DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
the tour operator is a liar!
I went with some friends to the Amboseli NP, which was great. But the thing we didn´t like, was the organization with Robert. We booked the tour already well in advance, specifically with the hotel in the park. The communication with Robert was already a little bit difficult from the beginning on - he did not answer fast and in detail, but I had to ask a lot in order to get information. On the way to the park, he called and said there was a conference in the hotel we booked, so no space available anymore and we had to go to another hotel outside the park. He did not offer any compensation or apologize. We told him, that this is not ok, since we had a different deal and that we are really disappointed about not being in the park. After a long discussion, he agreed to give us a disount of 20$ each. Of course we did not get our money. First he told us, that we would get it after we return in our hotel back in Nairobi. There he told us he could not come and he would send it to us via Paypal or to a bank account. That never happended and when asking and asking again, the only reply he is giving, is that he has a problem with Paypal, that he would send the money next week and so on and so on......but he is only lying all the time, he never wanted to give some money back. It is kind of sad, because we really liked the experince we made in the Ambosli NP and now we have kind of a bad memory on the organization company.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Terrible
I booked a two days safari, first day Tarangire, second Ngorongoro
First, one our late for the pick up than we had to wait until 10:15 for guests stuck in Arusha
We arrived at tarangire at 12h we only had a 2h safari on the first day.
Thought they would make up for it on the second day but no the worst was about to come.
Change of plans at last moment, lies, terrible guide, the boss not reachable and unreliable as well.
I thought it would be the best 2 days of my whole trip because it is quite expensive, ut it ended up to be the worst.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Scam
Felt like a scam.
We booked a 2 day safari for the amboseli park and were staying at the kibo lodge.
First of all the driver was about 45 min. late and totally exhausted, he even told us that he only slept one hour and nearly fell asleep at the wheel. When we wanted to enter the park, for some reason we had to wait another hour while the driver was on the phone while all other cars were getting through the check point within 5 minutes.
The second day, the driver let us wait again, having breakfast while we wanted to go for a game drive.
When we called bella safaris with our complaint, the sales woman told us that the driver had another safari the day before and that's why he was so tired and then simply hung up.
The only thing that didn't make this trip a total catastrophe was also the only thing not under control of bella safaris: the wildlife of the amboseli park.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disorganized and felt unsafe
I would warn against booking with this company. I felt unsafe on this trip, particularly once the safari moved from the portion in Kenya to the portion in Tanzania- to the extent that I ended my trip four days early I was frequently handed off between different guides and drivers without a secure way of confirming who was affiliated with the company and who wasn't, and was sometimes left without a guide or driver at all. At the Namanga border crossing I was left by my driver/guide and a local was paid to see me through the process and onto the shuttle to Arusha, Tanzania. I didn't have service in the area, and if anything had gone wrong had no way to contact anyone. I did not know who I would be meeting in Tanzania or have a way to reach them or know when they would be picking me up. Once I was in Tanzania, my itinerary was changed so that I could be shuffled to join other drivers and tour groups. While I was still slated to visit the same places in the end, changing the order meant that my family and friends at home would not know where I was on a given day, which made me uncomfortable as a young, solo female traveler. Because I was being passed between groups, I also didn't know who my driver would be, where I would be going on a given day, or who might contact me with this information and when. When I contacted the company with concerns they didn't see these issues as valid.
Part of the reason I booked this specific tour was because it is advertised as vegan-friendly. Despite letting the company know in advance that I was vegan I was frequently unable to eat anything besides fruit and juice, and had to re-explain what my diet was over and over again. Two days into the trip I contacted the company about this and never received a response. I think it's dishonest to advertise this tour as vegan-friendly.
The guides and drivers were all friendly and honestly trying to help solve my problems, admitting that the way things were being handled was far from ideal, and I saw many beautiful animals, but I don't feel like this was enough to overcome the company's mismanagement.
Other travelers I was with were in similar situations, with their itineraries being changed last minute and sometimes prices being increased beyond expected while they were already on the tour, or having their lodgings changed to cheaper options after they had already paid.
*I found this tour through TourRadar, and though they asked for my review the review I submitted never appeared on the site.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
TWO YEARS WAITING FOR OUR MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our history is summed up in that they do not give us back 2000 dollars. Our experience is being HORRIBLE.
We booked the safari in 2020 and they told us to pay all the amount, we did it (we shouldnt have done it, but now its too late). We couldnt go because of the Covid, so we ask for our money.
I have written them lots and lots of emails and whatsapps in this TWO YEARS and their answer is always the same: soon we will pay you the money. AND IT NEVER HAPPENS.
They give us excuses all the time, like: I've lost my cell phone, I've been away, we have few reservations... It's absolutely exasperating. We have been waiting for 2 years for the refund. We did not even demand 100% of the money, because they told us that 40% is used to reserve, so they would return 60% to us.
If you can, book the safari with another company, because this company is anything but serious.
US
Horrible - thieves and scammers - stay away at all costs
Charles was the highlight of the trip itinerary was not followed, hotels were canceled at the last minute and rebooked with lower quality, balloon trip was canceled at the last minute for no reason which I actually rebooked at 10 o’clock at night as it was a surprise for the family on my own and paid for it even though it had been pre paid
We were scammed with our covid test, they were supposed to come to Our hotel in Tanzania and do the test, we paid an extra thousand dollars for this And they never showed up and told us they were going to take the Antigen test it was taken three days prior at the border coming into Tanzania and turn it into a PCR test which is medically impossible
I don’t know who they paid off at the border to get us through but I know it was illegal. They took our passports, made us wait at a restaurant for 3 hours and then came back with the passports stamped and ready to go across
I have it in writing in a credit memo that they were supposed to come and give me cash ($2900)the night we left but never showed It’s been four months since we left and back-and-forth they were supposed to send me a wire transfer but it never came and now they are ghosting me.
Avoid them at all costs. Any positive reviews must be written by them or their friends
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Terrible! Fraudsters. Do not book!
I paid $5k for a safari to the Serengeti. They gave my money to a fake safari guide. He did take us but he was terrible. I've been on lots of safaris before so I know the quality of service that is normally provided. He knew nothing about the animals. He tried to take us away from an amazing hotel we booked and put us somewhere cheaper next door. He was angry when checking in and the hotel manager told us he was aggressive towards him. African Sunset travel pretended they cared but they didn't. They offered zero compensation. They are a fraudulent company do not book!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The most corrupt, dirty city littered with beggars
Dar-Es-Salaam is the most corrupt, dirty city. Littered by beggars constantly asking for money. From the time you land in Dar-es-Salaam until you leave they will extract as much money from you as a foreigner and create unnecessary problems for you even if you do not have one just to extract money from you. During my recent experience I was returning back to England and I was asked for USD 100 just so I can take some species I bought. The country has no laws or regulations. Everyone makes their own laws as they go along to create problems to tourists and extract as much money as possible. A destination to avoid at all costs.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
DO NOT USE THEM! NO JOKE!
If I could give a lower review - I would.
It started with lots of promises, it followed with asking for more money after we paid the whole price and already started the trip (he surprisedus by meeting us on the way to the Safari and wasted a whole day planned ahead), it continued with my fiance that needed to fix the jeep in the middle of Serengeti because Alphonce, the owner of the company sent us with a broken jeep. Can't imagine what would happen if we didn't notice the problem. This agency is dangerous! Not joking. Do not use them.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Do not use. They will scam you.
They charged us for a private car to Moshi from Nairobi. The car broke down 1 hour into the journey then we had to get a bus the rest of the way. A 6 hour journey took us 10 hours. They refused to give any money back. We negotiated they take us back to Nairobi in a private car for £65 extra which was agreed. The driver turned up late in a safari jeep which is meant for off roading and not to travel a long journey. This was ridiculous for a 7 hour journey. They then agreed to swap for the original car (that the GM had decided to use herself instead of giving it to us despite us paying for it) that was agreed and the GM herself turned up an hour late again and had no excuse and refused to offer any explanation. Literally when asked she said "I have no explanation and don't want to talk about it". Because we were so delayed, our journey ran into the evening when it was dark and we then pulled over by the police who extorted another $60 of us. During this time, the driver left us alone in the car and I am so sure he was involved in the extortion as when we were originally pulled over he said something to them and then left us alone and only got back in the car after we handed the money over. Do not use this company. They are involved in scamming. They take your money and do not deliver. Don't ruin your holiday. Absolutely awful. I will be telling local hotels not to use them too in order to save guests being ripped off and lied to. We wasted 2 whole days of our trip because of their incompetence. The drivers name was Goodenough and the lady who is the GM and an absolute joke when it comes to looking after customer safety and service, her name is Beatrice Dimitris Dallaris, General Manager of Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge and Classic Tours and Safaris and Ngurdoto Shuttle Services. STAY AWAY FROM THEM.