African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife

I give Road Scholar a 5 out of 5 stars for this educational adventure to five countries in Africa. It was top-notch all the way, from the lodging, to the food, to the excursions. Our guide, Honest, was the best of the best! Completely knowledgeable of all subjects, but especially on the wildlife. I enjoyed the historic tours of Constitution Hill and The Aparthied Museum. The safaris were incredible with up-close encounters of many wildlife species. Our buffet meals were always delicious and we could never go hungry. I would recommend this trip to anyone that desires to experience a culture rich in history, family unity, and one that has overcome racial division.

This trip was incredible - from the places we visited, to the accommodations, to the wildlife, to the people we met and the conservation and social organizations we got to visit. This was my first visit to the continent of Africa and I cannot wait to return and see more. Our guide Chris deserves special mention - I've been on a few Road Scholar trips in the past and while all of the guides have been excellent, Chris exceeded that already high standard and made this something special. If I could get on a plane to Johannesburg today and do the whole thing again, I would!

Good mix of wildlife and culture. Chris was amazing

This was a trip of a lifetime and worth every penny! It exceeded all expectations. Our guide was excellent, the accommodations during the safaris were great with awesome food and service (although I missed air conditioning at Hwange Nat'l Park). The educational parts of the program were very interesting. Best of all we were able to see almost all of the animals at a close distance while still feeling safe. Unfortunately we missed the flight over the Atlantic due to airline issues so we missed the first day of the program but RoadScholar was very helpful and took care of us as soon as we arrived. I highly recommend this program!

I just returned from my trip to Africa. It was truly the best Road Scholar trip I have taken and I have been on 14 of them. They have all been good but this one was outstanding. From the cohesiveness of our group of 12, to the beautiful lodging, meals, and especially the experiences, I could not have asked for more. One outstanding moment was when we hung out with a pride of lions who were quite content due to mama having gone 'shopping' that morning and everyone was satiated and well fed. There were 7 cubs, 3 lionesses, and yes, Big Daddy. The highlight was when the cubs began quarreling over their lunch and Daddy became annoyed and let out many long growls to discipline them. Most of us got this on video and if you remember that MGM lion roaring - you can understand what a thrill this was. There were so many unique and amazing experiences - with elephants and an irritated hippo, to boot, visiting the orphanage, school and 'old folks'. If you are considering this trip - I hope you are fortunate enough to have our guide Khule. Just go if you can!

Roads Scholar adventures are so much more than a vacation. They go the extra mile to help you enjoy traveling and learning as well as open your heart to the endless possibilities of the vast world we live in!

5 stars I just participated in my 15th Road Scholar trip and it was by far my best. I am 78 years old, widowed and travel solo. The group always made me feel included as there were other solo travelers in the group as well as couples. All the guides made me feel very safe at all times. Khule was our main guide for two weeks and he was excellent! He is a very kind man, intelligent, nonending patience, organized, and took care of every detail and kept the trip running smoothly. We all felt very blessed to have him as our guide. We saw many many animals and were able to get very close in a safe manner. We learned about South Africa's history, enteracted with the locals, ate at local restaurants, visited open markets. visited a couple of schools and an Old Folks Home. We had sundowners (happy hour) on the plain at sunset in Hwange National Park and viewed the stars in the night sky. We rode in safari vehicles through the bush and pontoon boats on the Chobe River. All the lodges were lovely including our 5 star lodge, Radisson, at the end of the trip but the lodges in the bush were out of a storybook; Khulu Lodge was my favorite. The lodges in the bush made you feel one with nature! The food was always delicious and plentiful. Anybody who loves nature and animals will loves this trip. The trip takes endurance. Once in a lifetime experience. I am very grateful I was able to experience it.

This is a great trip for folks who have never been to Africa because you get to see five countries, go on safari, see important sights in Johannesburg and meet the locals who are doing good work. While the game drives are a key part of this trip, they are bookended by other interesting venues, including Constitution Hill in Jo'burg and Victoria Falls from both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides. There's a lot of moving around but the schedule is well-planned. This was my first Road Scholar trip and it definitely will not be my last.

Loved this Road Scholar experience! We saw many wild animals, visited some native villages, had a wonderful group of friendly, helpful people. Our leader was well informed, gracious, and easy to get along with. So helpful to everyone.

Outstanding trip in every respect! Johann was a fantastic tour guide, and all the safari drivers and boat operators were very helpful and knowledgeable. Food and lodgings were exceptional as well.

We loved the whole program, but it was Johann, our group leader, who made it an outstanding experience. Also, we loved the accommodations and the companionship provided by the group members, as well as the amazing wild life experience!

African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife was even more wonderful than I could have imagined. I saw numerous animals, learned about the area, culture and history of each country and area we visited. This WAS a trip of a lifetime. Susan

I wish I could wax poetic about this trip but the first week was one disaster after another. Our original flight was cancelled (UNITED). We couldn't make a change because it was booked by Road Scholar and we spent the next two days on the phone with them trying to get on another flight. Finally left 3 days later than planned and our connecting flight was cancelled. So now it’s July 4th and the only agents available at Road Scholar did not understand our problem (would miss the next connection and needed a new ticket issued). We had to fly to Johannesburg and spend another day on the phone with Road Scholar to catch up to our group. I commend them for coming through at the end, but the lack of a direct and immediate connection with someone who could help us out was very frustrating and will make me think twice about trusting them to make our flight plans in the future. We would have given up and gone home several times that first week but Road Scholar kept warning us that if we decided to cancel rather than try to complete the trip, the insurance company was unlikely to pay for our losses!!! We managed to experience one week of the two week tour and loved it once we recovered from jet lag and anger. Be prepared for freezing nights and rooms with no heat if you travel in the African winter. Food was abundant. Only praise and love for our guide, Honest. He is extremely knowledgeable, easy to talk with, and a great photographer! A bit disappointed that we were not given additional expert speakers for the talks as promised. Now we are still waiting to hear from the insurance company hoping we will be able to get some money back for the time we missed.

What a fantastic trip! I truly appreciated the variety of experiences included in this program. The accommodations were all wonderful, the meals were delicious, and our knowledgeable guide kept us organized and engaged the whole time. Highly recommended!

It was a great trip. Wonderful to see all of the different species of wildlife. A dream come true. Our guide for this trip was fantastic. His name was Khule Ndlovu and he did so much to educate us and make arrangements for everyone.

So amazing..... This trip was a lifelong dream of mine. This program went above and beyond what I could have ever imagined, and was truly the trip of a life time. In addition to being on safari, I was able to learn about all things Africa (the history, the animals, the food, the people etc.), and I was able to connect with the local people in ways I could have never imagined. This was the trip of a lifetime for me, and I would recommend it to anyone! Don't wait, life is too short. This is my second solo trip with Road Scholar, and I never felt like I was left out or alone. 5 Star Rating

With reference to planning materials, I was not aware that the weather in these countries would be so cold in June. Layers helped but we could have been warned that we may need cold weather clothing.

This is the trip of a lifetime that you've been looking for. Beautiful accommodations and meals and elephants, elephants, elephants. Staying at a lodge on the river afforded the opportunity to see animals, from their front, coming to the river's edge to drink and relax.

The Safari program was wonderful. We saw so many animals and had great guides throughout.

If you’re considering going - go. If you love animals and cultural experiences - go. If you are not particularly interested - go anyway and you will grow and become interested.

A fantastic experience. It exceeded expectations. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, it did. Each day had new things learn and explore. I was shocked at how close we were to all of the animals. We were a few feet from elephants, lions, zebra, and more. Our guides were knowledgeable and never sacrificed a great experience for safety. Daddy Chris was kind, caring, and funny. It couldn't have been easy to keep us always on task, but he did. This was a trip that I will always cherish.

wonderful trip..great guide..wonderful accomodations..all in all a great vacation. Madge

This was a fabulous trip, everything from the animal and bird encounters to the wonderful local people we met, to the food. It’s hard to imagine a better local group leader than Chris Chiparaushe. We were well taken care of and learned so much. I went in mid-May when it’s chilly in the mornings and evenings, so dress in layers—it’s all part of an unforgettable experience.

i believe this trip involved more complex logistics than any other tour i have ever been on. On one day i think we were transported by boat, 2 different buses, and safari vehicle while going through at least 3 if not 4 countries. Mr. Khule was great in herding us unpredictable rats through the maze. There were delays and the inevitable rescheduling that he smoothly guided us through. it was quite a diverse group with some younger folks mixed in with one 87 year old. I compliment him on keeping the spectrum of individuals happy and unbothered. the diversity of this tour was exceptional. From gorgeous water falls, plush hotels, safari treks, boat rides to walks through markets, and charity to schools and old folks homes. Good!!!! only negative was that a couple of the guides were hard to hear/understand and in some cases at Joburg. and the 13 of us could not get close enough to the guide to hear. Good tour, good guides, and good times

AMAZING PROGRAM!! My favorite so far!!

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Africa with Road Scholars! Always felt safe! The quality of our lodges met my expectations and more! Our guide, Khule, was kind, patient, and extremely knowledgeable! Happy Days!

This program went above and beyond what I could have ever imagined, and was truly the trip of a life time. In addition to being on safari (which was a lifelong dream), I was able to learn about all things Africa (the history, the animals, the food, the people), and I was able to connect with the local people in ways I could have never imagined. This was the trip of a lifetime for me and I would recommend it to anyone!

Absolutely amazing trip that fulfilled a life time dream of seeing and experiencing Victoria Falls as well as going on Safari. Being able to do both land and river safari's was delightful as we saw and experienced animal behaviors in a variety of settings.

This was a trip of a lifetime that fulfilled a dream of seeing wild life in Africa. Everything about this program exceeded my expectations. Our guide Johann was great. The staff at the Khulu Lodge in Zimbabwe was great. The pace of the safaris was good. I wish I was back there right now.

Transformed is the perfect word. Everyone I know who has visited Africa told me it would be a life changing event. I thought that meant the magical experience of watching, up close and personal, wild animals roaming free over endless vast amounts of land. Or not to mention the “Sundowner” respite every afternoon as the sun began its daily journey eastward and as staff of the Hulu Bush Camp in Zimbabwe unpacked our gin and tonics and cocktail bites wherever we landed at that magical pink moment. But the unexpected catalyst in this journey back to the Motherland were the people. These amazing perfectly “present” gorgeous people. The calmness as I looked directly in their unwavering eyes as they spoke their truth was mesmerizing. However, the people’s fundamental duty to steward the land with kindness and love was the remarkable trait that transformed me. And the South African native who exemplified our first-class Road Scholar experience was our guide and leader, Johann Roscher. His calm organized demeanor of making sure each one of us felt safe, taken care of, and had loads of fun ...combined with his extensive knowledge of African history ... personified the unique stellar experience traveling with Road Scholar embodies. Bravo to the Road Scholar organization behind all the logistics of planning foreign travel, luggage, unique lodges, transportation ...it was top notch! Having traveled extensively around the globe since I spent a semester in college at the University of Denmark, I will never attempt to take on the duty of planning my own travel ever again! Now that I am of a certain age and am a solo traveler, I will allow my new best friends at Road Scholar to handle all my travel in perpetuity ...my job is to only decide ... "Where in the World do I Want to Be?" Holly Powell African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife January 26-February 9, 2024 5 STARS!!! *The only hotel whose buffet food was bad was Radison Blu in Livingstone, Zambia. Divine food before!

On balance, a good trip. I'll start with the positives. First, Johann was probably the best tour leader I have had over the years. He excelled in all the areas one could hope for in a tour leader. In addition, half way through the trip I lost a hearing aid rendering me partially deaf. Johann, as well as other trip attendees, went above and beyond in helping me get through this unexpected disability. He also helped me build quite a list of bird species for the trip. In terms of lodging and meals, all were at or above expectations with the exception of the Radisson Blu in Livingstone. The food there was mediocre. I was especially impressed with the quality of food at the two "bush camps", Khulu and Chobe. I did find some of the charitable experiences somewhat contrived, and to a certain extent, a little demeaning to the recipients. All in all, I would not hesitate to recommend this trip to others.

Road Scholar is stupendous, all the way around! Our guide, Mark, is a walking encyclopedia! Can't wait to sign up for another Road Scholar Adventure!

This trip exceeded my expectations! The accommodations were wonderful and the guide's knowledge of the wildlife and communities that we saw was encyclopedic.

This trip was amazing with a good mix of game drives and boat rides to view the animals and excursions to markets, schools and a senior center for the local understanding of the culture. The day spent in Johannesburg at the start of the trip was sobering as we learned about life under Apartheid with visits to Constitution Hill, Soweto, and the Hector Pietersen Museum. The many local people who shared their culture and lives with us were open and friendly. Lisa Reed, our guide, was an extraordinary fount of knowledge and a bright spot to all who interacted with her. We could tell she was well loved by everyone in the many places we went. Although it was hot, I found that going in October was fine because the trees had not started to leaf out yet and we could see further into the forest. There were also several babies to be seen from elephants, warthogs, baboons, painted dogs, and a white rhino. The lodges were great and the food was wonderful. This was my seventh trip with Road Scholar and my favorite so far.

This was the trip of a lifetime, everything we had hoped for, and more! October is the hottest time in southern Africa, but thanks to the information we received from both Road Scholar, and Explore (the Program Provider for this trip), we were well prepared. Our guide, Lisa, was well organized, highly knowledgable, and infinitely patient; her love for Africa, the people, and the wildlife was infectious.

This trip was the truly the “trip of a lifetime!” I enjoyed every aspect of it - the ANIMALS, the LODGES, the FOOD, and last, but in no way least - the GUIDE. Sam Mushandu is an extraordinary person and guide - all you could ask for in a guide and MORE! Road Scholar exceeded my expectations on this trip in every way. The organization, first class lodging, and food were jaw-droppingly wonderful! Thank you Road Scholar, Sam, Rob, and all the wonderful people at the lodges for making this trip “the trip of a lifetime!

This program was as described and accurate. It was all I expected and more. Saw many animals and was able to get great pictures. The activity level was as described, but getting in and out of the safari vehicles was a little diffecult (very high and hard to climb into for some). Our trip was in October during the very dry season and weather in the high 90's to over 100 most days. The dry season made viewing the animals easier because because of the lack of leaves and greenery, but the high temps and very hot sun made it more tiring than expected. I would consider if October is the best time of year if the very warm weather is a concern. Otherwise a perfect trip. I don't regret a thing.

I have to say there were parts we loved and parts we would change. First of all, we found it too structured and timing too tight. Not enough free time unless you skipped some of the program. Other than that, we absolutely loved the safaris, Victoria Falls and the lodges! The staff was super friendly and accommodating.

This was an amazing trip and our guide, Mark, really made it that way.. We saw 4 of the big 5 in the wild along with hundreds of other species big and small. We saw Rhinos in a conserve area since unfortunately they need to be protected.. We saw Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwe side and the Zambezi side and took a helicopter ride over the falls which was amazing.. Mark, our guide, born and raised in Zimbabwe was very knowledgeable, patient, organized and taught us so much about the areas we visited not just the wildlife but also cultural, social, political & gave us all a greater appreciation for the places & people we visited. I'm home only 3 days and ready to go back!!

Our group leader Sisa was fantastic! The trip was wonderful and we highly recommend it!

I recently took my first-time trip with Road Scholar and it was so wonderful that it will not be my last!

This trip was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed every day. I have terrific memories that I'll cherish forever. I'm so glad I chose Road Scholar.

This was my first Road Scholar trip and it was pretty much flawless. I am so grateful that I spent the money and the effort to go. I don't know if all RS trips are this good, but this has been one of the top highlights of my life.