For the second time, I made my way to Africa to do an Overland Camping Trip with Acacia. For I was absolutely blown away from my first trip (Acacia's Desert Tracker 25 Day Tour).
I definitely wanted to come back this year to continue exploring East Africa. I traveled with Elton & Dudu this time – I couldn't have asked for a better team for this trip.
Therefore, I would like to give a special feedback to Elton: He was always very friendly, caring, well organized and thoughtful. He even organized a big birthday cake at Zanzibar for one of the passengers (which was a huge surprise for him and definitely one of the highlights of the day). He always ran the "extra mile" – in terms of cooking special food or buying local food specialties for us to try, organizing extra activities for us to spice up our itinerary (e.g. a dinner in the village at Kande Beach/Malawi, organizing a group dinner for all of us in a restaurant in Zanzibar, bringing us to special places and shops, etc.). I highly appreciate his extra effort and time he invested to enhance our overall experience and I don't take this for granted.
He is an amazing tour guide and deserves my deep respect for his extraordinary passion and love for his job.
I am already thinking about which trip could be the next one for me. I am very sure that I want to come back either for the Garden Route or the Gorilla Encounter next year, because I really enjoyed travelling with Acacia both times.
Finally, I want to say a big THANK YOU again. - Charlotte
Charlotte went on the 21-day Victoria Falls to Serengeti (Camping) tour.
I have recently completed a 19 day tour Cape Town-Livingstone with tour leader Pete and driver Francis. I would just like to take a moment to commend the whole organisation and execution of the tour. I cannot speak highly enough of Pete/Francis and the work they did day after day with professionalism and cheerful attitudes. I have done other tours with different companies but from my experience with Pete and Francis Acacia are outright the best of the lot. - Mathew Jones
Mathew Jones went on the 19-day Cape Town to Victoria Falls (Camping) tour.
Dear Team,
After I successfully managed to work till the weekend, it is time to send you some kudos for my desert & delta southbound trip that I finished last sunday.
I must say that everything exceeded my expectations!
The route and itineary you guys composed is amazing. The campsites were diverse and clean, the truck and equipment (especially tents) in a good shape, and the activities offered well-selected. Everything was managed well by the "facilitator" Pillie Pillie (a great cook, too) and the safe and reliable driver Khumbo (special regards to both of them). The group size may have been 3-5 too many (23 for most of the part), but under the circumstances it all went super smooth and efficient.
I will and have already recommended Acacia to a few people and if I should do travels in Africa again, I will surely pick you (given I am not too old then;)
Thanks again and greetings from Berlin!
Martin - Martin
Martin went on the 12-day Okavango Delta & Etosha Express (Camping) tour.
My nephew and I just returned home to Norway yesterday from the Gorilla Encounter 14-day and the Maasai Mara Safari 3-day tours and had an absolute blast! The gorilla encounter trip, the Maasai Mara trip, hotel bookings and airport transfers all worked out SO well! Thank you Roxy, Acacia Reservations for organizing the trip for us. Wow!!
Our guide Chrispen and driver Ben were both so wonderful, and we had a great group traveling with us. - Gry Hatteland
Gry Hatteland went on the 14-day Game Parks & Gorillas (Camping) tour.
I just got back from a 21-day East African Explorer (EAE21) trip and I must say that out of the many tours I've done across the world this would have to be by far the best. It was so much fun!
The planning and carrying out of the itinerary was done perfectly. From this, I fell in love with Africa instantly, and without a doubt, I would come back and do another trip with Acacia.
I came to African feeling uncertain and unsure if I'd be safe. At all times I was cared for and looked after by the crew
- Crispen and Ben.
Their knowledge, professionalism and kindness will never be forgotten. I would highly recommend them both and Acacia. - Georgia
Georgia went on the 21-day Victoria Falls to Serengeti (Camping) tour.
I would just like to thank Acacia for my tour as it has been so well organised and comfortable. The driver Khumbu was outstanding and always had a smile on his face. Very easy to talk to about anything and has become a friend for life. Our tour guide Philile was superb. His cooking was out of the world and he did it for us everyday. He was so informative and knowledgeable about East Africa and I could always ask him questions about any subject. Very welcoming like Khumbu which was great as this was my first trip alone. The best trip ever. Would love to come back and do another tour with these guys.
Thank you Acacia, Khumbu and Philile for making this the best tour ever. - Jonathan D'Souza
Jonathan D'Souza went on the 21-day Victoria Falls to Serengeti (Camping) tour.
We are Patrick and Clara from Germany and travelled from Cape Town to Johannesburg on the 25 day Desert Tracker tour through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe and wanted to share our experience.
Our guide Pete and our driver Ben did an amazing job. They had a lot of knowledge about the local cultures and traditions, they helped us whenever needed, they always smiled and they created a great group atmosphere. But most of all... their cooking skills were outstanding! I was the only vegetarian on the trip, but they made sure that there was a vegetarian option available on every meal. Their passions shinned and we could tell that this job is not just a way of earning money, but a huge passion of theirs. We will definitely come back to Africa to explore more countries, as we had such a great time on our trip. We would love to have Ben and Pete as our tour guide and driver again as they were so amazing! - Patrick and Clara
Patrick and Clara went on the 25-day Cape Town to Victoria Falls & Kruger (Camping) tour.
Dear Acacia Team,
I am back from my Overland Camping Safari tour - Gorilla Encounter tour - GEN14 and wanted to share my feedback. The tour started in Nairobi, Kenya and ran through Uganda highlighting the Chimpanzees and Gorilla Trekking. The itinerary was very well planned and I enjoyed my experience with Acacia Africa, especially Pete and Ben our crew on tour. They did an outstanding job and were always very well organized and had an answer to every question with a smile and humbleness.
I would definitely recommend Acacia Africa, especially with the crew. It was an unforgettable experience and i am very grateful for that. - Rene
Rene went on the 14-day Game Parks & Gorillas (Camping) tour.
Dear Acacia Team,
I was with your team on the tour from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
Thank you so much for this wonderful trip!
It was a blast and I will always remember this time!!!
We started at the 10th of march from capetown towards Livingstone and then Johannesburg.
Our first part to Livingstone was organisied by your lovely guys Philile and Khumbu.
I have to say a BIG BIG THANK YOU to them because without them it wouldn’t have been that special. Both of them were really organized, professional, helpful, always friendly, gave us a lot of informations about every country, their history & people we visited but above all their passion for their job. I think without passion and fun at work you can’t do your job 100%, and these guys totally fulfilled it. Their sunny smile and hearty laugh made every day to a really really nice and wonderful day. You can be really lucky and proud to have them in your team.
The other BIG THANK YOU is for Justin and Gladman. They did the tour from Livingstone to Johannesburg.
Unfortunately the tour took just 6 days with them. We really enjoyed the cooking skills from Justin. He spoiled us with his food. And he told us a lot about history which was really interesting. Gladman is a really helpful, kind and friendly guy. We got stuck on our last day in Aluz at the service area. We waited around 4 hours until everything was fixed with the starter. BUT all of us didn’t have any problems to wait. A car can always cause problems. So we enjoyed the afternoon by playing cards. Justin and Gladman did everything to get it fixed on their own and reacted really professional and calm. They apologized so many times but it wasn’t their fault at all.
I really enjoyed the time with them. You can be really proud to have them in your team as well!
I will definitely recommend Acacia which I already did.
THANK YOU! - Mira Pezeron
Mira Pezeron went on the 25-day Cape Town to Victoria Falls & Kruger (Camping) tour.
My trip was spectacular and I’m so glad I did it.
Acacia Africa and its tour leaders and drivers were a bunch of legends and the whole month went very smoothly. I was lucky enough to see some incredible sights that I’d dreamt of seeing my entire life.
My highlight was definitely seeing the mountain gorillas in Uganda; we were lucky enough to get right up close and had a young male touch us and grab our hands and feet.
The locals in every town or city we visited were magnificent and I never once felt unsafe.
I’ll definitely be going back to the amazing continent.
- Callum Gordon
Callum Gordon went on the tour.
I wanted to say how wonderful our trip has been! Thanks so much to you and your team for a truly stunning holiday, far exceeded my expectations and really good value.
Please pass on my thanks to Gee who was a very good driver, excellent spotter, and a bird guide.
- Rosie - Acacia Tailor-made Trip
I heartily endorse everything Rosie has said below. It was an outstanding tour in every way - amazing sights and experiences, a great variety of accommodation for the most part of a far higher level than anticipated, and first-class planning throughout. And as for Gerhard, words almost fail me! He was a font of knowledge and a terrific guide and driver. Meanwhile, we will continue to bask in all those remarkable memories. Acacia has done us more than proud.
- Ruth - Acacia Tailor-made Trip
- Rosie and Ruth
I hoped on a Kenya and Tanzania Adventure (KTA13) tour and had the best time on this trip! Pete is an exceptional guide, good communication skills and keeps us informed all the time not only of the current day's schedule but also a few days ahead. He is very organised and even if anything behind the scenes didn't go according to plan we would not have even noticed. He thinks of the finer details on the day but also is always forward thinking of the next few days which is such a skill.
He has great people skills and is such a likable person.
His knowledge and passion for Africa is evident in his enthusiasm and attitude. He is also an amazing cook! He is a real gem and such an asset to your company.
Ben is a wonderful driver and has our safety as his top priority. Some of those roads are quite difficult to manoeuvre but he has this down to a skill. He is always willing to help us when needed, by fixing things that may need to be mended, giving advice, chatting and just hanging out. Not only is he a driver but also Pete's second hand man. They work together so well and both contribute to the successful running of the trip. He is an incredible cook as well!
Ben also has an incredible knowledge and passion for Africa and his job. He is another asset to your company.
I think a big chunk of the reason why I enjoyed this past month so much was due to these two. Nothing is too much for them and they served me so well, and always with a smile!! - Taryn
Taryn went on the 13-day Kenya & Tanzania Adventure (Camping) tour.
I’ve recently returned home from my 7 day Acacia Africa camping overland trip – the African Insight (Northbound) from JHB to Vic Falls (6-12th Sept).
As I stayed on in Southern Africa to visit friends at the conclusion of my tour, it has taken a while to contact Acacia Africa to let you know how FANTASTIC it was. Our tour leader, Remekani (Justin) Phiri and driver, Khumbu went the extra mile to make our African experience all the more enjoyable. From our first meeting to go over the tour schedule in JHB, we were completely at ease and laughing with Justin. On our driving days Justin joined us in the tour truck, Omaruru for card games and his own African trivia. At meal times Justin and Khumbu shared with us their African experiences and delicious recipes. I felt completely safe and excited to experience all of wild Africa with Acacia Africa because of the efforts and enthusiasm of Justin and Khumbu – who even helped me organise complex border-crossing transfers to fly home via Vic Falls airport (Zimbabwe) from Livingstone (Zambia). Everything we asked of our guides was, as us Australians like to say, “no worries”.
I cannot wait to book my next Acacia Africa tour to see the Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania; the beaches of Zanzibar; Hwange NP, Lake Kariba and Mana Pools suggested by Justin, who is from Zim; The Okavango Delta and Chobe NP in Botswana; and Etosha NP in Namibia.
Thank you so much for hosting travellers like myself to have the trip of a lifetime. I will miss Africa until the very moment I get to set foot on her soil again soon!
- Nicola from Australia
Nicola from Australia went on the 7-day Kruger to Victoria Falls (Camping) tour.
Thank you so much for everything you did to set this tour up. Acacia Africa was at the right price and comfort level, and very professional. Loved everything about it! I would encourage people to do the one-day rafting trip when in Vic Falls. I would also have preferred two nights of camping in the Delta. It was so special to be there! The driving days were sometimes long, so it might have been nice to get an earlier start and take longer breaks along the way but this might not be for everyone. - Susan Allen-Gill
Susan Allen-Gill went on the 7-day Okavango Wilderness Trail (Accommodated) tour.
Our tour was amazing. We had the opportunity to see an incredible amount of wildlife (Big 5, cheetah, wild dog, giraffe, zebra, and much more) in the Kruger. Our campsite outside the gates was also quite nice and equipped with all we needed.
Our stay in Swaziland was also great; we had the opportunity to hike to the top of a hill/mountain to view this beautiful country from above, and it was unique to set up camp so close to the animals.
St. Lucia also seemed lovely, although our stay there was very short. From talking with the river cruise operator, it seems it would be better to do the cruise later in the day when the river is less foggy/hazy.
Our guides, Moyena and Philile, were both amazing. They took exceptional care of everyone on the tour and were quite accommodating.
I certainly will recommend Acacia in the future. - Michael and Nicole
Michael and Nicole went on the 7-day Kruger, Eswatini & Durban (Accommodated) tour.
Our trip absolutely EXCEEDED our expectations! It truly was a trip of a lifetime! And MAN did we get amazing pictures!! We truly felt that your company did a great job at finding FABULOUS GUIDES. We particularly loved our guides at Kruger, Matobos (oh man, this guide was on another LEVEL!).....and of course LAWRENCE OUR 7 day partner in crime! He was like family to us throughout the trip. I personally loved the "home stay" feel of Nsele. I could have done that every night if that was an option! We appreciated you breaking up our long drives with little stops like the Marula shop and the bush walk with Lawrence.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness in planning such a great adventure. I would recommend you to anyone looking for an excellent safari trip!!
- Jamie and Tom
Jamie and Tom went on the 7-day Kruger & Matobo Rhino Encounter (Accommodated) tour.
I cannot say how amazing the tour actually was. It was perfect, the best experience of my life. I am so happy I chose Acacia!
The people we met on the tour are still our very close friends and we feel so lucky to have met them all.
Now I have to talk to you about the tour guides. We had Krispin and Harmony. These two men are the best team I have ever come across even months later I think of them and have the fondest memories. They were flawless. The food Krispy cooked to the knowledge he had of the areas and just the general warmth and happiness we all felt from him. he made every single person's trip complete. Harmony was our driver and I have never felt safer on tricky roads.
Please, please let them know again that the group they had in February still talk about them and reminisce about all the things we did together. We became one big family and I feel they both felt the same way about it.
I have not stopped promoting Acacia to my friends and family and if anyone I know would ever travel to Africa I would 100% recommend Acacia. Hopefully, they would be lucky enough to have Krispin and Harmony show them around the beautiful continent. But if that is the level of your tour guides then they are in good hands.
We also had the pleasure of getting to know Joe, a new lad that started with Krispin and Harmony, I really hope he is doing well, we got to spend a lot of time with him near the end of the trip and I have n doubt he will follow in Krispins footsteps and be brilliant.
If you do ever have contact with the tour guides and drivers please pass on the whole groups thanks again. Uganda and Kenya tour in February. (hopefully, they remember us all). - Lucia Neilson
Lucia Neilson went on the tour.
My name is Jane and I recently travelled with my partner Brandon on the Zanzibar, Victoria Falls & Kruger (22 Days) tour.
Our first leg of the tour from Zanzibar to Victoria Falls was with Crispen, Jo and Harmony and it is this leg that we would like to provide feedback for.
From the onset, we felt genuine kindness, professionalism and attention to detail from Crispen as the tour leader. Our group wasn’t easy to manage, with some younger people on board, and Crispen did exceptionally well to gain attention and ultimately respect from all members of the group. Crispen was particularly helpful for us as we had troubles at the boarders due to a Yellow Fever issue. He was calm and warm, and provided us with much appreciated support during a very stressful and difficult period. Without him, I think our experience would have been quite different. We felt in good hands in a foreign and at times unpredictable continent. By the end, the majority of our group had his quotes printed on our t-shirts, which is a good indication of the positive impact he had on us.
Although Jo was quite shy at the beginning of our tour, by the end of the leg, he was much more at ease and became a great friend to all of us. We had the most amazing food with Jo as the cook! He went out of his way to provide variety and quality that exceeded our expectations, especially at breakfast time. His passion and eagerness was obvious as he prepared meals with love and attention. His communication skills improved as he became more confident with the group however, further practice, with Crispen as a great mentor, will be beneficial for him and his career in the industry. We wish him well and hope that he is able to progress to becoming a tour leader soon.
Harmony, as we stated on our feedback form, made us feel the safest throughout our journey. After having visited Africa we concluded that perhaps the roads were the most dangerous of the trip but felt completely safe and at ease while in the truck with Harmony driving. Having sat at the front of the truck the entire time due to car sickness, we were amazed by his diligence and patience with manoeuvring the very difficult roads. We couldn’t thank him enough for his remarkable attitude and his attention to his work.
These three gentlemen made our trip the best trip we’ve ever had and I hope that they are acknowledged, and perhaps rewarded, for their exceptional customer service, as well as commitment and passion for their work.
I hope this feedback is useful and look forward to hearing from you. - Jane
Jane went on the 22-day Zanzibar, Victoria Falls & Kruger (Camping) tour.
The tour really was awesome, we had a great time with the group and Elton and Small G were great too! The route covered so many great places!
The places that we stayed were all great in their own way, Hazyview was a great campsite and a much higher standard than I expected, Milwane was just an incredible setting with great facilities and St Lucia was a nice change to have a solid roof over our head again.
In terms of the travel, I felt that the stops along the way meant that we were never driving for too long and were all timed really well - most stops were interesting too so were much more than a break from driving.
Overall I felt that there was plenty of time in each place, 2 full day of game drives in Kruger was great and Swaziland was certainly the highlight for us. Visiting the local village and the opportunity to horse ride/ hike were great and it was also the first really opportunity to chill out by the pool during the day which was great for some people.
Both myself and my partner have some of our pictures up on Instagram already which should be tagged. - Alisdair
Alisdair went on the 7-day Kruger, Eswatini & Durban (Camping) tour.
Firstly thank you for the experience, I had the most amazing experience, a trip I will never forget.
This was the first time I had traveled on a 'overland tour' and really enjoyed it, I feel that travelling any other way will now be boring. The facilities provided by Acacia made this easier, the tents where great quality and easy to put up and down (coming from a non-camper), I even had a tent on my own. The truck was great, super comfy, big windows great for scenery, music player and big enough for us 7 passengers and the table and kitchen equipment was in great condition.
The campsite's in all locations beat my expectations, some of my favorite included Hazyview (Kruger), Tsipishe, Bulawayo. The only campsite i found below the standard of the others was in Xai Xai, it was quite out of the way and the facilities where not as good.
The Acacia team from the beginning to the end was fantastic! The arrival transfer was really easy to find and even asked me if I wanted to stop at the supermarket, the receptionist at the pre-nights accommodation was helpful in organizing me a day tour for my first day in JNB.
I cannot write enough good things about Shingi and Jairos my driver and tour manager, absolutely incredible and they deserve so much recognition, they are the most hardworking men I have ever met. They where both friendly, funny, knowledgeable, supportive, helpful the entire trip, and Shingi is the best cook I have ever known. They even helped me change my transfer last minute and came to visit me before I left on my last day (even when they had a new group)
All of the optional activities where worth it, especially in Tofo the village visit and quads where fantastic! - Sam
Sam went on the 14-day Mozambique and Zimbabwe Explorer (Camping) tour.
