Guides & Their Toys
Go Touch Down Travel & Tours
- Offices In:
-
United States
Canada
Australia - Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Mid-range & luxury)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Greg and Jen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Start to finish communication, coordination, transportation, accommodations & staff were outstanding
We have both traveled extensively internationally for business and pleasure but never to South Affrica. In Jan 2024, we booked a trip of a lifetime with GoTouchDown tours, at the AZ Travel show. The no pressure sales associate Lucia was very helpful. Lucia and Deon spent time getting to understand who we were, what we were interested in, the type of activities we liked and our budget. They made recommendations on what would be the best trip for us, including what time of year would be best, time spent in each location, overall travel times and budget. We decided on a 17 day, Big 5 Safari, West Coast of South Africa, and Vitoria Falls adventure in late Oct 2024. Start to finish the communication, coordination, transportation, accommodations, and staff were outstanding. Flights are long from the Southwest US, but worth it.
I apologize for the length of this review. It was a long trip, but it was amazing and well worth it. I would recommend and use GoTouchDown in the future for you travel to South Africa.
The Royal Murubisi game lodge was amazing. This is one of two small (6-8 rooms) resorts in the entire Kaingo reserve (41,000 Acres +). The accommodations were first class and then some. We had twice daily game drives (early morning and Sundowner / Happy hour). Our guides were fantastic. Z and Yolanda were truly knowledgeable about the reserve, the animals, and the research on the reserve. The entire staff was friendly, and beyond helpful and attentive. They made us feel like we were the only ones at the resort. The food was amazing, and plentiful. At times we had to skip meals and snacks because it was simply too much for us.
The shuttles between airports and hotels and flights coordinated flawlessly by the GoTouchDown South African travel support specialist Anisa. Our drivers were always waiting for us right as we got off the plane. We did not have to worry about anything. The most people we had on any tour and transfer were five plus the driver.
The western Cape was extremely beautiful. All the hotels were genuinely nice boutique hotels with amazing facilities, staff, and service. We spent several days in of the three locations. Each location brought a unique perspective of this beautiful country. Shark Bay is in a small fishing and resort area. Absolutely amazing accommodations overlooking shark bay and the area. Ladybird vineyard lodges was located on a wine farm in South African wine country. Again, very nice accommodations, but least favorite as proximity to other things in the area. Last stop was Belle Maroc on the beach on the western cape. Again, very amazing accommodations, with great staff.
Our excursions were included in this portion of the trip and were incredibly fun and informative. Our driver / tour guide was deeply knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. He made the trip very enjoyable. I would suggest that you look closely at the excursions, with possible alternate plans for some of them. For example, we were unable to get up Table Mountain for 5 days due to the weather, which was one of the excursions. We had to wing it a bit during this time.
The shuttles and flights to Victoria Fall and our hotel were flawless. Shuttle drivers got us through border crossings between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Avani hotel was again first class, and right at the gate to Victoria falls. The staff and the accommodations were beyond what was expected. Wildlife walking by the pool, a very attentive staff, and amazing natural beauty made the ending of the trip even more memorable.
We highly recommend the trip and GoTouchDown!
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Email Pat | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Go Touch Down promised a lot and delivered more.
Go Touch Down put together a truly wonderful tour for us. Go Touch Down promised a lot and delivered more. The staff from booking to the hotel staff, to the tour guides were professional and extremely nice to work and travel with. We visited so many places, and learned so much about the people, the history and the beautiful nature that is South Africa. Johnathan, our tour guide in Cape Town, was exceptional. We were able to experience so many different aspects of life there. Hard to pick highlights, but the visit to the !Khwa ttu San Culture Center is at the top of my list. We also visited the penguins at Boulder Beach and the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Agulhas. Then we went on Safari at the Royal Morubishi Lodge where we were pampered. The game drives with Arbrey in the Kaingo Game Reserve where breath-taking (twice a day!). The chef at the Lodge even made an amazing chocolate cake to celebrate a birthday.
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Email Michael & Robert Flanagan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Focused and all around attentive to the Groups needs. Fantastic!
Simply Sensational Safari at Royal Morubisi
Hands down one of the best places we’ve ever stayed! The property is simply beautiful and every cottage has an amazing view of the game reserve with wildlife everywhere. The room was huge with every amenity you need, including a second half bath.
Every game drive (even the drives to and from the airport) provided amazing up close viewing of wildlife from elephants, lions, leopards, rhino, zebra, giraffe, buffalo etc. but it wasn’t just the animals that make Royal Morubisi exceptional, it’s the people that feel like family. Our guide Carmen and tracker Jo were highly skilled but also wonderful people who made safari so much fun.
Our Chef made every meal special with his attentiveness. This place thought of everything. We highly, highly recommend and wished we had stayed longer. Frankly after Royal Morubisi nothing could measure up! If you only have to continents to experience in your life, experience Africa both times !
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Email Leslie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Go Touch Down staff was amazing and helpful every step of the way, from planning to execution!
Our group of 30 Americans had a wonderful adventure at Tshukudu. Some preferred the tent housing (not too rustic but authentic), others preferred the cabins clean and well appointed accommodations. The lodge was beautiful and comfortable with a very attentive staff and delicious meals. Our guides were knowledgeable and interesting as they shared information about the game, the birds, the flora and fauna. We enjoyed cocktails by pool in the afternoons while viewing animals strolling by the perimeter fence. Our primary guide, Thabo, was very organized and extremely accommodating to our less able guests. 5 stars...Truly amazing experience!
Top notch from start to finish
As first-time travelers to South Africa and Cape Town, Go Town Down provided a "no worries" travel experience. Excellent personalized service, great accommodations and amazing food. Because Table Mountain can be fogged in, our tour guide, Tony, monitored the conditions and was able to get us up on a beautiful clear afternoon. The boutique hotel, Belle Maroc, was great, staff felt like family and food was wonderful. We had 3 full days in Cape Town which was perfect, plus the pick-up and drop off at the airport made it worry free. Absolutely recommend Go Touch Down.
CA
Email Derek | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime!
We just returned from our amazing 20 day South African trip which included stays at Royal Murubishi, Tshuduku (including Kruger), Cape Town and Victoria Falls.
The entire trip was well planned and we didn’t have any problems. Everything was top notch including the people, the food, the weather, the safaris, the destinations each day, the flights etc. We felt completely supported by the Go Touchdown staff including our travel guides, safari guides, the agents at the hotels, our drivers to get us across the borders at Vic Falls (Bushtrack) etc. Highly recommend the Kaza visa pass if you plan to go through the Zimbabwe border more than once. This includes the fact that Vic Falls on the Zambia side is dry this time of year so we added the tour to the Zimbabwe side. One more safari to Chobe at the end of the trip was icing on the cake.
Our travel goal was surpassed as we wanted to do safaris and visit the country(ies) as much as possible. Our trip was an amazing combination of getting to see the Big 5, visit the wineries, Table mountain etc. and getting more educated on the local tribes, human origins, and the aftereffects of apartheid.
We would recommend Go Touchdown to anyone and thank Melissa for her reassurance & patience answering all our questions 😊
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Email JohnV | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
5+ Stars for The GoTouchDown team for outstanding service from start to finish!!!
Back in the fall of 2023 my wife and I were discussing travel plans for 2025 to celebrate birthday and anniversary milestones and shared our thoughts with Lucia at GoTouchDown and when she suggested traveling to South Africa for Safari she drew our interest immediately. The more information she provided, the more we loved the idea and so we decided not to wait until 2025 and booked for the first two weeks of August. Lucia and her team were very thorough in planning and preparing us for our trip.
We spent 3 days in the Waterberg Biosphere area at the Royal Morubisi and saying this it was a 5 star resort is an understatement. A beautiful resort, excellent and friendly staff, outstanding food, and terrific morning and afternoon safaris.
After the Watersberg Biosphere area, we travelled north to the Kruger NP area and stayed at the Tshukudu Game Lodge. Again excellent staff, great morning and evening safari's and a full day at Kruger National Park.
After the Kruger NP area we had three days at Victoria Falls. If you have not seen Victoria Falls, it is breathtaking and a must see. We also had a full day at Chobe National Park which started out with a boat ride on the Chobe River and then a safari tour in the park. Lots of elephants, hippos, giraffes, just to name a few.
Anyone who is thinking about a safari trip, my recommendation is to do it AND book with GoTouchDown!!!
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Email Connie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
professional and thorough service
The tour staff and the staff at all of the restaurants and properties were top-notch with efficiency and professionalism. Everything was always on time and as expected. The food was always very good! The tour guides and the Safari guides were knowledgeable and friendly. All of the staff at the accommodations couldn't be more accommodating. The tour provided exactly what it offered. In its descriptions and itinerary.
as many others have stated I could've done more time in Cape Town especially since we were there during rainy season. I also would've liked to have seen more active experiences offered. Like biking, hiking, kayaking. I do understand that time was Limited. I've seen many beautiful places in the world. And had my breath taken away. Nowhere else in the world could I or did I experience safaris. this is what makes the travel all the way to Africa so worth it. It's an incredibly unique experience. Go touchdown tours did a fabulous job giving us this opportunity. we went on at least six different safaris. We saw all of the "big five"
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Email Arnis | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great way to see and experience S Africa and Vic Falls
Our tour was well organized, interesting and fun. Morning and evening safaris were tiring, but led us to see the Big 5 and the Ugly 5. Time in Capetown was thoughtfully planned and we experienced emotional events that I did not anticipate such as the tour of Langa. Best of all were the people we met throughout the tours- the Guides, drivers, and Lodge staff were very friendly and helpful. I would not hesitate to recommend this tour to anyone.
HU
Email Attila Deri | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect Game Drive
We enjoy 3 days in Royal Murubishi, and 3 days in Tshuduku. Both of them was excellent.
Murubishi was more relaxed, with very nice surrounding, garden. The staff and game driving was professional, we saw everything what we was looking for.
Tshuduku was similar, but the game drive was more closer. The driver bring as to the animals very close trough the bush. Sometimes 4-5m. We could hear the breath of them, saw lions hunting, eating warthog, baby rino, a lot of elefants, girafs, leopard, cheatah, buffalo, ect. It was a very close experience, what can not be told in writen text. It must be expereinced personally, nothing comperabel to any video.
