***Scammer alert ***
Hi admin please kindly post this as we cannot let him do this to others.
Hi all, before someone else gets scammed by the same person . I would like to share my own experience as well as someone else's with EdenBay Eco Lodge & BazarutoEncounters Innovative Holidays
Yes it was an operating lodge but it now hasn't been operating for a while , I am told +-6 months or since last year 2022 and the owner is still taking payments for bookings and messaging clients the day before arrival saying it's not possible to go there as aunthorities council has ripped everything and emptied the pools etc.
We had booked in March to go in Sept 2023 and sent through the POP of full payment to the owner Paul Saayman .
I then got a Phone call from my friends who were supposed to check in today 10th aug 2023 - they told me and forwarded me the message about council ripping everything out etc Paul the owner claimed to be the victim here .
I phoned a couple friends of mine in Mozambique vilanculos and asked about the lodge they did some digging and found out that the lodge has been closed for some time and that Paul was a bit of a bad name around town . I then phoned the lodge manager , Bernard, and the skipper , Bentu, to confirm the story (Paul gave me both numbers on confirmation) and both of them said that the lodge hasn't been open for a long time and that in fact all the boats and everything were seized by lawyers . They also mentioned they have not even received salaries owed to them for previous work they did before it closed down. They are very upset and angry about this situation.
Both Bernard and Bentu also said the we were not the first people to call them about this exact problem and have the same situation and their exact words the man is crook!!!!
When we try phone Paul he does not answer and when we message him he diverts our questions and tries to play a pity party. We have not yet been given a refund and nor have my friends ..
***Update***
I have since been contacted by another person who got scammed the same and has also reported that he has a friend pretending to book a holiday and that Paul as of today 11th Aug 2023 is still selling the camp and pounding for deposits and payments!!!
I have friends who went to see the camp today 11th Aug 2023 and have attached photos of what the camp is actually like and the chief of land has stated that this guy owns a lot of people a lot of money .
Please do not fall for this guys tricks and clever words the fact he is still advertising the place as " fully operational " is quite upsetting .
Be careful out there and use people you know who have been to places or a trusted travel agent who know the country best .