Southern Africa Safari

Traveler Reviews

• TR

  Troy5.0•October 2026
  Led by Sim
  Right from the first moment you can feel the passion Sim has for his country and the continent of Africa and how much...
  Right from the first moment you can feel the passion Sim has for his country and the continent of Africa and how much he loves being able to share it with people from around the globe. Sim constantly made sure everyone’s individual needs were catered for and that everyone was having the best experience they could, even when faced with hurdles. Sim has left me itching to come back for another Contiki through Africa as long as he is the guide.Show more
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  Traveled in May 2026
• SK

  Stela4.5•October 2026
  Led by Sim
  Sim was a fantastic tour guide! Although I didn’t get to know him until day 4/5 of the trip, I always found him to be...
  Sim was a fantastic tour guide! Although I didn’t get to know him until day 4/5 of the trip, I always found him to be fun, approachable, and easy to talk to. He was extremely patient, always available when we needed him, and made himself reachable whenever we had questions or needed assistance. I really appreciated his friendly attitude and willingness to help throughout the trip. Thank you Sim for making the experience even more enjoyable!Show more
  Traveled in May 2026
• JA

  Jaqueline5.0•October 2026
  Led by Sim
  The itinerary was absolutely incredible! In just a few days, we had the opportunity to experience so many different...
  The itinerary was absolutely incredible! In just a few days, we had the opportunity to experience so many different sides of Southern Africa, from the vibrant, modern city of Cape Town to the breathtaking wilderness of Botswana, where camping and going on safaris allowed us to truly immerse ourselves in nature. The diversity of landscapes, cultures, and experiences made the journey unforgettable. Our Trip Manager Sim (Simbonile Mdunyelwa), was truly extraordinary and undoubtedly one of the highlights of the entire experience. He shared so much more than facts and information about the places we visited. He shared stories, cultural insights, philosophy, and, above all, genuine warmth and kindness. Through concepts such as Ubuntu, he encouraged us to see the journey not only as an opportunity to discover beautiful places, but also to connect with one another and gain a deeper understanding of the people and cultures we encountered. His passion, knowledge, and genuine care for everyone in the group made the experience even more meaningful. The tour itself was exceptionally well-organized, with an impressive variety of activities and experiences packed into a relatively short period of time, something I have come to appreciate about Contiki trips. But beyond all of that, there is something deeply personal that I will always be grateful to Sim for. He played such a special role in helping me face my fears and navigate my anxiety. He offered encouragement, reassurance, and genuine kindness at moments when I needed them most. Many Trip Managers go above and beyond to make your journey special. But how many of them would actually jump off a bridge with you? Because that is exactly what Sim did for me. He knew how much doing the bungee jump meant to me, how much courage it took, and how important it was for me to overcome that fear. And instead of simply encouraging me from the sidelines, he chose to take that leap with me. I don’t think I can fully put into words what that gesture meant. It wasn’t just about the jump itself. It was about having someone believe in me, stand by me, and help me find the courage to do something I was genuinely afraid of. His words, his encouragement, and, above all, his willingness to be right there with me turned an already extraordinary experience into a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life. I returned home with incredible memories, wonderful friendships, and a much deeper appreciation for this extraordinary part of the world. But I also came home with something more personal: the memory of having faced one of my fears, and the gratitude of knowing that someone cared enough to help me through it. What makes Sim so special is not only how well he guides people through beautiful places, but how he makes them feel along the way. He brings people together, makes everyone feel welcome and cared for, and reminds us that the most meaningful part of traveling is often the human connections we make. He didn’t just show us Africa; he helped us experience it with curiosity, appreciation, courage, and an open heart. I will never forget that jump, and I will always be grateful to Sim for his words, his kindness, and the extraordinary gesture of taking that leap with me. Some people make a journey unforgettable simply by being part of it. Sim is one of those people.Show more
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  Traveled in April 2026
• JC

  Jaz5.0•October 2026
  Simbonile Mdunyelwa (Sim) was my trip manager through Southern Africa. I am grateful for his positive attitude and...
  Simbonile Mdunyelwa (Sim) was my trip manager through Southern Africa. I am grateful for his positive attitude and absolute commitment to his job. Sim went above and beyond for his guests - our safari vehicle got bogged and Sim was out sourcing branches and in the mud to help get the vehicle out; a guest was anxious to do the giant swing at Victoria Falls on her own so Sim did it tandem with her; his positive attitude got me through difficult times when I was struggling with camping.Show more
  Traveled in May 2026
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  R5.0•October 2026
  Led by Sim
  The on-road team was absolutely excellent and took great care of us throughout the entire trip. Special thanks to our...
  The on-road team was absolutely excellent and took great care of us throughout the entire trip. Special thanks to our trip manager Sim for his outstanding support, professionalism, and friendly approach. He made sure we were well looked after every step of the way and helped make this once-in-a-lifetime experience even more memorable. His dedication and care truly made a difference. There was nothing about this trip that I could complain about. It exceeded my expectations in every way and was truly an eye-opening, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I came away with wonderful memories, new perspectives, and a greater appreciation for the places we visited and the people we met along the way.Show more
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  Traveled in May 2026
• ED

  Elijah5.0•October 2026
  Sim was an amazing guide for our Southern African safari tour through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. He was...
  Sim was an amazing guide for our Southern African safari tour through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. He was super knowledgeable about everything we saw. His personality was so infectious you couldn’t help but be happy when you saw him which made the trip even better.Show more
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  Traveled in May 2026
  

  Reply from: Contiki

  Thank you for sharing your feedback and for choosing to travel with us on your Southern African safari through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. We are pleased to read that you enjoyed the experience and benefited from the Travel Director’s extensive knowledge and engaging personality. It is especially encouraging to know that the Travel Director’s enthusiasm and positive approach helped make your journey even more memorable. We will be sure to share your kind comments with the relevant team. Thank you for travelling with us. We hope to welcome you on another memorable adventure in the future.

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• FC

  Faye5.0•October 2026
  Led by Sim
  This was my first contiki tour and first time to South Africa! It truly was a trip of a lifetime. This was made...
  This was my first contiki tour and first time to South Africa! It truly was a trip of a lifetime. This was made possible by our wonderful contiki tour guide Simbonile Mdunyelwa. By day 2 he knew all of our names and cared about all of us having the best time possible. At any point where we were stressing about anything he told us repeatedly to put the stress onto him as it was our holiday and we were meant to be having fun. His training and knowledge of South Africa really showed as the whole trip was such a smooth process. Everyday Sim gave 1000% effortlessly. Sim not only took our want of having the best time on his shoulders but also our safety. There wasnt one point where I or our group felt unsafe. By the end of the tour we were all in tears when we had to say goodbye because of the AMAZING trip we had shared together. Hopefully one day ill be able to go on another tour led by Sim. The humanity and genuine care Sim has for his work and the people on his tour is unmatched. Im very grateful to him for helping create memories im going to look back on for the rest of my life.Show more
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  Traveled in May 2026
  

  Reply from: Contiki

  Thank you for sharing such heartfelt feedback and for choosing Contiki for your first visit to South Africa. We are pleased to read that your trip was such a memorable experience and that the Travel Director’s knowledge, enthusiasm and genuine care helped make it so special. It is particularly encouraging to read how the Travel Director prioritised the group’s safety and wellbeing, ensuring everyone felt supported, relaxed and able to make the most of their holiday. Creating meaningful connections and lasting memories is an important part of the travel experience, and we will be sure to share your kind words with the relevant team. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you on another unforgettable Contiki adventure in the future.

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• AP

  Alexandra4.8•October 2026
  Led by Sim
  What an absolutely UNREAL trip! Sim was incredible and honestly made the whole experience so much more special. From...
  What an absolutely UNREAL trip! Sim was incredible and honestly made the whole experience so much more special. From day one, he brought the best energy, kept everyone laughing and somehow managed to keep us all organised while making everything feel completely effortless. Everything was so well planned and communicated, from travel days and activities to nights out and meeting times (which is no easy task with a Contiki group 😂). He always made sure we knew what was happening while still keeping the trip fun, relaxed and spontaneous. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and he created such a great atmosphere within the group. Every destination felt exciting, every day was an adventure, and the whole trip genuinely felt magical. An unforgettable trip, an amazing group and the BEST tour guide. Couldn’t have asked for a better Contiki experience — I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat!Show more
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  Traveled in May 2026
  

  Reply from: Contiki

  Thank you for sharing your feedback and for choosing Contiki for your travels. We are pleased to read that you had such an unforgettable experience and that the Travel Director’s enthusiasm, organisation and positive energy helped make your trip so special. It is particularly encouraging to read how the Travel Director kept everyone informed, created a fun and welcoming atmosphere, and ensured the group could enjoy each destination to the fullest. We will be sure to share your kind comments with the relevant team. Thank you again for being part of the Contiki experience. We hope to welcome you on another memorable adventure with us in the future!

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• GH

  Gabby5.0•October 2026
  Led by Sim
  Sim was the best !!!!
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  Traveled in May 2026
  

  Reply from: Contiki

  Thank you for taking this adventure with us.

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• MH

  Michelle5.0•September 2026
  Led by Sim
  Great tour guide very informative
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  Traveled in May 2026
  

  Reply from: Contiki

  Thank you for taking this adventure with Contiki.

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