Profile photo for Lindi Swales
1854 messages

Lindi Swales

I'm mother to a little boy, so understand the challenges and joys of travelling with children 😊
Being an avid animal-lover and “bush baby” at heart, an African Safari is my ultimate holiday option!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"PLACES
Southern Africa: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Botswana
Eastern Africa : Kenya and Tanzania
South Africa: Cape Town, Garden Route, West Coast, Kruger, Johannesburg and Durban
Other : Madagascar, Mauritius
ACTIVITIES
Safari, wine tour, adventure, cultural and historical tours"

How did you get involved in travel?

"My first job in the Tourism Industry was at a small adventure company where I arranged Skydiving, Table Mountain Abseiling, Paragliding, Shark Diving (and many more!!) I loved meeting all our foreign visitors and introducing them to some of the great activities our Mother City has to offer.
This piqued my interest and I then joined an Inbound Tour Operator where I, over time, specialised in the Indian and Middle East Markets – honeymoons, family holidays, group tours and large incentive groups. I had the privilege of travelling with my larger groups as Tour Manager, and so learned the intricate workings of these large corporate incentives…. The largest one I successfully managed on my own, was a group of 104 cardiologists from India!!
After 8 years, I decided that I wanted to know yet more, and so I moved over to a Luxury Coach company. I thoroughly enjoyed this and worked my way up to Operations Manager – planning and logistics became one of my primary functions – so if there is a way to get you where you want to go – I will get you there!!
And now I find myself back in Inbound Tourism…. doing what I ultimately love… making holiday dreams come true! "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I had the privilege of travelling to India as a delegate at the South African Roadshow in 2015. The wonders and contrasts of this incredible country have remained with me and I look forward to returning some day"

Lindi is part of the following groups: South Africa Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Lindi

We were met upon arrival at Cape Town airport...
South Africa | Mar 31 - Apr 12, 2023

Keith
Keith R.
Bakersfield, CA | Reviewed on Apr 15, 2023
We were met upon arrival at Cape Town airport by Jennifer who escorted us thru the the car rental site and out the door. What a lovely assistance, she provided. She also provided us with a couple bottle of wine for the nights relaxation. Lindi, our coordinator, did a wonderful job of putting together some really nice B&B's for your trip to SA. The Cape Riviera Guest House was centrally located to a lot of the attractions available in Cape Town. It was also within walking distance to many... Read more

We were met upon arrival at Cape Town airport by Jennifer who escorted us thru the the car rental site and out the door. What a lovely assistance, she provided. She also provided us with a couple bottle of wine for the nights relaxation. Lindi, our coordinator, did a wonderful job of putting together some really nice B&B's for your trip to SA. The Cape Riviera Guest House was centrally located to a lot of the attractions available in Cape Town. It was also within walking distance to many restaurants. The Guest House is a little dated but that added to the ambiance of the place. The grounds were nice to stroll in. Owen, the proprietor , was very pleasant and informative. The breakfast was a great way to start the day.

Our first day got off a little late due to our intended guide becoming deathly ill. Lindi scrambled to get us a replacement on short notice. Not having the itinerary, Micheal, our guide, started us with a trip to the top of Table Mtn. We rode the gondola to the top. What a gorgeous view of CapeTown from there. Michael walked us around the paths, introducing us to the plants, animals, and, the water gathering systems up there. After getting back to the vehicle, We got a history lesson from Michale about apartheid and the changes that came with it as we drove to the waterfront for lunch. We strolled around there for a bit and lost track of time. We drove by the Church of Good Hope but had insufficient time to wander thru the inside.

Day 2, Michael drove us along the Camps Bays, Chapman's Peak scenic hwy to Cape Point. What a great drive. We did a little hiking on the head lands before taking the obligatory photo of the Cape of Good Hope sign. From there, we wandered up the east side of the Cape Peninsula making our way to Groot Constancia winery for lunch and to taste a few of their wines. After lunch, a visit to Kirshtenbosch Botanical Gardens was made. Michael introduced us to the miriad of plants , trees, ferns, their medicinal uses, etc and the history of the gardens. Two days is not near enough to spend in CApeTown. THere's just too much to see and experience. We will spend some more time here when we return.

Day 3 and beyond, we were on our own. We drove thru the Winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Specifically, we stopped at KanonKop, Babylonstroen, Boschendal and Lanzerac wineires. We strolled around the grounds and tasted their wines. Very impressive farms, they all were, especially Babykonstroen. we ended our day at Herman's, late. We found our B&B...Whale Rock Lodge right after sunset. THis is a very nice establishment, nice grounds, well kept.

Day 4, Melanie, the proprietor, met us in the AM for Breakfast and gave us info on beach walks from the Lodge, We wandered along the rocky coastline for a morning stretch before getting back in our vehicle and driving onward. We made our way thru the scenic countryside and back roads to Cape Agulhas where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. After stretching and picture taking, it was back in the car and off to the Garden Route and Knysna for a couple of days. Lindi's choice of the Blackwaters River Lodge was a nice stay. Jane and Bonita made our two night stay very pleasant. They do a very nice meal service and breakfast here. The veranda was a nice, quiet place to relax and sip some of the wines we sourced on our trip.

We did some mountain hiking in the morning, then down to Robberg Nature Reserve for some more hiking. The trails in the Reserve can be somewhat daunting for the uninformed, as we found out. the 5.5K trail around the peninsula included a lot of rock hopping and sands. we were bushed when we finished. We dined on oysters and seafood in Knysna at 34 street, on the water front. We ran out of time for the sunset cruise of the Knysna Estuary and headlands, but would recommend it for the future .

From Knysna, we continued our drive along the West Cape and into the East Cape on N2 thru Port Elizabeth, then headed north on N10 before turning westward on R400, inland to Kuzuko Lodge in the Central Karoo and Greater Addo Elephant Reserve. The first 10k of R400 is extremely rough. We found a better alternative on the way out, using R335, a much smoother, unpaved road, 15 K out of the way but quicker over all. The Kuzuko Lodge is a great stay in the middle of nowhere. The Reserve consists of 15000 Hectare of the Karoo. We did four game drives on the reserve, one each morning and each evening. We saw plenty of wildlife to keep us happy: Elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetah, a miriade of antelope from small to large, raptors, cranes, meerkats, mongoose, jackles and more. The staff at Kuzuko were very accommodating and pleasant. Their meals were very nice, too. Got to give a shoutout to our game driver, Quinton, very informative on the the animals and history of the Reserve. The spa staff at the Lodge did an incredible job of working all the kinks and knots out of our muscles after a jostling game drive. Highly recommend their services.

Lindi, of Salty/KimKim Tours did a great job of arranging our rental car, guide and stays for our trip. The BNB'S were 4 star and higher. The included meals were a nice addition. The Kuzuko Game Lodge and staff were really great too. AS I mentioned before, two days in Cape Town is not near enough time to see all that is available. The same can be said of all the stops along our route . We will need to return to South Africa again to capture more of its scenic wonders. Thanks Lindi for giving us a glimpse of this great county.

Local specialist: Lindi Swales
Lindi
Lindi Swales
Local specialist in Cape Town, South Africa | Replied on Apr 17, 2023

Thank you so much for your lovely, detailed review... it was such a pleasure making the arrangements for yourself, Les and Tracy! I hope we will see you in South Africa again soon x

Trip was well organized. Maximized my 15 days...
South Africa | Feb 25 - Mar 11, 2023

mima
mima g.
Tysons Corner, VA | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2023
Trip was well organized. Maximized my 15 days with excellent guides. Plenty of info and travelling tips from them. They were professional and kind. Lindi continually kept me updated with next day events.
Thank you KimKim.
Read more

Trip was well organized. Maximized my 15 days with excellent guides. Plenty of info and travelling tips from them. They were professional and kind. Lindi continually kept me updated with next day events.
Thank you KimKim.

Hotel Review
Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge
Hoedspruit

Excellent service. Chase safari guide was extremely knowledgeable and kind. Ent out of way for us to see big 5. Meals were 5*. Amazing ! Staff beyond generous. Thank you

Authenticity & Character
Location
Tranquillity, meals, location, kind staff
Staff
Kind professional and serving .
Cleanliness & Comfort
Housekeeping 2 times a day. Very clean
Activity Reviews
Activities at Makalali Game Reserve
Activities at Makalali Game Reserve
Kruger National Park

Amazing

Quality of Experience
Very kind staff
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cape Town Walking Tour
Cape Town Walking Tour
Cape Town

Nice quaint town.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cape Town Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tour
Cape Town Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tour
South Africa
Table Mountain Guided Hike
Table Mountain Guided Hike
Cape Town

Must do if you’re in Capetown! Amazing view

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lindi Swales