DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
NEVER AGAIN with pebble travel ! ! ! ! ! !
2 nights for almost 2K USD at Emayian Luxury Camp for 2 on All inclusive Basis (06th - 08th of July in 2025). Transport & Game Drives in a joining 4x4 Landcruiser - Pick up & Drop off Nairobi CBD.
We were collected from Nairobi in the early morning in a Jeep with a defective suspension of the wheels. That made us people riding in the jeep feeling as there was no suspension at all. It felt like a very hard full body massage for more than 10 hours a day. I know offroad riding - I love it even with motorcycles on outdoor racetracks - but our exprience was not funny anymore. It was only damn hard shaking like you were throwing to the inner parts of the jeep - all the time long.
When we were collected in the morning from our camp the jeep was almost full of people. There were only two seats remaining free for us - of couse the worst seats in the very back of the jeep which are made for children I guess but not for adults. And we were three adults sitting there like "sardines in oil pressed close to each other". As I am 1,81m tall people can maybe imagine how I felt there in the very back of the jeep being very hard shaked daily for more than 10 hours and meanwhile not having space even for only sitting straight with my legs. Unfortunately this destroyed my mood even if the animals that we've seen were great (Lions, a Leopard, Hippos, Giraffes, Crocodiles, Elephants, Zebras, Wildebeests). It made me really getting angry when we met other jeeps and I saw that there were less people sitting in these jeeps and as far as I could see all of them had more space than I had.
The people at Emayian Luxury Camp were very friendly and the food there was also amazing. They really do a great job, we love them and have respect! The only negative point at the camp was the jacuzzi only having lukewarm water because of the winter month - not really warm.
At the end when we were going back to Nairobi we were collected in another jeep with a functional suspension. That felt like heaven when compared to the jeep we had to drive the days before at the safari!!!
As an engineer working at a car manufacturer I know when the suspension of a car is defective but when I complained about that and asked for a compensation payment of 300 or 400 USD (do not remember exactly, sorry for that!) then I was only told from pebble travel (I do not say any names here) that I would be wrong, that the suspension would be good at the jeep and also that the jeep is receiving regular maintenance - that was like a punch in my face and nothing more than an outrage towards me especially when I think of all the money I paid.
Sorry, I can only laugh about that statement and I do not believe that you were telling me the truth in this matter!
So think what you want of my review here.
I hope people out there read it and overthink the idea of booking such a safari at Pebble Travel. Always take care please!
Regards
Armin
Very disappointing
Sadly we didn’t book with this company but instead got switched to them the night before our safari trip.
I’m sure the positive reviews are for people that gut the trip they were offered. We had a mix of 3 & 4 day safari bookings so our well planned trip turned into a nightmare trying to accommodate a 3 day tour with different accommodation to ours meaning very little time on a game drive.
Our driver (he was not a guide as was not interested in telling us any information, more interested in texting permanently) was not interested at all.
One day the truck broke down three times only being fixed when another driver came to our aid to fix it. These things happen, but Not once were we told what was happening leading to people worrying about being stuck in the middle of nowhere.
Communication was very poor throughout. One day we didn’t even stay in the camp we were meant to but again weren’t told anything.
Overall a very poor experience compared to the many other safari trips we have taken with other companies
Be careful - we were switched company for an inferior tour not what we paid for
Bitterly disappointed - be very careful with this company.
Leading up to our trip, Emanuel was very helpful and responsive and planned what seemed a great 4 day safari trip. A nice route planned to share out a lot of driving with game drives. Early starts at 6.00 which is what we wanted as there’s more to see when doing early game drives. 6-7 hours a day game drive sounded perfect. Nice reviews.
Sadly the day before we started the safari, it all started to go wrong. Emanuel came to our hotel to collect the cash balance due. Then informed us that as he hadn’t sold all places he had moved our booking to another company…. Assured us it would be equally as good. As we were now in Tanzania with no hotel etc we had no option but to accept.
Later that evening he called to say that one of the three couples on the trip were doing a 3 day safari not 4, so to accommodate them the route was changing????
This resulted in the first day no less than an 8 hour drive to the Serengeti to then have 2 hours game drive viewing animals. Not the 2 hour drive followed by 6-7 hours game drive.
We were then dumped at our camp site as they also mixed couples from different accommodations so they had to leave us early to take the other guests to their accommodation.
Day 2 - advertised as 06.00 start and 6-7 hours game viewing. We were collected at 07.45 so missed all early morning viewing. We then returned to the site to collect the chef at 10.30 so less than three hours game viewing. We then drove, flat out, to the next area of Ngorongoro for 5 hours - stopping twice to see some lions and a cheetah. On complaint, we were told that this drive between areas is also game drive??? At speeds of up to 80Kph on dirt roads it’s impossible to view game and take pics etc. we were then dropped at camp site which is just a field (that’s fine as we booked that) at 16.00 and that was the end of the day??
On this route the truck also broke down three times - absolutely no communication from driver as to why or what was happening, another truck actually had to stop and fix the problem as our driver had no idea. These things happen but in the middle of nowhere guests were worried and some communication would have helped. We did ask what was happening and were completely ignored.
Day 3 - Ngorongoro crater we had been looking forward to for a long time. Again instead of the 6.00 start as promised, we started entry into the crater at past 8.00 so missed the early morning action. The worst efforts of viewing possible with some really poor decisions on routes and where to go. To our shock we then left the crater at 12.00, some 4 hours instead of the advertised 6/7 hours, because we had to return to drop off the guests doing 3 days. Another 4 hours high speed drive that they claim was game viewing to drop one couple back.
Our “camp site” this night was not as advertised, it was basically a strip of grass next to a major road in a town!!! Not quite the in park outdoor experience we envisaged.
Day 4 - Tarangire park - we collected a new couple for their first day whilst we were on our last day - this meant expectations were completely different as different parts of trip. We got to the gate at 08.00, then somehow whilst lots of other vehicles entered the park, our driver took an hour to get a permit sorted (no idea why) so we entered the park at 10.00. Pointless as now so hot the major animals were all in hiding. About 5 hours here including lunch again not the advertised 6/7 hours.
Our driver was not a guide. Frequently ignoring questions. Offering no information on animals or areas we were visiting. Spending far too long when we did stop because he was constantly texting or on phone. The power outlets on truck did not work so couldn’t charge anything nor did the cooler as advertised.
I contacted Emanuel after day 2 to try and resolve the matter before the last two days. I was told that the driving to each place is a game drive. Personally I see game drive as viewing animals, taking pictures etc not driving flat out on bumpy roads.
I enquired with our driver to be told I should have booked a different trip and basically to shut up.
On further contact with Emanuel I wax then told to “relax” and “hakuna matata”. Not quite the professional response we wanted having paid A LOT of money.
It is such a shame as this was a dream trip if it had been delivered as promised. I’m sure all of the positive reviews were customers that actually got Crater Explorers and not another company and had other guests on the same trip and accommodation.
In no way should we have been switched to a different inferior company nor mixing of groups with different accomodation or times of safari as the mix doesn’t work.
Then the customer service from Emanuel at Crater Explorers and also the driver from the other company were so poor you cannot believe it in this day.
Please do your research and ensure you will actually be getting the trip you have booked and not being switched around as we were
KW
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Serious Booking Issues and Unresolved Refund – Highly Disappointing
I would like to share my experience as a serious warning to anyone considering booking with this company. I booked a safari package with them and paid a deposit in good faith. However, from the moment I requested confirmation of my hotel booking, the situation became extremely concerning.
When I insisted on receiving an official confirmation, they sent me a document claiming the hotel was booked and paid for. To verify, I contacted the hotel directly — and they confirmed that no reservation had been made under my name.
This situation was especially distressing and unacceptable because I was traveling with my wife and our four children. Being misled and having no confirmed arrangements while responsible for a family made the situation extremely stressful and potentially dangerous.
When I approached the company about this issue, they ignored several of my messages. I even went to their office in person before the trip, and they claimed the staff member responsible for my booking had resigned and that they would “get back to me.” They never did.
Because of their failure to provide what I paid for, I had to make new arrangements and book my trip through another company. Afterwards, they told me I would receive a refund — but despite many emails and follow-ups, they kept delaying and never refunded my money. Eventually, they stopped responding altogether.
My experience with this company has been extremely disappointing, unprofessional, and stressful, especially while traveling with children.
Please be careful and think twice before booking with them.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Does not deliver what is promised
We booked a 3 day Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls Safari for my husband and I and our two adult children. All communication prior was great. Since we were arriving early we didn’t need any airport pickups but arranged to meet on the morning of our first day. Then two days prior the tour operator messaged us that he was having issues providing us with the quality of tour he promised and would like us to cancel our booking through Viator and then just pay him the cash for the tour on the day. There was no way I was doing that and told him so. He kept up with the messages asking us to reconsider all the while I was saying no, I paid for the tour almost 12 months beforehand and couldn’t just come up with over $4000 in two days. I reported him to Viator and asked them to sort it out, cancel him and find us another tour as we were travelling and did not want or need the stress of this. In the end Forche Tours cancelled our booking the day before it was supposed to start, and then Viator did nothing about getting us a new tour. I ended up having to find day trips and we did our own thing clips we my following the tour we were supposed to be on. We were very disappointed and unimpressed by the whole experience and would NEVER recommend this tour company to anyone.
TW
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
dishonest and irresponsible
I strongly NOT recommend you booking your Kenya safari through Twinkle Star or its manager, James.
Based on our experience, he is either financially unreliable or intentionally dishonest — and either possibility is enough reason to stay away.
Here is what happened during our trip:
1. James disappeared after final payment
We booked an August 2025 safari and paid a 40% deposit in November 2024, then the remaining 60% a month before departure. After paying in full, I repeatedly asked James for hotel confirmation letters to make sure everything is OK.
However, he ignored messages, gave excuses, or disappeared for days. Even on the day we flew to Kenya, he still hadn’t provided any official confirmations. I contacted the hotels myself; two replied, but the one in Masai Mara refused to confirm anything unless through James — a clear red flag.
2. Hotel payment was not made
The day we arrived at our lodge in Masai Mara, staff informed us that James hadn’t paid for our rooms, and we could not check in. After almost two hours of calls, the issue was “resolved.”
This was especially frustrating because I had asked James about hotel payments the moment we met in Kenya, and he confidently said everything was settled. It was a lie!
3. Park entry fees were also unpaid
After two days inside Masai Mara National Reserve, our driver told us James had never paid our park fees. The park had only allowed us in because James kept promising to pay “soon.”
On the third day, they lost patience and detained us in the park administration parking lot. They insisted we pay the fees ourselves and even threatened that we might have to sleep in the car. We clearly didn't have that much money on us, even we have that's not our obligation to pay the fee.
We kept calling James but he just ignored calls, made vague excuses, or said he would “handle it tomorrow.”
The payment was finally made the next afternoon after we spent our night in park, and we were allowed to continue our safari.
4. Refund excuses for three months
Because of these incidents, our mood was ruined and we canceled a night safari and requested a USD 60 per person refund that James promised to send. We did not even ask for any compensation for the day we lost owing to the detainment, because James convinced us he is just a business man in financial crisis that time.
BUT Three months later, he still hasn’t refunded anything. Every reminder results in the same empty message: “I will send it by xx/xx, my brother.”
I am writing this review three months after the trip not only because I finally realized he never intended to refund us, but also because during these months, he shamelessly kept asking me to give him a five-star review—as if the refund would magically appear after I helped boost his ratings.
Honestly, who would give five stars after going through all this?
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This agency isn't very reliable as soon as there's a problem (caused by their own mistake), they do
I used Chenggong for a 3-night private safari. The pre-departure service was good; we agreed on the accommodations best suited to us and our budget.
On the morning of the first day, they showed up on time, and we began the tour. The basic organization was good; I was initially happy with the service offered, BUT THEN THERE WERE SOME UNPLEASANT SURPRISES!
Already 20 days before departure, the agreed-upon price had changed because I'd been informed of the increase in park entrance fees: we'd have to pay an additional $60 per person. Of course, I wasn't thrilled with the increase, but I realized it wasn't anyone's fault, and I paid the extra money. I simply asked the agency to accommodate us with the price, given the already high price we were paying (remember, it was a private safari). They simply ignored this question and pretended nothing had happened.
The first day in Amboseli was fine, until we arrived at Tsavo East National Park, where we discovered that CHENGGONG HAD NOT PAID FOR ALL THE PARK ENTRANCE FEES: we were missing one day of entry, as our lodge was inside the park (and they had recommended it because it was cheaper than others outside the park). After contacting the agency, they began to argue, claiming that it was a new feature of the park that we had to pay for the first day's stay only, due to the price increase on October 1st, for which we had already paid a premium. I don't know whether to believe them; the basic problem is that even if it were true, they should have known, it's their job, AND THEY HAD TO TELL US. They completely ignored it, or pretended not to know. Had we known, we could have agreed to pay more or change our accommodations for one outside the park.
After speaking with Chenggong, they even refused to admit it was their mistake, saying, "It depends on the park." Shouldn't the agency I book through know about it? So, why did I pay them?
In that situation, we had no choice but to pay: the accommodation was already paid for, and by not entering, we would have lost that money too.
I repeatedly asked the agency to acknowledge their mistake and pay them or refund us (at least a portion, to make things easier).
RESULT: WE HAD TO PAY ANOTHER $180 on top of the nearly $2,000 we'd already paid for a package that included "all park fees," but that wasn't the case.
The icing on the cake: at the end of the safari, we were supposed to take a morning train from Voi to Mombasa, but Chenggong, WITHOUT TELLING US, booked the evening train, ruining all my plans. Anyway, once we took the train to Mombasa, there was supposed to be a driver to pick us up from there and take us to Watamu, also organized by this agency. Result: we arrived in Mombasa and not only was the driver not there, he hadn't even told us he was late, so I feared no one would come. It was late at night, the taxi drivers were getting very pushy, and I didn't have our driver's number. Chenggong didn't answer: he had to call a local to get in touch. The driver, who I don't think had even been notified, arrived at the station more than an hour late, laughed in our faces when he saw us exhausted and angry, and drove terribly. Chenggong claims he was stuck in traffic: first of all, if he had been serious, he would have left earlier given the city traffic; secondly, he should have at least told us. Finally, more than an hour's delay is unacceptable after all these mistakes!
We arrived in Watamu after midnight, so even our plans for the next day were dashed.
For days, RIDICULOUS excuses followed, but never a hint of fixing the situation, or even refunding us part of the money we lost due to their mistake, something they didn't properly inform us about. I asked for two weeks straight to speak to the boss, but there was always the excuse, "He's busy, he's at church, you'll talk to him on Monday." BUT I STILL HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANYONE.
Final advice: only use agencies that someone you know has already tried firsthand, especially for such important and expensive experiences. Don't ruin unique experiences like a safari for untrustworthy people like these! Don't even consider Chenggong.
CO
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A nightmare in Namibia
I paid the MHOF agency 76,051,000 NAD for an 8- day,7 night tour,starting on September 26th and ending on October red,2025 It included lodging,meals,safari, vehicle and Guide.At the agency director's insistence,I paid everything a month in advance.two days before the Safari tour was scheduled to begin,the owner contact me demanding inmediate payment of U$2,600 as a condition for the Safari to take place.At that time ,I was travelling from my Countriy,Colombia to Namibia.I did not agree to their request since
I had already paíd everything that has been agreed upon. The manager did not fullfill the agreement,there was brother a vehicle nor guide.of the seven days of accommodation,the agency had only paid for five.
I believe,I have been scammed by the manager ,Mrs Berlinda of the MHOF agency
DE
An agency with a poor service
We booked a prepaid private 9 days safari starting in Moshi. We were very disappointed about their pure operational services. It started that the promised briefing didn‘t take place. They changed the driver on the day of arrival with no information of our safari or any further hard copy. So we got into the situation , when we were to leave the National Park, the rangers didn‘t allow us to leave. They didn‘t find any payment for the fees from Monkey. After two hours discussion with them we paid about $ 500 out of our cash reserve. The driver promised us, we will get the payment asap what didn‘t happen. As we wanted to address our frustration, the manager refused to talk to us. As recently as we put a lot of pressure on them, we got our money back in several steps in TS. There was no proactive service at all. The only positive point was the experienced and knowledged driver. Many thanks for the nice game drives John. Summary: If you look for an operator with good service, we definetly can not recommend.Monkey.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dishonest company
Don’t book any service through this tour operator. In our experience, we felt scammed — they took our money and did not follow the agreed itinerary. Afterwards, they stopped responding and left us stranded. They kept saying ‘Hakuna Matata,’ which, in hindsight, felt misleading and dismissive.
(automatic translation from Italian)