CL
Inept and dishonest company. Never received even one explanation or excuses.
Soul of Tanzania is a scam. Poor service, bad information, rather none, very manipulative situations, change prices, while traveling we never got a local emergency phone where we can claim , for this we were always given a Sales Office phone in London!!! ,distant many hours of flight. We asked for the address of the office in Tanzania, which we were denied it repeatedly Soul Of tanzania post a POBOX, and the phone they post on the internet never answered. We wanted to talk to this Jose, who never wanted to give us his last name, a man who calls himself ridiculously "Travel Designer" who for our misfortune took from the beginning our booking and who has no idea what it is to attend a passenger who goes for the first time to Africa. Jose sends the customer where he wants, ignores the passenger’s wish, he charges a crook for air tickets inside Kenya and lies when it comes to fixing problems. He sent us to bad hotels , another under construction, denied us that there was an airport near Ngorongoro in order to take us, against our wishes ,by land from the volcano to Kilimanjaro airport, finishing us by buying directly our air tickets Lake Manyara/ Kilimanjaro to the air company. We ended up booking directly the hotel in Nairobi because the one that José quoted us was a plague and very expensive . In Nairobi we asked him to reimburse us a significant amount of money that he overcharged us before we left the hotel, so we could pay the bill, but Jose did NOT fulfill his commitment, He refused to talk to us and reimbursed us at the hotel in Masai Mara because it was convenient for him. On arrival in Masai Mara charged us for moving to the hotel, in circumstances that transfers from the air field to the hotel were provided by the hotel and "are free" .. In short, DO NOT look to be scammed into services by these companies. . They operate Kenya through another company, which is called Spirit of Kenya, which is also a disaster; this company denied us the phone of the so-called travel designer responsible for "organizing our trip" in Soul of Tanzania. We needed to talk to him quickly, not once but several times and Joseph never showed his face but always hid. A scoundrel. We raised a complaint to the INDABA association of African vajes agents that never answered us because, after we knew, these two agencies do NOT belong to those official organizations therefore any claim falls into the void. We wanted to write to a newspaper in Nairobi but it wasn’t very effective either.
Brizzi Family , five people, Kenya and Tanzania, June 2013
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We feel scammed, I would advise you choose another company if possible
We got sold 4 days safari with 4 days FULL day game drive
Day 1 „full day game drive“ entering the Tarangire Park: 12:45 p.m, driving out at 5 p.m
At the entrance gate to the national park were the guides rather chatting with each other then buying the entrance tickets and go finally on a safari
We were told we would sleep the first night in a comfortable king-size bed. We ended up sleeping in a single bed which was 1,80 m long (I´m 1,92m). The mattress was so thin that one could feel the wood under the mattress
Day 2 „full day game drive“
Entering Ngorongoro: 12:30 a.m, driving out at 5:15 p.m
Breakfast started at 9 a.m. After breakfast, we had to wait because the cars weren´t packed correctly and the guides had to change. Before entering the Ngorongoro the guides did again a lot of small talk and wasted time. Then our car with all the guests inside had to push another car from the company because it had broken down
From 5:15 p.m until 8 p.m we drove at high speed through the Serengeti to our camping space. Couldn´t see any animals at this high speed and arrived at the camping ground when it was dark.
Day 3 „full day game drive“ 8 a.m – 4:15 p.m (this was the only day that came close to an actual full day game drive)
We started driving in the Serengeti at 8 a.m, we were by far not the first car who left the camp. After 4:15 p.m we were driving again at high speed to the camp in Ngorongoro Crater for the night.
Day 4 „full day game drive“ 7:15 a.m – 1:40 p.m
Unfortunately, we have been always one of the last cars that start driving in the mornings.
Because the same car we had to push on day 2 broke down again, we had to take all the people from this car in our car. This means that all the seats 2 people had to sit. Safety!?
Apart from that, because this costs us a lot of time, the driver had to drive really really fast to make it to later appointments. Some people feared for their lives
In total very unprofessional company and a disappointing experience. Especially because this tip cost us 650 USD per person. Please stay away from this company.
HK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super Egagle Company in Kenya falls short of providing a satisfactory and reliable tour experience,
👎🏼 I strongly advise against booking with Super Eagle company in Kenya. My recent five-day tour experience with them left me incredibly disappointed with their service and overall performance.
Not only were their prices exorbitantly high compared to other tour operators, but I found out that fellow passengers paid just $50 more for a longer midrange tour, while I was stuck on a budget tour for almost the same cost!
The accommodation provided for the first two nights at the camp was absolutely atrocious - it was a terrible experience.
To make matters worse, on the fourth day, I was left stranded at the hotel with minimal information provided. Activities that I had paid for didn't align with the promised itinerary, leaving me feeling misled and frustrated. And on the 5th day, they didn't follow the itinerary either, and I had to wait at transfer center for over 4 hrs!
The tour driver, Maxwell, added to my discomfort by being unhelpful and pressuring me for excessive tips throughout the trip. It created a very unpleasant atmosphere.
In summary, I wholeheartedly discourage anyone from considering this tour company. Save yourself the trouble and explore other options for a more enjoyable and seamless experience elsewhere.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Did not comply with the reservation
We had hired a guide in Spanish, they guaranteed it and the guide who accompanied us had only done a 6 month course so we had to communicate with him through the phone application, which made it impossible to give us explanations about the safari, sites, animations, etc.. The guide who spoke English did not give any indication or explanation to other travelers who came with us. Horrible treatment of the guides.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Balu Travels was disrespectful
I was trying to weigh my options for a 3-4 day safari and Balu Travels was one of the tour operators I requested a quotation from through Safari Bookings. After they shared the quotation, I had a call with them the next day and requested for some changes. They texted me the new quotation. I told them I would review and get back to them the next week.
In the meantime, I received a more affordable quotation from another operator and decided to go with them. I politely informed Balu Travels that I would have to pass on their offer, but in response I got an offensive remark. I am quoting it here verbatim: "You people are very interesting, why should you make request with unrealistic demands then skip it. It's unprofessional to just want to waste time."
I am not sure what they exactly meant by "you people", but it is hard not to tie it to ethnicity. I think they miserably failed in their customer communication.
(images removed for privacy reasons)
FI
20-35 years of age
I do not trust this company! They cancelled an already confirmed trip a few hours before as they resell peoples paid tickets
I would never trust this company!! We had booked a safari trip directly through them well in advance, paid the deposit as advised and received a confirmation of booking together with flight tickets. The night before our trip the company emails us at 10:02pm (pickup was agreed for 6:30am) to inform that they cancel our trip. They gave us no reason for cancellation and when our hotel staff called them, they told that they had re-sold our tickets to someone else. Later on they told us that airline had canceled the flight, which we found out to be a lie and no flights were actually canceled…
So besides causing us a huge disappointment, they also decided to blindly lie to us and not take any responsibility of their actions whatsoever. Our customer service representative Charity also decided to stop responding our emails leaving us unanswered.
All in all, incredibly bad customer service and non-reliable company. I highly recommend to book through someone else!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Never Again!!!!!!! I woudn't go they don't care about your well being
I did the 5 day 4 nights tour with this company and it was terrible! highly recommend to save a little more money to book with another company. I have never experienced an Agency/Company like this. We were a group of 7 People one of them was a solo traveller. We all got in a fight with him because he didn't want to wake up as early as planned. He started to offend us and saying racist stuff. Really bad stuff I was shocked at this point. Everyone just watched but didn't say anything. They didn't stop him they just let him finish screaming all those things infront of every other client in the middle of the camp. Everyone in this group said we don't wanna drive with him anymore. it's not acceptable. it's unprofessional! They brought him to his lodge and on the next day they just put him back in our Jeep. 6 People said we don't feel comfortable with that but they just don't care. On the 4th day everyone was leaving besides my mother and me. Someone told us for the next there were 2 people joining. We met the first person and ask where is the second one because we never got a briefing we arrived every evening and ask questions like when is dinner?, what time do we have to wake up tomorrow, What time is breakfast tomorrow? we always got the answer we will speak in the evening at dinner the guide never besides one night appears. once he just went to bed without informing us about the day after. back to the 2 people that joining he answered with "we pick here up from a lodge don't worry she is white" i was speechless. We told him AGAIN that we never mention any skin colour, religion or origin. We just wanted to start at 6 not 7 because he declined to wake up earlier than 7 just because we started the day before 30 mins earlier than planned because 6 out of 7 don't want to miss anything and see the sunrise. Also one guy stayed in lodges that were more than a hour away so one day we have to drive 30 mins for dropping him off and 30 back to our camp. the other day it was more that 1 hour one way. On the day we picked him 30 mins earlier he ask us who's idea that was we told him ours. he replied with next time i will beat you up. Everyone heard that also the guide. no reaction from him. The planning in the company is disaster. They should put him in a group who booked a packages where everyone is going in a lodge or book private not in a low budget joining group. Also we have to wait always for him because he never was on time.
On the first day we drove to a Park, this guy started making really loud noise infront of the elephant just to get his attention we told him to stop because they are sensible to loud noise also we are guests. We have to respect the animals. But after this there were a group of elephants( also baby's) the crossed by our car and he just touched the elephant out of the window. he just bring us all in danger this animals are so strong. Everyone saying "DONT TOUCH" at this point a thought the guide should give him a reminder to stop with his behaviour but he didn't care. Lucky for this guy the elephant got scared and walked away and not knock over the car.
The first evening we ask if we can start at 6 our driver got mad and also show us that he got mad because he didn't know how to contact the guy in the lodge i also probably think it's because he don't want to organise because that's to much effort we told him he should call the lodge so they can ask the guy if it's okay for him. But not a reason to get offended and be mad at a whole group. We paid a lot and ask really kindly.
There was more impressions but it's already a lot and i hope you have a better impression and view of that.
I know it's normal that the jeep sometimes get a flat wheel or something is not working but our car stand still 4 times in only 2 days almost 5. The first time the Car was smoking from inside. the other times because something in the front. (he never told us we always has to ask what was happening the answer we got was everything is fine) yes sure it's fine that's because the car stopped and stand still and also smoked from inside? we never got any informations. terrible. After all of these was happening we arrived back in Arusha. My Plan is to climb Kilimanjaro also GLAD i didn't book with this company because i don't want to spend one single cent for them for all of this treatment and not caring about us. We arrived and i told them if they know a pharmacy so i can buy Altitude Tablets for my journey. They brought be and it was only cash for 10 tablets 22 USD. Someone of this Company i don't know his name lucky you! He brought me there so I bought it stupid me. Just to get told that they were only 1-2 USD for 10 Tablets. It's all about the money for this company. I bet my right hand that if you joining a good Agency with Guides and a Team that really cares they would not bring you and stand next to you infront of there eyes so you got ripped off!!!! That's so sad i really feel bad for that Driver also regretting giving after all of this Tipp.
I never saw our Guide eating. He always lied replying when we got lunch where is your food "don't worry about me they just forgot to make a Lunchbox" ah sure can't believe that.
None of them deserved the tip. But Karma is going to catch all of you. i'm sure. So if you're reading this Nelson you have to fix a lot of stuff and if your agency doesn't change something after this I really hope this review gets a lot of attention so tourists can be aware of people like your company. There are a lot of people saving all their money and holiday days for an unforgettable trip like a safari does. But you completely ruinned my days in Tanzania. We are Humans. Not running Dollar signs. And I'm sure after reading this you know who's writing this.
Also if you’re booking with them make sure you count all of that cash right. My mother had to pay for me and here 1.700 USD (100 USD Deposit) so 1.600 USD Cash. She gave him 1.600 USD but was not sure she thought 1.500 USD she asked him can you count again he did he said no. so she said count again because she put that 1.600 on the side in the morning just to make sure and didn't have to count in front by paying. So he counted again and said a yes it's 1.600. So it could be possible that's just a mistake but after all of that i remember that again and thought probably it was not a mistake. So we talked in the Group and no one was happy with the Safari. One Girl lost her shoes but the shoes were in the car?? strange right? thanks for your attention
EC
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania
This was a trip I looked forward to for months. Swimming with dolphins, swimming with turtles, visiting a park to see special monkeys and lunch at The Rock. Sadly, it took us over 2 hours to leave and head to the dolphins. After over an hour ride we had 10 minutes at the beach and no trip to see dolphins. We got to the Rock late but had a super lobster 🦞 lunch. We spent 2 hours there and now we were getting closer to needing to get back to the ship. I wanted to swim with the turtles so changed busses to join a bus going there. I loved the turtles and will always remember it. No time to see the monkeys as we needed to head to ship. Ruben is an excellent communicator but I think this trip was way too much for 1 day and we had no option to see what we paid for. If I had not changed busses I would have only seen the beach and had lunch. I think if there had been more organization and explaining the distance needed to travel there we could have chosen the meal and what options we had. I cannot recommend this company as I missed 2 of the 4 highlighted pieces of the tour.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unprofessional attitude & rude behavior
Unprofessional attitude & rude behavior while enquiring for safari booking
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris