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Viva Expeditions Reviews 505

TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.8

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 92 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for their helpfulness, knowledge, and positive attitude, making their holidays truly enjoyable. The service provided is frequently highlighted as exceptional, with many people appreciating the seamless organization of tours, transfers, and accommodations. Reviewers also loved the excellent locations of hotels and the overall user experience, noting that everything was perfectly planned and allowed them to relax and enjoy their trips. However, some customers mentioned minor issues such as a bit of confusion regarding trips, a desire for more detailed tour information prior to departure, and occasional instances where guides did not hold their names upon arrival. A few also felt that the expectation for tips seemed higher than what the company's guides suggested, and some noted that travel days in safari vehicles were unexpectedly long.

What people talk about most

Staff

Users describe positive interactions with staff. Customers consistently praise the staff for being helpful,... See more

Holidays

Reviewers consistently express high satisfaction with their holidays, often describing them as faultless,... See more

Service

Reviewers mention positive feedback about service. Customers consistently praise the comprehensive and... See more

Location

Consumers consistently express satisfaction with the locations provided. Many reviewers highlight that... See more

User experience

People report positive experiences with the user experience. Customers found that everything went smoothly... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Everything is organised for you. English speaking guides and luxury transport which is ready and waiting to whisk you to the next activity or sight. Great way to maximise your tour without waiting in... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We had many questions during the booking process. Pia answered every one in a timely manner and thoroughly. Then the arranged connections and accommodations themselves were fabulous. We couldn’t have... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This was the a superb trip! Pia had all the details including the small ones like transfers all taken care of. We just had to show up. The itinerary was comprehensive showing us the best of New... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Guides were good - often amazing - remember Vanessa, Luis, Leo, Melanie Sonia gave good information at start of tour. Would have liked detailed tour prior to leaving our home country. Loved Zocalo... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Travel Agency

Written by the company

A passionate team of travel specialists, sending clients on amazing adventures to Latin America, Africa, Antarctica and New Zealand. Offering independent itineraries as well as small group tours, every journey is inspired by a passion for fun, adventure and authentic connection. With extensive first-hand destination knowledge and years of experience, Viva's friendly travel experts make planning your perfect adventure easy. Founded in 2008. Opening Hours: 8:30am - 5pm NZT Monday to Friday.

Why Viva?

Written by the company

We believe that true inspiration and growth comes from real experiences and immersion in the world around us. When you travel with Viva, we take you beyond the sights in the guidebooks, for an authentic connection to the places you visit.

Travel with confidence!

Knowing everything is taken care of and your arrangements are guaranteed.

Knowing everything is taken care of and your arrangements are guaranteed.
* We have our own local operations at key locations * We are with you 24 hours a day, and our team are just a phone call or whatsapp message away at any time. * We are adventure travel specialists, we have been there, we have lived and breathed Latin America, Africa, NZ and the polar regions and we LOVE THEM! And above all we want you to love these places as much as we do!

Contact info

4.8

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

505 reviews

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Replied to 100% of negative reviews

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The Drifters tour and wonderful stay at Dulini

The Drifters tour was very well organised. The guides were friendly, fun and knowledgeable, Steven and Zamo.
We enjoyed everyday and nice to spend one day sightseeing, driving along the panoramic route and stopping at a couple of places of interest. Great to spend a full day at Kruger NP.
I loved Andys camp and Jo taking us on safari. Accommodation was great in the glamping like tents with elephants coming in close to us and Hazyview was relaxing in a lodge setting, and shown around the premises with wildlife, coffee and macadamia trees.

Dulini Moya was incredible life changing experience. The accommodation, food, the special touch surprises, staff, safaris were a lifetime bucket list experience. The friendly staff go out of their way to make sure you have everything you need. We arrived as strangers and left as friends/family. We also meet the other guests staying at Moya and had a fabulous time together. Special shout out to Poppy, Chris, Eben and Dike at Moya.

June 26, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Thanks so much! We’re so glad you enjoyed your Drifters tour — their tour guides are absolute legends, and what an unforgettable moment to have elephants coming up close!

And Dulini Moya… wow, we totally agree — it’s a real treat. Glad you got to enjoy all the magic, from the safaris to the little extras and warm hospitality.

Thanks again for sharing — we hope we can help you plan your next adventure soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

As a couple in our 70s we were a little…

As a couple in our 70s we were a little apprehensive as to traveling Sth America for to us what was an intrepid experience. House of travel NZ and Viva put together the perfect, safe and most stunning tour spanning Chile,Peru and Brazil that we will never forget. We were met ,greeted by so qualified guides and drivers always so punctual and guys we cannot fault you. Accommodation and all tours ,travel and links perfect.Thank you so much and we will shout your accolades to one and all.Geoff and Liz Brunsden. Ps.If you are thinking about doing what we did don't skimp guys .Get the best that Viva delivers.Oh next year it's the Nile for us.Viva?

June 29, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Wow, what kind words, thank you so much Geoff and Liz! We’re so glad to hear that your South America trip turned out to be everything you hoped for (and more!) — safe, seamless, and truly unforgettable. It’s such a privilege to help travellers like you explore the world with confidence, and we’re thrilled to hear our local guides, drivers and hand-picked experiences hit the mark.

We’re especially grateful for your kind words and for spreading the word about Viva Expeditions to your friends.

Your kind words mean the world to us — and we’ll definitely be here when you’re ready to explore the Nile! What an adventure that will be!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The guide I had was excellent on our…

The guide I had was excellent on our tour to Valparaiso and Santiago.
But the transfer from the airport did not happen and I had to hire a Taxi.

June 22, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Hi Robert, thanks very much for your feedback. Sorry you missed our transfer driver at the airport...he was there waiting for you, we have sent the info to you via email. Many thanks

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My Bucket List Africa Experience.

My trip to Africa had a few minor problems, but not the tour’s setup by Viva. All of the tours were excellent. The schedule and the facilities where I stayed were also great. The tour guides were friendly and very knowledgeable. The tours far exceeded any expectations I had before starting this trip. I have hundreds of great pictures of the Victoria Falls and the Chobe wild animal sanctuary. Thank you Viva!

June 16, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Thanks so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear that your trip to Africa was such a memorable experience. It’s wonderful to know that the tours, guides, schedule, and accommodations all exceeded your expectations.

Victoria Falls and Chobe are such iconic highlights – we’re so glad you got to experience them and capture those special moments!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Classic Zimbabwe. What an amazing experience

Everything was well organised from start to finish. We had a far more individual experience than we expected. We had our own guide for nearly all our safari experiences. We were only passengers on the flights between camps - pilot was great. The staff and management at all the 3 camps were so attentive and the service was some of the best I have ever had. We enjoyed the company of managers and guides who joined us for evening dinners with the other guests. The food was superb - whew you never went hungry. Also they catered well for Gluten free for one of us and Vegetarian for the other.
The accommodation was great- loved the outdoor showers and the night up in the Doves Nest was a once in a lifetime experience. Particular attention was made to ensure you were safe moving through the camp in the night.
We went with an open mind regarding what we would experience on the safari. It wasn't just about sighting one of those wonderful animals and birds but learning about the entire ecosystem that made the experience great. There was also the opportunity to choose between different options. e.g fishing/boating on Lake Kariba.
We could not find fault in anything. Such an amazing holiday.

May 15, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Thanks so much, glad to hear you had such an amazing experience on our Classic Zimbabwe trip! We hope we can be of assistance with future holidays.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Costa Rica done perfectly!

Everything about our trip was planned perfectly. Once we arrived in Costa Rica, all we had to do was wake up and get ready for a new adventure and experience each day. We had the opportunity to see so many amazing places, we loved our hotels, and our drivers and guides were excellent. I'll definitely use Viva Expeditions again in the future.

May 30, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Lovely to hear your feedback on our Signature Costa Rica itinerary - thanks so much! We look forward to assisting you with another adventures again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Rendezvous South america.

Hello.
Great experience thank you.
Guides were knowledgeable
Guides always on time and ensured that our safety was paramount.
The daily tours were informative and well planned.

May 1, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Thanks Alan! Glad to hear you felt well looked after, and loved your time in Chile, Argentina and Brazil. We hope you get a chance to return and explore more of South America or one of our other wonderful destinations in the future.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Great trip

Great trip. All guides were knowledgeable and friendly. The touring in the Atacama desert was supposed to be with a group but it wasn’t - the one on one with a guide for multiple days was very intense!

May 11, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Hi, thanks for your feedback. Yes, you were booked on shared day tours in Atacama, however we unfortunately we had some cancellations, so you ended up being the only 2 on the tour. Many thanks

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Hats off VIVA !!

Pick up’s on time. Our names displayed on arrivals except once in Peru where the guide did not hold our name and my wife spotted him while walking past. Hotels in prime locations and perfect. All the flights booked perfectly. Seriously I loved how Viva organised this trip for us.

May 19, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Thanks for travelling on our South America Circle with an Amazon and Lake Titicaca extension - glad to hear you feedback. All the best,

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This is the second time we have used…

This is the second time we have used Viva Expeditions for a holiday trip and again they were amazing. Every thing was well planned out and we saw and did all that we wanted to. Will Definity use Viva again.

April 19, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Great to hear you had an amazing time in Botswana and South Africa. Thanks for travelling with us again, we look forward to assisting you again with future adventures!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Viva Expeditions 110%

Viva Expeditions were a dream to deal with. Any concerns were dealt with quickly. Their experiences were sheared and they produced our adventure that was truly amazing. As one of our much traveled partners said, "the best holiday ever"

May 3, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Wow! Lovely to hear this was the best holiday ever! Glad to hear you enjoyed South Africa, Botswana and Vic Falls. Thanks so much...we hope we can be of assistance with another amazing holiday in the future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Viva expeditions provided a unique…

Viva expeditions provided a unique experience through maintaining a high standard throughout the entire trip, in all facets of the offering. Arrangements were clear and easy to follow, the entire trip was very professional.

April 18, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Great to hear, and wonderful to hear you found the Galapagos cruise and other arrangements in South America to be a unique experience. We hope we can be of assistance in the future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Mexico

The local guides we had in Mexico were friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about their area. They were prompt at picking us up each morning and helped us with check in at the next hotel or airport.
We saw and did a wide range of activities. If there was anything we didn’t want to do then we weren’t pressured into doing it. All the guides had good English.

April 1, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Thanks for you lovely feedback, great to hear you enjoyed our Signature Mexico in Depth itinerary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

xct local guides at each…Argentina, Brazil trip March- April 2025

Of course the stunning locations Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Rio de Janeiro.

Excellent local guides at each destination;informative, patient, good personality.

And well done Viva agent Beke Grossman at Albany NZ

April 14, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Thanks for your lovely feedback, we will share with Beke and the team. Hope we can be of assistance with future travel adventures. All the best,

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks For Keeping Me In Mind...

I booked a 19-day cruise on board the Ocean Victory to Antarctica, South Georgia, and The Falklands through Viva Expeditions. I greatly appreciated Viva Expeditions for: (a) keeping me mind, based on an enquiry made a couple of years ago, when an attractive discount became available on this cruise, as I could not afford the regular pricing; and (b) for expediting the whole booking and ticketing process, including Q&A. Thanks!

March 31, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Wonderful to hear Victor - we love this itinerary and the Ocean Victory too! So glad we were able to help you through all stages of your trip planning and booking. I hope we can be of assistance again for your next trip.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous and well organised tour of…

Fabulous and well organised tour of Ecuador, Colombia and Central America. Our 2 month trip ran very smoothly. Great communication throughout the planning process and the trip itself.

April 5, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Welcome back after your 2 month adventure - so wonderful that you could travel for a good length of time and cover so many interesting countries. It was a pleasure to plan and execute! Thank you

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Antarctica expedition

Viva helped us book our Antarctic cruise and were responsive to any queries we had.
Pia took over our booking seamlessly when our initial agent moved on.
Everything went smoothly during our expedition so we are delighted with the experience. Thanks.

March 6, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Thanks for your feedback about our service, and we're so pleased that you had a fantastic expedition to Antarctica. Where's next? Polar bears in Svalbard? Thanks for booking with Viva Expeditions.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Viva really delivered!

Viva really delivered!
From the first conversation about our trip, they truly got us and tailored the places, Chile / Argentina hotels, dinners tours and the Australis Cruise to build a truly memorable experience. They and their in-country people were very responsive, and nothing was too much trouble. Would highly recommend them for their knowledge of the locations, attention to detail, and in-country connections.

March 28, 2025
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Reply from Viva Expeditions

Thanks very much - glad to hear you had a fantastic time in South America. We look forward to being of assistance with your future adventures!

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