20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Sold an incorrect itinerary
My recent experience with Gemfinders, specifically with Brian, left me pretty disappointed and frustrated. I had been eagerly looking forward to my safari trip to the Serengeti, which I had carefully planned with Gemfinders. They had advertised a budget lodge accommodation in the itinerary, but as soon as I started the journey, it was clear that something was off. Instead of budget lodges, I found myself camping, which was definitely not what I had signed up for. It not only messed up my expectations but also made the logistics a bit of a headache.
What really irked me was that I had double-checked with Brian before the trip about the accommodation, and he had confidently reassured me that it would indeed be budget lodges. To have that promise fall flat was disappointing and left me feeling like I had been misled.
To add to the confusion, I later found out that Gemfinders had outsourced the safari to another company in Tanzania. This explained the disconnect between the original itinerary and what actually happened during the trip. It also raised some questions about how much Gemfinders was actually involved in planning and executing the trip.
Another bone of contention was Gemfinders' payment policy. Unlike many other safari operators who allow you to pay a deposit and settle the rest on-site when the safari begins, Gemfinders required full payment upfront. This put extra pressure on travelers, especially when the services didn't match what was promised.
What frustrated me the most, though, was Gemfinders' response when I raised these issues. Even though it was crystal clear that they had misrepresented the itinerary I paid for, Brian refused to offer sufficient compensation. He simply said I had already completed the safari, as if that somehow justified the misleading information.
I tried going back and forth with Brian, hoping for some sort of resolution, but it felt like hitting a brick wall. And when I asked for more information about Gemfinders' business (i.e. the business license number), Brian was quite uncooperative and didn't provide the details I requested.
Overall, my experience with Gemfinders and Brian left me unsatisfied and disappointed. Their misrepresentation, inflexible payment policy, and lack of accountability for their mistakes make me hesitant to recommend them to other travelers. The lack of transparency and professionalism in dealing with these issues, along with the outsourcing to another company without proper oversight, raises concerns about Gemfinders' commitment to customer satisfaction and ethical business practices. If you're thinking of booking a trip with them, be cautious and consider these shortcomings carefully.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible honeymoon safari with Wilson and Soul of Tanzania!
We went on a 5 days safari with Wilson to Taranagire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro as part of our honeymoon. We had such an unforgettable time and can't recommend Soul of Tanzania enough! Right from the start, Sandy communicated with us regularly and promptly and we felt secure in the package we were paying for. They even sorted airport transfers from Kilimanjaro and to Arusha airport for our onward flight to Zanzibar.
Wilson was a true gentleman and was a great safari guide and driver. He was so knowledgeable with everything about the trip and we felt incredibly safe with his driving too. He showed he has a lot of experience and knew where to drive/look for animals as well as being respectful on the road, he really did make our trip special. We saw lions hunting zebra, cheetahs feeding as well as the black African rhino!
Thank you to all at the company, we loved our trip to Tanzania! The people were so welcoming and friendly and we can't wait to come back!
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great service
Herman is a very friendly and helpfull company leader. Very flexible and eager to fix everybodies requests.
The game driver was excellent with an expert driver and guide.
Always prompt response to whatsapp messages !
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience
The Safari was planned well, covering 3 diverse parks across Kenya. Daniel accommodated all our requests and went out of his way to provide the best experience possible. His vast knowledge of the wildlife made the safari more fun and engaging
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely amazing experience
My boyfriend and I did the 4 Days Volcano Golden Monkey and Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour, which also included Chimpansee trekking, two boat rides and a game drive. The communication with Fred was great, he always responded quickly and helped us with making the deposit.
The tour was very well organized, we chose the budget option but the accommodations were amazing, with each having a great view, great food, nice and clean rooms and very kind people. On the tour, we were able to see all the animals we hoped to see and more. In addition, the drives took us through the beautiful landscapes of Rwanda and Uganda.
Our guide for the tour, Farouk, was absolutely great. He taught us a lot about Uganda and the Ugandan way of living and went out of his way to make the trip unforgettable.
All in all it was an experience to never forget!
RO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great 4 days safari experience
The whole trip has fulfilled my expectations. The communication with the agency went very smoothly, through Jackson on email and whatsapp, he came to our hotel before we left for safari and after we came back to explain everything ( about the schedule and the camps, about our guide and the cook, and other useful info) and to make sure everything was fine. They were very flexible and also arranged for our transport to the airport.
The safari itself was great; we have seen a lot of animals—all the big five—only the rino was quite far away, but enough for me. I expected it to be a bit boring and dull all the time in the car, but the 4 days were entertaining enough and perfect for my taste. Our guide/driver, Freddie, was very nice; he is a great driver, knows a lot about the animals, and is a very friendly and fun person to have around. Each evening after dinner, we would have some nice talks, and he would explain the plan for the next day. Talking about the dinner, the food was AMAZING( home-made bread made there in the camps, pizza, and pasta, just to name a few). Our cook, Simba, and his crew prepared some nice dishes for us, and before each dinner, he came and presented us the menu, that was really nice and added a personal touch. We had breakfast and dinner in the camps, and for lunch, they were walking up early and preparing it for takeout to eat somewhere along the way. The camps where we slept in tents (2 nights) were already set up by the time we got there. To sum it up, I really recommend this safari from Toppy Tours, especially with Simba and Freddie if you are lucky.
CO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything was excellent, as Richard and Madelyne explained to me before traveling. everything was
They looked after us very well at all times, the guides were always attentive so that you could enjoy the safaris, waiting patiently. The food was delicious and the accommodation was very comfortable. Madelyne and Richard are very attentive all the time.
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A lovely experience
Safari Reinhardt was an amazing experience, starting with Rafiki Lodge which is a beautiful and comfortable place, everything from AC, indoor / outdoor shower and a perfect bed you will find there. The food was also one of the top things of Reinhardt, everything was really good and the dinner was specially perfect. All staff was pleasant and worked effortless to make our time in Hoedspruit perfect.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Direct and gets the work done!
It was everyone’s first time visiting Africa, and I was overwhelmed by the planning. I knew we needed a tour company to ensure safety and ease. I contacted several companies and the one that stood out was Africa Safari Beasts. Simon was very quick to respond. He was flexible and worked on making our private tour as perfect as can be. He helped lessen the anxiety and stress of planning a trip to an unknown country. All the rest was just good times!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Couldn't ask for more
Everyone at Eco-Africa was absolutely amazing. Freddy made the booking process easy and pain free and Onesmo was the best guide anyone could have. The level of care taken by the entire team was top notch. I was the solo climber on this trip and instead of the team treating me like a client, they treated me as family. I am truly honored to have been able to share this journey with them.