African Safaris
Written by Viator, September 2010
RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Nature & Wildlife,
Off-the-Beaten Path
African Safaris Reviews
We've found 61 African Safaris reviews from Viator.com travelers and members: what they loved, what they liked and what they think could be improved. It's all here to help you make the most of your next trip.
Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
We had a great time. We saw all of the Big 5 close up and personal, especially the elephants, their clash with the rhinos (the rhinos the winners), and finally the lions at feast. There were also the hippopotami in and out of their pool, and in the latter situation getting very nervous when a delicate little impala came tripping up to the water for a drink. The guide could have been clearer for the folk at the back of the truck, apparently, but we were seated up front, which was a great listening as well as viewing platform. Good breakfast and lunch at the hotel, and really the only criticism is the length of time we had to wait after breakfast was over for the tour to start; a bit wearing when we had made a very early start indeed from Cape Town (2 hours away). The drive through the Franschhoek mountains and the Heck valley was beautiful both ways.
Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: 2-Day Western Cape Safari from Cape Town: Big Five Game Drive and Cango Wildlife Ranch
An excellent tour that gave us a great flavor of South Africa! The Cango Wildlife Ranch was a bit of a worry when booking the excursion but it proved to be a highlight of the tour! Experiencing the up close encounters with the Tiger Cubs was so amazing as was the cage dive with the crocodiles! The facilities that were arranged was also above expectations. The Elephant ride arranged at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge was a once in a lifetime memory and the visit to the ostrich farm was amazing allowing personal contact with the Ostriches, even a ride on one!
Our guide "Stephanie" was pretty amazing and knew exactly what she was doing, providing great source information!
A fantastic tour that I would recommend to all!
Reply by Viator, March 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
First the down side--there are still not a lot of animals at Aquila. The Game Reserve is only 13 years old and is still stocking up. They also lost a few animals to poachers. Now, the up side--everything. The 2-hour ride out of Cape Town to Aquila was beautiful and showed scenery not seen in Cape Town. At arrival, we had champagne and an excellent breakfast and then some free time before the driving began. While in the open buses, we got very close to the "Big 5" and spent a lot of time seeing them. Very exciting. The guides tried to give you a lot of good angles and viewing points for pictures. We saw an "argument" between and elephant and two rhino (elephant won). The game reserve is fairly large in size and the guides had an idea where the wildlife was and drove you to the animals. Stopped half way in the middle of the drive for champagne and to stretch outside the bus. Finished with a good lunch. We didn't have time to get to Kruger--thank goodness we took this tour since I feel like we would have really missed something critical if we got to South Africa and didn't see the animals in their native habitats.
Reply by Viator, March 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
If this is the only safari trip you have ever been on then you will enjoy it. It is more like a drive round a huge wildlife park than I imagine a safari to be. Having said that you are practically guaranteed to see loads of animals wandering around (and some rescue ones in pens). The breakfast and lunch were very good indeed and the place itself is stunning. Worth a visit but don't expect "Wild at Heart".
Reply by Viator, February 2013
Doing what: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip
Very good driver who also double up as tour guide. He was very keen that we spot all the animals.. He took extra efforts so that we could take good pictures. Thanks to him, we had the best safari
Reply by Viator, February 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
The driver that collected us to the hotel and then took us to the game reserve didn't speak to us and tell us the timings of the day which was annoying as to begin with we felt that we were in the dark about where to go and what to do. The game reserve trip itself was excellent and breakfast and lunch was delicious.
Reply by Viator, January 2013
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
An outstanding day trip, not a safari but if you only have a short time to see animals in the wild this is great. Hospitality and food was superb.
Reply by Viator, January 2013
Doing what: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip
The nature safari itself was worthwhile, but not in a league with Kruger. Sun City was was OK - glad to have done it so we know what it is.
Reply by Viator, January 2013
Doing what: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip
The nature safari itself was worthwhile, but not in a league with Kruger. Sun City was was OK - glad to have done it so we know what it is.
Reply by Viator, December 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
If only one tour is done this is the one ! Nice drive punctuated with stops to take pictures. Welcome at the reserve exactly as promised, breakfast delicious and the safari itself was exceptional, we saw all the promised and spent lots of time with the lion ! a must to do in your lifetime.
Reply by Viator, December 2012
Doing what: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip
Great day out, really enjoyed the tour.
Reply by Viator, October 2012
Doing what: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip
This trip was amazing. There were seven of us on the trip so we had a small minibus to drive us up there. The driver pointed out lots of interesting things on the drive. We managed to get a whole safari jeep to ourselves other jeeps were full with 25 people on board (I think other people were jealous). We then went off to sun city and spent a few hours in Valley of Waves. This was an extra £12 and we were only there for two hours but we enjoyed it. A very enjoyable day.
Reply by Viator, October 2012
Doing what: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip
I have travelled around the world, bt this tour was the worst tour ever. highly priced for the services delivered. the tour guide and the driver were highly rude and very unfriendly. we got late by half an hour and the tour guide started shouting. on the way he did not even say a word. did not tell us anything about the city. i would not recommend this to anyone. bad bad bad.
Reply by Viator, September 2012
Doing what: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip
This is basically a taxi trip out to the nature reserve and sun city. Quite expensive for what it is... I was given a 6am pick-up time but was not collected until 7.30 - not even an apology. Almost no commentary. The nature reserve is pleasant; sun city is a waste of time! If you have a different opportunity of seeing animals, best to do that instead of this trip.
Reply by Viator, September 2012
Doing what: Aquila Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town
I booked this tour after I read the reviews and it was not as good as the reviews had said. I was incredibly disappointed with the game drive part of it because it was very artificial instead of what a natural game drive is really supposed to be. The guide knew exactly where the animals would be and the lions were kept behind a gate in a different section of the park. While the land is big and the animals are roaming free, some of them are fed and it wasn't a game drive experience that seemed very authentic to me. If it was the only game drive I did on my trip, it would've been disappointing that this is the only way that I saw African animals.
Having said that, the pickup was on time and the driver was really nice. The game drive driver was very knowledgeable about animals and was really good. The food at the lodge is incredible as well, almost worth it just for the food - but not for that price.
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