Our African Safari Travel Specialists

Trip was well organized by Zicasso’s travel specialist and her team. Support in Kenya with my missing luggage was outstanding. Safari tours, city tours, and the respective accommodations more than met our expectations.

We just loved our African safari.

We went for the animals, fell in love with the people.
A safari has been a dream of my husband’s and mine for years, but planning it seemed insurmountable, until Zicasso connected us with our agent and tour operator. Our agent made our dream trip come true, more stunningly than we could ever have hoped. Just as important, she made it easy for us.
From our first phone call with our agent, our confidence in her grew, increasing with each of several iterations of our itinerary. She listened to what we wanted. Because we mentioned loving “Out of Africa,” she booked us two days in Nairobi at the outset so we could visit the Karen Blixen Museum and stay at the hotel nearby. Our time in Nairobi also included visits to the elephant orphanage and a giraffe center, as well as a dinner with family friends. It also provided a chance to get our bearings after the long flight, before transitioning to the actual safari segment of our trip.
Our time in Tanzania began with some moving personal experiences in the village of Mto Wa Mbu, first at a school, ambitiously educating hundreds of eager young students in the face of ever-present resource constraints. Next, we visited three homes, where we were privileged to sponsor small solar electricity installations. These efforts are supported by the agency, in partnership with one of the camps; companies that invest ethically and generously in the people and country. These interactions added a measure of reality, texture, and reflection to what was otherwise a truly luxury safari trip. That day, the campaign motorcade of the president of Tanzania swept through the village while we watched. Our agent had alerted us that it might disrupt our schedule, which it did not. This was just one example of her excellent communication with us before, during, and after our trip.
Prior to leaving home, we wondered how we would connect with our guides and hosts along the way. We were amazed at how seamlessly we were able to make all the transfers. Everywhere we went, there was someone to meet us. Even the seemingly chaotic nature of the small airports didn’t faze us because there was invariably someone looking out for us. The one and only time we didn’t look for our greeter (though she was waiting and looking for us!), another airport employee took us under his wing until the right connection was made.
Every lodging our agent chose for us had its own vibe and all were well-appointed, hospitable, and memorable, with staff focused on our comfort and enjoyment. Our two nights at a tented camp near Ngorongoro Crater afforded an authentic camp environment in an ideal location close to the crater. After giving us an amazing first drive in the crater, our guide bypassed scores of picnickers and drove us to a secluded spot, where five staff members had set up a tent for a private lunch for us, complete with grilled meats and a full bar. Back at the camp that night we put four tables together for dinner with new friends, followed by singing and dancing by the staff. The manager and a few people on the staff stand out, along with the first of many Maasai escorts we met. 
Our second camp was in the Northern Serengeti, a newly-opened camp that our agent selected when a nearby camp wasn’t available. This “Plan B” earned an A-plus! The manager, some of the staff, and especially our dedicated server, as well as many others, took such great care to make our time there special. The chef there was a true talent. The food everywhere was delicious; here it was gourmet. On the third night of four, they upgraded us to the family tent (a fully-equipped, luxurious house). Everything they did seemed to be designed to surprise and delight us. (We joked to ourselves that they might be mistaking us for VIPs.) They welcomed us with song when we arrived and saw us off with more songs, hugs, and exchanges of WhatsApp contact information. 
One morning of our stay in the Northern Serengeti was dedicated to a thrilling hot-air balloon ride, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. Our agent booked the region’s premier balloon company for our trip.
Our final accommodation was at the lodge in Eastern Serengeti, another delightful camp with welcoming staff, a great gathering space and bar, and delicious food. Our suite was incredible, with full views out into the bush and visits from many animals. Among many wonderful staff members there, the manager and two staff members made big impressions on us. While at this camp, we were treated to two special events, a sundowner out in the bush and, on our last night there, a private dinner under the stars with a cake, singing, and dancing for our anniversary. We ate with our guide in the light of lanterns hanging from trees, under the watchful eye of a spear-carrying Maasai guard and with the sounds of lions and hyenas all around us—magical.
Oh, I suppose I should mention that there were animals! We saw many lions, several cheetahs, a leopard in a tree guarding his kill from hyenas, countless elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, impala, hippos, Pumbaa, baboons, gazelles, and birds of all kinds. Also, one fleeting view of a rhino. And a dramatic Mara River crossing of zebra and wildebeest threading their way through a phalanx of waiting crocodiles. The Great Migration didn’t disappoint. There were so many wildebeest that our guide joked that if anyone asked how many we saw, we should reply, “All of them!”
That guide was the magic man. Fredy was with us for almost our entire time in Tanzania, which meant that on two days he dropped us off at an airport before driving for many hours to meet us at the next destination. He holds an honored place among his peers for his deep knowledge of the land and animals, dedication to guests, sense of humor, infectious laugh and booming singing voice. When he was in the camp, everyone felt his presence. On drives, there were countless instances where he spotted a lion, leopard, or cheetah from a great distance, with no other trucks around. We were able to pull up closer than we thought possible, silently marveling at an animal, pride, or herd without company. Late one afternoon, he stood outside the truck and gave us a surprisingly comprehensive lecture on elephant dung. It turns out he was stalling while the lodge's team set up our sundowner close by! We had a good laugh over that, one of many. Leaving him on the last day felt like saying goodbye to a family member.
It is clear from speaking with staff at all the locations we stayed that our agent is well-known and respected there. They have affection for her and know that she insists on quality experiences for her clients. These strong connections are why she and the agency are equated with the top level of quality in safari planning and execution. We have already recommended her to friends and give an unqualified endorsement to anyone with a safari on their bucket list. Our recipe for a guaranteed amazing safari? Hire our agent and this agency.

I just got back from a wonderful two-week trip to Southern Africa and want to thank Zicasso for putting me in touch with the travel agency and Shannon, who did a wonderful job of constructing my dream trip. Everything was top-notch and well-executed, and Shannon was friendly, responsive (I'm very picky and made many revisions), and a great communicator. 
When there was a wrinkle (which fortunately was very rare), she was right on top of it (in one case a lodge had booked us into their other property and tried to move us there, but Shannon showed them proof that we had booked over a year in advance and insisted we stay in the original property. They honored that).
Here is my review of specific aspects of the trip:
Cape Town. I can't say enough about the hotel, which was one of the best we'd ever stayed in. The property itself (it's a very modern and beautiful boutique hotel steps from the beach) and the customer service were wonderful. We stayed for four nights and I can't imagine a better place to stay in Cape Town. We spent one night in the wharf area before coming to the hotel and I'm so glad we opted to stay near the beach instead. Having a beautiful ocean view and being able to walk to the beach to watch the sunset every night was incredible. 
Also, the staff were over-the-top amazing; they were so flexible and accommodating (if you wanted breakfast early or after the regular serving period, they would happily oblige; if you walked in with take-out, they would plate it for you and bring it to your room. They would also pick up take-out and deliver it to you). 
There were also many special touches - free wine, free, stocked mini-bar, free hot cocoa, and popcorn that they would deliver to your room any time - we felt very cared for. One of the managers led us on a guided hike up Lion's Head mountain, which was super-fun (he not only brought tea and snacks, but is an excellent photographer and took beautiful photos of us that he shared). I highly recommend the activity to anyone who is reasonably fit (the views at the top are outstanding). We also did a peninsula tour and an all-day food and culture walking tour the next, and highly recommend our guide - she was delightful and fun.
The lodge. Wow, I had read all the five-star reviews of this lodge on a private reserve near Kruger before we left and wondered how it could ever meet such high expectations, but it exceeded them. This was more like 10-star than 5-star. The staff (much like the staff at our hotel in Cape Town) were so friendly, professional and responsive. They would do anything to make you happy. And like them, all of the warmth and special treatment felt genuine rather than fake or forced. 
The food was amazing (and plentiful - all meals, alcohol and high tea were included), but what set this lodge apart was the amazing rangers (we were lucky to have the head ranger and his tracker). I learned so much from them about animal behavior as they were incredibly knowledgeable (and extremely respectful) of the animals. As a result, we saw all of the big five multiple times (my favorites were seeing three leopards and seven lions, including both male lions sleeping after a kill and female lions slowly hunting Cape buffalo in the early evening). We met people at this lodge who had stayed at multiple other five-star lodges and all said this one was the best, which I can believe.
Victoria Falls. The lodge was the number one rated lodge in Victoria Falls and though it was very nice, it did honestly pale by comparison to our lodge near Kruger (the outdoor bathtub and pool were both dirty and not usable. I'm not sure how one would remedy this, other than to re-order the trip so one ends in Sabi Sands). 
The staff were nice and the food was wonderful, and like our other lodge, activities were included (the guided trip to Victoria Falls was very informative as was the private "sundowner" river cruise we had on our arrival night. We saw male elephants engaging in "horseplay" in the water, a trip highlight. However, the game drive (no tracker and a much smaller park) paled in comparison to those we did in Sabi Sands). 
The optional (extra charge) elephant interaction at their sanctuary was really amazing and we highly recommend it to anyone staying in Victoria Falls. The falls were about a third dry because we went after the winter dry season. Shannon had warned us about this in advance, so they were a little underwhelming, but I'm still glad we went because we wanted to see them and weren't sure if we'd get back to this part of the continent on another trip. If you want to visit the falls, be sure to look at photos of how they look during certain months so your expectations are met. 
Chobe River Cruise (Namibia).  I'm so glad we did this cruise because it was a great way to end our trip on a really high note. We originally wanted to book the Zambezi Queen (which is bigger, more modern, and more luxurious), but only the Chobe Princess was available for our dates and we ended up getting the smallest (four rooms) of the three CPs. I thought it might be underwhelming, but I was wrong. We had a great time on our small ship with six members of a German family. 
The staff were wonderful (amazing food from Chef Edgar!) and "game drives" on the river turned out to be a game-changer. Although we saw many animals during our land-based safaris, we did see different behavior from the water (elephant herds crossing the river; baboons at play for 30 minutes at a time, whereas on land, the baboons would run away; huge groups of giraffe in an open field). 
Unlike on land, where you would sometimes drive 30 minutes or an hour in search of a sighting, we saw animals the entire time we were on small boat excursions from the larger boat. Essentially, we'd spend 30 minutes watching elephants and then move to crocodiles, baboons, and giraffes, etc.). Of my top recommendations for people going to Africa, it's to do this river cruise in addition to land-based safaris.
Thanks again to Shannon (and Zicasso) for making our dream trip come true. Although we've been to many wonderful places (including Patagonia, Bora Bora, Australia/New Zealand, etc), my wife and I agree that this was the best trip we've ever taken. And we will be back!

As you know, we had difficulty deciding between Zicasso's travel specialists for this trip.
As it turned out, the specialist we went with and his team did an exceptional job planning and executing all the details necessary for a memorable trip for me and my family.
I really appreciated how detail-oriented he was and how responsive he was to inquiries pre-trip and, when necessary, during the trip.
He deserves the highest recommendation from the experienced travelers that we are.
Richard

The travel company was outstanding. We received Exceptional service and attention to detail. Zicasso's tour company absolutely delivered on everything they promised. We could not have asked for a more knowledgeable, courteous, and professional guide than ours. He was simply extraordinary. The travel company and our trip coordinator had the entire trip meticulously organized.

The trip was the dream of a lifetime. Everything was above and beyond. Zicasso’s travel operator made the process smooth and I had zero to worry about.

We had a very good travel experience with Zicasso's tour company. Our travel agent was organized and responsive to our requests before the trip, and he stayed in communication with us throughout the trip. We traveled as a couple and were delighted with the intimate and comfortable safari camp and the luxurious city and Diani Beach accommodations. Our guides in the cities and in the Maasai Mara National Reserve were knowledgeable and helpful. Overall, it was a great experience.