GT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent. Great accommodations, and wonderful wildlife.
We had a great experience. It was kind of cold and little rain, but we enjoyed our stay. Since we entered the reserve, we started to view wildlife (giraffes, wilds hugs and we were lucky to see a Lion in the middle of the road). People are really nice. Phinda was great. Excellent food, well organized tours, luxury accommodations. We saw a lot of wildlife including, Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Wild Dogs, and many more.
US
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Kruger National Park by Tommy
Kruger is an excellent place to view the bush from your car. Obviously, this takes away from the authenticity and vibe of the experience and is comparable to Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. However, Kruger is a great place to view game (although you often have to train your eyes for hours on the bush to see anything) and to get a quick taste of South African wildlife. Birding is somewhat difficult because you will be confined to roads.
US
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by Tommy
Great park for seeing rhinos but not so much for any more of the big 5. I would recommend it for photographers as the views are amazing.
US
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The perfect experience for anyone wanting to experience the South African Bush.
The Timbavati Nature Reserve is truly one of the best places to go for safaris in South Africa. Its borders are massive thanks to collaborations between the previous owners of the land. Located next to Kruger National Park, it is easy to combine the two reserves on one trip for both safari experiences. I was 15 when I went to Timbavati in 2011 and stayed at the Umlani Game Reserve. My experience couldn't have been more incredible. The staff is incredibly friendly and the group is small so it is easy to get to know everyone there. Our guides were excellent as well and really seemed to have a strong knowledge of the bush as well as a passion for their jobs.
The food at Umlani was incredible as well- It was by far the best out of our month-long trip. Some of our meals included a delicious sweet potato and butternaut squash soup, casseroles, full english breakfasts, various meats, impala stew (try it!), and of course rusks. I was at Umlani during the Winter so the weather was nice although it had rained a few days before we arrived.
The wildlife was beyond anything that I had expected. We encountered all of the big 5 many times and saw a huge variety of animals. My group was fortunate enough to see a lion kill as well as enormous herds of Cape Buffalo. The elephants were everywhere and seemed to not care about our proximity to them.
Umlani is located next to a water hole so that viewing animals is still possible in between game drives. About a mile away is another water hole where interested guests can stay in a tree house for the night! Thanks to encouragement from the staff, I summoned my courage and spent one night in a tree house in the bush.
Overall, The Timbavati Nature Reserve and Umlani specifically is the best place to go to experience the South African Bush. There are friendly staff members, good food, knowledgeable guides, beautiful scenery, and of course lots of wildlife to observe. I don't often check 5 stars in all categories but Umlani deserves it. Too see videos from my trip, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/futbol7t/featured. Make sure to make Timbavati and Umlani part of your trip.
GT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about South Africa by Erick Cuellar
You can find very nice cities, and in a few hours on the road, you are in the middle of the wildlife.
US
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about South Africa by Tommy
South Africa is a beautiful, friendly, country that has something for everyone. Although I have not experienced Safaris elsewhere, South Africa seems to have all the animals anyone would want to see (penguins included!). I'm not a birder so I'm fairly unsure as to what the variety is although the lilac breasted roller is the most beautiful bird I've ever seen.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A fantastic, up close and personal experience in Africa -- a sense of adventure at every turn
Royal Legend Safari Lodge had beautiful accommodations, excellent food. Seeing animals up close and personal a thrill. Expert guides Fani and Rufus. The most awesome experience was when an elephant walked to our jeep, putting his trunk right in our faces! An experience no book or travelogue could ever duplicate.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Kruger National Park by Hilary Knowles
Overpopulated by tourists with so few restrictions on numbers at any one site. No off road drives. Not able to get up close and personal to game as at Idube
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Five Days of Pure Magic
We travelled to South Africa at the beginning of July 2011 - the dry season - and it can be chilly! However this also means that there are no mozzies or other flies but the disadvantage is that there is less variety of general wildlife to see. However every day on Sabi Sands, we saw all the key species several times over!
Our twice daily drives were led by knowledgable, friendly Rangers and trackers whose ability to find the big cats was uncanny. Going on drives from Idube, being on a Private Reserve, means that you never encounter many vehicles and only ever find one or two at any sightings so unlike many centres we have been to. This means that you can often observe the animals quietly for long periods undisturbed.
There is also plenty of opportunity to go tracking in the local area safely with the Rangers to see bird life, insects, and smaller mammals and the odd snake!
This is a really friendly, small family run centre where nothing is too much trouble for their guests. The accomodation at Idube is very comfortable indeed and the meticulous care and attention you receive to make every single person's visit special is wonderful. The food is also astonishingly good and we came away with many recipes they are more than willing to share with us. Eating our evening meal around the Boma is such a friendly way to end a day.
My husband and I recommend Idube unreservedly as a centre for African Safari adventures.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The Inyati experience is hard to beat, great hospitality and amazing wildlife viewing.
My husband and I have travelled down from Sweden to South Africa on numerous occaisions and Inyati is our favourite. The wildlife viewing is amazing. We followed the trials and tribulations of the Mapogo lions. We watched when they ruled the roost but also when they were run out by the younger, stronger Selati coalition.
In one day you can view the elephants, giraffe and wild dog and finish off photographing leopard up a tree in the fantastic South African sunset.
The rangers are experienced and knowledgeable.
The hospitality at the lodge is excellent. The food is so good we often leave with a recipe or two.
We can highly recommend Inyati Game Reserve for a great safari experience.
