I met Mark at the DC Travel & Adventure show. My family lived in Kenya for 4 years and I was born there. It had always been a dream to go back and see it for myself, since I was only months old when they moved back to the US. I wanted my mom to be able to go with me, so she had a few ideas and suggestions about our itinerary and a dream to see the Ngorogoro Crater in Tanzania. Speaking with several people that day, there was no doubt Mark made the biggest impression. We started corresponding and he patiently ended up giving us 3 different versions of the itinerary before we excitedly agreed it was perfect. Then Covid hit, but last year we picked back up from where we left off, received an updated cost estimate and booked our dream trip.
From the moment we left the airport in Kenya until we entered the airport in Tanzania to head home, service was impeccable. Every company and accommodation was amazing. Poldi even emailed to check in with us a couple days after our arrival in Kenya. This was truly everything I could have asked for. We stayed in 3 different places, each beautiful, comfortable and exceeding our expectations. We had time in Nairobi to see how much it had changed and a lovely driver to take us around as mom took a trip down memory lane. We stayed in the most amazing camp in the Masai Mara and game drives were everything I imagined and more. In Tanzania, the farm lodge was like staying in a garden and was so peaceful and beautiful.
I truly feel like Mark and Poldi took our dreams of what we wanted this trip to be and crafted something even better.
My husband and I just returned from South Africa and Zimbabwe, organized by Adventure To Africa. The entire trip was amazing! From the accommodations, tours, transportation companies, etc, it was truly an adventure of a lifetime! Poldi was such a great help, letting us know what to pack, reminding us of vaccinations, etc, we were well prepared for our trip. If you plan to go to Africa, you need to work with Poldi and Adventure To Africa!
We just arrived home after 18 days in Africa, it was my first time... Wow, what an amazing experience! After planning the trip with Poldi a year ago it all came to fruition from April 4th through April 22nd. The whole experience was seamless, safe and FULL OF ADVENTURE! Poldi did an amazing job listening to our needs and our budget and putting together a trip of a lifetime. She helped us book our flights, get an additional visa for Mozambique, booked us on a big plane to Cape Town from the bush... I could go on and on. All of our drivers were amazing and personal and drove us safely from place to place. Our trip started in Mozambique on an island, it was breathtakingly beautiful. Poldi wanted us to experience true Africa and this certainly was a special place. The staff and accommodations were stunning and I can't put into words how incredible the whole experience was for us... It was Amazing!
Our next stop was at the Savanna Lodge which was top of the line 5 star all the way... It was another amazing experience! We stayed at Savanna for 4 nights and then transferred to Timbavati. This was truly A Wild Experience! Giraffe walking by as we sunned by the pool, coming face to face with a hyena, hippos grunting outside of our tent it was incredible. I can honestly say that my sister and I cried when we left each destination... we had made special connections at each place. Poldi made a very complex trip so seamless and easy... we just had to show up and enjoy... There is no way we could have done this without her. She is amazing and compassionate about her job and truly does an Amazing job! Thank you! Chrissy and Gwinnie
My husband and I just returned from our honeymoon in Botswana. Poldi and Mark were absolutely amazing Africa travel specialists. They were responsive, thoughtful, detailed, communicative, attentive, knowledgable and helpful. Our honeymoon was planned perfectly. The safari lodges they picked for us were beautiful and so remote and allowed us to really disconnect and enjoy nature. Every detail, from the flights to the lodge reservations were handled for us so we didn't have any stress or concern leading up to the trip. They also were great at answering our many questions. Poldi and Mark are truly experts on the region and a pleasure to get to know. Highly recommend!
A huge thank you to Poldi and Mark for sharing their knowledge and expertise while planning an extension trip during my time in Africa. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to add 2-weeks to an existing trip, but after meeting Mark at the NY Travel Show in March 2022 and connecting with Poldi after that, the planning was a breeze. I cannot thank you enough for the organizational effort, and precision in planning, especially the back-and-forth logistics, from Victoria Falls to the Okavanga Delta and onward to Cape Town.
Victoria Falls was as magnificent as Poldi and Mark described and worth a stopover to walk in between the raindrops under the falls and the surrounding forest. The sunset cruise on the Zambezi was peaceful and tranquil.
I fell in love with Botswana — my favorite part of the adventure. The camp selected by A2A, Kadizora, offered a respite after 2.5 weeks of traveling on the continent. Upon arrival, the daily schedule felt overwhelming, but Two-Boy (Lamiki), my assigned guide, made it memorable. As an expert tracker and local to the area, I indirectly learned much about the village through his life story and entrepreneurial endeavors to launch a mobile safari camp. And I must confess, I became obsessed with safari life, tacking on a night safari and an additional morning safari before my departure flight! It was thrilling to be so close to the cats! And I loved the opportunity to soak in the experience at Kadizora and appreciated having extra time at the camp to get to know its community and conservation efforts. Greg, Sue (and their pups), Mathew, and the local staff (hired from the nearby village), provided impeccable, attentive service and a proper introduction to wildlife adventures in the Delta. Aside from the twice-daily safari drives, with sundowners on the savanna, the camp offered Mokoro canoe and boat safaris and plenty of time to engage with local and international travelers. As a solo traveler, I love meeting others, and Kadizora's campfire and communal dinners provided the perfect opportunities to share highlights from the day's adventure.
As for Cape Town, what's not to love? The people are warm and friendly, and the city is alight with life, so refreshing after the last two years of lockdown. However, the half-day Cape Point and Penguins tour made me realize that a week is not enough time to explore the Western Cape. Trying to squeeze it all in after traveling so far (from NYC) is insane. Thanks to Mark and Poldi's recommendation, I will have to make a more extended return trip to truly steep the magic of Cape Town with other areas in SA.
I would be remiss to omit the care and grace of their check-ins throughout the trip and afterward. And I must commend their remarkable kindness and willingness to go the extra mile in helping to deliver a gift to my guide in Botswana while on their journey in Kasane this fall. A beautiful gesture of community notably appreciated by myself and the folks in the Delta.
I'm so glad my friend and I stopped to chat with Mark at the travel show. Extending my stay in Africa was one of my best decisions this year. And Africa, the continent, people, land, and animals stole my heart and brought so much joy, both imagined and unexpected.
Adventure to Africa
What an amazing experience! Both safari camps were truly great. Rufigi was Wonderful and the game drives were everything you would imagine in a drive with an excellent guides. The Siwandu camp was the Ritz of Tanzania. We couldn’t believe such excellent accommodations. Then it was off to Zanzibar at five star, dream resort that was truly paradise. We will book with Adventure to Africa for all our future travels, I can’t imagine anyone else would do it better! Thank you 😊
From the moment we left the airport in Kenya until we entered the airport in Tanzania to head home, service was impeccable. Every company and accommodation was amazing. Poldi even emailed to check in with us a couple days after our arrival in Kenya. This was truly everything I could have asked for. We stayed in 3 different places, each beautiful, comfortable and exceeding our expectations. We had time in Nairobi to see how much it had changed and a lovely driver to take us around as mom took a trip down memory lane. We stayed in the most amazing camp in the Masai Mara and game drives were everything I imagined and more. In Tanzania, the farm lodge was like staying in a garden and was so peaceful and beautiful.
I truly feel like Mark and Poldi took our dreams of what we wanted this trip to be and crafted something even better.
Our next stop was at the Savanna Lodge which was top of the line 5 star all the way... It was another amazing experience! We stayed at Savanna for 4 nights and then transferred to Timbavati. This was truly A Wild Experience! Giraffe walking by as we sunned by the pool, coming face to face with a hyena, hippos grunting outside of our tent it was incredible. I can honestly say that my sister and I cried when we left each destination... we had made special connections at each place. Poldi made a very complex trip so seamless and easy... we just had to show up and enjoy... There is no way we could have done this without her. She is amazing and compassionate about her job and truly does an Amazing job! Thank you! Chrissy and Gwinnie
Victoria Falls was as magnificent as Poldi and Mark described and worth a stopover to walk in between the raindrops under the falls and the surrounding forest. The sunset cruise on the Zambezi was peaceful and tranquil.
I fell in love with Botswana — my favorite part of the adventure. The camp selected by A2A, Kadizora, offered a respite after 2.5 weeks of traveling on the continent. Upon arrival, the daily schedule felt overwhelming, but Two-Boy (Lamiki), my assigned guide, made it memorable. As an expert tracker and local to the area, I indirectly learned much about the village through his life story and entrepreneurial endeavors to launch a mobile safari camp. And I must confess, I became obsessed with safari life, tacking on a night safari and an additional morning safari before my departure flight! It was thrilling to be so close to the cats! And I loved the opportunity to soak in the experience at Kadizora and appreciated having extra time at the camp to get to know its community and conservation efforts. Greg, Sue (and their pups), Mathew, and the local staff (hired from the nearby village), provided impeccable, attentive service and a proper introduction to wildlife adventures in the Delta. Aside from the twice-daily safari drives, with sundowners on the savanna, the camp offered Mokoro canoe and boat safaris and plenty of time to engage with local and international travelers. As a solo traveler, I love meeting others, and Kadizora's campfire and communal dinners provided the perfect opportunities to share highlights from the day's adventure.
As for Cape Town, what's not to love? The people are warm and friendly, and the city is alight with life, so refreshing after the last two years of lockdown. However, the half-day Cape Point and Penguins tour made me realize that a week is not enough time to explore the Western Cape. Trying to squeeze it all in after traveling so far (from NYC) is insane. Thanks to Mark and Poldi's recommendation, I will have to make a more extended return trip to truly steep the magic of Cape Town with other areas in SA.
I would be remiss to omit the care and grace of their check-ins throughout the trip and afterward. And I must commend their remarkable kindness and willingness to go the extra mile in helping to deliver a gift to my guide in Botswana while on their journey in Kasane this fall. A beautiful gesture of community notably appreciated by myself and the folks in the Delta.
I'm so glad my friend and I stopped to chat with Mark at the travel show. Extending my stay in Africa was one of my best decisions this year. And Africa, the continent, people, land, and animals stole my heart and brought so much joy, both imagined and unexpected.
Adventure to Africa
What an amazing experience! Both safari camps were truly great. Rufigi was Wonderful and the game drives were everything you would imagine in a drive with an excellent guides. The Siwandu camp was the Ritz of Tanzania. We couldn’t believe such excellent accommodations. Then it was off to Zanzibar at five star, dream resort that was truly paradise. We will book with Adventure to Africa for all our future travels, I can’t imagine anyone else would do it better! Thank you 😊