​User Reviews – South Africa

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Alan Bishop Visited: October 2017 Reviewed: Nov 22, 2017

Email Alan Bishop  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Compare Kruger Park with Sabi Sand (Private game reserve) I would only go private in future.
Overall rating
4/5

The game reserves were excellent and showcase Africa's unique wildlife. Spent 2 days in Kruger and 2 days in Sabi Sand. There was more game in Kruger but a greater variety in Sabi Sand. I would only go to a private game reserve in future. Accommodation and food were far better in the private reserve as well. Weather was mixed - cold at first but much hotter later. We also visited Johannesburg and O.R. Tambo airport has to be the worst international airport in the world. There are no signs anywhere to assist you in checking in and we had to go to the domestic terminal to check in for an international flight to Zimbabwe. Compare this with King Shaka in Durban where for every flight, the check-in desk is shown on a very large information board. We also visited Cape Town. Trying to go up Table Mountain as individuals is almost impossible. There was a queue which took 3 hours to get onto the cable car and another queue that took another 3 hours just to buy a ticket. We gave up eventually. Same issue with trying to go to Robben Island. Unless you are prepared to pay an exorbitant amount for a private tour, you can't get on a boat. Again, we had to give up. The V&A Waterfront is well advertised but in the end is only a shopping centre with some restaurants - quite disappointing. For an Australian, the prices in South Africa seem very cheap and it's a good place to go for a holiday once. Not enough different things to do to keep returning though but I would recommend it to anyone who has never been.

Helena Rubinstein Visited: November 2017 Reviewed: Nov 21, 2017

Email Helena Rubinstein  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Great opportunity to reset after a very hard week's work
Overall rating
4/5

Pilansberg was beautiful and the Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge is to be recommended - friendly staff, excellent food and our guide, Ruan. was exceptional. All transport was efficient and friendly

Carina Johansson   –  
Sweden SE
Visited: October 2017 Reviewed: Nov 18, 2017

Email Carina Johansson

A kind, beutiful land full of surprices.
Overall rating
4/5

We are very satisfied with our trip. The weather was good, the food was okay and we had a good guide.

Michael Goff   –  
United States US
Visited: October 2017 Reviewed: Nov 9, 2017

Email Michael Goff

Safari in Rhino Ridge
Overall rating
4/5

Accommodations at Rhino Ridge were excellent. Room was beautiful, food was delicious, and staff very friendly and helpful. Weather in October was very pleasant. Expected to see a few more animals; however, I enjoyed seeing what we did. Had a walking excursion which was really fun.

Vimla   –  
India IN
Visited: October 2017 Reviewed: Nov 1, 2017

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Safari to Kruger National Park
Overall rating
4/5

The safari to the Kruger National Park was well organised by Viva Safaris. The Tremisima Lodge for the first night was not very great in terms of room space but that we could see warthogs, guinea fowl, ground hornbill and pied crows from across our window was a treat. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. The Katekani Chalet was wonderful. The staff who took us around the private game parks and Kruger National Park were fairly knowledgeable. The Mohololo Rehab Centre was the highlight. We did not see much wildlife at Kruger Park which was disappointing. The food at Katekani was excellent. The stay at the Airport Safari Club on our return to Johannesburg was also comfortable. However, we missed the complimentary drinking water bottles at all the places even though we had to pay handsomely for our stay throughout. The Safari club was specially very expensive. The weather had changed suddenly; it was cold on most days except the last two days when the sun was very hot during the daytime.

James Autry   –  
United States US
Visited: September 2017 Reviewed: Oct 25, 2017

Email James Autry  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Where the Wild Things Still Are
Overall rating
4/5

My wife and I had an excellent safari experience, with knowledgable guides, nice accomodations, and good food. We will never forget the experience of being in the bush and seeing all the creatures we have dreamed of. Sadly, we fear that wildlife is in danger of disappearing and hope that all steps will be taken to preserve it.

Rakesh Gupta   –  
United States US
Visited: September 2017 Reviewed: Oct 21, 2017

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Blend of urban, country and wild.
Overall rating
4/5

We enjoyed the panorama of the life, culture and natural beauty of South Africa. We enjoyed Cape Town's urban charm, Johannesburg's history and diversity and Kruger's wild life.
We needed more time in Kruger Park to see the full array of wild life. We were there for only 3 days and only in one private reserve, so we were not able to see the big five. The lions have moved out of Sabi Sabi and Buffaloes were not native to this reserve.

Swadhapriya Sarma   –  
United Arab Emirates AE
Visited: September 2017 Reviewed: Oct 2, 2017

Email Swadhapriya Sarma  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Wildlife & scenic beauty mixed in a blend
Overall rating
4/5

Our trip to SA was hassle free. From booking till we departed it was easy convenient & satisfying. Primarily we went for wildlife & we saw all the big 5 just in the 4 hrs of drive through the jungles of kruger. I was a bit annoyed with our guide because he was not giving us much time to click pictures & he was rather interested in showing us as much animals as he can. He was right in his own way, but our trip was primarily a photographing the wildlife. But it was still ok for us because we spotted almost everything.
I thank staff of Safarbookings.com as well as staffs of the lodge Sabie river bush lodge who we very hospitable during our stay. Our safari guide was unique he made us spot many animals, special thanks yo him

Paul   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: August 2017 Reviewed: Sep 22, 2017

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

South Africa becomes an itch which keeps needing to be scratched. A vast and wonderful place.
Overall rating
4/5

I stayed in private concessions in the Kruger and had wonderful game viewing, great food and friendly staff. I could not fault our guides who were knowledgeable and had a warm manner and great sense of humour. I stayed at Hoyo Hoyo and Imbali camps. I can easily recommend them to anyone considering a safari. At the end of my stay I moved to Tydon tented camp. it was a long drive but gave me the chance to view Sabi Sands. The camp and staff were brilliant but the accommodation was much more basic. This was my own choice to keep the cost of the trip down. I had a great time at this camp and got on with our guides extremely well and saw some wonderful things in the park. My only regret is that the camp is outside the park which does not allow me to sit and watch animals at a waterhole. The camp allows drives into both Sabi Sands and The Kruger but I did not enjoy the trips into The Kruger as it was limited to staying on the public roads. having experienced The Kruger in private concessions this proved rather limiting to me. The camp accommodated me well by allowing me to do the rest of my drives and a walk in Sabi Sands which was truly brilliant with great sighting of lion, leopard and all the other wonderful wildlife of Africa especially nice to see so many white Rhino. I have to say that everything went extremely well with my trip and I would not hesitate to recommend anyone wanting to do a safari to simply get on and do it. It is an active holiday and not restful but the sights are superb. I must also mention African Welcome Safaris who organised my trip as all aspects of their organisation and advice were spot on.

Perry   –  
Kenya KE
Visited: December 2015 Reviewed: Jul 1, 2017

Email Perry

I had the privilege of travelling to south africa with my friend charlo. the safari was amazing
Overall rating
4/5

we travelled to Pilanesberg National Park
We booked a 3-day trip to Pilanesberg National Park staying at wa Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge it nice accommodations and an amazing chef.
Our itinerary was well planned and executed. The safari was amazing - our driver was good and he didn't disappoint , given that he has longstanding experience, he knew all the best spots to find the animals like hyena, and owls, Black rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, African lion, African leopard.
If you are travelling to South Africa definitely consider Go Pilanesberg National Park, and hopefully you will be lucky

Average User Rating

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

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star 842
  • 4 star 125
  • 3 star 15
  • 2 star 2
  • 1 star 2
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