Clients Trip Reports Southern Africa 2026

SAFARI TO NAMIBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

Hello Miles,

We had a fabulous trip! Everything worked out great.

The Kulala Desert Lodge was great despite the lack of heat and hot water only during the day. The desert and dune landscapes were awesome and well worth the trip. The balloon safari and champagne breakfast afterwards was fantastic. We saw a few of the desert adapted animals, but no bat-eared fox.

MalaMala Camp is still my favorite place. It was super fantastic to be back. It seems pretty much the same after the recent change in ownership. Highlights for us was seeing the 8 lion cubs and a wild dog hunt. Of course we saw the Big 5 after only 2 drives. The room we got was better than the first time as it faced the river directly instead of a watering hole and they had champagne for my son’s graduation.

Thanks to you and your team for arranging a fantastic trip for us!!!

Next, we want to maybe East Africa or somewhere we can see cheetah!

Thanks again,
Linda Phelps, Jul 2026

 

CLASSIC FAMILY SAFARI TO ZAMBIA WITH SPECIALIST GUIDE NIC POLENAKIS

Dear Elena and Team,

Yes, we are home and in recovery. It was a long journey and worth every minute.

You asked for feedback. I know Dave is providing you with some and here is mine:

The choice of camps (Mwamba Bush Camp and Tusk & Mane Kutali Camp) for us was perfect and each a bit different. Mwamba was a great place to start. It was fun to have Lester and Val as our hosts. In subtle ways it makes a difference when a woman is involved in a camp. It hasn’t happened often when we have been on safari…Also liked that Mwamba was a family owned/ run camp with true roots in Zambia. Both camps accommodated us so that we were all in one vehicle which was very appreciated.

Kutali fulfilled Dave’s wish to have a bit of the experience of our first trip with real tents and bucket showers. Again, food, staff, and setting were all enjoyed. Wish there had been a bit more time to just enjoy sitting in the camp and watching the Zambezi River….but we had things to find! This camp gave ‘the kids’ a chance to spend part of an afternoon on the Zambezi looking and ‘fishing’, which added a new experience for them.

It was a pleasure to return to Zambia. There is a less ‘touristed’ feel to being there and far fewer game drive vehicles, which we loved. We enjoyed the food and each camp did a wonderful job of accommodating to the food restrictions we brought with us. It is always impressive to see what they can prepare in limited circumstances. I would also note that there were more fresh vegies, and at Mwamba, fruit. Fruit was more limited at Kutali. Dave and I observed that the flavor profiles of much that was prepared was more towards Middle Eastern and Indian. Felt more realistic as to what might be generally eaten in the country than just getting ‘western’ food.

Our ‘local’ guides were a true pleasure. Both Patrick at Mwamba and Johan at Kutali were another perfect fit. Would recommend them to anyone. Had a chance for more extended conversations with them while we were out in the Bush which we enjoyed. They really helped make this trip unforgettable…

It was a trip that exceeded our expectations. It is filled with memories, stories, and lots of laughter. And, thank you for reading the ‘Postcards’. They are my way of journaling our trips and storing memories in black and white, along with the videos that Dave creates.

Thank you again for helping create these life memories for ourselves and our family.
Lugena Wahlquist, Jul 2026

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

Hi Elena,

What can I say? This is probably one of the most exciting vacations we have ever had. We did not have any major issues during those 2 weeks. Everything ran smoothly, from the transfers to-and-from the airports to the safaris and the guided tours. The hotels were great, particularly the safari lodges…

Before getting there, I had some doubts about climbing into an open vehicle with wild animals nearby, but once we did the first safari, well, life changed! The sensation of being part of a big adventure was incredible, doing off road scrambling in those Landcruisers while trying to follow animal tracks, and that immensely vast savanna with that blue sky, the pitch-black nights stargazing…it definitely has the wow factor…

We could see the big seven. Our guide in Ngoma Safari Lodge, Sam, asked us about our favorite animals. My wife chose the zebra because of its beauty and I chose the cheetah because of its speed. We had seen the big six but no cheetahs and he said that the last one he saw was 3 weeks ago. And in the last safari at Chobe I really prayed to God to allow us one more lion, because for like an hour we had not seen anything great. And then, Sam parks the vehicle behind one already at the roadside, he turns his head to us and says with delight: Cheetahs!! And there were 4 cheetahs, a coalition, looking for prey. These guys marched in a line about 15 feet from my side, crossed in front of the vehicle and disappeared in the bushes. They made my day…

The food was great in the safari lodges and in the fancy Cape Town restaurants. We also had the opportunity to eat at Bo-Kaap the bobotie and the samosas…

Personally I think that going that extra day to Johannesburg was a good idea. We had a chance to see another aspect of the history of South Africa with the visit to Soweto and the Apartheid Museum, and had a nice tour of the city. Our guide Lebo did a great job escorting us inside the Apartheid Museum to see the most important features of it. We really learned a lot that day. A trip to South Africa should include one or two days in Johannesburg.

Some observations I would like to point out:
– The African Rock Hotel is beautiful and comfy, a boutique hotel. It is perfect for a night before going back to the airport but it is too far away from places like Mandela’s Square and Rosebank Mall.
– The Palm River Hotel in Victoria Falls is beautiful, not to mention its location with a river in front of it. You can spend hours just sitting there looking at the river. The room was very big and comfortable but it really needed more light (very dark) and a few drawers for the clothes.
– The accommodations at Savanna Private Game Reserve and Ngoma Safari Lodge were superb, as well as the service and food. Everybody made us feel like royalty. Can’t find a blemish! Loved the view of the flatlands at Ngoma from the room with that red sunset! God, it was great! The dinner surprises at Savanna were a very nice touch.
– The Victoria & Alfred Hotel was very nice and comfortable. Breakfast was very good…
– UBER service worked perfectly in Cape Town and JoBurg.
– We had the chance to go to FYN and The Waterside in Cape Town, and Marble in JoBurg. All were great, particularly FYN, and contrary to what I thought, it was not a boring lengthy experience. All had one to three stars in the 2026 Woolworth’s awards.
– Lunch at Baine’s was great: a table in front of the river with the thunder of the falls and good food.
– When we arrived at Victoria Falls a person called Lakie (not sure about the spelling) picked us up from the airport…he was also a guide and took us to the falls. I think he did well and we had a great time there.
– Loved the helicopter ride. The sunset cruise in the Zambezi River was nice, and I had the opportunity to take beautiful photos.
– Our guide Howie in Cape Town was the best. We enjoyed those two days with him in the peninsula and in the winelands.

Elena, thank you very much to you and all your team at AAC for your great planning and for this great vacation. And in the coming years I hope I can return with my son, daughter, son-in-law and grandson, in a safari vehicle just for us (new item in my bucket list).

Sincerely,
Roberto Pérez Gutiérrez, Jun 2026

 

SAFARI TO BOTSWANA WITH CAPE TOWN AND VICTORIA FALL VISITS

Thank you so much!!

We had a great trip. Everything was so smooth!!

Cape Town is special, probably could use another day or two, Howie was a fantastic guide, our hotel was very comfortable and the people we met were beautiful! Spectacular sightseeing!

The Botswana safari was amazing – and we loved all the camps but Splash and Lagoon were our favorites. Lagoon is so beautiful right on the river. Splash was amazing as I loved being out on safari with all the water with the vehicles going through lots of water roads!! Splash Camp was quite a way from the airstrip (1 hour and 20 minutes) but it was all part of the experience. The camp staff and the guides are the best!! They went out of their way to ensure we had the BEST safari experience…One of the stand out memories was seeing the wild dog hunt from start to finish!! It was definitely a Nat Geo moment!! Leopard cubs, big cats galore, painted dogs hunting, sable and with the exception of rhinoceros, every animal imaginable en mass!

Loved Victoria Falls and our guide, Precious Maufane!! She greeted us late in the day and offered expert knowledge of the falls as well as some interesting history lessons. She is a gem! We needed 2 nights in Victoria Falls, but that was our fault as we were headed to Namibia to meet up w our friends. We did the self-drive in Namibia and it was amazing – such beautiful landscapes!!

Thanks to Mark and the Africa Adventure Companies staff, our first adventure to Africa left us wanting more!!
Patti and Steve Hedenquist, Jun 2026

 

WILD EXPEDITIONS SAFARI TO ZIMBABWE AND BOTSWANA

Hi Elena,

Thank you for reaching out! In a word our trip was amazing!
• The personnel who met and shepherded us through airports, immigration, etc. were on time and very helpful.
• We appreciated the timing and spacing of the camps with the visit to Victoria Falls in-between the two camps. It was nice to have that small break in the structure of the camps.
• It was interesting to visit the Monde Village and learn more about the culture and African people.
• We loved the location and accommodations of the Ilala Hotel.
• The Victoria Falls experience with guide (Precious Maufane — she sends you love) and the Sunset Ra-Ikane Cruise on the Zambezi River were great additions to our trip.
• Camp Hwange was excellent! Our guide, Rob Dube, and tracker, Timothy, were knowledgeable, kind, and fun. We always felt safe. We appreciated the service and attention we received and were impressed with the structure of the experience. We did like that for lunch each group (family or couple) ate together rather than with the whole group. Being with others was generally fun and added to the experience but having one meal break from interacting and “being on” was nice.
• Camp Karangoma…The annual floods and heavy rains resulted in a great deal of water and higher vegetation so that the animals were more spread out and not as easily found…We loved our guide, TK, and tracker, Robson. Like our previous guide/tracker, they were knowledgeable, easy to be with, fun and made the experience rewarding. The two boating experiences were very appreciated and gave us opportunities we did not have at Hwange. Overall, at Karangoma it would have been ideal to have been able to see more and different wildlife.

We appreciate all that you did to make our trip the great adventure that it was! We definitely recommend the Africa Adventure Company, Camp Hwange and Karangoma!

All the best,
Jill Rasmussen, Jun 2026

 

LEGENDS SAFARI TO ZIMBABWE

Thank you Mark and AAC.

Delta Airlines, not withstanding, it was a stellar trip and Eric and I are grateful to have followed the Kellers to Zimbabwe.

We have both had some epic travel adventures and this certainly came out at the top tier of our list. I especially appreciated our wonderful guides, Precious, Patrick, Sam, and Paul. The chefs and hospitality at both Ivory Lodge and Amalinda Lodge were amazing (I’m one of *those* people who take food photos and don’t regret doing so over the past week). 

Also, please pass along an extra thanks to your team on the ground in Johannesburg Airport, who removed so much stress from our travel.

Eric and I are already tossing about the idea of curing our mal d’Afrique with another trip in the future!

Best wishes,

Eric Hjemfelt & Marlita Reddy-Hjelmfelt, traveled with the Kellers, May-Jun 2026

 

SAFARI TO ZIMBABWE

We absolutely echo everything Marlita said. My only regret is not having you book the travel to and from Africa. 

The safari was absolute heaven, and so fun to watch my son discover he loves photography. We will definitely send some pictures! 

Everyone was top notch and every experience was amazing. 

Rebecca, Garry & Boden Keller, traveled with the Hjemfelt’s, May-Jun 2026

 

THE BEST OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

Hi Shelley,

I wanted to thank you and all of the people at Africa Adventure that made our trip possible.  Every detail was taken care of and it truly exceeded our expectations. From the moment we landed, we felt taken care of and all of the connections were seamless.

The accommodations were the best. The African Rock Hotel was a great start to the journey – certainly better than the airport hotels that others we met along the way had used. I really appreciated going to two safari camps. They each had their own vibe and we experienced different animal sightings at each. And both Muchenje and Notten’s Bush were far more luxurious than we expected.

Our two guides, Cynthia and Rob, were great, and we especially enjoyed Rob’s expertise in all things Capetonian. What a pleasure to spend two days with him.

…The true mark of a good travel company is how things are handled when things go wrong – a medical emergency or the Fastjet delay. Although we missed the afternoon drive on the first day at Notten’s due to the flight cancellation, we appreciated how alternative transportation was provided without further worry on our part and got us to our destination with due speed…

Thanks again for providing a fantastic experience and I’m recommending you to everyone!

Cheers,

Linda Brongel, May 2026

 

SAFARI TO ZIMBABWE AND BOTSWANA

Hi Miles and everyone, 

I’m sorry for my delay in telling you about our amazing trip! I can’t even describe how wonderful it truly was! I’ve been telling all my family and friends that they have to call you and go to Africa and see all the wildlife! I have never been in so much awe until I visited Africa and saw lions, elephants, rhinos, a leopard, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, baboons, wildebeests, hippos, impalas, antelopes, all the birds, crocodiles, kudos, African wild dogs, hyenas, a genet, a spring hare, bat-eared foxes, and so many more animals! 

From the moment we touched down in Johannesburg, and your team on the ground was there to pick us up to the moment they walked us through the airport to catch our flight home, we had the vacation of a lifetime!

The entire staff (Met, Andreas, everyone, I’m sorry I can’t remember everyone’s names) at Davison’s Camp were wonderful! We loved spending the days and evenings with our guide, Milton. He was so fun and knowledgeable; we created an emotional bond with him during our stay. He invited us to return for his wedding and we will definitely attend! I can’t say enough about our experience: the food, our tent, the wildlife!, the trip to the rhino sanctuary (it was a pleasure to meet Daniel and hear about his mission to save the rhinos) and to the village of Ngamo to meet Headsman Johnson and his family, the other campers, the flights to and from the camp; everything exceeded our expectations! We loved every second and will never forget our time in Hwange! 

Precious, our guide at Victoria Falls, and Arnold, our driver, were excellent! We learned so much about the falls and its history and we enjoyed shopping in the marketplace. The Palm River Hotel was very comfortable and we enjoyed the sunset cruise very much. 

Walking across the border into Botswana was easy, thanks to our guide. Our flights to and from our camp, Mma Dinare, were so fun and easy. The staff (Met and Four and everyone) were so wonderful and made our stay enjoyable… We felt so welcome. Again, the food, our tent, the wildlife!, the other guests, and our guide, Grass, and our tracker, Edward, were the best. So friendly and knowledgeable and fun to be around. Thank you so much for the Cape buffalo figurine. We will treasure it forever. 

We were so impressed how well organized and coordinated the small flights were! Without WiFi or cell service, every flight was on-time… When we took off from the small airstrip on our last day in the bush and flew to Maun, I had a hard time to keep from crying. The entire experience was more than I could have ever imagined. We will definitely visit Africa again. We loved every moment! 

Both the Intercontinental Hotel and African Rock Hotel were very comfortable during our city stays. The food and the beds were very comfy! And the staff was welcoming. 

We plan to visit again, possibly as soon as 2027! Thank you so much for planning our vacation! I loved looking through your wildlife guide and the journal, and after every game drive I wrote down all the animals we had seen, to keep track of our adventures, and we had a lot of them! 

Almost forgot: the afternoon siestas were an absolutely wonderful bonus and so appreciated! 

Love, 

Sabrina and Stephen Hofkin, May 2026

 

The trip report below was written by Ed Callen, a repeat client of ours and board member of Bushlife Conservancy, which AAC is a passionate supporter of. We encourage you to read about their incredible work in Mana Pools. https://bushlife-conservancy.org

HIDDEN GEMS OF ZIMBABWE

Our eighth trip to Zimbabwe started in Save Valley Conservancy, where Nick Murray met us for our stay at Sango Camp. Two days of rhino tracking were successful, as we found a herd of white rhinos, resulting in the excitement of the herd charging at full speed while the three of us hid behind a tree and escaped unscathed. While in Save Valley, Nick and I had the opportunity to spend time with the anti-poaching task force involved in their rhino relocation program, observe the operations center and research program, and watch a demonstration of their Belgian Malinois tracking dogs used for anti-poaching efforts. One of the long-term goals of Bushlife Conservancy is to pursue the reintroduction of black rhinos into the Zambezi Valley, and our meeting with the Save Valley Conservancy group gave us positive motivation toward that eventuality.

As we flew from Save into Mana Pools, I remarked to Nick about all the water we could see on the ground. Our trips to Mana have always been in May, and this year was the greenest we’ve seen in years, with many pans, ponds, and pools still holding water — a reflection of the heavy rains and very good signs for the wildlife for the rest of the season. The abundance of wildlife reflected this, with incredible impala herds, eland, waterbuck, and of course healthy and plentiful elephants, including sightings of Eddie and Tusker. We split our time between Vundu and Little Vundu Camps, and as usual, Nick, Des, and the staff made us feel once again as though we were home away from home.

Morning and evening game drives, mid-morning tea at Sir David’s Tree or at Nick and Des’s wedding site, pontoon trips down the Zambezi, sunsets at Little Vundu Point, and walks through the bush revealed the magic of the valley’s wildlife, birdlife, and flora. One amazing experience — a first for us — occurred one evening when we took the boat out for sundowners and parked beneath two sausage trees to watch the sun go down. As the sun began to set, almost on cue, hundreds of guinea fowl emerged from the bush and flew into the trees to roost. A sequence of cacophonous sounds and activity followed, then sudden silence — incredible. I think a slow drive along the river on the Vundu concession, with its varied and majestic trees, elephants and antelope filling the little islands in the river, elephants coming down to drink, and birds lining the riverbanks, is one of the most beautiful experiences to be had anywhere.

From the perspective of Bushlife Conservancy, it was also a productive trip. In addition to the meeting with the Save Valley group, Nick and I had a very good meeting with the Mana Pools Area Manager, Banele Maya. Banele presented his plans and strategies for Mana Pools and the valley, including support for additional collaring efforts, rhino reintroduction, and the need for a new operations center. What was especially apparent was his appreciation for the support provided through BC funding. He told Nick point-blank that nothing could be accomplished without the work of Bushlife Support Unit (BSU). It was rewarding for me to see Parks recognize the impact Nick and BSU are making in the valley…

Although it was sad to leave after two weeks of wonder and amazing experiences, I departed with the powerful feeling that Bushlife Conservancy donors are truly making a significant difference in Mana Pools and the Lower Zambezi, helping keep that magical kingdom thriving and its future increasingly positive. I was also reminded once again how fortunate we are to have Nick, Des, and the entire BSU team dedicating themselves tirelessly to the cause.

Thank you,

Ed Callen, May 2026

 

BEST OF SOUTHERN AFRICA SAFARI

Ladies,

First let me start with Thank You. Our Trip of a Lifetime created with so much care and handled flawlessly. To the team in your office who helped with the logistics, work, time, and effort to have this journey go as smoothly as possible. Hats Off to all!! We are having such a great adventure and loving every minute.

Your Ground Ops have done such a great job…The team has been flawless in their coordination. What a great, well-managed company you work with. Very grateful for their work handling the details. And yes… we have been handled well. Making this adventure as easy as possible. Any glitches have been ours alone! Promise!!

As to the accommodations… Thank God I learned how to do the Royal Wave as I feel like a queen! Just left the “Baines Suite” at The Victoria Falls Hotel. Just Gorgeous!! What beautiful rooms we’ve been given everywhere. For the 2 of us who are comfortable in our norm of Embassy Suites, it has been a unique pleasure to be pampered and treated to such luxury. As exampled with Rodney and his staff greeting us personally upon arrival at The Victoria Falls Hotel and giving us such a privileged welcome. All the Lodges and hotels have been superb. Great choices!

We are so impressed with the guides we have been provided at each lodge. They are all tops in their fields. Mocks as example in Mombo. We tracked a mama leopard 2 hours to her month-old cubs. Happily hung until the 3 bro lions got into a tiff over their kill, only to see their sly sisters steal it all while the boys were arguing. Waiting for these moments and knowing they will come is Mocks’ specialty. Spotting puff adders and vervet monkeys. There is far more than the “Big 5” to see and finding them takes time and knowledge. Other guests are envious of what we are seeing and capturing on film. Being treated to privately guided game drives and adventures with these experts is a perfect choice and being given the VIP treatment we have experienced throughout all came from your office. We have seen and experienced far more than any other guests. And being able to call our own times on these adventures is well worth any cost.

Then there is the effort by each and every property to make this 50th Anniversary Trip extra special. Private dinners in wine cellars. Champagne and extra touches, Gifts, Treats. Thank you for these as we know they have been requested by you at The Africa Adventure Company. We keep toasting to our 50 years together, knowing how blessed we are. Thank you. (By the way, Cynthia in Victoria Falls, is a gem and we are so glad we had time with her yesterday during this incredible journey.)

When we return, I’ll try to send a few select photos from this adventure. There is still more ahead. We can’t wait to experience Mana Pools. And hope to call it our “Happy Place” too. After so many years of planning, changes, and revisions, we can say with complete honesty, this trip is flawless and has been our true “Trip of a Lifetime”. Thank you All. ❤️
Tori and Bill Wickland, May 2026

 

BIG FIVE SAFARI TO SOUTH AFRICA

Dear Shelley

What a marvelous interlude we had away from the fractured chaos of today’s world and relentless news cycles. You asked for feedback from our trip so here it is.

The choice of the two camps, Hilltop Simbavati and MalaMala, was very good as they were such different experiences and both wonderful.

Simbavati: I loved the harmonious design of the camp and the positioning of the rooms – with the views across the river. The setting is spectacular and the staff overall were very good…the quality of other meals was excellent…

It was great to see the terrain so green after so much rain – this didn’t impede game viewing too much and we had some amazing sightings.  Our guide…made great efforts to track down animals. Great sightings of leopard cubs at play and lion cubs; rhino… I loved the green of the fall and the healthy sleek condition of all the animals we saw.  Thank you for getting us a room close to the main building – this avoided a long trek after dinner…

MalaMala – completely different style and vibe and it felt enormous after Simbavati; not a complaint – just a contrast. Lovely room overlooking the river and everything worked like clockwork.  The rains have left the roads in pretty bad shape but we loved the more open and fantastically scenic terrain and had great game viewing.  Our guide David O was really enthusiastic, fun and knowledgeable. It is a truly amazing place – loved the history. Easy to understand why this site was chosen for the prototype safari camp…Great sightings of two lion prides and cubs, leopard rhino and wild dogs.  Again, the green landscape was so beautiful and food plentiful.  We were teamed up on our vehicle with 2 solo travelers from Australia – both multiple safari-goers which worked very well.  My husband pointed out that of all the people we spoke to at both camps none were first timers, maybe the time of year but maybe a trend in this business?

Transport – transfers and flights worked really well … Jo’burg airport seems to have changed little in 10 years and is still not for the faint-hearted!! Delta One check-in staff were terrible so it was good to have your team on the ground managing the process! 

Thank you for organizing this great trip for us…

Best wishes

Ann & Alan Badger, Apr 2026

 

SAFARI TO SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA AND VISIT TO VICTORIA FALLS

Hi Kyle, 

Once again thank you for planning another unique and amazing trip.

Highlights and other comments:

Cape Town:

The Cellars Hohenort was a great place to start our safari. Beautiful location and grounds. We took advantage of their shuttle service to visit Kirstenbosch on our own for a few hours. We dined at the hotel the first night and went to Little Fox the second night. It’s the casual restaurant next to Foxcroft. We enjoyed a relaxing tapas style dinner and cocktails on their patio. The food was delicious and service was excellent.

Rory, our guide, was excellent also. Very personable, great stories and knowledgeable. We had a lot of fun with him.

Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel was great just like our last stay there.

Wilderness had a wheelchair for Joe which was very helpful for touring Table Mountain, the peninsula and the waterfront (Kirstenbosch has them available also). We had enjoyable dinners at Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel, The Waterside and Salsify. All were fun with interesting choices, but I think Waterside came out on top for presentation and great flavors. We had coffee at the Olympic Cafe in Kalk Bay and Truth coffee. And we visited a craft gin distillery after lunch in Noordhoek. We also had sunset cocktails at the Silo rooftop- a very fun experience.

Our transfer to Leeu Estates included a stop in Stellenbosch for sightseeing and a little shopping as we had all admired Rory’s colorful socks from Versus. Lunch at Delaire Graff was amazing. We also drove above Franschhoek for great views. 

Leeu Estates were wonderful. Beautiful grounds, great breakfast and great service. We walked on the grounds, had a wine tasting session and visited the very nice spa. The girls spent a morning visiting art galleries and shopping in Franschhoek. Our dinners were at Arkeste, Chefs Warehouse Maison and La Petite Colombe – all great. Most days we only had breakfast and dinner which worked out well with all the fine dining.

Speaking of dining- it was all wonderful and I know many Cape Town restaurants offer multi course tasting menus, but next time I would probably limit myself to one or two of those restaurants and aim for a little more choice and a few more a la carte options. And since we did not make it to Moyo we will definitely want to go on our family trip.

After all the sightseeing, a little pampering and fine dining we headed out to the wild.

Savanna Lodge was a perfect place to start. The lodge is very nice and professionally run and service is very friendly. Our guide Derrick and tracker Killy were a great team, and we saw the “Big 5” and more in our time there. The dinners in different locations were fun and the drawn bath after dinner was a pleasant surprise. It doesn’t feel quite as remote as some places with lights of civilization viewable in two directions, but one can see animals in and around the camp. The pool and plunge pools were great.

Our stay at Stanley and Livingstone was good…people were friendly and well intentioned. Our sunrise cruise was fun and the tour of the falls with Precious was amazing! So much water. The mist intermittently cleared to see the falls. I was hoping for a rainbow and finally saw one under the bridge. Our lunch at Baines was fun for the location. Our dinner at Dusty Roads was delicious and the experience was really fun.

After a van ride, a plane, a helicopter ride and a safari vehicle ride, we arrived at Mokete Camp. As you know the rainy season saw heavy rain and lasted longer than usual so there is already a lot of water. Rains were heavy in Angola too so the flood this year should be amazing. Mokete Camp is a very nice camp and the staff and our guide Vasco were great. You should have seen him quiz and then explain the anatomy of an elephant’s head to 2 doctors and 2 dentists using an elephant skull. We saw several antelope, warthogs, jackals, elephants and giraffes and birds. We saw a couple of leopards on two different days. One day it started raining very hard so our drive was cut short. When wet the soil is very slippery mud so there were a few rescues needed. It was fun spending time in camp and visiting with other guests. Our guide explained that the best time to see large buffalo herds and lions is in September and October when the depression dries up, so might need to go back then. 

Getting to Shinde Footsteps was also exciting with a helicopter ride, a flight to Xugana and a boat ride. There was a huge rainstorm before we arrived and we were offered a change to another camp by your team on the ground who met us when we landed at Xugana airstrip. After discussing it with him we decided to proceed to Shinde Footsteps. There was some standing water near the dining area but they had filled a low area and some puddles with sand and we were able to walk to all the rooms without walking through water. We had a wonderful time there (no further rain). The staff was very friendly and attentive and our tents with porches were comfortable. We had hippos walking by at night and little bee eaters perching near our tents. The food was delicious especially the home baked goods. Our guide Sue was excellent and we saw lots of wildlife including two lazy lions and so many birds. The reserve was very beautiful.

Our last stop was Chitabe Camp- remodeled and upgraded since I stayed in 2011. The rooms are large and beautiful… our entertaining and enthusiastic guide Goodman and the incredible wildlife we saw including lions, leopards and a pack of wild dogs hunting and making two kills. We also saw a large herd of buffalo, giraffes, elephants, zebras and lots of impala and lechwe, springbok, tsessebe and a hyena den with a very small baby. What an amazing place to end our wonderful safari.

Thank you again for planning an amazing trip.

Best,

Vikki Canfield, April 2026

 

CAPE TOWN AND DESERT AND DELTA SAFARI TO BOTSWANA

The logistics throughout the trip were excellent and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. We really enjoyed Four Rosmead, which was a wonderful place to begin the journey…

At Camp Kalahari, we happened to be there during an unusually rainy week in Botswana, but despite the weather the guides really pushed through and managed to deliver some fantastic cat sightings. The camp itself was great overall — a little rustic, but completely comfortable… The food was good, and the meerkat experience was great…our guide was excellent and very knowledgeable.

We loved Mma Dinare. Great guide and tracker, and the game viewing was incredibly prolific.

Across both camps we had tremendous cat sightings, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

Gary and Nancy Turer, Apr 2026

 

‘BIG 5’ SAFARI TO SOUTHERN AFRICA

Good morning to Elena and Oliver,

I would like to thank both of you (along with your teammates) for making our trip one to be fondly remembered.  Our goal on the trip was to get 150 laughs a day in…and we did.

My son-in-law at the end of the trip said this was the best trip he had in his lifetime (and he is very well traveled.  He stated that he was never really an “wild animal” person and has since changed.

Any travel company can book trips and in 99% of the time things work out perfectly with the original plans.  Both of you and teammates shined in making the 1% of unplanned problems still become an utterly amazing trip.

• While having a wonderful time enjoying Cape Town you alerted us of historic flooding happening in both the camps, we were to visit the next day or so.  Kruger was underwater and access to the area was impossible. Without even talking too much in depth, you were already working on alternatives and had us in a new camp, in a new country (Botswana) with all the flights and other planned…and a new itinerary scheduled.  All this completed in about four hours…after concluding that neither of the original camps would be possible. Amazing…as I assume, a lot of other people and travel companies were attempting the same with their customers.
• Kwara Camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, which you selected as the alternative, was perfect. A great staff, extremely knowledgeable about all and made us feel like part of the family during our stay there. Seeing lions, leopards, elephants, and other animals at arm’s length was truly remarkable. We had a very private bush experience, joining other small groups in the camp only at meals.
• The second unplanned problem was the inadvertent illness of my wife.  Again, you shined… 

The majority of this completed with extraordinarily little discussion other than options, thoughts and approvals.  Again, it is simply amazing.

I have been on a lot of other overseas trips including Africa (several times), and I really do not think I would have been able to get this service with any of the previous companies I have used.

I have already told this story to others and suggested The Africa Adventure Company to all 🙂

Thank both of you and your team for the amazing trip!

Richard and Ann Mellish, Jan 2026

 

ULTIMATE SOUTHERN AFRICA ADVENTURE  SAFARI

We, frequent travelers (7 continents and over 100 countries) just completed our trip to South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. The trip involved 2 hotels, 3 lodges, 9 transfers and 5 flights within Africa.  These logistics, all arranged and booked by the Africa Adventure Company, were flawless. Everything and everyone was on time and more impressive than described.

This perfect foundation was exceeded by our Africa experience.  We were touched by our meeting with an African village family. We were thrilled by the waters of Victoria Falls as its waters fell over us. We were fascinated by the variety and abundance of the animals. We were treated to a royal experience by the guides and staff of the 3 lodges where from 5 AM to 9 PM we had more animals sighting that we had ever imagined. We saw wild dogs, a wildebeest birth, lions mating, eagles soaring, giraffes’ drinking, leopard caring for her cubs, a rhinoceros protecting her calf, and a hyena stealing a kill, just to mention some of the highlights.

We would be remiss not to mention from our first African experiences, it was apparent that Mark and Alison Nolting had established deep African relationships and had earned the respect of the travel community for their commitment to the African people, environment and wildlife. Our guides referred to Mark and Alison as dear and old friends. Of course, this relationship only added to our travel experience.

Last but not least we would like to thank our safari consultant, Megan Gray and the AAC team for spending time getting to know us, our needs and wishes and then designing, arranging, coordinating, and booking our extraordinary Africa trip. Thank you Africa Adventure Company.

Scott and Heather DiSalvo, Dec 2025

 

CAPE TOWN VISIT AND FAMILY ADVENTURE TO ZIMBABWE

Kyle, …I wanted to touch base and let you know what a wonderful experience our family had in Africa. The itinerary’s combination of locations & activities was perfect. I can honestly say none of us regret any specific aspect of our two weeks other than the travel to/from Africa which was beyond your responsibility or control. The facilities, guides, and food were all exceptional to say nothing of our adventures with the animals. Howie, Precious & Howard were so knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic about our shared experiences; and they each went out of their way to make us feel special. 

We attempted to express our appreciation to all those along the way who worked so hard to make this a memorable experience. Whenever appropriate, please reiterate how much they were appreciated; and thank you and your staff for all that you did to make my 80th birthday celebration an experience my entire family will always remember. 

With gratitude, 

Michael Freidman (traveled with the Sasson’s and Zdordowski’s), Dec 2025

 

CAPE TOWN VISIT AND FAMILY ADVENTURE TO ZIMBABWE

Hi, Kyle!

First – I want to tell you that, unlike other “vacations” where I come home and feel happy and refreshed and maybe even that I’ve learned some new things, with THIS experience, I feel like I ABSORBED it.  I feel like Africa soaked into me in a way that has changed me.  I was thinking about leaving Khulu Bush Camp – the staff had gathered near our van and were singing/drumming/dancing as a send off and I was moved to tears….it’s not often that one might cry saying goodbye to “hotel staff” and yet, there I was, so sad to be leaving a place I had spent 3 short days….I felt so connected to the people, place and culture.  It was hard to leave.  And I felt that way as we boarded our plane home and had to leave the continent of Africa.  What a special place – what amazing memories and I’m so thankful that your team was a part of bringing my family together for such a life-changing adventure.  Thank you.

Victoria & Alfred Hotel was lovely in Cape Town and an excellent way to start the trip – staff was awesome, breakfast was great, location amazing…

Ou guide Howie was unbelievable.  He went above and beyond for us and was so knowledgeable, kind, fun, flexible. Can’t say enough great things about him or Keith who was our driver.

Vic Falls was amazing – more spectacular than I imagined.  Ilala Lodge was very nice… It’s a beautiful location, kids loved the pool and massages were very inexpensive and a nice way to spend the day. The river cruise was AMAZING and was a great introduction to Zimbabwe on our first night. We learned a lot and saw amazing animals right away!  I would highly recommend it to other guests.  Precious, our guide, was lovely…

As I mentioned at the start, Khulu Bush Camp was amazing.  VERY accommodating with food. Staff was incredible. Location was amazing.  Flight there was easy.  …Just unbelievable in every way.  Kudos to manager Ivy, chef Angela and our guides, Chamu and Shamie and everyone else really.  They were all incredible.  Too bad they spotted a leopard the morning after we left!!! LOL!  

Amalinda Lodge is great – pretty spectacular…Amalinda is beautiful and in a very cool part of the world… Seeing Rhinos for 30 minutes on foot was neat and the rock paintings were really cool.  Learned a lot about culture and history…We certainly appreciated our time together and the R&R…  The food was amazing!  The staff was wonderful.

Thank you SO SO much for helping my parents plan such a special family adventure.  It was so meaningful to each of us.  Having an experience that’s special for a group our size with people ranging in age from 12 – 80 is pretty remarkable and a credit to you and your team. The birthday celebrations and surprises at each location were a true gift in every sense of the word!  I’m attaching a few photos here but, of course, we have HUNDREDS…

Warmly,

Debbie Sasson (traveled with the Freidman’s and Zdordowski’s), Dec 2025