20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
they did nothing for me, and not refund the money which i paid in adovance.
this company did nothing for me in Tanzania.
i had paied some money in adovance via internet.
i had to use 1 day to contact with someone who worked for this company.
and i needed to find another tour operator in Arusha because they did nothing.
no apology. no refund. no contact.
this is a thief company.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Horrible. They blackmailed me.
I booked a private safari of 14 days with Orongai for January 2019.
However, 4 days before the start of my trip they send me an email that the cost of fuel had risen since I booked the tour and I had to pay $ 1,400,- extra immediately!
This is crazy. I checked and found out fuel prices had fallen by 10 per cent instead since I booked the trip. Then I realized I was blackmailed.
Later I found out that more people were blackmailed in a similar way. Check the reviews.
I cancelled the tour, but they did not want to return my money.
Only after the safaribookings.com where they promote themselves blocked them, I received most of money back (not everything), but it was a horrible experience. They ruined my holidays.
These guys are criminals.
FR
Hassan Hussein Hassan only wants money
Hassan Hussein Hassan is a good guide: BUT after holidays he'll ask you for your phone number. Ok, we are stupid, we gave it to him. Then his family is in trouble (mom falls down and have to go to hospital, children must go to school, need money for water or electric, etc.) We were very stupid... But even when I told him to fuck off, de didn't stop, so told him that I'll call Leopard Tours. No way. Last time he called me in Spring this year. Now he's on the black list. "Nice"memories of Tanzania...
US
BEWARE OF SCAMMER / LOW QUALITY
I am glad that I did not book with Achieve. I saw their van while in Murchison and it wasnt nearly as nice as the 4x4 with a pop top that we enjoyed for a better price with Uzuri (https://uzurisafaris.com/) instead.
I had originally planned on booking with Achieve, but their email account was hacked and I sent a wire for $3,140 USD to scammers. The owner Polly Kamugisha took zero responsibility even though I took steps to verify the fake instructions sent from their email account. I even messaged an Achieve employee on whatsapp to "confirm the email with updated instructions are legit? Just wanna make sure nobody sent a fake message from your email account" (see screenshot).
I wouldnt normally air my dirty laundry like this but the world should know that the business owner's response to the incident was that I should seek help from the police... not only is he ignorant about the likelihood of a recovery via law enforcement, but I am still shocked that he doesnt think Achieve has any responsibility for the instructions sent from their compromised email account. Wouldnt even agree to split it.
Probably would have been more victims if I hadn't separately reached out to a 3rd party lodge in my efforts to verify the suspicious instructions sent from Achieve's email address. They called Polly to make him aware of my concerns before I sent the wire.
Don't expect Achieve to be there for you if anything goes wrong! Have the time of your life with Uzuri or any number of better companies out there!
KH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible!!
I want to warn everyone of Sardius Tours and its operator Felix Ndunda. He quit responding to our emails after receiving our downpayment last December 2018. He used to answer quickly with all our inquiries. We tried to get back our money multiple times but he won’t respond anymore via email. We re-booked with another Agency thru www.safaribookings.com I recommend you find a more genuine and honest agency in this website. Very late for us to learn more about Sardius Tours based on different reviews that we’ve came across with after researching more. Please review the following online reviews:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294207-i9695-k11871897-Sardius_Tours_Felix_Ndunda_BEWARE-Nairobi.html#94339015
https://www.safaribookings.com/reviews/p446#34038
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294207-i9695-k5744405-Sardius_Tours_rip_off-Nairobi.html
https://www.safaribookings.com/p446
http://www.african-safari-journals.com/sardius-tours-review.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294207-i9695-k964770-Anyone_know_about_Sardius_Tours_and_Safaris-Nairobi.html
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/africa/tanzania/sardius-tours
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294207-i9695-k4269296-Sardius_tours_or_Skyview_of_Africa-Nairobi.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294207-i9695-k1510372-Sardius_Tours_and_Travels_Con_Tour_Operator-Nairobi.html
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very bad & disappointing!!
we were planning a trip to Botswana/ Namibia / Zimbabwe but we couldn't make it & actually we were sent back from the airport because the agency lied to us and didn't provide the needed documents.. so the vacation was ruined, embarrassment at the airport minding that myself & my friend we are regular travelers (weekly basis almost). they ripped us off & no one is answering our mails & requests to get refunds!!!
It’s been almost 6 months & still nothing...
We’ve trusted that they will handle our visa , at least that's what the agent said
:For my friend it was extrmely confusing for them to give an answer about her documents and then they’ve assured that she would get the visa on arrival... this never happened because we were not even allowed to leave the airport
:For myself they’ve started the visa applications. (again what they said!!)
:We’ve purchased the flight tickets after their confirmation on my visa delivery on Nov 27th Tue, which they’ve said they would send the file either on the same day eve or the next day morning.
: They’ve never sent the visa!!!! We’ve received an image of a so called ‘visa’ only 12 hrs before our flight. And at the airport we were told that it was not a visa but a ‘Acknowledgment of Receipt’. It turned out we were fooled and ripped off by Enrico’s Safaris. And still no refund even after 6 months & no one is replying !!!
They’ve ruined our holiday plans and we’ve missed an opportunity. On top my friend received an email from them saying: ‘If you guys could have emphasized strictly that you are not allowed without a Visa I would have done my utmost best to make sure, that's the level of support you get from this agency!!
Of course we’ve asked for refund of our down payment & flight ticket costs. They’ve said they can only return the down payment and instead of the flight ticket they’ve offered free of charge tour in March 2019, which we’ve declined and asked for a refund. Since then no refund, no answer to our emails and phones.
again I am a regular traveler & this never happened to me but I guess there is always a first time when we have such incompetent agencies. please check before picking them for your vacations because they are such a big disappointment , waste of money & time...
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Presentation, contract, itinerary, and actual experience never matched up, and no resolution.
We booked a safari in South Africa at a travel show in Dallas. We received an itinerary 2 weeks before the trip. On the trip our experiences were not what was communicated at the travel show, nor on our contract, nor on the itinerary. The contract says they can change anything they want at their leisure and as a customer there is no recourse. Many of our safari guides exceeded the 6 passengers, so that small group feel...gone, forget it. They only allow you to stay at their resorts so there is EXTENSIVE driving to and from every activity. Our itinerary said we would be on a jeep safari in Kruger, but once we arrived we were told we had to pay an additional 130 for the jeep. Our trip to Kruger took 3.5 hours to arrive, only got 3 hours on the jeep, then a 5 hour drive back to the resort (Hamala). It was a miserable day in the van and not worth the drive for such a short safari. Hamala is a nice resort but dinner is what they choose, not what the customer would like. They served a steak one night that was too tough to eat. I told the host the steak was too tough and his response was "your welcome", so needless to say I went to bed hungry that night (there were NO other food options provided). The safari's at Hamala were at 7 am, wake up call at 5:30, coffee at 6:30 and safari from 7-10, then breakfast is at 10am. I struggled with my blood sugar being up for 5 hours without any food. I finally had to buy snack cakes at the gas station during an outing. Persons on the Cape Town tour are flown into JBurg and they say a free night at Seasons resorts to recover from the travel, but all it is, is a sales pitch to buy into the resort, as they then have to fly from JBurg to Cape Town the next day. We also booked a shark dive with Go Touch Down, they charged us 350 per person. When we arrived at the shark dive operator we found out the cost is 186 per person. I assumed there would be a small up charge for Go Touch down to book it, but seriously, double the cost. Save your money and book your own shark cage dive directly with Apex Shark Encounters in Simon's Town, your cost will be cut in HALF. I will never recommend this company. I wrote 6 emails during my travels of my negative experience and received NO assistance, many emails I didn't even get a response. I wasted so much money with the company and want to ensure other people don't get scammed like I did.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The Absolute Worst
AVOID. HIDE. RUN. My 11 day solo Uganda tour blew up after 5 days – money issues. I found out (too late) that Bella had financial difficulties. I paid in full before the tour but they kept asking me for money during the tour. Beware of her and guide Robin coming back into the business under a different company name.
Internet: “www.bellaafricasafaris.com Mailscanner has detected fraud in the website at docs.google.com. Do not trust this website”. www.inspirock.com Bella ... # 78 of 102 in Wildlife in Kampala “www.tourhq.com ... Bella ... ranked # 39 of 47 tour groups in Kampala”
Before the Tour: My repeated emails were typically returned days late. I had to ask for receipts after monies were paid. A “must have” list never came. I emailed the lodges on the tour itinerary a week before it started. Only one lodge said they had a reservation under my name or Bella’s. I emailed Bella, and guide Robin responded that"all reservations are confirmed" (liar).
The Tour: Substitutions were made for all of the lodges listed on the itinerary. I was picked up late every morning at my lodge, once 3 hours late. Guide Robin said that the van had repairs done that day, but the driver told me in the afternoon that Robin spent the morning trying to get money. They asked me for money on the second day … difficulties in Bella getting money to Robin (lie). We spent an entire morning trying to get into Murchison NP - Robin with Bella on the phone tried to talk the person at the gate into letting us in. Finally I paid (and was never reimbursed). A joke. The van was given gasoline 6 gallons at a time – never filled. Bottled water was purchased one bottle at a time. The tour blew apart on day 5 in Kibale NP. Bella never paid for my Chimp Habitation permit (surprise!) – she asked me to pay the 200 USD fee. Nope. The game warden said I could go on the habitation if Bella got the money to him before I returned at the end of the day. I went on the habitation but no money came. When Guide Robin arrived to pick me up (I was the last person to be picked up out of 25 people) they kept him, fortunately letting me go back to the lodge with the driver. The warden kept Robin in jail for the night because of lack of payment. He was let out the next day. I heard later that they were thinking of keeping me in jail, too! The driver got disgusted with everything and drove his van home – he had never been paid anything by Bella and had been using some of his own money to buy gas. I stayed on one more day – the wonderful lodge manager got me a ride back to Entebbe (200 USD) and I stayed in Entebbe until my plane left 5 days later. Believe it or not Bella came out to Kibale NP and apologized – too little too late. She said I would be completely reimbursed for the tour (I’m still waiting on the money that won’t come !). Bella and Robin wanted me to continue the tour! I was genuinely concerned about my safety as well as being outraged with the tour. When I got back to Entebbe the lodge people and other guides told me about Bella and her money problems. They were angry with her for giving Uganda tourism a bad name. I could tell more. DO NOT GO NEAR!
The bottom line is that Bella let me fly 19 hours in the air to Uganda (and back home), pay 1500 USD roundtrip air, and pay her about 5000 USD in full for a trip that she knew that she could not pull off. As low as you can get. Would have liked to give zero stars. Amazingly, she still has her website online and on Safari Bookings.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
avoid this company
First off, I bought this safari from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris, and had all communications with Seth Vincent of that
company. The morning of the safari, we were picked up and taken to Inno Africa Safaris or Innocent Africa Safaris, where we
paid for the tour. We should have realized something was wrong at that point, but we were assured we were getting the safari
we booked. I am posting this review for both these companies as they have blamed each other in our communications.
Originally I was traveling myself, so I went with the basic accommodations. Later a friend joined me, so we upgraded to the
mid level accommodations. Below is a copy of the itinerary I was sent, then our communication confirming the upgrade to the
new accommodations.
DAY 1: ARUSHA / TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK.
Pick up from your overnight hotel in Arusha follow by short briefing and distribution of hard copy itinerary, then drive to
the Tarangire National Park for a morning & afternoon game drive. You will enjoy a picnic lunch served at a picnic site while
you watch the wildlife around the lake. Later in the day you will leave Tarangire and drive to Serengeti for dinner and
overnight at Seronera tented camp https://www.google.com/search?q=seronera+camp+serengeti&client=firefox-b-
ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBq7GK06nVAhWGvxQKHXPrABAQsAQIYA&biw=1024&bih=669
Day 2: / Full day serengeti national park
All day spent in Serengeti with morning and afternoon game drives in the park with your picnic lunch. Serengeti National park
is one of the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world and symbolizes the the classic Africa Africa safaris with more than
2 million Zebras and it has greatest concentration of plains game in Africa the it's also symbolize with the annual wildebeest
and Zebras migration other animals like Zebras giraffe baboon and many others might be sported dinner and overnight at your
campsite https://www.google.com/search?q=seronera+camp+serengeti&client=firefox-b-
ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBq7GK06nVAhWGvxQKHXPrABAQsAQIYA&biw=1024&bih=669
Day 3 / Serengeti Ngorongoro Via Olduvia Gorge
Early morning game drive then leave Serengeti to Ngorongoro Via Olduvai Gorge with optional stop over at Oldvia gorge where
remains of animals that lived and died more than 2 millions years ago area found the guide will give you on site information
of the gorge before you proceed with your safari you will explore various area such as Moro Kopje's the extensive grassland
interspersed with Kopje' rocky outcrop like Island the flat plain each with their own the Saronera River flows through the
park providing habitats for varieties of birds mammals and reptiles proceed to Nabi hills picnic lunch will be served at
picnic site drive to Malanji depression entering Ngorongoro crater are in the evening and direct to your campsite the drive
is amortizable with clouds rollings over the rim like a mist waterfall, the whole setting is a dreamy and unique Africa Masai
campsite safari fit into contours of the Ngorongoro crater rim dinner and overnight at your campsite on full board basis.
Day 4: 28 / 1 / 2019 / Ngorongoro Arusha drop off Killimanjaro
This morning better prepare yourself for Ngorongoro Crater - The Eden of Africa: The Crater is Twelve miles wide, home to the
rare Black Rhino and has its own Soda Lake. The high concentration of wild animals in the Crater area means that you are
likely to see the African Big Five in a short period of time. As we descend 2,200 feet into the Crater, experience a
thrilling day among Africa's Big Five: the Lion, the Elephant, the Buffalo, the Black Rhino the Leopard, zebras, hippos,
hyenas, wildebeests, warthogs and many more you will leave the Ngorongoro in the late afternoon and proceed to Arusha town
follow by drop off at your hotel in Arusha Kilimanjaro Airport where our service ends.
My email to Seth confirming upgrade: Ok Seth, lets upgrade to the mid range accommodations at katikati tented camp
https://www.google.com/search?q=katikati+tented+camp&client=firefox-b-
ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEzb3AqbrdAhXPz4UKHRh_DZoQsAR6BAgCEAE&biw=1280&bih=891 and Ngorongoro sopa
lodge http://www.sopalodges.com/ngorongoro-sopa-lodge/overview.
Day one, got picked up at 730 from our hotel. Other safaris were doing pickups at 6:30 or 7:00am. Driver had no supplies or
gas, which amounted to another hour wasted. There was no such thing as a morning drive as advertised. Driver drove at least
10 mph slower than everybody on the highway. We passed nobody, and got passed by semi trailers (really,) women walking with a
hundred bananas on their head, and grazing goats. Very near Tarangire park, for no reason, we stopped in a small town for ten
minutes, (to stretch our legs as driver said,) long enough to be pestered by peddlers. Approximately 30 other jeeps past
through the town, and not one of them stopped. As we continued on, we found out the park was less than 10 minutes away. We
stopped for 15 minutes to have boxed lunch, and started our safari at 1230. The driver who couldn’t keep up to loaded trucks,
is now racing thru the park like Al Unser. Most stops, he would start to drive away before we said we were ready to go. Ended
the safari at 4:00 and were supposed to drive to the Serengeti park for dinner and lodging, but stopped In Mto Wa Mbu at 5
even though dinner wasn’t ready till 7:25. Total safari time on day one was 3 1/2 hours. Instead of staying at the Katikati
tented camp, (which was absolutely amazing and one of the highlights of the trips,) we stayed in a 2 star hotel which charged
$100 per night, as opposed to Katikati which is over $500 per night, so I wrote Seth the following letter. His reply followed
Seth I thought our safari was with Trip Advisor Africa Safaris, not Inno Africa Safaris??? Our itinerary is not how you
emailed, or what it shows on your web page. There was no morning drive in the Tarangire yesterday. In fact we didn’t start
until 12:30, and left the park at 4, a mere 3 1/2 hours. So I thought, that’s fine, we have to drive to the Serengeti, like
your itinerary says. NO! We stopped at a lodge in Mto Wa Mbu at 4:55 pm, where dinner wasn’t ready until 7:25, so we wasted 2
1/2 hours doing nothing when we could be driving to the Serengeti. I thought, OK we will leave early so we can get to the
Serengeti for an early morning drive. All other safari companies staying here left this morning at 0630 or 0700. Not us. It’s
9:35 and they are still loading the Jeep. Obviously the morning drive (when the lions are out) at the Serengeti is not gonna
happen as we won’t get there until afternoon. Why did we just stay 17 hours in a lodge room without a tv, wifi or working AC?
We paid for a safari, not to stare at four walls. Obviously we are not getting what was promised or what we paid for, and are
not very happy.
His response below, where h never answered any of our questions:
My dear to be honest, if you arrive at the lodge around 4:55pm, and the supper was ready at 7:25pm is there any problem? I
think you were given time for refreshment before you go for supper, remember we are not at safari rally and if you start
calculating time instead of watching the animal it will be a big loss to you.
Drive will try to go slow as he can so that you can see the animals, they will try to look areas where they will get animal,
not as safari rally where they compete with time, our main aim is to see animals not to reach in time,
I will be very happy if you will tell me that you have see all the big five (5).
Thank for your understanding.
Regards
Seth Vincent
Day 2 we left late, because they made us wait for other customers to join us. We sat in that rundown hotel for 17 hours. We
obviously lost the morning drive in the Serengeti. In fact, we never arrived till well after noon. We had only 3 hours on the
safari. Day 3 we started an hour late because we had to wait for the driver to pick up the people staying at a different
camp. Instead of a full day in the Serengeti like promised, we left early because the driver only purchased a 24 hour pass to
the park, so we never got two days there like promised. Then we drove to our accommodations. Once again, we were taken to a
different lodge then we agreed upon. We were supposed to stay at a beautiful lodge overlooking the crater. Of course, we were
placed in lower valued and priced accommodations. I wrote both for prices. The difference was $200 cheaper for the place we
actually stayed. Following is another conversation I had with Seth.
1. We were supposed to have two days in the Serengeti. We had only a 24 hour ticket
2. We were supposed to have two nights in Kati Kati tented camp. Instead we stayed in a rundown Twiga lodge without working
AC. The price difference between the two was $400. The Kati tent was one of the highlights of the trip, Twiga was the
lowlight. And we did not appreciate sitting in the Twiga lodge for 17 hours, instead of being on a safari
3. Last night we were supposed to stay at Sopa, overlooking the crater. Instead we stayed at Rhino Lodge. Price difference
was almost $200
Writing this to Trip Advisor Africa Safaris, his reply was this:
Thank you very much for your update. First I like people like you who do update us if something went wrong,and see how we
can sort it out. To be honest, all the money you paid in Tanzania and even the $ 200 paid before I sent to our Tanzania
counterpart for the same service. I have go through your email and what your saying it is an acceptable, please allow me to
contact my Tanzania counterpart and then I can come back to you latest Monday. People to serve a lot to come to holiday and
they should get exactly what they have paid for, there is no way he can decide to take you to Rhino lodge instead of sopa
lodge,to serve $200.Please am apologies for what has happened but before that, let me get the side of the story from Innocent
then we can see what to do next.
Thanks again and again for your update!!
Regards
Seth Vincent
Conclusion: Day 1 we lost the morning drive at Tarangire Park, due to reasons listed above. Then we stayed in a poor hotel at
Mto Wa Mbu city, instead of the stunning accommodations in the Serengeti.
Day 2, we stayed in Mto Wa Mbu for a total of 17 hours, waiting so they could join more people into our jeep. We obviously
lost the morning drive at the Serengeti. As a result, we only had 24 hours there, not two days like promised. Day 3, started
late again, and had to leave the Serengeti early before the 24 hour ticket expired. Then drove to our accommodations, which
turned out again to be lower valued accommodations than promised. Day 4, were told we'd start at 7:00 am, got picked up at
7:50. In all, we lost the morning drive at the Tarangire Park, one day at the Serengeti, an hour at the crater, one night
stay in the Serengeti camp, and one night stay at the crater. The price difference between the accommodations day one was
$400. The difference the third night was $200. That does not include the value of all the time we missed on the safari. I
wrote Seth Vincent from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris and demanded a refund, for at least the price difference in the
accommodations that they would have saved, roughly $600. Once again, that does not include all the safari time lost. After a
month of back and forth emails, and me threatening to write an obvious bad review, it was apparent, that all he would refund
us was $100 each, if we didn't write that review. Looking back at the pictures, and the memories, I am so mad at what we
lost, and realizing they ruined our once in a lifetime trip, I am therefore now writing that review.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Rude Driver and lack of response from the company
Very poor
I was travelling with Bonfire Adventures in Masai Mara. It was the worst experience as driver treated me. He was rude and aggressive.
Moreover, the senior tour consultant was good in dealing with me but he stopped replying after the drivers aggressiveness.
I would like to claim compensation for driver's attitude and reducing the promised itinerary.