It passed some time since we had our trip in Uganda, Rwanda, Congo in 2010. We've lost some cash but we had a great time, since Africa is beautiful.
But I have a promise to fulfill: on departure I've sent Kennedy Nari (who was the trip organiser) an SMS promising that I would post a detailed description of our experience with him. He replied me with message pleading not to do that and promising to give our money back (around $500 in total) as soon as possible.
We've never got the money and never heard from him since.
So complying with my promise, I completely confirm that Kennedy Nari is a cheater, fraudster, swindler and all the other words which could describe a person who gets the money, delivers you worst quality service possible and dissapears with the rest of cash.
We had it all:
* the hotels were horrendous (the cheapest available in the area);
* the car broke down at least 5 times in places ranging from highways to desolated NPs;
* we were lucky to have sunny weather through the most of the trip - when finally it rained the cabin turned out to be leaking -> we've got a pleasure of sitting under the dirty water non-stop leaking on our heads;
- gorilla permits were never pre-paid and we got them on the day of our arrival (which means the we were very lucky to get them) and given how long they've been checked, re-checked, double-checked by ranger, they might've been fake;
- we got wrong instructions on the visas policies and we totaled around 20 or so hours waiting on the borders (we will call the boss, the boss of the boss will come in an hour, the boss of the boss of the boss will call and help - all this kind of shit);
- in Bukavu we were turned back on the border, cause Kennedy failed to pursuade the guys, so we've lost the whole day in waiting and driving back;
- in the end they asked us to lend them money (bank is closed - what else?);
- the last two days we paid everything ourselves (on top of the initial prepaiment of course);
- the last day we paid for the food and accomodation of the driver and the guide as well, cause Kennedy left them with no cash at all and stopped picking up phone, - although this was the minor cost, but leaving his own people with no food was a bit new experience for us.
Overall: you can deal with Kennedy at some degree, if you limit payments, control your itinerary, control everything daily and constantly (if you like this kind of trips), but if you do this you must consider that you giving money to complete bastard.
Looks like the authorities finally noticed something:
http://www.visitvirunga.org/warning-hakuna-matata-tours-travel/
