US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Be careful
Do not recommend. We planned a 2 week safari and spent thousands of dollars upfront. We had to cancel the safari months in advance due to Covid. Antony would not give us our money back as stated in the contract. We had to go to collections. Be careful.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
SCAM: Discovery Transfer and Tours Cancellation Policy
Due to COVID-19, we cancelled our tour scheduled for August 18 via email on June 29. Our message was ignored. Consequently, I contacted SafariBookings on Facebook about this unprofessional behavior. Shortly after the FB posting, a representative of DTT acknowledged our email after 40 days. He informed us the company would not issue a refund. Their Terms and Conditions contain a section entitled "Cancellation Policy".
The wording are explicit in this paragraph and states "the following charges will apply ....30 or more days prior to departure 10% of the total reservation amount". The company is retaining the full 20% of the total reservation amount instead. The cancellation policy is a SCAM! It is intended to lure customers into a false sense of security and trust.This company SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED. Furthermore, it should be delisted from SafariBookings' website otherwise potential customers will assume they are an ethical. company.
In addition, we told the rep "no further communication is needed". However, Fanuel sent us another repetitive message. This is harassment.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
awful
Do not use this travel agency. Go Touch Down and Deon Barnard have used the COVID-19 crises to defraud us of all monies we spent with them for a trip to South Africa. They essentially contend that because our trip, which was scheduled to begin on May 12, 2020, could NOT happen because of the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa, they should keep all of the $24,513 we had paid to them in December 2019. When pressed as why we were not to receive a full refund, or at a minimum that amount less the Sales Agreement’s specified 20% cancellation fee, Barnard replied, “get a lawyer.” We will shortly be bringing a civil action against Go Touch Down, Barnard and all associated entities. FYI: we received a full refund from Delta Airlines for the airfare purchased for this trip.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Scammed
3 Nights 4 Days Serengeti with Ngorongoro Crater
Day 1: Leave Dar at 5.30am drive to Karatu with luxury air conditioned coach with picnic lunch . Dinner & Overnight at lodge.
Day 2: After breakfast Drive to Serengeti National Park with Picnic Lunch For Full Day Game Drive . Dinner & Overnight at Camp.
Day 3: After Early Breakfast Morning Gane Drive & Drive to Ngorongoro Crater with Picnic Lunch & Half Day Game Drive. Dinner & Overnight at Lodge in Karatu.
Day 4: After Breakfast Leave for Dar via Arusha. Picnic Lunch will be provided . Arrive Dar by 9pm.
The tour includes transport from Dar es Salaam & Return By Air Conditioned Coach , Safari Open Roof Vehicle , Food, Park Fees, Concession Fees, Daily Mineral Water Bottle & Packed Juice.
The Cost Per Adult Person
Tanzanian Citizen $ $290
Resident Permit Holders $490
Children 4 to 10 Years 50% with sharing accommodation with Parents This is what we paid for. No booking was done for us in Serengeti or Ngorongo. When we got Karatu we had no coach waiting for us to take us to the game reserve and we could not reach Mr. Mohemmed Kambi. We were advised to file a police report in Arusha. We lost all monies paid and the company is unresponsive. The police are following up on our case. Please be advised that this company scammed us of a total of over $5000.00 USD. I would not recommend to anyone. I would verystrongly advice against using this company.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hunting atrocities at Balule
Please be aware that Balule not only offers hunting, but has been involved in a number of controversies, including the killing of a young elephant by two (apparently drunk) tourists - 13 shots, 15 minutes of crying torture for the animal:
https://conservationaction.co.za/media-articles/young-balule-elephant-shot-13-times-before-horrified-visitors/
https://africageographic.com/stories/illegal-collared-elephant-hunt-greater-kruger-warden-convicted/
https://twnews.us/us-news/this-l-a-hunter-killed-an-elephant-now-he-s-a-peta-target-in-bid-to-end-trophy-hunting
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kidnapped during tour, they did nothing but send me emails promoting the company
Kidnapped in UGANDA during my tour April 2nd 2019. This company brokered my tour to a more local tour company.
They don’t even manage the tours.
They did, however,
Contact the RSO of Ugandan Embassy no fewer than 25 times during my kidnapping and after my release but never once reached out to me personally to see how I was doing and to check on my emotional well-being after being held at gunpoint for six days taken from Queen Elizabeth national park into the DRC / Congo.
I paid this company close to $8,000usd
My insurance responded
Alaska Airlines responder
REI responded
Target responded
Natural World Safaris, who made the most from me...NOTHING
But they do continue to promote their tours through email to me. The kidnapped victim. There in sensitivity reigns supreme !
You can google, my kidnapping will come up to verify. These people did Nothing but open an office in Los Angeles, my backyard, so to speak.
There are a lot of tour companies that want your business. Do you want to roll the dice with this company that does nothing when things go wrong in a foreign country except for cover their behind, or at least try to. Nobody knew my fate but this company didn’t even care. Trauma is real
PTSD is real and the CEO sending out an email after my kidnapping asking me to rate my Experience is real.
So is “ institutional betrayal” A term I learned in therapy because of my kidnapping.
That’s Natural world safari, It took over a year to leave this review!
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Avoid it
Avoid this company. Not trustly company. They keep our money due the coronavirus. Not professional answer or solutions.
Choose other companies... Everything was ok by before the payment and after that they disappear.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Do not book!
I many problems with this operator. The guide asked me to pay entry into a park then later again w a hotel booking I already paid for which totalled $500usd. I think they hope we feel bad and then let it go. I luckily didnt carry mich cash on me and refused. There was messing abt and possibly no hotel stay. I stood my ground and demanded reimbursement for the amt owed. I was also taken on a shonky coffee tour not like described but by 2 rogue kids.
I was in tears fighting them 2 hrs before my airport transfer and ended up arriving to the airport w 30mins to go.
From my Tripadvisor review i was contacted by numerous people who were swindled their deposit. The company went down, changed names then restarted again under it started in africa.
After my review they offered me monetary compensation to take my review down. I refused. Then coincidentally my tripadvor account kept sending me emails that i wanted to reset the password. Im not accusing anyone of hacking but it was interesting times.
I was emailed by Bernard to review my trip again so they could use it for other travellers. Hope this finds everyone well as a clear warning! I do not advise putting any deposit into this company. Other tours exist so research well and contact the reviewers
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
SCAM
NOTHING ABOUT THE CLAUDIOUS TOURS & SAFARIS WAS AS ADVERTISED. Our accommodations were substandard based on the amount of money we paid for. Our gorilla passes were for the wrong month and so we never got to go on our adventure! We were never reimbursed for our $600 dollar passes, Uganda VISA's or other expenses based on Uganda. The food was horrible. Never again with Claudious Tours.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Con Artist!!!
We booked our honeymoon vacation with African Expedia and we were so excited! We booked 8 months in advance.
Once COVID-19 started we contacted him to notify Wilson that we had to cancel due to the fact that we were not allowed to internationally travel anymore.
We tried working with him to either get a refund or post-pone the trip for another year. And then he stopped responding....
He actually robbed us of our honeymoon money!
We hired a lawyer in Tanzania to help us retrieve the funds, but the police have said they cannot locate him and the company does not exist!
Do not under any circumstances book with this company!!! I even called all the hotels to make sure he booked our trip before transferring any money to him.
I cannot believe he could do this to someone, it is actually horrible that he took our honeymoon as a opportunity to steal our money. We are devastated and during a world pandemic when everyone is already struggling.