DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime!
After having travelled a lot of the world I felt that Africa was missing on my map. I love to travel independently, but with Africa I thought I would be better off booking a tour especially as I wanted to see the wild and remote parts of Botswana. Friends recommended Anthony Washford and African Adventure Safaris, because they didn't only feel safe in the bush with him but also felt that they could totally be themselves and relax in his company. I also decided to go with his company because their itinerary covered unusual destinations with a ring of adventure to them: Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Nxai Pan, Khama Rhino Sanctuary. I loved the trip, its roughness, fun spirit, the camping adventure in the wilderness, nights around the campfire and the relaxed attitude. I left the tour having found new friends. Anthony burns for wildlife and will pass his passion on to you and offers you the opportunity to leave civilisation behind. I loved it and will be back!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mala Mala is Luxury Safari at it's Best!!!
I didn't know what to expect when arriving at Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa. It was the 5th Safari in 17 days that had included Zimbabwe and Botswana and each place was unique and spectacular. I stayed at Rattrays and was lucky enough to have my own luxury villa which in all honesty was wasted on just one person!!! The accomodation was spectacular to say the least!! The staff were attentive and very friendly and our guide was fun and very knowledgeable for as young as he was. We only spent three days but probably saw the most animals that any other one Game Reserve although each one was spectacular. The guides are in constant communication and are quick to respond to an animal sighting and really do their best to track down the animal in question. We saw a Leopard and her Cubs, Lions at a kill, Lions and Cubs playing on the River Beach. Rhinos and their young, Girraffe, Elephants. The highlight for this particular stay though was a chance encounter with two Hyena pups whose mother was nearby. They got so curious that they came right up to the vehicle and climbed up onto it and was chewing the guides shoe laces and were so playful they tried to chew my camera strap that was swinging around....amazing experience!!! I posted part of it on YouTube at screen name jet400a. I will post the whole 15-20 minutes worth soon. My video of Duba Plains in Botswana is also on there.
The food, just like every other camp, was 1st class. I can't say enough great things about Mala Mala and its accomodation and staff!!! 5 Stars all the way....can't way to go back and take my family!!!!!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The spirit of the leopard was evident in the great care and attention to detail in trip plans.
My friends and I went on our first ever safari with Roho Ya Chui. It was a magical adventure. We were in the Maasai Mara in Kenya which is so beautiful. We ventured out early in the morning each day to have the best light for photo taking. Our guides were so knowlegable and helpful and we were able to explore the small and large wild life that the Mara has to offer. I recommend fullfilling a dream and taking a trip to Africa. Roho Ya Chui is a great way to make that dream come true!!!!!!
Excellent attention to detail with superb staff and guides
This is the second time i have organized a large group to travel with Journeys Discovering Africa/Far Horizons and, once again, we received excellent service. The booking process was facilitated by a competent staff. Accommodations, food, and service at all locations exceeded our expectations. The guides were friendly, knowledgeable and easy to communicate with. Overall we had a wonderful experience and will definitely travel with this tour operator again in the future.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Two tours with CrissCross Safaris
Thinus has organized and led two very successful sixteen-day group tours for me and a dozen of my friends, all from Oregon. Our first visit, in 2009, stretched from the Fish River Canyon near the Orange River to Etosha National Park. We returned in 2011 to travel from Windhoek to Victoria Falls. We have nothing but wonderful memories of the places we visited and the things we saw. Thinus, with his personable manner and varied background, was able to make our trip a comfortable adventure with a mix of learning about the various cultures in the area and the viewing of plenty of wildlife. It would be hard to find another tour guide with such breadth of knowledge of and contacts in Namibia. Our first trip involved some camping along with staying in small communities and guest lodges. Each day brought a different environment – a different world! For our second trip, across the Caprivi Strip, we opted for staying in comfortable lodges and out-of-the-way places. My thirteen-year-old granddaughter will never forget the many wonderful experiences she had on our tour, especially the visit to the school in Rundu, interacting with the San people in Tsumkwe, or riding the elephants in Livingstone.
We have many choices in the places we want to travel to and a large selection of tour operators to choose from. We could have done any better than travelling with Thinus of CrissCross Safaris in Namibia. No doubt we’ll return again in the near future.
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing tour and good prices
Very well arranged tour!
Excellent safari vehicles, we got a 4x4 safari land cruiser with a popup roof and the guide was knowledgable
Will return again
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
CrissCross cares for clients as if they were part of the family.
After traveling throughout southern Africa with Crisscross for the past 5 years, and planning to do so again this year, I believe I can speak very highly of the care they provide for their clients and their well being. Itineraries were well planned and changed or added to upon request. Provisions during travel were more than adequate, as were accommodations, which ranged from luxury lodges to tents in the National Parks. Wildlife viewing and cultural experiences were magnificent. Best of all, our guide, Thinus, with his sense of humor and attention to detail, as well as really caring for his clients, made the six weeks more than just enjoyable. My son and I experienced such a variety of activities that it would be difficult to choose just one on which to elaborate. In our five summers in Africa with Thinus we have travelled through and experienced Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi! It has all been so wonderful that we're returning in August for more exciting adventures! I wholeheartedly recommend CrissCross Safaris for everyone's African experience!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Service and Great Value!
We traveled all over the country with Thinus Blaauw/Criss Cross Namibia Safaris during our one month visit in Namibia. The destination cannot be beat for sheer diversity in landscape - from the lush north to the desolate Skeleton Coast to the dry and arid Kalahari. Excellent game viewing at Etosha National Park and lots of opportunities to meet with locals - the Himba in the northwest and Bushman in the east (among others!) - makes it possible to learn a lot in a short period of time. Thinus did an excellent job customizing an itinerary to fit our interests and budget. He is very knowledgeable about the country and its history having grown up and worked in the Namibian government. We recommend him highly and look forward to touring with him again in Botswana this summer.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
These tours are wild!! Africa untouched!
My wife and I did a trip to Botswana with African Adventure Safaris last year and we were really blown away. It was our first time in Africa and we did not know what to expect, we were looking for a camping safari as this is the way that we like to travel in other countries and were a bit concerned in the beginning about camping in the wilds of Africa. Anthony really made us feel at home and safe and led us on probably the best trip we have ever done! We saw so much wildlife on the tour and went to some places where we did not see another tourist for days which is one of the things Botswana is renowned for. I especially enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night listening to the sounds of the bush and the stories that Anthony had to tell were amazing, he really has a passion for the bush and wildlife and we were lucky to have him personally guide our tour. We will definitely do another trip with him in Africa, he warned us that we would catch the Africa bug and we are definitely hooked!! The food was great, it is amazing what can be cooked up on the fire, we were expecting to loose weight! Our visit to Victoria Falls was great and it was also nice to have a bit of luxury at the end of the trip, we were really spoilt. Having travelled extensively in South America and Asia we were looking forward to something different and I know now why they say Africa is a must for all!! A big thank you to everybody else that made the trip possible, Ephram and Matanta in the Okavango and especially to Bev in Victoria Falls who made our stay there so enjoyable! We will see you again I am sure.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent and professional, had a great tour of Botswana!!
The trip was fantastic!! i especially enjoyed the knowledge of Anthony Washford who guided us on the trip, he was an amazing guide and new just about everything about the wildlife of this amazing country. I also enjoyed the fact that we camped wild most of the time and were so close to nature especially in Central Kalahari Game Reserve. We saw male lions fighting right on the edge of the campsite which was a thrilling experience. I would highly recommend Botswana to anybody who would like a taste of 'real Africa' and Anthony really made our trip for us!