RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
the driver was the boss
the driver was changing the program as he wanted, accommodating us in cheapest hotels. it was the worst experience travelling
CA
Experience level: first safari
Pandemic profiteers
I booked a tour prior to the pandemic and even though I cancelled almost a year in advance (November 2021), I was refused ANY refund of an almost $3,000 deposit even though every though it cost absolutely $0 to cancel any hotel reservation made on my behalf. Immoral and unethical!
OM
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disingenuous, refuse to communicate
When an international flight ban cancelled flights into the area, I cancelled my booking for a 3 night safari in Mikumi National park. I paid in advance - 700USD. Due to this being a situation out of our control, the company agreed to refund the costs less the bank fees which I agreed to. Its been over a month and now there is no communication to give any update despite committing to refund the cash due.
Disappointed and angry to say the least, hotels, airlines etc refunded in days....but not these guys - would advise anyone never to pay anything upfront to this company.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Problems with the refund.
We cancelled our trekking in May (2020), before the free cancellation deadline, but they are not keeping their word. We know they are hard times for everybody, but we have been patient enough. 6 moths later, they have not made the refund and they only make excuses.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip canceled cause of covid then their company email would just bounce back
I have tried 3 different emails
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Every single time it bounces back telling me the email isn’t valid.
Very disappointed. Not only didn’t get to go on my safari but essentially got robbed as everything was pre paid.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lack of Integrity and Unethical Business
We were supposed to travel to South Africa in the summer of 2020 with Kanyezi Africa Safari. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, our trip was canceled. We contacted Chris and Michael Kanyezi to get a refund. Kanyezi said that they had given our total payment (approximately $24,000) to subcontractors that book flights, lodge reservations, safaris, etc. and could not get the money back. Side note, we also had a cruise, VRBO, and concerts planned in 2020, all of which were reimbursed to us with no problem. Airline flights hadn't been booked when they canceled, and they wouldn't even reimburse us for the flight. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when Kanyezi starts sending emails to rebook. Kanyezi said we had 2 weeks to rebook without being charged an increase of $2600 per person. Payments needed to be wired by December 29, 2020. Note: all payments had to be wired. I spoke with the owners and agreed to pay approximately $3900 per person to rebook. This money was to cover the flights from small airlines within Africa that went bankrupt. When a new contract was emailed to me, they had us paying $4628 per person PLUS $980 per person to cover taxes and fees. At this point, I was not willing to dump another $11,216 into this trip. That is what I would have to pay on top of the $23,990 I already paid, and I still had to buy insurance?!? I find it unethical and a lack of integrity to not reimburse us anything. I'm very disappointed with this company. A trip of a lifetime has turned into a $23,990 LOSS. I've saved for years for this trip. It's just incomprehensible.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unable to fulfill their obligation
Very sad to say that due to the pandemic we had to cancel our safari to Kenya with Travel for Change Africa. Because we cancelled so far in advance we should have received a full refund. To date we have received nothing and they no longer return calls or emails. Initially they asked if we would accept payments which we agreed to but not a dime has been sent our way. Clearly our money was not escrowed for our safari but instead used to fund other projects. Don't send them funds for a safari.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
SCAM- avoid at all costs!!
Rama the owner is a very smooth communicator, and it’s easy to be very impressed with his handling of your booking and answering your questions, etc. But despite trusting him a lot, he completely scammed us.
First, take a look at the reviews he has on TripAdvisor, Google, and SafariBookings. Pretty impressive review scores. But take a closer look at the reviews themselves. Do many of them appear fake? Are they written mostly by reviewers with only one review, written by other local safari operators and/or have poor grammar? Are some of them written by “Rama Mo” himself pretending to be a customer?
Our first clue that something was amiss was when we tried to find the office that Rama claims to have. He told us specially what building his office was in (it’s also marked on Google maps in this prestigious location). The office does not exist.
Once we realized this, we asked to see the car that was “being repaired” as part of his story. This was the night before we were to leave on our trip. During the trip to see the car (which was honestly bring repaired as described, but based on its condition did not appear ready for departure the next day) we talked casually to him about our trip and how excited we were (that it was our honeymoon).
One hour after he returned us to our hotel, he sent a group WhatsApp text including an unknown person saying that his “business partner” (really just one of his drivers posing as his “partner”) was unsatisfied with the price Rama has agreed to and that the trip (which was to start the next day) would be 3x more expensive!! When I protested that we had agreed to a price weeks ago (Rama had gone so far as to specify what kind of USD bills to bring and I had sent him a picture of the bills laid out on a table), they refused to even acknowledge the deal they had agreed to. It was clear that they decided to take advantage of the information we had given them — that we were on our honeymoon- to try to extort us for 3x the price. How messed up is that?! The trip is now ruined and Rama has been increasingly dishonest in trying to justify this 3x price increase (we’re talking about thousands of dollars). It’s actually been quite embarrassing as Rama has repeatedly made new claims and I just keep responding with a screenshot of previous messages he sent contradicting his new lies. Avoid at all costs!!!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This travel agent has not gotten back to me since April when our vacation was put on hold i have bee
No communications they took our money and left us high and dry
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Scam.
Would not answer phones when we called. Only would talk with drivers...in Swahili...our itinerary was not followed and 5 days left with ZERO experiences. The positive reviews are bogus, for sure.