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
US
Email Vivian | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator was amazing. So helpful and nice.
The trip was amazing. The tour guides and the hotel operators were very helpful and very nice.
This was one of the best trips I have taken. I recommend everyone to take a trip like this.
Everyone always let us know where we were going and what time we needed to be ready for our tour for the day.
I wish we had a better camera because it was so beautiful. (not your fault) haha.
We made friends during the trip, which was so fun.
US
Email Simon | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fabulous safari experiences
We had a fantastic experience from the moment that Thabo our guide picked us up till the time we left. We were a group of 6 strangers at first, but became good friends almost immediately, and we stayed together for the entire safari. The stay at Humalo Lodge was great with fantastic service from the staff, and the food was amazing. The tent experience is really up to individual likes. The animals and the game drives were fascinating and productive. Then we moved to Tshkudu about a 6 hour drive, but we stopped and saw some amazing countryside, and enjoyed a good lunch. Tshkudu was another great experience, with great staff, food, accommodations and of course great game viewing. We then transferred to Livingston and stayed at the Avani Resort, right next to the Victoria Falls, what a great resort, it is in a game reserve, and animals walk and graze freely on the property. GoTouchdown has really vetted their properties and guides and does an amazing job.
Our only concern, really was with the communications regarding plane flights Relying on the internet with electricity outages and poor internet service caused a lot of angst amongst all of us. However, their contacts do respond quickly when there is service. One big recommendation is to provide easier to follow itineraries, one where the flights and transfers are separated from the location details, so that it can be easily sent as a pdf file, not uploaded to a difficult to access web page.
CA
Email Diane | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simply the best. Would highly recommend Go Touch Down for an amazing trip to Africa.
This trip has always been a dream of mine. Booked in 2019 for 2020. Finally made it in 2022. This trip did not disappoint. The accommodations were great. Couldn’t complain about the food. The staff and guides at the lodges, went out of their way to make the experience truly memorable. Safaris were up close and personal to the Big 5 and numerous other wild animals. The second half was spent in and around Cape Town. This too was a remarkable experience. If you’re thinking of going to South Africa, DO IT!
Email Sue | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant, a fabulous tour with great guides
I had a wonderful trip to South Africa, 7 days on safari and 7 days in Cape Town. The whole experience was first class from the knowledgeable guides to the accommodations and delicious food.
US
Email GW | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Time and Wonderful Tour But a Rocky Start
The vacation was wonderful and the staff in South Africa were helpful. However the staff in the United States was not helpful when I was on the ground in South Africa. They only communicated with one of the travelers (my friend) and did not send me my itinerary until I touched down. I reached out through email while on the long flight to send me my itinerary so that I knew who was meeting me at the airport. This caused problems with meeting the gotouchdown guide on the ground. They also didn't keep my contact information for communication so that the guide could call me in an emergency. I was only given the contact information of the South African contact from my friend who they did keep in contact with. Nonetheless when I was able to get in contact with the SA staff they were responsive and apologetic. However, I ended up spending money on a cab that wasn't needed. After the initial hick-up the trip went smoothly. The resorts were great and the experience on the safaris was life-changing. I would do it again as the resorts and value for the money was excellent. However, I would only work with the South African contacts as they were the best.
US
Email LaVette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Always felt safe and secure no question was dismissed and the operator was personable and caring
I would travel with the agency again I wish they had trips to wards west Africa. Everyone was easy to work with they were very helpful with the accommodations and everything went through without a hitch
US
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.
US
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.
MT
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 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