South Africa Family Safaris and Tours
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The perfect place for families
We can’t really tell you enough how South Africa is the perfect destination for a family trip.
With such a spoiling choice of locations, landscapes that beg to be explored, and a dizzying breadth of activities to decide upon; we can help you create a trip that not only matches the make-up of your family (be it travelling with toddlers, grandparents or teenagers) but that every member gets to enjoy it with all the ease, comfort and personal service you’re looking for.
We have extensive experience in dealing with family holidays and your personal safari designer will shoulder the detailed planning and a personal itinerary organised to the highest standards. From effortless transfers between all your chosen lodgings, baby-sitter services, restaurant recommendations and bookings, to a diplomatic balance of activities and relaxation that will keep everyone entertained and superb local guides to look after you every step of the way.
Be it river-rafting on the Tugela, horse-riding and whale-watching on the Garden Route, perhaps private game drives and a remote safari villa just for your family. We can get you to the wildest corners of the Kalahari, the best beach resorts on the Capes and all the close-up encounters with nature’s mighty kingdom as you want.
See our example family trips below, or we can help to design one from scratch.
Whatever you want from your Africa tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Our Top South Africa Example Trips
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The folks at Jacada started by asking questions of what we were looking for in our desired South African experience. They made recommendations and happily and patiently worked with us as we made our selections. They were very knowledgeable about how best to plan our sequence of destinations. As a result, our entire experience met or exceeded our expectations.We experienced some minor hiccups along the way (through no fault of Jacada), but Jacada helped resolve the situations really quickly and ensured that we were able to continue to enjoy our holiday.The folks on the ground that Jacada works with are top notch. A good deal of homework has obviously been done to ensure a positive experience.You can rely on Jacada to help you plan a top-flight holiday.
Honestly, the most incredible experience of our lives. Everyone on the Jacada Travel team was kind, responsive and made everything so easy. We love Jacada Travel and look forward to many more trips to come!
Our trip to South Africa and Zambia couldn't have gone better . We left the planning to Jacada and the entire trip was scripted in a professional and first class manner . Every detail was considered and covered . We visited capetown, the South African wine lands , went on a safari and visited Victoria falls and each and everyone of these visits created special memories thanks to the great trip plan that Jacada put together .
The team at jacada left no stone unturned when it came to our South African luxury vacation. From the private guides to the wonderful restaurants and their knowledge of the best accommodations, my wife and I had the experience of our lives. It was life changing. We had absolutely no problems the time we were there. It was perfect!!!! Jacada is not only a travel agency, they create memories and change your life with the beautiful vacations they create!!! Thank you all at jacada travel!!!!Eduardo Canales
I usually plan my own trips but I decided to go with Jacada Travel since it was a trip to South Africa. They handle everything and I was not disappointed.
We had Jacana Travel organize for us a trip to South Africa, Zambia and Botswana. They did a fantastic job as everything went according to plans. The places they suggested were great and all of us had a very pleasant experience. We have no reservations in recommending Jacana to anyone looking for a diverse trip where all the details, including some handholding, are taken care. Jacada also understood what we were looking for in a trip and made great recommendations in regard to where to stay and what to do.
Jacada organized a two week trip through South Africa. Byron at the London office spent a lot of time discussing our wants and helped us narrow down our choices to give us the best and most varied experience within our time frame and our budget, and boy did he succeed! Everything went like clockwork--from the initial contact at the airport where we were whisked through the incredibly long line up at passport control ( after 30 hours of travel, that was the best thing ever!), to the amazingly sumptuous lodges, to the drivers who took us from one destination to another. I felt like a princess on this trip and am now officially spoiled and unwilling to settle for anything less. Thank you for a wonderful experience
Totally organized, totally professional. Trip of a lifetime.
Jacada travel was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. They put together an incredible package for us, the accommodations were fabulous, the food was superb, the people were wonderful. Every detail was attended to and all our tours and transfers were spot on. I would highly recommend this company.
My experience in planning travel to Victoria Falls and South Africa with Tessa and the other members of the team at Jacada was wonderful. I hosted a group of 12 people and at the end of the vacation, everyone stated that this was the best vacation they had ever been on, and most have experienced travel to all over the world. My expectations, which were extremely high, were exceeded. I have no qualms about recommending Jacada Travel to anyone.
Jonny and Jacada agents in England and South Africa created a flawless experinece for us. Their attention at the beginning with a conversation to discover our travel needs/wants and while on the trip with personal notes at each lodging place was astounding. Their knowledge of unique experiences whether of lodging or activity is extensive and up-to-date. We felt supported and able to fully enter into our first time to Africa. We returned home rating this trip at the top of many wonderful trips and are already talking with them about our next trip to South America. Anne Miner-Pearson, USA
Byron Thomas worked closely with us to put together an itinerary for our trip to South Africa that was customized to our wishes. No detail was left to chance! Jacada and their people are wonderful to work with! I highly recommend Jacada!
Tess and company made sure every detail was perfect. We had the best family trip you could imagine.
I stumbled upon Jacada on the Internet in April 2016 and filled out a form. To my excitment they promptly contacted me the next day and asked some questions in regard to planning dates, budget, ages, level of comfort. Within a day a had a proposal for England/South Africa. With a little adjustments the trip was finalized and customized within a week. My son and I just returned yesterday from "the trip of a lifetime". JACADA you made this trip a wow. Everything went perfect. From the transfers, private tours, reataurant picks,London hotel was perfect the safari lodges you chose it was unbelievable. I would highly recommend and will be using Jacada for future travel.
Great attention to detail. Very personal interest on the part of the agent and attention to every detail. Exceeded our expectations. Would book with Jacarda Travel again.
It's hard not to be at least a little anxious when choosing a travel agency for an exotic vacation in a far off land. At some point, a small leap of faith is required to assure oneself that the planned trip will be a comfortable fit and go smoothly.Whatever anxiety I might have had was short lived.I can honestly say that the South Africa vacation, planned for us by Senior Safari Designer, Tessa van der Walt and Jacada Travel, was not only the most interesting, educational and exciting vacation of our lives, but also the most comfortable, enjoyable and worry-free.Attention to detail begins in the early planning stages, as robust communication, combined with extensive personal knowledge of the region, allowed Tessa and I to craft an itinerary that fit our life style and desires.Jacada provided detailed information on all aspects of the upcoming trip at regular intervals, including essential details on important topics such as vaccinations, clothing, packing tips, currency, food and the like. By the time we were ready to leave, we really were ready to go.As the trip approached, we were introduced to our Concierge, Angela Thomas, who provided some details about what to expect from Jacada upon arrival in Africa and an emergency number where she could be reached if necessary. She also suggested some great restaurants to try in Cape Town, arranging reservations for us in advance of our trip.The trip itself could not have gone better. The airport gate greeters, drivers and tour guides were all friendly, courteous, knowledgeable and on time (early). The hotels were uniformly charming - in some cases spectacularly so - with attentive staff, eager to please. I won't get into the details of the tours here, but each was a perfect fit. The tour guides were all energetic professionals and by the end of the tour, friends.Everywhere we went, personal notes from Tessa greeted us on arrival. Hotel staff provided us with both small surprises in our rooms, up to an incredible birthday dinner on safari. Each day a delight.All of this attention to detail does more than just provide a five star experience. It allows you to relax and really enjoy it, secure in the knowledge that you are being cared for.So my sincere thanks to the staff at Jacada Travel for a vacation that almost goes beyond description. That's how you do customer service, folks.Bravo.
Our trip included the best of city sightseeing (Johannesburg and Cape Town) along with Hermanus...coastal marine life sightings, luxurious train travel from Pretoria to Cape Town, thrilling safari experiences in Sabi Sands. Tessa and team at Jacada were wonderful to work with and customized the trip based on our interests and timing. All excursions were well planned and executed. The guides provided were intelligent, helpful, gracious, and knowledgeable. They arrived promptly for our excursions and exceeded our expectations. They represented four different native tribes, and helped us to understand the history, culture and politics of South Africa. The hotels were exceptional in their location, service, and amenities. The guide/driver and tracker on the safari were extremely knowledgeable about animal behavior and made every effort to find and show us 26 different species of mammals. It was a trip of a life time! Thank you, Jacada Travel
Jacada Travel was great to work with throughout the process. From the very beginning and listening to what experiences we wanted to have and customizing our trip to us, to helping us get reservations at a specific restaurant, and modifying our itinerary a month or so before to include shark diving all while keeping within our budget. All transfers were seamless throughout the trip and private guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. The places we stayed were so unique and each place made us feel at home.
2nd time with Jacada. Excellent as usual
The trip was completely customized for what I wanted to do. Accommodations were all luxurious. They arranged everything including all in country plane transfers. Communication on schedule was perfect.
We used Jacada Travel to organize our trip to South Africa as we were finding it difficult to arrange some of the transfers and to decide which safari lodge to stay at. It was the absolute best decision we could have made! Byron listened to what we wanted to see and do and then developed an amazing itinerary! The accommodations were excellent and the service was outstanding everywhere we stayed. Every detail was taken care of including having someone meet us at Johannesburg to expedite us through Customs and onto our next flight. We never had to worry about transfers or tours - all was taken care of in a flawless manner. The tour guides were knowledgeable and personable and the drivers were courteous and professional. Angela (our concierge at Jacada) answered all of our questions before the trip and booked restaurant reservations for us beforehand. She was able to change the day of one of our tours when the weather forecast called for rain. We were truly treated like VIPs throughout the trip! This was such an incredible trip all thanks to Jacada. I have no hesitation in recommending them to develop a luxury vacation you'll never forget!
From start to finish Team Jacada were truly amazing,especially Tess and Amanda,true professionals who sorted everything out for us.Nothing was too much trouble,even when we changed our itinery around slightly.They answered all our annoying questions big or small and gave honest opinions on places to go,visit and restaurants to try etc. Everything they arranged and organised all worked by total clock work,we didnt have to worry about anything other than having an amazing South African adventure.I cannot recommend these guys enough,I will certainly be using Jacada again if and when we come back to Africa,which I know I will,too beautiful not to.I have just recommended them to a friend of mine,after months of emails back and forth to both Tess and Amanda you feel like you have made new friends.Absolute top class and I thank them again for all they did for us and making our holiday so fabulous!
We are very experienced travellers and our recent trip with Jacada travel was amazing. They go the further yard to ensure you have an excellent trip. All pick ups and escorts through the airports were very smooth. The hotel in Capetown was hospitality at is best. Fire lit in out room with a bottle of wine chilling on our arrival. Restaurants booked and trips organised. With the Safari it was the best ever . We have been to safaris from the Amazon to Zim, and this could not be faulted. Exceeded our high expections of luxury camping. Well done everyone and thank you to all concerned.
Out trip to South Africa was fantastic. They listened to what we wanted and designed the trip that matched to those wishes. Everything went smoothly to the trip. From meeting us at the gate in the airport, the hotel choices, the restaurant choices, everything went very well. I highly recommend them.
Tess and her team listened, asked questions, made recommendations and were very flexible throughout our planning process. She put together an amazing experience that far exceeded our expectations. The accommodations were incredible, service impeccable, food excellent and each day surpassed the previous. Absolutely incredible experience.
I chose Jacada virtually sight unseen--simply by plugging in "luxury safari in South Africa" last February. Several company names came up and I began corresponding with two. Quickly, Tessa at Jacada stood out because she immediately grasped what our family was looking for and what we needed and understood the parts of the tour that I didn't even know how to ask questions about. She created a luxury tour with lodges, hotels, private tour guides and transportation that was literally seamless. While we were too late to get into the lodges we thought we wanted, Tessa found us lodges that were easily comparable or better. We were so pleased with all that she did to make sure we felt comortable, confident, and so happy on our 12-day family trip.
This trip was vey well organized, not a glitch, everything went as planned and we had a wonderful time. Great trip!
Jacada travel organized a vacation for me that was perfect from beginning to end. I was asked what my desires were, what I most wanted to do and see in South Africa and then my rep, Bryan, made suggestions of his own. The result was a trip of a lifetime, mingling deeply moving experiences delving into the difficult history of this country with the amazingly vibrant city life of Cape Town and the eternal wonders of safari in two different safari camps. I had all the security of an organized tour with the personalization and solitude of my own private experience. I have special needs due to a mobility handicap and this was handled in a way that made me feel completely able and unhindered. I would never have thought that I could enjoy a vacation like this, but Jacada made it possible.
My sister and I had been planning a trip to Africa for years. We just never knew how to get started. We spoke to Byron at Jacada and he took care of everything!! He was absolutely amazing. I couldn't be happier with the trip. It was honestly the best two weeks I've ever had. I will never plan a trip without Byron again!
Jacada is the best for South Africa travels.
I can honestly say this tour was beyond all expectations. I was blown away by all accommodations and experiences, and Tess was a dream to deal with.
I had a fantastic experience with Jacada Travel. My father and I worked with Byron at Jacada to plan a safari in Botswana's Okavango Delta. From the initial planning stages through the end of our trip, Jacada provided thoughtful, high-level service. It was one of the best trips we have taken and we will definitely return to Jacada for the next trip!
Our first family trip to Zambia and South Africa, planned by Byron, was so amazing that we recently booked another family trip to Ecuador/Galapagos. We know it's going to be memorable! The whole team offered us great customer service, and we would recommend to everyone! I am so excited that Jacada has now expanded to Asia!
Using Jacada Travel was the best thing we did otherwise I am quite sure that our special 30th anniversary trip to South Africa would not have been as magical as it was. We were looked after from the moment my husband called them and nothing was too much trouble for them. Adjusting itinerary to suit what we wanted and being able to flex things to get it just right and within our budget was brilliant. The preparation before the trip, attention to every little detail, the amazing itinerary and the information that was sent to us prior to departure was just excellent. We were looked after like Royalty from the moment we stepped off the plane at our destination until we boarded again to go home. All transfers, trips etc. were done by professional staff and we were never kept waiting. The quality of the hotels, rooms and little 'extra's were all something else and I cannot wait to travel with them again! It really is the only way to do it!
I would refer Jacada(Byron to be exact) to the closest of friends and family for all travel to South Africa. Jacada and Byron, our representative, went above and beyond to assure that all of our needs were met and that this trip was fully executed to our standards. We had no regrets, hiccups or reasons to think otherwise. My wife and I can't wait to book our next excursion through Jacada!
From the first phone call Jacada Travel was so professional, knowledgable, and helpful in the planning of our honeymoon trip. Jacada went well above and beyond what businesses do these days for their clients. We received a perfect itinerary so that we knew exactly what we needed to know for making such a trip. Their suggestions were "spot on" as for places to stay. Each new destination was as fabulous as they'd promised and every detail was always there. I can't thank them enough for such a beautiful trip and I look forward to working with them in the future. Thank you with all my heart Jacada. The white roses in the rooms did not go unnoticed either. You are absolutely top notch and first class.
If I could, I would give Jacada six stars. I have traveled extensively over the last fifty-five years everywhere in the world except Sub-Saharan Africa which was an unknown region to me. I decided to rely on a travel firm to arrange this trip due to my ignorance. Having looked at several travel organizations, I decided on Jacada due to the positive information available and the outstanding way in which they handled my initial inquiry. I was not wrong. The entire process of finalizing the trip was a pleasure and I was treated both courteously and efficiently. I more or less went along with their recommendations and have to say that the trip was one of the most pleasant of my life. Everything was perfect, both from a logistic standpoint and cultural one. All of the guest houses, lodges, and hotels were wonderful as were the sightseeing which was arranged for us. Before leaving, I wondered how it would be possible for so many arrangements to work as planned but they did! I was amazed that there was not even the slightest glitch. The places we visited on our sightseeing were exactly what we wanted to see and do. The travels around Cape Town took us to places which are stunning and unique. A gourmet tour of Cape Town was special including visits to local eating places.. Our stays in the game reserves near Kruger Park were a grand success in all senses. We saw all of the different animals, the accommodations were stellar, as was the food, and the attention both from the guides and the house staff incomparable. I cannot recommend any firm more highly and without question will use their services on my next trip to Africa. They know the area and what their clients like to see and do. I congratulate them on running such a good organization.
From the very beginning to the end of the trip, Bryon was superb. He listened to our interests and guided us in selecting the best itinerary and lodgings for us. Every detail in country was handled perfectly. We were met by knowledgeable in country airport guides and drivers. The hotels were marvelous and we usually were given free upgrades. The private guides were knowledgeable and took us to all of the places that we hoped to see. Worth every penny of the cost.
When we contacted Jacada we knew we wanted to go to southern Africa and had a vague idea of what we were looking for (safari, young animals, nice accomodations, etc.) But other than that we were clueless. Tessa Van Der Walt from Jacada listened to us, took into account our budget and time allowance and designed the PERFECT trip from start to finish. It far exceeded our expectations and was the trip of a lifetime. We saw and experienced much more than we thought possible; not only the big five, but youngsters of every species. The people we met along the way were incredible and the accomodations, food and service were fantastic!
I used Jacada to book my honeymoon and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Our agent was Samantha Kelly and despite the incessant questions, she was always incredibly patient and attentive to all our requests. All of the accommodations and events that she recommended were stunning and perfectly suited for our tastes. The beach hotel in Cape Town, celebrity chef lunch, safari lodge near Kruger, and the resort in Livingstone all were organized exceptionally well and was a perfect ending to a perfect wedding. I sincerely thank Sam for all her hard work however I blame her now for being depressed back at work and no longer treated like a king. Thank you Sam and the rest of the Jacada team!!!! Matt and Meg
I've actually made the following review below and already made recommendations to my friend. Can't beat Jacada, especially in Africa. My good friend, Byron, was a big help in arranging this wonderful trip. Since the destination doesn't have to be limited to South Africa, take a look at the website for a full range of choices and price. The trip is fully customized to your needs and taste (not to forget flexible price range), so feel free to browse and ask Byron for any questions. I initially tried to book the African honeymoon through a travel agent in Korea which I personnally know (someone quite famous for arranging trips with Samsung partners and so on). But honestly speaking, professionally, I have no doubt Jacada Travel was a better choice. Personally as well, Byron's a good sport. You won't regret choosing Jacada and especially, Africa.
With many thanks to Byron who organised a pretty fantastic last minute week in Cape Town. All went very very smoothly although we organised our own flights and a two night stay at a guest house the connections between the whole week was the best. He worked very hard from the start to find us accommodation in what was a very busy time in the city. We were even met airside by their ground staff. The Cape Grace hotel organised by him was fantastic and only wish we could have stayed longer. We think we must have had the best room. A very special thank you to him.
We already had a safari in South Africa we bid on at an auction. So I was researching other options to add on to the trip. I contacted Jacada travel online and Sam immediately reached out to me. She was so friendly and helpful in helping us put together our itinerary. Within just a few days we had everything put together for an amazing trip. She recommended the most amazing places to stay and the best tours. When we arrived everything was taken care of including our transportation. It was such a relief not having to worry about the details. The trip was absolutely amazing and everything went according to plan. A truly memorable trip that we are still talking about months later. I cannot recommend Jacada travel and Sam enough. Thanks for the trip of a lifetime!
I would recommend Byron at Jacada Travel to anyone - he designed a trip for my daughter and I that was absolutely perfect! We were taken great care of and the hotel and Game lodge that were chosen for us were gorgeous! The day long cape tour was unforgettable and our driver was very knowledgable! So glad we included several days of Safari per Byron's suggestion - an incredible experience that we will never forget along with gourmet food at every meal! The Londolozi Varty camp was breathtaking and luxurious at the same time, and the staff was everything we could have asked for - not a thing we would change, except to stay longer!! Jacada took great care of us!!!
Tess listened to what we were looking for and followed through in every way. No detail was left unattended, and we loved every one of the properties she selected. Can't recommend her heartily enough! We can hardly wait to get her help planning our next big trip.
We choose Jacada based on the easy to use and informative website. We had a very good experience planning our African honeymoon with Jacada. They provided us a dedicated agent and really listened to our opinions to personalize every detail of our trip. We had many locations and flight transfers in our trip. Each transfer was seamless, we were met with personal greeters and friendly guides at every stop. I loved the attention to detail from the travel package to champagne waiting for us at every hotel. I also think we got the best rooms because of booking through Jacada. I would recommend Jacada and Tess to anyone and will continue to use them over and over again. We already booked our next trip through Jacada to Ecuador!
We had a wonderful trip to South Africa and Zambia. No detail was left out and we saw everything we were looking for. The staff at Jacada were always available before and during our trip to ensure everything went as planned. All accommodation's were first class.
The best trip I have ever taken! From the first phone call to throughout the trip to the return flight home I felt 100% taken care of! There was no travel stress because jacada took care of everything! I felt like a celebrity being whisked through the airports, bypassing lines, and having people do the check- ins for me! My next few trips will be with Jacada because you truly get your money's worth. Tess, in particular, was fantastic! She took the time to get to know us and planned things according to our likes and interests! 2000% better than expected!!!
Our trip designed by Tess at Jacada Travel could not have been better. She took care of every detail and we were treated like royalty. She booked us into lodges that were gems and they had all the amenities that first class travelers should have. Tess was a dream to work with, listening to all our concerns and wishes. She was easy to contact and responded in a timely manner after hours. This trip turned out to be much more than we imagined it would be. We highly recommend Jacada Travel and be sure to ask for Tessa Van der Walt for your African trip.
Tess did the most amazing job organizing our trip to match out wants. South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, johanesburg and Mozambique with never a hitch. Never a single late driver, perfect transfers through many countries, and a trip tailored to our desires with the right amount of direction. Would use again in a heartbeat!
Byron at Jacada did an amazing job organizing and planning our trip to South Africa. Everything ran smoothly and we were able to do things only locals know about. My husband and I were able to focus on our adventures (safari and shark cage diving) instead of worrying about the details. I highly recommend this service.
Because of a relatively short timeframe, we were having a hard time finding the perfect safari lodge and the perfect dates. Byron kept looking until we found it. He made sure that everything on the trip was well timed and that we were always taken care of at each leg. The accommodations he selected were beyond expectation. There were little surprises throughout and quite honestly it felt like being royalty.
There is not one thing I would add, subtract or alter to our vacation in Africa. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Johannesburg to the time we were back in the airport to return home we were taken care of royally. Our trip involved four camps, three countries, border crossings, little 6 seater planes and all of it was handled efficiently and with attention to our needs. I have dietary restrictions which Jacada informed the camps about and with one exception, which was not the fault of Jacada, my needs were met with delicious, carefully prepared meals. (The exception was sorted out by Jacada to our satisfaction within days of our arrival home.) Each camp provided us with a different experience, as promised by our wonderful agent, Byron Thomas, but all of them went above and beyond to help us celebrate our anniversary. We had private dinners, lunches in the bush, on a private island. . . I had ridiculously high expectations for this trip and anticipated it with such exuberance that my husband and I feared it couldn't live up to our hopes. I have to say that not only did it live up to those expectations, it exceeded them in every way. I can't recommend Jacada Travel and Byron Thomas highly enough--I hope to travel with them again in the future!
Booked through Jacada Travel for the first time as their website was the best and they offered to tailor my trip to our requirements. Byron phoned me back within 2 minutes of my first email enquiry and immediately had some great suggestions on how to improve the itinerary to get more out of our trip. His passion for Africa showed in his personal knowledge. He put together a first class trip with all the elements and transport meshing together seamlessly. The ultimate was being met off the airbridge on arrival into South Africa and whisked through immigration - fantastic.
It's hard to imagine a more spectacle-packed trip than what we wanted for our honeymoon in South Africa. Being from the United States, I had reservations on travelling such a far distance to a place I had only read about in school. My fiance (now wife) had been saying for years that an African safari trip was on her bucket list. After 2 years of convincing me to take the dive, we decided to plan our honeymoon in Africa! 4 weeks and 3 travel agents later we landed on the webpage for Jacada Travel. Seeing that they were based out of London, again I had reservations. We emailed Jacada and received a rather quick response from Tess Van Der Walt. Seeing that there was a 6 hour time difference, I was quite impressed. We told Tess that we noticed a travel package on their website called "The Magnificent Seven Safari" that really seemed to encompass everything we wanted to do. After all, travelling that far I decided we were going to do it all! Tess asked us some preliminary questions to get an idea of just what we wanted. Not only did she offer us multiple options for places to say and things to do, she put it all down on paper so we could sit down and review together. We picked out exactly what we wanted with the help of Tess' wonderful recommendations and expertise and 4 months later set out on what would be the best journey we had ever taken. We arrived in Cape Town only to be greeted by a nicely dressed man, wearing a name tag and hold a sign with our name on it. This made me feel totally at ease considering I was in a foreign country with no idea what to expect. He greeted us with a smile and escorted us to his Mercedes sedan parked in the garage. Needless to say, I was again impressed. Our private drive took us directly to our first destination with no problems along the way. We checked into the Cape View Clifton guesthouse only to find a bottle of champagne and a fantastic view in our room! Yes, Tess called ahead and informed the guesthouse that we had just been married so they took extra special care of us. The next afternoon we were picked up by another private driver who's task was to take us on a private tour of the city and table mountain. Again, we were greeted by a well dressed man driving a nice car and wearing a name tag. He immediately offered us a bottle of water and explained exactly how the day was going to go. Throughout the day we saw amazing views, learned a lot about the history of South Africa and got some great pics! He dropped us off back at our guesthouse that afternoon safe and sound. The next day was a full day tour of the peninsula, cape point, wine country and the waterfront. By this time I was at ease and ready to explore! We had the same driver as the day before which was very nice as we developed a rapport with him and made things very fun! We experienced so many things in that one day I could've gone home happy! A few days later we had another private transfer about 1.5 hours away to the town of Hermanus. The Whale coast. What a breathtaking place! We were greeted upon arrival at the Ocean Eleven guesthouse with a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates. Yes, Tess made them aware of our nuptials. The re was even a note in our room from Tess welcoming us to our next destination! We spent the next 3 days walking along the cliffs, watching the wales, having romantic dinners along the water and doing a shark cage dive!! Yes, I was very nervous to do such a brazen task but hey, we're in Africa! The company that Tess recommended was awesome! They picked us up from our guesthouse and drove us to Gaansbai (shark alley) where we boarded a boat andd set out for shark infested water :) All I can say is bring your submersible camera. What an experience!! At no time did I ever feel unsafe or like the crew didnt know what was going on. Excellent recommendation Tess! Our last stop on our journey was in the Kruger National Park at a safari lodge called Ngala. Due to our finances, we had to pick a "middle of the road" lodge instead of the "high roller" lodge. Boy was I surprised by what awaited us! We again were greeted by a hot towel, a drink and an escort to our room. The rooms were quaint, well maintained and perfect for our needs. We spent 4 days seeing things I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. We were served breakfast, lunch and dinner every day as well as snack and drinks while out on safari in the morning and evening. On our last night there, the staff set up a private candlelight dinner on our porch complete with my favorite drink (which they handily took note of sometime during our stay) a bottle of champagne, and even a live singing performance by their staff members...right on our porch!!! We made friends with our safari ranger as well as 2 other couples from New Zealand while we were there. I never thought I'd have friends more than a continent away! All in all, Jacada and the companies they work with are second to none. All of the detail and planning that goes into each trip makes you feel like you are their only client. Tess emailed us the day after we got back to see how our trip went and asked for photos as well. She was genuinely interested in what we wanted, how we felt, how our travels went and what worked for us. I would absolutely recommend Tess and the rest of the Jacada team for any and all of your travels!! Thanks again and we will definitely be using your services again on our anniversary!!!
This trip when being planned had minor issues with Safari lodge reservation, Once booked and after receiving assurance from Samantha Kelly, JACADA travels provided my family with an opportunity to experience an outstanding and beyond imagination trip that we will cherish a life time. We loved the movement we landed in Cape Town and enjoyed the trip until left Johannesburg airport back to London. We enjoyed the Ngala safari lodge and services. We really like to thank Elliott and Jimmy, ranger and tracker who took all efforts to show us the big five and more. We want to go back and Samantha will be our adviser and planner. she has become a friend and JACADA is truly a outstanding travel company. We had heard about JACADA prior to travel and this trip has demonstrated the JACADA's outstanding planning and service . Thank you.
From the first interaction our entire experience with Jacada Travel was excellent. When we arrived in Capetown the weather was lousy and this immediately disrupted our plans. Jacada's in country support Tracey Wren from New Frontiers immediately went to work to reschedule our activities in an effort to get us on a shark boat which they knew was very important to us. They were prompt and highly responsive. While we all know you cannot control the weather our vacation would have had a disappointing start without the diligent work and relationships of the in country agents. All the reservations, payments, transfers and connections were all on time or early. If you are ever going to Africa for the first time and want to have a great experience and lower your stress level use Jacada. They have great people who know the area and the activities. Our family would definitely use them again. Chris, Sandi and Ben Higgs
Jacada Travel did an outstanding job in helping us plan our trip to South Africa. Every aspect of the trip -- the in-country travel, the lodgings, the tours, and the restaurant choices -- were terrific. I will recommend (and I have recommended) Jacada Travel to anyone thinking of travelling to South Africa (or anywhere else Jacada Travel organizes trips). Samantha Kelly was particularly helpful and always very responsive. I wish all businesses were run as well as Jacada Travel.
Sam(Samantha Kelley), Sam, Sam is a name I announce with joy. I called Jacada Travel and Sam was my first contact. I told her what I was interested in traveling to South Africa for our 50th wedding anniversary. I told Sam that my wife wanted luxury and first class treatment; Sam delivered. We stayed at the Ellerman House, La Residence, Dulini Lodge, and Royal Chundu. All four places knew about our anniversary and suites and champagne were waiting for us. The food was to die for along with the service at each stay. Kathy was so pleased, she wrote a favorable review concerning the Dulini Lodge to the Trip Advisor site. Finally, Jacada was there when Air France cancelled our flight back to Boston. An airport agent made new arrangements and we flew back without a problem. Now, that is what I call a first class operation. Thank you Jacada.
As long as price is not a restriction Jacada can be relied on to put together a superb tailor made holiday to fit your requirements. Like all travel companies they have their favourite destinations, hotels etc to persuade you to go to but at least in their case your are assured luxury, good service and well organised trips. Their level of detailed planning is top notch
Jonny at Jacardi Travel made my first trip to Africa easy. I traveled to Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe and every detail of the journey was handled with care by Jonny. I never had any question regarding air or ground transportation or lodging and all of the camps were first rate. I'd recommend this trip to anyone interested in experiencing Africa for the first time.
Our Jacada experience made this a trip of a lifetime! It was always going to be a great trip but the selections of accomodation, experiences, guides, tours etc from Jacada jetted it into the awesome category. Everything had been chosen from personal experience and you could tell - even some of the people looking after us complimented Jacada and commented on how lovely Sam was. The Jacada experience smoothed the way through South Africa for us - never once were we waiting at an airport or lost on where to go as there was always someone there for us! The personal touches left for us were appreciated and unexpected and the responsiveness of Sam when we had a minor hiccup (unrelated to Jacada!) was outstanding. Highly recommend Jacada and can't wait until we talk to you again for 2016!
My family has recently returned from a wonderful holiday in South Africa. Sam from Jacada was excellent in helping us to plan our itinerary taking into account our individual preferences, and giving recommendations which were based on personal experience. All our accommodation was of the highest standard and our tours and Safari experiences were amazing! Everything went smoothly and all transfers were on time and very professional. We were given lots of helpful information before our holiday, our many questions were answered in full, and we felt confident that we would be making the most of our holiday in South Africa. I can highly recommend Jacada Travel to anyone looking for a special holiday!
Jonny helped us plan a trip of a lifetime and the most spectacular honeymoon. We enjoyed 4 days hiking, touring and eating our way through beautiful Cape Town before heading to Sabi Sands for some rest and relaxation while on safari. It was such an incredible experience. One of the best parts of our trip was visiting Livingstone, Zambia and Victoria Falls. We had a blast exploring the mighty Zambezi River whether it be by sunset cruise, fishing trip, or white water rafting. Jonny made sure every detail was absolutely perfect. From the transfers and tours to the accommodations, everything felt so special and like the trip was truly planned just for us, with our needs in mind. I would highly recommend Jacada Travel to anyone looking to take a trip of a lifetime.
I have already submitted my lengthy review about our trip to our trip coordinator Ciara who did a wonderful job! This is our second time using Jacada for travel in Latin America. While we had a few hiccups it did not impact us too badly and our experience. These hiccups were not due to Jacada but the local agency in Chile. The local guides were fantastic and always wanted to go out of their way to make our visit to their country perfect.
Byron at Jacada travel organized a super African vacation for our family, despite substantial challenges from us. Our group consisted of nine person, ranging in age from 10 to 74, traveling around the world from different locations on different days and ultimately meeting up in Cape Town. That is a lot of moving pieces, but despite all the logistical challenges, Byron and the Jacada team organized a magnificent holiday that was enjoyed by all. In Cape Town, we enjoyed an "eating tour," a trip up Table Mountain, a tour of Robbin Island, a cultural walk through the City, a tour of Cape Point, and a magnificent Christmas dinner. Byron then organized an unforgettable safari in the Okavango delta in Botswana. Thereafter, we returned to South Africa for several relaxing days in wine country. We could not have had a better time, and we all highly recommend Byron and the Jacada team.
We had an amazing trip in South Africa over the Christmas and New Year's Eve holidays! Tessa at Jacada Travel listened to our wants and needs and helped to plan a great personalized trip, giving us time in the Cape and on safari. Everything ran on time, and the lodging accommodations exceeded our expectations. There were a couple of snags with respect to a portion of our itinerary, but Jacada and their local South African partner New Frontiers worked together to resolve all issues. Thanks, Jacada, for an unforgettable experience!
I had an excellent experience working with Jacada from the time I first contacted them all the way through my amazing honeymoon trip! Great people, great recommendations and great travel accommodations; I would definitely work with Jacada again.
Our South African honeymoon was a truly flawless experience from start to finish! Despite the 6-hour time difference, we were able to plan a personalized trip with Jacada Travel. We received a quick response to our initial inquiry from Tess. From that point on, all communications were very easy and timely. Tess was incredibly attentive and thorough. She took the time to piece together our desires with her EXCELLENT recommendations to give us an amazing custom tailored honeymoon. It was apparent from the start that she was very knowledgeable with South Africa and definitely an expert in the various attractions, dining, accommodations, etc. The trip itself was a once a in a lifetime experience that went flawlessly. Tess was able to coordinate each detail of our pre-booked outings/tours/dining reservations so that we had a completely stress-free experience! All of the accommodations she recommended were absolutely LOVELY and LUXURIOUS with impeccable service. Each accommodation made us feel like true honeymooners with special touches/surprises/upgrades. The dining experiences were all top-notch as were their colleagues on the ground at Ilios Travel who were very knowledgeable, welcoming, and friendly. We cannot thank you enough for creating a honeymoon that exceeded our expectations, and we hope to use your services again in the near future!
Jobi listened to our preferences and put together an itinerary which was spot on! The Royal Livingstone was beautiful and sitting in the "Devils Pool" was an experience we'll never forget. We'd also recommend Ngala Tented Camp to anyone visiting that part of the world. The Winelands and Cape Town was also a great way to finish. Having a 3.5m Great White stick it's nose in the cage is another experience we won't be forgetting anytime soon either. We'll done Jacada, we had a great trip!
We were thrilled with our experience in South Africa. Jacada arranged the entire itinerary for us and there was not one flaw in the choice of lodging, accommodations, flights to and from the lodges, transportation to and from the hotels, or service overall. All in all, a magnificent trip!! Yes, indeed we saw the Big Five and many other animals also! Kudos to Byron at Jacada!!!
Byron and his Jacada team were amazing. Everything went as planned and our family had the best time.
All aspects of the trip was expertly handled. The lodges where we stayed were beautiful, the food was wonderful, all staff were helpful and friendly and finally, our guides were the best and showed us the animals and the wild beauty of Botswana, Zambia and Kruger National Park. It was a trip we will never forget and we look forward to another adventure with Jacada Travel. Finally, Sam who organized our trip was very knowledgeable, charming and very helpful. We cannot recommend Jacada highly enough.
Our experience with Jacada setting up our Safari, Wine Country and Cape Town adventure went off with only a few small glitches . The hotels were first class with only a small hiccup at The Bay in Cape Town. They weren't ready for group of 16 and left us sitting around for a couple hours in the lobby. While they treated us to coffee and soda, it was quite an inconvenience. On the other hand, our lodging in Kruger, Simbambili, was outstanding and exceeded our expectations. The Residence in Johannasburg was incredible and the service impeccable. The transportation was good not great. They didn't have enough seats and luggage storage on one of the legs and that was very uncomfortable for some. Other than that, I was very impressed by the timing of airport pick-ups. Overall, I would highly reccomend Jacada for any trips. I will be using them for my next adventure to Africa, no questions asked!
As a result of the expert guidance and planning by Jonny at Jacaranda Travel, everything we asked for happened more or less like magic! We were met and guided throughout our South African adventure which was absolutely great, as we never had to worry if we were going to get our flights on time or be in the right place at the right time. The venues were fantastic and everything we were promised came true. I would recommend this company to anyone - actually we already have!!
Jacada did a very nice job of putting together a vacation package that my husband and I will not soon forget. The rep, Jonny, listened to what we had in mind and worked with me to arrange all the details. He and his team were quick to respond to emails and made the process quite painless! The accommodations were all brilliant (really, beyond expectations) and the local tour guides very informative and personable. My only constructive criticism is that the vendors on the ground varied in quality. Willro (the outfit in Johannesburg) was amazing: They were prompt, flexible, and the people were all super knowledgeable and helpful. Ilios, who provided drivers in the Cape Town area, was more hit or miss. But that is picking nits. Everything else was just lovely.
Would definitely use Jacadatravel again, our trip was wonderful and fulfilled all our expectations.......and more.
We went to Jacada Travel to plan a trip of a lifetime to South Africa and Victoria Falls for our multi generational family and they exceeded our expectations. Every lodge they chose for our family was the perfect mix of comfortable luxury with great staff who introduced us to the culture and spirit of Africa. We celebrated 3 birthdays during our trip and Samantha was so attentive to details that every celebration was perfect. They also made great use of our time so we didn't waste hours over nighting in Johannesburg waiting for a flight. Thank you Jacada Travel!
Tessa, has the impeccable ability to plan an exciting itinerary. We had eight different airline flights, and the planned assistance and transfers at each airport was very helpful and appreciated. Each location we stayed had luxury accommodations with a wonderful restaurant. It was great experiencing such elegance and style. Riding the Blue Train was a unique opportunity - fantastic food, amazing views and comfortable accommodations. This was opulence on rails. The beautiful Royal Malewane safari was marvelous. We had spectacular drives and was able to see the Big 5 the first two drives. We also enjoyed a massage at the lovely spa. The lodge is lavish, with the dining area outside with a view of the surrounding bush. We had an amazing trip with some wonderful memories. We highly recommend Jacada Travel.
I appreciated the pesonal attention we received from our travel agent, Tess. She was attentive to our particular travel needs and responded to our tastes. We had a wonderful trip to South Africa and Zambia, which included some of the most comfortable accomodations I've ever encountered. Most importantly, Tess was always available to answer questions and willing to answer all questions, and make changes when we wanted them. All of the places we stayed were 'high end' but they were incredible value for the cost. Absolutely wonderful! I would definitely recommend this travel service, and Tess, in particular.
We have traveled extensively in Western Europe and North America and have always self booked our own tours and accommodations with great success. As experienced as we are, we were out of our comfort zone with Africa. This was our first experience working with a travel agent and Jacada Travel was simply outstanding. Our agent, Tess did an excellent job interviewing us about our interests and travel style and created a spectacular, fully customized agenda for us. Every detail was covered from transfers at the airport to top notch private tours, and excellent restaurant recommendations. This was one of the best vacations we have ever been on, largely due to Jacada's planning and execution. They truly brought our dream African vacation to life! We are already thinking about planning a future trip to South America or Antarctica with Jacada. We highly recommend Jacada travel for your African adventure!
Without reservation, my wife and I would highly recommend Byron at Jacada to plan an African trip. His instincts as to what we'd enjoy, his choice of recommended accommodations, and his personal attention to detail were unparalleled.
Our family had a wonderful experience at every location set up for our safari trip in South Africa. We were able to customize to our desires. Londolozi Camp was fantastic and we saw all the animals we had hoped to see. Moving on to Victoria Falls was a nice change of pace and a unique wonder to behold. Lastly in Botswana, our stay in the Okavango Delta was great. Both Stanley Camp and Chief Camp offered unique viewing experiences. We learned so much about animals seeing the big five and many many more. There is nothing like the star light sky or the glorious sunsets. The people were wonderful and the food very tasty. If you want a luxury but outdoor exhilarating experience this trip will exceed your expectations. Jacada did all this to make it possible. We thank them for all their organization and follow up during the trip to make sure all was going smoothly. Thanks to Jonny for his help in making this the trip of a lifetime.
We are a family of four, -including two adults plusTeenagers from New Zealand. We are widely travelled and have been frankly disappointed with the minimal level of service we have, in the past received from travel agents/planners, who have usually offered very much "predictable packages", without any feedback/experience of the properties, and offering no information we couldn't find out for ourselves. Our experience with Jacada was totally the opposite .We travelled to South Africa on a safari, and from the pre planning to arriving back home afterwards, every detail was taken care of with close attention to our requests and preferences, uniqueness, a bespoke character, and an indescribable level of luxury at the Lodge properties we stayed at.If you are price sensitive, Jacada's costings will probably give you an initial shock, however, they do indicate price ranges on their beautiful website, and they work with luxury products and properties.Thanks to Jonny for putting the glamour back into travel- his enthusiasm is infectious, and his personal experience of these properties and of safari travel is very specialised- it is his core business, so you are dealing with someone whose total focus is on this type of travel. Jacada- highly recommended, a very positive experience- I wish they offered more destinations, as I loved the experience of being personally met, greeted and guided through the initial stages of arriving in a new country/city. We'll be back!
Everything was superb, except for a guide in Franschoek named Leslie. She immediately shared her "world view" on controversial topics without knowing us at all; it was very off-putting. She also lacked basic knowledge of several local topics, with a typical response of "you'll have to Google that," rather than saying she would find out and get back to us later in trip.
They were amazing! Instead of fitting us into an already establishad tour, they allowed us to design the tour we wanted and accommodated all our eating quirks and also our budget!
I have just returned from South Africa, a trip that I have waited over 25 years to take, it has always been my life long dream to go on safari and Byron and his amazing team made it happen. I found Jacada Travel purely by accident while I was researching safari's, as I was travelling alone it was very important to me to have the right agent working on my behalf. From the first time I contacted Byron to let him know what exactly I was looking for, the service has been nothing short of OUTSTANDING. He put together an itinerary for me that was privately guided, the accommodations were beyond exceptional. Firstly it was 4 nights at the Sea Five boutique hotel in Camps Bay, just outside of Capetown, then it was on to 2 nights at the Birkenhead House in Hermanus for shark diving and whale watching, the view of the ocean and breaching humpback whales from the Birkenhead House was absolutely breathtaking. Then it was on to the highlight of my trip, Chitwa Chitwa for 4 nights and 2 daily safari drives (a total of 8). This place is magical, from the view of elephants playing around in the waterhole from the deck of my lodge, to the abundance of animals I was privileged to see during my drives. On my first drive I was lucky enough to see 3 of the Big 5, elephant, lion and buffalo, the next morning drive I saw the other 2, leopard and rhino. I left a piece of my heart at Chitwa and will cherish my time spent there forever<3 The guides and hotel staff everywhere I stayed were phenomenal, and the service from Byron and Alec was like nothing I have ever experienced, right down to my little black travel book which I received about a month before my departure date, and to the little welcome notes that were waiting for me upon check in at my accommodations. Five stars doesn't seem like enough, I wish I could rate them much higher. My advice to anyone looking to book a trip of a lifetime is don't look any further than Jacada Travel, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Thank you Byron and Alec from the bottom of my heart for putting together this wonderful trip and giving me the memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life. <3
Wonderful vacation to South Africa with Jacada Travel. Trip planning by Byron was thoughtful, innovative and responsive. We achieved all that we wanted to plus lots of additional experiences along the way that only true experts on South Africa would be able to recommend and provide. The trip itself was flawless. Every driver and private tour guide was on time, professional and friendly. Each of the hotels, resorts and safari camps was excellent. But equally as important as the luxury accommodations and gourmet food was the chance to see and experience aspects of the real South Africa and feel that we had a chance to meet its people and, however briefly, be part of its world. We have no hesitation in recommending Jacada Travel and will use them again in the future.
If you want a seamless dream vacation the best travel agency for that is Jacada. Nothing but good things to say about this company and their employees. Especially Tessa van der Walt.
Thanks to Byron and Alec with Jacada we had a fantastic trip visiting Cape Town, Sabi Sands, Zambia and Botswana. There recommendations on where to stay and excursions were perfect- from Manna Bay in Cape Town to Londolozi in Sabi Sands (saw the wild dogs) to Royal Chundu (Zambia) and finally to Duba Plains. Fantastic!!!
Going into our first safari to South Africa, my husband and I were a little intimidated. Throughout the planning phases, Jacada was very accommodating and made us feel at ease. Once we arrived to South Africa, everything was an absolute delight. From the transportation to the accommodation, everything went according to plan and flowed so smoothly. Traveling with Jacada gave us peace of mind throughout our entire trip and we were definitely pleasantly surprised. I would like to use them again in the future and will highly recommend it to others.
I thought Jacada travel were very professional and helpful with anything from planning the trip ,transfer and what activities to do.
This trip went above and beyond our expectations. Jacada did a fantastic job planning, implementing, and with their follow through. It is rare in life one experiences perfection - but this trip was exactly that! Thank you for helping us create a memory of a lifetime!
Everything was perfect, Exactly like we had planned it. Travel agents were great in planning everything down to the tiniest detail; it felt like they were traveling with us along the way.
Jacada (Byron specifically) planned us the most amazing adventure for our honeymoon. We could not have asked for a better experience in any way! Simply incredible! Thanks!
Inspiring Destinations in South Africa
Need to Know
When to Go
Cape Town and along the Garden Route are great to visit any time of year, but early summer when the winds drops are particularly pleasant. If you're visiting for safari, the dry winter months are often considered the best but the wetter summer months bring full waterholes, lush bushveld and lots of newborn animals.
