US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
This company stole our deposit, made zero bookings, and now will not respond to emails
We have been scammed by this company (It Started in Africa) and cheated out of USD 3,300.
We have been thinking about an African safari for a long time. In July 2017 we started looking into safari companies and selected It Started in Africa based on excellent previous reviews. We contacted then, they sent us an itinerary. After several exchange of emails, we decided to go ahead with them, and wired them a deposit of about USD 3,300.
After this, things started going south. They did not initially send us any confirmations of any bookings at the lodges which we had requested. After many emails, they sent us pictures of lodge invoices, which all showed that the amounts were still payable to the lodges. We contacted each individual lodge, and each one said that they did not have any bookings with this safari company. They had previous bookings, which got cancelled as this company did not send them the advance payment out of the deposit that we had paid.
We also read about several other reviews that indicated that this company had scammed many others out of their money recently, and they had gone bankrupt.
Now we are in a state of panic as we seem to have lost our money, and we do not have any safari reservations at any lodge. Our emails to them are now going un-answered.
If any one has been able to get their money back, please post on this review board on how they went about it.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
DANGER!! A genuine Swindle of touroperator in Bostwana.
The worst safari ever!!
Last October we went away to Bostwana a group of 6 persons in a safari of 13 days, 12 nights. We contract months before across the local agency Bush Baby Calls LTD since the price that offered us for the itinerary for that we look was not bad (The major mistake that we committed). His manager, such a Mogakolodi Serumola, was the one who was answering to our post office on our doubts. To reserve he asked us for an anticipation of 50 % of the price of the safari. Hitherto all good, but when we come there everything was from bad to worse and almost at all it was adjusting to what we contract. Our safari would begin in victory Falls and from there we would go to the Kalahari to be rising for the Delta of the Okavango. The manager, a scoundrel, only faced the consequences the day of beginning of the safari to appear and, overcoat, to take the rest of the money. Then it never faced the consequences in spite of living through situations of extreme gravity. Always he was throwing the fault to his workers. (In spite of being whom I receive and with whom we contract, the very inept one was exempting his responsibilities blaming his workers as if his workers were not of his responsibility).
To begin, the first day took from us the food that was included (also we had to pay to us of our pocket the breakfast in the hotel K1 in spite of being included in the price). It did us to lodge at Matswere Gate's very same entry and not at the approved camping. It made us encamp opposite a few destroyed and sickening baths riddled with scorpions and spiders (we have photos). In addition one of the clients was a major person and we ask him expressly that we wanted the shop of encamping with bath in his interior since this person was needing in the nights of going to the bath. It ignored and this 70-year-old person, I spend an authentic Calvary every night. His workers were excusing themselves of everything and were sending us to speaking with the manager, such a Mogakolodi Serumola that was never giving solutions and was escaping of everything. For limit, the land rover that gave to us (a land cruiser) defective wine with the ruadas in poor condition (even that of supply). In the first days the wheels failed in diverse occasions and we lost a lot of time changing them. In a safari you can puncture because it is normal; what is not normal is to come already of before hand with all the ruined ruadas, especially when the voyage for the country was going to be hard. But the worse thing was for coming, to the third day we were preparing to leave the desert to go to Moremi and they returned to trump the tyres. They left wire drawing us in the middle of the desert more than 4 hours.! Without water or coverage to call nobody!! He had to be a companion the fact that sim was giving his card to the driver in order that it could call the manager because none of the workers had balance. After a few hours ms late, the manager us tarjo a wheel to be able to go out of there (they were trumping 3 wheels and only it us brought one). We ask for explanations him for the condition of the car and of our safari of evening in Moremi that we it had lost since we do not come in time to the reservation and he said to us that we should not worry that we would do safari by night. Obviously it was a lie. We did not do safari not in the evening not by night in spite of having paid them. This it was the last time that we saw the manager. Nevermore it faced the consequences in spite of the multiple incidents that we would continue having and his vague promises of which it would be there or it is. A person's fraud.
We come to Moremi and, not only we did not do safari of evening by night since it us nor had promised, if not that the camp was a disaster. The showers had not even water. In spite of being almost 5 hours thrown in the desert of the Kalahari more the distance that we had to cross there was no water in the showers. The minimal thing that it is necessary to to do before sending a few clients to a place (independently of what they pay) is to make sure that expires with the minimal services. It did not even do it. It had clear that it was not going to face the consequences and his employees were not moving a finger invoking that they did not know anything. Everything was a disaster. We were thinking that already at all it could go to worse. And we are wrong.The car was continuing so bad. Stopping every little for the condition of the wheels. They promised us to change it when we were coming to Maun and, again, they us lied. They did not do it.
In Khwai it happened a little that I do not wish anybody. Already everything was a disaster. This man had ruined the vacations and it never faced the consequences. When we come to the area of Khwai proceeding Moremi's, we did safari in route until there came the hour of returning to the camp. The case is that for very incredible that it seems …! We never come!. The chauffeur put to look for the camp and … he did not find it. It started raining, key the night and the driver continued turning looking for the camp and …! Nothing!. The people started becoming very nervous until it made clear to us that he was not finding the campsite, which was not where it had to be. It was a closed night, was raining and was not giving us solutions. We demand to speak with the manager and it was not answering this one to the telephone. It gave an assault to a companion of stress. Finally it stopped in a position of rangers to explain the situation to them and for our surprise and without saying anything to us, a land rover was raised and left with them. It was totally surrealistic. It left wire drawing us in the middle of the sheet in the middle of the night. We had to sleep without supping on in a few miserable houses of a few women (surely women of rangers) that we find in the middle of the Bush. Two we sleep in the kitchen in the soil and other 4 in the exterior in a minishop because we were not fitting all in the miserable house.! This was already what fulfilled the glass!!. We demand to speak with the manager and it was not answering this one to the telephone. It gave an assault to a companion of stress. Finally it stopped in a position of rangers to explain the situation to them and for our surprise and without saying anything to us, a land rover was raised and left with them. It was totally surrealistic. It left wire drawing us in the middle of the sheet in the middle of the night. We had to sleep without supping on in a few miserable houses of a few women (surely women of rangers) that we find in the middle of the Bush. Two we sleep in the kitchen in the soil and other 4 in the exterior in a minishop because we were not fitting all in the miserable house.! This was already what fulfilled the glass!!. We demand to speak with the manager and it was not answering this one to the telephone. It gave an assault to a companion of stress. Finally it stopped in a position of rangers to explain the situation to them and for our surprise and without saying anything to us, a land rover was raised and left with them. It was totally surrealistic. It left wire drawing us in the middle of the sheet in the middle of the night. We had to sleep without supping on in a few miserable houses of a few women (surely women of rangers) that we find in the middle of the Bush. Two we sleep in the kitchen in the soil and other 4 in the exterior in a minishop because we were not fitting all in the miserable house.! This was already what fulfilled the glass!!. Everything was one it defrauds and they never gave to us solutions. When we come to Chobe, our last stop before returning Victoria Falls, it took from us one night that we had included and paid. Very scoundrel wanted to take us one day in Chobe in spite of having it quite full (invoices, contracts and itineraries in our hand) and it made us pay the income to the park invoking that then would pay it to us. Lie did not pay them (we have the income to the park) again, ever.
In end, a hell of trip with a disastrous company. The worse thing through that I have never lived in my trips. A manager who is a scoundrel and a compulsive liar. Flee of this company. Do not leave you to be deceptive either for his initial comity or for his prices. The cheap thing works out expensive (to us very expensive). Only I regret not having had time to denounce him in Kasane.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Be very careful with this operator
I was very disappointed with this operator. They demanded payment upfront but then changed the dates of my trip. They lied about there being a 'group' I would climb with (there was no group) and provided unprofessional guides who didn't provide a briefing nor walk with me. I ended up climbing Mt Kilimanjaro on my own. It was an overall traumatic experience. I emailed and phoned the operator MANY times and they denied a problem. This company is not to be trusted. When I got back to Arusha, I was notified by the Tourist Authority that this company is not endorsed due to their poor record.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Complete rip off - terrible guide, horrible experience and now they won't respond to or refund us
Before we arrived in the country Safarihub were very attentive, but once we arrived in country the airport pick up was the only thing that met our expectations (or the promises made on their website). I have no idea how they have any good reviews as all the information about their 'fleet' of cars was untrue - we were in an old, noisy, uncomfortable vehicle with another company's logo on it. We also had the worst safari guide I have ever come across. I've been on about 9 safaris now in 5 different countries (including previously in Tanzania) and I have never had such a terrible experience - this guide couldn't even see! I actually think he was losing his sight. He wasn't able to spot any animals. The animals we spotted he scared away by driving fast straight at them. (Ironic as the majority of the time he drove unbelievably slowly so we didn't cover much ground). He had no radio contact with anyone so had no colleagues giving him information on where the leopords etc. were. I was apalled. When I confronted safarihub about it they admitted that he worked for another company (not their driver) and they'd never done any check of whether he was a good guide or not. Despite being very apologetic at first though, Safarihub stopped replying to us and now we are desperately trying to get any of our money back having spent thousands of pounds on a really disappointing safari. This was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime for us, but ended up full of stress and anger because of Safarihub. Steer well clear of these thieves.
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They behaved dishonorably
I signed a lease contract with Patrick for Nissan X-Trail from 5.09 to 25.09.17, I've paid him for rentingת and left him a deposit of 500 USD.
At 25.09.17 I've returned the car. Patrick examined her and then drove her to the parking lot. He said that he have to go to the bank to refund me a the 500 dollars. Patrick did not return with the money.
LV
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A horrible journey and attitude
I regret the day I got in touch with this company. It was my expensive and pointless sport in my life - walk to Mandara Hut. 380 dollars (for 2 persons) for bringing you to a place from where you can not see anything beautiful.
The terrible experience began when it was time to start a new day with new adventures. We got up early in the morning to have breakfast before Kili Holidays arriving to the hotel to pick-up us. They arrived instead of the time (at 7:00) with an hour's delay (at 8:00), and only when they were called. There were 3 men in the car: a driver, a guide and a person who was collecting money. Nothing was arranged. We all went out to lunch boxes. It was only then that the journey began (from Arusha for more than two hours until Mandarin trail).
When we get there, a guide was no money to pay for the entrance. I need to pay this, although it was included in the price (we get back money when we arrive, but it shows the attitude). Upon starting the route, the guide said that we could not get up to the end, because we had to be back in time (although they were the ones who delayed). We went up to Mandara Hut, because we climbed quickly (there's nothing to see). The guide does not even lead us to the magnificent waterfall 200 meters from Route (the Mandara waterfall). I only noticed this when we returned (watching a photo on the Internet).
On the way home, I heard that the guide told the driver about the company and then I understood that none of them was working at Kiliholidays. They have been taken from the edge at the last minute.
Upon returning to hotel, a man who at start of the day charged money from us, was waiting us. (To make sure about how we liked, but in reality - he did not care. He thought he would get some tip, or something).
No one spoke to us either during the trip or during the climb.
We paid a lot of money just to be able to climb the beautiful trail and see and find out exactly nothing.
This company is badly organized.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
scam
ATTENTION SCAM!!!
HE DID NOT RETURN US 250$,
We ( me and my wife) booked with Edward Wilson a package safari ( 4 days in Serengeti Ngongoro Lake Manyara 640$ each) +Kilimanjaro ( 2 days 250$ each).
After the end of Safari Edward delayed our Kilimanjaro trekking of one day without asking it in advance to us. For us it was not possible to start the trekking with one day of delay as we had already bought the flight to Zanzibar.
At this point we tried to speak with him, call him and text and we finally met him (one day after the end of our Safari). He refunded us 250$ on that day telling us that he was going to return the remaining 250$ the week after.
We then tried to contact him plenty of times called texted him but no reply was received and his phone was off.
NO RETURN OF 250$ WAS GIVEN!!
STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our tour was booked with Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris but conducted by SandLand Tours
We booked our individual tour with "Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris". They confirmed the itinerary and all accomodations. They did not tell us anything about a different company making the safari.
These were our experiences:
The tour:
Day 1:
- Due to the bad logistics (people for the tour where missing/coming from a different place, cars where not fueled!) of that company we started at around 11:00 in Arusha although we should have started at 8:00!!! That was our Safari- and holiday-time we missed!
- Accomodation at Jambo Lodge (due to easy logistics for the company) which was not part of our itinerary and of much lower standard than the ones we payed for!
- We asked for local food (as part of the contract). The dinner was planned to be separately from the others. As we said we would like to be together with the rest of the group, after some discussions we got our dinner first with the European food and the local food afterwards?!
Day 2:
- There was no breakfast for us, but prepared for the others. We received our breakfast after longer discussions. There was no coffee for everyone left.
- There was no toilet paper in the lodge. So we had to use our own one.
- We where told that we would get local dinner at Kati Kati tented Camp, but only got bad, cold food.
Day 3:
- We should get breakfast at 6:00 before being picked up at 6:30. Breakfast was ready after the group arrived at around 6:40. After telling the „guide“ about that problem we got some breakfast and the rest of the group had to wait. - Lost Safari-time again for the whole group.
- At around 11:00 we had brunch for the tented-group and lunch-box for us: There was no place at the table for us, no chairs, no plates. We had to sit outside on the ground in the sun with the lunch box! - That time we told the „guide“ that we do not except that kind of treatment, that we pay a luxury tour-price and want at least a part of our money back. He was supposed to call and inform his boss - we did not get any feedback or excuse.
- Due to the bad logistics of that company we had to wait unnecessary long time after lunch until we could leave. (our Safari-time again)
- At the border to Ngorongoro NP we had to wait around 2.5 hours although we were first told it should take around 1 hour. During that time we did not get any information. (again: our Safari-time!). We asked a different guide from that company and found out that they made a mess with the wrong permits in advance. The guides had to clear that problem. Abraham told us something completely different, so someone was clearly not telling the truth…
Day 4:
- We left the Ngorongoro NP very early (no lunch in the crater, …) and arrived early at the Jambo Lodge again (cheaper lodge, easier logistics for Abraham) and did not have any program in the afternoon, which was our holiday time we payed for!
- In the afternoon we were told that we get a local dinner at 19:00, but when we arrived for dinner the chef wanted to seat us with a completely unknown group and serve something completely different. We found out that SandLand Tours just booked the room at the lodge and not the meals that we were told we would get. After long discussions our „guide“ came and took us to a local restaurant for dinner. We said that he would bring us to his boss after the tour that we could discuss everything with him.
Day 5:
- We had the first breakfast without any trouble (except at Rhino Lodge) but still without coffee, although there was a shop just around the corner.
- Again we had to wait very long to leave.
- After a short trip to Lake Manyara NP we were brought to our hotel directly, but not to the office. When I shortly talked to Abraham at the phone he said he would let us pick up the next day at 8:30 to talk to him and to let us bring to the airport afterwards.
- We were pretty much enraged but talking to the owner of the hotel were we stayed (Sinzia Villas) got us down a bit. He invited us to an excellent local food dinner as he was ashamed for that kind of treatment we experienced (although it was not his fault anyway).
Day 6:
- After some WhatsApp-messages we were picked up at around 9:15.
- The conversation consisted just of excuses, lies (like it was not possible to stay at a camp at Lake Manyara due to mosquitos) and contradictions.
- He said he would give us 150,-$ p.p. and everything would be fine with that…, but he charged us another 30,-$ for the transfer to the airport. He wanted to send us the money to our hotel in Zanzibar and also offer us a free transfer to the airport on our last day.
Safety of the car:
- The wheels did not all have enough profile and seemed decayed.
- The brakes were not strong enough, so you always had to put stones under the wheels that the car did not roll away…
- The ignition did not work properly why you had to push-start the car or park on a hill…
- Many parts of the car were broken (e.g. cooler-box) or temporarily fixed (fold-up-roof)…
- One car of that company was broken why we had to wait while it had to be repaired in Serengeti NP.
- In general the cars do not look well-maintained.
The tourguide:
- Was rarely with the group and did solve arising problems.
- Did not look for the group to find together as a group.
- Did not inform about the tour or times. Only if you asked (when he was there).
- Did not inform when there were problems leading to longer waiting-times (e.g. at the border to Ngorongoro NP).
- Did not maintain the car (at least clean the windows), or refuel during off-times.
One week later:
- After several messages we had not received any money yet, but he arranged the transfer to the airport. We had to drive through Stonetown to meet a friend of Abraham who gave us 230,-$ - He charged the free transfer with overpriced 40,-$ (usually we would have payed 25,-$)!
Two weeks later:
- Now it's two weeks later. We have contacted and informed Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris. They blame us that we have not informed them before or did not give them all information about this case (although we can prove that we have sent all information in the first mail!). After a meeting between Abraham and Milambo from Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris we are just accused beeing deceitful, because we want our money (the missing 40$ + a compensation for the resentment and the time consuming mailing back).
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Worst Safari we ever had!
We can confirm all this reviews above! We booked our individual tour with "Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris". They confirmed the itinerary and all accomodations. They did not tell us anything about a different company making the safari.
These were our experiences:
The tour:
Day 1:
- Due to the bad logistics (people for the tour where missing/coming from a different place, cars where not fueled!) of that company we started at around 11:00 in Arusha although we should have started at 8:00!!! That was our Safari- and holiday-time we missed!
- Accomodation at Jambo Lodge (due to easy logistics for the company) which was not part of our itinerary and of much lower standard than the ones we payed for!
- We asked for local food (as part of the contract). The dinner was planned to be separately from the others. As we said we would like to be together with the rest of the group, after some discussions we got our dinner first with the European food and the local food afterwards?!
Day 2:
- There was no breakfast for us, but prepared for the others. We received our breakfast after longer discussions. There was no coffee for everyone left.
- There was no toilet paper in the lodge. So we had to use our own one.
- We where told that we would get local dinner at Kati Kati tented Camp, but only got bad, cold food.
Day 3:
- We should get breakfast at 6:00 before being picked up at 6:30. Breakfast was ready after the group arrived at around 6:40. After telling the „guide“ about that problem we got some breakfast and the rest of the group had to wait. - Lost Safari-time again for the whole group.
- At around 11:00 we had brunch for the tented-group and lunch-box for us: There was no place at the table for us, no chairs, no plates. We had to sit outside on the ground in the sun with the lunch box! - That time we told the „guide“ that we do not except that kind of treatment, that we pay a luxury tour-price and want at least a part of our money back. He was supposed to call and inform his boss - we did not get any feedback or excuse.
- Due to the bad logistics of that company we had to wait unnecessary long time after lunch until we could leave. (our Safari-time again)
- At the border to Ngorongoro NP we had to wait around 2.5 hours although we were first told it should take around 1 hour. During that time we did not get any information. (again: our Safari-time!). We asked a different guide from that company and found out that they made a mess with the wrong permits in advance. The guides had to clear that problem. Abraham told us something completely different, so someone was clearly not telling the truth…
Day 4:
- We left the Ngorongoro NP very early (no lunch in the crater, …) and arrived early at the Jambo Lodge again (cheaper lodge, easier logistics for Abraham) and did not have any program in the afternoon, which was our holiday time we payed for!
- In the afternoon we were told that we get a local dinner at 19:00, but when we arrived for dinner the chef wanted to seat us with a completely unknown group and serve something completely different. We found out that SandLand Tours just booked the room at the lodge and not the meals that we were told we would get. After long discussions our „guide“ came and took us to a local restaurant for dinner. We said that he would bring us to his boss after the tour that we could discuss everything with him.
Day 5:
- We had the first breakfast without any trouble (except at Rhino Lodge) but still without coffee, although there was a shop just around the corner.
- Again we had to wait very long to leave.
- After a short trip to Lake Manyara NP we were brought to our hotel directly, but not to the office. When I shortly talked to Abraham at the phone he said he would let us pick up the next day at 8:30 to talk to him and to let us bring to the airport afterwards.
- We were pretty much enraged but talking to the owner of the hotel were we stayed (Sinzia Villas) got us down a bit. He invited us to an excellent local food dinner as he was ashamed for that kind of treatment we experienced (although it was not his fault anyway).
Day 6:
- After some WhatsApp-messages we were picked up at around 9:15.
- The conversation consisted just of excuses, lies (like it was not possible to stay at a camp at Lake Manyara due to mosquitos) and contradictions.
- He said he would give us 150,-$ p.p. and everything would be fine with that…, but he charged us another 30,-$ for the transfer to the airport. He wanted to send us the money to our hotel in Zanzibar and also offer us a free transfer to the airport on our last day.
Safety of the car:
- The wheels did not all have enough profile and seemed decayed.
- The brakes were not strong enough, so you always had to put stones under the wheels that the car did not roll away…
- The ignition did not work properly why you had to push-start the car or park on a hill…
- Many parts of the car were broken (e.g. cooler-box) or temporarily fixed (fold-up-roof)…
- One car of that company was broken why we had to wait while it had to be repaired in Serengeti NP.
- In general the cars do not look well-maintained.
The tourguide:
- Was rarely with the group and did solve arising problems.
- Did not look for the group to find together as a group.
- Did not inform about the tour or times. Only if you asked (when he was there).
- Did not inform when there were problems leading to longer waiting-times (e.g. at the border to Ngorongoro NP).
- Did not maintain the car (at least clean the windows), or refuel during off-times.
One week later:
- After several messages we had not received any money yet, but he arranged the transfer to the airport. We had to drive through Stonetown to meet a friend of Abraham who gave us 230,-$ - He charged the free transfer with overpriced 40,-$ (usually we would have payed 25,-$)!
Two weeks later:
- Now it's two weeks later. We have contacted and informed Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris. They blame us that we have not informed them before or did not give them all information about this case (although we can prove that we have sent all information in the first mail!). After a meeting between Abraham and Milambo from Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris we are just accused beeing deceitful, because we want our money (the missing 40$ + a compensation for the resentment and the time consuming mailing back).
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Another case of fraud
Shame on Peter - did the same to us as the previous poster. Live and learn...