Bianca & Craig your expert safari planner/guides
Southern African Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- SATSA, CTT & intrasure
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $69 to $129 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email John & Juliette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely Fantastic first visit to South Africa
Southern Africa Tours customized a wonderful 10-day tour for us, including visits to Cape Town, Kruger Park, and Victoria falls. Our complicated itinerary was massaged masterfully by Craig and his staff until we had a packed schedule of activities and visits. Everything went off to our complete satisfaction. We were particularly impressed as to how responsive Craig and Andrea were to our many questions before the trip and how quickly they followed up when we had questions during the tour. We were especially happy with Derek, our guide for the days we spent in Cape Town. He was supremely capable, competent, entertaining, helpful, personable, a great source of information, and a really nice guy. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting him and spending our Cape Town days with him. He really went out of his way for us. One of the nicest things was how he always arrived early and we sat down and discussed the day’s itinerary. He actually wanted to accommodate us, and not the other way around. Nevertheless, he still knew how to gently push to keep us on track and on time. For sure I will recommend Southern Africa Tours, and Derek by name, to anybody I talk to about South Africa. Thanks guys!!
Fantastic Southern Africa experience!
At the airport waiting for our flight back to the States and we wanted to thank you for putting together a fantastic trip! We could not have been happier with all of your choices and the details that went into making this seem less and stress free. Thank you so much!
All of the accommodations were great as were the tour guides. Thank you for your flexibility and individual attention
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Email Aida | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience and fantastic trip
Our family (parents with two teenagers) went on a tour in South Africa. We planned to visit the North East, incl. Johannesburg, Panorama Route, Kruger and Swaziland in the first week and the Cape region in the second week. We had the ambition to experience as much as possible within 13 days. Andrea, our tour organizator, planned a great itinerary to accommodate our wishes; she even arranged for a pleasant surprise that delighted us: she booked us in the African Café in Cape Town for the last evening of our tour; a fantastic way to close our jouney in SA!
We started the tour through Johannesburg/Soweto, Panorama Route, Kruger and Swaziland for 6,5 days. Patrick, our guide, is a very engaged guy who knows a lot about the fauna, flora and the traditions of the region; his passion was contagious. The scenery on the Panorama Route is magnificent -the least I can think of to express the beauty of this region. Kruger was an epic. We were so lucky, because we saw much more beyond the „big five“ thanks to Patricks enquiries and willingness to chase after the rangers‘ tips whenever they spotted „rare“ animals (leopards, lions). It’s also a paradise for bird lovers. Swaziland has a great mountaneous scenary... Even though we weren’t lucky with the weather on our last day in Swaziland and couldn’t carry on with our farm visit as planned, Patrick elaborated a plan B and took us on a Johannesburg exploratory day trip. Patrick knows Johannesburg very well and showed us areas we’d never go to if it weren’t with him. Patrick deviated from the „official“ program to make us learn and see more (Pretoria, Apartheid Museum, a fantastic Swazi choir performance), and nicely cared for our well being throughout our journey. At the end, we felt like he was a member of our family.
Then we flew to Cape Town and started touring the region with Derek: Cape Town and the Garden Route within 6 days. The Garden Route tour was a collection of beautiful sceneries. The Karoo landscape with the passes we drove through were fascinating. Knysna, Mossel bay, Vic bay and Conga Caves are absolute gems. We spent one night in an Ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn and experienced a superb sunset and a great quietness. We visited the wine country; adults tasted wine, kids tasted chocolate! We were in the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, and the Boulders with the Penguins, and Kirstenbosch. - I could go on and on.
Derek was adventuresome and was willing to deviate from the route to accommodate the different wishes/tastes of the whole family. He took us to climb a light house, walk barefoot on a surfer beach and swim in a tide pool… He even made us chase the ISS station in the starry sky of Knysna! Derek is like the encyclopaedia of the Western Cape! He is amazing.
Overall: what we got exceeded our expectations. We saw much more of South Africa then we could have imagined in just 12 days.
An unforgettable experience and a fantastic trip that we’ll actively recommend to our friends.
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Email Andy A | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Garden Tour and 3-day Cape Town Tour
My wife and I visited South Africa for the first time on this trip. We set up the tour not knowing what to expect. What we got exceeded our expectations. It was easy communicating our arrival and subsequent hook up with our guide. Derek has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Western Cape and was fantastic. The Garden Route tour was like driving down Highway 1 in California but with more magnificent scenery if possible. The Game preserve is fascinating, Knysna is a gem, Tsitsikama is glorious, and the Conga Caves are something to behold. We visited the both the Little and Great Karoos and learned a lot about South African history. Derek was adventuresome and was willing to deviate from the route and cross the Schwartzberg Pass - on a road built in the 1880's and unchanged since then. Then the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. And the wine country. And the Boulders with the Penguins. - I could go on and on. Overall we saw more of the Western Cape then we could have imagined in just 8 days. The places we stayed were first class and the food was too much!!! An unbelievable trip - we will be recommending this trip to everyone we know.
Garden Route Tour.
We went to Cape Town on a conference and wanted to spend some time after the conference seeing S. Africa. Southern Africa Tours organized a trip for us, suggesting things to do and places to stay. They arranged a driver and car for us, accommodations etc.... The driver was great and suggested changes to the planned itinerary which made for a better trip. All the accommodations were very good; the provided meals were also great. We felt our cost was quite reasonable, considering we had a custom tour just for us. S. Africa is a wonderful country to visit and we really loved our tour. S. Africa has everything; mountains, oceans, lakes, forests, good climate, good food, wildlife and friendly people; the scenery in incredible. I would recommend Southern Africa Tours to anyone considering a tour there.
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Email Torbjörn | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wounderful 5-day private Garden Route Tour with Derek
My wife and I just returned from an exceptional week in South Africa spent with Derek from Southern Africa Tours. I would wholeheartedly recommend them and especially Derek as a guide to any one considering a tour in this beautiful country.
We decided on Southern African Tours because their 5-day Garden Route Tour best fit our schedule. This was a last minute decision on our part to go to South Africa, about two weeks of notice was given to Craig (the owner)
for the planning of our trip. He and his staff came through with flying colours for us. All our needs, expectations and more was met throughout our trip.
Derek is the most wonderful guide and person one can have on a tour like this. His knowledge of the country and all the sites we visited plus his enthusiasm about the flora and fauna made this the most rewarding visit any one can wish for. We also learned a lot about the history as well as current affairs of this fantastic country from Derek. I am at awe as to his knowledge about all the various subjects that came up during our time together.
This visit would not have been as rewarding as it was without Derek.
There are to many memories to mention here but these are our favorites. Wine tasting in Robertson valley, Canga caves, Whale watching in Knysna, Penguins in Bettys Bay and off course the game drive at the Garden Route Game Lodge.
Thank you Derek and Craig
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Email Arthur | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
3 night, 4 day Tour
My mother and I hired Craig for a 3 night, 4 day tour of cape town and it's surrounding areas. Craig put together an amazing package starting with a over night train ride from Johannesburg to Capetown. The entire tour was planned and have a variety of different activities from exploring caves, to seeing ostrichs and visiting a ostrich farm, to going on a game drive.
He was also very adaptable to any changes we needed and fit in "spur of the moment" whims. I would 100% recommend Craig to anyone whom is seeking a guided tour of ZA.
P.S. i lost my sunglasses in his car and he even mailed it back to the USA for me!
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Email Jim | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Simply Stunning Experience
My wife and I just completed the 15 day tour of South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho. We started the tour in Cape Town with Craig, who happily honored our request to reverse the normal order of the tour. We asked for some other modifications of the tour while booking, and again Craig bent over backwards to make us happy. He is a wonderful guide, providing insight into the features and history of his beautiful country. At the end of our time in Cape Town, Craig came down with a case of the stomach flu, and was unable to continue. This had the potential to be a disaster, but Craig simply would not let that happen. He arranged for another expert guide, Louis, to take over and the adventure continued without missing a beat. We saw the big 5 in Kruger, and spent an exciting day in the Hluhluwe reserve as well. Swaziland and Lesotho were both well worth the visit. This tour far exceeded our expectations. We have traveled a fair amount, but this experience is at the top.
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Email Mary Val Palumbo | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
5 days of awesome South Africa with Derek
We are so pleased with our time on tour on the Garden Route in S. Africa with Derek. My adult daughter and I had so much fun; but the highlight was our whale tour because we had 2 whales who treated us to many sightings... enough to even get a selfie with a whale! Loved the ostrich farm, the caves, the penguins, the Garden Route Game Lodge, Rt 62 but most of all getting to know Derek who is a knowledgable and compassionate man. He gently guided us through the complexities of S. African society and gave us real insight into this beautiful land.
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Email Kiah | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Educational, passionate, fun and eye-opening.
Derrick was an amazing tour guide. His passion and love for what he does came through every single day. He provided us with educational experiences and went above and beyond day after day. He responded to whatever we felt worked and didn't as we went throughout our trips. He was ready and waiting for us at every turn. From the Penguins @ Betty's Bay (in a down pour with Derrick by our side!), to the additional whale watch we could fit in, he was enthusiastic and positive. I have learned more in 5 days than i EVER would have independently. Worth every single penny.