US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I recommend you do not book!
I booked a 3-day safari with Msangai Safaris with my spouse, and unfortunately our experience fell far short of what was promised.
• Missed game drives: The first day had no proper game drive or lunch, and the second day was largely lost due to delays and the guide being absent for over 2.5 hours at Kogatende airstrip. The only meaningful game drive happened on the final morning, and only after concerns were raised directly with the company.
• Unsafe, unfit vehicle: The guide’s car was an old open model that repeatedly broke down, including a muffler failure that left us stuck on the road. At one point, we were taken to a garage during game drive hours.
• Professional concerns: The guide admitted he could not reliably manage the vehicle and attempted to borrow a relative’s car. There was minimal concern for safety or the quality of the safari experience.
• Broken promises: Binoculars that were confirmed in writing were never provided.
While lodges, flights, and the hot air balloon were delivered, the core safari experience — the main reason for booking — was significantly disrupted. The company issued a partial refund of USD 1,250, but this only covered a small portion of the losses.
Update: After posting the review, the owner asked us to remove it, claiming one bad experience shouldn’t reflect their company. This was our one and only experience — and it was severely disrupted. It’s important to leave this review so future travelers can make informed decisions.
Additionally, while the wildebeest migration was impressive, our car arrived last, we were stuck in the back, and the driver could not get us closer. The company’s marketing implies an “unforgettable safari experience,” but in reality, this was not delivered
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A stressful, unsafe and unprofessional safari experience
We booked a safari with Milana Tours, paying USD 17,000 in advance for a complete package (5 people). Unfortunately, what should have been a dream trip became one of the most stressful and unsafe travel experiences of our lives.
For two full days we were pressured continuously for money. On one side, the driver was in tears, telling us he had not been paid by the agency. On the other side, the agency itself was contacting us, demanding USD 2,000 and later 2,500 in order for the trip to continue.
We were caught in the middle of these disputes, treated like bargaining chips instead of clients who had already paid in full.
The pressure was intense and frightening. While driving through remote parks, the agency made us feel unsafe in different ways, leaving us far from home with no alternative support.
Several activities also did not match the agreed itinerary, and we were faced with unexpected additional costs.
At one point, we were even asked to sign documents stating that the company would eventually pay the driver, which was absurd and unacceptable.
This ruined the last part of our safari. Instead of enjoying nature and feeling protected, we lived through fear, stress, and insecurity.
For the price we paid, we expected professionalism, safety, and reliability. Instead, we experienced extortion attempts, broken promises, and unethical practices.
I strongly recommend to avoid this company!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Avoid Lush Africa Safaris – Poor Management, Broken Promises, and Unsafe Vehicles
I do not recommend Lush Africa Safaris. Abbey, the owner, was terrible about communication unless it involved asking for more money. He would outright lie, claiming things were booked when they weren’t, and failed to follow through on commitments and providing pertinent information. I had to repeatedly remind him about details, and his last-minute scrambling caused us significant stress and lost sleep.
The vehicle we were given in Uganda was awful—not a “luxury” vehicle at all. The seatbelts, AC, cooler, and even the armrest didn’t work. On our very first day, before we had even started the safari, we got a flat tire on the highway. Then, two days in a row, we had a dead battery, which nearly caused us to miss our chimp trekking. We lost hours dealing with these issues and waiting for a replacement vehicle. When I raised these concerns with Abbey, he dismissed them with a simple “sorry to hear about your situation with the vehicle.” This is HIS company, and according to one of our guides, he owns the vehicles. He knew—or should have known—that what he provided was neither the luxury safari vehicle he promised nor even a safe vehicle for such a trip.
He also didn’t book our flight from Kigali to Nairobi until just 36 hours before departure, despite assuring me it had been booked more than two months earlier. This caused us to have to change our itinerary at the last minute as he didn’t put us on the flight he told me we would be on. On top of that, he forgot to book our hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti—even though it had been paid for nearly a year in advance.
The one positive: the tour guides themselves were excellent, especially Derrick in Uganda. He was outstanding, and I truly hope he finds another company to work for—he’s far too good to be tied to someone who caused as much stress and disappointment as Abbey did.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very disappointed and dissatisfied after reading so many positive reviews - not my experience at all
I was so disappointed and dissatisfied with my recent safari with Zambezi Expedition. I had previously been on three other safaris with different companies and hence had a good idea of what to expect since those previous three were all brilliant and extremely enjoyable. Unfortunately, however this was not my experience with Zambezi Expedition, and I felt very let down. The safari I went on was advertised as 3 Days / 2 Nights Victoria Falls and Hwange Camping Tour with all meals provided. The 1st day was essentially spent with them collecting me from Victoria Falls at 10am and being driven to a Lodge for Lunch arriving at approx 1.30pm. Despite the fact that the advertisement claimed, "all meals provided", after Lunch I was told that I was expected to pay for my own Meal which was contrary to the advertisement. The remainder of the 1st day was then spent travelling to a sanctuary nearby where I saw 2 wild dogs, then onto the Lodge where I slept for 2 nights. So there was no Game driving or safari type activity on the 1st day.
On the 2nd day, at approx 7am after Breakfast, I was taken in the vehicle to the entrance of the park to pick up another couple, then we went for a short drive around in the park but then had to return again to the entrance to collect another couple and then finally embarked on the Game drive. I felt that the morning had been wasted with going to and fro collecting people. The 2nd day concluded with Dinner at the lodge.
On the 3rd day, after breakfast, I expected like with the other 3 safaris I had previously been on, that I would be taken again for a final Game drive however that did not happen. I literally waited at the Lodge until approx 9.30am and was simply picked up and driven back to the starting point at Victoria Falls. I would hardly consider this a "3 day safari" when essentially the only time actually spent on a Game drive per se was Day 2. There was too much idle time siting around the Lodge which could have been better utilized for animal viewing, like I had done on the previous 3 safaris. There was inadequate activity provided for the cost so I felt that this was very poor value for money.
None of this Review should come as a surprise to the Owner since he did approach me afterwards at Victoria Falls because my dismay had been communicated back to him and I re-iterated exactly what I have written here.
On a positive note, the food which was provided was excellent, as well as the staff and the accommodation. The Driver was an excellent safe driver but the whole trip was let down by the complete lack of activity. I would not recommend this particular safari tour unless they make considerable changes to their Itinerary.
MY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely Disappointed – Poor Communication, Unprofessional Conduct, and Lack of Accountability
The overall experience was overshadowed by some issues that should never happen on a trip of this nature.
Unprofessional and Rude Driver: One of the most disturbing incidents happened during our transfer from Nakuru to Amboseli. The driver(Peter) didn't make any stops after 4hour of driving during a 6~8-hour journey. I finally requested to have a stop or toilet break because I personally needed to use the toilet due to a sensitive stomach condition, and instead of understanding, the driver mocked me, saying I wasn’t in "as good condition" as him. This kind of behavior is not only unprofessional but also deeply insensitive. People may have medical conditions that require regular restroom breaks – this is not something to joke about. (Attached is the transport that this driver driving.)
That said, I want to give full credit to one of the drivers, WeekCliff (or a name similar to that), who took us from Nairobi to Maasai Mara and then to Nakuru. He was incredibly professional, friendly, and helpful throughout. His effort and attitude truly stood out and made part of the journey enjoyable.
Irresponsibility Toward Other Travelers: A fellow traveler on our tour had arranged a follow-up trip to Tanzania through this same company. Not only did they stop responding to him after taking payment, but when he arrived in Tanzania, there was no driver waiting, no coordination, and worse – the hotel informed him that the company hadn't paid them or possibly even owed them money. This left him extremely stressed and stranded in a foreign country.
These are not minor oversights – they reflect a lack of professionalism, accountability, and basic respect for customers. I strongly advise others to think twice before booking with this company. A safari is meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but in our case, it was filled with stress and disappointment because of how poorly things were managed.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible experience! Abandoned in South Africa after full payment
Horrible Experience – Abandoned in South Africa by Southern African Tours
We had a devastating experience with Southern African Tours, run by Craig and Bianca. We began planning our trip with them over a year in advance, starting in September 2024, for our visit in September 2025. Our payment schedule was as follows:
• First deposit: September 2024
• Second payment (local flights): November 2024
• Final payment: June 2025
Initially, communication with Bianca was good — she was responsive and professional until just after our second payment. After that, she became increasingly difficult to reach. Messages and emails often went unanswered for days or even weeks, and she frequently claimed to be “too busy” to talk.
The worst began right before our departure:
• 5 days before the trip, we asked for a group call to finalize the itinerary. She said “Monday,” then ghosted us.
• The day before departure, we urgently requested our pickup and flight information for our trip to Kruger National Park. No response.
• Upon arriving in Johannesburg, we discovered no local flight reservation was made — we had to book and pay out of pocket, on the spot.
• When we got to our first lodge, we were told our reservation had just been made the day before, and they wouldn’t let us stay unless we paid again for the first two nights.
• The next part of our stay was also a disaster — no transportation or accommodations were arranged, and again, we had to make and pay for our own arrangements.
• Later, we flew from Kruger to Cape Town, only to find out no flights had been booked there either. Once again, we covered everything ourselves.
Essentially, they took our full payment and provided none of the agreed-upon services. We were left stranded multiple times and had to rebook everything ourselves.
We read other reviews that mentioned similar issues but were reassured when we saw Southern African Tours respond defensively, blaming customers or claiming miscommunication. Now we know the truth — do not trust the reviews or their responses.
👉 Based on our experience, we strongly advise against using Southern African Tours.
👉 We felt let down by Craig and Bianca and would not recommend dealing with them.
👉 After paying, we felt abandoned and unsupported during our trip.”
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Misleading, validate vehicle
I booked a tour with Valley Rock Tours through Viator based on the beautiful photos and description showing a spacious, comfortable 4*4 Jeep — which seemed perfect for a day of exploring. However, when the tour operator arrived, it was in a small, cramped, and very uncomfortable mint-colored Jeep, definitely NOT a 4x4 that looked nothing like what was advertised.
It was a complete letdown and felt misleading. The vehicle shown online was a big part of why I chose this tour in the first place, so I made the decision to cancel rather than spend hours in discomfort.
I requested a refund and was denied.
If the tour listing had been honest about the actual vehicle used, I wouldn’t have booked. This kind of bait-and-switch is incredibly disappointing and unprofessional.
Nyrsa Zayas
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cheated, misled on itinerary, tipping pressure, very poor service, no sense of responsibility
We recently booked a 5-night, 6-day safari with Native Africa in June/July, and unfortunately, the overall experience was extremely disappointing, especially given the high price we paid.
Main Concerns:
1. Currency Handling
We paid the company in USD (as instructed), but when it came to returning change, they gave it back in Kenyan Shillings. If payment is accepted in USD, change should also be returned in USD.
2. Vehicle Switch & Misleading “Complimentary” Safari
Although we had paid for a 4x4 Land Cruiser, we were transferred in a van on Day 1, with the excuse that our vehicle had met with an accident.
Later, the company claimed they were giving us a complimentary game drive, but this was misleading — our first lodge (Jambo Mara Safari Lodge) was inside the park, which already included game drives in the package.
3. Lake Naivasha Detour
Our guide diverted us to Lake Naivasha (not in our agreed itinerary) and took us to a boating area that seemed unofficial and commission-based.
For lunch, he stopped at a roadside, unhygienic restaurant, making us miss the hot lunch that was already paid for at our Nakuru lodge. We ended up paying extra out of pocket for a poor experience.
4. Amboseli Safari Mismanagement
The guide delayed our arrival to Amboseli and showed little interest during the safari.
On the evening game drive, he cut it short, refusing to stop for cheetah sightings despite other cars enjoying the view.
5. Final Day – Serious Misconduct
The itinerary clearly mentioned a forenoon game drive in Amboseli (10 AM–12 PM), but our guide ended it in less than an hour and drove us out of the park by 9:45 AM.
When we questioned this, he became defensive and insisted that he “does not drive in the evening” due to safety, even though leaving by noon would still get us to Nairobi by 4 PM — well before evening.
The most alarming moment came when he stopped the car in the middle of nowhere with our luggage inside and told us he “could not travel with us anymore.” He suggested we stay behind in Amboseli, book another safari on our own, and even take a flight to Nairobi — despite the fact that we had already paid for the safari vehicle. This was shocking, unsafe, and completely unprofessional.
Feeling unsafe and left with no option, we had to agree to return with him. We reached Nairobi by early afternoon, proving our point that starting later would not have caused any evening travel issue. Still, our last safari experience was wasted, and this ruined the entire trip’s ending.
Other issues:
- We faced a tipping pressure, with the guide openly asking for $20–30 per person per day, though the company had initially indicated $10–15.
- The tribal village visit felt staged and overpriced, with repeated “chiefs” and pressure to buy overpriced jewelry.
BG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Don’t trust Timeline Travel!!! Based on my experience, I felt scammed and completely misled
We visited South Africa in early May. We were a group of 35 people from Bulgaria and we paid Timeline Travel a total of about 81 000 USD, but we didn't get what we paid for. Mr. Andrew Machete turned out to be a brazen liar - he changed the program as he wanted. We didn't visit Chobe National Park in Botswana at all. Andrew did not provide us with a local guide except on the day of arrival. Another absurd discrepancy was the fact that no entrance fees to museums, reserves or natural landmarks were paid in advance as agreed (exepting Kruger National Park and the Apartheid Museum). This was outrageous, especially as Mr.Machete did not answer any of the phone calls, and later, even when he were with us, he kept changing the program and we had to pay the entrance fees. We spent an extra 4400 USD. Andrew repeatedly promised to refund this money, but of course this did not happen. I should also mention the vehicle we traveled in most of the time - the bus was literally falling apart, dirty, no air-condition, no microphone. One day we had to wait two hours for the bus to pick us up from the hotel.
Companies like Timeline Travel should not be allowed to provide tourism services.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Untrustworthy Tour Company – Avoid SDSafaris at All Costs
I had a very disappointing and frustrating experience with SDSafaris. I trusted them with my travel plans, but unfortunately, they completely failed to deliver on what was promised.
The tour I paid for was either never provided or was drastically different from what was advertised.
Communication was poor or nonexistent once issues began to arise.
Despite repeated attempts to resolve the issue, I was ignored or given the runaround.
I ended up losing $3000 and there was no accountability.
I would strongly advise others to avoid this company. It feels like a scam operation. If you're looking for a reliable and professional travel experience, look elsewhere.