Hills of Africa incorporated everything we requested on our three-generation trip to Tanzania – a guided hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro for the kids and grandkids, a visit to a Maasai village and a public school, and a hot air balloon over the Serengeti. Frank, our guide throughout our 12-day safari was top-notch – he easily became part of our family, while making sure we saw all wildlife up close. One unexpected surprise(s) – Hills of Aftrica made sure we had a 50th anniversary celebration at each of our four lodges- all of which we would award 5 stars for accommodations, food and staffing. It was a fun, carefree multigenerational trip we will all remember and share whenever we get together. – Lee Z, Multi-Generation Trip 50th Anniversary Celebration

From day one, EVERY meal we had was extraordinary. The prices were extremely reasonable and the quality and quantity of the servings was fabulous.We had not been aware of how many magnificent mountains existed across South Africa. We enjoyed climbing them and the panoramic views they offered. Every place you found for us to stay was terrific. Each catered to, and exceeded our every need and expectations. It would be hard to pick a favorite, but we could have stayed for a week at La Petite Dauphine. It was magical and luxurious; thanks so much for the upgrade. Also, thanks for the many gifts waiting for us in our rooms along the way. You found excellent guides for us everywhere. We especially enjoyed touring with your private guide in Cape Town; is there anyone or anything she doesn’t know in Cape Town? She introduced us to the man who established the District 6 Museum and he treated us like family. We met so many interesting people at each stop, both locals and fellow travelers. They all had great stories and experiences to share. Everyone was friendly and helpful. It was a pleasure planning our journey with you and you have 100% satisfied customers.Alan and Debra Ladwig, May 2018 Safari Trip(VIP client of Jeannine Bottorff, Classic Family Journeys)

This was a once in a lifetime experience to see the gorillas of Uganda.  While my trip was inspired as a mission trip to Tororo, Uganda to see what the Send 56 Missionary Training Team is accomplishing, I was able to see the great commission work being done there.  I was then able to enjoy the excellent food, service and view over the lush valley at Mahogany Springs Safari Lodge, where I also had the best room in Bwindi! The Batwa Pigmy Walk and Gorilla Trek had excellent guides, knowledgeable and caring and I thought the Gorilla Trek was the best wildlife experience and over all the best thing on my trip.  I can’t want to return to Uganda! – Jean, from Florida, March 2019

Traveling to Africa was on our bucket list and it did not disappoint as we traveled to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. The greatest impact on us was the people, their stories, water conservation and the plight of the rhinos. There were so many animals that we got to see at The Hide in the Hwange National Park and we got to see a cheetah with her cubs at Mapula Lodge. We loved the location and luxury at Notten’s Bush Camp and what a nice surprise was the candlelit dinner for our anniversary at The Hide. Thank you! – Harlan and Lisa from Atlanta, GA VIP Clients of Amy Metzger, Travel EdgeSeptember 2019

20 years ago, we decided to take the advice of a friend and try Hills of Africa Travel to plan a vacation to Africa. The trip was so unforgettable that of course I would trust no one else to plan a recent trip with my entire family. For a party of seven including children and adults, Sandy, Lori, Amy, and the entire team planned the adventure of a lifetime. They handled every single detail of our two week trip and everything was laid out so our only task was to enjoy the majestic beauty that Africa has to offer. We experienced everything from elephant encounters to breakfast in the bush, the expansive Victoria Falls to safari in Manyeleti, all the while, soaking in every bit of culture that we could afford. You will not find partners in any other organization that this company has forged over the years. I cannot stress enough, the institutional knowledge that this company has and will promise to provide you the most memorable experience of your life.

We cannot recommend Hills of Africa more! We had the most incredible time on our honeymoon in South Africa, and Sam and the team made everything so seamless from start to finish. Every tour and airport transfer made us feel like VIPs and we felt so supported during the entire trip. They even had a few surprise personal touches along the way, including a framed picture in our hotel room from our wedding! All of their recommendations were excellent, from hotels to restaurants, and the whole itinerary was a perfect fit for us. We had the trip of a lifetime thanks to Hills of Africa!

We just got back from our second trip. With Hills of Africa, this time we explored Tanzania, starting in Arusha and doing various camps in the Serengeti and then ended with 3 nights in Zanzibar… the Hills of Africa team are honestly the best for all travel, from the planning process to all the details you couldn’t even dream of – from our requested needs to those we never even thought of! We were a large group of 8, we all arrived at different times and days and Hills of Africa made sure our drivers were waiting for us at the airport, our guides remained with us the entire trip and were absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! All our accommodations were amazing but our favorites were the tented camps( glamping at its finest 😉 the food was also beyond delicious and they catered for all our dietary needs… because we were a large group, Hills of Africa recommended a home at the white sands villas Zanzibar, and wow what a superb place- although we were all together we still had plenty of space to be on our own if wanted… after our first trip I thought nothing could compare, however Sandy and her team proved to have knocked this trip out of the park! So with 2 trips under our belt with Hills of Africa, it’s safe to say we have developed a love of African travel and have already contacted them for trip number 3 in April 2025!!!

My wife, Jane, and I had an extended safari adventure to Kenya and Tanzania on our personal “Big 5 Travel Bucket List” for OVER 20 years. First, for this trip with a long-time friend, the 3 of us wanted personal guides and a self-curated experience. Welllll, let me tell you, curating and arranging the logistics behind, and to support, 2 countries and 5 separate conservancies/national reserves, is NOT A DIY PROJECT THAT MOST FOLKS SHOULD UNDERTAKE AND EXPECT A STELLAR OUTCOME. Initially, we talked with each of the big, well-advertised safari corporate tour operators in E Africa; if you are reading this, you know the ones … A&K, K and T. After a brief bit of wrangling with each of these, sharing the 5 separate places of interest and duration for each, we came to understand that “that is fine BUT here is what WE OFFER” and “small group” to them means cobbling together a group of people that cannot be counted on just two hands. For the 3 of us, for this bucket list trip, the answer amongst ourselves to this approach and surprising price point was a “hard no way”. Soooo, our next step in trying to get this lifetime adventure organized occurred on 23 April 2024, a FULL 15 months in advance, was to consult with our long-time travel agent, Jan M at Travel Experts. Upon hearing of our proposed itinerary and desire for a private, personal experience, Jan immediately recommended Sandy Salle (African born and a female owner/operator) and her team at NC-based safari tour operator Hills of Africa, supported by Andrea at Travel Experts (a colleague of Jan’s). PLEASED BE ADVISED, THAT WHILE MANY INTERNATIONAL TRIPS CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY CURATED AND ARRANGED ON A DIY BASIS, an extended safari in 2 countries, 5 separate and geographically dispersed destinations and seeking a private experience is likely NOT one of them. While I could go on for awhile, and you would lose interest, I will offer two points to consider that were CRITICAL to our superb experience, as follows: 1. The guide for each separate geographic location is KEY to a remarkable experience for your party. Sandy made SPECIFIC requests for a guide at each of 5 safari destinations. We came to find out, in retrospect, that we were paired with the Head Guide for each of our 3 stops on Kenya. Each of Joseph, George and Joel were primo, both as people, companions for 3 days each and as safari guides. The 3 of us were immediately at ease with, and felt safe with, each of them, and 2. Like each of you, the three of us have each traveled a bit. We can get by in certain languages; Swahili is NOT one of these. Each of our passports got stamped 6 times and we utilized 9 separate domestic flights within Kenya and Tanzania. We were involved with over 25 individual “hand-offs”; each went off without any hitch. NO WAY would we have been this successful on our own. Having a hands on team at Hills of Africa to arrange these logistics, by itself, is a reason to visit and meet Sandy IN PERSON to share with her the tenets of your “dream safari”. Asante sana!