AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
WORST TOUR AGENT. They will fool you and take your money.
Me and my friend traveled with Safari Gates and had the worst experience ever. The tour operator and guide did not live up to our expectations and what the itinerary had mentioned whatsoever. Our guide Ben was always late in the morning. We had agreed to meet early morning by the car for our morning game drive 6am. One morning the staff at Enkorok lodge had to WAKE him up because he was still sleeping and we were waiting by the car ready for our game drive. Also, we were promised to go to the Mara river to see the great wildebeest migration/ crossing but he took us to some small tiny lake and pretending “this was the Mara river where the animals cross but the crossing stopped in June”, which is all bullshit. This is not my first time to Masai Mara and I have been here before and witnessed the great migration and crossing. Also want to mention we were here during the best time of the year to see this (beginning of September) which is the exact same time of the year I have been here before. Also want to mention that we talked to other people who were there but with other tour agents and they confirmed that they had seen the migration / crossing just the day before. So this was all lies from our guide. He was just being lazy and didn’t wanna take us to the right place / river. Also, on our final day before heading to the airport, we were promised a final morning game drive. We were supposed to meet by the car at 6am. But Ben our guide showed up at 8am!!!!!! 2 hours late on our FINAL day. And if we hadn’t called the tour operator asking where is he , for sure he would never even show up. We have lost so much time and viewing because of this. We always departed late in the mornings because he was late and sleeping. Missing out on the great migration/ crossing because of his lies and didn’t take us there. We have spent so much money on this trip and are so so so disappointed with this trip and operator. We made a complaint before flying back and met with the “owner” at the airport before departing and were promised a compensation for this. It’s been more than one month now and haven’t heard ANYTHING about this. Safari gates have really tricked us and fooled us and just taken our money for NOTHING. Even the owner / manager Rihal (also called Rocky) at flamingo hill camp where we spent the last night along with the rest of the staff there witnessed all this and was furious for our sake. Being 2 hours late on our last day and missing our SO much. This is the worst experience I’ve ever had with a safari tour. And being promised a compensation before flying back , but still haven’t heard ANYTHING.
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Warning! Suspected insolvency! Capture Tanzania Adventure LTD ARUSHA
On 14.07.22 I booked a 2-day safari from Zanzibar to Tanzania (Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire NP) on the recommendation of a regional TUI travel agency in Cottbus. The contacts to the above-mentioned tour operators took place exclusively through the local travel agency. On the eve of the departure for the safari in Zanzibar, the first cancellation (due to accident of the GF) with the alternative for an AWT took place on 23./24.09.22. Here, too, the cancellation was made by EMAIL the evening before to the local travel agency in Cottbus. On 22.09.22 there was an EMAIL with "comforting words" and the notification of the repayment of the travel price signed by the "booking team" of the above mentioned company. Since then, the owner has only sent a regrettable message to my travel agency because of my report in various travel portals and the substantive notification of insolvency combined with the threat of legal action, I should continue to warn against this above-mentioned company and have filed a criminal complaint against the mentioned company.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Pathetic, Liars and very unprofessional
I did a safari with Bluerange connect in August 2022. We communicated through WhatsApp and paid 30% cost in advance. Once we reached Nairobi, we paid remaining amount a day before. We specifically booked 4x4 Land cruiser option and paid for the same. But on a day of safari they gave us van. The driver had no idea so we called tour manager, Lilian. She refused to change the vehicle. She insisted on meeting and she came two hours late to meet us on the day of the safari. Later she admitted it is her mistake but she won't change vehicle without additional payment. We argued but she said she quoted wrong price. It seemed she deliberately came late so that we give in and pay additional cost as we did not want to waste time. It was already late to start the safari. We kept calling her, texting her and beg her to come earlier. We had to pay $350 additional cost as we did not want to compromise on our experience and then she changed our vehicle. Again the Land cruiser given to us was in very bad condition. It was old, seats were broken and no cooler for water.
This did not stop there. They changed our accomodation without informing or discussing with us. We were promised a different lodge in Lake Naivasha but was given a downgrade. When we tried to talk to them about it, they just kept telling it is not downgrade where we can clearly use google and see it is a downgrade. They would directly inform the driver where to take us for the stay without dropping a single messege to us about the change.
This company is run by very unprofessional group of people who are liars and scammer. Do not book with them. They will ruin your once in a life experience of safari with their mismanagement.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
He is a dishonest man who only selectively paid for activities/ meals on our itinerary.
This man did not stick to our agreed upon itinerary. He would not provide us vouchers or confirmations for bookings because he had only paid for some of our activities and not others. He did not always provide the stated accommodations on our itinerary either, changing some of them after we paid. Even certain meals on the itinerary were not provided. If it was not for the help of the employees of our lodging and transportation companies that advocated for us to get payment and information out of Andrew, it could have been much worse. It was a vulnerable situation, having paid for the whole trip and being in another country without the security that everything was provided for. We were trying to stay one step ahead by calling our lodging ahead of time to find out if it was paid for and which excursions. It was hard to enjoy our trip with having so much anxiety and insecurity.
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Poor organization
We are uni students from Japan.
People are nice but the owner is not a trustworthy person.
Guides are amazing and they are responsible to their job. The guide, Emanuel was strong, responsible and always cheered us up. The assistant guide, Shukuru was full of knowledge about nature. The trekking itself was an amazing experience with amazing guides and porters.
However, we paid our hut fee($165 for two of us) through credit card but one of them was cancelled so we tried it again with a different credit card. After that, we found out that the payments were withdrawn double. Thus, we asked the manager to get the refund but he rejected and denied that there is no double withdrawal.
Moreover, he called us THEFT. I don’t understand why he can tell there is not double withdrawal and I am not comfortable with being called “theft”
If you want to do trekking, you should make a payment by cash, and not with this company.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Disappointing cancellation service
Disappointed with the way cancellation was handled. My wife and I had planned a 3 day safari with Joshua in August 2022. However had to cancel due to last minute flight cancellations. He committed to refund 25% of the initial payment. Joshua was very prompt to respond till the time payment was received. However when the cancellation plan was shared, Joshua went AWOL. Still awaiting the refund.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Money making scheme
DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS OPERATOR OR GO ON A TOUR TO MITI MING.
They say on the website a maximum of 7 people. At the start of our journey we was 6 which was great as everyone had a window seat and could stand up to watch the wildlife during the safari.
However on day 2, 2 people were forced to join us. Even though we all complained extensively we were told tough. This meant someone had to sit in the front (cannot stand up and only have view of one side - not 360 like all other window seats stood up) and someone stood in the middle (no window seat). We were very cramped up and couldn’t move much. Especially driving over rough terrain in a minivan (not 4x4 with small wheels).
This is a money making scheme so they didn’t have to paid for another driver and view of a minivan for a 12 hour tour. Yes 12 hours with 8 people cramped in a minivan. This is not what we paid for and nothing was resolved.
I will never go back to Kenya again, the people were so rude and any opportunity to get money from you. Tried to make us go to the village for 20USD, go on a 450USD balloon ride and also I boat ride that we didn’t care for the price as we knew it would be expensive.
AVOID THIS SAFARI COMPANY AND CAMPSITE. Join a safari you are going to enjoy and a company that stick to their agreement.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
AWFUL
I'm glad this company is no longer allowed on here as in our opinion we have been scammed. Unfortunately I had purchased a safari with them before they were taken off of here. I'm so upset!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This has ruined my honeymoon entirely and am out about $2600 Canadian. Please be more careful when choosing tour companies that can advertise on here.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bad experience in October 2022
We booked a week's safari with this agency. The stay included 4 parks. The director of the agency, Michael, announced a small change to us when we arrived. We did not understand at the time that he removed the Ngorongoro crater from the program: a must in Tanzania! In order to go there we had to pay for the park ourselves. So we paid for this park when booking with the agency and once there (we are talking about more than $430).
I would add that when we arrived, no driver came to pick us up. The agency was unreachable for an hour … I strongly advise against booking such a beautiful and expensive trip with this agency.
Nous avons réservé une semaine de safari avec cette agence. Le séjour comprenait 4 parcs. Le directeur de l’agence, Michael, nous a annoncé un petit changement lors de notre arrivée. Nous avons pas compris sur le coup qu’il a supprimé du programme le cratère Ngorongoro : un incontournable de la Tanzanie! Afin d’y aller nous avons dû payer le parc nous meme. Donc nous avons payé ce parc lors de la réservation avec l’agence et une fois sur place ( on parle de plus de 430$).
Je rajoute que lors de notre arrivée, aucun chauffeur n’est venu nous chercher. L’agence a été injoignable pendant une heure … je déconseille vivement de réserver un voyage aussi beau et cher avec cette agence.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Warning do not trust this person or risk your money or safety with him. He is a fraud!
Benjamin Wilson stole $2908 from me for a trip he never gave us. The trip could not happen as planned in September 2020 due to COVID and travel bans. He refuses to return my money numerous times and did not honor trip voucher to do the trip promised in September 2022. I initially asked for my money back in June 2020 after the pandemic situation was in full swing, but he assured me there no need to worry. Then he still refused to return my money when no one could he fly there. He is very unprofessional, dishonest, and above all he is unethical. I am not sure how he is still in business and my prediction is that is will not be for much longer with his behavior. He was drunk on the phone the last time I spoke to him in August 2022. He even admitted drinking and cussed at me. He made it clear he had not booked our trip as planned, refused to go over any details, and even had our trip dates incorrect. He has even played games with me pretending him will return the money and then turns around and says he will not. He asked for my bank details to wire the money and of course never did. I do not anyone to fall victim to the fraudulent actions of this person or company. As a result of the above situation, I did not travel with this company or Ben, a blessing in disguise given my experience with him up to this point.