Rochelle Buys, the owner of SafariLife
SafariLife
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2020)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $247 to $1,235 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Steve | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service, communication, and value
We booked a 4 day/3 night tent safari at Dumela Camp through SafariLife. Johan was awesome in explaining options and helping us decide on the details. Always responsive either through chat or call. The actual camp and drives were operated by MoAfrika. They were great. The transfers were on time. They picked us up in Johannesburg early morning on day 1 and dropped us at Hoedspruit airport near the camp on day 4. Recommend flying in and out of Hoedspruit if you can to avoid the 6 hour road trip from/to Joberg.
The camp had excellent service. The food was good. The tents had private hot showers, toilet, and sink as well as electrical power and lights. Beds were very comfy. We did not use the AC or pool as it was coming into wintertime when we were there.
The camp hosts were engaging and very helpful. Ian was fantastic. The guides were also wonderful, especially Lambs and Great. We did two 3 hour safaris at a nearby private reserve (one afternoon and one morning) and a full day in Kruger. All were fantastic. We also did the full day panorama tour which was beautiful scenery but don’t expect any animals.
Email Graeme | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic service
This was an amazing experience in a fantastic location in a private reserve in Krueger, Umkumbe resort.
From my first contact with Johan at Safari life everything went smoothly, First the options for where to stay and level of comfort and cost. Payment was easy. Communication for travel and experiences were on point. All transfers were on time and great.
The resort was amazing. Was greeted and shown all the features of my tent. 3 amazing on site cooked fresh meals a day, with Abigail being a tremendous host. So much food! The infinity pool overlooked the Savannah where hyenas, elephants and warthogs roamed. I felt safe and secure.
Brandon lead the morning and evening safaris. This is the highlight as they can go off-road to find the animals. I saw everything and they are knowledgeable and respectful of the animals, There is a stop for drinks on each safari, it’s rough ride but seeing lions and leopards makes up for it.
Lastly I can’t thank them enough for assisting in my missing luggage list by the airlines. They tracked it down, and went out of their way to help me. This is a great service and was great to know I was not dismissed. So if you’re looking for a safari, this is the place to select
Reply from SafariLife
Posted on Jun 15, 2026Hi Graeme,
Thank you for the kind words and lovely feedback.
We truly appreciate it and it is always a pleasure to be of assistance to our guests.
CA
Email Jay | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Organized, professional and overall amazing experience curated to our needs!
Communication with SafariLife was fantastic from the moment we booked right through until we arrived in South Africa. Our Travel Experience Designer, Johan, was professional and did a fantastic job at putting together the perfect safari experience for us. Highly recommend!
Reply from SafariLife
Posted on May 25, 2026Hi Jay,
Thank you for the wonderful review and words.
We appreciate it!
NL
Email Sharon Thompson | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional and reliable
Johan Buys from Safari Life organised a 4 day Safari for myself and a friend at Dumela Camp, just outside the Kruger Park. From the booking process, to the pick up in Jhb, the camp, the safari excursions, the entire experience was handled with professionalism and care. I would highly recommend this value for money trip.
Breathtaking, amazing, and worth the $!
I went with a few friends and we had the best time! Everything was super smooth from the start, we got picked up from the airport and were driven right to the accommodations. The service throughout was top tier, every driver we had was amazing! The food was also amazing, and they gave us good portions. The communication was fast and easy, we communicated through email and then through whatsapp once we got there. The wildlife we got to see was breathtaking, and all of our guides put in the effort to make sure we saw everything we could. Highly recommend!
Email Lisa Wilding | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Rochelle was amazing! So helpful, knowledgeable and very (very) patient!
We have just ended two wonderful days in two game lodges which were expertly organised for us by Rochelle. She took care of everything and all we had to do was show up and enjoy the fabulous experience (and pay of course!). We thought it was great value for money and we made memories to last us a lifetime. Thank you ♥️
NO
Email William | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent. Wonderful. Superb.
We wanted a trip that combined safari experiences, fun activities, and the chance to explore different parts of South Africa. A journey along the Garden Route, including Addo Elephant National Park, turned out to be the perfect package.
We chose to book our tour through Safari Life — primarily because they offered a small-group experience (up to 12 people), but also because their itinerary included many of the legendary highlights along the Garden Route. Every single stop proved to be a highlight in itself.
Our journey actually began several weeks before we arrived in South Africa. We have to praise the excellent service from Safari Life, who customized the tour to fit our needs. Our flight arrived a little after the tour had already started in Cape Town, but Rochelle from Safari Life arranged a private transfer so we could join the group later, everything went seamlessly.
We also chose to upgrade to private rooms, which turned out to be worth every rand. The accommodations were beautiful and exclusive, and the food was consistently of a very high standard. We even got to enjoy several South African national dishes along the way.
Safari Life partners with Earthstompers, who have been organizing this type of tour for decades. Our guide was Christine, and we couldn’t have asked for a better host. Her knowledge and experience about the places, activities, restaurants, and guesthouses along the route were absolutely invaluable.
If you are considering a trip along the Garden Route — book with Safari Life. You’ll get an unforgettable journey filled with variety, comfort, and authentic South African experiences.
PH
Email Cha | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari Life is highly recommended for a worry-free safari!
We booked a 4D3N stay in Sabi Sands and Kruger and it was an efficient, flawless, and stress-free coordination with Safari Life c/o Rochelle. She offered options to go with our budget until we came to the end result which offered us the most value for money. Safari Life made all the arrangements including our pick up and return to Johannesburg in a comfortable car. Our accommodations at Umkumbe River Lodge and Langa Langa Safari Camp are comfortable and secure. Umkumbe in particular offered light breakfast and sundowners during game drives which made the experience extra special. The food in both accommodations are superb, the staff so kind, and our game drive guides so knowledgeable especially Thomas in Langa Langa. Most important to note, we saw the Big 5 in this part of the Greater Kruger area in such a short stay! Rochelle who was our main contact with Safari Life has been very accommodating, flexible, and proactive in communicating arrangements. I truly appreciate that I felt her assistance and care from start to finish.
I highly recommend booking with this tour company!
CH
Email Chris | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable and supportive
Had an unforgettable experience in Kruger and Sabi Sand with my kids. Many thank to Rochelle for the excellent organization and support 🙏
Email Augie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rochelle always responded quickly whenever I had a question.
That Safari was amazing. We saw the big five and the experience was simply incredible. I’m very glad that I booked through SafariLife. Rochelle handled every all of the details. She always responded quickly throughout the process as I had several questions and needed clarification on some things. She made sure that everything was clear. The reservation and the transportation was all taken care of. Everything was handled from the time I arrived until the time I got on my flight to go home. I would definitely book with SafariLife again.