CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ripped Off
Due to health issues we had to cancel our safari trip to Kenya…despite following all of the procedures to obtain a refund less a 10% administration fee and despite assurances our refund was being processed…the tour operator has ghosted us and we have lost our money $4,500 USD.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Deceiving, not professional, stay away!
Abbey from Lush African Safari responded to my Safari booking request for a quote with a very expensive package for a 14 days Kenya and Tanzania safari. The quote had places’ names and pics of cars and accommodation included. Upon arrival to Kenya I found out none of the places he quoted were actually available at the time he sent me that quote. In fact, he did ask me to pay immediately to book everything, which I did, but it was just a scam since the places weren’t available. And he hired local companies that book something else. He even tried to put me in a minivan instead of a landrover in Kenya, which at least at last minute the local company was able to fix. In Amboseli, he sent me to a tent instead of a nice 3-4 start hotel I paid, I was scared for my life there. Not a joke. Solo woman traveler I paid more to him, a company based in USA, to guarantee that this situation didn’t happen :(
In Tanzania he tried to send me to another tent and I was literally crying that day contacting the Safaribooking team begging to please not to be sent to a tent. I paid for a nice hotel, he was making up all sort of reasons why me going to a tent was best for me, among them so I can see the great migration.
He didn’t even know I already saw the great migration in Kenya!
Finally they sent me to a hotel, not like the one promised but I was so grateful for having walls and feel safe that I didn’t mind. Both local tours realized what was been done and were very sympathetic. I’d strongly recommend to use those companies directly, they will be honest and not lure you with some pics. I paid thousands of dollars to stay in the nicest hotel with great food and they sent me to a tent without electricity, shower outside that actually didn’t work, he gave me a $300 refund which felt like an insult, but I was powerless.
When I told him he couldn’t just go against the client wishes and going to a tent instead of nice accommodations I booked were not my wishes he said: “we are going to have to agree to disagree”. So he feels he is in power to sent you wherever he wants regardless of what you paid for. Here is another, when I send the pics he sent me of a fancy place that I paid for and the ones of the horrible tent he was sending me to, his response was:”some places take deceiving pics”. We have internet and the local tours were honest so they did told me how wonderful the other places I had in the quote were and how they didn’t compared in location food quality and overall with what I was given.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Terrible experience with Image Travel
We had a very bad experience with this Travel Operator and we highly recommend you not to make the same mistake. Just to name a couple of examples:
- Program was changed last minute and we were not informed until the first day
- Pick up from hotel/ airport were often late (sometimes even by 1 hour) and with bad quality vehicles
- Instead of 3 tents for 5 people as per program payed, in 2 of the accommodation they only provided 2 room
- The refund promised for the mistake has never been effectively sent
GR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
it was the worst trip we have ever had in our lives
It was the worst experience I have ever had in my life. I booked the safari at last minute but we had already done a program 1 month ago. 2 days before the safari the called me and they told me that they didn't count the concession fees and the price had to be more. I told them that this is not my problem and suddently they didn't answer my emails and phone. The evening before we arrived in Arusha they sent me a message that they will be waiting for me at the airport. Then we went to Mr Benson's office I showed the emails and the offer and after 2-3 hours they told me that we are ok. So I lost 3-4 hours from the evening safari they supposed they gave us. On the way to our hotel they sent me a program with minus 1 day and they told me this is a program. I sent them back the program I have showed them previous at the office and told me that this is not ok. After 30-40 what's up messages and email they told me again ok. The safari in Serengeti for 2 days was good. After we have planned to move to Maasai Mara region and another driver took us from there. The drive supposed to be there from the morning and I paid 250$ more to be there and he came after 3 hours. They asked me for yellow card visa to pay 200$ as the other offices told me that the cost was 80$ for all of us and the driver told us that the officers wanted and tips. The transfer to Maasai Mara supposed to be 35' and took us 3 hours so the park was closed. The driver asked us to give tomorrow 200$ more to bring us to Maasai Mara park and when I told that I have paid for 4 days safari and I have only done 2 he told me that this is not his problem and he couldn't take us to the park in the morning. Yvlyn the girl from the office told him to bring us to the park and he did it but again with a lot of messages and calls and I terrible headache for me from this bad situation. The following day after 1.5h safari to Maasai Mara they had to transfer as at Nairobi and Giraffe manor. The driver stopped every 50km and talked with people on the road and he told us that it's like that in his country. He knew that we wanted to be early to our hotel and suddenly he told us that his car has a problem and he had to transfer us to another car. I asked him if the car is ready and he told us yes. We went to a place 150km away from Nairobi and the car was not there. The driver got down of the car and we were trying to find him. after 20' he answered the phone and he told us that the car that was ready changed the tires. He took us in one place that was inappropriate for my family as I have 2 kids and we waited for the another driver to change the tires for more that 1.30. Finally we started the way to Giraffe manor and because he did some mistakes as he didn't know how to get there we went to our hotel at 16.00 in the evening. We started from Maasai Mara at 09.30 and the distance is only 4 hours. So I totally didn't recommend Benson's Safari as it was the worst trip we have ever had in our lives and thanks god that we are all back safe after all this terrible situation.
HU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Worst Communication and Experience
We had the most horrible experience with this company! They have zero communication and literally do not care at all about you once they’ve received your payments! You’re on your own. We were basically fishing for information and even then received either none or wrong information. We were grouped in a cruiser with people from various online bookings (viator, trip advisor etc) so not with an actual spot on guide or car. I’ve done a maasai mara safari before and we had full company services with the company we used, from cars, to guides, with proper company labels and badges. This one was not it! We only booked it because a friend whose friend worked here (she’s since left) convinced us to try them and we have never regretted a decision so much! Long story short, this wasn’t it! Use more reputable companies. Even the safari itself at the Mara started at 10am!! If you ever get to do a Safari you know you start by 7am to see the animals in action. We felt really scammed and short changed on this one. Anyway, we live and we learn.
CY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cooks and liars - They charged us 20 USD for RENT two bottles of water!!!!!!!!
Cooks and liars, avoid this company!!!!
They charged us 20 USD for RENT two bottles of water!!!!!!!!
We agreed for day hike to Kilimanjaro for 155 USD per person.
When Issa come to our hotel the morning he told us that the plastic bottle of water is not allowed in the park (not valid as all the rest people we saw they had plastic bottle) and that we SHOULD rent bottle from him.
After the finish of the hike the guide told us that the rent for the two bottles of water cost 20 USD!!!!!
I called Issa and he told us a lot of excuses (the bottle belongs to his friend) and when i told him that i will write my experience as a review, he proposed to do not write anything and he will let me to pay only 10 USD instead of 20 USD!! and of course i didnt accept it!
I can prove what i said with the messages in Whatsapp.
Avoid this scum company. They wanted a price of 165 USD per person and they tried to took the money with this funny way!!!!!!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fraud and theft
Talent Arineitwe of TravelTime stole from me $400 dollars meant for application for a visa to the UAE. She continuously lied about submitting the application, then stopped replying all communication. When messaged with other numbers, she would respond, indicating a careful and deliberate intent to ignore, The last review before mine on this site had the same issue. I shared my experience on twitter and got more than 10 (at the time of writing this) similar experiences. Be careful when you use this company.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They may change plans unexpectedly and without informing the clients.
We booked a ten day safari. The original program was changed without informing us and without our consent. The vehicle was downgraded without informing us. They also decreased the number of safari day to 9, leaving us one day without activities. This is especially bad since they erased from the program one day in the Masai Mara. We found out about all of this during the trip, not before. Communication was virtually non-existent.
IS
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park with Victoria falls serious of fun.
Got back problem and informed the office. They told me because of this they would refund me the money. That was 2 weeks before the trip. Beginning of December. Now it’s January I am still trying to contact them every day and they only give me broken promises. Every day for a month. I am at loss for words and I only want my 900$ back. But still getting the same answer that’s it’s going to happen today or tomorrow. There is something really not right. Client should not have to fight this hard for its money that was promised back!!
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very bad experience
We are still waiting for a refund regarding our last scheduled travel.