US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Lewa's Great Bush Experience Plus Creature Comforts
We have been to Lewa twice, once with our family and another family in Oct. 2007 and again just my husband and I in October 2008. The accommodations are lovely though not over-the-top luxurious (e.g., Vumbura Plains Camp in Botswana where we spent a few of our days recently in Botswana). The food is tasty and well-prepared without being pretentiously gourmet. The staff, especially the guides were excellent. In addition to the requisite cheetahs, lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and white rhino, we saw wild dogs from a distance. Plus the staff described a history (don't know how recent) of trying to integrate local communities into conservation. Overall an experience worth doing.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about South Africa by Kelly in Dallas, TX
South Africa is the ultimate adventure destination. The continent is hard to get to but once there, you really don't want to leave until you've seen it all. And you cannot see it all in just two weeks so it makes you want to plan your next trip to South Africa right after you return.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
Sabi Sabi was our first bush safari in South Africa and we saw the "Big 5" (Lion, Elephant, Black Rhino, Cape Buffalo and Leopard) in just two days. We also saw hyaenas and the elusive cheetah just after a kill. The accommodations at Sabi Sabi were mud huts built into the hills in the natural environment - but it's not like it sounds. The huts were luxurious and well appointed. The food was amazing. We had morning and evening game drives with knowledgeable scouts and naturalists. We had "sun-downers" every evening in the bush during night drives which was a highlight - watching the sun go down with a glass of wine and nibbles.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Singita Sabi Sand Game Reserve by Kelly in Dallas, TX
The accommodations are the most amazing in Singita. Guests stay in "tree houses" that are luxuriously appointed. And it's close to Mozambique so you can step over into yet another country while here. The most memorable moment on this trip was stopping in the open air Jeep to look up at the stars while our guide pointed out the constellations. The stars felt so close you could reach out and touch them. Then we were told to close our eyes and listen to the silence. A very unique experience in the bush. We also saw a hippopotamus here up close which was very rare.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Kruger National Park by Kelly in Dallas, TX
Kruger National Park is where you want to be if you're hoping to see the "Big 5" in South Africa.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about South Africa by Don
Once you get away from Johannesburg your understanding of South Africa will totally change, trust me. In my mind, the images from the movie District 9 or all the propaganda from the 80s sticks in my head.
My experience is totally different and has been reshaped by the people that I met and their sincerity. I'd go back a hundred times if I could.
If someone is offerring to arrange for your passage to Thornybush, they have your best interest at heart.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent mix of pamper and excitement
The team made me feel very welcome and did a great job of encouraging guests to greet one another without being cruise ship pushy. This helped me relax from the beginning.
The "tents" were awesome! I would pick this over the top of the ANA hotel in Tokyo any day of the week. Bed was good, bathroom was crazy nice and the tub was one of these baths that overlooked the scenery. Just like in the movies.
Our guides did a great job of tracking and finding animals in their native environment. During the day, we found the lions sleeping peacefully on the hillside. They looked so cool and you could hear them breathing, you just wanted to rest your head on their bellies and give them a great scratch......and then in the night tour! We caught them in the act of feeding. It was stunning, natural, scary, ALIVE! I caught an awesome video of it all and posted it on YouTube, just search for Thornybush lion kill.
FOOD was good and there was a great variety.
We drove through the forests to Phalaborwa, spent the night and played golf at the Hans Merenski where I was able to play around the giraffes, literally.
But I promise you, take the time to get to Thorneybush. It's a totally different experience.
I would have brought a better coat. It was warm in the day and chilly at night.
I would also have added another day to spend at the lodge.
If I was to improve the experience, I would suggest everyone gets a keepsake, something native and simple to remind them of their visit. Our guide showed me how to weave a rope with the native grass, which was cool, but I forgot to bring it home. The Americans would probably have confiscated it anyway.
Don't try to bring home biltong, they will ask at the airport in the US.
DO try some, it's fabulous.
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Go2Africa by Marcus Abreu de Magalhaes
We booked the trip with only tree weeks of advance, and they did a very personalized plan, with private planes and specific places we asked about.
VG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about South Africa by Ken Okumura
It's ideal in that you can go a relatively short distance from civilisation and be in the wild outdoors of nature. South Africa does offer that, although I do not have a comparison point with another safari-offering country.
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Botswana by Marcus Abreu de Magalhaes
The best thing for animal viewing is that in Botswana they don't allow too many tourists and the drivers must keep on track. Because of that you will see a better preserved region of Africa. On others countries you will find better prices, but lots of tourists and not so scenic drives.