chitowntraveler

I have used other travel agencies in the past but Rhino Africa has great reviews and gave me great pricing. Anyone used them? How did it go? How were the guides in Cape Town? Did all the details, flights, etc. go flawlessly?

We are looking for a full service two weeks where we simply follow the schedule and the travel agency does the rest. Are they the right fit for me?

ElaineAust

Hi Chitowntraveler
I have used Rhino Africa 3 times and always found them to be very efficient and well priced. I usually know exactly when I want to go and what I want to do but they always come up with some little extra options. Never had any problems with internal flights, transfers or accommodations. The guides they use for day trips are very good. They even sorted out a small issue with a hotel in Nairobi were my CC was charged in error. They are the right fit for me.
Elaine

chitowntraveler

Thanks ElanieAust.

I am highly considering them for my trip next year but I do not like that I have no prior experience with them or referrals. Kristy seems very good and helpful and their pricing is good but still.

Anyone else use them for a 2 week custom trip and have feedback?

susiesan

I used Rhino Africa last April 2015 for a 2 week custom itinerary. Victoria Falls 1 night, 2 nights on Chobe houseboat, 2 nights in Botswana at tented camp, 3 nights in Kruger at Gomo Gomo Lodge, then 5 nights in Capetown.

This one of the best vacations I have ever taken. Everything planned by Rhino Africa came off perfectly. The price ended up exactly where my budget was at. They made it happen. I have been referring friends to them and will use Rhino Africa when I return someday.

ecassaer

I almost booked with them last year, and even though they had a much better rate than a local TA (in the end, they made a first quote but somehow they were able to get almost 1000 off later). I went with the local TA out of "comort" I suppose. That was a mistake.

Next trip I book, I'm asking them for a quote again and probably Sun Safaris.

Safari_Craig

Hi Chinatowntraveler,

Regarding Rhino Africa, the company has been around for about ten years and should be reliable. We were actually in an adjacent booth to them at the New York Times travel show in January 2012. I know some of the owners as well.

To be honest, I would be a bit wary of the online reviews about Rhino Africa and put more weight into the service you are getting from them and possible information you find on these forums. Just make sure they really are independent reviews. I looked on Google and they have 11 reviews all-time. I looked at the first five reviews. They are from “Nakita Wolf”, “Dylan Bosman”, “Alex & Katrina V”, “Ross Findlay”, and “Jamie Crous”. Nakita, Dylan, and Jamie are ALL employees of Rhino Africa!! I cannot find "Alex and Katrina V" as there is not enough info to go with. These are not exactly unbiased review from customers… I stopped looking after five people and did not look at the other six. I am not saying that Rhino Africa is a bad company, I am just saying the reviews are totally bogus.

Susie and Elaine both posted on this forum. They have been contributors for a long time from what I can tell. Solid advice IMO.

If you are still thinking of Victoria Falls, Kings Pool, Jao and Chief’s Camp in May then that is an OK plan. I have been to all of these camps multiple times and I have actually been to all of them in May.

A note about Jao camp: this area is VERY wet in May as the Delta is in peak flood around this area that month. You will likely not have much opportunity for land based game drives here and most of your activities, if not all, will be on a boat or canoe. On both my May trips to Jao the airstrip had sand bags around it and a diesel pump was pumping water off the runway area. The camp is super luxury.

Kings Pool in May: this area is a bit more seasonal than the other two properties on the Linyanti concession. You will most likely end up driving 45 minutes each way each game drive to the southern portion of the concession. This means you will spend 180 minutes a day getting to the areas with the most animals. I recommend Savuti or Duma Tau this time of year. They are also owned by Wilderness Safaris and on the same land but far to the south.

Chief’s Camp should be exceptional in May. They also offer water activities and the Delta should be high.

Chief’s Camp has a sister property in Zambia called Sussi & Chuma at Victoria Falls (technically a few miles upstream). You will get a discount at S&C and at Chief’s camp for using these two properties together. Ditto for Wilderness Safaris. They have Toka Leya near Sussi & Chuma in Zambia. On the Zimbabwe side I like Victoria Falls River Lodge and Elephant Camp in that order.

By the way, since you are considering a Wilderness Safari circuit for Botswana, you may get a better price from a US based safari specialist agent. Wilderness Safaris offers their best pricing via roughly 20 agents in the US. Where do you live? I might be able to recommend such an agent in your area.

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond

Larry123

Bongi of Rhino Africa helped plan our awesome 18 day trip to South Africa, Zambia and Botswana in May. I picked out two game lodges in South Africa. On a single phone call from Bongi, I gave her the names of these two lodges, along with a general idea of a proposed itinerary.

I did a preliminary spreadsheet to cover the 18 days. Bongi came back with a price that was in line with what I had come up with, but she added value because she used flights that didn't require me to add an overnight stopover in Johannesburg in getting from the Kruger area to Victoria Falls.

She took care of all the details, including accommodations, internal flights, ground transportation and a private tour to Soweto and the Apartheid Museum. We liked all of the accommodations she picked. All of the drivers showed up as expected, and they were very considerate and knowledgeable. All in all, it was a great trip, that went very smoothly, largely due to Bongi's excellent planning.

I would definitely recommend Rhino Africa!

uhoh_busted

THAT is why it is good to work with a "local" TO.