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 Cath | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Disappointing ! Even more after It Started in Africa offered to pay me to remove my reviews.
My husband and I selected It Started in Africa as our tour organizer for a 6 day Mount Kilimanjaro hike mainly because of their outstanding reviews and classification on Safaribookings and TripAdvisor. We also chose them because they were very reactive and had a nice website. But our main selection criteria was their ranking on Safaribookings (number 1) and on Trip Advisor (number 10).
The hike itself was satisfying: the guides, cooks and porters were friendly and helpful, BUT our overall experience turned out not to be as good as expected, and there were a lot of “small” details that added together gave us the overall unpleasant feeling that we had somehow been “cheated” by It Started in Africa.
The main issues were:
1. No one was there to meet us when we arrived at Kilimanjaro airport. Sylvia, our tour manager, arrived approximately one hour after our flight had landed and explained that she thought we were arriving on the KLM flight and that she had not been made aware that we were on the Kenya Airways flight. My husband had send Joao all of our flight details, which he had acknowledged receipt of. And even if what Sylvia was telling us was true, she was still 30 minutes late for the KLM flight.
2. The hotel in Arusha (Raha Leo) which was sold to us as part of the package, and included in our contract, was changed at the last minute without us being informed or forewarned. When I checked the rating on Trip Advisor, I realized that the hotel that It Started in Africa put us in (The Torch) had a much lower rating than the hotel that had been sold to us. When reading other traveler reviews posted after our trip (and since then disappeared from Trip Advisor), I realized that we were not the only customers surprised in this way…..
3. As part of the contract, It Started in Africa was supposed to supply us with duvet liners and pillows – we never saw them. The mess tent was tiny and could barely hold our party of 7.
4. My husband was victim of food poisoning and he was so sick that he had to turn back and be evacuated from the mountain. The doctor that we saw when we returned to Joburg confirmed that his disease had nothing to do with altitude sickness but was solely due to food poisoning (most likely the chicken we were served during 3 consecutive days by the It Started in Africa cook). The evacuation until the park gate was organized diligently and professionally by Tanzanian Parks. But once at the gate, the car that It Started in Africa car had sent from Arusha was not there. It was actually our piece of luck, because the It Started in Africa representative in Moshi came to pick us up in order not to keep us waiting and he agreed with us that my husband was in no condition to withstand the 3 hour drive to Arusha. The guides and I had told Sylvia, our tour manager, a number of times over the phone that it made no sense to drive back to Arusha that day, and had requested to stop in Moshi for the night, but she had refused to listen, saying that “she had already booked a room at The Torch in Arusha”. The hotel in Moshi was much nicer than the Torch and we were able to get a good night’s rest.
5. From the beginning of the trip, until the very last day, we were under constant pressure from the chief guides (and from the tour manager on the first day), to leave generous tips to the guides and porters. This gave us the unpleasant feeling that the porters, guides, cooks, etc are so poorly paid by It Started in Africa, that they rely on customers’ tips to keep their staff happy. The documents sent to us before the trip gave clear guidelines about the tipping amounts to be given out and we all know how to read – so why be so insistent during the entire trip? It really made us feel as if we were a bunch of dishonest people who would walk away from our responsibilities, and impacted our relationship with the guides and porters.
6. The number of porters/guides/cooks, etc accompanying us during the trip was never clearly stated to us before the trip. We found out on the first day of the hike that 31 people would be accompanying our group of 7 people. I’m not against employing a large number of people, but I believe that It Started in Africa should have been transparent about this before we signed the contract – as this has an impact on the total amount of the trip (tips are substantial).
7. When we were done with the trip, we were put under a lot of pressure by Sylvia, our tour manager to write good reviews on the spot for them, with them looking over our shoulders. I refused to do it and said I would do it later, as I don’t like being pressured in such a way.
8. Our last night in Arusha was part of the package, and had been paid for and booked through It Started in Africa. When Sylvia told us we would be staying at the Torch again, we refused. Not the rat hole again! Especially considering how weak my husband was. She then suggested Kia Lodge by the airport and warned us that it would be more expensive. We were prepared to pay whatever additional cost there was to pay, as long as the hotel was decent, with water and air conditioning in the rooms. And we also asked if it would be possible for the three guys in our party who were flying out later that day to use our rooms to take a shower. Sylvia promised it all, dropped us off at the hotel reception, and then vanished (very quietly for once). Once she was gone, the hotel manager told us that it would not be possible for our 3 friends to shower (but they were welcome to drink at the bar and eat at the restaurant), and we found that there was no water pressure in our room, making it impossible to shower. And at bedtime, when we turned the air-con on, we found out that it did not work either….. The next morning, there was literally no water at all in the shower! 183 USD for a room with no water and no air-con (supposedly the It Started In Africa special rate, but when I double checked on Trip Advisor, I found the rooms to be sold at 177 USD)….quite pricy, don’t you think?
But here comes the worst part!
When we returned home, I posted a review on Trip Advisor and rated It Started in Africa as "average", considering the problems that we had and the un-kept promises. The next day, Joao, the Happiness Manager, sent me an email with explanations about what happened and offered to pay me 700 USD if I removed my post or upgraded it to Very Good. When I refused, he offered me 1000 USD. After he had my review forcibly removed from Trip Advisor, I posted another review explaining how he tried to bribe me, and I received a 3rd email offering me 2500 USD if I removed my second review. I also noticed that the other average reviews which had been posted on Trip Advisor at around the same time as mine had disappeared. I managed to contact another reviewer who confirmed that he was offered money to remove or upgrade his review.
I then realized why It Started in Africa only had very good and excellent reviews on the internet. It seems that they bribe unhappy customers to remove or change their reviews if they are not 4 or 5 stars. And I cannot help but wonder....how many people were paid in the past? And how many people, like me, selected It Started In Africa mainly because of their track record of excellent and very good reviews and were hugely disappointed? How much money is Joao going to offer me this time, to remove my review from Safaribookings.com? I systematically read travelers' internet reviews before I choose a hotel or a tour organizer. I also believe that it is of utmost importance that travelers who post reviews on these websites do it honestly, as others rely on them to make decisions and chose their tour operator, hotels, restaurants, etc. I could have accepted Joao’s 1000 USD and left it at that, letting other travelers believe that It Started in Africa provides top class service and that they are the best. Maybe they are great for a large number of travelers. But not for me, and I believe that it is unfair to other travelers to keep quiet about what is going on. It Started in Africa’s business practices are unfair and detrimental to all of the tourism industry professionals who work hard and with integrity to please their customers. It Started in Africa need to understand that you cannot hide your flaws forever by bribing customers, and that there are still some people out there who cannot be bought, no matter how much money you offer them. It Started in Africa's cheating attempts turned out to be the most disturbing part of this trip for me. Knowing after hand that others before me may have had a disappointing experience with It Started in Africa, but were paid to remove their reviews, gives me the very unpleasant impression that we were cheated voluntarily by It Started in Africa from the very start.
For this very reason, I would definitely not recommend this Tour operator!
Email Sophia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The good, the bad and the very ugly parts of It Started In Africa
I experienced a the good, the bad and the ugly parts of this company, It Started in Africa.
I was a solo female traveller and safety was a priority. I knew I could have paid less with other companies, but the BBC Travel logo really did stand out to me. A company with BBC Travel as a partner would surely have set standards and uphold a duty of care to it's travellers.
Let me start off with the good. I was partnered with Martin who was an experienced safari guide and he was such a kind and caring guide. We chatted and he would educate me on all aspects of the country, the landscape, the trees/plants and all the details of the animals. He also helped me learn all the names of the animals in Swahili and I was very grateful to have him as a guide.
The company who mans the emails responded promptly to emails and the trip was arranged and paid for within a week of my initial email query.
The BAD:
The night before departure from home to Tanzania, I received an email to inform me of a mis-booking at Ngorongoro Crater. My option was to go to another campsite (not their first line recommended) or upgrade to their recommended. It was quite stressful to think that I had to pay another further amount and my tour hadn’t even started. I paid it but really thought the company should have covered the full cost as it was booked 1 month in advanced and the night before flying out I had to respond and ensure it was booked. The company advised that it was the accomodation’s fault, but really, it should have been picked up on confirmation not reconcilliation, days prior to my tour.
My other bad part was on my 2nd last day in Arusha where I was no longer on safari with Martin and planned and paid $125USD for a coffee plantation tour. The company sent me off with a Driver and a guide named James. James kept questioning why I want to go on the coffee plantation tour and tried to persuade me to go to a Tanzanite tour (it was obvious he wanted to commission for tanzanite purchase). He was quite persistent & I had to be firm and say it was a coffee tour he was to take me to. He kept pushing me so I agreed with enough time after the coffee plantation tour I would go.
Instead of taking me to the half day plantation tour (included lunch at the plantation) that was 1+ hr away from Arusha (Moshi - tripadvisor has it rated well) he tried to do a dodgy self tour by the side of a road of a coffee farm. Understanding the tour (from other people I met along the way) and that a 30minute drive in traffic was not Moshi, I spoke up. James then proceeded to say I had to pay for that tour. I told him I have! They then drove me to this town at the foots of Mt Meru to a plantation, stopping and asking for directions along the road (this was not the one I was to visit) and I was asked to pay $51USD. After saying (again) I had paid, and knowing this is not the right place, I thought I was stuck in the middle of nowhere, feeling a unsafe and on my own with 2 men the company sent me off with who clearly have not taken me to the correct place, I will be quiet and go along with it. But after it clearly was not what I paid for, I asked to speak to Mathias (Manager of Arusha office). James kept ignoring my many pleas. After another 15 minutes, I got really mad and demanded it and refused to walk any further and pretty much had to raise my voice and have a meltdown-like tantrum until he eventually did. I spoke to Mathias and said I was not taken where I was suppose to be, it was 3pm, I have lost a day and would like to return to the office for a refund then back to my hotel. I told him I do not feel safe here - during this tour, a group of school children followed behind me stealing my water bottle which I happily said was fine, but they went to unzip my backpack and grabbed my hand and asked me for my watch as well. My guide James was walking 5-10m ahead intently listening and learning from the other tour guide. James continued to avoid taking me back to the office for a refund and insisted I continue the tour. I was stuck and just agreed to get it over and go back to the safety of my hotel. During the tour, James took photos of me on his phone. I was not happy about the whole unsafe situation I was in. I was walking with 2 men into farming land away from other people on a tour I did not feel was real. Luckily, the tour finished off, and they asked me to tip the guide. I refused as it was not the tour I paid for. On the drive back, James thought it was amusing to take more photos of me in the car - I was furious! I asked him to delete all photos of me and he tried to just delete 1. I was stern and said all. Whether he did or not, I do not know.
Eventually they returned me to my hotel (refused to take me to the office for a refund) & told me Mathias the manager, would meet me at the hotel. Mathias avoided me. My hotel manager overheard my terrible experience that evening (3 hours after my return) and contacted the company to ensure someone came down to chat to me. Without the hotel manager's persistence, I doubt anyone would have met me to apologise. A large, unfriendly, and unkept man arrived to the hotel and after explaining the events, he did not offer an apology. In fact I felt he was sent to intimidate me into submission. I stood my ground and he eventually got on the phone and let me speak to Bernard the Tanzania Manager for It Started In Africa. I had to explain the days events again, and I was quite fed up at this point so I told him that he needed to do the right thing and refund the money. I said I know he can refuse, but if his company was truly apologetic in sending me off with 2 men who cheated me of a tour I paid for, he would organise a refund. Eventually, Bernard assured me that they would refund me and that the following day Mathias would have the money in cash for me at the hotel for my airport transfer.
The ugly...
the following day, they made my guide Martin return to Arusha (from his home town 1 hr south of Arusha) to smooth it over. When I still wanted my refund they handed me 1/3 of the value. Another man was there also (to intimidate me?). They arrived 20mins late for my airport transfer and had to remind them the amount owed. Martin wrote it down and got on the phone to Mathias. After a drive to the office, Mathias finally met me. He handed another 1/3 of the value. I was still short! He made excuses that he wasn't told the amount. I knew my guide Martin called him up and said in Swahili the exact number (i learnt the swahili numbers). I confronted Mathias who did not expect me to know the Swahili numbers. Mathias returned with the rest of the money and then made an excuse that the person who organised the refund did it wrong - Mathias is the office manager! Who else would organise it? Another terrible lie!! 1 hour behind schedule we headed to the airport. Along the way, the other man in the car spoke in Swahili to Martin and laughed about me - I referred to the the guide and driver that day as cowboys, and this man repeated it and laughed. I did not find this professional sitting next to him while he made fun of me and gave me intimidating stares. My guide Martin did not respond, being the professional he was and knowing that I understand a few words of Swahili.
Later, I found my itinerary with the full amount breakdown and circled the value to be refunded in the car! They knew the amount to be refunded and hoped to get away with less. It was very upsetting that I had to deal with 5 different men who attempted to intimidate me and waste time to avoid a refund!
I was left in tears from the emotional experience.
It was truly a corrupt Arusha Office!
I arrived at the airport late and just made my flight - my luggage was not able to make the flight.
On return I wrote an email to the Europe base and they were not even informed of this incident and mishandling afterwards. Joao in customer relations did well in responding with an apology & a promise of a full investigation. I asked to see the report and was told this can take long to prepare. I really hope they investigate and learn from this incident and mishandling but I am not to know if they will actually follow this up. I acknowledge that a full refund was given for the extra night accomodation and day tour that I was cheated out of, and they refunded the extra amount I had to pay for the last minute change in accomodation.
Tanzania was a beautiful country and I would definitely love to return. But would I chose to go on tour with It Started In Africa? Definitely not!
I have written this review so that anyone who does go on tour with It Started In Africa - be careful!! Make sure you are aware of what you paid for and if you are cheated of any experience or tours you paid for, you get the refund!
If you are thinking twice about this company - do some further research! While on tour I came across the most popular Leopard tours, trek2kili, Abercrombie & kent etc
But if you chose to try It Started In Africa - do your research & be self aware!!
ES
Email Carlos | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari, terrible management
Our safari with "It Started in Africa" could not have started in a worst way... We had booked a 5-day safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro (plus 2 nights in Arusha, one before the safari, and one after it). When we arrived at Tanzania we had to pay the remaining 60% of the safari. A driver took us from the airport to our hotel in the outskirts of Arusha and told us that a representative of the company would visit us at the hotel for giving us a briefing and for telling us at what time would the guide pick us the next morning.
At dinner time no one had appeared, so we sent an email to the company using the WiFi of the hotel. They apologized and told us that there was a problem with the person that had to visit us, but that the next morning at 8 a.m. the guide and a representative of the campany would appear at the hotel so we could pay the remaining amount directly to him/her and start our safari right at that moment.
The next morning only the guide appeared. No apology and no explanation given. He took us to the office in the center of Arusha and we payed the remaining amount. While we were at the office, I saw by chance that the accommodation that we had chosen for the Serengeti was not the same that was written on the paper that was given to our guide. We had chosen Serengeti Heritage Migration Camp (not the Serengeti Heritage Seronera Camp), but they had changed it for Ndutu Savannah Camp. When we asked why, the office employee just told us that "it was better". As Ndutu Savannah Camp was not even an option for accommodation when we booked the safari, we had no idea if this was true, so we had to accept it and continue the trip.
Based on our stay and the internet reviews, now I can say that Ndutu Savannah Camp was of similar category that the one we had chosen, and that the location was probably better. But we spent the whole first day thinking that we were being scammed, because no one had tolds us that our accommodation had been changed, and we only learned it by chance.
Our guide (Elia) was good but maybe not great. He is a polite and nice person, a careful driver and a very experienced guide. He always found the perfect spots for wildlife watching and he was probably more experienced than most of the other guides. Also, one day, while we were returning to our accommodation, he saw some lions and we stopped to watch them. After some waiting, we watched a hunting scene while he patiently waited. Finally, we arrived at our accommodation almost 2 hours later than the agreed time, and he never complained.
On the negative side, he is not the most talkative person. When he sees an animal, he usually just points at it and says one or two phrases. If you want to know some details, you always has to ask. Not a big deal for us, but may be for others. Also, on the Ngorongoro day, when we asked him about the lunch inside the crater (as was clearly written in the contract). He said that it was not possible because of the 6-hour permit (we have passed the entrance gate at 7:15 a.m. approximately, so we had to leave before 1:15 p.m.). We asked him to have our lunch in the viewpoint outside the crater instead, but he said that it was not possible either, because we had to leave earlier. After finishing watching the wildlife of the crater, we passed the exit gates at 11:50 a.m., with more than hour left before the permit expired, and we had lunch on our way back to Arusha. Again, not a big deal, but then, why does the company write it in the contract if there is no easy way for the guide to comply with it?
Before returning to the hotel in Arusha, we were taken to the office to fill a customer survey about the guide and the jeep, while the guide and one office employee looked over our shoulders. Not the most comfortable moment of our safari. Also, as we were in the office, we asked at what time would the driver pick us the next morning to take us to the airport. No one knew that we had already booked the transfer, even as it was written in the contract, so they arranged the transfer at that moment.
While we were accommodated at Ngorongoro, a manager (Silvia) called me by phone to tell us that he wanted to meet us in Arusha. We thought that maybe she wanted to explain to us the problems previously described. After arriving at the hotel in Arusha, our guide told us that she would visit us at the hotel. Again, at dinner time no one had appeared, so we sent an email to the company. They apologized again but no explanation was given. We left Tanzania the next morning but she did not appear.
HK
Email Karim | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incompetent and deceitful staff ruined our honeymoon
We decided to book our 9-day luxury safari with It Started in Africa (ISIA) after several emails back and forth. Although the price ($10,100 USD for two people) was more expensive than other companies we had spoken to, we booked with ISIA, as we were impressed by the responsiveness of sales staff. We did have some concerns about the quality of their vehicles (after reading some reviews on TripAdvisor), but Joao Oliveira (who we later found out is the co-owner), Luis, Iris and Joanna assured us that we would be provided with one of their newer vehicles and a great guide. We were really looking forward to the trip of a lifetime however it turned out be a nightmare.
When we arrived in Kilimanjaro airport, there was no one to pick us up so we had to make several international calls to find out what had happened. They told us that the driver had broken down on route (this turned out to be a lie) and that they were sending a replacement car to pick us up. We waited for 30 minutes outside the airport until the driver finally arrived to pick us up but as soon as we were on the road to Arusha, the police stopped the car for speeding. We then had to wait outside the police station inside the car in blazing temperatures and call ISIA internationally for them to send another driver to pick us up.
We finally arrived at our hotel and I sent an email to Joao to tell him what had happened. He replied that there had been a mix-up with our dates and that the office manager, Bernard Kang’oma would meet us in person to apologise and confirm our itinerary before we left for our Safari. We met with someone the next day who spent 30 minutes claiming to be Bernard Kang’oma despite the fact that I had seen his picture on the company website and knew he was not. When I asked him why he had lied to us, he told us that Bernard Kang’oma had asked him to impersonate him. We wrote to Joao again expressing how unhappy we were with the level of service. He replied that we could cancel the trip but would have to forfeit 50% (over $5000!). Of course he knew that we had no other choice but to continue with the Safari. We could not book anything at such short notice so reluctantly we told him that we would continue with the trip. What followed was a litany of deceit and incompetence:
We started our Safari with two days in Tarangire and had an issue at the gate with the permit, which meant we had to return to the gate the next day early morning to get an extension for the next day.
The vehicle was old and the fridge cooler was broken so we could not drink cold water. It also had not been cleaned before the trip and stank of rotten food.
The Nikon binoculars they say they provide all clients is in fact a marketing lie. We had one Russian branded binoculars, which were glued together and belonged to the driver and another pair, which were broken.
We were kept waiting for 30 minutes outside one of our lodges, while they sorted out our booking. When I spoke to the manager that evening he said that he had a booking for us the following day (not the correct day). Another lodge told us they weren't expecting us for lunch despite this being on the itinerary.
While heading to South Serengetti, we were kept waiting 3.5 hours at the gate as there was another problem with the permit. Another mess up by the staff in Arusha meant we missed out on most of the afternoon game drive in the ndutu region.
Unfortunately, our balloon ride was cancelled due to poor weather, however we were told that we could book for the next day. Immediately upon returning to the camp, I asked the driver to confirm our booking for the next day. We repeatedly asked him to do this throughout the day but it was only when we absolutely insisted that he did so, but by then it was too late as it was already fully booked. We were the only people to miss out on the balloon ride as everyone else had confirmed early and had not left it so late.
When we arrived at our camp in Ngorongoro, we were informed that the camp didn't have a booking for the crater walk that we had paid for. The weather was poor so the walk may not have taken place but again ISIA staff messed up the booking.
Bernard Kang’oma informed us, that we could collect the refund for the cancelled balloon ride and crater walk at the office in Arusha. Our driver/guide spoke to him several times before we left Ngorongoro and Kang’oma confirmed that he would be waiting in the office with the full refund of $1200. When we arrived at the office, Kangoma wasn't there. We tried to reach him several times and when he eventually answered his phone, he said that he had given the money to someone called Daniel who was waiting at Kilimanjaro airport. We called Daniel and he told us that he didn't actually have the money! We then tried to reach Kang’oma but he would just hang up. We had no option but to go to the police station to report this. They called him and told him to come to the police station but we gave up waiting for him and were told by the police to give them our contact details and they would follow up.
We tried to catch our flight to Zanzibar but missed it because of this incident and had to stay at the airport hotel and catch a flight the next day, losing our hotel booking in Stone town in the process.
When we asked Joao for a refund of the $1200 for the cancelled balloon ride and crater walk, he at first tried to make us sign a letter saying that we would not write negative reviews on any site. He told us that this was his bank’s policy (a lie) but we refused to do this and he reluctantly agreed to pay us the refund by PayPal. We are still waiting to agree compensation but Joao and ISIA staff are not replying to our emails.
ISIA ruined our honeymoon and we would absolutely not recommend booking a Safari with this company!!! There were several issues everyday which we would spend most of of the day resolving. Terrible organisation and service by ISIA especially considering the price we paid. There are plenty of other good safari companies, so we would suggest using any of them.
Reply from It Started in Africa
Posted on Mar 2, 2017Dear Karim and Nazia,
Thanks for your review and feedback. We are sad you did not have the tour you were expecting. However, I truly believe no other tour operator would be able to offer you a tour that would make you happy.
It is true that there was a very rare anomaly in the pickup, with a mix of the arrival time, which caused us to arrive slightly late at the airport. When that happened, we greatly apologise for the situation, and even sent one of our representatives to your hotel to apologize for the situation. In fact, to compensate for the delay in the pickup, we offered a special bush dinner in one of the camps and paid it ourselves to the camp. However, unfortunately, this was irrelevant to you.
All the other situations you mention in your review are, unfortunately, a view that is very different from reality. For example, indeed you did not fly in the balloon because there was bad weather. We received a call/email early in the morning from the balloon agency saying the balloon was cancelled. In less than 10 minutes, we contacted them to reschedule your tour and they said that they were fully booked for the next day (not because of the reschedules of the previous day but of normal clients who had booked for that day). In fact, we were then informed that on the next day, the bad weather did not allow the balloons to fly once again, but that is just an additional information.
Usually when a balloon is cancelled due to bad weather, the procedure is to try to reschedule and if it not possible, refund the client with the amount that was paid. The Balloon flight was being done on new years eve and you were returning to Arusha on the 1st January. Normally what we do is to transfer the funds via bank transfer or paypal to the client and this was properly informed. We normally only receive the refund from the balloon company after two weeks but make the bank transfer within 1 or 2 days of a cancellation. However, once you arrived in Arusha on the 1st January, you demanded to receive the refund in cash on that very same day. As you are aware, it was the 1st January, and all banks were closed. However, despite us giving you this information, that we could not get the funds from the bank on that day (you were flying to Zanzibar afterwards) and that we would make the refund via bank transfer (which we did of course, in full, contrarily to what you wrote) you kept requesting the money in cash on that day and, although this was not possible, you pursued it to such an extent that you ended up getting late for your flight to Zanzibar, despite our numerous attempts to explain that we would make a transfer and that you were going to miss the flight. Although we were not responsible for the flight loss, we did book and pay ourselves for a luxury hotel by the airport. Despite this, you kept complaining and accusing us of being scamming you without any reasonable common sense or understanding.
I am very disappointed that such an amazing tour, that was organised with top notch quality, and only had one hiccup with the airport pickup delay, which we tried to compensate multiple times, resulted in so much anger and unjustified frustration on your side and several requests for huge money compensations for non incidents. I am really afraid no tour operator would be able to make you happy with the safari. I have taken the liberty to check the other tripadvisor reviews you wrote in other locations, and as I imagined, they are all negative. Trying to do our best to make you happy, making everything brilliant and still receive this in return, is something we do not wish to any tour operator and our major regret was having agreed to organize this tour for you in the first place. There was no way it could have been a success.
Bware do not send money or deposits
Just had 2500$ deposit stolen and wont offer any refund because the company is going bankrupt! Complete SCAM stay away
US
Email Greg Robinson | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This company is fraudulent! I lost $2900! SCAM. Do not book!
I, like so many others on these reviews, paid thousands of dollars to It Started In Africa. We have lost all of the money. The owners claim the company who they subcontract for advertising took the money. It is absolutely untrue. We wired the money directly to ownership. Clients were stranded, and in our case, we lost $2,900.
Per our contract, I attempted to get out of our safari, as the contract clearly states that I may do so and take a 20% loss. I chose this option over taking a chance on this horrific company after clients began posting that they were being left stranded on their trips. I have now submitted two requests and the owner is no longer responding.
I am now seeking legal counsel in Tanzania and working with government agencies that oversee tour companies in the hopes of legally prosecuting this fraudulent company. Please read the reviews so many of us have posted. We have lost so much money.
DE
Email Peter | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Warning - Do not send money!
Company is bankrupt! Two weeks after we transferred the desposit the sales people told us that the company is not responding to any calls or emails.
We lost 2.000 USD, we are really angry. It seems like there is no way of getting the money back. What a horrible start of our vacation. I hope not too many customers are affected.
IT
Email Giacomo and Alberta | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terribile situation
We had a safari planned by ISIA from 22nd to 27th August. Four days before our leaving from Italy, the sales office emailed us to cancel our last bank transfer as the company was going bankruptcy.
Thereafter we emailed many times to them, to the Chairman of the company, to the Italian Embassy in Tanzania and to the Tanzania Tourism Board.
Till the day before our leaving the Chairman wrote that our safari was on and not to worry about that. We ourselves contacted the accomodations and many of them answered that no booking had been made for us by ISIA. Moreover we read recent reviews (now cancelled) on TripAdvisor of people whose safari was on in August telling that they had to pay for their accomodations and for park fees. At that point we decided not to leave to avoid to loose some more money.
The total amount we paid to ISIA for the safari was 4,600USD so we contacted a lawyer whose name was given us by the Italian Embassy to ask him to assist us to recover our money.
CA
Email Kara | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stole our Money -F*** these guys -Do not trust them!!!
They stole $5000 dollars from us for our Honeymoon - Do not send them money-they will screw you over. They did not provide the safari, and did not give us our money back.
ES
Email Virginia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thieves!!!!
I booked a Safary with them and everything was fine until a hotel made a charge in my visa because they didn't pay the hotel when I already payed them all my expenses
I tried to get in contact with them but never answer
Don't book with them!!!