South Africa / Zambia/Namibia / Botswana / Zimbabwe
African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife
Program No. 13938RJ
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African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife
African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife
1 of 9
Participant Reviews
Based on 129 Reviews
SHOWING
This was a trip of a lifetime. Went January 26 to February 8th. Weather was perfect.
Our group of 9 was so lucky to have Nuame as our host. She kept everything on track, was knowledgeable and became a friend to us all.
We were fortunate to have witnessed a pride of lions feeding on an elephant for 3 days in a row. seeing that progression of nature was a wonder. Victoria Falls from the Zambia side, then from the Zimbabwe side makes you understand why this is one of the seven wonders of the world. The accommodations and food were 5 stars, and all of the guides & lecturers were top notch. If you are even considering this Safari, DO IT!
— Review left February 15, 2026
Absolutely a 12 out of 10! This proved to be a truly remarkable experience. The accommodations were all first rate, especially the bush camp and lodges. The food was invariably excellent (although perhaps too much!). All of the guides on the game drives were excellent -- very knowledgeable, friendly and brave. We got closer than I ever expected to get! Highlights included the Khulu Bush Camp where we were greeted by an enormous herd of elephants when we got back to camp after a morning game drive; visiting an orphanage, a small elementary school and an old people's home; seeing a pride of lions that had just killed a giraffe. Too many wonderful experiences to name them all! I have reserved the final and highest praise for our group leader Naume. So kind, personable, compassionate, knowledgeable, frank, funny! She made sure that all of the various pieces of such a complex trip fell into place seamlessly. The memory of this remarkable person will stay with me forever!
— Review left November 24, 2025
Our Road Scholar trip was wonderful... all the travel details are handled for you... every day is full of activities...and you meet new people on the way. Best stress free way to travel to your special destination.
— Review left November 3, 2025
Trip of a life time!!! Want the ultimate African adventure - here it is. You can feed the elephants, watch the lions frolic, the rhinos nurse, view the spectacular red sky sunsets while enjoying your sundowner drinks and appetizers then retreat back to your Gourmet dinner often with entertainment followed by your luxurious accommodations - all with your newly made friends. And the best of all was our guide of a lifetime - Khule !!! R
— Review left October 29, 2025
The Africa Safari: Closeup on Wildlife was nothing short of spectacular. Our leader Khule is the gold standard of what a leader should be in knowledge, experience, warmth, efficiency, and everything else you can imagine. The places we stayed were comfortable, well-appointed, and staffed by knowledgeable, friendly, proficient people. We saw “The Big Five” species, countless other animals, and birds in numbers beyond our expectations. You haven’t lived until you’ve enjoyed Sundowners (aka Happy Hour) while watching big herds of elephants bathe and play in a close watering hole! I could go on and on if space allowed. Suffice it to say that this Road Scholar trip absolutely surpassed my hopes and expectations for my lifelong dream of visiting Africa.
— Review left October 11, 2025
This was an Amazing Safari adventure!!
— Review left September 29, 2025
This trip exceeded my expectations. The leader was very knowledgeable and organized. The descriptions of the program was accurate.
I learned so much; loved the wildlife we were able to see and observe. A great lifetime experience.
— Review left September 26, 2025
Our travels with Road Scholar to Africa was more than just a vacation. It was a learning experience that broadened our understanding and appreciation for the variety of life the world we live in...it was our first, of what we hope will be, many more Road Scholar adventures!
— Review left September 25, 2025
Dreams Do Come True, and they’re so much better than you could have imagined!
— Review left September 20, 2025
To Onx Manga, I give my heartfelt thanks to him for his wisdom about the animals, the land, and the history of Africa. He has a wonderful sense of humor and took care of each and every individual on the trip. He seemed to be well-known and well-liked by every person we met along the way, very important when one is trying to get a bunch of Americans through government agencies, airports, dinners, lodgings, etc. I wish him the best in the future.
To Road Scholar, I loved all of the animals, the main reason I went of this trip. The tour should have spent more time on land, especially in Botswana where we may have seen big cats; too much time spent on the water. I think Onx could have found some lions for us on land! The beauty of Victoria Falls will stay with me the rest of my life. Being very interested in history and social issues, I completely appreciated the trips to the village, markets, school, destitute elderly home, and Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. Khulu Bush Camp, a very interesting place with friendly staff members, had rooms open to the elements - 40 degrees at night inside and outside, very uncomfortable. Chobe Savanna Lodge, scheduled to be torn down in October, had dingy rooms supplied with several types of insect repellant for the ants, spiders, flies – the staff was very nice but dispirited, to say the least. Road Scholar should not send groups to lodgings soon to be demolished.
— Review left August 28, 2025
"African Safari: A Close-Up on Wildlife" exceeded all expectations. My travel companion and I had high hopes for this trip, but found ourselves awestruck by the beauty of these countries, cultures, people, flora & fauna. Every single day was spectacular. Our guide Naume - a bright, engaging, natural-born teacher - made sure every day was incredible. Thank you, Road Scholar - we first-timers will be travelling with you again!
— Review left August 24, 2025
This was a truly awesome program. I enjoyed every bit of it! Naume, our group leader was exceptional! I can't praise her leadership enough. There was a good blend of educational/cultural activities and wildlife viewing on game drives at the safari camps. The meals and accommodations were very good.
— Review left August 24, 2025
This was the trip of a lifetime for me, tops on my bucket list. My expectations were high, and they were surpassed. We loved seeing the animals and meeting the wonderful people. We will never, ever forget this fantastic trip.
— Review left August 22, 2025
My wife and I had a great experience and made new friends.
— Review left August 22, 2025
If you are looking for an African Adventure and learning experience, please consider Road Scholar.
— Review left August 17, 2025
We had (another!) wonderful RS learning experience, it's hard to pick just a few highlights. The trip leader was Kuhle from Zimbabwe, who met us at the airport in Jo-Berg as we flew in from a Road Scholar suggested "pre-trip excursion" with Explore Inc to north-eastern South Africa in the Limpopo/greater Kruger NP region.( Where we did both scenic touring to Blyde Canyon (one of the great canyons in the world, and uniquely green-treed) and wildlife viewing). Kuhle was a great tour leader--clear, knowledgeable, sensitive to group needs, and constantly engaged in educating us, explaining the countries, people, culture, politics, flora and fauna to us in ways that were enjoyable, and helpful, as we'll as educational. The trip was great mix of different cultures, different histories, different natural world--all fascinating....and quite different (as we had hoped) from just watching another wildlife TV show at home. One of the wildlife highlights was seeing (from our vehicle) the tracking (on foot) of a leopard early in the morning (Mohlabetsi); another was startling a cheetah off an impala it had killed--and waiting silently and without moving in our game drive vehicle until the cheetah came back from the nearby bush to continue its meal with us watching nearby. Another was seeing fifty or more species of birds we had not seen before. I can't recommend this trip highly enough, especially for the "on your feet" crowd, which at mid-70s for us, is now our favorite RS category.
— Review left August 15, 2025
Words cannot express how impacting this tour was and will be, so if you are ever considering going to South Africa and beyond, let this be your trip. The accommodations were no less than 5 stars and their staff so helpful and genuinely interested in our well-being. Not only did we see wonderful animals on all the game drives but learning about the history of the countries and cultures and seeing the areas from local guides made our experiences so rich. Naume Pangidzwa, our Road Scholar guide taught us with her knowledge through lectures (more like stories), jokes, and kindness showed to all. She brought a group of 14 strangers into one big loving family. One last hint, if you travel in their winter, believe the list of needing warm clothes like hats and gloves.
— Review left August 9, 2025
The trips are well organized. The guides are always so well informed and eager to answer questions. I know a lot of people go to Africa to see the will animals, but the people of Africa made the most lasting impression. I loved the market visit, and time at the school, orphanage and "old folks" home. Please continue to include outings that allow visitors to be immersed in the culture. Saving for my next Road Scholars trip already!
— Review left August 6, 2025
This tour was a great experience in that I thought I would be mostly fascinated by the African animals I saw. I really found myself more fascinated by the culture and History of this area of Africa.
— Review left July 22, 2025
Very eye-opening to the current as well as historical political/economic/social situations in southern Africa. The wildlife viewing via guides native to the area is wonderful with their insightful commentary regarding behavior and habitat requirements. The program is very busy with lots to see and do. TIP: practice stepping up at least 12” holding onto to something is allowed as well as practicing one’s balance. Be prepared to be awe struck.
— Review left July 17, 2025
*****Review My Road Scholar Africa Adventure exceedeed my expectations in every way. Walking, vhecile and Safari's by boat allowed us to view the incredible flora and fauna. Our guide Honest transformed our adventure into an intimate exploration of not only wildlife, but culture, food, political history and insights to animal behavior. His passion and knowledge of local languages and dialects was encycloppedic.
Accomodations, culnary offerings and logistics surpassed expecations. What a n awesome experience!
— Review left July 16, 2025
This was my 7th road scholar trip, and certainly one of the most memorable:
Pros: excellent group leader
Excellent accommodations
Excellent safari guides
Saw lots of animals, and learned a lot about them
Learned about Southern Africa culture and history
Good use of time. Always another game drive, lecture, meal, field trip planned.
Cons: back room support at Road Scholar. A couple of months before trip, we received information that due to using a charter flight on the tour, only one medium-ish duffel bags would be allowed, and a limit of 44 total pounds would be enforced. I sent an email to road scholar, protesting that that information was not included on the website, and if I had seen it in the website, I might have made a different decision about the trip. Note I was not asking for an exclusion from the rule, just more information on the website. Their reply was that they could not put everything on the website, and, besides, everyone knows luggage is limited on safaris. Unfortunately, no one in the group of us that had signed up for the trip knew this. So, here’s that information for all that are considering this trip.
Revision 7/30/2025. I did not give this trip 5 stars. There was no star assignment capability on the form I filled out. Road Scholar arbitrarily decided to give it 5 stars. If I had been assigning stars— 5 stars for the trip, 1 star for the back room support prior to the trip. You do the math. And, I forgot to mention, the price Road Scholar gave us for our business class seats was several hundred dollars more than I found online, same airline. The reason that Road Scholar gave us was that the prices with the airlines are set in stone once a year, and it so happened that the prices had gone down, instead of up. My husband decided the comfort of knowing Road Scholar would handle any problem was worth the additional dollars, a decision we both regretted.
— Review left July 15, 2025
Highly recommended quality program especially for the those cost conscious.
— Review left July 7, 2025
Excellent program!! This is an easy-going yet fully-packed program where you do get a really good feel for South African cultural history while also coming face to face with countless safari creatures, large and small (and I do mean face-to-face, like 10 feet away!!) We recommend packing layers as the early morning game drives can be quite cold.
— Review left July 1, 2025
This was a terrific safari experience with an outstanding group leader. We were so fortunate to have Honest guide us on all of our adventures…such fun and all went smoothly, without a hitch! I also appreciated all at the Khulu Bush Camp and Chobe Savannah Lodge who contributed much to our excursions on land and water!
— Review left June 28, 2025
The "CLose Up on Wildlife" program exceeded expectations! Well organized and well executed. Our guide was wonderful and was so knowledgeable on the area and the wildlife. Great food, accommodations, activities. You will not be disappointed. And the wildlife was beautiful!!
— Review left June 24, 2025
One of the best trips we have been on. Active, interesting and we learned so much. Can you imagine a trip where you saw so many elephants that you stopped taking photos of them? My constant phrase was, "Oh, WOW!" I really recommend the trip and the guide, Honest.
— Review left June 23, 2025
This RS trip was definitely one of the best we have been on, out of 10. (All have been wonderful in different ways!) The itinerary is fast paced but worked for me. My favorite accommodations were the small safari camps. We could watch the animals come and go at the water hole. Khulu Bush Camp focused on land safaris and Chobe Savanna was water safaris with visits to local village. (That will change with Chobe Savanna’s upcoming closure for renovation.) Our guide Johann R was excellent; his breadth of knowledge and deep respect for the folks and land we visited greatly enriched the experience. Local guides also excelled: at Khulu both guides had grown up at Hwange National Park and knew it like the back of their hands; at Chobe our guide came from the village we visited. Interesting folks in our group of 15 and great to travel with. We were there in May/June and the water in Victoria Falls was high. Do your research-every month is different-and wonderful. It was cold at Khulu at night and early morning but we layered! Good early information from the contracting company Explore. We were easily able to arrange a fantastic extension to Cape Town before the trip. Reading several of the reading list books helped prepare us. (Best: "Africa is Not A Country" and Mandela's autobiography. The Apartheid Museum is a very rushed experience.) I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left June 21, 2025
This was the trip of a lifetime! All experiences exceeded anything I imagined. Our leaders and guides were so capable, knowledgeable and personable. I would HIGHLY recommend and encourage this trip via Road Scholar. From arrival to departure, everything was amazing. I learned so much about the citizens of the countries we visited, their cultures, and, of course, the wealth of knowledge about the many animals we encountered. The leaders were so knowledgeable about not only the above but made it their mission that we had the most desirable experience imagined. If you’re lucky enough to have Naume as a leader, you’ve been blessed.
— Review left May 29, 2025
Stunning trip. My photographs and memories will last forever.
— Review left May 29, 2025
It was a wonderful experience. It was everthing I had hoped for.
The itinerary was good. I had a good group to travel with.
Our guide, Naume was wonderful. She was always available to give guidance and help with any problems. By the end of the two weeks she had become a good friend.
— Review left May 28, 2025
This was a fantastic trip. It stays with you for a long time after your return home. It was my first trip with road scholars and we were a great group. It made it even more memorable.
— Review left May 15, 2025
Fantastic trip! The leader, group, animals and educational activities are worked well together.
— Review left May 15, 2025
This was a great experience. I was amazed mazed by the wildlife we saw. I'll never forget the wild elephants coming up to the deck of the lodge as we were sipping our evening cocktails. Out guide ( Johann) was excellent, so knowledgeable, patient and kind. I enjoyed getting out and meeting some of the local communities. The accommodations and meals were outstanding.
— Review left April 11, 2025
For us an excellent experience again. We have visited Africa twice with Road Scholar. Inform yourself fully regarding what to expect in "wet" versus "dry" season in terms of what you will see or do. Very different per season. Road Scholar does schedule various African tours in that way. Just ask your questions.
— Review left March 19, 2025
This was my dream trip of a a lifetime and it did not disappoint !!!!
— Review left March 16, 2025
This was by far the best trip I have ever taken! The schedule was well planned, and the main guide, Khule, was exceptional! He kept the group running smoothly; I wouldn't want to travel all these countries without someone like Khule, as he took care of EVERYTHING! All of the guides made sure we felt safe while learning and enjoying our encounters with the animals, whether it be out in the safari vehicles or in the boats on the Chobe River. Of course, the safari was what I enjoyed the most, the trip also included interesting tours of Constitution Hill and the beautiful Victoria Falls. This trip exceeded my expectations and was the trip of a lifetime!
— Review left February 11, 2025
The trip of a lifetime! Our guide Honest was fabulous. The accommodations were wonderful. The opportunity to see animals was amazing. I loved the combination of education, community projects and seeing the best of Africa. Visiting 5 countries was a big bonus. Highly recommend this Road Scholar program.
— Review left January 17, 2025
Honest was an amazing guide for our Safari "a close up of wildlife". He was very knowledgeable and kept the program moving on time. Our party of four felt safe and well cared for. The accommodations were great and the service of our hosts was amazing. The safari was a dream vacation and lived up to all expectations. I loved the hands-on experiences with the school and senior facility. We had a great balance of on land and river safaris throughout the program. I will definitely go with RoadScholar in the future.
— Review left November 19, 2024
This program is fun, educational and breathtaking. It was a true adventure that will never be forgotten!
— Review left November 14, 2024
I give Road Scholar a 5 out of 5 stars for this educational adventure to five countries in Africa. It was top-notch all the way, from the lodging, to the food, to the excursions. Our guide, Honest, was the best of the best! Completely knowledgeable of all subjects, but especially on the wildlife. I enjoyed the historic tours of Constitution Hill and The Aparthied Museum. The safaris were incredible with up-close encounters of many wildlife species. Our buffet meals were always delicious and we could never go hungry. I would recommend this trip to anyone that desires to experience a culture rich in history, family unity, and one that has overcome racial division.
— Review left October 30, 2024
This trip was incredible - from the places we visited, to the accommodations, to the wildlife, to the people we met and the conservation and social organizations we got to visit. This was my first visit to the continent of Africa and I cannot wait to return and see more. Our guide Chris deserves special mention - I've been on a few Road Scholar trips in the past and while all of the guides have been excellent, Chris exceeded that already high standard and made this something special. If I could get on a plane to Johannesburg today and do the whole thing again, I would!
— Review left October 28, 2024
Good mix of wildlife and culture. Chris was amazing
— Review left October 21, 2024
This was a trip of a lifetime and worth every penny! It exceeded all expectations. Our guide was excellent, the accommodations during the safaris were great with awesome food and service (although I missed air conditioning at Hwange Nat'l Park). The educational parts of the program were very interesting. Best of all we were able to see almost all of the animals at a close distance while still feeling safe. Unfortunately we missed the flight over the Atlantic due to airline issues so we missed the first day of the program but RoadScholar was very helpful and took care of us as soon as we arrived. I highly recommend this program!
— Review left October 1, 2024
I just returned from my trip to Africa. It was truly the best Road Scholar trip I have taken and I have been on 14 of them. They have all been good but this one was outstanding. From the cohesiveness of our group of 12, to the beautiful lodging, meals, and especially the experiences, I could not have asked for more. One outstanding moment was when we hung out with a pride of lions who were quite content due to mama having gone 'shopping' that morning and everyone was satiated and well fed. There were 7 cubs, 3 lionesses, and yes, Big Daddy. The highlight was when the cubs began quarreling over their lunch and Daddy became annoyed and let out many long growls to discipline them. Most of us got this on video and if you remember that MGM lion roaring - you can understand what a thrill this was. There were so many unique and amazing experiences - with elephants and an irritated hippo, to boot, visiting the orphanage, school and 'old folks'. If you are considering this trip - I hope you are fortunate enough to have our guide Khule. Just go if you can!
— Review left September 28, 2024
Roads Scholar adventures are so much more than a vacation. They go the extra mile to help you enjoy traveling and learning as well as open your heart to the endless possibilities of the vast world we live in!
— Review left September 26, 2024
5 stars
I just participated in my 15th Road Scholar trip and it was by far my best. I am 78 years old, widowed and travel solo. The group always made me feel included as there were other solo travelers in the group as well as couples. All the guides made me feel very safe at all times. Khule was our main guide for two weeks and he was excellent! He is a very kind man, intelligent, nonending patience, organized, and took care of every detail and kept the trip running smoothly. We all felt very blessed to have him as our guide. We saw many many animals and were able to get very close in a safe manner. We learned about South Africa's history, enteracted with the locals, ate at local restaurants, visited open markets. visited a couple of schools and an Old Folks Home. We had sundowners (happy hour) on the plain at sunset in Hwange National Park and viewed the stars in the night sky. We rode in safari vehicles through the bush and pontoon boats on the Chobe River. All the lodges were lovely including our 5 star lodge, Radisson, at the end of the trip but the lodges in the bush were out of a storybook; Khulu Lodge was my favorite. The lodges in the bush made you feel one with nature! The food was always delicious and plentiful. Anybody who loves nature and animals will loves this trip. The trip takes endurance. Once in a lifetime experience. I am very grateful I was able to experience it.
— Review left September 26, 2024
This is a great trip for folks who have never been to Africa because you get to see five countries, go on safari, see important sights in Johannesburg and meet the locals who are doing good work. While the game drives are a key part of this trip, they are bookended by other interesting venues, including Constitution Hill in Jo'burg and Victoria Falls from both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides. There's a lot of moving around but the schedule is well-planned. This was my first Road Scholar trip and it definitely will not be my last.
— Review left September 22, 2024
Loved this Road Scholar experience! We saw many wild animals, visited some native villages, had a wonderful group of friendly, helpful people. Our leader was well informed, gracious, and easy to get along with. So helpful to everyone.
— Review left September 12, 2024
Outstanding trip in every respect! Johann was a fantastic tour guide, and all the safari drivers and boat operators were very helpful and knowledgeable. Food and lodgings were exceptional as well.
— Review left September 11, 2024
We loved the whole program, but it was Johann, our group leader, who made it an outstanding experience. Also, we loved the accommodations and the companionship provided by the group members, as well as the amazing wild life experience!
— Review left September 2, 2024
African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife was even more wonderful than I could have imagined. I saw numerous animals, learned about the area, culture and history of each country and area we visited. This WAS a trip of a lifetime.
Susan
— Review left September 1, 2024
I wish I could wax poetic about this trip but the first week was one disaster after another. Our original flight was cancelled (UNITED). We couldn't make a change because it was booked by Road Scholar and we spent the next two days on the phone with them trying to get on another flight. Finally left 3 days later than planned and our connecting flight was cancelled. So now it’s July 4th and the only agents available at Road Scholar did not understand our problem (would miss the next connection and needed a new ticket issued). We had to fly to Johannesburg and spend another day on the phone with Road Scholar to catch up to our group. I commend them for coming through at the end, but the lack of a direct and immediate connection with someone who could help us out was very frustrating and will make me think twice about trusting them to make our flight plans in the future. We would have given up and gone home several times that first week but Road Scholar kept warning us that if we decided to cancel rather than try to complete the trip, the insurance company was unlikely to pay for our losses!!!
We managed to experience one week of the two week tour and loved it once we recovered from jet lag and anger. Be prepared for freezing nights and rooms with no heat if you travel in the African winter. Food was abundant. Only praise and love for our guide, Honest. He is extremely knowledgeable, easy to talk with, and a great photographer! A bit disappointed that we were not given additional expert speakers for the talks as promised. Now we are still waiting to hear from the insurance company hoping we will be able to get some money back for the time we missed.
— Review left August 19, 2024
What a fantastic trip! I truly appreciated the variety of experiences included in this program. The accommodations were all wonderful, the meals were delicious, and our knowledgeable guide kept us organized and engaged the whole time. Highly recommended!
— Review left July 31, 2024
It was a great trip. Wonderful to see all of the different species of wildlife. A dream come true.
Our guide for this trip was fantastic. His name was Khule Ndlovu and he did so much to educate us and make arrangements for everyone.
— Review left July 1, 2024
So amazing..... This trip was a lifelong dream of mine. This program went above and beyond what I could have ever imagined, and was truly the trip of a life time. In addition to being on safari, I was able to learn about all things Africa (the history, the animals, the food, the people etc.), and I was able to connect with the local people in ways I could have never imagined. This was the trip of a lifetime for me, and I would recommend it to anyone! Don't wait, life is too short. This is my second solo trip with Road Scholar, and I never felt like I was left out or alone.
5 Star Rating
— Review left July 1, 2024
With reference to planning materials, I was not aware that the weather in these countries would be so cold in June. Layers helped but we could have been warned that we may need cold weather clothing.
— Review left June 28, 2024
This is the trip of a lifetime that you've been looking for. Beautiful accommodations and meals and elephants, elephants, elephants. Staying at a lodge on the river afforded the opportunity to see animals, from their front, coming to the river's edge to drink and relax.
— Review left June 19, 2024
The Safari program was wonderful. We saw so many animals and had great guides throughout.
— Review left June 16, 2024
If you’re considering going - go. If you love animals and cultural experiences - go. If you are not particularly interested - go anyway and you will grow and become interested.
— Review left June 15, 2024
A fantastic experience. It exceeded expectations. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, it did. Each day had new things learn and explore.
I was shocked at how close we were to all of the animals. We were a few feet from elephants, lions, zebra, and more. Our guides were knowledgeable and never sacrificed a great experience for safety.
Daddy Chris was kind, caring, and funny. It couldn't have been easy to keep us always on task, but he did. This was a trip that I will always cherish.
— Review left June 12, 2024
wonderful trip..great guide..wonderful accomodations..all in all a great vacation. Madge
— Review left June 5, 2024
This was a fabulous trip, everything from the animal and bird encounters to the wonderful local people we met, to the food. It’s hard to imagine a better local group leader than Chris Chiparaushe. We were well taken care of and learned so much. I went in mid-May when it’s chilly in the mornings and evenings, so dress in layers—it’s all part of an unforgettable experience.
— Review left May 25, 2024
i believe this trip involved more complex logistics than any other tour i have ever been on. On one day i think we were transported by boat, 2 different buses, and safari vehicle while going through at least 3 if not 4 countries. Mr. Khule was great in herding us unpredictable rats through the maze. There were delays and the inevitable rescheduling that he smoothly guided us through.
it was quite a diverse group with some younger folks mixed in with one 87 year old. I compliment him on keeping the spectrum of individuals happy and unbothered.
the diversity of this tour was exceptional. From gorgeous water falls, plush hotels, safari treks, boat rides to walks through markets, and charity to schools and old folks homes. Good!!!!
only negative was that a couple of the guides were hard to hear/understand and in some cases at Joburg. and the 13 of us could not get close enough to the guide to hear.
Good tour, good guides, and good times
— Review left May 16, 2024
AMAZING PROGRAM!! My favorite so far!!
— Review left May 12, 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Africa with Road Scholars! Always felt safe! The quality of our lodges met my expectations and more! Our guide, Khule, was kind, patient, and extremely knowledgeable! Happy Days!
— Review left May 10, 2024
This program went above and beyond what I could have ever imagined, and was truly the trip of a life time. In addition to being on safari (which was a lifelong dream), I was able to learn about all things Africa (the history, the animals, the food, the people), and I was able to connect with the local people in ways I could have never imagined. This was the trip of a lifetime for me and I would recommend it to anyone!
— Review left May 9, 2024
Absolutely amazing trip that fulfilled a life time dream of seeing and experiencing Victoria Falls as well as going on Safari. Being able to do both land and river safari's was delightful as we saw and experienced animal behaviors in a variety of settings.
— Review left April 11, 2024
This was a trip of a lifetime that fulfilled a dream of seeing wild life in Africa. Everything about this program exceeded my expectations. Our guide Johann was great. The staff at the Khulu Lodge in Zimbabwe was great. The pace of the safaris was good. I wish I was back there right now.
— Review left February 26, 2024
Transformed is the perfect word. Everyone I know who has visited Africa told me it would be a life changing event. I thought that meant the magical experience of watching, up close and personal, wild animals roaming free over endless vast amounts of land.
Or not to mention the “Sundowner” respite every afternoon as the sun began its daily journey eastward and as staff of the Hulu Bush Camp in Zimbabwe unpacked our gin and tonics and cocktail bites wherever we landed at that magical pink moment.
But the unexpected catalyst in this journey back to the Motherland were the people. These amazing perfectly “present” gorgeous people. The calmness as I looked directly in their unwavering eyes as they spoke their truth was mesmerizing. However, the people’s fundamental duty to steward the land with kindness and love was the remarkable trait that transformed me.
And the South African native who exemplified our first-class Road Scholar experience was our guide and leader, Johann Roscher. His calm organized demeanor of making sure each one of us felt safe, taken care of, and had loads of fun ...combined with his extensive knowledge of African history ... personified the unique stellar experience traveling with Road Scholar embodies.
Bravo to the Road Scholar organization behind all the logistics of planning foreign travel, luggage, unique lodges, transportation ...it was top notch! Having traveled extensively around the globe since I spent a semester in college at the University of Denmark, I will never attempt to take on the duty of planning my own travel ever again! Now that I am of a certain age and am a solo traveler, I will allow my new best friends at Road Scholar to handle all my travel in perpetuity ...my job is to only decide ...
"Where in the World do I Want to Be?"
Holly Powell
African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife
January 26-February 9, 2024
5 STARS!!!
*The only hotel whose buffet food was bad was Radison Blu in Livingstone, Zambia. Divine food before!
— Review left February 19, 2024
On balance, a good trip. I'll start with the positives.
First, Johann was probably the best tour leader I have had over the years. He excelled in all the areas one could hope for in a tour leader. In addition, half way through the trip I lost a hearing aid rendering me partially deaf. Johann, as well as other trip attendees, went above and beyond in helping me get through this unexpected disability. He also helped me build quite a list of bird species for the trip.
In terms of lodging and meals, all were at or above expectations with the exception of the Radisson Blu in Livingstone. The food there was mediocre. I was especially impressed with the quality of food at the two "bush camps", Khulu and Chobe.
I did find some of the charitable experiences somewhat contrived, and to a certain extent, a little demeaning to the recipients.
All in all, I would not hesitate to recommend this trip to others.
— Review left February 17, 2024
Road Scholar is stupendous, all the way around! Our guide, Mark, is a walking encyclopedia! Can't wait to sign up for another Road Scholar Adventure!
— Review left November 26, 2023
This trip exceeded my expectations! The accommodations were wonderful and the guide's knowledge of the wildlife and communities that we saw was encyclopedic.
— Review left October 31, 2023
This was the trip of a lifetime, everything we had hoped for, and more! October is the hottest time in southern Africa, but thanks to the information we received from both Road Scholar, and Explore (the Program Provider for this trip), we were well prepared. Our guide, Lisa, was well organized, highly knowledgable, and infinitely patient; her love for Africa, the people, and the wildlife was infectious.
— Review left October 29, 2023
This trip was amazing with a good mix of game drives and boat rides to view the animals and excursions to markets, schools and a senior center for the local understanding of the culture. The day spent in Johannesburg at the start of the trip was sobering as we learned about life under Apartheid with visits to Constitution Hill, Soweto, and the Hector Pietersen Museum. The many local people who shared their culture and lives with us were open and friendly. Lisa Reed, our guide, was an extraordinary fount of knowledge and a bright spot to all who interacted with her. We could tell she was well loved by everyone in the many places we went. Although it was hot, I found that going in October was fine because the trees had not started to leaf out yet and we could see further into the forest. There were also several babies to be seen from elephants, warthogs, baboons, painted dogs, and a white rhino. The lodges were great and the food was wonderful. This was my seventh trip with Road Scholar and my favorite so far.
— Review left October 29, 2023
This trip was the truly the “trip of a lifetime!” I enjoyed every aspect of it - the ANIMALS, the LODGES, the FOOD, and last, but in no way least - the GUIDE. Sam Mushandu is an extraordinary person and guide - all you could ask for in a guide and MORE! Road Scholar exceeded my expectations on this trip in every way. The organization, first class lodging, and food were jaw-droppingly wonderful! Thank you Road Scholar, Sam, Rob, and all the wonderful people at the lodges for making this trip “the trip of a lifetime!
— Review left October 24, 2023
This program was as described and accurate. It was all I expected and more. Saw many animals and was able to get great pictures. The activity level was as described, but getting in and out of the safari vehicles was a little diffecult (very high and hard to climb into for some). Our trip was in October during the very dry season and weather in the high 90's to over 100 most days. The dry season made viewing the animals easier because because of the lack of leaves and greenery, but the high temps and very hot sun made it more tiring than expected. I would consider if October is the best time of year if the very warm weather is a concern. Otherwise a perfect trip. I don't regret a thing.
— Review left October 23, 2023
I have to say there were parts we loved and parts we would change. First of all, we found it too structured and timing too tight. Not enough free time unless you skipped some of the program. Other than that, we absolutely loved the safaris, Victoria Falls and the lodges! The staff was super friendly and accommodating.
— Review left October 5, 2023
This was an amazing trip and our guide, Mark, really made it that way.. We saw 4 of the big 5 in the wild along with hundreds of other species big and small. We saw Rhinos in a conserve area since unfortunately they need to be protected.. We saw Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwe side and the Zambezi side and took a helicopter ride over the falls which was amazing.. Mark, our guide, born and raised in Zimbabwe was very knowledgeable, patient, organized and taught us so much about the areas we visited not just the wildlife but also cultural, social, political & gave us all a greater appreciation for the places & people we visited. I'm home only 3 days and ready to go back!!
— Review left August 28, 2023
Our group leader Sisa was fantastic! The trip was wonderful and we highly recommend it!
— Review left August 9, 2023
I recently took my first-time trip with Road Scholar and it was so wonderful that it will not be my last!
— Review left August 1, 2023
This trip was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed every day. I have terrific memories that I'll cherish forever. I'm so glad I chose Road Scholar.
— Review left July 1, 2023
This was my first Road Scholar trip and it was pretty much flawless. I am so grateful that I spent the money and the effort to go. I don't know if all RS trips are this good, but this has been one of the top highlights of my life.
— Review left June 30, 2023
I highly recommend this trip! Of course, seeing the wild animals was the highlight, and we saw everything from elephants to lions to genets to hippos, and more. The lodges were all very nice, and the meals were very good. Special dietary needs were taken care of. Well organized - and our leader, Keith, took great care of everyone, including solving a few problems that arose. Make sure to check what the weather will be at the time of your trip - several in our group had to make a quick shopping trip to buy warmer clothing. As mentioned in the trip description, binoculars are essential, so make sure that you have a good pair with you.
— Review left June 27, 2023
A first rate adventure into southern Africa. The program was very well organized. We kept a good brisk schedule. Walking was very manageable. There were community service opportunities in two of the countries which helped us see how people live, eat and shop. Animal sightings were very good. All the lodges we stayed at were wonderful. Super clean and every effort was made to have spotless rooms and service. This is Africa so some of the dinners were more meat than we usually eat, they were all hearty and well prepared. The drivers/guides were incredibly knowledgeable as was our main guide, Keith. He made sure all arrangements were seamless.
— Review left June 4, 2023
I highly recommend this program. The animals are everywhere, baboons walking down the street, elephants on the edge of the veranda and everywhere, giraffes walking through the resort and hippos next to the boat. The guides are amazing and the leader really helped us understand what it is like to live in Africa.
— Review left May 15, 2023
Our African Safari was A Trip of a Lifetime! It was an exceptionally well-planned and wonderfully executed program. The variety and quality of safaries within Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia exceeded all our expectoration by a long shot! The local markets, museums as well as the schools, orphanage and senior care center provided us with insight into the local culture, politics and history. Each venue for our lodging was spectacularly managed and the food was beautiful and delicious at every meal. Road Scholar continues to impress us with it's unique trip
offerings.
None of our experiences on this trip would have been so impactful had not been for our professional group leader/guide Khule Ndlovu. He was knowledgable, thorough, thoughtful, engaging and genuine. He shared relevant stories of village life and his animal/plant interactions. He is truly a gifted teacher! We are grateful for all that he gave of himself to our group.
— Review left May 12, 2023
Our African Safari was A Trip of a Lifetime! It was an exceptionally well-planned and wonderfully executed program. The variety and quality of safaries within Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia exceeded all our expectoration by a long shot! The local markets, museums as well as the schools, orphanage and senior care center provided us with insight into the local culture, politics and history. Each venue for our lodging was spectacularly managed and the food was beautiful and delicious at every meal. Road Scholar continues to impress us with it's unique trip
offerings.
None of our experiences on this trip would have been so impactful had not been for our professional group leader/guide Khule Ndlovu. He was knowledgable, thorough, thoughtful, engaging and genuine. He shared relevant stories of village life and his animal/plant interactions. He is truly a gifted teacher! We are grateful for all that he gave of himself to our group.
— Review left May 12, 2023
Great trip- worth every penny!
— Review left April 22, 2023
Just returned from an extraordinary trip to Africa with Road Scholar- this company to care of every detail and made the trip worry free! The accommodations, the fellow participants, education, food- all of it was exceptional!! I’ve already started talking about another RS trip with some ladies on met on this one. It was just perfect!
— Review left November 14, 2022
Outstanding! The program exceeded my expectations. We saw so much wildlife unclose and thriving in their natural habitat. The program offered a nice balance between game drives and other cultural activities. The best drives were early morning and late afternoon. We could have shortened/eliminated some of the long rides midday. I especially appreciated being among the local people and being introduced to local families, community members, and children. Unfortunately, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg was closed on the days RS had planned to take our group (it was probably too late to change our itinerary). Of course, we selected this trip because it focused on wildlife and we saw so many animals with rare observations of lions and baboons interacting, and a pack of African painted dogs. We particularly loved the elephants, giraffe, lions, and babies with their mothers of all species. There were far fewer insects (mosques, flies) than anticipated. We used bug repellant every day and I only got one mosquito bite the entire trip. Special commendations to our intrepid and spectacular leader/guide; Mark Geraghty, Joel (Honest Siyawareva?) and all the local guides. They went above and beyond to share their knowledge, expertise, passion, and wonderful sense of humor. Mark even followed up by sending everyone a photo record of the trip. The accommodations were top notch; specifically Khulu Bush Camp in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, Sousa Island Tent Camp, and the Riverclub in Zambia. Food was generally amazing, nutritious, and delicious. (I personally preferred to be able to serve myself so I wasn't given more food than I could finish, but I understand that various lodgings wanted to provide 5-star service.) Overall, it was the trip of a lifetime and I shall hold the sights and people in my heart forever! Thank you, Road Scholar!
— Review left October 31, 2022
This is, without a doubt, the most satisfying trip I have ever taken. I've seen a good bit of the world; but never with the continuous sense of wonder that Road Scholar and our wonderful guide, Sisa, provided. I would go again tomorrow!!
— Review left October 21, 2022
The Africa experience is a not-to-be-missed lifetime experience.
— Review left October 18, 2022
Our Road Scholar Safari and Victoria Falls experience was the fulfillment of a dream. It was the perfect blend of exposure to wild animals and their environment, of eye-opening and heart-warming cultural immersion and the broadening of one’s knowledge of the history of nations far off of our normal radar. Chris, our group leader, was peerless in his knowledge and skill as a shepherd and teacher who all of us felt fortunate to know. As travel became more accessible after the pandemic, my wife and I have been to Greece, Costa Rica and now this African Safari (and the Cape Town extension) within a year’s time. Each one was an indelible treasure, but this trip was the most impactful of all. As daunting as the expense and experience seems, it goes by in a flash of time and comfortable adventure, leaving a treasure of memories.
— Review left October 17, 2022
What a great wildlife adventure! I saw ALL of the Big Five and some were up close and personal! Over 400 Cape Buffalo crossed our path and stared us down while others continued to the watering hole! Lions and Rhino were unphased by our presence and photographs were taken at every turn. You couldn't ask for a more qualified program leader than Sisa Moyo! He made this trip captivating at every turn and met my every need! Great job, Road Scholar!
— Review left September 28, 2022
This was the most amazing, unique, and almost spiritual trip that I have ever taken in the 30 years I have traveled. Africa is beautiful. The service at all the camps and resorts was Michelin class! And most of all, our guide Sam was the most helpful, organized and knowledgeable that I have ever had. We all fell in love with our guide Sam and many tears were shed when he had to put us on our plane home! Don’t miss this trip if you love nature and wildlife!
— Review left August 8, 2022
The trip was an opportunity of a lifetime. The program leader/guide (Sam M) made the trip! His knowledge of the animals and the history of the countries was astounding! He was personable, funny, and went above and beyond for our group participants! 4 of the 5 accommodations were above 5 star and the food was amazing! The museums, lectures, and other information was a very pleasant addition to seeing all the animals and Victoria Falls. If you have any thought of going on an African Safari, Road Scholar is the definite way to go!!! Bucket List wish fulfilled!
— Review left July 29, 2022
I was truly stunned by the power and possibility of Africa. Our fabulous guide, Sam Mushandu, brought it all into a focus, that for me, is mind changing. a fabulouw experience.
— Review left July 29, 2022
We loved this trip - start to finish! Such a great opportunity to visit this amazing part of the world, and learn about the natural history, culture and geography of the region was outstanding. Accommodations, group leadership weather and wildlife did not dissapoint! Beautiful landscapes and wildlife to view across the whole trip. Particularly liked getting to learn about the regional cultures of Southern Africa.
— Review left June 29, 2022
This is a trip worth taking—superbly organized, lovely accommodations, delightful people everywhere we went, lots of cool animals to see, and all of it made particularly exceptional by our guide, Lisa. Her wealth of information about animals—and so much about Southern Africa!—were such a treat. If you go when winter is coming on (May, say), know that you will need more warm clothes than warm-weather ones. (And I, for one, never needed either sunscreen nor insect repellant, despite all the pre-trip info). And that I will, from now on, call them “sundowners” rather than “happy hours.” If “African safari” is on your bucket list, or whatever, this is a good one for you.
— Review left June 5, 2022
This was my third RS trip, but first ever to the African continent. What an adventure! From the smallest insects to the largest mammals, from iconic African landscapes to gracious and welcoming locals, it was wonderful to learn about and experience “up close and personal” the diversity and interconnectivity of this part of our planet, both in terms of human populations as well as the unique flora and fauna of southern Africa. I went with few pre conceived notions other than those gleaned from nature documentaries, films, zoos, etc. and returned with a host of unexpected and truly meaningful encounters that will forever bring a smile and shape how I see the world.
Our camp accommodations were the perfect combination of style and comfort (great food and drink, of course) while keeping us immersed in the fantastic nature that surrounded us. Woven throughout and perhaps best of all, our group leader, Lisa, was nothing short of outstanding…..entertaining, beyond knowledgeable, and forever attentive to our every need. 5 gold stars to her, all of the camp staff and hosts, the guest presenters and Road Scholar’s local tour operator.
— Review left June 4, 2022
If you want to see wildlife, this program delivers!
— Review left June 1, 2022
A not to be missed adventure. Roads Scholar does a wonderful job in presenting Victoria Falls and the animals that everyone wants to experience.
— Review left May 16, 2022
I highly recommend this trip. It has a perfect mix of a variety of experiences. Our guide Mark was hugely responsible for our enjoyment of this trip. Meals included were appreciated so we didn't waste time looking for places to eat on our own. Loved not having much free time, I can do nothing at home, we went so we could see and do all that we could and we did a lot of both and loved it! Trip of a lifetime and then some!!
— Review left May 15, 2022
Absolutely fantastic!
— Review left May 9, 2022
This program was amazing we had the best time and all of the animals were amazing to see. We left our hearts in Africa we loved it so much.
— Review left February 19, 2022
This trip was the absolute best! We saw everything we hoped for as far as wildlife. This program is so much more than just animals. It covers culture, customs and understanding of each country and that country's role in Africa's history as well as today's world. I would say if you are interested in visiting Africa. just do it with this adventure. You will not regret it!!
— Review left October 10, 2021
The guide Mark was very well versed in the history and the animals of all the regions we visited. He handled all the PCR tests and visas that we all reguired several times since we crossed so many borders. In addition, Sam, a previous guide on another RS trip, was also a guide at one of the camps for 3 days. What a joy to have such great guides. The activities were all fun and exciting: petting and walking with ellies, horseback riding and swimming in the Zambeze. What a trip!!! Thank you Mark and Sam.
— Review left October 5, 2021
What a fabulous experience getting to know Southern Africa, specifically Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. Of course seeing "the Big Five" (elephant, buffalo, rhinocerus, lion, leopard) plus many others was exciting. But equally valuable is the new appreciation I have for the amazing history and culture of this region with some the friendliest people I've ever met. Africa is so misrepresented in the western world! The bush camps were special -- luxurious accommodations with gourmet dining, while watching the wildlife a few steps away. Before you go, research how the time of year (wet season and dry season) makes a difference in the experience so your expectations are met.
— Review left September 25, 2021
This is was our 3rd Road Scholar international experience - it did NOT disappoint in any way. Although you always just scratch the travel surface, our small group experiences in these 4 African countries included amazing wildlife encounters and so, so much more. Excellent educational full-bodied! Five stars! It was a trip of a lifetime for us.
— Review left March 27, 2020
Excellent program, and Lisa is an exceptional guide. I wanted to see Victoria Falls, and we saw that and much, much more.
— Review left March 16, 2020
One of the best trips ever. The group size was perfect, the guide excellent, all the drivers at the camps were knowledgeable and made sure everyone saw the animals. Excellent group who were well-traveled and got along.
— Review left December 11, 2019
Super trip, led by best RS guide EVER Lisa Reed! White rhinos & hundreds - literally - of elephants. Beautiful serene bush camps, Thorn Tree & Imbabala. Two weeks were all too short.
— Review left December 9, 2019
What an amazing experience. Lisa, our leader, is a treasure. The drivers and guides added a lot to our program with all of their knowledge as well.
— Review left December 8, 2019
A combination of having an outstanding tour leader, Lisa Reed, having opportunities for over a dozen game drives (or other wildlife viewing experiences), getting to view Victoria Falls from both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides, as well as comfortable accommodations made this Road Scholar African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife a perfect way for me to check off "Safari and Victoria Falls" from my bucket list. Thank you Road Scholar and Lisa!
— Review left November 19, 2019
We are still trying to figure out how we could experience so much for the price of this tour. Our guide, Sam, was over-the-top fantastic garnering all of our respect, all the while being thoughtful, kind, courteous, knowledgeable and funny with the entire group.
The lodging was fabulous and meals wonderful. Close your eyes and picture a 20' outdoor table set with lovely tableware -- and in the evening tea lights -- the atmosphere just calling for friendly conversation. Game drives stopped along the way and in a matter of minutes a table and tablecloth were set up with drinks and snacks while we all relaxed and shared the pictures we had taken.
On our safari rides were able to see many, many animals -- a leopard was seen by one guide when only the flick of its tail was in view. I'd call that good scouting for sure.
This was our second Road Scholar trip but it won't be our last. We are already scouring the catalogs for our next adventure.
Bill and Peggy Clutz
— Review left November 17, 2019
What a fantastic trip to be involved in. Our tour guide (Mark) was very educated in the lives of the people. Being in the mist of my people, (people of color) it was amazing for some to have not met an African-American from the United States. The respect I was given was amazing. As I understand, the women in the family is highly respected. It was amazing to be almost an icon in the present of my people. I was totally overwhelmed with the kindness, respect and attention given. I, being a person of color can appreciate this.
Mark did a great job of preparing us for this trip and I appreciate his concerns for myself and anyone who had a concern. My tourist partners were great. I felt as is I knew them for a long time. All in all, the trip was great, and Mark and Chantell were the best
Thank you
Frances(Frannie)Pratt
— Review left November 16, 2019
If you want to learn about the animals and have up close encounters, you will truly enjoy this experience, especially if Sam is your guide.
— Review left November 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this program. We were able to see an incredible number of animals on the many game drives, the two river cruises, and from the rooms of the lodges where we stayed. I wish I had known to bring warmer clothes for the evening and early morning game drives. Thank goodness for the warm ponchos! The staff at the lodges were friendly and welcoming. The visit to the school and village was extremely well organized and informative. We have been on similar visits during other Road Scholar programs, and this was by far the best. It didn't seem like something "added on" as a cultural experience. It's a good idea to have some cash with you at all times because some of the places on the itinerary had small items for sale to help support their charitable work. Although there weren't many opportunities for walking, I think the "On Your Feet" classification is accurate. We were busily engaged for most of the days. If anything, I would have appreciated a bit more time between experiences to ponder what we had seen and learned.
— Review left June 2, 2019
I recommend this trip, for both its rewards and difficulties. The trip included abundant game drives as well as honest glimpses into life in Zimbabwe. I was glad to be spending money in a country that so needed it and even wished I'd brought more. Bring more cash than RS suggests. You may think, as I did, that you don't plan to shop much, but then you can't resist the delights.
I would have preferred a more physically active tour; there wasn't much walking. Food was excellent in some locations and abysmal in others. The high level of service was astonishing. Along with others in the group, I found Keith to be the best guide we've encountered among our various travels.
I was not happy with the inaccurate, overly general information provided before the tour. In May you need more than a fleece jacket to layer over a long-sleeved shirt and tee. For early morning and after-dark drives, you need gloves, a warm hat (not just a sun hat), and several more layers of warm clothing. Long underwear would have been a great help. It's true that you mustn't wear bright colors on game drives, but it would have been perfectly OK to wear subdued shades of blue. Due to an incident with misplaced bags, I urge Road Scholar to set things up so that we verify our bags when they're unloaded even though we also verified them when they were loaded for various transports.
The absolute worst thing about this tour and others like it is the over-use of disposable plastic water bottles, contributing to the world plastic crisis. Even through we brought refillable bottles, clean water for the refills was not always available and we had to use the throw-aways. I urge RS to find solutions to this problem.
— Review left May 29, 2019
Probably the best Safari tour that can be had.
— Review left May 19, 2019
African Safari A Close-Up on Wildlife was the trip of a lifetime for my husband and I. It exceeded our expectations at every turn. Our guide, Honest, was absolutely wonderful. The country itself, the people we met, the animals we saw, the things we learned, the lodges we stayed at combined to leave us with memories we will forever treasure.
— Review left May 19, 2019
This is an outstanding program and exceeded our expectations. The guide, Honest, was outstanding - extremely knowledgeable, great sense of humor, good leader. A credit to Road Scholar. We felt safe at all times. The fellow travelers were wonderful and there was great group cohesion. Appreciated the small size - 10 participants. The safari lodges were terrific and the food was great at all of them. The educational programs, lectures and site visits were outstanding. The game drives were wonderful - we saw all of the Big Five and learned so much about the animals and birds. The staff at the lodges could not have been more welcoming, friendly and helpful. And such an unexpected pleasure to have free laundry services in the safari lodges. The safari vehicles were comfortable and we appreciated always getting to have an outside seat for good viewing. The late afternoon drives always included a break in a lovely area where beverages and snacks were plentiful, often served on a white clothed table! High teas at all the lodges were a treat. never had a problem with mosquitoes, dust, or what some participants in previous reviews complained about as very hard seats. We could not have been more pleased with this trip and are looking at another Road Scholar trip to Africa. There is so much to see and they are so well done.
— Review left May 8, 2019
I would highly recommend this tour. It was well designed, and executed. I have no complaints whatever. Go for it!
— Review left May 6, 2019
Exceptional guide! Game drives were thrilling. Varied lodgings were spectacular. Local experiences were humanistic and deeply informative. Programs that are helping both animals and people were inspiring. The itinerary gave a good balance to experiences and pacing - full but measured to allow a range replete with richness.
— Review left May 5, 2019
This program was all that we hoped for. It contained the right mix of cultural and wildlife experiences. We had an excellent tour guide and the lodges in which we stayed were perfect. It couldn't have been better!
— Review left May 4, 2019
The program exceeded our expectations. We did indeed see a lot of wildlife often and up close.
I was able to get a lot of great pictures that I will be sharing with friends and putting up in our house.
— Review left April 6, 2019
Most awesome trip/experience ever! Mark was a fantastic leader. He was super knowledgeable and truly took care of everyone's needs. He went beyond to make sure we had the best experience, ever! The wide variety of activities and experiences gave a total picture of many aspects of southern Africa. I want to go back!
— Review left March 17, 2019
5 stars. What a wonderful experience. If you want to experience the beauty, diversity and history of this amazing continent, you should take this tour.
— Review left March 1, 2019