RU
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The agency cheats on clients, I reported to police
I paid fir 11 days Kenya +Tanzania safary. Arriving in Tanzania, I realized, that hotel and safary were not booked. No hotel, no guide, no safari. Tge hitel told that I'm not tge firs victim of this agency. I returned to the border Namanga and reported to police. The agency didn't responded at all. Finally Kelvin send me this message.
Dear Olga,
I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you are currently experiencing in Arusha. Please allow me to clarify the situation.
We had indeed arranged and paid for your Tanzania safari; however, we have unfortunately become victims of a cybercrime-related funds fraud that has disrupted the payment process on the ground. This unforeseen situation has interfered with the operator receiving the funds as scheduled.
To ensure your trip continues smoothly and without further delays, I kindly request that you make payment directly for the Tanzania safari on your side. Please be assured that we will process a full refund to you within 7 working days once our accounts are settled.
We deeply regret this unfortunate occurrence and take full responsibility for resolving it. Your experience and trust mean everything to us, and we are doing everything possible to ensure the rest of your safari remains memorable.
Please let me know once you have made the arrangements, so that I can personally monitor the refund process and keep you updated step by step.
With deepest apologies and appreciation for your understanding,
Kelvin,
CEO,
Beast Spoor Safaris
THIS CHEATERS MUST BE BUNNED FROM THE BUSINESS
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
From our experience,avoid this company
Only now, when I was about to leave a review, I noticed that several reviews were from locals with a single review, and several others complained about the same experience we had.
Furthermore, the photos weren't actually taken, but were taken online.
In summary, we had a terrible experience and I would advise everyone against using this agency. I've also reported them to the Italian consulate for their utter dishonesty.
I contacted them for a quote, and they responded very kindly and offered me a solution.
I asked if it was possible to make some changes since it was a private tour.
Everything was accepted.
The initial tour includes 8 days and 7 nights at a cost of $4,995:
- Airport transfers, accommodation and meals only
- Tarangire National Park, accommodation and meals
- Serengeti National Park, accommodation and meals
- Central Serengeti National Park, accommodation and meals
- Ngorongoro Crater, accommodation and meals
- Lake Manyara National Park, accommodation and meals
- Materuni Waterfall, accommodation and meals
- Airport transfer
I decide to modify the itinerary based on my needs by booking the initial and final accommodations and two intermediate ones myself, after asking them for confirmation. The program is modified so that I can do a one-day light trek on Kilimanjaro and have more time for the Serengeti: therefore, 6 days and 2 nights are at their expense.
The final program will be as follows:
- Mount Kilimanjaro Trek
- Tarangire National Park, accommodations and meals
- Serengeti National Park, meals
- Central Serengeti National Park, meals
- Serengeti National Park, accommodations and meals
- Ngorongoro Crater, meals
You'd think the total would decrease, right?
But no, because I'm told the initial offer remains the same (so they're already making money on the four nights I won't be using) and all additional expenses are my own.
New total requested $5,870, as you can see from the attached images.
Almost $1,000 for the changes.
The program still mentions full days spent in the various parks.
Initially, I try to negotiate, but given the limited availability, I decide to let it go and insist that everything go smoothly because it's the vacation of a lifetime...
Everything was fine on the first day, but already on the second day, the surprises began:
- rooms in the second day's accommodation had mold-covered walls and unbreathable air (and we thought it was a mix-up that led to our amicable termination)
- they didn't pay the accommodation fees, causing us to be in trouble because they had to pay them at the park entrance, but we never went to the register (read what's listed as included in their offer, and in any case, they specifically asked me for the money to pay them)
- they said, despite it being stated in the contract, that for the days we had the accommodations, no meals were included, despite it being stated in the contract and no one having notified us.
- to earn about $400 more, they forced us to get up between 5 and 6 for two consecutive days, because by compressing our hours, they saved themselves from paying for a day of access to the Serengeti.
Let's just say we spent the third day pissed off, having found the manager to be a total pain.
On our last day in the Serengeti, in particular, we spent three hours at the park gate arguing about the fact that we had paid for an extra day to stay there (about $1,000), and at 9:45 they were taking us out.
Truly embarrassing.
The only positive note was the truly exceptional guides, especially Samwel!
What more can I say? Avoid them completely.
Very disappointed.
We booked a hut in Lower Sabie Camp. What a disappointment. Only shelves. No cubbards. Only a basin with cold water. No shade where you can braai. The road is going around this hut no silence. This is really a disappointment. We will leave tomorrow. Pay our money back please.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unreliable
A few years ago, 10 of us traveled on safari to Kenya and Tanzania through a different travel agent who went above and beyond. That trip was flawless, which made us excited to try Kruger in South Africa, as it is often considered even better. Sadly, our experience with Bianca Els and Craig Lucke of Southern African Tours was the complete opposite—and it has left us heartbroken.
We first contacted them in September 2024. Craig was responsive in the beginning, but soon handed us off to Bianca, whose replies were slow and inconsistent. After our first deposit, her communication slowed even more. By March 2025, we had paid in full—including domestic flights—for a group of 14, totaling over $56,000 USD, because Bianca said everything had to be paid in advance. From that point, communication nearly stopped. Confirmations never came, and when replies did arrive, they were delayed and filled with excuses.
Two members of our group required visas. Despite repeated requests, Bianca sent only one document, with incorrect information, and gave no real guidance on the requirements. She never even asked if the visas were obtained . She also ignored repeated requests for proper flight and hotel confirmations. Bianca did take a call a few days before our departure to discuss the trip and also again gave assurance she would be available 24/7 and that everything was confirmed. Because this company had come recommended, we trusted her assurances that “everything is taken care of” and boarded our flights to Johannesburg believing our arrangements were secure.
The reality was devastating. Upon arrival, we learned that nothing was booked: no domestic flights, no safari lodges, no activities, no transfers, no dinners. The only exception was a single night at one Johannesburg hotel. We were left scrambling, on our phones at all hours, trying to salvage an 8-day trip for 14 people at the very last minute. This caused incredible stress, disappointment, and financial loss.
During this ordeal, Bianca and Craig never once responded to our messages or calls. Yet when friends back home posed as potential new clients, Bianca replied to them immediately. That contrast was deeply painful and showed us where their priorities truly were.
We also discovered that the company operates under another name, Afrique Australe Tours (PTY) Limited. Their Southern African Tours website displays the SATSA logo, which typically signals credibility, but when I checked directly, I was told they are not current members. Perhaps they once were, but displaying the logo now feels misleading to travelers.
We tried everything during our stay—calls, emails, even asking locals for advice—but there was no accountability or resolution. The staff at the hotels we eventually stayed in were kind and sympathetic, and even they expressed shock that agents representing their country would allow this to happen. Several suggested our only option was to pursue legal action once home.
This experience has not only cost us greatly, but it has also shaken our trust in visiting South Africa at all. It is a beautiful country, and the people we did meet were wonderful—but what happened with Southern African Tours was devastating.
Warning: Based on our experience, we strongly urge travelers to avoid Southern African Tours / Afrique Australe Tours . We relied on them entirely, only to be abandoned, with the $56,000 we paid unused for our trip. We hope sharing this prevents anyone else from going through the same pain.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dishonest company
DO NOT BOOK!!! They scammed us out thousands of dollars! My husband and I booked a 5 day honeymoon safari, paid in full, through them in January and checked in with them a few weeks before arrival to make sure everything was confirmed and our itinerary was set- to which they reassured us it was. Upon arriving at our 2nd nights accommodation we found out not only was that hotel not paid for but the rest of the accommodations, park fees and driver were also not paid! They claimed they are having money issues and the “bank took the funds”. We have not been issued a refund despite them saying we would be receiving one. I encourage everyone that has been scammed by them as well to contact the tourism police and file a claim. They should be held accountable!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They are scammers! Stay away from them
I paid an advance of 257USD back in April for an3 days safari to Masai Mara in September. In the 3rd week of August, he sents me a msg saying he has to cancel the safari and he will initiate the refund.
And then I have tried to text him, no more responses. I had to pay another operator to do my safari, but these never got back
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The company is not professional with minimum customer care
George Killas, owner of Terrain Tanzania Safaris, left us completely unsupported during multiple trip failures—and never took responsibility.
After a full day of travel, our group (which included elderly family members) was denied check-in. The hotel informed us that George had failed to make payment, even though he had told us everything was confirmed. Later on, he tried to explain the situation and then we realized that he knew this could happen weeks ago but chose not to inform us.
When the hotel rejected the voucher, George told us to “just show it again” and dropped the call. We spent over an hour begging hotel staff to let us stay while he did nothing. It was humiliating, stressful, and completely avoidable.
Throughout the trip, George showed no accountability. From disappearing during emergencies to making excuses instead of solutions, he abandoned us when we needed him most.
We booked this trip expecting reliable support and coordination from a trusted safari company. Instead, we were met with negligence, dishonesty, and total lack of professionalism.
Do not book with this company. George will take your money—and leave you stranded.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Worst car company of the world
Horrible and dangerous car, and lire about all the answer for advise ! Don’t book with this company! In my experience, I felt scammed and ended up losing my money.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
⚠️ Avoid Mamu Travels & Safaris Kenya – A Very Unprofessional and Disappointing Experience ⚠️
We booked a private safari tour with Mamu Travels & Safaris Kenya from August 12–15, 2025. Before we paid, their representative Mariam D. was extremely friendly and always quick to respond. However, as soon as the payment was made, that friendliness vanished. She became unresponsive and offered no real help when issues arose.
The real shock came when the tour began.
Our private tour was anything but private. The driver, Daniel, randomly brought along a colleague — turning our private tour into a shared one. And the worst part? Mariam Desimo knew about this from day one and did absolutely nothing, even though she was fully aware it was booked and paid as a private experience.
He made no effort to find animals, didn’t listen to our requests, and basically just followed his own agenda. We felt like passengers on his trip, not guests on ours.
One of the included services in our official itinerary was a visit to a Maasai village. However, Daniel tried to scam us by taking us to a village where we were suddenly asked to pay an extra $30 per person — even though this visit was already included in our package.
As for tipping — the offer already included a mandatory $10 tip per day, which we were forced to pay. So it’s not like we tipped voluntarily — it was built in, and we had no choice.
After the tour, we sent Mariam clear photo evidence showing that:
-Daniel did not use a company vehicle - risking our lifes with a poor vehicle
-the tour was not private as agreed,
-services in the offer were not delivered properly.
Her response? Just an empty apology and a desperate attempt to convince us not to write a bad review. She didn’t care about our experience — she only cared about her company’s reputation.
When we reasonably asked for a partial refund based on the points that were clearly not delivered as promised, they outright refused. A serious company would take responsibility for their mistakes. Not here.
And the biggest joke of all? They claimed they “made no profit” from this tour. Come on — not even a child would believe that. Every tour operator works with special rates and partnerships to generate profit. Trying to pretend otherwise is just insulting.
We're now dealing with this legally through our lawyer — and even now, they refuse to refund us for the services we paid for but never received.
If you’re considering booking with Mamu Travels & Safaris Kenya, I strongly advise against it. In my experience, it was a waste of money, time, and peace of mind.
If you need proof – feel free to contact me privately. I have receipts, photos, and messages to back up every single word here.
I worked with another safari company during the same trip that was 100x better — professional, honest, and truly customer-oriented. So trust me when I say:
I would strongly advise avoiding Mamu Travels & Safaris Kenya. In my experience, the trip was ruined and I felt my money was wasted.!!!!!!!!!!!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Stole our money
We paid around $60000 total for our group of 14, months ahead of the South Africa tour September 2025 . Craig and Bianca didn’t book anything ( including pick up , local flights, and stay )
We were stranded in a foreign country . We had to book everything ourselves the day before ( higher prices on flight, stays which was not in our itinerary) making it an extremely stressful vacation .
That is a lot of money to steal without any consequences. We don’t want it to happen to anyone else .