IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Scamsters & Fraudsters are the best we can describe this company
We had booked a 6 day tours with them for about USD 2800 from the 21st to 26th of July 2014. They never showed up at the pickup point and refused to take our calls, we were left for hours trying desperately to contact them. When we finally booked into a hotel and checked their website, that was shut down too. We had to cut short our trip and head back home, which cost us big additionally too. This was our worst nightmare come true. In my opinion, these guys deserve to go to jail for a long time.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fraud
DO NOT BOOK Via this agent. They are currently under investigation by Kenya Tourism Board for fraud. We have almost lost all funds paid to them for a recent safari trip. They took the deposit and only paid deposit to parts of lodges. They never booked airline and failed to pay the lodges the remainder of the balance due.
Just a few days before the departure, we were informed by Serena Hotel when they knew that the another group who would stay in Serena Hotel were stranded by e Safaris.
We would believe that e Safaris had planned the fraud intentionally.
See also another warning at Tripadvisor here,
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294207-d5984096-Reviews-E_Safaris_Day_Tours-Nairobi.html
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fraud - Under investigation
This company is currently under investigation for fraud. It has taken client money made initial bookings and then cancelled bookings once they have received full payment. The Kenyan Tourist Police have blocked their website. If you have any contact details (other than those on this website) for the company please contact The Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO).
IN
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mr Valentine Gumpo makes empty promises and I find him UNTRUSTWORTHY
Mr Valentine Gumpo had advertised for a 15 day Wildlife tour to Zambia from Lusaka from 11 to 25 Nov 2014,essentially to cover the Bat Migration at the Kasanka National Park--Lusaka--Upper Luangwa River -- South Luangwa River -- Victoria Falls from Livingstone -- end of tour at Lusaka.
He had offered a discount of 15% on payment of full tour fees ( USD 2800 ) , if paid 6 months in advance. A sum of USD 2380 was therefore remitted to him through my bankers in India , on 6 May 2014-this was duly acknowledged by him , though after my repeated persistence to do so.
My troubles started after he had received the money in his account. He has not given me, todate , the finalised itinerary together with the hotel/lodge reservations and a formal letter saying that I ( ABL Gupta ) have formally been booked for a tour with him-- this is the letter which is mandatory for me to get the visa from the Embassy of Zambia in India.
I am getting to be 79 and have travelled to various wildlife destinations in Africa 4 times in the past 10 years--my impression was that one could trust the tour Operators in Africa on their advertised word on the Net , as invariably I have dealt directly with them ( and not through a tour operator in India ).
I am of the belief that a Code of Honour exists in all such transactions -- but in the present case with Mr Valentine Gumpo, I feel , it is being belied.
I have requested him for a refund , but , on persistent prodding , he simply says that the tour is on.
I would be grateful if Safari Bookings could help me recover my money from him.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Safari without animals
Serengeti park was absolutely empty, during our two days.
When I asked to change area the guide told us to be patient and that animals would have come. But when and where?!
He also told us that moving trough other areas was too far, but we had to spend 6 hours per day into the park, so too far for what.
I am sorry but I spent 600USD for nothing.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Short on Cash
We used Jesse Mfoi with Naenda Safaris for our safari. Jesse did not have enough cash to get us through some Massai road blocks and getting us checked out of a hotel. The last couple of days I loaned Jesse $450 USD so our safari could move forward with the promise of repayment. Jesse ducked out on this promise when he left us at the airport. I was left stranded in the middle of my vacation with no cash.
Addendum to original review:
Jesse did wire $500 (extra $50 for fees) 10 days later to my account after I started warning people online about my issues. I consider the issue resolved.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Please do not take excursions from them!
Jeep we had was so old, that it stopped in the middle of the savanna at 17:00… they tried to repaired it, then called other drivers and made it work… but it was very bad experience!!!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We never got to experience our life long dream of visiting the Vic falls
Between the travel agent who booked our flights and Falcon Safaris who booked our night at The Royal livingstone neither of them informed us of yellow fever certificates to enter Zambia so we got turned away boarding our plane. Therefore we never got to experience our life long dream of visiting Vic Falls and still had to pay full price for our very experience night booked at Royal Livingstone. All in all a terrible let down and bad service.
US
Mis-informatiom
I wouldn't put a lot of trust in SafariBookings. They keep sending me these surveys to fill out on my trip to Kenya. I've never been to Kenya and Never had a tour with these folks. I'd steer clear of this outfit.
AR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Shamefull Service and Communication
I was supposed to arrive to Arusha, Tanzania on June 12th at 9:30am, get picked up, pay my tour and depart for Ngoro Ngoro. When they picked me up and took me to the office they told me that I couldn’t get on the booked Safari because they had already left. When I asked why they had left they told me that Safaris leave at 8:30 always. There was never a chance to get on it. I called the guy who had booked this for me who was called Odera on his cell (he was't there at the time) and he told me to my face that I was never going to be able to get on that Safari. So he had lied to my face and he admitted it.
After talking on the phone for some time and seeing that he offered no solution to this other and something close to “such is life” I was stuck in Arusha with no hotel booking, and no Safari.
I ended up booking a Safari of course but had to pay them USD 200 more for a tour half day shorter than my original booking. I told them this and they didn't care. If I wanted to go with them I had to pay...
The Safari is OK, but Service and Communication is terrible. I've travelled everywhere and it is the first time this happens to me. I'd never book anything else through them.