Predators or 2 Afrika for Tanzania Safari
Oct 4th, 2005, 03:52 AM
#21
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Also looking forward to more detailed trip report and photos please! Glad to hear you had a great safari and that Godfrey was part of it. If the same Godfrey we have enjoyed on two trips with 2Afrika I sure you did enjoy his services. Now about a report and pics.
Dick
Dick
Oct 4th, 2005, 04:06 AM
#22
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The following was posted by someone on the Tripadvisor forum which might be of interest:
Tanzania is great. 2Afrika is not. After paying in full for my September safari, the company changed the advertised itinerary at the last minute downgrading hotels, adding travel time, and requiring additional border crossings. Several daily itineraries were not accurate, and hotel descriptions were sometimes completely false. Although all accomodations were advertised as luxury lodges, the company moved us to an economy tented camp for one night and billed it as luxury although it was clearly budget and my Lonely Planet travel guide said it was $30-50/night. Caution when booking with 2Afrika.
Tanzania is great. 2Afrika is not. After paying in full for my September safari, the company changed the advertised itinerary at the last minute downgrading hotels, adding travel time, and requiring additional border crossings. Several daily itineraries were not accurate, and hotel descriptions were sometimes completely false. Although all accomodations were advertised as luxury lodges, the company moved us to an economy tented camp for one night and billed it as luxury although it was clearly budget and my Lonely Planet travel guide said it was $30-50/night. Caution when booking with 2Afrika.
Oct 4th, 2005, 07:12 AM
#23
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I think if you truly searched for the truth you'll find that 2Afrika was shafted by the hotels in Tanzania.
I have been trying to buy some Tanzanian properties this season through a variety of US operators only to find that the advertised properties cannot be guarranteed. On further investigation I have found that these same properties are full with charter business out of Europe and have consequently renaged on their allocations to a variety of wholesalers worldwide.
Further investigation has also shown that they are seeking huge deposits that preclude cost orientated companies from using their properties as the deposit would either decrease the margin or inflate the price of the trip.
I have been trying to buy some Tanzanian properties this season through a variety of US operators only to find that the advertised properties cannot be guarranteed. On further investigation I have found that these same properties are full with charter business out of Europe and have consequently renaged on their allocations to a variety of wholesalers worldwide.
Further investigation has also shown that they are seeking huge deposits that preclude cost orientated companies from using their properties as the deposit would either decrease the margin or inflate the price of the trip.
Oct 4th, 2005, 08:42 AM
#24
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Mkhonzo, I have no knowledge of 2Afrika and their competition from Europe but you make a good point.
It is also difficult for local Tanzanian outfitters to book rooms in advance at the big hotel chains. The group-tour companies are locking all rooms for many months ahead. I have personnally been in line at the booking offices at Serena, Sopa and Wildlife and it is not pretty!
Rooms tend to open up about 60 days or less before a trip but there are no guarantees.
Tanzania is bursting at its seams. Apparently the direction forward is based on quality tourism not quantity yet the big hotel chains make it hard for the small local businessmen in favor of overseas agents with their loads of budget tourists.
Asking for larger deposits upfront may help a bit but the situation is certainly do different today than a year ago.
On a different note - is it just me or are others also perplexed by the extremes of 2Afrika client feedback?
After every trip you get the usual rave that is so good one wonders if it is real - "fantastic, absolute heaven, best ever, cheapest price, incredible". The rave is followed immediately by another post with just the opposite - "hard to work with, bad support, unhelpful representatives, bad itinerary"!!!
It will be so much better for 2Afrika and potential future clients if someone will take the time to actually post a decent trip report with itinerary details, pictures and such. As it is, it is hard to figure out the truth and to ignore those who are trying to undermine the company.
Eben
It is also difficult for local Tanzanian outfitters to book rooms in advance at the big hotel chains. The group-tour companies are locking all rooms for many months ahead. I have personnally been in line at the booking offices at Serena, Sopa and Wildlife and it is not pretty!
Rooms tend to open up about 60 days or less before a trip but there are no guarantees.
Tanzania is bursting at its seams. Apparently the direction forward is based on quality tourism not quantity yet the big hotel chains make it hard for the small local businessmen in favor of overseas agents with their loads of budget tourists.
Asking for larger deposits upfront may help a bit but the situation is certainly do different today than a year ago.
On a different note - is it just me or are others also perplexed by the extremes of 2Afrika client feedback?
After every trip you get the usual rave that is so good one wonders if it is real - "fantastic, absolute heaven, best ever, cheapest price, incredible". The rave is followed immediately by another post with just the opposite - "hard to work with, bad support, unhelpful representatives, bad itinerary"!!!
It will be so much better for 2Afrika and potential future clients if someone will take the time to actually post a decent trip report with itinerary details, pictures and such. As it is, it is hard to figure out the truth and to ignore those who are trying to undermine the company.
Eben
Oct 4th, 2005, 09:10 AM
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Eben,
There have been a few 2Afrika trip reports on this board.
A recent one -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34657381
Earlier this year by jules39 -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34581453
And this one from rsnyder last year -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34512619
There have been a few 2Afrika trip reports on this board.
A recent one -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34657381
Earlier this year by jules39 -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34581453
And this one from rsnyder last year -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34512619
Oct 4th, 2005, 11:11 AM
#27
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eben, i agree it is hard to figure out the truth & who is trying to undermine the company. both posters about this, jtodd and ruthfrances have no other posts on fodors. jtodd ripping predators and ruthfrances gushing over them. who do we believe without a trip report and pictures? but even with that it's apples to oranges as to how the trip was. to each his own I guess.
Oct 4th, 2005, 11:18 AM
#28
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I know, Nyamera! I have never heard of a tented camp costing that little. My LP TZ is a few years old, but I thought they underestimated the prices even then.
Eben, Dennis, et al,
There are people like me, who, if no one has gotten sick, if we've had a lovely guide and seen wonderful wildlife, think a trip is PERFECT. I don't remember the cost or where I've slept.
Granted, I've only had one safari and it was last-minute and very inexpensive. It will be interesting to see if my attidude changes after having invested considerably more $ and far more anticipation time.
Mostly I've heard that 2Afrika offers good value trips. And I remember reading about Godfrey from Predators here before (fr. Dick Snyder and someone else, I think).
Umm, what was my point again?
Eben, Dennis, et al,
There are people like me, who, if no one has gotten sick, if we've had a lovely guide and seen wonderful wildlife, think a trip is PERFECT. I don't remember the cost or where I've slept.
Granted, I've only had one safari and it was last-minute and very inexpensive. It will be interesting to see if my attidude changes after having invested considerably more $ and far more anticipation time.
Mostly I've heard that 2Afrika offers good value trips. And I remember reading about Godfrey from Predators here before (fr. Dick Snyder and someone else, I think).
Umm, what was my point again?
Oct 4th, 2005, 11:19 AM
#29
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Nyamera,
I believe that 50something simply copied a post from the Tripadvisor board. The original post can be found here -
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...-Tanzania.html
You might want to pose your question there.
I believe that 50something simply copied a post from the Tripadvisor board. The original post can be found here -
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...-Tanzania.html
You might want to pose your question there.
Oct 4th, 2005, 11:49 AM
#30
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Thanks Patty. I can’t read properly today – “economic tented camp" just jumped out from the computer screen in shining letters - and I don’t have the time to hang on one more forum – especially as it takes me half an hour to write two lines-, but now I’ll have to get a user name on Tripadvisor anyway and ask this baroness where she was staying.
Oct 6th, 2005, 01:21 PM
#32
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Eben and Matnikstym,
I was on the same trip as Ruth and her husband (Harry?) and Liz. No conspiracy theory is in play here. My husband and I had a wonderful trip also. 2Afrika was very good in their dealings with us. They, yes, did have thier own internal problems, however, that did not affect the quality of our trip.
They also used Predators in country, which we had no problems with either except the balloon trip thing. It seems that we are also not the only ones shafted. Four others on our trip also were not able to go on thier pre-payed and pre-scheduled ride.
I will say there is a problem with the basic set up of the serengeti loding experience. Our guide Dennis Kisusi (fantastic) told us that we had to get to the Wildlife lodge early, as then if it filled up and we weren't there yet (despite having prearranged accomodations there) we would be sent to Lobo. Thank goodness it didn't happen that way, especially after reading to what happened to another poster (sorry, so sorry for that experience for them).
It seems that each person has their own experience with 2Africa and Predators. Its hard to say...we had good times. I do know that there are those that would undermine the business of 2Afrika, but all you can do is write what you know.
I will be sharing my trip report and pics as soon as I muddle through and pick the best ones. I am an individual not associated with either company, I am a state inspector in Birmingham, AL.
I was on the same trip as Ruth and her husband (Harry?) and Liz. No conspiracy theory is in play here. My husband and I had a wonderful trip also. 2Afrika was very good in their dealings with us. They, yes, did have thier own internal problems, however, that did not affect the quality of our trip.
They also used Predators in country, which we had no problems with either except the balloon trip thing. It seems that we are also not the only ones shafted. Four others on our trip also were not able to go on thier pre-payed and pre-scheduled ride.
I will say there is a problem with the basic set up of the serengeti loding experience. Our guide Dennis Kisusi (fantastic) told us that we had to get to the Wildlife lodge early, as then if it filled up and we weren't there yet (despite having prearranged accomodations there) we would be sent to Lobo. Thank goodness it didn't happen that way, especially after reading to what happened to another poster (sorry, so sorry for that experience for them).
It seems that each person has their own experience with 2Africa and Predators. Its hard to say...we had good times. I do know that there are those that would undermine the business of 2Afrika, but all you can do is write what you know.
I will be sharing my trip report and pics as soon as I muddle through and pick the best ones. I am an individual not associated with either company, I am a state inspector in Birmingham, AL.
