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 Keith | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable.
I’m sitting on the plane in Johannesburg about to take off for our return flight home. I have to take a moment to THANK GoTouchdown for a unforgettable and perfect vacation. Your staff is to be commended for an amazing job. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. Your four properties that we stayed at were world class. From Seasons, to Dunkeld, to Humala Lodge and finally Shark Bay all were outstanding. We only wish we could have spent more time at each. You did this in the face of extreme challenges put forth by the Coronavirus. Incredible. A sincere and heartfelt thank you to you and everyone at GoTouchdown.
If you ever need someone for a personal reference for any of your future potential guests please feel free to have them contact me directly. I will be happy to sing your praises.
Forever grateful,
Keith
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Email Bruce Murphy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Big Five--And Much More!
I had booked my photo safari in 2019 for the following year but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed my plans back and back and back. My wife was killed in January 2023 and I was going to cancel my trip--Go Touchdown was very understanding. But friends told me to go ahead and take the trip in my wife's memory. I had lots of questions and apprehensions about the trip and the Go Touchdown folks (mainly Lucia) patiently addressed all of them.
The trip itself was wonderful. I wanted to take photos of the African animals and was not disappointed. Of course, I had a focus on the “Big Five” and I was able to get outstanding photos of all of them. Even though it was not "bird season" there was sufficient quantities and variety of birds to photograph. The free-roaming animals were almost close enough to touch from the safety of our jeeps. The guides were phenomenal--very knowledgeable without being "academic." I thought I knew a lot about animals before the trip but I learned so much more on the safari. (Do you know that hyena poop is white because of their diet of bones?) Accommodations were very good everywhere we went and the food was fantastic.
Our small group (9 guests plus drivers/guides in 2 vans) was perfect--great personalities, interesting people, funny, friendly. One couple had visited Chobe National Park before the start of our trip and recommended it highly because of the large variety and numbers of animals. Thanks to the flexibility and responsiveness of the Go Touchdown team I was able to change my tour to include Chobe and still go to Victoria Falls. Overall, I couldn't have been more pleased with the Go Touchdown Safari experience.
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Email Nancie La Pointe | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime!
I booked my trip at a travel show not knowing what to expect since I booked my trip at the first table I stopped at. Traveling to Africa had always been on my mind since I was 10 years old. Now being retired, I figured it was out of my reach. After talking with Marie, I realized this was a trip I was willing to take a chance on as a single traveler. I only have positive things to say about my trip to South Africa. From the time I was met at the airport, to the time I was dropped off at the airport, I was treated with the utmost respect. I wasn't sure how I would fit in with my four other fellow travelers but my driver Bill and guide Richard made me feel welcomed every minute of the trip. The staff is very professional while having a casual sense of humor to keep things moving in a positive direction. My experience in the bush while at Humala Lodge surpassed anything I could have ever dreamed up in my mind. I would highly recommend traveling with Go Touchdown Tours and hope to travel with them to South Africa again in the future. I am forever grateful that I ended up traveling with a tour group that focused on making sure I was happy while I was traveling on this big adventure. I loved every minute of it!
CA
Email Jim Carmichael | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Every moment was carefully planned, at times to exhaustion, but very good
Very happy, especially with our time at Songimvelo
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Email Gail Klink | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was magical, and more was deliveredd than promised.
It couldn't have been better. From cell phones for emergencies, attentive guides, unexpected extras, a magical safari, full menus to choose from, and unique accommodations, to professional help with add-ons like a Rovos Rail trip, extra days in Cape Town, and a trip to Vic Falls, it was perfect.
Email AnnaMB | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Crossed all the dots and T's - extremely helpful and professional. A lot of planning and follow-up.
Dunkeld Estate: We arrived at this beautiful estate, and I did not know which way to look first!
Picture perfect – the main building housing the restaurant, pub and reception, surrounded by dams for trout fishing and a row of suites on the side. Each suite had its own character – beautiful and also very luxurious. It was extremely spacious and had a view to die for. There are cottages too, especially for couples/families that preferred self-catering.
The staff were very professional while having a casual sense of humor to keep things moving in a positive direction. They took great care of us and went out of their way to ensure every need was attended to.
Meals were “order anything off the menu” with no restrictions…… OMW it was so difficult to choose! Everything was prepared and presented exquisitely. We were spoilt rotten and ensured we ordered something different at every meal, trying to work our way through all the delicious choices.
While we were at Dunkeld, we were taken on several road trips by Thabo and Joseph, our drivers. These guys gave us (especially me) a lot of attention during these trips. We travelled mostly with Thabo, who I found to be very knowledgeable and patient! He always answered questions, telling us about history of the different places and assisted me (suffering from vertigo) non-stop.
We visited so many places and were able to take the most beautiful pictures.
Thank you, Go Touch Down Travel, for going the extra mile. We will recommend you without hesitation. A
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Email Karen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond my wildest dreams safari tour
My recent South African safari tour was fantastic from beginning to end. The breathtaking sights, the elephant ride (a must), and the six safaris were way beyond my expectations! The wine during the evening safaris and the muffins and coffee during the morning outings was a nice touch. Humala Lodge was awesome, even the invigorating outside shower. I can’t say enough about this very well organized tour and the great attention paid to detail. For example, we had to leave at 6 am to catch a flight in Johannesburg and Seasons Resort sent us off with a very ample bagged breakfast. The all inclusive aspect is a big plus as well as having a driver and knowledgeable safari guide. If you are planning a trip to Africa, give Marie Brivid a call. Being from South Africa, she is wealth of information. I highly recommend this safari tour.
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Email Karen Frumen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An eye-opener to a welcoming culture of happy, loving people with exotic animals at arm's length.
From Angie Main to Kimberly Gitzler, Melissa Wertheim and Taylor Davenport, all services went smoothly albeit, 10 friends from varying residences attempted to travel together - with individual needs and desires to see different things. Sometimes its difficult to do so much coordination. The teams' work was much appreciated.
The accommodations were very nice, although the days were quite busy and everyone looked forward to just returning and sleeping. The facilities were neatly decorated with more than enough space. Coffee, tea, and water were conveniently replaced daily.
Our drivers, Bakkies and Bill in Seasons Sport and Spa, and Joseph, Tony, and Renee in Cape Town, were professional, knowledgeable, kind, and punctual. Not a day would go by that Bakkies shared his sense of humor with us. Additionally, one of the guests, who we met on the trip, had a birthday and Bakkies made sure that he went out and purchased a cake for the group to celebrate.
The safari at Humala was like something I've only seen in the movies. Bastiaan and Richard went out of their way for us to have an enjoyable trip, see all of the animals the savanna offered, and respond to every need that we might have had. The stilted tents were incredible to sleep in. Even though it was a bit cold in the evening and early in the morning, nothing was more refreshing and exhilerating than the outside shower off of the bathroom. And to wake up with animals outside your accommodations was the creme de la creme. I loved it! A TRIP OF A LIFETIME! Don't wait - just go!
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Email Paulette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything went smooth as planned.
When I arrived at the airport in Johannesburg I was early so I waited for a while and then I asked the airport official where they told us to meet at and he told me to go outside that's where they meet us at, so I waited outside and then my guide came and got me but, he said he was waiting for me inside,. So I should have followed directions and waited inside like I was told to do in our itinerary. The service was excellent! I enjoy the Safari, the location everything was beautiful. I would definitely recommend everyone to have their own phone service... either you buy one when you get there and make sure your phone company gives you a good deal,. You can only make calls if there is Wi-Fi on the premises.
CA
Email Dan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
With the exception of some challenges with the Capetown guide on the last day of our visit to the city, every portion of our booking experience and the two week tour in South Africa exceeded our expectations.