Trip Advisor Africa Safaris
Trip Advisor Africa Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Tour Types:
- Short mid-range tours (½ to 3 days)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $300 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Laura | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
I feel he is a fraudster and liar
Where do I begin.
I wouldn’t trust Seth as far as I could throw him! He has lied to me for the last year and took me over 9 months to get a refund on my deposit after cancelling our trip (took a month for him to accept the cancellation we were told to do for various reasons) even though he informed me of his refund policy of 7 days.
Every email I got from him was false promises and lies. Safari bookings were the only reason we managed to get our money back and I wouldn’t want anyone to go through the stress I went through and the sleepless nights of having to deal with Seth.
I’m glad to be done with him, he lied about everything!
MX
Email Sergio | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I feel that Seth steal money
Seth offer packages at “very good prices” like we tells you that you are going to travel in a landcruiser and middle range cruises and the reality is that you use vans and you stay in tented camps.
We have talked with other persons about this and they were possibly scammed too
He makes a lot of pressure to pay for a safari when services are not confirmed
MX
Email Adriana | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Seth is possibly a scammer! AVOID!
I contacted this man to make a Safari, because contact him I had checked out other options with other companies.
Long story short he offered a Lodge called AA Mara for all my group, all the other companies told me this lodge was not available but he said he had it and that the lodge was already booked for my group, I called the lodge to ask about this “booking” under my name or Seth name or company name and they said they didn’t have any booking from this man.
We gave 500 USD deposit and he said that he wasn’t going to give us our money back when we didn’t confirm to him about this, we were talking about either going to the safari or only make a city tour in Nairobi.
He was very bad replying to us and we said like we wanted to go to the police and he just made fun at me.
I lost 500 USD which I don’t care but hopefully I DIDNT transfer the rest of the money… he was very very very very insistent to make all the transfer,
WATCH OUT! The bank account is in Uganda not Kenia and this leave every one unprotected because once you transfer he stops replying you
*Screenshots removed for privacy reasons.
Reply from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris
Posted on Sep 1, 2023Hi Andriana,
I apologize for the inconvenience concerning reservation deposit of $ 500 which you send to our bank account . I understand that this cause a lot of inconvenience a above all money without proper reason is also very painful, especially the money which was meant for your group vacation.
After doing a lot of investigation even after your group arrive, to day morning, I visiting my web hosting, and I found that indeed you send the deposit, however there are some one who hack our account, and you were talking with someone else but not me.
Currently Mr Roman and the three others people are in Masai Mara, though they paid full amount , I am waiting for them tomorrow so that we can solve this problem, We will agree on how you will get your money back since the mistake is on our side,Please may I also get your account number so that I can refund this money back, since the mistake is on our side,you sand the deposit as per our agreement but our account was hacked by someone else. We have alredy move with speed and our web hosting has already change everything concerning this, and I hope this will not happen again.
Sincerely
Seth Vincent
Director
Email Jack | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
SETH VINCENT IS A CON MAN, AVOID THIS COMPANY
We have had the most miserable Safari experience organised by Seth Vincent.
We booked on a tour of Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru with this tour operator ‘Trip Advisor Africa Safaris’, operated by Seth Vincent.
We have spent our trip being harassed through calls and texts from the tour organiser, Seth Vincent. He is persistently asking us for extra money for previously agreed services and ended up cutting our trip short and not providing half the pre-agreed services. Our hotel was downgraded and filthy.
From further research into Seth's practices, we have found significant volumes of similar reviews of his practices on review websites and it appears he runs unsafe tours and regularly demands money or changes services offered.
This man has sent us 50+ messages, constant calls and leveraged the rangers as well to take us to unagreed places at unagreed times.
Avoid this man and company at all costs
Email Andy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lies lies lies- false promises and overpriced
Promised amazing accommodation totally private Safari . Originally priced competitively but when Seth received his payment the details changed . Different accommodation outside of the reserve instead of inside as agreed. Then charged even more for accommodation he originally stated was inferior . Which we paid because we couldn’t trust him anymore but we had already paid a lot and money to this con artist. Told me balloon Safari was private, wasn’t . Changed our dates of balloon without our consent after we arrived having previously stated we couldn’t have money back as already booked and paid for. After our Safari we travelled back to Nairobi and heard many more stories about this company but that is for other travellers to comment. There are so many genuine companies out there don’t use this one
Reply from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris
Posted on Feb 4, 2020Hi Andy,
Thank you you very much for your review, to be honest what your saying is not correct and please stop misleading other guest who want to see this beautiful country,we promise to take you to mara serena lodge but due to Natural calamities, ( Talek river which destroy talek bridge a day to your safari due to prolong heavy rain ,the Land cruiser could't manage to pass,it was even in the daily nation magazine where most of the guest ware airlifted from Masai Mara to Nairobi) due to this we came up with giving you Ashnli mara luxury mara camp https://www.ashnilhotels.com/mara/ same standard, your safari was private with the exception of hot Air balloon .
We are sorry if we did not meet your expectation, but remember things like natural calamities no human being have control over the
Regards
Seth Vincent
Director
US
Email Diana | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Misleading and bait and switch
A group of people went to Kenya and Tanzania from June 24th through July 10th, 2019. The majority of time was spent in Kenya. We had used TripAdvisor African Safaris agent Seth Vincent to arrange for the Kenya portion of the trip. During the booking period, we received several itineraries outlining the accommodation and numbers of rooms we requested to accommodate our party. Although we had received confirming emails outlining where we would be staying and the number of rooms booked, on at least two occasions the number of rooms were shorted, forcing people to double up although people had paid additional money for separate rooms. We can only assume that Seth pocketed the difference himself. We had been promised a lovely place in Arusha, Tanzania at the Mount Meru Hotel. However, Seth had emailed our subcontracted drivers and had them book us into a very poor hotel in a rough area of Arusha. We called the hotel on our approved itinerary and they had no record of any reservation for us. Again, I suspect that Seth deliberately did a bait and switch that probably allowed him to pocket the difference while putting the 14 of us in a very poor hotel. This was the last night he was responsible for so we really had no recourse. We cannot prove that this was deliberate on his part but he would not return any calls at that point.
The bottom line is DO NOT use this person for your safari experience. Do go with a firm that has lengthy track record and positive reviews.
CA
Email Lester | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
avoid this company
First off, I bought this safari from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris, and had all communications with Seth Vincent of that
company. The morning of the safari, we were picked up and taken to Inno Africa Safaris or Innocent Africa Safaris, where we
paid for the tour. We should have realized something was wrong at that point, but we were assured we were getting the safari
we booked. I am posting this review for both these companies as they have blamed each other in our communications.
Originally I was traveling myself, so I went with the basic accommodations. Later a friend joined me, so we upgraded to the
mid level accommodations. Below is a copy of the itinerary I was sent, then our communication confirming the upgrade to the
new accommodations.
DAY 1: ARUSHA / TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK.
Pick up from your overnight hotel in Arusha follow by short briefing and distribution of hard copy itinerary, then drive to
the Tarangire National Park for a morning & afternoon game drive. You will enjoy a picnic lunch served at a picnic site while
you watch the wildlife around the lake. Later in the day you will leave Tarangire and drive to Serengeti for dinner and
overnight at Seronera tented camp https://www.google.com/search?q=seronera+camp+serengeti&client=firefox-b-
ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBq7GK06nVAhWGvxQKHXPrABAQsAQIYA&biw=1024&bih=669
Day 2: / Full day serengeti national park
All day spent in Serengeti with morning and afternoon game drives in the park with your picnic lunch. Serengeti National park
is one of the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world and symbolizes the the classic Africa Africa safaris with more than
2 million Zebras and it has greatest concentration of plains game in Africa the it's also symbolize with the annual wildebeest
and Zebras migration other animals like Zebras giraffe baboon and many others might be sported dinner and overnight at your
campsite https://www.google.com/search?q=seronera+camp+serengeti&client=firefox-b-
ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBq7GK06nVAhWGvxQKHXPrABAQsAQIYA&biw=1024&bih=669
Day 3 / Serengeti Ngorongoro Via Olduvia Gorge
Early morning game drive then leave Serengeti to Ngorongoro Via Olduvai Gorge with optional stop over at Oldvia gorge where
remains of animals that lived and died more than 2 millions years ago area found the guide will give you on site information
of the gorge before you proceed with your safari you will explore various area such as Moro Kopje's the extensive grassland
interspersed with Kopje' rocky outcrop like Island the flat plain each with their own the Saronera River flows through the
park providing habitats for varieties of birds mammals and reptiles proceed to Nabi hills picnic lunch will be served at
picnic site drive to Malanji depression entering Ngorongoro crater are in the evening and direct to your campsite the drive
is amortizable with clouds rollings over the rim like a mist waterfall, the whole setting is a dreamy and unique Africa Masai
campsite safari fit into contours of the Ngorongoro crater rim dinner and overnight at your campsite on full board basis.
Day 4: 28 / 1 / 2019 / Ngorongoro Arusha drop off Killimanjaro
This morning better prepare yourself for Ngorongoro Crater - The Eden of Africa: The Crater is Twelve miles wide, home to the
rare Black Rhino and has its own Soda Lake. The high concentration of wild animals in the Crater area means that you are
likely to see the African Big Five in a short period of time. As we descend 2,200 feet into the Crater, experience a
thrilling day among Africa's Big Five: the Lion, the Elephant, the Buffalo, the Black Rhino the Leopard, zebras, hippos,
hyenas, wildebeests, warthogs and many more you will leave the Ngorongoro in the late afternoon and proceed to Arusha town
follow by drop off at your hotel in Arusha Kilimanjaro Airport where our service ends.
My email to Seth confirming upgrade: Ok Seth, lets upgrade to the mid range accommodations at katikati tented camp
https://www.google.com/search?q=katikati+tented+camp&client=firefox-b-
ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEzb3AqbrdAhXPz4UKHRh_DZoQsAR6BAgCEAE&biw=1280&bih=891 and Ngorongoro sopa
lodge http://www.sopalodges.com/ngorongoro-sopa-lodge/overview.
Day one, got picked up at 730 from our hotel. Other safaris were doing pickups at 6:30 or 7:00am. Driver had no supplies or
gas, which amounted to another hour wasted. There was no such thing as a morning drive as advertised. Driver drove at least
10 mph slower than everybody on the highway. We passed nobody, and got passed by semi trailers (really,) women walking with a
hundred bananas on their head, and grazing goats. Very near Tarangire park, for no reason, we stopped in a small town for ten
minutes, (to stretch our legs as driver said,) long enough to be pestered by peddlers. Approximately 30 other jeeps past
through the town, and not one of them stopped. As we continued on, we found out the park was less than 10 minutes away. We
stopped for 15 minutes to have boxed lunch, and started our safari at 1230. The driver who couldn’t keep up to loaded trucks,
is now racing thru the park like Al Unser. Most stops, he would start to drive away before we said we were ready to go. Ended
the safari at 4:00 and were supposed to drive to the Serengeti park for dinner and lodging, but stopped In Mto Wa Mbu at 5
even though dinner wasn’t ready till 7:25. Total safari time on day one was 3 1/2 hours. Instead of staying at the Katikati
tented camp, (which was absolutely amazing and one of the highlights of the trips,) we stayed in a 2 star hotel which charged
$100 per night, as opposed to Katikati which is over $500 per night, so I wrote Seth the following letter. His reply followed
Seth I thought our safari was with Trip Advisor Africa Safaris, not Inno Africa Safaris??? Our itinerary is not how you
emailed, or what it shows on your web page. There was no morning drive in the Tarangire yesterday. In fact we didn’t start
until 12:30, and left the park at 4, a mere 3 1/2 hours. So I thought, that’s fine, we have to drive to the Serengeti, like
your itinerary says. NO! We stopped at a lodge in Mto Wa Mbu at 4:55 pm, where dinner wasn’t ready until 7:25, so we wasted 2
1/2 hours doing nothing when we could be driving to the Serengeti. I thought, OK we will leave early so we can get to the
Serengeti for an early morning drive. All other safari companies staying here left this morning at 0630 or 0700. Not us. It’s
9:35 and they are still loading the Jeep. Obviously the morning drive (when the lions are out) at the Serengeti is not gonna
happen as we won’t get there until afternoon. Why did we just stay 17 hours in a lodge room without a tv, wifi or working AC?
We paid for a safari, not to stare at four walls. Obviously we are not getting what was promised or what we paid for, and are
not very happy.
His response below, where h never answered any of our questions:
My dear to be honest, if you arrive at the lodge around 4:55pm, and the supper was ready at 7:25pm is there any problem? I
think you were given time for refreshment before you go for supper, remember we are not at safari rally and if you start
calculating time instead of watching the animal it will be a big loss to you.
Drive will try to go slow as he can so that you can see the animals, they will try to look areas where they will get animal,
not as safari rally where they compete with time, our main aim is to see animals not to reach in time,
I will be very happy if you will tell me that you have see all the big five (5).
Thank for your understanding.
Regards
Seth Vincent
Day 2 we left late, because they made us wait for other customers to join us. We sat in that rundown hotel for 17 hours. We
obviously lost the morning drive in the Serengeti. In fact, we never arrived till well after noon. We had only 3 hours on the
safari. Day 3 we started an hour late because we had to wait for the driver to pick up the people staying at a different
camp. Instead of a full day in the Serengeti like promised, we left early because the driver only purchased a 24 hour pass to
the park, so we never got two days there like promised. Then we drove to our accommodations. Once again, we were taken to a
different lodge then we agreed upon. We were supposed to stay at a beautiful lodge overlooking the crater. Of course, we were
placed in lower valued and priced accommodations. I wrote both for prices. The difference was $200 cheaper for the place we
actually stayed. Following is another conversation I had with Seth.
1. We were supposed to have two days in the Serengeti. We had only a 24 hour ticket
2. We were supposed to have two nights in Kati Kati tented camp. Instead we stayed in a rundown Twiga lodge without working
AC. The price difference between the two was $400. The Kati tent was one of the highlights of the trip, Twiga was the
lowlight. And we did not appreciate sitting in the Twiga lodge for 17 hours, instead of being on a safari
3. Last night we were supposed to stay at Sopa, overlooking the crater. Instead we stayed at Rhino Lodge. Price difference
was almost $200
Writing this to Trip Advisor Africa Safaris, his reply was this:
Thank you very much for your update. First I like people like you who do update us if something went wrong,and see how we
can sort it out. To be honest, all the money you paid in Tanzania and even the $ 200 paid before I sent to our Tanzania
counterpart for the same service. I have go through your email and what your saying it is an acceptable, please allow me to
contact my Tanzania counterpart and then I can come back to you latest Monday. People to serve a lot to come to holiday and
they should get exactly what they have paid for, there is no way he can decide to take you to Rhino lodge instead of sopa
lodge,to serve $200.Please am apologies for what has happened but before that, let me get the side of the story from Innocent
then we can see what to do next.
Thanks again and again for your update!!
Regards
Seth Vincent
Conclusion: Day 1 we lost the morning drive at Tarangire Park, due to reasons listed above. Then we stayed in a poor hotel at
Mto Wa Mbu city, instead of the stunning accommodations in the Serengeti.
Day 2, we stayed in Mto Wa Mbu for a total of 17 hours, waiting so they could join more people into our jeep. We obviously
lost the morning drive at the Serengeti. As a result, we only had 24 hours there, not two days like promised. Day 3, started
late again, and had to leave the Serengeti early before the 24 hour ticket expired. Then drove to our accommodations, which
turned out again to be lower valued accommodations than promised. Day 4, were told we'd start at 7:00 am, got picked up at
7:50. In all, we lost the morning drive at the Tarangire Park, one day at the Serengeti, an hour at the crater, one night
stay in the Serengeti camp, and one night stay at the crater. The price difference between the accommodations day one was
$400. The difference the third night was $200. That does not include the value of all the time we missed on the safari. I
wrote Seth Vincent from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris and demanded a refund, for at least the price difference in the
accommodations that they would have saved, roughly $600. Once again, that does not include all the safari time lost. After a
month of back and forth emails, and me threatening to write an obvious bad review, it was apparent, that all he would refund
us was $100 each, if we didn't write that review. Looking back at the pictures, and the memories, I am so mad at what we
lost, and realizing they ruined our once in a lifetime trip, I am therefore now writing that review.
Reply from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris
Posted on Jun 15, 2019Jambo Lester,
We acknowledge your review to know that you where NOT happy with the same facility you approve after several emails before you did the booking of the safari ,we respect all our clients Negative and positive feedback and this make our company more responsible on the services.
We are sorry to see your review online claiming you did not received the refund , I personally did the transfer of USD 200 to you and acknowledgement our refund for the same.
Here below is your email confirm for the same
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change-formatchange-format
Subject: Re: After safari update.
From les 918 <les918@hotmail.com>
To sales@tripadvisorafricasafaris.com <sales@tripadvisorafricasafaris.com>
Date 2019-05-14 17:51
Contact photo
Message Body
I am in Asia now. Can't you simply get the information off this receipt you sent me?
Image
Please we request you to be clear and honest on this,For other travelers to know the truth.
Concerning the Tanzania, were are know having our office in Arusha to take care of all our guest in Tanzania and this will not repeat again.
Regards
Seth Vincent
Director
ES
Email Paloma | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Worst than worst!!!Police do something!!
My first safari. I was saving many months and now I feel robbed! The owner still writes to me today asking not to write wrong review but doesnt care that everything went wrong , is a liar and like the rest of the comments said, is true he does not care. I did ask before booking if he had partners in Tanzania and said no, well that is a lie, Mr.Seth Vincent is partner with SANDLAND ( Abraham Shaidi who also ruin us). I see on another review that he lies again, he still has same partner. Same story first you pay (for us was 1750euros each for 8days safari) then he changes the itinerary. we did less than half of the games we paid for, one day car broke, (waited 5h) another day no entrance to park paid waited 4h, even we were stucked half a day on one accommodation Panorama camp"because it was not been paid for, the police had to come to rescue us, sounds incredible but this are only a few examples, I am sure I will get a reply full of lies but this company needs to be stopped , people save money to come to this beautiful countries to have the dream holidays and they are ruined like this is not right!
Email María | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The worst experience of my life
I don’t recommend this agency at all. I work in tourism and travelled around the world and never in my life I got such a bad experience. Seth Vicent the one who sold us the package Safari Kenia and Tanzania just Cheat on us with many lies regarding our tour. He was not paying the entrance at the parks, accommodations were never the ones we agreed and the last day we couldn’t check out of the hotel because he didn’t pay it. We paid everything in advance. We were having such a bad time. He was all the time aware of that but he didn’t fix it he was just playing with us telling that he will refund the services that we paid for and we never get. Now we are dealing with the police and embassy for some justice , and also because this type of no -professionals are not good for a country neither for tourists that want to enjoy.
Reply from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris
Posted on Oct 10, 2018Jambo Maria,
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us.
We are really sorry for all that happened while on your trip,we confirmed your trip expecting to deliver our quality and best hospitality ,we even came up with un alternative of securing for you private tour for the same program without extra charge just to give you the best,thought at long last our Tanzania counterpart did not keep his promise, after you have cross border,Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience cause during this period and this will not happen again since we are know having our branch office in Arusha.
Kind regards Seth Vincent.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Changed itinerary in the morning of the tour.
We booked a 4 day safari with two nights in Seronera, Serengeti. They changed the itinerary in the morning when the safari started. We ended up having 1 night in Seronera and therefore no full day in the Serengeti. This way it is cheaper for them as we spent the first night outside the parks, that is why they did it. Given this change we wanted a discount of around 100$. They said we can have 20$ discount and if we do not accept we can have all the money back and leave. That was in the morning when the safari should have started. They could well have informed us the evening before when we paid, but they did not. As the choice was between no safari and changed itinerary we decided to join. The car was the oldest moving thing you can imagine and broke down in the middle of the savanna. They did not have tools with them to repair it. They did not have walkie talkies to call somebody for help. They did not have a rope in the car to tow away the car by another bypassing car. Imagine you get stuck in a water hole? In the end they repaired the car with the leather-man of another tourist who was in a car which stopped to help us. We ended up missing the last hour of our late evening safari because we had to bring other passengers to their camp. As we were very lucky we ended up seeing all the animals the next morning, but that was really pure luck. The parks are great and the guide was very friendly and did his best given the means he was given by the company. Again this was pure luck, all the other guides of the same company seamed not very competent. Food was ok. The overall organization done by the company was horrible. We booked with Trip Advisor Africa Safari, but basically this internet companies are selling their costumers to a Tanzanian operator. Ours operator was Sandland tours of Abraham Shaidi. The itinerary change was apparently the fold of Trip Advisor Africa Safari and its owner Seth Vincent. The bad equipment of the car is the fold of Shaidi. So even if you book with other companies ask for the operator and check its reviews.
Reply from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris
Posted on Dec 26, 2017Dear Stafan,
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us during your successful safari which has just ended .
We are really sorry for all that happened while on your trip,we confirmed your trip expecting to deliver our quality and best hospitality services.We understand that you had some shortcoming during your trip period even thought you contradict yourself that our service is beyond comparison in terms of good service, here below are your statement, ''As we were very lucky we ended up seeing all the animals the next morning, but that was really pure luck. The parks are great and the guide was very friendly and did his best given the means he was given by the company. Again this was pure luck, all the other guides of the same company seamed not very competent. Food was ok "" please stop misleading our guest, you confirm safari last minute and because you wanted to see Animals, we decided to advice your accordingly and at the end of it , you ware very happy and am happy you mention that, I hope to serve you next round.
Regards
Seth Vincent
Director