29 Mar 2024
I booked the safari package with Tamuka Travel. I’m disappointed that the confirmation email didn’t include the itinerary to avoid any confusion. The agent assigned to me had poor communication and was unprepared. He asked me what package I purchased when I first arrived.
Additionally the hotel that was picked by the company was a “budget hotel”. I’m from the US and expected certain amenities like a mini fridge, an iron, a room phone to call the front desk, a bathroom door that closed fully rather than a sliding one that left gaps open on both sides. I wish I knew ahead of time what exactly I was paying for.
Each step of the trip was farmed out to a subcontractor, but that was not communicated most of the time. For example, I was messaging the agent (who by the way didn’t give me his name until I asked once we met in person) my status updates as I was going through customs at the airport. He responded but didn’t say that someone else with a different company name on the van would pick me up. This created an unnecessarily hectic situation. Another time, I was picked up by a new driver to travel from one activity to the next despite the fact that the agent said he would return.
The agent was also slow to respond to my messages requesting the pickup time for the next day’s activity. Originally I thought it may have been a delay caused by cellular service issues. But I was very surprised to see the agent walk in to a dinner that a fellow female traveler had invited him to. I guess some priorities were more important for him.
Thankfully the guides on the tours were very nice and contributed to an enjoyable experience.