20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A self guided safari by bicycle among African fauna is a wonderful experience!!!
We rented 2 bikes and started our journey from a campsite near Hell's Gate National Park (where we could spot some Hippos at night because our tent was just next to the lake) and we arrived at the park. We had a guide until the canyon but we came back by ourselves!!!! It is so amazing to cycle among zebras, giraffes, monkeys, buffaloes, gazelles... You really have time to stop wherever and whenever you want and you really feel like an adventurer!!! The landscape is also beautiful, especially when you start going down the gorge!!! Avoid rainy season but in May we had a really good time there (though check the meteo because it can be bad sometimes..) You can also visit some flowers plantations next to the park! Take your lunch box as there is only limited food available (but it is much better like that!!!)!!
We really enjoyed our journey there and we highly recomment it!!!
Review about Kruger National Park by John Bragg of Oregon
Kruger (the tiny portion I saw) has large numbers of animals and is a photographer's heaven. Terrain is hilly bushveldt. Huge rivers (Sabie and Sands rivers) are full of hippos and crocodiles (I saw both but only at a distance). There can been traffic, but if you go with someone familar with Kruger, you can find recondite little places that are away from the crowds and it might be just you, your guide, and that leopard.
Differences between Kruger and the adjacent private game reserve are that Kruger closes promptly at 6pm (reserves permit night driving for watching predators), requires vehicles to remain on paved or rocked roads (reserves allow off-road driving); requires roofed vehicles with side doors (reserves allow open body safari vehicles); and of course, Kruger has more traffic. Kruger also has lots more animals because it is so much bigger than all the private reserves combined. I hope to go back to the Sabie River country. I selected a small, family-operated safari company with a bush camp inside Sabi Sands and their main camp just outside of the reserve, about fifteen minutes from the Paul Kruger Gate. The bushveldt is simply fascinating for a photographer, and especially at sunset.
Review about Addo Elephant National Park by John Bragg of Oregon
I learned one must be in Addo when it is very dry (winter), since it is the only significant large watering hole for miles around. I got there Sept. 27, two days after the rains began, and though there were no elephants, nor any large game of any kind, I had a wonderful time photographing birds all around the camp. Dugout, ground-level photo blinds make for spectacular low angle shots, but as soon as the rains begin, the elephants and other aanimals quickly disperse.
Many birds! Addo is self-drivable, but there is lots of tall, dense brush which makes it advisable to hire or have a safari vehicle. Park vehicle are available but always full of tourists...not an option for me, as I need a steady, immobile platform for taking pix. I probably would not go back to Addo, but might consider other options near by.
Sabi Sands is a hidden door to the Africa of my dreams.
South Africa's climate and landscape was strikingly similar to that of my home US state of Oregon (i.e., rainy, lowland, rainforest coast separated by mountains from a high, dry arid, semi-desert plateau. It was also similar in terms of land use and economy (farming, ranching, forestry). But where we would have elk roaming the fields, South Africans have rhinocerouses!
Before I left Oregon, people who had been to Kenya and Tanzania told me I would be disappointed in South Africa because of all the brush: you can't see anything, they declared. To be fair, there might be a point there, in summer, when everything is green and growing, but in September winter is at its end; the bush is dry, the animals are hungry for fresh growth, and the grass and brush has been nibbled and gnawed to bare twigs. I loved the bushveldt! It has a feeling a mystery and awe, a sense of closeness, and it evokes powerful feelings especially at sunset, when the heat and dust of the day filter the sunlight.
I selected Tydon African Safaris, a small, family-operated safari business that offers extremely good value for a more than fair price. Although I'd signed on for a shared safari vehicle, in nearly every game drive I shared the vehicle with no more than two companions and a driver. We had fabulous rides, plentiful sightings of game, and very knowledgeable guides.
I took a walking safari and learned a tremendous amount about bushveldt ecology which happens to dovetail nicely with aspects of my professional work. A walk in the African bush is in someways better than riding around looking for animals; the difference is, on a bush walk, you are mostly interested in learning about the poop that all of the animals leave around. It's all part of the ecology!
September is a good time to travel to South Africa and Kruger NP region if you want to avoid malaria. Most of South Africa is out of the malaria zone, but KwaZulu-Natal Province, and Mpumalanga Province (Kruger-Sabi Sands) are in the malaria zone. Mosquitoes become active as soon as the rains begin. That's what I learned from the locals.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Kenya by Flo Romain Worldtour
We also visited Cresent Island, which was a walking safari, and once again we had an amazing time!!!!
Review about South Africa by John Bragg of Oregon
Going to South Africa culminated a dream that began in fourth grade geography class. Through the years I've nurtured a fascination with all things African, but especially I became enchanted by South Africa's history as the ancestral homeland of human kind, as a place of historic adventure, and courage, and strife, and an amazing rebirth at the hands of Nelson Mandela.
I began planning my trip to Africa months ahead of time and picked dates in September, which put me in South Africa after the European tourists had gone home but before the South Africans began their summer Christmas holiday season. September means taking a chance on rain now and then, but it also means low prices for food and lodging, and usually no crowds. I travelled alone. I'm a photographer by profession and enjoy travelling solo that I may practice my craft. I love travelling through wild, unknown places and having the countryside almost completely to yourself.
I flew to Johannesburg via Amsterdam, then spent several days in Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands private game reserve. I returned to Joburg for a few days more and visited Soweto, Nelson Mandela's familly home with the stone memorials, went to see Sterkfontein Cave and Maropeng, then flew to Cape Town for a few days of walkabouts, music, day bus tours, and wonderful food. I stayed in Bo Kaap. Finally I rented a car and drove the Garden Route to Hermanus, then on to Knyssna, Addo and Port Elizabeth, then back to Amsterdam and on to home.
If I start listing highlights I will have to detail the entire trip, but I will always remember: Sterkfontein Cave; Soweto and the Apartheid Museum, Kliptown/Walter Sisulu Square, and the Freedom Charter; Nelson Mandela's final home in Joburg; Cape Town, Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Aghuilas, the Tsitsikamma coast, whales, the upside-down Moon, driving on the wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the road, and so much more...
Water safety: I took my cue from the locals. Most places the tap water is fine.
Food safety: I ate everything everywhere, including at street markets in Soweto, with no ill repercussions, although I avoided bush meat.
Personal safety: Be smart, keep your eyes open, do NOT leave anything in your car!!!
Remember to tip: Eighty five percent of South Africans make their living on tips for services rendered. Tips may range from a few Rands ($1US or less) for a personal service, like getting driving directions from a traffic assistant, or for fueling your car, to R200 to R300 per day for professional services (a safari guide or driver, or city day-tour guide).
I also visited Tsitstikamma National Park and Table Mountain National Park.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A perfect safari with wonderful hosts
Do you have an aunt and uncle that will take you on a perfect Safari, cook for you every day and night and dote on your kids while you relax on vacation? No? Well call Chris and Nikki at Armadillo Overland Safari and Adventure tours- they'll do all this and more. My wife and three daughters (4, 6 and 8 yrs old) spent 5 nights and 6 days with Chris and Nikki and their "armadillo" truck and we wanted to stay longer. Another month or maybe a year would be about right.
Communication with Chris was easy and his e-mail responses were quick while we were planning our safari before we left the US. He sent us a planned itinerary of a safari in Kruger National Park and then added a requested side trip to Elephant Whispers which he arranged and included in the price of the Safari to make it even easier for us. And when traffic snarled our original itinerary he made a few calls and re-arranged the visit to ensure we had plenty of time with the Elephants and plenty of time in the park. He also added the requested panaroma route during our return trip to Johannesburg and was flexible with our schedule as our flight got moved up a couple hours the week before we left.
The 'armadillo' vehicle is a elevated box on the back of an Isuzu 4x4 that ensures you can go virtually anywhere in the park and see everything when you're there. The sitting height is even higher than the game viewing vehicles that we saw allowing us to see animals far into the bush. The elevated box has multiple windows perfect for wildlife viewing and picture taking and for keeping cool riding around in the park. The box also has tables set between chairs to allow kiddos to play some card games when the game drives got longer than their attention spans or on the way to and from the airport. It also has an honor drink bar (beer, cider, water and chocolate milk for us) that Chris and Nikki will stock with whatever you'd like prior to departure. Binoculars? Check. An extensive library on all things safari? check. A heater for chilly mornings? check. An electrical strip for charging devices, camera batteries, etc? and with adapters? check and check. I'm not sure what they could add to make it better but give it a couple months and I'm sure they'll come up with something.
Chris cooked up something delicious for us every night - it was so good that even our 8 year old that here to forth we thought survived on photosynthesis asked for second helpings a couple nights. And the brunches were just as good.
We camped in the park for four nights and just outside the park the last night. The tents and sleeping mats were comfortable and kept us dry during a couple unseasonable rain showers. Chris and Nikki provided pillows and extra blankets which reassured my cold-phobic wife.
This was the best family vacation we've had so far. If I could give them 10 stars I would- and it still wouldn't be enough.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very well organized organization with very pleasant, professional staff.
Excellent flow regarding transportation from/to JoBurg & Kruger. Safaris always left at the predetermined time. Safari vehicles were never overcrowded and guides were very knowledgeable, especially Cedrik. He was very passionate about his work and shared several amusing folklore stories about the animals. The accommodation was very comfortable, clean and adequate. The food was exceptionally good and plentiful. Light meals before early morning safaris were particularly appreciated! I would recommend Outlook Safaris.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful
We had a wonderful experience ! We traveled all the way from Orlando , Florida to South Africa, Zambia and Batsowana. Our tour was handled very efficiently , professionally. The owner of the cimpany met us in Krugar. What a present surprise ! Aron, our tour coordinator was just perfect.
I recommend them highly.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
4-day tour to Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Parks exceeded expectations!
I'm happy I booked with Africa Aventure Safaris. I was looking for a moderately-priced tour and after talking to US spokesman Bill Williams, I was reassured about the professionalism and expertise of this company. Nelson responded immediately to my emails and answered all my questions. Our transport was a spacious and comfortable van; lodgings and food were very good. And Bernard was superb! He was a not only a skillful driver and wildlife guide, but also a passionate observer of local culture who helped us understand how the people live and deal with the challenges they face. I expected to see amazing animals and birds, but learning about Ugandans with Bernard's help was a very special experience. Thanks!