Travel Review: Africa Safari, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kruger & Chobe National Parks, Victoria Falls, Winelands

We were very impressed with our guide.  He was everything you could want in a guide.  He loves Kruger.  He was knowledgeable about the park and the animals, and worked to provide a full experience.  He is also a good cook.  We also learned a fair amount about South Africa from him.  If we came back, we would insist on his presence.  

We appreciated staying in the park facilities.  They were perfectly fine and allowed us the opportunity to have a private guide for that time.  You spend so much time game viewing that every venue really does not have to be a 5 star affair. Talamati, in particular, brought an authentic safari experience to the vacation.  It was spacious, but also allowed for the experience of being secluded in the park.

As for the game viewing, it took some work on the part of our guide as the dry season had not quite set in, but we had many private viewings without other cars around due to this and found that to be very satisfying.

Victoria Falls.  The hotel was very nice, breakfast is outstanding.  We would recommend staying there, avoid the extra price of the Royal Livingstone (and just head there from drinks at sunset, they provide transport since it's the same company).

Chobe Game Lodge was memorable; it is a special place.  The lodge is laid out to create a sense of privacy no matter where you are and we really enjoyed this.  Staff are in high numbers and all actively engaged in providing the best possible service, we had not a single complaint about any of them.  We also appreciate this lodge's efforts to support the empowerment of women.  All guides are women at this lodge.  In Chobe Park, the animals are more likely to be right by the car (birds nesting, for example) because the roads are all dirt, single lane.