SafariBookings has received complaints from clients about Arend Safaris.

Reviews

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 1-4 of 4 Reviews
Gilbert Goodwin   –  
United States US
Visited: July 2018 Reviewed: Jul 29, 2018

Email Gilbert Goodwin  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The review below is the personal opinion of Gilbert Goodwin and not that of SafariBookings.
Does Tom kilongola work for your company
1/5

Tom Kilongola had us wire him $9200 USD in advance for 6-day Safari and then canceled the tour on the day we were flying to Tanzania.
He has asked us to be patient in the refund.
If Tom does not work for your company I don't know what we will do,

Yours

Gilbert Goodwin
Long Beach, California, USA

Bob   –  
Switzerland CH
Visited: December 2018 Reviewed: Dec 19, 2018

Email Bob  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The review below is the personal opinion of Bob and not that of SafariBookings.
Arend Safaris operate with a fake licence
1/5

We were looking to book a tour with Arend Safaris. Excellent contact. However, when we analyzed the copy of the Tourism licence they provided, we observed that the licence was actually the 2017 licence altered to read 2018. After inquiring with the Tanzanian Ministry of Tourism, it appears that they don't hold a valid licence. They are currently facing legal actions because of that.

Guilherme   –  
Brazil BR
Visited: December 2017 Reviewed: Mar 20, 2019

Email Guilherme  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The review below is the personal opinion of Guilherme and not that of SafariBookings.
Was one of the tourists scammed...
1/5

My wife and I booked a 5 day safari in Tanzania and 7 day in Zanzibar, with Arend Safaris, for our honeymoon on the end of 2017.

We paid over 11k dollars in advance. When we arrived in Arusha, they picked us up at the airport, and took us to a different (worse) hotel that we booked. On the next day, after waiting for almost 2 hours for Arend Safaris to pick us up, they took us to their office in Arusha and told us that they had spent all our money in another reservation, and had nothing (no hotels, tours, plane tickets) booked.

They promised us they would have the money back in a few days, and in the mean time, we could book everything directly with a hotel in Zanzibar, and when they got the money back, they would repay us.

Now, over a year has passed and Arend has not payed us back. We had to spend a whole lot more of money to book our honeymoon on the same day.
Arend is very inconsistent with their communication. Sometimes, after a long period of no communication, they write to us telling they will refund us in a few weeks. And then disappear.

Apparently they are a legit agency, for some of the reviews out there are real. But there are cases, like ours, in which they just do not comply. So be extra careful when booking with them, ask for all kinds of receipts and booking numbers/references, and contact the hotels/lodges directly to make sure they have a reservation under your name.

Laurence   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: July 2018 Reviewed: Jun 4, 2019

Email Laurence  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

The review below is the personal opinion of Laurence and not that of SafariBookings.
The company is bankrupt and the owners are liars
1/5

Protas Kilongola and Tom Kilongola are liars who will let you down. They did not book the hotels we asked for, lied to our face and have refused to pay money they owe us.

They asked us to pay park admission fees of c.$500 (which we were told were already included) with a promise of paying us back. They have never done this. I have seen bank records which indicate they are almost bankrupt.

Other people have suffered worse than us, so don’t book with them because they will let you down and steal your money.

Disclaimer

  • All corporate and/or tour info is provided by Arend Safaris, not SafariBookings
  • The tours offered by Arend Safaris are subject to their terms & conditions