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05.02.2010 |
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South Africa Tour: Vivien Tait
Teltow, Germany |
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| This was our 3rd trip arranged by Umfulana and was once again perfect. We had one small misunderstanding with the accommodation at Ithala though. Our itinerary had quoted self-catering facilities available, but the hut they wanted to put us in, did not have this. It was one of the conference huts, very close to the others, nowhere to sit outside and definitely not what we expected or had last time we stayed at Ithala in 2004. However, after some discussion between the lodge manager and Umfulana, this was straightened out and we were given a fantastic private lodge. Apart from that everything went very smoothly – the distances and times were very accurate and all accommodations were super and lived up to our expectations. Our next trip to South Africa will certainly be arranged by Umfulana again. They are the BEST! |
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07.01.2010 |
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South Africa Tour: Felix & Marianne Bruijning
Loosdrecht, Netherlands |
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Dear Merwin,
After an unforgettable journey by car from Johannesburg through ZA we arrived safely in Paarl.
We enjoyed our trip tremendously and would like to compliment you on your impressive and various itinerary, perfect directions and the perfect organisation.
We where time after time amazed and surprised about the differences in landscapes, inhabitants and accommodations.
Who where all in their own way very beautiful, impressive and interesting.
Kind regards,
Felix and Marianne Bruijning |
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15.11.2009 |
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South Africa Tour: Joseph Dey
Sheffield, United Kingdom |
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Thank you once again for arranging another memorable holiday for us.
This time we had a very enjoyable visit to Cape Town and the Cape.
The guest houses we stayed at were all of a high standard and the management and staff were friendly and provided excellent service.
The great care taken by Merwin and Umfulana in choosing places to visit and stay really benefits the traveler.
We are very grateful to the team at Umfulana for all their efforts.
Joe & Elizabeth Dey
Sheffield
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27.08.2009 |
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South Africa Tour: Abida Halstenberg (ahalstenberg@yahoo.com)
London, United Kingdom |
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Thank you for organising our fantastic trip. We loved the lovely zippered case our personalised itinerary arrived in:-)
The SAT NAV system you reserved for us was invaluable as we were on the road a lot, both in cities and in remote rural areas. This was the most accurate system we have ever used!
All the places were unique and Grootbos Nature Reserve (thank you for suggesting this gem of a place and for insisting we spend at least two nights there; we would recommend at least three nights but we did not have the time) and Savanna Lodge (safari) were the highlights (also the most expensive by far!) However, the De Leeuwenhof Estate stood out in terms of really great service and superb value for money.The owners are incredibly generous with their time and go out of their way to make you feel special and welcome. Can you believe Daan came looking for us when we were a bit lost (advice: make an IMMEDIATE left after the bridge, don't get side-tracked by the lack of signage at that spot) in the rain at 10:15pm?? He then helped us with the bags and made sure we were comfortable and were familiar with the facilities before leaving. What's more, the next day they made reservations for us at a superb local restaurant, Terra Mare (comparable to the best in any big city). If that was not enough they offered to drive us there and collect us as the end as we were not keen to drive afer a whole day of wine-tasting. Daan drove us over and Yvonne picked us up after. We felt like we were staying with family. No one else in their place would go out of their way to look after guests in such an attentive manner. We had a very early departure but breakfast was ready before 6:30am (with freshly baked bread!) and Daan was there to say goodbye. He did not even charge for the bottle of wine we consumed during our brief stay. The rooms are done up in an aesthetically rustic style and are really good value for money. Breakfast was lovely as well! The family give you all the space you need but are there if you need them. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an intimate, charming and personal getaway with terrific service.
The only complaint we had with the overall itinerary was the long drive back from Knysna to Paarl. We were not aware that we could have flown to Joburg from Port Elisabeth (not far from Knysna). In retrospect, we would have preferred to spend a couple of days in Paarl after arriving in and spending two days in Cape Town, then driving along the Garden Route to Port Elizabeth and flying to Joburg for the safari trip. That way we would have done the Garden Route just once instead of returning on the motorways on a six hour journey.
In Cape Town there was also some confusion around tickets for Robben Island not being available so check before you get there and reserve them in advance so as not to be disappointed. And don't believe anyone who tells you that you HAVE TO to combine the visit with a half-day township tour (although this is also quite an experience if you have enough time to fit it in). You can buy tickets directly from the official Robben Island website or from the waterfront office where the ferry departs to the island.
Savanna Lodge was a really great experience as well. In addition to the lovely, luxurious facilities, the staff truly go out of their way to welcome you. In our case, the ranger (Mike) and tracker (Nordic) team made all the difference to our trip. They were very enthusiastic and in barely two trips had shown us all the Big 5 and much more! Mike was around constantly taking care of our every need and making sure we were having a good time (and a good drink!). We were also lucky to share the safari rides with a friendly honeymooning couple who added to the fun. The owners also happened to be there at the same time and this also helped make it a personal experience. Would love to return here as well.
Grootbos was the surprise. We had no idea how nice it would be. The activities are terrific and the staff very enthusiastic, especially Brummer the resident botanist! The chef was incredible as well and consistently churned out some of the best meals I have ever had. The menu was exotic (thick tom yum soup, gazpacho, pannacotta etc.) and varied but fit together perfectly. You must take advantage of the optional extra and go on the whale watching boat trip. I saw eight whales and a great white shark! |
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31.05.2009 |
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South Africa Tour: Richard David Watson (dickwatson43@gmail.com)
Nelson, New Zealand |
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We would like to thank you for the tour you arranged for us, it was a great holiday and we saw a great country. We think that if we had not driven the route you researched we would have missed out so much. You provided us a good variety of sights from animals to historical buildings to magnificent scenery and good advice on what to see in each area
Driving was easy with a good directions provided (mind the potholes!) we did not feel we were in danger or threatened at anytime.
Our lodgings were all of a high standard each with a unique quality and marvelous food and well placed on the route. |
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