Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

Huge Thank You’s to Cherri’s team for putting together a most fantastic “safari” trip to southern Africa: Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. This was our 2nd safari trip with them, our previous one was done so well the decision to use them again was easy.

We have done safari-vacations to Kenya and Tanzania, both very good, but because of the freedom of the animals, the varied accommodations and pleasantness of the people, we had to go back to these same three countries again. Cheri’s team, which included Frankie and Nicole, made the planning and support of this complex endeavor simple. From the planning start to the finish and all throughout the trip, the professionalism of their team was exceptional. We had many questions preparing for the trip and they were always quick to respond.

We told them our budget and how long we wanted to go, what we liked and not liked on previous adventures like this, and they simply Nailed It. They recommended going after the rainy season but just before it got cold (southern Africa’s May was basically equivalent to our October) and it was perfect, though nature decided to make the early mornings colder than anyone expected. The weather was better than perfect—12 near-cloudless days of 50 to 80 degrees each day.

We are 2 “not old” seniors and brought along our 40ish nephew, a very dedicated outdoors photographer, and the team’s recommendations on camps were spot on for photos. Nicole spent time with my nephew helping him understand his camera equipment and weight restrictions. Each camp was different, the one consistency was the quality of the staff and guides. In Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana they ensured we had the best guides at each camp. In fact in Botswana and Zimbabwe, our guides were experts on the night sky, a particular desire of our nephew, and we did a couple of those. If you’ve never seen the night sky in southern Africa you’ve not seen the night sky!

The team arranged all the interior flights, including helicopters to remote parts of Botswana, and all went without a hitch. They had representatives meet us at every point of change on our trip to help us along our way. The camps they selected were above our expectations and the animal viewing was amazing. My wife had planned a surprise helicopter trip with Frankie, and she made sure the hotel host kept it as a surprise for us. Great communications.

The team, very quietly in the background, stayed aware of how things were going during the trip as well. If we needed to reach them they were always available.

I could go on and on but to net things out—if anyone is planning a safari trip to Africa, and you should, we highly recommend using Cherri’s company.

Two lions seen during a safari in Botswana.

“The animals exceed all expectations! We saw all the animals on our wish list and more.” Photo: Traveler Lynn Herrick.

The perfect trip. We had been talking about visiting Africa, our last continent, for years, and I am so glad we planned our trip with Cherri. The entire process was fabulous from the first email. Cherri asked a lot of questions that helped her make suggestions and guide us toward an unforgettable trip. We also appreciated the paperwork, the app, and all the details that her company provided to make sure we were fully prepared for our journey.

We started in Cape Town at the not-to-be-missed Silo Hotel and wrapped up 16 days later at the Thorntree Lodge in Zambia near Victoria Falls. In between, we had fantastic guides (shout out to Chantell who was with us for 2 full days in Cape Town), rode in small planes and helicopters, visited Franschhoek for wine tasting, and 2 different campsites in Botswana for Safari. The entire trip still feels like a dream. Everyone should find an opportunity to visit Africa. I loved that we experienced three different countries on our trip. The history and people of each country were different and so interesting.

The animals exceed all expectations! We saw all the animals on our wish list and more. Our campsites were all different and I appreciated the order in which Cheri scheduled things… from the more “rustic” to the more modern. The food was amazing everywhere we went. We felt like we were at each site for just the right amount of time and really would not have changed anything in our trip. There is no way I would schedule a trip like this without an expert, and especially an expert that really listened to our likes and dislikes and thoughtfully put together an unforgettable experience.

Dawn Critchley with her guide Duncan and a baby elephant at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Kenya.

Traveler Dawn Critchley with her guide Duncan and a baby elephant at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Dawn Critchley here. Just back from a marvelous trip to East Africa…Kenya and Tanzania. I went as a solo traveler November 2-29, dividing my time between the two countries. And what a trip it was. All put together by Cherri and her team… Frankie and Katie. All lodges /camps were so unique, special, and private. Transfers (usually small aircraft) between destinations were seamless. Food was absolutely scrumptious, and so beautifully and thoughtfully prepared. My guides were unbelievably knowledgeable in all aspects of nature. I have deep respect and appreciation for them. My days were filled with such joy and wonder, words don’t do it justice. The people are so welcoming, kind, and genuinely happy.

This adventure was truly mind blowing, and I find it difficult to single out a few memorable times. Safaris were spectacular! Kenya: Amboseli National Park, Lewa Conservancy, the Maasai Mara; Tanzania: The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The Acacia trees, open grasslands and savannahs, and the kopjes, were breathtaking… being able to turn 360 degrees and see nothing but sky. To be able to look as far as the eye can see, and see nobody else…. Indescribable. The wildlife was stunning!!! The big five and so much more. To name a few: Cheetah and cubs, Grevy’s Zebra, hippos, Serval, Caracal, Bat-eared fox, Jackals, Hyenas, herds of Wildebeasts…. I went on two safaris most days.

While in the Lewa Conservancy, I had a surprise breakfast prepared out in the bush after an early morning safari. And to top it off, a surprise camel ride back to the lodge!!! It was a blast…I loved it!

I experienced fly camping, where I did a walking safari from one camp to another. My companions were my guide, Josphat, and an armed ranger, Naurori. Jamelex drove ahead in a jeep in case needed for an unforeseen event. On arrival, a private fly camp had been set up. A glorious fire was going. We had our sundowners, roasted marshmallows on the fire, great conversation and a wonderful dinner prepared. A bucket shower and sleeping in a dome tent was so much fun and such an experience. And to be able to see a night sky alive with stars was a sight to behold.

My private visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi was such a unique and intimate experience. I learned in more detail their work and challenges facing elephants in Kenya. And, their mission of rescuing and rehabbing elephants and rhinos who have been orphaned (mainly by poaching) or injured, as well as caring for other wildlife in need. I was able to have a private encounter with the baby elephants and interact with them as they were frolicking in the mud pools, ending up splattered in mud myself! So much fun with these darlings.

A visit to a Maasai village in Ngorongoro was so informative and truly amazing. The Maasai are some of the happiest people I’ve encountered.

A visit to the Lake Eyasi area and interactions with the Hadzabe, Datoga and Blacksmith tribes was truly eye-opening and humbling. I was fortunate to be able to go on a hunt in the bush with the Hadzabe and witness their superb skills with bow and arrow, then build a fire, and prepare their catch. They are one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes in Tanzania. They live truly at one with nature.

This review was such a small sampling of what I experienced in these remarkable countries. Every day was special as well as an adventure. I could never have planned a trip of this magnitude with such variety and without any glitches without Cherri and her team.

Judy Hildebrand – solo senior traveler going on safari and snorkeling
Oct 6-Oct 29, 2024
South Africa – Johannesburg, Soweto, Cape Town, Grootbos Lodge, Botswana – Chobe Game Lodge, Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls, Old Drift Lodge, Elephant Encounter, Somalisa Lodge, Mozambique – Benguerra Island &Beyond. I experienced walking, river, ocean and jeep drive safaris along with snorkeling at the most beautiful reef I have seen in 2 decades. All wildlife was up close and stunning.

I spent an hour with Katie, my trip planner, on the phone describing what I wanted to experience, how much time I had and how much money I had. She returned an itinerary to me, we had a short discussion, I asked her to change a few things (I did not want to explore anything in the primate family and really wanted to spend time with elephants and snorkeling in the Indian Ocean), she did a tweak and we were good to go. She added a few things that seemed frivolous at the time, but in the long run made the trip so much more relaxing and I am glad I trusted her expertise and went with it.

My only complaint was I did not schedule more time in Southern Africa. A month was not enough. Every day on the trip was better than the previous day. The staff at all of the lodges were amazing. The food was delicious. The accommodations were delightful. I have traveled a lot and this was the best experience in my life. Hope to return to the area next year.

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