Big Sam Hubber
Big Sam Hubber
4.5
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Kasane, Botswana
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
79 reviews
Excellent
60
Very good
9
Average
1
Poor
2
Terrible
7
kristens912
Brampton, Canada3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
The safari was amazing! I forget the name of a our driver but he was funny and went above and beyond to make sure we got the full wildlife viewing experience. Our campsite in the bush was the nicest camping I’ve ever done anywhere in the world.
The only negative is that there is a long time between meals so bring lots of snacks.
The only negative is that there is a long time between meals so bring lots of snacks.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Filipa S
4 contributions
Feb 2020
A great experience with a great staff. A big effort from the staff to pleased and to make us happy 😃
Nothing went wrong with this company, we were a big group travelling with children and we did all our trips with BIG SAM. Vic falls, game drive and boat cruise. AMAZING 🙏😊😊😊
Thank you all,
Filipa & friends
Portugal
Nothing went wrong with this company, we were a big group travelling with children and we did all our trips with BIG SAM. Vic falls, game drive and boat cruise. AMAZING 🙏😊😊😊
Thank you all,
Filipa & friends
Portugal
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hudson And Emily
112 contributions
Aug 2021
Highly recommend Big Sam Hubber!!! I had a tour booked with a completely different company and late the night before, they told me it was going to cost more. So I wrote to Big Sam Hubber at midnight and they responded and coordinated a tour for the very next day!!! Everything was absolutely fantastic!!! We loved our guide - he was so kind and knowledgeable. The Chobe game drive was amazing too and we had the best day. We are so grateful for them coordinating this so last minute for us!
Written August 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pablo B
4 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
I have had the best experience of my life. Five days of safari that will be unforgettable. The organization was impeccable and the guide assigned to us was an expert tracker with a friendly treatment. We have been able to see all the possible animals in magical moments that we will never forget. I recommend everyone to hire Big Sam Hubber. They will be very satisfied.
Written September 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MARCO R
6 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
Another great adveture with BIG SAM
An afternoon game drive to see fantastic animals that we were not expecting to watch.
Once more the staff was just amazing with us 😊 thank you so much GIFT and SAM.
A big thanks and a big hug from all of us.
Marco Rola & friends
Portugal
An afternoon game drive to see fantastic animals that we were not expecting to watch.
Once more the staff was just amazing with us 😊 thank you so much GIFT and SAM.
A big thanks and a big hug from all of us.
Marco Rola & friends
Portugal
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shelley B
Cape Town Central, South Africa99 contributions
Mar 2021
We cannot thank Sam enough for his assistance in our visit to Botswana in March 2021. Sam was full of information, was fairly priced and extremely helpful. He was our transfer from the border (Kazangula) and we hired a car through him to visit Chobe National Park. He assisted us with getting our covid tests, and waited with us for our results (24 hours!) and was just helpful on every level. You can reach Sam on +26771691746
Written March 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Renee C
1 contribution
May 2018 • Friends
After reviewing various options for safaris and sunset cruises we decided we wanted to support the local family business of Big Sam Hubber eventhough they were not the cheapest option. We had an awesome experience and felt good about our choice in supporting Big Sam and his family.
We did three tours through Big Sam over the course of two days. After finish the sunset cruise on day two having had such a great time and even being told by our guide that 'we are a family now' we were in high spirits and on our way home when Sam approached us to tell us that a mistake had been made on our invoice. They had neglected to include a 5% transaction fee which we had agreed to pay when paying with our credit/debit cards. He had discovered this mistake already on the day we had payed but stated that he felt is was, according to him, 'unethical' to tell us the next morning that his accountent had made a mistake and waited until we had completed all our trips to tell us this.
When he approached us he was rude and used a threatening tone as though it was our fault. We had no problem paying the 5% as we agreed to this, but when he realised his negligance he told us we owed him 780 Pula. Our payment amounted to P6030 in total originally, therefore P780 would amount to a 12% fee! He was trying to make us cover ALL his bank charges, not only the transaction fee. He was impossible to talk and kept on insisting we pay and even threatened to settle the matter through the police. Only once we ourselves did the calculation in front of him and showed him that 5% is NOT P780 did he pipe down and then tried to backtrack on his accusations.
I am so disappointed with this business and would suggest all AVOID this business at all costs. They are not tranparent with their business transactions and it saddens to think that people would approach a sitaution in this matter. I feel that the negligance was not our mistake and that we were treated unfairly. What a bitter end to a wonderful trip.
We did three tours through Big Sam over the course of two days. After finish the sunset cruise on day two having had such a great time and even being told by our guide that 'we are a family now' we were in high spirits and on our way home when Sam approached us to tell us that a mistake had been made on our invoice. They had neglected to include a 5% transaction fee which we had agreed to pay when paying with our credit/debit cards. He had discovered this mistake already on the day we had payed but stated that he felt is was, according to him, 'unethical' to tell us the next morning that his accountent had made a mistake and waited until we had completed all our trips to tell us this.
When he approached us he was rude and used a threatening tone as though it was our fault. We had no problem paying the 5% as we agreed to this, but when he realised his negligance he told us we owed him 780 Pula. Our payment amounted to P6030 in total originally, therefore P780 would amount to a 12% fee! He was trying to make us cover ALL his bank charges, not only the transaction fee. He was impossible to talk and kept on insisting we pay and even threatened to settle the matter through the police. Only once we ourselves did the calculation in front of him and showed him that 5% is NOT P780 did he pipe down and then tried to backtrack on his accusations.
I am so disappointed with this business and would suggest all AVOID this business at all costs. They are not tranparent with their business transactions and it saddens to think that people would approach a sitaution in this matter. I feel that the negligance was not our mistake and that we were treated unfairly. What a bitter end to a wonderful trip.
Written May 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
annettet
Camberley, UK386 contributions
Oct 2016
Very poor Customer service and unprofessional staff.
We booked our river cruise nearly a year in advance we were asked to check in with them at 2.30pm for our 3pm cruise.
It was a rush after travelling from the UK over night and finally getting to our accommodation @ 2pm. We quickly grabbed everything we needed & arrived on time.
The staff seemed distracted & dis-interested after saying we needed to complete a form after 3/4 requests they finally gave it to us . Once completed we paid after confusion over the park fees we were getting concerned we would be late they took us down to The Chobe lodge where we were shown to the boat quickly followed by two gentlemen. We sat waiting with no information for 20 mins when we enquired what time would be leave an American guest turned up say they needed more time & we had to wait another 20/25 mins.
He got very abusive & we made it clear we were not prepared to wait & be on a boat with him. 3.30pm we finally headed off only 4 of us on the boat although the office had indicated it was full. We headed down to the national park where we stopped to pay the entrance fee 20 mins later we moved off to redock for a family to join us, headed out again only to turn back & see the American guy arrived by car to board the boat.
We indicated we would not stay on the boat with his abusive behaviour and after wasting an hour waiting for this couple. I don't think they believed we would not go on the trip when we go ashore they suggested trying to find another boat over an hour and a half after we got to them.
When we asked why they had not done that for the American when he had been so rude & abusive. Why did they feel it was Ok to waste our time & ignore our concerns. No answer, no apology only a refund.
The staff don't know how to handle difficult customers they just seemed to want to maximise the income for that boat irrespective of Customer care or satisfaction.
We would have loved to have the river cruise we booked nearly a year ahead but are not prepared to be treated so poorly. They really need to learn you can't treat people like this & expect them to put up with it.
The most appalling experience I have ever experienced, evident from my number of reviews I have made over the years. Very sad to give such a bad review but I would not trust them.
We booked our river cruise nearly a year in advance we were asked to check in with them at 2.30pm for our 3pm cruise.
It was a rush after travelling from the UK over night and finally getting to our accommodation @ 2pm. We quickly grabbed everything we needed & arrived on time.
The staff seemed distracted & dis-interested after saying we needed to complete a form after 3/4 requests they finally gave it to us . Once completed we paid after confusion over the park fees we were getting concerned we would be late they took us down to The Chobe lodge where we were shown to the boat quickly followed by two gentlemen. We sat waiting with no information for 20 mins when we enquired what time would be leave an American guest turned up say they needed more time & we had to wait another 20/25 mins.
He got very abusive & we made it clear we were not prepared to wait & be on a boat with him. 3.30pm we finally headed off only 4 of us on the boat although the office had indicated it was full. We headed down to the national park where we stopped to pay the entrance fee 20 mins later we moved off to redock for a family to join us, headed out again only to turn back & see the American guy arrived by car to board the boat.
We indicated we would not stay on the boat with his abusive behaviour and after wasting an hour waiting for this couple. I don't think they believed we would not go on the trip when we go ashore they suggested trying to find another boat over an hour and a half after we got to them.
When we asked why they had not done that for the American when he had been so rude & abusive. Why did they feel it was Ok to waste our time & ignore our concerns. No answer, no apology only a refund.
The staff don't know how to handle difficult customers they just seemed to want to maximise the income for that boat irrespective of Customer care or satisfaction.
We would have loved to have the river cruise we booked nearly a year ahead but are not prepared to be treated so poorly. They really need to learn you can't treat people like this & expect them to put up with it.
The most appalling experience I have ever experienced, evident from my number of reviews I have made over the years. Very sad to give such a bad review but I would not trust them.
Written October 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mel O
Divide, CO96 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
I highly recommend this company for a day trip into Botswana.
Their service was really good, the guide on the boat ride very friendly, helpful, patient and knowledgeable, the lunch great, the safari drive great with a good guide too.
The ladies in the office communicated with me well via text prior to the day and were really nice and helpful.
What a great bunch! Big bonus was the price being so reasonable compared to other tour companies. As other reviewers said (that I read before my decision to use them): why use more expensive companies when these guys are so reasonable and so good?!!
Would recommend them any day!!
Their service was really good, the guide on the boat ride very friendly, helpful, patient and knowledgeable, the lunch great, the safari drive great with a good guide too.
The ladies in the office communicated with me well via text prior to the day and were really nice and helpful.
What a great bunch! Big bonus was the price being so reasonable compared to other tour companies. As other reviewers said (that I read before my decision to use them): why use more expensive companies when these guys are so reasonable and so good?!!
Would recommend them any day!!
Written August 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven T
9 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
2-day Safari was split into two activities, one day game drive followed by a boat safari along the shores of Botswana and Namibia. The night was spent camping with highly qualified staff taking care of every detail. Everything went like clock-work, from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. The safari guide went out of his way to explain every detail along the way, sprinkled with fascinating anecdotes and was very friendly and patient with kids. The team that set up the camp for the overnight stay and cooked the meal and breakfast were also top class. Highly recommendable experience, but bring several layers, it gets very cold at night.
Written July 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.