Safari travel | Tour reports

At Navigators we specialise in small-group travel to remote wilderness and wildlife destinations in Southern Africa. Read below to find out what other travellers have said about their guided adventures with Navigators, then visit our Booked-Seat and Self-Drive tour pages to plan your Africa holiday of a lifetime. Navigators Tours and Safaris - your ticket to adventure!

Dewald Potgieter & Hanlie Coetzer, Pretoria, South Africa
Khaudum and Caprivi, Namibia

"Previously we've done self-drive trips where the tents and equipment were supplied, and all meals provided for us. What attracted us to Navigators was the fact that they provide expert assistance and help guests to advance to the next level, learning to be self-sufficient in the bush. With only 5 vehicles in the convoy, everything was manageable and ran smoothly on our tour to Khaudum and Caprivi. The trip itself was fantastic - big elephant herds in the Khaudum and plenty of wildlife in the Caprivi area, including noisy hippos that somehow don't keep you awake at night! Chris made sure everything was safe, relaxed and enjoyable throughout the tour - we're already looking forward to our next trip with Navigators."

Frank Theron, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
Kaokoveld "Desert Elephants & Himba"

"Marlize and I would like to thank you very much for the wonderful trip that you organized into Kaokoland. It certainly ranks as the best 4x4 holiday that I have completed. We both thought that your planning and organizing was top notch. The scenery was breathtaking and the pace of the trip was perfect. One never felt rushed or tired at the end of a day from too much driving. The choice of campsites was also fantastic. We loved the rustic and less populated spots and it was a pleasure to get away from crowds and other vehicles. Breaking the trip on the 2 occasions when we spent 2 nights at one campsite was great, as it gave one time to explore the area. There were many highlights to the trip and it is difficult to list all of them, but to me the top 2 must be: Completing van Zyls Pass successfully (thanks to some good guidance from yourself and some extensive road building), and: Seeing not 1 but 3 different herds of desert elephants. I hope we have the opportunity to join you on another trip as we enjoyed your planning, relaxed attitude and your good company."

Steve & Emily Patterson, United Kingdom
Liuwa Plain, Western Zambia

"During 2008 we signed up for a private trip to Liuwa Plain with Navigators, starting our adventure by arriving at Victoria Falls and spending 2 days enjoying the splendour of the mighty Victoria Falls! We then met up with Chris, the owner of Navigators who personally guided our tour, and we travelled with him in his trusty Defender that is so well equipped! Apart from his professional and calm leadership during what can be a demanding trip, he kept us regularly informed with interesting information and anecdotes along the way. The animals and birdlife in Liuwa were spectacular, and the large herds of migrating Wildebeest a sight to remember! Many other operators seem to focus on larger groups to make their trips viable; a Navigators tour may cost a little more, but the detailed information, well-planned itinerary, relaxed manner and personalised attention certainly makes it all worthwhile and enhances the experience. Navigators is a very professional outfit, and we highly recommend travelling with them."

John & Gill Rosmarin, Gauteng, South Africa
Zambia: "Explorer" Tour

"During August 2008 we went on the Zambia "Explorer" 18-day self-drive tour, being part of a group of 5 vehicles besides Chris’ Defender. It was an incredible experience to travel into a remote part of Southern Africa, and visit the most beautiful and lesser-known National Parks and other venues. Each of the camp sites were carefully selected by Chris and Karen, and it was difficult deciding which was best. Even over-nighting at the various community-run campsites was memorable, with Lake Waka Waka being a highlight. These camps were very well run by local people, where you even had a community member taking you on a tree-identification trail! The Kapishya Hot Springs campsite which is part of the very impressive Shiwa Ng'andu private estate – read 'The Africa House' which tells the story of the history of the Estate – is a must-definitely-go-there-again site. It is an experience not to be missed!

What made the trip even more memorable was that Chris and Karen accompanied us as our personal guides. They are an exceptional couple who enhanced the trip to another level. To do this (or any other of their trips) under their guidance adds another dimension to the experience. One is always, to a degree, wary of embarking on such a trip, not knowing the organisers or your fellow ‘explorers’, but any possible concerns were immediately dispelled upon meeting and travelling with them. The trip was extremely well organised and their personalised itinerary, together with the comfort-zone of the reassuring hand of Chris, made for a very special experience.

We have no hesitation in recommending this trip with Navigators, or any trip for that matter, that Chris and Karen run!"

Marlize Meyer, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
Kaokoveld "Desert Elephants & Himba"

"For some time we had wanted to go to Kaokoveld. After reading the article by Jazz Kuschke in Getaway August 2007 about his 4x4 trip with Navigators we were tempted and booked. We have just returned from such a trip. We had had misgivings about being guided. In such a boundless environment who wants a structured tour? The cost of the trip added to the already high fuel costs seemed extravagant. But from Day 1 we acknowledged that it was an excellent opportunity that we had bought into. The guided tour is well researched, perfectly paced and professional. Chris Schlimper of Navigators is amiable, knowledgeable and very respectful of the environment and its people. We were in very good hands and felt completely safe meeting the off-road challenges. But there was always time along the way to get out and listen to the birds, talk to the trees and photograph the vastness. The elephants were there but it took Chris’ skill and intuition to find them and we happily paid for that."

Rosarie Saaijman, Gauteng, South Africa
Kaokoveld "Desert Elephants & Himba"

"Dear Alan Goodway: My husband Wim and I were so fortunate to go on a Kaokoveld tour during June this year with Chris Schlimper from Navigators. I will be so glad if you could compliment Chris in your newsletter in some or other way. We have been on several 4x4 adventures with different tour operators and they have ALL been outstandingly good! Chris however is an exceptionally good guide. He has a calm and collective manner in handling just any situation and is a very good host and made our trip special in every way. It is an outstretched and arid area and his calmness, yet enthusiastic manner suited so well with the total package. The trip was safe, well planned and very professionally managed. His correspondence and guidelines are the most professional that we have read. We highly recommend Chris Schlimper and Navigators to any person wishing to build memories on 4x4 tracks."

(4x4 Offroad Adventure Club newsletter - August 2007)

Ian Forrester, Newcastle, UK
Richtersveld

"Presented with the opportunity to escape the usual cold and wet weather that is Winter in the UK and travel to a previously unexplored (for me) region in South Africa with the prospect of some sun and good companionship wasn't a very difficult decision to make. Having heard of the high standards that is Navigators, to travel during the first two weeks of the year to the Richtersveld with Chris Schlimper was something not to be missed. Instructions to simply turn up with a small bag and myself made life very easy and saw me being collected from Cape Town Airport by Chris early one Tuesday morning. It couldn't have been easier with all the hassle of wondering what food to take, what equipment was needed and how many beers to bring all being expertly arranged by Chris who was both a congenial host and a very knowledgeable tour guide always providing answers to often naive and mundane questions with a smile.

Meeting the other members of our trip just outside Cape Town and then driving north saw the long road trip up to the Richterveld pass effortlessly with our small group arriving at the first night stop in good humour and without complaint. Entering and touring the Park for the next few days were without doubt, amazing. With massive temperatures and equally massive scenery the time spent was without parallel and it was impossible not to be affected by the place and it's getaway isolation. With Chris providing Cordon Bleu standard meals in the middle of nowhere you were left with the almost guilty feeling of being over indulged by an expert guide and chef. Evenings staring up at the sky watching the satellites slide over the starscape is something I would want to do again and again and again. Leaving the Park at the end of the week saw us all saddened that we would have to leave such tranquillity and amazing scenery but with the reassurance that we had recharged our batteries for another year and anyway, we could always come back with Navigators again if we wanted.

The trip was undoubtedly something not to be missed and has inevitably left many indelible memories of great times. With Chris's flair for organisation and travel and the benefit of good companions who are now firm friends, returning to the UK to the cold and wet weather again sees the need to do it all again - the sooner the better! Perhaps the Kaokoveld next time!"

Terrence Mtola, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Kaokoveld "Desert Elephants & Himba"

"The most memorable part of the Kaokoveld tour for me was the people we met and the conditions they live in. The vastness, open spaces and the overwhelming nothingness. Having to drive for the whole day without seeing a soul is also one thing, and being able to switch off from work and all that's left behind. We really had a good time and enjoyed the long hours of driving and good company. I will certainly join you again in the future and maybe sooner than you can imagine."

The Moorhead family, Brighton, UK
3-day Safari, Western Cape

"Dear Chris, just a short message to say we had a wonderful holiday, especially our short-break safari tour with you. The children still cannot believe they saw so many animals. Thanks for making our holiday special. Best wishes..."