspects. When we arrived we were very well taken care of. Our guide Khaled was very experienced and we learned so much from him during these 6 days together in the Jeep. We saw that he was very careful about the animals but also very caring and kind towards other people. Such a nice guy! The Jeep was well equiped and our guide drove very well, even in the tricky parts. We were also very pleased with our accomodations, they were all so nice and comfy! Also the food was excellent, both for dinner and lunch. We are so greatful that African Big Cats Safaris helped us forfill our dream about a safari in Africa and to experience the fantastic wildlife. And it did not hurt that we also got to see all of the big 5 and more!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Flexible, reasonably priced, and excellent accommodation options
Booked a tour very last minute not knowing what I wanted. Regan at primate was incredibly communicative and provided different options of itineraries, starting in Rwanda and ending in Kampala. Despite only having 4 days to organize a 4 day safari that fit in a LOT of different stops, including gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, car and boat safari, the genocide museum, amongst others, it was managed superbly and without fuss. Everything was sorted and included, and I was comfortable from start to finish.
On the tour I had both a driver and a guide, and we flexibly adjusted plans when we had more time to maximize what I might see, and changed plans to fit in with the changing weather conditions to ensure we were in the parks when the weather was good. Furthermore the accommodation options were absolutely excellent, some of the best accommodation I have stayed in. In general, I can find no faults with the service. I have already recommended them to family and would 100% use them again.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Want to do it again.
Hadn't really planned to participate in any safari, but wow what an experience. Allan at Nkollo tours and safari, arranged everything from hotel pickup in Zanzibar and overnight in Arusha and then the safari which lasted 2 days in the Serengeti and then 1 day in the Ngorongoro Crater. We got to see all the big 5, and much much more. Our driver guided us very well and was very knowledgeable about all the animals we saw. Accommodation in tents was also a big part of the stay and the cook delivered good meals throughout the trip. Would definitely do it again if I'm in the area again. Thank you so much for an incredible experience.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Small group expert
We were picked up from the Vic Falls Airport by Tafara and his young understudy Norman and taken to our accommodation. That night they took us to a local Restaurant and we had some traditional African food. They also arranged for a Helicopter flight over the falls for the next day and a sunset cruise on the river Next daywe did a Vic Falls walk. Take wet weather gear as you will get wet. They also arranged for the BOMA dinner for our last evening, as they said you need to-book in advance They next days we traveled to Botswana and we were looked after well. We also had a couple of days on the delta and camped over with the Elephants
