JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointed
During my tour, okavanko river is dried up and no wild animals in this region.
I was really disappointed that situation even though tour company informed in advance.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beware: worst tour operator
Beware of Mamu Travels - they are truly the worst tour operator I have ever encountered in my decades of traveling! Mariam, the owner of the company, was very responsive in the beginning, sending through a full quote quickly after my initial outreach. She seemed very thorough in her communications and continued to be responsive after I pre-paid for our safari in full (nearly $3000 for two people). Then, the week of our safari, she went completely dark. She didn't send through a final itinerary so we had no idea who was picking us up, when they were picking us up, their name or contact information - NOTHING! We emailed and messaged her before our pick up date and she was completely unresponsive. We got ready for our pick up the morning of our first day and no driver came. The main phone number for the company listed on the website, which was Mariam's number, was completely offline - no one would pick up or see our messages on WhatsApp. The only way we were able to get in touch with someone at Mamu was through the Safari lodge reservation desk, which happened to have another phone number for the company. That new person, Patronilla, picked up but had no records of our safari or our itinerary because she did not have access to Mariam's files. She said she herself could not get in touch with Mariam. After much struggle, she was able to convince the transfer driver to come back and get us (he said he apparently came at 6:00am and waited 30 minutes for us but the hotel front desk said that was a lie). When he picked us up, he couldn't tell us much about where we were going, just that we were going to meet the safari driver. When we got to the original meeting up point, a run down gas station in a very run down part of Nairobi, the safari driver had already left! So now we had to chase the driver around the outskirts of Nairobi, culminating in us speeding down a cliffside road to finally catch up to him on the side of the road. When we finally got to him, he broke the news to us that Mariam had not sent him the nature reserve entrance fees ($800 for two days for two people, which we prepaid) so we would have to pay him cash and get reimbursed by Mamu. For her part, Patronilla sent us a note that the company would honor the refund, but unfortunately, no one from the company had access to the bank accounts except for Mariam, who was still missing, so the refund could only happen when she came back online. Well, we completed our 3 day safari, which was great, especially the lodge Emayian as well as our safari driver, Charles, but Mariam was still missing the entire time. We checked in again a couple of days after, but her team said she was still missing, so we just ended up doing a chargeback through our credit card company. Needless to say, this was the most AWFUL travel experience of my life and I caution everyone before working with this incredibly unprofessional company that will put you in stressful, dangerous situations!
VN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible Experience with Bestprice Tours
I am writing to express my deep disappointment with the service provided by Bestprice Tours during our recent safari trip. Unfortunately, our experience was far from what we had hoped for, and it was marred by numerous issues that made our adventure incredibly frustrating.
Firstly, the vehicle provided was old and in poor condition, which rendered our safari nearly impossible. We faced constant breakdowns that severely impacted our ability to enjoy the wildlife and scenery. Additionally, the hotel accommodations were not fully paid for, despite us having settled all costs prior to the trip. This added unnecessary stress to our experience.
Moreover, the entry tickets and procedures for the national park were not prepared in advance, leading to extensive waiting times that further detracted from our safari experience. We encountered many other issues that collectively turned what should have been an exciting adventure into a regrettable ordeal.
In our frustration, we reached the point of requesting to cancel the remaining services and receive a refund so we could find another provider for the last three days of our program. We are set to leave the country today, yet we have yet to receive the promised refund that was assured to us.
I would not recommend Bestprice Tours based on our experience. It is crucial for travelers to choose a reliable company that values customer satisfaction and delivers on its commitments.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Guides often lack adequate knowledge about wildlife and the environment
Tourist line safaris are known for providing subpar experiences that fall short of expectations. Guides often lack adequate knowledge of the wildlife and environment, leading to an uninformative experience. I noticed their guides were new. Vehicles are poorly maintained, making travel uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe. Customer service is also lacking, with complaints about rude or unresponsive staff common. Additionally, the housing provided is often below standard, with reports of unsanitary conditions and misleading descriptions. Overall, the company fails to deliver the quality and professionalism expected from a safari tour operator. Many customers feel that they are not getting good value for their money, making tourist line safaris a less than ideal choice for those looking for an unforgettable safari adventure.
US
Guides often lack adequate knowledge about wildlife and the environment
Tourist line safaris are known for providing subpar experiences that fall short of expectations. Guides often lack adequate knowledge of the wildlife and environment, leading to an uninformative experience. I noticed their guides were new. Vehicles are poorly maintained, making travel uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe. Customer service is also lacking, with complaints about rude or unresponsive staff common. Additionally, the housing provided is often below standard, with reports of unsanitary conditions and misleading descriptions. Overall, the company fails to deliver the quality and professionalism expected from a safari tour operator. Many customers feel that they are not getting good value for their money, making tourist line safaris a less than ideal choice for those looking for an unforgettable safari adventure.
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Be careful, not reliable and fraudulent!
We recently tried to book a safari with them but after a deposit was paid they stopped all communication, since about 2 weeks now. If you want to avoid a lot of trouble which ruins your holidays, do not book with them!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Scammers- BEWARE
Honcho took my 50% deposit over a year ago and now they are off the grid- emails and websites gone, the lodge had NEVER gotten the money OR the booking. So now 2 weeks prior to the trip I have no safari booked.
It is too late to get Visa to cover the fraud and they are not to be found anyway.
What horrible people to rip innocent travelers off like this.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scam!!! Azas are con artists and scammer who did not deliver on anything we paid for.
Azas Safari Uganda SCAM
My husband and I are in Africa on our honeymoon. We booked a 3 day Azas Safari to see the Mountain Gorillas at $4180USD. Our trip included return flights from Entebbe to Kihihi, accomodation at Mahogany Spring Lodge, Gorilla Permits, guide, meals and park entrances. We arrived in Entebbe and stayed at the recommended hotel, we were in constant contact and communication with Azas the entire time however they began to get less and less responsive on sharing required details around flights, permits etc. We were told, by Azas, to go to the Aerolink office at Entebbe where we found out we were never booked on flights and had to pay for our own return flights $895USD. Azas, still in communication with us via WhatsApp, assured us the permits were sorted so we proceeded to purchase the flights and flew to Kihihi. We were met by a guide who took us to our accommodation where we found out that no permits had been secured. After speaking with anyone and everyone that we possibly could to rectify the situation we then had to purchase the permits ourselves $1600USD.
Azas are awful human beings who have scammed and completely ripped us off and continued to string us along.
We have reported them to the Ugandan police and tourism authority.
Scammed
Trevaron tours started to “allegedly take people outside countries for greener pastures. I was recommended to them by a close relative, met with the founder and I counter mr and Mrs Kaniu. They guided and explained to us the process and payments. This was 2022 Feb . So they convinced us and even lied they had been taking people abroad… here we are 2024 no “abroad journey” just back and forth to get our refund. Their lines not going through and emails are unanswered . Please help me spread this .. it’s so wrong keeping in mind we explained to them we are taking a loan for this.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not what we expected- close to Terrible
We had an absolutely terrible experience with this tour company. The issues we encountered were numerous and deeply impacted the quality of our trip:
Booking Issues and Payment Pressure
We booked our trip last year with several promises made about the quality and nature of the tour. The agreed payment terms were 10% down to secure the booking, with the remaining payment due when the tour began. However, we were constantly pressured to pay the full amount upfront, despite this agreement. We were also assured that all hotel bookings had been secured, which turned out to be false. This led to several complications and last-minute changes during our trip.
Last-Minute Price Increase
Just 1.5 weeks before our scheduled travel, the company unexpectedly increased the tour price by $400 per person, including for a child, citing a rise in park fees. After confirming with fellow travelers, our driver, and park authorities in Masai Mara, we found that the actual increase was only $120 per adult, with no increase for children. This resulted in an unjustifiable overcharge, which we found to be deceptive and unethical.
Accommodation Issues
We paid an additional $400-$500 per person for accommodation upgrades from budget to a higher category. Despite this, we were placed in budget or even lower budget hotels, with no upgrades provided due to late bookings made just 1.5 weeks before the tour started. This downgrade severely impacted our trip.
Balloon Ride Booking
We paid $430 per person for a balloon ride with Balloon Safari, a premium company. However, we were booked with a lower-tier company instead, which led to a landing accident and injuries. This discrepancy in service was completely unacceptable.
Delayed Hotel Bookings
Even though we paid for the trip 9 months in advance, hotel bookings were delayed, resulting in subpar accommodations. This was far below the quality we expected and paid for.
Missed Great Migration
The trip was planned specifically to witness the great migration in Masai Mara and Serengeti. Upon arrival, we were informed that this was not possible, despite the company's promises. This was a significant disappointment and a waste of our time and money.
Unreliable Itinerary
The itinerary provided at booking listed specific activities, accommodations, and schedules. However, upon starting the safari, changes were made on the fly, leading to skipped game drives and missed excursions. The initial morning game drive was never arranged, which seriously affected our overall experience.
Baggage Issues
We were told we could bring one bag per passenger, but upon arrival, we had to leave two bags behind, which were never returned as promised. This caused significant inconvenience and stress, including missed game drives and a disrupted itinerary.
Serengeti Safari Issues
We faced numerous issues during our Serengeti safari, including delays at the entry due to incomplete paperwork, an accommodation downgrade without prior notification, being grouped with campers, wasted time during game drives, and substandard hotel accommodations. The safari vehicle was in terrible condition, the driver was rude, and we missed planned excursions and the wildebeest migration.
Specific Issues with the Serengeti Safari Vehicle:
The safari vehicle was in deplorable condition, repeatedly breaking down and requiring assistance from other vehicles.
At one point, the gas tank was hanging down and was dangerously secured using seat belts cut from the passenger side. The driver continued to drive on bumpy roads, putting everyone’s lives at risk.
Despite the hazardous situation, the driver did not call for a backup vehicle, further endangering our safety.
The passenger door of the jeep was broken, creating a serious safety hazard.
The jeep's radio was broken, preventing the driver from communicating with others to locate animals, rendering the safari pointless.
The fuel tank in the Jeep was broken, which was very dangerous. Despite this, the driver continued to drive the same Jeep for three hours. It was late evening and dark, and we were in the deep jungle where wild animals roam. Anything could have happened to us, and the rescue Jeep arrived very late.
Additional Warnings:
This company declines any refund requests despite the numerous issues encountered. Their lack of accountability is alarming.
They are mere agents who sell your booking to cheap, poorly reviewed safari companies. This practice led to our terrible experience and is something potential customers should be aware of.
In conclusion, our experience with this company was a disaster on multiple fronts. The level of unprofessionalism, dishonesty, and disregard for customer safety was shocking. I strongly advise others to avoid this company and choose a more reliable and ethical operator for your safari experience.