US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Safari experience was great, some things t need improving
Overall we enjoyed our safari and all the wildlife we were able to see. Our guide was knowledgeable of the best spots to see the animals and nice viewpoints and went out of his way to find all the animals we wanted to see from pretty close. Like others, our main complain is the constant push to purchase souvenirs and other stuff from locals and the way they assault you when you stop on every gas station. I think the company should do a better job to shield visitors. Our guide did take us to a Masai village where, like others, we were pushed to spend quite a lot of money of “donations” to the community where we were left unaccompanied. After that situation, we made it clear we didn’t want to make more souvenir stops which I think should be made clear from the beginning if you’re going on a Safari. The transfers were long and bumpy but we are overall happy with the experience, the animals and the views. Our driver also prepared most of our meals which were overall nice (better than the ones prepared by the lodges) and arranged nice picnic settings.
From SOT specifically I would have liked more communication, such as who our guide was, their number etc before the beginning. We also had to leave late the first day because they representative from the agency was late to debrief us. We also didn’t have information on our flights to Zanzibar and had issues at the airport both ways to find our reservations with the airport personnel. They gave us a WhatsApp number to communicate with that literally never replied to any questions.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Personalized and Locally Curated Experience
In the process of planning our trip to Africa, we found Southern Africa Tours while comparing other larger international tour companies. The competitive cost of the tour is what originally gained our attention and we were immediately impressed by the prompt attention we received from Bianca and Craig. They were very responsive and quickly arranged a package for us to fit within our particular timeframe, which was a little last-minute. Initially there was some confusion getting everything arranged as some emails back and forth were not going through. Bianca was very patient with ensuring we received the information we needed even if she had to send multiple times or to multiple emails. She prepared and revised our itinerary according to our interests in each area of travel. Bianca also included suggestions for activities and packing lists.
Arriving in Johannesburg, Bianca had arranged for us to stay in the OR Tambo City Lodge which was very conveniently attached to the airport, allowing us to go directly to our hotel without leaving the airport. The next day we were promptly picked up by Kurt Safari and driven to our accommodations at the Hazyview Sun Lodge. This location was a substitute for our original hotel which was under renovation. The Hazyview Sun was a bit older than other locations, but the setting was beautiful, the staff was very helpful, and the food and drinks were delicious. We spent the next few days on safari in Kruger National Park and touring local sites along Blyde River Canyon. Kurt Safari took excellent care of us and ensured that we made the most of every moment we spent in Kruger. Our safari guide, Chris, made sure that we were the first in the park gate each morning as the sun came up. We were very fortunate to have a private safari experience as it was only Chris, my wife and myself. As an extensively experienced guide, Chris was incredible at spotting animals and putting us in the prime position for observation. He was quickly able to predict animal behavior and utilized his relationships with other park staff to show us well over 45 animal species, including the Big Five and much more. In addition to Kruger National Park, Kurt Safari also took us on the Panorama tour around Blyde River Canyon. We were able to take several short hikes in a beautifully foggy, cloud-forest environment to see God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and The Three Rondavels. This day trip provided an interesting and relaxing alternative to the daily safari. At the conclusion of our time in Kruger we departed from Skukuza Airport and flew to Cape Town.
At the Cape Town Airport we were greeted by Bianca and Craig in person. They were incredibly helpful with our bags and getting us through the airport. They also spent some time with me in a pharmacy to help me get some cold medicine. Craig and Bianca were both very excited to hear about our journey so far and gave us the feeling of having a local friend or relative in the area to help us get our bearings. They arranged for us to have time on our own to explore and improvise in addition to scheduled activities and tours. In Cape Town, Bianca and Craig personally checked us in and got us settled in our room at the Radisson Red. They were quick to adapt our itinerary and activities based on the weather forecast. There was only one day of inclement weather in the entirety of our time in Africa. On this rainy day we were able to explore the waterfront in Cape Town and visit restaurants, craft markets and museums. Bianca and Craig took us to the Constantia wineries as a spur of the moment rainy day outing. Later that night they took us to a local interactive dinner experience where we were able to drum along with traditional musicians and sample authentic cuisine. The following day, we were picked up by Craig and Joel for a guided tour of Cape Town, Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. We were given an in-depth history of the city and its complex social climate. Craig is a very passionate and proud citizen of Cape Town, eagerly offering his perspective on the politics of the region and the diverse collection of its residents. Joel provided point of view as a native of the Cape and his expertise as a trained nature guide on the many animal and plant species of the area. We visited Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope to soak in the awe-inspiring views of these must-see locations. We also boarded a boat to visit a seal colony island, but the boat trip was cut short due to tidal conditions. Afterward, Craig and Joel took us along the coast to the seaside town of Kalk Bay which was a major highlight of the trip. We visited penguin colonies and observed surfers on the beach. In Kalk Bay we stayed at the Chartfield Guest House, which is easily one of the most adorable places we’ve stayed. The town was easily walkable and offered many activities such as drinking, dining, shopping, hiking and more. We spent our time in Kalk Bay exploring the piers and tidal pools. One day we even walked a few towns over to Muizenberg Beach, then bar-crawled our way back to our guest house. Kalk Bay is also the best place to buy souvenirs!
After our time in Kalk Bay we were taken to the Cape Town airport by Craig and Bianca. After parting ways with them, we were on our way to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe. Our accommodation, the Shongwe Oasis, was the most beautiful and luxurious of the trip. In Victoria Falls we were taken on a guided tour by Shearwater. The Falls were running very high that day and the mist was incredible! We got very wet and actually damaged our camera through our own carelessness. Since the mist was so high, visibility was poor, so we opted for a helicopter flight over the falls. We stayed in contact with Bianca and she compared prices for us with companies she trusts. Shearwater was among those that she recommended so it was very easy for them to put us on a flight immediately after our walking tour of Victoria Falls. The view from the air is breath-taking and should not be missed. The scale of this natural wonder can really only be grasped from above. Later we were able to walk out on the Victoria Falls bridge which is the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Since the border crossings in the area are a neutral zone between countries, there were several local residents present in the border area that were from both countries. We were approached by a couple of young men who were selling bracelets and given the circumstances, we felt obliged to purchase two bracelets from them. The interaction stayed pleasant as we haggled the price down and they took pictures with us afterward. The view from the bridge was certainly worth the excursion and process of passing through border. While in Zimbabwe we were also given the chance to spend a day in Botswana touring the Chobe River National Park.
Botswana and Chobe are stunning, and we can’t recommend them enough. The park is home to hundreds of elephants and many other animals. There is also a very large pride of lions that we could observe from a very close range. The Chobe daytrip provided us with a unique opportunity to see our favorite animals from the water as we cruised the river. We were able to get up close and personal with elephants, hippos, buffalo, crocodiles and more. This experience served as a wonderful finale to our time in Southern Africa. If it was possible, we would’ve loved more time in Botswana.
The trip as a whole went very smoothly and we felt comfortable with the balance between guided tours and free time that was provided to us. Bianca especially was a great resource to us by staying in contact via WhatsApp. She assisted us when we wanted to improvise activities or even do laundry. Bianca was also an incredible help after we returned home. Due to flight delays in Johannesburg, we were rushed through customs and security, having to board a connecting flight without our check luggage at the direction of extremely helpful airport personnel. We stayed in contact with Bianca the entire time and she kept pressure on the local airlines to track our luggage as we travelled home. The luggage was eventually sent to a local airport near us, and we were able to pick it up the day after we arrived home.
We highly recommend Southern Africa Tours for the personal, local touch in curating the perfect trip through the vast and diverse locations of Southern Africa. If we are ever to return to Africa we will certainly reach out to Bianca and Craig again.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very user friendly
Tour was very reasonably priced, communication was clear. Pick up and drop off was right at our hotel on time. Lunch was great. Our tour guy Ben was fantastic. We saw 3 of the big 5. Truck can get chilly! Bring a jacket, sweater or blanket!
Thank you
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a lifetime experience with the best company and wonderful guides!!!
We had an amazing time with Big Cats Safari! We had a big group (17 people) and they were able to accommodate all of us! We went to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti. Ngorongoro's stunning views/animals and our bush breakfast in the Serengeti after watching the sunrise were amazingly unique experiences we will all remember forever.
The Big Cats team was extremely responsive and all the drivers were knowledgeable and funny, creating a great environment for all of us. Could not recommend them enough.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience with beautiful gorillas and wonderful guides!
We had an incredible time with the Lulu's team. They were very professional, responsive, and high-energy (our driver Charles is the real King Charles!). We had a big group (14 people) and they were able to accommodate all of us.
On the trip itself, what an amazing experience! We saw golden monkeys and spent a day on beautiful Lake Bunyonyi but the highlight was definitely the mountain gorillas. I will never forget being so close to those beautiful creatures and it was all because of the Lulu's team. We cannot recommend them enough!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A big thank you for this magnificent safari and a big thank you for your availability and your advic
It was my first safari experience and I chose Javiva Adventures because Diana is trustworthy, available and responsive. My experience was amazing, from the driver who explained everything to us about the animals and the environment... We were a group of 3 and we all did very well. Very good experience, thanks to our guide too. We stayed in a lodge 2 minutes from the park which was very good, both the food and the staff. The service was top notch! Nothing to say or add! It's excellent value for money! Finally, a word to Diana, she is not only a guide, she was able to advise me and find solutions to my problems during my trip to Kenya. We talk on WhatsApp and Diana is very responsive. I would not hesitate to use this agency again for my next safari. Thank you so much
(automatic translation from French)
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Reliable, caring, professional and good value for money
We did 4 days in Uganda with Kaara adventures to trek Gorilla’s and Chimpanzees. In the process of planning the trip Jovia was very helpful and flexible to organize the trip exactly as i wanted. Since we only had a short time between our arriving- and departing flight and also we went at the end of the rain season it needed to be perfect and so it was.
Our driver Eddie was super nice and he really made sure we had an unforgetable time. All in all i would recommend Uganda and Kaara adventures to everybody who is looking for a once in a lifetime experience!
IE
Top notch, informative friendly and organised
Had the most amazing 1 day Safari in TARANGIRE National Park, we saw everything and our guid Mike was the best, informative, polite, patient and friendly.
Been on 5 different safaris throughout africa, best yet, probably never be matched
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Adventurous
We had a great time with Javiva Adventures! Janet took great care of us and set us up with a professional driver/guide -Charles. She was always available on WhatsApp when needed.
Our guide Charles had great experience as a guide and explained everything very well and was always eager to answer our many question. The camps we stayed in were clean and comfortable with running (unfortunately always cold) water.
Whenever back in Kenya we would opt for Javiva Adventures again!
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
6 day Safari
We did a 6 day Safari with Charles. We had the chance to visit Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli National Park. The tour was amazing and we had the luck to see many many different animals during that time. Charles is a very experienced guide who was able to give us a lot of information about the animals and even the plants and on how some people use them today.
The accommodations were exactly what we were expecting. Only that we had no hot water.
Over all I would 100% recommend booking this tour with Janet. If you have the chance to have Charles as your guide you won’t be disappointed:)
Thanks for this amazing experience!
All the best and see you soon:)