35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
warning - this company stole my money
After researching which safari to do in Tanzania that suited my time frame and budget I choose David and Goliath tours and safaris. David Michael Bungama (owner) was very helpful and quick to get back to me with my questions. Once we had agreed on my itinerary his said the deposit of 5% (all other companies charge 30-50%) could be paid to him via an international money transfer. (This is common for payment of safaris). I did my transfer of the deposit and five days later he confirmed that he saw it in his bank. I asked for a receipt for my deposit, this is when things changed. I asked a few times over the next week, with no response from David. When he finally did respond it would be one excuse after another why he hasn't sent it. Finally after about 2 weeks he sent me an email saying his manager had hacked his email account and was stealing all the customers money. He said he sacked him once finding out. He then said not to worry about any more payment until arrival where I could pay in cash. I said I wasn't happy carrying thousands of US dollars on me. Then he suggested do a transfer of the remaining 95% amount, two weeks before the start of the safari. In the meantime I had asked a few more times for a receipt for my deposit, with no answers. I felt very suspicious about this company now and the way they operate. After he said his manager had stolen customers money. I asked for a full refund of my deposit, as I no longer trust that they are a legitimate company (when he failed to provide a business registration certificate) and I have no faith in sending more money to them. This is where David stopped responding to me altogether. I have emailed him a number of times, but no response.
I think David and his company are thieves. Please don't send your money to him.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I advise you not to use this company
Booked with Image Travel in March 2014 for a 10 day Masai/Serengeti Safari commencing Sep 2014. Paid for the tour in full prior to arriving. Mwanje, the owner, was great to deal with when booking but it all went horribly wrong on arrival. Our driver wasn't paid and we were stranded on the side of the road for 3 hours on the first day. We missed our afternoon game drive and lunch. We went for the 5 star option so for our group we paid over $30k USD for the whole trip. Our first night of accommodation was paid for but after that the next 9 nights had not been paid. The deposit was paid but the remaining amounts were all outstanding. We ended up having to report the matter to police and found that over $20k of the trip had to be paid for again. Our once in a lifetime trip was turned into an absolute nightmare by Mwanje and Image Travel. Mwanje would not respond to our calls or emails. Take my advice and go with another company.
IL
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
avoid tanzania. it is very expensive and evrybody want to cheat you
in september this year we visited masai mara safari in kenya and serengeti safari in tanzania.in masai mara we saw many many animals but in serengeti was sec and allmost no animals.we had been 6 persons 2 nights each park,in masai mara cost us the entrance and the hotel(very good lodge) 1300 us$ and the serengeti park cost us 3300 us$. we past trough ngorongoro park to arive arusha and we payed for the pass 600 us$.
i recomand ,if you go in september to visit safaries to avoied tanzania and stay more in masai mara park.
not only that there are only a few animals and alot of dust but also everybody want to cheat you. every 3-4 km policemen stop you and ask money,we ordered 3 rooms but in two places they told us that only 2 rooms were ordered and we had to pay again, so avoied to visit tanzania
20-35 years of age
This company ruined my vacation!
After my fully-paid safari to Maasai Mara with Africa Flash MC Tours did not go through, I was eventually fully refunded by the company four months later. This, however, was a highly nerve-wracking process which included many meetings with the local police. Furthermore, the fact that the safari was not organized as promised seriously ruined my vacation, as I had visitors coming from Europe. There are a number of tour operators who offer safaris in the same price range and who actually deliver and do not ask advance payments. For anybody looking to go on a low-budget safari in Kenya, these might be safer options than Africa Flash MC Tours.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We found a agency on Safaribookings and we have been scamed
WE FOUND A SAFARI ON SAFARIBOOKING BUT WE HAVE BEEN SCAMED. SAFARIBOOKING HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP US AND DIDN'T TOOK THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. WE LOST OUR MONEY AND OUR TRIP TO KENYA. COMPLETE DISASTER!!
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The scene is beautiful，but the guide and the travel agency （Kenya walking）is cheater。
Just remember this name “kenya walking”，the travel agency has taken 8307 dollars from me ，but the driver said he has no money ，so he can't go to the park unless we pay another 3000dollars. we turn back to the travel office and the door is closed。we have go the policestation，but till now no response for it。It is a very bad experience。
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Not good
i tried to book a safari going to Mikumi for a 2 day safari....and expected to get the price that was shown here at safaribookings.....to my suprise they doubled the price to $ 705.....which i did not like at all......which makes me wonder if the pricing here at safaribookings are correct and the right ones
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Poor service
We had a great safari in Seregeti , Ngorongoro and Tarangire! We saw a lot of animals and had a great guide. But we would definitely not recommend to go whit World Air Travel & Tours in Arusha. On the first day or care broke down after 30 minutes. All day the guide tried to fix the car but it broke down five times. He managed to drive to the gate of the Serengeti but then the car was totally broken.
All cars break down some day. The roads are poor so this things happen. no problem. But World Air Travel & Tours laid all the time about the solution. There say they had sent a another car and it will arrive soon. After all the other car arrived 14 hours after they told us he would.
So we missed the first day and half of or second day. On a safari of four days this is a lot so we asked about a compensation. we paid a lot of money fore the safari (6 persons 4days and $900,- per person). We missed more than 1/4 of the safari. They offer us an extra day in the Serengeti for $130 a person or get a refund of $ 30,- per person. Even after hard bargaining this was their final offer.
Very pour solution and very bad compensation. If ever tithing is going to plan it is no problem to go whit World Air Travel & Tours . But if there is a problem after you paid, it’s your problem.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dishonest, bad hotels and unprofessional
The 13 day safari we booked with Big time safaris was massively over priced for what we received. The hotels were poor quality compared to other similar priced tour operators. They advertise as covering Tanzania yet set us up with a completely different dishonest company that did not fulfil the trip we had paid for, cheated us out of our lodge that we had paid for and lied to us the whole time both about animal facts and our trip. Do not use this company under any circumstances.
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dishonest and irresponsible boss
My husband and I did a 7 days Machame trek and 2D1N safari tour with this tour. The trek was a good experience because of the wonderful guide Bala and his team. However, we had a hard time with the boss David Michael Bungama/David Bungama Nyabirumo. First, he was dishonest with the accommodation arrangement. ALL the arranged accommodations were different and CHEAPER than what was promised over the email exchange. David attributed the change to bad reputation from the promised hotel, but why the vast difference in price and quality? A day before the safari trip, he said he did not have cash to pay the safari guide as the bank was closed that day (sunday). He said we either have to wait till 10am before we can leave for safari or lend him US$350 first and he repay us when we return. Blame us for wanting to resolve the problem quickly and get started on our trip, we agreed and even made him write an IOU. On the day of return, he refused to meet us and asked the safari operator to book us into a US$10 per room (with shared bathroom) backpacker in Moshi! We paid US$700 per person for a 2D1N safari and the lodge in the safari was not fantastic as well!!! Where did all our money go to? We were furious and he promised to meet us the next day which was our day of departure. Not too surprisingly, he only sent the driver to meet us WITHOUT THE US$350 that he owed us! He promised to meet us in the airport after a blasting over the phone with us, but he refused to pick up calls when we were in the airport. Up to the last minute before we need to board, he called back to say he'll fund transfer us. It is our misfortune to have trusted David and engage him. Although he did offer a slightly cheaper price than other operator, he probably made a neat profit through numerous hidden costs or downright cheating. I think dishonest business dealer is the last thing a tourist will want to encounter. Please be careful of this guy and stay clear. He is out to make money but not in the right way.