20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Car flipped, itinerary changed, poor communication
Absolutely DO NOT book with Suricata. The gist: Itinerary changed last minute, despite us booking 7 months in advance. Our car crashed on day one, and management did NOT contact us until we reached out to management directly. We were left stranded at the Serengeti gate for 2 hours after. We had to call multiple Suricata numbers to try to get a hold of someone to help us.
First, despite having booked 7 months in advance for the 5 day mid range safari, the company changed our itinerary last minute letting us know the evening before. We were given different explanations by different people, but ultimately we believe it was due to overbooking and not enough rooms at our planned lodging, Suricata Boma Lodge. We believe this because another tour group from Suricata went on the planned itinerary (booking only weeks before), and had to share a room with a stranger they met on the tour because lodging was full.
Going back to the accident. On day 1, we felt our tour guide was driving recklessly, around 80+ km/hr on a very bumpy road in Ngorongoro Crater. He lost control, we veered off the road, and ultimately the car flipped on the side. Our guide had another driver from another company drive us 2 hours to Serengeti, which is where we were supposed to go to (on day 1) for the game drive after the itinerary change. He stayed behind with the car and was hesitant to give us his phone number. Upon arrival to the Serengeti gate, the other driver dropped us off, and said he wouldn't wait for us to figure out what the plan with Suricata was. We started calling any Suricata number we had, but we could not get in contact with anyone from Suricata, including our initial guide. It's important to mention that the company did NOT contact any of us at all, not during the 2 hour drive to Serengeti after the accident. We called multiple different numbers, none of whom were very responsive. We had to ask another Suricata tour group driver who drove by the Serengeti gate to help us contact management, and it was at that point they said they were going to send someone to pick us up. We waited an additional 2 hours at Serengeti gate entrance to be picked up and dropped off at Tanzania bush camp. This happened to be the wrong location because our names weren't listed and so we had to share a tent with another couple on our tour group we just met.
The days that followed were better, but multiple things came up that were frustrating.
1- We all felt SO unsafe being on the roads again after, and not all cars Suricata provided had working seatbelts!!
2- We changed guides almost every day, but WE had to ask management every day to figure out what the plan was and who our guide was. They NEVER reached out first.
3- Each game drive was probably only 3 hours long.
4- On our drive to Arusha, the Suricata driver pulled us to the side of the road and asked us to stop at the community center so he could get commission. It felt like he was pressuring us.
5- We finally met with one of the managers of Suricata at the end of the 5 day trip. He ultimately agreed to only give us 20% refund because it was 1 day refund. That felt like it was the bare minimum.
The safari themselves were good, but of course this experience itself is amazing. But you don't need Suricata to give you this experience, so I urge you, if you are reading this, DO NOT BOOK WITH SURICATA! They are a large company here in Tanzania, but their customer service, management, and communication is AWFUL. You will feel better cared for with another company.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We believe it is fraud
WARNING – PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING!
We live in Dubai, and due to the war and the resulting travel disruptions, we were unable to leave the country as planned. As a result, we had to cancel our safari reservation in Tanzania.
The company promised us a refund, but 7–8 months have passed and we still haven't received our money. They keep making excuses, giving us false promises, and postponing the refund again and again. They also ignore our phone calls and refuse to respond properly to our messages.
This experience has been extremely frustrating and unacceptable. We trusted this company, paid our money, and have been waiting for our refund for months without a solution.
Please be extremely careful before booking with this company. Take the time to read the reviews carefully, because there have also been complaints about this person in previous years.
Based on our experience, we feel completely misled and believe this conduct is fraudulent. We strongly advise other travelers to do their research carefully and think twice before sending any money.
Do not ignore the negative reviews. Learn from other people's experiences before making a booking.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Dishonest
One day before the trip they spring on us a price change of Ksh13000. On a trip that was confirmed as fully paid three days before. Buyer beware
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We felt lied to
In our experience they are very unorganized and change their times all the time and point fingers at everyone but themselves. They stresses me out totally. They arranged a tour which included a city tour that didn’t happen. The guide told them it did!! Really would we lie that something wasn’t done ! To what end?
I say BUYER BEWARE THERE ARE BETTER COMPANIES THAT ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE! Imagine the guide saying he took us on a city tour and he didn’t and that was that!
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Sold as a Luxury Safari — Serious Safety Failures, Disappointing Service, and No Resolution
We booked an eight-day private luxury safari with Meijo Safaris in Tanzania, paying approximately USD 8,500 for two people. Unfortunately, the overall experience fell considerably short of what was advertised, and the company’s handling of our complaints became an additional source of disappointment.
Accommodation and food
Although the accommodations were generally acceptable, only the final lodge genuinely reflected the luxury standards we expected for the price paid.
The lunches were particularly disappointing. Food quality was poor, portions were extremely limited, and the meals were inconsistent with the standards of a luxury safari.
The company’s director later explained that meals were prepared by individual lodges rather than directly by Meijo Safaris. However, we contracted and paid Meijo Safaris for the complete experience. Selecting suppliers and ensuring that their services meet the promised standards is the responsibility of the tour operator.
An unacceptable disagreement over contracted services
Wine was expressly included in our written booking agreement. Nevertheless, during the trip, the company attempted to remove it, citing increased fuel costs.
We were placed in the absurd position of having to argue for something we had already purchased, while the company presented its eventual provision as an exceptional courtesy.
The director subsequently acknowledged that removing wine had been a deliberate business decision to compensate for increased operating expenses.
This episode seriously undermined our confidence in the company and raised questions about whether other aspects of the contracted experience were being compromised for financial reasons.
The most serious incident: Ol Doinyo Lengai
One of the main reasons we chose this itinerary was to climb Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania’s extraordinary active volcano.
We traveled to the remote Lake Natron region and spent two nights there primarily to undertake this climb.
Unfortunately, the experience became a serious safety concern.
Our local Maasai mountain guide, Lekaya, repeatedly fell asleep — three times during the ascent and twice during the descent.
We became increasingly concerned about his physical condition and our safety. Ultimately, we decided to abandon the ascent because we no longer felt confident continuing under his guidance.
This was not simply a failed attempt to reach the summit because of weather conditions or our own physical limitations. Our decision was directly influenced by the condition and behavior of the professional responsible for guiding us.
Photographic evidence was provided to the company.
The investigation and the company’s response
We personally raised our concerns with Meijo Safaris’ director, Daudi, at the end of the safari.
Following several exchanges, the company acknowledged that Lekaya had been feeling unwell during the climb but had not informed us.
It also acknowledged that the originally expected mountain guide, Adebayo, had not accompanied us and that the company had not been informed in advance of the substitution.
According to Daudi, the explanation obtained from the local guides was unsatisfactory, and the company subsequently suspended its cooperation with Adebayo.
These admissions raise legitimate questions about guide selection, supervision, safety procedures, and communication.
However, the explanations provided did not adequately address the fact that the guide repeatedly fell asleep during the ascent, before we made the decision to turn back.
It is also important to distinguish the mountain guides from Ruben, our regular safari driver-guide. We personally praised Ruben to the company’s director for his work during the safari. Our principal safety complaint concerns the mountain operation and the company’s responsibility for organizing it.
Apologies without a satisfactory resolution
To his credit, Daudi eventually apologized, acknowledged shortcomings in the experience, and expressed a willingness to discuss compensation.
However, the proposed financial resolution was disappointing.
The company initially offered USD 500, approximately 6% of what we paid. Later, it referred to refunding the USD 200 mountain fee, without presenting a sufficiently clear or comprehensive resolution of the broader complaint.
Refunding only the direct fee for an unsuccessful climb does not adequately recognize that an entire section of our itinerary — including travel to Lake Natron and two nights of accommodation — was planned primarily around that activity.
Nor does it address the deficiencies in food quality, contractual commitments, and operational oversight.
Despite extensive correspondence, apologies, and explanations, we have not reached a satisfactory resolution.
Final assessment
Tanzania is an extraordinary country. Its magnificent landscapes, wildlife, and natural beauty made this journey memorable.
We also encountered dedicated individuals, particularly our safari guide Ruben, whose efforts deserve recognition.
Unfortunately, those positive experiences do not excuse the shortcomings of the company responsible for organizing the trip.
A luxury safari should deliver more than expensive accommodations and access to extraordinary wildlife. It should provide reliable service, transparent commercial practices, appropriate safety standards, and effective accountability when something goes wrong.
What disappointed us most was not merely that mistakes occurred, but that a serious incident involving our safety and the loss of a central part of our itinerary remained inadequately resolved after extensive discussions.
Meijo Safaris sold us a luxury experience but failed to consistently deliver the quality, professionalism, and operational reliability that such a description implies.
I hope this review helps future travelers ask the right questions, particularly regarding accommodation standards, included services, mountain-guide arrangements, and what happens when a significant part of the contracted itinerary cannot be completed.
Tanzania deserves to be experienced at its best. Unfortunately, Meijo Safaris did not deliver the standard we were promised.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A disastrous safari that felt like a scam
An appalling experience with Everlasting African Adventure. We paid a substantial amount for a five-day safari through Tarangire, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. The vehicle was dirty and in very poor condition; repeated breakdowns, delays, poor planning and misleading explanations cost us precious time and made the whole trip deeply stressful.
On 17 August, after we had entered the Serengeti and had lunch, the vehicle broke down. We were told the repair would take about 30 minutes. Instead, we were kept outside the park until around 5 p.m., losing practically the entire afternoon game drive. We were then taken to a campsite for other passengers and reached our lodge around 7:30 p.m., after dark. After the vehicle came back from the mechanic, we personally saw water being added to the radiator. Continuing for several more days in a vehicle that had broken down, with no clear reassurance that the problem had been properly fixed, felt dangerous and completely unacceptable.
The company promised to make up the lost safari time the following day. It did not. We left the park at about 2:30 p.m. and were back at our hotel by 4, with no meaningful extra game-drive time. On 19 August, we were told to be ready for a 6:20 a.m. pickup, but we did not leave until around 8. First the driver blamed the other passengers; later the company blamed fog. The other passengers told us they had also been waiting for the driver. We later heard that the vehicle was still being repaired overnight. The conflicting explanations and lack of basic communication were infuriating.
The group was badly organised from the start. Two passengers had booked a shorter itinerary and had flights to catch, while the rest of us had paid for the full five days. Their schedule repeatedly cut into ours. At Ngorongoro, after only about two hours in the crater, we were told around 11 a.m. that the group had to leave because those passengers needed to catch a flight. That flight had been booked by the company. The result was that the rest of us lost time on a safari we had paid to experience fully.
The guiding was also extremely poor. In the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, we received very little information about the parks, wildlife or places we were visiting. Other Italian travellers in our group were dissatisfied too and filed complaints.
Then came the promised compensation. At the end of the safari, the company committed to paying us USD 400: USD 200 immediately and the remaining USD 200 by the end of September. We have received **nothing**. After hundreds of messages asking for the money the company promised, we have had no proper response and they have stopped replying. We feel cheated. In our view, making a clear promise, paying nothing and then ignoring customers is the conduct of **SCAMMERS**.
A safari costs a lot of money. When you choose to invest in your holiday, choose the operator carefully: the company’s organisation and decisions can make or ruin the entire trip. I hope this review helps protect future travellers from losing their money and having their holiday ruined as ours was. Based on our experience, I would not recommend Everlasting African Adventure.
TW
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unnotified Hotel Downgrades, Unpaid Refund ($505 USD), and False KATO Claims
Key Takeaway:
Do NOT book with Africa Bed of Roses Safaris or its managing director, James. While our dedicated driver-guide Milton was wonderful and professional, we feel the owner deceived us intentionally, with unnotified hotel downgrades, kept the price differences, and has repeatedly defaulted on refunding us $505 USD.
Unnotified Hotel Downgrades & Unrefunded Price Gaps ($505 USD)
We paid in full for a 10-day private safari for two ($7,740 USD total). Without any prior notice, James downgraded our contracted accommodations:
Lake Naivasha: We contracted Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, but at check-in were dropped off at Crescent Camp without any prior explanation (price difference: $215 USD).
Amboseli: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge was secretly downgraded to AA Lodge Amboseli for 2 nights (price difference: $290 USD).
James admitted in writing via WhatsApp that he owed us a $505 USD refund. However, despite promising multiple payment dates (Sep 28, Oct 2, Oct 9), he repeatedly delayed with excuses and has not paid back a single cent.
KATO Membership Claims
The company’s official website prominently displays the “KATO Bonded” logo. However, we could not find Africa Bed of Roses Safaris in the official registry of KATO (Kenya Association of Tour Operators).
3. Rebranded Operator with Past License Revocation
James previously operated Twinkle Star Tours and Safaris Limited, which had its license revoked by Kenyan authorities around September 2025 following numerous complaints of unpaid client refunds and financial defaults under identical patterns. Africa Bed of Roses Safaris is merely a newly rebranded operation established in 2026.
Conclusion:
Always verify an operator’s standing directly on the official KATO database, and stay away from any business run by James. Our praise goes solely to our driver-guide Milton, but booking with this management carries severe financial risks.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Avoid Kayash: wrong lodge, hidden fees, no accountability
We booked a 2-person private 8-day/7-night safari with Kayash Adventure through SafariBookings. We planned the route ourselves: Amboseli, Ngorongoro, Days 3–5 in the Northern Serengeti for the wildebeest river crossings, and Days 6–7 in the Central Serengeti. They quoted over USD 10,000 and arranged the lodges. The trip did not deliver the core experience.
Problems:
1. Hidden payment fee: Paying the 30% deposit through their link added about 4% (USD 123.30). A bank transfer would have cost us about CNY 200. They did not disclose this in advance.
2. Poor contract discipline: After the deposit, they asked for an extra early payment to “ease hotel pressure,” even though the contract did not require it. They accepted our refusal, but it showed a lack of reliability.
3. Wrong lodge location, no compensation: They placed us at Kuoom Serengeti Lodge, which is in the Western Serengeti corridor, not the Northern Serengeti we had booked. They later admitted that “the Western Serengeti was initially mistakenly referred to as the Northern Serengeti.” From Kuoom, the drive to the Mara River took over 3 hours one way, 6+ hours round trip. They refused to compensate or move us unless we paid more. We had to stay there.
4. Balloon problem: Because of the lodge location, we could not do the Northern Serengeti balloon as requested; the balloon could only be near Kuoom. We removed the USD 1,000 balloon cost and dealt with the balloon company directly.
5. Missed highlights: As a result, we effectively spent five days in the Central/Western Serengeti and never reached the Northern Serengeti. Both key highlights—the Mara River crossing and the Northern balloon—were lost. The game drives felt repetitive and exhausting.
Lodges arranged by Kayash were mediocre and had issues:
1. Zita Tanzania Wild Camps, about USD 300/night for 2 incl. taxes. Okay, good environment and friendly staff, but not exceptional.
2. Kuoom Serengeti Lodge, about USD 390/night. Staff were good and the dome chalet had a beautiful sunrise view, but it was extremely hot by day and cold at night, and there was no Wi-Fi in the rooms. Poor value for the price.
3. Amboseli Sopa Lodge, about USD 259/night. Newly renovated with a strong chemical smell that stung our eyes. Avoid.
Overall, Kayash’s planning, accountability, communication, and value for money were very poor. The lodges they selected were generally disappointing and did not match the level expected for the price. If you care about the Northern Serengeti and the migration, confirm lodge coordinates in writing before paying, or book your own lodges. We would not use Kayash again.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Only good experience I personally had was our driver Dennis Hinga.
I personally had a horrible experience with Jockey tours. Not only were they 2 hours late to pick us up with no call to tell us there was a problem, the room they booked for us, the water in the shower ran out and the pump broke so only 1 person got a shower the 2nd day. When asking about the drinks that were included the reply was read your itinerary. We did before the trip but overlooked it. There were no apologies for the communication. The only good thing with Jockey tours was Dennis Hinga. He was super nice, knowledgeable, and helpful. He made the trip worth it.
This travel agency is an absolute SCAM
We booked travel shore for a stay in South Africa and Tanzania. Throughout our stay, we found that some hotel rooms and meals were half paid for. When we got to Tanzania and on the day of departure we consistently asked for our flight tickets only to be told they actually hadn’t been booked and that the money was gone. We had to take a bus from Dar es Salaam to Nairobi!
I strongly advise that you head the warnings given here and never book with this company