Imfuduko African Safaris


  Imfuduko African Safari References


Feedback from Robert and Mary after a two week semi-lux safari to Botswana and Zambia , June 2009.

"5 star service and 7 star locations - excellent. Robert and Mary Saunders. Botswana 17 - 24 June 2009""Another great safari experience in Zambia with great locations and 5 star service and care. Robert and Mary Saunders Zambia 24 - 30 June 2009"


Card sent by pupils of Seattle Academy after their fourth annual safari with Imfuduko African Safaris to Zambia and Botswana in July 2008.

"we wanted to thank you for all the hard work you did on and off of our radar to make safari a wonderful place and trip for all of us. We thank you for waking up early, going to bed late, feeding yourself less than us, driving the cars, doing the plans, making food, telling stories, and being prepared for any dodgy situation".

Thank you so much, Seattle Academy.

 

 

 

 


E-mail received from Sue and Peter Upton from Australia, after a Botswana and Namibia safari during August 2008

I would highly recommend a trip with Imfuduku The itinerary was far better planned than we could possibly have managed ourselves, even if we had done thousands of hours of research and internet searching. We loved the trip, the company, and for us especially, the flexibility to change plans at a moment’s notice when our circumstances changed. Nothing was too much trouble. . Every detail was wonderfully organized. We had a fabulous time. Loved it all and will certainly be back.

Sue and Peter Upton Canberra, Australia.






Comments from Massimo and Marina received after a Botswana and Zambia Safari August 2008.

We had a marvellous time in southern Africa with Imfuduko. We spent a week in Botswana and a week in Zambia, sleeping in a tent
literally in the middle of the game!
During the night elephant scratching and crashing trees, hippos eating grass, buffalos walking, just beside us!
And in the day so much game and beautiful landscapes, even more beautiful than we had expected (rivers were a surprise!)

Imfuduko are excellent guides, trust them and for sure you'll see the most beautiful places to experience africa

A very exciting holiday, unique. We're thinking about going back for new trips.


Extracts from e-mail received from Mark Cuperus after a two and half week safari through Zambia, August 2009.

"....we must say we enjoyed the trip very much, Dave is a reliable guide and a good cook as well...
 the camping places and experiences were breath-taking.
We enjoyed the trip and for sure we will return for more trips in the future and we will recommend Imfuduko to other people."


With high expectations we started the safari from Maun in Botswana and ended it 15 nights later in Lusaka Zambia. Those nights and days went far to fast with excellent game drives with very knowledgeable guides and with chefs that made some magic things to all our meals. On top of all that we fell into sleep to the sound of lions and had hippos around the tents at night.

A very well organized safari with all the ingredients you can only hope for.

Ake Fransson, Stockholm
Safari to Botswana and Zambia December 07/ January 08




 



We took a one-week safari with Imfuduko African Safaris in Zambia in May of 2008. We had an excellent experience.

Bob worked with me before the trip - by phone and email - to design a safari that met our needs. The safari was private - just Bob, me, and my two daughters. We visited Lower Zambezi and Kafue game parks. Bob was an excellent host, guide, and raconteur. We discussed everything from the excretory habits of hippos to the current political situation in South Africa. We stayed in the camping sections of excellent lodges in each park. We had three excellent meals each day, prepared on a remarkably sophisticed kitchen powered off of Imfuduko's Range Rover. We were not looking for luxury, but were looking for comfort. We found just the right mix of both on this trip.

I'd highly recommend Bob and Imfuduko to anyone looking for a private (or small group), custom-designed, safari without frills but with plenty of comforts.

John Lantos, Chicago
Safari to Zambia April/May 2008


Comments received from Janet and Graham Irving from UK after Botswana Safari September 2007

Thank you, for organising a great holiday. The trip was everything we wished for and more, two weeks just flew by.

The safari itself was fantastic. We were in awe of the amount of different animals that we saw and your guide was extremely knowledgeable in knowing just where to find them. To experience sleeping in the same vicinity as the animals was such an experience, especially seeing their footprints in the morning by the campsite (having said this, not once did we feel in danger). We never imagined that we would get as close to the animals on the game drives as we did.

We are so glad that we decided to do a camping safari rather than staying in lodges for the entire trip as we would have missed so much. Like the night we were having dinner under the African sky and we had uninvited guests arrive – a troop of baboons decided to nest in the tree by the camp fire – and boy what a racket they made!

On the nights we did stay in lodges, your choice was excellent. Staying in small complexes, the hosts were very friendly and made us very welcome.

We certainly want to return to Botswana in the rainy season.

Thank you once again for organising an experience of a lifetime.

Janet & Graham Irving – England, September 2007.


Comments from Henrik Lewis, travel agent from Denmark, received from his clients after Namibia Safari February 2007.

“I received from the clients a letter full of praise not least for you. Not one critical remark. I am sure it took hard work from your side, for which I should like to thank you.”

Henrik Lewis.








Comments from Mercedes Bentolila and Group from Spain after Botswana Safari August 2006

Our experience with Imfuduko African Safaris was excellent. The safari met and, in many aspects surpassed our expectations. The trip was well thought out and was done as it was planned. We had a great service from travel professional, by our guide and owner of the safari company, and his assistant. Our guides knowledge about routes and his driving skills were excellent too, and he did his best to enable us to enjoy the trip.

Throughout the trip the food was really fine in quality, quantity and variety.

It was amazing to bush camp amongst the game, but with enough comfort, and with the confidence of being with someone whose knowledge about wildlife is so good. Doing a walking game viewing we did in a private game concession was also exciting.

We really enjoyed the game viewing, as we had several excellent spots - four leopards - three days -, a herd of 18 lions, a lioness with cubs, and lions mating – three days - , lions almost hunting sable antelope, a herd of 16 giraffes, a big herd of buffalo, a huge herd of Zebra – may be 400, too. We will never forget Chobe’s, Okavango, or the Kwai river landscapes, or the astonishing night sights of the Kudiakam pan.

Mercedes Bentolila


Comments from Howard Sher and Family from Australia after Botswana Safari May 2006

Once again thanks for the great experience - we all enjoyed ourselves and are looking forward to exploring further in Africa with you. As discussed once you get back and have time we can start with ideas for next year.

By the way the Lodge in Zambia was fantastic- what a treat after 10 days camping-and the view-wow!! actually breath taking. The Vic falls were in flood and the water over the edge was mindboggling- the kids were all amazed at the sheer size and volume of the falls.


Comments from Richard Feldman and Family from USA after Botswana Safari January 2006

We were part of the Gabell group traveling with Imfuduko in Jan 2006. We enjoyed our experience in Africa so much that I'd like to write a few words of recommendation.

My friends and family and I spent eight of the most memorable days of our lives with Imfuduko on safari in Botswana. As people who grew up on National Geographic nature documentaries and camping in North America's national parks, I was worried that we might find Botswana nice, but not quite up to all the hype. Not the case! Our experience in Botwana, in every way, simply blew the doors off all of our expectations! No matter you've seen or done before, there is no preparation for the thrill of lions - huge and hungry-looking - walking past your open vehicle so close you could pet them and roaring so loudly you feel it in the pit of your stomach.

Clearly you do not want to entrust your safety to amateurs during such an encounter. Beforehand, our guide patiently but thoroughly coached us on how to handle ourselves with lions and other potentially dangerous wildlife. In fact, the wilderness expertise of our guide and his staff was truly impressive. They seemed familiar with the names and behaviors of every animal and plant we encountered. By the end of the trip, under their tutelage, all of us learned to read animal tracks and spoor like a Bushman.

Although Imfuduko offered us a tempting "semi-luxury" option, we chose the "semi-participatory" version for our safari. We wanted the feel of a camping trip more than a catered excursion, although our actual "participation" in the camp chores was limited to putting up and taking down the tents. As someone who is used to sleeping on the ground, I found the stand-up height tents, cots and thick sleeping pads a comfortable surprise. Showers were available at each campsite. Throughout the trip the food was delicious, and the battery-powered refrigerators guaranteed an endless supply of cold drinks.

It is a cliche to call a safari like this a "trip of a lifetime" but our case it is simply not true. As I told our guide, we will be back, I hope, for many such "trips of a lifetime."

Richard Feldman


Clients Comments from 2005

“Best safari we have ever been on and you must be congratulated on the amount of planning, organisation and work that went into our safari. Your choice of guide was brilliant. He understood what Colleen and I hoped to see and do on the safari. Because of his experience as guide/driver/chef our safari was such of success.”

Colleen and George Chandler – Namibia and Botswana August 2005









“Hi bob thank you for our wonderful holiday. it isn't until you get home and tell people what we did and saw you realise how amazing it all was.Thankyou for making it sure a relaxing time except for some of the bumpy roads! .When I tell friends all the animals we saw they are amazed and the question is always " did he have a gun and were you safe?" well thanks to you we never felt in any danger.

The memories of sitting watching the elephants and just camping under African skies will stay for ever and hopefully keep us going through the English winter

Time to save up for the next one now,hopefully we will meet again soon.

Regards to George when you see him Thanks again ,thanks doesn't seem enough for the memories we have.

Carol and Mike.”

Carol and Mike Fenner – Botswana August 2005

“We don't know how we can ever thank you for the incredible safari you hosted for us. I look at our pictures often and wonder that we were even there. It took so much planning and preparation on your part to make our experience the memorable one it was. It ranks as one of the highlights of our lives. You were incredible chefs, knowledgeable teachers, fantastic guides and we always felt safe and comfortable. We can never thank you enough”

Donald, Debbie and Mark Chin – Botswana May 2005








“It is terrific to be on a trip with a person who so delights in every detail, planning and running our trip as if it were for his own best friends and while he worked veryhard to make everything go smoothly he also seemed to enjoy himself….
puts a tremendous amount of thought, effort, organization and care into every detail from planning the itinerary, describing the sights, hiring great help, to the delicious meals. ….his knowledge of the areas we visited allowed us to see things we surely would have missed otherwise…. I don't know how he manages to make each trip feel so fresh and each client feel so valued….. That is one of the things that makes him so unusual as a "tour operator" - he obviously delights in making people happy and he will sacrifice time and work to be sure that they are. Please know that this was noticed and appreciated…..We can't stop talking about this trip. We were so lucky to have found Imfuduko Safaris,….. it is great to be in the hands of someone who so joyfully goes that extra mile and we recommend Imfuduko enthusiastically”

(cut and abridged version)

Laurette and Leroy Simmons – Botswana and Zambia July 2005



Hard to believe we're at the end of this particular road! And what a time it's been! Thank you for your care and attention to our safety, comfort and enjoyment. You put much energy and thought into our trip, which came through dearly in all you did. It's been a lot of fun, and my sincere thanks go to you!

Bottom Line - I have had a tremendous time in Africa! I have loved being here & part of the 'nature & wonder' of the places visited. The thought, caring and involvement in making this trip has been enormous and my thanks to Imfuduko in a big way for making this trip what it has been.

I have had a magical experience over these weeks together, many thanks.

Mark, Debbie, Gidon and Daniel Edinburg


"Very professional, well polished team and a totally private and relaxing time. The whole experienced was geared towards ensuring Imfuduko's guests every need was met.

Highly recommended."


"As real townies we travelled to the remote and islolated wilderness of the Richtersvelt National Park with Imfuduko crew. As novices we felt totally secure. The crew proved to be very confident in their directions and map reading abilities, taking us past wonderful sights and around shepherd's kraals. The camp was amazingly well equipped. The accommodation was very snug and comfortable. Memorable and wonderful trip with some very fond memories."



Tom and Mary Borkett


"I was fortunate enough to make two bush trips with Imfuduko. On these expeditions I saw much of the breathtaking wildlife of Botswana: lion and white elephants at Nxai Pan, elephants and hippos at Chobe and the experience of a lifetime, lion roaring outside my tent at 2.30am at Savuti. Both trips were organised with flair. We travelled in a spacious Toyota Land Cruiser, slept in walk-in tents and dined on excellent cuisine. Each evening we sat under the stars around the camp fire, drinking fine wine, reliving the day's adventures and planning those for the next day. These were memorable game trips that could not be bettered.

Imfuduko equates to style."



Dr A Emery




"An exciting and well organised safari through Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. Visiting the very remote chimpanzee reserve at Mahale mountains, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, a visit to Dr Livingstone famous meeting point at Ujiji, and a memorable dip in the hot springs at Kapisha, next to the mansion built by Stuart Gore-Browne in northern Zambia.

Whilst we as guests were enjoying cool wine, sitting in the hot spring water under a black velvet, starry night, our leader and cook was slaving over a hot fire preparing a delicious meal for us. Food before pleasure, such was his dedication.

We will return."



Mr and Mrs I Jacobs. Cape Town




Many thanks for a fantastic trip - a trip that will be remembered fondly for a lifetime. You obviously planned brilliantly, and the execution was flawless.

Thanks for a wonderful holiday."