65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Phinda must offer one of the finest guided game viewing experiences available in South Africa.
Our stay at Phinda in one of the beautiful game lodges in the Sand Forest section was an amazing experience. Phinda has a fascinating variety of attractive bushveld landscapes including mountains, forest, vlei and open grassland. There is an abundance of wildlife, including the Big Five and many rarer and less easily spotted species, such as cheetah and rhino. The bird life is also a big draw card.
The accommodation is of five star quality and unique. Each couple had their own secluded lodge in the forest a short walk from other lodges, the swimming pool and restaurant but hidden from them. The on-suite bathroom had windows looking out on the forest allowing you to leave the blinds open while taking a bath or shower watching Impala browsing in the forest outside.
Our stay included all meals, two professionally guided game drives each day with a separate vehicle, ranger and tracker allocated for our group of 6 guests. Apart from the first day, the same ranger and tracker handled all our game viewing trips. On several occasions our ranger and tracker joined our group for the evening meal, which provided the opportunity to discuss the days viewing experiences with very knowledgeable experts. It also allowed them to get to know us and helped in planning and personalising the next days outings to suit our particular interests.
The quality of the food was excellent. Apart from the three main meals, snacks and drinks were provided in the bush during game drives and during the afternoon break between lunch and the late afternoon and evening game drive. On two nights the evening meal after the game drive was in the form of a barbecue in an open-to-the sky boma. A highlight was the champagne breakfast in the bush organised for us on our last day.
Weather during our stay was superb. During the early morning game drive it was crisply cool and sometimes misty making the mid-drive coffee break very welcome. You must try Amarula Cream in your coffee instead of milk. The misty landscapes were a photographers delight. The days were warm and very comfortable. We had a few short showers, which added to rather than dampened the experience.
All the staff are very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. They interact with you throughout your stay giving a new meaning to the word hospitality. If it fits within your budget, Phinda is an experience no one should miss.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was very awe-inspiring seeing the wildlife and amazing scenery
Our guide, Mike of Right Choice Safari's, was absolutely amazing. He went above and beyond to show us everything and he is a great driver. On top of that, at the end of the trip he made sure we were set up correctly with the follow up accomodations. The safari to the Massai Mara itself was amazing. We were lucky to see the big 5 before 10 am and we had the whole day spotting great animals. There were very few dull moments.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Colourful and surprising
Excellent, knowledgeable guide. Accommodation was comfortable and food was good.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
it surpassed every and all expectations
the scenery is diverse and breathtaking, wildlife everpresent , awe inspiring and so natural.... guide was knowledgeable and professional. accomodations and food excellent but the kenyans and masssai made the trip, generous welcoming and inspiring hosts. It was the trip if a lifetime, i would love to go back to Kenya
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic
Our safari in Kruger with Wild Planet Safari was everything we hoped for - and more. We got to see the 'Big 5' - our initial objective - and the 'Ugly 5', but we also got to see so much more. A pride of 21 lions, two lions eating their kill, a group of several hundred buffalo walking single file towards water and a fight where two wildebeest were locked together for almost half an hour plus lots and lots of other animals and birds.
Our guides, Chris and Luin (?) were excellent and amazing at spotting things we couldn't see - even after we started to know what to look for! They also did the cooking and the food was excellent - and there was always too much!
Accommodation wise, I loved the 'African feel' of the huts in which we stayed. The huts were spacious, comfortable - and well airconditioned which was needed!
We were there in September, but I was still slightly surprised both as to how dry and how hot (temps up to 41 deg) it was. However, whereas the dryness (and also being the end of winter) made the scenery somewhat uninspiring, it was fascinating to see how tough the animals were and how they were surviving.
My image of an African safari prior to going was doing it in an open Jeep. However, after the initial disappointment of realising we'd be in an enclosed vehicle, both my wife and I very soon realised its benefits! Being able to have the airconditioning on in that heat was great, and also the visibility was still excellent. Furthermore, if I needed a photo )and I took a LOT!), Chris would stop, position the vehicle as I needed and I could open my window and never missed a photo opportunity!
To summarise: A tremendous time giving us wonderful memories.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about South Africa by Bryan
South Africa has a large number of geographically separated National Parks and Private Wildlife destinations. These have a wide range of landscape types and climates resulting a diversity of vegetation, animal and bird life. Each area has its own special character and atmosphere providing a unique variety of experiences.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Overall, fantastic
Taking everything into consideration, I received my money's worth. There were a few hiccups. We were a group of 12, and our understanding was that we purchased a private tour. However, when we got to Nairobi, we found that there was a 13th person included in our group. This was an inconvenience (no offence meant to this person), as we had to share two vehicles. All of the hotels were as promised and very good, except just one in Tanzania. We were told some rooms at the hotel that was promised, were not available, and we would be taken to another in Arusha. The hotel in Arusha was not up to the standard of that promised. I tried to get the hotel booking reference numbers beforehand so that I could confirm the bookings and the number of rooms, before our trip commenced. However, I met with some resistance, even from some members of our own group that protest the loudest, and never got this information. Then there was another incident in Tanzania where the hotel was claiming they were not paid for the second night, and wanted us to make the payment. Eventually though, it got sorted out. As you can see, it was mostly in the Tanzania side of our Kenya/Tanzania tour that we encountered some problems in logistics.
So those were the "cons". Taken with the broader scheme of things, they were minor. We did manage to complete the tour, and we did encounter heaps of wild life. I should also mention another incident that will show that the organizers had the well being of their clients at heart. One of my luggage, containing some of my medicines, did not arrive with us to the Nairobi airport. Seth Vincent (from Trip Advisor Africa Safaris) made the effort to collect it when it arrived (two days later) and forward it to me to the point of our tour.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
I absolutely loved it all - thank you for arranging a very good itinerary. Hamza, our guide, was such a delight and definitely made sure we enjoyed the safari.
The two minor things I would say for improvement is: under your information tab (on the itinerary), that the weather for winter needs to be updated. I didn't realise that the temperatures would be about 10ËšC in the mountains, and therefore didn't pack a warm jacket. In terms of lodging - Ocean Paradise Hotel only gave us half board when we were promised full board according to our itinerary.
Apart from that though, the people of Tanzania are wonderfully warm and welcoming and we had the most wonderful time.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
boat trip, 5day camping savuti and chobi,day at vic falls
service great pickup at airport to guest house. good food and comfortable.next day pickup tor 5days of camping at savuti long rough ride but well worth it remote lots of big cats all kinds wild life(stanza great at finding big cats).on to chobe more cats and lots of elephants,big game.next day vic falls lunch at chobi lodge.next day to kasane airport(first class)long 2day haul home.stay away from doha, qatar airport ,security rude.stanza victor and crew have it together.my dream trip.botswana very stable and welcoming country.spent 2weeks in za previously
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very hungry to please! Sylvester Sila (owner) is responsible, transparent and reliable.
7byfar is a new start African Safari tour company out of Nairobi Africa. I did a lot of checking via reviews (contacted via email and later by phone) previous clients before deciding to go with 7byfar. My itinerary was 23 days in Africa and 6 days in Madagascar. So As you might imagine I had some concerns about logistics i.e, air transfers from Kenya to Tanzania and from Madagascar back to Nairobi as well as reputable guides, drivers and vehicles in good working order. 7byfar safari company far exceeded all my concerns Owner/operator Sylvester and manager of operations Mr. Johnson along with guides and drivers: Kenya guide Hassan, and and Tanzania guide Casmos were more than I could have asked for. Each represented 7byfar like I would want anyone to represent my own company. Every aspect of my Safari was literally flawless. Both guides/drivers would go so far as to call ahead to my lodges if arriving late to have a hot meal awaiting my arrival. I stayed almost exclusively at Sopa Lodges that were arranged by and booked by Sylvester and 7byfar. Only one incident was a glitch. I hurt my shoulder and needed a sling to assist in healing. The pharmacy ripped me off to the tune of $130.00 USD. Upon hearing of this Sylvester intervened and took care of this indebtedness. He told me "I will not allow one of my clients to be ripped off on my watch." He truly went above and beyond. An that is the kind of experience you can expect from Sylvester Sila and 7byfar.