Camp Savuti

The booking was still active on Booking.com, but two days before we were due to arrive, the lodge messaged to say it couldn’t accommodate us in the three luxury tents we’d reserved. Staff told us we had to cancel ourselves because they were “not allowed” to cancel, while refusing to honour the booking unless we agreed to pay three times more on site. We believe this was deliberate: guests could be left in the middle of nowhere, without service or data, and pressured to pay an inflated price when their confirmed rooms were suddenly “unavailable.” To us, this was a serious breach of contract and an unethical way to do business. The on-site manager had no authority, so we were sent to a head office representative named One. She was dismissive and condescending, spoke as if we were at fault for booking at the price they had listed on Booking.com, and took no responsibility. The whole exchange was shockingly rude and unprofessional. There were other problems too. They said they were “fully booked” and “too busy,” yet we saw empty rooms and new arrivals being accommodated. Wi-Fi was advertised as included, but we were charged extra, and it only worked in reception. The so-called “luxury” tents were in poor condition for the price, and the bathrooms were filthy even by basic camping standards. Their cash policy was bizarre too: they wouldn’t accept notes unless they came from particular years. They made no offer of compensation. With no other options, we had to pay an extra 55 USD just to camp there, since they still wouldn’t give us the rooms. This place disregards confirmed bookings, pressures guests into paying more on arrival, and treats them with disrespect. There’s nothing “luxury” about it. Book elsewhere if you can. Plenty of honest, professional lodges will honour a reservation and treat you like a guest.