"Southern Africa 2024"

We knew that our Southern Africa trip was going to be great, but it surpassed our expectations!

We enjoyed an unforgettable 18 days journey through Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, filled with remarkable wildlife and such diverse landscapes, from arid to semi-arid desert to coastlines to wetlands. We began our journey in Namibia, staying at the Desert Hills Lodge the Naukluft NP near Sossusvlei, where we explored the towering red dunes and iconic Deadvlei clay pan. Afterward, we traveled to the coastal town of Swakopmund for a night, where a desert tour introduced us to the unique flora and fauna of the Namib.

Next, we ventured to Twyfelfontein’s simply magnificent Onduli Ridge, where we explored ancient rock art sites and set off on a 4x4 excursion to spot elephants and the elusive black rhino. Moving on to Etosha Heights Private Reserve, we enjoyed thrilling game drives, observing Namibia’s wildlife in its natural habitat, including elephants, a rhino, giraffes, oryxes, springboks etc.

After a brief stay in Windhoek, we flew to Botswana’s Okavango Delta, where we stayed at Camp Okavango and Camp Moremi. Here, we immersed ourselves in the delta’s spectacular waterways and rich ecosystem, spotting hippos, lions, zebras, antilopes, elephants, and a vibrant variety of birds on mokoro canoe rides and game drives.

Our final destination was Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, where we stayed at the charming Pioneers Lodge. Seeing the magnificent falls was a breathtaking highlight that capped off our adventure.

We owe much of this seamless experience to ADELLE BELL from Discover Africa. Her expert planning and support made the trip effortless, allowing us to focus on enjoying every moment of this unforgettable journey.

Thank you belle Adelle for this simply magnificent experience!

Marco and Sibylle from Switzerland

"Wonderful trip to Kapama Buffalo Camp"

We booked a trip to Kapama Buffalo Camp through Devryn Panaino at Discover Africa. He checked out several options within our budget. He was very responsive or one of his colleagues (thanks Megan) replied to our questions. We booked directly from the UK but the whole process was very smooth. Would highly recommend and will definitely contact again if we are looking for another safari or other African experiences in the near future.

"I went on a safari to Sabi Sands this October"

I went on a safari to Sabi Sands this year, and Discover Africa arranged the perfect 5 day stay for me. I was planning on a fairly short notice of 2 months considering Oct is high season in the sands, but Barry Greenshields was able to fetch some great accommodation options for me. He recommended the Sabi Sabi little Bush Camp and it was absolutely amazing; the wildlife experience, the accommodation, cleanliness of the camp, facilities, the food, guides and the staff was all top notch. Being a photography hobbyist, I had laid out my expectations of getting some great photos of wildlife especially big cats in the safari, and surely enough I managed to have some amazing sightings on Lions and the elusive Leopard. I had quite a few Leopard sightings, during the day as well as in the night, making for some amazing photos. Other than the big 5, I also got to see some very beautiful birds which are always a great subject for photos along with other prey animals as well.

Being a tour operator, I think the real value the company can offer is i) giving accommodation recommendation based on experience (actual stay experience is up to the accommodation management but the tour operator must know what it is like and whether it would meet the client's expectation), ii) effective and responsive communication, iii) being transparent with costs and iv) ensuring the booking process is smooth and the client does not experience hiccups on the logistics or payments etc. I was very happy that Barry was great in all these areas - from the planning process, from recommending the accommodation, accounting for my budget and tending to all my queries. Communication was fast and responsive with all channels available i.e. email, WhatsApp, call etc and I didn't have to wait long for getting responses despite it being busy season. He was also very transparent with trip costs i.e. the accommodation cost, flight ticket and transfer cost etc so that I would know exactly what I am paying for and make adjustments accordingly to suit my budget. Sometimes tour operators do not provide cost breakups since the client would then make comparisons, but I believe that if your service is good, you have fair prices and a host of accommodations to choose from then there shouldn't be anything to hide - the client will recognize value and pay for it accordingly. They had booked air tickets as well to and from Johannesburg and every thing was super smooth throughout the trip - I just had to sit back and enjoy the trip. The payment process was also very easy - i.e. no "5% extra if you pay by credit card", etc.

If I go to South Africa again, I would definitely book with Discover Africa again.

"Great Experience!"

Diane worked with us to create the perfect vacation. She listened to what we thought we wanted and offered an experience that far exceeded our expectations. Lodges were perfect, and the safaris were amazing. I highly recommend planning vacations through Discover Africa, as they made it easy, safe, and a really great adventure!

"A Superb Safari Experience"

Our Kruger Park safari has been one of our most memorable holidays ever. We enjoyed every minute of it, even though we hardly had a moment to relax!

Vihann, our Discover Africa expert, listened attentively to our ideas for our safari and what we hoped to see, and came up with an excellent itinerary, staying three nights in each of three different locations and camps (Southern Kruger, Sabi Sands and Mluwati Concession). All the accommodation selected was superb, even though every camp was unique in its setting, accommodation and set-up.

It may, or may not have been intentional (!), but as this was our first safari experience it worked very well that the first camp was enclosed, the second an open camp but with a perimeter that kept larger animals out and the third a completely open camp, so that we felt surrounded by all manner of wild animals and meant that we gradually acclimatised to the African wilderness over the course of our holiday!

We particularly appreciated that everything, from local flight transfers to laundry (which meant not having to over-pack) was arranged and included in the fully inclusive package. The car transfers between camps were seamless and we felt generally very well fed and looked after by all the staff, who were always attentive and accommodating. All our safari guides were very knowledgeable, and we very much enjoyed being in small groups when out on safari drives.

"Planning the Perfect Safari Vacation"

Our vacation planner (Megan Warrington) listened to our requests from the outset. She made great suggestions regarding the timing, guided us through the selection of the hotels/lodges and activities and created the absolutely perfect vacation for us. She was in constant contact with us throughout the process and guided us through every aspect of our trip from travel, visas, transfers, packing, tipping, etc. Nothing was left to chance. And during our trip, she provided personal contact information in case we encountered any glitches. When we experienced a minor problem (room assignment at one of the lodges), she was there to correct the issue immediately.

Megan custom-tailored the perfect vacation specific to our needs and we couldn't be happier with our trip.

"Use Discover Africa to Plan Your Trip!"

Megan, at Discover Africa, planned the perfect trip for us. The itinerary was personalized for where & when we wanted to go, what we wanted to see, and how long we wanted to stay. The lodges she recommended were fantastic! (Victoria & Alfred in Cape Town, Arathusa Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands, South Africa, Victoria Falls Lodge in Zimbabwe & Chobe Safari Lodge in Botswana) She arranged all the transfers between countries, lodges, and activities. The safari drives, sunset boat cruises, Victoria Falls tour, drum show, and private boat tours were amazing and everything ran smoothly. We saw so many animals and beautiful sites. It was truly a trip of a lifetime. Thank you Megan for answering our many questions, keeping us informed, not only throughout the planning process, but as we got closer to the trip & throughout our journey. Definitely use Discover Africa & especially Megan to plan the greatest adventure of your life!

"EXCELLENT!!!"

Adelle, our travel coordinator with Discover Africa, took care of every single detail of our wonderful trip! We started planning 14 months out and Adelle took care of everything all the while keeping us notified and being 100% available for questions. As for the trip itself, it was the trip of a life time! 10/10 recommend! The accommodations, the food, the people and South Africa were absolutely wonderful!!!

"Matthys Creates Safari Magic!"

I have just returned from my third visit to my favorite safari camps in Botswana. Each time I have taken a different friend with me. I always tell them that Matthys van Aswegen is a master at organizing my trips, but it's not until they actually go with me that they realize I am not exaggerating! Every detail is addressed and any special requests I may have are always achieved. The very best part of this trip was that I actually got to meet Matthys and his dear wife, Leri, while I was in Cape Town. I was so happy to finally have the chance to personally thank him for all he has done to provide me with the beauty and magic of Africa. I already have another trip planned for April, 2025, and perhaps even another in 2026. Thank you Discover Africa and Matthys!

"Incredible Service and Experience"

We recently went to South Africa and Botswana. Antoinette helped us organize it and the entire process was so incredible. Antoinette listened to our needs and organized a perfect trip. The actual trip went seamlessly. We had an incredible time at Sabi Sands and Chobe National Park. Thank you Antionette and Discover Africa. We will be back!