Viva Safaris team look forward to seeing you soon!
Viva Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 1991)
- Member Of:
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association
- Tour Types:
- Mid-range tours that, when possible, use accommodations owned and operated by them
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $1,555 to $3,846 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
IE
Email Conor | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic
Family of 6 on a 5 day 4 night safari in Tremisana and Marc's Treehouse camp. The whole experience was unbelievable. We saw all the big 5 and much more. Special mention for Victor, Smiley, Rocky and Quentin. They were absolutely brilliant with our kids. The food was super as well, particularly in the treehouse camp. I cannot remember the name of the lady who looked after it there but she was brilliant as well. Could not recommend it enough
Email Kunal | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Superb safari experience
I chose Viva Safari after doing a lot of research on Safari companies for Kruger national park. I am glad I did. Right from the very start, with the pickup from a hotel in Pretoria, to the four days of packed activities, to the professionalism and care of staff, you were well looked after. The highlight was the bush walk to the river and the smell and sound of the African wild landscape. The viewing of the animals in the open top jeeps made you feel very close to nature. Truly special safari experience!
CA
Email Leanna C | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best experience ever! And we've travelled a lot.
This safari exceeded my expectations in every way, and I have very high expectations. The food and housekeeping we're great. The guides were very competent. They knew where to find the animals, and could spot animals that most people would not spot. I can't say enough good things about Viva Safaris. I will definitely be telling everyone I know about how amazing they are, and what a magical experience we had.
Email Mitchell | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I enjoyed to so much I've been 3 times
I first went in 2012. I searched on-line for safaris and decided on Viva because of the good reviews. It was such a terrific experience that I took my 16-year-old daughter the following year, after business took me to J'Burg. My second trip was even better than the first. We were lucky enough to see the Big 5 because the Guides know the best places to look. Tremisana Lodge is a garden in the middle of the bush with monkeys in the trees and beautiful flowers everywhere. We saw an elephant less than 3 minutes out on our night drive and later a rare ant eater. The food was authentic, delicious and abundant. Dinner was under the Macule Tree was pure magic and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Marc's Treehouse is entirely different and just as lovely and special. Antelope wander along the paths to the cottages and in the morning I heard chewing outside my window. It was a giraffe, eating the nearby tree. She was more startled by the distant lion's roar than by me looking at her, camera in hand. Later, during breakfast, the monkeys put on a show trying to steal jam and bisquits on the deck overlooking the pond.
The guides are knowledgable, patient and maybe more than lucky. On my third trip we found a herd for 400+ buffalo slowly walking toward the road. We parked and the herd moved around us as if we weren't there. We were close enough to smell them. Where else can that happen? Soon after we found a leopard in a tree with most on an impala, three hyenas looking on. She jumped down and chased them off before disappearing into the bush. At the end of the day our driver took us to a secluded pond where two elephants were swimming. Swimming! We would never have found that without our driver's experience.
On my third trip we saw the Big 5 before lunch but we all also learned to look for the smaller animals, too. I saw a baby Leopard Tortoise on the morning bushwalk and 25 hippos in a river while we ate breakfast.
I can't recommend Viva Safari highly enough. Make sure you go to Moholoho Rehabilitation Center, maybe pet a cheetah or have your picture taken with a rino baby and to the nearby private game preserve for an entirely different kind of wildlife drive.
Email Josie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Trip with Viva Safaris
Tremisana Lodge
We stayed here one night as part of our Viva Safari's tour. We felt welcomed, the food was lovely and the guides were super. The bush walk, fantastic! The best thing about this stay was Tanya, the warden. Her knowledge of the animals and the reserve was spot on. She didn't just look out for the Big 5 like every other guide, but showed us exactly what we asked to see.
Marc's Camp - Treehouse
Welcoming staff, well cooked local food, well organised excursions, cheap bar!
A good trip for young couples of a budget, also idea for single travelers.
It is potluck which room you are given on arrival. They vary in size, some are with en-suite some you have venture outside to the loo. We were very lucky with room 7. Ideal sport for views and en-suite.
Can be creepy at night, you can hear the hyenas calling walking in the dark to your room! We also head a lepoard kill and eat a monkey at 2am.
Not a luxury stay, but a once in a lifetime experience and we thoroughly enjoyed it. All the basic needs are met, comfortable, warm showers and hot food.
TIP - if going in the winter, take LOTS of layers. It is COLD at night.
Email Ryan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great People, Fantastic Service
Our Guides were wonderful and it was definitely an experience to remember. The people we met on the trip were fantastic as well! Also, they found a camera that we lost on the last day and arraigned for it to meet us in Johannesburg before we flew home. A beautiful time to in a beautiful place.
Email DAVID LAUGHTON | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Well organised and reliable.
The pretour communications were excellent, we were met at the correct time, our pre safari accommodation was great. The safari tour was well organised, with both lots of accommodation being comfortable and clean. The meals were very good (despite the fact that a monkey stole one of our muffins off the dining table - very funny!). The safaris each day were well run, guides were fun and knowledgeable. We were given plenty of time to enjoy each day in Kruger and all in all had a wonderful time. Highly recommended!
Email Penny W. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolutely wonderful!
From beginning to the end it was such a lovely experience, filled with great hospitality, kindness, friendliness, and patience from all the people who took charge of the logistics of our days and nights. The accommodation, meals and the soul filling hours on safari in the parks were all truly fabulous! And exciting! There was a seamless flow to the activities scheduled for each day and all we were required to do was to relax and enjoy it all; all logistics were cared for with aplomb!
I’d love to do it all over again!
GI
Email Sally | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
MEMORABLE SAFARI WITH VIVA!
Our tour with Viva Safaris met all our expectations in every way. FANTASTIC! The booking process was quick and informative and all the pick ups and schedules were timely. The Viva staff at the lodges were friendly helpful and the food delicious!! The hostess and kitchen staff at Marc’s Lodge even treated us to a birthday cake and Zulu dance!! MEMORABLE! We liked the rustic feel of both Tremesana and Marc’s Lodge which gave you a real sense of being in the Bush. The game drives were great and we were lucky to see lots of animals including the big 5. The guides were all very knowledgeable and informative. Elias entertained us with his great sense of humor and plenty of sightings of “Bush McDonalds “!! “ All part of the Game!”
Big thank you to ALL the staff Including drivers and those in the background for making our holiday so memorable!
Stay safe through Covid19 and wish you all the best in the future!
Email Cathy Martin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Jewel of Africa
In 2010 at the age of 50 something I finally decided to follow my lifetime dream and visit Africa. As it was a solo trip and had no idea where I wanted to go, I spent many weeks searching the web for the perfect and safest place that met all my requirements. I finally was guided to Viva Safaris website and I knew this was the one. Six years on and I have returned many times.
Viva Safaris has not just become another Safari company offering a wide range of activities, they are now family and treat me as such. I have seen their programme of activities grow throughout the years offering guests a more personalised adventure that is suitable for both adults and families at a very competitive price.
From the moment you are collected from your accommodation your adventure begins until you finally have to bid farewell you leave with memories that will last a lifetime.
The transfers to and from Johannesburg is aboard a 12 seater comfortable mini bus, the journey does take around 6+ hours there is many stops on the way and also an hour stop for lunch. The time goes by very quickly as you get to know fellow guests.
On arrival at Tremisana I was met with a warm friendly welcome from the Hostess and staff providing cool drinks for all guests. The first thing I saw was the beautifully kept tropical gardens surrounded by thatched roof lodges and a swimming pool. The lodges are spacious, comfortable and very clean, each one has its own distinct African feel about it. The en suite lodges also have tea/coffee facilities. The Lapa area is where breakfast is served and it borders Balule Nature Reserve which is part of Kruger National Park. This area is so peaceful (when the vervet monkeys are asleep) and I have spent many hours sitting on the swing bench reading and observing the wildlife around the watering hole. There is a bar area where you can relax with a beer and access the free wifi. The dining area gives you no doubt that you are in Africa with its open firepit and the smell of delicious variety of home cooked food.
The Game Drives were everything and more than I could have ever imagined. The Balule Reserve and of course visits to Kruger National Park has an abundance of wildlife and the open game viewers gives you the ultimate viewing platform to see magnificent wildlife up close. The Wildlife Guides are all very knowledgeable in conservation, animal behaviour and identification from the largest to the smallest inhabitants that they share their lives with, all done with amazing sense of humour. The Bush Walks opened up another world to me and gave me the understanding why everything down to trees, termites, Elephants and everything in between is connected and why habitat protection and conservation is vital for wildlife.
I could continue to talk about dining in the middle of the African Bush with wildlife just feet away under a blanket of stars, or visits to the amazing work of the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehab Centre, visit to Tshukudu Lodge where the cheetahs are often found lying around the pool area. Each day is different and each day you find something else to add to this unique African experience.
I also became very involved with the orphanges, missionaries and schools that Viva Safaris sponsor and to date have raised over £5000 supporting a local school with necessary educational materials and sports equipment and I am currently raising funds to construct a multi purpose sports area for one of the schools in Acornhoek. I couldn't have achieved this without the full support of Viva Safaris who have encouraged me with my ideas to bring hope to the children and provide a better understanding of the importance of protecting the wildlife and their habitats in Africa.
You can become an involved visitor or enjoy everything Viva Safaris have to offer. I would recommend a visit to Marc's Treehouse Lodge, I love this place so much that a few years ago my partner and I became engaged under the African night sky...so romantic. The Treehouse is definitely a unique experience. The treehouses come in varies shapes and sizes with picture size windows allowing you to see your very own incredible view of the African Bush and its wildlife. Again the accommodation is very clean and comfortable, food is incredible and the staff are just amazing.
If you are like me and find it difficult to choose from so many different options for your travel plans, I can in all honestly recommend Viva Safaris, it has changed my life, it is not just another holiday destination for me, every time I say goodbye to my Viva family and return to Scotland I leave part of me behind. I look forward to seeing everyone again in September 2016.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions I will be happy to respond.