Africa Birthday Safari Review: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Cape Town, Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Victoria Falls

I would stay at hotels closer to the waterfront in Capetown so we could walk around without getting a taxi. An added hassle to this was that our phones didn't work so we constantly had to ask others to call a taxi for us. The jacuzzi didn't work either which was a bummer. It was too hot or too cold. I would skip Victoria Falls all together. Too touristy for my style and although the Vicotria Falls Hotel was a grand place, it felt like an outdated americanized hotel with a hoity-toity clientelle and I sensed a staff that were poorly treated by management. The rooms were slightly run down with cracked tile, floor staples poking up out of the carpet between the room and bath threshold. Buffet style food is not our style and frankly, we found it to be quite disgusting. There were a couple dishes that redeemed the experience and we were able to get into the finer dining restaurant our last night providing a better experience due to the atmosphere and staff. Although I'm glad we went to Botswana for a different safari adventure, I wasn't impressed with our guide. He didn't have the passion as our previous guide and seemed bored with his job. Although he was nice, we had to ask him to stop for photos and at times he seemed irritated. The staff at the lodge were outstanding, especially the ladies. So friendly and always ready to laugh. The tents were exciting for the first night but after the second night I was ready for a real hotel room. Too many wild animals roaming around and playing on the roofs making it difficult to sleep in a room with screens for windows. My friend and two other guests got trapped in their rooms by aggressive baboons that wouldn't leave. The emergency horn had to be blown so they could get out. My friend was quite frightened by the experience.