Esther Ruempol

Outstanding Travel Agent for South Africa Adventure
We recently returned from an unforgettable trip to South Africa, meticulously planned by Esther and Lucy. From start to finish, our experience was nothing short of exceptional, and we owe it all to the expertise and dedication of our travel agent.

Personalized Itinerary and Seamless Planning

From the moment we reached out to Esther, Eco travel -Boutique, we knew we were in good hands. They took the time to understand our preferences, interests, and budget, crafting a personalized itinerary that included everything we hoped for and more. Their in-depth knowledge of South Africa was evident in the carefully selected destinations and activities.

Our safari experience was the highlight of our trip. Esther arranged for us to stay at Mhondoro Lodge, which provided luxurious accommodations and unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities. The safari guide was incredibly knowledgeable, ensuring we saw four out of the Big Five and many other incredible animals. Every game drive was a new adventure, and we felt safe and well-cared for throughout our stay.

Exploring the Wine Regions

The tour of South Africa's wine vineyards was another highlight. Our travel agent arranged a tour of Stellenbosch. Wine yard/ resort Babylon Toren was charming and perfectly situated, with many interesting activities on the Wine Yard including a Water buffalo tour.

Captivating Cape Town

Our time in Cape Town was equally impressive, Esther recommended and booked Tinswalo Atlantic with stunning views of Table Mountain . They also organized guided tours of the city, including visits to Robben Island, the Cape of Good Hope, and Boulders Beach to see the penguins. Each excursion was well-planned and provided deep insights into the history and beauty of Cape Town.

Exceptional Customer Service

Throughout our journey, Eco Travel -Boutique remained attentive and responsive. They provided us with detailed travel documents, including a comprehensive itinerary, contact information for local guides, and emergency contacts. When we had questions or needed assistance, they were just a phone call away, ensuring our trip went smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Our South Africa adventure was truly a trip of a lifetime, thanks to the exceptional planning and service provided by Esther. Their attention to detail, local expertise, and commitment to creating a memorable experience were evident in every aspect of our journey. We highly recommend Esther and Lucy, Eco Travel -Boutique to anyone looking to explore South Africa. They exceeded our expectations and made our dream vacation a reality.

Thank you, Esther and Lucy, for an unforgettable adventure!

Hotel Reviews

Tintswalo Atlantic

Cape Town

Review: Tintswalo Atlantic – An Unforgettable Experience Stunning Suites with Spectacular Views The suites at Tintswalo Atlantic are simply breathtaking. Each room is individually decorated with a unique theme inspired by various islands around the world, adding a touch of exotic elegance to the luxurious accommodations. Our suite featured panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, allowing us to wake up to the sight and sound of waves crashing against the shore. The room was spacious, impeccably clean, and equipped with all the amenities we could need, including a private deck where we enjoyed our morning coffee while soaking in the stunning scenery. Exceptional Service The staff at Tintswalo Atlantic went above and beyond to ensure our stay was perfect. From the warm welcome we received upon arrival to the personalized service throughout our stay, every interaction was marked by genuine hospitality and attention to detail. The team was incredibly attentive and helpful, always ready to assist with any request, whether it was arranging transportation, recommending local attractions, or accommodating dietary preferences. Their commitment to making us feel special truly enhanced our experience. Memorable Dining Experience The dining experience at Tintswalo Atlantic was a highlight of our stay. Each meal was a culinary delight, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients and expertly crafted dishes. The breakfast spread was extensive and delicious, and the dinner was nothing short of gourmet. Dining on the deck with the ocean as our backdrop made every meal even more special. Little surprises, such as complimentary snacks and drinks, added to the overall sense of luxury and care. Conclusion Our stay at Tintswalo Atlantic was an extraordinary experience that exceeded all our expectations. The combination of luxurious accommodations, stunning natural beauty, exceptional service, and attention to detail made it a truly unforgettable getaway. Thank you, Tintswalo Atlantic, for an incredible stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Babylonstoren Wine Estate

Our recent stay at Babylonstoren was an incredible experience that exceeded all our expectations. Nestled in the heart of the Cape Winelands, this exquisite farm offers the perfect blend of luxury, nature, and gastronomy. Here are some highlights from our memorable visit: Outstanding Accommodation The accommodations at Babylonstoren are truly remarkable. We stayed in one of the beautifully designed farm cottages, which offered a perfect mix of rustic charm and modern luxury. The rooms were spacious, impeccably clean, and equipped with all the amenities one could need. Waking up to the serene views of the gardens and vineyards was a delight. Exceptional Food and Wine Babylonstoren is a paradise for food and wine enthusiasts. The food was simply outstanding, with every meal showcasing fresh, locally sourced ingredients, many of which are grown right on the farm. The breakfast spread was extensive and delicious, and the dinners at the farm's restaurant, Babel, were a culinary highlight. Each dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The wine was equally impressive, with a fantastic selection of Babylonstoren's own wines to enjoy. Wine Tasting Experience The wine tasting at Babylonstoren was one of the best we’ve ever experienced. The knowledgeable staff guided us through a selection of their finest wines, providing insights into the winemaking process and the unique characteristics of each wine. The tasting room itself is gorgeous, with stunning views of the vineyards, making the experience even more enjoyable. It's also a great place to purchase some excellent wines to take home. Water Buffalo Tour One of the unique highlights of our stay was the water buffalo tour. This fascinating tour allowed us to learn about the farm's water buffalo herd and the process of making buffalo mozzarella. The tour was informative and fun, and we even got to sample some delicious mozzarella at the end. We highly recommend trying a "buffalocino" – a cappuccino made with buffalo milk – it’s a delightful twist on a classic drink! So Much to Do There is no shortage of activities at Babylonstoren. From exploring the extensive gardens and orchards to hiking in the surrounding mountains, there’s something for everyone. We also enjoyed relaxing at the farm’s spa and walking around. The farm shop is a great place to buy unique gifts, fresh produce, and, of course, excellent wine. Conclusion Our stay at Babylonstoren was a perfect blend of relaxation, luxury, and adventure. The exceptional accommodation, fantastic food and wine, unique activities, and beautiful surroundings made it an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a food and wine lover, nature enthusiast, or simply looking for a luxurious escape, Babylonstoren has something special to offer. Thank you, Babylonstoren, for an amazing stay!

Authenticity & Character

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Mhondoro Lodge

From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable. Jakes (our guide) was exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly, providing us with fascinating insights into the wildlife and ensuring we had amazing sightings. The accommodation was luxurious and comfortable, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Every detail was thoughtfully considered, making our stay both relaxing and memorable. The food was a highlight in itself. Each meal was a culinary delight, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients prepared by skilled chefs. The variety and quality were outstanding, catering to all tastes and dietary requirements. Overall, this resort lodge exceeded all our expectations.

Authenticity & Character

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Cleanliness & Comfort

City Lodge Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport

Convenient location, convenient rooms, and nice service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Verde

Convient location, friendly service

Authenticity & Character

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Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Activities at Babylonstoren

Paarl

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope & Penguins with the City Sightseeing Bus

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Allen was an great guide, very knowledgable with lots of experience

Transport

Comfortable car

Welcome to South Africa!

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Restaurant at City Lodge O.R. Tambo

Johannesburg

Quality of Experience

Visit Table Mountain by Cable Car

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Robben Island

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

African Dinner Show & Drumming Experience

Cape Town

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I found kimkim by chance as I planned a trip to South Africa with my nephew. I am so glad I did — I cannot recommend kimkim enough and our local expert, Esther, was amazing. This was my first trip to Africa and though I have traveled widely in Europe and Asia, I needed a lens into South Africa and what was possible. The itinerary that Kagiso started and Esther perfected made for a the trip of a lifetime, and though that's a cliche, it's meant sincerely. Throughout the planning, the kimkim team was responsive and so helpful as we kept refining our itinerary. My nephew is going into the Air Force and we kept having to trim back on time to accommodate boot camp, and there was never any pushback. Just "here's how we can fix that." And though my hoped-for visit to Robben Island was canceled due to bad weather, Esther tried so hard to make that happen! On the trip, we got check-ins from Esther and our concierge Lucy and help each step of the way as things came up. And even after our trip ended, Esther indulged us by letting us send her photos while we were still over the moon about what we had just experienced. Specifically, I want to call out the itinerary which we could never have crafted on our own. Umkumbe Bush Lodge was a gem...small and perfect for us. And though I initially thought "Four days of safari! What!" that was the right amount of time. I would never have booked that correctly on my own or found Umkumbe. We started our trip in Cape Town and Esther wisely suggested we stay in Camps Bay...a perfect spot to launch our tours of the city. We then went to Umkumbe which was a safari oasis. And yes, we saw the famous Sabi Sands leopards. And Johannesburg was also magic. Esther sent us to the Mandela Foundation and the bike ride we took in Soweto was an unparalleled window into history. We are in awe of what we did and saw and that's truly a credit to kimkim and Esther.

We had a wonderful time at Mhondoro in South Africa. The place was outstanding and Esther was fantastic to work with. Will definitely be doing more safaris in the near future!

We just came back from an amazing trip to South Africa. From planning to execution, the trip was a great success. Esther took care of every detail and she understood our particularities quickly and incorporated our special requests without issue (food allergies, private guide). An amazing travel specialist.
Mhondoro lodge lived up to the 5 stars. It was a quiet, personal place. Our guide on Safari, Hein, made our trip. He was knowledgeable, interesting and energetic.
We really have only positive things to say about our trip. Well done and thank you!!

My daughters and I planned a girls trip to Africa. Four countries (South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia) in 3 weeks was no small feat for first time visitors. We reached out to Kimkim for help and they connected us with their local specialist Esther Reumpol of The Eco-Travel Boutique.
Esther, through the Kimkim platform, made the whole planning process easy. Her suggestions based on our given budget, interests and preferences helped us narrow down what we wanted to do. From the time we connected till the time we got home, Esther was in constant contact, coordinating, revising, confirming and checking in.
The result of her patience with our itinerary revisions was perfect! The accommodations she booked were superb, the transfers to and fro like clockwork, our last minute tour bookings accommodated and all our inquiries patiently and promptly answered.
Esther is also a miracle worker. My luggage, amongst some other passengers, was offloaded from our flight from Nelspruit to Victoria Falls. We were taking a morning chartered flight to the Okavango delta the day after and there were no more flights from that airline coming in that day or the next. All I had were the clothes I was wearing. All my necessities, toiletries and medicines were in my luggage.
I call her a “miracle worker” because on this chartered flight, you can only check in soft luggage with a weight limit of 20 kg inclusive of hand carry. My luggage was in a hard case and weighed 25 kg which I was planning on repacking to a duffle for our 4 night stay at the Delta. I had resigned myself to accepting that I would not get to see my luggage until I got back to Victoria Falls but Esther, somehow, made the airline deliver my luggage to the heart of the delta. This was the airlines responsibility and was not part of Esther’s obligation to us. I can just imagine how many phone calls she had to make, while she herself was away on a work trip and I am truly grateful.
Our biggest thanks to the KimKim team, Esther and Lucy, our concierge, for making our first visit to Africa the most wonderful and memorable experience. It was a palate teaser that makes us want to go back, stay longer in each country and explore more of what Africa has to offer.

Esther, our local specialist, designed our trip perfectly and according to our tastes. She found the perfect lounge in a private reserve for the Safari of our dreams next to the Kruger National park. Umkumbe bush lodge was amazing. We had the honeymoon suite and our guide, Ezaan, was great. We saw 4 of the Big 5 (lions, elephants, rhinos, and cape buffalo) with her and many other animals. We were lucky enough to see and take very nice pictures of a leopard (one of the Big 5) on our way from the airport to Umkumbe Bush Lodge. Also, Elzaan entertained us by showing wild herbs, exotic birds, chameleon... Then our stay in Cape Town was very nice. We stayed at the Lawhill Luxury Apartments (very nice and well located in the V&A Waterfront. We enjoyed the African Dinner Show and Drum experience at the Gold restaurant. The next day we enjoyed the Hop on Hop off around Cape Town and the Table mountain by cable car. On our last day, we had a full day private tour around the Cape peninsula. There was a misunderstanding with Esther for the time of the pickup that morning. She scheduled the pickup at 9am while we had 8am in our trip plan. I recommend to always confirm the next day activities with your local specialist at the end of the day before. We managed to have our pickup at 9:30am. Our driver, Abdoul, was great and explained very well all the landmarks along the drive. He managed the time and schedule perfectly before driving us to the airport for our return flight at the end of the day. We drove the scenic shore line, went to Cape of Good Hope, saw the African penguins, and we had a great lunch in a very nice restaurants next to the ocean. Overall, our trip to South Africa was amazing and so memorable.

Using Kimkim was an outstanding experience. Our local specialist, Esther Ruempol, was exceptional, guiding us from start to finish. She assisted in planning our trip and offered excellent suggestions, advice, and alternatives when needed. She was always available to answer our questions and address our concerns, providing significant support. Throughout the trip, she kept in touch, ensuring everything was going smoothly and that we had everything we needed. The trip summary was detailed and well-presented, making it easy to follow. It’s clear that Esther has extensive experience and loves her job. The trip itself was too good to be true. Everything from the pick-ups, transfers, guides and accommodations were amazing.

We cannot say enough positive things about our experience with KimKim and our trip to Africa. Our specialist was able to recommend an itinerary that perfectly suited the travel interests of both myself and my husband with only a paragraph or two of input from us. As we got closer to the trip, they continued to add and update details with our itinerary, which became a wonderful reference as we moved from one place to another once our journey began. And we have run out of compliments about the locations that they chose for us...... the accommodations in every city were amazing, as was the service. I would especially like to recognize Kruger Shalati for their amazing property, food, game drives and overall service, and to Unembezza (and our specialist) for surprising us with an amazing suite and birthday goodies to celebrate my milestone. All of our drivers were early for our pickups, and all transportation was entirely smooth throughout the trip (and we moved quite a bit!). We had an amazing time in Victoria Falls and South Africa and will forever cherish the memories.

Thank you to Esther and Lucy at KimKim for organizing our unforgettable delayed honeymoon to South Africa! From the top-notch restaurants to the incredible activities, every detail was perfect. They were so detailed in every aspect from the very beginning when we expressed interest, to planning it and even during the trip!’ It truly was a once in a lifetime experience. We can't wait to plan our next adventure with you! Thank you both so so much for allowing us to create memories of a lifetime! You two are the best

Activity Reviews

Full Day Panorama Route & Blyde River Canyon

South Africa

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Hike up Table Mountain - Kasteelpoort Route

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Morning Game Drive in Kruger

Kruger National Park

This was the most AMAZING AMAZING experience to be right In front of all the animals. Our tour guide sippoh became our family!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Afternoon Game Drive in Kruger

Kruger National Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Full Day Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope & Penguins

South Africa

The tour guides were all so incredible!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Private Tour of the Cape Winelands

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Dinner Transfers

Cape Town

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fly Back Home from Kruger

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport