It Started in Africa
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- IATA, TATO & TALA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $550 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Tony Kaye | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Large deposit paid, no tour, no response
We have paid over $6000 to this tour company and they have defaulted. Worse still, they are still taking money from others to this day, as I made a separate inquiry with them over the weekend and they were still willing to quote me on a safari
Scammed
We got duped for 5k from this company. We paid in full and the company ran off with everyone's money. Someone removed the trip advisor comments of everyone beginning to try and figure out what happened. Endless lies and deceit.
NO
Email Stephen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Read all 1 star reviews. They are TRUE!! Do not book with ISIA!!! WARNiNG!
We paid extra for a pick up from the airport.
They didn'¨t show up. We had to find another a taxi driver in the middle of the night.
The next day we had to hunt ISIA down by phone with the help of the hotel manager.
The trip started 5 hours too late because of this.
We had paid USD70 for an extra event. We didn't get to do this event and still after 4 months we haven't been refunded. I waited this long before writing a review to give them a chance to make it good.
They answer emails sometimes and sometimes not. Lies and stalling. In the beginning they said that they had made the payment but that it will take a couple of weeks before we would see it on the account.
The guide wasn't too interested in talking about animals. He just wanted to drive to get to the next camp and start driving a bit late every day.
He had good contact with other drivers to find animals but that was about it.
In the end he and his boss tried to pressure us to pay USD20 per day in tips and said that this wasn't optional.
You don't need to pay for an expensive company like ISIA!
All companies drive around and talk to each other. Just be sure to get a driver who have been driving for at least 5 years or so. This because a rookie might wreck the car and you will lose time.
There is a million companies out there.
Check what areas you want to go to and what camps you want to live in. Then contact any company but NOT It Started in Africa!
You have been Warned!
Email Heather | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our deposit $4000US missing
We have planned a Safari for December2017 and received the same email as everyone else about someone running off with the money
We were told our trip is safe and is with another company.
When we contacted that company it is not so
So rang all hotels on our itinary some booked some not, none have received any payment
This is very disaapointing...Do not go with this company
We have tried to contact all Tanzanian tourist boards and even the Tourism Minister and are waiting replies
Thiefs
I have reviewed this co already but have been back and forth with them in regards to our stolen deposit the lastest email stating they are selling their assets to pay us back.... Now not hearing from them
We have now booked another safari....do not go near this co
US
Email Nata | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We got cheated!!! November 2017
We just now found out that they have not made any payments for all the bookings held in our name and as a result the bookings were cancelled and in some cases not booked at all. We welcome any suggestions on how to retrieve the money that we have already paid It Started in Africa. They are still conning us, pretending everything is fine and just awaits our travel.
NL
Email Amy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
I am due to go on safari in a few days and It started in Africa have stopped responding to requests
It started in Africa has gone bankrupt and has not communicated to us and we are booked to leave in a few days. I stupidly paid my deposit in cash transfer. Any tips on how to retrieve my money would be gratefully appreciated. They have disabled their facebook page!
Many thanks, Amy, Joey, Georgia (11) & Dylan (10)
US
Email Michael | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Stole our money
We were supposed to do a Safari in Tanzania for my birthday and our honeymoon with It Started In Africa. They disappeared the day before we got there. Never answered our emails and stole our money!
SE
Email Stephen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stay AWAY! Negative reviews Deleted!
ISIA contacted me after Safaribookings.com gave them my email address. This is not OK!
How can you trust the reviews on Safaribookings.com when you work like this?
A review website like this is to keep the customers safe. This is exactly the opposite.
Please know that when you read these reviews there probably is many who deleted their negative reviews hoping to get a refund from ISIA. In 6months... Sounds like a scam to be honest.
"Our request is if you and other clients accepts on our request to suspend the safaribookings reviews we can clear in installments your total refund in six months as we are getting many safari requests from the thousands of clients friends who are being recommended to us but the issue of the negative reviews is keeping them from booking with us, meaning if you can suspend your review and others as we are requesting from all those affected we can get business and pay all your refunds in the shortest time possible and we clear our name from the perspective the affected clients have on us."
"We are not only communicating with you alone but we have approached safaribookings for them to assist us in sorting out this issue once and for all as they know we were some of their best customers for the years we have used their services and they are the one who even sent us your email address and other clients and the review number you had posted and we are hoping for the best."
The rest of the emails is about how It Started In Africa is a victim and what ever...
This is YOUR fault! YOU have stolen money from a lot of people! People trusted YOU and YOUR company with their hard earned money or even life savings. It is your job to make sure they are safe!
Your customers are the Victims.
Not you!
I hope I can save someone.
US
Email Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Cheated out of $3300
They took our money but never returned our phone calls or emails, and never picked us up or tried to contact us while we were in Tanzania.
We heard rumors of financial insolvency and bankruptcy, but were never able to verify that. Nonetheless, we know we never got to go on our tour...
That said, we ended up finding a great company and having a great time, so at least that worked out.