Hurry, boy, she’s waiting there for you ~ Toto: Africa
Your safari bookings team.
How we pick our safari lodges for you.
- authentic sense of wilderness with no urban intrusion
- passionate, knowledgeable game rangers
- a history of outstanding game viewing
- a good sized traversing area for private game viewing
- clean facilities
- visible lodge management
- ease of access into open game drive vehicle
- lodges with carefully planned infrastructure (discreet staff quarters, septic tanks away from rooms, flush toilets, regular hot water, security)
- well-maintained safari lodges ~ everything works
- attractive main lodge buildings, well decorated
- generous, quality, freshly prepared meals, with sufficient choices for all tastes
- comfortable chalets or tents
- a warm, personal welcome on arrival and caring, helpful lodge staff in general
- unexpected little add-ons that take service from “good enough” to “outstanding”
At your safari service.
Ute
Ute Sonnenberg is a consummate Africa travel specialist who has been planning and implementing successful safari tours, retreats and wildlife photography experiences for decades. She gets into the fine detail of planning and logistics immediately, presenting clients with detailed itineraries quickly and efficiently. Hailing from a background of psychology and economics, she is graced with a sympathetic and well-organised mind that focuses on her client’s safari wishes: to create a superb African safari. She has considerable first-hand knowledge of all the safari regions and loves to get behind a camera to capture special wildlife moments. For Ute, every safari is personal and unique. Ask her to help you plan; she is happy to share. Based in Johannesburg, she has a networking team in Europe, the USA and Australia.
John
John Grant is a Cape winelands specialist with a stellar reputation for bringing South Africa’s well-established wine estates to life through fascinating insights and highly enjoyable tours. He is highly sought after for his small group wine tours in South Africa’s lyrical wine growing area from Cape Town to Hermanus and beyond. As a child growing up in Zululand, Natal province, he experienced the Kruger Park as many South African families do: frequently and extensively, holidaying in the Park during school holidays. This is, after all, why the Kruger Park was established – as a people’s park and to conserve dwindling numbers of the so-called Big 5 – the five creatures most shot by trophy hunters. Seeing the synergy in his wine touring expertise with his African bushveld passion, John and his wife Sherri-Linn added a safari element to their enterprise, to great effect. Their focus is on wildlife experiences for discerning clients, offering quality safaris whether budgets are at mid-range or luxury levels. They have partnered with lodges where service delivery “goes the extra mile”, John’s own ethos, ensuring visitors keep returning for more.
Marianne
Marianne Birrell is an ex-teacher and journalist who wandered into a “right time, right place” moment which led to a year of working in a Sabi Sand Game Reserve lodge. This period was an awakening, which fostered a profound appreciation of the natural bounty of Africa and its fascinating creatures, of nature in perfect balance. “When I finally understood what was in my back yard, I just couldn’t hug it all to myself and keep it a secret.” She has lived in the Kruger area for almost a decade and started her safari service in 2001, visiting dozens of private reserves and safari lodges in the area, and beyond. “International travel, plus a 5-year corporate stint in Geneva helped me gauge the expectations of international travellers.” Marianne’s advice to first time safari visitors to Africa? “Leave the digital world behind for while; it’s not going away. For pure inspiration, breathe in the wildness and freedom, here. Smell it. Feel it. Touch it. This is a real-time, all-senses-in encounter, when you meet great beauty, perfect balance and unhindered abundance. It will make you want to dance and sing and laugh again. And you’ll find wonderful people here, too!”