Home Tours South Africa Rainbow Route Reviews

Tour Code

Reviews

Eg: 15 day small group non-participation Classic Journey

Departs:

Johannesburg

Ends:

Cape Town

Accommodation

14 nights in 3+ star lodges & tented camps

15 Days Days From

€€4 850

Single supplement

€€1 030 pp

Tour Code

Reviews

Eg: 15 day small group non-participation Classic Journey

Departs:

Johannesburg

Ends:

Cape Town

Accommodation

14 nights in 3+ star lodges & tented camps

15 Days Days From

€€4 850

Single supplement

€€1 030 pp

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have any questions regarding your planned African Safari? The list below provides answers to many common questions we get asked with almost every tour.

Does Sunway provide drinking water?

Sunway Safaris does not supply bottled drinking water. There is however clean drinkable water throughout Southern Africa. Tap water in most places is good to drink, and you can always ask your guide for advice if unsure. Each safari truck has a 150ltr water tank, which can be used for drinking. For those who are concerned about the water it is possible to purchase bottled water at own expense.

From an environmental point of view, we ask each client to consider how many plastic bottles they throw away. We suggest you either bring a water bottle from home, or buy a 1.5 ltr bottle of water at the start of the tour. You can then refill that water bottle from the truck or from a tap. If every Sunway client bought one plastic bottle every day, we would use over 40,000 plastic bottles a year! So please help us by re-using your water bottle.

What food can I expect while on Safari?

Sunway will provide three scrumptious meals per day, unless specified in the itinerary [B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner], from lunch on the day of departure until breakfast on the last day of your tour. Good healthy meals make happy travelers. The tour leaders do all the shopping and meal planning for each group. They will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. Each tour has 1 cool box / freezer for the meats and fresh produce only, and 1 cool box for drinks. Please be aware that, due to the diverse tastes of our clients, we are unable to accommodate individual food preferences on our group tours. The group shared meals we provide are subject to available produce, and in our sometimes remote destinations, the variety of ingredients is sometimes limited. However, we do take allergies, vegetarian and vegan dietary requirements into consideration to ensure everyone has suitable meal options. Please bring this to our attention at time of booking.

A rough idea of what meals can be expected:

Breakfast – Cereals and milk or bread/toast, jam and fruit with coffee and tea or the occasional cooked breakfast.

Lunch – Cheese, cold meats, fish, fruit, pasta salads and bread or rolls.

Dinner – Potjies (stews), braais (barbecue), stir fries, curries etc prepared on a wood fire or gas stove.

On several nights we visit local restaurants, which because of individual tastes will be an own expense meal.

Do I need Malaria tablets?

Yes, Malaria prophylaxes are required on all of the safaris that we offer. Some trips, like the South Africa Scenic or Rainbow Route, are only in a Malaria area for 5 days, while others, such as the Zambia, Malawi & Mozambique Trade Route, travel through malaria areas for all 21 days. Your tour leader will advise you when you enter a malaria area, and when you exit a malaria area.

Do not be put off visiting Southern Africa because of malaria. Realistically most of Southern Africa is low risk area and if you use prophylaxis, use insect repellent and cover up at dusk with long shirt or trousers, the chances are very low that you would contract malaria. Of the thousands of clients that Sunway has carried since 1994 we know of only 1 case of a client contracting malaria, and only a handful of guides (and remember that the guides do not even use the tablets). Clients visiting Malawi and Mozambique should pay most attention to precautions as those two countries are warm and wetter, and therefore have higher incidence of malaria.

Please contact your local physician for latest information on malaria prophylaxis and what type of prophylaxis will be best suited for the area that you are visiting.

If you feel when you get home that you have flu like symptoms, headache, stiffness, nausea, fever, then it’s best to consult your doctor immediately. Remember that prophylaxis do mask the symptoms, so get checked out – and remember to tell your doctor that you’ve been to a malaria area. Malaria is easily treatable if detected early.

Are Mosquito nets provided?

If you are joining a camping trip, the Sunway tents have mosquito netting on the windows and door. Mosquitoes spend the heat of the day in shaded areas, so please remember to keep the mosquito net on the door closed during the day too, so that mosquitoes do not enter your tent. At night, you can sleep with the tent window flaps open, and the door rolled up, but remember to keep the mosquito net zipped closed. This will keep out the little biting things (like mosquitos) and the big biting things (like lion and hyena).

On the accommodated safaris, if we visit a malaria area, or a place with mosquitoes, then the accommodation will have nets provided. In areas where there are low numbers of mosquitoes and/or no malaria, mosquito nets will not be provided. These include places such as Knysna, Hermanus, Cape Town, Swakopmund, Windhoek etc.

Can I buy camera memory cards?

Memory cards and other photographic accessories will be available several times on tour. A camera with a zoom lens from wide angle to telephoto, 35-200mm, is advisable to capture both scenic and wildlife shots. Each vehicle is fitted with a 12/24V cigarette lighter – this should not be relied on for charging camera batteries and we recommend you bring a 2nd battery. Remember you can also charge your camera on those nights we use accommodation (SA 220V)

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag and a towel?

If you are joining a camping trip, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag (and small camp pillow) and a towel. Should you not have, or do not want to buy a sleeping bag, you can rent a sleeping bag and camp pillow from the Sunway office for Euro 1 per sleeping bag per day on tour. Please book this at the time of booking.

On most of the Accommodated Adventures & Classic Journeys, all bedding is provided, and you will not be required to bring a sleeping bag or pillow. At most accommodation establishments, towels will be provided, but it is always a good idea to bring a small travel towel for the beach or swimming pool. If you are traveling on a tour that visits the Okavango Delta please make sure to bring a small towel with you as there are no towels supplied. Please make sure to double check your detailed tour itinerary for more information.

How much luggage can I bring?

Due to space and weight limitations within each safari vehicle, luggage should be kept to a maximum of 12kgs per person (excluding camera equipment / day bag). The bag should be of a soft sided duffel bag / back pack design – no hard cases or hard sided bags will be accepted. While many people feel that they will need their full quota of 20kgs, people quickly realise that they have packed far too much.

Can I use my credit card while on safari?

Yes, Mastercard and Visa credit cards and debit cards are widely accepted throughout Southern Africa. American Express is not widely used in Southern Africa.

You’ll be able to use credit card to pay for most restaurant meals, and at most formal shops. Optional activities in Cape Town, Swakopmund, Maun, Livingstone and Victoria Falls can also be paid by credit card. More specific details available in the downloadable Sunway general information dossier.

How much spending / tipping will I need?

Sunway includes all activities in the safari, as detailed in the itinerary. You will therefore not be spending lots of money on additional excursions like game drives, national park fees, bush walks etc – those are included as per your itinerary. There are on some routes, opportunities to do additional own expense activities, such as helicopter flights, white water rafting or canoeing etc – please refer to the optional activities page for wages (right hand menu).

You will need some cash to purchase snacks, drinks, perhaps local curios, and some restaurant meals. For meal expenses you should count the number of lunches and dinners not included in the specific itinerary and then work on about US$15 to US$25 for a sit down restaurant dinner (including a glass of wine or a beer), about US$6 to US$12 for a light lunch or take away. (local currency will be required, but as an indication we’ve shown US$). In most restaurants you will be able to pay buy credit card – Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted, but Diners Club is not.

Bottled water is approximately US$1.50 per liter and a can of beer or coke is roughly US$2.00.

If you budget on +/-US$ 25 per day, you will have ample cash available for out of pocket expenses. Please bear in mind that this daily budget, does not include the expenses of optional activities such as white water rafting, shark cage diving or helicopter flights etc. The prices for these optional extras can be found on our downloadable detailed tour dossier.

Tipping is often a major issue for clients, especially when it comes to tipping the guides that we sometimes use for various activities (e.g. game walks, polers in the Okavango Delta etc). Clients sometimes find it difficult to get a realistic value of the local currency and what it is worth in the local economy. We suggest that a tip of 1-3€ per client per ½ day activity, or the local currency equivalent, is acceptable.

Your two Sunway tour leaders also work extremely hard to ensure that your safari runs smoothly and that all the clients on tour are happy. They are more often than not in bed last and up first, do most of the cooking and also give as much information to the clients about the areas that are visited and of course flora and fauna. We suggest that a tip of 2–5€ per client per day per tour leader is reasonable. A general procedure for tipping the guides, is for the group to collect the guides tips, and place in 2 separate envelopes for each of the tour leaders.

As in all cases with tipping, the final decision of the amount tipped is up to the individual. It is up to you to decide if you thought the service was poor, or exceptional, and the amount tipped should reflect that. The amounts quoted above are guidelines for you to get an idea of what to tip.

Will I be safe while on safari?

Southern Africa, like all 3rd world regions, has its problems, but your tour leader knows all of the areas intimately and will endeavour to show you all of the highlights while always taking your safety into account. Sunway plans the itineraries to visit interesting places, while not placing clients in harms way.

Like all practical advice about safety, be aware of your surroundings but not paranoid. As you would anywhere in the world, don’t leave valuables such as wallet and cameras unattended or in plain view. IE: don’t leave your camera on a restaurant table while you dash to the loo, or leave your wallet on the bed in your room while you’re not there. The temptation for cleaning staff may be too much.

Please also bear in mind that the people in many of the places you will visit are living in difficult and sometimes poor conditions. To them the possessions you have are signs of your relative wealth, and therefore please be sensitive to their position. Don’t create that temptation in their mind by “flaunting” your valuables.

When entering a wilderness area your tour leader will give you a full safely briefing. If you follow the simple rules while in wilderness areas you will have nothing to worry about when in close proximity to wild animals. On game drives keep quiet and don’t make any sudden movements. On game walks walk in a single file, keep quiet and listen to your guide’s instructions and you will enjoy and amazing wildlife experience. When staying in un-fenced campsites do not wander off alone, always make sure that you are aware of your surroundings.

Follow your guide’s instructions and you’ll have a great time.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, all clients travelling on a Sunway safari are required to have their own comprehensive travel insurance. The travel insurances needs to cover lost luggage, missed flights and most importantly comprehensive medical cover in the un-likely event of you being injured while on safari.

Please note that while most credit card companies offer travel insurance if you have bought your airline ticket on your credit card, we have found that cover is not sufficient for adventure travel in Africa. We strongly recommend you buy additional specific travel insurance. You need to buy this insurance in your home country, before you travel and your local Sunway travel agent can assist you with this.

Is there an age limit?

The minimum age for our guests is 12 years old, although we do occasionally make exceptions depending on the specific itinerary, the group make-up and sometimes during our low season. Please note that a child of 12-17 years will only be accepted for travel with an accompanying adult.

On some of our safaris we camp wild in remote areas and these campsites are not fenced, so it is possible for wild animals do enter the campsite. It is important that parents make sure that the children listen and follow the guide’s safety instructions. Parents are also required to supervise their children at all times so as not to affect the enjoyment of the tour for any other clients.

We, as Sunway, do not believe that age should be a determining factor on the enjoyment of life! Therefore we do not have an upper age limit.

But clients who are older than 65yrs are required to submit a medical self declarations letter or doctor’s report stating that they are fit and healthy and that they will be able to undertake a safari that includes a moderate level of physical activity, some long driving days and some moderate full day walks. This is not an onerus document, but rather an indication that the client is aware of the style of tour that they will be joining, and capable of participating in all activities on tour. We’ve found that we have many fit and healthy clients who are over 65 years of age, join Sunway trips, and put the younger clients to shame on the mountain walks!

Do Sunway Safaris offer a repeat traveller discount?

There is a 5% discount available to repeat clients, so if you have travelled with Sunway before and are considering another Sunway safari, remember to tell your original booking agent when you book again.

How-to-book-your-Sunway-safari

By booking with your local agent you’ll be advised by a knowledgeable consultant who knows the Sunway tours. You’ll be covered by the travel laws of your country, assisted in your home language, in your own time zone and your agent can assist with travel insurance and visas. You are welcome to contact Sunway and we’ll recommend an agent.

Sunway shows live availability online. Your agent can hold a provisional booking for up to 7 days with no-obligation.

To confirm your safari reservation your agent will require a 20% deposit and a completed booking form. And voilá, you’re off on an adventure!

Related safaris

Nickel (Germany)

I would like to share a few lines with you about our South Africa trip with Sunways. The tour was, just like my journey through Zambia and Malawi last year, absolutely wonderful! After just two days we had already seen the Big Five – including a leopard mother with her cub on foot during a bush walk – and in total 15 rhinos! At every stop along the way, an entirely new and breathtaking landscape opened up before us. Personally, I found the Drakensberg Mountains the most impressive. The long travel days simply flew by, giving plenty of time to dream.

But of course, what truly shapes a journey is the group and the guides. We were very lucky with our group. Despite all our differences, it worked out beautifully and we had fun together right from the start. Our two guides, Ishmael and Lucky, were sensational – a fantastic team who tirelessly looked after our well-being, entertainment, and shared their knowledge. It really couldn’t have been better.

Next, I would love to travel to Botswana and Zimbabwe. Ideally, I would do the whole trip under canvas, but if my friend joins me again, I suppose I’ll have to stay in hotels 🙂 Definitely with Sunways again!

Dueholm (Germany)

We really enjoyed the trip. Our guides were excellent. They were able to tell us a lot about the nature and the animals, and we got to know so many different parts of the country.

Foo (AUS)

The South Africa Encompassed 17days was a very good itinerary that allows you to see the best and most beautiful parts of the country. Sunway-safaris had done a very good job in organising the trip and the guilds Claude and Duncan did a fantastic job to make everything happened smoothly. They are responsible, efficient and organised; they know their job well and are just amazing! There are some very long drives but we had a good time because everyone in the group is so fun loving!

Ute (Germany)

It was another fantastic trip that left many unforgettable impressions. The guides’ knowledge of nature, the country and the people was outstanding. Not only with their great knowledge, but also with their joy and humor, they contributed to a positive group experience. Africa won’t let me go anytime soon, I’ll definitely be back soon!

Bob (USA)

Excellent trip. Life changing. Some challenges with accommodations and trip members but our guide were masterful in their patience , kindness, quick thinking and problem solving expert spotters and extremely well educated in their country. TK and Alfred are welcomed in my home here in the USA anytime ! If that doesn’t tell you how pleased Holly and I were.

Britt-Marie & Berti (Sweden)

First of all we like to thank you for a fantastic journey and experience, even if the days sometimes were very long. The experiences and the feelings of the journey, were totally deepening of, our fantastic guides “Chris” and “Sfiso”. They have a very nice manner and kind behavior to all the guests and manage everything from cooking to driving the truck, in an excellent way. They have also a fantastic knowledge about the nature and animals as well as history, culture and society in South Africa.

Again Thank You!

Ursula (Germany)

In July I came back from a very unusual trip, it was the rainbow route from Johannesburg to Cape Town. All expectations were exceeded. The safari tour in the red truck, affectionately called “red elephant”, the wonderful care provided by the two guides Zee and Lloyd, their good cooking skills and professional support were inspiring every day. The accommodations were well chosen, sometimes simple in the national parks, sometimes elegant in safari lodges – always with good sanitary facilities and very clean beds. What were the highlights – certainly the great wildlife viewing – we even saw wild dogs, baby hyenas and a cheetah. Due to the attentiveness and observational skills of the guides, especially Lloyd, we also saw the small animals, many birds, centipedes, beetles, etc.

I am particularly enthusiastic about the wonderful attitude towards life on this trip. We cut vegetables together, ate together, washed up, sat around the campfire and, above all, laughed a lot. It was a great community with our guides who taught us a lot about South Africa and Eswatini. The group got along so well that we are planning to continue our journey through Namibia and Botswana. I would book Sunway Safari again at any time, especially with the guide. His modest but extremely competent manner, his knowledge of the animals and his positivity made the trip an unforgettable experience.

On this trip I learned to love Africa – and Sunway Safaris!

Philippe (The Netherlands)

I am writing to express my complete satisfaction with the organisation of this tour. The services corresponded to the description given and the whole was interesting and well-balanced. I would particularly like to mention the great work of our guides Colly and Tsepo. Colly knows the different environments perfectly and shares his knowledge with the group. He is discreet, open, a good psychologist and communicates clearly with the group. He is also very attentive to the safety of the group. He did me a great favour by personally accompanying me to the airport in Cape Town on 31 October. Tsepo is an excellent driver and he drove us safely in all situations. He also shares his knowledge. His interpersonal skills and humour are to be commended. He is an entertainer capable of doing a TV show.

Both are friendly, complementary and lead the group very well with their own style. They are ambassadors of your beautiful country. They also fed us in a way that totally satisfied me. Their logistical organisation is flawless.

Congratulations and many thanks to Sunway Safaris and our guides Colly and Tsepo for this nice tour which will remain in my memories and in my heart.

Eleonora (Germany)

Dear Sunway-Team,
as a returning customer I would like to give an additional feedback/review on my trip in October. I think the feedback-form does not have enough space for what I would like to say about the trip. This was my 3rd trip with Sunways and – as I had expected – I was not disappointed! It was a very wonderful trip in your beautiful country I have come to love so much over the years.
Actually it only took more or less 5 minutes to be bitten by the “Africa bug” when I first came here in 2011 😉
Due to Covid I was not able to visit as I wanted to, so this trip was really something I looked forward to for a long time!

So, my feedback:
Lodges/Hotels: Rivonia Road Lodge: I had the impression that they have “vamped” up their rooms and their customer service. This time, check in and check out was fast, everybody was very friendly. The breakfast also seemed to have a bit more to choose from. It is a good hotel to start the trip from. Having the Rivonia Village across the street helps with the first shopping/preparation for the trip.

Makuwa: A very wonderful and special place, run by two great hosts! The food was absolutely delicious, as was the presentation of it! I forgot to ask, but it seemed like a 5-Star-Chef was taking care of us! The rooms were very clean, the beds were very comfy. It was great to hear the wildlife nearby and to end the evening by the fireplace was a great start to this trip!

Kruger/Lower Sabie: Our chalet was very clean and towels and bed linen were spotless. The furniture is a little old and used, but everything worked. The shop was well equipped, as was the restaurant/terrace. All the staff I met were very friendly and helpful. All in all it is a good accommodation. I really liked it. The night drive we took was great, we had a great driver and great sightings (Lions with cubs).

Hawane Lodge: A special lodge with special Chalets. I like this style very much. Everything was clean. I slept very well. Having a heater was great, as the evening in Eswatini was pretty cold and wet. The buffet for dinner and breakfast was very good and absolutely sufficient. We loved the desert! Suggestion: A bit more light would be nice. A little make over/regular maintenance before new guests arrive for the functioning of doors (Bathroom and entrance) could be useful 🙂

Zululand Lodge: You have established a real gem here! This is a beautiful lodge! Again, everything was clean and spotless. The tents were very comfortable and to have hot water in the shower in a second because of the geyser was very pleasant! The food was very very good! The deck is beautiful, a place to stay all night and watch the animals by the water hole. I really enjoyed the stay in the Zululand Lodge! Wish we could have stayed longer.

Lotheni: I am very much in love with the Drakensberg mountains and in awe of their beauty. The view from the chalets could not be better! Here, again, everything was clean and neat. The beds were very comfortable. The chalet we stayed in was not yet renovated, so it had a bathtub without a shower. As I did not know at first that there are chalets with showers, I did not complain. And honestly: I did not mind. The water was hot, the bath was clean, nothing to complain about.

Areena Resort: This is a beautiful Lodge! Well chosen! The rooms and bathrooms were spacious and clean, to have a balcony and kitchenette was an extra “plus”. It was also good and necessary to be able to do some washing with a proper washing machine and dryer. The choice of activities at Areena is great. I think that all group members found an activity they liked and enjoyed very much.

Addo National Park, Wooden Chalets: Nothing to complain about. Beds were comfy, everything was clean and spotless. I would not want to stay in the chalets with 4 people, but for two people there is enough space and the bathroom is big enough. By my personal choice I would like to stay two nights in Addo, in order to have more time for game drives and a night drive. Suggestions: one more night

Lagoona Inn: My feelings and opinion about the Lagoona Inn are a bit mixed. The location is beautiful and the view is great! The owners are very very friendly and the breakfast is absolutely great! The rooms are spacious and to have a balcony was great! Everything was clean and spotless, the beds were comfy. However, due to coastal winds, rain and air from the ocean, the towels, bed linen, just “everything” felt a bit moist and had a slight odor, in the bathroom cupboard there was a little bit of mould. The curtains and the carpet are from “another century”. Nevertheless it is a very nice hotel, run with lots of love and personal touch.

Chesham House: The owner was very welcoming and friendly, the breakfast was very good! The rooms were spacious and clean, the beds were very comfy. Towels and bed linen were spotless. To have a heater in the room was a plus, as unfortunately the weather was very bad in Hermanus. Chesham house is close to the center of the town, which is very convenient.

City Lodge VA Waterfront: when I heard that we would not be staying at the Sweetest Guesthouses anymore I was disappointed, as I am not a big fan of “normal” Hotels. But, the City Lodge pleasantly surprised me! The location is perfect! Being able to walk to the Waterfront is a very big plus! The breakfast buffet was great! The rooms were spacious and very clean. I was worried it would be too loud because of the central location of the hotel, but it was all good and I had a good night’s sleep. Comfy beds, clean room/bathroom. The staff at check in/check out was very friendly, as was the staff at the bar.

Group/fellow travellers: on all my trips with Sunway I have been very lucky to be travelling with easy-going, like-minded people. It was a good mix of ages. We all looked after each other and worked well together. We had a lot of fun and made friendships that will also last in our normal day lifes. I hope my luck continues on further trips!
Our guides:
It was my first time to travel with Meike and I can only say very positive things about her and thank her very much for making this trip such a wonderful experience. Besides being absolutely professional in her job, Meike has the ability to stay calm, positive and flexible in every situation. She is a very friendly and good hearted person, who you can easily connect with. She has a lot of knowledge about her chosen home, South Africa. We got a lot of information about your beautiful country from her. She took good care of us and had an open ear for every question, request and/or problem. She found solutions for the problems that occured due to weather (whale watching tour got cancelled) and had suggestions for alternative activities. Thank you so much Meike! It was a great pleasure to travel with you! Hope to see you again!

It was my second time traveling with Sfiso. As in 2016, he was absolutely professional in his job.It is obvious that he loves his job and his country. He´s calm, friendly, fun, a very good driver on sometimes very demanding roads. He was very much appreciated by the group! It is important to feel safe while traveling such long distances and he made all of us feel safe with his driving and his presence. Again I was impressed with how much knowledge he has about his country, flora, fauna, different cultures and is willing to share with the clients. He, of course, also had an open ear to our questions/requests. Knowing Sfiso for 6 years now, I knew we were in good hands, that is why I asked in advance if he could be one of the guides for this trip. Thank you very much Sfiso, I´d travel again with you anytime! Hope to see you again!

Both Meike and Sfiso took a lot of effort to provide great and healthy food for us! They were both very attentive to my dietary requirements due to Allergies and always found an alternative for me! Thank you Sfiso for finding non garlic bread! 🙂 We all loved the restaurant choices Meike and Sfiso made for us. My favorite restaurant was the La Pentola in Hermanus!

I can only thank everybody involved in this trip! Thank you very much for a wonderful trip, a great time in my beloved South Africa! It was very hard to leave and I cannot wait to come back! I hope to come back in October 2023, exploring Namibia with Sunway!
Very kind regards from Berlin,
Eleonora

Susanne (Austria)

That was my 2nd vacation with agent Weltweit Wandern and certainly not the last one! Above all, I appreciate that the entire trip is organized by agent Weltweit Wandern and that I do not have to deal with any additional arrangements or efforts on my part. Everything worked 100%. Price-performance ratio is exactly right! I am already looking forward to the next trip with agent Weltweit Wandern

How did you find the local transports (bus / taxi / jeep)? – very good

How did you like choosing the route of the trip? – very good

We strive for loving details on our trips. How did you like them? – very good

How did you like the accommodations? – very good

How did you find the food on the trip? – very good

How was the communication with the guide during the trip? – very good

How was the support team? – very good

The local team, our guides from Sunway Safari Phumi and Victor, contributed a lot to the success of the trip

What did I particularly like? – Highlights of the tour. Drakensberg and the walk to Table Mountain

Karin & Thomas (Austria)

Dear Sunway Team,

After a few days at home in Austria, we have reviewed our tour on the Rainbow Route. It was again wonderful days that we were able to experience thanks to them. Whether Kruger National Park, the Drakensberg, Swaziland, the Addo Elephant Park, just to name a few, have been very impressive and beautiful. It’s also thanks to a lot of their great guides, Wayne and Norman, who do a great job, always listen to their clients, are always friendly and, last but not least, make very good meals.

We have now been traveling with their company for the second time, but we can assure you it was certainly not the last time. We look forward to seeing you again and send Greetings from Vienna

Robert & Gabriela (Germany)

Unbelievable – our two guides Wayne and Moses showed such attention to detail and above all, sensitiveness. They really made our trip. They appreciated every single guest, treated everyone well, and no question remained unanswered. With love and passion they portrayed their country and its nature. These two wonderful gentlemen are a huge gain for Sunway Safaris. Thanks to them, our trip was such an unforgettable experience. We would happily join them again on another trip any time. Many Thanks!

Elsässer & Anti

It is very important for us to contact you in regards to the Rainbow route we have just finished. We had a really wonderful great time on your Tour. Everything was excellent from the accommodation to the programme, your vehicle and perfect guides. They both are totally qualified persons and worked very well together. It’s my 3 trip with your agency and I am still surprised and satisfied how good your product is and will recommend to all our friends. Sfiso is a great, Pavarotti´Opera singer which we enjoyed very much. His voice made our holiday very relaxing and Farai was always so interested by us, always helpful and friendly and he always made the most delicious dinner. Every meal was something new from different chicken menus homemade bread and great game meat always with fresh vegetables. When I got nervous or panic they both kept me calm and explain me in a clear manner the situation. We would like every time when we return to travel with you and especially with Sfiso + Farai.

Marke & Denise

On the 14 July 2018, my wife and I commenced tour SAa17 then CVa21 from Johannesburg. We were treated to a magnificent experience. The first tour had just four participants whilst the second had a full load of twelve. I am writing to express our admiration for our two guides , Pumi and Farai. Your company is blest to have two guides that not only made us enjoy our trip so much, but kept us safe, fully entertained, well fed, and on top of that their shared knowledge about the wildlife and local environment was extraordinary. No request was ever too much for them, and both guides went out of their way to enhance our safaris. During the course of the journey, Denise and I were treated to many in – depth discussions about the daily lives of the people, the difficulties they face, the cultural issues that exist in all the countries we visited. Their intelligence and empathy was a credit to them and we respected their thoughtful ideas that widened our views and made us curious to know more. The effort spent to make game drives successful was awesome. We spent many hours appreciating the habits of the animals and the vast knowledge the two guides imparted about animal behaviour expanded our knowledge and awareness of wildlife and the issues round their continued survival in the future. Sunway is fortunate to have such dedicated guides , they are a real asset to your company. Thank you for making our two expeditions unforgettable.

Verena (Austria)

I’ve just come back from the ‚South African Rainbow Route‘ tour and it was amazing. We were very lucky with the weather, with the travel group, with the game viewing, with the guides – all this made it a really great trip.

We got a good impression of the country. We saw a lot of animals on the game drives we did, even tough the bush was very dense – including all Big Fives in the Krueger Nationalpark and the African wild dog in Hluhluwe. The guides stopped for us for every animal and gave us plenty of time to observe the animals and take pictures of them. It was so breathtaking to see the animals in their surrounding. The coolest thing were the two lions lying on the street in the Addo Elephant National Park – they made my holiday complete.And our group was like a well-oiled machine – everyone helped, especially with the lunch preparations and the washing-up.

But the best part of the tour was our guides – Annika and Zandre. The two are wonderful – the best you could wish for. Our guides told us all about the country, the landscape and the animals we saw. They got up early in the morning and went to sleep after us – meaning they are there for us almost around the clock. Have taken care of everything, answered all our questions. They were in a good mood the whole time. Annika translated everything in German for us – she even knows every bird’s name in both languages and Zandre drove us well and safely everywhere – he knows every inch of his truck. And he surprised us with his German language skills. They like to cook and so they have cooked many good dishes for us. The two love what they do and that is noticeable and that is why the journey has become so memorable.

Briefly summarized: It was a really really amazing tour, but the two made it unforgettable. Thank you – it was my best holiday so far. I hope we’ll see each other again.

I would also like to say thank you to Sunway Safaris. You‘re a great tour operator, the best I’ve had so far and I plan to come back to Southern Africa. Warm Greetings from Austria, Verena

Guillaume (France)

Dear Sunway Safaris, So I’m back from my trip with Sunway, the South Africa Rainbow Route. I really had a blast, so I wanted to thank you for this wonderful journey. Our guides, Paolo and Sfiso, were very friendly and very professional. Sfiso was a very good driver, as well as a very good cook, and Paolo impressed everyone with his amazing knowledge about the wildlife and the African flora (and he’s a good cook too!). We were lucky with our encounters, but they both made our trip even better. For next year, I’m very interested with the following tours: ZMa16 or ZBa16 or even LM22. For sure, it will be for a departure on late July or early August. And I can’t wait for my 3rd trip with Sunway… See you next year !

Sarah (Germany)

This was not my first tour in Southern Africa, not even my first visit to South Africa. But there had been some unseen places and I wanted to close these gaps. So I decided for the Rainbow Route this time. Knowing there are a lot of kilometres to drive I relaxed and enjoyed the landscapes of Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and the Garden Route underlined by Jeffs explanations about the country and its provinces. We were very lucky with animal sightings. We saw a group of raw Wild Dogs in Kruger National Park and spotted hyenas feeding their babies right next to the road. In Addo Elephant National Park there was a herd of elephants crossing the street right next and in front of us. Also very rare and impressive was the sighting of two lions with two dead buffalos left and right to the streets. We watched the sleeping cats until sunset. During this time curious jackals appeared but kept a distance to the lions. Watching this natural behaviour of animals was an impressive experience. I also enjoyed the days we were off and not travelling, but doing walks in Drakensberg and Swaziland or at the beaches of Kei Mouth and Hermanus. Beautiful landscapes appeared all the way along. We also got a view in to South African culture and it’s different sides. Comparing the simple way of living in the mountains with a little town like Knysna or a global city like Cape Town is not easy and shows the difference inside the so called Rainbow Nation. Thanks to Jeffs knowledge we got an insight view into culture and tribes. Accommodations were of different standard but fitted to the surroundings very well. Our guides have been Jeff and Willard. While Jeff had a lot of experiences, it was Willard’s first tour. Both have been very polite and helpful throughout the whole journey. Recognizing that there are some problems in the group they tried to keep us together. They always tried to fulfil our wishes, even these of the Australian lady. Jeff’s enormous guiding experience and knowledge of wildlife and plants helped us to experience some special moments. In Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park we saw a lion: While every other car left, we stayed, waited and were rewarded with the cat’s appearance everybody waited for. After breakfast in Addo Elephant National Park we went back to the place where the lions have been. Lions were gone but jackals took over and even a rare brown hyena appeared in the background. The organization and cooking Jeff did, was also very convincing. Always fresh, enough, rich in variety and delicious. Of course, Willard had not much experience but always supported us with a helping hand and his good mood.

Sascha (Switzerland)

I was on your Rainbow Tour last Month. It was an amazing experience which I will never forget. As I took a timeout from my work, I just came back the last week from another trip. I put some pictures from South Africa on my homepage. Jeff explained us so much about the animals, the country and the people of South Africa. Jeff made the tour to an outstanding trip! And he worked very hard, 24h a day. Even in this hard work he always kept friendly and made all possible for the guest. If I am deciding to a Safari Tour again, I want to have Jeff as my tour guide again.

Michelle

We had a very great tour with Sunway Safaris from Johannesburg to Cape Town. It was an awesome adventure where we had the possibility to explore the beautiful wildlife of South Africa. We had the best guides ever. Thanks Clinton and Stephen for the great time: you were awesome with us; everytime ready to answer questions and to cook for us a delicious dinner. I hope we see us again on the next tour with Sunways. Thanks a lot guys! His ability to handle different personalites, his organisational skills, his general knowledge, his passion for his environment, his driving is instinctive (it was a pleasure to be in the truck when he drove), the way he planned the menu, its variety and deliciousness, his sense of humour and his quiet confidence as a man made my trip one that I will always remember. He is an asset to your company and I just had to send this note to let you know my thoughts as there really was not the opportunity on the review form. This was my first trip with Sunway Safaris and I would not hesitate to recommend your company in the future.

Pauline Hill & Diana Albery (UK)

Hello again from the UK.

I wanted to say that I have just returned from my holiday in South Africa with your company. Our guides were Clinton and Stephen, and the holiday was the best by far that my friend and I have ever been on – and we have travelled extensively. Clinton and Stephen, were just the most excellent and well informed guides you could wish to have. Their knowledge of the animals, birds, flowers and insects was astonishing. They were kind and patient throughout the holiday, and I really don’t think we could have had two better guides running the show. As for the holiday itself, it was amazing. Whoever dreamed up the itinerary did a great job. We saw so much of your beautiful country, and did so many varied things. So a big “Well Done” to your company, and to Clinton and Stephen. You have two great members of staff there!

Angelika Weber (Austria)

Greetings from cold, cold Austria.

I’ve just arrived back home from my wonderful trip and I want to let you know how much I enjoyed my holiday. I did the South Africa Rainbow Route. It was my first guided tour, I usually travel individually, but the small group of 5 people and the interesting and exciting itinerary made me feel very comfortable travelling in a group. The trip has exceeded my expectations. Not just because of the beautiful and stunning landscapes and the amazing wildlife we saw, but mostly because of our great guides Grace and Sean this tour was truly unique. Both guides were amazing in telling us everything about the beautiful flora and fauna and most of all the people and different cultures of South Africa.Grace was the most perfect cook, the food was always delicious und healthy. I had really much fun with both Grace and Sean, they always had an open ear for every question and they gave me an idea of how living in South Africa can be. This trip was really amazing – thank you so much!!

Eugenija & Jurga (Lithuania)

My friend and I have participated in Rainbow Tour, arranged by Sunway Safaris on January 9-25, 2016. This was a long dreamed vacation trip and our expectations were more than fulfilled. We were travelling in a small group of 6 persons with two wonderful guides Jeffrey Mokoena and Auther Mundiwa. The tour was well designed and presented the variety of South African nature, wildlife, culture and country history. The most precious impressions came from Kruger and Addo Elephant national parks, Mkuzi game reserve, Kwazulu Natal, Swaziland, mountain and beach walks, vineyards and, of course, Capetown.

Very special thanks to our guides, as their vast knowledge, experience and skills made our tour comfortable, safe, and extremely interesting. Culinary experiences are worth separate mentioning – the food prepared by our guides was very variable, healthy and added to our pleasant impressions. If planning to visit SA once more we will doubtlessly choose Sunway again.

Christina (UK)

What can I say?….if you’re reading this in contemplation of going away with Sunway…all I can say is stop contemplating, and book!! I did the Rainbow Route with 9 others plus our guides Wayne and Mosses The organisation is fantastic- Wayne and Mosses are true masters in co-ordinating our tour, taking us to stunning places, providing outstanding food, knowing so so much about the wildlife/areas/people we saw (quite incredible)….and being such vibrant characters- they were duly held on a pedalstal by the end of the trip 🙂 The accommodation was brilliant- very characterful places, often boutique-style. The vast majority was great for cleanliness and facilities, but please remember the places are c. 3 star, some slightly more basic….if you want 5star, this isn’t the tour for you. If you want to embrace adventure, where there are no guarantees (to coin a phrase from the guides!) …you’ll love this trip!

Anne Tuolty

Diese reise war auzgezeichret und die guides auch

Tys Mocking & Elaine

Super Guides! Lovely trip to discover South Africa’s highlights

Pat & Brian

It was a great way to see South Africa and the guides made it a memorable trip.

Gillian & Noel

Great tour, extra good guides. I would come again and recommend it. The food was amazing! Great variety & great value for money.

Daniela

Great tour, bug variety of things to do, great guides, good food, parfect holiday.

Lena

A great tour with nice guides and perfect destinations! It was a fantastic trip!

Weber

It was a real pleasure to live for 3 weeks with Chris and Farai. Fantastic vehicle, beautiful accommodation and great adventure. I will come back.

Ian

Excelled expectations. Itinerary was wonderful. Guides were exceptional.

Katrien Maerevoet

Very good tour, a lot of variety and professional equipment. Lodges were good value for our money and excellent guides.

Cathy McCall (UK)

What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? Seeing the animals in Kruger National Park, so close and so relaxed. Walking in the Tsitiskama National Park along a beach and through woods to reach a lovely waterfall that filled a large pool at the back of the beach and swimming there with no-one else around. The lovely group we travelled with and our fantastic guides. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? Be prepared to make some really early starts to see the animals in the Game Parks as the sun rises and also in some cases for a long journey as the next leg of the tour unfolds. Also to assist with the preparation and clearing up of meals. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation? Certainly in a small way it benefitted local people as we bought souvenirs along the way and tipped where ever possible, and bought local firewood for the camp fire. Also in a larger way by bringing money indirectly into the country by booking with a local company. By being a Tourist in the Game Parks, and the Aquarium we should like to think that perhaps indirectly our fees and interest supported Conservation efforts. ,b>Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?,/b> A totally amazing and uplifting experience. A lot of fun, a lot of new things learnt, a new appreciation of another country and it’s culture, and new friends made. ***** I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on.

Bernadine Ryan

Fantastic trip – so varied and covered a lot of the country and we did see THE BIG FIVE!!!.

Christian & Michaela Jambor

Dear Shaun, Dear Bruce

My wife and I have been on the SAa17 “South Africa Rainbow Route” tour with your company (24th Aug. 2013 onwards).

We would like to express our gratitude to Sunway Safari to this great trip, route, locations, accomandations, perfect safari truck, etc. In addition we like to thank our guides Sfiso Thabethe and Bongani Sithole. Both have been super committed, professional and service-orientated throughout the whole trip which we enjoyed a lot in all aspects.

We and our travel mates from Australia enjoyed a lot having them as our guides. A special recognition should receive Sfiso for his great social-interaction skills and good sense of humor of as well as the excellent organizational skills and reliabliness of Bongani.
We can fully recommand both on a personal and professional level.

With kind regards,

Christian and Michaela Jambor, Germany

Ps. The Safari truck was a perfect vehicle for such kind of trip

Sam Treurnich

Feedback from a Sunway agent, Sam Treurnich about her clients that travelled with Sunway:

They loved Sunway, they said they had the 2 best guides that they had ever had on a tour and had an exceptional amount of knowledge to share. Although the route of the tour was not a typical “safari route”, they still felt as though they were on one and the guides made the most out of the destinations they went to. Accommodation was good and everything went very smoothly.

Carol Moffat (UK)

We were extremely impressed with Craig as a leader/guide. His ability to notice/spot animals and his knowledge about them (including birds) was phenomenal. As well as this, his interesting stories, his clear instructions, his patience and humour were instrumental in making this trip a roaring success. AND, his confidence and expertise behind the wheel made traveling with him worry free and relaxing. I’d like to say that we feel that we had a wonderful time with Sunway Safaris, and would recommend your company without reservation to our friends. We would also use you again for our own travel needs.

Andrew Patchett (UK)

A really good fun journey with a great crowd of people.

One of our best trips along with two top guides.

Margaret Pullin

The tour itinerary was excellent in terms of experiences, destinations and attractions.

We had a fantastic group and a fantastic tour. Thank you

Tineke & Nat Steinhart

We had the best time!! Loved South Africa!! Wonderful people, beautiful nature, and lots of animals!! A great first time experience! Thank you!!!
The Sunway Safari 17-day tour was amazing. We were very lucky with the group and guides. 12 people on the trip, and had a mix of all nationalities. Also the ages were mixed, 6 over 50 and 6 under 50. Couldn’t be better.
We all had a great connection, and are now all on facebook sharing our pictures!
Really liked the trip, did see a lot of things, and some great activities. A few long days driving, but it’s a big country, so couldn’t avoid that. Had 2 wonderful guides; Kevin and Gerrit.
We hope to do this again in the near future. Maybe Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania??

Hopefully we’ll be back soon.
We will give your name to our friends if they are interested in future travel to Africa.
Thanks again for all your great help!

Anne & Douglas Meier (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)

Hello! We have just returned from the 17-day Rainbow Route accommodated safari adventure, and can’t find enough people to tell about it! This was easily one of the best vacations of our lives (and we’re old enough to have had a lot of vacations!). It was a fabulous tour with the right balance of activities. Our guides, Andre and Bongizwe, were very knowledgeable, hard working, well organized and fun to be with.

They took very good care of us. Meal planning must have presented a particular challenge, since there were so many diverse special dietary needs within our group of 12. Yet we always were well fed and felt our needs were attended to without a lot of fuss.

Andre and Bongi were very professional, never letting us know if we were being “inconvenient” to the plan! We always felt completely safe with Bongi behind the wheel, and Andre kept us well informed of the day’s planned activities and any options available to us. They shared the supervision of us during our hikes, but never made us feel that we were needing “babysitting.” We joked about the inconvenience of their having to report a missing tourist, but due to their vigilance, that wasn’t necessary!

The accommodations were always clean and comfortable, and their scenic locations added to the “fantasy-come-to-life” feeling about the trip. The food prepared for the breakfast each day was sumptuous! The staff, when we saw them,
were friendly and helpful. The location (of the Sweet Lemon, at least, where we stayed) was convenient to transportation and restaurants.

Overall, the Sunway Safari experience is one we would happily repeat (even in light of the lost reservation at the Road Lodge in Jo-burg
at the beginning). We will certainly encourage others to book with Sunway.
Thank you!!

Kendra Swaine

I recently completed the Scenic Route tour with Pieter Van Wyk and Shandle. When I recount my adventures I appreciate just how much work Pieter and Shandle did to support my trip. As the feedback form was so short I did not have adequate space to recognise their stellar qualities. I am writing to express my gratitude to Sunway Safaris for the wonderful experience of my tour.

Pieter and Shandle obviously have an extremely good relationship and I felt this contributed to a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere at camp. They worked seamlessly together setting up the camp, preparing meals, assisting clients, and conducting background organisation. As a result of their tireless dedication the tour ran smoothly. Both guides were approachable and helpful, and they always put clients’ needs first.

My experience of Pieter was that he paid attention to detail in meeting my needs and was flexible in responding to the various needs of those around me. I also discovered that in an emergency Pieter is stalwart and capable. The breadth and depth of Pieter’s knowledge of the African bush and animals is remarkable and I appreciated the care he took in sharing his knowledge with us. I was also extremely impressed with the alertness and skill he demonstrated in identifying animals that were thoroughly camouflaged or far away in the distance.

Shandle displayed outstanding tenacity in bringing us safely to our destinations in a timely manner. He navigated difficult roads and lengthy drives with aplomb. Shandle’s cooking prowess is legendary and dinner was always something to look forward to especially as my nominated dietary requirements were well catered for. Shandle’s local knowledge was nothing short of impressive; he even knew which ATMs would defraud customers.

Pieter and Shandle are a true asset to Sunway Safaris. Their competence and attention to detail helped me to feel supported and safe for the duration of the trip. Please pass on my thanks to them. If I tour Southern Africa again I will choose Sunway Safaris and I also have no hesitation in recommending your company and staff to any of my friends who consider travelling in Southern Africa.

If you would like to have your comments on your trip with Sunway posted on the website, please email your review to marketing@sunway-safaris.com and we will load it.