US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beware of Mathew Adams & Tropical Vacations
In my opinion you should NOT use tropical Vacations! Our money was wired in full almost a month prior to our safari. We paid the director, Matthew Adams, $1630 in total for our lodge accommodation, safari drives, and flight to the Masai Mara from Nairobi Wilson Airport.
We got to Wilson airport at 14:15 to check in with Air Kenya. When we checked in the lady informed me that there was a problem with our ticket, and she sent us to the reservations office. When we went to the reservation office, we were informed that our tickets had not been paid for. An agent, Mary Anne, helped us to attempt to communicate with Matthew.
Matthew said that he was waiting on the refund from Sarova, and said that we just need to pay for our plane tickets, total of $644 for Casey Parker, and myself, Caroline Wallace. He said, and I quote, that he would "sort us out tomorrow". We told him that we could not do that, we can't afford that. We asked him to give Mary Anne his credit card number. This is when he began hanging up on us, talking in circles, and he never gave us an answer.
We had to pay for our plane tickets, which was an additional $580, that we had already paid for well in advance. I am exteremely dissapoointed in the service I have recieved. Matthew Adams said that he would sort us out the next day, well unforunately that day has come and gone. He has turned off his phones, and has been dodging our calls and e-mails.
I do not want this to happen to anyone else. Please do not use Tropical Vacations!
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Infamous thieves in my opinion
I advise you to never, ever organize a safari with them! We paid in advance a part of the safari package, but they never showed up the day of the agreed meeting, leaving us in serious troubles. Just choose any other (licensed, they are not) safari tour operator!
NO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fraud
I confirm what the latest reviews says, this is (or has at least lately become) a fraudulent tour operator. We paid a deposit to E Safaris a few months ago for a 20+ group safari in October. All e-mail addresses, website and phone numbers are closed, and apparently they are investigated by Kenya Tourism Board. Our money now appear to be lost, although I expect proper investigation to be done by Kenyan Tourism Authorities. I have reported/complained to KTB (Kenya Tourism Board) and KATO (The Kenya Board of Tour Operators), and I urge everyone else affected to do the same.
Fortunately E Safaris had at least reserved the rooms at Mara Serena Safari Lodge, and Serena has been very understanding and helpful and has in short time set up an new safari for us. And I would like to emphasise that the large majority of the Kenyan Tourism Industry are honest and hard working people who do their very best to give visitors a great holiday. That I can say from personal experience.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Without a doubt the WORST tour operator ever
Ernest (the contact person) for Time 4 Afrika rarely, if ever answered his phone or responded to emails. Before arriving in Tanzania we were told that all hotel bookings and the itinerary were confirmed, yet upon arrival at our first hotel, no booking had been made. The next morning, we met with a sub-contracted tour operator of Time 4 Afrika who then explained to us that nothing in terms of hotel or itinerary had been booked. Consequently, we were not able to stay at any of the hotels are stated in the contract. Further, Ernest refused to forward payments to the safari tour operator in a timely manner. As such, we were LITERALLY kicked out of our Serengenti hotel one night, and had to spend the night in the park rangers office!! Ernest never came to meet us in either Arusha or Zanzibar, and still has yet to pay the hotel in Zanzibar!! On top of all of this, he has the audacity to ask for more money even though he has not honored a single term of the contract! I have been in contact with the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, as well as other government departments to try to make sure that Ernest Mangela and Time 4 Afrika never operate another tour again! I advise you to PLEASE not use this tour operator under any circumstances.
KR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Not recommended
Ridiculously as it sounds, East Africa Tours and Safaris changed my schedule 'after' my arrival at Nairobi.
They failed to find a group going to Amboseli for me and suggested that I should pay extra money and have a private safari.
When I refused that and canceled the schedule, they charged me $140 saying that they had already booked a place in Amboseli!
They promised me to share the spoils and refund me $70 but eventually they were out of contact and didn't refund me at all.
I would like to share this bad experience to whoever visiting this page.
IS
20-35 years of age
Please be aware. This "tour operator" is running a scam. Do not give them a cent!
** UPDATE MARCH 2015
After six months of hassle, I have received a full refund of the safari trip I booked and pre-paid with Africa Flash Mc Tours last year. I cannot recommend their services, as this has caused me trouble ever since I was in Nairobi in September 2014 waiting for a safari guide that never showed up and couldn´t contact anyone from Africa Flash MC Tours (including emergency phone numbers posted on the company's website).
** UPDATE FEBRUARY 2015
I want to reiterate my review submitted in October 2014. No money has been refunded to me from Peter Njenga. I have been communicating with him for many months. He has repeatedly promised to send a refund but has not been a man of his word. Please avoid doing business with him and his company.
** ORIGINAL REVIEW
I booked a tour with Africa Flash Mc Tours for September 2014 and paid it 100% up front, $1150.
Nobody showed up to pick me up at my hotel as arranged with Peter Njenga, the phone numbers of the company and Peter were turned off and no one answered my email. I never got to go on the tour I had paid for.
I complained to the Kenyan police which is now looking into Africa Flash MC Tours and Peter Njenga. I have not received a refund from the company, I hope the police will stop him from scamming tourists coming to Kenya. Please be careful and do not deal with this company.
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.
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.
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.
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