Bush and Beach: Luxury Kruger Safari & Mozambique Island Escape

We are fairly seasoned travellers, and did a lot of homework before planning this trip. Nothing really prepared us for how fabulous it would be.  I'd say it was the trip of a lifetime, except that we fully intend to go back.

From first contact to last, this travel agency was a pleasure to deal with.  They were responsive to our ideas about what we wanted to do and see, and put together several itineraries which also included many suggestions that we had not thought of. 

Ours was a private 3 week tour, beginning in Durban, then to the Sabi Sands game reserve (where we stayed at the Londolozi Founders Camp).  We took the Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town where we stayed a few days at the very lovely Cape Grace Hotel, and spent 3 wonderful days at the a wine estate near Stellenbosch.

Our travel agency arranged all of our transportation and excursions.  Everything went like clockwork:  all of our guides or transports were right on time, and without exception they were extremely pleasant and knowledgeable people.  We learned a lot about the country from each of them.

South Africa is a long way from Canada.  What made us feel very secure was that we had the personal cell phone number of our agent and knew that we could call her at any hour if something went awry.

The very best thing is that we never had to call!

I would recommend this tour company highly, and would definitely use them again,

I was planning a South African Safari for my family of 4, and the information and options I researched were overwhelming and complex for someone that has no prior knowledge or experience with Safari's.  I came across the Zicasso website and they matched me up with this safari travelcompany.  My agent provided insight into the planning and options that I would have never identified myself.  I had many questions both before and after booking this trip and communicated with this agent by email (from the US) due to the time difference.    She responded immediately and thoroughly ever time. We just returned and the trip was Amazing and could not have gone better. 

  Upon hearing our goals, my agent suggested two private game reserves (3 nights each) in two different locations so we could get two different experiences. We stayed at Kapama Southern Camp in the Kapama Game reserve near Hoedspruit, and Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge in Sabi Sands.  It was a two hour drive between the two lodges.  We originally had reservations at Lion Sands which is next to Sabi Sands, but about three months ago, the Lion Sands burned down.  Fortunately, our agent notified us just hours after the fire letting us know what happened and informing us that she was able to book the Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge - which turned out to be amazing.  I've read that some folks had to receive refunds because they could not get reservations on such short notice in the area.  We were really glad our agent was looking out for us and greatly appreciated all of her efforts and recommendations!  We definitely got two different experiences that you can read below - each amazing in its own way and the recommendation to split the trip with two camps was perfect!

At Kapama, the brush was very dense with trees and bush so off roading was not possible.  We frequently saw animals everywhere as we drove and there were differences in the quantity and frequency of some species at each location.  There were interesting and fun excursions (Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center and Elephant Encounter) here that we could not get elsewhere.  We could only do a hot air balloon flight at Hoedspruit but were disappointed that the winds were too strong while we were there so never did this.   Kapama Southern Camp has a fence around it and ony the entrance is always open. Each morning we would come out and see wart hogs, Nyala, Kudo, Impala,  and other animals near our room.

At Sabi Sands, the bush was not as dense with trees so we could go off road to track down big five which was amazing.  It is a large area so we could drive for 20 minute or more withouot seeing any animals.   Sabi Sands Camp is completely open (no surrounding fence) and there was a leopard sighting at camp for three consecutive days. This added an element of danger and excitement. Once at 0400, we were awoken by the monkeys in the trees indicating that the leopard was probably close by.

We booked, what we thought would be the trip of a lifetime.  It was so fabulous in reality, that we think we need to go again!  We had turned almost all of the trip over to our travel agency to plan for us, giving them only a minimal outline of what we would like to see.  They planned the trip and only with a few minor changes (e.g. add a day for a wine tour in the Cape) we booked.  Frankly, we were a little nervous about placing a high level of trust in a company we only knew via Zicasso and the internet, but it was trust well placed and rewarded.  Our trip consisted of 3 days at Cape Town, a few nights at Londolozi in Sabi Sands/Kruger, a day at Victoria Falls, a few days at Chobe Game Lodge on the Chobe River, a few days at Savute, and the last few days in the Okavango Delta at Xugana Island Lodge.  Almost 3 weeks in total. All logistics were seamless with no problems whatsoever despite numerous hand offs and transports.

I had a great experience with this safari tour planner and Zicasso. My sons and I wanted to go to South Africa and Botswana on two weeks notice at the end of July, 2017. I knew we needed to create a bespoke itinerary but I was a little bit intimidated by not knowing my way around South Africa at all. I had done some preliminary searching and received multiple quotes that were absurdly expensive. Somehow I came across this travel planner and from the outset I could see that he was extremely knowledgeable and understood what I did want and what I did not want. I wanted luxury but at sane price; to be in the hands of people I could trust on the ground; great game viewing; adventure for my sons. Our travel planner booked us at Sabi Sabi Selati in Sabi Sands in South Africa and Mashatu in Botswana. We loved both camps. Selati is like an old world safari experience as I had always imagined it to be in terms of decor. The food was great, the evening meals with other guests at the lodge were cozy. Mashatu is a different experience altogether - the game viewing is more plentiful and less of a trek to find, the suites more luxurious, the compound more extensive and overall less expensive than Sabi Sabi. In addition, there are bicycling treks at Mashatu which my sons really liked as well as a dug out they call a hide where you can view the game up close as the animals drink at a watering hole. I had insisted that I did not want to fly from Sabi Sabi to Mashatu and our planner did arrange for a great driver to get transport us by road but I would not recommend doing that - the trip is too long (6 hours) and we ran into some difficulties on the road so if we go back, and I hope we do, we will fly from Sabi Sands to Mashatu. He also arranged for drivers to pick us up at the airport when we flew into Johannesburg, to pick us up the next day to take us back to the airport for the flight to Skukuza, to drive us to Mashatu, to get us to Polykwane Airport for our flight to Capetown and to pick us up at the Capetown airport and every one of those drivers were prompt, courteous, polite, knowledgeable about the area. I had made my own arrangements to stay overnight at the in Johannesburg and highly recommend that hotel - fabulous rooms and suites, great rooftop bar, gorgeous views of the city from throughout the resort. Overall, five stars to this safari tour planner - he will listen to you and steer you in the right direction.