Safari Blog

Natasha,

As far as the lodge goes I feel very blessed to have stumbled into this camp… the guide was EXTREMELY informative, I like the ‘rustic nature of the camp’… it was perfect blend of amenities (shower in own room, great comfy bed, own house and yet we were 100% submerged in the bush! I haven’t uploaded my photos yet but once I have I will send the good ones along to you! We were able to see 4 out of the 5 Big 5, but countless other animals as well!!

Thanks again for all your help arranging the experience & transportation to/from … it truly was a once in a lifetime experience!!!!

Theresa

Hi Liselle

Yes we are home now and had a wonderful time in Africa the Safari was excellent and was as promised. We saw the big five on quite a few occasions. The flight and transport to Arathusa was perfect we were met on arrival and taken to the lodge and when it was time for departure we were met and taken to the airport without any problem. I would like to thank you for your organisational skills and will certainly recommend your company to any body who asks or is thinking of going to Africa. The lodge was excellent and the staff most accommodating, the tracker and ranger were great and informative.

Once again thanks and if we return to Africa we will certainly be in touch with you.

With Tanks

Andro Tomich

Hi Janelle,

The boys loved the safari! The cabin was very nice, the food was great and they saw quite a few animals. It was a big success!

I will send you a couple pictures for you to see.

Thank you for all your help!

Regards,
Nita

Hi Liselle,

The trip, and nThambo, were absolutely fantastic. Everyone was so nice - very professional, knowledgeable, and gracious - especially Nick, Danine, "Fafa," all the staff, and Ryan! The drives in the morning and evening were great-we saw elephants, lions, cheetah, rhino, hippo, giraffes, zebra, wart hogs, wildebeest, and so much more! During the afternoon walks we learned so much about the trees, plants, and smaller animals. Ryan was amazingly knowledgeable about so much - just a terrific guide. The accommodations were perfect and we'll never forget the sunsets and evening sky (especially the Southern Cross!) All in all, you and everyone at nThambo exceeded our expectations and gave us a trip of a lifetime.

Thank you!
Kathy Wells

Liselle,

WHAT A TRIP!! I don't even know where to begin. I am downloading my photos (more than 2000, but I promise to cut...) and will send you the link. From the beauty of Cape Town to the village children and angry hippo in Zambia to the mating lions in Botswana (over and over and over...) to the white lions, local dancing and singing and wild dogs of Timbavati (God, you were right on with that one. I am so glad we went to Matswari...) to the big 5 in 24 hours and the frightening "almost" leopard in our laps (I have video of her snarling at us as before she walked onto a limb directly over our head - the jeep responded collectively with "SHIT" in at least 4 languages...) in Sabi Sands.

However, you never mentioned that Africa's people shine farther and stronger than its wild game. They are some of the most gracious, friendly and warm people we have ever met. We felt at home almost everywhere. Our guides Mosses (Kanana), Harold (with tracker, Difference) (Matswari) and Phil (with tracker, Rufus) (Arathusa) were the best. We feel as though they are friends for life. I certainly hope we will see them again very soon.

Well, I'm pretty jet lagged. We missed our flight in Paris and had to spend the night in Atlanta. (I never dreamed Burt and I would be the proud owners of matching "Atlanta, Georgia" t-shirts.) But the house didn't burn down and none of the family died while we were gone, so it is a good day back. Thank you for everything. I just can't express to you how grateful I am to have found you and your company. We have grown from the experience. Quite literally, actually. The food was fabulous.

Jan

Guests visited De Waterkant apartments, Peermont Metcourt Hotel, Chundukwa River Lodge, Kanana Camp, Motswari Safari Lodge & Arathusa Safari Lodge.

Hi Natahsa,

Finally I have made connection with the internet. Europe and USA are known to provide WIFI mostly free of charge. Only in Thailand and Malaysia did I get free internet. Well, this is my last day in CPT. So far I have had a wonderful time wherever I stayed. South Africa, so far, was the most exciting. I spent 4 days on a safari in Kruger National Park, in the North-East of S.A. Every afternoon we went on a game drive at 3:30 PM until 7:30 PM. At about 5:30 we stopped somewhere in the bush and had pit stops and drinks, like beer or soft drinks. We were driving on a big open-top LandRover truck which seated 10 passenger and two guides.One was driving and the other sat on a seat on top of the hood juston the left front above the front bumper. He was the lookout, particularly after sunset when he used a powerful spotlight to scan the bush laft and right and above in the trees for any game. I sat always behind him, next to the driver and had always the "best seat in the house". Yesterday I finally had made a day off and worked on my computer, transfering the videos from the camera's hard drive to the laptop computer's hard drive. The takes time, particularly when you have to work with more that 1500 video clips so far. Yesterday I also took a short time to watch some of my unedited footage of the safaris. Boy was that exciting! I filmed Giraffes, Elephants, Cheetas, Lions, Leopards, Warthogs, Buffalos, Antelopes, Birds, Ostriches, and many more. One night (eve) we watched 8 lions having "dinner" over a buffalo. At night the Hyenas were near our camp howling and making a lot of ruckus... By the way, August and Sept. are the last months of S.A.'s winter. There is no snow, but it is damn cold. At night we were chivering with +4 degrees Celsius, during the sunny days it was 20+, that's bearable.

Cord Barthold

Hi Liselle,

South Africa is TRULY amazing.... wonderfully friendly people, great roads and road signs. ALL the places we stayed were great accommodations and even better food. Saw almost everything we could ask for.... except big baobob trees, which apparently grow only in the far north.

Thanks, Peter.

Guests visited Peermont Metcourt Hotel, Tanamera, Arathusa Safari Lodge, Motswari Safari Lodge & Serenity Eco Lodge.

Dear Janelle,

I just wanted to thank you for making all of the safari and travel arrangements for our son Will and his friend. They had a wonderful month studying and exploring in Cape Town and ended their trip with the safari. I can't believe all the animals that they saw and Will said that the staff and rangers at both Idube and Motswari were wonderful. He loved your city and your country and said that he would love to live there someday.

Thanks again for all and I promise you that my husband and I will be calling you in a few years to set up an adventure for us.

Jane

Janelle,

I just wanted to send a proper "Thank you!" We are still telling our wonderful Safari stories! It was absolutely beyond our expectations and we have recommended your services to everyone. Thank you for making our trip so memorable and we want to definitely return to Chapungu!

Sincerely, Valerie Bauer

Hi Janelle,

I finally have time to reply.

Timbavati was fantastic. The camp was beautiful and we had a great time. We didn't see as many animals as we would have liked, the elusive Rhino was never around, but we did enjoy Kruger very much.

Thanks for organising everything for us, we couldn't have done it without you.

Michelle.

Hi Liselle,

Missing it already.

We've had a great holiday and are now struggling to function after such a break.

Your choice wotrked really well for us and we thoroughly enjoyed the trip.

Somalisa was an excellent choice, a great start - ideal camp with very good guide, Dardley. Loads of elephants, who would drink from the plunge pool as we sat on the loungers!!, lion pride with a recent kill and the resulting jackals and vultures were highlights. The most remote camp with the most wilderness feel about it.

Illala worked well and we enjoyed Vic Falls, but 2 nights would have been plenty; high tea at the Vic Falls Hotel and a day canoeing on the Zambesi were great. We very pleasantly surprised by Zimbabwe.

Savute was very smart/idyllic in design and extrememly well run. Great location, especially with the river running. All facilities faultless but somehow lacked a wilderness feel and the area is quite busy with other accommodation, and frequently passing other vehicles. Highlight was the lodge itself and a young leopard although there were soon 8 vehicles at the spot.

Santawani proved excellent, despite being a very different set up to Savute, we had the camp to ourselves, the people were very warm and friendly. The staff prepared us a surprise, special anniversary meal and then sang and danced for us. A remarkable highlight. Clients may need to be prepared for the shabby decor, with nowhere comfy to sit etc Also a great leopard sighting plus lions, elephants, buffalo, etc.

Mena Kweno was a fantastic camp, with a wonderful position, especially with the river flowing. Loved the design and view from the tent. Really enjoyed the large herds of zebra coming to drink. Interesting to experience the buffalo fence although it made getting to the Park a bit of a journey. Had more lions and a great day trip to Baines Baaobab and the salt pan which was fascinating.

The Delta was a relaxing end to the tour and of course enjoyed the Mokoro journeys and the walking. Highlights were being there, hippos active in the main channel, sunsets, darkness and number of stars; and on the last night elephants bathing not far from the camp.

The flights were an important part of the trip as they give such a perspective on the vastness of it all.

All guides were excellent.

Many thanks for your help,

Regards
Nick

Guests visited Somalisa Camp, Ilala Lodge, Savute Safari Lodge, Santawani, Meno A Kwena & Oddballs Camp.

Hi Janelle,

Apologies for the delay! It's been a hectic summer. We loved our safari experience, and were lucky enough to see all the Big 5! Attached is my favorite elephant pic (he's coming right at us!). jan was a wonderful guide and we met some great people during our stay.

Best,
Lizet

Dear Brett

I have just booked a holiday at some of the camps in the Okavango for our honeymoon in September – we are very excited (I’m looking forward to it more than the wedding!).

I am writing to you to let you know what a great job Liselle Raath did – we must have exchanged about 40 emails as my wife and I changed our mind every few minutes and asked a million questions. Throughout, Liselle has remained enthusiastic, positive and very helpful. I would like to compliment her for her great attitude and professionalism, she is a credit to your company.

Thanks

Enda

Hi Janelle,

Andrew here, almost a week later than promised!!!

Well, words cannot explain the trip I had. I won't bore you with all the football stuuf, I'll leave it at I saw 16 games, including the final and have well and truly covered the length and bredth of your wonderful country!!! The people there are as good as your service. Hospitality and frendship, 2nd to none, we had so many stories, I'm still telling them and I've been back for a month.

Safari?

Well, I gave you limited time and 20,000kms distance in trying to matcvh what I wanted and you got it 100%. The first safari (Africa on Foot was amazing, I'll send photos in a 2nd e-mail). The one I want to talk about is the one you got a favour done to get my daughter on. She and I are in forever debt as she had the absolute time of her life, big 5 all spotted, countless stories and sightings, we were so luck and it was surreal being at Safari on the morning of Sunday 11th July, next to nature, miles away from a big city and amogst the most "wild" life, 8:30pm that night my mate and I were at the world cup final!

Thanks to you and the team, I've put together some highlighted photos, just an experience beyond words and I cannot thank you enough!! I'll have no hesitation in using and recommending Sunsafaris to anyone I can speak to!!

Regards,
Andrew.

Hi Liselle,

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you. When you sent this we were still in SA and I didn't have too much time to spend time checking email since there was so much to do!. My girlfriend and I loved Motswari - absolutely amazing. Our guide Grant was amazing and the food there was some of the best I've ever had in my life (especially the breakfast). We didn't see the big 5 - we missed the Rhinos - mainly because we spent so much time looking for the leopard.

I hope you keep pointing people to Motswari because it really was amazing. If you have any travelers that want a recommendation point them my way.

Thanks again for all your help with the booking. We really did have the trip of a lifetime.

Sebastian

Hello, Natasha

Just a couple word to say thank you for all your help, we had a great time on the safaris you are very professional on all the arrangements. The best lodge was Aratusa Lodge very friendly people, good rooms and good food and about Simbavati Lodge please tell other guess that the showers are out side the room at the tents (not good in winter time ) I will recommend SUNSAFARIS to my friends

Regards
Richard Arango

Brett - they were all wonderful. Selinda seemed to be a bit more upgraded with the small details and the service, but they were all great. We liked Selinda the best. We saw the big 5 - only three rhinos from the helicopter as well as a tsitatonga. We saw only one leopard at dusk, but we saw him. It was our best vacation ever and we want to go back!

Thank you! Jan & MItch Spence

Janelle,

I am so sorry it has taken me two weeks to get back to you! I have been so busy catching up and was out of town on business for a week!

We had a wonderful time!!! The lodge was awesome and the people were just fantastic!

We saw 3 of the big five and tons of other animals. The food was wonderful and our tents were perfect! It was a little chilly in the morning and in the evenings, but the weather was perfect during the day. We saw tons of stars.... the sky was incredible in the Savannah.

Thanks for a great recommendation and all your help getting everything together!!! ;)

Ashley

Hi Brett,

We are back safe, although we have a bit of the post South Africa blues. Along with the world cup, the safari were the highlights of of our trip. The staff and accomodations at Arathusa were top notch. Our safari guides quickly became friends and were very knowledgeable. We saw the big five and then some within two days. Meals were satisfying, dinner was always fun as the chef would introduce himself and run through the courses he planned for the evening. Our rooms were always clean and we felt safe on the premesess.

Thank you Brett for your help in making our trip to South Africa a great success. Your people are very warm, we hope to be able to return and use your service again soon.

Regards,
Nick

Hi Brett,

All safe and sound and I have a new grandson here as well. Notten's was superb, top notch, paradise..... I could go on forever. The staff were terrific and adorable.

We saw all the big five in abundance plus giraffes, hippos, baboons, monkeys, etc. I intend to go back with my kids some day. Dale is especially great.

Thanks for all your help, Everything went like clockwork.

Jennie

Hi Liselle,

We returned from Africa on Saturday and I wanted to tell you just how enjoyable our trip was. Both of the camps that you recommended were outstanding. All of the employees were so friendly and helpful. I can't say enough about how pleasant our stay in Botswana was. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and well educated in a host of different areas. The food and accommodations were also outstanding. It truly is a top class organization.

We never had any problems with the coordination of our transfers, which you may remember was one of my main concerns. Everything went very smooth and our needs were always the top priority of the staff.

Botswana is an amazingly beautiful country with wonderful people. We were sorry that we had to leave. My goal is to get a group together for a trip in the future. It would be a great experience to rent out a small camp.

Thank you for putting together a lovely trip. We couldn't have enjoyed it more.

Joe

Hi Liselle,

We are in the Netherlands at the moment visting my sister. As far as our South African experience is concerned it was a 9 out of 10.

The Kwa Mbili stay definitely a 10 out of 10. We did see the BIG 5. My only wish was to have seen a leopard during the day. We saw a leopard on 2 different night drives, but the not close enough to get a decent picture.

Overall the experience at the lodge was first class and we are thankful to you for booking this for us.

If you check my website in a few days I may have been able upload more information and pictures.

Regards

Al Vandenberg.

Greetings Liselle,

We have, sadly, returned to the U.S. and home. Our trip was spectacular. Londolozi is exceptional in every way. We saw the "big 5" and more during our stay there. Simbambili was quaint and beautiful. Although crowded on the game drives, we saw many animals. The food at both camps was delicious and the service professional and charming. All in all, a family trip of a lifetime. Truly special.

Thank you for all your help with the planning. Your driver Nick, who met us at the airport when our trip started, pointed out several animals before we ever reached the lodge. He was very cordial and knowledgeable and professional. A really nice guy. The driver out of Simbambili was on time and pleasant too.

We are going thru our hundreds of pictures and having a great time reliving the experience. We all hope to return one day.

Thanks again.
Kate

Hello Liselle;

I am here at the terrace of my room at Kings. So far we have enjoy everything. It was really a pleasure to went to Nottens ( Thank you ): very nice and different camp; no electricity was made it very nice and people are very special. We saw the big 5 and Girafes. Wilderbeest, etc..

Here at Kings it is also very nice and I think they are more annimals to see as a group.

When we finish the Safari I will tell you more.

Flight transportation to camps, I think was also a good decision. I also feel confortable with the lenght of the Safari and the other night that I wanted to stay, I think is not neccessary. Maybe in another Camp, but more than 3 night in camp I think it is OK.

Defenitely I want to come back to South Africa, I let you know when we decide.

Thank you very much for every of your recommendations, all of them excellent.

I wanted to stopped by when I was at Cape Town but finally I could not; I hope next time I will meet you and again thank you for all you did.

Saludos,
JFC

Hi Lis!!

We are back in Mexico City, but we enjoyed South Africa. World Cup fever is amazing but what we enjoy the most was the Safari. As you told us , we didn't have problems to rent the car, so we drove from Johannesburg to Kruger, the difficult part is that we use to drive on the left .

We enjoy every moment at Kruger and at Africa on Foot. Africa on Foot is great, people is nice, the camp and the lodges make us live an incredible rustic experience. Rangers are qualified and they explain us everything, game drives were very exciting. We didn't see the big five, only lion and elephant. We were thinking that 3 days wasn't enough to find them and some people told us that is better to go to different reserves in order to see more animals, what do you think?

But even we didn't see the big five we returned home loving South Africa, its people and the nature. Defenitevely we must visit again South Africa, and we would like to do a Safari through Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. And for sure we are going to contact you when we decide to do a Safari !!!

Thank you Lis for all your help!!!! This trip was the best in my life :D

Liz and Edgar