Reviews

In March of 2022 I contacted Joanna Rigby-Jones of Timbuktu to help me plan a Safari from March 8-March 14, 2023. Joanna helped me decide on the best properties to meet my wishes. I wanted a very nice place for the first three nights and her suggestion was Arathusa Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands. Oh my, what a beautiful place. Wildlife was everywhere and we saw the big five and so much more. We were even fortunate to see a Cheetah which is very rare indeed. You name it we saw it! We had three hour game drives morning and night, the food was unbelievably good. Much better than the cruise ship we arrived on. Our rooms were spacious and lovely and we were visited by a family of Nyla. Two of our friends were visited by Waterbuck and our last two friends by an Elephant. We were staying at the more secluded bungalows. Hippos were in the lake and Impala and Wildebeest beyond the lake. I next told Joanna we wanted a more rustic experience and from the choices she offered I picked nThambo Tree Lodge. It was just what I wanted! All the basics except A/C. The first picture you see is from our room looking at the mountains with Impala grazing in the distance. This was a much smaller lodge, again the food and game drives were wonderful. Both lodges offered vegetarian choices with each meal. We couldn’t be any happier. My friends all thanked me and the true thanks go to Joanna. Joanna answered all my questions along the year’s planning period, right up until two days before our arrival in Maputo. We were picked up at the port and driven to the first lodge. Transportation was arranged from port to lodge, lodge to lodge, lodge to airport, airport to hotel in Cape Town where I could walk to the ship if I chose to. We were picked up and arrived at each place on time without a hitch. Flight arrangements were made by Joanna and were also flawless! I can’t thank her enough for myself and five shipmates. I would recommend Timbuktu and Joanna to anyone wanting to plan a Safari. It was the trip that dreams are made of! Thank you.

One of the most amazing trips I have ever taken! Kristin did an incredible job of putting together our itinerary. She made the impossible happen! Couldn’t have asked for a more spectacular journey! Every detail was perfectly planned!

Kristin was a joy to work with.

Timbuktu was recommended to us by a friend who had used them to plan her honeymoon in South Africa, and thank goodness for that recommendation! Timbuktu (and especially Jenna and Catherine) planned an amazing experience for us - from safari to Cape Town to the Cape Winelands! Because of Timbuktu our entire visit was stress free and we had a wonderful time visiting several different areas of beautiful South Africa. Timbuktu worked within our budget, specifically accommodated our specific interests and put everything together for us quickly. We couldn’t have done this trip without them <3

Over a period of 3 years with Covid interruptions our Timbuktu helper Tessa had been brilliant and very patient

From start to finish this was a perfect trip thanks to Joanna Rigby-Jones of Timbuktu, who worked with us so closely to plan our itinerary, choose lodgings, etc., and to Blassy, our guide in Tanzania, who was incredibly knowledgeable, completely organized, and very personable.

Very fast on getting back to us

Timbuktu found several wonderful hotels and lodges for me to visit. Very happy with their choices.

Very responsive. Listened to what we want to do and realized it.

This was our second time traveling with TIMBUKTU and we were again so impressed with everything they put together for us! Our first trip was in Kenya in 2021 and this one was PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA in January 2023. This was a last minute trip and Carola did a fantastic job of putting everything together for our 10 day trip with only a three week heads up. Carola did a great job of helping us narrow down the best places to see based on what our interests were of outdoor activities and views. We visited: Ushuaia traveled north to El Calafate and ended in El Chaltén. Every city was unique and beyond beautiful. We often kept saying "Thanks Timbuktu" for every adventure they planned for us. We had no idea what we wanted to do, but knew hiking and getting outdoors was important so they recommended and planned: A boat tour, An estancia adventure, hike to a glacier, hiking on the famous Perito Moreno and top hike choices for us to do while staying in El Chaltén. We decided on the Laguna De Los Tres and trust me this is not one to be missed. Every hotel they put us in was clean, the staff extremely friendly and very helpful with anything we needed. Our two highlights were staying in the most adorable boutique in Ushuaia and an Estancia in El Calafate. The transportation provided was also clean and we were always met at the airport or hotel by a very friendly person who would take us to our next destination. The guides also spoke English although we tried our best to speak Spanish to practice with them. I keep recommending TIMBUKTU to everyone. Custom made trips are hard to come by and they are the experts at making sure they create a trip worth writing home about.