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Oakland Tours and Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) & Kenya Tourism Board (KTB)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $2,603 to $26,027 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Shannon | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We did not get what we paid for
On the 5, 6, 7 May, my two colleagues and I went on a “classic” three-day, two-night Maasai Mara safari with Oakland Tours Kenya.
It was critical that we booked a private safari as the three of us rarely, if ever, have the chance to meet in person.
Felistus from Oakland confirmed that this would be the case.
We were also told that we would be staying at Fisi Camp, as per the information on the website. However, on Friday we were driven to Manyatta Camp. (Felistus told me after I telephoned her that this was an “upgrade”, but I had made the booking purely on the fact that we were to stay at Fisi.)
On the Friday evening, as we were heading back to the camp after a game drive, our driver, Patrick (who is the saving grace in this whole debacle, because of his exemplary attitude) ran into some troubles with our vehicle, and we had to abandon the vehicle and catch a lift with another group back to camp. We were told that the vehicle would be fixed and ready for our game drive the next morning.
However, the next morning, the van was not fixed. Patrick told us that a part was being delivered from Nairobi which would be used to fix the car. He arranged that we joined another group (of 4 other people – not a private safari). We did not even have the chance to sit together.
At the end of the day (4pm), the part had not yet arrived from Nairobi, though by 7pm it had, and we were absolutely assured that we would have our private game drive the following morning,
Again, we were disappointed: the car was not fixed and we joined another group (5 people) for the morning game drive. We were also told that we would be driven back to Nairobi that morning in a rather beaten-up saloon car.
When we arrived back in Nairobi, Felistus and her business partner were there to greet us and offer their apologies. We had told them that we sought financial compensation because we had paid for a service (in full) that was not delivered. The best they could offer us was local currency for a trip back to the airport. (Which we did not need, but took.)
We found Felistus' attitude to be not at all what we had read about online: she brazenly told us that she would not take responsibility for what had happened, and she proceeded to blame poor Patrick for any wrongdoings/bad decisions made on her part. She didn’t seem in the least bit interested in the fact that we had paid for a private safari, but had not received one, telling us that they “got us to the Masaai Mara and back” and that was the only responsibility that they had.
What’s more, on our itinerary, it was listed that we would enjoy a trip to a local Masaai village on Sunday. This did not happen, and when we questioned Felistus on this point, she said it was “optional” (but, clearly, not our option, as we were never given the choice)!
I had spent some time investigating the wealth of companies that run safaris in the Mara and budget camps. It’s frustrating that nothing that I thought I had chosen was eventually delivered.
I understand that a safari is a complex product, and that things go wrong. But it's how you deal with it, Felistus and Oakland, that is of the utmost importance for continued business.
Reply from Oakland Tours and Safaris
Posted on May 15, 2025Sincere Apologies & Commitment to Improvement
Dear Shannon
Sincere Apologies & Commitment to Improvement
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We deeply regret that your safari experience did not meet your expectations, and we sincerely apologize for the inconveniences you faced.
We understand how important it was for you to have a private safari and stay at Fisi Camp as originally planned, and we apologize for the unexpected changes that disrupted your experience. While we always aim to provide seamless service, we recognize that things did not go as intended, and we regret the frustration this caused.
Regarding the vehicle issue, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we worked to resolve the situation. We are also grateful for your kind words about Patrick, who remained dedicated to ensuring you had the best possible experience under the circumstances.
Please know that we take your concerns seriously and are committed to improving our services. Your feedback will be instrumental in helping us enhance communication, planning, and overall guest satisfaction. If there is anything further we can do to make amends, please feel free to reach out.
Once again, we truly regret any disappointment you experienced, and we appreciate the opportunity to learn from your feedback. We hope to regain your trust in the future and provide you with the exceptional safari experience you deserve.
Best regards, Oakland Tours and Safaris
Reliable organisation
From the beginning, Felistus was a very dedicated and patient organizer, she answered every question I had very soon and was very helpful. The trekking to Point Lenana was beautiful, and with funny guide Elijah, quiet cook David and nice companion Joy we had a very good time. The bandas were very simple but clean and nice, and less cold than a tent. Transport to and from the gates was also good.
Reply from Oakland Tours and Safaris
Posted on May 15, 2025Dear Margot,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! We are absolutely delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience with Oakland Tours and Safaris. It brings us great joy to know that every aspect of your journey—from planning to the adventure itself—met your expectations.
We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation, and we are honored to have been part of your experience. If you ever wish to explore more of Kenya, we would love to welcome you back for another unforgettable journey!
Best regards, Ann, Oakland Tours and Safaris
QA
Email Rajesh M. R. | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very well organized trip,excellent lodges and very cooperative driver.
Well organized trip with excellent lodges and very good Safari driver. Initial response from their management through mail and WhatsApp for finalizing package also was very good.
CA
Email John | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great SafariExperience, despite the accommodations
We booked this private Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru safari online although it was a bit more expensive than others exactly like it, thinking the increase in price would upscale the experience just a little. But we had the same accommodation as others we talked to at our two overnight stops who paid less. The first, Manhattan Camp, in the Masai Mara, was very run down. Maybe thirty years ago when it was built it was a great place. All that left of ‘great’ is the gardens. The zipper on out tent did not work. The mosquito netting had holes in it. The bathroom was a shower I did not want to step in, a shelf mhammered together from old wood was hanging on the wall, and a toilet that had a lid but no seat! The camp entry/reception was a mud pit. This place has simply given up. The food was as basic as possible: either spaghetti, rice, mashed potatoes at every meal all served with the same ‘beef’ sauce. Over and over. The dining hall was big and uninteresting. It did however have a massive tv in the bar section which, when the electricity was on (rarely) was blaring soccer games. Pleasant-not! Hardly ‘dining’ experience. A safari camping experience is one thing but this camp has deceptive older photos and dares to call itself a ‘resort.’ Online it states that each tent has a kitchen. Not ours!
The second was a hotel at Lake Nakuru (City Max) in a very very sketchy neighbourhood. Secure but you don’t want to walk around here at night. Grumpy daytime front desk staff and manager. Night front desk was good. Restaurant with maître de and two uniformed wait staff. But, again, the food was miserable. I pushed away the dinner after a few bites as did a few of the other four couples in the restaurant. The room was good. The beds were good. But this neighbourhood is noisy, way into the night. Our room was directly above the kitchen early, so early mornings there was banging pits and pans, etc. I complained about this to the manager but all I got was a blank stare. As for the wifi, although this place claims to have it throughout - forget that. We just gave up on it. It does work sort of in the dining hall.
So, as far as accommodations are concerned, this safari is not just budget but very very budget.
The best part of the safari was Robert, our driver/guide. We had a safari van with openable roof all to ourselves. Robert was a great driver and an informative guide. He was sensitive to what we wanted and made sure we were always having a positive animal viewing experience. We saw almost every savannah animal you could think of . So that made up for the questionable acccommodation. Ask for him if you are still going to book after reading this review.
The owner of the tour company, Felistus, was quick to respond to our emails and even got us onward train tickets to Mombasa. So she is good. I am not sure however that she has recently or ever visited the two places we overnighted in. She and all others who use them should think again.
‘Budget’ does not have to mean ‘inadequate’!
AE
Email Karen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Felistus arranged our tour on very short notice.arrangements were good n gave us a good deal.
I would say Felistus n the entire team did a fantastic job. And exceeded our expectations, n made Mum n me have a wonderful n memorable holiday. I would certainly recommend Oakland tours to friends n family.
QA
Email Gabriel Olushola | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was awesome
They rendered a very good service and communication was excellent, they lived to my expectation. am looking forward to visit Kenya again during my next vacation because of the service rendered to me by them Please keep it up.
NG
Email Ife | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
great experience
My contact person at Oakland Tours and Safari was Felistus, she was very prompt to replying any email and very professional, upon arrival my guests had a wonderful holiday experience and of course a gift from the Oakland Tours and Safari team.
SA
Email Prasanth | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional Experience in safari and ostrich egg
Here’s a polished review paragraph you can use:
We had an exceptional experience with Oakland as our tour agent for our family trip to Kenya. From start to finish, everything was organized flawlessly, including our stay in luxurious, high-class hotels that were both comfortable and family-friendly. Our guide was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and great with families, making the entire journey enjoyable for both adults and children. The safari experience exceeded all expectations—we were even given an ostrich egg to enjoy, which was a unique and memorable touch. What truly set Oakland apart was the guide’s extensive network and connections with other guides across the parks, enabling us to spot an incredible variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. Thanks to their coordination and expertise, we were able to see all the major animals we hoped for. We highly recommend Oakland to anyone looking for a premium and unforgettable safari experience in Kenya.
Email Anamika Ganguly | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A deeply attentive and seamless travel partner who curated every detail with care.
Our Kenya journey was made truly unforgettable thanks to an exceptionally thoughtful travel experience from start to finish. Every individual need was attentively looked after, with a level of care that felt both personal and seamless.
A special mention to our driver, Moses, who was nothing short of fantastic — consistently going above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable, safe, and fully immersed in every moment. The jeep was always immaculately clean, and his calm, friendly, professionalism made every safari ride feel effortless yet deeply enriching.
He didn’t just take us from place to place, he made sure our hearts were full with every game drive, every sighting.
Where he stood out - When I fell quite unwell during the trip, his kindness truly stood out — going out of his way to help us even sourcing and bringing medicines without hesitation. We urgently needed internet to book some air tickets owing to reroute our travel due to the war situation & Moses happily lent us his full support so that we could do everything needed. That level of care is rare and deeply appreciated.
A beautifully curated experience wrapped in genuine warmth, attentiveness, and heart.
Amazing service....
Everything was perfect. The communication, the service, the human touch. Moses was amazing and he went out of the way to make sure our stay was pleasant and we could enjoy our safari to the full extent.
Reply from Oakland Tours and Safaris
Posted on Mar 11, 2026Dear Mr. Saurabh
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback.
We are truly delighted to hear that everything was perfect and that you enjoyed the communication, service, and personal touch throughout your safari.
Moses will be very happy to know that his efforts made your experience exceptional. He is indeed dedicated to ensuring our guests feel cared for and enjoy their safari to the fullest.
We deeply appreciate you choosing to travel with us, and we look forward to welcoming you again for more unforgettable adventures.
Warm regards,
Felistus