On Wednesday May 31, 2023, I went on Kenya Safari's 1/2-day Safari trip booked via the web through Trip Advisor for $120. In the booking, they stated that you have to pay the Nairobi National Park admission's fee. I was prepared to pay the $45 (USD) because the Nairobi national park admission's fees were separate. I understood the fees. However, the driver took us to two other areas (elephant & giraffe) that are not part of the safari. No one on the trip did not know this was not part of the safari.
They did not tell us until the end of the trip that these two exhibits were not part of the safari. The first price given was an additional 15,000 shillings. Then the price went down to 10,000 shillings per person. Everyone on the trip was protesting the additional fees for the two exhibits and the length of the tour.
There was a total of 3 non-Kenyan women (including myself) and one teenage boy traveling on this trip. One of the patrons had to go to the ATM twice because the driver was saying it's not enough money. They were very intimidating and demanding additional money. So, I gave him all the cash I had on me which came out to $5,700 at the park. The tour was supposed to end at noon, and it is now 4pm. I ended up missing another engagement that I had for the same day. This half-day tour turned into an all-day experience, mind you they picked me up at 5:30am.
When I got to my hotel, the driver was still demanding $3700 shillings. I contacted the owner of the company. He told me I must pay up or he is calling the police. Next, I contacted Trip Advisor to assist with this issue, they said since I didn't book the elephant and giraffe tour, they could not assist me with this matter. I told Trip Advisor, that I didn’t book an elephant or giraffe tour with them either. I prepaid and booked a safari tour. During my call to Trip Advisor, they were threatening to call the police if I didn't pay and they were going to tell the hotel front desk I can't check out of my hotel if I don't pay. So, you are at the mercy of this travel company. So, I paid the $3,700 shillings and the driver left my hotel.
Afterwards, the owner of Kenya Safaris sent me a text message stating that he was calling the police if I post a negative review, and that he would expose my number. Please view the owners' text message threats and harassment in the photos.
TRAVELERS -- Solo travelers and especially WOMEN travelers, BEWARE of booking excursions packages with Kenya Safaris. For a pre-paid excursion, they are going to try to squeeze you for more money and then threaten to call the cops on you, if you don't give in to their demands.
For your SAFETY, and peace of mind DON'T USE KENYA SAFARI COMPANY!!
Kenya Safaris
+254722739549
I highly recommend you engage with other operators. Every staff in this company is irresponsible and non-responsive. Very unprofessional and disappointing.
I am a resident of Kenya and revealed this to them MULTIPLE times before and during the tour (through WhatsApp and in person.) so that they could give me a precise amount for the admission fee.
First I whatsapped them a day before the tour asking how much in total I should prepare as a resident, and was told to have USD 73. I couldn’t come up with that amount by googling, so decided to check with the driver directly.
The next day at the entrance of the National Park, I again asked how much I need, but the answer I could get from the driver was my amount is the same as the one for non-residents, thus I don't need to care about this matter. So I trusted him.
After the safari tour, he took us to two different sites, which are the elephant orphanage and the giraffe center. I again needed to keep asking him how much I need this time, and his answer was always the same.
At the last point (giraffe center), I finally had a chance to see the price table and realized my fee is much cheaper than others. I shared this with the driver, and at that time he accepted the disparity in the price. I showed my ID to the reception.
Before leaving the vehicle, I cleared the cost which the driver had requested: was USD 73 initially but claimed a deduction for the giraffe center. Still USD 62.
But a couple of days later, I realized my fee at the park even must have been much cheaper than other participants. I whatsapped them and tried to call the owner to ask for a partial refund (KES 6,194) incurred by the misinformation. All staff blamed me for not showing my ID at the reception, which is just nonsense. Should I have shaked my ID in the vehicle against the driver’s advice? After some argument with them, they asked me “Where will he get the money from unless from my pocket?” and some funny conversation followed.
So, again, my recommendation is to have a professional and genuine guide from other operators. There should be a lot in this country but not them, unfortunately.
Lastly, the safari tour itself took only 3 hrs, including the travel time.