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.

Excellent value for cost. Must do 5 days as anything less would be sad. Moderate rooms but excellent guides and learned so much in each safari. Saw all the big 5 and the ugly 5 lol. Don’t forget to bring cash for tips for guides and staff they work long days and definitely worth it. Lots of animals could be seen from the dining area but each safari was amazing with animals welfare and guest safety top of mind. Big big thanks to Andy, smiley, Chrissy, Lucky, Rocky and Ray for making this an amazing experience.

It was a beautiful experience. Nadine and Rocky did their best to show us the most incredibal animals, they spoke with others to know where they are. They answered to all out questions, I learned a lot. They were professional, helpul, smily. I loved to be there.

My wife and I arrived at Tremisana Lodge in latter October, 2024 for a 7 day safari experience. We were not disappointed! I cannot emphasize how outstanding the staff were! Tucked into the bush of Balule Game Reserve, visits from various large to small animals were quite common to the lodge and a thrill for the visiting guests. It amazed my wife and I at how everything was so well choreographed, from meals, arrivals and departures, bush drives, who's going where and when, etc. like a finely tuned watch. Momma "D" and her staff always served up outstanding food and the drivers, guides, and spotters were second to none. I won't mention any one particular individual other than my mention of Momma "D" because everybody was outstanding and I don't want to leave anybody out. However, we did have a favorite one or two. The guides went above and beyond to find animals during the bush drives and walks and their enthusiasm was very obvious. The facilities were a bit rustic, but quite comfortable and the grounds were beautiful. Viva Safaris has done a wonderful job overall with their lodges, scheduling, and communication from start to finish and I HIGHLY recommend them to anybody planning a safari getaway to the Kruger National Park, Balule Game Reserve area! Well done, Piero!

I recommend spending 4 days here as an absolute minimum - the weather and animal sightings can be unpredictable. We did 4 days but I wish we'd done 5! As you can see from the pictures we saw loads of animals, both at day and at night. We got get close to many adult and baby elephants, giraffes, zebras, hyenas and more types of antelope than I knew even existed. A night time elephant encounter was a personal highlight, being out there in the dark with only the jeeps headlamps lighting the way is magic! We did see a lion but didn't get quite as close as I'd have liked - but this is the nature of wild animals. The group the day before got up close to a group of lion cubs so it really does depend on where the animals decide to go that day and whether you're in the right stop at the right time... all the more reason to book more days! A huge shoutout to Ed from Viva who kept everyone organised - We always knew what was coming up later in the day and what times we had to be ready to leave the lodge, he's also an all round great guy! Secondly the guides were all incredibly knowledgable and work hard to make sure you see everything you want to - Thank you to Chrissy, Desire, Luke, Andy and Raymond! Lastly I didn't get their names but all the onsite staff who made the food which was incredible. I'm vegan but I was very satisfied with the options for food throughout. The payments, the organisation before hand (co-ordinating pick ups and drop-offs) was all really straight forward and I honestly think if you pick another safari company instead you're doing yourself a disservice because this team is AWESOME.

The team at viva safaris made my 5 day safari amazing! Nothing was toi much trouble. Saw 4 of the big 5, close up and with young. No quick, blink and you miss it encounters. Missed seeing the leopards but Wow oh wow. Close up with a cheetah in Kruger. Moment of a lifetime. Seeing African wild dogs chasing impala, brilliant. My guide, Andy, was amazing! If you’re staying, do spend the extra and do Katekani. It was just divine. The plunge pool with monkeys looking on, priceless. Then there is the food. The chef, Margreth, is super talented! Her soups and stuffed squash were to die for! Ready to do the trip all over again.

Our safari experience with Viva Safaris was truly unforgettable. The program was a wonderful combination of multiple game drives, both in Kruger National Park and in the beautiful surrounding areas near the base camp. We also enjoyed an amazing bush walk. Everything was perfectly organized from the cozy base camp, featuring simple yet clean lodges and a lovely garden with seating areas and a nice view. The staff made this experience truly special. Everyone was incredibly friendly and always ready to help. The guides were exceptional; they have a wealth of knowledge about nature and wildlife, which they shared with great enthusiasm and passion. Viva Safaris offers a perfect balance between cost and quality. The meals were simple, yet delicious and prepared with love. For anyone looking for an authentic safari experience without too much luxury or high costs, this is an absolute must! --- Hopelijk is dit wat je zoekt!

We enjoyed our 4 day Kruger Tour. We had some very hot days that impacted the animals being out and about (not their fault but it did impact our experience). The early morning game walk was fantastic, the Braai was delicious and a unique experience. You do not really get to enjoy the places you stay as the days are filled with activities. The journey home via Blyde Canyon and the Rondawels was a great way to end the trip. The lunches at the cafe in Dullstroom were great and provided the necessary break in the long travel days. The stop at the Alzu Petroport was also a unique experience.