US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A beautiful country with many contrast including people, wildlife and scenery!
This was our first trip to Africa and it lived up to all expectations. The wildlife in the Serenghetti was tremendous. We had to keep telling ourselves that it was real and not a Disney ride. We travelled with an American company, Overseas Adventure Travel, and their constant attention to detail was exceptional. Certainly seeing the major groups of wild animals was a highlight, elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinocerous, hippos, and all other animals was exceptional. The weather was perfect during our trip with little to no rain. Visiting the Masai was another exceptional experience as we had the opportunity to enter their modest homes and learn of their daily lives. As a lover of elephants I had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time photographing them and studying their interactions individually and as a group. Food was excellent and the experience of staying on the Serenghetti in tents for several days and nights was one that was a highlight. Seeing a sunset on the Serenghetti whil you are eating a gourmet meal cooked inside a field tent kitchen was amazing. Our guides were knowledgable as well as friendly and attentive. Overall I would recommend everyone to take a trip to Africa and experience the vast, beautiful continent that it is. If you can add a hot air balloon ride over the Serenghetti at dawn don't miss it.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
See South Africa's Big Five and have the experience of a lifetime.
Our trip to the Shamwari Game Reserve in June 2007 came as part of a 'once in a lifetime' trip to South Africa. We flew from London to Capetown, spent a few days there and then flew to Port Elizabeth where we picked up our hire car. The drive to Shamwari was far easier than we expected and as we got closer so our excitement increased.
We arrived at our hotel, Riverdene, in the afternoon and settled into our room . A short while later our hosts announced that we were going to go on our first safari and we were introduced to our guide and driver. Along with several other guests we climbed into one of the reserve's Land Rovers and set off into the bush. As most of the tracks we used consist of unmade roads it was quite a bumpy ride but the excitement of seeing elephants and giraffes in the wild soon made up for that. Although much of the tour was on level ground we did go in and out of a lot of gullies so we were able to see how good the Land Rovers was at going down VERY steep slopes and back up the sheer bank the other side.
After a couple of hours we returned to the hotel where we had a shower and joined the other guests for dinner. The food there was excellent with a selection of local wildlife - e.g. Impala - not quite we are used to in UK restaurants. The hotel had lots of facilities that we did not use but there was loads to do when not on Safari.
The following day we were woken at 6am so that we could go on an early morning trek. The nights on the plains get very cold so we were advised to wear warm clothes, a hat and gloves and we were also given blankets and hot water bottles. Not quite what you expect in South Africa but very necessary. The morning treks were, in my opinion, the most exciting as that is when we saw most animals. Over the course of the days we were there we saw lions, elephants, leopards, warthogs, numerous kind of deer, giraffes, hippos (from a long distance - they are reputedly Africa's most dangerous animal) as well as black and white Rhinos.
The resort also has a Born Free Foundation sanctuary where we were able to view rescued lions close-up. This area does some amazing work helping local wildlife and is well worth visiting.
Although this trip was meant to be a one-off trip I am confident that the lure of seeing wild animals in their own environment will bring us back to Africa. Well worth the visit!
Although the Safari was the highlight of the trip we also enjoyed our drive back from Shamwari to Capetown - about two days drive! During that journey we went through Hermanus where we were lucky to go on a whale watching boat trip - if you like wildlife you MUST take that trip!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about South Africa by Roger Cossey
This was our first safari but it exceeded our expectations and gave us the experience of a lifetime.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Uganda's National Park: The Queen Elizabeth
It is going to be 4 years since we went to Uganda, July 2008, our second destination in Africa in the south hemisphere. Our first destination was Botswana the year before and it made our trip: Kalahari, Okawango (Moremi), Savuti, Chobe river, Victoria Falls, all a "must-see".
This time we were thinking about the high mountains of central Africa. First option was Kilimanjaro, but we couldn't; so we thought about the Mountains of the Moon. We tried to arrange a hiking up to those mountains but we didn't have enough days for it. Finally we chose Uganda because all its highlitghted places: Virunga NP, Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Victoria and Queen Elizabeth Park.
We went by our own with a driver and the Bradt guide under the arm. We entered the Q.E.N.P. by Ishasha where the climbing lions live, crossing tea plantations. Unfortunately, we weren't lucky and we couldn't enjoy the beauty of these feline although we saw a variety of animals: buffalos, impalas, monkeys, elephants, antelopes, and the screams of hippos in the river... When we arrived to the camp, we met a dutch guy who showed us the climbing lions on his videocamera. That's safari, luck.
We headed towards our cottage, typical round house with three beds with mosquito net and a oil lamp. The accomodation was fair for our budget and the toilettes I don't remember, but when you are in safari...
Next day we headed to Mweya, where the Q.E.N.P. headquarters are. The trip was a tough one due to the condition of the track. It rained and the dirt road was very muddy. Finally we arrived Mweya. We couldn´t afford the Mweya Safari Lodge, but it looked great. Actually we went there for a delicious dinner and for a whisky on the rocks, all of it for a very reasonable price. If I remember well, the whisky was 2 euros. We lodged at the Mweya Hostel which was simply ok, just for sleeping. That afternoon we took the boat that goes along the Kazinga channel, an extremely recommended activity. We watched lots of animals: hippos, buffalos, elephants, cocodriles, antelopes and, over all, birds, lot of them, it was a great spectacle. And the sunset over the Lake Edward, superb.
Next day, we took a loop around the Q.E.N.P. with no luck again, no felines sighted. We exited the park and we headed towards the close Kyambura Gorge where we enjoyed watching the chimpances jumping from tree to tree and the hippos bathing. And we left behind the Q.E.N.P. stopping at the equator line enjoying a fresh Nile Special.
Conclusion: we enjoyed being at Q.E.N.P. although we weren't lucky with felines. It is a very easy-to-handle park.
Here you can take a look of one of my videos there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI_aDSUC6vk
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.