3 Days Masai Mara flying Safari - Mombasa

Customer Reviews

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  Yvette

  · September 30th, 2024
  Bryan Kazungu of Big Zone Africa Safaris gave egregious misrepresentation of services, as well fraudulent and deceptive behaviors that caused significant inconvenience and he tried to financially harm me. I was initially invited to join a sailing trip in East Africa. My long-time friend informed me that her friend, along with her family and a couple, were planning a 3-day safari in Kenya following the sailing trip. I was provided the friend's contact details, and we corresponded via email due to her family commitments. I made an inquiry through TourRadar and received responses from both TourRadar and Big Zone Africa Safaris. The friend forwarded an email about a flight with Kenya Airways and informed me that she sent an email I sent her to asking for info. on the Safari to Bryan and he called me. Bryan claimed to represent TourRadar, which I believed given his response to my inquiry through TourRadar When I asked about the groups booking, he confirmed that I would be booking through TourRadar, just like the group. He assured me that booking with him would be the same as booking through TourRadar and pressured me to commit directly with him by continuously following up via WhatsApp. During our conversations, I expressed my intention to obtain travel insurance. Bryan, asserting that he was the managing director of the tour, assured me that insurance was unnecessary as I would receive a full refund if I canceled or was unable to go. The group were friends of his and that I was in safe hands with him. Bryan's engaging demeanor and assurances built a false sense of trust. On March 7, 2024, I booked through TourRadar, but Big Zone Africa Safaris issued the invoice. When I inquired, Bryan misled me by claiming this was standard practice and reassured me that everything was fine. However, On March 19, 2024, I received an email from TourRadar inquiring about if I still had an interest in the trip. I reached out to Bryan, who then admitted that he had not processed my payment through TourRadar but directly through him, contrary to his earlier statements and instructed me not to inform TourRadar. I had not talked to him since March 8th. He attempted to pacify me with additional perks- a hot air balloon ride, touring Nairobi, an art museum and Giraffe center. He requested that I buy him a phone from US, and he would pay me back, which I found highly unprofessional. Despite my clear indication that I was uncomfortable with this request, Bryan persisted by sending me the phone description. I texted him to say that I did not want to get him a phone and suggested he check with the married friend. I gave a hint that this request is inappropriate and point out he was trying to take advantage of me being single. On June 30, 2024, Bryan informed me that my flight had been canceled and rescheduled for July 1sT in the evening. After extensive attempts to contact the airlines to find an earlier flight, without success, Bryan asked me if I wanted him to do the refund then. I told him hold off, let me keep trying to no success. We talked and I asked him to proceed with my refund. He promised to process it on July 2nd, then July 4th, then July 12th and continued to promise and delay it. By July 18, 2024, Bryan stated that my refund was ready and would be processed in a couple of days, but by July 22, 2024, but I still hadn't received it. On July 25, 2024, After being played so many times about my refund, I confronted Bryan about the missing refund and confirmation and that I will contact TourRadar if I don’t receive either. Bryan then falsely claimed that I had been given a choice to book with him or TourRadar, which is a blatant LIE and an attempt to cover up/fabricate a story to cover up his deceptive practices. Bryan’s response to my complaint incriminates him. I had not mentioned any discrepancies about TourRadar or Bryan cutting Tourradar out of the deal. I only intended to highlight his false assurances about the refund policy to Tourradar. Bryan’s subsequent lies and contradictory statements have only exposed his fraudulent actions further. He highlighted what he did to me and exposed his own guilt on his own. As a consumer, I have the right to reach out to the appropriate party in regard to my purchase. Out of Bryan’s own guilt, he quickly became defensive and threatened to only give me my money back under the following conditions: A) Not to expose Bryan to Tourradar. B) He will only refund me if I do not speak to any other parties. This was an inappropriate abuse of power. He violated my consumer right. Looking back, I understand why he sidestepped my request for travel insurance with the travel company and simply told me I'd be refunded if necessary. Addressing the insurance would have exposed that I was dealing with him directly rather than through TourRadar. By covering up one shady transaction, he’s now involved in another questionable deal by withholding a refund that was part of my tour purchase. It seems he was trying to take advantage of me, even going so far as to ask me to buy a phone for him. Bryan’s actions constitute a clear breach of consumer trust and fraud. His misleading claims, constant delays, and refusal to honor his promises have caused significant inconvenience and financial harm. I have multiple What'sApp messages documenting his assurances and subsequent failures to deliver on them. I filed a dispute with my credit card company and they successfully won my dispute against Bryan. This took Three months of dealing with his fraudulent business practices. Since this ordeal happened, I have found out that Bryan is a working subcontractor. This is definitely not "we are selling the dream," that his website claims for a vacation trip! Complete Fraudster!
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  Trip date: June 2024
• R

  RalfArtner

  · April 27th, 2019
  Our 3-day flight safari with Mombasa Air Safari was organized by Brian Kazungu. Everything went well. The transfer from the hotel to the airport, the domestic flights and the Governeurs Camp were a complete success! The tents of the camp are located directly on the river Mara. If you step out of the tent, you can admire hippos and crocodiles in the river. The camp has no fencing, so some warthogs ran through the tents. But occasionally hippos should be on the road at night. But no fear! There are always rangers with guns near the tents. Lunch at the camp is served outdoors. The service and the quality of the food is great! From the table you can see the Masai Mara and of course the animals! Giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs and zebras could be seen relatively close. Dinner is served by candlelight in an open tent. A very nice atmosphere! Coffee and cookies are served at the tent in the morning. Then it goes on morning game drive. We did not have the right breakfast at the camp, but in the wild on the hood of our Jeep. This is not only very adventurous, but also saves a lot of time, so that our Frühpirsch lasted 5 hours in a row! There are animals in huge herds! How many lions we saw, then we did not count! Unfortunately we have not seen a rhino, but 2 leopards. It was just unforgettable hours in the Masai Mara! We can only recommend this tour! Book with Bryan and you will spend wonderful days!
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  Trip date: April 2019