The 16 days were amazing, one adventure after another. The safaris, the waterfall, the helicopter ride, the shows, the scenery and the sunsets breathtaking! I realize our guide, Renier, was a HUGE part of it though. He runs a tight ship while keeping it fun. He took care of the group and individual needs, making it effortless and enjoyable for us. Can't wait for my next Gate1 adventure!

We were paired with Steve/bushman, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about him! He was so knowledgeable about EVERYTHING, and taught us more than we could have ever hoped. He "clicked" with our group of 6 very quickly, so that we were absolutely thrilled to be with him again on the second Kenya leg of our tour. He is kind, funny, flexible, concerned with our safety, and always seemed to know where to position the vehicle to get a good view of the animals. I want you to know that he is a true "gem" of a tour director. His love for the country, Gate 1, and the animals in his country was evident in everything he did. We will remember him for a very long time. This was our first Gate 1 tour, and I am afraid he has set the bar VERY high! I can only hope that all Gate 1 tour directors are of the same caliber, as Bushman will be a tough act to follow. It was wonderful to share this trip of a lifetime with him.

Benson and Paul were amazing tour manager and guide during my vacation to Kenya. Their ability to share knowledge and respond to questions from our group were unmatched. I was able to see firsthand the relationships forged by Gate 1 staff within the local community. Our tour manager and guide treated us like extended family always ensuring we felt safe during the safari game drives while sharing information or fun facts about the animals. Both shared information about Kenya, the Maasai Village, customs and traditions and taught us common words in Swahili. For the first time on vacation I was not ready to come home. I am now a Kenyan ambassador sharing pictures of my experience with friends family and colleagues encouraging them to not only visit Kenya but only travel with Gate 1. Words cannot truly express how grateful I am to Benson and Paul for sharing Kenya with my family. From the hot air balloon ride to the Maasai village to all the local shops, their pleasant demeanor, professionalism, and excellent customer service made this vacation with my family and friends not just a wonderful experience, but our home away from home.

Baraka was a great tour guide. He was able to find animals that were hidden, and was attentive to our requests on the trip. Definitely worth keeping!

My husband and I wanted to express our sincere appreciation for Amon our Tour director. He was excellent and made every effort to make our trip memorable. He tried to ensure our safari experience was excellent going to lengths to ensure we had great locations to take photos, knowledge about not only the big animals but also birds and local folk lore when we asked He made sure we were comfortable during our rides and made every effort to ensure our satisfaction. We were very satisfied with his efforts . His partner Barraka was also very attentive although our main interaction was with Amon whose Jeep our group was primarily in. But Barraka also made efforts to check on us along with the folks in his jeep. We could not have asked for better guides.

Regarding Tour Manager: Nathi, you all have an absolute GEM working for you!! Very nice! Friendly and accommodating, knowledgeable and thorough person, you can feel how he takes his job seriously and with actual care for us tourists, I can't stress that enough!! He should be the standard for all your employees!! I'm sure they all have those qualities as well; he exemplifies what an awesome Tour Manager should be!!! Me and my wife are only going to use Gate-1 from now on!! Bravo Gate-1 Bravo!!!! Big Thanks to Nathi!!! And Gate-1

I just came back from the South Africa trip with Victoria Falls. I wanted to say that this was one of the best trips that I have been on and I have extensively traveled before. This was a perfect blend of culture, history, safari, nature and fun. The people in the group were friendly and nice. Our travel guide was knowledgeable and helpful. I loved the people of Africa, the food and all the accommodations. The lodge in Mabula was beautiful and the lodge in Victoria falls was serene. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the experience. And I will definitely be traveling with Gate1 in the future.

We came back to NYC from Kenya and Tanzania safari 3 weeks ago, it was an amazing journey. The accommodations and foods exceeded our expectations. The tour guide/drivers were excellent, especially the Tanzanian tour guide Roman, he was so professional, knowledgeable, careful and patient. We were so lucky to have him as our tour guide and driver, guided by his extensive experience, we saw hundreds of different animals, birds and plants, we had a fantastic trip. Thank you Gate1 !

Our tour of Tanzania was excellent! Our tour manager and guide, Kelvin, was great. He made the entire trip much richer, with multiple sightings of lions, leopards, rhinos, loads of hippos, even a cheetah with a baby, as well as explanations about the people and culture. In addition, he took us to the northern Serengeti, across the Mara River, to see the great migration of wild animals. It was a long day of driving, and we had a flat tire which took two stops at gas stations to fix. Since we said to him that we would like to see the Mara River, he made the decision to take us there. Although we didn't see the animals crossing the river, we did experience the land and saw a great number of animals gathering and marching. It was an unforgettable trip. Kelvin was very experienced, treated us with respect and kindness, paying attention to our needs. I felt lucky to have him as our guide in that beautiful place. I liked the itinerary very much. We got to see multiple aspects of Tanzania, including the great rift valley. The visit to the archaeological museum was a good learning opportunity. Every national park and conservation area was a gem. I truly enjoyed the tour.

We recently returned from our wonderful South Africa tour and wanted to recognize our outstanding tour manager, Anni. Anni struck the perfect balance between being firm, organized, and direct while remaining friendly, patient, approachable, and genuinely accommodating. She runs a tight ship, and that is exactly what a tour like this requires. By clearly setting expectations and ensuring everyone followed the rules, she kept our group on schedule, fostered a respectful atmosphere, and, perhaps most importantly, helped keep everyone safe while traveling in a country where situational awareness is important. Her knowledge of South Africa was simply exceptional. Throughout the tour, she continuously shared fascinating information about the history, culture, wildlife, geography, and current events of the places we visited. Then, each day, she thoughtfully recapped everything in our WhatsApp group, complete with the photos she had taken, allowing us to revisit and absorb everything at our own pace. Anni's professionalism, leadership, and obvious passion for her country elevated an already outstanding itinerary into one of the best travel experiences we have ever had. She is a tremendous asset to Gate 1, and we hope she receives the recognition she so richly deserves.

On my first visit to Nairobi, the guides were Joseph, George and Brian. You can be very happy with their professionalism. Outstanding. Everything ran smoothly and everyone was happy. (My guide was Joseph and what a magical man. He became a dear friend). In Tanzania our guides were Goodluck, Wilson and for the life of me I can't remember his name. maybe Dennis... Again, all of them were smart, knowledgeable, happy and engaged. They were outstanding. The accommodations were great, food delicious, the animals were off the charts, and the guides never gave up seeing and finding more. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful everything was. Thank you so much for your perfect planning and for having such outstanding professionals hosting your guests. A JOB WELL DONE!

The trip was amazing!! Every was terrific! Our tour manager Wolfugan was spectacular! He really went over and above our expectations to show us everything! I will recommend him to anyone interested in this trip.

The South Africa trip was amazing. We were lucky enough to have Renier as our leader. His expertise and personality made the trip even better. He fostered a harmonious group personality and provided insights to the towns and countries we visited. The trip was exhausting but I would not have missed a single activity along the way.

I thought I'd get to write a review in our survey, but I didn't see one. Our guide, David, was fantastic from start to finish. He greeted us with a warm smile, made everyone feel comfortable, and shared fascinating stories that brought each location to life. His deep knowledge of history and culture was impressive, but what stood out most was his ability to make the tour engaging for everyone. We found the same with our Tanzanian guide, George, but we spent more time and felt more connected with David. As our tour guide, driver and tracker, David did an excellent job in all three positions. When David finds an animal, he would get into a position where we could get the best pictures. I felt we were in good hands with David. This was the trip of a lifetime and although Gate 1 was a referral from another traveler, it far exceeded our expectations. We were part of a great group of travelers, and they made the vacation even more special. This was our first tour with Gate 1 and would highly recommend Gate 1 and David to anyone and everyone

Our African Safari trip with Gate1 was well organized and we felt safe and well taken care of. The only problem we had was the scheduled burning at Serengeti that made us unable to enjoy the views and the game drives well, the Tanzanian tour guides did their best to help us see the most of it. The lodges we stayed at were well picked, the staff at the lodges were beyond amazing, especially at Serengeti Moyo Tented Camp, please extend our thanks to how prompt they answer on the walkie-talkies and helping us feel safe at night. We loved the reality that our lodge was not fenced and we can see wild animals from the safety of our tent and the safety that the staff were able to give us. We were impressed with how food was prepared at Ngorongoro Oldeani lodge. Our Kenyan tour manager David was easy to talk to and managed our group well, our Kenyan tour guide Alex was funny and drove us around safely. Our Tanzanian tour guide Meshilaa taught us a lot about his Masai culture and was knowledgeable with the different animals in Serengeti and Amboseli, even all the birds! He was a cool guy. Our Tanzanian tour manager George was very caring, always checked on the group, especially the ones who were not feeling well from the smoke in Serengeti and the ones who had gut issues from the new environment. The Hot Air Balloon company was also top notch for safety and quality of service! Thank you for this experience!

Thabie, our tour guide, was simply amazing! Her professionalism throughout the tour and her knowledge of the places we visited were truly impressive. She was kind, caring, and the best tour guide we have ever had. I would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for an unforgettable tour experience.Thank you, Thabie, for helping us create such beautiful memories. This trip has been my favorite by far, and you were one of the reasons.

This was our 25th Gate 1 and although all have been great, this was the best. Our trip to Zambia & Zimbabwe couldn't have been better. The safari trips to view the wild animals were magnificent. We saw lions, elephants, leopards, hippopotamus, giraffe, warthog, zebra, snakes, birds, impala and on and on. But what really made our trip special was our tour manager Shamiso. He constantly was looking for us, making our adventure go safe and flawless. His attention to detail was constant. It seemed his ever effort was to make our trip better. It will be hard to match this trip, but we will try.

Our 11-Day Kenya & Tanzania with Serengeti: A Safari Journey exceeded our expectations. The tour managers, tour guides/drivers in Kenya and Tanzania were outstanding!! Our tour managers, Chris (Kenya) and Loningo (Tanzania), were so organized and on top every single detail. They were always available to help and answer any questions we had. Our drivers, David (Kenya), and Z (Tanzania), were also fantastic! They were both so knowledgeable about the wildlife, history and areas. My husband and I were traveling with my 90-year-old grandfather and my 64-year-old mom. This trip has been on my grandfather's (and mine) bucket list for years. He can still get around, but he uses a cane and moves a little slower. Our drivers, David and Z, went out of their way to help him and be safe! Actually, all of the Gate 1 staff did, Chris, David, Raphael, Loningo, Z, and Moses! I really enjoyed that they joined us for dinner! I loved hearing about their lives and family! All of the different lodgings were great! We loved the "glamping" tents!! I really enjoyed trying the different foods. This was a once in a lifetime trip for my family and I, and I'm glad we chose to do it with Gate 1!

The 16-day trip to South Africa, Victoria Falls was simply fantastic. From history, geography, change of natural landscape to flora, fauna and wild life, everything felt like a piece of heaven. Gate 1 chalked out a beautiful itinerary and as I visited each place, I was left in awe for what further remains to be seen. From water to land safaris we saw different wildlife including all the big five animals in Africa at very close proximity and varied vegetation. Victoria Falls experience left us mesmerized especially from the helicopter. The trip was made more favorable due to the services of our tour guide Belinda. She was a bubble of energy and managed the group excellently and her attention to details regarding each day's itinerary, immigration details (we visited 4 countries in this trip) and how she maintained impeccable timings with all parties were top notch. It felt like a wonderful break and for the 16 days I felt I went to a place out of this world. Thank You Gate 1 and Belinda for this lovely tour.

What a fantastic adventure! I think it was my favorite Gate 1 trip so far. We absolutely loved Adel, our guide, who was extraordinary. Our animal sightings were extensive, beyond our expectations. Thank you again, Gate 1!

Wonderful and exciting! I traveled with my 16-year-old grandson, and we both enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to South Africa plus! Hats off to Henk, our guide, whose leadership, knowledge, and friendship enhanced our trip beautifully! Thank you, Gate I! I will continue traveling with you, as I have in the past!

It was fantastic!!! Kudos to our tour guide Maggie. She was very professional and knowledgeable. I will definitely travel with Gate1 again.

This trip was amazing! This was my 17th trip with Gate1 and Jason was one of the best Tour Managers that I've ever had. He was funny, friendly, and just an all-around treat to be around. He interacted well with everyone on our trip and just made a wonderful trip nothing short of amazing.

1st time with Gate 1 and it exceeded my expectations. Our tour manager, Hercules made this trip extraordinary. His knowledge and love of his country combined with his patience, humor and gentle demeanor brought our group of 21 together as a family. He treated everyone (guests, coworkers and staff) equally and with respect. It was truly a pleasure traveling with him. Of all my tours, he is the best- 1000%.

This was my first Gate 1 experience with the South African 11 day tour. It was an amazing trip! I was very apprehensive about going as I had a bad experience with another travel group we tried going to Egypt. My first few travels were through OAT and these were excellent experiences with a cost. Then we tried another travel group and we were so disappointed in the food and accommodations. I was very reluctant to try Gate 1 fearing it would be as disappointing as it was in Egypt, but you exceeded my expectations. Although it was not an OAT experience, I would say it came very close with a much more affordable cost. I was absolutely impressed with my African trip that I rave to others to try Gate 1. Our tour Guide Hercules made the experience feel as good as OAT and the sites, meals and lodging were wonderful at a much more affordable cost. Thank you for offering travel at a reasonable cost. I do believe I have found a travel group that will take me to other parts the world knowing it will be worth my time and money.

Just a brief note to improve our post-trip survey. We have travelled a good amount and have travelled before with Gate 1. With that said our trip to South Africa was extraordinary. In large part this has to do with Maggie, our Tour Manager. From our vantage point the role of Tour Manager requires quite an exceptional array of skills and for someone to excel at them all must be rare indeed. That is Maggie. Of course, all the behind the scenes work to choose events, accommodations etc hast to be right as well and in all categories our experience was again excellent. We are looking forward to our next trip with Gate 1.

Our Tour Guide Leigh was one of the best, if not the best, tour guide that we have ever had in our travels. He is a treasure trove of knowledge and information. He is kind, friendly, caring, willing to help solve any problem that we may have encountered. He handles political history and issues impartially and fact-driven. He is very organized, detailed oriented, shares needed information in a very timely manner and shows no favoritism. Gate 1 is very fortunate to have him in their employ. Thank you Leigh!

A huge thank you for our amazing safari guide and driver. Yusuf, for making our Kenya adventure truly unforgettable. His knowledge of wildlife and landscape was incredible, and he was always kind, courteous, patient and eager to ensure our needs were met. Yusuf went above and beyond to make every moment special and his passion for what he does shines through. With Yusuf's knowledge and great spotting, we were able to see the BIG 5!!! We couldn't have asked for a better guide in Yusuf for this once in a lifetime experience!! We're so grateful to have had Yusuf as our guide for the week!

We just returned from our trip to South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Botswana. It lasted 16 days, and we had no idle moments; every day was filled with exciting activities. We saw many wild animals, and on one safari, we were fortunate to see all the Big Five. Gate 1 did an excellent job arranging our accommodations, which was quite comfortable. The meals were plentiful, although the taste could have been better. The view of Victoria Falls was breathtaking, especially when watching from the helicopter. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see Africa.

Jason, is a great tour manager. He transform it into something meaningful. His passion, leadership and genuine care for every person in the group turned simple moments into lasting memories. He has a rare ability to bring people together, spark connection, and make everyone feel seen and included.

Hesborn our tour director and driver were the best! Our 10-day safari in Kenya was outstanding in part due to Hesborn. He was so knowledgeable, experienced, he made sure that all of us were having the best time. He gave us the time that we needed to see everything! He was an excellent driver on the very bumpy roads and made sure that everyone was safe and well taken care of. His 15 years of experience clearly showed through as we ventured through the parks. He was very attentive, funny and kind. We had the greatest time and greatly appreciated every moment spent with Hesborn.

This trip was amazing from beginning to end. Tour Manager Herunga and Driver James were fantastic. Our group of 17 travelers were the best people I have ever traveled with. The Namibian people were very welcoming, friendly, helpful and always had smiles on their faces. This was one of my best trips ever and I have visited over 60 countries.

We had a WONDERFUL time! Adel, our guide, was really on top of everything. The drivers were also very efficient. They handled the coaches smoothly in tense moments. The resorts were top notch accommodations. Staff were friendly. We never felt ill at ease with the locations or the operations. Our group were mostly seasoned Gate 1 travelers. After hearing about their experiences, we plan on booking with Gate 1 again.

This trip was the best trip that i have been on in a long time, everything was GREAT. The food the places we stayed were very nice and clean. And the tour guide we had made the trip. Charl was the best he had everything in order and looked out for us like a PRO that he is ...I will be using Gate 1 on my next trip and will tell any and every one that Gate 1 is the way to go. If they could have Charl as a guide, they will have a GREAT vacation. Thanks again Gate 1.

I want to say thank you very much for this travel package. My impression from South African was very good. I want to express our thanks to our tour manager Charles who is professional and kind and helpful good person. We were very lucky to have Charles and he is a five Star tour manager.

Absolutely amazing! I wasn't sure what I expected but was wowed at every part of the trip. The accommodations were very nice and in locations that were very desirable. The locations of all of our stops and itinerary was just simply amazing. I have recommended you to all my family and friends and bragged about my gate one trip to all of my cruise friends told them they're missing out when they're only seeing a port and they should be on a Gate 1 trip and explore a whole country or a region. Thank you for providing a safe and enjoyable experience! I will be booking another trip with you in the very near future. I look forward to retirement in a few months and being able to travel to many of the locations that I have been eyeing on your website.

My heart is so full reflecting on my time in South Africa. This wasn't just a trip-it was an experience that touched my soul in the most beautiful way. I fell deeply in love with the breathtaking scenery, the peacefulness of nature, and the richness of the culture. The people were so warm, kind, and genuinely welcoming-it made me feel at home even being so far away. Every place I stayed was absolutely beautiful, and those comfortable nights of rest felt like a quiet reward after days filled with unforgettable moments. Cape Town and Eswatini truly stole my heart. Standing on Table Mountain was beyond breathtaking-it felt like I was standing in the middle of something so powerful and serene. And experiencing the traditions and presence of local South African tribes was something deeply moving that I will carry with me forever. A special thank you to Belinda from Gate 1 Travel-her care, knowledge, and attention to detail made the journey even more meaningful. This experience left a mark on my heart. I would absolutely recommend it, and I already know I will return to South Africa one day.

We wanted to acknowledge and thank our fantastic tour guide, Fazi. Gate 1 typically employs excellent guides and Fazi is one of the best. She was considerate, helpful and kind. Fazi was always available when you needed her and she made sure we saw unique sights and enjoyed special experiences that we would not have had without her connections and creative planning. She was very generous with her daily 'treats' and her farewell gifts that she made herself. Most importantly, Fazi was always there to take a photo of you. She is quite the photographer, and we have many fond memories of this trip thanks to her. Please ensure Fazi is acknowledged for her outstanding performance. She made this Gate 1 trip truly unforgettable

Shout out to Maggie for exceptional tour manager service. We also want to highlight our Mabula safari driver Louw, who was with us for all 4 safari drives. He was absolutely fantastic giving us stellar safari experiences and memorable moments! We know these individuals are doing their jobs, however giving stellar experiences to us for these one time opportunities does not fall to the wayside. We appreciated our Cape Town driver Chris for his excellent services and recommend he be utilized often. This was our 20th trip with GATE1 and when given exceptional service, we desire them to be acknowledged for it. They are intricately responsible for an unforgettable time.

I'm writing to share some very positive feedback about one of your tour guides, Avi, who led my recent Discovery tour in Kenya from March 27th - April 5th. Quite simply, he was phenomenal-truly one of the best tour guides I have ever had in all my travels throughout the world. His knowledge was exceptional, and he brought each location to life with engaging facts, thoughtful context, and a genuine enthusiasm that made the entire experience memorable. What stood out even more was his outstanding attention to detail and clear focus on the full guest experience. Every aspect of the tour felt thoughtfully considered and seamlessly executed. He demonstrated strong problem-solving skills and excellent risk management, handling any unexpected situations with calm confidence and professionalism. In addition, his adaptability was impressive-he was able to adjust plans as needed while still maintaining a high-quality experience for everyone. His banter with the group also added a fun, engaging dynamic that made the tour with him feel personal and enjoyable from start to finish. He was patient, approachable, attentive, and struck the perfect balance between informative and entertaining. It's clear he genuinely cares about his career, and that made a meaningful difference in the overall experience. Travel experiences are often shaped by the people leading them, and Avi elevated this tour far beyond my (and the group's) expectations. He is an incredible asset to your team, and I hope you recognize the positive impact he has on your guests and their experience. I will be forever grateful to have crossed paths with this absolutely special tour guide. Thank you for providing such a high-quality tour guide. I will absolutely recommend your company to others based on this alone.

This was our first trip with Gate 1. Everything was absolutely amazing. Our guide Elvis was perfect. He managed everything so well. He was very knowledgeable and made sure we all got the most out of our time. Our excursion for the shark dive was sadly cancelled due to no fault if anyone but mother nature and Elvis still took time to apologize and help us find activities for our new found free day. Elvis made us all as a group feel like family. During the safari Elvis was so engaged with our safari guide Apollo in helping us see so many animals. It was truly and experience of a life time and that was made possible by Elvis. All accommodations we very clean and updated. The coaches and drivers we all friendly and clean. Overall would rate this trip a 10/10. We can't wait for our next adventure.

Thank you for reaching out. Our trip to South Africa was wonderful. The properties we stayed in were very nice, and the Guides were excellent. Our Tour Director (Anni) was outstanding in every respect....and was a wealth of knowledge.

Our Gate 1 16 day South Africa with Victoria Falls and Botswana trip was a once in a lifetime experience. I can speak for my other touring friends who all said " This trip could not have been so spectacular without our tour manager, John". John is from South Africa and seemed to never mind our thousands of questions. What was so surprising is he knew an answer for everything. Such knowledge on the history, flora and fauna, food, restaurants, commerce, animals and the cities we'd drive through on the bus. We all were amazed at his knowledge. The 4 countries we visited on this trip had such cleanliness. The people of Africa were so kind to us. The bus drivers, game drivers. river boat captains were so kind and also willing to impart information. As we left Botswana, an employee in housekeeping smiled and said " Goodbye, Safe Journey" That was said to us at all our destinations. The African people were the kindest and all spoke English. Thank you Gate 1.

Our tour manager was Don. He was most excellent! He is friendly and efficient, experienced, and so knowledgeable about history, sites, hints, etc. and has a great sense of humor. He clearly enjoys his job and his country. He is so respectful and appreciative of all the drivers, porters, waiters, staff we met, treating them as colleagues and encouraging their cooperation for our group and the next. When fog and wind closed Table Mountain, he worked to find a way to get us up there- and did it on 3rd try, to our cheers. He made the trip great!

Our trip was wonderful! Belinda was a fabulous tour guide too! We loved Gate 1 accommodations and that everything was taken care of for us! Thank you!