6 independent reviews for 7 day big five safari in South Africa
Reviews for 7 day big five safari in South Africa
Stephanie Hanrahan review 22 Jul 2025
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Amazing wildlife sightings2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Bring warm clothes for early morning game drives (if winter)3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Helped leopard conservation4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
ExcellentPamela Martin review 27 Apr 2025
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Immersion in the Kruger bush … so many sights, sounds and smells with wonderful guides and trackers and 3 lodges give 3 different atmospheres2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The Johannesburg City Lodge airport hotel is excellent.. a proper hotel, well signed from arrivals, you don’t leave the terminal building-so worth considering a daytime flight from UK, overnight in the hotel and the 10.30am flight to Kruger.. you arrive refreshed. Also the Victoria Falls extension works well.. 3 nights would allow a whole day resting and digesting inthe Victoria falls safari lodge hotel3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Tourist economy vital for the Kruger, gives significant local employment. Also conservation.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent. Also local tour company support very responsive to any questions.Peter Allen review 2 Sep 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
This is hard to answer. Actually I was told I was very lucky. One afternoon trip we saw absolutely nothing which they said was quite common. We were not in a zoo but the actual home of these creatures. So why was I lucky? Because the next day I saw a lioness guarding the remains of the pride kill, until, unable to move it she drifted away. Then the vultures descended and the carcass was stipped in minutes. I saw a small herd of elephants, a mother with her young, a herd of wildebeast, a group of buffalo - two males engaged in head to head competion right in front of us, rhinos, male and female hyenas guarding their den. Oh, and a leapard, another pride of lions, with young, numerous giraffe, impala, exotic birds, a feeding eagle, hippos, crocodile and more. I took 400 photos.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Don't have massively high expections. Take each day as it comes. Be ready for very early rising and tiring drives - it's a real safari not a pleasure outing. You will need the truly excellent food you will be served.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All the staff employed at the lodges were excellent. The guides and drivers were highly skilled and well aware that preservation of this environment is their future.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Eleven out of tenZella Griffiths review 16 Mar 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing lots of different leopards. Also large herds of elephants, on one occasion watching them enjoying and playing in a pan.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Rukiya lodge is more about leopard conservation rather than Big 5 game viewing - very worthwhile though. N'kaya game lodge was amazing - the hospitality, accommodation and game drives were second to none and this was our 12th safari. Our hosts Andre and Lene along with their team were outstanding both in terms of bush knowledge, cuisine and making one feel totally relaxed and at ease.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, it was evident that an effort was being made to support the ecosystem and conservation of the bush/Savannah for the benefit of both local communities and visitors4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that I stayed on for an extra 2 days. Excellent value for money. Looking forward to the 10 day African experience in September.Jeff Seymour review 7 Jun 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The night drives at Rukiya. It was the first time (after 8 previous safari vacations) that we saw an Aardvark, Honey Badger, Bush Baby and Genet. Also, sitting amongst a herd of 25+ elephants in our jeep at N’Thambo.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
June is a good time of year to go but can be quite cold first thing in morning and at night. However hot water bottles were provided at Rukiya rooms as it was a river side location where temperatures were much lower than the other two lodges.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely. At Rukiya they run a leopard conservation and research project.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
As good as any of our previous trips. Slightly better than expected. We spend hours researching beforehand and our expectations of quality are extremely high.Debora Coico review 4 May 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Most of our trip was unforgettable. I especially liked our base camp: rukiya safari camp. The people there are very, very friendly. I've felt welcomed immediately. The safaris are very peaceful and beautiful. I have learned a lot about animals and plants. I liked it that it wasn't all about the big five but also about birds and smaller animals. I will never forget the bush walk with Warren (Ivory wilderness riversong camp). I wasn't afraid but all my senses were alert. It was fascinating to be out in the bush and see lion tracks.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
When you really love nature and familylike camps (eat together with other guests) you should go to rukiya safari camp or to ivory wilderness riversong camp. The guides there are very patient and show a lot of respect for the nature. They respect all animals and are not chasing around for the big five and predators.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
In two of the three camps (as written above) I experienced that very much. In the third camp the guide was just looking out for the big five (and predators) and drove through bushes (bulldozed them down) and little trees to chase those "important" animals.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Apart from one camp, I didn't like at all (as written above), the vacation exceeded my expectations. It was an adventure and I will never forget it.Read the operator's response here:
I can quite understand that driving off road could be seen as being destructive, especially when one isn't familiar with the reserve conservation protocols, but it is important to note the conservation ethics that are rigorously followed in all our game reserves and especially the reserve referred to. Driving off road falls under strict and very well managed protocols that limit this activity to the dry season and viewing certain species. When selecting a route the ranger takes into consideration not only the bushes in the possible path, but all other living organisms, and with that in mind picks the best route, or indeed aborts that activity. Often this has a secondary conservation benefit of eliminating alien species (bushes), that would otherwise adversely affect that environment. Through good management policies this activity has benefited that environment for over fifty years.
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