Viva Safaris team look forward to seeing you soon!
Viva Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 1991)
- Member Of:
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association
- Tour Types:
- Mid-range tours that, when possible, use accommodations owned and operated by them
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $81 to $200 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
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Email Adam | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredibly exciting caring operators sharing their love for animals with us.
Excellent accommodations and staff. Well organized and worked with my situation of flying in a day later then the rest of my group organizing an airport pick up for me. Incredible experience.
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Email GM | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
Best Safari company. Great staff, guides, and accommodations. No complaints!
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Email Amanda | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Trip of my Life!
Viva Safaris went above and beyond my expectations. The safari rides were amazing and we were able to get close to all of the animals. The staff was very kind and accommodating to what we wanted to do. The food was great, rooms were clean and comfortable and the pool area was a nice place to relax between activities. 5/5 recommend staying here!
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Email Connor | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great group of people who made our interactions and each day amazing
The staff here was so incredible to the drivers, office managers, and cooks. Rooms were perfect. Not to fancy but not low tier either. It was just what we were looking for. The meals were good and the drivers were incredible. Sundowners were my favorite part.
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Email Nils Olsen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
INCREDIBLE Experience, From Start to Finish!
I have been on two other safaris before, but traveling with Viva Safaris was incomparable. The operation was well-run, well-communicated, and as advertised. The staff - from the drivers to the guides to the chiefs - were infectiously optimistic, skillful, and incredibly hospitable. The food was delicious, and the room featured one of the most comfortable beds we had ever slept in. There was a clear urgency to ensure every guest saw all of the Big Five, which we did. The pick-up at the airport and drop off back in Jo-Burg, by Soli 1 & Soli 2, was smooth & easy.
A special shout-out to Mama T for her delicious food and to guides KG (aka Mr. George), Lucky, Victor, and Andy for all of their efforts to make our trip so amazing!
Overall, we couldn't be happier with our experience and would 10/10 recommend and travel with Viva again!
JP
Email Miho | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Committed, dedicated and caring people for the best safari experience
Patti was super helpful when making a reservation and for logistics on the day of arrival.
People at Tremisana lodge are all friendly and welcoming. Food is good and room is clean enough considering it’s in the center of safari park.
What’s the best is the guides at Viva Safaris. They are committed to show you animals you want to see. Even you don’t have luck to see what you want to see, you can see how hard the guides try to make your day. I booked a 4-day satay and it wasn’t enough. I should’ve booked a 6-day tour for sure. KG, Lucky, Victor and Andy are the best guides. They remember what animals you’ve seen and what you are missing. Then they will focus on the missing animals for the coming days. They really think that finding the animals is theirs job and they really commit to it. I’ve done other game drives with other tour agencies in Zimbabwe and Botswana, but they just see what the nature offers you without trying to find the specific animal. This is not bad and you will still enjoy, but you will never see the commitment Viva Safari guides will show you with any other tour operators.
I was able to see lions (really close), rhinos, buffalos, elephants, hypos, crocs, zebras, giraffes, various antelopes and etc…
Unfortunately I didn’t have luck to see a leopard, but it just leaves me a good reason to come back to South Africa. I’m definitely going to book a tour which is longer than 4 days with Viva Safari next time. Thank you so much!!!!
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Email Bruno Fortuna | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing perfect experience
Perfect from day 0 to day 6. Since the pick up at the airport by Salomon the 1st then taken by Salomon the 2nd, reception by all the amazing staff and Tuney making everything the best, the guides/drivers King George and Mr. Victor simply no words for these two heroes and Mama “C” and all the ladies cooking amazing diners. Couldn’t recommend and like it more. And likely forgetting others special names. Thank you!
Email Thiago M | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable and professional!
Our 6 days safari was amazing and we had such a great time! I was positively surprised by the professionalism of the team. They were very punctual with the itinerary and always a good laugh. The accommodation in Katekani was so spacious and the food prepared by Margareth and team was sensational! The guides also were very nice and always keen to find the animals and explain the surroundings to everyone. I'd highly recommend them if you want to have a great safari experience.
The entire staff at Viva Safaris is amazing!
Services provided by Viva Safaris was outstanding. Booking was simple and all questions were answered timely. We were picked up from our hotel on time by excited and friendly staff. Experience to lodge included a lovely stop for lunch. The safari guide under promised and over delivered in the animals we were able to see, seeing a leopard and lions within the first trip out. I don't know that you could find more value for a safari around. Thank you, Viva, for making our 25th Wedding Anniversary a trip we will never forget.
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Email Heinz H | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent and amazing safari experience!
Viva Safaris gave my family of four (two children ages 18 & 14) an unforgettable safari! From start to finish it was absolutely amazing. I don't even know where to begin, but we had such a wonderful experience. All I can say is if you're planning a safari in South Africa, don't hesitate booking with Viva Safaris.
Viva was easy to book with and quickly responded to a few of the questions I had when planning. We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel in Joburg which was very convenient. We chose the 4 day/3 night Tremisana Lodge because it provided a nice mix of safari adventures including the bush walk, multiple game drives on the surrounding reserves, and a full day at Kruger National Park. Just an hour after arriving to the lodge, we were already on a sunset game drive which ended with a delicious bush braai - cookout/bbq dinner in the bush!
We had our own chalet which slept the four of us comfortably. The grounds on the lodge were nice and had plenty of areas to find a place to relax and take in the views. We were constantly fed - breakfast every morning, lunches and dinners. We were never hungry! Even during our bush walk, we were given a little baggie with an apple and crackers, which I though was a nice touch. We were given bottles of water here and there as well, including on arrival. My wife and I enjoyed a few drinks from the bar for dinner or after dinner on each day. Some of the others we met during our safari also stayed at Marc's Treehouse or the luxury lodge and said they enjoyed those too. We chose to only stay at Tremisana for the four days just so we didn't have to keep unpacking/packing, etc.
The most special part of our stay were all the Viva Safaris employees we interacted with. Everyone there (and I mean everyone) from the kitchen staff to all of the guides that took us on our game drives, and the ones I met at the lodge (who we didn't drive with) were awesome! That truly made our experience and stay special - genuinely great people who we'll miss.
And speaking of the safari guides, our unforgettable safari experience is probably all owed to them! We rode with George, Rocky, Victor, and unfortunately, I can't remember the names of our two guides on our first night, but all of them were great! They were informative, funny, and made sure all of us were being taken care of on all the game drives. My family and I thank them so much for such a great experience!!
And lastly, we were able to see the Big 5 and just about every other animal that you would expect to see on an African safari. It's weird because at times it seems like you can be driving around for hours and see nothing, but then all of a sudden you start seeing animals everywhere! Spending a full day at Kruger N.P. greatly enhances your chances of spotting a diverse group of wildlife.
Some of our safari highlights:
- Seeing two black rhinos during our bush walk!
- At Kruger, seeing a leopard resting in a tree with his half eaten impala hanging on the
branch in front of him - only to find out later we were approximately 5 km from
Mozambique!
- The entertaining monkeys at the lodge
- Seeing a lion to complete our Big 5 on the final morning, the sunrise drive before
heading back to Joburg. Saw the male lion and two cubs only about 5-10 minutes from
our lodge! Shortly afterwards, we found ourselves in the middle of a herd of
elephants. Very close to them, big and small. And to think this was (again) our last
game drive before saying our goodbyes. Talk about putting the icing on the cake of
an incredible safari!
I'm sure there are many other great safari companies in South Africa, but all I can say again is my family and I truly enjoyed our safari with Viva Safaris. I can't imagine another better all-around safari experience than the one we just had!