Off2Africa Travel

Incredible Wildlife, Unmet Expectations

This was my first time using a tour operator. I’ve done several international solo trips and usually plan everything myself, but I felt unsure about visiting rural Africa. I called VISA Infinite’s concierge to get a list of reputable, local tour operators—Off2Africa was on it.

Before arrival, I dealt exclusively with Claire via email due to time differences. She was incredibly helpful and everything looked lined up for a great trip. One star is just for the great email communication.

WHERE THINGS WENT WRONG:

I stayed at three lodges in Zimbabwe and Botswana. The first was Insika Lodge in Victoria Falls. Check-out was 10AM, but my transfer was scheduled more than an hour later. Reception kindly held my bags while I waited by the pool without a room (bar and breakfast area were closed). When the shuttle arrived, it already had passengers and made five more lodge stops, including a nearly 30-minute wait at Victoria Falls Hotel.

We crossed the Botswana border, and the group was split up. I was placed in a random taxi with three separate parties. The TravelKey app said the transfer would take “around two hours,” but I didn’t arrive at Kubu Lodge until around 2:15 PM. I was informed at Reception that the afternoon game drive had already passed. I had no option but to take the river cruise instead.

With a custom-made itinerary, at this price point, I expected private transfers. Instead, I got the profit-maximizing, theme park-style shuttle loop that cost me a game drive.

The night before checking out of Kubu, I noticed my next transfer was scheduled for two hours after check-out. Not wanting to wait around again, I asked if the morning game drive could start at 9AM instead of the usual 9:30. The guide agreed after some back-and-forth, but I didn’t appreciate putting the staff in that position because of poor planning. My time in Africa was limited, and it wasn’t respected.

Kubu was also labeled “Full Board Plus” in the TravelKey app. Assuming drinks at meals were included (as is standard), I had three bottled waters. I was shocked to be billed for them at checkout. Claire apologized for the “confusion,” but there was no confusion—there was misrepresentation. She offered no remedy. I contacted the Director, Beck Edwards, about getting a refund for the waters. He denied a refund and was snarky about refunding a charge that was less than the international banking minimum of $40.

To end the trip, I faced another transfer fiasco. My last lodge was Camp Kazuma. The TravelKey app said my airport transfer was scheduled for 10AM, but the interim GM said it was 11. At 11:20, no one had shown. I messaged Claire and was brushed off with: “Hi Branden it should all be on your Travel Key App.” I told her it said 10AM and no transfer had arrived. She eventually said Kazuma was supposed to arrange it. After coordination with the interim GM, I was driven in a game viewer to a highway pickup point and transferred by taxi. I barely made my flight with boarding closing 20 minutes after I arrived.

Claire sent a screenshot showing the original GM had scheduled an 11AM transfer. But that doesn't explain why the app showed 10AM or why Off2Africa didn’t confirm plans with the lodge the week of my stay. Communication breakdowns like this simply shouldn’t happen.

Final Thoughts:

Vic Falls, Chobe National Park, and Kazuma National Forest were all wonderful destinations and I whole-heartedly endorse them as travel destinations. However, the poorly-managed transfers and incorrect information included in the TravelKey app caused me a great stir and a lot of uncertainty. I would not recommend Off2Africa to others looking for a Tour Operator in the Vic Falls area.

As a solo traveler, I rely quite a bit on reviews from other travelers. If you're a semi-experienced traveler and are reading this, trust me: you don’t need a tour operator here. With Google, any reputable AI agent, and direct lodge bookings, you can craft your own itinerary with more control and fewer problems. I wish I had done just that.

I included a picture of my luggage on the back of a game viewer because I doubt I'll ever see that again!