CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This travel angency ruined our trip totally, don't choose it.
This is a very terrible travel agency
Took all our money, but did not perform the contract to pay for our hotel and park fees included in the contract, we had to pay extra by ourselves.
And we spend extra time to communicate with the travel agency hoping the problem can be solved, but now they can't get in touch. So we have to call the police to defend our rights.
It wastes us almost $6,000 per person and two days of Safari, ruining our trip totally. Don't choose it.
Plus, this company only has three full-time employees.Our guide also has not received his oil and labor fees, and will no longer cooperate with the travel agency in the future.
VN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Memorable safari with terrible ending
We have booked a 7-day safari with Shemeji. It was our first trip to Africa and the first safari experience, therefore we didn't really know what to expect therefore decided to rely entirely on a local provider. We found Shemeji on the internet and it caught our attention because it had an excellent rating as well the offer matched to what we were looking for.
We believed an experienced service operator would know exactly what they were selling and would assume responsibility for the events happening during the trip. Well, it appeared we were wrong about it.
Firstly, we would like to shout huge thank you and express endless gratitude to the guide/driver Elemes and the chef Isaack, who did absolutely everything and more to make our trip comfortable and memorable. These two gentlemen service was 5-star throughout our entire tour. Always smiling and always helpful, they made our trip successful within all their capacity.
However, what made us give Shemeji 1 start is the company management approach to the problems we faced.
We had to pay 100% in advance, which is understandable but they added 5% to the price if the payment is by a credit card. This is not a standard procedure as in the hotel we were not charged extra to the card payment.
As mentioned earlier, we relied on the local operators, expecting them to know the situation better than us coming from another continent.
Out trip didn't start very well, as the car was delayed on the first day already due to technical problems. The second day the car got stuck in the mud for over 2 hours on the campsite just before leaving for the safari drive.
Not only our trip was again delayed but also a car of another couple whose staff was trying to help our driver. The quality of the car we got was rather poor but we accepted it as we didn't mind the conform as long as the safety wouldn't be compromised. We trusted the company did treat the safety of their clients and the staff seriously.
One part of our adventure was the visit to Lake Natron going from Serengeti. Due to the heavy rain, the roads and bridges were cut off and we were forced to turn back, which resulted in driving again through Serengeti.
We did understand the weather unpredictability and followed the situation without complaints. However, later on, we have learned that Lake Natron, during the rain, is dangerous and we shouldn’t go there. I would think a local company would know that during the rainy season rain comes rather frequently and either shouldn't include this point in their itinerary or would have advised us on the potential risk beforehand. But instead, they have sold the trip without any notice.
Somewhere on the way, it happened that the car got a flat tire, which again we understood and didn't complain about it either.
On our way back through Serengeti the car got seriously broken. Our rear wheel fell off. The same wheel as the one which got a flat tire a day or two earlier. This was a very scary situation as we were driving at quite high speed and we realized how lucky we were that the car didn't rollover.
This accident caused a very long time delay and we have lost an entire day of our planned trip waiting for another transportation to take us back to some accommodation, in addition to quite a traumatic experience of seeing our car's wheel rolling ahead of the car.
Later on, we have also learned that after the wheel was fixed and the car was on its returning way it had broken again, which made me doubt in the technical conditions of the car. Is the company truly investing in car maintenance and the clients' safety or is purely focused on sale and profit?
The last day was entirely lost and the next day was too short to fill it with what we have in our plans. We had to return to the campsite and just spent last night in the same place we started, which was not according to our purchased package. The company offered a visit to Maasai Village, which was the only option to do, even though it was not of our interest initially.
We were never demanding and stayed the entire trip very understanding, knowing that the weather conditions cannot be planned, however, the plans we badly affected and we expected the company to take responsibility for the trip they have sold and at least correct the price according to what we have received.
To our surprise Emma, one of the owners (according to our understanding) rejected all the claims, stating that they did us a favor not requesting us to pay extra for the park fees which we had to drive again through, pushing all the responsibility to the weather conditions.
We were also told that the operator had to pay the accommodation booking fees in advance, even though we have found out that the accommodation places and the tour operator belong to the same corporate group.
This was a very disappointing end of our trip.
From 7 days safari that we paid for, we have received actually not even full 6 days. We experience a very dangerous incident and we were left with the impression that we should be grateful that we were not requested to pay extra. This was not what we have imagined from a professional, 5-star rated tour operator.
The safari was great and the guide and the chef service was top notch but if you consider buying a service from Shemeji you may think twice and pay for everything in advance regardless what the trip brings, as you will be charged and given responsibility for everything that happens during your trip.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Large deposit paid, no tour, no response
We have paid over $6000 to this tour company and they have defaulted. Worse still, they are still taking money from others to this day, as I made a separate inquiry with them over the weekend and they were still willing to quote me on a safari
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Zanzibar trip
Please do not book with bonfire adventures.
We did not get our confirmation till the night before, having paid 3 days in advance.
The packages offered on-line did not correspond with the actual package I.e. sunset cruise dinner was a watermelon, cocktail never materialised.
They sent us a text message the night before departure, advising us that we were booked on a .m. flight with no flight details.
There are other your company operators who are more reliable out there.
Do not waste your time with bonfire adventures.
Scammed
We got duped for 5k from this company. We paid in full and the company ran off with everyone's money. Someone removed the trip advisor comments of everyone beginning to try and figure out what happened. Endless lies and deceit.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very bad experience with this company
Very unhappy with Richard Kilonzo and his Safari company:
We booked a 7- day Safari with Richard Kilonzo. To start with, we arranged that somebody from his company would pick us up at the bus station and take us to our hotel; nobody came. Someone from the bus station that didn' t work for him took us to his office. The entrance to the office is embarrasing, full of mud and puddles. He showed himself very friendly the very first day. Not like that the last day when we came back from Safari, that hardly had time to speak to us.
We were supposed to spend a full day driving in Ngoron- goro crater, from 06.00 a.m. until late in the afternoon, as it was written in the planing that he had sent to us when booking the Safari.
Our surprise was that the night before going into the crater he told us that it was not possible to spend the whole day. We could only be inside the crater for 4 hours (from 06.00 until 10.00 a.m.) and then we had to go out of the Park. The problem was that he should have paid one more day fees for us (we were four people in the jeep) in the crater, but he did not. He told us that "laws have changed lately" and he could not do anything, so if we wanted to stay more time in the crater, we should pay the extra- charge. If you look in the Official Website of the Parks, since so many years, the entrance- fee is paid for a 24- hour stay; if you want to stay longer, you have to pay another entrance. He lied to us. So after all, we could not be in Ngoron- goro crater for longer, which is one of the best Parks in Tanzania.
Moreover, the last two nights we were supposed to sleep in Tarangire campsite. He tried to convince us to sleep everywhere else, telling me that in that campsite there was no water (I do not know why), but finally, after my insistence, we slept there.. with hot- water showers. The last day or the Safari we were supposed to have a morning- drive game in Tarangire before coming back to Arusha, and what we really did was to have breakfast in the campsite and inmediately come back to the city; no game driving our last day of Safari, as it was written in our initial planning. He told us that we didn' t ask for the driving that morning... Why have I to ask about something I have already paid and it was included in the Safari plan??
Another german couple came with us for 4 days in the Safari. Richard changed their plans almost everyday, even every 2-3 hours sometimes the planning changed...
I would not recommend at all this company for a Safari in Tanzania. You cannot trust this man absolutely. He sold us a Safari that we haven´ t really done. I strongly recommend every tourist to look for another better and more reliable choice.
20-35 years of age
Disappointing, Scary and terrible service
I did a very disappointing 6 day trekking trip with Kapolondo. I was told i would be trekking Rongai route and will be doing camping at nights. But after landing in Tanzania, Tony the owner of the tour tells me that route is changed its marangu and no camping we will be staying in huts. I was shocked! After arranging everything and paying money upfront, they changed the plans without even consulting me. He also asked for a 250 dollar for porter tips when i confronted that since we are using tents and not camping he said i am mistaken and he meant 250,000 shillings.
The guide failed to wake up on the day of the summit and didnt give us any food when we started. We have good reason in believing that he was drunk most of the time. On reaching back, my climbing partner had to witness Tony beating and punching a guide who was just talking to her.
Couple of other people like our assistant guide david and another guide Mike was who assisted us with airport transfer and Arusha town sightseeing was really good. But on the whole the trip was just disappointing.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Scam bookings - denied plane boarding, unpaid park fees, missed pick-up & briefing etc.
Do not take the chance to have the same terrible and costly experience we had with Mr. Steve Biko, Africa Remote Safaris! As of today, 1/6/2016, we have not been reimbursed for our additional expenses, US $ 4,461, which we occurred due to Steve Biko's continued failings, and have not heard back from Mr. Biko.
Our safari was scheduled, Aug. 16 - Aug. 22, 2015. Day 1, we were not picked up as scheduled in Nairobi to continue to Masai Mara. The hotel arranged for transfer to Wilson Airport and from there we flew to Masai Mara. Upon arrival and being greeted by our driver, we were told our park fees, driver and car fees had not been paid. After waiting around and phoning with Mr. Biko, we were off to go about 1 hour after arriving. Day 3 our scheduled balloon ride did not happen. Day 4 we were supposed to continue to Serengeti, and were denied boarding the SafariLink plane due to Mr. Biko had failed to pay for the tickets. On day 5 after not being able to leave our hotel due to Mr. Biko not paying for our lodging, our family of four had no other option than to change our itinerary for the remaining day's. This cost us an additional $4,461 for accommodation and flights, not to mention the time we missed actually being out seeing animals, and instead dealt with the many failings of Steve Biko and a police report encouraged my the Manager of our hotel, who wants this type of scoundrels out of the Kenyan travel industry. Throughout our safari when running into unpaid services, Steve Biko continuously asked us to pay in order to be reimbursed later - we did not as our safari was paid in full well in advance.
With the experience and knowledge I have today, my advice to you would be to organize your own safari. It might seem overwhelming, but you can book your flights and hotels directly, and arrange for a car with knowledgeable drivers with the hotel you are staying at. Enjoy your travels, and stay away from Steve Biko and Africa Remote Safaris.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Terrible
On the fourth day, when we came away from the masi mara I saw that the driver did not come out of the gate by which we entered, he made a very long ride in the mountains, at least three times the way he should have done, we lost a lot of time .
In the middle of the road told us if we could come up with the wife, we said that was fine.
At one point it was stopped at a checkpoint of the tickets, gave our ticket to the ranger and the driver did not wait for the ranger give back the ticket, he left very quickly.
After about 20 minutes by road stopped in a village and came down from the bus.
While we waited Jackson arrived a ranger and when jacksone back talked a bit with him, then the ranger climbed on the bus with us and made us go back to the point of checking tickets. I asked what the problem was and the ranger said he had to ask questions to Jackson.
the driver came down and it was a long time talking in the office.
While we waited, the ranger came up to me and my wife and asked us how many game drive we did.
I said the truth, 5 game drive, the ranger was surprised and asked me to explain when we made them. I explained what days we did the 5 gamedrive, the ranger asked me how many nights we slept all'Ashnil and I put 3 nights.
At this point, Jackson has returned very angry and menacing tone told me that I had not done as he had said, to say only one day.
I understood that the problem was in the park tickets and I put that I have paid for 3 nights and that was his problem.
The driver is back with the ranger's office and after a while came back and we left.
We lost a lot of time, my wife and I were very scared and did not know what to do. We had lost all faith in Jackson and we wanted to come down and let us return to Nairobi by a taxi.
We decided to continue because the driver was calmer, he drove very fast to recover the lost time.
At Lake Nakuru did his wife get off the bus and arrived at the park after 17.00
It 'was a very bad experience, my wife and I have had a lot of fear and we have lost all faith. We lost a day of safari. We had to get to lake nakuru for lunch and we arrived in the evening before sunset. There you have cheated and deceived.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We felt lied to, NOT Acceptable
From our experience, I recommend you don't book with this company.
They played tricks with us and stole your money.
I had a very similar experience like Craig Anthony.
I booked a 6-day safari(from 23rd to 28th Aug.) for my wife and me. I booked Mara Sopa Lodge for two days, Lake Nakuru for one day and Kibo Amboseli Camp for two days. The total amount is US$3,800. Full payment was paid on the first day of safari at their Nairobi office. And they confirmed the hotel reservation.
However, they changed Mara Sopa lodge to Jambo, Kibo Amboseli to Sentrim without any notice or discussion. These two places are not good as the confirmed bookings.
This is not the worst part. On 28th Aug, when I was supposed to leave for Nairobi airport from Centrim Amboseli, I received a text from Dosasha. saying:
“Hello Connor Liu,
I hope you had a nice time on the safari and that you enjoyed to the fullest.
We had a problem in the bank deposit to the hotel and the bank kept telling us to wait that it would reflect but it seems it might be a problem.
We were requesting if you will be kind enough to help us clear with the hotel in the morning and then we will refund you once you get to Nairobi so that the hotel doesn't hold you there.”
The total hotel cost is US$440. After receiving the message, the owner of Dosasha never took calls or replied message from me, the hotel or the jeep driver. Only a staff called Mike from Dosasha was assessible. And he claimed that he can't reach his boss, either. Finally, Mike paid US$284 to the hotel. I had no choice but to pay the rest of US$156 because the hotel won't let me go until payment is paid.
Dosasha is the shame of Kenya. I have also sent everything to TRA official email ID. I do hope TRA can withdraw their license.
