wildernessdestinations.com

No value for my money with wilderness-safaris in Botswana

I booked a safari in Botswana with Wilderness-Safaris.com last September. Vumbura Plains was one of 3 camps and lodges and I have never paid such a high price for such miserable camp and weird experience.Many people mix the safari experience with the camp or lodge experience. Let me explain: I went to many countries for safaris and all were wonderful: Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania .. So, of course, Botswana was good, but like others country, and certainly not better.But Botswana is certainly the most expensive country for safaris and I really do not know why I paid so much money for such a disappointment and I'm still waiting for the answer from wilderness-safaris.com 1 month on the justification of such a price for a camp miserable and poorly maintained.So I arrived at the Vumburas camp and they took me to a room with a small outdoor pool with a disgusting green color. The window blinds were plastic, very old and non-transparent and had not been cleaned in years. It was dusty. and very dirty. So I paid an indecent rate per night to have such an experience in an unserviced and mediocre camp. I feel so stupid for agreeing to pay such a high price for such a disappointing experience, but when you pay so much, you have the feeling that it's the guarantee of an exceptional stay.The next day, they explained to me that my pool was under a tree and that birds were defecating in the pool which explained the dreadful green color. So they knew the problem, did not tell me that I should not get into this polluted water but obviously Wildernes never imagined they could move the pool or protect against this terrible disadvantage.I was transferred the next day to a similar room which has not been renovated for at least 15 years and has not been serviced and cleaned either: dirty plastic blinds and worn furniture and faded. And it was not over, I was lying on my bed in the afternoon, the mosquito net fell on the bed and was held by the fan, who could also get stuck under the weight of the mosquito net and fall on my legs.It's just unimaginable to pay so much for such a miserable camp and it's a shame for Wilderness to offer such an experience at such a high price.So I definitely advise about Botswana: it is more than 2 times more expensive than other countries that organize safaris. During this trip, my best experience was in South Africa: of course wonderful safaris but an amazing lodge with every imaginable comfort (wifi, air con..) and cheaper than Vumburas camp which was really miserable.To offer such basic and unmaintained camps at this price is obviously very profitable for Wilderness-Safaris and I absolutely advise against this unscrupulous company.below some pictures of the room : dirty, opaque blinds, faded furniture and a terrific swimming pool i can proof everything : pictures, invoice, complaints to wilderness-safaris.com...

Date of experience: Oct 31, 2018