Safari Blog

Hi Liselle,

Thanks a lot for your email. Our trip to South Africa was fantastic and we all very much enjoyed spending some time in this beautiful country. All bookings worked without any problems.

We very much enjoyed Zimbali Lodge and Arathusa safari lodge with the perfect service, delicious food and beautiful rooms. Swaziland was very nice, while the resort (Mantenga) was OK and we were luckily able to exchange the family room to 2 bungalows. We had to pay a little extra, but it was definitely worth. Oliver’s Lodge was a little disappointing, since the hotel was basically closed the day we arrived (restaurant and SPA). Also the car was of excellent quality and we drove safely.

Again thanks a lot for the very good service you and sunsafari provided to us.

Kind regards

Sandra and Rolf visited Arathusa Safari Lodge, Zimbali Lodge, Olivers Lodge & Mantenga

Hi Liselle -

Kwandwe was Fabulous! When I broke down the pricing...approx. $300 U.S. per night, more than I usually pay for hotels, I was quite pleased. 3 meals a day of high standard - easily subtract $60-$80, 2 4-5 hour game drives a day, lets say at $45 each (another - $90), not to mention high tea, open bar, practically 1-1 service (one game drive was 3 rangers and 3 guests!) and the knowledge of the guides - not to mention free internet...all of that included for $130-$150 per night - in a massive bungalow with private plunge pool...what a deal! Please ignore the previous run-on sentence, but I think you get the jist!

Please let me know if Kwandwe or any other &Beyond resorts offer great deals in 2010...I would love to return to Kwandwe when I could take advantage of the 4 nights for the price of 3 or any of the other lodges..esp. thinking about Namibia and Botswana..maybe Victoria Falls area.

Thank you for your assistance and I hope you will keep me informed of future deals...already I am thinking about a return visit in March/April 2010!

Matt

Guest Visited Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Dear Brett,

Our trip was fantastic, we enjoyed very much – both the boys and I. Yes they did deliver the luggage next day, that was a scary start!

All the camps had something that each of us liked in particular. My eldest son, for example, liked a lot the makoro trips. However, I think all three of us would vote best the Footsteps. Amazing location, excellent camp manager and a lot to see. Savute lodge on the other hand was rather upscale and had a lot to offer. Actually it was very good in your part to start us from Oddballs, then to Footsteps and finish with the Savute. For example, I met some Americans at Oddballs who didn’t like the fact that they had started from more luxurious lodges and ending at Oddballs. Which by the way was also in very nice location.

I think we saw plenty of wildlife – its pity that you see more and close by driving than on walks. The animals see and smell you from miles and as you approach they leave, whilst on the jeeps they stay there and stare at you. I can not get over it! Maybe you should mention it to your clients who are keen on walking. As usually we missed rhinos and the leopard, despite their efforts at Savute, it escaped us!

Food was very good, at times I found it pretentious considering where you are. We had to pay for drinks at Oddballs – is this right?

All in all, Brett a memorable trip. We were sad to leave and I struggled till the last moment about calling you to extend the trip to Chobe for another couple of nights. Well, I for sure will be back!!!!!!! We haven’t dealt with the pictures yet, if you want me to send you some highlight shots I would be glad to.

Thanks for your help and setting it up. Don’t hesitate to use me as reference should you require so and if you have any specific questions let me know.

Best,

Stathis

Guests Visited Oddball's Camp, Footsteps across the Delta & Savute Safari Lodge

The safari was excellent and we pretty much saw every animal we could have wanted to.

Arathusa

Very luxurious accommodation. The rooms were amazing and spotless. The food was great (even the plain pasta and toast they did especially for me as I was ill!).

The drives were very good and Leopards were their speciality. We saw plenty of animals 4 of the 5 white Rhinos but no lions (apparently they had moved on for a little while). We also saw lots of Elephants, Hyenas, about 7 plus 2 cubs, Hippos inc 2 babies, vultures, an eagle and dwarf mongoose.

Lots of warthogs and a few Zebra and giraffe

The sundowner snacks and morning tea were particularly good at this lodge. The extras were reasonable and they didn’t charge us for all of the phone calls to you which was decent of them.

Chapungu

Was a slightly more rustic affair but just as enjoyable as Arathusa if not even better as it was a bit more fun (Arathusa was a little quiet). Our Guide/ranger Ishmael was very enthusiastic and informative, he stopped for all animals of interest including birds and even explained about some of the trees and plants.

We saw all 5 here including a black rhino. We also saw Cheetah (including 3 cubs). This was a much larger reserve and you had to travel an hour and a half to see the elephants at the other end (always worth it in my opinion). The guides made sure that everyone managed to do this at least once in their stay and staggered it to ensure people weren’t having to make the trek several times.

The extras were cheaper at this lodge, the snack on the drives were too but the standard of meals was the same as Arathusa

Transfers

The transfers between the lodges and local airports were very good. Clean and safe. Plus the drivers were informative stopping for animals just like the rangers. The last transfer even waited for us at Hoedspruit for our taxi to Johannesburg to arrive.

We don’t feel like we missed out at all by not going to Zambia as we had such a great time in South Africa.

I’m not normally an outdoors person but I really enjoyed the bush and do feel a bit cooped up here in my London office but sadly won’t be able to afford it for a while. I enjoyed the drives so much it was nice just being in the car even if you didn’t see anything for while.

Thanks again for re-arranging everything for us.

I am sure I have forgotten some animals as we saw so much (massive spiders!).

Thanks

Karen visited Arathusa Safari Lodge & Chapungu Tented Camp

Liselle,

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We missed the leopard and cheetah whichever is in the big five. The Honeyguide camp was superb. Our guide and tracker did an outstanding job. One highlight of the safari was seeing a two day old elephant and how the herd of female elephants protected the baby. The safari far exceeded our expectations.

Jeanette and Jerry

Guests Visited Honeyguide Mantobeni

Hi Brett,

sorry for the late reply, but I just came back from my leave.

Yes, the safari went well. The two site are very nice. There are no complains from my side.

All flight and connections worked out.

Many Thanks for the support from your site.

Kind Regards

Claas

Claas visited Delta Camp and Mapula Lodge in the Okavango Delta.

Hi Brett,

we've talked a lot about giving you some feedback, as we have NEVER, EVER had a trip like the one you made for us. It was absolutely mindblowing for us, and we want to say that you hit EXACTLY what we were looking for. It was just spot on. You were extremely good at catching what we wanted from what we wrote you. We made each other a lot of promises in relation to South Africa, one is of course to come back a.s.a.p. Another one is to use you again when we do so, and a third one is to let everybody we know get to ZA as soon a they can, and use you when they do.

Courtney and Celia run a GREAT place, and do so in a very competent way. It was simply so exciting and nice to be there, and we have some good videos of some of the sightings that Courtney sad we should consult you on uploading. There's a 10 out of 10 hyena sighting that Coutney thought would be good to share. They are the nicest people, and really know what they are doing. I truly hope they stick to their concept, it's absolutely brilliant.

Gomo Gomo was a nice place too, but after coming from Africa on Foot, they had some hard competition. Our ranger was a little too much cowboy to our taste, and they ruined a nice moment for all the guests one afternoon, when they sounded the drum for lunch - which scared away the herd of drinking elefantsat the Gomo Gomo pond everybody was feating their eyes and ears on. Just two details we would not have noticed, if we hadn't come straight from Courtneys place: Had we not known about Africa on Foot, we would not have noticed, and had we known about Africa on Foot, we would not have come. But NOT due to Gomo Gomo not being fine, but due to Africa on Foot being absolutely awesome. I hope you get what I mean here.

Last, but definitlely not least, was the completely brilliant B&B at Blyde you sent us to. It was awesome, and the people who work their are simply the nicest. They pampered us to bits, and it was a great way to chill out after 6 exciting days in the bush. And the most beautiful place to hike I have ever been.

You really did it Brett, you and your country have 2 new regulars.

THANKS, THANKS, THANKS, we'll be in touch.

PS: Everything worked smooth with the car too, both delivery and drop off.

Guests Visited Africa on Foot

Hi Brett,

Thanks for getting in touch. The safari was wonderful - a great camp - the service was excellent, staff extremely considerate and thoughtful. The tent was extremely luxurious - far better than we could have expected. I have nothing but excellent things to say about the staff and the facilities - I have seldom had such good service, even in 5 star hotels - to have received that level of luxury in a tent was extremely special.

The drives were really good - there are a lot of animals there, and it is a huge park, so even though we didn't see lots of things every day, we were being taken on different routes all the time which is nice. The only annoying thing was that in order to get out of the lodge there was always a 15-20 minute drive which took you in a big circle, only to cross the river almost right next to the lodge - they told us that they do not have the money at the moment to create a new bridge right next to the camp, but it would certainly make a really big difference.

We didn't have any issues with the camp at all, but the approach road was pretty rough in parts - about 35km of gravel road. If it had been raining I can imagine that we may not have made it - we could definitely have used a 4 wheel drive car - just something to bear in mind for any future guests you send there.

Many thanks for organising everything for us - we are extremely grateful, and shall certainly be in touch again - we are hoping to come to SA again next year for the World Cup, so we'll give you a call nearer the time!

Take care,

Amanda and Andrew Mahoney

Guest's visited Thakadu River Camp

Liselle, Chobe Game Lodge is super special. Wonderful treatment. Game, except for elephants, buffalo and eland (the park needs predators) was scarce but then there was water everywhere (thought Chobe looked wide as the Amazon). Somewhat disappointing for game, not Lodge's fault, but felt it was a good trip and enjoyed it nevertheless. Hope you have more visitors than when we were there.

Thanks again. Sue Brothers

P.S. Dwight is my husband but I make the travel plans.

Guest's Visited Chobe Game Lodge