​User Reviews – South Africa

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 11-20 of 1,065 Reviews
James Fyfe Smith   –  
Australia AU
Visited: March 2023 Reviewed: Mar 22, 2023

Email James Fyfe Smith

Listen to advice on safety and you will the best holiday ever
Overall rating
5/5

Listen to advice on safety and you will the best holiday ever

Lidiya Prymachenko   –  
Germany DE
Visited: November 2022 Reviewed: Jan 8, 2023

Email Lidiya Prymachenko  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Incredible nature
Overall rating
4/5

The safari was great. Everything is according to the program as described. The staff in the lodge and the ranger were friendly. During the 2,5 days of the safari, we saw the big five and many other animals. The prices on the website were at least 30% more expensive in comparison to the prices for tours that could be booked in the lodge directly. So, the tours at the travel agency may be reduced.

Kuziva   –  
South Africa ZA
Visited: September 2020 Reviewed: Oct 14, 2020

Email Kuziva  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

It is one of the best experiences i ever had
Overall rating
5/5

Wow, i had the best of times. The service that these guys gave me was top notch. I enjoyed my holiday and will use and recommend you guys again.

D. K.   –  
United States US
Visited: March 2020 Reviewed: Apr 24, 2020

Email D. K.  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Absolutely fabulous!
Overall rating
5/5

Our safari to Madikwe Game Reserve was spectacular. We saw more wildlife than we could have hoped for; the accommodations and food were outstanding. Our guide went out of his way to show us all that he could. I hope to come back and spend more time in the future.

Catherine Fields   –  
United States US
Visited: September 2019 Reviewed: Oct 29, 2019

Email Catherine Fields  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Absolutely Amazing
Overall rating
5/5

This trip was the first stop on our African Honeymoon and I would not have changed a thing. We had a fantastic time and loved all of the amazing and thoughtful details of our trip. We had THE MOST amazing guide, Abrie, who was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating. He made our trip exceptional. I cannot express how much we loved our trip and how the planning was all taken care of. Thank you so much for such an amazing trip and honeymoon!

Rita Giammarile   –  
Italy IT
Visited: August 2019 Reviewed: Sep 15, 2019

Email Rita Giammarile  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Great experience
Overall rating
5/5

For some time constrait and because I amo not exactly an animal enthusiast, we chose a 4 day option that brought us also to visit the Blyde river canyon. I was not exactly impressed by the canyon ( save for the alpine vibes of some bits), notable exception Burke's Luck Potholes; that place is just beautiful. Getting to see the canyon from below during a boat trip on the dam was great and added another dimension to the experience and you get to see hippos wich is a great plus. We spent 2 nights in Kruger, did an evening bush walk, 2 mornign drives and an evening one and were extremely lucky, managed to see all of the big 5 plus dozens of other animals including some bidrs of the most astonishing colours. The landscape is varied although during winter it can appear a little boring because of the lack of green grass and leaves on the trees, everything looks pretty much dead even if it is not. Obviously under this conditons animal sightings are easier because grass and trees do not offer cover. Weather was perfect, sunshine, pretty hot but totally bearable, nights are very cold, like wishing you had your ski gear with you.Morning drives are especially chilly and on one occasion no blankets were found in the vehicle used, it could be a smart move to take one of the extra blankets found in your accommodation. We stayed in Skukuza camp in the self-catering rondavels, basic accommodation but with everything you needed, beds comfortable, you get towels and soap. Kitchen and fridge is actually on the little porch, must be carefull with the monkeys always on teh look out for unattended food. each rondavel also has its own barbecue. No 'street light' in the camp so remmebr to have with you a torch or head lamp. Did not have time to explore the whole camp, heard there was a pool but did not see it. Second camp was berg en dal, beatiful place, we stayed in a self catering 'cottage' a lovely red brick building with a very large patio. Bathroom on the very small side when compared to the rest of the accommodation ( bathroom was small in skukuza as well but it was proportionate to the room). The camp sits along a river but it was totally dry, In the wet season it must be spectacular, there is a trail that runs around the camp and borders the river, I guess that the right time one can see a lot of animals there. It is to be noted that some of the big cats sightings all happened very close to this camp, even leopard.
Rangers varied a lot from the very knowledgable and engaging to the one who was merely a driver but on average we were happy because after a while everyone tells you the same stories, so you do not miss being given the same information over and over again.
The guide we had was incredible, he knew million of things about animals and nature in general, we definitely learned more from him than anyone else. He also had a sort of super sight, ho could spot animals and birds we hardly saw ^_^ The whole safari was very well planned and we were extremely happy the service of red Africa Safari.

Kim Colter   –  
United States US
Visited: July 2019 Reviewed: Jul 7, 2019

Email Kim Colter

Splendid trip to Sabi Sands
Overall rating
5/5

Our family group of six stayed at Jaci Sabi house in Sabi Sands and had a wonderful experience. Ralph, our ranger, and Nkosi, our tracker did a splendid job of finding animals for us. We spent more hours pursuing animals with Ralph and Nkosi than we did on our prior visit to Sabi Sands five years ago. We did more searching for animals in the dark on this trip than on our previous trip. Highlights of this trip included nearly an hour spent with a leopard including seeing the female leopard kill and eat a crested francolin; an hour spent with a pride of ten lions that included five females and five cubs, all in a lazy post prandial state. We saw bush babies, civet cat, genet using spotlight after dark. The birding was terrific with sightings of fish eagle, tawny eagle, Bataleur eagle, Verreaux's eagle owl, pearl spotted owlet, ground hornbill, goshawk, crested barbet, lilac breasted roller, ostrich male and female, oriole, go away bird, others that I would need to check my notes for. I saw many, many owls on this trip, which was not the case on my previous trip. We visited Sabi Sands five years ago and had a wonderful experience then as well, staying at Chitwa Chitwa. Jaci Sabi house is smaller, with a group size of six the usual maximum. The Jaci Sabi House household staff were wonderful and went out of the way to accommodate a wedding anniversary of our daughter and son in law that occurred during the trip. I am an amateur astronomer and visiting during new moon afforded terrific views of the southern Milky Way, southern cross, omega centauri, coal sack, eta carina, and before dawn the large and small Magellanic clouds were visible. I had no telescope but enjoyed binocular views of objects. Quite honestly, there were exquisite things to be seen around the clock, making it difficult to know when to sleep.

Annon   –  
Namibia NA
Visited: April 2019 Reviewed: Apr 25, 2019

Email Annon  |  35-50 years of age

SOUTH AFRICA
Overall rating
4/5

Recently went to South Africa for a week.

Apart from the bad roads, worn down farms/buildings next to the road, rubbish everywhere, just like in Namibia, in some towns, and the fact that we were almost hijacked in Kimberly, I was pleasantly surprised!

We got great and friendly service from everyone right from the start, good food and drinks, exept from one place, best/affordable accommodation, clean malls, clean bathrooms, the weather was perfect and from the animals that we could see was a nice experience!

We visited a total of plus minus 6 towns. Every town is different. Every landscape is different.

Tracy   –  
United States US
Visited: July 2018 Reviewed: Jul 23, 2018

Email Tracy  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

GREAT ADVICE AND EXPERIENCE 10/10
Overall rating
5/5

I was connected with Walter Kohrs thru Trip Advisor in August of 2017 for a Safari in July of 2018. Walter asked me many questions and wanted to understand what I was looking for before making any recommendations on what part of Africa, budget and type of things my family wanted to do. We decided on South Africa and specifically a Bush Camp in SABI SANDS.

We ended up at Nottens Bush Camp which Walter booked along with Airport Transfers to the lodge. Everything exceeded my expectations... I highly recommend Walter and his excellent knowledge and service he provides.. We traveled from the Orange County Ca with 17 year old twins who were not that excited to go initially . They both LOVED the Safari and the attention to detail provided by Walter and Nottens Camp.

L Mullin   –  
United States US
Visited: June 2018 Reviewed: Jul 2, 2018

Email L Mullin  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

AMAZING experience!!
Overall rating
5/5

We were a family of 4 and used Viva Safaris with a stay at Tremisana Lodge. We did a 5 day/ 4 night safari. It was the most amazing experience from beginning to end!! We saw all the “Big 5” and so much more ! Tremisana Lodge was wonderful. The grounds were rustic and beautiful , the food excellent, and staff amazing.

Viva Safaris was beyond our expectations. The safari guides/ drivers were beyond knowledgeable and our itinerary perfect. The itinerary kept us busy, but with the needed downtime in between. It was the perfect balance of activities. From Bush walks, game drives, and animal rehabilitation centers, there was so much to do and see!! We would highly recommend Viva Safaris and a stay are tremisana Lodge!!

Average User Rating

  • 4.8/5
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star 904
  • 4 star 137
  • 3 star 15
  • 2 star 2
  • 1 star 3
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