Review: Luxury Africa Birthday Safari, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sabi Sands, Capetown, Franschhoek, Cape Point, Robben Island

This was our first time using Zicasso and this Africa travel company and my wife and I couldn't be happier.  Our travel company helped us plan our 13-night dream vacation to Southern Africa from start to finish.  

Before getting into the travel company, a little detail on our trip...  We are from the US and this was our first time to the African continent.  For that reason, we wanted to see as much as possible during the time we were there.  All told, we spent 2 nights in Franschhoek (ZA), 1 night in Hermanus (ZA), 4 nights in Cape Town (ZA), 2 nights in Victoria Falls (ZI), and 4 nights in Sabi Sands (ZA).  We knew we wanted to see the Cape Town as well as the surrounding areas (wine lands, Boulders Beach, Hermanus, Cape Point, etc.), go great white shark diving, see Victoria Falls, and go on a safari.  My wife and I wanted to strike the right balance of being able to explore the areas on our own but not feel completely lost or unguided.  Our travel company arranged for a rental car while we were in the Cape Town area and linked us with an unforgettable all-day guide for our first day in Cape Town.  The company also planned and arranged a tour of Robben Island and shark diving.  Everything went off as planned and we could not have been happier with our trip or this travel company.   Every vendor, activity, and place to stay this travel company selected was absolutely perfect and what we wanted.  I honestly think that was one of the most value-added parts of our trip planning.  Since this trip was for my birthday, they even went to the trouble of telling the places where we stayed and the shark diving vendor to make things even more special.  It was a truly unforgettable experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Zicasso linked us with this travel company along with two other competing travel agencies.  We also looked into other agencies.  From very early on, it was apparent that this travel company was the most friendly and flexible of the agencies that we worked with.  We had many needs and parameters to be met (e.g., using hotel points, targeted budget, time frame over the Thanksgiving holiday and my birthday, etc.) and we wanted time to be able to thoughtfully plan out our trip.  While the other agencies treated our needs as hindrances and difficulties, this company was more than happy and willing to meet them and give us the time to think everything over (and change our minds) before booking.  They never once pressured us to lock in our trip with a deposit like other agencies.  I would wholeheartedly and unreservedly recommend and use this travel company again.