DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Beware ! Achtung!
We booked a safari for three people at a total cost of about $ 6000 in Lilac. We have transferred the sum in advance and simply got nothing in return!
Lilac didn't book any hotels and didn't order any Gorilla Permits. Lilac then repeatedly promised us a refund of $ 6,000, but nothing happened until today. Here is the latest news of Lilac from 12/04/2016:
"Good morning,
Thank you for your below email and sorry for late reply.
Yes. I know of your refund and due to constrains financially caused since our bank went into receivership, we have been experiencing some difficulties which led us even stop taking new bookings until we are able to dispose some of our assets including some vehicles to have enough operating capital. This is also indicated on our website www.lilacadventures.com. We expect to be fully operational in few weeks and also pay you the entire refund inclusive of bank charges you may have been charged.
Again, I am sorry for the delay.Kind regards, Irene
A lot of time has passed without any action from Lilac, except some trivial correspondence (no reservations , no permits , simply nothing). The company only collects money and, in my opinion, doesn't come through on the tours (see other reviews on the relevant portals)! You can assume that every dollar/euro, that you transfer there, is lost!
Avoid them
This company (Clement in particular) are thieves in my opinion. They cancelled our holiday at the last minute at Xmas time and are still yet to refund me over $11,500 (AUS) They as previous writers have said can not be trusted at all.
My name is Steve. Follow the comments on Trip adviser for more terrible experiences with them.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rip off
Doing a safari was one of my biggest dreams. This operator defiantly ruined it. Everything went wrong, but I´ll try to keep it short. I had to pay a 50 % deposit by bank transfer so that a guy sometimes called Donald sometimes Daniel could make a reservation for a hotel. It cost me a fortune and as it turned out: nothing was reserved. I had to share not just a room, but also a bed with the other girl on the tour. Yes, two strangers in one bed! Daniel/Donald stayed in Daressalaam. The driver barely spoke english, but enough to tell us that his boss turned off his phone when we insisted on two rooms or on the pop up roof jeep we booked and payed for. We had to do the safari in a little Toyota. After the rain season the grass is so high that many times you can't see a thing. We never went too far away from the lodge since the car couldn't manage many of the bumpy roads without 4x4. Yes, sometimes we saw animals, but there was no real safari feeling. I am so disappointed. :(
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A Terrible Experience ... Sunrise Eco-Tours
We booked and paid for a bespoke Ugandan Safari with Sunrise Eco-Tours scheduled to depart in February 2016. Initially communication with the company was good but as the departure date approached it became very difficult to contact company representatives.
In January 2016 we were advised by a third party that Sunrise Eco-Tours was experiencing "operational difficulties" and social media reports started to appear stating how clients already on tours organised by the company were being asked to pay again for activities, such as gorilla trekking, as well as hotel bills that they had already paid for.
At this point, just weeks before our tour was to commence, communication with Sunrise Eco-Tours became extremely difficult and the company owner, Clement Kanamuguire, when telephoned just terminated the call or stated that he was busy and could not respond to any questions.
We then took it upon ourselves to call the respective hotels, lodges and guest houses in Uganda that we were supposed to be staying at only to discover that there were no reservations for us. We had been emailed previously by Sunrise Eco-Tours to confirm that all our accommodation had been booked. At this point we asked the company for documentation to show that our gorilla trekking permits and our chimpanzee trekking permits had been booked and confirmed. We also asked for an explanation as to why we had been lied to regarding our accommodation bookings. Unfortunately Sunrise Eco-Tours refused to communicate with us and did not provide documentation or explanations.
It was at this point we asked Sunrise Eco-Tours for a full refund of all monies, many thousands of pounds, paid to them as their "operational difficulties" had lead to a breach of contract. They were unable to provide the safari we had paid for.
When it became clear that Sunrise Eco-Tours had no intention of honouring the contract and providing the safari our travel agent, Responsible Travel, identified another company who agreed to create a similar safari for us with only two weeks to go before we were scheduled to depart for Uganda. Sandfield Travel "pulled out all the stops" and managed to arrange transport and guides, book hotels as well as obtain the necessary trekking permits prior to our departure. Communication with them was excellent and the subsequent safari exceeded our expectations
We cannot speak to highly of Rosy at Responsible Travel and Wycliffe at Sandfield Travel ... and would recommend you speak to them rather than engage with Sunrise Eco-Tours.
To date there has been no further communication from Sunrise Eco-Tours in spite of numerous emails and telephone calls. There has been no refund of the any monies paid to them. Caveat emptor!! We certainly learnt a very expensive lesson.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Not satisfied
Please do not book at Krugerpark.com. We had booked the 3-days Safari. After several email contact we succeed to let them know we will drive by ourself inside the gate to the camp. That was no problem they said. Arriving at the gate we had to pay to enter the gate again (R560) The gate fee was in the package we booked, so we already paid for it. Arriving at the camp, nobody knows about us. There was no reservation. Tried to chat with Krugerpark.com, nobody responded. Then we call them, I couldn't understand a word they where saying because of the bad connection. They called me back and gave a reservation number. (The calles costed me R300) Back to the reception, nothing to find again even with the reservation number. Asked the reception if they can contact Krugerpark.com for us. Finally the found something. Krugerpark.com called the driver and he picked us up finally, already to late for our first game drive. Back in Holland again I started contact Krugerpark.com to get our money back for the gate fee and my telephone costs. Pff not funny anymore, I think I had to explain 10x what happened to the same lady. 3 months later (february), sending several reminder emails I finally got an email that they will refund my money. No it is june and I still haven't received any money.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Avoid at all costs
They took our money, they booked nothing, we cancelled, we got the police onto them, no result.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Conned me of my clients money.
In the beginning communication between our company was great.we started incurring problems after we had just paid a deposit of 4000 usd to them ..and they claimed not not have any idea to do with the money.putting in mind we have evidence of the swift transfers this company has refused completely to refund our money. Beware of them they are conmen,we are tossed from one member of the company to another,no one wants to take liability of our 4000 usd.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
He lies and dont give what payed. Very bad.
No Safariguide, wrong time Windows, to much People in small bus, very bad.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mixed Experience, Look for Another Option
** UPDATE JUNE 2016
Since my review cannot be deleted, I would like to add the following update. I have been refunded the amount I was owed.
Here are some reasons for considering this company:
1. Affordable - The cost of the safari was far lower than any other company.
2. Flexibility - Joseph was flexible in terms of changing the itinerary. I was scheduled to go to visit the Hadzabe community, but decided I would prefer to go to Lake Manyara and Arusha National Park instead. Joseph was kind enough to accommodate my request.
3. Great Guide - Henry was a great guide and driver.
4. Tented Lodges at an Affordable Price - Since it was rainy season, I did not want to camp. I stayed in tented lodges, and Joseph made it possible for me to do so. All other companies were so overpriced! I especially appreciated staying at Rhino Lodge near Ngorongoro Crater--really nice rooms and food.
5. Airport Pickup and Drop off - Joseph sent drivers to pick me up at the airport and drop me off.
6. Payment Options - All the companies wanted me to pay ahead of time to reserve a spot. Joseph allowed me to pay on arrival, and half in cash and half by credit card.
7. Prompt Response - Joseph was available by email and by Whatsapp. He emailed introductions to former clients in order for me to check the references for the company.
For the price and overall service, I would recommend African Traditional Safaris.
** ORIGINAL REVIEW
I contacted African Traditional Safaris through this website. I was contacted by Joseph who sent me some options for a 7 day safari. He said that I can pay half in cash and half by credit card.
I was picked up at Kilimanjaro airport and taken to an office in Arusha. There was no sign at the office, only a computer on the desk. I knew the company is not registered with the Tourist Board. I was not sure if this was a scam.
I was taken to a local hotel and picked up by a jeep the next morning. There was one other tourist in the jeep. I was told that the amount I owed by credit card would need to be paid for park entrance fees. We went to Tarangire and I paid for the entrance for the jeep, the other tourist and me on my credit card.
That evening we were joined by three other women who were camping along with the other tourist. They were charged a much lower amount because they were camping and were going for fewer days. I was asked to pay their entrance when we got to Serengeti, little over $400. I was essentially subsudizing their trip.
Later when I went to Arusha National Park I was asked to pay the tourist company directly and I would be reimbursed. Joseph kept making excuses and kept saying he would send me the amount by Paypal. That still has not happened a few weeks later!
Overall, I would not recommend this company.
The toilets in the park is disgusting.
It is an embarrassment to see that they take tourist to the bathroom in the game park. It is disgusting how dirty they are.