Tanya and Africa Direct created a fairytale wedding and safari for my husband and I.  We were married at Camp Jabulani in South Africa with a herd of elephants.  We had hoped to be married with one...but somehow with her talent and charm there were 13.  It was the most beautiful, amazing wedding either of us could ever have imagined.  The lodge itself is exquisite and the people treated us like family.  Speaking of which - Tanya, and her husband Hilton, our wedding photographer, were witnesses at our wedding.  Tanya and I became very close while planning our wedding and it just seemed perfect.  Hilton's photographs are unlike any I have ever seen, his wildlife expertise and sheer talent created works of art.  They are an extraordinary couple and it is reflected in the service provided with Africa Direct.

We spent the most exciting two weeks of our lives traveling from one fabulous lodge to the next.  After getting married at Camp Jabulani, we went to Ngala Tented Camp, Ngala Walking Safaris Camp, Elephant Plains and then Exeter Leadwood Lodge.  I could write a short novel about each place and the unbelievable safaris, food and people.  Tanya made arrangements with each lodge to plan wedding surprises....from candle lit dinners in a tree, to champagne and candle lit baths, the list goes on.  Each lodge planned their own beautiful acknowledgement of our marriage.  It was a wedding and trip that dreams are made of.  I miss Africa everyday and I can't wait to return and see our SA family, Tanya and Hilton.

Tanya, we are back from South Africa and I just wanted to thank you on behalf of all of us for arranging this dream holiday!  Cape Town and the wine country were very nice, but our safari was what we will all remember for the rest of our lives.  We had almost impossible expectations of how great it would be, and the reality far exceeded those expectations.  It was flawless, breathtaking and completely unforgetable in every way.  Having a private safari with Mike truly made the experience for us.  He's not only amazingly knowledgeable and passionate, but also a genuinely great guy.  He inspired all of us, and we feel truly fortunate to have had the immeasurable benefit of having him has our personal guide.

Needless to say, should you ever need a recommendation, please do not hesitate to let us know.  In the meantime, we will recommend you, Mike and Africa Direct to anyone and everyone we know who is considering a safari!

Africa Direct far exceeded our expectations in getting a personalized safari that was top notch all the way. They definitely deliver value for money. I spent months researching safaris before selecting Tanya Kotze with Africa Direct to help me celebrate my 50th birthday and our 20th wedding anniversary.  Tanya was a wealth of information and ever so patient with my many, many inquiries. We had the time of our lives and yes, we would use Africa Direct again. The safari guides were fantastic, the lodge accommodations were fit for royalty, the food was to die for, and the animal viewing was amazing.  We were fortunate enough to be able to visit Madikwe and saw their pack of rare Wild African Dogs.  We then headed to Kirkman's Kamp in the Sabi Sand and had the most amazing leopard sightings. Finally we went to Phinda where not only did we see the endangered black rhino and a pair of beautiful cheetah brothers, we took the Flight of the Fish Eagle.  A trip to Africa is a life changing event and Tanya made my dream come true!

SPECIALIST BIRDING SAFARI AT PHINDA

Being a bush-lover and avid bird watcher, I am always looking for new experiences, destinations and of course...birds.  Tanya from Africa Direct recently arranged and booked me on a Specialist Birding Safari at Phinda Private Game Reserve with Specialist Guide, Mike Karantonis.  At first I was a bit skeptical...how good could it really be?  Well, what a mind blowing experience!  No one could have prepared me for it.  Not only were the staff at Phinda Forest Lodge extremely friendly, but going on a Specialist Birding Safari with Mike was an awesome experience!  What is more, he has a wealth of knowledge not only about birds, but about almost everything we encountered - from plants and habitats to the "hairies and scaries". 

Being on a Specialist Safari, meant we also travelled to various locations to find scarce birds and endemic species, and nothing was too much trouble for Mike.  All of Tanya's arrangements were absolutely perfect and my whole holiday went without a glitch.  I can recommend both of them to anybody who would like to have a fantastic bush experience!