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Email Ramachandra & Assha | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous!
Everything was well organized and taken care of, from the accommodation to the tours with wonderful meals onsite. Our tour guides were exceptional in accommodating various requests. Special mention to Rex and Petunia, who was very friendly and enthusiastic with the people and made our stay a memorable one. We are glad we chose Viva Safari and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone who is looking for a stress free and adventurous time in South Africa.
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Email Richard | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had a wonderful safari in Kruger!
Our visit to Kruger National Park with Wild Planet Safaris was wonderful. We were fortunate to see the "big five" (including a confrontation between lions and buffaloes), many other animals, and many birds as well, a special interest for us. Our guide Darren was very experienced and did an excellent job, and his assistant Lungisani was also very good, including fine cooking. We stayed in tents (with cots), which were comfortable. Our trip included stays at Skukuza camp and Satara camp, and the facilities at both were very good. We chose to use a high, open safari vehicle, which gave us good views. The morning and evening outings could be cool, and we were glad to have an extra layer of clothes, and a blanket was provided as needed. Both the pick up at our hotel in Jo'burg and the shuttle to the airport at the end of our visit went smoothly. Both the safari and the other aspects of our trip to South Africa were a wonderful experience. We found people warm and helpful, the food and facilities were fine, and we had excellent weather.
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Email Haven H. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect Thornybush Safari
Our safari to Thornybush Game Reserve preceded a three week trip to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. We saw the most wildlife during our time in South Africa. The people were generally welcoming and enthusiastic.
We did arrange a 4 hour trip to Soweto from our hotel at OR Tambo Airport. This was most instructive. Our visit to the Hector Pieterson Museum was as inspiring as the one to the Nelson Mandela Museum.
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Email Fabiola Diaz | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
INCREDIBLE
The accommodations were spectacular at the private reserve Kwa Madwala we stayed at. The food prepared by the staff daily was delicious and fresh.
The weather was great - not too hot and not to cold. Our safari guides did their best so we could see all the animals. They would communicate with other safari guides consistently throughout the day to see what animals were spotted and in what areas. We got lucky to see the Big 5 twice plus cheetah, and other animals.
Our entire trip was planned out perfectly and we had no issues with transportation, etc. The staff in general was very welcoming and great to talk with. You can tell that everyone at the private reserve we stayed at valued their job and wanted to provide great customer service.
The scenery was incredible and it was a trip of a lifetime. Looking forward to going back again someday.
BR
Email Marcia Peripolli | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
amazing
the best adventure of my life! I saw 4 each 5 big five and it was amazing.
PE
One of the best experience of my life
An excellent experience.
The accommodation in tents was safe, with beautiful views and animals around like monkeys, impalas and springbok.
The schedule was fulfilled and everything promised was fulfilled perfectly.
CA
Email Dianne White | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
My 2nd safari and again it was a WOW factor!!
I love my ONTRACKSAFARI adventure. Thanks to Will and Carol Fox ! To see the big 5 in their own surroundings was spectacular. To look around a corner to see giraffe and zebra eating side by side is my idea of a safari. Ellies of all sizes playing in the water holes, fascinating to watch. All the animals are my favourite even the hyenas and wort hogs, so ugly they are cute. I was there in spring, to see all the green leaves and colourful flowers in bloom was lovely.The accommodation that Will and Carol choose for their guest is 5 star and beyond. Four different places to stay, all of them very special in their own way. Food is amazing and healthy. The guides on the jeeps are very knowledgeable and passionate about their jobs. They are so helpful in every way, (for example checking to see it's safe behind a bush to go pee.) The night drives are amazing, so many different animals come out at night. To know some of my hard earned dollars are going to help with the conservation of the wild life is also a plus. I got to bring home a plaster cast of a baboons hand that I made on one of my walk abouts. Walking in the bush is as interesting as riding in the jeeps. So many little things to see on the ground. I met some very friendly staff and guests in my 15 days in the bush. I'm sure I made some life long friends. Looking at all my pictures I still say WOW.
Email Bill H | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Armand from RhulaniSafaris exceeded all of my expectations and I would highly recommend the company.
RhulaniSafaris is a relatively new company run by Armand Grobler, a young (26 YO) South African who spent his formative years growing up in Australia. He is a wild life photographer who is lucky enough to fulfill a dream of sharing his passion for African wild animals through a personalized and professional safari experience. Armand is highly enthusiastic and passionate about the African wildlife and deeply cares about protecting their future. Everything he did was aimed towards making a truly memorable experience for us. His photographic expertise made him ideally suited to understand our needs and he went out of his way to ensure we were perfectly positioned to take great photographs. This is not just a job to Armand, it’s his life.
My daughter, son-in-law and I spent an amazing 5 days at the Buffelshoek Tented Safari Camp, Manyeleti Game Reserve, Umkumbe Safari Lodge, Sabi Sands and Blyde Wildlife Estate.
I would highly recommend including the Manyeleti Game Reserve in your safari. This is a relatively new public reserve and there was an abundance of animals, including the big 5. It wasn’t crowded with other safari vehicles and we were able to get close to the animals. We were even fortunate enough to see a pack of African wild dogs and to locate their den where there were three ~ four months old pups. It was amazing to see them playing and interacting in a totally carefree manner. The Buffelshoek tented accommodation while relatively basic was more than comfortable. This is a small camp accommodating up to 10 people. The food was superb and the staff were very friendly. Umkumbe Safari Lodge was more “up market”. The food and accommodation were excellent. There was free WIFI with limited data (can purchase more) available between 7am - 4pm in the communal area. The game drives were excellent but we didn’t see as many or varied animals as at Manyeleti. However, we did get to see the big 5 including 2 spectacular leopards. On our last night with Armand we stayed in a luxury house at the Blyde Wildlife Estate. This was a real highlight - comfortable and luxurious. My only regret was that we should have stayed for two rather than just one night. We finished with the Panorama Tour (God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and 3 Rondawels); well worth the drive as the views were breathtaking.
I will remember the memories gained and our time with Armand forever. I could not recommend Armand and RhulaniSafaris highly enough.
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Email Elizabeth | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Seamless and organized
Sandra helped me book a 3-day tour at the Black Rhino Lodge near Pilanesberg national park. My friends and I had an amazing experience there. Sandra was so easy to communicate and made me feel at ease throughout the whole planning process. Each step of the trip was perfect. We would love to return someday for another tour!
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Email Andrea | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing wildlife viewing and luxury accommodations
The reserve I was originally supposed to stay at closed unexpectedly, but Indigo Safaris was on top of it and booked me at Amakhosi instead and I am so glad they did! It was the highlight of my three weeks in Africa. The accommodations were luxurious, food was delicious and staff so welcoming to a solo traveler. I did not feel “alone” at all. And the game drives were phenomenal! The second half of my safari was at Rhino Ridge that had equally luxurious accommodations, but being in a larger park we did not get as many up close game drive encounters - the bush walk, however, got us so close to a rhino and her calf, we could have almost touched them (we didn’t! And the mama rhino obviously knew our guide and was comfortable with him.) RR was a larger place and not as easy to be a solo traveler, but still lovely. My only criticism is the limited WiFi.
