Ulunick

This is our first safari. Just 2 weeks before we leave our tour operator, Shidolya, sent us changes to our itinerary that we don't like, after having worked with us for a couple of months to develop the itinerary we agreed to and paid our $3,000 deposit for. Although we'd still be visiting the same parks with the same accommodations, the order is changed and we'd lose a night at Mahale. Should we be worried about these changes? Is it an indication of trouble to come once we get there?

After a lot of back and forth, we were offered a great itinerary: 3 nights at Tarangire, 2 at Ngorongoro, 3 at Serengeti, and 4 at Mahale (in that order). We would fly from Seronera to Mahale on Wednesday Oct 30th and back to Arusha on Sunday Nov 3rd. Now they say that the flights to/from Mahale only go on Mondays and Thursdays, but they must have know that before. We thought they must have had an arrangement for a private flight to Mahale from Seronera Serengeti.

This latest change comes a week after a dispute over extra charges on our agreed upon itinerary. They said they made a typo about the cost of an extra day, and they wanted to charge extra for a change in accommodations we asked for in Serengeti, which they had previously offered at no charge. I wonder if the flight changes are a cost cutting measure to make up for those concessions they finally made....

We'd appreciate any perspective on our situation. Is it reasonable for these kind of itinerary changes to happen at the last minute? Are there private flights from Seronera to Mahale that are not on the mon/thurs schedule? It seems difficult to switch operators at this point; would we lose our deposit? Should we just "go with the flow" at this point?

sandi

Unless for some unforeseen reason the flight schedules to/from Mahale was changed, your TO should have known on what days there were/are 'scheduled' flights. Believe me a private charter between SER and MAH, would cost as much or more than your entire safari.

You have a well paced safari, though I don't like when, so close to departure. a hotel/lodge/camp is changed... any reason why offered? From what to what?

Otherwise, 'go with the flow' Too late to change outfitter so close to departure date, what may/not be available... and you'd have to say 'good bye' to your deposit. Don't believe you want to do this.

I certainly can't attest to the quality of the TO using, thus no comment, but remember TIA - this is Africa. There can be last minute changes for which TO has no control.

sandi

Unless for some unforeseen reason the flight schedules to/from Mahale was changed, your TO should have known on what days there were/are 'scheduled' flights. Believe me a private charter between SER and MAH, would cost as much or more than your entire safari.

You have a well paced safari, though I don't like when, so close to departure. a hotel/lodge/camp is changed... any reason why offered? From what to what?

Otherwise, 'go with the flow' Too late to change outfitter so close to departure date, what may/not be available... and you'd have to say 'good bye' to your deposit. Don't believe you want to do this.

I certainly can't attest to the quality of the TO using, thus no comment, but remember TIA - this is Africa. There can be last minute changes for which TO has no control.

TC

On our first safari, our order was changed at the last minute with a similar reason given. We also had some other changes...such as drives between two camps instead of the promised flights. These were things we had paid for and I put up a real fuss. In the end, our tour operator (different than yours) did fly us from place to place while others in our group agreed to take the LONG hard drive. Fight for what you think is right. I would want a refund for the night missed in Mahale at least.

Can you email to the camp in Seronera or Mahale to find out if the flights have <u>recently</u> changed? If not, and you can prove it, you have much more leverage with the TO.

Leslie_S

I guess people are allowed to post whatever they want - not sure what the new rules are as far as touting. I just hate to see this forum get clogged up with somewhat suspect posts where people clearly join up just to sell a TO and nothing else.
My two cents.

TC

Leslie, if you read the posts by these two last posters, they don't sound like touts. Both have commented on topics other than this.

sandi

Actually both of the above two replies are from those who only joined Fodor's in August and September '13.. The first NowTraveling123 might be a single-safari goer who has all the answers and the other JerBl, just out of the blue these past few days. Sorry to say, but I smell fish.

However, do agree there are more negative reviews on TA re Shindolya (a few are not unusual, as if not they'd be a holy company... not many are always without some fault) than I'd feel comfortable. Not to say though that errors can/are sometimes made in pricing, but should be notified way earlier than 2/weeks prior your arrival.

Inasmuch as to-date you've only paid deposit, assuming balance due on arrival, I'd hold back on the 1/nt short at Mahale (ask Shindolya the cost or better contact the camp* to actually confirm the booking/change) and anything else that is not to your advantage.

*though camp might quote the 'rack' (highest) rate vs assume the contract rate Shindolya gets and should be offered to you at a discount in your favor.

Though suggested above to contact one of the possible air carriers who could get you from Seronera to Mahale (and I haven't the foggiest which one), I still believe a private charter for the 1/extra day will be way too costly as charters usually are. If you were a group of 6/traveling, it could be doable, but for the two of you... wow! I'd do with 1/less day Mahale and get the money due you for this mix-up or not pay what the outfitter is requesting... balls in your court.

Leslie_S

TC - not to drag it out but I did read all of the posts by those 2 new posters and while they each did give a little bit of advice they always ended with a big shout-out for the same TO and seemed very much oriented to achieving only selling that TO. Anyway, appears the moderators removed their posts. I'm only adding this last comment because I normally wouldn't make any kind of accusation about posters' motives and prefer to just let things go but I would hate to see fodors get inundated with fake posts like some of the other forums.

TC

No big deal, Leslie. I know they were both new, but the first one had made several posts with varying information. While I agree with you about bogus posts (there's been a horrendous one on the Mexico Forum lately), I know that sometimes people have only made one trip and used one TO, so they have no other frame of reference. It was a bit suspect that they both posted so close together......but I tend to give people benefit of doubt until they step <u>way over</u> the line. Oh well.

Leslie_S

I agree, I usually give that benefit of the doubt also but something just didn't seem right. I really hate the touts on tripadvisor that clog up some of their forums. The Mongolia one is almost nothing but touting. Really a drag to try to get info. Anyway, I'm going back to lurker mode now and hoping the OP has a great trip and the TO comes through for them!

Ulunick

I think we can work out a change that preserves our itinerary with Shidolya. Does anyone know if there are scheduled flights from Seronera to Mahale and back? If we can fly from Mahale to Seronera on a Monday, it should work out.

ShayTay

This is a question for Shidolya. If they are tour operators, they should have access to that information. From northern Tanzania, most flights to Mahale originate in Arusha. Which of the 3 camps in Mahale are you staying at? You might check directly with them, too.

Ulunick

Yes, I've put the question to our TO, but by email there's always a day or two lag in response and I thought I'd check others' experience. I found flights on Zantas Air to Mahale on Thursdays and from Mahale on Mondays. The flights from Arusha stop in Seronera en route, but even so the round trip fare from Seronera is higher than from Arusha! You'd think you could get a round trip ticket from Arusha but just get on/off in Seronera....

Ulunick

We were able to revise the order of our itinerary with Shidolya - we'll fly from Lake Manyara to Mahale on Thursday, and back to Seronera on Monday. I think we're back on track.

Leslie_S

Good to hear, Ulunick! Have a great trip.