Family Southern Africa Trip
South Africa | Mar 19 - Mar 26, 2023

M
Mackenzie M.
Evanston, IL | Reviewed on Apr 07, 2023

The trip was a 10/10 experience. Deb really took the lead on planning everything for us because we came in with limited knowledge. We got to do everything and had the greatest of times. All the staff was extremely accommodating. Having all of the drivers planned out made the trip carefree and seamless.

Hotel Reviews
Chobe Game Lodge
Serondela

Extremely nice facility with amazing food, views, and people. Being able to get into Chobe earlier allowed us to see a family of lions without any other trucks blocking our view!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ilala Lodge
Victoria Falls

The lodge was a great location to walk to the falls. The service was extremely accommodating. Food was delicious. Our driver for the majority of the trip, Frank, was amazing! Extremely informative and kind.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa - Kasane
Chobe, Kasane

This is a very secluded and peaceful experience. The food was great and authentic. However there was a large fly problem while eating.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Flight of the Angels over Vic Falls
Flight of the Angels over Vic Falls
Victoria Falls

The 15 minute duration trip was plenty. The guide explained everything we were seeing and sights were amazing. Really good safety briefing as well.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunset Cruise & Riverside Dinner
Sunset Cruise & Riverside Dinner
Victoria Falls

We had a private cruise with a full staff. The guide got us really close and allowed us to take as many pictures of the hippopotamus. The dinner course was unexpected and really amazing. Drinks and pretty views made this excursion very relaxing and wonderful. They provided rain ponchos which were very helpful.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dusty Road Township Lunch or Dinner Experience **highly recommended by our team
Dusty Road Township Lunch or Dinner Experience **highly recommended by our team
Victoria Falls

This was definitely a highlight of our trip. The food was delicious and the entire experience of learning about all the ingredients was very interesting. The entire ambiance of the place was amazing and could not be replicated elsewhere. We even purchased the owners cookbook. Staff was great!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mukuni Village Tour
Mukuni Village Tour
Victoria Falls

This was a very unique experience. The guide was great and the villages were extremely kind. We wish we knew prior to bring some clothes to donate. Got to purchase some great souvenirs here straight from the people who make it. Also needing another visa to get back into Zimbabwe and to pay for everything in cash is important info.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Exclusive Black Rhino Conservation Experience
The Exclusive Black Rhino Conservation Experience
Victoria Falls

This luxury lodge was a great treat for the evening. Our safari guide, Michael, was extremely passionate about his job and made the tour very fun for us. He really put the effort in to make sure we saw as many animals as possible especially the black rhinos.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arrive at your lodge in Chobe National Park and First Game Drive
Arrive at your lodge in Chobe National Park and First Game Drive
Chobe National Park

Although it started pouring rain, it was still amazing since they provided really nice and heavy ponchos. These rides are extremely enjoyable just to see all the views. We also got to see a family of elephants which was really exceptional.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Game Drives in Chobe National Park
Game Drives in Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park

Getting to be the first ones out into the park allowed us first access to seeing all the morning animals. We got to see a whole family of lions without having to compete with any other cars for the best photos ops. The lunch provided had a lot of food in it and was very filling. We really got to see almost every animal in the park and the guide, Ellie, did a great job spotting out exotic birds and plants.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arrival at Chobe Savanna Lodge
Arrival at Chobe Savanna Lodge
Chobe National Park

You need to take a very small boat with all of your luggage to this location which was a surprise. The guide that took us Felix was very nice and informative!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full day at Chobe Savanna Lodge
Full day at Chobe Savanna Lodge
South Africa

This is a very peaceful resort with limited visitors. The staff is extremely accommodating and the food was great.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Last morning at Chobe Savanna Lodge
Last morning at Chobe Savanna Lodge
Chobe National Park

We did a bird viewing cruise in the morning and got to see hippos out of the water as well as some elephants drinking water. Also a lot of baboons on the water.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Replied on Apr 14, 2023
Hello Mackenzie It was SUCH a pleasure to plan this trip with you and I am so happy that your parents decided to join in the end to share it with you.
Thank you so much for taking the time, not only to write a review of us but also of all your activities and accommodation. I will be sure to pass this on and it makes my heart sing to hear the smaller details. We try our best to make your trip as memorable as possible by adding the little surprises that makes it a little different. I love...
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Hello Mackenzie

It was SUCH a pleasure to plan this trip with you and I am so happy that your parents decided to join in the end to share it with you.
Thank you so much for taking the time, not only to write a review of us but also of all your activities and accommodation. I will be sure to pass this on and it makes my heart sing to hear the smaller details. We try our best to make your trip as memorable as possible by adding the little surprises that makes it a little different. I love that you remember so many of the guides names!
I will definitely make a note to advise guests to bring old clothes if they have some space left in their suitcases coming here.
There is actually this lovely initiative "Pack for a Purpose" that informs people of what they can bring and also what not (:
This link is to a friend's hostel in Livingstone and what they request - purely for interest sake. Or for when you come back to Southern Africa - which I'm pretty sure you are planning to to already!
https://www.packforapurpose.org/destinations/africa/zambia/jollyboys-backpackers-camp/

Again, thank you so much for trusting me with your trip!

Have a wonderful rest of 2023!

Deb