20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scammed out of $3000AUD
It pains me to leave such a negative review on what was actually an excellent tour. Myself and my husband took a 6 day luxury tour using right choice safaris in December/Jan and had an excellent time. While the tour was as hoped, all accommodations were excellent and the driver very good unfortunately I have to leave this company a negative review as we were scammed out of thousands of dollars when making payment to this company for our tour. On arrival we were informed we needed to settle final payment I advised that we had already made final payment and had emails from them and confirmation from the bank, they then informed us that their email had been hacked and the person I had been communicating with and who I had transferred money to was not them. Unfortunately they informed us they had suspicions that this may be the case and neglected to contact us using another form of communication to inform us of this suspicion knowing that this had happened to them before when their email was hacked on a prior occasion. We were forced to make another payment at the office of $3000AUD. While they attempted to contact the bank to make amends we have unfortunately not at this stage been able to get our money back and I have no idea whether their email really did get hacked or whether they were part of the scam. If using right choice safaris I advise make payment at the office on arrival not via bank transfer.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great nature experience marred by unprofessional company
An amazing trip that was soured by, Doreen Kesiime, the owner. I was willing to overlook some of the more annoying/disappointing things.Like being harassed on a daily basis for proof of payment. I made a late booking-10 days b4 travel- on a Friday evening before a long weekend and informed Doreen the bank would therefore authorise the transaction on Tuesday. Despite this I received multiple messages on a daily basis during the weekend requesting proof of payment, repeatedly informing me about difficulties obtaining permits last minute, etc, all of which we were both aware of!
On arrival in Entebbe, Doreen was picked up joined the tour for the full duration. I was therefore expecting everything to go according to plan.Between her fielding numerous personal and work calls during game drives and walks in conservation areas, littering in conservation areas, making several inappropriate remarks( eg how she would report homosexuals to the police and going into graphic detail why she found anal sex disgusting, commenting that my preference for coffee made " a woman dry down there"), I decided her presence did not add value to the experience. Changes were made to the itinerary without discussing it or informing me- I did the Gorilla trek form a different location( only informed on arrival to Bwindi), only 2 of the 5 accommodations on my itinerary were booked( one was changed due to tracking from a different location).
Again,because I truly enjoyed the activities thus far on the tour( Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, Queen Elizabeth National park, Batwa People community walk, Gorilla Tracking) I didn't make too much of a fuss.
The last straw however was being taken to an inferior accommodation then the one in the itinerary at Lake Bunyoni. This was the afternoon following the gorilla tracking when I was looking forward to a decent shower and bed to sleep in( not always possible at the other accommodations booked- at one lodge the drain was blocked and flooded the entire room)) What was infuriating was that this was the only stipulation I had made prior to commencing the tour when I picked up that the itinerary hotel did not match the website hotel. After the Bwindi changes , I was assured that the hotels booked henceforth were correct. A 3 hr standoff ensued with Doreen initially stating that the resort name didn't exist and was an error on her website( this despite seeing her view it on booking.com at dinner the night before!). She tried to convince me that we were at the correct place( the names were similar) When shown their website and availability, she continued to try and coerce me into staying there.Various reasons for the incorrect booking and not being able to book me into the original hotel were then given: a late booking, reading the name incorrectly, no funds available, the manager refusing to refund her, etc.I even offered to pay for the booking and she refund me in Kampala, which she refused. Out of frustration I requested to cancel the rest of the tour and be taken back to Kampala that evening.She eventually relented and I was taken to the hotel on my booking.It was unfortunate that a refund of approx $40 spoilt what was supposed to have been an extraordinary day. Or that I had to waste precious time to get the 3rd of the 5 accommodations I had paid for.
The positives remain the natural beauty of Uganda and the efforts and knowledge of the tour guide and driver, Nelson.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
South Africa Safari a $20K DISASTER
My review is based on the Facts concerning our disaster October 2019 Safari: 1. Provided flight times 4X to company, arrived in Cape Town after almost two days traveling and NO ONE from this company was there to meet us, would think that a company had been in business for so many years would have figured out how to meet guests at the airport, we finally found their rep after ONE Hour of searching the airport. We had paid an extra $220 because we were told that the company had to pay a driver to come pick us as we were a separate transfer because of our late arrival. We were very surprised that when we joined our large group that we were packed into a small van with passengers to our knowledge did NOT have to pay an extra transfer fee. We did NOT have a separate transfer as charged. Next, we choose this very expensive company because they advertise in writing that there will be a 10 guests per expedition. Another surprise for us was that we had 28 guests on our expedition which was 4 TIMES the advertised limit!! Because there were SO MANY guests, we were packed into small crowded vans for the entire Cape Town portion of this tour with guides who also served as drivers and their explanations could only be heard in the seat next to the driver, a real disaster, very poorly organized. Also we needed assistance in purchasing SA Rand and were UNABLE to get any assistance from Chris or his employees, we eventually solved the problem ourselves, Cape Town tour was totally disorganized as we had NO idea what to see or what to do with the large amount of FREE time we were given on this tour. This review is just the tip of the iceberg as I could almost write a book on how much we were disappointed on paying over $20K for a safari that we experienced so many problems. We should have spent this large amount of money on a different tour operator who was focused on providing more value for the dollar:(
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
He turned up every morning looking like a hobo .
Extremely poor customer experience. . He was extremely unprofessional and arrogant on at least 20 occasions. Clive looked like a Hobo every morning. He made many promises as to timing and service levels that were a complete lie . I will list these travesties over a 10 day period. We pulled out early due to his extremely unprofessional behaviour.
Mala Mala . A guide that took us close to a White Rhino ( 20 feet ) and it was going to charge . Clive did nothing and said nothing ??? He thinks that , TIA , This is Africa , is an excuse for condoning exploitation of animals . He asked us to arrive 3 hours early to Joburg Airport on our way to Victoria Falls airport so he could secure seats right up the front because he spoke the local language. He being the tour leader took the 1B seat on the bulkhead and his clients got the 63 row . He constantly crapped on about being shot 9 times when he owned a farm near Krocodile river when in in reality he was shot once with a shotgun with SSG nine ball . I have 2 friends that have been shot by 9 ball shotgun. 1 survived , one didn’t and he carried on like he was special. A Racist cunt and I have recordings of you . We were promised the Okavango Delta but were not even taken close . Nwambe Lodge was a no electricity, cold water , cluster fuck .
Clive , we have unfinished business after Your garbage service .
Beware of this company’s propaganda.
We have been on many international tours , and these people suck .
Best of luck, Side Show Clive .
Improve your service .
HU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A good start with a terrible end game...
In the beginning everything was good with this company. I have spoken with Jimmy and he was so nice. I paid half part of the money in the summer. Then he told me my reservation is guaranteed. A few months later in September I got an other message and he wanted the other half of the price because my reservation was not guaranteed anymore. I didn’t want to pay everything in advance but finally I just accepted his argument and we wanted to go there.
After everything was ok. In the first few days our safari was amazing with our guide (Christopher). But after when we were going to back Arusha our experience has become terrible. John (Christopher’s boss) called us because something was wrong with the money and fees on the border of Ngorongoro. So we had to pay more 430 dollar. It was the only one way to go back Arusha. Finally John promised us we will meet in Arusha and he will give back our money in cash. Of course it wasn’t true. John just disappeared and when we arrived to Arusha Christopher got out of the car and ran away.
After this experience we realized these guys weren’t from Swahili directly. It was a no and company and Swahili just gave us for them. So I can’t understand what happened exactly that day. But we have a really bad experience with this safari so be careful and don’t pay in advance!!!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Experience with helinassafaris during trip to amboseli national park
Booked for the tour for dec 2019. Owner gladys very polite n arranged the tour. Tour guide took us to amboseli park.
Was very good driver n knowledgeable. Enjoyed the wildlife viewing.
Booked at sentrim amboseli lodge. Road to kimana gate n lodge very uncomfortable. The lodge needs a proper road.
Problems started when it stated raining heavily. Roads got flooded n so park flooded n v could nt go wildlife viewing.
The day v had to leave roads became impassible. Had a bad experience. It became lunch hr. The owner of this tour companydid nt want to take
Responsibility to our safety or provide us with lunch. The van got struck in the muddy, broken washed road.
V were stuck in the hot van with flies, while the guide or driver would go n help others vans or their driver get out of the mess they were in.
He did this several times all the way home.
V reached late at night feeling very sick n had nothing to eat after breakfast. V will nt take a tour with this company again.
They need to know their priority is to first serve the clients by taking them home instead of helping other vans to get out of the mess they were
In. Therefore v had a bad experience n felt ill the next day.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Decent driver and lodge, very rude boos
We picked Yebo tour to support local tourism in Masindi. It was also one of the cheapest solution we've found. We thought to go a bit rustic on accommodation and transport, but we ended up having a stupid discussion about the already agreed on price. We paid in dollars, as agreed, and they started complaining something about the different exchange rate they were given. Still not sure how that would be our problem, since we had our entire booking discussion in dollars, the boss decided to close our discussion walking out on us while we were still talking. The rudest thing I've had in 40 days in Uganda, ridiculous.
The driver was nonetheless a good driver, safe, very good at spotting animals.
The car was old, with a broken window, 2 doors that wouldn't open from the inside, hanging handles, extremely dirty back seats and back window and a couple of alive chickens traveling with us in the trunk, which was actually fairly fun!
The Yebo lodge is generally speaking decent, for the price paid, placed close by both the game drive ferry and the boat ride. In our room, the toilet was leaking water and the door couldn't close. the net was slightly too small for the bed and the sheets were placed in a heart shape, which is cute, but it also meant we had to do our own bed: in between sweet and unhandy, I wouldn't know what to choose! Food is not good, one of the worse I've had in Uganda. The staff is nice and kind.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Changed the program. I had to stay 1 day in a not booked hotel without any program. Never again
During the Safari my program was changed by Bienvenido Tours. I had wait 1 day and night for another group from a different tour company to continue the trip. I lost 1 1/2 days with waiting in the accomodation and waiting for the other Minivan. I even had to pay the hotel that I booked after the Safari and couldnt use because of the delay. Bienvenido Tours didnt accept a money refund. I'd not book with this company again. The Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli are wonderful places to see. The accomodations in the parks are very basic, but that I knew before
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Needs improvement
The Masai Mara is an incredible place with incredible animals and landscapes. Peter was excellent at communicating with us in a timely manner to answer all our questions and set up our itinerary for our safari trip.
However we were not satisfied with the behavior of our driver who tried to convince us to enter and exit the park at the times we suggested. We think he was doing this in order to avoid paying the park fees for one day (each entry fee is valid for 24 hours). However we wanted to have as much time as possible in the park, as per what we had paid for, and in accordance with park timings. When we asked to stay in the park a bit longer than the time the driver was suggesting, he proceeded to avoid driving us out of the park through the main gate and instead drove us off track and trespassed through the Masai village at high speed. There were small children on the path and adult men and women (who carry sticks) started yelling at our van and throwing stones as the driver sped through. This was extremely embarrassing for us, as well as dangerous, as it was very dark and there were small children in the way.
Then the driver stopped and a man who seemed to be a Masai chief entered our car and spoke to our driver the entire way back to our hotel. We don't know what they negotiated or what they were talking about, since we don't speak their language and our driver wasn't communicating anything with us.
We hope Flash McTours will work on improving their services. This kind of experience is not conducive for a pleasant safari experience. It is unsafe and likely to make your visitors feel very nervous and uncomfortable. Furthermore,
It is essential that safari companies follow park rules and regulations and respect the Masai community, and their land.
IT
So and so
Left middle afternoon to reach to campsite and stayed one night there.Supposed to leave for the Ngorongoro park early morning but just got in there around 1130 am!!!the lunch was terrible but wasn't the worst thing;didn't see elephants, giraffes and rhinos not just for a case but because we left too late!