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20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
3-Day Maasai Mara Safari
Overall, my friend and I had an amazing safari with ACZ. Everything was perfect from pick up to accommodation to the safari itself. The price, $300, was also remarkable (most safaris charge from $350-500). Our tour guide, Freddy, was very informative and friendly. We had six people in the van, but everyone had a window seat so it worked out well. We saw a ton of animals including lions, baby simbas, elephants, giraffes, hippos, leopards, cheetahs, and more! I would recommend booking with ACZ!
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20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had a great experience.
There is nothing like a soul, they had to invent that word to explain how you survive after death, that is why they would say go by your gut or the heart feels, before there was enough research to understand everything about consciousness happens in the brain.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Boy Hood Dream and Bucket List Number 1
Wow were do I begin. This trip had been 53 years in the making. A boyhood dream and number 1 on my bucket list. It had only ever been a dream, and always seemed out of reach for me. From visiting and taking photos of animals only ever in Australian zoos and parks. It seemed I was only ever going to continue to do this. Well 2016 was the year the stars aligned and in Sept I was winging my way across the country to South Africa to do a photographic tour with African Big 5 Safaris. Like I guess a lot of people I was extremely apprehensive of what I might see, and what might occur, was it safe. After arriving at Skukuza, I was met by Lourens and Armand who gave us the safety brief. After leaving the airport literally within 10 minutes into KNP we had seen 3 of the big 5. From then on it did not stop around every corner there was something different, and unexpected it was overwhelming. From watching a pride of 20 lions and their cubs playing with the sun setting behind them in an African creek line on my birthday will be a memory I will never forget it is etched in my memory. Watching a leopard with an impala kill in a tree for several hours come down out of the tree and come and then sit less than 5 metres away from our car, it was that close that my camera gear struggled to focus. Travelling to see my favourite of the big cats the cheetah and a cub playing in its natural environment right in front of me. Then watching a pack of hunting dogs come out of creek line after a kill and run along side us for several kilometres while we were in the middle of them. Is this all real, was I in a dream. Then sitting by a creek line watching, crocodiles, elephants and buffalo interact, while taking photos of a lilac breasted roller on a branch, then have two giraffe run behind you playing less then 20 metres away. Ok now down to the southern end of the park, to witness white rhino roaming freely when will it stop? Unfortunately the last day had arrived, I did not want this to stop, and as we were making our way back up to the airport we had to stop in the middle of the road as a herd of 40 elephants and their young trumpeted, played and looked for food surrounded our vehicle less than 10 metres away. Then as a last thing stopping on the causeway back to the airport for 10 minutes and just watching hippo, elephants, buffalo, impala, vultures in the creek line and the sound of silence. The trip was overwhelming and it met all my expectations and then some, from the smooth booking, process and flights to the pick up at the airport. To the stupid questions I constantly was asking Lourens before the trip being answered promptly even while he was conducting other safaris. To the effort these guys took to locate animals and get the vehicles in the right spot for the best photo possible oppurtunity, without causing stress to the animals at any stage. I know they were enjoying it just us much as we were. They were extremely professional in every thing they did. Meals and accommodation was wonderful, and at know stage did we want for anything. Helping with photographic tips and improvement was wonderful as well as the gimpro attached to the vehicles. I now have 5500 photos to process. So to finish up would I travel with Big 5 African Safaris again absolutely, they were professional in everything that they did. The safety of their guests and the animals was always paramount. If at any stage you have thought about doing an African Safari do not put it off just do it. I have be bitten badly by the African experience and am trying to get back as soon as possible and am planning my next trip as soon as possible.
But in the meantime I have 5000 plus photos to remind me every day of my time in Africa with African Big 5 Safari's, thank-you guys for making a boyhood dream and number 1 on my bucket list come true. I will be for ever happy and grateful for the memories and experience you showed me.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tydon Safari
The safari drives where so amazing. Got to see so many animals in only three drives. The accomodation was also an amazing experience with only 4 tents and a max of 8 people it was intimate and calm. The only down side was that there was extremely poor organisation traveling to and from the safari. The pick up was awful and I ended up getting my phone out to try and track down where one of the pick up locations would be after we got told we have to get to the airport by 8 to get picked up. We didn't leave Johannasberg for another hour and a half later for one person. Apparently almost missed out on our first drive. Then on the way home we expected a drive in the morning as we had payed for 3 days but got woken at 6 to eat by 7 to leave 7:20. We got to the second base camp to pick up the rest of the guest. We waited 40 mins while they came of of their rooms had breakfast in front of us and then packed up there things. Didn't leave till 8:30. We literally sat in the car ALL DAY! Didn't arrive back at the airport till 6:30 pm.
We spend an exhausting 40 mins at some crappy souvenir shop were I sat in the car. Then equally as crapy waterfall and then gods window look out. I paid for safari drives not a tour around town. It was frustrating. We could have done a drive in the morning and could have been at the airport at the same time.
Best in Botswana
Amazing sightings - Leopards, Lions, Wild Dogs, Elephants, Hippos, Crocs, Antelope, Birds etc etc etc.
On my trip to Botswana I visited the Okavango Delta, Chobe and Moremi. As much as the other places were great, Moremi was certainly the best for wildlife. Not only was there lots of variety, you could get close to the animals so its great for photography. I'd always wanted to see a leopard in a tree and a leopard with a kill and I got both of these in one day. Another day it was lions swimming across a river, another day was a pack of Wild Dogs running along the river banks. So much to see and so much beauty, I fully recommend visiting Moremi GR.
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Review about Kruger National Park by Daryl L. Hunter - Hole Picture Photo Safaris
An amazing place, full of photo opps despite the drought.
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Raveged by drought
I booked a Sabi Camp for my photography tour I was leading, as I had heard Sabi Sands was the best place in the Kruger area. I bet it is when not ravaged by drought. There was very little to eat for the grazing animals so many had left, the predators were doing well off animals dying from drought. Our camp was only permitted in a small portion of Sabi Sands and I'm guessing there were better areas in the reserve. Although we had some great sightings my photo tour guests and I, chose to spend extra time in Kruger where the Sabi River was still flowing. I will return to Sabi Sands and hopefully next time it will live up to it's great reputation.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Mana Pools National Park by Owen
I think that Mana Pools is one of the most places in the world. There are plenty of elephants,hippos, and buffalo. I've seen wild dogs on both of my visits. I've also seen lions.and plenty of antelope. The canoe trip is really beautiful.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Hwange National Park by Owen
I feel that Hwange National park is outstanding destination. I saw so much wildlife,and felt that there was an outstanding bush vibe.I will return.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A Wild and Unknown Gem
I recently stayed for a week in Gonuarezhou National Park. I stayed for one week at Gonarezhou Bush Camp where I was guided by Ant Kaschuala who is without a doubt one of the finest guides in Africa. I thought that the bush vibe,and scenery were just outstanding. There were elephants everywhere,and a wide variety of antelope. I saw plenty of nyala, greater kudu,impalas, eland,and many others including sable. The birding was excellent.