50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about South Africa by Bill Siviter
In just one day I saw the complete list of big game apart from cheetah and leopard.
Giraffe were a bit thin on the ground and didn't get a close up view of them either.
Review about Pilanesberg Game Reserve by Lauren
I thought Pilanesberg was gorgeous, but we saw less animals and the animals we did see were not as close.
Amazing Experience At Sabi Sabi (Earth Lodge & Selati)
I went to visit South Africa for 3 weeks this past spring. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Specifically the safaris were magical. I stayed in Pilanesberg for 3 nights and then moved on to stay at Sabi Sabi in both Earth Lodge and Selati Camp 2 nights each. The service at Sabi Sabi was far superior to the other lodge we stayed at in Pilanesberg. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and we say all the big 5 within the first day! The accommodations were beautiful and clean. The manager of the property, at each location, made our trip. They were SO accommodating and helpful. They seemed to truly care about our experience. In an unfamiliar environment like that, you want to feel like someone is looking out for you and we definitely did. I became very ill one night and the manager got up at 3am to come check on me and deduced that it was my malaria pills I was taking and suggested since it was not malaria season that I stop taking them immediately and she sat with me and gave me a rehydrate packet she had. Every day after that every staff member asked how I was feeling. It felt like a small family when we left. I can't sing enough praise for Sabi Sabi!
Review about South Africa by Lauren
South Africa was more beautiful than I ever imagined. I never thought I would see all the animals I did and even better get as close as I did with our skilled Sabi Sabi guides. We were within feet of every animal we came in contact with.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Singita Sabi Sand Game Reserve by changm55
Both Exeter and Singita were excellent in their own areas of expertise. Exeter puts extra focus on the game drives and is much more aggressive in tracking down animals so if your main goal is to get in touch with animals, I'd recommend Exeter. Also the lodges are closer together so its better if your going with a large group of friends and you want to hang out. Exeter is definitely more suited for the younger crowd. Singita focuses more on luxury and catering to your any whim (i made the chef make me chicken nuggets). The lodges are further apart so its more suited for privacy/intimacy so accordingly, so the game drives were much more relaxed. My dad loves Singita because he enjoys calmer game drives and just wants to sit somewhere and be pampered.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Life Changing
My experience at Dulini was amazing!! We spent 4 days there and our group was incredibly lucky to see many babies- including but not limited to baby giraffes, rhinos, hippos, elephants, cheetah cubs (super rare!), and adolescent lions. We were also able to see numerous hunts/kills including but not limited to a pride of lions practicing hunting techniques on a group of african buffalos, hyenas hunting, and cheetahs dragging their kill up a tree. It definitely brought a whole new meaning to the phrase "the circle of life" to me.
The scenery was expected. We went in Late August when the bushes were still kind of dead to avoid bugs and avoid the rainy seasons. Once the bushes blossom, there will be more bugs and our group was very bug-phobic. So it was perfect for us.
The accommodations were amazing. The only time I was worried was when I woke up in the lodge to see an elephant looking straight at me through a window trying to bump his tusks at the window trying to get through. I quickly ducked somewhere he couldnt see and after awhile he went went away! But besides that one worry about the window holding up against an elephant, everything else was 5 stars for sure.
If it wasnt for the 18hr flight required to get to south africa from california, I would definitely try to go again. The 18hr flight is definitely a killer. Next time I'll probably plan cut up flying to 2 parts and pit stop at another country for a day or two first.
Oh, did I mention our jeep rides, our group was chased by 3 elephants for a good 3 minutes? haha... Every single experience was pretty amazing there.
Some of my trip videos can be found on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/changm55)
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Waterberg Plateau Park by Pierre
Not for safaris but great places..
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Etosha National Park by Pierre
Really a lot of animals that you can aproach easily. Sometimes a lot of tourist are around but there is a lot of place. You feel like in a television reportage!
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Namib-Naukluft National Park by Pierre
Great landscape and desert driving. Some animals and lonely feeling.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Nkasa Rupara National Park by Pierre
Wild and beautiful. In the season we were there, the waterlevel was quite high and we had to camp outside the regular camps. So we were really face to face with nature and wild animals. Hippos and elephants sounded as if just under our cartent. 2 days we were all alone.