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:
- $78 to $193 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
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Email Kayla | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Viva Safaris was incredible, they made every aspect of our safari experience 10/10.
The guides were friendly and knowledgeable, the lodge was quaint and nice and safe, and the food was SO good! Every single meal we were stuffed to the brim with delicious food. We saw so many different animals and birds, and the guides were wonderful at ensuring we had an interesting experience each time we went out on a drive or bush walk. They were very accommodating to any needs we had, including letting us stop to shop whenever we left the reserve, finding us hats in town that we all wanted to buy, and for anything else we asked of at the lodge. We really felt at home there and had so much fun. Balule is an incredible game reserve, and I am so glad we went with Viva Safaris as this was the trip of a lifetime!
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Email Matt | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Viva safari is organized, accommodating, and dedicated to delivering a fantastic safari experience!
Viva safari did an amazing job at making my groups safari experience a blast. The guides were amazing (Lucky, Rocky, Raymond, King George to name a few) due to their knowledge, humor, and friendly banter with our group. They also did a great job at making sure we saw a lot of wildlife on our game drives. The company was also very accommodating to any last minute changes we made and the food and kitchen staff was wonderful. Overall it was a very affordable and great safari experience that I would recommend to anyone!
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Email Adam | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredibly exciting caring operators sharing their love for animals with us.
Excellent accommodations and staff. Well organized and worked with my situation of flying in a day later then the rest of my group organizing an airport pick up for me. Incredible experience.
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Email GM | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
Best Safari company. Great staff, guides, and accommodations. No complaints!
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Email Amanda | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Trip of my Life!
Viva Safaris went above and beyond my expectations. The safari rides were amazing and we were able to get close to all of the animals. The staff was very kind and accommodating to what we wanted to do. The food was great, rooms were clean and comfortable and the pool area was a nice place to relax between activities. 5/5 recommend staying here!
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Email Connor | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great group of people who made our interactions and each day amazing
The staff here was so incredible to the drivers, office managers, and cooks. Rooms were perfect. Not to fancy but not low tier either. It was just what we were looking for. The meals were good and the drivers were incredible. Sundowners were my favorite part.
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Email Nils Olsen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
INCREDIBLE Experience, From Start to Finish!
I have been on two other safaris before, but traveling with Viva Safaris was incomparable. The operation was well-run, well-communicated, and as advertised. The staff - from the drivers to the guides to the chiefs - were infectiously optimistic, skillful, and incredibly hospitable. The food was delicious, and the room featured one of the most comfortable beds we had ever slept in. There was a clear urgency to ensure every guest saw all of the Big Five, which we did. The pick-up at the airport and drop off back in Jo-Burg, by Soli 1 & Soli 2, was smooth & easy.
A special shout-out to Mama T for her delicious food and to guides KG (aka Mr. George), Lucky, Victor, and Andy for all of their efforts to make our trip so amazing!
Overall, we couldn't be happier with our experience and would 10/10 recommend and travel with Viva again!
IE
Email Ruben Garcia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Overpriced for what you get
TLDR: Overpriced for what you get.
Starting with the good part, company was very accomodating since our flight got cancelled and we could change our safari from 4 to 3 days and all people working there were very nice.
Now, it's horribly overpriced given the quality of the accomodation and food received. Tremisana lodge is old, not very well maintained and just clean enough. The food was very dissapointing, one of us was vegetarian and the options given were "well, you just don't eat the meat, eat everything else", that's by all means not catering for vegetarians. We were lucky we had some food with us because portions were quite small, also lunch not included in the package.
Safari itself is ok but streamlined for tourists, there's an adjacent private reserve were they take you twice to see some lions. It's basically a big private zoo but not at all a safari experience. The full day in Kruger park is more real, nice 4x4 jeeps to travel around and we got to see some animals but the fact that these vehicles travel alone and without radio leaves you to your own luck finding animals (in other safaris cars would talk to each other if they see something).
Given South Africa prices, ~1200 EURO for 2 nights accomodation and a bit of safari this is hugely overpriced.
JP
Email Miho | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Committed, dedicated and caring people for the best safari experience
Patti was super helpful when making a reservation and for logistics on the day of arrival.
People at Tremisana lodge are all friendly and welcoming. Food is good and room is clean enough considering it’s in the center of safari park.
What’s the best is the guides at Viva Safaris. They are committed to show you animals you want to see. Even you don’t have luck to see what you want to see, you can see how hard the guides try to make your day. I booked a 4-day satay and it wasn’t enough. I should’ve booked a 6-day tour for sure. KG, Lucky, Victor and Andy are the best guides. They remember what animals you’ve seen and what you are missing. Then they will focus on the missing animals for the coming days. They really think that finding the animals is theirs job and they really commit to it. I’ve done other game drives with other tour agencies in Zimbabwe and Botswana, but they just see what the nature offers you without trying to find the specific animal. This is not bad and you will still enjoy, but you will never see the commitment Viva Safari guides will show you with any other tour operators.
I was able to see lions (really close), rhinos, buffalos, elephants, hypos, crocs, zebras, giraffes, various antelopes and etc…
Unfortunately I didn’t have luck to see a leopard, but it just leaves me a good reason to come back to South Africa. I’m definitely going to book a tour which is longer than 4 days with Viva Safari next time. Thank you so much!!!!
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Email Bruno Fortuna | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing perfect experience
Perfect from day 0 to day 6. Since the pick up at the airport by Salomon the 1st then taken by Salomon the 2nd, reception by all the amazing staff and Tuney making everything the best, the guides/drivers King George and Mr. Victor simply no words for these two heroes and Mama “C” and all the ladies cooking amazing diners. Couldn’t recommend and like it more. And likely forgetting others special names. Thank you!