Natural Migrations AFRICAN SAFARI Luxury Vacations

B. and L.F. from Monrovia, California who traveled with friends to Southern Africa in Oct 2007:
We will always consider this trip to Africa one of our most extraordinary experiences. It is hard to know where to begin. Each of the destinations were different and in its own way profound. Starting in Cape Town was a gentle immersion with its first world qualities and the hint of things much more exotic and primitive to come. The Victoria & Alfred was a great hotel and we loved each of your restaurant choices, all the tours helped to peal the onion that is Cape Town and South Africa. Also after spending four delightful days in Paris we realized that Africa is maybe the greatest travel value in the world. The camps each offered a different experience as you well know. We saw all of the Big Five except Rhinoceros within 24 hours of our arrival at Chitabe. We learned after a very short while that we were truly fortunate in the abundance and diversity of the wildlife we experienced in the first day and a half. Fellow travelers who had made many trips to the area confessed to having seen more animals in the few days they had been at Chitabe then they had seen in five or six previous safaris. In my parlance I would say Chitabe was a homerun. The guides were great!!! Andrea and OT made the experience real and more impactful for all of us. The camps as they related to the rooms themselves just got progressively better with Savuti winning for best rooms and Little Vumbura for the overall environs. I think some of us would return there instead of Hawaii for our next island getaway. I cannot say enough for the all the guides and staff. What a truly lovely group of people, at the end of the day they are the ones who really made the trip so unique and profound. The efficient execution of the air transfers couldn’t have been better if we had flown privately as you know that is exactly what it feels like. All the food was good to great and the pace of the days made you fell like you were getting a maximized experience. Paul you must know that we toasted you more that once and we give O’M. the prize for finding you and inviting us. We know that this is a beginning for us as it relates to travel in Africa and we look forward to helping family and friends find you to begin their African Adventures. My thanks and best regards, B.

Susan W. from Sun Valley, Idaho who traveled to Southern Africa with her husband:
Dear Paul, I truly hate to say these words to anyone that is male, but "You Were Right!" It was the best vacation of our lives. We loved every bit of it. After Mombo Camp we had seen the Big 5, met and enjoyed an incredible staff, ate the best food of our lives, had a fantastic room and woke up with 20 cape buffalo sleeping below our tent. Wow - where could we go from there, we could finish the trip right then and been happy. We headed to the next camp by helicopter and it was totally different. We were with a guide that paid 7 cows for his wife. He was terrific and so were his stories. Instead of animals everywhere like at Mombo, this time we were on the hunt. The pursuit and tracking of the animals was totally different and we couldn't wait to wake at 5 am and start looking for discovery of the nighttime happenings. Next a small plane to another beautiful camp and beautiful staff. During one sundowner we parked a ways from 4 large elephants. To our surprise one walked directly over to our guide. He stood out in front of the vehicle when the elephant mock charged. He stood his ground until the elephant decided he wasn't moving. He only weighs about l30 pounds and we thought for sure he was a goner! Lastly I thought you were crazy when you insisted we book Singita Lebombo but that was my favorite spot. The lodge is amazing and I didn't think it possible that the food could get better than the first three camps but it was. We had a surprise wine tasting on the cliff's overlooking the river. It was truly fantastic with appetizers and wonderful South African wines. It's easy to understand why this is rated the best in the world. We had a room overlooking the river and at night we could watch the crocodiles catching fish at the dam/river overflow right in front of our room. The room was amazing and we really could have stayed there excepting all the other things on the itinerary that we dared not miss. We saw over l00 elephants, mating leopards, mating lions, hippos, giraffe, a kudu freshly downed by a leopard but completely devoured in 3 hours by 60 vultures, black mamba, white rhino, monkeys, and I can't even remember all the other numerous animals we saw. Thanks to you we had a marvelous trip and hope to book our next trip through you as we didn't even have to think.

AS Family from New York who travelled to Southern Africa in June 2008:
Our family had a most wonderful trip to Africa, thanks to your superb planning and the flawless execution of the people on the ground who were responsible for us. Everything went smoothly from the moment we landed in Jo'burg until we left Cape Town for our return flight. I should point out that our little party had two kids under age 12, two adults ages 38 and 40, and two old codgers in their mid-sixties. The fact that all of us enjoyed every minute equally is quite remarkable. Also, three of us had been to Africa before, yet found each day eye opening, new and delightful. The absolute highlight of our trip was Mashatu. From the moment we arrived we had one adventure after another, and got very close to a large variety of animals, including elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, various antelope, zebra, giraffe, baboon and so on. We watched lions mating, something even locals rarely get to see. We tracked a leopard on his night hunt and found him the next morning in a tree enjoying a kill. The expertise and experience of our guide, who has been at Mashatu for 15 years was major factor in the quality of our experience. He packed a lot into every hour we were with him. Another factor is the open terrain, which enabled us to spot herds or individual animals some distance away. The third factor is that our guide was able to freely drive his vehicle overland to wherever the action or game was. Our rooms and meals were of course excellent. I can highly recommend this camp for anyone seriously interested in game viewing. It is not easy going, however, the terrain and ride is quite rough and probably not suitable for the very elderly. Far from discouraging kids, Mashatu welcomed them openly with backpacks, water bottles, activity books and reference materials that engaged them instantly and kept them busy throughout their visit. The camp also had a marvelous "discovery room" with books and exhibits where young and old can learn a lot. The kids loved this room. Our guide, too, was great with the kids and it was suggested to us that his skill with children was one of the reasons he was assigned to us. Getting to and from Mashatu was itself an adventure: light aircraft from Limpopo, cable car across the river from Botswana to South Africa, and another light aircraft back to Jo'burg. Our grandkids were unable to dislodge their mother from the co-pilot seats on the bush planes. She clearly had a ball. Cape Town is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world and our best knockout pictures were taken from the window of our room at the Victoria and Alfred - an excellent hotel and location. Thank you for recommending it. Our guide in Cape Town was terrific and because of her we got a great orientation and some history to the city and its surroundings. Our day trips were rewarding - penguins, seals, peninsula, Kirstenbosch. We all were reluctant to leave that special place. All in all a trip none of us will ever forget. Once again, thank you for a job well done.

PM Party from Palm Desert, California who travelled to Southern Africa in May 2008:
You should be so very proud of the wonderful itinerary you planned for us - it was a trip of a life time! Thank you for putting it together. We loved the camps and our guides from Wilderness Safaris. The elephant charge was something that will live on in our minds forever. The leopard kill was a bittersweet, but that is Africa. I think the elephants drinking from our private swimming pool was the frosting on the cake. Every turn had a new adventure and each camp was special. Our favorite guide was, hands down Marius! He was full of enthusiasm, joked with us, taught us and helped us to realize the true meaning of Africa. It isn't in the picture taking, it is in the soul. Africa has soul. The respect they have for each another, as well as the environment and the animals will be forever etched in my mind. I would do it again a thousand times over. Thank you and we will be using Natural Migrations again and again.

FE from Tulsa, OK who travelled to Botswana, Zambia and South Africa in May 2008:
Paul, we had a fantastic time. It was absolutely wonderful and speaking for myself it was the best trip I’ve ever been on. Africa, especially Botswana is definitely a destination that I would like to revisit. Our favorite camp was Chiefs Camp. It had a nice rustic feel, but also had the little extra nice things. The staff at every camp was great, all our connections worked out nicely and it was just a terrific trip! I hope we do this again sometime and I will keep your information in my contact list. Thanks for all your assistance!

Mark and Jan M. from Sun Valley, Idaho:

Wow!! What a trip! After three weeks we weren’t ready to come home; we could have stayed another three months. Great planning, Paul, the itinerary you created was incredible. The city sites and game reserves were exceptional. We enjoyed every camp from the plush Singita to the more modest tented camps at Etosha. The accommodation and tours in Cape Town and Jo'burg were perfectly selected for our interests. We were completely comfortable and well cared for at every turn. From the guides and staff to the pilots who transported us between camps, everyone was friendly, informative and thoroughly professional. We certainly got the variety we asked for. We enjoyed the stark contrast between the climates of the Namib Desert and the Okavango Delta. In a very different way, it was certainly informative to compare the social, economic and political systems of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana to that of Zimbabwe. Although we are only casual birders, we took a bird book and counted 139 species which were new to us. We unexpectedly got to see both the endangered wild dogs and black rhino. I have attached Jan’s photo of a leopard at a watering hole taken on our 25^th anniversary. Until we have the opportunity to go again – it will be our favorite image of your Africa. Thank you for the trip of a lifetime.

J.D.D. from Colorado who traveled with Paul to Libya to see the Mar 2006 eclipse:

Hey Paul, Sorry it took so long to get these scanned, but, well, it's a long story; suffice to say it's done. Thanks for all of the professional and personal assistance you provided in Libya; it was invaluable and I hope others saw it that way. Being in emergency response/contingency planning, I saw how you headed off problems before they became one and dealt with the problems that arose with cool and resolve. It's a great quality and you have it in spades. Rest assured that in a few years when my daughter is old enough, we'll contact you to get us into the best wildlife areas Africa has to offer. Before then, if you and/or your family is in Colorado and need a place, my home is yours. Best of luck, stay in touch...

Nick and Andrea T. from the UK who traveled with Paul to Libya to see the Mar 2006 eclipse:
Dear Aram, Many thanks for such a splendid tour; it was an amazing experience to say the least. The 4x4 Akakus trip was just mind-blowing; just like the eclipse itself, it cannot be described adequately, it has to be experienced. We could not fault the organization at any stage of the trip. Those changes to the hotels in Tripoli and Ghadames were a nice touch. The Bab Africa and Dar Ghadames were magnificent. Our thanks to Paul for being at the sharp end and looking after everyone throughout. This appeared to be a seriously stressful job at times!

Jane, who took part in the Migration Route Safari with friends in Oct/Nov 2007:
Paul, I just wanted to write you (finally) to say what a fabulous time we all had in Africa. We had such great service and every detail was handled so professionally and came off without a hitch. Botswana is the most wonderful place (as you know) and as I look back, the adventure safari was the right way to see Africa. I really appreciated the fact that we were making the least impact on the environment and seeing things in their most natural state while really being treated like kings and queens. You were wonderful to answer all of our questions over many months and thank you for the great travel organizer and bag tags. I would recommend this trip to everyone recognizing that some people would not like the camping aspect while others would be delighted. Thanks again for all your help. When we go back to Africa (which we fully intend to do) I will contact you. Thanks and take care.

Dustin Castleberry, Screenwriter from Los Angeles, California who traveled to Southern Africa in Nov 2003:
My trip to Southern Africa changed my life forever. Who would have thought I'd witness a lioness nursing her cubs within ten feet of me? Or a family of hippopotamus just a stone's throw from my tent? And the elephants - an entire herd crossing the river at sunset as my closest friends and I sipped "sundowners" and nibbled on sumptuous snacks. Then there was the rafting down the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls, seeing the Okavango Delta from an airplane, the nights in camp under the constellations of the southern hemisphere, the amazing food, drink, laughter and friendship. On a more practical level, you also got us there! Without a hitch, everything taken care of, everything safe and sound. I will never forget it, and I will recommend you to anyone who wishes to experience what they never thought possible.

Erin M. who traveled to Botswana and Zambia in Jun/Jul 2007:
Hi Paul, I just wanted to report back about what a great time we had in Africa. Our trip was outstanding. From the moment Derek picked us up at the airport in Johannesburg up until the moment we said goodbye to our Wilderness Safaris guide in Livingstone, everything was smooth and beautifully organized. We loved the Migration Routes itinerary – we saw so many incredible things. We can’t thank you enough for putting it all together for us. When we travel to Africa again (probably in two years), we will most definitely use Natural Migrations. We’ve already recommended our trip (and your services) to our friends. Also, I want to let Wilderness Safaris know how wonderful our guide was. We seriously loved him, and were sad to say goodbye to him at the end of the trip.

Peter K. from Hailey, Idaho who traveled to Southern Africa with his family in 2003:
If you're planning an adventure you can visualize, imagine and predict all the sites and sounds so I'll not add to that part of a breath-taking experience which will be indescribably unique. What I realized was most critical, from our last trip halfway around the world into the bush and returning safely home, was the management. Credit for the experience to unfold and be a successful and memorable one goes to Paul at Natural Migrations. Without the endless attention to detail, safety, travel arrangements, destinations and daily planning, to list a few, the lifetime adventure would not have exceed my dreams and expectations. An African safari is a trip that must be done with professional experience, expertise and personal attention, and that it was thanks to Paul. He was raised there, guided there, has family and connections there and manages the entire excursion to perfection. I would love to go again.

Reference from Map Ives, Environmentalist and Professional Guide, Wilderness Safaris, Botswana:
It is important, when travelling to any natural destination, that the advice and organisation are based on knowledge of the product and attention to detail. Paul and Caroline Swart have actually worked in the wilds of Africa, where I came to know them well. Both are extremely passionate about wildlife and natural ecosystems. I can honestly say that they will always organise the perfect trip to suit the individuals’ requirements.

Ed T. from St Louis, Missouri:
My wife and I travel frequently and are fortunate to have been able to see many parts of the world but have often commented that our trip to South Africa is among our favorites. What made our trip to Southern Africa of particular note is due primarily to Paul Swart, and the superlative services he provided. We wouldn't consider a trip to Africa without utilizing Paul and his company, Natural Migrations.

S.S. from Bend, Oregon who traveled with her husband in Sep 2007:
We had a fabulous trip, what a great experience. We would like to thank you for putting the itinerary together and doing a great job! Mashatu was a 10! Horseback riding and bike riding was excellent. We loved the people and the beautiful rooms. We had lots of fun and met some great people and our guide was awesome. He took us on a walk (he had the rifle) and we were charged by a black rhino. After the second charge, the guide said, oh no run! We climbed a tree. After four charges, the rhino settled down and let us back down the hill. What an experience! Cape Town was beautiful. We had fantastic weather and the guide service you recommended was great. We loved the hotel, Victoria and Alfred. Food was great. I would recommend them to all your travelers. We’ll need to go back again! Thanks for all your help.

J.M. from Seattle, Washington:
The trip was fabulous, beyond all expectations. Cape Town was excellent and and the tours very professional, not to mention the wonderful hotel accommodation. The highlight of course was Sabi Sabi. Wow, what a great place, great people. We saw all of the big 5 - the leopard sighting in particular was outstanding. All of us were in awe of the beauty of nature. Thanks again for your guidance and help and for making the arrangements, the trip could not have been better.

J. Kelly Beatty: an excerpt from an article titled "Africa, A Solar Safari" featured on the Travel Quest International website. Paul guided this tour to view the solar eclipse on Dec 4th, 2002 in South Africa.
A word about Paul Swart. I'm no expert, but my wife tells me this tall, sandy-haired South African native has movie-star-quality good looks. But aside from that, and his soft-spoken personableness, Paul proved to be the best possible guide. He had managed a game preserve in South Africa before moving to Idaho, and his expertise proved invaluable in surmounting the myriad of small problems that every tour encounters. Moreover, it was clear from the stories he shared that he still cares deeply about this country and its people.

M.B. from Chicago who traveled to South Africa with his wife in Sep 2007:
We had a SUPER time--everything went as scheduled, the weather (except for one very hot day) was perfect, the animals performed with aplomb, the airlines left and arrived on time (and we finally got first class on SAA), and we drank our way across the Atlantic! Should we be asked we will be delighted to recommend your services.