Kimkim Trip Reviews for South Africa

Everyone who our local specialist Nokuthula put us in contact with was amazing. Our guide to hike up Table Mountain, Fatima was very knowledgeable and helpful as well. Everything about the trip was very planned out and outlined in the details. We were in constant communication with everyone if anything came up or if we had any questions during our stay. Couldn’t recommend them any higher.

It’s been several months since I returned. This trip goes down in memory as one of the best…and easiest! Kim Kim made super easy for my friend and I to travel to South Africa. They worked with us to customize a trip suited for our interest. Nadia was incredible - checking in on us all the time and helping make quick decisions if travel changed due to weather or other things. The guides they recommended were incredible- some we still keep in contact with. I’m planning my next two trips with Kim Kim because this experience was so special.

Activity Review

Full day penguin safari - Cape Peninsula

South Africa

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna-marie and team did an amazing job planning our family trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe. From unique local experiences we never would have discovered on our own to ensuring our trip had enough to engage and inspire both kids (ages 10 and 12) and parents, I can't recommend their services enough! You won't be disappointed!

Hi! Unfortunately It was so disappointing in many ways.
Lack of communication!
The overall experience did not justify the high price we paid for the higher package that we paid more compared to the regular level.
Every day seemed to bring new surprises—none of them pleasant.

-Mistakes on name of a hotel in our finalized itinerary, we went there and we didn’t have hotel reservation. Then we found out we were booked at a very simple and small hotel that our rooms were full of flies and small cockroaches. This wasnt even normal! Luxury???
My son scared and didn’t sleep at his room.

-For transportation
We were provided with an old Toyota for transportation, despite booking a higher-priced package that promised more premium services. The car did not match the level of comfort or quality we expected.

-One of the biggest disappointments was the “African food cooking class” we had requested. Instead of a proper class, we were taken to an introduction to Islam, which consisted of a prerecorded video and a presentation about the life of a Muslim from birth to death. While educational, this was not what we had asked for.After this, we were taken to a dirty, cramped room with around 27-28 people. The sink was filthy, and the hygiene standards were unacceptable. The instructor announced we would be learning to cook chicken masala—an Indian dish—not an African one. Having taken many cooking classes during my travels, I expected to learn a traditional local dish from a knowledgeable local cook, in a clean and organized setting. We couldn’t bring ourselves to stay due to the poor conditions, and other groups left as well. This was a highly disappointing and unhygienic experience.

I request a refund from Kim Kim for:

• The cooking class, which was not what we were promised.
• The difference in cost between the standard package and the 2nd level package we paid for, as the trip did not meet luxury standards in any way.

I cannot recommend Kim Kim to friends or family based on this experience. I hope the company takes steps to address these issues and improve their services.

Regards
Fargol Givehki
.

Esther planned a wonderfull vacation for us.
We enjoyed all the highlights of Cape Town and the sorrounding areas.
Starting with a bus-tour through the city and a tour to Cape Point during which we also visited a Penguin Colony.
We then spent time in Hermanus and did an incredible shark cage experience.
After this we drove to Stellenbosch and enjoyed South African wine with the Wine Tram.
Our vacation then endes with a safari in a private game reserve and some last day to relax in Cape Town.
All the activities were planned perfectly. Esther was always there to help and assist us if needed and also our drivers were punctual, polite and shared a lot of stories about South Africa and there culture.
All in all a perfect vacation!!!

Activity Reviews

City Sightseeing (Hop-on Hop-off) Bus Cape Town

South Africa

Good for a first look at the city. Could contain more historical infos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

African Dinner Show & Drumming Experience

Cape Town

Great show and food!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shark Cage Diving Adventure

South Africa

It should be stated more that Great White Sharks sightings are quite unlikely. Bit still great experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tram Hop on Hop off Tour

South Africa

Great experience! It should be stated that the wine tastings have to be paid extra

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Esther was a Great and very patient Specialist. She tried to meet all our expectations and was there for us at all times. Great Service!!

Activity Reviews

City Sightseeing (Hop-on Hop-off) Bus Cape Town

South Africa

Very Little Information about the history of the Country

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shark Cage Diving Adventure

South Africa

There is a very low chance to actually see white sharks there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tram Hop on Hop off Tour

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

African Dinner Show & Drumming Experience

Cape Town

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We three couples from India had a great time in South Africa and Victoria falls thanks to KimKim and Steph our trip planner..This is our third trip with Kim Kim.Perfectly planned and coordinated by Steph,who needs a special mention.She was very patient and catered to all my wishes and suggestions.Especially celebrating my wife s birthday in Kruger shalati train on the bridge.A memorable celebration.Mark our guide in Capetown was exceptional and took proper care of us,very punctual and friendly.In Victoria falls we had little problem in coordinating with the guides and pick ups.Kruger Shalati was again an awsome experience
Now the negatives in our trip though very few need to mention it here,
1)The sunset cruise we were given in all the itineraries was Sunset cruise luxury signature deck experience by Pure Africa,but we were taken to a small cheap boat with basic drinks and hot sun with no shade and hard wooden benches to sit..After a very hot day we were just looking to relax and unwind on the luxury cruise with artisanal premium drinks and canapes and watch the famous African sunset.A very bad experience.Especially with the signature deck cruise sailing next to us all the while.Stephs explanation that small boats reach better places wasnt very convincing.Didnt know why KimKim has compromised on this.This happened for the first time in my three trips.
2)They were few mix ups in flight bookings that made our hearts to beat lil faster with stress in the airport ,but were immediately resolved by Steph.Thanks once again Steph.
3)We were told we will be given visa on arrival for Zambia.The Bushtracks driver who took us to devils pool,stopped at Zambia immigration ,went inside and came back saying sorry you cant go to Zambia today as Indians need prior visa to enter.Then again he goes in and comes back saying if you pay a little extra(bribe) they will give you visa in 10 mins otherwise it will take one day as the visa has to come from Lusaka.So we had no option to shell out that extra bribe along with 50usd visa fee(which also am not sure that it ll be so much for a day tripper)Just informing you this so that this will not be repeated with your future clients.
Apart from these incidents,the trip had gone well with amazing experiences like Penguins,Devils pool,shark cage experience,shalati stay n safari,thanks once again Steph and Kimkim from six of us for curating an amazing trip

Hotel Review

Kruger Shalati Train on the bridge

Kruger National Park, Skukuza

A great stay on the train on the bridge.enjoyed every moment of our stay.An experience of a lifetime ,courteous staff,knowledgeble safari guides,ours was Elvis ,with lot of patience showed us the Big five.The views from the room of the sabie river and the game that come to drink water too good!The pool with an infinity view and bar was a high light

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Elvis the safari guide,Remember the guy in the restaurant need special mention.And also all the singers and dancers at the evng dinner who wished my wife on her birthday

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed and the pool

Activity Reviews

Table Mountain Tour

Cape Town

Sadly missed the cable car tour because oh high winds,but Mark our guide made it up by taking us on a city tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day touring Boulders Beach and Kirstenbosch Gardens

Cape Town

Mark was an amazing guide and took us for local sight seeing to areas like Bo-kaap and other areas of caoetown which was not there in the itinerary.African penguins are cute at Boulders then went to Kirstenbosch gardens which was also lovely

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The guide cum driver Mark

Full Day Boutique Winelands Tour

South Africa

We missed the tour and participated in Capetown marathon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Salty Travel did a fantastic job of making an itinerary for our family of 4. Lots of great suggestions of activities and we had fabulous accommodation too. We would happily organise another trip with them.

Lize was always patient with our planning of this trip. She was supportive, constructive and responsive in our communication emails.
Her ideas for the itinerary were excellent 👌
There were so many highlights of the trip, we cannot single one out.
The hotels were great and staff helpful.
Having a pre programmed satnav certainly helped with driving and navigating, especially on the long, remote roads around Namibia.
We would certainly recommend your company to family and friends.

Steph did an amazing job. Coordinating our flights and ground transportation to the safari camps was flawless.

Cape Town was fun. Skip Karibu restaurant. Plenty of much better places nearby

Cape of Good Hope is a must do. Book a private tour. Our 'small group' tour had 23 people on a 23 seat bus. Several were ill and they passed it along. 24 hours of down time.

The foodie tour was unimpressive.

Our hike up Table Mountain was fantastic. Justin Hawthorne is an amazing guide. 10/10.

The Safari camps were great.

We liked Umlani camp in Timbavati: it had the best animal viewing of the trip. The camp itself is just great.

Rhino Post Lodge is amazing. Just a beautiful place and excellent service. Our Guide Wesley was great.

The Vic Falls tour was more crowded than we would have preferred. Batonka Guest Lodge was just great. We would avoid the Boma dinner: very touristy with crowds of people taking selfies. No thanks. Highly recommend the helicopter flight over the falls. We also enjoyed the river cruise upstream of the falls.

Hwange Bush Camp tied with Mana Pools as our favorite places. The Bush Camp is beautifully set overlooking a huge savannah. Sophie and Anthony are great hosts. Our guide Darmesh, was great. We also spent two nights at fly camp. We were the only guests and were treated like royalty. Spent 3 days tracking Black Rhino with two trackers and Darmesh. Walked 25 miles and never found them. Nevertheless an amazing experience out in the bush.

John's Camp/Croton Camp is great. Set near the shore of the Zambezi River, you overlook the flood plane with the mountains of Zambia in the background. Breathtaking. Milo is a wonderful host. We spent one night in the treehouse. What a unique experience.

Overall very happy with the trip.

As our first trip to Africa in general and South Africa specifically, we had no idea where to start in planning, though we had some idea about experiences that we wanted. We jumped online to search for a travel agency to assist us, another first for us. We found KimKim somewhat randomly, but the feedback of other traveler led us to take a chance. What we found was that from start to finish, Anna-marie was attentive, responsive, energetic, and proactive. She took our somewhat neophytic thoughts and arranged an experience that will be indelibly fixed in our memories for the rest of our lives. The guides provided not only their knowledge, but their openness and willingness to share insights beyond geography, food and textbook history. The authenticity of those discussions truly made the journey one that was holistically edifying. Radheeka and Stephanie of Earthstompers, as well as Marlene of Adventure Shop were excellent. Probably most impactful personally for us was the day spent in Soweto with the guide from Lebo's Soweto Backpackers. The tuk-tuk tour gave us the opportunity to engage with people of all ages and the culture on a deeper level. The smiles and waves of the children, not to mention their innumerable high-fives, will not be forgotten or unappreciated for the hope for the future that they represented. Lastly, we are still in awe of the natural wonders that we shared in during our stay at the Walker Plains Camp. Our days there were never the same, with new animals and behaviors seemingly by the hour. Paul and Kenwell, our driver and tracker, were fantastic hosts for our daily drives, expert in their crafts and exceedingly gracious as they dealt with non-stop questions.
So with all of the wonderful personal and natural experiences, as well as the well appointed accommodations, we definitely look forward to our next adventure as curated by KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Oude Werf Hotel

Stellenbosch

The location was great and it was modern hotel. We did not find it to very inviting. The staff was polite but did not go out of their way. We found the room to be small and standard. The breakfast was lovely.

Authenticity & Character

A modern hotel. Nothing set it apart

Location

Staff

Responsive but not proactive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I recommend you select your room.

Dorp Hotel

Cape Town

Beautiful and well appointed accommodations. The staff was attentive and friendly. We felt like home in a very short amount of time. This hotel is not gated which we appreciated. The views were absolutely stunning.

Authenticity & Character

It transformed us back into time. We loved the photographs, history, etc.

Location

It sits on top of a hill. We made the mistake of walking up. LOL.

Staff

Extremely friendly and helpful. Our every need was met.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The size of the room and balcony was fantastic!

Walkers Plains Camp

Our home away from home. We fell in love with everything about this place. The accommodations were first class. The community was wonderful. The staff was friendly and professional. The meals were outstanding. We were celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary and they planned a romantic dinner in our cottage by the pool. Absolutely beautiful. We hope to return soon.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Peech Boutique Hotel

Johannesburg

The property was very nice with the exception of being a gated community. We are the type of travelers that immerse ourselves into our environment. This was not possible at this location. The staff was professional but not overly friendly or accommodating with the exception of the gentlemen at the gate.

Authenticity & Character

It was a nice property but nothing stood out,

Location

We did not like the gated community

Staff

The gentlemen at the gate were very nice, friendly and professional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lunch at Crofter's Kitchen

Cape Town

The conversation with the chef and her staff, the tasting walk through the house garden.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Hikes in Stellenbosch

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Foodies on Foot

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A Day in the Kruger Bush with Two Private Game Drives

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cape Peninsula & Penguins

South Africa

We enjoyed the entire experience, visiting the parks and seeing the wildlife. Radheeka was a wonderful guide for the day.

Quality of Experience

animals, geography.

Food

stopped for coffee and pastry, which was nice.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

knowledge and openness of conversation

Transport

Robben Island

Cape Town

The experience was thought provoking and one we would not have missed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

tour of cellblock conducted by former inmate. their presentation was evocative and moving, framed within the melancholy of the lasting effects on the guide.

Transport

not sure it can be improved, but a very crowded bus with relatively poor sound.

Dinner at GOLD Restaurant

Cape Town

As dinner theatre goes, it was a reasonably entertaining evening. However, it had too much of a touristy flavor.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cape Town Food, City & Table Mountain Private Day Tour

Cape Town

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Wine Tour

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrive at Your Lodge in Kruger & First Game Drive

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Another Day in the Kruger with 2 private game drives

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Final morning game drive & next stop

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Soweto Bicycle, Walking, or Tuk-Tuk Tour with Traditional Lunch in Outdoor Kitchen

Johannesburg

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

So we just returned from an eight day trip to South Africa which included 3 nights at Elephant Plains Lodge with safari and ending with four nights in Cape town. I am happy to share that everything on our trip went off without any problems. The hotels and activities picked were great and we enjoyed a trip of a lifetime! Bianca did a great job of arranging and scheduling our lodging, activities and guides. We would recommend your agency and Bianca without hesitation.

Hotel Reviews

Elephant Plains Game Lodge

Bushbuckridge

We had an amazing stay at Elephant Plains Game Lodge. The accommodations were great, food was good and the staff were exceptionally helpful and kind.

Authenticity & Character

The cottages are clean, cosy and very comfortable

Location

Staff

The staff were always willing to help with anything. They went out of their way to help with any issues. I was not feeling well a few days and they provided me with special food and meds to help with my issue.

Cleanliness & Comfort

There were plenty of places to relax and just enjoy that safari environment. Everything was well kept and clean

The Commodore Hotel

Cape Town

Our experience at the Commodore was very good. The breakfast was fabulous and the rooms were very nice. A little small but very adequate. Our only critique would be the door on the bathroom. It was very heavy and hard to pull open. When it would close it would bang, which was a little annoying when our neighbors had an early wake up and we heard their door bang several times in the early morning. The staff was great and very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was very nice to be able to walk to the waterfront with all of its stores and restaurants.

Staff

The evening front desk registrar was very helpful and friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very adequate

Activity Reviews

Days on Safari

South Africa

A little early, but understandable. The guides were great and helped us see everything we wanted to!

Quality of Experience

The guides expertise and tracking of the animals

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Attitudes and helpfulness. Went out of their way to help.

Transport

Morning and Afternoon Game Drives

Sabi Sands Game Reserve

The guides were great and went out of their way to make sure that we saw everything we wanted to see. They were very knowledgeable about everything they did.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour (excluding lunch)

South Africa

Scenery was amazing and the guide was very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything went well and the guide was very flexible and able to rearrange things to accommodate us better.

Full Day Winelands Tour (excluding lunch)

South Africa

The day was a bit rainy, and we are not big drinkers so this wasn't an overwhelmingly amazing tour. We did enjoy it, especially the scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgable and helpful.

Transport

Half Day Private Table Mountain and City Tour

Cape Town

We moved some things around so that we could go to table mountain when the crowds were less and visibility was better! This was all orchestrated by our guide. He was also great at showing us all the best places in the city to see and things to do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Departure from South Africa

South Africa

No probems or issues.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Departure from Zambia

South Africa

Everything went as expected

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Game Drive

Sabi Sands Game Reserve

I have already addressed this. These were very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing trip to South Africa and every detail went smoothly and was perfectly planned. We bought a safari at a fundraiser, but it was only 6 days. We were overwhelmed trying to plan additional days for our trip, but Anna-Marie and Deb made it easy. They planned the perfect trip for us and were in contact with us on WhatsApp the whole time. In Cape Town our tour guide Radheeka with Earthstompers was wonderful. She was very knowledgeable and made our two days there perfect. We saw Cape Point, Boulder Beach penguins, Table Mountain, and the winelands to name a few. Anna-Marie even met us and joined us for our winery tour! We had a wonderful time with her & Radheeka! Our flights and transfers to Victoria Falls and Namibia went perfectly and were on time. This was our second trip that we entrusted KimKim with and we have been extremely pleased both times.

Hotel Reviews

Sanctuary Mandela

Johannesburg

The staff was very attentive and helpful. Amazing breakfast and dinner. Rooms are spacious, quiet, and clean. The bathroom is open to the rest of the room with the bed (it’s one room). Overall pleased with our stay. It’s about a 30 min drive to the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chobe Princess

Chobe National Park

This was an amazing experience! We saw so many animals & the views were incredible. The meals were delicious and we enjoyed getting to know the other couples on the boat. This is a must do!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Being on the Chobe River was amazing! We could see elephants and giraffes right from our bedroom window!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zulu Nyala Heritage Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tree House Boutique Hotel

Cape Town

This was a modern and very unique hotel. Beautifully decorated. The free breakfast and coffee each morning was very nice. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location isn’t walking distance to V&A Waterfront, but they have a driver that will take you.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ilala Lodge

Victoria Falls

This is a beautiful hotel with a very authentic old world safari feel. Pics of Dr Livingstone are everywhere. The outdoor pool and bar area are very nice & I wish we would’ve had a day just to spend hanging out there. We enjoyed the breakfast every day and they had great coffee. Very glad we stayed here. It is walking distance to Vic Falls but I would caution anyone to not walk there with just two people. My husband & I walked back after touring the falls and had a difficult time getting past the vendors and panhandlers. If you have 4 or more people you should be ok.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Don’t walk to Vic Falls alone. Much better if you have a group to walk with.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lunch at Crofter's Kitchen

Cape Town

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Wine Tour

South Africa

We loved Fairview Winery. Our guide Radheeka even arranged for us to see the goats!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Radheeka with Earthstompers was the best tour guide ! After the second day she was like a good friend & I was sad to leave.

Victoria Premium River Safari Sunset Cruise

Victoria Falls

We loved our dinner cruise. The sunset and views were spectacular!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dusty Road Township Dinner Experience **highly recommended by our team

Victoria Falls

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chobe Princess Houseboat Arrival

Botswana

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Life on the Chobe River

Chobe National Park

This was a once in a lifetime experience! Amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner at Sanctuary Mandela

Johannesburg

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Last morning on the Chobe Princess

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cape Peninsula & Penguins

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Table Mountain

South Africa

Beautiful views! Bigger than I thought it would be! Bring a jacket it gets cold!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mother/daughter trip went flawlessly and the entire week near Kruger was top notch! Esther made great recommendations and was reassuring about all the lodging and transfers. It was wonderful to have her expertise from the planning stages to the completion of the trip. Our guide on the panoramic drive was very knowledgeable. (Maybe Titus) Sadly I have forgotten his name. The guides at Kruger Shalati (Lisa) and at Mjejane made sure we found lots of animals on every drive. The worst part about the trip was the condition of the road between Hootspreit and Kruger Shalati. I counted over 100 speed bumps. Minor detail. Thank you Esther, and the rest of
our support staff.

Without a doubt, one of my most favorite vacations despite missing four days due to flight disruptions. The first part of our trip, we spent three nights in Cape Town and stayed at the La Splendida Hotel with an ocean view and minutes away from the waterfront. Bridget Wilcox was our tour guide in Cape Town to a Penguin Safari, a drive along the coast to Cape Point, Hirschenbosch Botanical Gardens and wine tasting. Bridget was friendly, informative, funny, and knowledgeable. We enjoyed having Bridget as our tour guide while in Cape Town. I appreciated, Laurel, a representative from Capi Tours, meeting my husband and I at the airport while we waited for our ride to the hotel given the chaotic start we had. From Cape Town, we flew to Kruger National park - Shalati. The 3 day safari was the highlight and best part of our adventure. Shalati did not disappoint from the staff, accommodations, food, surroundings/atmosphere and overall experience. Definitely exceeded all of my expectations. Benedict from what I observed ran the place well, professional, helpful and made it a point guests were taken care of. Shout out to Subisiso and Lurrecia, both waited on us the majority of our stay and super friendly and helpful. The game drives were quite an experience like no other. We were able to see 4 of the Big Five and in complete awe of seeing them in their nature habitat. The last leg of our vacation, we flew to Zimbabwe. We saw Victoria Falls (no dead pool swimming) but pretty neat regardless and then a Bomba dinner that evening. Our last night, we had lunch at Dusty Road and a sunset cruise. It was such a pleasant evening on the cruise and surprisingly had a great time.

My biggest complaint: La Splendida Hotel and theft. We had a few items laundered with a next day return. I picked up my clothes at the front desk from Lucille (manager) the morning of our last day in Cape Town. I took the clothes to my room and left for our all day wine tasting tour. When we returned, I noticed 4 of our laundered items were missing. I immediately notified the front desk and was told to talk to the manager in the morning, which was the morning we were flying to Kruger National Park. Lucille tried to deflect that it was a possible mix up with another guest's request, plausible but very unlikely. Someone with a key entered our room while we were away and stole our clothes!! We had laundry service at Shalati and Pioneer and had no issues or experienced theft of any kind. Apparently, others have also reported theft at La Splendida (something we found out later after the fact). With a service such as Kim Kim, it is their responsibility to vet hotels, tour guides, etc. and ensure they are reputable before recommending to their guests. I paid for and relied on Kim Kim's expertise to do that on my behalf. In this regard, they failed in my opinion. Stephanie did work with the hotel to recover the stolen clothes. It's been almost 6 weeks since we've been back and I have yet to receive them, if ever.

Hotel Reviews

La Splendida

Mouille Point, Cape Town

Theft! Need to hire trustworthy employees. Online pics were so misleading because our room was no where near what was shown in the pics!

Kruger Shalati Bridge House Suites

From the moment we arrived to departure, service was top notch. Everyone was friendly, welcoming and helpful. Wonderful experience and highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Being able to see elephants, hippos, baboons from our room was incredible!

Staff

Shout out to Subisisco and Lurrecia!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pioneers Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Loved the quaintness and coziness of Pioneers!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arrival at Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Cruise - Signature Deck

Victoria Falls

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kruger Shalati Train on a bridge

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boma Dinner and Drum Show

Victoria Falls

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day penguin safari - Cape Peninsula

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dusty Road Lunch Experience

Victoria Falls

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Esther was great to us through the whole planning of our trip. She would answer questions quickly and effectively. She made the process smooth and easy. She would check in with us throughout our trip to make sure things were seamless. I cannot recommend her enough, thanks to her we had a great trip.

Esther was more than helpful from start to finish with helping us plan our trip months in advance and also being very accommodating while we were in South Africa so that we make sure we are on the right track. The Shalati Train on the Bridge was by far the most amazing all inclusive everyone in our group has been to. From the views you had to the top of the line food and drinks provided. We also had a kind knowledgeable game driver and waiter that the Shalati pairs your group with while we were there. Would definitely stay again and recommend to anyone going to Kruger.

Had a fabulous and seamless trip. Lize did an amazing job down to the last detail. Starting in Cape Town with our guide and driver Oliver who was an expert on Cape Town and its surrounds. From our trips to wine country, the botanical gardens and the peninsula penguins, to our walks around the wharf, it was a great experience only to be surpassed by our 4 days in Camp George on twice daily safaris with Julius who was an amazing guide with a great sense of humor. We saw a pride of lions with a fresh water buffalo kill, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, a leopard and so much more. The camp was beautiful and the service even better. On to the beautiful Victoria Falls with our guide Bees. Then on a 4 day houseboat safari on the Chobe River with twice daily river game drives with Movins to see the animals from another perspective. Accommodations everywhere were better than expected (although the houseboat could use some updates) and the attention to detail was fabulous. All and all a great vacation that more than met our expectations and one that I would highly recommend. KimKim and Lize did a fantastic job! Kudos to all.

Hotel Reviews

The Victoria & Alfred Hotel

Cape Town

Very nice hotel in a fabulous location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the wharf. Very walkable,safe and beautiful.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Simbavati - Camp George

The setting and accommodations were stunning and the staff was very friendly, welcoming and warm. They catered to our every need.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful site in the bush that we learned was where the Mandela release talks were held. Can’t get more authentic than that.

Location

The ride to the lodge (as to all the surrounding lodges) was a challenge but once there it was well worth every bump. Our driver referred to the ride as an African massage. That it was!

Staff

Amazing staff. Couldn’t be nicer or more capable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lived everything about Camp George! Super clean and beautiful.

Insika Lodge

Hotel was very nice but we had a bit of a mosquito problem in our bathroom. Pool was lovely with wild animals roaming just behind it.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful African decor.

Location

Very near the sunset cruise and close to Victoria Falls.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chobe Princess Small Luxury Houseboat

Kasane, Botswana

Loved the experience. Staff was great. The boat itself could use some updates.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the beautiful Chobe River with wildlife all around.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Winelands Tour (including lunch)

South Africa

Lovely day trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour (including lunch)

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Game Drive

South Africa

Amazing!!!

Quality of Experience

Everything!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julius was a great tracker with 30 years of experience and a great sense of humor.

Transport

Can’t say enough about Julius. He’s a 10!

Klaserie Game Drive

Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset cruise

Victoria Falls

Very nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of the falls & Lunch at Lookout Cafe

Victoria Falls

Falls were spectacular!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chobe House Boat Arrival

Chobe River - Namibia Side

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chobe Houseboat Daily Activities

Chobe River - Namibia Side

Great way to see the wildlife from a different perspective.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Movins and the entire staff was fabulous!

Transport

Our recent journey through South Africa was an experience we’ll cherish forever. The breathtaking landscapes, incredible wildlife, and rich cultural experiences made this trip truly unforgettable. While every moment was special, a few highlights, along with the exceptional support of our tour planner, Nadia, stood out.

The safari at Aquila Private Game Reserve was a highlight of our trip. Witnessing elephants, lions, and rhinos up close in their natural habitat was thrilling. The early morning safari, with the sun rising over the vast reserve, was particularly magical—something we’ll remember forever.

Another standout was our visit to Boulders Beach to see the penguins. Watching these charming creatures waddle along the beach and swim in the clear waters was both adorable and awe-inspiring. The drive along Chapman’s Peak to get there was equally stunning, offering dramatic coastal views that took our breath away.

Our hike up Lion's Head was the perfect way to soak in the beauty of Cape Town. The panoramic views from the summit were breathtaking, with sweeping vistas of the city, the Atlantic Ocean, and Table Mountain. The hike was challenging but incredibly rewarding.

Throughout our trip, Nadia, our tour planner, was an absolute lifesaver. She meticulously organized every detail, ensuring that our journey was seamless from start to finish. She was always available to answer our questions via text, book cars when needed, and even helped us in a pinch with a car. Her dedication and attention to detail made our trip stress-free and allowed us to fully enjoy every moment. Thanks to Nadia’s expert planning and the incredible experiences we had, this trip to South Africa was truly one for the books.

Hotel Review

The Winchester Hotel

Western Cape

Beautiful hotel right on the beach where we walked in the morning. The breakfast selection was great and staff super friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full day driver guide and transfer/day tour

South Africa

We fully enjoyed our day with Kegan, including wine, tea, chocolate, gin and beer tastings. The views were spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kegan was a very fun tour guide and I would be happy to be on any trip guided by him again.

Transport

Full day penguin safari - Cape Peninsula

South Africa

A highlight of the trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Esther was very helpful and very easy to liaise with. Great communication, before and during our travels.

Hotel Review

Radisson Red Rosebank

Johannesburg

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Soweto Cycling Tour

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Johannesburg Jazz Safari

Johannesburg

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport