Mega Wild Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2015)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $2,595 to $9,862 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Kim | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
COVID19 Cancelled our trip and this company took advantage of the pandemic
I do not recommend booking with this company. Anne was very friendly, but the savings of a few hundred dollars turned out costing us thousands. We had a safari scheduled for early June 2020, which we chose to cancel due to COVID19. We cancelled 3 months in advance. We chose not to wait it out because we feared losing all of our money if this safari company decided that COVID19 was not a good reason to cancel and to be honest it turned out that they didn't feel a pandemic was a good enough excuse to cancel anyway. Their policy of a 75% refund less the gorilla permits was better than losing the total $6600 I spent.
However the upsetting part was that I emailed Anne asking how they planned on dealing with COVID19. I was nicely told they would give full refund less the Gorilla permit that they tell you aren't refundable (which is not true by the way.). Needless the say when I took her up on her kind offer of giving full refund.... well, there was radio silence for over a day. So I emailed again and then she finally replied telling me... Oh sorry that full refund I mentioned we could do, well we can't because i talked to people who told me I can't give it. IT IS HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO DO THAT. Also their website states that they give 90% refunds if canceled more than 60 days in advance but their written policy doesn't say that. Also, please check out this link and never use a tour company like I did to book your Gorilla permits- Uganda Wildlife Authority does give refunds. It's just another way for these tour companies to SCAM you. https://www.bwindiimpenetrablenationalpark.com/gorilla-permits/cancellation/
After arguing with Anne over email that it was not okay to tell a customer full refund and then change your mind. I finally accepted the refund they would give and filed a dispute with my credit card company. The crappy part is my credit card company is so bogged down right now with other travelers. Anne failed to mention to them that she had told me full refund and then took it back. She also failed to mention, I never signed a contract. She failed to mention that the Uganda and Kenya are closed right now due to COVID19. Failed to mention that it's not possible to go on a trip right now.
Overall, my experience is I got scammed. When I didn't want to rebook my trip and took her up on her offer I think she freaked out and then said, oh no... By the way, rebooking the trip would have cost me more money. Why you ask? Because the Gorilla permits cost more next year and there is a fee to reschedule. And don't forget they aren't refundable. They are refundable, just not to you if you book with this company or one like it.
So the moral of this story is, I'm totally bummed I had to cancel my trip. Yet, there are better companies out there to work with. These guys are not fully honest. The policy stated on their website versus the one given to you are different. They can decide when they feel like it if they don't want to honor something they tell you.
I will likely not win my dispute for the other half of my refund, but I have not given up. One thing I've learned in all my travel is that you need to fight for your refunds. I travel a lot. I'm a digital nomad. I'm writing this review in hopes to save another person from this experience.
COVID19 or not... I would not trust this company. They have some good reviews and it's why I went with them, but don't be fooled. You could have a great trip with them or you could get total ripped off and scammed just like me. The choice is yours. I wish you all well.
Reply from Mega Wild Safaris
Posted on May 11, 2020Dear Kim,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry that we failed to meet your expectations. Please kindly note that Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA), the only body responsible for issuing gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits, does not offer refunds for unused gorilla permits and Chimpanzee permits but rather offers reschedules incase a customer is not able to track on their comfirmed dates. As such, the company was unable to offer you the refund for the already purchased permits because Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) did not offer us a refund for the permits we had already purchased for your tracking. Please understand that the Company issued you a refund in accordance with the refund and cancellation policy that was clearly stated on your invoice and agreed to by yourself prior to you sending the payment for the trip. We are however sorry that your experience did not match your expectations and we'll strive to do better.
Email Laura Miller | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Easy to book, comfortable accommodation, and saw lots of wildlife
It was easy to book the safari online. The guides arrived on schedule and we had many wildlife sightings at Akagera National Park.
Email Victoria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Lovely Tour with an Excellent Company
I booked a tour with Mega Wild Safaris knowing I was traveling as a single woman by myself to Uganda. Anne at Mega Wild answered all my questions before booking and made me feel really safe to take the 12 day tour. Upon arrival, my guide Onan picked was waiting for me right outside the airport to get my bag and to assist with getting a SIM card and changing money to local currency. He had a huge smile and made me feel at ease and welcome right away.
The tour had a similar itinerary as other companies that operated in the area, but it is truly the people that make the difference. My guide, Onan, answered all my questions and looked up any he didn't know. He had a true passion for his work and showcased how great the people of Uganda are as well as its wildlife. A few times I was treated to his singing and playing a musical instrument. I had some flexibility at some parts of the tour to add extra activities and chose the style of restaurant I wanted to visit. I highly recommend doing a community walk and touring a traditional village.
The transport van was comfortable and included a mobile hotspot with WIFI. Water was always available in the van and there was always the option to stop if I wanted to purchase a soda or some snacks along the way. Along the tour we would stop to pick up some local produce to snack on which was always fresh and yummy. I opted for mid-range lodging which meant a room to myself with a flush toliet, bed, mosquito net, shower (hot water), electricity and the ability to charge my phone/camera. All the lodges selected by Mega Wild were comfortable with very attentive staff. I had better service (hospitality and serving of meals) at the lodges in Uganda than I have at any US hotel. Lodges had WIFI in the central but not in the rooms. This didn't matter since by the end of the day I just wanted to sleep anyways.
If you a looking for a tour company that makes you feel cared for and a staff that LOVE what they do - choose Mega Wild Safari. In the tourism business, the people make all the difference and that is what sets Mega Wild apart. The staff is top notch and they have a great relationship with lodges and operators of difference excursions along the way.
Email Amy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience
I spent months researching tour operators for our trip to Tanzania and ultimately chose Mega Wild - it was the right decision.
I was a bit skeptical and concerned because it was so affordable, but my worries were unnecessary.
Our first and last nights were spent in the most beautiful hotels with incredible service and kind staff.
The three middle nights were spent in a luxury tented camp. The camp we stayed at the first and third nights was great. It wasn’t as rustic as I thought it would be, but of course nowhere near luxurious. There were some issues with hot water - but other than that, the staff were amazing; so nice and kind, helpful and accommodating. My friend and I are pescatarian; fish wasn’t being offered at dinner but they made some especially for us. They even made some for us to take the next day in our boxed lunches. The beds were comfortable and the room and bathroom were clean.
The camp on the 2nd night wasn’t as comfortable. The floor was damp and resulted in our luggage becoming wet. They also placed us in a room with only one bed when we had specified that we needed two. No big deal, just minor inconveniences. But when you’ve spent 10 hours on very bumpy roads and are exhausted, the little things can feel much larger.
What made our trip so incredible was our guide, Martin Samweli. He was absolutely amazing. He made sure he scoured the terrain for animals that we would have missed seeing otherwise. He taught us so much about the animals and answered all of our questions.
Not only was he beyond efficient and extremely knowledgeable, he was one of the kindest men I’ve met.
I became ill one day, and he couldn’t have been more concerned, helpful, or caring.
On our final day in Tanzania we were supposed to travel to Uganda. That morning I became severely ill and needed to return home.
Martin did everything he needed to do to get us to the airport. My calls to the airline kept dropping, so he found a place where we could stop so I could get better reception. He helped in every way possible. I could see how genuinely concerned he was and sad for me that we had to cut the trip short.
He truly was incredible.
The thing that impressed me was the truthfulness in the information that was given. Many other companies stated that we would see the Great Migration as well as other animals. I had my suspicions, for how can anyone guarantee when the animals might actually cross? When I inquired with Mega Wild, I was told the truth, that we may or may not witness it. I think that’s what made my final decision to book with them.
There were other mid-level companies that offered the same trip. I was concerned that because our trip was several thousand dollars less that we might be disappointed, but it fit our budget. The only difference I noticed when we saw other travelers was the lunches they were served (hot food in chafing dishes with real plates and cutlery compared to our boxed lunches). Maybe they stayed in better camps - but we did not suffer in the least bit.
I will say you have to be diligent in asking questions before departing. We weren’t told about any vaccinations we would need or the fact that we would need visas. Thankfully we thought we might and knew to ask the questions. Our itinerary was also changed. We still visited all the areas that were originally planned, but weren’t informed by the company of the changes; Martin was the one who told us. Again, no big deal.
We had trouble obtaining our visas online (the system wasn’t working), but as soon as we informed the company, it was immediately handled for us, problem resolved. They were also very responsive and helpful when I needed to cancel the remainder of the trip.
I would definitely recommend Mega Wild to anyone who isn’t planning on taking a 1st class trip that costs tens of thousands of dollars.
It was a truly amazing trip and I couldn’t have asked for anything more!
ES
Email Diego | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Experience around Uganda
Amazing experience with Mega Wild Safaris, good organisation, they make our trip just magic. We provide them with our desired itinerary and accomodations and they sorted out everything very efficiently. Our guide Baker became one full member of our group and we just enjoyed so much travelling around Uganda with him. I cannot be happier after this holiday
Email Andrew | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A fanatic safari through Uganda and Tanzania
We loved our safari with Mega Wild. Anne was very responsive in our initial planning and with any questions we had along the way.
Both of our guides - Dalson in Uganda and David in Tanzania - were highly knowledgeable and helped to make sure we saw as many animals as possible.
Would highly recommend Mega Wild to anyone looking to book a safari.
Email Jerry Hsieh | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Once in a lifetime experience with a top notch Safari operator
It''s a difficult time for all the travel operators around the world. We booked a 7 days private luxury gorilla and chimpanzee tour with Mega Wild Safaris in mid January. The trip was due to start in Mid March. In late Feb, Covid-19 hit the world, we were worried that we may not be able to start our trip in Mid March. Fortunately, we were able to get in before lock down. We were one of the few guests to see this beautiful countries before everything shut down. Initially, there was a small mixed-up with itinerary, but it did not affect the trip much. Overall, the trip was well organized and the tour guide was very experienced. The tour had exceed our expectation. We loved everything and we were really happy with our choice. I have dealt with other African safari companies before and I can tell you this is a very honest company which is very important when we are under Covid-19 pandemic. At moment, the last thing you want to worry is a dishonest tour operator. If you are planing to come to Uganda or East Africa, I will highly recommend you to use their service.
Email Walter Spalding | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our guide made this experience unforgetable.
Working with Anne Bright to confirm our reservation and working with Onan, our guide, made this trip easy to customize to our needs and to have the best experience. Not only did we see all of the signficant animals during our safari, which few do, but we were able to visit four sponsored children during our stay. It was obvious that Mega Wild Safaris empahasize customer service and adapt their normal safari distinations to accomodate our needs. Being from the United States we had to adapt to the Uganda enviornment and the reduced public services but this was made easy by such a rewarding experience.
I contacted a number of safari companies and by far Mega Wild was the most responsive and affordable. There is no question that the next time we visit this part of Africa we will do it again with them.
HR
Email Anica (IG: thismorningiwokeupin) | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service, a looot of hippos :D
My friend and me did 3 days tour to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. I was a bit scared to go as 2 girls alone, because of different stories i read, but i never ever felt endanger.
Our tour guide was Onan. I have to say that Onan, beside his great personality, has excellent driving skills. One time it was so stormy and foggy, we were going up the hill on muddy cliff road, i was so scared, but Onan drove all the way up and down without problem. Eh, if you have experience of traveling in Africa, you will know why i am mentioning driving skills. Trust me, it is very important.
We had spacious 4x4 land cruiser.
We saw all big 5. However, we saw only 2 tree climbing lions, but it can happen that you see many or none... who knows, maybe you will see more :). I am also glad that we saw leopard from a super close distance. Onan was never making pressure on us to hurry up, he let us stay anywhere as long as we wanted. He would spend a whole day driving around safari and he has great knowledge. We saw so many hippos, birds and elephants. And hippos were animals which i wanted to see so badly... hehe, now i can tell i saw 100s of them (when we did a boat ride on Kazinga channel)... Oh, and to not forget! We saw a crocodile literally one meter from us!!
Also, since his family lived nearby, we asked him if we could visit his village/city and if they could prepare for us traditional food. He accepted :)), that made us happyyyy... the best fish i ate in Uganda!! Please, if he is your tour guide, let him bring you there... or maybe a suggestion for Mega Wild Safaris, include visit to his fisherman village to the tour :)... even there you can see some elephants or buffalos (one was maybe 30 to 50 meters from us when we were walking :D)...
Before safari, i communicated with Anne. She is clear, fast and efficient. Great management skills!
About the accommodation, we decided to organize our own... i was familiar with accommodation in the region so it was fine, but if you are not, then better let them organize it for you.
I would definitely take a tour with them again! Maybe next time Gorilla tour, since they are also doing that one :))
Thanks for everything, you are great! :)
BE
Email Martine Verbeke | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Communicative - helpfull - friendly
Perfect.
Administriation and communication before the trip were excellent.
The guide realy helpfull for our friend with difficulties.
Love How they respect environment and animals of the park.
