Natureways Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1987)
- Member Of:
- ZTA & SOAZ
- Tour Types:
- Budget & mid-range canoe safaris
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $286 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
IL
Email Daph | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing safari, great guides, excellent organization
This safari was everything we expected, and more. Our guides were very knowledgeable and extremely nice and fun to be with. We felt safe the whole way, even when the weather wasn't good and the water was choppy. The Zambezi Classic Short was just the right length of time canoeing, and we were happy we didn't opt for a shorter excursion. Doing a semi-participatory safari rather than a luxury one was also a good choice. Helping to set up camp, cook, wash etc., was a wonderful experience for us. We were a group of 5 women with varying dietary needs. Natureways catered to most of our needs.
We also used Natureways to book our activities in Victoria Falls. Kelly-Anne was always promptly responsive and gave us excellent advice, as well as booking everything we asked for and greatly facilitating our trip.
Overall we had a great time and highly recommend this outfit for a canoe safari on the Zambezi, or any other needs in Zimbabwe.
Email Ross and Elaine Tromans | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic walking safari and canoeing trip on the Zambesi river, done with style.
We would like to thank James, Tony, Campbell and the camp team for showing us a wondrous aspect of African wildlife that was truly unique and one of the best trips we have had the pleasure to experience. To see elephants, lions, buffalo, hippos and crocs in such close proximity yet know that we were safe under their guidance was a highlight. Learning how to track the animals and what to look out for was an unexpected treat that complemented the experience. Their ability to identify and name every bird we saw enhanced the joy of seeing such prolific birdlife during the trip. Thanks again for such a friendly safari with great food, sleeping accommodation and plentiful sundowners.
Email Elize | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An artificially bloated tour designed to impress gullible foreigners.
Change of itenary well communicated but too late to make any alterations. Ground staff very eager to receive cash money for tour upon arrival. (?)Tents pitched in sun - lopsided port-a-potty attached. Long boring time between activities. Food very colonial, old fashioned and overdone (sit down, rushed, 3 course meal with no reference to Africa). Contracted guide (Andrew Smith) excellent, but should refrain from calling his guests "know-it-all's"
CA
Email Susan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful experience, one that I would gladly repeat.
This was one of the best adventures that I have had. The trip was well organized, the guides knowledgeable and the exposure to wildlife and birds truly breathtaking. I would recommend this trip to anyone wanting a true African Adventure.
CA
Email Dan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professional company with professional guides
I'll be honest, if the information on the internet had said that we would be canoeing on a gigantic river with thousands of hippos, we probably would not have booked this trip. And that would have been a shame. Despite the fact that the safari was not what we were expecting does not mean we did not have a great adventure! We expected quiet waterways and seeing game up close. Well we DID see tons of game but there was nothing quiet about paddling the immensely wide Zambezi, zig-zagging around hippos. It certainly got the adrenaline going! Nevertheless, our favourite moments were when we arrived at our island for the night and set up camp as the sun was going down. We would then have a sundowner, help with supper, and chat quietly for a while. At night we would listen to lions roar, hippos call to each other, and elephants walking around our camp, eating with contentment. This was all done while lying on our backs in the tent, looking at the stars. Perfect! Thanks for a great, if unexpected, adventure!
CA
Email Alice & Ed | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Walking Amongst The Wildlife
There were 4 of us friends & 1 guide…Andy. He was the most amazing guide…considerate, Knowledgeable, patient. We were walking for 7 days; the camp moved every 2 days along the Zambezi River. The meals were Fabulous, cooked by Janet on an open fire. This was most incredible experience, walking in the flood plain, meeting NO ONE, very often surrounded by animals 360'.
Keep in mind these are tents, kerosene lamps & it is dark at 6 pm; showers are a bucket hanging over your head. But all this is part of the amazing experience. Walking is much more exciting than riding in a jeep.
Negative…the web site says luxury Camp Zambezi at the start…well there is no Camp Zambezi….that refers to an 'area'; so we expected 1 day at the front & 3 at the end to be luxury static camp, stationary …not so. We had 7 nights in the tents, 3 too many.! Feel the website is misleading. Switching to LED lights would be easy... less stinky & dangerous.
PG
Email Fiona Speedy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our experience was excellent; the guides; meals & accommodation; care & attention; very professional
Having never been on a Safari before we didn't know what to expect other than what our printed material told us. We were therefore impressed with the high standard of care and attention from all Natureways personnel; from the guides to the driver to the 'in-camp' personnel who were all very professional and courteous. The actual amount of wildlife we saw and the knowledge we acquired from the Safari itself was a little over-whelming so we started taking notes! Our Natureway Safaris is so good we are planning another. Congratulations to Natureways Safaris.
NZ
Email Pat Hill | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trekking on foot and canoeing was absolutely the right trip for me.
This was the trip of a lifetime for me. My friends who have done safaris entirely by truck saw more animals and in greater numbers but did not gain the same knowledge of the bushvelt or experience the thrill of tracking and finding and following a herd of painted dogs or lions sleeping on the other side of a bush or mistakenly canoeing over a hippos head! I have pages of the names of all the birds we saw and photographed and can name so many of the trees and bushes and their traditional uses. I am still getting requests to tell friends about the thrill of it all. James and Tacksure were the most excellent guides and despite the hippo incident, or perhaps because of it, I was never afraid of their ability to keep us all safe. I have imagined this trip for over 30 years and it was so much better than I imagined. We were looked after so well and fed like royalty. Each morning I made a point of being one of the first ready to go trekking but on our day of leaving I was so sorry it was over I was last to jumble my stuff together and get on the truck. I didn't want to leave. Thank you so much for such a memorable experience.
Email Madeleine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic! Incredible experience, far exceeded my expectations.
Wonderful trip, incredible location, scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. The camping locations were perfect, and we were treated to incredible sunrises and sunsets over the Zambezi every day. Paddling in the canoes was relaxing, rejuvenating and exhilarating. The staff on the trip went beyond my expectations and their service was fantastic. Same can be said for those organising the booking prior to departure - really went above and beyond to help me. Cannot recommend highly enough, the week I spent on the Zambezi was definitely one of the highlights of my two month Africa tour!
US
Email Lynn | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful 3 night "Mopane" Canoe Camping Safari with Natureways along the Zambezi in Mana Pools.
I used Natureways 20 years ago in Mana Pools and always wanted to return. In Sept 2015 I did Everything about the canoe safari was great thanks to Guide Norman and Assistant Takesure. They were very safety conscious and great wildlife spotters. They really love the river and it shows. The tents, mat, and sleeping bag provided were of excellent quality. The food was good. The secluded island campsites were a highlight of the trip.
The whole big report with photos is linked here:
http://safaritalk.net/topic/15504-natureways-70-km-mopane-canoe-trip-sept-4-7-mana-pools-sapi-chewore/