Adventure To Africa, Inc.

My daughter and I just returned from a week's stay in Kenya, planned by Adventure to Africa. From the moment we started to plan the trip to our return, we were well taken care of by Poldi and her staff. Reminders for vaccinations, suggestions on what to pack, important info about travelling internationally, and keeping safe were clearly provided and made the pre-trip stress-free. I knew that any stupid question would be patiently handled. During our staff, we had to be transported to and from hotels, and to the National Park, and every drop off and pick up was right on time. Poldi choose an outstanding Safari camp company that provided luxurious accommodations, gourmet meals and knowledgeable guides which made for unforgettable moments. I liked the the Safari camp had their own souvenir shop on site so that we could help support the local community. The hotels in Nairobi were also very comfortable, with excellent service and meals. I know that we will travel back to Africa and will certainly use Adventure to Africa again.

My wife and I put ourselves in the hands of Poldi for our first trip to Africa (Tanzania) and couldn't have made a better decision. We told her the type of trip we were looking for and she put together a package that exceeded our wildest imaginations. The level of thought, care, attention to detail, and thorough advice she provided was astounding. We landed in one particular safari camp that we loved so much, we reached out to Poldi mid-trip to see if she could extend our stay. With limited connectivity while out in the bush, she still managed to fulfill our request effortlessly. I literally can't recommend Adventures to Africa highly enough for anyone considering a trip to Africa. We will be back! Thank you for everything, Poldi!

We met Poldi and Mark of Adventure to Africa at the Chicago Travel Adventure show in 2018. After some quick back and forth following the show, I was confident she understood our goals for a trip to Africa. Through our trip planning, Poldi understood my family’s interests and timeline and worked to build an active itinerary aligned with our interests. As traveling to South Africa with children requires a bit more paperwork, she ensured we had the documents we needed and understood the extra steps we would need to take well in advance of travel so there were no last minute surprises. Our accommodations were well-matched to our interest (Bateleur Safari Camp was our absolute favorite! Please keep using them for those interested in a more immersive safari experience!) and exactly the experience we desired – all our transfer drivers were very personable, arrived early and had impressively clean vehicles. I can’t say enough good about our trip to South Africa and my experiences with Adventure to Africa. Thank you Adventure to Africa for a trip of a lifetime – we couldn’t have pulled this off without you!

Poldi and Mark listened to our needs, concerns and wishes to create an awesome adventure for the 5 of us. We stayed in Capetown for about a week and then to Botswana for a week. The options are endless and Poldi's suggestions were spot on. Poldi arranged for fantastic tour guides in Capetown who were extremely knowledgable and accommodating. The Botswana safari camps were top notch. They were safe, comfortable and inviting. Thank You for making our family vacation totally enjoyable!

We just returned from an amazing and memorable adventure in South Africa, Capetown, and Botswana thanks to Poldi at Adventure to Africa. Poldi listened to our interests and made wonderful suggestions to enhance our adventure. Her attention to detail was top notch, accommodation surpassed our expectations and the game viewing was out of this world. We highly recommend Adventure to Africa, we already have recommended her to several associates at work. You will be blown away by the services they provide!

Poldi put together a diverse itinerary, from start to finish, for my husband, daughter and fiancè which allowed us to visit various areas in South Africa. We started our journey in Capetown. Thereafter, we happily drank through the wine region, enjoying the great wine each winery had to offer as well as the beautiful scenery. Then onto more rural areas including a 4-night stay in a safari camp that was beyond anything we have previously experienced. All the details of Poldi's itinerary from the moment we landed to our return flight home were carried out without any issues. We highly recommend Adventure to Africa. A world of thanks, Poldi!

I want to second my sister, StephanieR's, recommendation. Poldi was a joy to work with.- We started with our individual wish lists and then she proposed itineraries and would blend our needs and wants. She make many excellent recommendations for lodges (including the elegant and activities ranging from the perfect guide in Johannesburg and a sunset cruise on the Zambesi, to a cultural village visit, horseback riding, an elephant sanctuary visit, and add-on game drives. She also provide us with smooth links from one location to another and excellent escorts and guides.
She stayed involved while we were on the trip - as my sister there was a potential situation in Mozambique she contacted US agencies to ensure we would be safe in the event things became dangerous.
She helped us deal with every situation that arose ( a minor illness causing a change in itinerary, a hotel claiming they had not received payment - which they already had!)
Poldi is deeply knowledgeable, enthusiastic and in short, wonderful to work with. Highest recommendation.

Dear Poldi,
Our tour through SA was excellent planned in details by youand we had the best expierences with all hotels along our way and the itinerary.
The 3 weeks were with the help of you a pleasure travelling from Durban through Swaziland to Kruger NP, then to Captown and along the Garden Route. We had two times a shuttle service which was perfect. We for sure will come back to SA. Thank you for all the support we got to make this an outstanding trip. Karin and Franz

Our trip was amazing! Poldi was a pleasure to work with to plan our vacation with friends. She was thorough and promptly replied with answers to all of our questions. She helped guide us to Shindzela which was an awesome bush camp! We felt very safe and confident going to South Africa knowing she made the arrangements and set up our tour operators and transportation. We would recommend her to anyone traveling to Africa!

Just to add that it looks like several people who loved working with Adventures to Africa mistakenly rated one star when I believe they meant to give 5 stars

My sister met Poldi at the NY Travel Show as we were planning at trip to southern Africa and needed some professional assistance. Poldi was fantastic to work with - we started with our wish list and then she proposed itineraries. She was totally flexible in accommodating our needs, as well as making several excellent recommendations for lodges and activities.
She was very proactive in dealing with current events - there was a potential situation in Mozambique while we were on our way there, and she contacted US agencies to ensure we would be safe should any issues arise. In addition, she was always available while we were on the trip, and able to deal with every situation that arose ( a minor illness causing a change in itinerary, a hotel claiming they had not received payment - which they already had!)
Poldi is very pleasant to work with and clearly very engaged with African travel. Her enthusiasm is quite inspiring! Highest recommendation.

I met Poldi at the New York Times Travel Show at the Javits Center last winter. After interviewing a number of agents that day, I chose Poldi to plan my trip to Tanzania and Uganda. I told Poldi that I would be traveling alone . I would have liked having dinners with some contemporaries but it didnt happen. What did happen in Tanzania is I was put into a jeep for 4 full days with a lovely young couple with their 2 small children from England. As lovely as they were, I would have rather shared the experience with people my age . I am 76! We had too many game drives in Tanzania though they were beautiful. I did request an extra day in Arusha to go to see an orphanage, a school etc. My favorite things to do is to live among the people and learn about the different tribal customs etc. We did get some of that in Tanzania and more in Uganda where I visited the local hospital, school, orphanage and Batwa people who were fascinating. I did a Chimpanzee trek and a Gorilla trek in Uganda which was the most rigorous hike I ever took which lasted for 5 hours. Seeing the Gorillas was certainly the highlight but it was very hard for me even with 2 porters helping! I was the oldest trekker of the eight by double their age at least. One woman even couldnt make it and had to be carried by stretcher! She even said that it was worth the sheer exhaustion! The lodges were nice if a bit simple with alot of walking and hills to climb to get there. It is not a trip for wimps! But fascinating and exciting it is! Everything was well thought out except one day when I needed to take 3 planes and spend 8 hrs going from one lodge to another when had I had a direct flight it would have taken 1 hr and 50 minutes.That was a rough day. All in all, Poldi did a great job! I would use them again !

Just returned from a great trip to South Africa. This was my fourth trip using Adventure to Africa. Each time all details were taken care of and everything went smoothly. If you are thinking about going to Africa, I cannot recommend Adventure to Africa more highly.

Wow, what an incredible trip we had - Poldi, took the time to get into the smallest details of preparation so assure we are prepared. Were we ever! As unbelieveable as it sounds, nothing went wrong and this is Africa after all. The wild life, the people, the experiences were top notch. We will never forget this one! Thanks so much Adventure To Africa. We will be back for more in a while...

Poldi, We were so lucky to have met you at the Chicago Travel and Adventure show. We had a dream trip to Uganda in our minds and you set yourself to making that very dream come true for us. When you sent us the initial itinerary it was obvious that you had truly listened to us. Other companies that we talked to followed up as well but you hit the mark where others failed. The finalized itinerary was ideal for us. You included all of our target destinations and the lodging that you selected for us was superb. Your recommendation to get a bird knowledgeable driver was a great idea and switching our gorilla trek from Uganda into Rwanda was also a very smart move.

All of our mammal sightings were like National Geographic experiences! From the close up views of elephants, buffalo and hippos on the Kazinga Channel to the Chimpanzee trek in Kabale National Park we will have memories that will last forever. Our encounter in Volcanoes National Park with the Mountain Gorillas can never be matched.

All of the people that we met along the way were great. The lodging was great and the food was great. A first rate experience any way that you want to look at it. The only sad part is that it had to end.

Thanks so much for your part in making our dream trip come true.

We were referred to Adventure in Africa by a friend and we were thrilled to have an expert help us plan our African honeymoon adventure. Our trip surpassed all our expectations and we were so happy with everything Poldi planned for us. It was a great experience in planning and appreciated her attention to detail and patience in answering all our questions. She was extremely responsive and provided information in a timely manner. Not only did she provide recommendations but also advised us on things not to do which was a big differentiator compared to another travel company. She provided extensive details and was very knowledgeable about the area. We appreciated the extra tips and recommendations we never would have thought about like a packing list, things to know about the area, medical needs and even to stop in duty free to avoid higher prices at our resort. Thank you and we would recommend to utilize for future Africa trips.

Just returned from our trip to South Africa organized by Adventure to Africa. Everything was outstanding! What we thought would be the "trip of a lifetime" may end up being only the first.

Their attention to detail was nothing short of phenomenal. Poldi and Mark worked with us to arrange the perfect custom trip and every tour and lodge was exactly the experience we were hoping for. They really go above and beyond...before, during and even after the trip. It is a rare pleasure to be working with people so committed to their work.

THANK YOU!

Dear Poldi;

I want to thank you so much for an absolutely fantastic adventure. We had an amazing time. Every place was unique. The hotels were perfect for each leg of the trip; the transports and guides were very helpful and informative; all arrangements were ideal; and each destination was an adventure. In short, you did an amazing job and we cannot thank you enough.
I'm telling anyone and everyone who asks about your preparation, attention to detail and overall professionalism.
Please feel free to use me as a reference as I will be sure to sing your praises.
Until the next vacation- thank you!
Best,
Joette

Another ( we worked with Adventure to Africa two years ago) SPECTACULAR experience. We enjoyed our first ( flawlessly executed) " Surf and Turf" combo Safari to Kruger, Capetown interlude an diving in Mozambique in 2015 that we began planning for a repeat almost immediately after the first one ended- this time extending the trip to 3 full weeks ( highly recommended as 2 weeks was just not enough). This time was 2 Safari camps in the "crown jewel" of African Safaris, Botswana's Okavango Delta- and WOW no words- okay, yes, but words cannot do it justice- we had what could be described as a "Desert to Delta" experience with equally amazing game viewings at both! From there we spent a few days in a gorgeous apartment within walking distance to the fabulous V&A Warerfront. After a 1/2 day of wine tasting in the stunning Stellenbosch vineyards we capped off our time in Capetown with a full day of guided tours of the treasures of the Cape- views and sights which truly stir the soul...
Tofo Mozambique was to complete our "bucket trip". A guest house right on the beach ( number 10 of the "most beautiful beaches in Africa" and next door to Tofo Scuba- Trip Advisor's number One Activity in Tofo- a genuine Mozambique seaside village yet full of quaint restaurants and bars catering to the active European and local dive crowd- we loved it both below and above the water. All of this executed, as before, FLAWLESSLY by Mark and Poldi- communication and attention to detail are absolutely their forte- I would not book through anyone else! Thank YOU for another amazing trip you two!
Donna

After reading all the previous reviews, I can only echo the glowing sentiments for Adventure to Africa's services. We met Poldi Ridge at a travel show in Chicago. I immediately knew she would be the perfect person to coordinate our trip. Poldi is a precise, informed, flexible, highly motivated, travel specialist. Her attention to detail was outstanding! She allowed me to research and suggest itinerary items to customize our trip of a lifetime. Every suggestion she made to me was spot on. Her arrangement of transfers, flights, tour guides, clothing to purchase in advance of the trip, items to pack, links to adapters to purchase on Amazon, reminders for vaccinations and documentation...every single detail was addressed as if she was going on the trip and wanted it to be perfect. This was accomplished for our family of 5, and there was not one bump in the 2 1/2 weeks we traveled. Every single day was amazing and her recommendations of three different camps and two city stops was the ideal balance. I had been cooresponding with the author of the Fodor's Africa book and when I sent our itinerary to her, she said Poldi had constructed a "dream itinerary". That was certainly the case! Our family highly recommends using Adventure to Africa if you want the best possible travel experience.