Impala Tours

Fantastic - cannot wait to go back for more!

Everything - without exception - was fantastic about our safari. Impala organised a bespoke tour, catering to absolutely all our wishes, planning it perfectly and taking care of us every step of the way. Having never been to Africa before, we were a little nervous, not knowing what to expect and what problems might lie ahead. Now we know that we had no cause to for concern. Andre at Impala thought of everything and knew what we wanted and needed even before we did; so much personal attention and care, it was excellent. I would say that it was the holiday of a lifetime, except that we have decided to go back just as soon as we can. The whole trip was a dream largely thanks to Impala and I have already recommended them to many of our friends.

reliable and friendly

We have used Impala Tours since 2005 and found them to be highly reliable and knowledgeable about Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and South African tours. They've arranged all of the lodges, connections, flights, etc. Never had a problem. They seek value and avoid lodges that are over priced relative to their offering. Sometimes we schedule things at the last minute and they always manage to find great solutions for us. Highly recommend them.

Very well organized, very service oriented and reliable

We got competent answers to all our questions and suggestions and Andre von Flotow our Guide made sure that we always received more than we expected to see.
To our advantage was that we travelled in the low season, so we had most of the excursions and activities arranged all to our selves.
We can advise anybody to travel with Impala Tours Namibia.
However we do advise fellow travellers to bring along the necessary time to explore Namibia.

By the way, the food that was served has always been excellent.

Everything was very well organized. We travelled from one lodge to the other by plane and were greeted, entertained and pushed off again with accuracy, yet everywhere we went they gave us a wonderful safari experience.

Adventure in Namibia on a Self Drive Tour

Date of trip: 2 June-14 June 2016
Location: Southern Namibia (Windhoek, Fish River Canyon, Ai Ais, Luderitz, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Windhoek)
Type: Self Drive
Overall Rating: Very Good

In general, Impala Tours did a very good job. We were met at the airport and transported to our hotel. There was a briefing, with wine, where we went over the route maps and were introduced to the vehicle - a 4-wheel drive Toyota Hilux with a canopy. The vehicle was in good condition and got us where we needed to go. The electric refrigerator and table included with the vehicle were nice additions. The driving route involved tar and well maintained gravel roads.

Overall the accommodations and food were excellent. If you enjoy meat, the game - kudu, impala, sprinkbok - were plentiful and a real treat.

Helpful tips:

1. If you are not a seasoned road-warrior (we're not), travel with a GPS or Google the directions. This would provide detailed directions in town (mostly) and accurate mileages on the road that were not always evident from the maps/instructions we were given.
2. For accommodations in coastal towns, request a hotel with a sea view.
3. For optional tours book early. The Bogenfels tour required at least 10 days pre-booking.

Competend, friendly and reliable firm

I booked the 3rd trip with Impala Tours and was always a contend customer. Impala Tours is very competent and makes a point of quality e.g the car we had, had good tyres, the lodges were well selected. If there are problems or questions, you can always call Yvonne or Andre.
It was not my last time travelling with this Company!!!

negligent, slovenly and non-professional

It was the fourth time that we had booked with Impala, but there will be no fifth time. Pick-up was arranged at the airport, but unfortunately there was none when we arrived in the lobby of the airport. I had to call Impala to find out what's going on. I was told by phone that the taxi driver was on the way. As an excuse for the delay, Derselbige argued that South African Airways (SAA) had released unclear strike information. A look at the SAA homepage would have been enough to find out that our flight was not on strike because it was operated by a SAA partner company. As a rental car we, a couple, were given an old VW bus with over 300,000 kilometers driven, eight seats and minor technical defects (rear side doors only opened with trick 17); completely unsuitable for two people, who even in the national parks clunked nervously even at low speed, i.e. it was not a pleasure to go on the stalk with this vehicle myself. Contrary to a full tank, it was only a quarter full, so that our first course (drive) led to the next gas station after receiving the rental car. I honestly have to add, but if I only return the car with a full tank. Two of the lodges rented through Impala informed us on arrival that our reservation had been canceled due to a lack of payment. The result was my hectic phone calls with Impala, whose assurance that payment would still be made during our stay, which was the case. Unfortunately, Impala made no apology or a word of regret in either case. Conclusion: Business dealings were careless, sloppy and unprofessional. This is not how you deal with regular customers.

Disappointing experience

We booked a trip to Namibia and Botswana in advance of a year and a half to get a specific driver / guide in Botswana. Andre promised us that. As a result, Andre gave us another driver / guide. Moreover, Andre changed three ordered camps without prior notice. One of these camps was outside the national park, and we had to pay additional fees for entering the park. We are very disappointed.

Terrible Organization and Not Holding the Promises

We went as two families with 3 children in August 2019 to Namibia and Botswana. Andre von Flotow and his team were in charge to organize the entire trip. We paid everything in advance. Never do this to this Impala Tours!
We had multiple issues along our trip. I will start mentioning them one by one in seperate reviews, as they touch different aspects.

As a start:
1) We were suggested to take a guide for our trip through Botswana and paid for 7 days.
The guide
- arrived one day late
- was not briefed where to go, We had to tell him the trip. We had the maps to tell him the way.
- did not have own coordinates of the night bookings. As the bookings were not correctly done by Andre and his team for 2 of the four locations, we had to find alternatives those days. Not nice if you have kids dont knwo where to stay and you see the sun setting.

Andre did therefore not prepare properly this guide, the guide tried to do his best!

The guide left after 4 of 7 days, although lodge bookings were done for him and we paid them to Andre. We did not receive any money back, although we took a long time to argue on this.
In fact, Andre cuts any communication related to those topics.
Be careful, use other organizers.

Please send personal message, in case you want to discuss.
Best wishes
Christoph

The sentences on web site are not true

I never recomend this tour company. Almost things that they said is not true.
As for the accomodation, the staff told me that we could see sunset and sunrise there when we asked before booking but actually we cannot tehre. We have to move another place to see and it takes one hour one way if we want. The driver said he doesn't want to. As a result, we could not.

As for payment, they said we can pay credit card but actually they asked me to tell all information about our credit card.
Of course, we could not for our finance security. And they needed money in advance and they told me to return bank transaction fee later if we pay by bank transfer in advance. So I believed and payed in advance by bank transfer but he never return.


This is a very shocked trip....