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 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 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.
A Dream Realized
Truly a dream come come true. From sales (Angie Main)to service (Dana Spencer) to the actual adventure, every phrase was top notch. It all starts at with the airport pick-up. Our driver guide, James was with us the entire time in South Africa. He was knowledgeable professional and treated not only as VIPs, but also like family. The staff at the resorts we stayed at were all outstanding. But the true experience begins at Humala River Lodge. The staff there was superb. Our twice daily safari drives proved to be an adventure of a life time. Our safari guide, Lindo, was on point with his knowledge of the wildlife and how to spot them. Every aspect of this trip was beyond our expectations. We added side trips to Victoria Fall in Zimbabwe (3) days and a day trip to Botswana. The entire trip was a dream come true. Thank you Go Touchdown Travel
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Email Erica | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect and Life Changing
My South African Safari was awesome and perfect.
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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.
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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.