Guest Book

Traveled June 2021. Our stay at The Hide was incredible.  As always, their food and service were impeccable and we all thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Nkosi is a brilliant guide who gauges clients wants / needs and has the patience of a saint with children!  He really is one of a kind. Brigette and the rest of her team were very attentive, but at the same time respectful of our space. I really do not have a bad word to say about anything. We were very lucky with game too which was an added bonus :) Thank you so much for organizing our stay, it really was amazing

Traveled May 2021. We enjoyed every moment of the trip, and each destination was very different. The highlight of our journey was our stay at Rhino Safari Camp. Karl and Jenni are exceptional people, and we enjoyed the rich discussions during the meals and around the fire in the evening. Besides, we had a very skilled guide who made each game drive/walk an incredible experience. The Sikeleli team (first Karen, then Fungai) were taking into account each one of our requests and desires. They asked the right questions that helped to design a personalized and perfectly fitted itinerary. We also appreciated the flexibility and commitment to adjust the trip based on the constraints that we faced (#covid19). Many, many, many thanks for this amazing work ! We did not navigate a lot on the website. However, it was useful to receive the links to various pages by email. For instance, it is helpful to provide pre-travel information and advice that allows to prepare and pack efficiently. One small thing that was also appreciated: the sports bra recommendation :-) We definitely would recommend you! The service provided was highest quality, from the preparation, through the effective booking, to the follow-up during... Read More

Traveled April 2021. If we have to mention just one experience, it wouldn’t be fair; but overall, one highlight undoubtedly was how gracefully and pristinely organized the entire trip was. Sikeleli’s team was on top of our needs, always helpful even when we had a thousand questions about safety, the actual situation in every country we visited (South Africa and Botswana). They perfectly balanced the trip from beginning to end, starting with Johannesburg upon arrival and settling; to the first safari in comfort and glorious Kruger Park; to the wilderness and luxury of Botswana; then finally resting and winding down in Cape Town. All accommodations were absolutely top top-notch, with service, food and hospitality to match. Having the app with the trip itinerary really helped - it informed us about the trips, restaurant reservations, flights and any other information we should be aware of. It was very useful and very clear to understand. We would recommend Sikeleli with closed eyes! Not just to family and friends, but to ourselves when we decide to explore more of Africa or any other of their destination. Thanks so much to Danni for being always there for us; any time we needed to discuss... Read More

Every day of my trip was a highlight. Lots of miles covered, and beautiful landscapes that changed over the miles-stunning sand dunes, to quaint seaside German towns, to crashing waves on a desolate beach during a sand storm, to dramatic mountains that just appeared out of nowhere after we went up over a hill, to rock carvings, to wild elephants and rhinos. I am thrilled that I had a driver/guide, so that I could enjoy every bit of scenery, without having to worry about where I was going and how I was supposed to get there- a luxury having a driver/guide, but so very worth it. I truly feel that this trip to Namibia was, if not the best trip, than one of the best trips I have ever taken- between the beautiful country, having a wonderful guide/driver, and the gift of space and time that I tend to miss in my daily life. Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible for me!!

In short, the trip was amazing; very thoughtfully laid out and executed. I will just note that the guides in each place were really terrific; knowledgeable, delightful to engage with, and responsive to our many questions. Safari took our breath away; even our 17 year old son found it exciting and humbling, as evidenced by the number of pictures he took. Getting up close and personal with the animals was a humbling privilege for us all. Eli turned 17 at Simbavati, and the staff treated him to a cake and some dancing and drumming, as is the local custom. Just fabulous. In every location, the hotel staff and our guides were incredibly helpful. At the suggestion of the folks at Batonka, we did an unplanned visit to the Wildlife Trust in Zimbabwe -- a very meaningful addition. As for Vic Falls.....plenty of water, indeed! Cape Town was wonderful. We particularly enjoyed our time with Jackie Pollak (Capeex) and the township tour with Camissa. Very different, but important lenses, on the evolution of life in Cape Town. As for Bushman's Kloof, it's hard to imagine that this oasis of beauty is at the end of that very long, bumpy journey, but... Read More

We absolutely LOVED every part of our trip, there wasn’t anything we would have skipped looking back. The bush (safari) is the most magical experience we have and possibly ever will experience. Every moment was incredible, it is truly inexplicable. Nothing can prepare you for the feeling of being out in the wild with the most majestic animals. The sounds, smells, sights are beyond belief. We really enjoyed the wine tour and all of the guided private tours that you organized for us. The guides were always knowledgeable and kind. We felt safe the whole time and really loved every person we came in contact with. This was our first time using an agent and we loved it. We are both good travellers and have no problem getting around foreign countries together but being our honeymoon and Africa we thought it would be nice to “treat ourselves”. It was such a treat to just show up and have everything ready for us, drivers waiting, hosts ready for our check-ins, special surprises, etc. The preparation that went into place really made our honeymoon a breeze allowing us to relax and enjoy the countries and each other. Danni was there for us... Read More

Sikeleli Africa Safaris provided excellent service throughout the entire trip! Every facet of this trip was thought through and executed to perfection.  It was obvious that Belinda Burrows (Sikeleli consultant) carefully thought through every detail of our trip. Belinda’s quick responses to our communications helped us address every aspect of our trip.  All the tours, the transportation and transfers that were arranged by Sikeleki was performed flawlessly, with superior service and professionalism. Whenever I reflect back on our trip arranged by Sikeleli, the most enjoyable part of this trip is the comfort that we felt that every aspect of trip was thought thru and taken care of.  Being in a foreign country, the fact that the trip was well planned allowed us to enjoy ourselves! The most memorable part of our trip  was how beautiful the countries and the people were!  Once again, by having all the logistics of the trip planned by Sikeleki, all of our fears and anxieties we were put to rest and we were able to enjoy the beauty of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana!  The interaction with the people at the Lodges were exceptional.  And the interactions with the Locals made us want to come back to Africa again! We appreciated the detailed planning,... Read More

Belinda – Thank you on behalf of our entire family for organizing what was truly a dream trip to Africa. As you know, it was a first for all of us and we will cherish our memories forever. I totally understand why Africa steals people’s hearts and know we’ll be back one way or another.  Your thoughtfulness in every detail was much appreciated when we arrived and there was always someone handling us and making sure everything happened according to plan and our wishes. With young kids, I think this really helped us get the most out of our trip and allowed Mori and I to relax a lot more than if we had been trying to navigate transfers and tours on our own.  The places we stayed were all wonderful and the service exceeded all expectations. Our family felt genuinely welcome and cared for by all the staff at each stop. We want to particularly recognize our tour guide in Nairobi James (of Naked Wilderness) as he was outstanding from the moment he picked us up on our first night until the last flight home when he checked in to make sure we were doing ok. His knowledge, kindness,... Read More

The welcome at both Somalisa and Chiefs camp was amazing. The game watching we had at Chiefs camp was incredible with a standoff between hyena and wild dogs and a leopard thrown into the mix and our guide Martin, pulled out all the stops for us to see a rhino. Mike at Somalisa was also an outstanding guide whose humour and story telling was almost as good as the game watching experiences he gave us. All (and I mean all) the staff we dealt with in the local tour company; Sunny our bus driver and the other bus drivers were outstandingly friendly and helpful. Everyone went out of their way to ensure we had a fabulous holiday

Overall a fantastic experience. Safari highlights were (1) everything at Selinda Explorer’s Camp, but especially following one of their female lions on a hunt and watching her figure out that in order to cross the water without alerting her potential prey, she needed to sneak across at the same time as a herd of elephants; (2) tracking a cheetah at Somalisa Acacia; and (3) watching Sable Alley’s pack of wild dogs greet their young after the daytime nap, then tagging along with the adults on their successful evening hunt. After the dogs made their kill–and impala–we watched them eat for a few moments and then raced back to the den so that we could see the adults return to regurgitate for the puppies. Another highlight was the tour of Soweto, which was eye-opening and extraordinary. Belinda did a great job working within budgetary and timing constraints and finding good activities during our non-safari times in the cities. Especially impressive was Belinda’s ability to adapt on extremely short notice when our flight plans changed; we ended up having to be in Joburg 24 hours early, and Belinda set up a terrific day in Soweto and at the Apartheid museum within minutes.... Read More

The whole 11 days were a highlight of my year, however, if I had to isolate parts of the trip it would be the 2 days canoeing down the Zambezi with Wild Horizons and the Vintage Camp. In both places, I felt that I was in safe hands and had very knowledgeable guides. Finding lions had to be one of the best memories, but watching nature in real life, when a crocodile and 2 hippos started a fight with another hippo is a totally unforgettable moment. I am not sure if you could have done better, we had exactly the right amount of adrenalin and relaxation, on budget and the personal touch of meeting us and WhatsApping during the holiday was really reassuring. Thank you so much for all the support.

We absolutely loved both Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park. Our guide Munya (sp?) at Hwange was the best we’ve had on any of our safaris/tours around Africa. Meredith and Paul at 528 were spectacular as well and helped so much with suggestions while we were in Victoria Falls including the moonbow viewing at the falls during the full moon, one of the highlights of our trip. We found great value in the accommodations provided. Our small-ish budget didn’t feel stretched and we were able to do/see everything we wanted to. The PDF itinerary was useful for when we had limited/no Internet connection in Zimbabwe. I’m looking forward to my next trip to Africa and I’ll definitely be working with Sikeleli again!

Just on our return to the UK and I really wanted to drop you a quick note to say a huge thank you for all your help and advice in putting our trip together for us. Without exception, all your recommendations turned out to be absolutely perfect – just the sort of places we like to stay at and in wonderful positions. I have already dropped you a note about our excellent guide in Cape Town. A very special mention must go to the Klaserie Sands River Camp. Louis and Lee-Ann and all their staff were absolutely superb. They managed to create a really homely atmosphere, where we were made to feel very much part of the family, as well as having stunning game sightings. To sit on their deck with a glass in hand and see over 40 elephant just yards away was truly wonderful and we were treated to three leopard just outside the lodge. The Sky Bed was also a really special experience. We could not recommend this camp more highly to anyone thinking of going on a safari in the future. I hope we might get the opportunity to work with you again.

The trip went perfectly with all lodging and ground assistance. Sikeleli made arrangements that were beyond our expectations. I will highly recommend them to my friends who may wish to visit Africa. We had excellent accommodations staff, and were treated very well. Great game viewing was of course the highlight of the trip, seeing the famous wild dogs of Africa was very special. Our opinion to all is… GO SOON!

Highlights were the fabulous animals we saw, and the wonderful people we met. The guides and staff everywhere were amazing. Laura at Victoria Falls, Calvert our guide and Ronald who greeted us and made drinks at Somalisa, at Mapula our guide Chabbo, and really all the guides there were mixing and mingling and making it a lovely time. Each arrival and transfer went smoothly, making the trip stress free. This was very helpful! Both camps went out of their way to celebrate our anniversary. Somalisa had people go ahead of us to our sundowner, surprising us with champagne, appetizers, and an array of beverages. The other group joined us for a celebration. Mapula came out with a cake for us, and about 20 staff, singing and dancing! The whole camp danced, the singing was incredible. The dinner and wine our first night in Johannesburg provided by the travel agency was very sweet. Thank you.

This trip was amazing and a once in a lifetime experience. Belinda from Sikeleli Africa Safaris did an amazing job communicating with us, finding out our travel style, and creating a trip that was perfect for us. We got to experience the best of Zambia and Zimbabwe and loved every minute of it. The parks are amazing, Victoria falls was amazing, and the people we interacted with were genuinely thrilled to share these beautiful countries with us. We really loved the Devil’s Pool experience at Victoria falls as the view was like no other. We loved seeing all of the different animals during our stays at The Hide, Flatdogs Camp, and Stretch’s Safari camp. The most unique experience was during our time at Stretch Safari Camp as we were able to track lions on foot until we were less than 50 meters away from them! We wish we could have spent more time at Stretch Safari camp as this was the most unique experience and the team there was exceptional.

Adam and I had such a great trip. I have filled out the survey, but wanted to tell you personally that we LOVED the Shongewe Lookout-- thank you so much for recommending it! All the tour guides/drivers through Wild Horizons were super nice, knowledgeable and professional. Victoria Falls was absolutely stunning and while we had a great day overall in Chobe, we did not get to see all of the animals we wished to see, so we will definitely be doing another safari in the future! And of course, Cape Town was amazing-- we had great weather and had a really nice time with Adam's family there. Thank you so much for all your help :)

I had a great yearning to return to Africa after travelling to Kenya many years ago! By chance I had spoken with friends who had recently returned from an incredible trip to Africa and highly recommended Sikeleli Safaris.  Having traveled extensively, I was a little discerning with my expectations, however after discussing with Danni, I knew we need go no further! Danni exudes an excitement, boundless energy and passion for Africa, a land she truly loves with an abundance of knowledge that captivates and inspires you.  Danni possesses a quality rare these days, she ask questions, ‘listens' and identifies and with this, created a remarkable itinerary containing all our desires and more!  My husband and I are still on Cloud 9 having recently returned from a phenomenal trip to Zambia, (South Luangwa National Park and Lower Zambezi River) to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to Botswana (Okavango Delta and The Salt Pans of the Kalahari Desert) and to our final destination in Capetown. Tena, Tena Campsite (Sth Luangwa), Sausage Tree Camp (Lower Zambezi River), Old Drift Lodge (Victoria Falls, Zim), Mapula Lodge (Okavango Delta, Bots), San Camp (Kalahari Desert, Bots) and finally a boutique guest house, 4Rosmead in Capetown.  Each and every... Read More

Danni and her team were always available and we had excellent communication with them. The safari camps were excellent and our safari guide, who was with us at both camps, was by far the best we have ever had!! Our transfers went smoothly with always people there to meet us. Victoria Falls Safari Club was a great choice to stay.

Safari was far and away the most memorable part of the trip. We also loved our experience at Le Residence and the small-batch wine producers we visited. It was a pleasure working with Danni and we would highly recommend you! The tour guide Ryan who we had in Cape Town and Franschhoek was fantastic. Really a great guy!  

We interviewed about 10 agents before choosing Sikeleli. They did a top job in every way. From the beginning they listened to our needs (many other agents wanted us to do other things than what we asked for), and put together an in-to-out trip that covered everything. They were also extraordinarily forthcoming with advise and tips that helped us get everything right on our end. The most enjoyable part of the trip was the game drives - all extraordinary with great guides.

We were extremely lucky to stumble upon Sikeleli Africa Safaris after doing a search online for safari travel agents. Right from the start I knew Sikeleli Africa Safaris would organise an excellent holiday for my wife and I, little did I know how great it would be. The information we received from Danni & Karen was informative and they offered us a variety of different options based on our budget and number of days we wanted to spend at each location. Everything went so smoothly and we have lots of activities booked and we were picked up on time for everything. The hotel & lodges that Karen recommended were superb and we were looked after so well. It is hard to pick the most memorable parts of the trip as the list would go on and on. Every day was something different and equally enjoyable. There is nothing I would do differently as Karen organised a perfect holiday. Thank you for all your hard work Karen and the Sikeleli Africa Safaris team. I would without a doubt recommend Sikeleli Africa Safaris for a safari, you will not be let down. I will definitely be using Sikeleli Africa Safaris again. About the trip: Everything went so... Read More

We had such an amazing honeymoon trip! One favourite memory is watching a herd of seventeen elephants amble past our private lodge one afternoon. Both of our safari experiences in particular (Magadikgadi Plains and Okavango Delta, both in Botswana) were fantastic and very different, so complemented each other - we are very happy to have taken the advice of Belinda at Sikeleli to book this combination, as we would never have visited the desert region otherwise. Given that our travels covered multiple in-region transits, we also appreciated the organisation behind these - everything ran very smoothly, from being met at Johannesburg airport, to internal flights, cars, and boat transfers. Sikeleli were very helpful in accommodating our (last-minute) timing constraints as well as helping tailor a beautiful honeymoon within our budget. The online itinerary was very clearly and helpfully presented with a lot of detailed information about each place we visited, as well as useful tips for packing and local customs. The website similarly had a lot of valuable information before leaving for our trip. We would be happy to recommend Sikeleli to family and friends.

I can not say enough about the excellence in service provided by Sikeleli! Just returned from the most amazing journey and it was all as a result of the careful guidance and support offered by Danni, Karen and the whole Sikeleli staff. I usually plan my own trips but I was quickly confused by the difficult logistics and complicated travel challenges of a multi-country trip in Africa. I interviewed several travel companies and chose Sikeleli after Danni waited to hear what I wanted and what my dream was before making any recommendations. She and her staff created a trip around me rather than asking that I conform to a predetermined itinerary. Our horseback riding with Ride Zimbabwe was extraordinary and I would have never booked it without their guidance and recommendations. Every detail of the trip was worked out, every transfer coordinated and every goal of mine was taken into account. This was the trip I'd been dreaming of since I was a little girl galloping my pony pretending to be in Africa! Thank you Sikeleli for making dreams come true! EVERY Single Day I told myself I had experienced the highlight of the trip and yet the highlight reel... Read More

Every single touchpoint was perfect. The team had planned everything so incredibly well and made our honeymoon so memorable - I could not imagine anything more perfect. As we only had two and half weeks, and we wanted to spend time in Cape Town and with family as well, we thought the programme was perfect in terms of timing. We did not feel rushed at all and for the first time in a long time, we felt completely relaxed and enjoyed our time together for the first time in a long time. The level of professionalism, knowledge and passion for what the team do is so obvious - we want to share that with everyone.

Sikeleli Safaris is awesome!  Our trip was planned so well as far as logistics, lodging, activities, timing of where we were throughout our 18 days.  Would recommend this company to anyone setting up that dream trip or for us, it was a bucket list trip to use them as their contacts with vendors and knowledge created a trip that we could have never planned on our own on our best day.  We researched at least 5 different companies and from the beginning, it was clear that Sikeleli Safaris was on their game and very knowledgeable, and they worked with us and our dreams to set it up as we dreamed it to be not as they dreamed it to be and worked with us a lot on our desires and just didn't try to sell us on whatever they wanted.  Have already recommended them to at least a dozen people that I know that would also like to visit Africa as we did.  Would be happy to talk to anyone that wanted to know more feel free to reach out to me, but they did an amazing job and the best trip ever taken in my life and I have... Read More

When we first started planning our honeymoon, my fiancé and I were lost, but thankfully we found Sikeleli (and Daniella and Karen). They were extremely patient and worked with us to achieve all our goals while being respectful of our budget. They talked to us to find out what we wanted, and then made our dreams into reality. All the places they recommended were spectacular. Beautiful camps in amazing locations with dream safaris. It just got better and better as the days passed! We thought this trip would be once in a lifetime, but we weren't even back home, and we are already talking about when we can go back! I would not hesitate to use them again, and fully recommend them to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience! There were so many memorable parts! The ones that pop to mind were when our guide, Sipho, at Elephant's Eye, took us on a game night, and we tracked lions, and at Chobe Elephant Camp, where the staff made a special dinner for us under the stars, lighted candles all around us, and then sent a chorus to sing while we were having dinner. It was a very touching moment for... Read More

I received a call from numerous agents, all willing to help organize the safari of my dreams. After careful consideration, I chose Belinda Burrows with Sikeleli Safari.  She listened to my ideas, wish lists, hopes and expectations.  Not only did Ms. Burrows fulfil all of my requests, she went over and above to ensure all my needs were met.  The entire trip was seamless.  I had to travel to Africa by myself on the first leg of the trip to complete a Medical Missions trip to Zimbabwe and subsequently met my husband in Johannesburg, SA following my medical duties.  Ms. Burrows ensured that my spouse adequately cared for in every detail.  She arranged transports to and from hotels and airports, helped get us through customs, porters, literally every small detail was looked after. Ms. Burrows planned a most extraordinary adventure for us in Cape Town which was more than our expectations could ever have been.  We got to experience first-hand the rich Jewish Heritage of the Cape Town area, visit the Holocaust museum, the synagogue, and experience the rich culinary world Cape Town has become to be known.  Every restaurant was incredible!  We toured around the entire peninsula area with... Read More

Too many highlights to mention. The people, the lodges, the animals, the food and wine. The Hide was absolutely beautiful, the people were amazing, and the food was on par with the best restaurants around the world. The Ngoma lodge in Botswana was an amazing property and the absolute best bed I had ever slept in. The pillows were the type that envelope your head in cloud-like perfection. Could have stayed in that bed for days. But then again I had to leave that perfection for the most beautiful croissant and fruit in the main lodge. The sundowners were magical. The photo I attached is titled: "Looking for the gin truck". We had purchased the safari at a charity event, so honestly, we didn't have lofty expectations. The auction item was for low season which worked out the best for us. We had been to Africa before, and we like to go when there is lots of water and food for the animals - they are healthy and co-exist beautifully. Danni and Karen were fabulous, working hard to fit the safari into our very narrow window of availability. The website was beautiful to look at, and I loved all the... Read More

We are "active" seniors (retired language and science teachers) and asked Sikeleli African Safaris to help us evaluate then arrange visits to 5 culturally and ecologically distinct sites in Southern Africa during February 2019. We chose this time of the year because the safari camps are less crowded. In some cases, there were only a handful of guests present, and often the two of us were alone on safari with the guide. This allowed us to set our own pace, enjoy nature's sounds without chatter, and to engage readily with the very knowledgeable guides who work at these camps. Using Windhoek as our hub (due to direct flights from Frankfurt), we first visited Swakopmund/Walvis Bay, then spent 3-nights each at Serra Cafema Lodge and Ongava Tented Camp in Namibia, and then Mapula Lodge and Jack's Camp in Botswana. The staff - especially Belinda - at Sikeleli were immensely helpful, and the on-site subcontractors they selected were 100% reliable, on-schedule, and friendly. In-country arrangements booked by Sikeleli included transfers to/from airports by private van and seven flights on small aircraft to reach the four lodges, plus detailed advice about protocols and border crossings. Except for Serra Cafema, there are many lodges... Read More

I was very pleased when very soon after I submitted my request for information on a trip to South Africa, I was approached by Sikeleli's representative and a phone call was set up for the very next day. Sue was very easy to talk to, and she understood all my needs and requirements.  She gave many good suggestions for our trip, specially catered to a mom traveling with her 15-year-old son. We didn't have too many days for the holiday, but our final itinerary was perfect!  A combination of adventure, relaxation, structured guided tours, personal exploration time, culture, food, history, natural beauty and safari! The guides and drivers in Cape Town were on time and professional, with very good knowledge of not just the tourist basics, but we were also able to learn so much about life in South Africa from true locals. Rive Lodge in Lion Sands was more than we ever expected, and we felt like we were in heaven in the bush. We were very fortunate to see the Big Five within our first three drives.  Of course, we also saw so much more, and now we are hooked and want to go on more safaris! The domestic... Read More

A fabulous trip! It exceeded our expectations every step of the way. Every detail was well-planned and well-organized by our travel company. They were terrifically helpful and made exceptional suggestions - all of which made for a memorable holiday! Each of the 3 camps was special, but our favourite was Duba Plains. And the wildlife was exceptional. What I would do differently?  Not come home...

The highlights of our trip were our time at Tswalu and Londolozi! We loved Cape Town and were amazed at the logistics. Throughout the entire 12-day trip, we did not experience one hiccup with transfers, tours, etc. It was incredible! Danni was prompt in responding to emails and ensuring that our every need and request was met. Absolutely 100% would recommend you!

Danni from Sikeleli Safaris did an amazing job in planning our trip to Botswana and Namibia.  It exceeded our expectations in every way.  It was truly a 10+ experience. Her attention to "sweating the details" was the best.  She was extremely prompt in getting back to us even with the major time difference between Africa and here in the USA. The camps that she selected for us were spectacular.  The staff and the guides were terrific. Thanks to Danni and her staff we will have the best memories of Africa that we will cherish forever. For Botswana at the Muchaba Camp, it will be the lush verdant beautiful scenery, the landscapes and those amazing sunsets. For the Kulala Desert Lodge in Namibia, it will be climbing the spectacular dunes and sleeping under the stars. Finally, for the Hoanib Camp in Namibia, it will all the wildlife we saw and the exciting day trip to the Skeletal Coast. It was perfect.

Firstly, the staff at every stage were courteous and professional. We were travelling with my paraplegic mother who cannot walk or even take one step. Sue & Sikeleli Safari staff ensured ahead of time that the considerable challenges of getting her on and off small planes & boats & jeeps were met with grace, good humour and kindness. Shinde camp was a highlight. From the game drives and seeing many elephants, lion, hippo, giraffe, various antelope & zebra herds... and after concerted efforts by the guides also a young leopard...to the peace and beauty of the canoe ride, to the 007 water boat through the delta...back to camp and gin tonic and supper under a hung yellow moon. Quite magical. The upshot is that mum on her 75th birthday got a 'real deal' experience, which was the aim of the exercise. Not a cheap trip, but we were last minute over Christmas, so no complaints. I think we got more bang for the buck than if we had booked with a "non-local" agent and Sue explored every avenue to make it happen. The riding section I must say is for beginners...it is not a "riding safari" experience. Still, I have... Read More

The trip was great! The Sikeleli company provided perfect assistance. They were very helpful in planning an interesting and diverse itinerary for first-time visitors to Africa, and the entire operation was seamlessly executed. At each connection we were met by a local person who accompanied us to the next destination, helping with the luggage, providing needed documents and food and beverages as needed. We enjoyed all parts of the trip, but perhaps the most memorable was the time we spent at the Mapula Lodge in the Okavango Delta. This was because there we experienced in full the wildlife, with game drives early in the morning, more game drives at sunset, and a true communal life with the lodge staff and the other guests. But observing life on the Boteti River at Meno a Kwena was also fascinating.

Overall, we had such a good time, we could almost say the entire trip was a highlight! But more specific moments would be: - Speeding through the reserve to where a rhino was, and seeing the rhino itself (Gomoti) - Catching a leopard right under a tree by the side of the road as we were heading back to the camp on our last afternoon drive (when we had almost given up) (Gomoti) - Elephant coming into camp & going right past our tent (Gomoti) - Having dinner right outside our tent, & hearing a lion roaring away just outside the camp (and wondering if he might like our food) - First lion sighting for kids (Camp K) - Pictures with the meerkats (Camp K) - Bushman experience, particularly the part where they dug up a scorpion for us to hold in our hands (Camp K) - Getting onto increasingly smaller aircrafts as we got closer to camp and then the small 6-seater with only 4 of us onboard between the 2 camps I was certainly happy and impressed with the speed at which things were done by you/your team. You also worked within the budget parameters I provided (which... Read More

This was a trip of a lifetime. Danni and her team helped us put together a wonderful combination of Victoria Falls, a Botswana safari and Cape Town adventures. The whole trip was a highlight from our lodgings, our guides, with their tremendous knowledge of the wildlife we saw, and the wonderful landscapes and ecosystems. Oh yeah, and the food was spectacular! It was phenomenal. Nothing could be improved.  I love you guys, wish I could do this every year!

I was born in Africa just a little over 50 years ago and here I find myself again, on my birthday, just fifty-something years later. After a long flight, it was wonderful to be met at the gate and escorted through customs to the baggage claim. Our connection and transport was incredibly well organized which made the journey that much better. We were met in an open Land Rover by Nottens Bush Camp and our game viewing began immediately as we left the airport. It was almost unbelievable because, by the time we reached Nottens Bush Camp, we had already seen 4 of the big five. And before the next sunrise we saw all 5; Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino, and Elephant in less than two days! In all the years I have spent on safari and experienced the African bush, I have never seen so much game and never been so close to it. It was incredible. Our Lodge was most welcoming and comfortable with many personal and thoughtful touches, like champagne and a personal welcome note. Family run and managed, the food was exceptional, and the atmosphere could not have been better. One evening at Nottens Bushcamp, whilst enjoying... Read More

Everything was amazing! It was evident that there was a lot of time and planning that went into our itinerary so that we were able to make the most of everything! The small details from having someone there to greet us when we landed to having a driver ready to take us where we needed to go, it really made things so easy for us. We could relax and know it had all been taken care of. We loved every place we stayed and all of our tour guides were fantastic!

Trip highlight: Walking tour of the Falls, lunch at the Lookout Cafe, sunset cruise on the Zambezi river, getting soaked in a safari Jeep during a thunderstorm in Somalisa, living with nature for a few days without distractions of internet, listening to the lions wander around the camp at night, seeing all the beautiful animals... Somalisa was very special because of the hospitality of its staff, they really made it feel like home. We were actually under the budget for the stay. I decided to go on this trip very last minute and was very impressed at how everything was planned to the smallest detail. Additional notes: Many thanks to Mark, Dani, Karen and the rest of the team for being so professional and hard-working and putting my trip together so well. I am looking forward to returning to Zimbabwe.

We had an amazing time on our Africa trip organized by Daniella Ponter at Sikeleli Africa Safaris.  She helped us pick some of the best safari lodges near Victoria Falls and Kruger.  The trip was well beyond our wildest dreams with all the wildlife we saw.  Having all of our lodging and transfers taken care of by Sikeleli made our travel effortless and most enjoyable! Safari highlights: The Okavango and Lion Sands were both fantastic for the safari components. Skydiving and Devil's Pool at Vic Falls were great activities as well. Given the time constraints, we imposed since we started the booking process only 2 months before the departure date we were very happy with how that turned out. I would recommend you to family and friends!

Trip highlights: Besides the wonderful people, great food, great beer & wine, the safaris were the highlight of the trip. The next would be your fine work in setting up the trip. It was flawless. Lastly, meeting you was wonderful as it put a lovely person in connection to it all! Tell your boss I said you need a raise! I would definitely recommend you to family and friends should the occasion arise. Enjoy the holidays and take care! Keep in touch!

Well what can I say!  What a fantastic holiday, one that Carol and I will remember for the rest of our lives. We have so many memories to look back on, not to mention the photos! We both wanted to say a huge thank you for putting together this most amazing trip that far exceeded our expectations. The meticulous planning and organisation worked like clockwork from the minute we arrived at Victoria Falls. It was great to be able to sit back and relax and not have to think about a thing as everything was taken care of by you and your team. We loved all the camps for their different landscapes, views and diversity of wildlife and it was great to experience them all. The staff at the camps and the 3 fantastic guides really made the trip very special. We both wanted an amazing experience and you certainly delivered that and more and for that we are both extremely grateful.

The trip was awesome. All three safari camps delivered. We saw four out of the big five. The camps were luxurious, the food excellent, and the game drives delivered on expectations. Sandwiching Vic Falls in the middle provided just enough “city life” as well! The budget and timing were fine. I would not have wanted to tackle the transfers between camps on our own - quite daunting. And yet, they all worked perfectly. Recommending to family and friends without a doubt. Will be talking about you all in my blog. This was supposed to be a once in a lifetime trip. No longer. When we come back, you can count on the fact that we will contact you.

We are so glad the safari was the last leg of our trip through Southern Africa - definitely saved the best for last (which is saying a lot because the entire trip was fantastic). We can't thank you enough for your recommendation of Sabi Sabi - and your ability to get us accommodations on such relatively short notice. The guide and tracker were both outstanding, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience at the lodge (the room, food, service, etc!) We saw all the wildlife we had hoped to see and more. We also loved our time in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. The highlight - if we had to pick just one- was swimming in Devils Pool at the top of Victoria Falls. Thanks so much for arranging that for us. Having only decided in early August to undertake a trip in late September or early October, you worked miracles in getting us outstanding accommodations and ironing out all the logistics (internal flights, drivers, etc). You were right on target with our planned budget. We can't think of one thing in need of improvement. It was so nice to meet Karen when we were at Victoria Falls. Thanks... Read More

Everything was absolutely wonderful! We loved every minute!!! The itinerary was perfect. I would definitely recommend Sikeleli Safaris to anyone! Would love to go again!

We wanted for nothing, and enjoyed every minute. The trip was well-planned and everyone attentive during our stay. Despite an unforeseen setback, Karen was able to very effectively re-plan our itinerary. We would recommend you to family and friends, and have already done so.

Gracias, Sikeleli, por nuestras mejores vacaciones de nuestras vidas. Las recomendaciones de los lugares a visitar, los hoteles, los safaris, las excursiones han sido maravillosas. Africa ha sido para nosotros un viaje lleno de sensaciones, distinto y absolutamente recomendable. El cariño y la preocupacion que le ponen a todo lo relacionado a sus clientes es insuperable. ¡Muchas gracias! Thanks, Sikeleli, for the best vacation of our lives. The recommendations of places to visit, hotels, safaris, tours have been wonderful. Africa has been for us a place full of sensations, different and absolutely recommended trip. The love and concern that put everything related to your customers are second to none. Thank you very much!  

An Africa Safari was one of our “Bucket List” adventures. As such, it needed to be exceptional. Our initial research focused on large tour companies with their safari/vacation packages. All such tours had one or two activities/events that did not interest us yet we would be required to participate. It looked like we would need to develop, plan and book our own tour, which was not an appealing thought. At this point, we discovered Zicasso. Through Zicasso and their process to connect clients with tour/travel agencies, we chose Sikeleli Africa Safaris (Danni) to help us develop and plan our trip. We will admit this process was scary from the perspective that we did not know either companies before discovering Zicasso through the internet, never met face to face with anyone from either companies and relied on their websites’ testimonials and other testimonials we could find on other sites to move forward with them. We were in Canada communicating only by email and telephone to Danni in Zimbabwe or South Africa. By the second phone call with Danni we knew this would work. The end result: choosing Sikeleli turned out to be a great decision. It was not easy planning this... Read More

We had scheduled a southern African safari with a touring company but after arranging our own flights, the trip was canceled. Online my wife found Zicasso who sent us links to two tour agents in Africa. Luckily, we picked Sikeleli African Safaris. Daniella of Sikeleli quickly arranged a tour much like we had planned, scheduled all the internal flights, made reservations for accommodations at outstanding lodges and boutique hotels, and selected the best guides.  She and her company have been very attentive and helpful in all details of our planning and executing the travel.  Every aspect of the trip went very well. Having traveled a great deal (over 70 countries and this, our 6th time to Africa), we consider this adventure as perhaps our best. Most memorable: Well, where do I begin! Here are few: visiting the Apartheid Museum in Jo'burg with commentary from our erudite guide; sipping cocktails on a boat ride along the Zambezi River while hippos yawned and elephants bathed; wiping mist from our faces at the majestic Victoria Falls; seeing eight of the black rhinos of Stanley-Livingstone Reserve; relishing the multitude of wildlife (including baby elephants to deceased elephants being eaten by crocodiles) along the Chobe... Read More

WOW! I guess that is as good a way to start as any. It is hard to put into words the feeling of two male lions roaring to announce their presence 20 meters from you or watching a group of hyena feed on an elephant carcass or watching 50 elephants swim across the Zambezi river. On our very first drive in Sabi Sands, we literally saw every animal on the list, and I thought “what on earth are we going to do for the next 18 days”. Well, not a drive or walk or river safari passed without us experiencing these creatures doing something amazing – to them, it is just living, but the privilege of witnessing this up close was unbelievable. Lisle picked Africa as the destination to mark his 60th birthday, and Danni and the Sikeleli team turned the idea into a month-long adventure worthy of the celebration – 6 camps across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana over 18 days, a stop at Victoria Falls, 5 days in Cape Town and a wonderful respite in wine country. From the second we stepped off the plane in Johannesburg, it was clear every detail was taken care of. We were... Read More

First of all, we all had such an amazing time during the trip, an experience that none of us will ever forget. One of the highlights really was the accommodations we stayed at. The concept of safari camps truly met our expectations of doing a safari trip and stepping out of our comfort zone. We loved being close to nature and animals and especially meeting great people and learning a lot from them. Additionally, we particularly liked staying at the Vintage Camp (Hwange) due to its eco-friendly note. Another highlight was also the way the trip was organized. Karen genuinely planned the trip by giving us a few days of rest in between two safaris in Victoria Falls. Finally, not to mention, we adored seeing all this wildlife and beautiful nature with this perfect weather! I contacted Karen pretty late and with a quite restricted budget for the trip. But this did not hinder her to fulfil all my requests in a very short time period. Attentive to my requirements, she offered me several options and was always ready to answer my many questions. The Sikeleli Africa Safaris website was very helpful as it contained a lot of information on... Read More

Is it possible to add more stars to the 5 star rating? If so add all of them! My family and I recently returned from the trip of a lifetime to Southern Africa, all arranged by Sikeleli Africa Safaris and the incomparable Danni Ponter. I began researching travel companies almost a year prior to our adventure. I had received a few recommendations and searched the web and review sites and reached out to several for information. Danni responded almost immediately and did so differently than any of the others. She didn’t try to sell. Instead, she asked questions. She wanted to understand who we were and what we were looking to experience. Although the budget is of course ultimately a substantial factor, it wasn’t her first question. Danni wanted to understand what we were looking to experience before she matched the itinerary that stayed within our parameters. Danni shepherded me through the daunting process of deciding what options would best fit all of our needs. We ultimately decided on a 3-part adventure: Victoria Falls, Kruger Park for a safari, and a Cape Town food and sight tour. Brilliantly, Danni chose for us to begin our trip in Victoria Falls. The tranquil setting... Read More

Trip highlight: The houseboat was overall a fantastic experience. We were concerned that our kids would get a bit antsy after three days on the boat, but they loved it. The staff were gracious and always available to help with anything we needed. They were patient and understanding with the kids. Our guide, Dollar was wonderful and warm, with great sense of humor. He had a breadth and depth of knowledge that seemed to come from a great deal of education and a lot of experience. The kids loved going out and fishing. We loved the game excursions out on the small boat. The lake was so beautiful and peaceful. It was also great to just relax and hang out with friends on the houseboat. Karen was great. She worked hard to give us options that were not only interesting but would work for our budget. The website is very well designed. It's very informative and easy to navigate. I would definitely recommend this trip to friends. I think it's the perfect trip to do with a group of people - either family or friends, or both. Just trying to figure out how we can come back and do another... Read More

MANY thanks to Danni and the Sikeleli team for planning the honeymoon of our dreams! We felt that we were taken care of from beginning to end. Not one worry about transfers, rides, accommodations - it was all amazing. This tour company is fantastic and planned the perfect trip for us that met all of our needs. Danni was incredibly helpful and responsive, and worked within our budget and time frame. We enjoyed a fantastic safari at Somalisa Camp, which totally blew us away. The service, experiences we had, and the people we met made that part of the trip so special. We also enjoyed some time at Victoria Falls, which Danni helped us organize and enjoyed a number of great excursions and delicious meals. The last leg of our trip was in Cape Town- Danni organized the perfect selection of activities that captured everything we wanted to do. Great private tours, cultural experiences, and lots of good food and wine. We can’t thank Danni and the Sikeleli team enough- I would HIGHLY recommend using Danni and this team if you’re looking for a phenomenal trip of a lifetime. Safari and the camp at Somalisa in Hwange National Park were... Read More

Having very busy schedules, we basically entrusted Sikeleli to plan our whole trip. They planned a very detailed daily itinerary and exceeded our expectations. It was an amazing experience. They also went above and beyond when the airline lost my luggage, they helped track it down and return it to me. Everything was memorable! Victoria Falls is beautiful. We did a variety of things while on the trip like riding a helicopter, gorge swinging, and great white cage diving. But seeing nature at its best on the safaris (the big 5) was the best. The food... mmm. Table mountain!

What an amazing trip!! Everything was seamless and fantastic. We cannot thank you enough for helping us to organize this adventure. Karen worked miracles! She was so patient as we emailed over many months and waited until my husband got his vacation approved. She was able to still find us space 1 month before we were scheduled to go! Not only that, but she worked very hard and was extremely attentive. We loved the 3 different experiences we had. Each place was unique and offered us a different perspective. The hosts and staff were attentive, and we loved how intimate each place was - we felt like we had it all to ourselves. Vintage camp was the only one that recognized our anniversary. They were especially attentive. Ngoma gave us anything we asked for and the laundry was included! That was so helpful. Vic Falls lodge was beautiful. The food and service at all locations were wonderful. The transportation was safe and comfortable. This was my parents' first time to Africa and they were blown away, so thank you for that. My husband and I had an incredible adventure. We would highly recommend Sikeleli and would hope we have the... Read More

Trip highlight: The Royal Livingstone was glorious, the cruise down the Zambezi at sunset and dinner with African music and dancing, the magnificent bar mitzvah at the Thor tree, the gorge jump for my kids, the hide was like no other, houseboat on lake Kariba was peaceful and beautiful and to top it off the plane ride over the falls was a perfect full circle end to the trip. We had a trip of a lifetime!

The whole trip was wonderful! One highlight was visiting my son's village and meeting the people he lives and works with. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. They prepared a traditional meal for us, consisting of chicken, goat, nshima and two vegetables with groundnuts and spinach. It gave us a delicious introduction to Zambian food. The Tours Africa transportation were great! The meet and greet in Lusaka was nice and helpful. We learned a lot about Zambia from our drivers and they were very accommodating when we wanted to make unscheduled stops! They also delivered our delayed luggage to the hotel, the day after we arrived in Lusaka. The Wild Horizons team was also great! The next highlight was visiting South Luangwa National Park and staying at the Track and Trail River Lodge. We had an incredible time there! All the people who worked there were so nice, and they catered to our every need. The food at the Lodge was incredible! I miss it! The chalets we stayed in were awesome! We felt welcomed and safe. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Our safari guide, Vick, was excellent at his job and gave us amazing safari experiences. We saw... Read More

My wife and I spent 3+ weeks in South Africa, superbly designed by Danni. We're very practiced travelers, and I'm accustomed to doing my own research and planning, so it was with guarded optimism that I turned over the reins. Throughout the planning process, Danni demonstrated she was a responsive and efficient listener, tweaking the itinerary and accommodations according to our feedback until it felt just right. I can't say enough about how smooth and magical the trip was. All of Danni's hotel recommendations were spot on, and if you have occasion to visit the Ngala Tented Camp, you're in for a real treat. We've been all over the world and never left a place feeling like we were truly leaving family behind. Danni anticipated every hiccup, staying on top of details throughout our trip, and solving obstacles before we even knew they existed. She's a pro, and I'd gladly work with her, again. Highly recommended!

This trip was fantastic in every way. Sikeleli Safaris provided unbelievable service and planned the perfect trip. Danni was absolutely committed to making this exactly the trip we wanted it to be... and more. She was responsive, collaborative, fun to work with, good-natured and nothing was beyond what she was willing to do in the service of providing us the best possible experience. Everything worked like clockwork from the moment we arrived and all the planning made for very easy traveling throughout the trip. Danni matched us with fabulous local guides and excursions. She promised a trip of a lifetime and she delivered. We absolutely loved Cape Town---from the Zeist Museum to Robben Island: from Kirstenbosch Gardens to the District 6 Museum; from La Columbe to Chef's Warehouse; from the Uthando Township Tour to hearing music---everything was fantastic. The Walking and Food Tour with Cape Fusion was the perfect beginning and a great way to get oriented to the city. We were with Pam from Cape Fusion for our Cape of Good Hope All Day Tour as well as our Winelands tour and it couldn't have been better. Danni booked us at unique lodges on the Coast, in Winelands and... Read More

Knowing Danni already for years, we knew that we were in for a treat. Well, this was the understatement of the year, what an amazing trip we had. On our arrival at Victoria Falls Airport we were collected by the staff of the Victoria Falls Safari lodge and in 30 minutes we arrived at the stunning premises of the lodge. Even though I’d been to the lodge before it still amazed me what an amazing vibe it gives. I can only imagine how it felt for my parents and my girlfriend. In our itinerary we were staying at one of the standard rooms facing the waterhole which I can assure you is already an amazing place. However, this time Danni organized us an upgrade to the Honeymoon suites, which are absolutely stunning. Besides our accommodation, we had the pleasure that Danni organized a trip on the Zambezi Express. The cruise was an ultimate combination of exploring the Zambezi, tranquility and luxury. Other activities which we have done while in Zimbabwe; - Visit the Victoria Falls (a must-see) - History Talk on Livingstone and Rhodes (very interesting) After our stay in Zimbabwe we had a great transfer to Botswana. The transfer was well organized and we had... Read More

Spent two nights at Elephant Camp West in August 2016. A luxurious and wonderful experience - the service was impeccable, having our own private chef and attendants, bubbles for breakfast, beautiful meals, all the nice little touches that come with a top-class resort experience. All this in the middle of the wilderness was fantastic watching and feeding the elephants in the afternoon. The camp is also very close to Vic Falls – Sikeleli arranged our trip to the Falls and also managed to fit in a game drive in our limited time there, to see the big 5! A nice surprise, we found out that the entire Elephant Camp West was booked out for our group of 5 - which meant we had all the amenities and common areas to ourselves. Thank you, Sikeleli Safaris for organizing our entire booking with all the activities. A big plus point about the package was that it was inclusive of everything, and pre-paid, so the booking and all associated logistics was more efficiently managed. Danni was most professional and her recommendations to ensure we had the best possible and most memorable Zim experience, were spot on. The service was very personalized, she also... Read More

The service from Danni and Sikeleli was excellent!  We really appreciated having a “customized trip,” incorporating many of the elements from other tours but combined just for us.  Danni used our suggestions but also drew upon her own expertise and knowledge.  As a result, the trip was exactly what we had hoped. Danni responded to our questions in a timely, detailed way, even when she was traveling herself.  The itinerary provided on arrival was very helpful and complete so that we knew what was in store for us each day.  We suggest that Sikeleli consider sending the itinerary prior to departure, as it would have been good to know about tip amounts so that we could bring appropriate cash and schedules when we were in cities to arrange to meet friends there, etc. The trip exceeded our expectations in so many ways!  The accommodations were lovely; the guides were excellent, and of course, the scenery and animals were incredible!  Our itinerary and schedule was structured but flexible and allowed us to have a number of serendipitous experiences.  We felt very comfortable and reassured that all was unfolding as it should – never doubt or worry! There were so many special... Read More

From the moment I contacted Daniella she couldn't have been more helpful, organised and efficient! Nothing was too much trouble. It was all left in her capable hands and she didn't disappoint! We stayed in Miombo, Hwange for my Dad's 60th (14 of us), Daniella had organised a lovely surprise bottle of whisky for my dad on arrival, entertainment after dinner by the Ingonyama dance group from Dete, more complimentary drinks for the duration of our stay and a lovely bush dinner on our last evening. The rates were super competitive, Miombo camp was beautiful, all tented accommodation (above ground on wooden stilts), over-looked a watering hole where we saw large bull elephant one night and lots of plains game the rest of our stay.  The tented rooms were tastefully done, keeping with the bush style, our room was large and open plan with a beautiful roll top bath which overlooked the watering hole too, inside and outside showers, just lovely.  I could really could go on, Everyone had a fantastic time and I couldn't recommend her highly enough for any bookings throughout Zimbabwe.  Daniella couldn't do enough for us and really went out of her way to make our... Read More

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe. The only regret is that I feel 13 days was too short, and I feel like we only got a peek at what Zimbabwe has to offer. Township tour in Cape Town - Xolani was a great guide and you can see that he was passionate about his work and what Uthando is doing in the community. It was good having a guide who grew up in the area and is familiar with the surroundings and the people. I enjoyed visiting the nursery school as well as the seniors. It was great surprise for us to visit the centre where we experienced authentic African dance. I don’t think there is anything I would have changed in the half-day tour. Cape Fusion Tours - this was a great tour. I’m glad you added it to the itinerary. I didn’t know anything about it and was totally expecting something different from what we did. Despite the rain, we had a wonderful time and would not hesitate to recommend the tour to anyone that is visiting Cape Town. For me, it’s a must-do. It was nice to be able to interact with the... Read More

From the moment I contacted Daniella she couldn't have been more helpful, organised and efficient! Nothing was too much trouble. It was all left in her capable hands and she didn't disappoint! We stayed in Miombo, Hwange for my Dad's 60th (14 of us). Daniella had organised a lovely surprise bottle of whisky for my dad on arrival, entertainment after dinner by the Ingonyama dance group from Dete, more complimentary drinks for the duration of our stay and a lovely bush dinner on our last evening. The rates were super competitive, Miombo camp was beautiful, all tented accommodation (above ground on wooden stilts), over-looked a watering hole where we saw large bull elephant one night and lots of plains game the rest of our stay. The tented rooms were tastefully done, keeping with the bush style. Our room was large and open plan with a beautiful roll top bath which overlooked the watering hole too, inside and outside showers, just lovely. I could really could go on. Everyone had a fantastic time and I couldn't recommend her highly enough for any bookings throughout Zimbabwe. Daniella couldn't do enough for us and really went out of her way to make our... Read More

It is not easy to satisfy six totally different people, all with different expectations. Sikeleli did a good job in achieving just that! Danni was very responsive to all enquiries and tactfully guided us back on track in the initial planning, with gentle reminders that Africa is a very large continent where it is best to confine one’s search to one or two countries and not ALL. Her knowledge and experience in working through every detail of a safari is exceptional. There is a great deal of background work and connection bookings that go into putting a trip together. Our safari went without a hitch with well-planned transportation and inter-camp transfers/flights.  We came back home with memorable experiences of Africa, as we would have expected, but with so many additional unexpected experiences that made this trip special. The friendliness and professional quality of the Botswana people and camp staff; the unexpected helicopter ride; the night-drive to find a leopard; the rush of excitement when a group of lions went through the camp at night; meeting a hippo and then the elephant wondering down our pathway; the smell of death and the sight of the kill; the vultures in the tree tops; the... Read More

We planned to travel to Victoria Falls in December. So glad that Danni was recommended to us by my cousin. She went above and beyond with the planning of the activities on our trip as well as the transfers. She had amazing ideas for our family vacation and truly made it one to remember. Danni was always on the ball and addressed all queries and concerns, she was there to help from the 3 month prior to our trip till the very end of it. It made our trip so much better arriving at Vic Falls with everything already planned out. We did the Zambezi explorer signature deck, the helicopter ride, game drive and the best experience ever, the Livingstone island tour with a dip in Devil’s pool. Sikeleli tours is highly recommended to everyone wishing for an epic holiday!

I was looking to climb Kilimanjaro and do a safari, however I was slightly concerned which travel companies I could trust. A good friend recommended Daniella at Sikeleli Safaris and duly put us in touch. My goodness, does Daniella know how put a personalised package together. In all, I received quotes and itineraries from 3 different agencies. The quality of the itinerary that Daniella put together and the professional and courteous manner it was delivered, even though it was slightly more expensive, far exceeded any of the other contenders, so without hesitation I booked the holiday, which payments were very simple via international balance transfer. On the lead up to the trip Daniella was available via emails to help with any questions or concerns I had, and with her expertise always delivered the information required. Phase 1 of my trip was to climb Kilimanjaro, and was booked with Zara tours, the most reputable firm in Moshi. Everything ran incredibly smoothly and the team that took me up and down the mountain were highly professional, my guide had 12yrs of experience and was a friendly chap who spoke very good English. I only have 1 point to note that should be... Read More

To think that it was only four days! A huge thanks to Sikeleli Safaris who gave us a holiday we could never have dreamed up ourselves. Looking back, we just can’t figure out how we did so much and still managed to find ourselves with plenty of time to relax at the Vic Falls Safari Lodge pool; here we enjoyed endless game-watching from the deck, which overlooks a water-hole before the bush stretches out as far as the setting sun. From negotiating the roaring rapids below the falls, to a Sundowner Cruise on the gentle waters above, we were able to enjoy all that this great river has to offer. And as if guided walks through the bush weren’t enough, a brisk jog through the reserve in the Vic Falls Half Marathon was arranged. All of this was organized without us having to look up from our afternoon G & Ts. The logistics were seamless! Most memorable of course, was a night at the majestic Victoria Falls Hotel. This beauty of and establishment stands as if grown out of the african ground beneath it. Sloping terraces, immaculate grounds, high-tea overlooking the falls…. and so much more. We can not praise... Read More

Danni at Sikeleli did a wonderful job setting up a safari just for us. She arranged a 6-day horseback safari in two locations and then a trip to Victoria Falls. She set up all the travel and excursions for us ahead of time and everything went as planned. We met with Danni during our stay at Victoria Falls and enjoyed a lunch with her. I would highly recommend Sikeleli travel for your African vacation.

Sikeleli Africa Safari’s ability to match the vision of my ideal safari and trip was absolutely prefect. The elephants were definitely the highlight. They would come up to us so close and trumpet us but never did I fear them as our guide was excellent and knew how to handle the situation at all times.  It was thrilling! When we arrived, we were greeted with a nice wonderful warm towel and a glass of a delicious fruit sparkly drink.  It was a happy ending to a long trip, but so worth it. Thank you for your expertise on accommodations within our budget. I have already passed on the website and a high recommendation of the services provided by Sikeleli. Very nice. Thank you for making this trip so easy and comfortable and fun for my first trip to Africa. We had a wonderful trip to Chongwe and Victoria Falls. I hope I will be able to return someday. It was wonderfully fantastic!

Danni and the whole Sikeleli team are an absolute pleasure to deal with. They understand the destinations that they sell and have the relationships in place to mitigate any problems or special needs that may come up along the way. Danni was present and available through every step of the planning process including on the ground once my guests and I arrived in Zimbabwe. Besides making sure every detail was taken care of, her welcoming personality instantly made my guests and I feel at home and comfortable in a place that otherwise could feel very foreign. She is simply an expert when it comes to Southern Africa and I can't wait to work with Sikeleli Africa Safaris again!

When we decided to plan our trip away to Victoria Falls, the obvious choice was to book this through Sikeleli Safaris. The personal touch we received was very special, ensuring that we got a full itinerary that was within our budget. Everything went exactly to plan, on time - despite very late and liberal changes by Air Zimbabwe. Everyone we had the pleasure of meeting who were connected with Sikeleli and they went out of their way to make us feel welcome and as though we were their only guests that weekend. We really did have a fantastic trip and a very memorable one - for many reasons - one of them being having dealt with a very helpful and professional tour operator. Friends and family have already been referred by myself to Sikeleli - I have no doubt they will also have a fantastic time. Daniella - to you and your Sikeleli family we are grateful and loved our time together, till our next trip.

The transfer was great - the driver arrived on time, with no issues, and got the boys there and back in time, and they said that he was great. They absolutely loved Imire, and did rhino walks, game drives, sunset drinks - the lot. They thought it was great, and that the food was perfect too. I think it was one of the highlights of their trip! Thanks so much for the flawless organisation, it was so nice for me to be able to leave them and not worry about how they were going to get around and what they could do!

We recently went on a trip organized by Daniella Ponter from Sikeleli to Victoria Falls and were all very impressed by the service we received. Not only did she organize us great accommodation at a beautiful lodge, she managed to identify what we were looking for in  our holiday and organize the services we needed. The communication was fast and efficient making our holiday planning easy and stress free. We thoroughly enjoyed all the activities and places we saw and highly recommend Victoria Falls as a fun holiday destination.

The stay was great, O on Kloof are extremely hospitable and helpful, the staff there are incredible. Thanks for looking after all of that, you were very helpful and professional, easy to communicate with. The winery tour was excellent, we had a great day and saw some beautiful places, plus our guide David was lovely.

We are back home and all still reliving the memories of the amazing wedding back in Zimbabwe. The whole trip to Vic Falls was incredible, for us it was a reunion with family and friends. Dani had her work cut out for her with our booking, from the start I warned her we would be a handful with everyone's different demands to negotiate. I almost guaranteed Dan beforehand that whatever was booked would change last minute and I was right. Dani could not have been more accommodating to help get everything secured for us. We are a family originally from Zimbabwean who have done many trips over the years to Victoria Falls and Hwange so probably high expectations and some tough to beat previous experiences. Thanks again Dan for all the running around when bookings changed and cancelled. We absolutely loved our time at Safari Club, the staff were exceptional and the luxury of the rooms was outstanding. We look forward to going back again soon. The final night we spent in Hwange on the way home, and it was a dream to be back in the bush even if for a night under the African stars. Looking forward to... Read More

Loved the rustic experience of our camp. It was absolutely amazing to be able to have it all to ourselves. Our guide Jefferson was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and kind. Thank you so much for an amazing safari! We will absolutely recommend Sikeleli.

The trip was amazing! Both Victoria Falls Safari Club and Elephant's Eye Lodge were incredible places to stay. The staff was professional and friendly, the rooms were clean, and the food was delicious. The safari at Elephant's Eye Lodge exceeded my expectations. The guide, Julius, was very knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna and patient. He allowed everyone on the safari to take plenty of pictures before advancing to the next location. We had the opportunity for an all-day safari which I was told is uncommon so we got to see animals and birds all day. A few notable sightings include a pride of 10 lions, family of elephants including elephants swimming at a watering hole, many different types of deer/antelopes (sable, kudu, springbok, etc.), bee eaters and rollers and giraffes. The budget and time constraints were worked out and there were no issues. I will certainly recommend Sikeleli Safari to family and friends. Thank you so much to Karen, Danni and the rest of the team for planning my trip. It was such an amazing and unforgettable experience. I can't wait to schedule the next trip!

What a delightful trip we had to Zimbabwe this past November, the arrangements of which were made by Danni and the staff at Sikeleli Africa Safaris. The planning of our dream trip to Africa started with a group of 8, however by commitment time our group had changed in composition and numbers. Danni handled this planning transformation well with great composure and patience. Our trip started with one day in Victoria Falls, followed by three days in Somalisa Camp, (Hwange Park), three days at  Mana Pools and finally the Imire Rhino Sanctuary near Harare. Somalisa and Mana Pools are both managed by African Bush Camps and are rated by us as 5-star for their hospitality and experience. Imire is owned and operated by the Travis family and while quite a different experience to the game parks, I would highly recommend a stay at Imire. The family are extraordinarily hospitable and knowledgable of everything to do with game conservation and working positively in Zimbabwe. Above all I was interested in Zimbabwe - the country. While we were there, Mnangagwa was fired by Mugabe, which within days led to the deposition of the latter by the former, facilitated by the military. At... Read More

Kevin and I and our three sons had a fabulous time and were very happy with everything you organised for us - thanks so much. We would especially recommend Big Cave, Vintage and Gorges. They all served welcome drinks and the accommodation was very clean and comfortable. Lynne at Big Cave was an absolute delight. We did the rhino walk/drive - well worth doing! Roy Aldridge made Vintage very comfortable and went out of his way to make our time comfortable and interesting. Gorges had upgraded our accommodation (complimentary) prior to our arrival, which impressed us and included free wifi, which was a real hit with our sons. Lokuthula was very comfortable and the free shuttle in and out of town was really useful too. I was sick the day we went to Chobe so couldn't enjoy the trip, but still saw plenty of game and the others really enjoyed it. I think we had a good mix on our trip and know we will have many treasured memories. Hope this gives you some useful feedback. Thanks again for all your efforts which made our trip so special. Wishing you all the best and will pass your name on to... Read More

I absolutely loved Thorntree and Somalisa - always absolutely amazing. We were at Thorntree for Christmas and they went all out and prepared this incredible bar/appetizer event for the guests (who all became very close) on an island. The staff were so incredible - it was simply amazing. I have recommended to family and friends and would always use you guys for my African travels.

Absolutely awesome experience – better than we imagined! We spent time in Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, the Okavango Delta and Cape Town. The service, guides, lodgings and experiences we had in each location were exceptional. Sikeleli and Ms. Danni Ponter made everything easy – we were greeted each step of the way, enabling us to enjoy our African adventure without the normal stress of traveling in another country. In Zimbabwe, we experienced the majestic Victoria Falls both from the air and a guided tour through the park. We enjoyed a sunset dinner cruise on the Zambezi River. Our room at the Ilala Lodge was picture perfect and comfortable, plus we could see the mist rising from the falls. In Chobe National Park, we went on numerous game drives and a boat tour with a dedicated guide. The Ngoma Safari Lodge was the most visually extravagant place we have ever stayed. The view walking into the lodge literally takes your breath away as you look down at the Chobe River with herds of zebras, giraffes and antelopes moving between a small watering hole close to Ngoma Lodge and the river. Combine that with great location to Chobe National Park, exceptional... Read More

We had a really great time in South Africa, and it was really 5 star all the way. We did canyoning, bungee jumping (not me but my 14-year-old daughter thoroughly enjoyed herself) and of course the safari. The Kwandwe reserve experience was quite amazing. From the lodge to the actual game drives, I really think we had a once in a lifetime experience. Even our ranger said that not only did we see almost all the animal, but we had some very exceptional experiences. From being immersed within a herd of 25 elephants as they made their way down the side of a mountain to the pride of lions walking all around our Jeep and coming literally within 3-4 feet of us, to watching a pair of cheetah hunt wildebeest, as well as the pride of lions hunting. Also got to see rare black rhino up close which is rare since they are so skittish of people. And then there was the private lodge with all the South African wines and fantastic meals. I really enjoyed the ostrich and eland. Oh the personal service with the transfer at the Johannesburg airport was also really nice and made everything easy. Thanks... Read More

Danni was really put under pressure when, after deciding to take a mini-sabbatical safari, I gave her less than a week's notice. Even if she had more time to organise, I can say don’t think it could have been any better. I started off doing a safari in Hwange national park, Zimbabwe. The accommodation was high end but beautifully rustic with a view overlooking the watering hole where the animals drank at dusk. We did jeep drives but also explored on foot and not sure if just lucky or the skill of the guide (would say the latter as he was amazing) but saw a myriad of animals from Lions, Lioness and their cubs to Elephants etc. To top it off, the food was sensational and wine flowed into the evening. The Next destination was Botswana for a river safari, which even though I had just done 3 days in Zimbabwe this offered a totally different perspective from the water. I ended up in Cape Town with a great guide doing wine tours which Danni's team organised. Weather, unfortunately, wasn’t great, but nothing a few vineyards didn’t solve.  Would highly recommend using Sikeleli and their team.

We LOVED Batonka Guest Lodge - I would highly recommend it to anyone and if I ever go back to Victoria Falls, I would definitely stay there again. This place is super charming and the lodge staff was super nice and friendly.

On behalf of the 30 Peruvians (in the group) we, the committee, would like to say thank you very much for organizing an amazing Cape Town experience for all of us! For such a short time visiting your beautiful city you managed to put together the most amazing itinerary, which not only included the best city tours, amazing accommodation, A1 tour guides and transportation, beautiful wine farms, delicious food at wonderful places and a safari that far exceeded our expectations. We wish you only the best on becoming the link between Peru and South Africa, and count with us if you need any references! Once again, thank you very much! (PEPE PEPEPEPEEE!) Warmest regards + Salud Señor!

The trip was terrific and filled with so many unique and favorite experiences. Ending the trip with a candlelit dinner in the middle of the bush was the best. When the staff was singing to us under the stars, we literally were brought to tears. Everything exceeded expectations. The trip was expensive, but worth every penny. I would even consider it a good value for everything we did and experienced. One of my highlights of the trip was how well the transfers were planned out. Every flight, van, jeep, boat, helicopter, etc was exactly on time. We never were left wondering, or left alone to figure anything out... we were hand held the entire way through all the transfers, which was terrific, and a relief, considering it was our first time to Africa. The only thing I would change in the itinerary would be to have more time in Victoria Falls. We definitely could have filled another two days there at the Metetsi lodge and at the Falls. Maybe even another day to just relax and enjoy the resort! It would have been fun to have one day in town to just roam around the town, and then spend an... Read More

We had the MOST incredible trip and ABSOLUTELY loved it – NOTHING went wrong. We could not rave enough about the country and you guys! Jennifer was in Zimbabwe when Mugabe was sworn in 38 years ago and on this trip she was there when he was “sworn” out – quite something. Thanks for all you did to make our dream trip possible - it really was a bucket list trip and we cannot thank you enough.

There were so many highlights. Of course, seeing all the animals was a thrill. Our safari guides and trackers were fantastic at finding incredible sites for us to see. We can’t imagine it could have been any better. The lodges we stayed at were all phenomenal. The accommodations were comfortable and beautiful, with lovely employees, extraordinary food, and extraordinary hospitality. Being met by helping guides at every leg of the trip made us feel very comfortable and secure. This gave us a sense of peace about the entire trip. The website provides a great deal of useful information to help prepare for a trip to Africa. Thanks to Danni for always answering our emails, sometimes with our silly questions and sometimes with things we had previously asked. She was very good at alleviating any concerns we may have had before the trip about foreign travel. Given the amount of time we had to make the trip, I thought the time we spent at each lodge and area was perfect. We saw unique things at each, and at the end combining all three areas the trip encompassed everything we could have hoped for. The lodges were all five star and the... Read More

INCREDIBLE. Words can't describe how fantastic the trip was. Favorite moments included watching elephants play in a watering hole, seeing a herd of sleeping lions, sitting around the fire talking to our guide about the local flora and fauna, sipping drinks at sun down...... the list goes on and on. The safari went far beyond my expectations. I could not have asked for a more memorable or more perfect experience. Sikeleli worked well within our budget and timing constraints and crafted a safari that was perfect for our time spent in Zimbabwe. I can't express how grateful I am for their help, professionalism and knowledge. Everything was above and beyond. Past perfect! I actually gave Sikeleli business cards to other safari goers that we met along our trip who had booked through other agencies. They had complaints about a few of their booking arrangements, and I could not say enough good things about my booking experience, so I had to share Sikeleli with them. Can't wait to see you in Africa again! Hopefully it'll be soon!!!!

I just wanted to pass my appreciation on to you, and thank you for helping us start this journey. My daughter Melina, currently serving in the Peace Corps in Zambia, is very good friends with Mary Coon's son, who is also serving in the Peace Corps, and the family highly recommended us to you. I feel so lucky to have found you, and I am very happy to pass on Sikeleli safaris with the most enthusiastic recommendation!  Thank you again to you and Karen for all your help. Loved the lodging, the locations (Cape Town, Hermanus, Cape Winelands). Loved meeting the local people and Bakwena Lodge was warm, welcoming, friendly. Super high marks to Bakwena Lodge for outstanding service! Karen was more than patient as we exchanged many emails (with changes on our end) until we got the perfect itinerary and met the budget precisely. We loved Mark Murison of Capexec tours. His tours through the cap peninsula and the wine country were excellent. He spoke knowledgeably not only about the area, but also about the challenges facing South Africa. We give our most enthusiastic recommendation to Mark and are thankful for his time spent with us! I wanted to... Read More

Sikeleli and our travel consultant, Danni, not only made our first trip to Africa a breeze, but it was the trip of a lifetime. Everything was taken care of for us from start to finish. The accommodations were stunning, the locations diverse and beautiful, and every excursion/tour we did was well worth it. I am so glad we chose to use them for this adventure, it truly would not have been possible without them! Each destination was so unique that it is hard to pick, and if you asked me and my husband what our favorite parts where I think we would say different things (which, in my opinion, is a great thing).  Going to the falls edge of Victoria Falls and seeing the falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides provided such different perspectives on this world wonder.  The proximity to animals on safari and luxury of the lodge both surprised and impressed.  Exploring Cape Town through a food tour and eating and drinking our way through the city was an incredible introduction. Hiking Table Mountain and at the Cape of Good Hope also allowed us to revel in the natural beauty of this cosmopolitan city. Franschhoek and... Read More

Sikeleli and our travel consultant, Danni, not only made our first trip to Africa a breeze, but it was the trip of a lifetime. Everything was taken care of for us from start to finish.  The accommodations were stunning, the locations diverse and beautiful, and every excursion/tour we did was well worth it.  I am so glad we chose to use them for this adventure, it truly would not have been possible without them! Each destination was so unique that it is hard to pick, and if you asked me and my husband what our favorite parts were I think we would say different things (which, in my opinion, is a great thing).  Going to the falls edge of Victoria Falls and seeing the falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides provided such different perspectives on this world wonder.  The proximity to animals on safari and luxury of the lodge both surprised and impressed.  Exploring Cape Town through a food tour and eating/drinking our way through the city was an incredible introduction. Hiking table mountain and at the Cape of Good Hope also allowed us to revel in the natural beauty of this cosmopolitan city.  Franschhoek and the Winelands... Read More

We're back now from a most fantastic holiday. Everything went so well.  The 2 safari days were unforgettable & our ranger, Mike, was brilliant. The stop over at the Broadwalk in Port Elizabeth before the safari gave us a good rest after the night flight. Plettenberg Park was an exceptional hotel, just 10 huge rooms, great service by the staff & no problems at all with food & with a fantastic view from our room. Our trips with Marge to the Garden Route were excellent & she was a perfect guide. We ended up in Cape Town with Mark & then Eugene as guides. As Mark is Jewish, we had the whole history, not only of South Africa but also of the Jewish community. The trips were wonderful & the weather throughout was magnificent. The President Hotel was perfect for our requirements with Checkers, Avrons & the shul on Shabbat so walkable. All internal flights were on time, though our night flight home didn't give us much sleep & we only feel human today! So all in all it has been a holiday of a lifetime & what a way to have celebrated my 80th! I will certainly recommend Sikeleli... Read More

We had wonderful safaris. Transfers at Johannesburg were a breeze with the Menzies representatives they sent to meet us (they shortcut the lines for us). At Ngoma in Chobe, we had an elephant drink from our plunge pool. We also raced a hyena. At San Camp, I had a meerkat climb on my head to scan the area. At Khwai on the Delta, we had hippos graze by our dinner table, not 10 yards away. We also had great leopard viewing, since the leopards have grown accustomed to using the safari vehicles to hide behind when stalking their prospective impala dinners. Danni was great to work with and patient with my questions.

Danni our agent was friendly, knowledgeable, responsive and worked hard to put together a great trip that did not blow our budget. The trip was incredible. We started with 3 nights in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe at the River Lodge which provided 5-star service and accommodations. The game drives there were a bit tamer than our later safari activity at Sabi Sands, but we saw lots of elephants, zebra, giraffe and even a lion. Every transfer was arranged. Our next stop was Sabi Sands reserve, where we stayed at Savanna lodge. They were terrific in every way. The guides and trackers were top-notch. We saw the big five as well as wild dogs and other animals. Great food and room as well as personal touches made this place special and overall a great value and choice among the many options. We flew to Cape Town where we started at Cape Grace an elegant old-world hotel on the waterfront, great choice. Trips to Cape Point and wine country were very nice. Terrific high-end cuisine, wonderful private suites and incredible views were the highlights and a great way to finish our trip. Thanks Danni, for making our vacation the best one yet! Everything... Read More

We had a great trip.  I talked with Danni from Sikeleli Africa Safaris a few times on the phone and email to talk about what we wanted to do, and she recommended places that turned out to be exactly what we wanted.  I felt that Danni really listened to what I wanted to get out of the trip.  It was a once in a lifetime Adventure, so we wanted to get it right.  Thanks Danni!  We had three nights at each location – Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Ngoma Lodge in Botswana and Dulini Lodge in South Africa.  We were taken care of from beginning to end with people at each place to get us where we needed to go.  Generally speaking, I can’t say enough about how well we were treated during the whole trip. Victoria Falls is spectacular!  We took the guided walk to see all the viewing sites on the Zimbabwe side of the falls.  They will rent you a poncho for $3.  I’m so glad we got them because in some places we got soaked.  Danni recommended that if we go into town we should stop at the Elephant Walk shopping mall.  We did and ended up... Read More

The Hide in Hwange National Park is a top-notch safari camp. Everything, from the beginning to the end of our stay at The Hide was the way I envisioned. The friendliest staff, excellent accommodations, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, all first class. Their own concession was huge with its own resident wildlife. Being within the park enables you to voyage deeper into the less traveled of the park. Then the next adventure was to Victoria Falls. Our lodging was at the lovely Batonka Guest Lodge was also a first-class operation. Set just outside of town was a good location. They provided shuttle service to Victoria Falls which was convenient. The Falls are breathtaking. Our local guide, Laura, was charming and a wealth of information, including dos and don'ts, beware of…etc. I cannot express how well Danni worked for us. Having never been to Africa, much less on safari, she did not hesitate to keep in touch by all means to calm my fears. I was traveling with my elderly mother (89 years young), so you can imagine my fears. Mother loved it! What a trooper. The Hide and Batonka were exactly right for Mom. This was a trip of a lifetime,... Read More

I just came back from South Africa, where I spent the most amazing time together with my boyfriend. Thanks to Danni! I didn’t really know what to expect when I contacted her first, but she replied promptly and asked all the right questions to get an idea of what we wish and expect from our vacation. I was amazed how quickly I got a first suggestion of spending the two weeks and experience the most of ZA. We like to be spontaneous, so in the end, we only booked the Safari at the Kariega reserve with her. It turned out to be the absolute highlight of the two weeks! We stayed three days at the Ukhozi Lodge. The Game Reserve and lodge was beautiful, the staff was courteous and very helpful. Danni recommended this lodge and promised us an unforgettable experience, but it was even better than we imagined! We saw so many animals (4 out of the Big 5) and our ranger was great and knew everything. Afterwards, we followed the Garden Route to Cape Town with our rental car. We stayed at different BnB’s on our way. It was a good opportunity to get in contact with the... Read More

Sikeleli could not have been better to work with. Their personal attention and attention to detail were top-notch. When we asked to make some late changes to our itinerary, they handled everything with aplomb. We really enjoyed meeting Danni in Vic Falls! Too many to mention, memorable parts to mention! They were in the position of pleasing 4 well-traveled women, and all of us said this trip exceeded our expectations. Safari in Botswana was unforgettable, and for me personally, opening champagne with a sabre at Boschendal in Franschhoek was a true bucket list experience! This was a perfect first trip to Africa--we got to sample several countries and experiences in our 2-week trip. We are already talking about planning our return trip with Sikeleli!

Our safari camp, The Hide - the hospitality, food, amenities, staff, facilities, and of course, the park are all top-notch.  The only “complaint” (and not their fault whatsoever) is that because we were there for such a short time.  The lunches and dinners, both at the camp and in the bush, were exceptional and memorable. A couple of highlights……On our first afternoon there, just before sundown, we were able to watch a herd of around 50 elephants at a watering hole, soon joined by at least another 50. Thereafter, whether a night drive or daylight drive, we always saw numerous elephants…….The other highlight was seeing a lioness on the hunt.  Managed to see her make a move on some impala, but the baboons had tipped them off.  She then turned around and slowly walked back towards us, eventually walking between our jeep and the other one from the Hide, Incredible. Ian led all of our drives.  He has incredible knowledge and expertise, not just of the animals but also of the birds, trees, you name it.  One of our guys from the UK is a very avid birder (his life list of African birds went over the 600 species mark... Read More

My husband and I went through Sikeleli Africa Safaris to plan our two-week honeymoon. The trip was exactly what I requested during the initial itinerary planning. Danni was a great consultant who delivered on the expectations as well as being honest about time constraints and budget. They cater to your price point which was key and was very helpful in responding to questions and concerns throughout the whole process. The actual trip itself was beyond my expectations. The safaris we went on were great as they placed us in different locations, giving us the ability to see different types of animals in different types of environment. Every lodge we have stayed at had great staff and the food was excellent. The most memorable part of the trip was when we were in Hwange National Park and had lions outside our tent during the night. It was quite an experience to see these beautiful animals up close. I enjoyed that every lodge we stayed at had these lovely animals who are accustomed to the presence and can see them right outside your window. The amount of wildlife seen was unexpected and spectacular.

The Vintage Camp in Hwange was absolutely great. Great scenery and wildlife viewing, including large herds of elephant. For lovers a must! We always had plenty of time to view animals. Life-changing experience, it has to be done!!! Our guide Dennis told us all about his life in Zimbabwe; he gave us many interesting facts about the animals, about the flora and the land. Good conversations, humorous, and witty. Our ideas and objectives were completely met. Our trip was full of highlights, and full of unforgettable experiences we will never forget. There is absolutely nothing to complain about and we would do it again at any time. Very reasonable value for money and our investment in this holiday has been more than justified. Our consultant Danni was always sympathetic, patient and friendly. She was very helpful during our stay and gave us more insights and tips for sightseeing and local interest. While in Victoria Falls we all went together to great restaurants with fine menus. We thought that the shopping at Elephant's Walk was nice. Danni, we thank you again very much for the wonderful trip that you planned and arranged for us. We will never forget our time in Africa. It was great... Read More

You have really done a great job, completely without any remarks. In fact, we have never before (during 22 years) had an operator carrying all requests to 100%. All logistics have worked perfect, all lodges have been aware of our plans and requests. We really thank you. Generally, all guides had very good skills as drivers and great knowledge about wildlife. The system with Tours Africa at the airport was brilliant. Without knowing how much it cost, we find it worth every kwacha. Boarding and handling luggage always consumes a lot of power and getting rid of that was a release. When it comes to result, we are quite satisfied considering that wildlife in Zambia has a smaller diversity than many other safari countries. Out of 4800 pictures we have got 141 different species and among them 17 new ones we have seen before. Most pleasing was that we got nice pictures of all three endemic subspecies in Zambia. To sum up; you are a professional.

Everything went off without a hitch. Transfers, flights, hotels, Shawn, and especially the Camp Hwange were perfect. I would not hesitate to refer the camp to anyone. The accommodations were awesome, and the guides and the staff were so friendly and helpful. Thank you for doing such a great job.

Daniella went above and beyond to plan our safari adventure at Little Makalolo camp in Hwange, Zimbabwe. The service in the camp was excellent, the friendly staff made us feel welcome, safe and took care of our needs during our stay, combined with excellent food. This was our first safari getaway, what a fantastic experience! During the safari rides we saw it all, loads of elephants, lions, zebra’s, hippo’s, giraffes, absolutely everything we were hoping for. A special thanks to Daniella and the staff of Sikeleli Safaries to making our first safari an unforgettable one. We will use Sikeleli services again for sure and we highly recommend it to others.

We had an amazing honeymoon planned by Danni. From Cape Town, Winelands, safari in Timbavati, and last but not least Victoria Falls. All of the heavy lifting was done by Danni and the team, so we could enjoy without all of the headache of planning. The cultural experiences and food of Cape Town, the beauty and wine tastings of the Winelands, seeing hundreds of animals up close on the safari (including most of the big 5), and the surrealistic Victoria Falls from a helicopter and on the trails of the national park were all highlights of the trip. Both our budget and time constraints were perfectly managed. I would recommend to family and friends. This was a tremendous experience.

This safari travel company and our agent did a fabulous job of truly tailoring the holiday to our needs and ensuring that it was a special experience all the way through. The itinerary was a great mix of different safari experiences, very diverse landscapes and a bit of culture and city thrown in at the beginning and end. The pace of the holiday was also perfect - 2 to 3 days in each camp was just enough to keep it exciting without feeling hectic. The logistics were flawlessly organized, with no hiccups with pickups, transfers, flights etc. So, even though we had a lot of connections and transfers to do, it felt easy and not burdensome. The guides and camp staff were also wonderful - genuinely hospitable, friendly and eager to delight. Perhaps the only camp where the service levels & quality of experience did not match the others was Kuala Desert Lodge. I have to say, that the other places such as Khwai tented camp, Tintswalo and Nottens set such a high standard that in comparison, Kuala felt average. But nothing to complain about as spending 3 nights in a place like Sossusvlei was truly special.

Your service and advice were amazing. You booked the perfect trip for us, and in the limited time, we had you managed to get everything in that we wanted to do. The whole trip definitely exceeded our expectations. The accommodation was very good and the food amazing. I can't really suggest any improvements as everyone, from booking the trip to the shuttle taking us to the airport, was so friendly and accommodating. Even on the last night with the Boma dinner, they did not have reservations for us, but the lady at reception said that if we were booked through you, she was sure it was done and that she knows everything will be good so she let us attend the dinner. All the activities were amazing. We really enjoyed the Gorge Swing. Definitely, something I would recommend anyone does at least once in their life! The Devil's Pool is also an experience everyone should have! It is hard to give one favourite activity, but if we have to then we will say the Zambezi Explorer cruise was our favourite. The whole experience was just perfect and all the staff we encountered during our trip was very professional and friendly... Read More

The Somalisa Acacia safari experience was absolutely fabulous! As our plane landed on the airstrip we were greeted by two male lions relaxing in the shade. This set the tone for three days of unbelievably close encounters with the majestic African animals. Our guide Albert's experience and knowledge added real depth to our understanding of the animals, nature and Africa. It was an experience of a lifetime! Danni was extremely accommodating and worked within all our constraints. She is a pleasure to deal with! She has amazing local knowledge and personal experience with all the hotels, safari camps, air transfers etc which enable her to confidently put together a perfectly tailored trip that exceeded our expectations! The trip that Danni put together for us was outstanding in every way. We are confident that experienced the very best that Zimbabwe had to offer. We really enjoyed having Danni joining us at Imire. The Imire experience provided a whole new dimension on our understanding of the history and current complexities of life in Zimbabwe. The hospitality at Imire was incomparable! The opportunity to meet an 8 day old baby white rhino was amazing! We would absolutely would recommend Danni and Sikeleli Safaris to... Read More

Karen and Danni, I want to thank you for all you did to help us have a very memorable time in Victoria Falls and Hwange. Every aspect of our trip was outstanding, the accommodations were excellent, all transfers went incredibly smooth; 'twas a completely stress-free experience filled with beautiful sights and people. That said, the highlight was clearly our stay at Somalisa. The staff were all wonderful and our guide David was simply amazing.  His knowledge of the bush and respect for all animals who have Hwange as their home was exceptional. David provided us with incredible once-in-a-lifetime sightings of magnificent animals that we will treasure forever. Ware highly recommending this trip to our family and friends and hope to return someday.

Went on the Cape Town Culinary Tour This was a really fun day. This group was awesome. So much fun. Our timing of it all was perfect. Managing to do Bree street, Bo Kaap and even to the station roof for African food with Sandile. Making it by seconds before the sky's opened and came down in buckets. The guests were great and were not fazed at all. Unfortunately, after the East tour we tried to go up Table Mountain, but it was suspended due to lightning strikes earlier which apparently caused a lot of issues with the morning groups being stuck. All in all it was a great day with awesome people. Thank you!

Just want to say a big thank you for recommending the places in Botswana and booking it for us. We had an AMAZING time! Could not have been a better honeymoon destination. Everyone was hospitable and welcoming, accommodation was great, we saw everything we could possibly see and... there was a computer with internet to satisfy my connection with the world every now and then. It was wonderful and we'd definitely look to go back to Africa, and do a different type of safari elsewhere.

Thank you SOOO incredibly much!  We have enjoyed our time here! And a big THANK YOU for the wonderful "bubbly" that you had waiting on us!  We made some excellent friends while here and enjoyed on the beautiful patio at the hotel!  That was so kind of you! Our tours were excellent!  Alistair picked us up from Stellenbosch, and we started an early day for the peninsula tour on Monday-- saw amazing sites and enjoyed his company.  Certainly got in lots of walking and experienced breathtaking views!  It was a full day, and he was a perfect host! On Tuesday, Ryan picked us up for the eats tour...and boy did we eat!  Lots of local food, coffee, beer...it was also exceptional. I'd say that both tours were extremely helpful and enjoyable. It was great to get the "overall" and out of town perspective from Alistair and the city/urban/eats tour from Ryan. The hotel has been extremely accommodating and it's a fantastic setting. From the reception to the comfortable beds, certainly five-star!  We just wish we could stay longer! Thank you - not only were you and your services amazing but also our time in South Africa was top-notch!

Anthony: "Fantastic time in South Africa and Zimbabwe! Thoroughly enjoyed it!!! The Cape Royale was a great property and everyone was really nice!!!! Location and facilities - amaze!  Also loved the African Safari Lodge and Boma... Was shocking how expensive Zim was compared to SA! To be honest... I've nothing but positive reviews for you! The trip WAS GREAT! Thank you!" Gary: "The room in the Cape Royale was very nice. I thought the staff were all very nice and accommodating. The breakfast food was great, the front desk staff were gracious, and again, overall the quality of the rooms was high, in my opinion overall. The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was great. A beautiful hotel, the pool was enjoyable, loved the views. Poolside service was a little slow, but the drinks were good and the breakfast food was good. The Zambezi cruise was great…great staff, fun and scenic trip. The boat was nice and the staff song at sunset was priceless. :-) Thank you so much for everything and it was a pleasure meeting you!" Jason Dinger & Phil Greenberg: "Yes all around!!  The hotel in Zimbabwe was very comfortable and the staff was friendly.  It had the African vibe we... Read More

Danni organized a wonderful itinerary for us through Zimbabwe and Northern Botswana. Zimbabwe was definitely the highlight of the trip. We arrived we a few apprehensions about the political situation and what it would mean for our trip, and we could not have been more pleasantly surprised. The welcome we received, the people we met and the quality of the camps and service, were superb. Some of the highlights included seeing a 6 week old rhino up close in the Matopos, sundowners on Rhodes grave meeting a local school trip learning about the site, sun downers being surrounded by elephants in Hwange and the bungee jump at Victoria Falls! We saw lions kills, cheetahs, giraffes drinking and herds of buffalo. Beautiful birds and "pumbas" everywhere. We saw all the animals we had hoped to see and all came home agreeing it was the best family holiday we have done.

We used a travel concierge on a custom trip to Croatia two years ago and thought it was fantastic, but our latest trip to Africa by Sikeleli was even better. The game drives were amazing. We saw the big five and many, many more. Our guides were excellent at finding game and had great knowledge of the animals’ behaviors. We were educated every drive on the habitats and behaviors of the game. They had a great sense of humor and cared for our needs every day. We had the best safari camps with the best accommodations, food, service and game drives. Everything was 5-star. Our connections, flights, guides, tours, and itinerary were perfect. We were treated like royalty everywhere we went. My wife and I have been traveling all our lives, and we can honestly say this was our best vacation ever. Thank you, Daniella at Sikeleli for a trip of a lifetime.

What a beautiful place! We had such a good, relaxing time—it really felt great to unplug from work. Camps Bay was a great location—beautiful, fun, lively and lots going on. We changed apartments and got one on the front so we had a view of the water and mountains—a view that is definitely worth getting out of bed for in the morning. The winelands tour was exceptional—our guide was Z, and I recommend him highly—fun guy who knows the area; he booked us into Le Petite Ferme for lunch—among the best meals I’ve ever had! And having a couple of days at Shamwari at the end was a great way to wind things up—beautiful place and they really pay attention to quality service, food, and no detail is too small for them. It felt like three vacations—each part different, fun, and exciting. We initially thought that so many days in Cape Town would be a bit much, but we loved every minute of it and could easily have spent more time there. It’s tough being back home but I look at my pictures and videos of the ocean, the penguins, and Table Mountain—and life feels a lot better for a... Read More