IE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Aquila is terrible. May as well go to a zoo!!
Terrible. Not really a safari. Beside main road, loads of fences and gates. Few animals. Day at zoo would.be better
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fraudulent company
We booked our trip with David and Goliath as well in late Aug early September 2014, and had a very similar experience to the other reviews here. I looked for reviews on this comany before booking and seemed like they had gotten decent reviews (atleast for Kili treks). We had to pay 300 dollars more after landing in Arusha otherwise the company boss David Bungama refused to start the safari. They sent us official looking itineraries with hotel information. But the actual hotels we were put up in were way cheaper and of inferior quality. He promised to pay us back but there was always an excuse to not do so. We had even booked a Zanzibar leg through him, but on checking into the hotel in Zanzibar, we found out he had not paid our hotel bill. We had to settle the matter by not just paying the hotel bill all over again, but having to endure a lot of unpleasantness from the local tour operator and hotel staff. We spent a lot of money in arranging this trip, and it turned out to be a disaster because of the tour company we chose.
The sotry I get from David Bungama is he had hired someone to set up his websites, who had then proceeded to hack into his safaribooking website and then sign up customers impersonating David, and then taken the money and absconded.
Even though I trouble believing his story completely, i gave him the benefit of the doubt, and entertained the possibility that he was merely incompetent and a little guillible in allowing another person to handle his website and use his bank acocunt for wire transfers. But I just read one of the recent reviews from another customers around the same time, and it appears he uses these kind of tactics regularly. Whatever the truth, there are plenty of other companies offering similar tours with much better service, so dont bother risking an expensive trip like this to such a company, they are either dishonest or incompetent. And if others have had a bad experience with him as well, please post your experiences as well, so future tourists do not get their trips ruined. If you wish you may also get in touch with me, as I m planning to report this matter to the authorities, and would make a much stronger case if there are multiple parties reporting such fraudulent behavior.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Valentine Gumpo - Wild South Safaris
Never, ever use Valentine Gumpo as a guide or any of his companies, he took our money, never met us and left us completely stranded In Zimbabwe. We originally booked with him in October 2013 and his reviews appeared fine - 2 months before our trip we noticed a couple of negative reviews about him on tho site. I e-mailed him and he assured us everything was okay and this was simply a man with a grudge about him. When we arrived in Vic Falks he was no-where to be seen - he sent a lady who said histruck was being repaired and he would meet us on the way to Robins Camp in Hwange - the car transporting us continually broke down on the way and we arrived at Dete near Maon Camp and got handed over to another safari providers truck and got taken to main camp. He had sub-contracted part of our trip without notifying us. Hw also hamper not paid for most of our trip in Hwange - denied having received any money and told this company to charge us. We also were supposed to stay at Hwange Safari Lodge (again pre-paid) and again none of this was booked or paid for. He completely ruined our trip. He is a total con-man and still owes us a lot of money as we had to pay for a lot of meals, drives and accomodation in Zimbabwe. Never travel or trust this man and if you have already booked with him, I would advise you to make alternative plans as he will not fulfill your booking. We are currently I the process of pursuing him through the Hogh Commission and The Zimbabwe Toursir Authority.
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