Last year one of our team members, Madison, was lucky enough to experience the Ezulwini African Safari Package in South Africa first hand! We had the chance to check in with her and hear all about her safari adventure.

Which Philantopia trip did you take, and when?

Ezulwini African Safari Package South Africa. I was there in October, 2022. Going to Africa has always been a bucket list trip for me and a great opportunity to preview it for our nonprofits. I grew up watching the National Geographic shows filmed in Africa and always dreamt of being able to experience lions, leopards and hyenas in their natural habitat so when the opportunity arose, I was beyond ecstatic.

Tell us about the process of planning your trip.

The booking process was super easy and straightforward. All parties involved were a joy to work with and were extremely accommodating to our needs/requests. Ezulwini’s customer service was outstanding, they went above and beyond what was expected. In addition to the seamless reservation process, they provided us with all the necessary entry and exit forms needed to travel to South Africa as well as hotel and shuttle information for our layovers which made our lives so much easier.

What was your favorite moment on the trip?

It is impossible to choose! Everything about the trip was amazing. From the lodges to the staff to the safari drives, it was a 10/10 experience all around! Each day brought so much awe, wonder, exhilaration, excitement, relaxation, and tranquility. There is something special about getting to see the sunrise and sunset on the African plains, surrounded by wildlife for six days straight; in my opinion, there aren’t many travel experiences in life that top that.

Did anything surprise you?

I was surprised by how close you get to the animals. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to be three feet away from a lion in the wild; it was a very humbling experience. Also, the number and variety of animals we saw. You never knew what the day was going to bring, each and every game drive was unique and exciting.

How was the food?

The food was fresh and truly tasted homemade. They offered a couple of different options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and you honestly couldn’t go wrong no matter what you chose, it was all amazing! They were also very accommodating to dietary restrictions and allergies. And the best part was, you got to enjoy every meal outside at your own private table surrounded by nature on all sides. We often saw Kudu and Nyala grazing nearby while we ate.

Would you recommend this trip to others?

I would absolutely recommend this trip to others. There are no words to adequately describe the magic of Ezulwini. It was the trip of a lifetime that exceeded all expectations. The staff at Ezulwini were so friendly and welcoming and truly made you feel like family. The game drives were pure magic. Our guides Craig, Richard, Frans, and Conrad were so knowledgeable, friendly, and truly cared about us having a good experience in the bush. They asked us what animals we were interested in seeing and did everything they could to help us see those animals. We saw the Big 5 plus so many more! The owners and managers Lauren, Laurence, Giles, Ange, & Craig greeted us after our evening game drives and were genuinely interested and excited to hear about what we had seen that night. The customer service was above and beyond. 10/10 would recommend! We hope to go back someday.

Anything else you’d like to share?

We visited in late October and the weather was perfect – warm but not too hot. It wasn’t buggy when we were there and all the trees and flowers were starting to bloom. It was a magical time of year to visit.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Madison!

If you think your donors would love the chance to experience the magic of an African safari, learn more about the Ezulwini ‘Paradise’ African Safari Package in South Africa.

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