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!

Thabie, our tour manager, was a great guide! We appreciated her touring skills and management! We loved her promptness, knowledge of the areas travelled, friendliness, insights and recommendations. We appreciate and recommend her highly!

Being in close quarters with our Tour Director/Driver, we got to know our two leaders, Daniel (Kenya) and Adam (Tanzania). I am absolutely extremely impressed with their knowledge, not only of the animals and parks, which was to be expected, but about a wealth of understanding beyond. We could talk about education, science, culture, economics, a vast array of subjects too numerous to mention. And their ability to problem solve was incredible. I have a much different impression of Africa because of all 7 leaders/drivers. They can communicate all this, keep to schedule and drive us safely around!

I am writing to praise Daniel and Adam, excellent tour managers, drivers and animal trackers. We spent 4 days in a range rover with Daniel and 4 days with Adam, who were always pleasant and professional. That being said, they took us on the ride of our lives. Daniel is an educated man. He spent a lot of time conveying to us the traditions of his people and was eager to learn about us Americans. We were impressed with Adam's story, how he was born into a large Massai family and was given the opportunity to be educated and leave the Massai way of life to become what he is today. They both took excellent care of us and went the extra mile. I hope that both of them are rewarded appropriately, because we will never forget them.

I just want to sing the praises of our tour manager Belinda, our drivers and our local tour guides. They all went above and beyond what we expected, especially Belinda. They were knowledgeable and they certainly had our best interests in mind. I heard Gate 1 was good but you really outdid yourselves. I look forward to travelling with you in the future.

This trip was MORE amazing than I could have ever imagined. Our tour guide, John was so informative & FUNNY! He made the trip so enjoyable!

The trip to South Africa was amazing. Ryan, our tour guide, did an exceptional job of explaining and showing us everything Cape Town and Johannesburg has to offer. I hope to be using him again on the next South African trip

Just wanted to congratulate the tour manager Panda and driver James. I take about 6 trips a year and these 2 individuals were absolutely the best of the best. I am 81 and this trip was very tiring, but I just loved every minute. Even the long drives were acceptable due to the attention these guys gave us. What was also nice is that James ate his meals with us and we got to know him so much better that way. This felt like a group of very good friends traveling together. Our group was fantastic and everyone so kind and considerate,

Gordon and Wambua were incredible tour managers and drivers. We had never been on a Gate 1 trip where our guide was also the driver, and they excelled at both which is no small feat! Driving on some roads in Kenya can be challenging while simultaneously looking for animals, and being a guide, explaining and answering questions at the same time, it's a lot. Both Gordon and Wambua set the bar very high and were excellent at time management, at planned stops and getting us to all the parks and game drives with time to spare. On the last day, they surprised us with a "sundowner", a cocktail happy hour on our final sunset game drive together. Our small group of eight bonded so well and we all felt like family. At our farewell dinner, we all sat around the table with tears in our eyes, reflecting on the amazing experiences we had shared together. A huge thank you to Gordon and Wambua for a beautiful, fun, safe and wonderful adventure in Kenya!

The trip was great and exceeded my expectations. Thanks to the tour manager Ahmet for the wonderful trip to South Africa and for sharing so many beautiful things. Everything was so well organized, and I truly appreciated the care, knowledge, and support he gave throughout the journey. Ahmet is very knowledgeable with the history, culture, animals, landmarks, visa process and procedures etc. that were included in the trip. Being a solo traveler safely is very important to me and I always felt safe. When I asked for a room change in Mabula he immediately took care of it. Veg options are always provided and Ahmet made sure everything was in place. Daily plan was given ahead, visa process was also easy to follow and thanks to Gate1 for doing these trips. All in all, it was a wonderful trip, and Ahmet has made it memorable.

My Africa trip was amazing. My tour guide was the best! He did everything possible to make sure our experience was perfect. His drive to make sure we got to see the big 5 was relentless. Kudos to David!!

I just wanted to say that our Tour Leader, Daniel, went above and beyond. It was due to his extensive knowledge and experience that gave me the experience of a lifetime. He was attentive to our needs as well as sharing his experiences with a wonderful sense of humor. He was organized, efficient and I felt completely safe in his hands. Thank you again!

My husband and I just returned from the most adventurous vacation ever as we participated in multiple daily safaris in Kenya and Tanzania. The Tour 1 guides were amazing as they ventured into the wild so that we could see the "big 5" as well as many other animals, birds, and plants. And the food was spectacular at each accommodation as we had access to three buffet meals a day on many of the days of our trip. Kudos to the tour staff and all the staff at our various accommodations! We travel a lot internationally and this is our first Gate 1 tour. We plan to use Tour 1 again and share our experiences with our friends and family! This was the best vacation ever

Great! Tour guide, Anni, was wonderful. Fascinating tour with amazing animal sightings and beautiful views of Victoria Falls.

Thank you! It was truly amazing!! Everything was impeccable!! From the pricing, flight options, transfers, locations, staff and itinerary everything was perfect!! Our guides, Jeff, Sam and Joel, were outstanding! This was my first trip through Gate 1, but not my last!! Thank you so much for an outstanding vacation! It was truly a life-changing experience for me.

Our trip to Uganda for wildlife, but gorilla trekking, was incredible! Our small group was led by Balaam, and he was great. Very knowledgeable and provided so much great information as we drove throughout the tour. He had books to show pictures of wildlife so that we could see differences and read about the animals. We only spent one night in the hotel in Entebbe, which was modern. I must comment that the accommodations outside Entebbe were spectacular experiences, great food and wonderful staff and service. Those interesting hotels added to the whole experience of the tour! This is the top tour among all our traveling! We have previously done safaris to Kenya/Tanzania and South Africa.

David organized the trip for Kenya and was also our driver. He was one of the best tour managers that we have ever had! David was incredibly organized, patient, knowledgeable, and safety minded. We learned so much about the animals that we saw, as well as the culture and customs of Kenya. David was a great ambassador for Gate 1, in both words and actions. He helped make our trip a memory for a lifetime, and for that we are grateful.

Laurence was beyond an exceptional tour guide. Everyone in the group absolutely loved everything about Laurence. He made an awesome trip even better. We were all amazed at his exceptional knowledge, his poise, and his humor. Because of Laurence I am rethinking booking future international travel myself and using Gate1 instead in hopes that future tour guides are even 80% as good as Laurence. Laurence set such a high standard, I cannot imagine other guides being as good.

Just want Gate 1 to know how professional both Wolfgang and Godliving were on our recent safari. Their knowledge of wildlife and ability to recognize the desires of everyone for the trip and to then fill them was amazing. My wife and I could not be more pleased with our first trip with Gate 1. Both these men are a great asset for Gate 1 and wonderful ambassadors for the people of Tanzania. William in Dar es Salaam was also an excellent tour manager for the day. He gave us a good mix of options to see that day and ended up at a wonderful seaside restaurant for a late lunch.

We enjoyed and appreciated our guide Sam very much. He is extremely knowledgeable, kind and a great asset to the Gate 1 team. We felt very lucky to have him for a guide. He is also a great driver. Joel, our tour manager was also top notch.

This was my first Gate 1 Trip as well as the first tour I have taken in many years. While I don't have many comparisons to make I believe I am now completely spoiled. The attention to detail, the accommodations, the food, the tour managers, were excellent. The ability of the tour managers to communicate, what will be happening, when it will happen, how long it will take, was spot on. This was as small group. 11 members broken into two groups. Christopher as tour manager as well as tour guide for one of the groups naturally spent most of his time with the other group. He took the time however at meals to interact with our group. He was most enjoyable, pleasant and informative. I was with the group with Hesborn as tour guide. I cannot express how much he made the whole experience of the trip. He shared his knowledge of the area, the people, the animals. He let us find the animals ourselves, so it was a wonderful surprise when we came upon a group of giraffes, lions, zebra's even though he had already spotted them. It enhanced the excitement of the game rides. He would also point out some of the animals and teach us the Swahili names. It was a pleasure to spend the time with him. The trip was to much more than I expected. Thank you.

Our 46th trip to South Africa was a dream come true for both of us! We have experienced the best Safaris on this tour to South Africa and have to thank our excellent Tour Manager, Hercules for his patience and organizational skills in keeping our group informed and on time. We love the entertaining African dinner and enjoyed the interactive drumming session! Please note that we have booked 6 more tours with Gate 1 for 2026 since we love traveling with your company.

My December 2025 trip to South Africa with Gate 1 exceeded all my expectations! Hotels were clean and well-appointed. All tours and flights were well planned and executed! There were no departure delays or lost luggage incidents. Special thanks to our Tour Manager, Elvis, who was extremely knowledgeable, communicated our daily schedules effectively, so that there were no mishaps. He was also very helpful and patient in answering our endless questions! He is an asset to your organization, so much so that I have recommended this trip to several friends and associates. Special thanks also to our driver Piet, who drove us safely over several days to many of our tour destinations. Thanks again for this trip of a lifetime! I look forward to another Gate 1 adventure soon!

Our trip to Uganda was over the top, amazing. Every detail was taken care of. I cannot say enough good things about Chris, Jonah and Hamza, our Gate 1 guides. They became more than guides. They became friends. We are telling everyone about our trip and about the excellent service of Gate 1!

What a Wonderful trip! The hotels in Kenya were beautiful, and the staff were superb with nothing being too much trouble. Our Kenyan tour guide, Gordan, was phenomenal! He was very knowledgeable and able to spot animals from quite a distance. We never missed an animal or a picture. We were lucky to have Gordan as our guide. Our Tanzanian tour guide, George, was great! He shared a lot of information and could also spot the animals from a distance. The hotels in Tanzania were lovely, and I can't say enough about the staff. I think I could have lived comfortably at the Acacia Farm Lodge, and I hated to leave and go home. Thanks to all the people who make wonderful dreams like this safari a reality!