35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing service: our guides were attentive, knowledgeable and kind.
The experience working with Afrishare Trekking was fantastic. Ibra made sure that communication was clear from the booking of our trip all the way through to our last day there. The waterfall hike and Safari were particular highlights and our safari driver/guide, Eddie, made sure we got the most out of our experience. Overall, fantastic!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice experience in our first safari ever!
We went to Murchison Falls. The driver Juma was very professional and fun. He knew everything very well and we didn’t need any ranger. We were the first that day to see the lions, it was amazing. The lodge where we stayed was very nice and the staff as well. It was really peaceful. Though, if you want some actions, it’s not the place.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A few words of caution
I am reproducing below my note to the Kenya Association of Tour Operators. Please review it before making a decision as to whether you should use All Seasons for your travel planning.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I write to you regarding my recent experience with All Seasons Safaris & Tours, and it’s owner Alex Thuku. I am not sure if I am reaching the correct office to report what I think of as patently unethical behavior. If I should be contacting an entirely different office kindly direct me to the correct one.
In the interest of brevity I will summarize the charge. I contacted All Seasons for travel arrangements to Uganda, and Tanzania back in June of 2018. Of the total estimate of $ 23,940 I made a deposit of $8,692 soon after. The trip was to commence in February 2019. The quote included all lodges, air travel in east Africa, park fees and guide services. In September I was informed that all bookings had been made and were confirmed. The balance of payments were made by late November 2018.
We arrived in Entebbe on February 5, 2019 and realized immediately that very few of the arrangements that had been promised and confirmed had been made. It set the local agent in Uganda (James Kateeba of Travellust) scrambling to just get us to our first destination. For the next twelve days we had to pursue Mr. Thuku on a daily basis. I have copied below my note to him on February 13th to give you a flavor of the dilemma we faced almost every day during our journey.
“Alex, though all of this messaging back and forth, you seem to miss an essential fact. You betrayed a customer trust by misappropriating his funds, and using them for personal needs. The funds were to be used to confirm, and pay all of our travel and stay in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Instead, you used the funds elsewhere, scrambling to make our arrangements day by day, after we landed. We in turn have had ten days of constant anxiety as you were trying to stay just one day ahead of us, and finally could not even do that. To sum it up, you have ruined a long anticipated, and carefully planned vacation which cost us a significant amount of money. Your partners in Uganda and Tanzania, and I dealt with you as a man of integrity. You have proven to be anything but.”
In addition to Mr. Kateeba in Uganda, Mr. Omar Mshana of Tanzania Insideout Discovery, Patricia of Kibo Palace Hotel and Junia O’kubasu of Serena Nairobi were all similarly inconvenienced by Mr. Thuku’s almost cavalier approach to his obligation. Our trip finally reached a point where he no longer could pay for the services for which he had already received payment, months ahead of time. I ended up making duplicate payments for a number of hotels and airlines so that we could conclude the trip. I have a complete list of emails with Mr. Thuku, What’s App messages and bank transfer documents for every aspect of the charge I level here. Please advise me if I should forward them to your attention.
I am deeply disappointed in my experience with All Seasons. In addition to the substantial additional cost I incurred, and the trying days just to gain clarity on what exactly was happening around us, I was left with a sour taste in my use of a local tour operator. About three years ago (when I was conducting a workshop for senior executives for government and industry leaders in Nairobi), a senior executive strongly urged me to support and use local operators for my travel plans in east Africa. This experience certainly gives me pause. I would be much more cautious, in using or recommending that any of my family or friends do so.
I am displeased enough with the entire affair that I mean to do all I can to ensure that Mr. Thuku and All Seasons are held accountable for their inappropriate conduct. I would hate to see someone to have to go through the same experience. An equally disturbing aspect of our experience is that it casts a long shadow on local operators in Kenya, in general. I am not aware of which the correct regulatory (or self regulatory) agency is within which to formally lodge a complaint, and to look to recover the additional money I had to spend to duplicate what was already sent to Mr. Thuku. I would be grateful for any direction you can provide me.
Please also advise me if I should also drop a note to the Ministry of Travel and Wildlife. I am happy to do so.
Thank you for your attention to my complaint.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This has been the best tour I have had in my life as it is organised and reliable in all measures.
Manu and your Regional Tours team are just amazing, many thanks for perfectly arranging and executing our incredible 7 day holiday in Zanzibar. We have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves discovering so much at Zanzibar.
We found out about regional tours from the positive reviews you have safaribookings and tripadvisor and we have not been disappointed. We noted your attention to detail and passion to ensure that our stay was smooth and that we got the best time.
We spent 3 days exploring stonetown with our brilliant guide Omar, whose intricate knowledge of Zanzibar was amazing during the stone town, prison island, spice and Jozani forest tours. He then drove us to Matemwe beach where we had been booked in the spectacular Matemwe Lodge where we spent the next four days relaxing in the secluded beach.
This has been an Amazing holiday, a big thank you to Regional Tours for making it happen!!!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
The tour was amazing! Our guide David made sure we hung around in the park long enough to see all the animals, with a great eyesight to spot all of them, even a lion! He was really kind and helpful with everything.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The guide made us feel extremely comfortable with the entire experience.
Everything was great. The one thing I would say is to have an emergency phone number before the trip starts.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazingly wonderful 6-day itinerary to Kibale, QENP, Bwindi
I organised my solo travel to Uganda many months in advance with the main goal to see the gorillas and Kombi were one of the first tour operator I contacted.
They were amazing from the beginning, answering all my silly questions very promptly, giving lots of very useful details and suggesting different itineraries with different options.
I eventually chose a 6-day itinerary which included chimp tracking in Kibale, safaris in Queen Elizabeth, Gorilla tracking in Bwindi.
My guide driver Jonathan was marvellous! The nicest man!
All the activities planned are incredible, the nature lodges are incredible, the chimps, gorillas are incredible. Incredible!
I enjoyed my holidays so much because Uganda is an amazing country to visit but also because Kombi made it extremely easy for me. Once we agreed on an itinerary and a quote, everything goes smoothly.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent 2 days with Makasa
We had a great experience with Makasa! Nothing to complain about. Everything was from the beginning very competent and professionell. Selma‘s organisation was perfect. The safari with makasa was worth every dollar! Last but not least, our guide Humphrey! We’ve never meet someone with such a big and sincere heart! He let us feel so welcome and safe. He is the reason that our 2 days safari trip was AMAZING! He tried so hard to find lions for us. He kept his promises. We are looking so forward to book again with Makasa.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The price is reasonable and the company is trustworthy.
Very good access to the agency, the price is cheap, the driver service is very good. Customer service reply is very timely! We have had a perfect holiday. The boss PAUL is very good! Thank you!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing
Amazing experience with an incredible guide. So lucky to saw the big five.