From John Shaw:

Well we arrived back safely didn't think much of Air France though !

Just writing to say a big Thank You for everything you did to make this a fantastic trip also for the kind gift of the Music I’ve not listened to it all yet - not stopped since I got back - I’m sure it will compliment my presentation when I get around to compiling it.

The places we visited and experiences were unique, walking with Cheetahs, meeting Baboons and the views ...

Got a great set of photos and met some really nice people. Rhys was great as a guide couldn't do enough and we had a laugh along the way.

Your country has a lot going for it and I will be back soon I hope.

So from a wet UK thanks again and take care.

Regards

John


JSPhotography

www.jsphoto.org

Birgitte Scheel from Montreal, Canada. March 2008

Dear Dorienne,

We arrived back in Montreal yesterday afternoon safe and sound but we left our hearts in South Africa! We are in awe of the beauty of the country, the people that we met and all the things that we saw and did. It was an amazing trip from beginning to end; every corner we turned provided new surprises and stunning landscapes; each city provided interesting sites, wonderful hotels and kind people. Your guides were fantastic; very knowledgeable, professional, enthusiastic and a pleasure to be with! Each hotel was perfect and the safari was the proverbial icing on the cake. Paul, the city slicker, jumped out of bed at 5.00am ready to "hunt" lions and was eagerly awaiting the 4.00pm game drive as well. Brendan had a wonderful time; a perfect trip for a teenager; interesting places to visit and then a week with friends in Cape Town and on safari. What more could you ask for!

Thank you Dorienne for everything; you are the best travel agent that I have ever worked with and the best ambassador for South Africa. Paul and I have already decided that we will return to South Africa which is now one of our favorite countries! If you need further feedback, I will gladly provide it and if you need references for future clients, please do not hesitate to use our names.

If you are ever in Montreal, please contact us!

All the best, Birgitte

Honeymoon tour for Marisa and Bob out of New York


Hi Dorienne & Gill,

First off, my apologies for not writing both of you sooner. We have been having a hard time getting back to normal between jet lag, holiday planning, and work but we have nothing to complain about! Thank you both so much for planning such an amazing trip for us. I am attaching an email I sent to our friends and families describing the wonderful time we had so hopefully you will enjoy it (forewarning – it is a little long!). Also thank you both for the gifts you gave us; it was extremely sweet and meant a lot to us.

The only thing I think we would do different is wish for more time! We were so happy to see so many different areas of the country along with Zanzibar and we were just overwhelmed by how nice everyone was. It was shocking when we got back to JFK and in going through U.S. customs got yelled at for not moving fast enough – we said to each other “Welcome home!”

We really loved both safari lodges and found our guides so different that it was great to have two different views. We loved the tents and really liked the luxury of Tuningi. We saw all of the big 5 except the leopard so we were very happy. I will eventually send you photos (and some video of the elephant chasing us) – I’m a little slow on that front. We absolutely LOVED staying at Thutos.

As we were able to tell Gill when we met her (which was great), we really loved Hogs Hollow and Phantom Forest, and after me getting over my 24 hour stomach bug, went back up to Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschoek and had a wonderful day with tasting. We also drove along the water to Cape of Good Hope which was beautiful and spent a good amount of time at the Waterfront in Cape Town.

Thank you again for such a superb job – you guys are simply the best!! It was a trip we will never forget – that is for sure!


Best,

Marisa & Bob

From: Anthony Corley
Greetings Younglady,

I am in total amazement of my time in my native country!!!!!!!!!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay!!! It was what dreams are made of and I want to thank you for your insight and on knowing how to structure things around my true needs and understandings!!!!!!!!!! I can't thank you enough!!!!! You were the greatest guide/shopping/buddy anyone could have!!!!!!!! I was a little under the weather, but you made everything worth while!!!! I can't do anything but sing your praises!!!!!!! You were AWESOME!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU AGAIN for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to discuss a business plan to bring in more revenue for you!!! Let me know when you are available and I can run some ideas by you!!!!!!!! Thank you again for everything!!!!!!!!!!! Sincerely,

From: Jake Russo, New York, USA
Dear Dori,

For the past 5 years we have left our frigid New York winter and travelled to South Africa for our annual December holiday. The last three trips we have made use of your services and I am just writing to
say thank you. There is really no comparison between the trips you organized for my family and I and our first two trips to South Africa. Thanks to you I feel I have truly experienced the finest that your exquisite country has to offer from the fabled African sunsets atop Table Mountain to taking our afternoon tea surrounded by such powerful beauty at Kirstenbosch.

The accommodation you book for us is perfectly South African and is always both charming and comfortable. I won't even get started on the delicious meals at each stay. I am now an expert on bobotie, chakalaka and of course the pap and boerewors. There is nothing better than eating outstanding South African food while experiencing the natural splendor and of the landscape. It is truly moving.

I have travelled widely through Europe, South America, Asia and Africa and no one books better holidays than you. We feel completely safe and confidant that we'll have a remarkable experience with you in charge. You have never let us down. I know that our next journey through the country will be another unique escape from the stresses of New York City and I am sure of this because I have learnt to rely on your impeccable judgment and unimpeachable professionalism.

There is no one finer than you Dorrienne!
Thanks

Jake Russo
208 E. 90th Street
NY. NY 10016




From: Basil & Irene Jacobson. Illinois, USA

"On many occasions over the last 6 years, we have used the services of Dorienne Levitt for our safari planning and travel arrangements in Southern Africa. On each visit we have been treated to a high standard of comfort, seamless logistics and organization and truly memorable sights...."
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Click here to download the full document (MS Word : 20Kb)

"As a large importer and exporter of products, we regularly meet both our international suppliers and customers here in South Africa. It is through African Stay that we have made their stays in Southern Africa so memorable and successful...."
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Our trip to Ivory Tree Lodge was very special. Firstly, because we were celebrating Ron's 70th. Secondly because it was the first time that all our family (14 of us) excluding one grandchild who didn't come, have ever been on holiday together. To cap it all, I.T.Lodge was a really good up-market resort. The rooms were very pleasant and the reception area was very good. It has a lovely lounge and bar and 3 good buffet meals a day. The 2 game drives a day were pleasant - we didn't see hoards of animals but there was a good variety, including lions, elephants, white Rhino, buffalo, cheetah, and the usual zebra, giraffe etc. The Pilansberg Nature reserve is particularly pretty, surrounded by mountains

On Friday night they gave us an adjoining private dining room for Ron's birthday party, with lovely flowers, pretty serviettes on the table and a birthday cake with sparklers which the staff carried in singing Happy Birthday.

Thanks for booking the venue for us - it was a good choice and we would certainly call on you again and would recommend you to our family and friends.

I just want to say a HUGE thank you for booking some superb accommodation for us and for all your travel tips. We had the trip of a lifetime, made even better through where we stayed. I would certainly recommend everywhere we stayed to others, and almost certainly your services.

I am thouroughly greatful for what you did for us and would not hesitate to get in contact with you again, because I will definitely be returning to SA!

If you would like to know more about the accommodation or our trip in general then please let me know.