Our 7-day safari experience with Viva Safaris in December 2024 was nothing short of extraordinary! This trip was a family adventure for my husband, our two children, and myself and we couldn’t have asked for a more memorable family experience. From start to finish, Viva Safaris exceeded our expectations with their thoughtful planning, outstanding service, and incredible attention to detail. It was fantastic to be picked up directly from Johannesburg Airport and dropped back after the safari. This door-to-door service made the experience so much more relaxing and hassle-free. The way the safari was organised made us feel like we had our own personalised itinerary, as though the entire adventure had been tailored just for our family. Seeing the Big 4 (unfortunately no illusive leopard, only footprints) in their natural habitat was a dream come true, but the experience went far beyond that. Every game drive and bush walk offered unique sightings and insights, making us feel deeply connected to the African wilderness. The open-sided vehicles provided the perfect vantage point for animal viewing and added an immersive touch to the entire experience. Tremisana Lodge, tucked in Balule Game Reserve (Greater Kruger), offered a unique opportunity to experience wildlife right on our doorstep. Visits from various animals (such as Hyenas and Elephants) to the lodge added an extra thrill for all of us. The rustic charm of the facilities blended perfectly with the surrounding natural beauty. The staff at Viva Safaris are the true stars of this journey. George, our first driver, had a warm demeanour and excellent driving skills which made our transfers both comfortable and enjoyable. Solomon, our next driver, was incredibly kind and attentive, ensuring every moment on the road was as comfortable as possible even through a massive rain storm, allowing us to arrive safely to Tremisana. We then began the safari with Nadine, one of our guides and trackers, who amazed us with her knowledge and passion for the bush. Her uncanny ability to track animals and share fascinating details about their behaviours added so much depth to our experience. Brandon, another tracker and guide, was a highlight with his unparalleled expertise and infectious enthusiasm. We were fortunate to have him guide us twice, with each occasion more exciting than the last. Luke then led us on a walking safari that was both thrilling and informative. His understanding of the ecosystem and focus on safety made it an unforgettable experience. Lucky, a remarkable tracker also assisted on the walking safari and the next day took us on a special drive to see lions before heading to Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre, going above and beyond to make the trip special. Andy’s deep knowledge and his passion for wildlife made our drive through Kruger National Park insightful and exciting, while Marc’s dedication to finding the best sightings and sharing his expertise added immense value, even while on a ‘Ferrari Safari!’ He didn’t want us to miss a sighting! Raymond’s expertise in navigating the Kruger too and his keen eye for wildlife made our drive unforgettable (even through the pouring rain). Smiley’s cheerful personality and frequent use of “WOW” and “Hakuna Matata” brought a joyful energy to our safari, while Victor’s dedication to tracking and spotting wildlife ensured we saw an incredible array of animals. We will never forget Mumma D’s amazing African themed meals! She and her team served up delicious food every day with 3 course dinners, making mealtimes as much of a highlight as the game drives. We can not forget to mention Educate, the master planner who ensured everything ran flawlessly. His thoughtful planning was evident throughout the trip, and he even managed to return my husband's sunglasses after he accidentally left them behind in a game drive vehicle. Solly was not only an excellent driver but also a great conversationalist, making our journey back to Johannesburg enjoyable. Finally, Welcome’s professionalism and friendly attitude left a lasting impression on our family. Every single staff member went above and beyond to ensure we had the best sightings and experiences. Whether it was a bush walk, morning or sunset drive, their enthusiasm and expertise shone through. The meals, logistics and planning were all seamlessly executed, making the trip feel like a perfectly orchestrated adventure. Viva Safaris delivered an experience that we will all cherish forever. We also enjoyed making new lifelong friends, both guests and staff. We highly recommend Viva Safaris to anyone planning a safari getaway to the Kruger National Park and Balule Game Reserve area. Thank you, Viva Safaris!

We had a wonderful experience on our 5-day safari trip at the Tremisana lodge with Viva Safari tours. We got to see all big-5 and many other animals and birds. Each day was different and well organized. Our Safari explorations were lead by knowledgeable guides (Smiley, Nadine, Raymond, Rocky, and Victor). Passionate about their work, they showed us the magnificent Kruger park and its surrounding game reserves. Highly recommend the morning bush walk as one of the highlights. It all was an unforgettable experience, we miss it already!

Experience of a lifetime! The viva safaris team is exceptional. Everyone was welcoming, informative and fun. The guides go above and beyond to make for the best experience possible. We stayed at Katekani and Tremisana — both were wonderful. I loved the array of experiences, from sunrise walks, bbq in the bush at sunset, and days in Kruger. Thank you!!

Food: 9/10 Accommodations: 9/10 Tour Experience: 10/10 Customer service: 11/10 A truly unique experience. While the 7 day tour package was expensive, I’m Grateful to have seen all of the Big 5 during it. I’d say at least 4 days is mandatory to get the full experience. Please keep in mind these are wild Animals, and sometimes you just have to be lucky to see them. You could go 3 hours seeing nothing impressive, and then see all Big 5 in the next hour- so stay positive and keep your eyes open. That being said, the Tour Guides are very skilled at what they do- so trust them. The customer service was 11/10 on all fronts- everyone from the Tour Guides to the Hosts, Chefs, Servers, Custodial Staff, etc. were extremely welcoming and genuine. Much Thanks to Ed, Ray, Andy, Lucky, Victor, Smiley, and everyone else whose names I can’t fit. Only negatives for the stay- no WiFi coverage in my room (must go to outdoor lounge), and the mosquitoes in the room was annoying- but I suppose that’s all a part of the experience, just grab some bug spray. Also the lodge is about an hour drive from the actual Kruger entrance, so you do lose some time traveling back and forth on Tour days. The stay at Tremisana Lodge was beautiful, with Elephants sometimes coming up very close to the Lapa where we eat meals (don’t worry there’s a fence, and I’d welcome them to share my meal regardless). There’s many opportunities to see Animals in the Balule Reserve where the Lodge is located. I was very grateful for the AC and pool. It was also very cool meeting people from all over the World that were staying at the Lodge. Thanks again ! -Ty

One of the best and most unforgettable experiences of our lives! We booked a 4-day safari, and I must say it was perfect for an incredible safari adventure. We spent one full day in Kruger National Park and the remaining days exploring the areas around the hotel, which were equally spectacular. To our delight, we saw an astonishing number of animals right in the vicinity of the hotel. A special shoutout goes to our amazing guides – Lucky, Smiley, Victor, Luke, and Brandon. You guys made this experience not only educational but also incredibly fun, engaging, and truly unforgettable. Every guide we toured with was exceptionally professional and knowledgeable about the area and wildlife. They were so skilled at tracking animals that they managed to show us everything we could have dreamed of seeing! Beyond the safari itself, we had wonderful conversations with them and learned a lot about the country, along with receiving fantastic recommendations for the rest of our journey. The hotel staff were equally outstanding. We were especially charmed by the lovely woman who cooked hearty, home-style meals and made sure everyone was well-fed and happy. The food was delicious and comforting after long, adventurous days. We also had the pleasure of meeting other travelers who made the experience even more memorable. Sharing this incredible journey with like-minded people added another layer of joy to our trip. Everything was perfectly organized for us, from the itinerary to the accommodations, leaving us with nothing to worry about. We were able to fully relax and immerse ourselves in the beauty of the wilderness. Thank you again to the amazing team who made our first safari an extraordinary experience. We’ll cherish these memories forever and wholeheartedly recommend this safari to everyone. If you’re considering it – don’t hesitate. Just go for it, and let the professionals handle everything while you soak in the magic!

We had a wonderful experience with Viva Safaris. Their communication was excellent and the whole trip went smoothly. We did the 4 day/ 3 night safari and stayed at Tremisana Lodge. There was nothing we could fault. The guides were great and really wanted to give everyone the best experience. The accommodation was perfect and the food was just great. I highly recommend booking a safari with Viva Safaris.

What a disappointment! The tour guide failed to provide any meaningful explanations about the sights we were visiting and seemed to be in a constant rush. We barely had enough time to take photos or truly enjoy the wildlife. When we raised our concerns with management, they were dismissive and rude, refusing to acknowledge our feedback. Lesson learned: While you might see some animals at Kruger, in our experience, private game parks offer a much better experience. The animals are cared for in smaller areas, making them easier to find and allowing for closer, more enjoyable encounters. :)

A really well run operation with excellent safari guides who shared their knowledge and expertise in a professional and friendly manner. The first night of this safari you will stay at Tremisana Game Lodge while the remaining 3 nights are at the luxury tented Katekani lodge.

First time on a safari and we had a blast! From start to end it was all as planed. Luke has such an amazing team under him that are all kind and know their stuff! Food was always good and the lodge is nice and cozy. We saw loads of animals including all the big 5. I can only recommend this tour which includes seeing moving rocks!

What a wonderful experience! I can’t say enough about the kind, helpful and fun staff, the comfortable lodging, the great food and most of all the great guides who showed us all the animals! I highly recommend! Lots of riding in bumpy jeeps- but worth every minute!

Just got back from the tour and was sad to leave. I spend ages before the trip researching Safaris in the area and when i came about this one I was a little skeptical of the price but trusted the reviews. I can see now that the good reviews are well deserved. The guides and drivers are really knowledgeable and easy to talk to, the food was great throughout the stay and they catered to my vegetarian needs. There was plenty to do and see with the itinerary they set and it is varied. Managed to see the big 5 over my time there. Saw so many more incredible animals also. Would go back and spend more time there in a heartbeat. Special thanks to Nadine and Raymond who I spend the most time with.

We really enjoyed our experience, it was my husband,myself and our adult son and his wife. Accommodations were clean and comfortable. Food was good. Staff was amazing! Very knowledgeable and kind. Balule was very beautiful and we saw many animals, elephant and Rhino to name a few! Kruger park drives were comfortable and we saw all big 5 and all but 1 of the ugly 5. Planning to take the grandkids Oct 2025.

This 3 day tour was amazing. The guides were very professional and knowledgeable. We saw so many animals in such a short time, it was unforgettable. Highly recommended.

Just coming back from this lovely experience and I‘m so happy I chose to come here. My booking included one night and Tremisana and three at Katekani. - in terms of accommodation, Katekani is the more savannah- like one with a little pool, however do note there will be plenty of bugs in the rooms which wasn‘t the case in Tremisana, so personally I liked this a tad better. Also I still had sim reception at T, which at least for my provider I lost in the second lodge. Both are beautiful, have lovely staff and great meals. Your schedule will be packed so you‘re not spending as much time beyond sleeping at the lodge. I met other viva travellers staying in treehouses and more, so have a look what you are interested in. - my two Kruger days and one in the nearby nature reserve were superb, they are outstanding just by seeing the animals and become even better if your group is pleasant and your driver engaging - some drivers are better at connecting here with groups and seem to be better connected to their group chats re game locations. We didn‘t see as much on the second day but overall still lovely. I was worried two days might be too long as they are ultimately long days of sitting with a lunch break for about an hour but it‘s stunning still to see the area; personally I wouldn‘t go for more days as it was hot in November, so quite tiring and full days too. - the transfer days are really quite long drives with a break to eat lunch. The mini buses unfortunately don‘t have usb charging facilities but are otherwise comfortable. - something I noticed was that the level of service really depends on the individual: is the person offering to help with luggage ie (no one did at Katekani, where it‘s a sand environment, so it wasn‘t as easy with my big suitcase); are they aware of passengers (on the transfer day, a lot of us slept in the mini bus but the drivers were talking loudly, listening to voice messages, recording them etc), do they engage or not and more examples which to me needs more job training to make it a better experience.

Everything about our stay was well planned and executed. All staff at the lodge from the cleaners to kitchen staff as well as management were focused on service and our experience. The guides in particular were brilliant, every drive, whether in the Reserve or National Park was made special by the sharing of their own experiences and stories. Each of the men were unique in their own way, shout out to Rocky, Lucky, Ray and Smiley. The lodge is a little rustic but you are going on safari so it is part of the experience.