US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Left me in Tanzania without booked hotel on 12/31/2024.
Be very careful to book through this company. Took our money advanced for a 7 day 6 nights safari for a Kenya/Tanzania package including everything: transportation, accommodation, park fees…etc. After they change the hotels on us for the first 2 nights in Kenya (since the original hotel didn’t know about us at all) soon as we entered Tanzania and changed driver at the border we had to find out that the haven’t even booked 1 hotel for the rest of the trip, no park entry and tickets either. They advised us on the phone that we should pay for the first night and they will reimburse us for it later in Nairobi and also take care of the rest of the trip. Did not happen at all, we had to pay for everything through the entire trip in Tanzania. Our driver was demanding us to pay for transportation also because his company did not get pay either at least until he dropped us off at the border. After a nasty email and and a call to the American Embassy in Tanzania at least we did not have to pay for the transportation.
In my opinion this a fraud in our case.
IN
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We felt cheated by this operator
We reached Quest safaris after an internet search without any prior reference by friends or family to organise our one week long trip to Sossusvelie and Walvis Bay,Namibia.
We were booked to take a baloon ride in Sossusvelie on August 29th but due to strong winds the baloon company cancelled the flight. We chose to take a refund rather than a baloon ride in Walvis Bay two days later. The refund has not been given to us even after four months have elapsed.
I have been in touch with Fillemon who booked us, met us at the Windhoek Airport and arranged all our bookings. He has been replying my WhatsApp messages most reluctantly and very infrequently.
In my phone conversation a couple of months back he assured a payment in a week. Nothing has happened in the interim.
The amount for two is said to be USD 1040 as per the baloon ride booking agents at the Sossusvelie Lodge where we stayed.
The One star is for the good service rendered by our driver and generally satisfactory hotel bookings.
This review has been written most reluctantly as Namibia is a beautiful country with beautiful people whom the rest of the world must help out of its poverty.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Not honest from my experience
Booked with them in October for Christmas festivities from 23rd to 28th December. Cleared everything before starting the journey.
The first red flag was delay in confirming driver details for the transfers and sharing the hotel voucher under their name.
Checked in well but on check out, we were not cleared by the hotel since they had not settled their bills with the hotel. We were detained at the hotel and surprisingly their agent (Sylvia) who was handling our account stopped picking my calls and eventually blocked me.
Later in the evening, the "Accountant" Nick (wasn't behaving like one) who was drunk called me and apologised for what had happened only to realise he was being used to distract me and buy time.
The CEO Nancy blocked us, refused to pick up our WhatsApp calls that were going through and refused to read our many messages...that's the Tone at the Top.
We ended up missing the flight we had been booked.....via a funny local airline yet my confirmation had indicated Jambo. They even send a driver to pick us up from the hotel to confuse us more.
From there your guess is right.....we were left to attend to ourselves.
Soooo, if you want drama, inconvenience, lies, dishonesty, lack of communication, being blocked....engage them at your own risk.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They almost got us killed
We went to five safaris between Kenya and Tanzania. We flew in small planes from one safari to the other. They booked us in old planes with only one pilot. During our last journey they substituted the aircraft operator with a chartered one. They plane did not take off, went off the the landing strip into the bushes. We did not got killed by miracle. Still waiting for an explanation of what happened. In general, an extremely expensive trip with very poor safety conditions. Glamping and hotel accommodations as well as food was extremely good.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Ruthless and ignorant behaviour
We didn't go with this company (and never would!) as we unfortunately had several very upsetting encounters with 2 of their jeeps (2 days in a row) while on Safari in Amboseli Nationalpark.
The driving was reckless (or is speeding in a Nationalpark and risky overtaking manouveres standard procedere?!).
The tourists impressed with arrogant behaviour but the drivers and spotters acted surprisingly similar (snapping at other drivers for example when they wouldn't make room for them although they were there waaaaay longer).
The worst thing was them being 'late' to a massive elephant crossing. There were at least 6 or 7 vehicles already waiting on the road (leaving a wide and save corridor to let the herds pass) and you could easily see the most probably path where they'd cross and both vehicles drove off-road, turned, and blocked the road.
Not only the view for us, BUT THE CORRIDOR FOR THE WILDLIFE.
The elephants stopped, got spooked, and diverted so both vehicles of 'game watcher's safaris' not only ruined this magnifiscent moment for all of us (8-10 vehicles, so roughly 20-40 other tourists; as there would have been easily 80-100 elephants that would have crossed here and we were quietly waiting for over 40 min already..) but they ignorantly and arrogantly disturbed the wildlife and forced them to split up.
The company advertises with " (..) Exploring travel wonders while protecting the natural world. (...)" and "(...) We prioritize conservation offers (...)" - both vehicles on dec 3rd and 4th definately did not!!!
FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
DRC
Hi!
I’m Sakari Hassan, (Sheikkihassan) instagram and I make videos for YouTube. I paid $5,000 to Obedi, also known as Kumbutumbu Tours, and they promised to take care of the flight tickets and hotel payments for a two-week stay. However, when we arrived in Kinshasa, the hotel had only been paid for one night, as that's required when making a reservation. Now, the person who made the booking—an associate of Obedi—has also disappeared. Do not pay them anything in advance, as written receipts won’t be of any help.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Buyer beware - you might not get what you paid for from Africa Kenya Safaris
We booked a 7-day private safari for two people with Africa Kenya Safaris, Nairobi. It covered Masai Mara (2 days), Lake nakuru/Lake Naivasha (2 days) and Samburu (2 days). It cost more than 4,000 USD and included all accommodations, food, transportation, Game drives, and park fees.
When we got to Masai Mara we were refused entry because the Park fees had not been paid. We were made to wait at the gate for more than 2 hours. When the park fees finally came through we were still not allowed in because the company had not paid the full fees. I had to pay the shortfall out of my own pocket. I have still not been reimbursed for this added cost. All attempts to contact the company went unanswered.
On the second day our guide was able to convince the Park Warden that the fees would be paid by 11 am that day. On this assurance we were admitted to the park. During our Game drive (around lunch time) our guide told us that we had been ordered back to the Park gate by the Warden because the fees had still not been paid. We returned to the gate and were made to wait more than two hours. The warden threatened to confiscate our vehicle and detain our driver. This would have left us stranded at the Park gate with no means to get back to the hotel. I desperately tried to contact Africa Kenya Safaris but got know response. Finally the park fees came through after 4 pm but again the company did not pay the full amount and our driver paid the shortfall this time so that we could continue our game drive. During this episode over two days multiple attempts were made to contact company management by phone, email and text messaging but all went unanswered. Our driver was also unable to contact his bosses. Bottom line was that lost about half our game drive time over the twp days at Maasai Mara- the most prominent park in Kenya.
Unbelievably, the same thing happened again when we got to Lake Nakuru - the Park fees were not paid. We again had to wait at the park gate till well after 2 pm - about 3 hours. We could not even access our lodge to eat lunch because the lodge was located inside the Park. We were finally able to do a severely shortened game drive that afternoon. At Lake Naivasha our activities were also shortened because the fees had not been paid on time.
Multiple attempts were made to contact the company management daily for four days but there was no response. In all we lost more than half the game viewing time over the FOUR days due to the their incompetence. No explanation for their acts of negligence has been provided by the Africa Kenya Safaris.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My experience is that this company is not genuine. The owner does not give his real information on invoices.
I traveled with Marhaba Holidays in October 2024 for my 30th birthday trip. The highlight of this trip was supposed to be the safari I organized with Marhaba Holidays. Unfortunately, the experience was disastrous from the start.
There was an issue with the vehicle, which disrupted a significant part of my stay. The program I paid for was not respected at all. I did not get to experience the hot air balloon safari, and I was supposed to have four game drives but ended up having only one.
Since mid-October, I have been trying to get a refund for the activities that were not provided. However, the director of this agency—an agency whose office locations and contact details appear to be fake—refuses to refund me.
If I can offer one piece of advice: avoid this so-called agency. They can ruin your vacation, shatter your dream of going on a safari, and steal your money. I trusted them to organize this safari, and I also trusted them when they assured me that I would be reimbursed in the weeks following my complaint. This has not happened.
Felix has not been honest with me.
Please save your money and run !!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I was not happy with my experience.
I was not happy with my experience as it relates to MoAfrika Tours.
I recommend that you take look at what is and is not part of the experience carefully, an additional cost may be required to participate in all of the safari's drives being offered while there. In the tour I took, and addition cost and reservation was required for the last morning safari drive, which led to a unfortunate complication for me. Should you decide to buy this safari package, the decision to participate in the morning safari should be made prior to departure. The problem that I have is that there is an additional cost, and reservation needed at all for this drive.
4day Luxury Radisson Kruger Safari, has a stated cost of $882 to $970pp(USD), however you can see here that an additional cost is required for the last morning safari drive. "On your last morning, you have the choice to unwind at your hotel for the day or depart on an optional 3-hour morning safari adventure (additional R1250)."
Make sure you understand what you are buying. I would not recommend MoAfrika to anyone that I know, or encountered looking for a safari. Caution, and buyer beware.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
"Unprofessional & Unreliable Safari Experience"
I would not recommend Gladiola Adventure to anyone planning a safari. They don’t own any vehicles and rely entirely on renting from others. Worse, they fail to pay the vehicle owners, leaving many frustrated and unpaid.
The vehicles they use are often in poor condition, which not only affects the comfort of the trip but also raises serious safety concerns. It’s clear they don’t prioritize proper maintenance or quality service.
This level of unprofessionalism is unacceptable, and I strongly advise choosing a more reliable and trustworthy safari company for your adventure.