Lion World Travel
Lion World Travel
5
Full view
About
For more than 59 years Lion World Travel has been creating dream safari experiences for travelers visiting Africa. We offer Affordable Luxury safaris in a small group or private setting. From Cape Town day tours to affordable luxury safaris across Southern Africa and Eastern Africa, Lion World Travel understands that an African adventure is an investment of time, money and especially dreams. We are committed to offering a unique travel experience with memories that will last a lifetime. We love Africa, and you will too!
Cape Town Central, South Africa
Features animals
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Travellers talk about
(120 reviews)
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
629 reviews
Excellent
613
Very good
7
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
5
Ron Moyer
Naperville, IL3 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Family
We were initially referred to Lion World by a friend who had used them to plan African safaris four times. My thought . . . if they weren’t great, he would not have used them twice let alone four times. I researches the Lion World offerings online and then called to get more details and to sort out next steps. I was fortunate to have African Specialist Shazmin Giga pick up the phone when I called and everything from that point forward was perfect. Shaz could not have been more pleasant, informative or helpful and the information provided by Lion World was invaluable as we planned our trip to Tanzania.
Our itinerary involved overnight stays in four locations in Tanzania, airport transfers including two bush flights from small airstrips, meals and a host of activities including game drives, a hot air balloon ride and more. EVERYTHING worked exactly as planned. The accommodations at all four locations were extremely nice and the staff at each location were among the nicest people we have met anywhere in the world.
The safari guides and trackers arranged by Lion World were incredible. They put us in the right place at the right time day after day. Amazing and unique animal sightings, including a giraffe giving birth, exceeded any and all expectation we may have had. Lion World Travel arranged an absolutely amazing trip for us and it all worked perfectly.
Our itinerary involved overnight stays in four locations in Tanzania, airport transfers including two bush flights from small airstrips, meals and a host of activities including game drives, a hot air balloon ride and more. EVERYTHING worked exactly as planned. The accommodations at all four locations were extremely nice and the staff at each location were among the nicest people we have met anywhere in the world.
The safari guides and trackers arranged by Lion World were incredible. They put us in the right place at the right time day after day. Amazing and unique animal sightings, including a giraffe giving birth, exceeded any and all expectation we may have had. Lion World Travel arranged an absolutely amazing trip for us and it all worked perfectly.
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathan B
2 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
Our experience in Kenya with Lion World Travel was incredible. We had David and Nicholas as our tour guides. We saw all of the Big 5 game animals and much, much more. The accommodations were outstanding, and the small group (8) made for fun dinners and new friendships. The vehicles were comfortable and perfect for safari or the longer drives between sites. It was so nice having the same guide every day for all our activities. We were so glad we used Lion World Travel and will absolutely be using them again if we go to Africa. We had booked a hot air balloon safari as part of our trip. Unfortunately, the balloon was cancelled at the last minute due to weather. Lion World Travel went above and beyond to re-organize the itinerary and find a completely different company to get us on a hot air balloon the very next day and still allow us to enjoy all the other activities that were planned! They made our vacation of a lifetime incredible!
Written September 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth B
2 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Family
Trip of a lifetime with my son! The moment we landed in Nairobi, we were greeted by friendly representatives from Twiga Tours. We were excited to meet our fellow travelers to complete our party of eight. We were escorted to our safari vehicles where Justus and Martin were ready to get our adventure started in Kenya! I can’t say enough about our amazing tour guides and drivers. Justus and Martin stayed with us the entire trip and made us feel safe and at home.
We learned so much about Kenya and had an amazing experience!
Enchanting Kenya was full of memories to last a lifetime. It is difficult to capture our adventure in a short summary with a few photos. Each day was filled with game drives exploring reserves filled with elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, cheetahs and so much more. The views and scenery were spectacular especially the early morning and sunset drives.
What made Enchanting Kenya so special was that we had a unique experience visiting different regions of Kenya. We started in Shaba Game Reserve, Samburu, Buffalo Springs, Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru and finished at Maasai Mara.
Our accommodations throughout our trip were very nice and filled with caring staff to help make our stays special. The safari lodges were comfortable offering full buffets with many choices. The lodges provided nightly music, evening activities and cultural experiences that we really enjoyed!
We truly loved our first trip to Africa. As we departed the airstrip our last day, it was hard to say goodbye to beautiful Kenya and everyone we met along our journey especially Justus and Martin. A big thank you also to Mary, Shazmin and everyone at Lion World Travel for all your help with planning our trip of a lifetime!
We learned so much about Kenya and had an amazing experience!
Enchanting Kenya was full of memories to last a lifetime. It is difficult to capture our adventure in a short summary with a few photos. Each day was filled with game drives exploring reserves filled with elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, cheetahs and so much more. The views and scenery were spectacular especially the early morning and sunset drives.
What made Enchanting Kenya so special was that we had a unique experience visiting different regions of Kenya. We started in Shaba Game Reserve, Samburu, Buffalo Springs, Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru and finished at Maasai Mara.
Our accommodations throughout our trip were very nice and filled with caring staff to help make our stays special. The safari lodges were comfortable offering full buffets with many choices. The lodges provided nightly music, evening activities and cultural experiences that we really enjoyed!
We truly loved our first trip to Africa. As we departed the airstrip our last day, it was hard to say goodbye to beautiful Kenya and everyone we met along our journey especially Justus and Martin. A big thank you also to Mary, Shazmin and everyone at Lion World Travel for all your help with planning our trip of a lifetime!
Written September 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Destination323927
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Solo
Shazmin was amazing kind patient and so helpful! The package we picked was perfect for the two of us ! The lodges were amazing and the staff were so accommodating! Our Safari guid was very knowledgeable and had an eagle eye for finding the wildlife! They really helped my dream vacation come true!!
Written September 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanne M
2 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Family
Lion World is a marvelous company to go with. They have been instrumental in making sure we had an amazing time in Africa. They will definitely take care of you. I highly recommend them.
Written September 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristy P
1 contribution
Jul. 2023 • Family
My daughter and I went on the trip of a lifetime, thanks to Lion World Travel. As soon as we landed in Nairobi, the representatives were there to greet us and take us to our wonderful tour guide, Alex (with Twiga Tours). Alex was incredibly kind, personable, knowledgeable and professional and found us every animal we wanted to see, and then some! He was very patient with us all. Our 4x4 Land Cruiser was comfortable and clean and we felt very safe with Alex as our driver.
We saw a pride of 13 lions eating a wildebeest; a cheetah eating an antelope; more zebras than I knew existed in the world; gorgeous giraffes; grand elephants; witnessed the wildebeest migration and the list goes on! We even got to pet a rhino, which was amazing in itself. Every day we said it couldn’t get better than this day, yet every day, somehow, it WAS better!
All of the “tents” we stayed in were luxurious and top notch. The staff at each one were so friendly and every detail was thought out.
When we got to the beautiful island of Zanzibar, it was about 9:00 pm, but the staff knew we were coming and had the chef ready to make a meal for us when we arrived and had it brought to our bungalow. We made friends with quite a few of the staff at Matemwe Lodge and they treated us like absolute royalty. They even made us our own special table (twice) with flowers, an arch of lights, and leaves placed neatly in a circle around our table. I must say we were very sad to leave these wonderful new friends of ours behind (we got phone numbers of some of them).
Every guide we had - our tour guide, Alex; our night game driver; the Stone Town tour guide; and all the other various guides we had for activities were so kind and eager to speak to us about their culture and learn about ours.
I have heard people say that visiting Africa changed them and now I know why. It is a life-changing experience, and not one I can explain.
I appreciate all the seamless accommodations that Leeann and Lion World Travel made for us - including last-minute changes while in Zanzibar. I can’t wait to book another adventure with them. I highly recommend this company.
We saw a pride of 13 lions eating a wildebeest; a cheetah eating an antelope; more zebras than I knew existed in the world; gorgeous giraffes; grand elephants; witnessed the wildebeest migration and the list goes on! We even got to pet a rhino, which was amazing in itself. Every day we said it couldn’t get better than this day, yet every day, somehow, it WAS better!
All of the “tents” we stayed in were luxurious and top notch. The staff at each one were so friendly and every detail was thought out.
When we got to the beautiful island of Zanzibar, it was about 9:00 pm, but the staff knew we were coming and had the chef ready to make a meal for us when we arrived and had it brought to our bungalow. We made friends with quite a few of the staff at Matemwe Lodge and they treated us like absolute royalty. They even made us our own special table (twice) with flowers, an arch of lights, and leaves placed neatly in a circle around our table. I must say we were very sad to leave these wonderful new friends of ours behind (we got phone numbers of some of them).
Every guide we had - our tour guide, Alex; our night game driver; the Stone Town tour guide; and all the other various guides we had for activities were so kind and eager to speak to us about their culture and learn about ours.
I have heard people say that visiting Africa changed them and now I know why. It is a life-changing experience, and not one I can explain.
I appreciate all the seamless accommodations that Leeann and Lion World Travel made for us - including last-minute changes while in Zanzibar. I can’t wait to book another adventure with them. I highly recommend this company.
Written September 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TS
7 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Couples
Lion World Travel is the best of the best. We have traveled extensively for over three decades and used many travel agencies. Lion World is par excellence. Shazmin Giga was amazing. She actively engaged with us, was super responsive and her attention to detail was extraordinary. We were very lucky to have her partner with us. Every aspect of trip - pickups at airports, guides, lodging, food were phenomenal. Very reasonably priced for the quality of stays and travel. Highly recommend Lion World and Shaz!
Written August 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cindy R
Calgary, Canada5 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Family
I booked Lion World Travel from Canada; Costco in 2018 and in 2022 for my Safari's to East Africa and have had nothing but the best trip and service. This was my second trip two weeks ago and it was again amazing! Not one missed connection, excellent pickup service, excellent planning and trusted Safari Drivers from Liberty Tours in Kenya that go above and beyond! Each day your experienced game driver and personal Toyota Land Cruiser was prompt on time, washed and cleaned with the roof open for game viewing and exceptional 3 hour game drives with knowledge of every animal that you saw! This was the same in 2019. I have done this twice 2019 and now in 2023 and it still exceeds my expectation to the point that I want to go again! They use Sarova hotels in Africa and Serena Hotels with the kindest folks and fantastic food. Hats off to all, especially Jean Kadenhe for booking us she was amazing and helpful and we appreciated her for all her wonderful ideas and making this happen. The best idea was the Masa Mara hot air balloon ride which turned out to be the best experience ever and Costco members get a great discount! I thank Lion World in Canada for providing the best Canadian team that sent us great information before our trip, and to Liberty Tours in Kenya for their dedication to their Safari experiences and for their amazing team that go above and beyond to provide safe and excellent experiences. My kindest thoughts go out to drivers Sampson, Abdi and Peter who are now my forever friends that I hold in my heart. Their excellence, dedication and love of their jobs was evident from the moment they started to drive us. They took the best care of my daughter and I right from the start to the end of the holidays with lots of care and expertise! The staff at the hotels were so kind and helpful and always wore a smile on their faces which also made our trip more enjoyable. This trip and my last...not one mistake on our 2 week Safari - 5 stars!!!! I am very lucky to have had 2 trips of a life time. Asante Sana
Written August 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BR D
1 contribution
Jul. 2023
We recently went on a two week trip in Kenya and Tanzania, IT WAS AMAZING!! Every thing from beginning to end was flawless. Three of out girls are vegan and at every destination they were prepared for them with amazing food. We had an issue with Air France, which was who we had scheduled our flights with and when I informed Lion World they helped with that too. I would highly recommend Lion World for planning a trip to Africa!
Written August 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olivier J
1 contribution
Jul. 2023
Thanks to Lion World Travel and the amazing itinerary organized by John Almeida, my wife and I were lucky to experience one of our very best and unforgettable vacation. We travelled to South Africa and spent our first few days visiting beautiful Cape Town, including the wineries and an organized Cape Peninsula tour which was breathtaking! Our next highlight was a 4 day Safari at a beautiful luxurious resort (Jackalberry Lodge) located in the Thornybush Game Reserve. We saw plenty of lions (including a pride feasting on a giraffe), rhinos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, hippos, buffalos, colorful birds, and a leopard in a tree with her diner (an impala) dangling next to her! What an incredible experience!!!
Thanks to LWT and John's excellent work, we didn't have to worry about anything ... the accommodations were perfect, the staff and service at the Table Bay Hotel and the Jackalberry Lodge were fantastic, the food was beyond delicious (btw, best Ostrich Steak I ever had!), and the organized tours were exceptional!!
Needless to say that I would HIGHLY recommend LWT to anyone who wants to enjoy the best worry-free vacation!
Thanks to LWT and John's excellent work, we didn't have to worry about anything ... the accommodations were perfect, the staff and service at the Table Bay Hotel and the Jackalberry Lodge were fantastic, the food was beyond delicious (btw, best Ostrich Steak I ever had!), and the organized tours were exceptional!!
Needless to say that I would HIGHLY recommend LWT to anyone who wants to enjoy the best worry-free vacation!
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
judinewyork
new york109 contributions
Does Lion World only organize viewing safaris, or do they arrange hunting trips too?
LeeannLWT
Toronto, Canada2 contributions
Hi judinewyork,
Lion World Travel only offers viewing safaris, and has a strong stance against hunting. Lion World Travel adheres to a strict "Animal Welfare Policy" that can be found on our website.
mrao3
Eden Prairie, MN37 contributions
Hello Travellers - what was the size of your group when you travelled to Africa. Is 22 too big a group? Thanks in advance
LeeannLWT
Toronto, Canada2 contributions
Hello mrao3,
Many of our scheduled departure safaris have between 4-8 travelers on them. As some others have mentioned it is possible to do a private safari as well. If you have a large group wanting to travel, Lion World Travel arranges private group safaris so that your group can travel together. Having 22 people for a custom, private safari is no problem.
Sony V
Glenroy, Australia21 contributions
Hello there,
Does Lion Travel book private tours for two people?
I have arthritis and feel that I may not be able to cope with a group tour.
Also, are they able to make bookings Africa wide?
Thank you in advance for your answer.
LeeannLWT
Toronto, Canada2 contributions
Hello Sony V,
We do book many private safaris for couples or friends, this is a popular request. South Africa and Botswana are great destinations for this. We can happily work with you to book a safari in Southern and/or Eastern Africa, depending on your personal interests.
Erik
Washington DC, DC80 contributions
We're looking to take a small Group (4 to 6 adults) on Safari this coming March. How big are the tour groups with Lion Travel? Would we be part of a much larger group, or do these tours operate much more like a private/small group tour?
LeeannLWT
Toronto, Canada2 contributions
Hello Erik,
You have some great answers here already. On scheduled safaris you may be part of a larger group. Say there were 3 other people in your group, in this case we would normally have one vehicle for your group of 4-6 and a second vehicle for the other 3. While you may be part of a group on our packaged safaris, it does still offer you some flexibility to customize your personal experience. We also operate private safaris, so if you want to guarantee your own private experience and safari vehicle, you can work with us to do this as well.
LoveTravel1296
New Smyrna Beach, FL3 contributions
Hello, we are going to Kenya on safari through Lion World Travel in October and wanted to know how comfortable the rooms are with no a/c or ceiling fans?
We are both very warm blooded and have concerns😬
Any input would be appreciated
sbsrn
Claremont, CA66 contributions
We just returned from Tanzania. I never felt hot at night. Serengeti was our warmest stop and it was comfortable to sleep. I also prefer a “freezer” to sleep in, but we were tired and slept fine. Happy journey
tmr819
San Diego, CA9 contributions
Thinking of going to South Africa in May. What is the weather like? Is this a good time of year for safari?
jody7990
Monterey County, CA34 contributions
I went in April. Perfect time. It is their middle fall. Days in 80's evenings in 60's. I was told it's the best time and we saw all the big five and more....wonderful experience!
Jane S
Washington DC, DC4 contributions
I haven’t been able to figure out if water is included at all locations while on safari. It just says that alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks are not included. What’s the deal?
patsyt41
Glenview, IL16 contributions
You receive a bottle of water a day in your room, and water is provided at meals. Tour guides provide water bottles, but in Cape Town the water was safe to drink.
mas1958
montreal347 contributions
Could you please tell me if Lion World Travel offers escorted South Africa tours? Or are they independent and/or self drive?
Private or Group? Can additions be made to the listed tour itineraries (ie: wine country, or garden drive) to make the tour a bit longer and to cover areas of interest not already included ? Thinking of going December January. Any need for Malaria medication? Thanks!
LeeannLWT
Toronto, Canada2 contributions
Hello mas1958,
You can absolutely customize and extend your safari. For example, many travelers add a stay at Victoria Falls to many of our Exclusive Vacation Packages on our website, or arrive a few days early in Cape Town to explore more. If you want a totally custom safari, we can also do that for you. Our safaris are not fully "escorted" in that you do not have a tour guide with you from start to end. Our team in Africa provides all the transfers and assistance as needed, with guides from the local lodges being your rangers while on safari.
LittleMissK_13
Buckingham, UK2 contributions
Where can I do a hot air balloon flight in Cape Town in November ? And are there any nature reserves I can visit close to Cape Town to see big cats.
Lynn D
Lynchburg, VA82 contributions
Hello,
I went to Kenya on my trip and my hot air balloon ride was booked through the travel agent at Lion World when I booked my trip. The lodge/hotel where you stay should have information on a balloon company but I would start with Lion World first. And for the big cats, you should be able to see them on pretty much any safari. I've seen so many pictures of big cats on traveler reviews and November should be a great time to see the "big five".
LeslieG_8
Tennessee294 contributions
Hi, Leslie. What would you like to know about this attraction?
Lynn D
Lynchburg, VA82 contributions
Hi Leslie,
i don't see a question but I will tell you Lion World is fabulous to work with! Cheryl did my package tour and she was amazing. I sent a list of questions and she had all the answers back to me in about 15 minutes. I did the Luxury Kenya tour and the tented camps were beautiful. The staff everywhere we stayed we so very warm and welcoming. I highly recommend Lion World. I plan on using them again one day :)