Southern Dynasty Safaris Team after a Fam trip
Southern Dynasty Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Member Of:
- Zambia Tourism Agency & Zambia Association of Indigenous Tour Operators (ZATO)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Mid-range & luxury)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
DE
Email Stefan | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We think we got scammed by this Southern Dynastie Safaries, so be careful if you book with them
We booked with Southern Dynastie Safaris (SDS) 6 months in advance a 4 day fly-in safari to Okawango Delta to a lodge in the heart of Moremi Game Park for a lot of money. However, Southern Dynastie Safari did not book us on the booked lodge butalready 5 month ago into a cheaper lodge with less quality outside of Moremi Game Park. If you have ever been to Okawango Delta, this is quite a difference in landscape, experience and quality.
SDS (especially Collins) did not tell us for six month that they booked us knowingly on a different lodge. They suggested all the past five month, everything is as plannend. On the Airstrip in Maun we were informed by the pilot of the plane that we are not going to the booked lodge but to a different lodge outside of Moremi.
No communication at all by SDS, no explanation, no apology, no refund of price difference. So we would just warn everybody booking with SDS that you might not get what you booked and paid for.
Reply from Southern Dynasty Safaris
Posted on Oct 14, 2024Dear Jen,
I hope you are doing well today.
Thank you for your email and the messages you've shared.
Firstly, we would have appreciated your patience as we worked on addressing the situation. While we acknowledge that we didn’t communicate as promptly as we should have, it’s important to note that the change in lodging was a last-minute adjustment aimed at ensuring your holiday was not disrupted. Unfortunately, you were quick to issue statements accusing us of being scammers despite our ongoing efforts to resolve the matter and request your patience.
Additionally, you would wish to note that since we started operating as a tour agency, we have never swindled anyone, nor has anyone ever tagged us as scammers. We have consistently upheld our promise of offering the best travel experiences, which is reflected in the positive reviews we have received across various platforms, as well as from many other travelers who, though satisfied, didn't find the opportunity to share their stories about us.
Furthermore, you went on to post negative reviews about us on Safari Bookings and TripAdvisor. Have you considered the damage these reviews have caused to our company, Southern Dynasty Safaris, and to Collins Kalonga personally? Please take a moment to reflect on the impact of your actions.
Regarding your booking, we initially reserved your stay at Camp Xakanaxa as promised. However, due to availability issues beyond our control, we were placed on a waiting list. When the earlier guests confirmed their stay, only the 13th and 15th of September were available, and the 14th, your birthday, was fully booked. In response, we secured a booking for you at Khwai Expeditions Camp, which offers access to both the Khwai Concession and the Moremi Game Reserve. Although this camp is slightly lower in price, our plan was to ensure your holiday continued smoothly, then refund you the price difference, as we communicated.
Additionally, your calculation regarding Khwai Expeditions Camp does not take into account the charter flights to and from the camp, which is why your claim of being scammed is unfounded. We refrained from responding to your WhatsApp messages in the hope that our eventual statement would satisfy your concerns. Unfortunately, instead, you chose to escalate the issue with damaging reviews.
We take these accusations seriously, and the damage to our reputation is something we cannot ignore. We are currently consulting with legal representatives regarding our next steps.
In the meantime, we will provide the full breakdown of costs for your stay at Khwai Expeditions Camp and will determine the appropriate course of action regarding the balance.
Kind regards,
DE
Email Jennifer | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I recommend not too book-- Promised refund not provided – despite written confirmation from Collins,poor service
The circumstances of our trip and the internal rebooking to a different and significantly cheaper safari hotel in the Okavango Delta were not only not discussed with us, but in retrospect, the fraudulent practice of the provider has become apparent. After we contacted Southern Dynasty Safaris several times and they promised a refund of USD 2,000, nothing has happened yet. Collins, our contact at Southern Dynasty Safaris, is obviously highly dubious and collects the full travel price for high-quality travel services and is not willing to pay reasonable refunds that have already been promised. We had to involve the Zambian Tourism Organization, which wanted to mediate in this case. Unfortunately, they could not persuade ZATO Southern Dynasty Safaris to make a payment either. All tourists are warned at this point not to book a trip with Southern Dynasty Safaris and especially not with Collins Kolonga.