50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Top class as always
This time we asked Mark to find us a last minute package for two days. We wanted to go to Sabi Sands, as the game viewing is always of high quality but we are also aware that it can be extremely expensive. To some extent it is fair to say that the game viewing is the same irrespective of the cost of the lodge/fixed campsite and we were on a budget! Mark came up with Idube Lodge but we could only stay for one night because they were otherwise booked out, so we also went for a night to Lukimbe Lodge (their sister lodge in another concession in the Southern part of Kruger.
Both places were lovely but for different reasons. Lukimbe is a 5 star resort with excellent food and a luxury room, but the game viewing is slightly harder as the bush is thick. Whilst one may not like it, Sabi Sands also has the advantage of many vehicles on the lookout for game and has a wider network of radio communications, whereas Lukimbe has only their own vehicles in the area.
Idube lodge has lovely rooms they are not very rustic which may be an issue for some when in the bush. The rooms however are very nice and have all that one needs for a wonderful stay. The game viewing, whilst not always quantity, is very high quality and one certainly gets up close and personal with the animals which is really why we were there. We had some great sightings of leopard and also wild dog. Brogan (guide)and Ronald the tracker were great, again they can make or break a trip like this. We enjoyed it so much we added on another day!
So all in all another success for Taga Safaris: thank you so much Mark for your endeavours and for getting back to us so swiftly.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderfull experience.
Our daughter lives in Kampala and that prompted me to make a wish of mine. It seemed very much in the context of the father-son relationship once to make an adventurous journey. The choice of destination was so easily made.
We are almost three week been in Uganda, and spent the weekend with our daughter, she has these days largely filled our program.
Through Grassrootz we have two midweek filled with the first week a trip to Murchison Falls National Park. The second week we went to lake Bunyonyi and the Gorrilla,s
Our driver / tour guide George Lingo picked us up in Kampala before leaving for Murchison falls. He is a very experienced driver and a very pleasant person to deal with. He has told us much of what we have seen on the road.
The accommodation for overnight in the park (Red Chilli rest camp) was a perfect location on a beautiful place.
From there we did a safari in the beautiful park with a lot of animals. George had arranged that a ranger came along with us. This was sure to bring a plus because they told a lot about the game but also knew us to the most beautiful places. We have seen all the common animals, sometimes just a few meters away.
We also made a boat trip on the Nile (from the water you see so many animals and birds!). We were dropped off by boat at the foot of the waterfall and from there to the top on foot climbed to where the water starts to fall. Very recommended. We're up here picked up by George.
Photo Moments to remember, lots of wild birds, nature, water, sunrise and sunset, but also very nice friendly people.
The second midweek , George brought us to Lake Bunyonyi. On the way we saw a lot. Also made a digression into a nature to see Zebras etc. We have had a number of nights here on a development project run by a Dutchman. (Amasiko.org). A great place right on the most beautiful lake in the world ( "The most beautiful lake in the World" (BBC Focus on Africa). Here you can safely swim and enjoy the otters.
From here we went to the rainforest to visit the mountain gorillas. This takes a bit but then you have something and you support the conservation of the species. There are also a lot of local people involved and financially dependent.
Before we went back to Kampala we Spent a night in a busch logde directly adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth park. Amidst the wild in a tent. What an experience.
From here made a chimpanzee track and then back to Kampala.
All pre-planned and agreed customized by mail. Very smooth and enjoyable contact Sander van Zanten of Grassrootz.
Next year I go with my wife again and Will book a trip through Grassrootz.
Henk
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
fantastic safari
the safari was really good, we saw all the animal, leopard, elefant, gireffe , a big family of leopard , buffallo and many others.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Efficient and very helpful
The Customer service person from Travel shore Africa was very efficient, helpful and very understanding to all our needs
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simple accommodation but with great staff.
- Great experience!
- the guides were very helpfull, full of informations, gave excellent and clear instructions (Craig)
- Food was excellent. It was amazing what can be done with such a simple "kitchen".
- The whole athmosphere was like being among friends.
- The tent was simple but served ist purpose. It was always clean.
- Very helpful Staff.
QA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Refreshing Safari Ever
My friend recommended Axis Africa Safaris I booked it online Mr.Lenox was very very helpful and patient because I ask too many tr questions:-).
Being my first time in maasai mara my expectations were so high and I can gladly say they surpassed it .
Mr. Robert the driver picked us up Such a jovial warm and welcoming man, made a few stop overs at curio shops learnt a lot bought a few stuff
On arrival at Sentrim lodge was received by maasai dancers oh they sang so beautifully and jumped so high.
The Staff reception the food the game drive the Trip was what I needed .
Was lucky to see the big 5
I could go on and on ..... I recommend Axis Africa Safaris and will definitely travel with them again ..:-)
Experience level: over 5 safaris
Chitake
Went to Chitake, Zimbabwe with Natureways sharing their temporary camp with another group who had their own guide with vehicle. We therefore had the sole use of Natureways vehicle and guide who they supplied at a much lower price than if we had gone with our own guide and Andy the Natureways guide was excellent.
The camp staff were always helpful and friendly and a credit to the company, the meals were good and the drinks were nice and cold which is much needed in the heat at Chitake. The only failing was the quality of the tent whose zips were always jamming and breaking, not good when you are trying to get in in the dark so they need to upgrade or repair the zips.
Overall though thoroghly enjoyed our trip to Chitake with Natureways and would recommend them to anyone thinking of going there.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent experience! Lots of animals.
- I would always recommend this park.
- I would not come again at the end of October. It was too hot!
- A park with a lot of things to do.
my trip
We had a very good trip and we are very happy to do it with Safarihub All the information that Eleanor gave us before our departure on the camps and the parks were very honest and correct. Maybe more clarification was needed on Mafia Marine park entrance fees, but it was also our mistake. Even so they made our experience a unforgettable one !
CL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible experience, they cheated on the service and stole money
Through safari booking we contacted Tembea East Africa Safaris, and at beginning everything worked perfect; Responded to our emails immediately and also we managed all the details to make our trip perfect. We were also quoted in another company that had been recommended by a friend from Chile, but we finally opted for this, as they looked like a serious company and was also "backed up" by Safari Booking.
The first problem we had was closing the payment method, because although on its page expressly shows that you can pay by Pay Pal, they told us that we could not pay that way, since for them it was very expensive the commission, So we had to pay with Western Union. We were scared with this response, so we told them that we could not take the Safari with them, but seeing that we were hesitant, Evangelina (Tambea East) immediately wrote to us saying that finally there was no problem and we could pay with pay pal If we wanted.
Thus, we agreed with them that we would pay the total of the tour with Pay Pal equivalent to 4,590 USD (50% before arriving and 50% when arriving there) and we were assured by mail that we would have no problems with that. Once this was closed, Evangelina started sending us several emails, noting that we had to pay 50% as soon as possible, because they had to buy airline tickets and book hotels with that money, otherwise if we delayed they could being full the hotels we had specially selected.
So in a few days we paid through Pay Pal 50% (2,295 USD) of the tour in advance (this was two months in advance). The tour included tickets from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar and from Zanzibar to Arusha, all hotels, all transfers, safari (guide and car) and almost all meals. That is to say, we would arrive in Tanzania, pay the remaining 50% with Pay Pal (2,295 USD) and we would just enjoy ourselves, without having to worry about anything, or to spend an extra coin.
But this was what actually happened:
1) Upon arriving in Tanzania, they told us that we can not pay the remaining 50% with Pay Pal, because they are out of their annual quota to receive payments there (clearly a lie since that does not exist) and tell us that we have to go paying in different places with the credit card as they tell us. This already annoyed us quite a bit, but we preferred not to complain to not ruin our holiday.
2) Upon arriving in Zanzibar, it was supposed to be arranged a transfer to pick us up and take us to our hotel which was 1.5 hours away. We were waiting for 40 minutes at the airport, it was night without anyone appearing, so we had to pay a taxi to take us to the hotel.
3) Once in Zanzibar, Evangenila sends us for whatsapp a list of places we have to pay ourselves upon arrival (some hotels and entrances to the parks, which were supposed to be reserved and had to be paid by them) and tell us That the rest (what is missing to complement the remaining 50%) we have to pay in cash, although they had expressly agreed that that would not happen because we were not going to carry cash on our trip.
Although we claimed and said that we were not going to pay in cash, as we took out a high commission in our country and we had agreed that we would pay with Pay Pal (there was already a claim on Safari Booking against this company For the same issue, so we were especially careful to confirm that we could pay with Pay Pal), we were told there was no other option, so we were afraid to miss the safari, ande we had to accept it.
4) Arriving in Arusha in Tanzania, as soon as we arrived we were taken to a bank, where we could not withdraw money, then in the afternoon they pick us up again at the hotel to go to another bank, in this place the exchange rate was Very high, so they wanted us to go to a third bank. At that moment I was enraged, seeing that I was using a whole day of my vacations to go to different banks instead of enjoying, so I told them that I would not go to any other bank. At that time talk directly to Issa (owner of Tembea East), who finally agreed to change the money there.
We gave them $ 899 in cash, supposedly with that money plus the payment of Planet Lodge hotels, Octagon Lodge, Tortilis Camps and tickets to the parks of Manyara Lake and Serengeti (1,396 USD), it was all paid for.
5) It was already quite annoying, to change all the same day we arrived, when we could not do anything else, and having to go paying in different places, when supposedly the grace to do this through an agency is that you pay and You forget those issues, which was what we had agreed upon. It was quite uncomfortable, since in some places the card did not work and in the parks we were the only ones doing the line, since all the other companies - as it has to be - the tourists only enjoyed and it was the company that was in charge of all the payments.
6) As for Safari itself, they hired a guide they did not even know and who had never worked with them, they hired him through a third party, so the guide did not even know the operators. That is, Tambea East had no idea who they were sending us to do the Safari (according to the guide told us), or in which car we were going to do. Luckily, within all of the poor organization, our guide was quite good and we quite enjoyed the walks with him. The problems always came in the afternoon, when tired after the Safari we had to go to the hotel.
7) The first hotel we had problems was at Tortillis Camp, as Issa (Owner of Tembea East) called us the same day we were going to Serengeti, to inform us that there was no available space at Tortilis Camp, lodge we had specially selected and for which we had even paid More (it was more expensive), so we had to go to another hotel. He only called us to communicate this, without explanation, to see if we agreed with the change, or to apologize for the incident.
This was advised on the same day that we had to go to the lodge, so we realized that they had never actually made any reservations and the 50% that we paid in advance at an early start had simply been left for them.
We realized that they were booking the hotels the day before or sometimes the same day that we were going to get to the hotel, even though we supposedly had paid 50% months in advance so they could make reservations.
In short, what happened was that they did absolutely nothing, simply received our money and stayed with it, without using it in making reservations or paying the plane tickets (also was bought the same day).
That is, the urgency of paying 50% was not to make the reservations, but because they needed the money.
8) But worst of all, it was not just what happened. In Ngorongoro when we arrived at the hotel which supposedly had already been paid directly with our money for Tembea East, we found out that Tembea had never actually paid and had just made the reservation that same day, by an email in which they told the hotel "That if they (Tembea) did not pay before we arrived at the hotel, they would charge us directly upon arrival." This was according to what the manager himself showed us. (Attach mail that Tembea East sent to Norongoto Farm House)
In the desperate place, we spent hours trying to contact someone at the agency, but they simply did not answer our calls, they didn´t respond to our messages, and the guide could not help us, since he had only been subcontracted and had no idea what was happening. Besides, he told us that he had not been paid from Tembea East either, which was due to him for the safari he was doing to us, so he was also very worried.
Finally, unable to do anything else, we had to pay again 266 USD for the hotel we had already paid to Tembea.
Then, from what happened to us in the first hotel, they sent us a message saying that we were not worried, that it was just a confusion (even though the mail they sent to the hotel was very clear) and they were going to give us back what we had paid . We were also assured that at the next hotel (Moromboi) everything was already paid, as well as the tickets to Tarangire National Park. Supposedly they had given the money to the guide, but this one told us that he had not received anything.
Upon arriving at the park, they obviously had not transferred anything to the guide, so we had to pay 119.18 USD for park fees again and the same thing happened at Maramboi Lodge, where the manager told us that they had only received half the payment ( That same day) and that they had been told that the other half would charge us when we arrived, so we had to pay 141 USD.
9) So finally with more than 535 USD we had to pay extra (although we had already paid Tembea for it), we arrived in Arusha on the last day, where we were supposed to meet with the representative of Tembea in Tanzania, who would give us back the money.
We asked all day waiting for it to arrive, instead of being able to enjoy the city, besides with the heart in the mouth, not knowing if they were going to pay us what they owed us or not. Evidently, after all the lies, we no longer trusted the agency at all. We were very scared, stressed, angry and tired of everything that happened.
Shortly before we left for the airport, they refunded us USD 350, remaining with the rest of the money which was USD 185 (which they supposedly could not transfer due to bank problems, even though they knew perfectly everything we had to pay extra since the previous day).
We have a whatsapp from Tembea East representative in Zimbabwe where he tells us that we owe 185 USD.
10) In short, they ruined our holidays, they cheated us because they never made reservations or provided any service (on the contrary, we only had different problems each day) and finally they stole more than 185 USD that we have not receive yet until today.
Everything we tell you, is backed up, with the payments, emails, messages by whatsapp and with the testimonies of all the people who witnessed this; The person they contacted in Tanzania as an intermediary, the guide they hired and the managers of the different hotels, who personally witnessed how we had been cheated.
We believe it is unlikely that such a company is part of the companies that appear on its website. Not only they did not do the work (they did not book, they did not plan, nothing!), They cheated and robbed us.
We trusted in your website (Safari Booking) and that's why we thought Tembea East was a serious company, because we thought your web site at least verified that the companies were reliable.
It is not enough in this case to put our comment about the operator on your page, but we ask you to take that company out of its publications, because we do not want anyone to happen again what happened to us.
We will not rest until this is made public so that the people who travel do not have to live such an experience. If you offer the service, you should at least check with which companies they work or which companies they publish.