NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Strongly recommend not to book here...
I had a bad experience with this travel company, therefore I would not recommend anyone to book here:
Some good points:
- Pick-up at the airport was well arranged.
- Plenty of game in Masai Mara (but you can see that with any company).
- Good communication before the travel.
However:
- I was booked for a Masai Mara + Lake Nakuru safari. Only upon arrival I was informed I would not go to Lake Nakuru.
- I was put in a different camp than promised on the website. On booking.com it turned out it had a much lower rating than the original proposal. Most people had small to medium stomach problems in the camp.
- On the last day, the driver 'forgot' to pick me up so I missed a morning game drive.
- The trip from Masai Mara back to Nairobi was in a very unsafe van (we broke down once as well) and the driver was driving like crazy and mainly paying attention to his phone. He didn't want to slow down while everyone was asking for it. At one point we slipped off the road and the car finally stopped about half a meter in front of a tree.
I informed the company on this after my trip. For the first weeks I did not get any response. As I kept reminding them they finally gave response saying everything that happened was out of their control. I asked for a refund however they were not willing to compensate.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Worst service ever and you will know why through the ordeal mentioned below
This is a mail sent to the tour operator and Tanzania Tourism, Tato and safaribookings.com about this agent.
Dear Mr. Emmanuel,
This complaint letter is to bring to your notice and others that, your service during the 5-Days safari package we had undertaken through your company Tanzania Destination Safaris was pathetic and the worst we have encountered ever in our 20 years of travel life across the world.
Below I am presenting the account of horror we faced through your utter lack of service, causal and unprofessional approach.
• Through Safaribookings.com, we shortlisted your company Tanzania Destination Safaris, as our agent for safaris between 21 to 25 August 2016.
• We opted for your ready package for 5 Days/4 Nights, which included 1 night in Ngorongoro Crater, 2 nights in Serengeti and 1 night in Lake Manyara.
• Another 4 people joined in for the day package to Ngorongoro Crater.
• We even paid you USD 30/head extra for the newly introduced VAT, which you claimed was not included in the rate of USD 1305/head as advertised on the website and requested us to pay.
• The day before the safari, you visited our hotel in Arusha, collected the full amount for all 7 people in advance and introduced us to our guide/driver Khalid, who came to pick us up promptly the next day.
And now our nightmare begins.
• On the very first day, the safari vehicle engine heated up, and carburetor started leaking in Ngorongoro, right at the edge of Hippo Pond inside the crater. The driver/guide managed to get it rectified. This was promptly brought to your notice.
• Second day, there was a flat tyre on our way to Serengeti. Out of the two spare tyres at the back, one was already deflated, which is being careless and assuming it is against the law of the land. That’s not all, the jack was bolted badly inside the car and couldn’t be removed, and even the functional spare tyre couldn’t be removed, the tool kit was barely there. A passing vehicle helped us remove the jack. The tyre was removed with great difficulty with the help of few other people from another truck. We even borrowed a spare tyre from a third vehicle, just in case. We wasted almost two hours.
We complained about both these issues to you and you promised to send two spare tyres to Serengeti. The driver/guide says he never received any spare tyres, while you claimed you have sent them. Apparently they were not sent.
• On third day, we spent more time on getting the tyres checked at the workshops inside Serengeti during the safari.
And on these three days after the safari the driver/guide spent the evenings getting the repairs done, skipping his dinner with us. This we sorely missed, since we were waiting to hear his stories of other safaris.
• On the fourth day, we were stuck at Serengeti, unable to move to Lake Manyara, because the vehicle had three flat tyres now and no spare tyres. To top it all, the battery had completely died. A service vehicle was called to repair the battery. After a wait of four hours from 7:30 am to 11;30 am, we finally moved towards Ngorongoro/Lake Manyara.
• At the registration area of Serengeti, the engine was kept alive, while the driver/guide went to finish the paper work. But after half an hour of engine idling, it just stopped. Apparently the battery was dead. Push-starting with the help of others didn’t work. We wasted three more hours there, till another vehicle was organised to drop us to Ngorongoro Crater main office. By the time we reached our lodge at Karatu, it was 5:30 pm. A total of 10 hours through this painfully long troubled day and we could not visit Lake Manyara that evening.
We thought our ordeal was over and next day we can at least cover Lake Manyara for couple of hours before getting to Kilimanjaro Airport for our 3 pm flight.
• But the last day, at the gate of Lake Manyara registration counter, we discovered that the Lake Manyara entry card was not given to the new driver/guide, who came to fetch us at Ngorongoro gate. We called the old driver/guide, Khalid who was still at Serengeti. He mentioned that he had very clearly informed you to issue new card for Lake Manyara the previous day so that we are not inconvenienced. But you ignored this completely. At the gate, you suggested we pay and you will reimburse us at Arusha.
• We were certainly unwilling because by then we stopped trusting you completely. You have lied and deceived us throughout our safari and were least helpful in times of crisis. You avoided our calls at Serengeti when we were trying to reach you.
• We could not visit Lake Manyara for safari, thanks to your deficient service. And as compensation, you gave us USD 100/head. This did not even cover the Lake safari rest alone the trouble we went through because of a defective vehicle and your total lack of professional and ethical approach. In the end, you even refused to meet us at Arusha, instead sending your office staff with USD 300 to pay us.
You and your company will definitely NOT be recommended for anything to do with Tanzania tourism. You spoil the name and efforts of your wonderful country, its tourism department, the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and websites like safaribookings.com.
I request the respective authorities to take action against Emmanuel and his company Tanzania Destination Safaris.
IN
20-35 years of age
Be wary of them, we felt cheated.
My husband and I booked with Simon Malimbo of Wild Race Africa Tours after finding him on Safari Bookings website. We were told that tour operators are generally trustworthy. So we booked with him for a 5 day tour to Nakuru (1 night) and Masai Mara (3 nights) which was an all inclusive trip - all meals, transportation, pop-up van and 6 safaris all paid. The safaris we were promised were - evening safari in Nakuru, next morning safari in Nakuru, evening safari in MM, two full day safaris in MM and then a morning safari in MM before we leave. We paid him 30% advance and the rest amount immediately upon arrival. Simon handed us to Obama who was to be our tour guide. Obama was accompanied by a girl who, we were told, was an 'intern' and wanted to be a tour guide, so we happily welcomed her.
Our first shock came immediately after we set off for Nakuru. Obama told us that there would be no evening safari, and if we would do an evening safari, there would be no safari the next morning. I spoke to Simon to ask him why, he had a response that - the entry ticket at Nakuru was not valid for 24 hours like Masai Mara and hence we had to choose. He apologised and and said it was a mistake on his part that he had included both safaris in our confirmation email and swept it off under the carpet. Though we were upset, we let it go thinking it was a genuine mistake.
Obama was extremely informative and intelligent and gave great insights into the animal life. The girl intern wasn't the least interested in anything remotely related to wildlife but we thought she may be shy and so simply ignored her.
We then set off for Masai Mara. We had made it clear that we wanted all the safaris we paid for - 4 to be precise. Obama promised us that we would have an evening safari that day. We reached at 4.30pm and as promised, he got out and bought three tickets at the gate (the girl intern was tired and got off to go to the hotel) and we set off for the Safari. Obama told us that the park is open till 6.30 and we will have to leave it by then. So we exited the park at 6.30.
Next morning we four (intern included) left for a full day safari. Obama waved the tickets from the day before (they didn't stop us to check) and they let us in. Obama told us we would leave the park at 5 as we would be tired. My husband smelt a rat because Simon had told us that Masai Mara tickets are valid for 24 hours. But he didn't say anything. The sightings on this day were amazing and the place was teeming with wildlife. There were also a huge number of cars everytime we spotted an animal. When we stopped for lunch, the girl intern lay on the carpet with her pant button and zip open. My husband and I found this behaviour weird but we didn't say anything. We left the park at 5 instead of 6.30 at the stauch insistence of Obama.
In the evening at our lodge,when Obama was not there, we questioned the girl intern about herr study course for becoming a tour guide, she told us that she was a hairdresser and had done courses in hairdressing. We again found this strange but didn't say anything.
Next morning Obama deliberately delayed our departure for another full day of safari. We eventually left around 8.30am. Today too the intern was tired and didn't accompany us. This time he told us that he was taking us in through a 'side gate' and this was 'rhino country' and the chances of spotting a Rhino are high here. We did not pass through any gate but after an hour he showed us a gate behind us and said that now we are inside the park. He did not show or purchase the tickets anywhere that day. All day we roamed about but this day the sightings were few and far in between and we didn't encounter any cars except very few. Obama said it was a dry day. He let us stay till 6.30. While we were leaving from the park, our car got stuck in sand but Obama refused to radio for help. While he was trying to get the car out, my husband checked the park entry tickets which Obama had kept in the front of the car. My husband found tickets of only the first day but none for the rest of the days.
When we reached the lodge, my husband decided to confront Obama about his intentions. Obama denied everything and became very emotional and called up Simon and spoke in Swahili (we don't know what). He kept telling us that he will show us the tickets of all the days but deliberately avoided to show us. Obama claimed that he had bought the tickets of all the 3 nights together and hence we didn't stop of tickets on the previous two days. He said this was normal practice. He then avoided it by saying that Simon will give all the tickets to us. We never got them. He pretended to be so upset that he said he was leaving us and arranging another car for us. This unprofessional attitude angered us and we told him off for wanting to leave the two of us alone in a jungle with no connectivity and wanting to run away. My husband was worried about me and then apologised and coaxed him to stay back. Maybe that prompted him not to abandon us in the middle of nowhere.
Next morning on our last safari Obama went through the gate. Before entering, he made a phone call in Swahili. While entering a female guard came out and checked our tickets and let us in. On our way out, before exiting, he again made a call and spoke in Swahili. At the gate, the same female guard came out and let us out. Then Obama told us that he had to collect the 'exit receipt'. And then he got out of the car and I saw him slip some money to the same female guard at the gate.
We are sure that Simon and Obama saved the money from the entry tickets - they paid only for one 24 hour safari.
All in all the wildlife was exciting and Obama was very knowledgeable. But Simon and Obama spoiled our trip by these underhand and shady dealings at Masai Mara and also denying us a safari at Nakuru. And we are pretty sure that the girl, whoever she was, was definitely not an intern for becoming a tour operator.
Please don't book with Wild Race Africa or Simon. Obama is genuinely knowledgeable but he was definitely involved in this business. We had great safari game drives and an amazing time in Kenya, the trip was so memorable and we saw the Big Five. But we felt genuinely cheated. So please don't book with them!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scammed! Disappeared 5 days before departure
In January 2016 I wrote to several companies asking for quotes and given the good reviews here (which I am genuinely confused by!) as well as the reasonably professional looking website, and the proposed safari, we decided to book a 5 day 4 night safari with "Introducing Africa". The Safari for our group of 4 should have started on August 15th but Mataro disappeared about a week before departure and we have not heard anything since and lost our deposit of $2520.
While planning we sent a large number of emails back and forth to confirm details of exactly what we wanted to do and arranged to transfer a deposit of 60% of the fee with the rest to be paid in cash on meeting Mataro in Mwanza where we would start our tour. In these emails Mataro answered all our questions in a professional and detailed manner. A few weeks before our supposed departure, Mataro sent an email to inform us about the rise in VAT on safaris, which we would have to pay on arrival. I still don't understand why this email was sent, as it should have been clear that we would not be able to transfer it before arriving so nothing could be gained from it. I then tried calling by phone (I was already in Tanzania for work) to confirm exactly what additional amount needed to be paid and to arrange a pick up time from our hotel. The first few times nobody answered the phone then a day later it didn't even ring. I assumed Mataro must be on safari and so unreachable. Then as I was becoming more panicked at the fact that I could not reach Mataro, the website disappeared (which as of 1.9.2016) is still not back online. It seems that the company has run tours before as I have managed to contact reviewers on other sites but I worry that Mataro does not worry about taking people's money and running. It also appears that this is not the first time that this has happened. Upon searching specifically for fraud and the name of this company, I came across another person who experienced the same thing in 2009.
We managed to book a camping safari through somebody I had met while in Mwanza and had a fantastic time but lost quite a lot of money due to this scam of a company. STAY AWAY!!!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Stranded in Africa!
Customer service pre departure - atrocious. Information given re connections in Africa - atrocious. They failed to pay the camp operator in Selous so our booking was cancelled, despite the fact that we had paid in full weeks before departure, but they still allowed us to arrive at the airstrip with nowhere to stay. The security guard at the airstrip had to call the camp to get them to collect us or we would have been stranded there, and in some danger as a result. The manager of the camp saved the day by allowing us to stay but still had a lot of trouble getting the payment from Pure Safari, who just ducked and dived the whole time. Their attitude was arrogant and complacent throughout (one agent in particular has an unbelievable attitude to his customers). We have had no apology from them, despite sending in a written complaint, in fact they haven't even acknowledged it after three weeks. They don't seem to have had a good review for over a year, and the fact that they failed to pay the camp indicates that they are probably in trouble financially, so avoid at all costs, and pay them nothing upfront unless you want to be abandoned in Africa and told a constant stream of lies.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Awful experience - will never use this company again
After arriving from a fabulous trip in Masai in Kenya which was exemplorary - Kruger experience in terms of accomodation and service whilst trying to resolve the situation was disappointing to say the least. We had spent almost 10k CAD for 6 people and after seeing where we were accomodated (between a caravan park and gas station) and that we would be required to spend most of our family time in this dump (between 2 drives - we decided to leave after 10 minutes of arriving. Our kids would not even sleep on the beds provide in teh chalets (size of a washroom) and washrooms and shower were pathetic (unlike pictures sent to us).
People i dealt with were Bjorn Van Huyssteen and Alexis Boshoff amongst many others...
What a wate of 100 000 ZAR
Spent 2 days driving back to JHB as we could not get a return flight and miscommunication wth tour operator. Alos promised a refund which unsurprisingly we were later informed after numerous call - that they will not refund a cent.
Emabarrassed as a South African who previously spoke highly of SA and services offered here. Never again will i use this company or anyone assocaited with them. Especially as they did not even have an idea of whwre we were staying or never visisted thsi place.
Was also advised that ony after payment was made that airport taxes will be an additional 17% of total package already paid...
BTW - 3 star meal and wine - meant shhopping at local store and cooking in a common kitchen and then carrying your own chairs to "dining area" about 400m away..
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tony Kapolondo is a fraud
We had a horrible time with this tour operator. A friend and I booked with him for our first safari, planning to see Tanzania’s wildlife in mid-luxury lodges. We also paid him upfront for a hot air balloon tour over the Serengeti.
When we arrived, we were a bit surprised at the status of the car, as we expected a more modern vehicle. The next morning, we were told that we will not be staying in the lodges we planned to stay in according to our itinerary; instead he booked us sub-par lodges for less money, including a two night stay in a tented camp outside Serengeti instead of Serena and Lobo as we originally paid him. He also informed us that the hot air balloon, which we paid USD 550 each for, is not likely to happen. His excuse was that since we changed flights by arriving a day earlier (we informed him of the change 2.5 weeks before our departure, and paid him in full a week prior to that) then it made the accommodations and balloon tour very difficult. Prior to our departure, however, he told me that all the bookings for hotels are done, implying it was based on the original itinerary.
We later discovered that there were no bookings. The first place we were to stay in instead of Flamingo Lodge was not paid for and so we ended up staying in a tiny room with problems with hot water and wifi. Tony did not answer me when I asked him that night on the reason why our ‘big room’ was booked already, even though he supposedly confirmed the bookings beforehand. After that, we moved to Serengeti where Tony told us the tented camp we’d be staying in would be “luxury”. We ended up staying in a tent with no hot water, and no wifi, either. We had serious issues that day, as he told us one thing and gave us something completely opposite. We paid Tony good money expecting a service and accommodation based on what we agreed, but that has not been provided.
All his excuses turned out to be false. On the night before we were supposed to go to Rhino Lodge for Ngorongoro, the driver informed us that Tony told him we’re staying in Karatu, instead. He also told him that we’ll do a short drive in Ngorongoro on our way out of Serengeti stating that there is no availability in Rhino Lodge. At this point we were sick of his lies, so we contacted Rhino Lodge ourselves and found there’s a room available. We informed him of this, and lo and behold, Kapolondo miraculously ‘found’ availability and booked a room for us.
Before we move on to the rest of the tale, before our departure, my friend found a balloon company in Serengeti and contacted them regarding Kapolondo booking. We were informed that there’s no booking in that name. Tony told us he booked with a different company. At the time, we trusted him, unfortunately. When we arrived in Serengeti, we contacted the other balloon operator (there are only two), and they informed by phone and email that there are no booking under Kapolondo name. Tony told us, bizarrely, that he booked under a different name.
His lies continued and he wanted to charge us for the last night in Mvuli lodge, even though it was already included in the itinerary, and he tried to get out of arranging us transfers to the airport. After talking to him, he finally relented and agreed to give us what we already paid him to do. There was no booking, and he had to transfer money after we talked to him.
Tony decided not to hold himself to any of the agreed upon itinerary we paid him to do, and instead he wanted to keep our money to himself without regards to our agreement or the fact that we honored our part and paid him in full well in advance. He claimed he will provide copies of vouchers on the original itinerary, including the supposed balloon tour when we arrived in Arusha, but that turned out to be another lie as we didn’t even see him on our last day. He is a fraud and you should avoid him at all costs.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Con artists
Do not use this company - they stole £30,000 from my mother and then disappeared
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Worst experience ever ! Total scam.
We met with mr. Rufus in Kenya to discuss our tour and our accommodations. We booked luxury tented camp accommodations during our safari and when we met with Rufus he told us the reservations for these camps were confirmed and we paid him. However on our first day of safari we got dropped off at a different very low budget tent camp which was not the camp he promised us we would stay at. 2 days later we went to a different national park and also there Rufus had arranged a totally different accommodation (less expensive and more basic) than was described in the booking. The last two days we would go to amboselli national park and we were supposed to stay at kibo Safari camp. However on our drive there we asked our driver where we would stay and suprisingly he was told to take us to a very low budget, crappy tented camp. We called Rufus to discuss this problem (again) and he told us we were on a waiting list for kibo camp. We didn't believe him and called Kibo camp ourselves and they told us they had plenty of tents available and they never had been in contact with "visit mount Kenya tours" or someone named Rufus. As Rufus was not answering his phone anymore we told our driver to go to kibo camp. Eventually the driver paid our first overnight there as Rufus was not responding to any calls. However the next day we called Rufus again and he was very aggressive and yelling that we costed him too much money and he wasn't going to pay our last night accommodation (even though we already payed him for a 6 day safari in advance. In the end we had to stay at the kimana amboselli tented camps, the camp Rufus wanted to accommodate us in the first place. This was the worst place I ever stayed. The toilets were disgusting with bugs in them, as was the shower (cold). Furthermore we both got sick from the food, as did others in the camp and our tent was full of holes and the sheets of the bed were full of stains. In short: don't travel with this tour operating company, it's a complete scam !!
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Terrible organitation. Nobody knows your itinerary. No information, poor atention and bad manners.
I have never write my opinion about a travel, but they have ruined my trip, and I want to advice other travelers about this company.Don´t choose this company, look for a better one.
First at all, highlight the horrible organitation that they have. At the begining, before start the trip, Mike answer all the mails very quickly and without problems, although he didn´t send us the final itinerary with the overnight places until 3 days before. When we arrive there, start the problems. In each part of the trip (2-3 days) you have different groups and diferent drivers. They divide people in several vans and we were from different companies in each one. They are only drivers and don´t know nothing about your trip and intinerary. Don´t give you information about nothing. They let us at a crossroad where the itineraries are separated, and nobody knows who have to pick up us and the hotel that we had for this night. It happens again two times more, and when we arrive by bus from Tanzania noboby was waiting for us, we have to call the agency because they forgot it, and wait near an hour, and Nairobi is not a safe place for the tourist.
They also change the most part of our acomodation, they weren´t the lodges and campings that they said. And you are paying an expensive trip and they change by more economical acomodation. One of the camping was a place of free camping, without a ranger or security, so you can understand all the money that they get of the trip.
But the worst was the attention and manners of all guides. They are nothing friendly and I had never experience such a violent situation, when they ask for tips. They think tourist are a cash machine, they ask for tips for all the staff, including people you have never seen, and saying it wasn´t enough, and I assure you that with income per capita that has the country, they have enough with that tip to live 5 months.
We discuss with them and didn´t assume they mistakes. We come back very ungry and disappointed with the trip and all the staff.