US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They are a dishonest company based on our experience
I used this company for a Kenya family safari in 2017 and we had a great experience. Based on this, we booked a new 5 day luxury Safari with them. I had every expectation that - based on my prior experience from 2017 - we could expect another great experience. This was not the case. Something has clearly happened and this company has gone totally downhill.
In summary - we were assured that our private Safari trip was completely lined up and on track. However the moment we paid them the money ($12k for a family of 5) - the problems immediately began. Firstly we were lied to about the hotel we had chosen somehow not having availability and we were rebooked into a different hotel of a much lower caliber (and told that the price was the same). I later confirmed that there was NO lack of availability at our originally selected lodge - rather the company had never made the reservation and had just pocketed the money. Secondly the company never paid the Safari park fees (despite us having paid them IN FULL prior to our arrival). We were left stranded at the park entrance for over an hour and were constantly being pressured to just pay the park entry fees in "cash" and told we would get refunded later. I refused.
This company ruined our family vacation. They took our money upfront and assured us our trip is all paid for. Then left us stranded in a foreign country and told us to just pay in "cash" to cover ongoing costs. Our attempts to get a refund are met with a combination of them ignoring emails/phone calls and them sending us generic emails.
The people we dealt with are Fred and Humphrey. I would advise you don't use them and do not make the mistake we did.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I would advise you don't book
I have been to Kenya and Tanzania a number of times. This trip that I booked with Safari360 was my worst experience ever. I almost lost my life because Petro runs a business that uses totally filthy, substandard and unsafe vehicles, and crowns it with unprofessional drivers to take unsuspecting travelers for a ride. The first jeep that I was sent did not have any working windows or doors. They did not open from the inside, and had to be pried open from the outside by the Driver, whenever needed. That 2 seater jeep was filthy, smelled, and had one "functional" seat, but no seat belts. The driver had the switch to open and close the windows as the switches by the windows were inoperable. He smashed my fingers in the window a total of 4 times as he could not control the switch. When I asked for a replacement vehicle, I was sent a 6 seater Toyota Range Rover. At first I was relieved when I saw it from the outside. However, very soon I learned that it was no different from the first vehicle. I was basically made to jump from the frying pan into the fire. This vehicle had totally broken seats, no seat belts on any of the seats, and again doors and windows that were not operable from the inside, The vehicle appeared never to have been cleaned from the inside, but worst of all, various parts of this poorly maintained jeep kept breaking down. We had a total of 4 breakdowns with issues ranging from the rear axle, to the shock absorbers and followed by the struts. The final blow was when the brakes failed. The driver had to pull into mechanic shops at remote villages where we spent between 2 to 4 hours getting the repair work done. Petro, and his partner, who provides the transport, did not approve any fuel purchase along the way. As per his calculations he had provided enough fuel for the entire journey. At no point had he taken into consideration the lousy and treacherous road conditions and other factors that could and did affect the "mpg or kpl." I had to pay for the gas out of pocket as it was either that or be stuck in the middle of nowhere. The height of indifference and couldn't careless attitude on the part of Petro and his partner towards the safety of the Driver and me was reached when the brakes of the Range Rover failed as we were descending towards a valley on a very steep hill with a 7% grade, as the posted signs showed. We would have ended in a head-on collision with a truck that was going the opposite direction because the bus behind the truck decided to pass him without bothering to see if it was safe to do so. The road was very narrow in both directions. How we did not have a fatal collision with failed brakes is still a mystery to me, and gives me the creeps till today. Your entire life truly flashes before your eyes at that moment. After this incident we drove downhill to the very next village at 5kpl. We were fortunate to find a mechanic who spent 3 hours fixing the brakes. I have never had such a harrowing trip anywhere in the world since I have been traveling. Please, I advise you do not use Safari360. Petro's only objective is to make money. Period! He is an unscrupulous, unethical and unprofessional Safari Tour operator. Your safety is never his concern. I wonder if the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism that issues Safari Operator licenses are even aware of how businesses are run once they issue the licenses. Does that department even have any checks and balances or monitor these businesses. Since Tourism is a major income generator for the government I am sure they would be interested in hearing about some of these horribly and unsafe practices by some tour operators. That is something worth looking into. Buyer Beware.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We feel cheated by Mwajabu and lost out money
I recommend anyone who is thinking about booking trip with them to not pay any money in advanced to not face the terrible experience we had. We paid to Mwajabu $6,000 in advance by Westen Union, an when we arrived to Kenia, the driver told us that the hotels, park fees and driver were not paid so we had to pay everything again!! TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. When we requested an explanation to Mwajabu she told us a story about her accountant and she promised to return all the money. It has been more than 1 month and we are still waitting for our $5,000 back, following up with her false promises and excuses everyday. Honestly, this is the worst situation I have ever faced travelling and I feel she cheated and stole our money that I will never get back. It is sad to see that we can’t trust some local touroperators.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Misled, ignored calls & pocketed $830 of my money without paying for services
This tour operator shouldn't be advertised on this platform and shouldn't be approached. 'Eddie' assured me that I was being booked on a group tour - and yet I was on my own. He failed to provide timely communications and updates to me until prompted. My driver was about 1.5hrs late to pick me up, then got a traffic ticket, afterwards getting pulled over by the traffic police, to wait in a hot field by the side of the road for over 45 minutes. As a result of these delays, we spent the last stretch of the
near 10hr journey in the dark on dirt roads, with few updates conveyed to me. The next day, on arrival at the Bwindi gorilla base camp, I was left alone as two separate trekking groups came and went, without any communication until more than 2 hours later, when it materialised that Eddie had not paid for the gorilla permit, that I paid him for, over a month ago. Eddie failed to pick up his phone or respond to messages from the driver or myself all morning. I had to either leave without seeing the gorillas I had come all this way to see, or pay another $800 for the permit. I had no choice but to pay again before the cut-off for that day's gorilla trekking. Eddie then decided to become available at around 11, and has since that time come up with a range of excuses (no apologies) and has continually delayed and prevaricated reimbursing me. I believe I have been scammed. I have reported this to the police. It has left me suspicious and spoilt my experience of visiting Uganda. I trusted Safaribookings and was let down with their vetting of tour operators.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I recommend you avoid and beware
This tour operator goes by the name 'Eddie', with safari and trekking services also advertised through 'Northern Fox Adventures'. My experience has been one of deception, bad communication and $830 being taken from me, without the service provided. I recommend avoiding at all cost.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unresolved Payment Issue
I want to share my personal experience with Tafika Travel Advisor, represented by Mr. Paul, In August 2024, I made a payment of $510 for a service that I unfortunately never received. Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue, I have not been able to recover my money.
As someone who has worked in the tourism industry for over 10 years, this has been a deeply disappointing and stressful experience. I believe transparency is important, so I am sharing this to encourage others to exercise caution when choosing a business partner.
I have reported this matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Zambia and other relevant organizations. I also have documentation related to my case. I recommend that anyone considering these companies conduct thorough research before making any commitments.
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Terrible experience Mud poured over our heads and clothes got dirty but no support
We faced a terrible experience during the tour. Mud and muddy water poured over our head and clothes got dirty but no support nor compensation from the guide.
The tour was held on a clowdy day with some rain and the ground was so muddy.
The car the guide used was a van, HIACE (not the land clouser or something) and the car hight was not enough to avoid splash mad or even to run the bad road.
So we closed the window and opened the roof to watch animals.
The case was happened when we crossed a big puddle. Even though the car is not tall enough to cross it and there was an alternative detour to avoid it, the driver plunged into it and after a few seconds , the car hit a pothole and mud (and water) heavily splashed and they poured into our heads and clothes from the opened roof.
Please let me echo that if it was of course
avoidable because 1) there was an alternative detour to avoid the puddle and 2) there were a few seconds for the driver to stop and turn back before hitting the pothole (the mud splash was kept happening).
After the incident, we asked to the support team to seek any compensation but they just said apologies.
We are very disappointed for the experience without professionalism.
50-65 years of age
very unreliable company – payment Not Honored
A mob of scammers who send you bogus itineraries so when you pay invoice you turn up for flight or accommodation that do not exist. They never refund the money owing
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible experience with Birchill Expeditions – we felt scammed and harassed!
Our two-day visit to Akagera National Park was extremely disappointing. Although the animals were seen on the game drive, the experience was not at all enjoyable. The canoe trip to Ihema Lake was not very exciting, and the animals had to be seen from a distance. The biggest problem was the misconduct of Birchill Expeditions—they forced us to pay extra money and harassed us in various ways throughout the trip. Their management was very poor, and the behavior of the guides was also immodest. Please do not book this company, or you may not get what you paid for.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They are broke…when you get cheated go KATO. They guarantee payment.
We loved the safari and driver on a Kenya safari that ended Jan 20. Natural World Safari’s is broke. We raised hell and got 7 days of our 11 paid…one day at a time. At the end we brought the Nairobi Tourist police and the operator was able to refund the last $4000 US by some shenanigans with a refund to our credit card. My guess is the best route for a refund of the safari cost (not your airfare and hassle) is through KATO, an organization that apparently guarantees operators nationally.
If you have the funds, my recommendation is you do the safari and pay yourself, as needed and then go to KATO.
If you haven’t booked with this company, I would advise don't.