NZ
Masihambe Magic!
This being our first trip to Afrika has more than exceeded our expectations. Jude from the outset showed great love, passion and enthusiasm for this country. This undoubtedly followed through with her attention to detail in setting the itinerary, choice of accommodation (which is wonderfully varied) and most importantly choice of guide.
Every day was an exciting adventure - superb game viewing, cultural experiences, wonderful accommodation, amazing food, campfires at night, story telling, fun and laughter to list but a few!
Our special thanks to you Jude for your diligent organization and our outstanding guide Ant for making our trip so memorable.
Where to next.....
Etosha always delivers as a safari experience.
This was our second trip to Etosha National Park and like our first encounter, we were blown away by the variety and quantity of wildlife we saw.
We are experienced safari tourists but Etosha drew us back because the freedom of a self drive holiday and the quality of wildlife on offer is pretty near an unbeatable combination for us.
We spent 15 nights in the park and encountered numerous big 5 animals including 8 separate black rhino sightings in one day. We also saw several lions (including watching 6 lion cubs at play for over 2 hours at a waterhole), several cheetah, two leopards and a close up encounter with a magnificent Martial Eagle. But there are just droves of game at or near every waterhole and numerous birds and other creatures to be found between waterholes. The weather and light is also incredible for photography.
To maximise the hours we could spend inside the national park, we stayed at camps within the park's boundary. The lodges are basic but adequately clean. Food at the restaurants is pretty good although vegetarians may struggle to get variety. The new restaurant at Namutomi camp serves excellent food.
If viewing or photographing big game, birds and other wildlife is your aim, then you will have to go a long way to beat Etosha, and all of this against the surreal backdrop of the massive pan.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Ulusaba Game Reserve by Robert Styppa
Ulusaba has 2 lodges, Rock Lodge and the Safari Lodge. We visited both and stayed in the Safari Lodge, which for people who like to see Wildlife is the better place. This is a once in a lifetime dream lodge where you will find nothing to complain about. We would go back any minute. Thanks to Richard Branson for having created this fantastic hideaway.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Sabi Sand Game Reserve by Robert Styppa
Being close to Kruger Park, this is the best experience you can have.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Kruger National Park by Robert Styppa
Once in a lifetime you have to go there. Stay away from the tar roads and do not go there in high season (!)
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Addo Elephant National Park by Robert Styppa
Iti s a nice park, but compared to others this would not be my first choice.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Out of season definitely a nice park to visit !
Ithaca Game Reserve is a beautiful park. There are no lions in the park, so you get to see a rich population of Giraffes, all kind of Antilopes, Warthogs, Zebras, Monkeys, Wildebeest and many more and they aren't really afraid of cars. For birding it is also good although there were not many raptor birds like Eagles, when we where there. It is even allowed to leave the car in the reserve. The Ntshodwe Camp is the only camp in the park without self catering. The best times of the camp are over, but it is good to stay. we have been there out of season and there were just another handful of people staying. In high season the camp can cater over 200 (1) people, which for our taste would be too much, too busy. The main road in the park and to the camp is tar and in real good conditions. Out of the other 4 roads you can only do one, if you do not have a proper 4x4, which is a shame, as the most interesting parts like the Pholongolo circle are not maintained and therefore just for 4x4 tourist. The only alternative is to book a game drive, which luckily is not very expensive but done in big game "buses" for over 12 people. What is unbeatable in the Camp is the friendliness of the people. And the scenery in the park is worth to go.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
3 Fabulous Days in Ongava / Etosha
My time in Ongava Game Reserve and Etosha was fabulous! Admittedly, this was my first safari so I don't have a point of comparison but I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. At Ongava, I liked how the animals were more integrated into the land so the guides had to do some tracking for us to see them. My favourite were the lions since we got to see them hunt (positively primal), play, play fight and do all sorts of high-flying acrobatics when the mother and cubs greeted. Walking with the white rhino was pretty spectacular too. Etosha itself was very different, with animals congregating more so at the watering holes, so it provided a nice contrast. I enjoyed watching the crashes of zebras run, the springbok males locking horns over the females, the innumerable giraffes of all colours from orange-brown to dark brown, seeing oryx, wildebeest, ostrich, etc... Seeing the pan itself was also pretty spectacular. Facilities-wise, Ongava Tented Lodge was beautifully appointed with fabulous food and it's own watering hole where we were able observe white rhino, black rhino, elephant (they had broken in from Etosha the day I arrived), kudu, etc... daily. It does get quite cold in the evenings so definitely bring warm clothing and treasure the hot water bottle that they leave in your bed in the evenings! For photos of my Namibian adventure, click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncheng/sets/72157655744210916 (the animals are at the end of the album).
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about South Africa by Robert Styppa
South Africa is a great place to go for people who want "nature" with some luxury (in terms of European Standards) and the perfect country for "Africa Beginners". You can find everything you like, but of course most interesting for people interested in Wildlife. And there is plenty if you go to the right places.