Viva Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 1991)
- Member Of:
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association
- Tour Types:
- Mid-range tours that, when possible, use accommodations owned and operated by them
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $76 to $189 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Sue Barnard | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
100% ALL ROUND WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE
My grandson and I did a 3 day tour in January from beginning to end we had a ball. From being collected by efficient friendly Thabo to all the other wonderful staff to the comfortable accommodation and lovely home cooked food we loved every minute. We saw so many animals, made so many new friends. The bush was so green and alive. The affordability was the cherry on the top. Will definately do another trip with Viva.
US
Email John | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The Wisconsin Dells of Safari operators - a bit of what was promised, but not much. Disappointed.
My wife and I completed the 5 day Kruger safari. We are seasoned safari tourists and have been blessed to go on safari in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. We have never been left dissatisfied until now. The accommodations were fine and the food was as well. But that’s not why most of us go on safari – it is the game drives after all.
Every game drive was shorter than advertised. Day one night drive was two hours instead of three. Day two four-hour Bush walk was just one hour of bush walking. When we got in the vehicle, we were told it was really just three hours including drive time there and back but overall it was about 2.5 hours. Worse, the 3 hour afternoon game drive started an hour late and was only two hours. Also, how many tourists who spend thousands to come all the way to South Africa really want to receive a pitch to allow elephant culling when they are viewing elephants? We've gone from 600,000 elephants to 450,0000 in seven years according to the 2015 Great Elephant census across the continent. We are in the midst of elephant genocide. We see our first elephant and the arrogant young guide starts talking about culling them and feeding the meat to local villages. Not exactly what we expected to hear. Day three - all day at Kruger National Park - no complaints. But geez, we thought this was a 5 day Kruger trip. Only one day was spent there – the rest in reserves, some of which allow hunting. Day 4 - a major disappointment. The Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre did not espouse conservation. In addition to culling and legal ivory sales, we were told that rhino horn should be legalized to discourage the black market. Really? Rhino horn? I still can't believe we heard that. Back to Mark's Camp by noon. Yummy lunch. But no afternoon game drive. Our itinerary showeda 3 PM drive. Nope due to reserve restrictions, it was a 5 pm drive. Actually 530 as driver had to wait for more customers coming in from Johannesberg. Big difference in night drives versus day drives – photos aren’t good at night, and many animals are stressed especially since it is a hunting reserve. This last drive was also just two hours. Driver didn’t speak to us, and drove incredibly irresponsibly into a thicket of acacia thorn trees in the dark. I was actually injured and had to get antibiotics for a needless eye injury. Last day we spent $400 to spend the entire afternoon at Mark’s Camp. Pathetic. We did our own bush walk that was longer than the ones Viva did. And we didn’t need guns.
My advice is focus on quality game drives. No bait and switch on what you advertise. There are far better safari companies in Africa. I highly recommend Kenya’s Gametrackers for a genuine safari experience or any Exodus trip. Very disappointed. Emailed owner of Viva safaris and no resolution. Don’t get suckered.
US
Email Jim | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic People, Fantastic Service, Fantastic Value!
I went alone on a 4-day Safari to Tremisana and Marc's Treehouse Lodges. Collette, at Tremisana, was a wonderful host. It was a pleasure to sit down with her and talk about our experiences and her life in South Africa. She said, "My job is to make people smile. If you're not smiling, I'm not doing my job." That philosophy played out at Tremisana. The food, accommodations, grounds, staff, and excursions were all better than I expected, and I expected them to be very good. I especially enjoyed having breakfast with our guides and the informal interactions I had with my "Safari Family"--young people from all over the world with whom I shared the experience.
At Marc's Treehouse lodge, Pretty, our host, was just that, inside and out. Her sense of humor and attention to service made our stay comfortable and joyful.
Food at both lodges was simple, but excellent. The accommodations at both places were what I consider to be perfect for a safari (I don't plan to stay inside my room much. I want to be out interacting with people and with nature). It was a bit more spartan at Marc's treehouse lodge, but not by much. The sounds of lions across the river, and the baboons and birds at sunrise provided the perfect ambience. The beds were comfortable, the linens clean and fresh, and the decor, soothing.
Our game drives and guided walks were amazing! We saw all big 5, took fantastic pictures, and walking got us a more intimate look at the environment and the animal's and humans' interaction with it. Our guides were knowledgable and friendly, and they really took care of us well.
Finally, transportation and logistics were excellent. Everything was just as advertised and though South African time (and tourist time) can be different from that specified in the agenda, the drivers, hosts, staff and guides were flexible and we all felt like we got the most amazing bargain out of all the safaris we could have booked. I highly recommend Viva Safaris, and both Tremisana and Marc's Treehouse Lodge for your next adventure.
US
Email Steve | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding experience!
Our group of 5 had a wonderful safari with Viva. We did the 6-day/5-night at Tremisana and Marc's Treehouse, and thoroughly enjoyed our trip from beginning to end. We were picked up at our Johannesburg guest house on time, driven to Tremisana in a comfortable vehicle, and kept informed of activities and schedules every step of the way. We had two outstanding game drives in Kruger, as well as in two private game reserves, and a really interesting visit to the Moholoholo Rehabilitation facility. The food was both good and plentiful, and our accommodations were comfortable. The trip exceeded our expectations, and we would not hesitate to recommend Viva. You should, however, make sure you understand the different levels of accommodations they offer. Marc's Treehouse is quite rustic, and is in the bush. Wild animals wander through camp, and we were visited by both frogs and geckos in our ensuite bathroom. The treehouses aren't insulated, so there's no a/c. As long as your expectations are appropriate, you'll have an amazing time.
UY
Email Valeria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
FANTASTIC ADVENTURE WITH VIVA SAFARIS
We had a fantastic experience with Viva Safaris. We hired Tremisana 4 days and it really was the adjusted thing, although we were left wanting for a few more days (especially my daughter). All the planned activities were as they were offered by Viva Safaris. Excellent punctuality, guides, food and accommodation. I would do it again without a doubt.Thank you to all staff.
Phantastic organization, excellent guides, different game viewing different reserve, friendly staff
A wonderful safari adventure, unforgettable, unique. Well, very soon we noticed what Charlotte meant at the welcome meeting: "You will get the real feeling of Africa.." Yes, the treehouse and especially the 1 bed with 1 blanket a bit small for 2 elderly women.... but it was part of the adventure. We enjoyed the warm nights on our terrasse with nothing but the stars above, listening to the frogs, zicades and grills with a bottle of wine, slightly shattered of the daily activities, but happy. My phone had died the 2nd day because of the power cut and I had forgotten my PIN number - how wonderful that has been! Me who has a 24 hour service with my mobile clinic, cut off completely!!! Phantastic!
Charlotte always caring that everything is well organized and everyone o.k., Victor planning the next day program, the guides so enthusiastic explaining their nature, animals, plants, the staff always friendly and with a smile on their face, everything well organized. We have been the oldest ones (and to learn how to climb onto the jeeps without looking like grandmas) and the ones with the longest stay. Luckily we found a very nice group and we have been together most of the time. In the evening interchanging information about other countries, customs, cultures,. We have been a Southafrika couple, two Japanese women and an Australian chap, and we from Germany and Austria. So even more information!
Wonderful photos are reminding me, I put quite some all over in my house.
Thank you very much again and hopefully Viva Safaries stays like this and in future will go ahead offering unforgettable, wonderful safari adventures!
HU
Email Tamas | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent 5 day safari with Viva safaris
It was an excellent 5 days safari in the big Kruger park and the nearby bush area.
It was organized by Viva safari with excellent way. We picked up at our Johannesburg hotel near the airport (Aviator at Tambo airport) in time.
We had different safaris in different places:
Big Kruger park, bush area near Kruger and private park with difference experience:
Sunset, Sunrise safaris and even a bush walk with two armed guides.
This was much better than a simple visit to Big Kruger park because it was less touristic and gave much more filling of the Wild Africa than a simple visit to the big Kruger park.
We had nice sit on open (non glass windowed) Toyota Land cruisers during our offroad trips with excellent drivers and guides. Guides were continuously communicating each other in the different vehicles to help finding the animals.
We could see the big five and even Leopard cub and Giraffes Kudus, Hippos, Crocs etc.
We stayed at Tremisana lodge which was ok for staying at a the safari.
It was excellent and I recommend this 5 day tour with Viva safaris if you want to smell the experience of wild Africa.
LU
Email Henri and Denise | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tremedous stay with a very friendly and highly capable staff.
We have been on the 6 days Safari tour staying in Tremisana lodge. The organisation is absolutely perfect. I wonder how the staff is organizing this challenge because there is a coming and going of visitors every day with different stays and differant Safari trips at also different locations. The guides and drivers are highly professional people who know their job, the driving, nature and wildlife perfectly. At dinner they are sitting and eating together with the guests like a big family. Stories about their professional carrier about wildlife and even their personnel situation and their family are told and there is a real feeling of understanding and sympathy coming up. One guy, called "Yannemann" is a very talentated great storyteller a bit like Hemingway, who tells his adventures in a special, very sympathic way. The food is top, the accomodations rustique but very nice the beds and matraces perfect, equiped with mosquito nets.
What can a tourist expect more ? I really dont know.
From my side and my wife, not a single complain.
Viva Safaris, . . . . one of the top 3 experiences of holidays we ever had in our life.
it was a very nice experience at tremisana, great time and guides, marc’s much less nice
it is all pretty good, especially at tremisana was fantastic, amazing rangers and professional guides..lovely experience! marc’s was pretty poor
US
Email Andrew | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very fund 5-day safari
Had a great time with Viva Safaris. Did a 5-day, 4-night safari, with the first night at Tremisana Lodge and the last 3 days at Marc's Treehouse. The various drives and walks to see animals were fantastic. We saw tons of animals and had knowledgeable guides who could tell us a lot about what we were seeing (and find more animals for us). The trip to the animal rehab center was fun, too. All in all, the safari was very well organized by all the Viva Safaris staff. The food provided was also very good, and they were very accommodating with dietary restrictions.
The one negative would be the accommodations. Our room at Tremisana Lodge was in poor condition and the bathroom was basically in the same room as the bed. This may have been an outlier room at Tremisana, but it was still below expectations, particularly since Tremisana is supposed to be one of their nicer lodges. Marc's Treehouse also was a bit disappointing. Only a few of the cabins were true treehouses - the rest were just cabins made of bamboo and tree branches. And because the property is sprawling, some of the cabins are a 10-15 minute walk from the main lodge area, which was inconvenient and difficult to do with suitcases.
The staff at both lodges was fantastic, though, and helpful at all times. Viva was also helpful in planning the trip, and answered all questions ahead of time. Highly recommend using Viva for a South African safari, but I would keep expectations regarding accommodations a bit low.