Falcon Safaris
- Offices In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Member Of:
- ZTA, ASATA, ZNTBS & MARS
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Cliff R. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
1st class and professional.
All of your people were always on time, courteous and knowledgeable. Everything handled by Falcon went seamlessly. I have already recommended your company to another couple.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We never got to experience our life long dream of visiting the Vic falls
Between the travel agent who booked our flights and Falcon Safaris who booked our night at The Royal livingstone neither of them informed us of yellow fever certificates to enter Zambia so we got turned away boarding our plane. Therefore we never got to experience our life long dream of visiting Vic Falls and still had to pay full price for our very experience night booked at Royal Livingstone. All in all a terrible let down and bad service.
Reply from Falcon Safaris
Posted on Jul 11, 2014Dear Kate,
Thank you for the feedback. It is unfortunate and we sincerely apologize you missed your one night stay at The Royal Livingstone since you were not aware of the yellow fever condition if coming into Zambia. When Falcon Safaris make hotel bookings in most cases clients are informed when purchasing flight tickets into Zambia or by the agents who process their tickets of the yellow fever certificate requirement when flying into Zambia. In most cases all clients arrange this prior to booking their flight tickets and when they come through to book the hotels in most cases they are already aware.
On the day of the incident the best we could do was offer alternative accommodation in any Sun International Hotel in Johannesburg for the night but since you indicated you had sorted that out Sun International went on to charge 100% cancellation fee.
Because of this incident we have since included a clause on all our emails to make sure this does not happen again.
PLEASE NOTE:
That anyone arriving at any Zambian Airport - including Livingstone - will be required to show a yellow Fever certificate. Similarly, anyone flying from Zambia - including Livingstone into any South African Airport will also be required to show the Yellow Fever Certificate.This new requirement only affects people traveling directly between Zambia and South Africa. We would strongly advise you to visit your Doctor or Travel Medical Center to obtain the vaccination, and accompanying certificate.
Once again we apologies for the inconvenience caused.
Patrick Manyika
For and on behalf of Falcon Safaris
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Chaotic
We booked accommodation at the Royal Livingstone Hotel through Falcon Safaris. We received confirmation from them and were asked for payment details. We then booked our flights to Livingstone. We were then told that the Royal Livingstone did not have any rooms available after all but it was too late to change our flights. We landed in Zambia and had to pay $100US for visas even though we were going straight over the border to the Victoria Falls hotel. This would not have been necessary if we knew we would be staying at the Victoria Falls Hotel as we would have flown straight into Zimbabwe. We also needed Yellow Fever injections which cost R575 each because we were going through Zambia. We were not told by the company about this and only found out by accident the day before we were due to leave. Luckily we found someone to do them at 6.30pm the day before our departure or else we would have not been allowed on the plane. When we were dropped at the hotel we were told the company would phone our room or leave a message of the time we were going to be picked up on the day of our departure. This never happened.
Reply from Falcon Safaris
Posted on May 8, 2014Dear Paula,
We extend our sincere apologies for the unhappy experience you had with us. Please note that the issue with room unavailability was a system issue with Royal Livingstone reservation system. They canceled the provisional bookings without any notice. It is their right to do so for any provisional bookings. This could be due to immediate paid bookings that were received or availability updates. I also understand that you paid for Victoria Falls Hotel after you were advised that Royal Livingstone was not available. We are sorry that you were not able to reschedule your flight to Victoria Falls. There was nothing we could do as we are not in control flights.
We understand that re-booking you at Victoria Falls Hotel was a last resort option and had its disadvantages because you had to pay for visa into Zimbabwe as well. Our apologies for the unplanned payments you paid. If we knew that your booking was unsuccessful in time we would have advised you in time as well to give you time to reschedule your flight to Victoria Falls. I also learnt that our consultant, Patrick came to meet you at the border on your transfer to Victoria Falls Hotel to offer apologies for the whole ordeal. Unfortunately he was not able to refund you VISA payments since they are gazetted by the government and are a requirement beyond our control.
Please note that a phone call was made to your hotel room while you were out. The message was left with guest services. The phone call was meant to advise you of any changes in regards to your transfer. Fortunately there were no changes and you were transferred to Kazungula border as scheduled.
We hope other travelers will understand that we were victims of the hotel system, flight schedules and stipulated visa requirements which was beyond our control.
Regards.
Benedict Nyathi
For and on Behalf of Falcon Safaris Team
DE
Email Ralf | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything organized by my contact met perfectly our expectations.
On our trip through Namibia and Botswana we stated for parts of our trip where we want to stay and how much we are willing to spend.
Our contact at Falcon did a great job and booked the right places.
Next time again with Falcon.
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Email Dawn | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Overall an excellent experience. Falcon helped us feel comfortable during our first visit to Africa
The overall communication from the drivers was fantastic. There was a little delay in picking us from the Victoria Falls airport but there were no problems the rest of the trip. We would definitely use Falcon Safaris again!
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Email Pete Conder | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
All our conversations were positive, timely and got us the trip of our lives in the Okavango Delta.
All communications were quick and positive. The service was wonderful. The trip was even better than we hoped for. Our Safari was 9 days camping in the bush with Letaka Safaris with just our guide, butler, waiter and cook. The drives were long and we saw so much including, wild dogs, Rhino, Ground Hornbills, six species of Hornbills, Black Bellied Bustards, Kori Bustard, Lions eating an Elephant that they killed. We have good photos of over 100 birds (almost all new to us). We wanted to see birds so we had a private guide KB who was a bird expert and could even mimic all their calls. We of course saw the big animals also. The trip was absolutly fantastic.
Gertrude of Falcon Safaris arranged all flights into Maun and out of Kasane, our 1 night stay in Maun, our transfers, the Letaka Safari 11 day safari, and a very special stay at Chobe Marina Lodge for our last 2 nights in Botswana, and also at a better price than our attempts to book direct. We highly recommend Falcon Safaris for bookings, and Letaka Safaris for the camping safari in the Okavango Delta in the areas of Xanaka, Khwai River, Savuti and Chobe.
Email Hannah | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Despicable. Taken double our money.
Falcon safaris are appalling. We booked with them months before we left for Zim. Whilst we were away, we received an email saying that they had not received our money. We then had to pay for another room in a different hotel so they would hold a room for us. They have offered no help in tracing the money, despite or bank being able to trace exactly where it has gone. They have offered us no help whatsoever. In addition, their tour operators tried to sell us mor experiences in our pick up from the airport - clearly trying to make more money from us. We have been changed double for our holiday and no one from this company will contact us. Absolutely shocking.
Do not use them.
Email Lisa Eales | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent from start to finish
I would recommend your company to any travellers. All the activities we did were great and the guides were fantastic. Booking online was very easy. We will be back and will defiantly use you again.
NZ
Email Aj | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gertrude was amazing to work with she organize everything we want for your Safari trip.
Oddballs Enclave camp was an amazing experience. Best camp ever.
Kasane wow the game drives and cruise are out off this world.
Edna was awesome she meet us In Zimbabwe
Took just to our accommodation and organize so activities for us.
Email Ernest | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Soaring Falcon
We have used Falcon Safaris on several occasions over the years to book accommodation,arrange excursions and organise transfers from and back to Livingstone Airport.Had their service not been first class throughout we would not have used them again ! That speaks for itself.
Occasionally there were hitches - not of Falcon making - which were put right without fuss or bother and we were kept in the picture at all times so we knew what was going on without being worried.
undoubtedly a professional organisation which delivers as promised.