50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A Terrible Experience ... Sunrise Eco-Tours
We booked and paid for a bespoke Ugandan Safari with Sunrise Eco-Tours scheduled to depart in February 2016. Initially communication with the company was good but as the departure date approached it became very difficult to contact company representatives.
In January 2016 we were advised by a third party that Sunrise Eco-Tours was experiencing "operational difficulties" and social media reports started to appear stating how clients already on tours organised by the company were being asked to pay again for activities, such as gorilla trekking, as well as hotel bills that they had already paid for.
At this point, just weeks before our tour was to commence, communication with Sunrise Eco-Tours became extremely difficult and the company owner, Clement Kanamuguire, when telephoned just terminated the call or stated that he was busy and could not respond to any questions.
We then took it upon ourselves to call the respective hotels, lodges and guest houses in Uganda that we were supposed to be staying at only to discover that there were no reservations for us. We had been emailed previously by Sunrise Eco-Tours to confirm that all our accommodation had been booked. At this point we asked the company for documentation to show that our gorilla trekking permits and our chimpanzee trekking permits had been booked and confirmed. We also asked for an explanation as to why we had been lied to regarding our accommodation bookings. Unfortunately Sunrise Eco-Tours refused to communicate with us and did not provide documentation or explanations.
It was at this point we asked Sunrise Eco-Tours for a full refund of all monies, many thousands of pounds, paid to them as their "operational difficulties" had lead to a breach of contract. They were unable to provide the safari we had paid for.
When it became clear that Sunrise Eco-Tours had no intention of honouring the contract and providing the safari our travel agent, Responsible Travel, identified another company who agreed to create a similar safari for us with only two weeks to go before we were scheduled to depart for Uganda. Sandfield Travel "pulled out all the stops" and managed to arrange transport and guides, book hotels as well as obtain the necessary trekking permits prior to our departure. Communication with them was excellent and the subsequent safari exceeded our expectations
We cannot speak to highly of Rosy at Responsible Travel and Wycliffe at Sandfield Travel ... and would recommend you speak to them rather than engage with Sunrise Eco-Tours.
To date there has been no further communication from Sunrise Eco-Tours in spite of numerous emails and telephone calls. There has been no refund of the any monies paid to them. Caveat emptor!! We certainly learnt a very expensive lesson.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Laura
The least interesting of all the parks, not much wildlife and not much to see. The lake is nice but in my opinion is not worth it.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Arrangements for travel/transfers were very poor and (in retrospect) ridiculously expensive .
Advice provided by travel agent, Adelle, regarding travel/transfers was exceptionally poor in terms of logistics and cost. She was not worthy of our trust. We had already chosen Londolozi as our safari destination and found our experience there, and indeed for the remainder of our trip to South Africa, to be very positive. We will return to the southern coast of South Africa and Londolozi for further golfing/safari experiences but definitely will not use the same South African travel agent .
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Okavango Delta by Emily Rinaldi
The only activities for boat rides and a walking safari. We barely saw any animals at all on either of the boat or the walking safari. We even tried to fish and they were zero fish as our guide told us they already migrated when the water levels rose.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awful experience, use this company at your peril.
I was on the same tour as Eric, so there is little I can add, simply reinforce the truth of what Eric has written. I have never had such a stressful holiday in my life...
I have never been in the position before where I felt it was necessary to contact my Embassy (Irish). Frances, from the Embassy was very helpful; sourcing flight information - the day before we were due to leave Uganda – as Clement had not sent us any details. We did not receive flight confirmation info from Clement until 00:30 the day of our flight. This added additional stress to an already very stressful trip. Sunrise Eco Tours is an extremely badly organised company with an owner, Clement Kanamugire, who has no qualms about lying to his customers, and taking their money under false pretences. Various members of our group spoke to him on the phone during the trip (this is why we are sure of the lies), and he took our money and didn’t book activities, chimpanzee trek in Uganda, rhino sanctuary visit, failure to pay hotel bills. He did ofer compensation on our return home (nearly two months ago), to date, this has not arrived.
50-65 years of age
Terrible terrible roads- ruins the experience
My first time visiting the park - The facilities are run down - the roads are disgusting- even the toughest 4x4 is gonna need attention after visiting etosha - I camped there and have to say its expensive - the wildlife is amazing but I definitely won't b back. Etosha is totally overated- other parks like kgalagadi or kruger national park have more to offer
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The gravel roads are the worst of SANParks and not suited for sedan vehicle at all. Shame on you!!!
Don't go there, the gravel roads are so bad all attention needs to be on driving the bad road condition's , it's impossible to do game viewing at the same time. Sedan vehicles should not be allowed to enter the park!!!!
under20 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
the worst trip
i really didnt like it. i saw a very small amount of animals and no lions
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Namibia closed international flights & Skeleton Coast Safaris will not return our money.
Would like to see it. By small airplane is a good idea. Maybe in 2 years we can make it.
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Horrible Horrible Service from Hennie - Avoid at all cost!!
We booked a trip with Fleet Foot Safaris for 6D5N Vic Falls and Chobe National Park with Hennie last year in December. Once everything was finalised and payment was done promptly, there were delays in our vouchers and when the vouchers were given to us, we were told that the initial quote cannot be matched and there were reduction of activities given to us and no airport transfers for us!! It was explained to us that it was due to the changes we made earlier as there were supposed to be 3 person instead of 2. The initial plan was 3 of us and we were quoted with single sharing premium which doesn't make sense at all, we didnt want any trouble and wanted to make sure that was all the changes from the itinerary, Hennie confirmed that only reduction of 2 activities and no airport transfer. However, when we reached Chobe National Park, we were told from the resort that our lunches are not included as opposed to what's stated in the itinerary. We called Hennie and he told us he will only be back in office in a few days' time and by that time we will be finished with the trip and back home!!
Horrible horrible service from Hennie and please do not trust him on his final itinerary until you get all the vouchers. There are multiple shortchange and it was unfair to holidaygoers.