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:
- $79 to $195 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 Kristen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing visit to South Africa / Kruger
I am not a rich person. But I enjoy rich experiences: viva safaris allowed me to have an amazing experience in South Africa, make our group feel special, see the big 5, eat incredible meals and not have to spend a lot of money to do so. We stayed at several of Viva's properties: Marc's Treehouse, Tremisana lodge, and the wonderful and luxurious Katekani Tented Camp. The latter made me feel like I was a millionaire it was so luxurious. Piero cooked the most amazing meals for us and we had the whole place to our selves. Tremisana is a wonderful place to start a safari as it is comfortable and immediately you feel immersed in Africa with Warthogs and Monkeys roaming the property! Viva is a well put together safari company that is extremely well coordinated across complicated logistics. It feels seamless, but obviously must take a lot of work to coordinate across so many people and activities and have it feel effortless! I highly recommend this company and its various properties. Do make sure you know what you want in terms of accommodations: we signed up for "budget" at the tented camp and while it was great - our older members wanted a bit more luxury so we upgraded to Katekani from Marc's Treehouse. Viva was incredibly accommodating and for that I will be forever grateful. Thank you Viva Safaris! I will recommend you to many others!
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Email Greg Cunningham | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
5-day Viva Safari in Tremisana Lodge near Kruger
Our 5-day safari at Tremisana Lodge near Kruger Natl Park exceeded expectations for my wife and I. Our trip started with a flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg, where we stayed the night at a comfortable but inexpensive Safari Lodge near the airport which Viva Safaris helped us to reserve. The next morning we had a 6-hour drive to Tremisana that was part of the package, arriving at the Lodge in the late afternoon. That evening we went on a 3-hour night drive where we saw a black-backed jackal mother (with cubs in a nearby termite mound), elephants (mothers and children), and numerous impala (the fast food of the bush). The following morning we went on a 'bush walk' just after sunrise where our guide, Rex, and his partner, Elias, tracked a black rhinoceros and her 2-year old daughter. Rex predicted that the rhinos would be near our jeep when we returned there an hour later, and, sure enough, they were happily munching twenty feet off the road upon our return. We were so close we could see them use their protuberances to strip the leaves off the branches, hear them chew the vegetation, and see the young rhino communicate with her mother in response to our presence. Prior to returning to the jeep we had seen a group of hippos next to several crocodiles in the river, and a troop of baboons across the river. Rex and Elias also showed us some of the 'little five' along our hike, and their communication with the group while tracking the rhinos at a distance truly enhanced the experience. During the middle of the day we enjoyed the small pool and lounging chairs, interacting with other guests from around the world. During the evenings of our stay we regularly went on drives, and saw many different types of animals, including giraffe, kudu, duiker, impala, steenbok, mongoose, hyena and others, often with their young. We were astounded how much wildlife there was considering how badly the drought seemed to be affecting the vegetation, but the lack of vegetation made seeing the animals easier, I think. Other highlights of the trip were the full day we spent in Kruger, where we saw small herds of wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, impala, Cape buffalo, a pride of lions with the alpha female protecting a recent kill, a recent impala kill stored for safekeeping in a tree by a leopard, a lounging leopard under a tree just 30 feet from the jeep, and many other amazing sitings. We also enjoyed our visit to the Maholoholo Sanctuary, where we learned about the devastating impact that modern civilization has on these magnificent creatures and we enjoyed petting an 'ambassador' cheetah, feeding the vultures and watching an adult male lion take raw meat from our guide. Our trip to the private game reserve Tshukudu was also very enjoyable as we got within 50 feet of a pride of lions napping in a dry river bed. The male and female roared in response to the engine noise of our jeep. We saw a baby hippo with its protective mother in one of the water holes there as the sun set. On our farewell drive the morning of our departure, we experienced a poignant moment when we saw four lion cubs, one of whom had somehow gotten on the 'wrong side of the fence' and was chuffing at her litter mates. The three that were on our side of the fence were in obvious distress at the fact that their litter mate was separated from them, and all four were communicating with each other. Despite the immense size of Kruger Natl Park, which Tremisana Lodge is adjacent too without any fencing separating the two areas, this experience reminded us that habitat loss is one of the major problems facing the many species we encountered during our stay. Overall, we thought that Viva Safaris provided us with a terrific experience for a very affordable price. We enjoyed the breakfasts and dinners prepared by the kitchen staff that were served outdoors, with a troop of velvet monkeys playing amongst themselves and often attempting to play with the guests, the warthogs and yellow hornbills eating the leftover fruit disposed of by the staff just outside the protective fence, and a curious genet exploring the area around our dinner one evening. Everyone we talked to who was on safari with us wished we could stay 'just one more day' because every day yielded something unexpected and memorable. We appreciated all the hard work from the staff at Viva Safaris and felt like we had made a lasting connection with many of them; we can't wait to visit again!
Email Cathy Martin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Jewel of Africa
In 2010 at the age of 50 something I finally decided to follow my lifetime dream and visit Africa. As it was a solo trip and had no idea where I wanted to go, I spent many weeks searching the web for the perfect and safest place that met all my requirements. I finally was guided to Viva Safaris website and I knew this was the one. Six years on and I have returned many times.
Viva Safaris has not just become another Safari company offering a wide range of activities, they are now family and treat me as such. I have seen their programme of activities grow throughout the years offering guests a more personalised adventure that is suitable for both adults and families at a very competitive price.
From the moment you are collected from your accommodation your adventure begins until you finally have to bid farewell you leave with memories that will last a lifetime.
The transfers to and from Johannesburg is aboard a 12 seater comfortable mini bus, the journey does take around 6+ hours there is many stops on the way and also an hour stop for lunch. The time goes by very quickly as you get to know fellow guests.
On arrival at Tremisana I was met with a warm friendly welcome from the Hostess and staff providing cool drinks for all guests. The first thing I saw was the beautifully kept tropical gardens surrounded by thatched roof lodges and a swimming pool. The lodges are spacious, comfortable and very clean, each one has its own distinct African feel about it. The en suite lodges also have tea/coffee facilities. The Lapa area is where breakfast is served and it borders Balule Nature Reserve which is part of Kruger National Park. This area is so peaceful (when the vervet monkeys are asleep) and I have spent many hours sitting on the swing bench reading and observing the wildlife around the watering hole. There is a bar area where you can relax with a beer and access the free wifi. The dining area gives you no doubt that you are in Africa with its open firepit and the smell of delicious variety of home cooked food.
The Game Drives were everything and more than I could have ever imagined. The Balule Reserve and of course visits to Kruger National Park has an abundance of wildlife and the open game viewers gives you the ultimate viewing platform to see magnificent wildlife up close. The Wildlife Guides are all very knowledgeable in conservation, animal behaviour and identification from the largest to the smallest inhabitants that they share their lives with, all done with amazing sense of humour. The Bush Walks opened up another world to me and gave me the understanding why everything down to trees, termites, Elephants and everything in between is connected and why habitat protection and conservation is vital for wildlife.
I could continue to talk about dining in the middle of the African Bush with wildlife just feet away under a blanket of stars, or visits to the amazing work of the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehab Centre, visit to Tshukudu Lodge where the cheetahs are often found lying around the pool area. Each day is different and each day you find something else to add to this unique African experience.
I also became very involved with the orphanges, missionaries and schools that Viva Safaris sponsor and to date have raised over £5000 supporting a local school with necessary educational materials and sports equipment and I am currently raising funds to construct a multi purpose sports area for one of the schools in Acornhoek. I couldn't have achieved this without the full support of Viva Safaris who have encouraged me with my ideas to bring hope to the children and provide a better understanding of the importance of protecting the wildlife and their habitats in Africa.
You can become an involved visitor or enjoy everything Viva Safaris have to offer. I would recommend a visit to Marc's Treehouse Lodge, I love this place so much that a few years ago my partner and I became engaged under the African night sky...so romantic. The Treehouse is definitely a unique experience. The treehouses come in varies shapes and sizes with picture size windows allowing you to see your very own incredible view of the African Bush and its wildlife. Again the accommodation is very clean and comfortable, food is incredible and the staff are just amazing.
If you are like me and find it difficult to choose from so many different options for your travel plans, I can in all honestly recommend Viva Safaris, it has changed my life, it is not just another holiday destination for me, every time I say goodbye to my Viva family and return to Scotland I leave part of me behind. I look forward to seeing everyone again in September 2016.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions I will be happy to respond.
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Email Sally | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
MEMORABLE SAFARI WITH VIVA!
Our tour with Viva Safaris met all our expectations in every way. FANTASTIC! The booking process was quick and informative and all the pick ups and schedules were timely. The Viva staff at the lodges were friendly helpful and the food delicious!! The hostess and kitchen staff at Marc’s Lodge even treated us to a birthday cake and Zulu dance!! MEMORABLE! We liked the rustic feel of both Tremesana and Marc’s Lodge which gave you a real sense of being in the Bush. The game drives were great and we were lucky to see lots of animals including the big 5. The guides were all very knowledgeable and informative. Elias entertained us with his great sense of humor and plenty of sightings of “Bush McDonalds “!! “ All part of the Game!”
Big thank you to ALL the staff Including drivers and those in the background for making our holiday so memorable!
Stay safe through Covid19 and wish you all the best in the future!
Email Penny W. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolutely wonderful!
From beginning to the end it was such a lovely experience, filled with great hospitality, kindness, friendliness, and patience from all the people who took charge of the logistics of our days and nights. The accommodation, meals and the soul filling hours on safari in the parks were all truly fabulous! And exciting! There was a seamless flow to the activities scheduled for each day and all we were required to do was to relax and enjoy it all; all logistics were cared for with aplomb!
I’d love to do it all over again!
Email DAVID LAUGHTON | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Well organised and reliable.
The pretour communications were excellent, we were met at the correct time, our pre safari accommodation was great. The safari tour was well organised, with both lots of accommodation being comfortable and clean. The meals were very good (despite the fact that a monkey stole one of our muffins off the dining table - very funny!). The safaris each day were well run, guides were fun and knowledgeable. We were given plenty of time to enjoy each day in Kruger and all in all had a wonderful time. Highly recommended!
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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.
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Email Ryan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great People, Fantastic Service
Our Guides were wonderful and it was definitely an experience to remember. The people we met on the trip were fantastic as well! Also, they found a camera that we lost on the last day and arraigned for it to meet us in Johannesburg before we flew home. A beautiful time to in a beautiful place.
Email Josie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Trip with Viva Safaris
Tremisana Lodge
We stayed here one night as part of our Viva Safari's tour. We felt welcomed, the food was lovely and the guides were super. The bush walk, fantastic! The best thing about this stay was Tanya, the warden. Her knowledge of the animals and the reserve was spot on. She didn't just look out for the Big 5 like every other guide, but showed us exactly what we asked to see.
Marc's Camp - Treehouse
Welcoming staff, well cooked local food, well organised excursions, cheap bar!
A good trip for young couples of a budget, also idea for single travelers.
It is potluck which room you are given on arrival. They vary in size, some are with en-suite some you have venture outside to the loo. We were very lucky with room 7. Ideal sport for views and en-suite.
Can be creepy at night, you can hear the hyenas calling walking in the dark to your room! We also head a lepoard kill and eat a monkey at 2am.
Not a luxury stay, but a once in a lifetime experience and we thoroughly enjoyed it. All the basic needs are met, comfortable, warm showers and hot food.
TIP - if going in the winter, take LOTS of layers. It is COLD at night.
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Email Mitchell | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I enjoyed to so much I've been 3 times
I first went in 2012. I searched on-line for safaris and decided on Viva because of the good reviews. It was such a terrific experience that I took my 16-year-old daughter the following year, after business took me to J'Burg. My second trip was even better than the first. We were lucky enough to see the Big 5 because the Guides know the best places to look. Tremisana Lodge is a garden in the middle of the bush with monkeys in the trees and beautiful flowers everywhere. We saw an elephant less than 3 minutes out on our night drive and later a rare ant eater. The food was authentic, delicious and abundant. Dinner was under the Macule Tree was pure magic and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Marc's Treehouse is entirely different and just as lovely and special. Antelope wander along the paths to the cottages and in the morning I heard chewing outside my window. It was a giraffe, eating the nearby tree. She was more startled by the distant lion's roar than by me looking at her, camera in hand. Later, during breakfast, the monkeys put on a show trying to steal jam and bisquits on the deck overlooking the pond.
The guides are knowledgable, patient and maybe more than lucky. On my third trip we found a herd for 400+ buffalo slowly walking toward the road. We parked and the herd moved around us as if we weren't there. We were close enough to smell them. Where else can that happen? Soon after we found a leopard in a tree with most on an impala, three hyenas looking on. She jumped down and chased them off before disappearing into the bush. At the end of the day our driver took us to a secluded pond where two elephants were swimming. Swimming! We would never have found that without our driver's experience.
On my third trip we saw the Big 5 before lunch but we all also learned to look for the smaller animals, too. I saw a baby Leopard Tortoise on the morning bushwalk and 25 hippos in a river while we ate breakfast.
I can't recommend Viva Safari highly enough. Make sure you go to Moholoho Rehabilitation Center, maybe pet a cheetah or have your picture taken with a rino baby and to the nearby private game preserve for an entirely different kind of wildlife drive.