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 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.
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.
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!
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.
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 Jim Adams | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Go Touchdown gave us an experience of a lifetime
All the accommodations were wonderful, with exceptional guides. The guides are so personal, and really take the time to give you 100% of their attention. The animals were of course the highlight and all excursions were thrilling. The food was so well prepared and just delicious.
Thanks Go Touchdown
US
Email Charlie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Go Touchdown is a great travel asset to help navigate an unforgettable vacation experience.
We enjoyed an extraordinary vacation in South Africa. Our guides were extremely knowledgeable of the historical and current culture of this beautiful country. The game drives were unforgettable. I couldn’t believe how close we were able to get to the many different types of animals. This was truly a bucket list trip.
US
Email Dan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good safari experience, but promises/hype in sales result in frustration.
We found the people were generally friendly and mostly knowledgeable about the safaris and animals. The weather was good and we saw the big 5 animals and more and also the ugly 5 (we did not know this was a thing!) as well.
Now the hype mentioned above, in what is sold as a luxury safari. We were told transport would be in vehicles - turns out they were soccer-mom mini vans. They promised no more than 4 people each vehicle. In reality there were 5 or 6 adults crammed in. Promised were safaris with no more than 2 people in each row, for comfort and better views. That happened on one day, the rest of the time was three across. The lodges were crowded as well. Some in the group had been promised single rooms, but they were forced to share rooms in the lodges.
Giant pity because we did get to see the animals we wanted to see, in their habitat. But none of the 16 on this tour said they would go back on this tour.
If you promise a luxury safari experience, please deliver a luxury safari experience.
Reply from Go Touch Down Travel & Tours
Posted on Jan 25, 2023Dear Dan,
We are sorry to read the promised 4 people and no more than 2 people in a row comments above. Perhaps it was an oversight on your side?
We can assure you, we have never had this complaint before and that in the history of our company, we have never sold our tours that way. Please see page 1 of your sales agreement signed on 4/2/22. It refers to no more than 6 pax per van/group. On safari, the jeeps can seat up to 3 pax in a row very comfortably. This was addressed in the documents attached to your itinerary.
Re: Nov 2022 when you traveled. We don't agree with your statement. See the 3 x reviews below that visited at the same time as you Nov 2022.
Welcome back and thank you for taking the time to give us feedback. GTD.
US
Email Denis W | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
South Africa at its best.
This is our second trip to South Africa using Go Touchdown Travel & Tours, our first bring in 2016. We used them again because we had a wonderful experience with them in 2016 and were excited to see and catch up with several of the Go Touchdown family/staff we met from our 2016 vacation. In 2016, we were some of the very first travelers to visit The Songimvelo Nature Preserve, staying in the Humala Lodge, deep inside the preserve. Songimvelo/Humala Lodge is one of our most favorite places in the world with stunning South African savanna’s, mountains, game drives and wonderful hosts, who we have kept in contact with since 2016.
We planned for a 3 week tour of South Africa and Victoria Falls for the Fall of 2020, but then COVID happened. With constant contact with Go Touchdown, we were able to postpone and eventually reschedule our trip for the Fall of 2022, Spring in South Africa, time to view p all of the baby animals. This time, we had a group of 6 travelers, taking in Cape Town, Songimvelo/Humala Lodge, Tshukudu Lodge, Kruger National Park, Victoria Falks in Zimbabwe and Chobe River National Park in Botswana.
In Cape Town, we stayed in three boutique hotels, Belle Morac, Sharks Bay in Langebaan and Stillness Manor on the foothills of Table Mountain. In Cape Town, we took in all of the sights, Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape of Good Hope, wine country in Stellenbosch and Franschoek and so much more. We had a wonderful experience at the Gold Restaurant, featuring African cuisine and African performers and dancers.
From there, off to Songimvelo/Humala Lodge in East Central South Africa, bordering Swaziland. The views are simply stunning, everything we’d imagined Africa would be like. Mountains, savanna’s, rivers, rough roads and animals, lots and lots of animals. And you are alone with your game driver, no big crowds, no timelines, just you, nature, animals and great views. From here, on to Tshukudu Game Lodge and Kruger National Park. Now we’d view the Big 5, elephants, rhinos, Cape Buffalo, lions and leopards. No African Safari is complete without a trip into Kruger, and Kruger doesn’t disappoint. The views, the animals, the experience, a once in a lifetime experience.
We finished with traveling to Zimbabwe to experience Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world. Another breathtaking experience. Then onto Botswana and the Chobe River National Park. Here viewing hundreds of elephants on the Chobe River.
What makes Go Touchdown so wonderful, is the people we interact with at all their locations. The drivers, the game rangers, the staff, the performers at Humala, everyone made you feel at home and special.
I’d highly recommend this company and tour packages for anyone looking to experience their dream African Safari.
US
Email Maggie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best
Well organized everything was unbelievable great , hotels we stayed were clean, food was good service excellent