The Ultimate Safari: Botswana, South Africa and Antarctica

The highlight of the Kalahari for us was the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The food here was also outstanding, and with each meal, we were seated at a communal table. Overall, our safari was an incredible experience, made up of three very different camps, spending three nights in each and made even more special by our guides and the supporting staff at each one. The care and attention to detail throughout the trip was faultless.

The trip was put together at the last minute with lots of valuable insights from Melissa. She went the extra mile to make sure we were happy. She never pushed or promoted any single idea. She even arranged meet and greet at Johannesburg to help with the transit. A really amazing experience.

We enjoyed a truly personal, tailor-made safari designed especially for us by Destination Expert, Melissa. She helped make our wedding anniversary celebrations an unforgettable experience.
We were really well supported from start to finish on our trip of a lifetime. She planned a brilliant itinerary for us using her knowledge of the various safari lodges in South Africa that would suit us. Melissa and the team at cazenove+loyd adapted our plans at very short notice, late at night, when our plane from London to Johannesburg was delayed for 24 hours, meaning we would have been stranded at Johannesburg Airport at 2am in the morning and would have missed our onward connecting flight. The team quickly and seamlessly booked us an airport hotel in Johannesburg and rescheduled our connecting flight. It was so reassuring that they were able to respond to a phone call during out-of-office hours. Along the journey, as a couple of decrepit pensioners, we were very well taken care of. Melissa arranged meet-and-greet facilities at every stage and wheel-chair assistance was provided all along the journey. We have travelled with many travel agencies over the years, but this company is, by far, the most attentive, experienced and helpful, and it has been an absolute pleasure to work with them. We will definitely be asking them to tailor-make another holiday for us and we have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone else.

An exceptional taste of South Africa's Garden Route and Cape Town, with fabulous boutique hotels along the way. Exactly what we'd hoped for. Thank you, cazenove+loyd.

Excellent pre-trip planning and information. Timely responses to flight changes while travelling. The trip to Antarctica was outstanding. Everything ran like clockwork. I am using cazenove+loyd for my next trip to South America!

Our next stop was Shinde Camp on the Okavango Delta. Once again, upon arrival, we were whisked off on an afternoon safari. The Delta was spectacular with an abundance of animals and birdlife. Our guide – as with all the guides we had during the trip – had an extensive knowledge, not only on local history but also about the birds and animals that reside here. The meals were outstanding and we all ate at a communal table, which enabled all guests to mingle and exchange experiences. The highlight of this camp was the helicopter flight giving us a 'drone' perspective of the region, during which we could truly appreciate the intricacy of the multiple waterways, lagoons and vegetation. Our gorgeous chopper pilot, all the way from New Zealand, surprised us with Champagne by the edge of a massive lagoon. What a treat! Shinde was probably our favourite camp, mostly because of its diversity of animals, birdlife and landscape.

The trip was really amazing – it has been hard to adjust to real life! Antarctica can only truly be seen in one way, through experience. Neither words nor pictures can describe this magical place. Thanks to cazenove+loyd for curating a trip that will never be forgotten – sitting in icy waters within just a few metres of sleeping humpback whales is a moment that will forever be imprinted on my family’s minds. Honestly, everything was really close to perfect, so thanks very much. We are wondering where to next?!

The team put together a fantastic 10-day family vacation for us in South Africa. Not only did they build the trip within our budget, but every detail was considered. When there were some issues during the trip, the team at cazenove+loyd responded immediately and made sure we were well taken care of. Over the years, I have worked with a number of travel agencies, and this company is, by far, the most attentive – and a true pleasure to work with.

I just wanted to let you know that this trip was everything we could have asked for and more. The lodges and guides were outstanding all the way through and we learnt so much and had a fabulous time. Our guide in Cape Town, Charlene, was especially outstanding and went way beyond the pale to show us the beauty and complexity of South Africa. We were very moved by our experience and overjoyed by our choice to travel with cazenove+loyd.