It was dirt time for me and my family in South Africa and we planned one day to visit Johannesburg and Soweto therefore we decided engage a guide to... read more have a quick overview of the city. Valentino was very nice and kind , he knows very well the story of the city and he speaks English and Italian as well. for any kind of request it was at out disposal for any kind of request. We recommend him for your next journey in South-Africa.

  It was dirt time for me and my family in South Africa and we planned one day to visit Johannesburg and Soweto therefore we decided engage a guide to... read more have a quick overview of the city.
Valentino was very nice and kind , he knows very well the story of the city and he speaks English and Italian as well. for any kind of request it was at out disposal for any kind of request.

We recommend him for your next journey in South-Africa.

  Valentino made our trip seamless, informative, and so amazing. This was our first time in S. Africa and he made sure it was the best time. We loved... read more every minute of our trip.
From the airport pick-up, tranfer to Mala-Mala, then through the mountains to Camp Jabulani, he made it so much fun and we learned and saw more than ever expected.
Definitely the best vacation I have ever had.
Famba Famba is the best way to go should you make this trip.

  I contacted Famba Famba for a solo tour in Pretoria and Johannesburg. Everything could be arranged immediately. The guide, Shepherd is a very kind person and has a lot... read more of knowledge to share. It was a very pleasant experience and it is a very organized company. Valentino was also very kind and gave good advice.

  It was dirt time for me and my family in South Africa and we planned one day to visit Johannesburg and Soweto therefore we decided engage a guide to... read more have a quick overview of the city. Valentino was very nice and kind , he knows very well the story of the city and he speaks English and Italian as well. for any kind of request it was at out disposal for any kind of request. We recommend him for your next journey in South-Africa. …

  The team at Famba Famba Tour Design Specialists are excellent - very friendly, knowledgeable and professional.

  We connected with Valentino after reading other reviews on TripAdvisor. He did not disappoint. We wanted a South African experience that was about politics and history as much... read more as about scenery and animals, and Valentino designed multiple tours for us that met our desires. He picked us up at airports, helped with our luggage, and even arranged for (and pushed) wheelchairs for my husband. By the end of our trip, he felt like a family member.

We spent almost four weeks in South Africa, but part of that time involved a business meeting for me in Pretoria. While I was working, Valentino and another guide, Maggie, accompanied my husband to several places in the city, including used book stores (a particular fondness for my husband, that resulted in having to purchase another suitcase for the trip home). The night before leaving Pretoria, Valentino accompanied us to an excellent Indian restaurant, then picked us up early the following morning for the trip to Kruger National Park. We spent three nights at the luxurious Kambaku Safari Lodge (we had been upgraded), which went to great lengths to accommodate my husband with vegetarian meals. Our guides for the safari were exceptionally good, pointing out the animals in the wild and making sure we got to see the Big 5 (elephant, lion, rhinoceros, leopard, cape buffalo -- the 5 most difficult animals to hunt). After that, Valentino picked us up and drove us to Phalaborwa, where we stayed another four nights, right outside one of the entrance gates to Kruger. For three days, Valentino drove us in his comfortable van through the park, while also making sure we were well taken care of. He quickly learned that I like to shop for local mementos, so he made sure he gave me lots of opportunities. Seeing animals in the wild that you've only seen in zoos was part of what made this the trip of a lifetime. I don't think I will ever go to a zoo again. During the drive to and from Kruger, Valentino stopped at Bourkes Luck Potholes and the 3 Rondawels, beautiful natural sites. A group of schoolchildren at the 3 Rondawels were intrigued by my husband's white beard and hair, and a number of selfies were shot with him. He was as much of an attraction as the scenery!

About shopping, I ended up giving away many of my purchases as gifts to friends. I didn't purchase enough to keep for myself. Poor planning on my part, but the jewelry is unique and inexpensive, and I wish I'd bought more.

While in Johannesburg, Valentino took us to Soweto and to the homes of Nelson Mandela and Bishop Tutu (Mandela's home can be toured) and we ate at a local restaurant. The Apartheid Museum was incredibly moving -- we spent hours there, but could have spent more, had we been physically able. The Maropeng Museum (the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site) was also amazing and well worth a visit.

In Cape Town, Jamie, a local guide arranged by Valentino, took us to Table Mountain and on tours of the wine farms and Cape Point. We saw penguins at Boulders Beach, took in the fabulous views from Table Mountain, and visited the Cape of Good Hope Nature Preserve. Jamie, too, was very knowledgeable about the politics and environmental issues in South Africa, and answered our questions willingly. We visited Robben Island, where Mandela spent such a large part of his life (which became sort of an adventure when my husband's wheelchair, borrowed from the hotel, broke). Jamie was well-known by the wine farms, who seemed especially courteous to us. My favorite was Meerlust -- which unfortunately is a difficult label to find in the US.

We also enjoyed our time with Jay, another guide arranged by Valentino. He took us to the District 6 museum and on tours of the townships around Cape Town. He joined us for lunch, including a lovely little place in Cape Town that served delicious masala dosa. Jay offered additional perspectives on the history and politics of the country and also took us to used bookstores. We decided against driving down to Cape Agulhaus, the southernmost tip of the African continent, but spent time instead driving along the western coast to Hermanus, a lovely spot not unlike beach towns in the US -- only the whales come to Hermanus in the winter. We, of course, missed them, but there was a little craft fair going on in the town that we enjoyed immensely.

As someone who works in disabilities, be prepared for some difficulties in South Africa. While wheelchairs can be found, they are not very durable, and the walkways at some of the tourist sites were not always smooth going. Indoors, of course, there isn't a problem. There is an awareness of disabilities, but nothing like you would see in the US. South Africa simply isn't there yet, but they are working on it.

Through all of our travels with Valentino, he was knowledgeable and informative. He took time to explain things and respond to our questions; he made sure our needs were met; he took us to local restaurants and helped us order (including introducing us to Amarula, a liqueur that we brought home); he took care of every detail. He was probably the best tour guide we have ever experienced. The other guides that he arranged -- Maggie in and around Pretoria; Jamie and Jay in Cape Town -- were also good, but Valentino was, in my mind, just exceptional.

We highly recommend Famba Famba Tour Design Specialists, whether you want the "trip of a lifetime" like ours, or visits to a specific spot, like Soweto or the Apartheid Museum. We knew we would probably never be able to return to South Africa, and we were glad we placed our trip in Valentino's hands.

  Great way to end our trip to South Africa! - We hired Valentino for a short day tour to cap off our tour of South Africa. Prior to our arrival, he was helpful and responsive corresponding via email to... read more arrange a trip to Adventures With Elephants in Bela Bela. Valentino picked us up at our hotel in Johannesburg right on time for our early morning drive. He escorted us to meet the elephants where we spent time learning about the beautiful creatures and interacting with them....how very special that we were the only group there! Next, we made a stop to visit the animals at Zebula Lodge. Afterwards, Valentino happily made a couple of detours for us (the Harley Davidson store and the South African mint) before getting us back to the hotel in time to shower up before our flight home. Valentino provided the perfect day to conclude our epic adventure....thanks, Valentino!!

  Mr. Meirotti assisted me in all of the domestic logistics for an international conference. He listened to my needs, did the ground research and stayed in communication with me. ... read more The hotel accommodations, ground transfers, conferencing center and educational tours were all top notch. He assured me that my organization would have a phenomenal conference, and we did!! I will definitely use his services for future conferences and workshops in South Africa!