“"Earlier this year we thoroughly enjoyed spending one week at the beautiful Vidanta resort in Nueva Vallarta, Mexico. As world travelers, we've stayed at luxury resorts around the globe. Vidanta was a great experience and we didn't want to leave. It is a massive resort with 26 restaurants (food was great), miles of beach, it's own market and a great staff. The room was clean and modern with our own private Jacuzzi on the balcony. The lazy river was a big hit with the family and lots of kid-friendly pools and activities. There are also quiet, adult only pools that were so peaceful and stunning. We look forward to returning to this wonderful resort year after year and I highly recommend it!"”
“**Fraudulent and Unprofessional Scammer**
We won a bid for a safari trip through a school gala event organized by "Charity Booster," with Run Wild African Safaris serving as the vendor. Unfortunately, this has turned out to be the worst travel experience of our lives. “ Charity Booster” just stated that they are not involved with this fraudulent scam, and will not offer any assistance.
From the start, it was clear that this is not a legitimate operation. Communication has been horrendous, with phone calls going unanswered and emails often receiving responses weeks or even months later. The level of dishonesty is staggering—THEY LIE, THEY LIE, THEY LIE.
Before our trip, we were asked to pay unexpected fees upfront, but we never received a proper itinerary or any detailed information. As a family of four with two children, we were left completely in the dark about what to expect. No pictures, names of hotels, or camping details were shared before our departure. What upset me the most was the unauthorized changes made to our trip.
1. **Changed Itinerary:** The itinerary provided was vastly different from what was promised. We were misled with the offer of a “free upgrade” and ended up spending four nights in a remote area described as a semi-desert. Despite explicitly requesting to stay in a Botswana safari camp, we were relocated to an obscure location in Zimbabwe that is not even an authentic African safari destination—it’s a mining zone.
2. **Misrepresentation of Accommodations:** We were told via phone that we would be staying in the “most luxurious” camp available, which could accommodate up to 13 people. They even encouraged us to bring more family members to increase their profits. Shockingly, no photos or information regarding the camp name, food, or accommodations were ever sent to us. It was only through a friend who participated in the bidding process that I learned there would be no electricity, Wi-Fi, or air conditioning at the camp. In reality, we were placed in a tiny, rough tent, far from the luxurious experience that had been promised.
3. **Delayed Itinerary Release:** To further complicate matters, they withheld our itinerary until just three days before the trip, despite our persistent requests for ten months. They appeared to have intentionally kept us in the dark, knowing that we would be forced to accept their terms with no ability to cancel.
4. **Excessive Additional Charges:** We were informed of an added fee of $3,500 for “private cross-country vehicle transfers, mandatory taxes/levies, tribal community conservation fees, and wildlife conservation fees.” However, since we will only be staying in Zimbabwe for four nights due to the last-minute changes, the private cross-country transfers are nonsensical and feel like a blatant rip-off.
In summary, our experience with Run Wild African Safaris has been incredibly disappointing and frustrating. We were misled every step of the way, and I strongly advise others to think twice before engaging with this company.”
“Charity Booster was great in helping me with a vacation I bid on at a charity auction. They were great in following up to make sure everything went smoothly and gave me several alternatives in contacting them if needed.”
“Jennifer could not been more helpful. She found the best & most convenient travel arrangements! Fantastic. You are lucky to have someone that is all about the client!
Cheers”
