19 Aug 2025
1. The description of the tour notes that the "photography guide will share all the tricks and techniques they have learned over the years for capturing shots.” The guide admitted that he did not know anything about photography and was unable to help me with camera settings.
2. The description of the tour states the tour is limited to 10 people so the “photographer can work closely with you.” The guide who showed up stated he was NOT a photographer and did not know anything about photography.
3. The tour title is “Sunrise Photography Private Victoria Falls Tour” and the description states it will start at 6AM. My confirmation booking details state the start time is 6AM. However, the tour company person under the name “Trip Advisor Tour” told me by WhatsApp message that we wouldn’t be picked up until 6:30AM. I sent the hotel name, address, and a map to the company person and confirmed that I would be picked up at our hotel. The company person sent a voice message stating that their driver isn’t familiar with the area (which was only 1.5 miles away from the Victoria Falls entrance) and that he might be 5 minutes late if he can’t find it. The driver didn’t show up until 6:50 which was almost an hour later than when the described tour was supposed to start. By the time we arrived at the entrance and met the tour guide, the sun was already up. We missed sunrise which was the point of the tour.
4. By the time we had paid for our entrance to the park, the sun was fully up. Instead of leading us quickly to view the falls so we could utilize whatever shadows we still could for photography, the guide proceeded to give us 30 minutes of education about the geography and landscapes of Africa. I interrupted him a few times to explain that the prime time for photography had already passed and that I just wanted to get to the photography part of the tour. He reluctantly guided us to a viewpoint. The viewpoint he took us to was directly opposite the sun- meaning, no photographs would be possible pointed directly into the sun. He obviously had no knowledge of photography and we were robbed of our sunrise time for photography. At that point, I asked him if he knew anything about photography and if he knew that the tour was supposed to be a photography tour. He replied no to both.
Conclusion: This is not a sunrise photography tour.