Hosted Journeys to extra ordinary places
Cuckoo Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email su | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well-organized and executed trips with amazing guides
We did an 8-day Victoria Falls/Chobe/Makgadikgadi/Okavango Delta trip with Cuckoo Safaris. We picked Cuckoo because we thought they offered the best itinerary and had great reviews. While arranging the trip, Tatenda was very responsive and helped us put together the perfect itinerary—the whole process was very smooth and very well executed. Simon was our main guide throughout the trip, arranging our transportation and checking in on us everyday during the trip. He was an excellent guide and a wonderful human being. He was always on time and very reliable. He gave us an amazing tour of Victoria Falls, always kept us informed of the next steps, and accommodated to our needs. We felt very lucky to have had him as a guide. Our local guides throughout the trip were also wonderful. Our main constructive feedback is regarding the lodges. The Victoria Falls location, Shongwe Lodge, was an excellent lodge with amazing food. However, the quality of the lodges went down as the trip went further. Having said that, it was overall an amazing experience, thank you Cuckoo Safaris and Simon for making our honeymoon such a special experience!
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Email Peggy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Simon was a wonderful, knowledgeable, accommodating guide who anticipated our every need.
Simon was punctual, friendly & honored every little request we made. He told us all about his country, customs & culture even personalizing it by sharing his own wedding customs for us😊
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Email Peggy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Figo was a great tour guide that provided us 3 women with friendly, prompt, exceptional service.
Figo was very knowledgeable, went above & beyond to accommodate our every need. We mentioned that we’d like to get carry out dinner at a nearby restaurant. Figo took us there at the end of a long day of sight seeing, waited for us & returned us to our lodge. We highly recommend him as a guide.
Email Kerry | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good itinerary organised by Simon and Tatenda who were very helpful and communicative throughout
We went on the Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia trip - great, varied itinerary over a such a short period of time and collecting four stamps in your passport!
Everyone involved in the entire process were great - on time, reliable and knowledgable. The two hotels were lovely and appropriate for the cost.
Thanks Tatenda and Simon!
HK
Email Supremeholidays | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect
Communications are fast and detailed. Guides are professional and always on time.
Superb, Reliable, and Responsive
Superb, reliable, and responsive tour operator. Answers questions quickly and helpfully—always within 24 hours and usually almost immediately. Gave is wonderful advice on activities and charges the best prices for a quality experience. Felt taken care of the entire way. Don’t hesitate to retain Cucukoo—you will not be disappointed.
SE
Email Marc | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience exceeding our expectations
We booked the 6 day tour including Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi and Okavango Delta. We did a lot of research and ended up booking with cuckoo safari based on their previous reviews and the itinerary that suited our trip, taking us to different parts of Botswana. The booking process was easy and communication with them was quick. We didn't really know what to expect and just went along, and everything worked out great and exceeded any expectations! No hick ups at all, everything went very smooth - from the transfers to the hotels to the different tour operators that were used along the way. (Local tour operators are used, which is a good thing as they have the best knowledge of the area) Each day offered new experiences. Simon and Tatenda joined us for a few days and made sure we were comfortable. All in all a great tour where you can just ride along, everything else is taken care of.
Email Matt | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
8-day tour - Vic Falls, Chobe NP, Makgadigkadi NP, Okavango Safari
Absolutely epic safari package!
We were picked up by Simon at Vic Falls airport. Because we flew in late we missed the sunset cruise however, Cuckoo were flexible and added a lunch cruise the following day after Victoria Falls tour.
Communication with Simon and our group was a breeze with a WhatsApp group chat.
As this was my first time in Africa, I didn’t know what to expect across Zimbabwe/Botswana. I was absolutely blown away by the lodges and hospitality of all staff. As I’m a celiac, I expected to have poor food choices. I actually put on weight! So many meat choices! I think it would have been harder if I were both vegetarian and GF though.
I’m not sure if we were really lucky with sightings but the safaris absolutely blew me away. We were so lucky and saw so many animals including a leopard! Big 5 - done.
I would 100% love to return to see more of Zimbabwe and would 100% reach out to Simon from Cuckoo again.
A trip to remember- easily will stay in my top3 and will be very difficult to top! How many people can say they spent their birthday hanging out with meerkats, then flying over the Okavango Delta!
Email Cherrod | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cuckoo Safaris giving an Africa trip to always remember
We did an 8 day tour from Vic Falls to the Okavango Delta (Maun). Cuckoo Safaris have been very prompt in responses via all WhatsApp communications from the beginning enquiry questions about tour options to the end of the tour. They customised our package for us based on interests, which is why it’s not listed in their current packages.
A heads up to others that we did not pay the remaining amount of the tour until the day we landed in Vic Falls.
Simon was our assigned guide and he was a 6/5 rated guide from our whole group! He made sure we knew all the details of what was to come for the next day and guided us with personal requests when we asked for them.
He gave us wonderful cultural insights to his Zimbabwean heritage, and answered every curious question that we had with pleasure.
He also ensured that my husband had a nice birthday surprise (which I totally did not expect to come with the package but it was so touching).
Cuckoo Safaris did tell me from the beginning that they would be able to cater for a gluten free dietary restriction but we had to remind every place that we went to (something that isn’t unfamiliar for anyone that has to live with this condition).
We had friends (another couple) decide to join our trip a few months after we booked, and they were staying at another lodge in one of the towns that we were staying in originally due to the intended lodge being overbooked, but they messaged us the week of the tour to let us know that a room became available and our friends were then able to join us in the same place which was so nice!
Our trip exceeded our expectations and our time in Africa will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Email Calli | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Streamlined and made everything a breeze.
We just got back from an 8 day trip with Simon and cannot rate him and the tour highly enough. We loved everything - Vic Falls, Chobe and the Delta - and Simon was the absolute best. He looked after us completely and made the trip run like clockwork.
We were able to see the big 5 and so many other amazing things. The food and accomodation were all stand out.
I highly recommend booking with Cuckoo Safaris and asking for Simon as your tour guide.