Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, nature at its best
Beautiful green, with a bit of hills and lots of White rhino, zebra and birds.
We had a great lunch at Top Hill (lunch with a view). Also a good shop here. We entered at Memorial gate and left at Nyalazi gate. Excellent experience.
Review about Kruger National Park by Globetrotter17
Lots to see and experience. A lot of elephants, birds and even a hony badger.
Will visit again.
US
65+ years of age
Review about Zimbabwe by oceansteward
We would have rated Zimbabwe higher if we hadn't just come from a 5 star experience at three separate camps in Botswana. Also we thought Victoria Falls was overrated. We scheduled two days there - one would have been enough. Flying over the falls on our way back to Victoria Falls airport from Mana Pools was breathtaking - much better than seeing the Falls on the ground.
US
65+ years of age
Canoeing the Zambezi - amazing.
Flying into Mana Pools we got picked up by our guides Doug and Taps. We were soon in for our first big surprise walking on foot for about an hour down towards the Zambezi. Walking was not only great exercise but gives you an added understanding and appreciation for the landscape and wildlife.
We were surprised the following day that we were not scheduled to canoe that day as indicated in our itinerary and we were also a bit surprised that another couple joined us. We thought we had a private guide and vehicle. But it was a great day of walks and wildlife. We saw African hunting dogs and lots of cape buffalo.
The following morning we again didn't set out on the river instead going for a game drive and long walk. On the walk we saw several lions including a lioness and cubs. We kept walking to where the lions had come from and found a recent eland kill.
In late morning we set out on the Zambezi in our canoes. We had to work a little harder than expected because the wind was blowing against us and the river was quite shallow. Many times the guides and we had to get out of the canoes and push through the shallow areas.
Canoeing past hundreds of hippos and seeing the wildlife including crocodiles, elephant and amazing birds on the banks was stunning. We stopped at a nice spot for lunch on the river and canoed all afternoon arriving at our mobile tents right at sunset.
The following morning we were on the river around 8am and canoed all day stopping for lunch and to view hundreds of vultures coming in to feast on a dead hippo. Again we wound up at our mobile camp right at sunset.
The mobile camps were amazing - terrific staff and food. Sleeping on the banks of the Zambezi after all day canoeing was wonderful.
Our private guide Doug and our river guide Taps were both terrific - full of great stories. They both made our time there extraordinary.
While we had a terrific time at Mana Pools with great guides if would have been much better for us had we stuck to the plan in the itinerary? We would have liked spending our final day in a game drive and wound up in Vundu Camp the final night. We would have gotten a little more comfortable sleep before heading home (which took 43 hours door to door!). The itinerary called for 15 miles of canoeing with morning and afternoon walks and bird watching with a vehicle available. This was not the case. We canoed all day and covered twice the mileage indicated in the itinerary. This was our only disappointment the entire trip. The canoeing was wonderful but we would have liked much less time on the river each day and more time out walking or in the vehicle to break up the paddling.
Flying home - Towanda (spelling?) was our Sefofane pilot from Mana Pools back to Victoria Falls. He was by far the best we had. We flew into Caribe to refuel and Sona asked if we would see the dam after takeoff. He flew out of the way a bit and banked the plane so we could get some pictures. Then he told us if there was time and he got permission he would fly us over Victoria Falls before landing which he did. What a treat and what a wonderful guy.
50-65 years of age
Review about South Africa by Ron Moon
South Africa is a great country to travel in. The parks might be a little more 'civilised' and even be more crowded than in other countries, but the wildlife in Kruger and the wilderness aspect of the Kgalagadi is fabulous. The birding can be great and south of Cape Town the coastal scenery is stunning.
50-65 years of age
This is THE place to see rhino .... but you'll see lots more as well!
We've been to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi a few times now and love the scenery and the wildlife. On a couple of occasions we've been held up on the road by two or three big white rhinos which were awfully close and at other times we've seen 12 or more in a single game drive. The bird life has also been wonderful and one time while sitting in a small picnic area we had a leopard wander down the nearby dry river bed.
The accommodation in the hilltop lodge is first class, as is the food.
I'd go back again on our next trip to South Africa, which hopefully wont be too far away!
50-65 years of age
Review about Addo Elephant National Park by Ron Moon
Too small and too much thick scrub
50-65 years of age
Review about Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park by Ron Moon
Didn't see much wildlife on the other side of the border.
50-65 years of age
Review about Pilanesberg Game Reserve by Ron Moon
We weren't impressed by the variety of the wildlife or the number of animals and any sort of bush vibe from the place was lacking.
50-65 years of age
Review about Sabi Sand Game Reserve by Ron Moon
You can see a lot of great game and predators in a short time