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 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.
US
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.
US
Email Bill | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great trip to Africa
Go Touchdown has done a great job despite the pandemic. Our group of 9 bought the African Safari package 2 years ago and they help us reschedule our trip several times...outstanding!
The trip was a true bucket list experience and Go Touchdown provided us with great drivers, guides and places to stay. Everything was top notch and we highly recommend them for all travel experiences.
US
Email Dave | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Did not meet expectations
After a year delay due to the pandemic we finally made out trip to South Africa. I would first like to say that the Go Touch Down staff were friendly and accommodating. We started our tour at the Seasons Resort and Spa, we would not rate this as a five star resort there were many small maintenance issues that needed to be corrected, from loose door knob, no wash clothes for 4 days, towels not replaced, animal droppings on the miniature golf course playing area, bricks sticking up on with walking path. The restaurant on the property (only one) had a very limited menu offering and than a lot of the items were not available. The elephant sanctuary tour was fantastic, would highly recommend, also enjoyed the hot air balloon ride. The drive from Seasons to Dullstroom for the panoramic route was long however the sights were very beautiful. It started with a grab and go breakfast to enjoy while driving, ( a cheese sandwich, hard boiled egg and an apple) , not a usual American type of breakfast. Made three stops along the way. The Dunkeld Lodge was very nice, we had a late lunch in the 1883 dinning room, in the evening we had an outdoor fire with a dance performance and retreated into the bar area to enjoy the bbq that was prepared. Was a cool temperature for the time of the year but the fireplace in the room kept it warm and cozy. Next morning we left for Humala River Lodge, stopped in Dullstroom, would have enjoyed a longer stop in town, only had 30 minutes to walk around. than a long drive. Once we got to Humala we had to transfer from the van to the game jeep for a 45 minute ride from the entrance out to the lodge. The lodge was everything we expected it to be, little cold as it got down to 39 degrees one night, the game drives we great. The only negative might have been at there is no menu , you get what the cook prepares. For us luckily it was all good and we enjoyed everything but for some people it could be a problem .
Humala was what you expect Africa to be. We again had an outdoor bonfire and Swaziland dancers did a show. Since this is a game reserve the amount and type of animals are limited. Than a long drive back to Seasons Resort. with a stop at Lion and Safari Park. The animals here are in large fenced in areas that you are driven through, have a good variety of animals but it is a captive situation. Next day it was drive to Pilamesberg National Park. again we had grab and go breakfast to eat in the car (tuna sandwich which no one ate) at the park we choose the open jeep and had a very good guide. Highlight here was watching the parade of 17 elephants going to the water hole, the restaurant at the park was closed so we ended up at Blimpies a fast food hamburger restaurant. Next day it was off for the hot air balloon ride which had been delayed from day to until the next to last day. We originally received a very detailed itinerary for the trip, it was however in constant state of flux as tours changed, and due to the pandemic some tours were cancelled or only parts of them were available.
Overall for the cost you get a lot with the tour, meals, transportation in country, some tour guide local tours it is not a high end tour but it is a good tour, more detail to the property maintenance at Seasons and what US visitors are expecting could be improved. Expect to spend a lot of time driving 6 people plus the tour guide in a 2 row van.
US
Email Lou | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A dream vacation!
The communication from the time of booking until we returned was great. The accommodations, transportation and tour guide was outstanding! We had a fantastic time everyday and Humala was the best! The staff, food, luxury tents and safari drives was an experience we will never forget. The best part of this tour is that is limited to six people which makes it more personal. We had 4 other people that are now friends because we created great memories like having drinks at sundown watching Rhinos! The only negative thing to say is the at the Lion park and Pilanesberg we were not in groups of 6 but in buses with 20 plus other people and lost that personal touch we had the rest of the tour. It was crowded and it catered to people in front of the bus next to the driver, not everyone. We also wished we had more time in Pilanesberg, wished we got there earlier and stayed after lunch not just half a day. Other than those two things the vacation was a dream come true! The food was great and the wine even better (alcohol is not included but very affordable, something like 2 bucks a glass, same for beer bottles). We have so many great pictures of animals and the beautiful scenery of Africa. Thank you Touch Down for a great time! Improvement in Lion park and Pilanesberg vehicles to a group of 6 will make this a five star rating. I give it a 4 1/2 out of 5!
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.
CA
Email Y E | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memories
Hello and thank you for this offer to give a review of my South Africa experience. For me, this was a trip of a life long desire, considering that I had been a part of the resistance of apartheid oppression, while attending university some 50 years ago. So I was happily blown away by the beauty of the country, the tours offered and my living accommodations, making allowances when necessary, as the tours mattered more than sleeping quarters. What has left an unforgettable impression and which I have retold excessively is the following incident. Five individuals (me included) arrived at XXX for the safari experience. The Five consisted of a White couple and 3 Black ladies. At dinner on the first night, the 3 Black ladies were seated at a table by themselves, while the other guests (all white and meeting for the first time ) were seated together. Not a good impression. This practice changed but only after the guests themselves (foreigners) reacted to the situation On leaving the safari, we were told that any gratuities should be given to the owner for distribution to staff.. Again this smacked of something distrustful to foreign eyes, I am happy with my memories and momentous of your beautiful country, but there is a nagging reminder that the arc of progress is slow.
US
Email Donna | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great guides food selection off menus in restaurants. Happy 2 weeks
Very good. The days were long and tiring but worth it
CA
Email Carolyn | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once you started the tour it was Very Good. You just need to get past the office.
My husband and I were travelling for 2 1/2 months before we arrived in Cape Town. Before we left we got in touch and asked if there was any other information that was needed. We were told they had everything and an itinerary would be sent to us 60 days prior to arrival. We had to ask for this 3 days before arrival. During those 2 1/2 months on the road we were asked 3 and 4 times for the same information and sometimes by the same person. When I complained I was told that several people had to touch the file and sometimes things got lost. Information requested were flight arrivals and departures, emergency numbers etc. We then received a charge for $250 and were told this had to be paid before final arrangements could be made. After many emails we found out that a flight had been charged to our account that was not ours. Each email we sent we asked for confirmation and most of the time did not receive it. After many emails about flights the office still did not send the correct information to the guide that was waiting for us. We spent another hour at the airport waiting for this to be sorted out. It was very frustrating and we were concerned about the complete trip.
Then the guides took over. They were wonderful. The accomodations were good and the guides were knowledgeable, courteous and bent over backwards to help you out. The meals were fantastic and actually too much. We decided not to go for dinner one evening because we were not hungry. I think it would be best for us (not everyone) if you just had 2 big meals a day and a snack. We spent many hours in restaurants. The restaurants were wonderful but sitting and waiting 2 hours for lunch was not for us. You could pick anything off the menu so everyone was satisfied. The tours were great and the adventures were over the top.
CA
Email Gail | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari experience met bucket list expectations
We travelled March 1 - 15 2017 with Go Touch Down, one week in Capetown and one week on the Johannesburg tour which included 3 days safari at Kapama River Lodge. Our stay in Capetown met more than our expectations from the one bedroom apartment to the "Gordon Ramsay" meals to our efficient guide. The only bump in the road was our two day stay at Dunkeld Estates prior to our safari. We travelled as a group of 4 and had booked the trip in 2015. Upon arrival we were told that they were overbooked and that we would have to stay in a Fisherman's Cabin 10 min walk away from our friends who were put in a guest suite. When I questioned the manager why we were separated from our friends when the booking was placed in 2015 she told me room assignment did not have anything to do with when the reservation was made, and that it was not her problem. What we found in the cabin was one hanger in the closet, a front door that would not latch, to keep it closed one had to lock it, no safe, television that did not work, and no phone to call someone for assistance so we had to walk the 10 min back to reception to get someone, no lighting at night to walk back to the cabin all the while hoping that we were able to spot the horse dung that had been deposited along the way. Service in the restaurant very slow. We were the only table for all 3 meals we had there, and dinner took 2 hours to complete. Our friend who was in a guest suite found what looked like potato bugs walking on the bathroom floor both nights of our stay. I sent a letter to the C.O.O. of Go Touch Down 4 weeks ago outlining my experience and to date no reply and at this point do not expect one.
I found Go Touch Down in Oakville to be more than accommodating and organized. I would recommend travelling with them for the Capetown tour, but as Dunkeld Estates is owned and operated by Go Touch Down
avoid the Johannesburg tour, and book with someone else. The safari portion at Kapana River Lodge was outstanding . It provided excellent accommodations and the thrill of seeing 4 of the 5 Big Five up close and personal. Never did I expect to have a male lion walk right passed the safari vehicle or a giraffe standing two feet away.