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 Svalle Ottosson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Makes the safari fit your individual scedule: Short or long. Rough or comfy.
For a short safari (3-4 days) the living quarters is not important as we spent most time out in the bush. We never used the pool or the bar as we went out early and came back late.
Professional, helpfull and knowlegeable staff.
We picked Viva Safaris because they collect at most hotels in Joburg. - Not just from the airport.
SE
Email Fredrik Wiberg | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly professional and welcoming Safari arrangement!
Among several other competing organizers Viva Safari distinguished by giving quick and clear information about the arrangement pre our visit. Thanks to Ms Landau. Once we arrived in Sout Africa we were most warmly welcomed and had four days of beautiful safari.
Special thanks to the the knowledgeable staff particularly Smiley, Nadine and Charl. We really enjoyed your professional and engaging "lectures" and guidings.
The transport from Johannesburg worked well however one of the four drivers did not feel as well skilled. I had to ask him to cool down.
BF
Email Sinaly | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and very welcoming
We had an amazing experience with Vivasafaris. From the beginning, we appreciated Patti’s availability and reactivity in all communications (emails / WhatsApp) and for tailoring a 4-day tour of great value for our family. Transfer from Johannesburg to Tremisana Lodge was on board of comfortable buses with very helpful drivers. We enjoyed the stays at Tremisana and Katekani luxury lodges with very kind staff. We had very skilled and experienced guides with us in the parks for game drives and bush walks. They were all funny too. (I don’t know if this is part of their training). All big five were seen. We were fortunate to meet a leopard just near the lodge at Tremisana. We saw a cheetah and were very close to a Casper in Kruger.
My family and I enjoyed so much this experience. The animals didn’t seem much bothered by visitors and they were kind enough to let us take beautiful pictures ;-)
Vivasafaris also helped us organizing visits in Johannesburg with a tour operator, which was very much appreciated, especially for us, traveling to South Africa for our very first time.
Efficient, Organised, Friendly
Hello all, my partner and I spent 6 days in Kruger with Viva Safaris and it was a wonderful experience! From pick up, to drop off, to stops made along the way to Kruger (to change transport etc), it was very well organised. The lodge is situated in an excellent area for game viewing, with majority of good sightings being done on our more local morning and evening game drives.
The staff are very welcoming and friendly, special shout out to Smiley who was with us for the majority of our trip. WOW! He made sure our needs were met, and tried his absolute best to get us the best viewings. Thank you to all the staff from the kitchen, as well as Luke, Nadine, Rocky, Raymond and Victor also. The days to Kruger are long, driving there is 1.5 hours roughly, and same back. As this was the highlight of our trip and many other guests, I would really like to recommend that vehicles leave a lot earlier. You arrive at Kruger around 10am, and by this point, a lot of viewings have already taken place. We saw all of the Big 5, as well as painted dog and many more wonderful animals. The food was good, we didn't go hungry at all, and the schedules were well planned. Again, just if there was one change, we would have loved to have actually spent 'full days' in Kruger if this was possible. We would highly recommend Viva Safaris overall.
Email Mikey | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Brilliant experience with good service and rangers.
My wife and I did a 4 day package and really enjoyed our time. Rangers Eva and Sam were particularly very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Rex was moody at times which was disappointing.
The lodges are safe and decently furnished. The meals provided were fantastic and great quality. Especially the morning breakfasts and dinners. The kitchen staff always happy with a smile on their faces. The morning drives and sunsets drives were eventful and animals plenty. The bush walk was good fun (aside from Rex who was moody).
We found the owners a little strange as they would appear for dinner and then avoid sitting or saying at least hi to the guests. Quite grumpy to say the least.
I would urge Viva to include a tshirt in their price or charge $10 extra as this is required on bush walks (most people we noticed didn't have camo clothing and got shouted at by Rex - very embarrassing.
Overall we would recommend Viva as good value, good staff, lovely lodges and food and good effort overall!
Email John | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fascinating worthwhile trip and great guide/driver trip
Collection and drop off went well, apart from a slight delay switching minibuses on the way back. We felt packed in at times but no complaints, you were busy.
The tours at the camp were good and we were really impressed by our driver/guide who was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, friendly and professional. The vehicles are old and need replacing. The accommodation was ok - a bit tired - and the food and drinks were fine; just occasionally the level of service overall slipped.
The tour to Kruger went well but the arrangement of the vehicle with the driver in the front and the passengers behind in the back meant that communications with him were difficult, but he was very helpful when we did have a problem which was nothing to do with Viva Safaris
ID
Email Iva | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good first taste of a safari experience
Booking reservation communication was prompt and quick. Had no expectation as to what a Kruger Safari would be like. We did the 3-day Masango Camp. It was unfortunate that the first night, we were the only guests on the camp site; could not help but feel a little left out from the other group. We also did not get to experience a braai during our stay. Masango Camp would have felt much better had it had more guests staying with us. "Nyala" room was very spacious, with a private bathroom. In the morning we could hear lions roaring. Staff was excellent. Our caretaker at Masango Camp (Mama Pauline woot woot!) was more than happy to assist us. Victor was superb! Very warm and easygoing and attentive - he had no problems laughing at himself. Our safari guide, Patrick, was very knowledgeable and patient - we got to see 4 out of the Big 5 (no rhinos!). Errisson was very pleasant and funny when giving us the bushwalk tour. Hopefully this would be more safaris in our future!
AR
Email Nora Virginia Venialgo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
great experience
I felt very happy with the service and the personal of viva safaris. the places were great, the food, and the guides. it was a great experience. i recommend.
US
Email Wood | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Vacation by Kruger Park for reasonable price
Pros:
Very reasonable prices for location and accommodations.
On time pick up at JNB hotel.
Lodge Rooms was clean and comfortable but a bit small for our family of 3.
Program/tours - variety of tours and places to go, really enjoyed the conservation visit!
Breakfast was very good, as well as other meals.
Lodge staff friendly.
Most of the guides, despite of young, looked passioned about their job and were very friendly.
Cons:
Location - day to go to Kruger was cold and had to ride 30-40 mins on open vehicle (with tarp on one side).
Lodge bar only accepts cash - this was an issue for us, since we did not take much cash on our trip, so we could not drink as much we wanted on our vacation!
Liability Waiver - this created a big commotion on the van to the Lodge. None of us know about that when we booked the trip. The explanations were confusing. Some told us was for the van ride only and others that it was for the Safari tours. I have done Safaris before and don't recall signing nothing like that. This was an unpleasant and unnecessary stress during our Vacation.
Internet - only works on the lobby area.
US
Email Andrew | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very fund 5-day safari
Had a great time with Viva Safaris. Did a 5-day, 4-night safari, with the first night at Tremisana Lodge and the last 3 days at Marc's Treehouse. The various drives and walks to see animals were fantastic. We saw tons of animals and had knowledgeable guides who could tell us a lot about what we were seeing (and find more animals for us). The trip to the animal rehab center was fun, too. All in all, the safari was very well organized by all the Viva Safaris staff. The food provided was also very good, and they were very accommodating with dietary restrictions.
The one negative would be the accommodations. Our room at Tremisana Lodge was in poor condition and the bathroom was basically in the same room as the bed. This may have been an outlier room at Tremisana, but it was still below expectations, particularly since Tremisana is supposed to be one of their nicer lodges. Marc's Treehouse also was a bit disappointing. Only a few of the cabins were true treehouses - the rest were just cabins made of bamboo and tree branches. And because the property is sprawling, some of the cabins are a 10-15 minute walk from the main lodge area, which was inconvenient and difficult to do with suitcases.
The staff at both lodges was fantastic, though, and helpful at all times. Viva was also helpful in planning the trip, and answered all questions ahead of time. Highly recommend using Viva for a South African safari, but I would keep expectations regarding accommodations a bit low.