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
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.
US
Email David | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our dream trip going on Safari became a reality
We have just returned from our 8 day trip on safari in South Africa. Africa has always been on our wishlist. South Africa offered a variety of what we wanted, and we signed up for a Go Touch Down tour in 2015 and traveled Sept 2016. My wife wanted the other tour they offered, the city one, in cape town, but I was not going to go to Africa and not see wildlife. Safari offerd a sample of everything, so we settled for that. We stayed at 3 properties, Dukeld Estate, Seasons Spa, and Humala lodge. We arrived a day early on the Tuesday and stayed a night at Seasons before the tour kicked off the next day. The spa helped to recover from the 15 hr flight. Overall the guides 9/10, the value of the tour 9/10, the properties 8/10, Humala gets a 9/10, the activities 8/10, the staff service at the lodges 9/10, the friendliness 9/10, and the food - well that gets a 10/10. Braaai is my new favorite word. It is a barbecue but S. African style. It is to die for. Only negative was the excursion at a very dry Kruger park, as this SA reserve has been experiencing a drought.
The trip and flights (economy) cost us 10K. We would recommend this tour and company. Overall I give them 4.5 stars
US
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.
CA
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 😊
US
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!!!
US
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"
US
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.
HU
Email Attila Deri | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect Game Drive
We enjoy 3 days in Royal Murubishi, and 3 days in Tshuduku. Both of them was excellent.
Murubishi was more relaxed, with very nice surrounding, garden. The staff and game driving was professional, we saw everything what we was looking for.
Tshuduku was similar, but the game drive was more closer. The driver bring as to the animals very close trough the bush. Sometimes 4-5m. We could hear the breath of them, saw lions hunting, eating warthog, baby rino, a lot of elefants, girafs, leopard, cheatah, buffalo, ect. It was a very close experience, what can not be told in writen text. It must be expereinced personally, nothing comperabel to any video.
US
Email Bob L | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very knowledgeable in the tracking of the animals and had a fantastic personality.
This was our once in a lifetime vacation and it didn't disappoint. The staff was very friendly and helpful while we were there. You'll never go hungry because they feed you four times a day and the food was great! We saw were able to see almost ALL of the animals and get plenty of pictures. Would highly recommend this to anyone.