CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lawrence was knowledgeable and relaxed and worked to help us have the best experience.
Lawrence provided great service and communication during our tour. He consistently showed up on time and provided interesting, helpful, often humourous info about the geography, animals, plants, and birds. We saw so many different animals and birds at Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru. Lawrence was kind and thoughtful about making our tour memorable and meaningful, down to the type of music he chose while driving. We got great value for the price- I'm very satisfied.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Cibril, Mildred and Lawrence were organized , gave good advice on tour choices.
The team at Gemfinders office, especialy Cibril and Mildred are very friendly. They provide information in a timely manner, and follow up to make sure all is well during the tour.
Our tour guide, Lawrence is very knowledgable , calm and friendly. During the tour he was keen to select road routes that ebabled us see more along the road, while still avoiding road snarl ups.
Lawrence has passion for wild life and skill for tracing their habitat. My highlight was being so close to the live lions!
Lawrence: is steady on the wheel and we is well conected with local tourist facilities.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent customer services
A hitch free service with great experiences. TALL masai safari pay attention to all your needs and take care them
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding
Brighton is the proprietor of Zambezi Quest. He was with us almost the entire time from airport pick-up to traveling between destinations, game drives and back to airport. Before our arrival and during our planning, Brighton communicated with us on a very timely basis answering our ongoing questions, making suggestions, making our bookings. He was attentive to every detail of our trip. Highly recommend him and Zambezi Quest.
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Brilliant tour of Vic Falls/Chobe/Hwange
I was left with a very satisfied feeling after dealing with Exec Africa Travel and Tours and completing the tour with them.
From the very start, where I did searches for tour options, they seemed very competitive in what they offered. Before long I had settled on them as the tour company of choice, and this was easily sealed given the very high standard of communication they offered. The standard of English was not just high but they quickly (immediately) & very clearly responded to any queries and uncertainties I had to my complete satisfaction.
The value for money was very good, I believe. The game drives in Hwange in particular were of very high standard with superbly skilled guides in attendance. Their knowledge of the bush, the birdlife, the animals, the trees etc was second to none. We had very good sightings of lions on each of the two days we did game drives: I have been to several game parks in Africa and these sightings were amongst the best I've experienced.
We started with an included evening cruise (with dinner) on the Zambezi which was of very high standard and which was conducted with style, i.e. allowing the boat to drift with minimal use of the motors and serving very fine food.
Overall accommodation and dinner standards were high for the tour price. The tour guides were very helpful with any queries we had, including for a subsequent road trip I made on my own around Zimbabwe! Our tour driver was a very safe i.e defensive driver.
My wife was vey pleased with the tour too. We felt that we could not have made a better choice. If we go to this region again, we will 100% use Exec again!
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Jocky Tours and Francis the guide are amazing
My three-day safari to the Maasai Mara was an unforgettable experience that exceeded my expectations in many ways. From the moment we left Nairobi to the moment we arrived at the Maasai Mara National Reserve, the vast open plains and abundance of wildlife were breathtaking.
The game drives were the highlight of the trip. We were lucky enough to spot several members of the Big Five, including lions with cubs,A leopard with a club and having a meal on a tree, elephants, and even buffaloes on the 1st day, Watching animals in their natural habitat was both peaceful and thrilling. Our guide Francis was knowledgeable and skilled at tracking animals, which made a huge difference in what we were able to see.
The scenery throughout the reserve is stunning—rolling savannahs, dramatic skies, and unforgettable grasslands with scattered balanite trees that made every minute feel special. If you visit during the migration season, you may even witness the incredible wildebeest crossings, which is truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight that I will one day come and witness.
Accommodation and hospitality were also excellent. The camp staff were warm and welcoming, and the food was surprisingly good given the remote location. After long game drives, it was comforting to return to a relaxing environment.
That said, the trip did feel a bit short. Three days is enough to get a great introduction, but it leaves you wanting more time to explore and fully immerse yourself in the experience.
Overall, my Maasai Mara safari was an incredible adventure that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to experience Kenya’s wildlife and natural beauty. If possible, I would suggest staying longer to make the most of everything the Mara has to offer.
Thanks so much to Jocky tours for organizing this and for giving me the best guide Francis..
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari option from Joburg
Nice tour, fun, educational and well organized. It’s about 50% drive to/from and 50% safari. Not a massive amount of wildlife but very good diversity. We saw about 15 species. Transfers were smooth and professional. Lunch was tasty and satisfying.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Reliable and efficient. Great service and holiday
Hi Claire
Hope this is OK? I'll copy it to the review page too.
Janet.
Victoria Falls, Munchenge and Setari Camp.
We chose to arrive in Joberg from the UK a day before our holiday started. A well considered strategy ensuring we were
fresh for the adventures ahead.
We stayed at the Southern Sun Hotel.
Clean, convenient and good food. 5 min free shuttle to / from the airport every 15mins.
Our connecting flight on day one took us to Victoria Falls airport, about 1 hr 30mins via Airlink. A seemless meet and greet at the airport and onto Victoria Falls Safari Lodge for the early afternoon. A beautiful remote
lodge set high on a plateau overlooking the bush and it's own watering hole. They have various wildlife visit. It was a joy to sit,
watch, relax and take it all in from the bar, restaurant or your own balcony. Open panoramic views and no buildings in sight. The rooms are spaces, clean and comfortable. The staff are friendly and the service is excellent. A great start to our holday. We had 2 nights here. The first night we enjoyed a lovely sunset cruise on
the River. The price included food and drink. A lovely start to our holiday.
So after day one relaxing and enjoying the lodge we had pre arranged plans to see the Victoria Falls.
Our guide met us at the lodge and drove us the short journey to our first stop at the Lookout Cafe. From here we had pre booked a 'Gorge Swing'. Basically that's a leap off a platform that drops 70 meters over the Zambeze River then swings out over the waters below. Not for the faint
hearted but no jolting or bunjee involved. Exillerating and fun. A story to tell! We had pre booked this. Afterwards we enjoyed the stunning views over the Zambeze with a coffee in the Lookout Cafe. There are other activities in the area. Worth
researching if you fancy a lttle adventure!
Our guide stayed with us for the duration and made sure we got to where we wanted.
The Victoria Falls area is very safe and a lovely area. There were some Elephants roaming locally too!
Our next stop was Victoria Falls itself. The guide arranged hire of 'poncho's' prior to entry to the falls. You will need them! $3 pp. Entry to the Falls is $116 per couple, guides are $25 optional. We chose not to have a guide. The walk takes around 1 and
half to 2 hours. As you wander around tbe falls there are numerous look out points to enjoy the stunning views and witness the power of the water. Water levels were high when we went meaning the spray obscured clear views but if you're patient so take that poncho and something to keep the camera dry.
After the walk there is a nice cafe to enjoy a drink / food. All very relaxing. There's even a Wart hog to look out for!.
As you leave there is a local market where your guide will likely arrange to meet you and local traders sell the usual wears. All friendly and not overly pushy either.
For us it was back to tbe lodge to enjoy more of those views and an evening dinner.
Breakfast is a small buffet with waiter
service for hot food. A lovely stay.
Onward to Munchenje. Again a seemless meet and greet from the lobby and transfer with other pick ups en route in a small comfortable mini bus. Approx 2/3 hours including border crossings and customs into Botswana. A change of guides and buses at tbe crossing points it wasn't busy at the border control. All well
organised. Do keep all of your footwear handy though for dissinfecting. (A foot & mouth control procedure)
We arrived at Munchenje to a warm welcome. It felt like a personal greeting from each member of the team. Its a small camp. Not busy. Beautiful lodges overlooking amazing views. The lodges are lovely. Everything you need and private.
There is a swimming pool too. The main building is the dining / bar area.Comfortable seating inside and out. Dining and breakfast is a shared experience with other guests and guides and managers.
Time for a chat to share those stories.
They do all they possibly can to welcome you and are very friendly. Everyone is available to introduce themselves and even the chefs get involved introducing the menu each night. A nice touch and a chance for them to practice their English.
The camp aside the real reason you visit
Munchenje is for the Game drives and they don't dissapoint. We were there for 3 nights. In all we did seven game drives and missed the 2 drives at night. Early mornings and late afternoons are the norm to catch the animals. You will not be dissapointed but there are no guarantees
on what you'll see. Sadly we missed the elusive Leopard but others did see them!
As part of our experience we enjoyed a days boat safari. Water levels are high currently. We had an amazing stop on the water with a buffet lunch on the boat whilst watching the Elephants bathe. Unforgetable!
The final chapter of our journey was at Setari Camp in the Delta. This is remote and offers a different experience. Getting there requires an initial fixed wing plane ride. Max 11 seats hence the luggage restruction of 15kg pp, although our luggage was never weighed. The plane journey is an adventure in itself offering fantastic views of the Delta below and a chance to animal spot. Our journey did involve a storm which was a little hairy but all part of our experience. Landing strips are dotted around the Delta and serve as stops to drop off and pick up passengers.
Flying is the only means to get in and out.
Getting to Setari camp involves a further boat ride through the delta. About 45 minutes and chance to see the bird life and views. Again tbe camp is remote and small. Set in its own mini rain forest the spacious lodges and main building are
raised fixed tent buildings accessed by a long decked bridge from the river. As with Muchenje the welcome feels personal and genuine. All the staff are friendly and welcoming.
Meals are also communal with other guests and breakfast if a buffet with waiter service for hot food. The lodges are spacious and comfortable. Everything you need including an outside shower if you fancy it. Amazing views. No kettle though.
They have to be careful with the electric output. Not a major issue. The main building is for meals and includes a bar and comfortable seating. Great for the views and listening to the birds.
The safaris are water based. They navigate the waterways and offer a chance to see the varied bird life. Its also adjacent to a park so you'll have the opportunity to see other land animals such as Elephant, deer and anyting else that might wander by.
There are opportunities to vary your experience with a local village visit or a Makuru boat ride. We had 2 nights which was basically 1 full day but that was probably about the right amount of time.
Another boat transfer back to the airstrip provided more sights and memories and to finish the holiday in style the pilot let me sit up front for the journey, much to the bemusement and worry of fellow passengers! A great experience including an aborted take off due to a warthog crosing the runway!.
Aside from the superb lodges the transfers by road, plane and boat all add to the sights, experience and adventure so there is no sense of time wasted travelling.
There's no time to rest as there's too much to see and do.
A fantastic itinary, Wonderful lodges, great service and extremely well organised throughout by Off to Africa and Claire Saunders.
Thank you so much. We would not hesitate in recommending the trip or Off to Africa and, of course, Claire Saunders.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Just fantastic!
We stayed in Magotho Camp and booked our tour last minute. Arnold showed up from a long drive early in the morning to our camp 15 mins before the agreed time and showed us the area looking for wildlife. We really enjoyed his patience and his company. We were with a group of 6