Enrico’s Tours and Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2014)
- Member Of:
- Namibia Tourism Board
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $70 to $350 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NZ
Email Tori | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
WARNING!! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!!!
WARNING!!! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!!!
We were booked on a seven night safari with Enrico’s. We booked about 6 months in advance and paid in advance.
The day that our safari was supposed to commence, no one showed up. We could not get in contact with the company to find out what was going on (we tried their phone numbers, whatsapp, email, Facebook etc). When we finally got in contact (after hours and hours of trying), we were told someone would be there by 2:30pm at the latest. Again, no one showed up. Again, we could not get in contact with Enrico’s to find out what was going on. When we did get in contact, he suggested that we arrange and pay for our own transfer to what was supposed to be our first stop?? Eventually our then-current accommodation offered for us to stay another night and Enrico’s promised to pick us up at 9am the next morning. Enrico’s said they would pay for the accomodation, but they did not and we had to pay for it.
At 9am the next morning, surprise surprise, no one showed up!! And again we could not get in contact with Enrico’s to find out what was going on!! We were finally picked up at around 11:30am (1.5 days late for our six day tour...) in a minivan with worn out suspension that was supposed to drive us on sand/gravel roads in between destinations - even our driver said it was unsafe and that he didn’t think the car would be able to make the journey!
We found out our was a freelancer that was called by Enrico’s at 7am on the day that our safari was meant to commence to get to us in Kasane from Windhoek. It is 1,400kms and 14 hours away from our pick up point. There was no way they were going to be able to pick us up at the scheduled pick up time and no way they would even get to us by 2:30pm so I have no idea why this was promised by Enrico’s. It also meant that Enrico’s knew that this would not be possible before 7am the day of our safari and they never contacted us to tell us this. We could have done activities that day through our then-current accomodation, but instead spent an entire day in reception trying to get in contact with Enrico’s!!
When we finally arrived at our first accommodation, NOTHING had been booked or paid for! The accomodation had never heard from Enrico’s and did not know we were coming! Apparently this is a very common occurrence and our driver had heard of this happening regularly before. Luckily we could get in for one night (the last two rooms) but again had to pay for this ourselves!!! We were paying for our whole trip twice!!
We found out we had not been booked into our next accommodation and none of our activities had been booked. Again, we could not get hold of him to find out what the hell was going on! One time we called off our driver’s phone and when he heard our voice he hung up!! When we finally got in contact much later, he said he could get us into some other accommodation but we would have to pay for it and be refunded. Obviously we were not going to do that, and after such an incomprehensibly terrible experience.
We found out that he has been banned from the camps in National Parks in Namibia for non-payment. He doesn’t pay his drivers or guides on time. Our driver says he has a reputation for being a terrible tour operator - I have no idea how his business survives.
He lied to us continuously to try cover the mess up. He should not be allowed to offer these services. We are reporting him to tourist organisations so that our experience does not become someone else’s.
Luckily we booked through Tour Radar so we were able to get a full refund.
DE
Email Tanja Siegmund | 35-50 years of age
Totally unreliable, very bad communication
It was really bad, they didn't answer. We can't do the tour, because they didn't pick up us, the car was in service. They said we can also do the tour a day later or do it only 2 days, but we booked 3 days.
That's no way!
AE
Email Sandra | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very bad & disappointing!!
we were planning a trip to Botswana/ Namibia / Zimbabwe but we couldn't make it & actually we were sent back from the airport because the agency lied to us and didn't provide the needed documents.. so the vacation was ruined, embarrassment at the airport minding that myself & my friend we are regular travelers (weekly basis almost). they ripped us off & no one is answering our mails & requests to get refunds!!!
It’s been almost 6 months & still nothing...
We’ve trusted that they will handle our visa , at least that's what the agent said
:For my friend it was extrmely confusing for them to give an answer about her documents and then they’ve assured that she would get the visa on arrival... this never happened because we were not even allowed to leave the airport
:For myself they’ve started the visa applications. (again what they said!!)
:We’ve purchased the flight tickets after their confirmation on my visa delivery on Nov 27th Tue, which they’ve said they would send the file either on the same day eve or the next day morning.
: They’ve never sent the visa!!!! We’ve received an image of a so called ‘visa’ only 12 hrs before our flight. And at the airport we were told that it was not a visa but a ‘Acknowledgment of Receipt’. It turned out we were fooled and ripped off by Enrico’s Safaris. And still no refund even after 6 months & no one is replying !!!
They’ve ruined our holiday plans and we’ve missed an opportunity. On top my friend received an email from them saying: ‘If you guys could have emphasized strictly that you are not allowed without a Visa I would have done my utmost best to make sure, that's the level of support you get from this agency!!
Of course we’ve asked for refund of our down payment & flight ticket costs. They’ve said they can only return the down payment and instead of the flight ticket they’ve offered free of charge tour in March 2019, which we’ve declined and asked for a refund. Since then no refund, no answer to our emails and phones.
again I am a regular traveler & this never happened to me but I guess there is always a first time when we have such incompetent agencies. please check before picking them for your vacations because they are such a big disappointment , waste of money & time...
Reply from Enrico’s Tours and Safaris
Posted on May 13, 2019Dear Sandra, we just tried to assist you on getting a visa its actually not our duty as a tour operator to get you a visa. But we really tried to help you. we talked about a refund but unfortunately you wanted us to pay you more then the deposit you paid us.
But still we tried all other alternatives to solve this but it seems you dont want any solutions This is the 2nd review you write but until now you dont want a solution. I have taken this matter to the Tourism Board as well to get assistance and they advice me to get a good solution and what you have paid,needs to be refunded and thats what I am trying to do,but it seems you dont want any solutions.
Email Ann | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Took our money but only booked and paid for our 1st 2 nights. Very embarrassing and stressful.hopele
Dreadfull.Except for the 1st 2 nights nothing was prebooked or paid for
Pathetic excuses.Guide left his employment after this experience
AE
Email Belin | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
THey are thieves and liars!!
We’ve wanted to go to Botswana/ Namibia / Zimbabwe and because of their lies, we couldn’t even leave the airport!!! It’s been a month and they’ve never refunded our money back!!!
We’ve trusted that they will handle our visa:
:For Turkish citizens I’ve asked they’ve said no need, I’ve doublechecked by sending a link and they’ve assured me that I would get the visa on arrival still, which was misleading.
:For my friend they’ve started the visa applications.
:We’ve purchased the flight tickets after their confirmation on her visa on Nov 27th Tue, which they’ve said they would send the file either on the same day eve or the next day morning.
: They’ve never sent the visa!!!! We’ve received an image of a so called ‘visa’ only 12 hrs before our flight. And at the airport we were told that it was not a visa but a ‘Acknowledgment of Receipt’. It turned out we were fooled/lied by Enrico’s Safaris. And still no refund!!!
They’ve ruined our holiday plans and we’ve missed an opportunity. On top I’ve received an email from them saying: ‘If you guys could have emphasised strictly that you are not allowed without a Visa I would have done my atmost best to make sure, thats why for you I did not even bother to apply for a Visa’ Imagine a travel agency that saying this!!!!
Of course we’ve asked for refund of our downpayment & flight ticket costs. They’ve said they can only return the downpayment and instead of the flight ticket they’ve offered free of charge tour in March 2019, which we’ve declined and asked for a refund. Since then no refund, no answer to our emails and phones.
I’ve been to more than 55 countries and this is the first time in my life such a thing has happened. So if you are even considering them do not! They are incompetent & unreliable.