Honeymooners, January 2012
Dear Danica, we are really keen to meet you for lunch to personally thank you for the great time we had. Honestly we had the best time ever on our honeymoon safari and climbing Kili. We look forward to telling you all about it!
Downes Family summer holiday, Dec 2011
Feedback from the Dad - We had a really great time and saw pretty much all the major animals you can see in the these locations. We had Paul has our guide and he was amazing, such an easy going guy with heaps of knowledge. We always felt safe with him. Luxury private safari is definitely the way to go, I couldn't imagine doing it any other way now. 7-8 days on the safari bit is about right I feel. By this time you have seen all the animals a few times and being bounced around for this long it starts to mount up on the body. Staying 1 or 2 days in each location was good as you get a greater variety of animals, landscapes and camp experiences. Having a few days on Zanzibar at the end was a good way to unwind after all the adventure. Sandies was one of the best beach/pool resorts we have stayed at over the years, friendly staff and great beachside location. Thanks for booking us a great holiday and I would certainly recommend Encompass Africa to anyone considering an African adventure. Now when we watch the wildlife shows we can sit back and say, (after pinching ourselves) 'been there and seen that'.
Feedback from the mum - My middle son, who lives out of home and doesn't often get overly emotional or carried away turned to me on our first game drive through Tarangire National Park and very excitedly said 'this is the best idea for a family holiday' and my 16 year old son just loved every second and particularly seemed to be fascinated with our guide Paul and his life and spent a lot of time talking with him. For kids that have travelled the world, I think they found this so truly different and remarkable. Thanks again for an amazing family experience.
Christie, horseriding safari, solo traveller
Thanks for the experience, I had so much fun and will never forget it! Here's some feedback I hope is useful. Sango Camp I highly recommend - great accommodation, good food and staff make you feel really at home and part of the family. Hippo at my front door, lions across the river, elephant, wild dogs hunting, crocs, impalas and the list goes on. Your drivers and transfer companies were really professional, polite and never once late, delayed or left me alone so as a solo traveller I felt completely at ease. Camp Kalahari had great food, staff and accommodation and the horseriding safari with David Foot was great. Horses were in good condition and well behaved. So many spring hare holes, so it was a little disappointing that we couldn't ride fast. The highlight was Xai Xai Fly camp, in the middle of nowhere, beautiful evening, camp fire and fantastic food, still thinking about that chicken pie (wish I got the recipe) and seeing Meerkats early morning was unforgettable.
Elsbeth & Ched
What a trip and what a great time we had, all the time! All went smoothly, always someone to greet us, incredible accommodation and excellent food and service. Thank you for organising this dream trip - it came true!
Lynda & David
Just wanted to drop a quick line to say thank you. Your advice and recommendations to ensure value and experience was excellent and proved correct every time. Lots of fun, great people, brilliant environments and then there were the animals!
Ken & Jill
Ken & I would like to thank you for the best holiday we have ever had. Everything was handled beautifully and we enjoyed every part of our trip to South Africa. From Cape Town to the Drakensburg Mountains we couldn’t fault the itinerary. The customer service, the accommodation, the food... everything was absolutely first class. Our 20th wedding anniversary was celebrated in every place we stayed, often with champagne chilling and chocolates waiting for us or a little gift, special dinners (and champagne), upgrades etc. all those things that make it very special.
The walking safari in the Kruger was unforgettable and would recommend it highly to anyone who wants to experience the most awesome game park in the World. I loved the Rhino Plains Camp, the sleep out and the lodge. Apart from the abundant game we met great people, learnt a lot and had some great laughs – terrific.
Your professionalism and attention to detail made the holiday completely worry free and we would have no hesitation in recommending Encompass Africa to friends and family.
Geoff & Sue
Thank you so very much for your honest advice and recommending Nottens. We wanted to let you know what a great time we had! The safari experience far exceeded our expectations and the manager and staff at Nottens could not have been more obliging and friendly. We would have no hesitation in recommending Nottens to anyone considering going to Africa, and that applies to recommending you as well - your assistance has been excellent and very much appreciated.
Pamela & Eric
We have to thank you for organising our trip. It was everything you said it would be and MORE!! The accommodation at Johannesburg and the Vic Falls Hotel was amazing and the camps.....superb. Just in total "denial" that the holiday is over. I have some truly great photos, videos and stories to share with you. Loved the tented accommodation and the staff were marvellous and the guides so informative. Saw everything except a rhino, but hey thats for next trip. Got close and personal with lions, elephants, leopard, buffalos, hyenas etc. etc. Have some super photos and videos on a big male lion we tracked in Little Makalolo. Oooh it was just fantastic to be sooo close. Thanks again.
Family, June 2011
You organised one of the most amazing trips.A lifetime experience for my family! The planning was fantastic down to every little detail. The camps were unbelievable. Everything in Africa was perfect. Well done.
Mother and daughter, travelled May 2011
Our favourite part of the trip was observing the animals, particularly the elephants, meeting the people and wonderful countryside. Everything worked so well and the holiday was very well organised thanks to Jono in such a short time. Little Ongava is a wonderful place and Camp Kalahari has a great location with good facilities.Thank you, we would travel with Encompass Africa again.
Couple from Western Australia, June 2011
Hi Danica
What a great time we had!Thank you so very much for recommending Nottens, South Africa. The safari experience far exceeded our expectations and the manager and staff at Nottens could not have been more obliging and friendly.
We would have no hesitation in recommending Nottens to anyone considering going to Africa on safari, and that applies to recommending you as well - your assistance has been excellent and very much appreciated. We're currently in the internet centre at the Zambezi Sun, shortly to check out. Victoria Falls is a sight to see. This is a lovely complex although we thought the rooms a little small. Probably the only very small negative we have - the travel company this end has been very professional with greeting, transfers etc. Thanks again for everything.
Couple from Queensland, May/June 2011
Hi Jonathon, Just a very quick note to say that we have returned safely from our trip to South Africa. We have had an absolutely fabulous time. All the arrangements went like clockwork, thanks to the wonderful planning and scheduling work that you and your team put into it the organising of the trip.
Honeymoon Couple, May 2011
Hi there Jonathon,
I just wanted to echo my wife's thoughts ....we had such a brilliant time that I'm actually kicking myself we never got there sooner. Your recommendations were spot on and it's really hard to fault anything. To be honest, the trip was so damn good we'll def. be back!
Solo gentleman travelled May 2011
Fantastic time...Back home safely, and glad to report that I had a fantastic time. All the connections and transfers worked as planned, and have loads of great photos to work through; a couple of which are attached.
Your itinerary gave me a good spread of the safari locations, from the comfort and oppulance of the Exeter Lodge at Sabi, and also to Nxai Pan, to the tents along the Migrations Routes, to the off-road and up-close experiences at Sabi and the wide open grasslands down at Nxai Pan.
Honeymoon Couple travelled May 2011
Hi Jonathon, Just a quick email to let you know we had an absolutely amazing holiday – thank you for your help and guidance in organising it. Each of the places were incredibly special, it’s hard to choose between them, however if we had to Chiawa Camp would probably be the favourite – its location is stunning, the hospitality was wonderful and the guides knowledge incredibly impressive. AZURA MOZAMBIQUE WAS ALSO ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND A FANTASTIC PLACE TO FINISH THE ADVENTURE. After a couple of days of holiday we committed ourselves to returning to Africa for every anniversary with a zero in it, that gradually decreased as the days went by and ended up at every three years! Thanks again
Minister and wife travelled through Zambia with World Vision and Encompass Africa, May 2011
Hi Jono We had an absolutely phenomenal time! We only had a brief malaria scare but one of the guides tested it and I got the all clear! Seriously - the team at Chiawa Camp in the Lower Zambezi have to be the best ever.. fantastic!
WE REALLY ENJOYED PAUL AND DANIEL AS GUIDES - BOTH SPECTACULAR! Looking forward to sending more people your way soon. Thanks again
Two ladies travelling from Brisbane, May 2011
Hi Jonathon, OMG we had the most awesome time. Where do I start.....The moment we landed in Joburg, your staff swept us to the front of the immigration queue & took us straight thru (in front of about 200 disbelieving people). D'Oreale Grant Hotel was it's usual high standard. Pondoro Game Lodge was beautiful. It's privately owned & run by Lize & Robbie & his part of the reserve has been in his family for years. Everything was of a very high standard with boutique hotel personal touches. Lize is an amazing chef so all the meals were so delicious & varied. We honestly felt as if we never stopped eating. The game drives were fabulous too. We were lucky enough to hear a lion kill & witness the poor impala being torn apart by a pride of 11 lions. Another time we followed 6 lions for over an hour as they set out to hunt at night. The only animal we didn't sight at Pondoro were cheetahs. Mashatu in Botswana was an experience too! The cable car ride across the Limpopo River was a great start where we were met by our ranger who looked after us during our stay. Botswana had a completely different & dusty landscape to South Africa. Once again we saw everything including a fresh cheetah kil & herds of over 200 elephants as well as following a pack of wild dogs for an hour. Meals were lovely & again plentiful. We had small bats in our room one night & the lodge manager couldn't be more apologetic & we ended up being given separate rooms to spread out in.Back in Joburg our stay at the Grace in Rosebank was OK. Service at times was not great but it's proximity to the mall made up for it. We absolutely loved the African Craft Market on Sunday morning.Thank you so much for arranging our holiday. Everything went so smoothly and my photos and videos are amazing.Now.....for my next trip. I'm after a few ideas. Many many thanks Jonathon.
Father and son from Brisbane, Travelled April 2011
Dear Jonathon
We had a great time on our African Safari holiday to Botswana and Zambia- your organisation worked perfectly.
On nine separate internal flights not once were we delayed or have any issues.The organisation of staff and guides who met and transported us throughout the journey was excellent. I would not change much at all except take far fewer clothing and not bother with a tripod or monopod which were just excess luggage. Shinde Camp was certainly the best in Botswana. Thorntree Lodge in Zambia also great. Many thanks Jonathon.
Brisbane Couple Jan/Feb 2011 (and their son joined for the Climb)
'Thanks for an amazing holiday – it was the trip of a lifetime.' Any reservations disappeared on our first day in Africa. The ground staff there were fantastic and went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. Your recommended African safari holiday itinerary was absolutely perfect. We saw more wildlife than we ever expected. Close to cheetah and lion families. Lots of cubs playing. Even followed a group of cheetah hunting for several hours. Just missed the kill but arrived immediately after in time to see the cheetah devouring a wildebeest. The Kilimanjaro climb was amazing – definitely a challenge worth the effort.'
Sydney honeymoon couple, January 2011
'We had the most amazing holiday and it exceeded our expectations giving us so many wonderful memories for our honeymoon. Excellent, excellent, excellent! Your prompt response to every query, your unbelievable knowledge, every recommended upgrade was perfect and ensured we had the best honeymoon you could ever imagine. Our favourite had to be Serengeti Safari Camp. The Serengeti was awesome, the guides were fantastic, authentic tented accommodation (incredible) and wildlife sightings spectacular. Cape Grace in Cape Town was excellent. The complimengary chauffer service around town in a brand new 7 series BMW topped it off! Finale was Fundu Lagoon on Pemba Island, Zanzibar. Excellent room and facilities, stunning location. A few of the meals were not up to the usual standard and service lacking at times. We would not do things differently though!'
Family on Safari Jan 2011
'Danica thanks for the last minute awesome gorilla trek trip in Rwanda. It was everything I could hope for. I couldn't have done it without your expertise and service!' - single female traveller, December 2010 'A quick note to thank you for organising what turned out to be an excellent family holiday. It delivered in spades all I could have hoped for.
Notten’s in particular was an inspired choice with nothing too much trouble for the friendly staff there. It was also a pleasant surprise to come back Premium economy class – the icing on the cake of a highly memorable family holiday. Many thanks for all your efforts on our behalf'.
Melbourne couple, Jan 2011
'Encompass Africa thank you...for the most awe-inspiring holiday. It was extremely well planned with nothing left to chance. The wildlife experiences were unbelievable, landscapes breathtaking and level of service second to none. I will tell all my friends about Africa and you and your service. It can not be beaten'.
Sydney Couple, travelled Dec/Jan 2011.
'Your outstanding quality of service EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF AFRICA AND THOROUGH ITINERARIES AND INFORMATION WERE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS WE CHOSE BOOKING OUR AFRICAN SAFARI HOLIDAY WITH ENCOMPASS AFRICA. Our conversations with staff made us feel more comfortable about the remote places we were going. The highlight was driving through the Eastern Cape in South Africa, amazing! We will travel with Encompass Africa again in a flash!'
Melbourne Family, December 2010
'A quick note to thank you...for organising what turned out to be an excellent family holiday which delivered in spades, all I could have hoped for. Notten’s in particular was an inspired choice with nothing too much trouble for the friendly staff there. It was also a pleasant surprise to come back Premium economy class – the icing on the cake of a highly memorable family holiday. Many thanks for all your efforts on our behalf.'
Family safari, October 2010 (Parents)
We had a wonderful Safari. It was so well organised from Australia to Africa,it was unbelievable. If they said they were going to pick us up at a time they were there waiting - everytime! I would recommend Encompass Africa without a doubt and I will be telling anyone that wants to travel to Africa to use them they were 100%. All the Safari Guides were terrific,nothing was a bother to them, they were well trained and so knowledgeable. All our lodges and camps were really nice and the people were so friendly. All in all a WONDERFUL SAFARI,and we thank all the people involved,and a big thank you to Jonno for organising our trip with such short notice.Thank you everyone, cheers!
Family safari, October 2010 (Daughter and husband)
We received the expertise of a company (Encompass Africa) that understood our travel request and created a great tailormade trip, our African Safari holiday! Every stage of our trip we were meeted and greeted by exceptional people which being away from our comfort zone in a new and different place was very reassuring. All safari accommodation was great and we liked the safari tent style the best. Our air transfers were always on time and our road transfers were good with comfortable vehicles. As for wildlife experiences - amazing!! We saw everything we wanted to see and more. Big days with big adventures. Landscape experiences - Fabulous.We didn't realise Africa was so beautiful. Finally, food and drinks - Good quality and choice. Selection of wine and beers excellent.
Honeymooners, November 2010
Just a quick note to say thank you so much for organising the honeymoon of a lifetime. I can’t even tell you the look on Shelley’s face as we passed the last little plane on the way to the helicopter at Vilanculos. She was amazed and even more astounded when we arrived at Azura Retreats, Mozambique. The service, the food, the venue, the hospitality were all international 5 star standard and simply out of this world. In a nutshell it was incredible and an African Island honeymoon both of us will look back on with fond memories for ever. Please thank the team at Encompass Africa.
