Armadillo Overland Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2011)
- Member Of:
- Field Guides Association of Southern Africa
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $140 to $373 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
4 day Safari with Armadillo tours
Our Safari with Armadillo Tours has been an wonderful and life-long held experience. Not only because of the animals we have seen, but also because of all the effort that Chris has put in creating an amazing experience for his guests. Chris is genuinely interested in his guests and does more than his best to make sure his guests have a great time. Truck Norris, Chris knowledge of the area and the wildlife, his work for the group, and at the end of the day, the great campfire conversation with Chris, our trip couldn't be any better.
Definitely recommended to everyone!
Email Sarah and Robbie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent from start to finish!
My husband and I joined Chris and his son Simon for a 8 day camping safari for our honeymoon. Where do we start, we had never been on a safari before, but enjoyed camping and thought why not!
Well it was an excellent experience from start to finish, everything was perfectly organised, Chris and his family work consistantly day and night to deliver an amazing experience for their guests.
The 'Chuck Norris' safari van was spacious, comfy and gave us a great view of Kruger which was head and shoulders above the other safari vehicles in the park. The truck catered for all safari necessities from fridges full of beer and cold drinks, a library, white board for animal sightings, coffee maker and a toilet!
There was a fantastic selection of very tasty food during our tour, from breakfast on the go to full evening meals everything was freshly prepared by Chris on his trusty braai!
All the camp sites facilities were clean, the tents Chris provided were spacious, comfy and took minutes to assemble with plenty of room for bags.
Lastly of course the animals, we saw so much wildlife whilst in Kruger. Chris and Simon went out of their way to try to find the animals the group wanted to see, sometimes we were driving in the park for upto 6 hours a day as new animal kept popping up along the way!
An amazing time, we are planning our next trip already!!
DE
Email Catherine | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Part of our South Africa Visit!!!
We could not have been happier with our safari experience! We chose to do tent camping. The sleeping arrangements were very comfortable. Waking to the different bird sounds was wonderful. Chris is quite a chef and all our our meals were delicious! We even made it a challenge for him and specified 'gluten free diets'.
I don't think our experience in the park and surroundings could have been any better. We had a view that no one else could have. It was nice to be able to interact and move around inside 'Truck Norris' with all the creature comforts. Chris and his daughter, Ginny, were so knowledgeable about all in the park. There wasn't one bug, bird or animal they didn't have a wealth of information on. With their expertise, we were able to see the "Big Five" and so much more. They knew just where to go and what to do and were some of the nicest people I've met.
I have to say, our safari was a great value! If we were to have gone on our own, I don't believe we would have spent any less money. I would arrange to go with Chris again in a heartbeat and would recommend him to anyone wanting a wonderful, fulfilling experience. For us it was perfection!!!
For us it was perfect
NO
Email Gulbrand & Annabel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What an adventure!
We traveled with Armadillo Overland for a 7 day camping safari in the Kruger in the last week of January.
The route is well thought out. It's a good mix of different activities and animal sightings and Chris tailored the route based on what we were interested in seeing.
You will not only get to spot wild animals but also learn a lot about their behavior, characteristics, society. As Chris is passionate about birds you will also get to be more aware of them and how they fit into the eco system, and that adds a nice twist to the trip.
In general Chris took very good care of us, being both guide, driver and chef. We missed his home-cooked meals for the rest of our ZA-trip.
Moreover, the truck really is ideally set up for the safari, giving you the best of both worlds: comfort and convenience (comfy seats, cool drinks, bathroom, a library of reference books) as well as great viewing (the height let's you see animals other vehicles can't, sliding windows gives you the sounds and picture-taking advantages of an open vehicle).
The camping was basically "glamping" in nice stand-up tents on well-maintained camp sites. It was very pleasant to sleep in the tent on the comfortable mattresses.
All in all you will not be disappointed by booking a safari with this great mom-and-pop outfit. Highly recommended
NL
Email Lucie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience!
Our safari with Chris to Kruger was great! Chris was very knowledgeable and kind and a good cook, he chose nice routes to drive and nice campsites. The vehicle is very comfortable, well-provisioned and ideal due to its height. No complaints whatsoever! Also very good value for money.
US
Email Rachel Clark | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An absolutely amazing adventure!
I have nothing but great things to say about this tour company.
I went with a group of six people at the end of October for a five day panoramic safari trip. We saw so many animals! Chris's knowledge of animals is incredible, and he had so many interesting things to say on whatever we came across. Chris's truck was amazingly comfortable, and it was a great way to drive around the national park. He was enthusiastic, friendly, and so organized. The food was quite honestly the best food I have had in South Africa.
Highly highly recommended - book with Armadillo Overland Safari & Adventure Tours, I promised you won't regret it!
US
Email Cami | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cannot imagine exploring Kruger in any other way
The tour was absolutely amazing. Chris was so great and made us feel comfortable. The vehicle was incredible, the food was so much better than expected, the tents were high quality and we had an amazing time. Highly recommend.
US
Email Brian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We wouldn't do it any other way
There is so much good packed in the experience that Chris and Nicky made possible that I am having a hard time deciding what to talk about first. They were genuinely welcoming when we first arrived and made us feel comfortable right away. It was more like meeting up with old friends than the typical business transaction these tours/safaris tend to be. Chris' cooking skills on a campfire are enviable. We never felt rushed even though my wife and I are chronically late people: Chris kept us on track to see wildlife until our heart's content.
As far as the amazing vehicle that Chris has constructed, well in my opinion, it would be tough to get a better situation for seeing an abundance of game, even in a busy location. It has just about everything you need and is kept well stocked with drinks. We have been trying to explain how awesome it is to our friends but it is hard to illustrate the cleverness of it until you get the full picture and are actually there.
Chris and his wife, Nicky, are extremely knowledgeable but even in instances where they did not know the answer to our question, they made sure to check and let us know.
Overall, we honestly couldn't have imagined such a great experience. We plan on doing another trip in a couple of years when our daughters are older and we wouldn't consider booking it with anyone other than Chris and Nicky.
A million thanks from Brian and Angela.
Email Di | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A fantastic trip
I went on a 5 day budget camping safari in Kruger national park with my daughter and we had a fabulous time. Chris and Nicky were incredibly hospitable and looked after us all with great generosity and care. They had a seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of everything!! The vehicle was great, it was much higher up than most vehicles making it easier to see things, it also had plenty of room to move around, a toilet on board and a supply of cool drinks. They also cooked us great camp food. I would definitely highly recommend it in every way.
Email Alastair | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible, Fantastic, Wonderful - The perfect way to experience Kruger!
If you are thinking about an all inclusive Safari tour of Kruger, look no further!
Chris not only designed and built a unique and one of the best vehicles for viewing game, he is also a fantastic host, guide and gifted cook.
I had never been on Safari or to Kruger/SA before and from being picked up in Jo'Berg to the final game drive, I could not have asked for a better experience.
Truck Norris alone is worth choosing Armadillo as the windows are huge - ideal for photographers - and the elevated position means you have an unrivalled view of nature; there are drinks in a refridgerated cooler, you can read up on the park, game, tracking while crusing along with lots of space to enjoy the ride.
I have to say I enjoyed the tour so much that I have told my parents they must go with Chris and am hopeful of engineering a way to come back again soon!