Safari Reviews & Testimonials

I had received a glowing recommendation for Discover Africa from a member of my synagogue who has done multiple safaris with them. So when it came time to select a safari vendor for a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife safari for my daughter and I, I reached out to them. I’d done some research ahead of time and so knew that we were interested in Botswana, specifically the Okavango Delta. My contact/resource at Discover Africa was Susan Veldman and she was great.

She listened to what I told her in terms of what we were looking for and crafted a proposal that met our needs in terms of schedule, length, etc. Initially she had us ending our trip at Victoria Falls (my impression is most multiple-stop safaris in the region start or end there), but when I told her our focus was really on wildlife, she came up with an amended itinerary that subtracted Victoria Falls and added Chobe National Park. In short, she listened and responded to our input. We did 8 nights/9 days. We flew into Johannesburg, South Africa, from NYC via London. Those flights we booked on our own, but everything else and all the other flights (Johannesburg to Botswana, 3 bush flights to our lodges/accommodations, then back to Johannesburg from Kasane) were taken care of by Susan.

Plus we had dietary requirements (I’m a vegetarian and my daughter is allergic to dairy) that Susan communicated to the 3 lodges we stayed at and they came through with flying colors. I haven’t eaten so well in quite a while! We spent 3 nights at Kadizora Lodge (in the Delta), 3 nights at Saguni Lodge (eastern edge of the Delta, near Khwai and the Moremi Game Reserve) and two nights further east, at Elephant Valley Lodge outside of Kasane and adjacent to Chobe National Park.

Each lodge and experience was a little different, and we loved all three. Kadizora was the smallest of the three, and the most isolated — there weren’t many other lodges nearby and so we did not see a lot of other vehicles on our drives. The terrain in the area was flooded delta and savannah-style plain for the most part, with good/long visibility. Saguni was a little larger and close to the village of Khwai; the terrain in the area was more scrub trees, as well as savannah, so visibility was often more circumscribed. The wildlife in both areas of the Delta was similar, and both of the Okavango lodges were near water (Saguni especially).

At both the Okavango lodges we supplemented our drives with water-borne excursions, including two mokoro (traditional dug-out canoes, propelled by guides with long poles — think of Venice and gondolas) rides which were fantastic. We loved our guides at all three lodges, but bonded especially with Action at Suguni — he was very knowledgeable and a real gem. Elephant Valley Lodge was the largest of the three we stayed at; it is near Kasane, a significant town near the borders of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Paved roads, shopping centers, more people. And Chobe National Park was by far the most crowded of the three areas we drove in. And in the national park, as opposed to the Delta, guides were not permitted to take their vehicles off-road in search of game. More than compensating for this, though, was the sheer volume and density of wildlife in Chobe NP. It was amazing.

In short, Discover Africa delivered a perfect wildlife safari for my daughter and I which met all our (very high) expectations. We couldn’t have been happier, and Susan was always available for questions, both before and during the trip. We were in good hands throughout!

We had an amazing trip! Everything was very well planned out, and we were able to have a 5 star experience without breaking the budget! We loved the properties, and knowledgeable, friendly people met us at each transition along the way.

Discover Africa- Susan Veldman-was fantastic to work with. She responded promptly to our questions and needs and she put together several itineraries to choose from based on our budget and wish list.

We toured Capetown and 10 days on safari spread between 2 different camps, Beck’s and Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge. Beck’s was very intimate and the food was phenominal. Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge is one of the best in the business and the quality shows through at every instance.

Susan kept in constant contact and she was available for every need. Our trip was smooth, well planned, and just incredibly satisfying!

AT's Cape Town and Safari Experience

From start to finish, our experience with Discover Africa Safaris was exceptional. The communication throughout the planning stage was prompt, clear, and incredibly thoughtful. We felt truly listened to, and the itinerary was tailored exactly to what we wanted – every detail was perfectly planned and executed.

Susan, our consultant, was absolutely outstanding. She was available to us the entire time we were away, which gave us so much peace of mind. Her knowledge, support, and attention to detail made the entire journey feel smooth and stress-free.

The service, value for money, and overall reliability of Discover Africa Safaris exceeded our expectations. It was the trip of a lifetime, and we wouldn’t change a thing. Highly recommend – 5 stars from us!

My wife and I have dreamed of a safari trip to Africa for years. I found Discover Africa on a Google search and was drawn to them to help us organize the trip of a lifetime. Our expectations were greatly exceeded. Matthys was excellent to work with to tailor a package of experiences that worked so well for us. He listened well to our feedback to enable him to design the entire trip to fit our interests. We were met at each location with warm and knowledgeable guides who made our travel so comfortable and relaxing. The lodges were amazing exceeded only by the game drives where we saw so many beautiful animals in their natural setting. Victoria Falls is so lovely. Meeting local people in their villages was very moving. We have memories and photos that are amazing and will last a lifetime. Thank you for working with us to design and deliver the trip of our dreams!!

Our daughter traveled with us to celebrate her graduation from university. She wishes she had something on her forehead saying ‘Ask me about my trip!’ We love sharing our experiences and photos with anyone who is willing to listen.

Thank you, Matthys, for making our dream come true!!

Even superlatives fail when trying to describe the sheer joy of our multigenerational trip to Sabi Sabi in South Africa, and The Elephant Camp in Zimbabwe! It was SUPERB IN EVERY WAY, from game drives (we saw everything and then some) to daily comforts (luxurious), from our rangers and trackers (I’m sure WE got The Best!) to all the staff we met and those we did not who make the bush lodges and Discover Africa’s itinerary over the top. It was all about game at Sabi Sabi, and all about Victoria Falls and local culture at The Elephant Camp. We will definitely plan with DA again some day!

I recently had the pleasure of planning an African safari and beach resort getaway with the incredible help of Adelle Bell from Discover Africa and I can’t recommend her highly enough! From start to finish, Adelle demonstrated an extraordinary level of professionalism and dedication that made our trip truly unforgettable.

Her attention to detail was remarkable – every aspect of our itinerary was meticulously organised, ensuring that everything went off without a hitch. We effortlessly transitioned from the thrilling wildlife adventures of the safari to the serene beauty of the beach, all thanks to her expert planning.

If you’re looking for an agent who can create a seamless travel experience filled with amazing memories, look no further than Adelle at Discover Africa. I highly recommend her services – you won’t be disappointed.

I just came back from my holiday organised by Discover Africa and can safely say this was one of the most incredible trips I’ve ever done (and I travel quite a lot). I can’t recommend them enough!

I contacted them last minute, merely 4 weeks ahead of my planned travel dates. Matthys, the travel expert that took care of me, scheduled a video call to understand better what I’m after. I gave him a rather vague brief (Victoria Falls + safari somewhere in South Africa, Botswana or Zimbabwe, including walking safaris; avoiding touristy hotspots and crowds as much as possible). Within just a couple of days he came back with an itinerary that fit the bill to a tee. Just a few highlights from my trip: watching a group of hippos at sunset just in front of my porch in Chundu Island near Victoria Falls, a microlight flight over the falls (the views are incredible), watching a pack of wild dogs hunting kudus in Sabi Sand (and hyenas joining in too), and tracking lions on foot at Rhino Walking Safaris in Kruger NP. Each of the locations I visited offered something truly special.

Everything was perfectly organised, including all the transfers between locations. Matthys was very responsive whenever I had any questions (even outside of working hours). This was my first visit to this part of Africa, and I already know I’ll be coming back soon enough and will reach out to Discover Africa to help me make it happen.

After a fabulous safari in Sabi Sands and Timbavati last year, we reached out to Discover Africa to help us plan and book this year’s African adventure. Cayleigh Brown answered our inquiry and became our travel planner. She has been magnificent throughout; she really helped us shape our thinking, refine our requirements and select the best location.

We spent 6 nights at Jamala Royal Safari Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve in the north of South Africa on the Botswana border. It is outstanding in every respect. The lodge, relatively recently rebuilt following a fire, is stunningly beautiful, as are the incredibly well-appointed (only) five villas, where they have thought of absolutely everything. The Jamala team are awesome – so incredibly friendly and relaxed and keen to ensure you have the most wonderful time. They all seem to have been there for 13—14 years, which says a lot about the culture of the place. Then there’s the sumptuous food that is both delicious and beautifully presented. It is a Michelin-starred restaurant standard.

Steve's Madikwe Safari Experience

And finally, the exciting game drives and the wildlife. We were privileged to see the Magnificent Seven (Big Five plus wild dog and cheetah) plus both varieties of hyena and owls, eagles, honey badgers, jackals, baboons, monkeys, warthogs, tree and ground squirrels, mongooses, and zebras, giraffes, and various antelopes and others I’ve missed! There were many highlights but two in particular were a leopard in a tree crunching on his impala kills when three lions decided to try to relieve him of it and a pack of wild dogs who spent an entire day around the Jamala waterhole feasting on a kudu who had been chased in there overnight.

All in all, a wonderful safari holiday thanks to Cayleigh and Discover Africa.

Our Cape Town and safari adventure were absolutely top-notch! Every step of the way, from airport transportation to accommodations to provided tours in Cape Town, was outstanding and enjoyed by all members of our family travel party!

The stay and game drives at Inyati near Kruger were even more memorable (if that is even possible). Everyone had the “trip of a lifetime” and all aspects and details of the trip met and typically exceeded our expectations!

Great experiences throughout and great service from everyone! A big thank you from all of us! 11

Fantastic Africa vacation! Discover Africa organised the whole trip seamlessly so that I didn’t need to plan anything but just enjoy every day. They provided me with a very detailed daily itinerary, including airport pickups. Inyati Game Lodge in Sabi Sands and Old Drift Lodge in Victoria Falls were excellent choices. We saw lions in action, a leopard devouring a kill in the tree, wild dogs hunting prey…  Victoria Falls was magnificent and beautiful with a half-circle rainbow. Special thanks to Matthys of Discover Africa for excellent planning and organising our Africa vacation. Highly recommend.

Our trip was absolutely wonderful and exceeded all our expectations. Every lodge we stayed in was amazing—comfortable, charming, and perfectly located. The human service throughout the trip was excellent, and the wildlife experiences were simply indescribable. Seeing the animals in their natural habitat was beyond anything we could have imagined.

From the very first contact, Susan provided impeccable service. She was always quick to respond, attentive to our needs, and made every effort to tailor the trip exactly the way we wanted. Everything went smoothly without a single issue, and we couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out.

We highly recommend Discover Africa and will definitely plan future trips with them!

Laura's Safari Experience