NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incapable of correcting problems in a proffesional way
We went on a 7 day budget camping Safari with Makini. On day 1 we found out that the order of the parks had been changed, no one ever tolled us until we were already in the jeep. We booked a camping safari because we love camping and we were looking forward to camp for 4 days. The first day they brought us to a lodge without checking if that was okay with us. This happend again in day 4. The driver/chef were always late, this caused us to start the game drives very late (costs us valuable park time). The driver/guide lied to us about his experience, he said it was 3 years but really it was 9 months. When we contacted the company about this to ask for a partial refund (50-100 usd pp) they refused. They blamed us and told us that everything had been payed so they could not give us anything. They also said that we agreed to stay in a lodge : “you said you would like that”, that conversation never happened. After ignoring us for days (I called multiple times) they agreed to give us 25 usd pp, only 2,5% of what we payed for the safari!!! We refused to except this!
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I paid and they didn't deliver. I felt scammed
Be Aware
The person from Good One Tour has been arrested by tourist police recently.
I was scammed by this operator and visited Arusha tourist police to make a report in January 2026.
According to Arusha torist police, they have been chasing Mr. Gadiel from Good One Tour for long.
This company never paid hotel and guide company.
A part of tour wasn’t arranged and I couldn’t get service though I already paid.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Don't Book Your Safari With This Fraud Company
I had a very poor experience with Experience Safaris and the tour operator Reggie during my trip to Tanzania. The accommodation provided was not good and did not match what was promised at the time of booking. We were also not given a proper 4×4 safari vehicle, which is essential for game drives. The food quality was disappointing and far below expectations. Overall, the planning, execution, and service felt unprofessional and misleading. Instead of enjoying the safari, we faced constant issues and frustration. Based on my experience, I would strongly advise travelers to avoid this operator and choose a more reliable safari company.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very bad experience
I booked with them the half day Nairobi park tour (morning). Avoid this agency. Zero communications before the travel (need to send reminders to get an answer, they even forgot to inform half of the group about the need to buy in advance online the entry ticket for the park,…), then extremely late the day of the tour (late pick up, stopped at gas station on the way, at the park gate driver chatting with bystanders with the group waiting in the jeep, etc) it was supposed to be an early morning but we ended up entering the park essentially as the last ones of the morning, inevitably we didn't see any carnivores (to see them, prime time is in the morning). Other groups who entered earlier, saw quite a few lions. The guide didn't care. With so many agencies around, go with another one, the half day tur is not cheap (80 USD the park entrance fee plus the cost of the tour) and for that price you deserve better than that.
CO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Felt Scammed
Our contact was Samuel , who stole USD 1,000 from us for a service he never provided, claiming that the money had been stolen from him and that he would return it to us within one month. Once we were already there, we had no choice but to accept this. After that, he came up with lies about accidents and other excuses, and now more than seven months have passed. We know for sure that he ultimately kept the money.
We strongly recommend never using any kind of service or doing business with this company or with Samuel.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible experience, stay away from this tour operator.
Hello,
I wanted to report a truly unpleasant experience that recently occurred with travel operator Shinzelle Safaris during the period of natural emergency and severe rainfall that affected the Limpopo and Mpumalanga regions. Usually the quality of a travel agency shows when problems arise, not when everything goes according to plan.
We had booked, many months in advance, a rather expensive 4‑day package in January, which included accommodation, meals, transfers, and safari activities in private reserves and inside Kruger National Park. The day before our arrival, we were informed of the serious emergency unfolding in the region and especially inside the park. When we asked whether it made sense to cancel the experience (we still had time to reorganize a different itinerary in South Africa), we were told to stay calm, that all activities were still confirmed, and that we only needed to prepare for a bit of rain. So we left, still very excited.
Day 1:
We arrived at the Lodge around lunchtime, and despite the 6‑hour trip from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit, we were informed only upon arrival that the afternoon safari activity planned in a private reserve had been cancelled. They offered us an alternative activity (spa and massages at the Lodge), which we accepted, but magically there was no availability anymore. We asked to reschedule it in the following days, but it was never recovered.
Day 2:
The full‑day safari went ahead successfully. We entered the park through Orpen Gate at 5 a.m., and despite the heavy rain throughout the day, we had fun and truly enjoyed the experience (it was our very first safari), without paying much attention to the weather conditions.
Day 3:
Panorama Route interrupted after just a few hours. Our boat tour was postponed from the morning to the afternoon, but the rain conditions were dramatic from the early hours. Despite this, they still made us leave, but the road was crazy and the vehicle was at serious risk of skidding off the road. Along with the rain, dense fog prevented any visibility of the canyon, making it impossible to enjoy the views. After about 3 hours of driving, we were called back (obviously all boat tours had been cancelled), as conditions had become prohibitive and the main road back to Hoedspruit had already been closed. We returned to the Lodge around lunchtime and spent the entire afternoon and evening in our room.
Day 4:
Morning safari—an optional activity paid separately from the standard itinerary—was scheduled in a private reserve but cancelled the night before, with no alternative activity offered despite our request.
Summary: Two safari experiences cancelled and the Panorama Route interrupted in dangerous conditions. Communication with Danielle, the operations manager of the tour operator, was always prompt during the booking phase and when it came to cancelling activities along first days. But as soon as we asked for replacement activities, responses became vague and never timely. It should be noted that despite the adverse weather, we always maintained a calm and even enthusiastic attitude about the experience. But when the last activity was cancelled, we politely asked—despite the frustration—for a partial refund for the activities not carried out.
From that moment on, Danielle literally disappeared for more than 48 hours, without even acknowledging us (not even a simple “no, it’s not possible, our terms and conditions do not include refunds for weather cancellations, we are handling emergencies and will get back to you”—nothing). We were completely ignored until we returned to Johannesburg and flew back to Europe.
We are fully aware that their terms and conditions give them the upper hand, but we would have expected at least a different attitude, more empathy and cooperation (which we showed throughout the cancellations and especially when we were put at significant risk on the roads under heavy rain, all documented with photos and videos). We were not even offered a partial refund for an optional activity paid in advance. Unfortunately, we felt misled throughout the stay, when it would have been easy to avoid wasting our money, time, and putting us in dangerous conditions. Strangely, we were contacted again only after we sent an official complaint by email and after posting our first negative review on their social media.
They even pointed out that we received an upgrade from a 4‑star Lodge to a 5‑star one—an upgrade we had not requested, though appreciated—and for this reason we supposedly had no grounds to complain, despite some issues with the food (little variety, overly spiced) and having to shower with cold water one day (reported and then resolved). They said they offered us two meals and drinks (one vegetarian wrap lunch when the first safari was cancelled, one wrap lunch upon returning from the Panorama Route—although lunch was already included in the itinerary—and two drinks), which didn’t even remotely cover the cost of the lost activities. Only later did we realize that the upgrade (from a well‑known luxury lodge chain) to a private lodge placed us right next to the company’s headquarters inside the Hoedspruit Estate.
After many years of travelling around the world, we have never encountered service like this from a travel agency. We were very surprised by the treatment received and the total lack of empathy and customer care. Why not offer at least a partial refund, even just for the cancelled optional activities, as a gesture of goodwill toward a clearly disappointed customer? Especially when you, as the tour operator, organizing the activities directly with your own resources, did not have to bear any cost? We would have been satisfied even just to see some willingness to meet us halfway. Instead, we were treated merely as a number, yet another tourist to take advantage of.
Looking back, we can consider ourselves lucky to have been able to return safely to Johannesburg and not have had any accidents along the way. According to them, they met all safety standards and consumer care requirements, but unfortunately the facts told us a very different story.
We came back home sad, disappointed, and deeply bitter.
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Avoid it at any time !
I am sharing my experience transparently, as I believe it's important for others considering this tour operator.
For a 7-day safari, I paid over $9000 USD.
Based on my experience, I felt the value received was significantly below what I anticipated, making it a deeply disappointing trip.
As an experienced traveler who has visited over 60 countries, this particular journey stands out as my most challenging and unsatisfactory travel experience to date. My personal belief, given what occurred, is that I was misled regarding the quality of the service.
Based on my personal experience, I would strongly caution others to thoroughly research and consider alternatives before booking.
I am available to provide further details that could potentially assist others in making informed decisions.
The lawyer is still on the file.
Sincerely, Francois
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I felt totally scammed
I booked a tour to visit La Reunión.
The first bad impression came that AFTER we already paid the travel we got informed that the tour needs a minimum of 6 passengers. If not it doesn't take place or you can switch it into a private tour which is way more expensive.
I would think that this is an information you should give before the booking and not after.
As we go with a Cruise Ship we only have this 1 day to see the island so 3 weeks before we are going I asked if the tour is fully booked. I got a pretty quick answer that it isn't so I send a message that I would like to cancel and get a refund so I can book somewhere else, where it's a confirmed booking.
Since than I sent several messages but I didn't get any messages or my money back.
I can just recommend not to book with this company.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nothing nice to say here.
Explore Rwanda Tours should not be taken into consideration as a serious travel option. Communication is abhorrent and, in particular, customer service agent Grace frequently ignores messages, deflects concerns, and provides non-responses. Did we survive? yes. But several of our planned excursions were skipped. Coffee tour was planned on Christmas and was closed. Cave trek was abandoned because the caves were closed(and had been closed) for the past year due to an outbreak of a deadly virus. We chose specific accommodation options 10 months in advance only to find out 2 weeks before the trip that the company was unable to secure the lodging and we were forced into lesser options. Grace gave us false pricing for the lodging and has yet to refund us the difference between the two prices despite offering to do so. Currently she is ignoring my messages to speak to management with no resolution in sight.
Go to Rwanda, it is a beautiful country and full of adventure, but I recommend absoultely do not use Rwanda Tours
LT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Avoid this company at all costs
We partnered with them to organize a group trip and transferred the agreed advance payment in full. Instead of using the funds responsibly, they spent the money and then, just two days before the trip, demanded that we transfer the same amount again, promising they would “deliver the trip now and refund later.”
This is not a misunderstanding — it’s a complete breach of trust and of basic professional ethics.
No travel company should ever operate this way. Their actions show a lack of financial integrity, zero respect for travelers, and a blatant disregard for legal obligations. A company behaving like this should not hold a tourism license, and its manager Mr Perminus Muturi should not be working in the travel industry at all.
For the safety of your clients, your finances, and your peace of mind: do not work with them.