FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Irresponsible and chaotic
My safari was « subcontracted » out to Big Five. I was supposed to go to Tarengire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater with an experienced guide-driver. The first day, we went to Lake Manyara (huh???) with a « guide driver » that didn’t know the place ( he kept going around in circles until we pointed this out, with pictures to prove it) or the animals (he tried to brush up with some borrowed notes when he thought we weren’t looking). The next day, he drive too fast, missed a bend and ended up ploughing through a ridge. While the passengers were more scared than anything else, he apparently damaged the radiator. The last part of the very long drive to a Serengeti campground was dangerous for the cook and driver, since they had to get out and refill the radiator several times. The last was in the dark, and we discovered afterwards that a mother lion and her three cubs had been very close. We arrived very late to the campground. The cook managed everything (setting up the tents, calling for another vehicle, cooking a very late meal) while the driver pretend to be busy. Big Five did not call to let us know about a replacement vehicle. I had been in contact with the people who I booked with, and they put pressure on Big Five. The next day, we had another car and driver (yaaay) and the day after yet another. The people I booked were surprised to find out that I had not gone to Tanengire. They came and got me and took me to Tanengire instead of an initially planned cultural visit.
This company is irresponsible !
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Don't have a tour with this company. Don't give them any money until tour is over.
My wife and I were supposed to have a 17 day Kenya and Tanzania Safari from June 26 through July 14 2022. Heritage of African Jungles (Naomi Kemboi or sometimes Kigen) contacted me through Safari Booking. We shared a lot of emails between their email address ([email protected]) and mine. After then I transferred money twice in Apil and June through wire (more than $12,000) because they insisted wire transfer. After receiving final payment, they stopped responding to my emails. I called Naomi, and she said that she had not received any money and money was sent to the wrong place because their email was hacked by somebody and she thought that I had cancelled my reservation. she insisted that money was received by somebody else. However cancellation letter Naomi said she received was classified as a spam mail and my email address was not mine. Investigations through many sources are under progress to find out who has committed this fraud crime. I think there is only one or two people working inside the company. This fraud case was completely caused by Heritage of African Jungles and they should be responsible for the loss, but Heritage of African Jungles does not respond to me. I want to inform everybody of this serious fraud case in order for him or her not to have monetary and mental damage like me. My wife and my dreams for the last two years have been completely broken away due to this fraud.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
There is an error which needs to be corrected.
We booked Waterberg Plateau Lodge in February 2020 for November of that year. The trip has been postponed multiple times and is now rescheduled for April 2023. Upon contacting Waterberg to change our dates, we were informed they never received payment for the original visit. We had submitted our payment to Discover Namibia Tours and Safaris on February 10, 2020, directly to Gemma Dry. We have been unable to contact her to either have our funds reimbursed to us or transferred to Waterberg Plateau Lodge as they should have been in 2020. I have read in Trip Advisor of others having similar issues with contacting her or the company.
KW
20-35 years of age
Horrible Hosting Experience
If there was a negative one rating, that is what I would give. All of the accommodations except for Reef and Beach were filthy and smelled terrible. The lunches were packed around 7am every morning and left to sit in the sun on the passenger seat until lunch time. We stayed in Arusha for 3 nights. On the first night, the water kept cutting off . On the second, large ants spread all over the bathroom floor and on the third, there was no hot water in the tent. The agreed -upon payment method was changed last minute. We were initially told that we can pay upon arrival however, about 2 weeks before our departure we were told to pay nearly half the amount.
Each time we had a domestic flight we had to practically beg for the tickets to be sent. Even though when the payment method was changed the excuse was that they needed to book our flights in advance.
On our flight from Arusha to Zanzibar, they sent us one ticket and sent our guide another(different Airline). We were extremely confused. Poor poor management. There is no emergency contact number or personal. We arrived at about 5:30am . It was dark in Zanzibar and our pick up was a bit late . He arrived without a sign , a uniform or anything that indicated that he was from Paradise and Wilderness( not even a sticker on his bus). We quite reluctantly got into the bus and were taken to a hotel in Stone Town. We were told we would have to wait until check in time i.e.2pm. which was completely ridiculous because management had our flight details and knew we would be arriving earlier. I tried contacting them via WhatsApp. When they responded, all they had to say was "Kindly be informed that normally check in is 2pm, if you request early check in is subject to availability and we charge 15 USD per room" (copied from WhatsApp) . We were willing to pay that amount but there weren't any available rooms. We ended up having to wait for an extra 6 hours to get our room (which smelled like bowel). They later apologized and offered a complimentary massage but this was not nearly enough. By the time our Safari was over , we were fed up and we decided to leave early. Our original booking accounted for 3 nights in Reef and Beach but we only stayed for 1(we were not refunded). We arrived at Reef and Beach around 8pm and left at 7:30am which brought our trip to an end. HORRIBLE HOSTING EXPERIENCE
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stole our money- did not pay for anything
Do not book with this company. They robbed my family of 4 of our money and did not provide any services on our itinerary or signed (by both parties) contract. A trip we planned and paid for in February 2022 became a nightmare. Fortune asked for all money paid for in advance to pay deposits on rooms to hold them for us. He never paid any of the places: Moremi Crossing, Chobe Safari Lodge,Hwange Safari Lodge, or Pioneer Lodge. We had to pay for everything out of pocket. In our itinerary food, activities, and guide service was to be included but nothing was arranged or paid for. Once we arrived in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe where he lives and operates Forsche Travels, we went directly to the police and tourism authority. We also contacted the U.S. Embassy. We attended pre-trial with Fortune on charges of Theft of trust of personal property. He is currently awaiting sentencing. If you booked with this company, contact your credit card company ASAP. Be prepared to pay for everything out of pocket and document & save all receipts. I’m so sorry for anyone who has already booked with Fortune. I know the emotional roller coaster you are about to face!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beware- Fortune is a criminal
We booked with Fortune from Forche Travels in Zimbabwe back in February 2022. We paid him over $11,000 for an 11 night/12 day safari to Botswana and Zimbabwe. He sweet talked us up through the very end. When we arrived in Boswana, no one was there to greet us at the Maun airport because Fortune did not pay for our luxury camping excursion to the salt pans; therefore we were unable to go. Then we learned he did not pay Kwando Safaris. Upon arriving at our next destination that we had to pay out of pocket, Fortune showed up at Chobe Safari Lodge and told us our next location was cancelled due to all his mistakes and dishonesty so he “upgraded” us to the Elephant Eye in Hwange. At this time he was assuring us everything would be okay. Obviously a week in without Fortune paying for anything promised in our itinerary and contract, we then called to see if he indeed booked the Elephant Eye, which we learned that we had the booking but no payment. At that point we parted ways with Fortune and continued paying for everything out of pocket, documenting everything, including a recording of Fortune and names/numbers of all witnesses (general managers). It is disheartening and cruel that he took advantage of a family with young children. A police report was made and the tourist authority and the U.S. Embassy notified. Fortune was arrested on charges of Theft of trust of personal property. As I write this, he is due in criminal court for sentencing. We do not want anyone else to get robbed with their money or their once in a lifetime trip to Africa.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Worst company ever !
Worst company ever !
They stole our money pretenting they had issue due to covid.
First they asked for money and then they cancel the trip and never give back the money.
Be very careful.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Stole my money and refuses to refund what is rightfully mine
I planned a trip to the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic in March of 2022 with David at Natural World Safaris. Part of the trip involved a $20k safari with the Congo Conservation Company. Natural World Safaris collected the money for all sections of the trip, included this one. The CCC cancelled my trip a month before the safari was to take place and refunded the money to Nat World Safaris. At the same time Air France also cancelled my flights. Air France has since refunded my money to NWS. It has been 4 months and NWS refuses to refund my money. No one from the company will come to the phone and talk with me. The NWS phone operator tells me that the person I ask to talk to is "in a meeting and will return my call." No one ever returns my call, and I am told that the refund is being "processed." It is quite obvious that NWS intends to keep my money. These people are thieves. DO NOT PLAN A TRIP WITH NWS. They are dishonest and will swindle you. With all the flight and trip cancellations post-covid, NWS must be making a huge, illicit profit.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible Business Practices
The Safari was great and the guide was amazing! I received a charge 2 months after the Safari was over and it was not recognized as Natural World. After not responding to the dispute, Robert with Natural World Safari has now reported me to the authorities in Kenya as a criminal for not paying!! Even though they were the one's which didn't respond to the multiple requests from AMEX for 8 weeks!!! I have now reversed my dispute and allowed the payment, but I am still a criminal there!!
I would NOT recommend Natural World Kenya Safaris due to their business practices, not their guides!
CZ
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The reason we dont like Tanzania anymore
If you want to enjoy a holiday in Tanzania, then definitely avoid Sam's car rental.
Their services are terrible, you spend a lot of extra money and when something happens with the car,
you have to take care of yourself because they don't care.
We rented 4x4 for our trip planned for 1650 km and 19 days, but the car was in bad condition and broke down after 3 days.
I described our experience in more detail here: https://teamontheroad.blogspot.com/
