US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Solaris is an absolute fraud, DO NOT BOOK YOUR SAFARI WITH THEM. If I could give 0 stars, I would.
Solaris Safaris is an absolute fraud, DO NOT BOOK YOUR SAFARI WITH THEM.
We booked a 6-night safari with Solaris in Tanzania. We prepaid everything in two installments, as they required, and they promised to provide 6 nights of hotels, all of our park fees, a private car/driver for the two of us, and all of our meals while on safari. In short, they provided almost none of these things and we ended up paying additional thousands of dollars to keep our safari going that has not been refunded to us despite many promises from the company that it would be.
Hours after we arrived, the problems began. Our driver (who was not a Solaris employee, but rather a local guide contracted by Solaris) was several hours late to pick us up because Solaris did not provide the necessary funds and information for our trip to begin. We missed out on a few hours of game drives that day, and Solaris had not organized our lunch for us. Later that evening, our local driver came to find us at the lodge to tell us that Solaris was supposed to have sent him money that evening for the next day but had not yet. We had to call Solaris several times to try and figure out the issue and they wouldn't do anything for us. The next morning, our driver was again several hours late because Solaris kept telling him they'd send money and never did. We ended up having to pay our driver directly for 4 of the 6 days out of pocket on top of what we had already paid - this was required up front to allow our driver to get enough fuel for our 4 days in the Serengeti where there are only dirt roads and no gas stations. We also had to pay for all of our park entrance fees, which were supposed to have been included, plus a balance on our final hotel. We ended up paying another 50% on top of the total trip cost while on the ground in Tanzania just to continue our trip. Meanwhile, Solaris kept telling us everything would be fine and they would sort it out and this never, ever happened. We wasted several expensive hours on the phone with them instead of in the parks doing game drives.
At the end of our safari, Solaris agreed to refund us everything we paid out of pocket and set a date to do so a few weeks later. We never received the refund after several reminders and emails to them, and they have stopped responding to our emails. This company is an absolute fraud. We have reason to believe they embezzled this money for their own personal gain.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Do not do business with African Paradise Safaris
I bought a 7-day 6-night group safaris from African Paradise Safaris. It turned out there was no such safaris.
They subcontracted my safaris to Africa Natural Safaris, which does not have a license to operate. I was shuffled between 4 different safaris groups in seven days. It was a disaster. Do not do business with this company
AR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Not too good an MIRKA was the worst
The hotels quite good but the guide called MIRKA was very very unpolite and rude at all times. She didn´t want to take us to the places we had paid for and instead she took us to two places in order to buy... She wanted us to leave very expensive tips (more tan 20%) In Kruger the ranger explained in English in order that she could explain it to us but she never translated. The group was in Spanish and most of them couldn´t understand the ranger (she was very polite and the dirver too). MIRKA got confused with the timetable and was rude to us because of her mistakes. Awful experience. First time I got such a bad guide.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible Experience - Felt cheated out of our money
Went on a Kruger Park tour with Blue Chilli Adventures after a visit to Kapama Game Reserve. We had the most awful experiences as the guide cooked our dinner himself and we had to share our room with other people which felt awkward. We were promised 2 full day Kruger safari in an open vehicle but ended up with only one and the second day was in a van with a small window so we couldn't take photos!
Please save your money & time and don't travel with Blue Chilli Adventures so you don't end up being disappointed.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fraudulent Thief- Don’t Risk It
Here are the reasons why choosing this safari option is just not worth risking for your once in a lifetime trip:
1. Broken down cars (ours broke down and needed to be serviced mid-trip). He will try to say this didn’t happen - well, it did, and we have photos and videos to prove it. We had to wait so long before it was repaired.
2. Broken radio, You will be the only car in the park that can't communicate with other other guides in the park (which will severely limit your ability to see wildlife). We had agreed that a radio would be in the car - and he guaranteed this, but told us it was broken after we had driven 5 hours and were in the park so there was no turning back.
3, Tiny windows (like being in a plane), other operators have jeeps with windows twice the size. Im 5'9 and had to hunch to see anything. He will try to say Tanzania requires all cars must be the same model, this is just not true. Look at photos yourself!
4. Philemon tried to put up into a budget lodge after we specifically discussed the lodges we wanted to be in (and had a written contract). We agreed to the lodges and then he tried to make last minute changes to get us in a cheaper one. What a joke!
5. Philemon tried to cut out a full day of our itinerary (we paid for 5 days, but to save money on park fees etc, he tried to persuade us the safari was only a 4 day trip). We agreed to itinerary e tried to change when we were mid way through!
6. Philemon will require you pay in full upfront. And he is very sweet to work with to start, but once he gets paid in full, he will ignore you and you will receive terrible service from him.
There are so many other operators, just dont risk your once in a lifetime trip. We chose this company because of the tripadvisor reviews, but it appears that they may not all be true. While out on safari, we did meet several couples/families who had chosen Leopard Tours and seemed to love it. They had modern cars, working radios, and very intelligent and knowledgeable guides. We cant vouch for them since we didnt use them, but I would try anything else but this!
Really disappointed.
Just don't risk it.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was an awful experience. They lie and steal your money.
Awful!!!The owner is a crook and the tour guide a liar.
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This company is a SCAM!! BEWARE!!
I did a 15-day tour booked with this company (they also call themselves Cheno Travel Safari Tours sometimes) ant it was just terrible!! They did not follow the schedule, didn´ t put us in the accomodations we were planned to stay. We never had water or lunch during our trips (but we paid for it!). It was just a big mess and we had to argue the whole way of our trip, until a point on the 10th day where our driver just abandoned us in our hotel in the Nxai Pans and never returned. We had to figure out a way to keep our trip by ourselves and they never refund us or made anything easier for us. We are still in touch with the Botswana Ministry of Tourism and the police as well to put these guys out of the market forever! If you don´t believe me, just ask for pictures of their cars and their tourism licenses before booking anything. All tour company cars in Botswana must have the logo of the company on the car door. Just ask to see what they have... We rode on an old honda fit without a/c... you just don´ t wanna any of this in your vacations!
TR
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Take care with the Company Blue Montain Trekking & Safaris
To the Director of the Company
Blue Montain Trekking & Safaris
On 22 May 2018 we visited your office and my wife and me were looking for a tree days Safari. We talked to one of you employee Mr. Ben (Tel. 0721362462) and he gave us information. He suggested to stay in the camp at Rhino camp in a tent. The price will be around 760 US $. We did not talk so much about the price because we knew your official price was about 340.00 US $ for tree days Safari. At that time we did not make our final decision.
On the next day, we decided to go to Safari and came back to the office opposite of Hilton. My wife was a little bit scared from the staying in a tent. Then we asked for a lodge. Mr. Ben maked a suggestion. He said that we can stary in a lodge at Ol Moran Camp. He suggested a price of 1160.00 US $. Finally we agreed to pay 930.00 US $. We paid 100.00 US $ in advance. We have been told that we should pay the rest on 25th May where the trip started. On 25th May, in the morning I have paid the rest, 830.00 US $ in cash and asked for a receipt. He denied to give me a receipt. He has just written on the first receipt (which we have received on 22th May) that the balance has been paid. See the attached receipt. I knew that was not correct. On the way we picked up to german ladies. On the car someone has prepared a regular receipt and gave to these ladies. They paid 30.000 Schlings per Person (300.00 US $).
We arrived at the Ol Morano camp, the driver, Patrick, has dropped us and left immediately. Then we were asking for a lodge. We have told that there was no lodge only tents. I called Ben back and the driver. We could not change anyting. We paid a price of a lodge, however we stayed in a tent.
Finally, instead of 600.00 US $ we paid 930.00 US $. We have been swindled by Mr. Ben. He is one of the biggest liar that I have seen in my life. A guy like that would damage your company.
I am sure that this guy has prepared an official receipt which is probably around 600.00 US $. The rest is in his pocket.
One more story, according to the program, on the third day we should first go to the park for three hours and then back to Nairobi. The driver discoverd a new story and talked about the boat trip on a river somewhere else. Some people agreed but we did not. I didn’t want to wait for other people during boat trip. I told Patrick that we want to go to Nairobi. Underway he had difficulties to arrange a car for us. Finally at the place where we had lunch he has arranged a Safari car. The driver of this car dropped us at a benzin station in Nairoby. Finally with a arranged taxi we arrived at our hotel. Why should we take three different cars to come to our hotel?
Now I am asking you why the driver Patrick discovered a boat trip which was not on program. Does he has some benefits from boat trip? Why did he not drive for three hours to National Park as we have been told?
I would like to leave Kenya with a good impression. However, people like Ben would harm the people.
I kindly ask you to search this process and inform me and compensate the money which I have paid more.
Prof. Dr. Metin Balcı
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bait and Switch!
I booked the luxury 4 day safari to Amboseli and Tsavo. I selected specific accommodations and chose this company because they told me we could do an add on to include a trip to Mara Mara for a hot air ballon ride. A week before the trip they contacted me and said they could not take us to Mara Mara. When we arrived the safari vehicle was old and rusty. It was not a Toyota 4x 4 as advertised. On the way to the first hotel I noticed we were going in a different direction than the accommodations I specifically chose. The safari tour booked us in a standard level accommodation. I insisted on the tented cabins we booked as this was a once in a lifetime trip. The tour operator told us it was sold out. The driver took us there and there were plenty of rooms available. The third night the same bait and switch occurred. I had to book a hotel separately and paid out of pocket to stay in one of the hotels that was promised. The safari company has not refunded me and I had to dispute the charge with my credit card company.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Use another company
Africa is fabulous even though Born Free Safaris is not. They charge more than anyone but our vehicle was tattered and had no air conditioning!!! They charge premium prices but use poor vehicles and airlines. They routed me with Kenyan Airlines and every single flight was either cancelled or was very late leaving or arriving. I found out from other travelers that they could have used Emirates Airlines which is a 5 star airline and went to the same places. Born Free uses the cheapest of everything but charges the most. Use another company. I hear Odyssys Unlimited is great!!!