South Africa Highlights & Safari Reviews

5 Rating 173 Reviews

About smarTours:

smarTours is a leading provider of direct-to-consumer, affordable travel experiences to exotic global destinations. The Company offers travelers curated, pre-packaged itineraries to over 50 destinations across the globe. By offering tours directly to consumers, the Company provides premium-quality experiences at value prices, and as a result, has cultivated a highly passionate and loyal community of repeat travelers. More than 200,000 travelers have taken a smarTours trip since the founding of the Company in 1996. smarTours is… the smarter way to see the world.

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Phone:

800-337-7773

Email:

info@smartours.com

Location:

500 7TH AVE, 8TH FL,
NEW YORK
New York
10018

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“Ron McGregor was the tour director for our group of 21 people. His comments and suggestion were most appropriate and informative. although he is not as an effective shopper as some of the ladies in our group. We saw everything that we could have wanted to see for the days available in SA. Gave drives in all 3 reserves were as advertised and we did see all of the big 5 with the exception that we did see several adult males none were the mature adults with the manes to match. all hotels were above average and the furnished buffet breakfast buffets were above average especially the Protea lodge breakfast. the coach and drivers were excellent for our trips and the park guides were very informative and seemed to enjoy finding the animals for our group. 1st day in Kruger we watched a leopard casually drink from a creek and the fade into the trees. This was our first experience with SmarTours but will definitely not be the last as we were totally impressed with what we received for the cost of the trip and their planning of the trip.”

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Posted 8 years ago

“Just back from a terrific tour of South Africa with Jeremy Poole as our guide. We travelled from June 21 - July 7, 2016. We were a group of 22; it was a delightful group to travel with. We had fine, clear weather everywhere we went. Perfect! Jeremy was wonderfully organized, informative, and clear about every detail. He is the best tour guide we've ever had and this was our 10th Smartours trip. We learned so much about South African history, culture, politics past and present, its many challenges, and came away encouraged for what they are striving to make of the 21st century. We enjoyed the Apartheid Museum, Mandela's house, and visiting Soweto. Ditto wine tasting, the strikingly beautiful cape peninsula and freshest fish of Cape Town. The safaris were really wonderful. We especially liked safari drives in Kruger and Hluhluwe and the little boat cruise and afternoon safari in Chobe in Botswana. We saw all of the Big 5 and soooooo much more! The safari guides know where and when to find the animals and are so very informative. I love it best when they would shut off the safari vehicle just so we could gaze at whatever animals we'd found and watch whatever behavior might display itself. We saw an elephant swimming! Also a giraffe having a drink. And lions and leopards. Also, a herd of cape buffalo rushing to a watering hole and shouldering each other aside for a drink of water. The hotels were terrific as were all of the people we met. We particularly loved the Sabi River Sun Resort and the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (extension). We really liked the locals we met in Victoria Falls and during our day trip to Botswana. We would highly recommend this tour and also the extension. Both exceeded expectations in every area. smarTours does not disappoint!”

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Posted 8 years ago

“We went on this tour late May / early June 2016 and had a great time. Ron McGregor was a great guide. The safari drives at Hluhluwe and Kruger National Park were spectacular. Even the weather was great. Would recommend this tour for anyone.”

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Posted 8 years ago

“Recommend this trip! The best trip ever! We had Jeremy Poole and he was the best. Also a great tour group ever!!! Recommend the Victoria Falls extension.”

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Posted 8 years ago

“Best tour we have ever taken! The tour guide was amazing, the hotels and food were excellent and the whole experience was far beyond our expectations. We will definitely travel with smarTours again.”

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Posted 8 years ago

“Although I have traveled internationally for work for many years, this was our first "tour" and I wasn't sure about giving up my independence. Now I am hooked. Everything was professionally planned, extremely interesting, and with a good balance of time and location. Wonderful guide, great meals, very nice hotels and staff, and truly hassle-free. We learned a lot, loved the others on the trip. No problems.”

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Posted 8 years ago

“This was my third trip with Smartours and as with the last two, I was NOT disappointed. This was definitely the most incredible tour I have ever taken. Our tour guides and hotel accommodations were excellent and we saw wild life beyond our expectations.”

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Posted 8 years ago

“This trip was phenomenal in many ways -- the guide Ron McGregor is a raconteur who will teach you so much about South African history, its varied people, geography and climate, politics, even botany, and although the group may be large at over 40 travellers, his fine organizational skills and humor appear to make the group feel smaller (ask to buy a copy of the book with his commentary). Animals were abundant and clearly visible at Hluhluwe National Park, and the park is actually much prettier than the famed Kruger. Be sure to take the nominally priced guided walk to visit (and pet) cheetahs and other cats at Emdoneni Lodge bordering on Hluhluwe. There are numerous choices to use your free time in Cape Town, including the Two Oceans Aquarium, inexpensive harbor tours, walking tours, dinner and live performances of black South African music, and craft shopping (I arranged them all myself). The optional tours to Pretoria and the Cape Town cultural heritage and township tours are worthwhile. Included buffet meals were delicious. The tour never felt rushed, and weather in May was delightful, and the price was unbeatable.”

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Posted 8 years ago