Showcasing South Africa
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 SR | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great itinerary at a reasonable price.
Accommodations were great, most owned by the tour company. We spent a week around Cape Town, then a week on safari in the north part of South Africa and extended to go to Zimbabwe to visit Victoria Falls and to Botswana to visit Chobe National Park. We saw amazing animals, scenery and history but it was the people we met that made our trip so wonderful.
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Email Lynne E. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Both our tour operators were committed to making every wish happen.
I signed up for this tour several years ago and for various reasons, the actual departure date had to be rescheduled several times, so I was feeling a little apprehensive about the tour now that I was older and the initial excitement had begun to turn to a little anxiety about going someplace so very foreign to any travel I had ever done before--I need not have worried. Go Touch Down has their tours down to a science, and the people they employ and/or work with are excellent in every way. From the tour guides who stayed with us for every part of the Cape Town week and the Safari week to the staff at the Go Touch Down properties where we stayed, I felt cared for and sincerely welcomed. The itinerary was packed in Cape Town and yet we never felt rushed at any venue; the pace was a little more relaxed on the safari week as we had some down time between the game drives. The accommodations were first rate and comfortable--a special shout out to Shark Bay and Humala River Lodge, which became personal favorites. The food, whether at the hotels/game reserves or at local restaurants was beautifully plated, delicious and bountiful with ample opportunities to sample South African cuisine. We saw amazing things! The variety of experiences was mind-boggling. The ancient history from visiting fossil parks and first people educational centers to the more recent history of apartheid struggles was interspersed with delicious samplings of wine and cheeses at old world wineries. And, of course, the animal encounters were spectacular, whether it was privately owned game reserves, different animal sanctuaries (where we actually interacted with lion cubs, elephants, panthers, caracals, monkeys), national parks, or visits to island or coastal habitats. The scenery was diverse and gorgeous--breathtaking more days than not. But I have to come back to the people, the staff, the hosts, the bartenders; everyone was so nice, so friendly, so genuinely happy to see us and I have to say this is probably the best tour I have ever taken. The trip as a whole was the most expensive I have ever taken and I wondered whether I would think I had gotten value for my investment. The answer is a definite YES. In fact, given the quality of lodging, excursions, food, and experiences, I believe Go Touch Down was a bargain. Since my return I have promoted them to friends and family and I plan to use them when I take my grandsons in a few years.
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Email Craig | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great itinerary and guides, and but a couple things need to be tightened up.
Generally, for less than a two week trip, the itinerary was perfect to get a great flavor and feel for what South Africa has to offer. Essentially the first week is for a Safari out of Johannesburg with the second portion being a number of days in Cape Town. We cannot say enough great things about the guides and drivers at all locations. Top notch! They went above and beyond what could have been expected catering to our schedule and “off tour” trips and experiences.
The price was really a great value considering all that was included. You get to see and do so much. For a ten day tour, you come away feeling that you have accomplished a lot of what you need to say you have seen and gotten a feel for South Africa.
However, there are a couple things which need to be tightened up to make this a true five star experience. There is no way to say this that doesn’t sound like an entitled tourist, but here goes. The bar set up at Hamala Lodge has to be updated to service its guests. One example. on the first morning of our several day Safari tour based at the Humala River Lodge, one of our party ordered a Bloody Mary. The bartender, a great young gentleman named Blessing, could not have been more accommodating and was able to make several Bloody Marys. The other half of the group also staying in the Hamala River Lodge at the same time, heard our order and also ordered Bloody Marys. Turned out that the 6–7 Bloody Marys completely wiped out the bar’s ability to make Bloody Marys for the rest of our stay. It would appear to be a very easy fix to have either a greater supply of Bloody Mary mix available to the bar or have someone run out the approximately 45 minutes – one hour to the town right outside the reserve to resupply the bar with Bloody Mary mix. Again, not a big deal, but such an easy fix.
The seafood restaurant for lunch in Cape Town prior to the boat tour should be deleted from the itinerary. It’s a tourist trap with no real flavor or anything special to either Africa or Cape Town. A more traditional African restaurant would be a much better option.
More importantly, there was some transfer issues that, again, would appear to be easily addressed and corrected. On the first day on our arrival from the US following a 14 hour flight, 9 passengers were transported from the airport in an 8 passenger van to the Seasons Resort. The last thing I needed was to have to sit on an armrest of the van for about the hour transfer to the Resort following that long flight. Again, not. a deal breaker, but Go Touchdown knew how many would be on the transfer, and could easily have provided more suitable transportation.
Lastly, one of group was completely left off the flight to Cape Town. Fortunately, we caught the error and we’re able to have the fourth person in our group added to the flight. Inexplicably, that same person was given a different flight back from Cape Town to Johannesburg. We were unable to get them on our same flight. They had to take a much later flight which was delayed causing a big rush in Johannesburg to make the flight home. Lastly, and again, as all the flight arrangements had to be left to Go Touchdown, and particularly after leaving this person off the flight to Cape Town, not having them booked on the same flight as the rest of our party to Johannesburg is just inexcusable.
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Email Norman | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organized. On top of all things. Prompt response to all queries.
Enjoyed it all.
Both Safari and Cape Town.
Tours are very organized and detailed. Drivers well mannered.
Safari: Animals wake up early and so must you if you want to spot them.
Cape Town: Nice restaurants. Mostly a la carte menus. Accommodation in well appointed boutique hotels.
South Africa: Nature at its best. Exceptional country. Pleasantly surprised.
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Email Jia & Jack | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Both JP and Bakkies are fantastic.
We went for two tours back to back with gotouchdown. JP was our guy in Cape Town tour. He took good care of us in any way he can. We stayed in Stillness for the entire week. The amenity was not the best in my opinion. However the staffs and chiefs were great. We had the best restaurant experiences in Cape Town. It seemed each was better than the last one. Hands down for the restaurant selections. Bakkies was our guide for Safari tour. We love him. We love the two nights stayed in Dunkle estate, such a beautiful piece of property. Humala and Seasons is so so. Unfortunately, the only time we have Wi-Fi in our room was in Dunkle. We saw many animals. Lion park was totally not worth it. We felt sad to see the condition the animals in. They are in big cages there. The safari in Pilanesberg is top notch.
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Email JW Burdette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cared about his passengers and how their experience was
The accommodations we excellent. Our driver James was the best. Treated us like Family. Angie and Dana did an excellent pretrip job. They were available for my questions and so helpful with getting me ready for the trip. I came to see South Africa and I did. From the start I was taken to see the beauty of Africa and the wonderful people of the country. Would recommend this trip and more
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Email Linda | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing best trip ever!
Top notch vacation accommodations 5 stars site seeing 5 stars and food 5 stars!
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Email Linda | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Agency presents a picture of the tour that exceeds expectations and reality
Safari - The Seasons hotel fair. Only positive is the food. A/C and TV not working, no hair dryer. Needs updating. The tent camp was a unique experience that was very nice. Our safari guide, Tandi was excellent. There were only 2 of us at the hotel which was sad. No choice in the meals, but they were good. The lion enclosure was a disgrace. Very small fenced in space with several lions laying around. Our guide was knowledgeable, but his actions disintegrated as the week passed on.
Capetown - great overview of the city and had a wonderful guide in J.P. J.P. was outstanding; knowledgeable, timely, professional; perfect. Showed us everything on the itinerary and we were not disappointed. The hotel staff and food was excellent. The chef made us ostrich one evening and it was well prepared and delicious. Hotel does not have elevators, only cement stairs, which should be told to guests beforehand. Only one guest room on the main floor. Although the hotel was nice I would have preferred to stay in the city where more shops were readily available and you could walk around the city and talk to residents. The location is on the beach, but isolated. Only one small shopping area and it was quite a walk from the hotel.
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Email William R Cavins | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolute Amazing African Adventure
We participated in a drawing at Gay Days back in 2017. We were contacted and decided to book the tour to mark our 20th year together and our 10th Wedding Anniversary. We’ve gone through a few different people handling various portions of the trip. Everyone tried to make us happy.
Touchdown handled the airfare and all aspects of the tour. We were pleased with the easy payment plan that fit our budget. Sadly I understand the 5 year plan isn’t available for future travelers. However they will work with you to make your Adventure in South Africa is a memorable one.
I will write a separate review of the tour itself at another time. For now know that Go Touchdown’s staff in Sarasota, FL is there for you.
Could they have have done more. Perhaps a few little things that should be improved. Adapters that said they were for Africa weren’t. So perhaps a brand recommendation or make them available through Touchdown. Also I don’t recall seeing a reference to a limit on ATM withdrawals to 3000 Rand per card per day. I also suggested they provide us with a cheat sheet of some local languages for staff members so we could say hello, goodbye, please and thank you in Swazi, Zulu or one of the other 9 languages. All little things.
Rest assured they have the big items nailed down! They even mark birthdays and anniversaries.
We will always.remember the work Angie, Deborah, Natasha, Deon, Joseph, Bakkies, Thabo, Bill, Rosemarie, Tandi, Buffalo Soldier and Anisa did for us. We look forward to booking Cape in the future.
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Email Susan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Go Touchdown provided a South African tour which was personal, service centered and upscale.
For those of you considering a safari in South Africa, we highly recommend Go Touchdown Tours. If you are looking for a small upscale group tour which is guided by caring, knowledgeable and detail oriented professionals, then this tour company is for you.
Their stateside representative, Angie Main, was very knowledgeable and accessible. She answered emails within 24 hrs and was flexible in arranging her schedule when a group conference call was requested. Upon arrival in South Africa, we were greeted by a tour guide who was prepared to take us to our first hotel, Seasons Spa. It was clean and fairly spacious with a front or back porch. There was a common area in the middle of a 4 room configuration. We took the Elephant and Monkey Sanctuary tour. Highly, highly recommend it. Very interactive.
Thabo, our guide, was with us the entire tour. He was punctual, organized and very knowledgeable. His attention to detail went even so far as to warning us about the potholes in the road in case we got jostled. I could write a lengthy list of the many thoughtful things he did to to make this a memorable trip for us. Suffice it to say that Go Touchdown has an invaluable employee in this man. He is a wonderful representative for this company.
Dunkeld Estates is a beautiful resort. We highly recommend the horseback riding. The rooms are beautiful!
Humula Lodge is exactly how we envisioned a first rate accommodation. Our room had a front porch next to the river. The flowing water was a constant background sound. The staff truly cared about our needs and our wants. A special shout out to Blessing and Ayanda. They both are hardworking young men who catered to our every need. Ayanda not only made our soups and delicious bread but served our meals, as well. Blessing was the bartender, front desk clerk and conceriage. He did everything with a warm and gracious smile.
Our safari guide, Lindo, possesses exceptional tracking skills. He drove our group on 5 safari outings. Each time he never stopped looking for signs of animal activity. We were so lucky to have him as our guide through the Bush.
We returned to Seasons for our final 2 days. Visiting Plainsburg Reserve was one of the highlights of our trip. There was an abundance of animal sightings including elephants, giraffes, hippocampus, kudus and even a jackal. Buffalo Soldier was an outstanding and knowledgeable guide.
If you are contemplating a South African safari you would not regret choosing Go Touchdown. We loved every minute of it.