35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
WOW what an amazing first visit to Africa that fulfilled all our dreams/wishes. Thank you so much!!
First of all I would thoroughly recommend Extraordinary Africa (EA) to anyone planning to visit South Africa at all and for safari in particular (and I am sure they would be equally good elsewhere on the continent). We wanted a family holiday to create enduring memories together and Alex Matts and Extraordinary Africa delivered the most amazing experience - this is the best trip we have ever had. The EA team spent time in the planning stage talking with us to find out what made us 'tick' as a family and what would create the best experience. The time they spent on this bore amazing fruit in country - our preference being for cultural experiences rather than full on constant activity (but I know they would have provided the latter if that had been our wish). All of the documentation was very clear and timely - we found the detailed itinerary booklet absolutely fantastic, with all the details of the various elements of the trip and all the things we needed to know and take in one place. What was particularly lovely was the inclusion of all the little personal touches from Alex Matts about places we were staying and the like, including restaurant recommendations and all sorts of other local information.
All of the airport transfers and the organised trip to shark diving ran exactly as we were told they would - we felt constantly reassured that the trip was efficiently organised and that we had very good back up both on the ground and back in the UK from EA. We stayed in two locations run by the More family (More Quarters in Cape Town and the Lion Sands Lodge for Safari) - in both locations we were amazingly well looked after and there is no way to fault the attentiveness and quality of the service we received, which was truly exceptional. In Johannesburg we stayed in The Peech boutique hotel which is a beautiful setting with very attentive staff who looked after us very well.
Lion Sands is an absolutely amazing place - the lodge run by the More family (we stayed at River Lodge) is absolutely beautiful and we were looked after wonderfully - we wanted for nothing and there were so many little touches that showed how much the lodge care for their guests. We really felt as if we were being hosted and treated as so much more than clients or customers. As for the safari, with a limit of 6 people on any game drive, an amazingly passionate guide (if you get to Lion Sands and have Ruvan as guide you are very lucky!) and an incredibly experienced tracker (Patrick) we had an incredible experience. Yes we saw the big 5 (within the first day and a half!) and that was amazing - particularly when hyenas chased the leopard up a tree. The range of wildlife that we saw was astonishing so it was about more than the big 5, important as they were. We particularly loved that we were given insights into the whole range of the bush ecosystem, from the very small (ant lions living underground for 10 years before emerging for 1 week of adult life) to the very large of elephants, rhino and giraffe. We stayed our last night in the Kingston Tree House, which is remote from the main lodge and gives an opportunity to be absorbed in the night time bush environment. We heartily recommend this if you can do it - with picnic dinner and breakfast and the views of the night skies while listening to animals around you. We were two adults and two children - don't be put off by the fact that children sleep on 'camp beds' as these were very substantial and comfortable affairs for them.
All in all we had an indescribably good time and this review can only capture a shadow of how great our trip was and how appreciative we are to Extraordinary Africa for organising it - we have lifelong memories to treasure. Our overall sense was of a crescendo of experiences on our visit to South Africa and the safari was very much the pinnacle after brilliant times elsewhere. Our greatest challenge now is working out how soon we can get back to revisit a country that we have fallen in love with - we will definitely be using Extraordinary Africa for our next trip there.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
First of all the website is looking great, Everything is in a list and not hard to search for a New adventure. Every option is described Well. The service is amazing, fast help and they help you with Everything. I cant wait to travel to a New safari experience
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Out of this world!
From the driver to the camp site to the experience watching the animals, wow!
JP
Wild dog safari staff are professional and friendly. 10-day course covers almost whole points!
Pre-trip : the staff gave us timely feedback, answered well.
During trip: the tour guide and assistant well organized and managed 10 days. Safely driving, quick set up campsite, meals were good, gave us professional advices, joyful chat, as ambassador of Namibia.
US
Review about Botswana by jackwickes
The wildlife was bountiful; the terrain was diverse.
BO
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful experience, I will never forget this :)
I loved the safari tour! It was just amazing! It's wonderful to see the animals and places so close to you and the service was very nice and friendly. I just loved the whole experience. The people were nice and caring for the satisfaction of the costumer and also kind with their costumers. In the safari I almost saw all the animals and even was face to face with a female lion! One of the bests parts was when I went and visited the Masai tribe. All the persons there were kind and friendly! They even gave me a traditional collar that they made themselves as a gift! That had fun and beutiful dances and very interesting and fun ways to do things. I did learn how to make fire with just a wooden block and a stick! They told me how they organized and their ways of life. The whole experience promises a lot, and I totally recomend this if you want to have a nice family time :D.
US
Amazing
We had a great safari through the National Parks in Northern Tansania.
Excellent organized with great lodges and a lovely group.
Thanks to the great guides and drivers Emilian and Adrian with their eagle eyes and knowledge about wildlife and culture we had impressive drives and saw all and even more that you could expect.
The tour was really unforgetable
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
amazing national park, amazing game, amazing setting...just totally amazing
all aspects were great & lived up to my expectations...fantastic camp, totally off the grid and awesome setting...
watched animals passing by while having coffee on our a frame hut...guide was well mannered, well informed and will recommend the company to all and sundry...
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari with Kanuth
I have two times been on a safari with Kanuth Afventure Safaries. The first one was in Selouse and the other one was in Mikumi. I have been on safaris with other Companys before, but my best trips has definately been with Kanuth. Kanuth is a very good guide. He knows so much about the aminals, and is a good storyteller. He knows where to look for the diffent animals at what times. It means that we have seen all the animals we hoped to see on each safari!! Kanuth is a good driver and even next to a big pride of lions, i felt (almost) safe.. We have been served delicious food, and had a overnight just next to a river with hippos and cocodiles. Kanuth Adventure Safaries am i rating with 5 starts!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Luxurious Tanzania (safaris, crater, lakes and more..) with great service
We (me and my husband) went to Tanzania at the end of April. We were initially skeptical about the weather conditions but were pleasantly surprised when we landed. James (Lion King adventures) welcomed us at the Kiliminjaro airport and from that moment on we left everything with him. James planned the trip, the stay, the food and entertainment. He took care of even the minor details e.g., dietary requirements, kind of hotels, beer in the van and much more. During the 5 day trip, we covered Lake manyara, Ngorongoro crater and serengeti safaris. During the safari, we really impressed with the level of effort James put in to make sure we see all the big 5. There was a time, when other safari experts could not spot the leopard on a tree which James showed us. The hotels chosen were top quality as per our requests. Overall, we had a great time thanks to James.