Open Africa Safaris
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- American Society of Travel Agents
- Tour Types:
- Budget & mid-range tours that, when possible, use accommodations owned and operated by them
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $75 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Anne | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Bait and switch by open africa
I was sold a trip with upgraded accommodations, then placed on a budget trip. First i was told the places we were staying were equivalent to my promised itinerary ( which i had luckily printed and brought with me). When i was able to go to the websites of places I’d paid for, and could see how untrue that was, i asked to be ensured i would be at paid spots going forward, i was then told that one place full the night i should be there and another having robberies. Both disputed by those places when i did go there, and patently untrue ( full site only half full when i there on planned night; no signs of repaired tents at place “ with robberies)
It was really unpleasant to have to argue, A Lot, while being repeatedly told lies, in order to get mt paid acccommodations for last two nights of six. When i contacted open africa on return, to request some refund for the two nights i was seriously downgraded, i was told by open africa’s john william that the leader of the tour group i was subcontracted to ( i saw the paperwork that our group used to enter the Serengeti, name was not open africa) that I had said i was happy with my trip , and then never heard from John again, despite contacting him.
So, buyer beware, Tanzania is fantastic, this tour operator not so much
Reply from Open Africa Safaris
Posted on Nov 4, 2017Hello Anne,
You purchased a 6 day safari package, which had mixed accommodations, Mid-range and budget camping at Sun bright camp. However, a day before your tour, we received a news from our local guides in that area saying that the camp was not safe at that time to have our clients stay there. As a company, we take our customers' safety and their belongings very serious, in another hand our customers' safety comes first. After we received the unsafe information from our local guides, we decided to have you stay at Panoma Camp for two nights, where you received the same service and camping equipment that you were supposed to receive at Sun Bright Camp.
After your trip, you contacted us seeking for a refund of the two nights that you didn't spend at Sun Bright. We explained to you that it was not safe to go there but for your own reason maybe you didn't believe us. We also told you that the service and camping equipment that you were assigned to use at Sun Bright Camp were the same as Panorama Camp. After we received your refund request, we went through your trip and the package you purchased, but we did not find any reason why we should refund you. We couldn't refund you because, you completed the number of days you signed for, and therefore you received the same accommodation service because from Sun Bright Camp to Panorama Camp did not make any difference in accommodation service. As a Company, we had and will always do our best to provide the best service to all customers and this is why about 99.9% of our reviews are positive and 5 stars.