US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Find a reputable Ugandan or US Safari company
James Kateeba - the owner of Travelust- scammed us by taking our money for gorilla and golden monkey trekking permits and not buying them! Run from this company - DO NOT BOOK with Travelust or any company associated with James Kateeba. We are pursuing this with the Ugandan police, UWA and Ugandan travel authorities. He keeps promising repayment - but never follows through.
GR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dangerous situations with Zanzibar Cholo Tours.
Zanzibar Cholo tours trust it only for Zanzibar island,it was ok without problems,
but the Safari in Africa was terrible because they said many lies to our team and was very dangerous situations.
We had a scedule to follow but on the tour they change the program everyday without inform us and it was very unpleasant and we spend extra money for hotels ,safari and food.
I dont recommend to anyone this tour in Africa because at the end was very difficult also about our lifes!!!
The lies it was so many for that never trust Safari tour of them!!!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Arrangements for travel/transfers were very poor and (in retrospect) ridiculously expensive .
Advice provided by travel agent, Adelle, regarding travel/transfers was exceptionally poor in terms of logistics and cost. She was not worthy of our trust. We had already chosen Londolozi as our safari destination and found our experience there, and indeed for the remainder of our trip to South Africa, to be very positive. We will return to the southern coast of South Africa and Londolozi for further golfing/safari experiences but definitely will not use the same South African travel agent .
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
lies, unsafe vehicle and thief owner
I have to give this one star since 0 stars is not an option. The one star is for the good guide that Travelust gave us for the first four days of our trip. The guide was very good but then abandoned our group in Bwindi when he left for a family emergency. We lost thousands of dollars to Travelust and owner James Kateeba, had to ride in an unsafe, rusty vehicle with broken seats, windows and missing seat belts. Travelust took our money but never purchased our gorilla and monkey permits. In addition, we had to come up with cash to leave Murchinson National park when Travelust's Uganda Wildlife card had no funds on it. We also had to pay for a new guide and vehicle when our original guide left us at our Bwindi hotel. Before our original guide abandoned us, he told us that he would not be able to take us over the border for the Rwanda portion of our trip since our vehicle was unsafe and we had a police report filed for James Kateeba/Travelust when he scammed us out of $6700 . Fortunately the eight of us on the safari are well traveled and made the best of a bad situation . Despite all the issues, we enjoyed Uganda and Rwanda and gorilla and chimp trekking but please use a reputable tour operator and NOT Travelust.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
So disappointed for this special trip, very bad organisation of 7 wonders
Hello, we did a 1 day safari to the ngorongoro crater. Everything went wrong (excepting that the car was ok)...we were supposted to be 4 and leave at 6am but the night before, we learnt we were 6, ok why not. And then a few ours later, before going to bed, we learnt we would have breakfast at 8:30 because we had to wait for another 2. I was upset because everyone knows you have to leave early so you see the animals active while it is not too hot. And by the way, all the other groups left at 6...Impossible to discuss...we would leave the Park at 5pm to 'earn those ours back'. The next day, we were still waiting for breakfast at 8:30 so the whole group was complaining! In the end we left at 9:30, arrived at the gate at 10. We were into the crater at 10:30 and went out at 15:30 because the driver did not want to arrive too late in Arusha. I was really trying to stay calm, we spent so much money on this day we dreamt about for so long...about that, in discussion with the others, we learnt that some of us paid 150$ each, others 350$ (we were in between)...they also forgot the water so we had no water and I got very sick that night (was it the food?). And to finish with, the driver only stopped when we asked him to... Please read these reviews before going with them, I wish I had done it...
US
SCAM!!
Do NOT book with this company!!! It is a SCAM!!! They take your money then vanish. Buyers be warned, do not give these corrupt people your money. Can't wait to get a lawyer involved.
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.
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.
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.
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.