US
THERE ARE NO KHOI SAN PAINTINGS IN THE PARK
THERE NO KHOI SAN PAINTINGS IN THE PARK! REPEAT: THERE ARE NO KHOI SAN PAINTINGS IN THE PARK
On the morning of 22 January I stopped at the reception office at the Golden Gate Nat'l Park to inquire about hiking to see Khoi San paintings in the limited time that I had before having to return to Johannesburg that day. I specifically mentioned to the young woman working the front desk that I was there to see Khoi San paintings and not in spending time on other activities in the park since my time had run out. She advised me to go to Echo Ravine to find them and gave me a map to help me get there. Another couple hearing our conversation also took note, and all of us hiked up to Echo Ravine in search of the Bushmen art. Unfortunately, we were quite disappointed when we made it there to find that there were none, and I hiked back to the reception office to make sure that I hadn't misunderstood our instructions. I was then told that there were none, to which I kindly asked for my money back (210 rands) to be returned. I was refused by her manager, Norman Mudau, who took my name and number down in an attempt to quell any further complaints.
The exorbitant entrance fee of 210 rands ($17 USD) assessed on foreigners (4x that for South Africans) would be well worth it if the paintings were there or If one had a full day to spend at the park. But in my case I was misled into believing that I could find them and wasted my last remaining time in South Africa on a fruitless endeavor, when I could have traveled instead to Kiara Lodge to successfully find them.
Norman Mudau and his associate should learn to practice better customer service in the future. Their treatment of me that morning made my trip to South Africa end on unnecessarily sour note, which is regrettable since the remainder of the trip was about as perfect as one could imagine.
PH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Hell's Gate National Park by Ray
Unless you are into rock climbing, just something to see, no need to spend too long.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most amazing trip of ours lives, a true adventure!
Charles totally made the trip more than what we ever expected!! He taught us so much about Africa, it's people, the animal and the culture. Charles set up all of the different places we went to visit, enabling us to see as much as Africa as we could in 2 weeks. The wildlife was incredible! To see them in their natural environment, wondering free was wonderful. His drivers were also very knowledgable and answered all our questions. We had a lot fun getting to know Charles and his guys. Would recommend Charles to everyone who wants to experience the best of Africa.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by CATERINA S.
Only a few animals.
No lions, no leopards.
Scenic place, very dry landscape.
Disappointing.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
NEVER CHOOSE CROCODILE RACERS
Back from a "3 days/2 nights" in the Mara, we were wondering if it was normal that:
- when we ask us be ready at 7 am to be picked up by our driver in Nairobi, we leave Nairobi at 10am, after 3 different places waiting for something we don't want to explain to us,
- when we are supposed to be maximum 8 in our van, we spend the 3 days at 9 pax including a 6-month baby crying, the other people paying 360USD pp (70 less than us) for exactly the same prestation + water included in their package, not in ours (they also told us they were very angry because supposed to be 6 Max in the van for this price...)?
- when we are supposed to arrive "on time for lunch" at Maasai Mara, have a rest and make our 1st game drive around 4pm, we in fact arrived at 4pm at the camp (after an awful lunch in a self service on the road) and entered Maasai Mara at 5.30pm (30 minutes game drive!)
- when it is question of coming back to Nairobi, then, our guide proved us he can be on time: Considering leaving the Maasai Mara, it was impossible to wait a minute more in the camp, whereas making us wait 3 hours on the first morning did not necessitate any explication or excuse...
Crocodile answered they were "very much apologetic on what took place", and "wish you had chosen a private safari".
Obviously, " it is not practical to offer any commercial refund".
If you're planning a trip to Mara or Amboseli, you'd better choose Sun Splash Safaris, you'll get what you pay for (and for really cheaper) with a real organization (been to Amboseli with them).
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Don't trust him
Unfortunately my review cannot be positive... Faustin let us down before the end of our holiday... We had agreed a package safari to Ruaha and Mikumi but he was everything but professional. He was very superficial about the actual time needed to reach Ruaha and he didn't keep his promises about the agreements made. On the way back, we were supposed to visit Mikumi but he stopped answering the phone and we had to pay extra money because he had disappeared. Luckily our driver stayed with us until the end, though we decided to report everything to the police. After coming home, he wrote us promising to refund us the extra money we had to pay. But, up to now, he hasn't sent us any money.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Terrible service and trip
i, Antelope Safaris is the touroperator to avoid. I was together with my wife on this trip and the service was below all levels. everything they promised could not be delivered:
1. Guide was not interested at all- the first afternoon game drive was a rally: we drove with 70 kn p/h to our lodge.
2. The only comment he made was: "elephant" or "buffalo", hardly spoke any English
3. Guide forgot guidebook and binoculars. Tomorrow, tomorrow he said.The next day he got us broken binoculars and a dirty old guidebook.
4. We called Antelope safaris several times. They did not call back for the following reason: it is expensive to call a foreign number- as if we did not roam and as if Skype does not exist!
5. Very expensive operator (well you save money by not giving tips- they definitely did not deserve it
6. They came over to our place in Dar in order to apologize- see above to read how it went. They later explained that the" man did not like the fact that we complained"
7. They did not give any compensation- that strengthened our feeling that they really did not care about us, but just about earning easy money.
Conclusion: a guide can make or break a tour. Especially when that bad service is not backed up by skilled staff at the agency, but by people that hardly care if things go the right way. Avoid this operator.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fraud!
Please do not book any thing with this company, I am a tourist who was stolen by the guy who run this company named Ernest Magesa, he said he will give us a Safari and when we transferred the money to his bank he disappeared and he did not give us anything, I call him to give the money back 2400 $ and he never did since last July, we informed the Tanzanian Police and Tourism Authorities and they promised they will take action, DONT USE THIS COMPANY YOU WILL BE STOLEN ! Safari Bookings already put a warning about it
US
Lilac Adventures represented by Mr. Daniel Njamewa is untrustworthy and NO ONE should use them.
UPDATE 9 MAR 2016:
Lilac states that they did what they could to help us thru our safari. The fact is they did nothing but take our money.
Lilac states that their financial problems are behind them and they will refund our money. The fact is that they have not refunded our money and it has been five months since they promised they would. We are still waiting. By anyone's definition, this is theft and they should be prosecuted. We are working with the US Embassy to see that this happens.
I strongly recommend that persons interested in a safari stay as far away from Lilac Adventures as possible. They do not honor any commitments, and are untrustworthy.
There are much better tour operators available that value their reputation and will not leave you stranded.
ORIGNAL REVIEW:
Worse than terrible. This safari tour arrangement did not meet even minimal expectations; in fact, left us to our own devices two days into the vacation, a tough spot to be in when you are in a foreign country. Lilac Adventures appears to have disappeared from normal forms of communication since about August 2015. I strongly advise against anyone contemplating using Lilac Adventures, or any operation fronted by Mr. Daniel Njamwea.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible experience
We paid for a 12-day safari in Kenya and Tanzania with Lilac adventures. The trip went as expected for 2 1/2 days. After that time we were abandoned by Lilac and manager Daniel Njamwea after repeated attempts to contact him via texts, e-mails and phone calls. To avoid cancelling our remaining itinerary, we were forced to pay again for Serena lodges, meals, driver/guide fees, and Park entry fees. Please take our advice and DO NOT book a safari with Lilac Adventures.