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Deborah Smook

I get super excited every time I get to share my country with anyone and I want to make sure that when someone does come, they are blown away by the people, the beauty, and the incredible value for money experiences. I enjoy spending the time to find out what each visitor needs to make their experience unforgettable and then craft a trip accordingly. I want every visitor to Southern Africa to have authentic experiences!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"We specialize in all of Southern Africa (Cape Town, Kruger, Garden Route, Vic Falls, Chobe, Okavango) as well as the Indian Ocean Islands - Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion, and Madagascar.

We DO Africa! We want you to have authentic and meaningful experiences. Whether you want to immerse yourself in the local community or prefer mountain biking, motorbiking or hiking the incredible scenery or become one with the Winelands and the mouthwatering food options, we want you to DO is at well."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I studied Tourism Management, but mostly because it was a means to move to Cape Town - it was one of few places it was offered in at the time. Traveling is in my genes though and as soon as I was done, I started working and traveling for about 5 years. Mostly in the Far East and Europe. When I got back to Cape Town, I started working in the industry and then got extremely lucky - I was offered a position to market South Africa as a backpacking, volunteering and adventure destination for an industry association! I still look back and think it was the best job in the world! I got to really see my own country and also go around the world to tell others how awesome it is. Not to mention the incredible people I met along the way - many of whom are still very good industry friends and partners.

But life goes on and I needed to start doing my own thing. Fast forward a few years and here I am - still sharing my beautiful country by crafting it especially for you!"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"There are a few, but for a South African, living on the other side of the world, Alaska was the most mind-blowing for me. It is just SO different from what I know and hiking on a glacier on my birthday close to the small town, McCarthy was something I will never forget.

Back on this side of the world, Victoria Falls will never stop to amaze me. Besides the majesty of the falls, it also has a real African feel and you actually do have elephants walking around in the streets. It is only an hour from Chobe where there are plains full of wildlife. In May I am going on a luxury houseboat on the Chobe River and I think that will then be added to this list!"

Deborah is part of the following groups: South Africa Travel Agents
Campus Bay in Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town, Franschhoek & Garden Route - 14 Days

Go whale watching, shark diving, wine tasting, meerkat spotting, ocean kayaking, and so much more on this fantastic two-week tour of South Africa. Kick things off in Cape Town with the best food, art, and history experiences, get up close with nature on a drive along the famously scenic Garden Route, and end your adventure with a ride through the vineyards on the famous wine tram of Franschhoek.

Panorama Route in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa
East South Africa Adventure: Durban, eSwatini & Kruger - 10 Days

This 10-day tour of eastern South Africa kicks off in Durban, the country's third-largest city known for its surf culture, Indian heritage, and bunny chow. Spot hippos and crocs at a UNESCO World Heritage-listed reserve, learn about Swazi culture as you cross the kingdom of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), and spend two days driving around Kruger National Park seeking out lions, elephants, and leopards.

Sunset over Johannesburg
History & Wildlife in South Africa: Johannesburg & Kruger National Park - 8 Days

The area in and around Johannesburg is full of history, from the rise of Nelson Mandela to the evolution of the first human ancestors. Discover it all on this eight-day itinerary covering the largest city in South Africa and one of the largest game reserves on the continent. Visit Mandela's home in Houghton, learn traditional cooking methods in Soweto, and see the "Big Five" in Kruger National Park before the week is out on this fascinating trip.

Zebras crossing the Okavango Delta
Southern Africa Panorama: Culture, Cuisine & Wildlife - 15 Days

You can experience southern Africa's greatest natural wonders alongside local culture and cuisine in just over two weeks. Start in South Africa's Western Cape to scale Table Mountain and taste world-class reds in the Winelands, then make your way to Kruger and Chobe National Parks for wildlife safaris by land and water—with visits to Johannesburg and Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls in between. Your adventure ends in Botswana, where you'll track antelope and canoe alongside elephants in the biodiverse Okavango Delta.

Elephants in Kruger National Park
How Many Days to Spend on Safari in South Africa

You can have a great safari adventure in South Africa in as little as a long weekend. With game parks scattered throughout the nation, you can easily access one or more reserves close to Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, or Durban if you have only a few days to spare. Of course, a week or more is recommended for a more diverse experience across different parks and regions, including game drives, bush walks, and even a hot-air balloon “safari.” Two weeks would let you combine several distinct parks and reserves in South Africa as well as its neighbors, including Greater Kruger, Victoria Falls, and the Kalahari, plus other highlights of the region.

Dramatic dunes
Namibia & Botswana Safari Road Trip - 10 Days

Take a 10-day road trip to Namibia and Botswana's top parks on this itinerary. You'll drive through landscapes of all varieties as you scope out the wildlife and natural attractions along the way, including the dunes of Sossuvlei, the rock formations of Damaraland, and the expanse of the Okavango Delta.

Recent trip reviews for Deborah

Belated Honeymoon in South Africa
South Africa | Nov 18 - Nov 28, 2022

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Adam S.
Sunnyside, NY | Reviewed on Dec 06, 2022

We had an amazing time on our trip to South Africa! With only a brief description from us about what we were looking for Deb was able to plan just the type of accommodations and experiences we were looking for.

Rochelle was fantastic and showed us around Cape Town and the surrounding areas at the start of our trip. Stellenbosch was beautiful and our wine tastings and e-bike ride in Stellenbosch were some of our favorite memories from the trip. The highlight of our trip was definitely our... read more

We had an amazing time on our trip to South Africa! With only a brief description from us about what we were looking for Deb was able to plan just the type of accommodations and experiences we were looking for.

Rochelle was fantastic and showed us around Cape Town and the surrounding areas at the start of our trip. Stellenbosch was beautiful and our wine tastings and e-bike ride in Stellenbosch were some of our favorite memories from the trip. The highlight of our trip was definitely our stay at Ivory Wilderness in Kruger National Park, where Warren and the whole staff were extremely warm, helpful, and knowledgeable. On our last day in South Africa we went on a full day bike tour through Soweto with Linda, who not only explained but showed us the history of the townships and the resilient people who live there.

It was a once in a lifetime trip and one I'm sure we'll remember for the rest of our lives.

Hotel Reviews
Tree House Boutique Hotel
Cape Town

We loved our stay at Tree House Boutique Hotel in Cape Town. The room was large, clean, and modern, the pool area was beautiful, and the staff were so friendly and accommodating. The breakfasts (which were included) were perfect - fresh fruit, yogurt, pastries, and meats and cheeses at the ready, plus several made-to-order options from the menu. We've already recommended this hotel to people we know who are planning a trip to South Africa.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The hotel is at the top of a quiet street, but there are several restaurants and bars on the main road at the bottom of the hill that were only a few minutes walk away. It's only a few minutes drive to many of the places around the city we wanted to go so getting around was very easy.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ivory Wilderness
Hoedspruit

We loved our stay at Ivory Wilderness. The grounds were beautiful and overlooked a river where we saw plenty of wildlife, the staff was incredible, and the guides were so knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating we couldn't have asked for more. The pool looked like it needed some service, but fortunately it wasn't too hot while we were there so we spent our downtime lounging on the deck chairs and in the hammock. Our rondavel was clean and comfortable and was perfect for our stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
We loved that this location was farther into the park than many others, since it meant that we didn't see too many other jeeps while we were out on our game drives, but the drive out from Hoedspruit Airport was a bit long (1.5 hours) and bumpy.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Lunch at Crofter's Kitchen
Cape Town

This was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip. Nicky was incredibly warm and gracious and really made us feel like we were at home in her house. The meal was unforgettable - each dish was unique and full of flavor, and you could tell how much thought and creativity went into each ingredient. Halfway through the meal Nicky took us on a tour of her garden and let us taste the ingredients straight from the source, explaining the culinary and medicinal properties of many of the plants she cultivates, which made her knowledge and passion come to life. This is a must do for anyone who loves unique dining experiences.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Dec 12, 2022

Hello Adam

Thank you for the incredible review and super constructive feedback which we have already used to improve our offering!
I am over the moon that you enjoyed the trip so much as well as all the smaller aspects that tie it all together to make for a perfect experience. The guides we partner with and the people you meet are all part of what we specialize in to showcase our incredible country!
I went on the Soweto tour myself last week as it has been a few years since I've done it. ... read more

Hello Adam

Thank you for the incredible review and super constructive feedback which we have already used to improve our offering!
I am over the moon that you enjoyed the trip so much as well as all the smaller aspects that tie it all together to make for a perfect experience. The guides we partner with and the people you meet are all part of what we specialize in to showcase our incredible country!
I went on the Soweto tour myself last week as it has been a few years since I've done it. I can honestly say that I am proud to work with such a great team and what they have done to enrich the lives around them and also tell the story of the past and present in such an interactive way.

I hope that our paths will cross again! Perhaps when you need to make your way to this side of the world to explore some of the other wonders of our area.

For now, we will be happy for you to remember this once-in-a-lifetime trip for the rest of your lives (:

Have a wonderful festive season!

Deb

We had an amazing trip! With Deborah's coord...
South Africa | Sep 7 - Sep 23, 2022

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JANICE T.
Highlands Ranch, CO | Reviewed on Sep 27, 2022

We had an amazing trip! With Deborah's coordination, expertise and knowledge, she blended our request for traditional African cultural experiences and off the beaten path adventures. We visited Johannesburg (Soweto, Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein Caves), Safari in Kruger Bush, Cape Town coastal tours (including lunch with Nicky Gibbs!), Paternoster (Penguins, lunch at Wolfgat), Cederberg, (Rock Art), Franschhoek (Wine Country), National Parks (both Western & Fossil), Victoria Falls, then... read more

We had an amazing trip! With Deborah's coordination, expertise and knowledge, she blended our request for traditional African cultural experiences and off the beaten path adventures. We visited Johannesburg (Soweto, Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein Caves), Safari in Kruger Bush, Cape Town coastal tours (including lunch with Nicky Gibbs!), Paternoster (Penguins, lunch at Wolfgat), Cederberg, (Rock Art), Franschhoek (Wine Country), National Parks (both Western & Fossil), Victoria Falls, then onto the Grand Finale on the Chobe River Boat. Transfers went smoothly, as with every hand-off to a new wonderful Tour Guide. Would highly recommend her to personalize your next adventure. We can’t thank her enough!

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Sep 29, 2022

Hello Dear Janice & Dean

It was so incredible to meet you and spend a bit of time with you as well. I loved planning your dream trip with you and that I could get you off the beaten track!
I look forward to visiting you in the US next year.

Thank you so much for the review - it makes what I do so rewarding.

Deb

Garden Route tour with Steph
South Africa | Aug 28 - Sep 2, 2022

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Kenneth D.
Houston, TX | Reviewed on Sep 04, 2022

The trip was great overall, Our guide, Steph, was fantastic. We changed a few items in the itinerary due to weather/cancellations & added a few unplanned activities. All of the hotels were great. Activities
Bettys bay - Stoney Point Penguins colony; Wilderness - canoeing/hike; Boutkans bridge bungee jump; Tsitsikamma National park hike; Plettenburg Bay skydive; Robberg nature areas hike; Knysna catamaran sunset cruise; whale watch tour; Oudsthoorn cango caves; meerkat viewing
read more

The trip was great overall, Our guide, Steph, was fantastic. We changed a few items in the itinerary due to weather/cancellations & added a few unplanned activities. All of the hotels were great. Activities
Bettys bay - Stoney Point Penguins colony; Wilderness - canoeing/hike; Boutkans bridge bungee jump; Tsitsikamma National park hike; Plettenburg Bay skydive; Robberg nature areas hike; Knysna catamaran sunset cruise; whale watch tour; Oudsthoorn cango caves; meerkat viewing

Hotel Review
One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Hermanus

Great location. Great service & amenities. Great breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Room, lobby
Location
walking distance to town
Staff
Welcome & overview
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Sep 05, 2022

Hello Kenneth

I am so happy you enjoyed the Garden Route with Steph. Our Garden Route partners are just the best and Steph really is an excellent guide which I am very happy to have matched with you. Thank you for mentioning all the activities you did as well - the Garden Route is ideal for adventures, which you clearly made the best of!
I did pass your review and your positive feedback on Whatsapp to Steph. It is always great to get good reviews as we do believe we give our all to make... read more

Hello Kenneth

I am so happy you enjoyed the Garden Route with Steph. Our Garden Route partners are just the best and Steph really is an excellent guide which I am very happy to have matched with you. Thank you for mentioning all the activities you did as well - the Garden Route is ideal for adventures, which you clearly made the best of!
I did pass your review and your positive feedback on Whatsapp to Steph. It is always great to get good reviews as we do believe we give our all to make sure you have a great time.
Thank you for trusting us with your trip and hope that you will visit our part of the world again.

Deb

Deborah (AKA the Debz), was such a joy to wor...
South Africa | May 2 - May 19, 2022

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Therese M.
Houston, TX | Reviewed on May 26, 2022

Deborah (AKA the Debz), was such a joy to work with. She coordinated travel for my honeymoon which included stops in Johannesburg, Cape Town, the Winelands, Chobe, Victoria Falls, Kruger and Zanzibar. A trip we coined "Beach Wine Safari." She answered all my questions, big and small, leading up to our trip. Deborah really listened to what we wanted to get out of the trip and made all our dreams come true. She is extremely knowledgeable. Additionally, throughout our trip she was... read more

Deborah (AKA the Debz), was such a joy to work with. She coordinated travel for my honeymoon which included stops in Johannesburg, Cape Town, the Winelands, Chobe, Victoria Falls, Kruger and Zanzibar. A trip we coined "Beach Wine Safari." She answered all my questions, big and small, leading up to our trip. Deborah really listened to what we wanted to get out of the trip and made all our dreams come true. She is extremely knowledgeable. Additionally, throughout our trip she was immediately responsive. Setting expectations was very important to us and even though things do not always go as planned, we really had a seamless travel experience. We had the pleasure of meeting Deborah in person as well. She went above and beyond by using her personal contacts to ensure we had the best possible experience. I enthusiastically recommend her for all your Africa travel needs.

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on May 27, 2022

Aaaah Therese & Chancey

It was so awesome meeting you and I really enjoyed our interactions during our planning stages right from the start. Thank you so much for the really thoughtful review and the time you spent writing it.

I can't wait to come and visit you in the US!

Deb

Deb, the world class travel agent!
South Africa | Apr 7 - Apr 14, 2022

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Marc F.
San Francisco, CA | Reviewed on Apr 25, 2022

Deb was phenomenal! From the start, she was super communicative and eased us into the process of working with a travel agent, as we had never done so before. Every morning we would wake up to amazing updates that got us incredibly excited for our trip.

As she learned more about ourselves and what we wanted from our trip, she never batted an eye about making changes to our itinerary and even made suggestions about things that we never thought possible. When we were on the trip, we had a few... read more

Deb was phenomenal! From the start, she was super communicative and eased us into the process of working with a travel agent, as we had never done so before. Every morning we would wake up to amazing updates that got us incredibly excited for our trip.

As she learned more about ourselves and what we wanted from our trip, she never batted an eye about making changes to our itinerary and even made suggestions about things that we never thought possible. When we were on the trip, we had a few hiccups (of our own doing) and Deb was right there with us making updates and helping us come up with a new plan of attack.

Deb, you have given us an experience that we will never forget. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such an amazing person, a stellar travel agent, and for having a gigantic heart. I can't wait to work with you again.

- Marc

Hotel Review
Ivory Wilderness
Hoedspruit

Ivory Wilderness was the highlight of my trip. The night tours, early morning treks, and being able to walk around the bush on foot was incredible. The food was delicious, the accommodations were perfect, the setting is unbeatable, and the crew that put the experience together treated me as though I was one of their life long friends. I could not have wished for a better time. Thank you so much!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
A Day in the Kruger Bush with Two Game Drives
Kruger National Park
Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Apr 26, 2022

Hello Marc

You are awesome - even though you have been one of the very few clients I have NOT met in person. Thank you for the best review ever and the heartfelt message. It means the world to me - even more so after a few years of not having any. It's so nice to be back in the game.

Deb

Amazing itinerary and client-focused service ...
South Africa | Apr 11 - Apr 21, 2022

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Kathy C.
Austin, TX | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2022

Amazing itinerary and client-focused service by Deb! The itinerary was fairly complex since we were visiting 4 countries, but the activity selection, local guide selection, accommodations, and the *numerous* transfers were all seamless. We are so happy with our trip, and could not have done it without flawless execution by Deb. She was also very mindful of our budget and we felt she maximized the experience and value based on what we had planned on spending. Also amazingly responsive during... read more

Amazing itinerary and client-focused service by Deb! The itinerary was fairly complex since we were visiting 4 countries, but the activity selection, local guide selection, accommodations, and the *numerous* transfers were all seamless. We are so happy with our trip, and could not have done it without flawless execution by Deb. She was also very mindful of our budget and we felt she maximized the experience and value based on what we had planned on spending. Also amazingly responsive during our vacation whenever we had questions.

Hotel Review
Ivory Wilderness
Hoedspruit

Great accommodations, *impeccable* hospitality, and Craig was an amazing safari guide! It was 100% the highlight of our trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Private reserve, and can view so many animals right from the lodge deck.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
E-biking or hiking Stellenbosch followed by wine farm visits
Cape Town

Beautiful way to experience Stellenbosch.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Apr 25, 2022

Dear Kathy & Family

It was such a pleasure planning your trip! I really enjoyed working with you to make sure that you get the best out of your time spent in Southern Africa.
It was also really nice to meet you, albeit for only a short time. Hopefully we will have more time next time you make your way to this side of the world.

Thank you, again, for trusting my team and I with this big responsibility.

Deb

Deborah could not have been more perfect from...
South Africa | Nov 20 - Nov 25, 2021

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Amanda E.
Austin, TX | Reviewed on Feb 05, 2022

Deborah could not have been more perfect from start to finish.

The start: we were taking a last minute vacation to South Africa as part of our honeymoon (I worked for an airline so that was feasible). When I say last minute, we were coming in a week!!! That was absolutely no problem for Deborah, who took it in stride, perfectly planning every detail from our time in Cape Town to our safari in Krueger. If you are considering working with Deborah, do it! Thanks again for making our trip one we’ll never forget.

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2022

Hello Amanda

After a long drought of international travelers, it was incredible to have you as our first returning client. It was a pleasure meeting you with your energetic and exciting personality.

Thank you so much for the great review!

Deb

Our local specialist Deborah was fantastic
South Africa | Feb 28 - Mar 8, 2020

James
James G.
the Philippines | Reviewed on Mar 10, 2020

Our local specialist Deborah was fantastic in helping us organise the trip from start to finish. We encountered a few teething problems along the way to do with booking of flights but all issues were resolved to our total satisfaction without any fuss. Deborah also arranged excellent choice of on the ground personal guides and car transfers which all went very smoothly, they were all very professional and knowledgeable. All in all we would highly recommend Deborah and her team and would like to thank her for making our honeymoon so memorable in South Africa.

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Mar 11, 2020

Dear James & Darnie

It was such a pleasure to help you plan this trip and to meet you. I am also happy that we could overcome the teething problems and that you ended up having a great honeymoon.

Thank you for the kind words and we hope to see you in SA again soon!

All the best,
Deborah
Elgin Africa

Eon was excellent!
South Africa | Nov 8 - Nov 14, 2019

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Geoff G.
Australia | Reviewed on Nov 24, 2019

Eon was excellent! He was very knowledgeable and gave us time to spend together as a family.
Thanks to Debra for all the helpful tips for the road trip as well!

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Dec 02, 2019

Dear Geoff

Thank you so much for the great review!

Eon is indeed a great guy and we are so happy that we could have them on your trip. I hope you enjoyed your whole experience in South Africa as well.

Hope to have you in SA again someday soon.

Kind regards

Deborah

Incredible experience to Southern Africa!
Zambia | Oct 28 - Nov 7, 2019

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andrew y.
Midlothian, VA | Reviewed on Nov 20, 2019

The trip planned for us by Deborah and Tara at Elgin Africa was amazing. We came up with a base plan and they took it from there. From the boutique hotel in Cape Town to the Victoria Falls Hotel with its incredible history to the tented safari camp in Zimbabwe, everything was well organized and came through without any glitches whatsoever. All in country land transfers were pre-arranged and were always on time (or early). We did 3 private day tours in Cape Town; Stellenbosch, the Cape... read more

The trip planned for us by Deborah and Tara at Elgin Africa was amazing. We came up with a base plan and they took it from there. From the boutique hotel in Cape Town to the Victoria Falls Hotel with its incredible history to the tented safari camp in Zimbabwe, everything was well organized and came through without any glitches whatsoever. All in country land transfers were pre-arranged and were always on time (or early). We did 3 private day tours in Cape Town; Stellenbosch, the Cape Peninsula, and shark cage diving (highly recommended). The safaris in Zimbabwe and Botswana were nothing short of incredible. The safari guides and drivers were all top-notch professionals and we enjoyed spending time with them and learning about their countries. They all had stories to tell. The food was also amazing; we were always surprised at the quality of the meals that were prepared for us.

We would highly recommend Elgin Africa and Deborah for anyone looking to spend time in Southern Africa.

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Dec 02, 2019

Dear Andrew and Chisty

Thank you so much for choosing us and I am super happy that you had such a great experience. It was really nice meeting you as well!

I hope to see you again soon in SA!

All the best,
Deb

South Africa
South Africa | Aug 13 - Aug 25, 2019

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Hilary C.
Odessa, TX | Reviewed on Aug 27, 2019

We had a great trip to southern Africa! Deb booked everything we asked for and more. Our favorite experiences included shark cage diving in South Africa, the Chobe photographic safari with Pangolin lodge in Botswana, a great Kruger safari, and the eye opening Soweto tour in Johannesburg. Beautiful parts of the world with comfortable lodging and memorable moments. Deb took away all of the logistical issues I was stressed about when I initially started planning, and incorporated experiences I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Loved it!

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Aug 27, 2019

Hello Hilary!

Thank you for the awesome review! You are the best. So happy you enjoyed all the experiences. We really try to match everyone with the experiences best suited to their interests and I am very happy we managed to succeed in doing it.
I hope you will carry Southern Africa in your heart for a while and find time to come back here again soon!

All the best
Deb & Tara

Dale's Birthday Trip to Southern Africa
South Africa | Jul 6 - Jul 21, 2019

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Brett J.
Australia | Reviewed on Jul 23, 2019

First, I need to thank Deborah and Tara from Eglin Africa Travel in Cape Town for their recommendations and for planning & arranging an amazing two week holiday in Africa. This was important as my family celebrated my wife's 60th while away.
I cannot recommend their services highly enough - real five star support right throughout the process and they even created a WhatsApp group so we could communicate while away.
Deborah recommended amazing hotels in Cape Town and Stellenbosch and three... read more

First, I need to thank Deborah and Tara from Eglin Africa Travel in Cape Town for their recommendations and for planning & arranging an amazing two week holiday in Africa. This was important as my family celebrated my wife's 60th while away.
I cannot recommend their services highly enough - real five star support right throughout the process and they even created a WhatsApp group so we could communicate while away.
Deborah recommended amazing hotels in Cape Town and Stellenbosch and three fantastic game lodges in Khwai, Chobe and Victoria Falls.
Two of the lodges were Pangolin Photo Safaris. Each guest is given a Canon 80D DSLR camera with a 150-600 telephoto lens and taught how to use it to take fantastic photos of the amazing wild animals in Africa. My entire family, none of who have photographic experience beyond an iPhone, really enjoyed the experience and we have hundreds of photos of lion, leopard, elephant, hippo and the amazing African antelope and birds.
If you travel to Africa, please contact Deborah and Tara.

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Jul 23, 2019

Hello Brett, Dale, Ellie & Pete

Thank you again for the kind words and the really good review. It means the world to us, but it means even more to us that you had the trip of a lifetime. We knew it was important to you and a big trip for the family.

Hope to see you back here again soon.

Deborah & Tara

South Africa in 15 days
South Africa | May 15 - May 29, 2019

lilia
lilia s.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Jun 04, 2019

This is the third time I’ve used kimkim to help with my travel planning. Clearly they work with the best travel specialists in the world. For my South African adventure kimkim connected me with Elgin Africa, I couldn’t have asked for a better match!

Deborah contacted me first, she got back to me right away with answers for my questions about budget and best time to visit South Africa. After couple of emails I knew I was in good hands.

Tara contacted me second, she was wonderful from the... read more

This is the third time I’ve used kimkim to help with my travel planning. Clearly they work with the best travel specialists in the world. For my South African adventure kimkim connected me with Elgin Africa, I couldn’t have asked for a better match!

Deborah contacted me first, she got back to me right away with answers for my questions about budget and best time to visit South Africa. After couple of emails I knew I was in good hands.

Tara contacted me second, she was wonderful from the start, always available to quickly and patiently answer any questions, worked around my budget and tailored the itinerary based on the list of places and experiences I wanted.

This trip was amazing largely to Tara’s impeccable planning, I never had to worry about a transfer, guide (the guides that Elgin Africa works with are wonderful), or accommodation, everything was perfect!

While traveling, Deborah and Tara checked up on me often making sure everything was running smoothly and that I was enjoying my trip.

Anybody planning to visit South Africa should contact Elgin Africa, they are the best!

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Jun 19, 2019

I've asked Deborah to post my response to your beautiful review here as I was not able to.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share a bit about your experience booking with us, and for the amazing feedback. It is truly appreciated, and heart-warming to know that you enjoyed your trip so much. We could not have asked for a better result. :) Seriously, it brings us so much joy that you enjoyed your vacation in South Africa this much!

We wish we could review our clients too. You were... read more

I've asked Deborah to post my response to your beautiful review here as I was not able to.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share a bit about your experience booking with us, and for the amazing feedback. It is truly appreciated, and heart-warming to know that you enjoyed your trip so much. We could not have asked for a better result. :) Seriously, it brings us so much joy that you enjoyed your vacation in South Africa this much!

We wish we could review our clients too. You were and have been nothing but a pleasure to work with. It was also wonderful to meet you in person in Cape Town. We do hope you visit again!

Wishing you all the best,
Tara

*Hi Lilia
From my side as well, thank you for the great review. Tara is still talking about you!
And I have to compliment you on the photos you posted - they are really good!
Deb

Wine tour
South Africa | Apr 30 - May 1, 2019

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Mary P.
Schenectady, NY | Reviewed on May 03, 2019

We had two tours- one with Eon and one with Lisa- and both were wonderful! Eon took us to the wine country- 3 wineries and lunch- and Lisa took us on a scenic tour of the peninsula- Cape Point, Boulders Beach- and lunch at Two Oceans. We cannot say enough about them- both guides were so knowledgeable, fun, interesting, attentive, sweet- we were so very impressed! Would definitely recommend both to our family and friends.

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on May 14, 2019

Hello Mary

Thank you for the positive feedback. I have been wondering how it went! Eon said you had a great time, but always good to hear it from you as well. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in our beautiful country as well.

Till next time.

Deborah & Marita

South Africa Jaunt
South Africa | Apr 10 - Apr 22, 2019

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Seth J.
Ossining, NY | Reviewed on Apr 25, 2019

We had a truly great trip. We spoke with Deborah and Tara beforehand and they planned everything out perfectly. All great choices for accommodations, tours and guides. Also, they stayed in touch with us the whole time to make sure we had no problems or to make additional suggestions on the go. So glad we found them and KimKim!! Seth Jacobson

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on May 02, 2019

Dear Seth and Susan

Thank you for the great review (and the peanut butter cups 😉). It was a pleasure working with you and if we could rate the travelers, then we would give you a 5 too. All the best and hope to have you back one day.

Deborah and Tara

Northern Namibia Tour
Namibia | Nov 4 - Nov 14, 2018

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Wayne J.
New Zealand | Reviewed on Feb 17, 2019

A big thank you to the KimKim team for the planning, organisation and great communication that went into making our 5 weeks in Namibia a truly memorable trip. From the first contact, throughout our requests for changes and alternate itineraries, nothing seemed like it was too much trouble for Tara and Deborah.

Everything around our self drive Safari/Tour was exceedingly well planned and co-ordinated with a perfectly suited vehicle, that was ideal for the conditions and well equipped. Their... read more

A big thank you to the KimKim team for the planning, organisation and great communication that went into making our 5 weeks in Namibia a truly memorable trip. From the first contact, throughout our requests for changes and alternate itineraries, nothing seemed like it was too much trouble for Tara and Deborah.

Everything around our self drive Safari/Tour was exceedingly well planned and co-ordinated with a perfectly suited vehicle, that was ideal for the conditions and well equipped. Their local representatives were both very friendly, helpful and informative, which added to the overall sense of confidence in the planning and the enjoyment of the tour.

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Feb 28, 2019

Hello Wayne

Thank you so much for the lovely review. We really do appreciate it and we are so happy you enjoyed your trip. I'm thinking back about your trip now and itching to do the same trip myself. We will hopefully be going to Namibia as a family in June.

Whenever you feel like coming back or exploring other parts of Africa, give us a shout and we will happily assist again.

All the best!

Deborah & Tara

Cape town - garden route - kruger
South Africa | Dec 8 - Dec 22, 2018

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Zoe N.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Dec 25, 2018

Deborah was a fantastic tour guide and helped us to find 2 amazing once in a lifetime tours.
Kruger national park was amazing and hosted by an awesome local guide who showed us the big 5 and more. Everything went really smoothly with meeting the guide and Deborah and Tara were super helpful ensuring we were collected and happy throughout the trip.
The second part of our holiday was doing the garden route which again was a fantastic experience and showed us many of the best sights!
I'd really... read more

Deborah was a fantastic tour guide and helped us to find 2 amazing once in a lifetime tours.
Kruger national park was amazing and hosted by an awesome local guide who showed us the big 5 and more. Everything went really smoothly with meeting the guide and Deborah and Tara were super helpful ensuring we were collected and happy throughout the trip.
The second part of our holiday was doing the garden route which again was a fantastic experience and showed us many of the best sights!
I'd really recommend Deborah and Tara to anyone going to S Africa as they helped us find 2 great tours that were perfect for us and ensured we had an amazing holiday!
Thanks again!
Zoe and Rob

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2019

Hi Zoe and Rob

I am so happy that you enjoyed your time in SA as well as the tours we picked for you!

Thank you once again for trusting us with your travel plans.

All the best!

Deb

Garden Route highlights
South Africa | Dec 10 - Dec 16, 2018

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Shimaila A.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Dec 24, 2018

Excellent service from Deborah. She managed to find a group tour of the Garden route which suited our needs. She was always quick to respond to my messages.
Would highly recommend Kimkim!

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2019

HI Shimaila

Thank you for your review and I am really happy you enjoyed your time in SA!

Shout if you ever need to come back.

Deb

South Africa Self-Drive
South Africa | Jul 15 - Aug 6, 2018

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AJ H.
Metairie, LA | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2018

This is an incredible service, and I can’t express how much I appreciate being able to visit a new place — new cultures, new languages, contested histories — and feel like I left it with something more than a superficial layer of tourist-appropriate experience.

Deborah (with help from Tara - of Elgin Africa) provided us with an incredibly thoughtful and perfectly paced itinerary for our 22-day holiday. Deborah’s understanding of us — she really listened to us — and of the options before... read more

This is an incredible service, and I can’t express how much I appreciate being able to visit a new place — new cultures, new languages, contested histories — and feel like I left it with something more than a superficial layer of tourist-appropriate experience.

Deborah (with help from Tara - of Elgin Africa) provided us with an incredibly thoughtful and perfectly paced itinerary for our 22-day holiday. Deborah’s understanding of us — she really listened to us — and of the options before us, given our interests and length of stay allowed her to guide us to choices we wouldn’t have considered or known about. The process of working with Deborah was easy — we emailed several times, and spoke on the phone once — and each ‘visit’ with her left us more and more excited about our trip.

Deborah has worked in tourism for many years, and not only knows places and people, but has an encyclopedic knowledge of how businesses are run, what their values are, and how accommodations, tours, and even key local people will suit her clients.

We loved (LOVED) this trip. We would trust KimKim with any future travel based on our experience with Deborah. She heard our desire to travel according to our values, even though it might mean risking new experiences with accommodation, local tour guides, or wildlife (!). We asked for a non-Disney version of South Africa, and that’s exactly what we got. We’ve been home for two weeks, and already we’re saving for our next holiday (with Deborah at the helm).

My husband’s primary interest was in tracing the lives and contributions of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Deborah ensured that we visited each significant location in that ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ — including the various branches of the Apartheid Museum. More than that, Deborah identified several contacts for us over the course of our holiday who we would meet and speak with to help us understand personal stories of activism during the struggle for a Democratic South Africa.

In Johannesburg, we stayed in the arts district Maboneng, and toured the city with “King,” a Soweto-born tour guide whose vibrancy and realistic portrait of the city challenged the ‘victory’ narrative. It was wonderful to have a more complex portrait of the country immediately — and with personal experiences and explanations to make that portrait more concerning.

In Qunu, the place of Mandela’s birth, Deborah paired us with an incredible local guide we’re still talking about. His activism during the struggle to end apartheid forced him out of university and into prison. Still an activist, and finished with his formal education, “Zim” allowed us to question him about his current work (defining and re-defining masculinity, and leading groups of people to experience their own power). Deborah had arranged for us to have lunch at his home, where we met his wife and ate a beautiful meal prepared with fresh vegetables grow in their garden. This sort of encounter is simply not possible without current connections and deep interest in one’s work. Wow, Deborah!

Deborah’s care throughout the trip created opportunities and connections like this for us. In Cape Town, for example, tickets to Robben Island were scarce because of ferry trouble and unforeseen closures of the museum. Deborah to the rescue. Robben Island may sound like a trip only for tourists, but I found it to be remarkably organized, insightful, and deeply moving. Need I mention that our tour of the prison/museum was led by a former political prisoner?

My primary interest in the trip was to see and experience the vast expanse of South Africa — its open skies, its languages, its people, and expressions of its cultures. Deborah consistently steered us toward places and encounters we wouldn’t have been able to have on our own. The range of people she put us in touch with ranged from shops selling the work of local people (sometimes co-owned and operated by those people), or informal locations where she was sure we would encounter local artisans selling their work. Our accommodations provided us with not just a white South African holiday. (On our flight home, we noticed that the cosmopolitan artsy 12 Decades Hotel in Johannesburg was written up as a ‘must-go’ location in the in-flight magazine!) Even before we left home, Deborah’s itinerary for us included descriptions of accommodations like this one, describing a beautifully designed backpacker lodge: “Hopefully you’ll meet one of the owners, Sal, who basically grew up at the lodge and is very knowledgeable about all the community projects in the area.” Intersperced with backpacker accommodations, Deborah planned luxurious nights for us. In another part of the itinerary she writes: “It’s 5-star accommodation at 4-star rates and includes breakfast.” She failed to mention that the staff at Falcon’s View Manor (“high above the town of Knysna”) would wash our car (!) while it was parked overnight in their covered carport. At this hotel, we got to our room and discovered that Deborah, who had passed through the area days before, left a beautiful bottle of wine for us. (Need I mention that the adjustment to routine life at home has been difficult!?)

Deborah arranged for several game drives during our holiday, including photographic safaris in Chobe National Park in Botswana. She had personally experienced these safaris, and although such an excursion wasn’t on our radar, our stay at Pangolin Lodge and experiences with drivers and our photography ‘teacher’ couldn’t have been better.

Our trip covered a true range of natural environments, cultural locations, and physical activities. Everywhere we were safe and cared for with attention to detail. Deborah put us in the path of people and encounters that moved us and enlarged our personal and political worldviews. This is the best of travel.

Deborah’s deep knowledge of her client’s desires (we wanted to support family-owned and community-supportive businesses), coupled with her vast knowledge of opportunities for tourism in South Africa, and even Zambia and Botswana, made this a trip our friends simply can’t believe we were able to take. Deborah’s itinerary for us included details about the businesses we patronized, what we should expect for food, even what to pack for day hikes in specific regions... I can’t tell you how grateful I am for her knowledge. Impressed, and grateful.

I can’t thank you enough for referring us to Deborah and to her collegue Tara at Elgin Africa. Although we’ll need to save for a bit before we travel again, I’d reach out to Deborah without hesitation. KimKim was a terrific way to get us started. I’m grateful for your expertise and for the thoughtfulness of your method in pairing travelers with local experts like Deborah.

Cheers!

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Sep 28, 2018

Dear AJ & Shannon

I can not thank you enough for the beautiful review and the opportunity to plan this trip with you. Tara and I really enjoyed doing it and felt like we were traveling with you.

Thank you for sharing the photos and your experience with us. It was really great meeting you too and hearing all about the trip. We will plan a trip with you again any day!

And you are on my to-visit list in the US soon.

Love

Deb & Tara

Family vacation
South Africa | May 25 - Jun 1, 2018

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Danny S.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jun 09, 2018

OH MY GOD, Deborah is Awesome, so nice ,patient and always answer when i call on her , sometimes 12 am . She is GREAT and the best i have ever known my whole Life . Indeed she is a Specialist. I recommend anyone going to South Africa and booking with KimKim should Chose Deborah . God this lady is Amazing , her timing , planning and service is amazing , she will make you feel like a Royal away from Home . I have decided to come go to cape town every year because of her. She is the best i have... read more

OH MY GOD, Deborah is Awesome, so nice ,patient and always answer when i call on her , sometimes 12 am . She is GREAT and the best i have ever known my whole Life . Indeed she is a Specialist. I recommend anyone going to South Africa and booking with KimKim should Chose Deborah . God this lady is Amazing , her timing , planning and service is amazing , she will make you feel like a Royal away from Home . I have decided to come go to cape town every year because of her. She is the best i have ever seen in the whole wide world . Deborah thumps up. Be proud of yourself , Thank you for the wonderful service , God bless you ..

Local specialist: Deborah Smook
Deborah
Deborah Smook
Local specialist in Cape Town | Reviewed on Jun 13, 2018

Dear Danny

Thank you SO much for your very generous review! I can't wait to hear from you again and plan your trip to SA again soon!

Kind regards
Deborah