Testimonials

“We met our safari driver and guide and away we went… to Ashnil Samburu Camp Buffalo Springs Game Reserve. Very good communication along the way! On arrival at the Park, we went immediately into our game drive – spotting animals and birds became the focus. Nature treated us well and we arrived at about 5.30, checked in and were ushered to our fixed tented accommodation, very nice. Open air under cover silver service with, oh my word, every choice available, we were walked to bed and were serenaded to sleep by the hippos! A 6.30 am start and a full day game drive. Once again nature treated us well. Highlights being Cheetah mum and 18 month old cub and a leopard resting out along a limb, along with mum elephant and a suckling calf, WOW! Next morning off to Samburu National Reserve! Luckily on the way 2 lionesses with a cub treated us. On the way we met the Samburu people at their village. So friendly, the children were amazing and recited the alphabet and counted to 10 for us. Travelling to Serena Mountain Lodge we criss crossed the equator many times, no bump as we went over it! On the road again to Serena Mountain Lodge and night viewing. Mt Kenya was behind us and we were 2134 metres above sea level. It’s marvellous seeing the people as we’re driving, village life, massive greenhouses growing roses and carnations for export. On cloud 9, truly didn’t expect to see so many animals. Lake Nakuru is a salt water lake 45 square kilometres. Lunched at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, sumptuous and choices galore! The birdsong was deafening and bird life amazing. To see so many animals roaming together with the flamingo in the background, breathtaking! Just a short drive to Enashipai, we have had amazing accommodation to date, this blew us away! Another fantastic silver service meal with a great sleep to follow. On the road again to the Masai Mara, within seconds of entering the park animals and birds abound. We stayed at Basecamp Masai Mara, another fixed tented accommodation. When President Obama was a Senator, his family stayed there and planted a tree each. If we needed to go out at night we shone our torch and a Maasai Warrior came and escorted us. An absolute cacophony of animal sounds for our night and day break chorus. If your guests are able to, pay for and enjoy the hot air balloon ride over the Mara, breathtakingly peaceful just floating along, and a champagne silver service breakfast to boot! Fantastic. We walked down to the lakes edge where the hippos are grazing and we had a boat ride on the lake, another excellent day. Well to date we have been blown away with what we’ve seen and now how can we contain ourselves the magical Amboseli, with to me the magical Mt Kilimanjaro by us, out of this world. Game drives through the two swamps and the Amboseli Maasai Mara people and the children, how they smile (wish our kids would do the same. With the help of my family friends and clients we’ve donated 100 kilograms of stationery and clothes to these people). To see the children when we visited the school and their eyes alight singing to us, tears streaming down my face, gut wrenching, and to see their smiles with their eyes lighting up, wow so humbled. Next….wow, the elephants of Amboseli under Mt Kilimanjaro, magical! We leave Amboseli, Arusha here we come, the town clock is the centre of Africa, Cairo in the North, Cape Town in the South, Dar es Salaam in the East and Accra Ghana in the West! And yes more silver service and food mind blowing for choice, don’t travel with World Journeys to lose weight! Off to Lake Manyara, we stayed in Karatu, Acacia Farm Lodge, fantastic sunset greeted us and of course luxury accommodation and silver service for our food! In the morning we drove to the Serengeti, game driving along the way and stopping to lookout at the Ngorongoro Crater all shrouded in mist. Along the route we saw amazing, infinite scenery again, the vastness unbelievable, and the Maasai people along with the young lads who had had their initiation into warrior hood. Made it to Kati Kati Tented Camp, awesome. All of our accommodation has been fantastic, tonight’s at the Oldeani Mountain Lodge wow, wow, wow outstanding. Our fantastic Safari is over… so many memories.”

“We cannot speak highly enough of the experience we had at the hands of World Journeys and their agents. All guides were of a very high to excellent calibre. All pickups were on time, even though for many of the small flights we were often early arriving. Every driver or guide transfer was fully handed over to the next phase. For example if we were getting on a plane at the rural airstrips, we noticed that the guides/drivers would stay until the plane actually took off. With the one exception, all accommodation was excellent and the experiences absolutely incredible. The all-inclusive package was really great. Wine at all venues was very free-flowing, and it was good not to be paying for items as we went. With the exception of tipping/visas we did not spend any other money whilst on the safari legs. The itinerary was put together by others and we wouldn’t have changed it. All 5 safari park experiences were different, and well exceeded our expectations. Travel went without a hitch, and at all times we felt very safe in Africa. We travelled in the low season and it was a terrific time to go. The rainy season hadn’t started so it was beautiful weather the whole time. But the best thing was the babies… everywhere was baby animals – so cute! As well the camps were only 1/3rd to half full. For 3.5 of the 5 safari experiences we had a guide all to ourselves. The parks were not crowded and we felt hard done by when there might be 5 or 6 vehicles around the same cheetah or lion pride. Many times it was just us or 1 other jeep. Apparently in the high season the vehicles can number up to 30 in one spot – so we were actually very spoilt. So many fantastic memories – an absolutely incredible vacation. Thank you for everything.”

“Kenya – An eye opener travelling between the parks and seeing how the Kenyan people in the various towns live. Tanzania, Serengeti National Park – Experiencing the migration of zebras and wildebeest as they were just arriving into the park and watching the leaders carefully scope out whether it was safe to cross the swamps and streams before the stampede of those following. Ngorongoro Crater – Just the feeling of being inside the crater and seeing so many of the animals in one place.”

“We had an amazing time in Africa! Very keen to go back and see more now! &Beyond were just amazing – the food, the people, the guides – all just fantastic! The lodges were just beautiful – our fav for the rooms was Bateleur Camp – loved the feel that you were partly in a tent!! Met a Warthog on the path one morning, so we stood eyeballing each other for a few seconds, then we slowly backed back, and he took off into the bushes – but still watched as we went past him!! We saw all the big five on our first day in the Maasi Mara – very unheard of apparently. They kept telling us how lucky we were! We thought it can’t get any better the next day, but it did! We saw three elusive black rhino as well! Kleins is an amazing location, and having their own area to drive around is fantastic. We got very close to a leopard over the 3 days, several times, and also within a few metres of both big males, females and lion cubs. Just memories to treasure forever! The Crater accom is pretty unique – looks like it has been designed by a mad architect, and could actually star in a Hobbit Movie!! It was very nice in its own way. We all felt that after being so close to all the other animals in the other camps, this was disappointing for animal viewing (we had been very spoilt), but had we done the trip in reverse, we would have loved it I am sure. In saying that the fact that you are down inside a huge crater is very cool though.”

“Africa was AMAZING!!!!! Loved every minuted of it! All your careful planning went like clockwork (THANK YOU) I have the best photos you can imagine (probably just like yours!). We saw the BIG 5 and the migration…..so lucky! The pick up at airports…transfers etc was top notch! Accommodation FABULOUS! Can’t fault it. Ange…. thanks for all your expert help.”

“We had the most amazing trip and the arrangements made by you were flawless. The Singita Boulders Lodge was fabulous and a great way to begin our African experience. The game viewing was excellent there. Our time on Benguerra Island was lovely despite almost melting in the 40 degree heat. Thank you for the Moet! Amelia loved our time at Elephant Camp in Zimbabwe as they have a resident rescue cheetah called Sylvester and we were able to walk with him for an hour. Our time in the Samburu region of Kenya was an absolute highlight due to the rich cultural experience of meeting the local villagers and enjoying the fantastic hospitality of Nicki and Scott at Sasaab Camp. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and would return here for a repeat visit in preference to the Masai Mara. In Tanzania the andBeyond Under Canvas Camp was great. Unfortunately our balloon safari was cancelled on the morning due to high winds and we were told to get you to apply for a refund on our behalf. The Ngorongoro Crater Lodge was stunning with amazing food. The highlight of Tanzania would have to be Sand Rivers in Selous though, which is brilliantly run by Natasha and Evan. What an interesting area and so different to any other part of the trip. In Zanzibar we did enjoy the Stone Town visit but found that the Baraza Resort was just lacking in atmosphere, maybe a little ‘sterile’. They also had a very limited range of water sports available and we had to visit a neighbouring resort for these. Our night at Giraffe Manor was truly amazing. It is no wonder that this place is so popular. Amelia was in her element! Finishing off the trip in Mauritius was perfect and Le Touessrok resort was the best beach resort that we have stayed in. Great restaurants and plenty of water activities. I could have stayed there another week! Thank you for organising such a fabulous trip for us. We certainly have some incredible memories.”

“Just wanted to say on behalf of us all what a fabulous trip you had organised for us. As usual everything went like clockwork, with not a single hiccup during the entire three weeks. Namibia The Olive Grove was a fabulous start to the trip and a perfect place to reach after all those flights. Wilderness looked after us very well at Little Kulala and Ongava. We even had lions in the camp at Ongagva, everyone was on high alert. The waterhole there is wonderful to watch. We also had a lovely close up with a white rhino and her calf. The sands of the desert were beautiful, and Ange you were right in that Little Kulala was the best option there. Intercontinental at O.R.Airport was an outstanding hotel. We were very impressed with the hotel and the service of the staff there. The breakfast was outstanding and even beats the one at the WestIn in Sydney! The andBeyond man was at the airport to meet us and hand over the ‘bags’ for the next part of the journey. Rwanda Goes without saying what a wonderful experience the Gorilllas were. Ange, the Silverback Lodge, was the perfect choice. Very happy that we took your advice! Tanazania Once again and Beyond lifted the bar. Lake Manyara was a dream spot. We had an amazing game drive there and just loved the accommodation. Our guide was outstanding and we all fell in love with our butler. Even managed to see the Lions in the Trees. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge; what can we say. It is certainly an experience.The staff put on a beautiful ‘rose petal’ dinner and Masai show which was very special. Our butler there excelled himself in the performance and was a real character. Grumeti Under Canvas was a lovely way to finish with the tents. The staff there were very helpful and we had an excellent guide there as well. He took us on a full day drive to the central Serengeti so that we could catch up with the Great Migration and in the process we finally, on our 2nd to last day saw a leopard! Our guide was delighted that he had been able to fulfil that wish! Finally the Legendary Lodge in Arusha was legendary!! What a fabulous place. We could have settled in for several days and just missed our flight home! So once again, a huge thank you to both of you for all the work you have put into our trip. It was perfect.”