HU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous days at the Kruger
We took the 4 days tour from Johannesburg to Kruger. We spent 3 great nights at a lodge, where we had a nice little house just for us with great food and incredible hospitality. We were the lucky ones to see the Big Five:) Enjoyed the magical beauty of the park and professionalism of the tour guide from early mornings till the evenings. He always spotted the animals from a really really big distance, while we could not see anything.....it was amazing. You really need to spend at least 2-3 days in the park to get used to the silence, the animals and the endless green to really get rid of stress and experience the majesty of the fauna and flora. It was an adventure of a lifetime. During the way back to Johannesburg we have seen the most beautiful canyon of earth the Blyde river canyon. Incredible-> everyone should see this, you cannot miss. I highly recommend this tour, as everything was as expected...even better.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Vic Falls Spectacular
We did the 6 day Victoria Falls spectacular, which was personalised for our travel dates. Joseph was quick to respond to all emails, and put our minds at ease heading on our trip. Once we arrived our tour guide Frank was excellent, he looked after us and made sure we were comfortable and enjoyed every part of our stay. Each tour we went on was private, which made the experience that much better. I cannot speak highly enough of Frank, as well as the other guides at both Chobe and Hwange National Park. Really hope we can travel with this company again soon
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great trip with a great guide
We had an amazing trip – all thanks to Ronald! Right from the start he was very helpful and flexible when we wanted to make some changes from the initial route that was proposed on the website. I think this really was the biggest advantage of booking the trip directly at a local guide instead of a travel agency in Europe: we had so much more flexibility on the dates, the routes and an extra day of rest in comparison to everything else we had been offered at the agency (for a much better price was well).
The booking process was very secure via credit card and was without any problems. Once we were there Ronald was a great guide indeed, always trying that his group got the best spot to see animals, that we were given the best room etc. Besides his great knowledge about the country and its animals, he was also very funny and it was a real pleasure to have this adventure with him on our side.
Thanks to him we really got to know the country and its people and had a great time throughout the whole trip!
10/10 – really fantastic trip with a really fantastic guy!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic guide and comfortable bus
We did a two week in-comfort safari with Kiboko from Victoria Falls to Windhoek in Namibia via the Caprivi Strip which included Chobe National Park in Botswana.
We had an excellent guide (Kembo) and were lucky to travel in the company's newest bus which was very comfortable and roomy. The company only has a maximum of 16 on the tours which means there are some extra seats on the bus which was good.
The places we visited such as Etosha National Park and Sossusvlei sand dunes area were fantastic and we stayed in some really wonderful accommodation - especially the Gondwana lodges.
The tour was good value but there are a lot of optional tours which can bring up the price a bit.
I would recommend Kiboko and use them again.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well balanced, perfect itinerary - just enough to make me lose my heart to Africa and need more!
The email I wrote to Encompass Africa -
Hello to the Encompass Team
I have a bit of to time to pass on our last day in Africa waiting for our flight from Kasane to Johannesburg and then onward to Dubai and ultimately home in a few more days - so thought I would start writing down some thoughts and reflections about our trip for you.
Firstly, every single arrangement, transfer, tour, accommodation, flight etc has gone off without a hitch. We have simply had to turn up, relax and enjoy the experience. The arrangements really were seamless and an absolute credit to your planning and team.
Cape Town was a stunning place to begin our holiday and Trevoyan was the loveliest place to stay. It was so pretty, such a convenient location and so comfortable. I loved waking up to a glimpse of Table Mountain.
Our bike tour got us off to an active start and it was an excellent way to see some of the dramatic coastline. Our guides were so friendly and so eager for us to enjoy our experience.
The walking and eating tour was fabulous. We should not have even had a light breakfast though! We could not resist one single morsel that was offered to us. We loved checking out local places that we never would have discovered on our own and returned to a couple of spots in the following days. Ryan was an excellent guide and we really enjoyed his laid back style and learning about modern and historical Cape Town.
I loved the tour with Uthando. Time with the kids was a little overwhelming and emotional - just to be in the presence of such gorgeousness I think! But I also really appreciated learning about the efforts to educate, care for them and change the future for them. I also loved the last stop - I can’t remember the name, but another community centre where some young guys performed for us (so so much fun) and we met some women beading. The townships were mind boggling - at a distance and up close - worthwhile visiting though and learning about efforts to effect change.
Franschhoek was gorgeous! Again, beautiful accommodation. We were very content to pass our day there browsing and more eating and drinking! We were so pleased you suggested this little detour Jono - we wouldn’t have made the time for it otherwise.
And then onto safari. I am not exaggerating when I say that it took more than 24 hours for me to get my head around where I was and what I was seeing. Before we even pulled up at Garonga we saw a giraffe, Buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, warthog and elephant. When we did arrive I could barely speak apart from just saying hello and grinning like an idiot. The main building, our room, the bush location...was more than I had even dreamed of. Pictures are meaningless compared with the reality of being there. On our first afternoon game drive we saw cheetahs, lions and elephants! I looked at my photos and could hardly reconcile that I had just seen those animals - I thought they looked like pics out of a National Geographic mag! The whole experience at Garonga was very special and I get emotional just writing about it! (I cried when I wrote my trip advisor review!).
Even though I was reluctant to leave Garonga we did continue on - busy Johannesburg airport and an airport hotel were harsh reality checks - but of course I survived!
Victoria Falls was impressive and Ilala Lodge was a lovely place to stay. We did a sunset cruise on Ra-Ikane and a canopy tour with Wild Horizons (some nice low level adventure!). We also enjoyed strolling around the Victoria Falls Hotel grounds for the beautiful decor and great views.
We are also so happy with your choice of Chobe Game Lodge. Completely different game drive experience here - excellent to have the contrasting experiences. The lodge experience was exceptional. I loved all the different options and how they changed up the itinerary with game drives, morning, lunch or sunset cruises, breakfast by the river, dinner in the boma etc. And the staff could never do enough for you. We got to see the elusive leopard here on three occasions. And I might have hit emotional overload when we sat in the boat watching hundreds of elephants at the waterhole for two hours.
I’ve always wanted to ‘go to Africa and see the animals’. I didn’t know really what to expect and even still, anything I might have even hoped for was far exceeded. Thanks for taking the broadest of ideas Jono and making it a well planned, well balanced and pretty spectacular itinerary. It was without a doubt the experience of a life time for both of us. Both of us have an understanding now of how it happens that people travel to Africa and it takes up a special place in their heart. We will join the list of annoying people who (asked or not) will rattle on endlessly about all of our experiences in Africa...and of course be sending them all your way!
Thank you again to you and the whole Encompass team.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a life time. My daughter and I had the best time ever
Excellent, could not find fault, best service, drivers, accommodation, food, safari tour to park, unbelievable, saw the Big 5.
Gods window and Potholes fantastic.
Rooms were beautiful, food great, very clean.
Will definitely use your company again next time we are in SA, and reccommend to you anyone I know looking to go on a safari
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Was very impressed with the whole tour and especially with our tour guide Mischek M. (Spelling?)
This holiday was the best we (husband Richard and I) have had in many years and exceeded our expectations even though it was very different to what I personally imagined. We were looked after well and have no complaints at all. The accommodation was mostly first class and very comfortable though we were rather hot under those doonas at night! Can't praise Meshek (spelling) enough for his care of the group taking responsibility for every imaginable situation such as vehicle breakdown, sickness, extra travel needs and arrangements etc. Loved the areas we visited even the miles and miles of desert which could have been dull but Mesheks obvious love of Africa inspired us and we took hundreds of pictures and copious notes as well as read a few of the books he recommended. Because of this we feel we really experienced Africa, albeit as tourists, but for my husband (Sth.bAfrican born) it was a refreshing experience as he left Africa at 18 in the '60's and so much has changed. He was very pleasantly surprised. Meshek was very calm and practical and we and others in the group were impressed with his many skills and knowledge. We learnt so much about Africa , the history, geography, animals, geology, social issues, and much more and I am writing up a journal about all I can remember. We are hoping to travel again to Africa in a few years and recommend Kiboko highly to friends and family.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Makgadikgadi Pans National Park by Janette
There are two parts to this area - the Pans itself and the National Park. We spent a night sleeping under the stars in the Pans and it was an awesome experience (organised by Meno a Kwena Tented Camp). We also saw meerkats and no-one else. We then did a safari drive in the national park section. It has the second largest migration of zebra (after the Serengeti) which we could believe as we saw hundreds of them as well as lots of wildebeest, elephants swimming and lions very close. And we hardly saw anyone else. It was a very special place.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Botswana by Janette
There is a huge variety of places to visit such as the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Pans.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant communication, service, best holiday ever AND they give back to the underprivileged! LOVE
Africa had been on my radar for some time but overwhelming once I started looking for a tour, as there were so many companies to choose and not knowing where to start or who to trust, it all became too hard so I gave up.
A friend told me about an ad she saw from Trailblazers Travel so I sent an enquiry off.
Belinda was extremely helpful, we felt completely confident and we signed up. Never having done a group tour I wasn't sure how I'd go, but as friends travelling together to Africa, we thought it would be better travelling with a small group.
From the moment we met with the other people from the group, we knew we had made the right decision. The ages ranged from 40-70 and everyone got on so well, and from the first celebratory wine at the before takeoff, we knew we were in for a treat!
Wow, Africa - what can I say. So many thoughts race to mind and all my expectations were so far exceeded! It was refreshing to come from a place where we have so much, where we are so consumed with every day routines and where most people are losing the ability to think past ourselves, to land in Africa and see and feel the community and the coming together to mend old wounds. Africans are happy, smiling people with music and rhythm deep in their souls.
Africa is romantic but it’s also challenging. It’s compelling, it’s inspirational, it’s confronting and emotive but it is also life changing and beyond this, Africa will inspire you on all sorts of levels.
It’s something you don’t expect when embarking on a holiday but a new, positive outlook on life takes over you and consumes you in a way you didn’t know possible.
What I love about Africa is your eyes will be opened to new ways. Your body quiets and your mind settles. You relax, you see and you listen. But there are no words. It is in the behaviour of the animals that you will hear the unspoken word of forgiveness, family, self sacrifice, grace and justice.
Africa is enriching on so many levels and above all, the animals become the teachers and we become the student of life. Africa is a reconnection back to the land, to your ancestors, to yourself and to all the possibilities you have. It calls you in, it enriches your life and inspires you to greatness.
You must go at least once in your life. You won’t regret it!