35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely Disappointing Experience – Lack of Transparency and Poor Service
We felt fooled, tricked, lied and robbed by this company. It was an outrageous experince with disgrace. Our horrible story about the company ended up at consulates, police station, media. We seek for justice and conpensation for all the bad and massive inconvenience they caused us.
IT
Caution When Booking – Unresolved Refund Issue
I had a disappointing experience with this operator. After booking a safari through Cate, the trip was canceled at the last minute, and I did not receive the promised refund. I have been waiting for a refund of $2,410 since August 2024, but despite my efforts, the issue remains unresolved.
I recommend that travelers exercise caution and verify all details before making any payments. I also noticed a similar complaint from another traveler in July 2024. I hope this matter is resolved soon, as transparency and trust are essential in the tourism industry.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They are broke…when you get cheated go KATO. They guarantee payment.
We loved the safari and driver on a Kenya safari that ended Jan 20. Natural World Safari’s is broke. We raised hell and got 7 days of our 11 paid…one day at a time. At the end we brought the Nairobi Tourist police and the operator was able to refund the last $4000 US by some shenanigans with a refund to our credit card. My guess is the best route for a refund of the safari cost (not your airfare and hassle) is through KATO, an organization that apparently guarantees operators nationally.
If you have the funds, my recommendation is you do the safari and pay yourself, as needed and then go to KATO.
If you haven’t booked with this company, I would advise don't.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible experience with Birchill Expeditions – we felt scammed and harassed!
Our two-day visit to Akagera National Park was extremely disappointing. Although the animals were seen on the game drive, the experience was not at all enjoyable. The canoe trip to Ihema Lake was not very exciting, and the animals had to be seen from a distance. The biggest problem was the misconduct of Birchill Expeditions—they forced us to pay extra money and harassed us in various ways throughout the trip. Their management was very poor, and the behavior of the guides was also immodest. Please do not book this company, or you may not get what you paid for.
50-65 years of age
very unreliable company – payment Not Honored
A mob of scammers who send you bogus itineraries so when you pay invoice you turn up for flight or accommodation that do not exist. They never refund the money owing
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Terrible experience Mud poured over our heads and clothes got dirty but no support
We faced a terrible experience during the tour. Mud and muddy water poured over our head and clothes got dirty but no support nor compensation from the guide.
The tour was held on a clowdy day with some rain and the ground was so muddy.
The car the guide used was a van, HIACE (not the land clouser or something) and the car hight was not enough to avoid splash mad or even to run the bad road.
So we closed the window and opened the roof to watch animals.
The case was happened when we crossed a big puddle. Even though the car is not tall enough to cross it and there was an alternative detour to avoid it, the driver plunged into it and after a few seconds , the car hit a pothole and mud (and water) heavily splashed and they poured into our heads and clothes from the opened roof.
Please let me echo that if it was of course
avoidable because 1) there was an alternative detour to avoid the puddle and 2) there were a few seconds for the driver to stop and turn back before hitting the pothole (the mud splash was kept happening).
After the incident, we asked to the support team to seek any compensation but they just said apologies.
We are very disappointed for the experience without professionalism.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unresolved Payment Issue
I want to share my personal experience with Tafika Travel Advisor, represented by Mr. Paul, In August 2024, I made a payment of $510 for a service that I unfortunately never received. Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue, I have not been able to recover my money.
As someone who has worked in the tourism industry for over 10 years, this has been a deeply disappointing and stressful experience. I believe transparency is important, so I am sharing this to encourage others to exercise caution when choosing a business partner.
I have reported this matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Zambia and other relevant organizations. I also have documentation related to my case. I recommend that anyone considering these companies conduct thorough research before making any commitments.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I recommend you avoid and beware
This tour operator goes by the name 'Eddie', with safari and trekking services also advertised through 'Northern Fox Adventures'. My experience has been one of deception, bad communication and $830 being taken from me, without the service provided. I recommend avoiding at all cost.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Misled, ignored calls & pocketed $830 of my money without paying for services
This tour operator shouldn't be advertised on this platform and shouldn't be approached. 'Eddie' assured me that I was being booked on a group tour - and yet I was on my own. He failed to provide timely communications and updates to me until prompted. My driver was about 1.5hrs late to pick me up, then got a traffic ticket, afterwards getting pulled over by the traffic police, to wait in a hot field by the side of the road for over 45 minutes. As a result of these delays, we spent the last stretch of the
near 10hr journey in the dark on dirt roads, with few updates conveyed to me. The next day, on arrival at the Bwindi gorilla base camp, I was left alone as two separate trekking groups came and went, without any communication until more than 2 hours later, when it materialised that Eddie had not paid for the gorilla permit, that I paid him for, over a month ago. Eddie failed to pick up his phone or respond to messages from the driver or myself all morning. I had to either leave without seeing the gorillas I had come all this way to see, or pay another $800 for the permit. I had no choice but to pay again before the cut-off for that day's gorilla trekking. Eddie then decided to become available at around 11, and has since that time come up with a range of excuses (no apologies) and has continually delayed and prevaricated reimbursing me. I believe I have been scammed. I have reported this to the police. It has left me suspicious and spoilt my experience of visiting Uganda. I trusted Safaribookings and was let down with their vetting of tour operators.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We feel cheated by Mwajabu and lost out money
I recommend anyone who is thinking about booking trip with them to not pay any money in advanced to not face the terrible experience we had. We paid to Mwajabu $6,000 in advance by Westen Union, an when we arrived to Kenia, the driver told us that the hotels, park fees and driver were not paid so we had to pay everything again!! TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. When we requested an explanation to Mwajabu she told us a story about her accountant and she promised to return all the money. It has been more than 1 month and we are still waitting for our $5,000 back, following up with her false promises and excuses everyday. Honestly, this is the worst situation I have ever faced travelling and I feel she cheated and stole our money that I will never get back. It is sad to see that we can’t trust some local touroperators.