Best holiday of my life!
African Big Five Safaris is an incredible tour company! They are extremely friendly and are also flexible to make a tour which suits you. Our guide was very knowledgeable and he did everything he could to make it a wonderful experience. They lived up to every expectation and more. They think of all the little things that other tour companies don't. I highly recommend them!
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional operator and great guide, overall an excellent trip
This was the first safari for me and my husband. Before booking we consulted Daniel about basically everything (e.g., accommodation, safety, transportation, payment method...). He is very patient and gave detailed explanations to our questions, and suggested reasonable itinerary according to our need and the time we had. The price was a bit higher than we thought but still reasonable given the standard of accommodation we eventually chose. We got the impression that Transtrek was the most professional among several operators we had contacted, so we decided to travel with it. And it was a good decision. We were very happy with the arrangement from accommodation, food, to the safari experience. Richard, our guide, is kind and friendly, a fantastic driver and knowledgable guide. He is very good at spotting animals in bushes or far away. Every time we met a new kind of animal, he would introduce to us its habits, behaviours etc., and he tried to get us the best angle for photos. We learnt a lot from him and felt really lucky to have him as our guide.
Big thanks to Daniel and Richard, and Transtrek! We would definitely recommend this operator.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip
Allen was our guide and he did a fantastic job. Everything was easy to plan, our guide always had great suggestions. we saw all the animal that we wanted to see. Allen knew all the different species behaviors and he was always at the right place for a great shot.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Phenomenal - What made it phenomenal is the care of the tour driver - Alladin. We will never forget
Communications were very good; the staff at Zawadi were so caring and took care of all our needs, from the smallest request to the bigger ones. They made us feel at home like we were part of their families. It is very rare that I have experienced this kind of genuine care. It was honest, simple and very sincere. Alladin, the tour guide was fantastic, his knowledge level, dedication, and sincerity were exceptional. The person who is the pinnacle of humanity was the tour guide - Davis. Davis was our tour guide on our climb to Mount Kilimanjaro. I can write pages and page of how caring a human being he was. Davis, where you are - my family and will never forget you as long as we live. Ben, you have an excellent team. Keep up the great work of transparency, humility and care that was extended to us throughout our safari.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our first visit to South Africa - A truly unique experience
After a very difficult year in which my wife experienced a serious illness, my father passed away and I suffered an awkward accident, we decided to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary with a somewhat different trip: instead of doing one of our beloved cultural marathons, we decided to indulge in the amazing fauna and flora and the breathtaking landscapes of South Africa. Our goal was to recover, enjoy and relax.
After screening the numerous travel agencies offering taylor-made tours, I decided to contact Ute Sonnenberg from Roho Ya Chui whose website gave me that gut feeling of confidence and professionalism which was confirmed immediately after my first contact with Ute.
We had some 12 days to spend and wanted to make the best out of it. Also, we wanted to be pampered and did not shy away from topping-up our budget if we felt it was worth it.
Ute gave us a couple of suggestions and in the end we managed to pick out the ones we thought suited us best and fitted into a feasible i.e. not too tiring travel schedule, taking into account the limited time.
1. Johannesburg
Disembarking from our plane in Johannesburg we were welcomed by a special handling agent who swiftly took us through immigration and customs bypassing all the other passengers of a fully booked Boing 747-8, ushering us to the white Mercedes Limousine waiting outside. Our stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in Johannesburg was just perfect. What a nice start-off! The Four Seasons is a calm retreat in the outskirts of the town with luxurious rooms, a great pool and spa and an excellent restaurant. We simply loved it.
2. Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve
After a relaxing day in Johannesburg we were taken once again by a white Mercedes Benz (water, refreshments, hand cream etc. on board) to the airport where we embarked on our flight to Skukuza, the amazingly beautiful (yes I am not joking) little airport at the southern point of the Krueger National Park where we were picked up by a driver from Kirkman's Kamp, the lodge where we were going to stay for the next 4 days. Well, no words to describe, or if so, it will be too much reading for you: just to say that we were stunned by the luxury of our room, the beauty of the whole compound, its location, extraordinary staff and amazing food. The game drives (2x per day) were quite an experience: we saw the big five, we were pampered with a lush breakfast in the bush, an open air bar at sunset on the margins of Sabi river, everything prepared by the rangers at the end of our game drives, just amazing.
3. Victoria Falls
From Sabi Sands we were taken to Nelspruit airport from where we flew to Livingston. Following Ute's advice, we stayed at the Royal Livingston Hotel which is the only 5* Hotel right close to the Victoria Falls, located in the natural reserve. You can hear the thunder of the Victoria Falls sitting on the terrace of your room and watch the "spray" at sunset while sipping a drink on one of the hotel's wooden decks along the Zambesi River. And you can simply walk to the falls and visit without paying as hotel guests have free access to the falls. The rooms are extremely tasteful and well appointed. The hotel is an island of beauty and calm. Zebras are strolling on the lawn. Al fresco dining on the terrace over the river is yet another must... Unforgettable.
4. Cape Town
From Livingston we flew via Johannesburg to Capetown where we hired a car and stayed at the Vineyard Hotel which is located on the backside of the Table Mountain, not far away from the Botanic Garden and has some amazing gardens itself and an excellent outdoor pool. We had a junior suite facing the little river running through the gardens. An island of peace and calm. Visiting the centre of Cape Town and the Harbour area is easily doable by car. There are good parking facilities all over. During our 3 days in Cape Town we visited the Table Mountain on a most beautiful sunny day, the Botanic Gardens, the Cape itself and the region around Cape Town. We loved the delicious seafood and oysters at Houtbay and had an excellent dinner at a wine estate in the Cape region. We definitely feel we need to come back.
5. Franschoek
We drove to Franschoek taking the coastal road (R44) through the Hottentots Mountain Holland Catchment Area, Pringle Bay and Betty's Bay, indulging into the stunning landscape and seaside views, wow! Ute recommended us to stay at the Grand Provence in Franschoek. Well, yet another highlight. We stayed in the owner's cottage, had our own butler who would light 2 dozens of candles around the pool for an evening swim and, of course always keep the fire burning in the living room. The property not only grows excellent wine but also offers a Michelin starred restaurant which simply cannot be missed. We stayed for 2 nights to discover the wine region but would have loved to stay longer...
6. Johannesburg
From Capetown we flew back to Johannesburg for another day before taking the plane back to Europe. The white Mercedes limousine was once again waiting for us at the airport upon arrival taking us to the Saxon Hotel, yet another top recommendation of Ute. This former private residence of one of the richest men of South Africa is an all-suite hotel with beautiful African art works all over the place, a mega outdoor pool and - of course - a private butler for each suite. It is totally secluded and calm. We had a bottle of champagne in our suite upon arrival. The food was excellent, so was the service. We visited the Apartheid Museum (a must, very impressive), Nelson Mandela's house in Soweto and his Presidential residence.
This first trip to South Africa exceeded our expectations and we want to thank Ute for her excellent and professional advice and perfect organisation. We couldn't have asked for more.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Always great!
I have used the services of CKC Tours many times - individually and as part of a couple. They are always reliable, friendly and helpful. The driver/guides are wonderfully knowledgeable. CKC will customize your tour and accommodate your suggestions as well as make great suggestions for you to consider. We have become friends!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari experience - highly recommended
This was my first safari experience, and it was amazing! We did the five day safari through Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, and Serengeti. I'm really glad I went with these guys - Maturaf and Alex were incredibly responsive and easy to work with before and during the trip, and our driver, Amani, was great in spotting animals and giving us a perspective on the parks, Tanzanian culture/history, and sharing his knowledge of the animals with us! We had our own vehicle (that seats 6), even though it was only two of us, which gave us a ton of space in the vehicle and flexibility to stop and go within the parks as we pleased.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Avarage quality honeymoon
The communication before departure was slow and sometimes not efficient, during the trip I had no response from them at all. Overall the trip was good, but not excellent as anyone expect for honeymoon. The company did not respect the itinerary we agreed upfront, the fridge in our jeep was out of service and the guide tried to took advantage of us more than once. I am sure there is better on the market.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very Good Service
Savannah Explorers fulfilled all of our safari wishes. Prior to the trip I was nervous about paying the full amount upfront and they were understanding and helpful, suggesting various methods by which we could all be comfortable and get what we want. Our pickup was smooth and extremely prompt, and they allowed us to store extra luggage that we would not need on safari at their office. Nickson, our guide, was excellent, we could not have been happier with his service! We saw absolutely everything we could have hoped for and more, not in small part due to Nickson's skill and vigilance. In addition he was a good companion, pleasant company with a lot of knowledge about the environment and animals we were experiencing. We would have liked more time in Ngorongoro, but not at the expense of anything else we were able to see, perhaps just a more efficient route. All in all I would recommend Savannah Explorers to anyone looking for a quality safari on a mid-range budget (they may well be good at all budgets, I can only speak to ours).
TR
Fantastic experience
It was a great safari.We saw all of the animals that we expected to see including rhinos and leopards.All of the crew were so helpful and keen to inform us.