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 Leslie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfectly fulfilled a lifelong dream...wildlife, culture, and breath-taking views!!!
Our Spring 2024 trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe was extremely interesting, quite educational, and absolutely sensational!!! We experienced a safari, visited Capetown, and trekked Victoria Falls. This venture was made possible by Go Touch Down Travel & Tours (GTD). From start to finish, Lucia and Deon and everyone associated with GTD went out of her/his way to make sure that all of our questions/concerns/needs were met.
The thatched roofed huts at both Reserves were spacious and comfortable. The chefs went all out to make sure there was plenty of food that all appetites would enjoy. Vegetarians and vegans should not worry; plenty of choices for you too. Our rangers were fantastic. Their vast knowledge of wildlife and foliage throughout the Reserves truly enhanced the experience. We saw the Big Five, plus many other animals and birds. Our wonderful driver also shared his knowledge and understanding of the Reserves and the countryside while driving to different locations. The Endangered Species Reserve is a must see. The afternoon was interesting and offered much information about the wildlife being protected and nurtured at the facility.
During our stay in Capetown, we learned about the city’s culture. A walking tour had us seeing first-hand the lives in a shanty community, a school, and sharing a meal with a local resident. For those liking jewelry, Shimansky’s will have you smiling. (Save your receipts and VAT paperwork!) Dinner and the show at Gold’s Restaurant was so much fun. The food was delicious, and vegetarians/vegans can request a separate menu. Neethlingshof winery was wonderful. We tasted many varietals and took an informative tour. Our visit with the Sans grouping taught us about how we are all connected to each other. And, I cannot forget the penguins; they are simply adorable. Lastly, Victoria Falls is breathtaking. The views looking at the Falls were beautiful, as well as from behind the Falls during our sundowner cruise. This three-week experience was truly a treat!!!
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Email Donna | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a pleasure to work with Lucia on planning our trip of a lifetime to South Africa.
My dream trip was to travel to South Africa. It was great working with Lucia in planning the trip. She was vey thorough in explaining what to expect. Lucia made some great suggestions and was always available to answer my questions by phone, text or email. It was also nice to view the video of South Africa prior to our trip.
The safari experience was wonderful. I never thought I would ride in an open jeep and see so many animals in their natural habitat. In the morning we enjoyed having a muffin and a cup of hot tea or coffee in the bush and also watching the sun set while drinking a glass of wine.
The Cape Town Tour was educational and spectacular. We enjoyed Robben Island, Table Mountain, Wine Tasting, Botanical Gardens, The Ocean.... I could go on and on. Shopping was great. The food was simply superb.
Our accommodations made us feel like royalty and our tour guide treated us like royalty.
I would highly recommend Go Touch Down Travel and Tours for traveling to South Africa.
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Email Alice B | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An extraordinary experience
The trip was just amazing. Since you go on a trip like this you go for the animals, the first part was a little dull but it built as we went along and the safari portion was exquisite. Memories for a lifetime. The lodge was perfect and oh! the animals... The planning & care by Go Touchdown were terrific.
CA
Email Barbara | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Totally fulfilled ecpectations
Excellent. In particular our guides were outstanding!
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Email Lynda | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely fabulous experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to South Africa. I was very impressed that on this trip they were one of the very few companies that did not charge an extra premium because I was travelling alone. Being in small groups was excellent as we were all friends by the end of the trip. Both in Johannesburg and Capetown our guides were excellent. They were flexible with us while providing an excellent experience.
CA
Email Barb C. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing-Trip of a Lifetime!!
I travelled with Go Touch Down in 2019. The customer service from the get go was great. Staff helped to arrange our add-ons, flights etc when time to travel.
The lay away plan over 3yrs was great, I don’t think I could have gone without it.
Our guide in Cape Town (Tony) was awesome and knowledgeable, we definitely made a friend for life. You definitely will not go hungry on this trip!
Our guide for the Safari portion (Bekkies) was also amazing, lots of stories and fun facts he will keep you entertained.
Definitely worth doing both the Cape Town and Safari ventures. Accommodations for both were great very clean and welcoming.
You’ll get to try some amazing food.
I would definitely travel with Go Touch Down again if given the opportunity in the future. The people we met and places we saw were fantastic. And it was nice only having 5 people in our tour group.
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Email Steve and Renée | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
All of us experienced an incredible vacation!
It all began when I met Angie Main at the San Diego Travel Convention. Because of her genuine warmth, I immediately trusted what she told me about what to expect on a South African Safari. It's now 6 months after we returned from our memorable vacation. If we were told that we could only ever go on one more vacation and asked where we would go, we would immediately reply South Africa with Go Touch Down Travel. It all started in September 2019 when four of us traveled on a l-o-n-g flight to Johannesburg where we were met by our guide, the full-of-knowledge, fun-loving, thoughtful Thabo. Oh, the beautiful sights we saw as he drove us from one destination to another! Staying at Dunkeld was our first eye-opener to South Africa. The staff was super helpful and kind; bending over backwards to meet our every need. And the food? WOW!!! Humala was breathtaking! We all LOVED our lodge; safe, comfy, and cozy. Our guide, Wessel, was always pointing out wildlife. To have zebras and giraffes casually strolling by our safari vehicle was awesome. Favorite events? Our daughter would probably say being mauled by a lion at Lion Safari Park (Yup, a little lion cub decided to chew holes in her sneakers!) and hugging and playing with Tumbo, the gigantic, gentle elephant at the Elephant Whisperers excursion. My husband's and my favorite would probably be the glorious morning hot air balloon ride over the Magaliesburg Valley. Our son-in-law would probably say EVERYTHING was incredible!
Email Kallia Papapetrou | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I have found my travel agency for all my trips
They are a very polite team. They have fast and impeccable service. Immediate information for each step. And of course they are interested in the good of their client.
As I have said to my title I have found my travel agency for all the trips I will do from now on.
Guys are the best
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Email Liz | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Go Touch Down Travel & Tours organizes amazing trips that make memories of a lifetime.
Our Go Touch Down South Africa Safari and Cape Town trip was truly exceptional. We can't thank the Go Touch Down staff enough. Their behind-the-scenes planning and hard work—especially during a pandemic—provided us with a seamless experience from beginning to end. Although we are accustomed to traveling around the world and often make our own travel arrangements, trying to plan a trip to South Africa was daunting and we knew the logistics would be complicated since we wanted to visit game reserves as well as Cape Town. Where to start? Reviewing Go Touch Down's itineraries and relying on them to handle all the planning and details allowed us to relax and look forward to a memorable trip. We found the pricing reasonable. As it turned out, the value was excellent. Before leaving, the staff answered our questions and concerns quickly and effectively. They also provided a very complete handout that contained information about the itinerary, currency, etc. Once we arrived in South Africa, our guide picked us up at the airport, handled our luggage, and brought us to our first resort. Along the way, we were made to feel welcome, told about our itinerary, and began to learn about the area we would be visiting. When it came time to change locations and resorts, our guide handled everything and either transferred us personally to the guide at the next location or assisted us with checking in at the airport, etc., giving us easy instructions for meeting our next guide. It all worked flawlessly and we felt very comfortable at every step along the way. The small group size and comfortable vans made our day-to-day travel pleasant. We can't say enough about our guides. Their professionalism, friendliness, thoughtfulness, and knowledge helped educate and give us an appreciation of each location we visited. More than that, their love of and pride in South Africa and the areas where they live and work came shining through, which greatly enhanced our experience and made us appreciate this beautiful country and its warm and friendly people. The itinerary was well paced to maximize our time yet also allowed for periods of relaxation. The abundance of wildlife, our memorable encounters during game drives, and the incredible natural beauty of our surroundings from beginning to end were outstanding. No one place was better or more beautiful than the other; each provided different perspectives in diverse settings from our glamping accommodations at Humala River Lodge to our pampered boutique hotel experience at the Belle Maroc on the beach, overlooking Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain. We are so glad that we combined the safari and Cape Town itinerary. The latter is a beautiful city surrounded by outstanding natural beauty. The neighboring areas offer many interesting encounters with remarkable flora and fauna that should not be missed. Overall, our Go Touch Down experience was excellent and we look forward to returning to South Africa!
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Email EH | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Relax and enjoy the sights, sounds, tastes and friendly people of South Africa and Zimbabwe
Such a wonderful trip to Southern Africa that exceeded all of our expectations. Starting in Cape Town, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring this wonderful coastal city at the southern tip of the African continent. It all began with our top-notch greeting from Tony, our guide, at the airport upon arrival through customs. We were very pleased upon our arrival at the boutique hotel, Belle Maroc. These accommodations located in Blouberg were well-appointed and located right on the beach. The food and drink during our stay in Cape Town was delectable every single day. We were splendidly surprised by the quality and taste of the delicious seafood selections throughout the region. We will return for the food. Some of our favorite spots in and around Cape Town were Table Mountain, Neethlingshof Estate Wine, and Hermanus by the sea. Tony was one of the best guides that we've met in our travels. He ensured that each and every day of the tour was perfect. Baie dankie to the wonderful staff at Belle Maroc in Cape Town. We will return for the people.
After wrapping up our tour in Cape Town, we headed north to Johannesburg for an amazing tour of safaris and exploration. Our favorite spot during safari was the stay at Humala River Lodge in Songimvelo Game Reserve. This is an amazing place to enjoy safari and relax in paradise. The staff provide excellent service and ensured that our stay was pleasant at all times. Lindo was one of the best rangers that we've met in our travels. He knew where to find the game animals for viewing and ensured that we saw them on every trail ride. Our guide throughout our safaris was Thabo. He was also one of the best guides we've met in our travels. He made sure that everything was pleasant and safe during our stay.
When we finished our safari adventure in and around Johannesburg, we jetted off to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The two most amazing sights to see are the Falls and the Zambezi river. The stay at Ilala Lodge is truly a one-of-a-kind experience where you are whisked back in time to imagine what it would have been like to travel to Africa in a simpler time. Our guide, Taffe, was also one of the best guides we've met in our travels.
Our entire trip in Southern Africa was especially pleasant because of the wonderful people that we met every day. Southern Africa is truly a special place in the world. We will return.