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!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about African Travel by Madam Bella Bleuski
I've used them for 3 trips to the continent of Africa: Egypt, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Zambia and have a 4th coming up in Oct. to Tanzania. Everything they have offered has come through, except for once, and they compensated us immediately for the lack of the tour. Very experienced.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This was the trip of a life time
Going to Eastern Africa was a dream of mine since I was a little girl. When I got married, my husband and I went on our honeymoon. We wanted to experience the Mt. Gorillas as part of our journey. Ken and his driver Alfie gave us an experience I will never forget in this life time. Ken worked very hard to make sure everything went well and went out of his way to change things around so we experienced things that were important to us. Our trip was booked to see Mt. Gorilla but Ken made sure we drove through the rural country side so we could see what life was like in the villages. We stopped in a small town and had lunch at a local restaurant (eating like the locals is very important to us; if we wanted to eat like we do at home we would stay at home) and went to a local market (which is one of my favorite things to do when traveling. Nothing tells you more about people than their market) We got to see Lake Bunyonyi, which was spectacular and where Alfie stopped the jeep for me so I could see a local man's baskets (he was walking down the road, transporting them on his head). They bought me a basket, which is now a treasured piece in my home. Ken is passionate about conservation and we had some educational and meaningful conversations about Uganda and it's natural wildlife. But the Mt. Gorilla's were by far the highlight of the trip. We were informed we might hike for hours to see the Gorilla and even then there was no guarantee. We hiked about 45 minutes through thick forest and then we saw them. Being so close and personal with them was a spiritual experience. At one point, a little toddler looked at me. I gazed right in his eyes and we held that for about ten seconds. After that, that little tot stayed close to me the entire time we were there (we were only allowed an hour with them for their well being), including pulling my hair (we are not allowed to touch them but I guess they didn't know they were not supposed to touch us!) and swinging over my head and throwing sticks at me. I just loved it! The mama was close by and made a grunting sound at first. I actually told her, "Don't worry. I won't hurt your baby." She looked at me and then didn't grunt at me anymore (but she kept close by). To see those magnificent animals, our cousins-I was convinced 100%- was auspicious. Words really can not describe our time with them.The silver back was this enormous creature who was clearly in charge. I loved watching him and how we led his family. We followed the group for an hour as they foraged and roamed for an hour. I was sad to leave them and I think about our time with them often (I have several photographs in our home and at work to remind me of this very rare and special experience.) I would recommend Ken in a heartbeat. You will not have a better guide than him and you will not have a better experience. Uganda is a lovely place that will remain in your heart.
FI
Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unique safari experience
I am very happy with my first Masai Mara safari with Roho Ya Chui. Kicwha Tembo was a good choice: accommodation, food and facilities were great. And the wide open landscape of Masai Mara with animal herds was so stunning!!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Mala Mala Game Reserves definately delivers the wildlife experiences you are looking for.
The Mala Mala Game Reserve is privately owned, nestled between the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park. The reserve is about 133 sq kms and only accessible to Mala Mala guests. This is a major point as lodges in the Sabi Sands Reserve share traversing rights with other lodges resulting in increased vehicle and human presence.
Mala Mala is renowned for the wildlife. On my trip I was lucky enough to see the rare pangolin (actually 2 of them), leopards, elephants and an array of other animals and birds. You can see why many documentary makers and professional photographers are drawn to Mala Mala.
The accommodation is good, but a little tired. There are 2 properties on the reserve - Mala Mala Main Camp which houses Sable Camp and Rattrays. Rattray's is more upmarket than Main Camp. All the properties have the concept of "his" and "hers" bathrooms which to me is overkill and I would prefer more space in the bedroom/living area. The bathrooms need an update as well. Accommodation at Main camp is affordable and fine, especially compared to other camps in the Sabi Sands. You'd choose Mala Mala for the wildlife opportunities, not the accommodation.
Mala Mala has its own airstrip so recommend people fly in rather than transfer from Nelspruit or Hoedspruit. This can be done through Fedair. The drive from Nelspruit to the Sabi Sands gate takes a little over an hour then it is another hour to get to Mala Mala Main Camp. Normally transfers are done by an external company so bouncing around in a transit van is uncomfortable, whereas the flight will take you from Johannesburg airport directly to the Mala Mala airstrip.
The guides are great and have a great love of the bush. My guide Ross even has a Masters of Zoology so the depth of knowledge is incredible. The open vehicles are comfortable and reliable. The rangers are allowed to go off road in certain cases, which adds to the excitement. We followed a leopard stalking a rock python which we couldn't do unless we were off road. This is why you pay the extra money to be a private lodge.
Game viewing = 10 out of 10
accommodation = 7 out of 10
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about South Africa by Russell R
South Africa is a wonderful country as it is not too dissimilar to many western countries eg: fantastic hotels, restaurants, good roads, great food, however, it has its own unique favour in its culture, scenery and wildlife.
It is a safe destination (as safe as anywhere in the world) providing the rare opportunity to combine fantastic game viewing with get scenery (Table Mountain, Drakensberg Mountains, Beaches etc) and great accommodation. You can easily self drive here (I have done it with my family).