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Custom Feedback and Testimonials about our service and Africa, Morocco, Egypt Travel Advisorsl 4th, 2008
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Egypt, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor: South Africa
Sharon,
LOVED the Stanley Safari Lodge, but for the fact that we could not send emails. Had out doubts about the place on the way in, but very glad we stayed there. You are doing SUCH a great job for us!!
Our driver was waiting for us in Cape Town. The Protea Fire & Ice is quite modern. We like the Stanley Safari better!!!! Can't wait for the
city tour tomorrow.
Good night!
Feedback from Linda Barber, one of our Exotic destination travel advisors: South Africa, Botswana
Dear Linda,
Just a note of appreciation for the splendid job you did in setting up our anniversary trip to Africa. We had a ball!!!
The trip did not start out so well as SAA canceled the flight our of New York due to malfunction of the plane’s system that balances the fuel load among the several tanks. We should mention that while the mechanics were trying to solve the problem of the fuel transfer, which took 3 hours, we had to change seats as the smell of the passengers sitting next to us in the center section of the plane was unbearable. Anyway, SAA put us up for the night in a flea trap by JFK, which happened to have the worst food ever found in a zero-star hotel.
Next day everything went as scheduled except that when we got into Cape Town we were a day late and there was no one to meet us. When we called Thompson we were told to take a taxi since they did not have anyone who could pick us up. When we finally got to the hotel – nice, with a great buffet breakfast but quite a bit out of the way - we were told our reservation had been canceled since we were “no-show”. After explaining our predicament they found us room, and as planned, with a view of the sea.
Cape Town was fabulous, and we did manage to get in my Great White Shark Dive, but not through Thompson as by now we were not too happy with them. We were not able to get to Table Mountain due to weather, but we ate marvelously and drank copious amounts of good wine.
Vic Falls was interesting. Having seen Niagara and Iguazu Falls we enjoyed Victoria as well. The hotel was very nice but the Elephant Back Safari did not meet the criteria outlined in the itinerary. When we contacted the local Thompson Office, the manager came to the hotel to meet with us and after researching the problem concluded that the description in the itinerary belongs to a similar event that takes place in Zambia – big elephants, water, etc.. They were nice, concerned and apologetic but by then, there was nothing, really, they could do about it.
On to Botswana which turned out to be exactly as expected and more. The lodge is so unique. With the tents, the main building and its own water-hole, it looked right out of a movie. The game drives were fantastic and as you had predicted we saw plentiful animals and elephants by the hundreds. The highlight was the surprise anniversary party you so kindly arranged for Isa on our last night at the lodge, where the whole staff sang and danced around our table, set out in the open near a bonfire with a complimentary bottle of wine, and presented her with a cake they baked and decorated specially for the occasion. She was in heaven.
Enter Kapama; and another world. What a beautiful place. Thompson ( you?) upgraded our room to a gorgeous suite from where we had an uninterrupted view of game most of the time, even from our twin showers of bathtub. Here too, we found a complimentary bottle of bubbly. The food is above average and the service extraordinary. Our waiter named Michael, appointed himself our only, and babied us the whole time.
The reserve does not have a lot of animals but since it is private, the vehicles can go off-road and follow the few there are wherever they go. So here we saw the 2 things that will forever stay vividly in our minds. The first was a lion kill and subsequent devouring of a warthog right in front of our eyes. We could not only see it rip the pig apart but also hear the flesh tearing and the bones crushing. A bit gory but we could not take our eyes off it. Most impressive.
The next day our vehicle was charged by a BIG female elephant with a calf in tow, which apparently felt her baby threaten when our Ranger, in an effort to get us as close to the action as possible parked a bit too close to where they were feeding. Big Mama stopped 3 feet short of the Land Cruiser, ears flapping back and forth, stuck her trunk out at me about 6 inches from my chest, and spent what felt like an eternity smelling me. Isa kept telling me to take pictures, but frankly, I could not move. Picture a locomotive with an industrial size vacuum cleaner coming your way. Now she calls me Chicken of the Jungle.
And finally Joburg. The hotel’s location is ideal. We found all the things we wanted to buy and grabbed a couple of great meals around Mandela’s Square,
The flights home were uneventful but the first at sixteen and a half hours long was just too, too long. By the way, SAA is not even a shadow of its former self. They have the laziest crews in the skies. Please remind me never to fly them again if there is a choice.
Overall it was a great trip and we are grateful for all the attention to detail you put into the planning and scheduling of it. Having been to 87 countries over 40 years of traveling I speak with a bit of authority when I say that this one was one of the best ever put together. You have us for life and we are looking forward to the next.
Sincerely, Isa and Gene
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Egypt, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor: South Africa
Sharon,
We just arrived at the Cape Cadogan. Touring Capetown today. Thanks for your lovely gift that we received on Rovos. The train trip has been the highlight so far. Jo'burg was fascinating and the three guides were excellent. Two were outstanding. Soweto was an experience as you can imagine. Anyway, so far every thing has been better than advertised. The staff, ownership, facilities and food at Clico were superb. After all is said and done its the people that make the vacation and everyone has gone out of their way to make us feel at home and meet our every need.
Thanks and cheers,
Mark (and Roberta)
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Egypt, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor: South Africa
Dear Bob.
My 87 year old mother, good friend and myself have just returned from two weeks of South African safari adventures, unquestionably the most incredible experience of our lives. I want to share my great delight in working with Sharon Walters who was responsible for all of our planning.
This was my first trip to Africa and my mother put all of the planning in my hands, which, in essence, I turned over to Sharon. We presented her with some significant challenges: Mom is on a walker and required accessibility throughout the visit. At the same time, we desired the most remote, private and “non-tourist” accommodations and experience possible. We wanted to insure that travel within the country and transporting of luggage would all be handled for us. We hoped for reasonably priced, first class accommodations without them being ostentatious….and finally, we changed our minds a number of times. Everything about our trip was magical: the sequence of lodges, the responsiveness of Thompsons, the ground operator, the first class service at the lodges and the safari experiences themselves. She did an amazing job!
I also want to compliment her on her customer service. She has the ability to instill confidence, read people well and form an instant connection. At one point, after considerable planning on her part, mom encountered a health challenge that resulted in our cancelling the trip…and it didn’t seem likely that we would re-schedule. Despite the reality of significant time in planning and loss of commissions, her concern was entirely with mom. She simply expressed her great pleasure in having had the opportunity to work together and wished us the best. Very professional!
With mom at 87, I’m not sure if we will have opportunities to do something like this again, but if we do, Sharon will be the first person we call.
Sincerely, Juli
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Egypt, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor: South Africa,
Dear Sharon,
OK Where to begin. Everything is even better than our wildest imaginations could dream. Flight over was long, but an absolute blast. Business class has spoiled us for life, is definitely a total must for mom. By the time we arrived in Amsterdm…which is a cool airport, mom had hugs and well wishes from the whole crew and a fabulous send off to the next leg, which was the same. She had no problem in flight with absolutely no leg pain. In fact, hasn’t had any since she arrived. Forget the expensive docs….lets just go for travel therapy! Arrived in Joburg to a short but good nights sleep (except you know who, who basically hasn’t slept since we left. We might try a megadose sleeping pills tonight).
Next morning flew out of a totally quaint FBO (need to design them here) in a King Air 200 for an hours flights with three touch downs at different lodges to drop off others and then on to ours which was last. At the second drop off, teresse started her Oh my god routine and flew out of the plane to a surprise greeting with your next door neighbors Rob, Hadley and wife!!!! Unbelievable. They were on safari and just happened to be taking our plane back to joburg. So Teresee caught up with them during the last leg of the charter and then off we went to the lodge. Greeted with cool towels and ice tea and shown to our rooms overlooking the river in the most remote part of the lodge. Had no time to unpack, in fact haven’t yet. Had a quick and delicious lunch, then off to our evening game drive. Chip, all I can say is thank god for the video cam and binocs!!! Talk abut amazing. Almost got charged (at least it seemed that way) by a teenage feisty bull elephant who waved it’s ears, stomped its feet and trumpeted at us from about 20 feet away! Problably jiggeled the camera pretty good for that one as it scared the shit out of me! Mom of course was cool calm and collected about the whole thing. Went on to see more elephants with a two month old baby, lions sleeping, water buffalo, a yawing hippo and then topped it off in the dark with an incredible leopard…which the folks that just left had been looking for all week! Then back to the lodge for an amazing dinner by fireside, then to bed to listen to the wonderful sounds and look at amazing sky form our beds. Got about 5 ½ hours sleep and then up at 4:45 to catch the morning game drive. If last night was good, this even blew that away. Rino, impala, wilderbeast, elephants…and then four leopard sightings, one with a baby and one that had just made a kill. Was walking through the bush with an impala in its teeth. Terese and I even peed in the bush with three giraffe gazing down at us. That’s a first!
Only us and one other couple from Germany are sharing our jeep so far. (think another older couple just came). We have same guide and tracker all week and they are a neat couple. Poor gal though. she is deathly afraid of spiders and as we were driving we went right through a spider web with giant garden spider that she almost swallowed. The guide then slapped it away and it basically dropped at moms feet. Mom didn’t know that it wound up there so she thought it was just a hoot. There are incredible spiders here. I wish you could see mom. She is so totally into this, you can’t stop her. She’s got more game than half the other young folks we met!
Teresee and I then did our own private bush walk with the guide and lo and behold……saw me a vine snake up in a tree trying to eat birds eggs! Was begging for a snake fix. Actually saw a cobra on the way in too, but it disappeared too quickly for me to get good satisfaction.. It was so cool to be wandering out there in the bush. We could have done that all day but we had to come back for the third meal of the day….and it’s only about 2:00. While having breakfast we watched water buffalo, elephants and hippos from our deck!!!
Now resting up a bit for the evening game drive. Chip I pray I didn’t wipe out the footage today. I put a previous disk in to look at if I got the leopards and it started to format. I took it right out, but I so hope the footage is still there. It was amazing. If I did lose it though, not to worry, Teresee has gotten some fabulous shots.
We love and miss you all…..but we may never come back. J Jules
Feedback from Linda Barber, one of our Exotic destination travel advisors: South Africa,
Dear All,
Sorry, have been without internet....have just come out of the bush and flown into Johannesburg at hotel with internet.....
We have seen many wondrous things over the past week....lion and lioness mating (Greg has it on high def video!!!), a female leopard with her impala "kill" as she was dragging it up in to a tree, started eating it and then decided to move it around in the tree, dropping it in the process...she quickly jumped down to retrieve it before a hyena could show up and steal it from her, then she leaped back up into the tree with the impala in her jaws, settled down comfortably and continued with her evening feast ! What a site it was!! Greg had spotted the dead impala hidden by a mystery animal in the tree earlier in the day as we were driving by so our guide thought to come back later to see who was coming to dinner....it all worked out and we had a birds eye view
Rhino, Elephant, Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, lions, leopards (my fav!), warthogs, dingo babies...our guide knew where a den was so we drove over late in the afternoon and waited and waited for the cubs to come out....puppies are puppies no matter the species and where they are in the world....they entertained us until it got too dark and we had to leave them.....frolicking, licking and play biting, playing with sticks...it took every ounce of reason for us to stay in the He vehicle and not get out to play with them!! We are told there is a documentary by National Geographic called the Hyena Queen that was done on this den so these pups are the descendents of the original ones studied....we have been trying to buy a copy here but all is in the European PAL format...will have to order one when we get home....
The politics here are an interesting and complicated story....I bought a book about it and after I read it will let you know if it is a good read just in case you are interested in the history.
Today we are in Johannesburg at the beautiful Intercontinental Sun Airport, really! If you are ever in "joberg" as it is called, DO stay here. Very convenient to walk across to. Every convenience you need (including internet YEAH!!).
As usual, gotta run!!
Today, we are flying up to Zimbabwe (there is another story to tell you from a couple we met on the Rovos Rail, they are from Zimbabwe and had their farm stolen from them by the current (crazy) government....they were given 24 hours to get off the land....HUGE story which perhaps one day I will re-tell.) anyways we are off to Victoria Falls for 2 days and then begin our long journey home to see our kids and grandkiddies for Christmas.
All is well and we are still having a grand time.
Linda Barber
Testimonial about Lori Thorten, South Africa, Exotic Tours & Luxury Cruise Specialist: South Africa
Lori, I did want to write and tell you that we had a fabulous time!!! Everything went very smoothly. This was great - always on time and very efficient. The car was perfect and Larry Peck did all the driving (we had to tell him occasionaly to get in the left lane, and when he took a right he needed to stay left) with the maps we amassed in the hotels. By the way, the GPS did not materialize - no unit available in George Airport. I do not think we prepaid for one. We loved Sabi-Sabi. In Knysa we did go to Conga Caves and the Ostridge Farm. The other information I wanted you to know was about Botlierskop. It was wonderful!! Half the size of Sabi-Sabi but different. No predators. It was more of a preservation camp. Our tent was fabulous, hardwood floors, a real tent covering, outside shower, bath tub. Food was very good. Not as luxurious as Sabi-Sabi but well worth half the price. We did ride elephants and took a great horseback ride and real close to giraffs. Cape Town was a big city. Hotel was fine and good location. Very into conferences - lots of people.
The Shark dive was good - not too scary. I spent about 30 minutes in the cage and saw 3 great white sharks. Jim spent more time and saw one he could touch!!. The Blue Train was something I would not do again. OK for once. The food was fabulous as were the drinks and service. But I did not sleep a wink. Not used to sleeping on a train. Too much jerking and speeding. But it was a different experience (not worth the price in my opinion). Made JoBerg in plenty of time. Nice airport and got home in the am on Friday. Today is Sunday and I think I am back to our normal time zone. Thanks so much for your help and I would also say thanks to GoWay Travel as they were very responsive also. Sincerely, Diane Carter.
Feedback about our Morocco, Tahiti, Fiji Travel Advisor: Egypt, Nile River Cruise, Cairo
Hi TW,
We're back! And still going through the 4000 plus pictures we took. Eventually we will post an online album and I'll send you the link. Meanwhile, back to work. I highly recommend being away from everything for a month. It was great.
Thank you so much for the flowers (yes, they were really there!) in our room when we got to Cairo. There was a card with them signed by you and the travelwizards, hehe! And the camel ride was awesome-we have some great pics of that.
You did a fabulous job of selecting the properties. All exceeded our expectations. Lewa Downs was our favorite safari location. So we have some great pics-just like National Geographic! And we really loved Africa-now we understand why people go back every year and even move there. Egypt was fascinating-especially during Ramadan-but that's a "do once" trip for us. All the meet and greets showed up (a good thing in some of those places!) and our guides were great. The guide at Naibor was very good (we saw the MOST AMAZING things there.
So Leslie, thanks again for everything. Let me know if you want more feedback on any of these places or people-I would be happy to help.
Lorraine
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Egypt, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor: South Africa,
Dear Sharon,
South Africa was fantastic, everything was great. I really appreciate all you did in advising and
organizing my trip. The lodge, tours, guides were perfect. I will definitely use you in the future.
All the best,
Rick
Cairo, Egypt from one of our Exotic destination travel advisors: Egypt, Nile River Cruise, Cairo
Hi Mike,
We want to say "Thank You" for the wonderful job you did in planning our trip and itinerary in Egypt. Our trip was FANTASTIC!! I attached a few pix. I know Dave sent you the Pix at Pyramids.
All of our accommodations were wonderful! Four Seasons at the Nile Plaza in Cairo was beautiful. I must tell you though, that the shower on the Oberoi boat, was the talk of the cruise. Lots of laughs and Dave actually took a picture to show how small it was. We heard that there were a few larger cabins or Suite Cabins available but you can't upgrade (even for $$) once you're there. I'm not sure you knew about this, but good to know and give your travelers a choice because the cabins were quite small. We were fine because we don't travel with a lot of luggage, but those that did, were not happy!
We ran into very few Americans there, mostly British, Germans, Russians and Japanese.
I think we made only one adjustment during the entire visit, which is amazing considering the intricacies of our schedule. You truly did a great job! We saw as much of the "important Sights" that you can see in the amount of time had in Egypt.
We also want to compliment you on your choice of using Egyptian Express as our "day to day" interface. They were amazing! Not one time was anyone not there when they should be, or late or any problem at all. We totally enjoyed our "Tour Leader" Ayman Gaballa, (even though it was just Dave & I) as well as both of our Private Guides and all of our drivers. Even the Security Officers who were with us while touring
Sharm El Sheikh and on our drive to St. Catherine's Monastery were wonderful.
I don't know who chose our Guide for Cairo but he couldn't have been more perfect for us if we had hand picked him ourselves. We spent ten wonderful days with Morad Nassr (Dr.) and missed him
when we left Cairo for Sharm El Sheikh at the end of our visit. I can't say enough good about Morad Nassr and Ayman Gaballa as we spent the most time with them. We became friends!
The Sharm El Sheikh, Four Seasons property was a sight to behold! Words can not describe just how beautiful it is. Not to exclude anyone anyone, our Guide there, Akmed, was wonderful, as well.
I'm forwarding you an e-mail that I sent to the President of Egyptian Express to let them know what a great job they did, as an agent, hired by you, and Travel Wizard. Also, I think it's important for you to know that when you arrange a trip for someone like us, to travel to Egypt, you can be sure that they will be taken care of in an exceptional manner.
If you have any questions or want any additional information, please call me. We are an "extremely" positive reference for Trip to Egypt based
on our experience there.
Best Regards,
Mike & Dave
Cairo, Egypt feedback from Linda Barber, one of our Exotic destination travel advisors: Egypt, Nile River Cruise, Cairo
Quick note to let you know we arrived safely into Cairo late last night.
Today, walked around the Giza Plateau, soaking in the enormity of how special it is to be standing in the shadow of the Great Pyramids, even for the third time the effect is still one of incredible appreciation for what we are fortunate to experience.
Went in to see the solar boat, it was worth the 40 Egyptian pounds to see all the historical documentation of the excavations and see the original workings now encompassed by the museum building.
Hours in the Museum of Cairo, an entire floor almost totally dedicated to the marvels found in King Tut's Tomb...weaponry, sandals, foods,jewelery....a shower head, boomerangs, medical equipment.
Staying at the Four Seasons Nile, overlooking one of the most historic rivers in the world...it is very lush and green, papyrus plants, palm trees (short ones with beautiful fronds), flowers, sculpted shrubs, our huge balcony overlooks a very interesting view of an old abandoned mansion across the river- overgrown with greenery....looks totally intriguing to us...cheap riverfront property????
Feluccas, dinner cruise boats, zodiacs, could sit here all day watching the goings on...very fun!!
Learning lots....there is a Geological Museum here....did you know that dinosaurs once roamed here in Cairo and the bones are in the museum? Whales trapped in the inland when the land suddenly rose up, they eventually died when the sea dried up and there are over 600 petrified whale remains here in the desert? Interesting stuff!!
Early day again tomorrow to do site inspections on hotels here in Cairo.......operating on too little sleep so signing off for tonight!!
Be well!
Testimonial about our Europe, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor: Africa, Windstar Cruise
Hi Sara,
It was wonderful!
I will definitely be in touch when I next plan a big trip and will tell all my friends to give you a call if they are doing the same.
Best,
Caitlin
Caitlin McLaughlin
HIT Entertainment
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Egypt, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor: South Africa, Botswana
Dear Sharon,
I just wanted to let you know that the trip that you planned for us to South Africa and Botswana was incredible. This trip was far from easy to plan since I had such specific requests but every aspect of the trip was perfect. There were many suppliers of services but each one was there when scheduled and every detail was made known to each hotel and lodge. We were met at the door of the airplane even on the tarmac, rather than inside where other travelers were met. Our rooms were close to the reception area so that my Mom did not have to walk very far. The lodges and hotels were excellent and the safaris were outstanding. I have absolutely no complaints about anything. I must admit that before we left I had some qualms whether everything would gel but I was not disappointed. Sharon, you were so easy to work with, a true pleasure. You are knowledgeable and professional as well as kind and upbeat.. Thank you again for a lovely vacation. I will not hesitate to use your services again. Sincerely, Cathy Moncrief
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Egypt, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor: South Africa, Singita Ebony Lodge, Teremok Lodge
Dear Sharon,
We are back now and recovered from our long flight home from Africa.
We had an absolutely wonderfuk time and certainly enjoyed all of our hotels and Lodges, your recommendations for the Athol Place and Teremok Lodge were very good. Singita Ebony Lodge was among the highlights of our trip, and the service there was about the best we have ever had. I want to mention that the nights were quite cold, so we were glad to have been reminded to dress in layers, and certainly every morning at about 11am- we stripped down to our tshirts.
Thank you for putting together such a magical trip,
Mike and Linda
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Egypt, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor: Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles Islands
Dear Sharon,
What a trip. Other than the small glitch concerning our arrival date in Nairobi (within five minutes, Pollman made that a no brainer) all went exactly as planned. Trafalgar/Brendan was excellent in Egypt. Our guide had a degree in Egyptology, spoke impeccable English and on top of all that was personable. The hotels were outstanding - absolutely first class - you just can't complain about Hilton and Marriott International hotels.
Did everything we wanted and saw all the sites. Egypt was just great and have to commend Brendan.
Brendan/Pollman/Ranger Safari did an equal job in Kenya and Tanzania. Everything went flawlessly. For example, to go from Nairobi, Kenya to our safari point in Tanzania took three vehicle/location transfers and were all done seamlessly. Drivers were on time, luggage transferred, etc, etc., without any inconvenience to us. They all did an amazing job. The safaris were everything we expected. The hotels were all 4/5 star which boggled our minds considering most of them were out in the middle of nowhere. I have to retract my earlier email/comment about Brendan and Africa. They did a great job. Their sub-contractors are outstanding.
The Seychelles were breathtaking. Go-Way and their sub Creole Tours were right on top of everything. They looked after us as if we were children throughout our entire visit. Did get more sunburn than we would have liked but it didn't ruin any of our good times.
The best part is we now have a great number of favorite beers and there are a lot of bartenders out there that now know how to make a Manhattan!
Just can't say enough about the entire trip. The only downside, and it doesn't involve you, was the 45 hour trip home. But even that doesn't override the wonderful memories.
Thanks for putting up with us and we look forward to future trips. Al already has us going to some waterfall in the middle of nowhere, South America, so standby!
We filled out all the surveys we were requessted to in both Egypt and Africa.
Best regards
Fred and Anne and Al and Ursula
Testimonial about Linda Barber, Morocco, Caribbean, Exotic Travel Advisor: Egypt, Nile River Cruise, Cairo
Linda;
The entire trip was fantastic and we have many great stories and 1,000's of photos. We wouldn't even discourage people from visiting the country in August -- I am NOT a hot weather type of person, but the temp in the morning/evenings, even in August, is not bad, and there really isn't much humidity (tiny bit in Cairo). They plan around the heat very well and, if you're prepared, it's not as big a factor as I expected (of course, you do have to prepare, but it's not a big deal). If I was able to take it without much hardship, anyone should be able to. When we went to Abu Simbel, we prepared for sweltering heat. But, our flight arrived in the early morning darkness, we watched the sunrise at the temple and by the time we were finished with the entire tour and gone, it had barely reached 80 degrees. Very nicely planned.
We were also pleased with the details -- the Intercontinental was very nice (this was the one with the negative web comments, but we thought it was nice -- it's not the Four Seasons, but it provided good value; the only downside to it was that it was not very close to Cairo, but we knew that going in). They even gave us a free anniversary cake on Aug. 2! (which I think they thought was our anniv. date; it's actually the 15th). The Cairo portion of the trip turned out to be a "private tour," since it was only Michelle and I, which was a very nice luxury. The cruise ship was a nice upgrade -- many fellow travelers commented as to how they went to great lengths to get that ship (they were surprised we just ended up on it). Our stateroom was very nice and on a nice, high level of the ship with a great view (and a single large bed). We were bumped to Business Class for our flight to Luxor, which was very nice (could get used to that). Our guides at each stop were also great -- and always on time -- and made the entire logistics of the trip quite easy. Overall, the trip was great.
Paul M.
Feedback from our Morocco, Caribbean and Cruise Travel Advisor: Egypt, Nile River Cruise, Cairo
Hi Carol,
It’s good to be back even though it was a wonderful vacation. Our experience in Egypt has been great. It’s hard to complain about the Four Seasons. Too bad the one in Luxor doesn’t open until later! The services have been wonderful. Our guide in Cairo and on the Nile cruise were great. The others were fair. We really don’t have any complaints. Thank you so much for your help.
Emma
Africa, Tahiti, Costa Rica, Belize, Fiji Specialist: Zimbabwe, Cape Town
Dear TW,
I want to thank you and your company for always taking good care of my clients that I have sent to you. As you know I don't know Africa well and always feel confident that I can rely on your expertise and knowledge to help me. I also appreciate the confidence I feel knowing that my clients will have that vacation of a life time to remember always! Your quality of service is just about the best that I've experienced from a tour operator - thanks again!!!
Hi Leslie,
Thanks -we did have an amazing time! Yes-we are exhausted,but now we know what to expect in the future.
The wildlife is almost surreal-words can't describe how beautiful Africa is and how seeing animals in the wild is so incredible.
Thanks for your planning of our trip-it was a dream come true for me.
Liz
Hi Leslie,
Rick here. I'd just like to echo what Liz said about our trip. The company responsible for meeting us and taking us to different places from our first greeting at the Cape Town airport to our departure in Zimbabwe was perfect. We never felt like an after thought. Thanks again for putting this together for us. I'll remember this for the rest of my life.
Sincerely,
South Africa Trip Report – March 25th Travelwizard.com site inspector: Cape Town
Upon arrival into Cape Town, we were met by our Thompson’s Tour guide, Mohammed Ali (yes, that’s his real name). After our long journey to South Africa, his assistance with our luggage, and the drive to our hotel, the Twelve Apostles Hotel, was most welcome. We checked into our luxurious comfortable rooms and fell into a nice slumber. The Twelve Apostles Hotel lies just outside of Cape Town, right on the coast and directly underneath the Towering Twelve Apostles, an internationally known, stunning, geographical landmark. The rooms and the grounds of this hotel are beautiful and very comfortable. After a delicious dinner, we were able to retire for drinks to the seaside veranda for a stunning South African sunset.
The next day, after a seaside breakfast, we set off for a tour of Cape Town. Our guide, Mohammed, was a fountain of great information and interesting anecdotes. Our first stop (while we waited for the weather to clear from Table Mountain) was The Castle of Good Hope, the oldest building/fortress in South Africa. On our way to The Castle of Good Hope, we stopped along Camp’s Bay, where we were rewarded with stunning views of the Twelve Apostles. Upon arrival at The Castle of Good Hope, we watched the Changing of the Guard, complete with a humorous little cannon with a big bang! We received word that the weather had cleared on Table Mountain, so off we set for the Gondola that would take us to the top of Table Mountain. We couldn’t have ordered more perfect weather. The views from Table Mountain in every direction were simply stunning! – A “must see” destination (weather permitting) for every visitor to Cape Town. After Table Mountain, we set off for a site inspection of the historic Mount Nelson Hotel - A 5-star luxury accommodation with beautiful grounds and gardens. The Mount Nelson Hotel’s pink stucco façade brings the Beverly Hills Hotel to mind. After touring the Mount Nelson, we made our way to The Vineyard Hotel for a site inspection. The Vineyard Hotel was off the beaten path a bit, and has stunning mountain vistas, as well as beautiful gardens and grounds, and great dining. Food is very important at The Vineyard Hotel, and will not disappoint culinary fans! On our way back to the Twelve Apostles, we drove through the historic, colorful Malay Quarter, where we stopped at a shop called “Monkey Business” which sells crafts made by the residents of the “townships.” Dinner was at The Twelve Apostles Hotel, where we were joined by our gracious host, general manager, Jeremy Flowerday.
The following day we set off for a full day of exploring the Cape Peninsula. We drove through the seaside villages of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno, through Hout Bay, and the stunning Chapman’s Peak Ocean drive, one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world. We visited the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, visited the Cape of Good Hope (the southernmost point on the African continent), as well as the lighthouse there. We also explored the Penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach, near Simon’s Town, where the South African Navy is based. When we returned to Cape Town, we checked into the elegant Cape Grace hotel, located on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The following morning we did a site inspection of our hotel, the Cape Grace, which was followed by site inspections of the Portswood Hotel, The Commodore Hotel, and last but not least, The Table Bay Hotel, where we had a beautiful, delicious lunch. The afternoon was ours to explore the shopping along the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, followed by dinner that evening at The Africa Café, which was probably my favorite meal of the whole trip! The Africa Café serves up authentic African cuisine, served by beautiful African women wearing African dress. The food was very yummy!!!
Early the next morning, we departed Cape Town and drove to the lovely coastal town of Hermanus. Hermanus is a town famous for it’s whale watching. Apparently the whales come very close to shore there during their migration. We stopped there for coffee, and walked around their African flea market before we headed on to Grootbos Nature Reserve, where we spent the following day exploring their diverse ecosystem, and then went on a botanical/wildlife safari. Grootbos Nature Reserve is the home of Green Futures Horticultural and Life Skills College, and a delightful young man named Sabelo, who is from the school, was our guide.
After departing Grootbos Nature Reserve, we headed for The Cape Winelands Region, specifically the town of Franschoek. Our first stop was Grande Provence, where we did a site inspection, and then tasted several of their delicious wines, followed by lunch there. Next up, was a site inspection at Le Quartier Francais, and more yummy appetizers and wine. We finished up our day by checking into the stunning property, La Residence. La Residence is unlike any property that I have seen, or stayed at, before. The service was impeccable, yet friendly and low key at the same time. Many famous superstars stay at this property, which is only open to the guests staying there. I really enjoyed my stay there - not just because it was one of the most beautiful, tasteful, luxury properties I’ve seen or stayed in, but also because the staff was warm, gracious and friendly, while providing the utmost of professional service. We did a site inspection of each of La Residence’s individually decorated suites.
After departing Franschoek, we drove to the wine country/college town of Stellenbosch, stopping along the way to do site inspections of Lanzerac, The River Manor and the Spier Hotel. We then checked in to D’Ouwe Werf, and did a site inspection. This hotel recently changed ownership and will be undergoing renovation in the near future. We had lunch in their garden court and then in the afternoon, we were free to peruse the local shops, or grab a bicycle and take a ride out amongst the vineyards of Stellenbosch. We also stopped at the Cheetah Breeding project/Birds of Prey sanctuary where we could get up front and personal with the Cheetahs, as well as pet them. Dinner that evening was under the stars, and tents, at the Moyo Restaurant where we were treated to an African buffet feast, African music, Tribal dances and face painting. A very enjoyable evening and something that I would recommend to anyone going to the area!
The next morning, after an early breakfast, we departed for Bushman’s Kloof Wilderness Reserve, stopping on the way in the wine country town of Paarl for a site inspection at the beautiful Relais and Chateaux property, Grande Roche. After arriving at Bushman’s Kloof, we did a site inspection, had afternoon tea, and then went on an evening, sunset game drive. On our game drive, led by our amazing eagle-eyed guide, Londi, we saw zebra, springbok, hartebeest, eland, wild ostrich, etc., as well as a stunning African sunset. Dinner was a unique experience, as we were transported to a remote outpost in the wilderness where an African feast, including springbok and ostrich, was prepared for us, and served by candlelight in this beautiful remote outpost. After dinner, we gazed at the stars of the southern skies, where our lovely host used a laser pointer and pointed out the constellations, including the Southern Cross. The following day was spent exploring some of the 130 San Bushman rock art sites. Bushman’s Kloof is one of South Africa’s precious National Heritage Sites because of the ecological diversity and the rock art of the San Bushmen, one of the oldest known civilizations who lived in this region during the stone age. The afternoon left us free to take a swim, hike, (or in my case) have a massage in their spa. Dinner was planned under the stars in their beautifully appointed outdoor natural rock amphitheater, but nature had other plans, as a thunderstorm moved in. Dinner was then moved to The Homestead, which is the main lodge. We had one last evening game drive, followed by “sundowners” (cocktails) served by Londi, as we watched one last beautiful African sunset over the lake. Bushman’s Kloof is also a lovely Chateaux and Relais property, and was a wonderful way to end our trip. The following day, we were transported back to Cape Town International airport where we started our journey back to the U.S.
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Egypt, Croatia, Exotic Vacations Travel Advisor:
Dear Sharon,
From Aswan.? We are having a great time.? Would have written sooner but virtually no internet availability owing to cut cables etc.?
Thank you for the kind note and your upgrade influence.? You did a great job on achieving a premier suite at the Old Cataract Hotels, the Agatha Christie, for us.? (It's bigger than our house!)
Everything is above expectation with only some small irritations.? Best news is that we have eaten??? too well and haven't had any discomfort except for growing waistelines? People are most gracious and the weather has been perfect (thank you for that as well.)? Save our itinerary as it can be recommended to the Felix's like me (as opposed to the Odd Couple Oscar's.)
Owe you a glas of wine or two.? All the best,! mg
Testimonial from our Morocco, Caribbean and Cruise Travel Advisor:
Hi Carol,
I am sorry it has taken so long to get back to you with the details as promised, but things have been quite hectic as I told you.
My father is doing well and the holidays are finally over. Happy New Year!
Our trip was fantastic---all three of us truly enjoyed it. In fact, tonight we are having a Moroccan evening for several of our friends. Brian and Micheline took a cooking class in Marrakech and they will be making a typical Moroccan meal----it should be great. We have terrific photos and we'll be showing everyone details of our trip.
The trip itself went off without problems. Everything was so smooth and organized from the time we landed in CasaBlanca to the final trip to the airport.
We couldn't have been happier with our guide, Said. In addition to speaking excellent English, he was pleasant, extremely knowledgeable, funny and we all became fast friends. In fact the day before we left we visited his family in Marrakech, which was quite a treat. He looked out for us all the time, even to the point of making sure we had an escort back and forth from our Riad in Fes to La Maison Bleue the night we went for dinner there (It was terrific). Our driver, another Said, was great---he was pleasant and drove so well that we always felt comfortable and safe no matter how difficult the driving conditions were. He also was so nice, and by the end of the trip we felt quite a connection to him.
Our accommodations were fine with the exception of the Riad Myra in Fes. When we first arrived there after a long day of driving etc, we felt quite a bit of pressure to take a hammam, and when we finally decided that we didn't want to, we were treated quite coldly. The food for both breakfast and dinner were not great, and the rooms were also disappointing. We are not extremely demanding people but nevertheless this Riad was the only letdown in the whole trip.
On the other hand we absolutely loved the Riad in Marrakech, Les Jardins de la Medina. The rooms and gardens were spectacular and the service and food were great. Micheline did take a hammam there and had a very nice experience. They even had a waiter come in at 4 am only for us in order to serve us breakfast before we left for the airport the last morning!
I won't go into day by day details of the trip with you but I would be happy to answer any specific questions that you might have.
We loved Morocco and I personally was surprised with the diversity of the landscapes and the people----I guess I was expecting mostly desert and all Arabs, and clearly this was not the case. Most of the people we met were friendly, and in the shops they were aggressive salesmen but not to the point of being really pushy. When you made it clear you were not interested, they backed off, which has not always been our experience in other countries.
I want to thank you for all the time and planning that went into the trip. We have traveled extensively over the years and you are the most pleasant and profession travel agent we have ever worked with. The organization that you work with is also first rate. I am sure we will contact you in the future when we start planning our next exotic destination. If you should ever need any recommendations you can contact me.
Thanks again,
Marty
Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Madagascar, Africa, Exotic Tours & Luxury Cruise Specialist
Once we got to Madagascar, the trip was wonderful! Getting there was hell and, as you know, we missed the connection in Paris due to de-icing the plane and other things in Montreal. So, we ended up taking a flight to Johannesburg from Paris at 11:30pm, as opposed to 10:30am to Tana. We therefore missed a whole day which would have been in Berenty and instead went to a beautiful little reserve (Nahampoana) outside of Fort Dauphin, as we had less than 24 hours there. (Berenty is a 3 hour drive from Fort Dauphin, so it just wasn't worth it.) We saw our first lemurs at Nahampoana and the accomodation was quite rustic but clean and fun. We had to knock off a few cockroaches when we first went into the room and the kids had to massacre a spider as big as a dinner plate. Plus, the temp. was about 36 degrees C.at 11pm, so getting to sleep was a bit tough, but we really enjoyed this part.
After Fort Dauphin we went to Amarina Resort in Nosy Be. It is absolutely fantastic, a 4-star, with all possible amenities and a beautiful beach. Getting there was part of the adventure, as we had to take a 25-min boat ride. You should definitely feel comfortable suggesting this resort to people.
From Nosy Be, we went to Perinet; driving from Tana it takes about 4 hours, but the scenery is magnificent through the mountains. Vakona Forest Lodge is beautiful - not as glitzy as Amarina, but very nice with good accomodations and quite good food. The 2 forest reserves we visited were great - lots of lemurs and creepy crawlies to gawk at and take pictures of, and great guides. Our guy, Luc, was especially knowledgeable and very nice. We did a 2-hour night walk there and it was pretty fantastic; got to see the rare mouse lemur and lots of chameleons.
Last stop was Morondava, and this is the only part that we'd say we could have passed on. The town is pretty grimy, the roads are the worst we've ever seen in our lives and the temperature was oppressive. The beach is rather dirty, nothing like Amarina. The reason we went to Morondava was to see Kirindy Forest, which although it was only 65 km away took us 3 and a half hours to get to (again, the roads were almost impassable, like nothing you could ever imagine). We went through Baobab Alley and got some tremendous pics, but the reserve itself was nothing special and was infested with horse flies which could really pack a whallop, taking half your leg off in one bite. At Kirindy we saw a few lemurs and some rather large snakes, but in terms of travel time it wasn't worth it (especially after the reserves at Perinet).
Overall, we were very lucky with the weather - a little rain, but not much. Big temperature variations between Tana, on a high plateau, and the coastal towns.
On a final note, when we first arrived at our hotel (Relais des Plateaux), about 10 minutes from the airport, we were tired and a little disappointed, wondering why we weren't stayed in Tana itself at the Palissandre Hotel, with a spa and nightlife. We kept returning to R des P, after our excursions to other parts of the island and every time we came back to it, it looked better and better and we appreciated not having to drive an hour into Tana and an hour back to the airport for each new leg of the journey.
Overall, a great trip, although tiring because we kept moving. The Malagasy people are delightful and our main guide, Harry of Za tours, was loved by all 4 of us. Just a great guy - so upbeat and knowledgeable.
Hope this gives you some insights and thank you for all your help in planning a real adventure holiday.
Private Name
Testimonial about an Africa Safari vacation Sharon Walters tailored:
Dear Sharon, we're back!!!
Africa was truly a trip of a life time. When you plan for something so long
there is always the fear that it cannot live up to your expectations, but
that was definitely not the case.
We started of in Cape Town, went to the Cape of Good Hope, saw Right Whales
mating, and hundreds of Jack Ass or Cape penguins. They were so cute and
marching just feet from us and swimming with the kids in the ocean. Lamar
was to go shark diving, but just after he got out there, 12 ft. swells came
up and they had to turn back. What took 45 mins to get to took 2hrs 45 min
to get back and everyone got sick. I usually regret not accompanying Lamar
on his adventures, but this time shopping and a hot rock massage were a
winning combination.
Next came a game lodge in the Sabi Sands area of Kruger. The lodge was
5star as was the food. We saw lions and cubs, zebra, Cape buffalo,
elephants with babies, all kinds of antelope, leopard, rhino & baby, giraffe
& baby & baboons & monkeys. We got within yards of the animals, so close
you could hear the leopard chewing the bones of the impala she had up in the
tree. The animals are used to the jeeps and as long as you do not get out
or stand up or make loud noises, they let you observe them doing their
thing. The people at the lodge were wonderful. We went out on safari at
6am and again at 4pm. At sunset, they do a thing called a sundowner, it's
happy hour complete with munchies.
Our next 2 game lodges were in Namibia. It is more desert than Kruger and
there were not as many animals, but we saw lots of antelope types,
ostriches,and desert elephants. We tracked the elephants and came upon them
at a cistern that was about 9 ft. high. The big guys had no trouble, but
the teenagers had to stand on their hind legs and reach their trunk over the
top. It was so cute, we watched for 1/2 hr or more. After the water they
blew dust all over themselves to ward off the insects and protect their skin
from the sun. We also visited Sosssvlei were they have the oldest sand
dunes in the world. They are red like GA clay. You climb to the top and
then you can just walk straight down the side because your feet sink in and
you can' t fall. They say it is like walking on the moon. It was great
fun.
The last 3 lodges were in Botswana. in the Okavango Delta. One of the camps
was a water camp and we did our safaris by boat. The first night we went
out in a makoro the traditional dug out canoe. It was so peaceful and the
sunset was amazing. The next day was a river safari on a bigger boat. We
saw hundreds of water birds of all sizes, crocs, & hippos. Just after the
speech about the hippos killing more people than any other animal we were in
a strait where hippos were popping up all over. One would come up, just
eyes and ears...and the next thing you would know, there would be 8 -10.
Well naturally our motor conked out and the guide has the cover off the
motor trying to fix it and the hippos are closing in!!! It was a bit scary,
but in the nick of time the motor started and we got out of there. We had
to change our route because the hippos would not let us pass. That was
about the only thing I was afraid of.....well except for the teenage
elephants strutting their stuff and chasing our jeep!!! The land part of
that safari included elephants, zebra, giraffe, the antelopes which are so
numerous you hardly notice them.
At another lodge in Botswana we saw a cheetah and her 2 cubs which was very
luck as they are often difficult to find. Also say a hyena and cubs as well
as jackal pups. Also saw a leopard and her daughter who was learning to
stalk and was using mom as bait. It was just amazing to see them doing what
they do and the fact that they allowed us to be a part of it. One lion we
came upon was so lazy that he just lifted his head when we arrived and
allowed us to get within a few yards of him. At one point he got up and
moved to the front of our jeep where he proceeded to lie down and not move.
When the guide started the jeep he lifted his head, looked at us and went
back to sleep. We had to back out cuz he wasn't moving!
Our last stop was Victoria Falls. They were magnificent. We viewed them on
foot and then by helicopter. They said the water was less than usual, but
that might have been a good thing as they say there is often so much spray
that you cannot really see the falls. We also did a sun cruise on the
Zambezi river where we saw a herd of elephants crossing. It was really
awesome to see and again, those sunsets.......one was more magnificent than
the next.
Well, as you may have guessed, I could go on and on, but I'll end it here.
Suffice it to say, we hope another African adventure will be in our future.
All the best, Sandy & Family
Feedback & Testimonial about Sharon Walters, Exotic Tours & Luxury Cruise Specialist
Hi Donna,
The trip was FANTASTIC!!! I enjoyed every bit of it. My brother enjoyed it just as much if not more.
We ate at the restaurants in the hotel which were really good. We even got a chance in Luxor to hang out with some of the locals who invited us into their home for tea and shesha. You did a great job planning the extra side trip to Abu Simbel, it was one of the highlights of our stay!
I'm already thinking about my next destination. Any suggestions? Thanks for everything once again, we're telling all our friends about your services and how you give the best travel advice. I look forward to working with you again real soon.
Ready to travel!
Testimonial about Joan Smith Exotic Tours & Luxury Cruise Specialist
Hey Joan...
It was absolutely amazing - South Africa is such a wonderful part of the world. Everything was so well organized; many, many thanks!
We had tremendously eventful viewing at Pondoro, and the people that own and operate it are spectacular - it felt like we were staying with a family! Capetown Hollow is a great place as well - right in the heart of the Capetown nightlife and across the street from the stunning "Government Way".
Thanks Again - I've already passed along your name to a friend who is considering a trip abroad!
John Leider, Chicago
Dear Sharon,
The trip was simply incredible!! It was the best one we've ever taken. Everything ran smoothly; the camps were great, the Micato guides were kind and helpful and all the flights were pretty timely. We didn't want to leave South Africa, and are looking forward to returning in the near future. We didn't get much of a chance to enjoy Victoria Falls since we arrived late afternoon and left the following morning, but the falls were amazing.
We will take a closer look at your proposal for Europe this weekend.
Thanks for organizing our African adventure. It's an experience we'll never forget!
Marcia
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