Sept 3-14, 2023: South Africa!

Bucket List Travel

AE
Annie Emanuelli
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24 reviews
Sep 3 - 14, 2023
Group size: 2 - 10
Sept 3-14, 2023: South Africa!
Bucket List Travel

Annie Emanuelli
  • Email address verified
  • Facebook verified
  • LinkedIn verified
24 reviews

Sep 3 - 14, 2023
Group size: 2 - 10

About this trip

Is South Africa on YOUR Bucket List?

Bucket List Travel is excited to offer this amazing 12-day, 11-night adventure in South Africa! 

This tour includes nine game drives to see the wild African animals; visits at sanctuaries for lions, elephants and monkeys, including a chance to walk with elephants and lions; and tours of the Cradle of Humankind, Soweto, and the Rwanda Genocide Museum.

It also includes a 3-night visit to Cape Town, including round trip airfare there and back, and tours of Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, the Boulders penquin colony, and a full-day tour of the winelands.

There is a limit of 10 guests on this tour to give each guest a chance to best see the wildlife from the safari vehicles. We are only traveling in malaria-free areas!

Stop dreaming; start packing!!

NEW! We are excited to now offer a 3-day add-on excursion to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia. See details below!

The Best Time for Safaris!

South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons there are opposite of ours here in the US. When it’s summer here, it’s winter there!  For most of Southern Africa, winter typically lasts from April to October. 

This is the best time to go on safari. Water is scarce and animals are forced to congregate around the few remaining water sources, making them easier to spot. The grass is lower, affording better visibility; and dirt roads are easily navigable, increasing your chances of a successful safari. Traveling in the dry season also means avoiding rainy season inconveniences and discomforts like flooding, high humidity and an abundance of insects. 

Optional Bush Walk with Lions

Lions are Africa’s apex predator: fierce, wild, majestic, mighty. It is a thrill to have a lion sighting on safari, but it is mind-blowing to walk through the African bush a few feet behind these 500-pound beasts. Come with us as we spend an hour walking with the male lions of a famous Conservation Center. Observe their behavior and interaction with each other in their natural environment under controlled and ethical conditions, with no touching of the lions allowed. 

These guided Bush Walks with Lions are focused on providing visitors with a unique wildlife experience, and on providing sensory enrichment for the lions. 

This adventure also includes an interaction with a cheetah, which you may touch.

The  Conservation Center is a world-class research and conservation facility, specializing in Wildlife Research and Predator Conservation. 

The cost of this option is $160 per person, with a minimum of two visitors. (Cost for a single solo visitor is $235.)

Optional Vic Falls Devil's Pool

Victoria Falls is a stunning spectacle however you view it. Whether it’s from the bottom of the gorge, from spray-doused Knife Edge Bridge, or from the comfort of a plane or chopper. But when it comes to a breathtaking immersive experience, nothing is quite so full-on as a dip in Devil’s Pool. This oddly becalmed 3m/10ft-deep natural pool stands right on the edge if the abyss, separated from the raging white water by the narrowest of rock lips. Devil's Pool is on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. It stands almost midway across the mile-wide waterfall, close to Livingstone Island. It is accessible only on guided boat tours operated by Tongabezi Safaris. These leave from a launch on the Zambian bank of the Zambezi upstream of the falls.

The only way to access Devil’s Pool is seasonal boat tours to Livingstone Island. Devil's Pool is only available when the Zambezi is low enough to swim there safely. This is usually from mid-August to end December, with access being most reliable in October and November, when the flow is weakest. Be aware, however, that seasonal levels vary from one year to the next, depending on how much and when it rained further upstream. The pool is closed to tourists when the flow is dangerously high, usually from 1 January to sometime in August.

Tours to Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool include drinks, a meal, guides and a towel. Guests should bring their own cloths (bathing suit, shorts, T-shirt and water shoes). 

You should ideally be able to swim to go into Devil's Pool. Medium to strong swimmers head to the Devil’s Pool from Livingstone Island, swimming upstream for a short distance then back downstream into the pool itself. Weak swimmers can wade from the island to the pool, provided they don’t mind being submerged waist-deep. In both instances, experienced guides are there to instruct and, if necessary, assist. Minor accidents have occurred on the slippery rocks, but so far as we’re aware there have been no fatalities on any organised tour.


Includes transportation, bridge and park fees, tour and breakfast

Optional activities at Victoria Falls

After our tour of the falls, you'll have the afternoon free and there are several optional activities you may choose. (There will also be free time the next morning before we fly back to Johannesburg.) If you are interested in more than one activity, let me know, and I will work with the activities director at the lodge to work out a schedule for you.

These are the optional activities you may choose:

• Helicopter flight over the falls - 12 minutes: $160

• Helicopter flight over the falls - 25 minutes: $290

• Bungee Jump: $160

• Zipline - solo: $45

• Zipline - tandem: $65

• Bridge Swing - solo: $160

• Bridge Swing - tandem: $250

• BigAir Combo - bungee jump, zipline and bridge swing: $220

• Bridge Tour: $65

• Jetboat ride on the Zambezi River: $100

• Devil's Pool: $185

Optional Tour to Plumari Game Reserve

Be collected from the hotel and proceed to a Big 5 lodge situated on the Plumari Private Game Reserve, in the beautiful scenic Magaliesberg mountains. On arrival we are welcomed with a warm cup of coffee and biscuits and on the chilly mornings sit around the fire keeping the kettle hot for a second cup. We then get onto our open viewer and head off into 6800 Hectares of natural bush and an area filled with Historical significant and to witness the wildlife in their natural habitat, where guests can expect to encounter a diverse range of animals and bird species. During the drive we will get off the vehicle to see remarkable etchings that have been carved into the rock thousands of years ago by the local inhabitants in those days, the Bushman. There are more than 20 species of larger animals, as well as several types of antelope and plains game, not to mention smaller species like antbears, hyena, porcupine and honey badgers. During the drive we stop for a special break of Champagne and orange juice surrounded by Mother Nature. On returning to the lodge, we then visit the Plumari Heritage Museum filled with the intriguing historical fact of the area, before setting off back to your hotel.

OPT: Cullinan Diamond Mine Surface Tour

Be collected from your Hotel and proceed to the unique village of Cullinan, named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, bears the distinction of being the site of discovery of the world’s largest diamond. This comprises of a 2 hour tour starting with a 15 min video of underground mining; Then a display of rough diamonds in Diamond House followed by a visit the mine shaft in operation. Once you have been shown the shaft area you will proceed to a platform that looks over the 32 ha big hole. To finish off the tour you will then go to view the diamond cutting and polishing Rooms and here you can spoil a loved one by purchasing a gift of a life time.

Optional Vic Falls Bridge Tour

You are collected from your hotel and transferred by vehicle through customs and immigration to the Victoria Falls Bridge Visitors Centre. After registration, the tour begins.

It starts with a very entertaining performance by an actor impersonating Mr Georges Imbault who was the chief engineer during the construction of the bridge (and also responsible for the Syndey Harbour Bridge in Australia).

This show last about 45 minutes as he regales stories of how and why the bridge was constructed, the enormous problems they encountered and how they overcame them. It's enthralling and fascinating.

After this is finished an informative guide shows you around the Visitors Centre, where information and pictures of the Bridge's history is displayed. This visual part of the tour enhances what was mentioned in Georges Imbault's theatrical presentation.

There is plenty of opportunity to ask any questions you might have. 

After the Visitors Centre walk is completed, there is an “optional” physical under the Bridge tour, where you get the rare opportunity to walk on the catwalks used in the original construction of the Bridge.

After a short safety briefing and the donning of a safety harness by which you attach yourself to safety ropes under the bridge, you are then led on a guided walk underneath the bridge which gives you a real opportunity to marvel at the Bridge's construction.

Once back at the Visitors Centre you have the opportunity to enjoy wandering around on your own for approximately 30 minutes before heading back to your respective pick up points.

Optional Cullinan Diamond Mine

Before the tour: On August 31, you have the option of visiting the unique village of Cullinan, which bears the distinction of being the site of discovery of the world's largest diamond. 

This 2-hour tour starts with a 15-minute video of underground mining; 

Then a display of rough diamonds in Diamond House followed by a visit the mine shaft in operation.  Once you have been shown the shaft area you will proceed to a platform that looks over the 32 ha big hole. To finish off the tour you will then go to view the diamond cutting and polishing rooms, and then you can spoil yourself or a loved one by purchasing a gift of a lifetime.

Cost of the tour is $90 per person.

Weather

September in Johannesburg continues to warm up going into spring, which starts on September 1. Daytime highs average 72-82°F and the nights get down to 48°F. 

In Cape Town, you can expect an average high temperature of 66-72°F, and the overnight low temperatures average 48°F. The average ocean temperature near Cape Town is a chilly 61°F.

September in Johannesburg is mostly dry, and it only rains an average of 4 days. There's only a 15% chance of cloud cover during September.

Cape Town averages 12 rainy days during this month, with light precipitation. Despite some rain, many days in September are clear and sunny. 

The length of the day is 11 hours 37 minutes at the beginning of September.  

You'll get an average of 11 hours of sunshine every day in Johannesburg, and 7 hours of daily sunlight in Cape Town.

What to Expect

Remember: Africa is a third world country! You are not in Kansas anymore!

Roads are bumpy and dusty, WiFi can be spotty, electricity may go off at odd times, and everything happens on Africa time (really S-L-O-W)!  

This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking and requires an average level of physical fitness. 

On game drives, we will spend much of our time driving over rough dirt roads in open air safari vehicles, which have high ground clearance and require some agility to embark and disembark. 

Many days we leave early in the morning. 

There will be limited bathroom stops. 

During game drives, you may come into proximity of wild animals whose actions can be unpredictable. Certain inherent risks are involved which should be considered at your own discretion.

Meals may be delayed for unforeseen reasons. We'll try to have snacks available, but if you have blood sugar issues, please bring any snacks you know you may need. 

We find our guests are happiest when they can roll with delays and last-minute changes that may happen in the unpredictable world of African travel. 

The best things you can bring with you are flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor!


Cost and Payment

This 12-day, 11-night adventure is priced $3,499 per person double occupancy (not including airfare to and from South Africa). Single supplement is $350.

Your space will be secured when we receive a deposit of $250. Upon receipt, half of your deposit is nonrefundable.

We have a payment plan which allows the entire cost of the trip to be paid in 12 equal monthly installments of $275. (You are welcome to make larger payments at less frequent intervals if you choose.) The entire balance must be paid in full by three months before your departure.

Cancellation and Refunds

In the event that you need to cancel your trip, these fees will be applied:

• Between 150-101 days before your arrival date, $375.

• Between 100-61 days before your arrival date, $775 (25% of the entire tour price.).

• Between 60 and 46 days before your arrival date, $1,550 (50% of the entire tour price.)

• Between 45 and 31 days before your arrival date, $2,325 (75% of the entire tour price.)

• Between 30 and 1 days before your arrival date, 100% of the entire tour price.

Arrival Flights

Please plan to fly into and out of O.R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

You need to be in Johannesburg on Sunday, Sept 3, 2023, which means you will need to depart the USA on Saturday, Sept 2. (You might even need to leave as early as Friday, Sept 1 if your flight has multiple stops.) 

Please ASK US if you have any questions before you purchase your airfare!

Please plan to arrive in Johannesburg before NOON on SUNDAY, SEPT 3. This will give us time to take you to Lesedi African Cultural Center, where we will enjoy a tour, show and dinner starting at 4 pm. (If your flight doesn't arrive before noon, you might consider flying in the previous day and spending an optional night at Protea Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport-available as an option for $135.)

Plan to depart from Johannesburg in the evening on Thursday, Sept 14. 

Suggested Packing List

Here is a suggested packing list: 

1-2 pair chinos or other light pants 

1 pair jeans 

1 pair shorts or capris 

4-5 tee shirts 

1-2 long sleeve tee shirt 

1 fleece jacket 

1 light puffer jacket or down vest

1 warm hat 

1 pair heavy sneakers/hiking shoes 

1 pair regular running shoes/sneakers 

1 pair sandals, like Tevas 

Underwear and socks-6 to 8 of each

Sunglasses

Optional: bathing suit

Sunscreen (SPF 30-50), mosquito repellant, small flashlight

Keep it light, because there is a restrictive weight limit on the domestic flight to Cape Town.

Remember, there is laundry service at all the places we are staying, and they are inexpensive, quick, and convenient. 

Packing for an African safari 

Navigating dirt roads in an open-top jeep means that you'll get covered in dust, so you'll need clothes that hide dirt well. Because temperatures can change dramatically throughout the day,  the key to a comfortable safari outfit is layers. You should pack and wear layers to adjust to the wide range of temperatures you can experience on a typical day. While the morning can be freezing, by midday it can be hot. Layers will save you.

Best colors to wear on safari  

Unless you are seriously tracking wildlife on foot, which we are not, the color of your clothing is really not that important.  The basic rule on safari is to go neutral. When trying to spot wildlife you’ll have the best chance if you blend in as much as possible with your surroundings. Ideal colors to wear on safari are greens, browns, olives and khakis. Any other neutral colors are fine too, but there are some  you should avoid wearing on safari:

· White and very pale clothes show the dust and dirt you will inevitably be covered with, and it is hard to get out!

 · Camouflage clothing should be avoided. In some African countries is for army personnel only, and you could theoretically be arrested for wearing it.

 • Bright colors can attract insects.

Spending Money

The price you have paid for your tour includes: 11 nights accommodation; most meals; all tours escorted by a private guide; entrance fees to all sights in the itinerary; all transportation, with free water and Wi-Fi provided on board; domestic flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town; and all airport transfers .

Your tour does not include the cost of 5 meals, beverages, and gratuities.

All meals are included except 3 lunches and 2 dinners. You can budget $10 per lunch and $20 per dinner. You will also need money for drinks and souvenirs. Alcoholic beverages are less expensive in South Africa than they are in the USA.

 

Tipping is customary in South Africa. It is not compulsory; tipping is given entirely at your discretion. Ten percent is customary in restaurants. When you register, we'll provide suggestions for appropriate tips throughout the tour.

As a guideline, most guests use $400-$600 during the 12-day tour. 

Frequently Asked Questions

All accommodations provide shampoo and body wash, but not conditioner. They also provide hair dryers.

Currency

The rand (ZAR) is the official currency of South Africa.  

As of January 2021, $1 USD equaled 15.21 South African Rand.

You can either buy South African Rand at home from your bank or AAA office and bring it with you, or get South African Rand from an ATM when you arrive in Johannesburg. It is difficult to convert US dollars to Rand when you are in South Africa, so we don’t recommend this option.

Adapters

In South Africa the power plugs and sockets are of type D, M and N, so you will need an adapter for electrical appliances from the United States. The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.

WiFi

Free WiFi service is available in the rooms and common areas at all of our accommodations. 

If you need to be sure to have WiFi at all times, you can rent a mobile hot spot at the airport upon arrival in Johannesburg starting at about $30.

Laundry

Laundry service is available at Mziki Lodge, Cradle Moon Lodge, and Villa Rosa. It is very inexpensive. Average costs are: 

T shirts, blouses, or shorts: $1

Jeans, trousers or dresses: $1.75

Socks and underwear: 75 cents

Domestic Flight Baggage Limits

Your domestic flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town flight entitles you to one free checked bag weighing up to 44 pounds and one piece of hand baggage weighing up to 15.5 pounds, plus a laptop bag or small handbag.  Any bag weighing between 44-70 pounds will incur a heavy bag fee of about $25 at the airport.

Optional: Hot Air Balloon

You have the option of taking a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the savannah. On most tours, we have seen animals on the ground below us, including rhinos, antelopes and baboons! Pickup will be at around 5 a.m. and take off around 6 a.m. to see the sunrise. After a one hour flight, we'll have champagne on landing then a full breakfast. We will be back at our lodge by 10 a.m. to leave for the rest of the day's tour. Price of the balloon flight is $235 per person.

Optional Farewell Dinner

On our final evening of the trip in Cape Town, you may choose to join us for a festive farewell dinner at GOLD Restaurant.

Guests at GOLD Restaurant cannot help but be swept up in the excitement of archetypal African stories told through our live entertainment. To start, you'll feel the heartbeat of Africa with our pre-dinner interactive djembe drumming session. Then we'll enjoy praise singing to welcome you, Mali puppetry, and dancing to the rhythms of the marimba percussion and djembe drums.  

Then dinner-an edible map of Africa! African food is traditionally shared and enjoyed with family and friends. Similarly, our 14-dish tasting menu is served in generous individual and shared portions. Each dish is brought to your table with country of origin, cooking techniques and spicing explained. 

Price of this optional farewell dinner is $50.

http://goldrestaurant.co.za/ 

Immunizations

All travelers should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination.  These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.


PLEASE NOTE: We will let you know as soon as possible if a Covid-19 vaccination is required to travel.


Most travelers get these travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting:

• Hepatits A: CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in South Africa, regardless of where you are eating or staying.

• Typhoid: You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in South Africa. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater. 


Some Travelers: Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US.

• Hepatitis B: You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.

• Malaria: When traveling in South Africa, you should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and if you are spending a lot of time outdoors or sleeping outside. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent malaria while traveling. 

Areas of South Africa with risk of malaria: Present along the border with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Specifically in Mopani, Vhembe, and Waterberg district municipalities of Limpopo Province; Ehlanzeni district municipality in Mpumalanga Province; and Umknanyakude in Kwazulu-Natal Province. Present in Kruger National Park (see Map 2-25). See more detailed information about malaria in South Africa.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS NO MALARIA PRESENT IN THE AREAS WE VISIT ON THIS TOUR!


• Rabies: Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in South Africa, so CDC recommends this vaccine for the following groups: Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities (such as camping, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and caving) that put them at risk for animal bites; People who will be working with or around animals (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and researchers); People who are taking long trips or moving to South Africa; Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck.

• Yellow Fever: Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥1 year of age, including transit >12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of YF virus transmission. Note: Yellow fever vaccine availability in the United States is currently limited. If you need to be vaccinated before your trip, you may need to travel some distance and schedule your appointment well in advance.

Passport Requirements

Every traveler entering South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana is required to show a passport valid for at least 6 months. 

South Africa requires travelers to have two completely blank visa pages in their passports upon every arrival in South Africa. You will be denied entry and forced to return to your point of origin if you do not have two blank visa pages.

The US State Department advises making at least one photocopy of the information and photo page of your passport. You should carry this in a separate place from the original. In this way you can make it easier to replace your passport if you lose it during your time in South Africa.

Covid 19

The entire 2020 and most of the 2021 travel season in South Africa was cancelled due to the Covid 19 global pandemic. 

The only thing visitors currently must have is a negative covid test within 72 hours from the time of departure from the USA.

We will monitor the situation, and share any information we can.

If you book this tour and find that you need or want to postpone it for reasons due to the pandemic situation, we will gladly change your tour date to a later one with no change fees.

Itinerary Changes

Traveling in Third World countries is often challenging, and sometimes changes in the itinerary are unavoidable. 

If changes are needed, Bucket List Travel will always make our best efforts to provide alternatives that are equal to or better than what was originally planned.

Victoria Falls 3 Day Add-On Excursion

Spanning more than a mile across the cliffs between Zimbabwe and Zambia—Victoria Falls is known as the largest sheet of falling water in the world. A little over a mile wide and 351 feet high, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one-and-a-half times as wide and twice as high as Niagara Falls! The spray from the falls typically rises to a height of over 1,300 feet, and on a clear day, you can see the mist from the falls from up to 30 miles away.

With a flight time from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls of only 1 hour and 40 minutes, it’s easy to add a short side trip to see this natural wonder of the world before or after your South Africa tour. We’ve put together an exciting 3-day, 2-night excursion for our guests.

After pickup from the airport and a transfer to your hotel, we’ll see the sun dip below the horizon during a River Song sunset cruise and watch the wildlife come out to the banks of the Zambezi – Africa’s fourth largest river. Relax onboard with a drink as you look for hippos, elephants, and buffalo that come to the water’s edge to drink at the end of the day. We'll have dinner at a Shearwater Cafe

The next morning, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Victoria Falls and discover the best spots for photo opportunities. Well have lunch at the Rainforest Cafe, and then visit a cultural and craft market. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the village and shops, relax by the falls, or take advantage of one of the many available activities – from bungee jumping and helicopter rides over the falls, to swimming in Devil's Pool at certain times of the year. Tonight we'll share dinner at the hotel. 

The next morning after breakfast, we’ll head back to the airport for the flight back to Johannesburg.

The price for this tour is $495 per person, double occupancy. Single supplement is $90. This does not include the price of the round-trip flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls.

This excursion includes: 

·  2 nights Explorers Village Deluxe Chalet, with breakfast

·  Sunset cocktail cruise on the Zambezi River

·  Guided tour of the falls

·  Day 1 dinner at a Shearwater Cafe

·  Lunch at Rainforest Cafe

·  Visit to cultural and craft market

·  Day 2 dinner at the hotel

·  Airport transfers

What’s included

  • 1 night stay
    Lesedi Cultural Village - https://www.aha.co.za/lesedi
  • 4 nights stay
    Mziki Safari Lodge - https://www.mziki.co.za
  • 3 nights stay
    Cradle Moon Lodge - https://www.cradlemoon.co.za
  • 3 nights stay
    Villa Rosa - https://www.villa-rosa.com
  • Tours
    All safaris and tours escorted by a private driver and a private guide
  • Entrance Fees
    Entrance fees to all sights in the itinerary
  • Domestic Flight
    Domestic flights between Johannesburg to Cape Town
  • All airport transfers
  • Meals
    11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 8 dinners

What’s not included

  • International Airfare
    Airfare between the United States and South Africa is NOT included
  • Meals
    Meals not listed in itinerary
  • Beverages with meals
  • Tips
    Customary tips to tour guide, driver, etc.
  • Hot air balloon ride
  • Victoria Falls excursion
    3-day add-on excursion before or after tour
  • Farewell dinner at Gold

Available Packages

Trip Price
$3,499
Deposit: $250

Available options

Itinerary

Day 1
Welcome to South Africa!

Arrive in Johannesburg at O.R. Tambo International Airport. A Bucket List Travel agent will meet you and help you claim your luggage. Transfer to your accommodations at Lesedi African Lodge and Cultural Village.

Cultural show: Lesedi reflects the diversity of South Africa’s original inhabitants, and contains elements of Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho, Nguni and Ndebele cultures. 

Traditional song and dance and a feast fit for a king top off an unforgettable day and night.

Buffet dinner: variety of meats (crocodile, ostrich, beef, lamb), assorted vegetables, pap (grits), salads and desserts.

Overnight at Lesedi African Lodge and Cultural Village in a traditional hut that offers the comforts of home. Wake to the sounds of the maskanda Zulu guitar and African melodies before being treated to a full English breakfast.

Your Organizer


AE
Annie Emanuelli
24 reviews
Hi - I'm Annie, the founder of Bucket List Travel! Travel is my life! I left a 30+ year career as a corporate marketing exec to start my own travel business, taking people to Bucket List locations! I'd like to take you somewhere you've always dreamed of going. Stop dreaming, start packing!

Reviews

VD
Annie is a wonderful agent, met our every need on this amazing adventure in Finland. Hotel arrangements while visiting Helsinki were beyond my expectation, definitely 5 star accomodations. Then off to Ivalo, where again Aurora Holidays treated us like stars! Tina and all her staff, again went above and beyond. Food, accomodations and all our ventures out were amazing. Would highly recommend both if you have plans to see the Northern Lights!
By Valarie D for Northern Lights in Utsjoki, Finnish Lapland! on Dec 05, 2023
Valarie - I'm so happy you enjoyed our trip to Finland! It was a pleasure to meet you, and to travel with you. Oh, the wonders we saw! Hope to travel with you again soon! xoxo
By Annie Emanuelli on Dec 29, 2023
AE
BM
The trip was incredible and unforgettable. Annie has a passion for her work as trip organizer--she's knowledgeable, organized, and focused on each individual within the group that she leads. She makes the right connections with local hosts, in this case Tiina at Aurora Holidays, to make sure that the accommodations and meals were excellent. Daily activities were varied and fun, giving guests the option of taking part or having a day of rest. Highly, highly recommended!
By Bill M for Northern Lights in Utsjoki, Finnish Lapland! on Dec 04, 2023
Bill - it was such a joy to share Lapland with you! It delighted me to watch you discover the unique beauty of this very special place. I hope we can travel together again soon! xoxo
By Annie Emanuelli on Dec 29, 2023
AE
I don't even know where to start! This trip was jam packed with events, either included with the trip or optional, very affordable add-ons, and each was just an excellent, well managed experience! I arrived a few days early because I was coming in from a different direction; I was met at the airport by Mike Smith, who also accompanied me on some optional trips prior to the official trip beginning (Voortrekker Museum, Cullinan Diamond Mine, etc). Mike is an excellent guide and extremely knowledgeable! During the initial days I was based at the Protea Hotel, which is extremely well managed by Louise and her staff, so that too was a fantastic experience. The first phase of the trip was a flight to Zimbabwe, where we were met by Moses. I really enjoyed meeting Moses, especially since it was only a few days after the Zim elections. Our other guides were Profit and Tich, and they were also a joy to meet and hold conversations with. We were based in a lovely "lodge" which was more like a giant Air BnB in a residential neighborhood of "lodges;" it was an extremely safe environment although I'll admit I was a bit surprised as I'm more of a bush girl. We had an individual room which was gorgeous! Following a long walking tour of Victoria Falls (thrilling!), I did the optional helicopter ride of the falls. It was just 15 minutes but gave a brilliant perspective of what we had just walked. I also did the infamous "Devil's Fall," which is right where the Falls go over. It's not for the faint of heart, but I'm SO glad I did it!!! I was truly sorry to leave Zimbabwe, and would have gladly stayed a few more days. We flew out of Zimbabwe and went straight to a true bush lodge called Mziki, and it was true heaven! There were all kinds of events planned and late afternoon/evening safaris with sundowners. Morning safaris included hot coffee and/or tea plus some of the most delicious snacks I've ever had. Definitely did not want to leave Mziki; it was heaven! The staff was primarily Zola and Nathan, with Devon coming in towards the end. It was a very laid back existence, yet it also seemed like we had events planned all day, every day. I thought about planting my feet in cement when it came time to leave! From Mziki, we went to a new lodge called Candlewood, where "wild" animals roam freely. We had individual units which were simply huge, including a second bedroom for storing luggage, as well as a large veranda for sitting out and watching the wildlife. Zebra even roamed up to the guest pool to catch a quick drink of water, to the delight of children who were there! The food was fantastic, with one of the most delicious made to order omelets I've ever had. From Candlewood, we flew to Cape Town, where Amaan met us and because of the weather, reorganized the trip to something more amenable. We did wine tastings, and me, who hates red wine, ended up buying some of the most gorgeous red wine I've ever tasted! The properties we visited were very historic and Amaan was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the areas we toured. We saw two of the three baboon trips in one refuge, which was quite thrilling; another highlight was taking the funicular up to the top of Table Mountain which felt like being on top of the world! We also visited the Apartheid Museum which was very well done in terms of explaining the history of Nelson Mandela and the various political relationships he encountered in his life. I have left out so many things we did on this trip but it's already a very long review! I obviously highly recommend the trip; there was nothing that wasn't well planned and well thought out, and even if there was a hiccup (which is going to happen because "This is Africa," it was immediately correctly, seamlessly. I can't say enough good things about Annie Emmanuelli of Bucket List Travel, as well as Tim and Mike Smith of Wildside Tours and Safaris. Mike Smith was the one we primarily were with on the ground, and he was the most chillaxed person...which was the perfect personality for a trip to Africa!
By Donna M for Sept 3-14, 2023: South Africa! on Sep 24, 2023
This trip was A LIFE CHANGER! I have dreamed of going to Africa for years and thanks to Annie, it became a reality. From start to finish, she answered every question I had and prepped us all for what we needed for this trip. I felt completely safe and taken care of the whole time. Our guides along the trip were amazing and felt like friends by the end! Every day was planned to the fullest experience and you truly get the bang for your buck! The food, culture, animals, lodges were all amazing. Going on game rides is an experience I’ll never forget. Seeing the animals in their natural habitat is a true gift. I 1000% will come back to Africa with Annie and can not recommend this trip enough.
By Ximena G for May 14-25, 2023: South Africa! on Jun 07, 2023
Thank you, Annie for this wonder-filled adventure! From Victoria Falls to Johannesburg and Cape Town, the thrills never stopped. The trip was well-organized, and details managed so we just had to show up and enjoy the safaris and game drives, hikes, boat rides, helicopter and hot air balloon rides, wine-tastings, meals…. It was truly a glorious three weeks that exceeded my expectations and left me with wonderful memories and photos.
By Dena S for May 14-25, 2023: South Africa! on Jun 04, 2023
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NG
I just returned from a once in a lifetime trip to Cairo organized by Bucket List Travel. Annie took care of every detail of planning, and it really showed when I got off the plane and was taken care of from start to finish with the greatest care. Our guide Yasser was kind, professional, knowledgeable, and funny! He went above and beyond to ensure every need was met and we got the most out of each day in Egypt. I always felt safe and loved experiencing local life and culture. I plan to grab my friends and book again with Bucket List Travel!
By Noel G on 05 Feb, 2020