Madagascar Nosy Be Experience for 6 Days/5 Nights

Traveler Reviews

• 

  Kulcsár

  December 14th, 2024
  I’m going to help you here: DON’T BOOK THIS TOUR! To give you some context and assure you this isn’t just a rant...
  I’m going to help you here: DON’T BOOK THIS TOUR! To give you some context and assure you this isn’t just a rant from an inexperienced traveler: I’ve been traveling full-time for the past year (and for quite a bit before that), using a variety of companies across different budgets. I’ve experienced all kinds of tours—some outstanding, some mediocre—but this one stands out as the most disappointing experience I’ve ever had. I booked this tour expecting a professional, well-organized experience based on the company’s promises and descriptions. What I got instead was disorganization, miscommunication, and a total lack of professionalism. Disorganization I booked this tour well in advance, noting that I would already be in Nosy Be (not the capital) and would join on the second day. To avoid any confusion, I sent a reminder with the exact date and specific pickup details to ensure we were on the same page. Despite all this, the day before the tour, I received a message from the guide asking for my whereabouts. This was after I had to reach out to the company myself to confirm everything. Despite my efforts to provide clear information ahead of time, they still couldn’t manage something as basic as arranging my pickup correctly. Guide Issues The guide barely spoke English, making it nearly impossible to understand where we were or why we were there. Explanations were vague, usually limited to pointing at something and naming it. The low point was when the guide said, “This place has a history, but I don’t know it.” While the guide seemed enthusiastic, they were clearly inexperienced, lacked training, and had no confidence to lead a group. I was expecting a knowledgeable, professional guide—what I got was a glorified driver. Animal Interaction At Lemuria Land, we arrived during midday when the animals were understandably inactive. Instead of respecting this, the local guide shook branches and disturbed the animals to get them to move. I had to ask them to stop multiple times, but they continued, showing zero respect for ethical wildlife interaction. A similar experience happened on our way back from Nosy Iranja. We stopped at a small island where three species of lemurs are kept purely for tourists. These animals clearly didn’t belong there, and the setup lacked any respect for their natural behavior or habitat. It felt exploitative and deeply upsetting. Transportation Problems The tour started with the car breaking down within the first 20 minutes. While the issue was resolved quickly, the replacement car had no air conditioning. Disorganized Itinerary On the second day, we were packed into a boat with a local tour group. It was the same trip you could book through any local hotel—or simply walk down to the beach and arrange yourself. Adding to the chaos, snorkeling gear was handed to us at the last minute, almost making us miss the boat. And here’s the kicker: there wasn’t even anything to see with a snorkel. Everyone else on the island seemed to know this—except for our guide. The lack of preparation and knowledge was frustrating. Food Safety I ended up with severe food poisoning from the meals provided on the island. This was particularly disappointing because I’ve traveled through East and Southern Africa without any stomach issues. It completely ruined the remainder of the trip. Accommodation The hotel staff were lovely, but the hotel itself wasn’t the one advertised in the brochure. It wasn’t a wellness hotel and had very limited activities. On top of that, it was in a remote, hard-to-access part of the island, making it inconvenient to do anything independently. When I reached out to the company with my complaints, they said the hotel advertised was fully booked. This was a straight-up lie—trust me, I checked. Value for Money After experiencing the tour, it’s clear the actual cost of the activities and accommodations couldn’t have been more than a quarter of what I paid (and I’m being generous here). The quality and organization were nowhere near what the high price suggested. I felt completely betrayed and ripped off. Communication with Across Africa Tours & Travel After I reached out with my complaints, their reply was slow and filled with vague excuses, fake reassurances, and outright lies. I will never travel with them again, and I strongly advise against it for anyone considering their services. Final Thoughts If you’re considering booking this tour, DON’T. The entire experience was poorly organized, unprofessional, and not worth even a fraction of the cost. This isn’t just an angry review—it’s a genuine warning to fellow travelers. There are countless other companies offering much better experiences for far less money, and even if you organize it yourself, you’d be better off. Hopefully, this review saves someone else from making the same mistake.Show more
  Traveled in November 2024
• J

  JanetWangui

  October 24th, 2019
  Very reliable, trustworthy and organized tour agent
  Traveled in August 2019
  

  Reply from: Across Africa Tours & Travel

  Thank you, Janet, we work on providing nothing but the best to our travelers?

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