Nick van de Wiel of Tailor Made Safaris
Tailor Made Safaris
- Located In:
-
Netherlands
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- FGASA, TKZN, MHCTO & EDTEA
- Tour Types:
- Self-drive mid-range & luxury tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $84 to $366 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
Email Nicolette & Arie Oorebeek | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super tour
We could not have picked a better tour operator than Tailor Made Safaris.
First of all they advised to limit our travel distance instead of doing all of Africa in one trip so we would have more time to enjoy our expeditions within the three weeks of holiday we had available, but secondly we only briefly mentioned we would celebrate our 40th aniversary with this trip and they managed to raise special focus to this by all lodges we visited, which made our tour so much more memorable. We had great sightings of the big 5 wildlife thanks to the expert knowledge and skills of all safari guides. Very good mix of lodges, from fairly basic to fine luxury places, just the way we liked to experience and all located in places with limited numbers of visitors, but maximum numbers of animals to see. Travel distances never too far, always an easy drive, pre-programmed GPS provided by Tailormade Safaris, as well as an emergency handy phone with African number to limit cost (if any). Very friendly staff everywhere, trying to make life as comfortable as possible for the guests.
Siyabonga Kahula !
Email Mark Weaver | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding game viewing, first rate accommodation... A fantastic time to be repeated soon!
We are proud to have been the first to provide a review for this fantastic team and we are so please that every review since has been just as positive. Well here we are less than 12 months since our last trip with Tailor Made Safaris and again we have to congratulate them on providing another first rate vacation, now that has to be a good recommendation! This trip we thought we would pile on the pressure, so my wife and I brought our daughter, her partner, my Mum and Dad, we were to meet up with Ollie (our son) again and his girlfriend was to join us for a few days at the start of the trip! To add further interest, my parents would do a different tour after 6 days and then meet up with us again for the last day. I have to say that even with all these complications the Tailor Made Safari team just got stuck in and came up with absolutely fantastic tours for everyone. Mum & Dad did the more scenic/cultural side of things. Ours was much more of the wildlife direction with a little rest in the middle. I would consider this to be quite a complex pair of trips and jet the response to our many and probably sometimes annoying questions was always prompt, efficient and clear.
The accommodation recommendations were varied (B&Bs to 5* lodges, first class tents to hi quality beach hotel) but all were great. Little things are what often count in the customer care game. We mentioned in our pre-booking questionnaire that my wife likes Earl Grey Tea with skimmed milk. That was what was provided at every accommodation, great attention to detail!
To pick up the format of our last review we had more things to tick off our respective Bucket Lists; Cheetah in the wild…not one though but six…and on a kill!
Ollie saw an Aardvark which is extremely rare.
We saw Black Rhinos …with calves which were had not managed to see last year.
Memories – this time in addition to the cheetah, there was sitting in bed in a tent at Tembe while a wild elephant roamed in the camp just feet away.
Sitting in an open game viewer while two lioness, one adolescent male and four cubs pass just feet away.
Visiting the Zulu village and seeing and playing with the kids at the crèche.
Sitting in the deck at Ithala Lodge enjoying a fantastic fillet steak salad while laughing and joking with my family and Nick (now also part of our family weather hi likes it or not).
The whole trip was so full of new and fantastic experiences and many very happy memories that are far too numerous to list here.
Tailor Made Safaris again created a diverse, interesting trip with plenty to see and do, good quality accommodation and importantly fantastic game viewing. Ollie was kept engaged and learnt things that he otherwise may not have and the rest of us saw and learnt more than I could have imagined.
The mix of B&B, in park, luxury safari tent, reserve lodges and hotel accommodation was great.
Again, I will have to repeat myself from the last review, “With any holiday of this type there are two important questions
1) Would we pay good money to go again?
2) Would we recommend the guide company to friends and family?”
Our answer in both cases is again a resounding yes and while still in Africa, Mum & Dad had already started planning another trip with Tailor Made Safaris for 2015!
Thanks Nick for being a fantastic guide and for putting up with us, keep up the good work.
The Weaver family
United Kingdom
NL
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trip of our lives!
Dear Tailor Made Safaris,
We had a great trip which, for us, was the journey of our lives. The diversity (of surroundings) we requested was really there.
During game drives in Tembe Elephant Park and Leopard Mountain Lodge we saw everything, including wild dogs, the largest elephant iSilo, rhinos, warthogs, lions, a herd of approximately 120 buffalo, which went to bathe, giraffes etc.
On to the beautiful White Pearl Lodge, with sea views from your bed and bath and a great swimming beach, followed by St Lucia with its many charms and possibilities.
The only thing that could stop us is our age but we certainly hope to go again in 2014!
Thanks again.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect trip and very well organised
It was fantastic and highly recommended!
At the end of October 2012 we visited South Africa for 19 days, our first introduction to Africa and first Tailor Made Tour.
We started in Cape Town and visited Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape Point, Hermanus, vineyards and did white shark cage diving.
We then flew to Durban and went on safari. We visited five different parks and went on many game drives. We also took part in game walks and safaris on horseback which were both exciting.
We stayed in fun and unique accommodations in beautiful locations, where we were looked after by the guide. If there was no restaurant the guide prepared the meals and also during the game drives we had breakfast and lunch prepared for us in the bush.
In short it was FANTASTIC and it is definitely recommended!
The score: All big five, plus black rhino, hyena, white shark
Richard and Gisela (Holland - St. Oedenrode Municipality)
Email Wout en Anke | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Three weeks roundtrip SA with 10days private tour guidance (GREAT)
While reading the reviews we are proud that we where Freya's first couple (2010) for such a long private guidance tour :-)
We had a great trip which, for us, was a unique experience. The diversity (of surroundings) we requested was really there. Also the quality of the accommodations was outstanding.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Family Santegoeds - Een fijne reis tot in de puntjes verzorgd!
Thursday 15th of May 2014
Well, holidays in South Africa, what are you writing, what are you thinking about? Of course, you write about what you already knew in advance and about what you see in real life afterwards. The wilderness, animals, beautiful landscapes, the tension when an elephant walks right next to your tent during the night. A perfect country if you love photography. We have seen the beautiful Milky Way for the first time. And all of this in South Africa? No, we have only been in the region KwaZulu Natal.
That was it? No, not at all. Most people we met, have impressed us. Casual encounters with great people. As Steve, B & B manager, he insisted that we didn’t go to bed without supper, drove us to a takeaway, drank a beer with us, exchanged information, thoughts and expectations. He gave us a glimpse into his life and his country. A very warm, cheerful, positive man. Or like a moment in the early morning in a nature reserve, we made coffee for 3 cleaning ladies spontaneously. They were very surprised that we served them coffee instead of the opposite. A dinner with a South African man and with a couple from Ireland. He was as a 5-year-old boy emigrated from the north of Holland and he was excited to talk Dutch with us. And we South-African with him. We talked about past and present, in the Netherlands and in South Africa. The couple had worked in Ireland, in a hospital, for years. They were back in South-Africa to enjoy the country where they have worked and lived for so many years. Don’t forget Theo, entrepreneur par excellence and a good man. What a invention to get people acquainted with your village, the people in your village acquainted with people from far away. He received us in his house. He helps the village to getting a better life environment, especially the vulnerable, young people. How little children in a nursery with so little, have fun and radiate energy. The 17 -, 18, 19-year-old students at a high school willing to participate in a game from the Netherlands and treat you with a swinging concert.
We’ve got so much energy from these people, sunshine can’t equalise this. Be there for others, listen and show understanding. And amaze, learn and appreciate how special the world is. Surprised by the openness and friendliness, we have enclosed Kwazulu-Natal and its people in our hearts. Engaged, engraved in our memories. Thank you for making this possible, Geert and Freya.
During our short stay, we’ve got to know South Africa as a country which is developing. Of course, with all the problems and contradictions. But who are we to judge. The Netherlands have had 200 years to become the democracy as we are nowadays. South Africa is just a democracy since 20 years. And in a huge country with so much diversity. A multicultural society. An example for The Netherlands.
Chapeau for Nelson Mandela
Hans and Sonja Santegoeds, Olland, The Netherlands
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most memorable experience with Tailor Made Safaris in South-Africa!
Our trip with Tailor Made Safaris was beyond memorable! Friends told us about their great experience and everything about that was true. We send Tailor Made Safaris an e-mail with our plans. They quickly responded with a few questions about our budget, dates of traveling and preferences (what kind of wild parks and accommodations). After we filled that in, we received a very detailed offer which fitted our desires perfectly. After a week in Cape-Town (own planning), our week with Tailor Made Safaris was what we hoped for. We stayed for 3 nights in Avalon Guesthouse in St. Lucia, with a couple of day trip safaris. After that, we stayed for 2 nights in Tembe Elephant Park and 2 nights in Rhino River Reserve. Al those parks and accommodations were pretty amazing. The game drives were so good and the guides had great knowledge of all the animals. Also the service at the accommodation was perfect. We didn't want a massive touristic experience, we were more looking for an African experience. And we did get the African experience!
Email Dan Baylie and Hope Weaver | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A well planned, well executed, thoroughly enjoyable and memorable holiday!
We visited South Africa as a large family group. The itinerary/activities were well planned and catered for all parties. We visited five places in total including St Lucia, Leopards Mountain, Ithala, Thonga and Tembe. We had amazing experiences and sightings at every destination; memories to treasure forever!
Nick/Freya were always helpful and nothing was ever too much trouble. We would strongly recommend 'Tailor made Safaris'. Overall, the holiday and 'Tailor made Safaris' surpassed all expectations and will use these guys for future holidays in SA.
The best way to celebrate our 25-year friendship!
July-August 2014
A few years earlier, we were for the first time together in Cape Town and we knew for sure; we will come back to this beautiful country to celebrate our 25-year friendship!
Tailormade Safaris made us the perfect trip; one day after arriving in Johannesburg we were already on the bike to make a sporting tour through Soweto. Along the way we met several nice people and drank some home-brewed beer in a local shebeen.
We were introduced to the beautiful scenery in the Drakensberg where we walked surrounded by different species of deer and monkeys. We drove routes trough a lot of varies landscapes, it was beautiful. Just as the night we spend in a luxury guesthouse in Kloof. After that the journey went on to St. Lucia where we met the many hippos and crocodiles. In Kosi Bay we met the underwater world and we could snorkel among colorful tropical fish.
Then it was time for other kind of large wild animals we encountered in the various wildlife parks such as Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Tembe Elephant Park and Pongola Park. We were even witnessed the capture of an impala by three lionesses! A unique and very special moment that will remember a long time.
The guest houses and lodges that were planned for us were great too; from pleasant to super luxury!
We have seen a lot and really enjoyed it, as evidenced by the thousands of photos that we have made! In short; we never could have celebrated our 25-year friendship in any other way!!
Greetings from Toine and José from Tilburg
and Ben and Jolanda from Wijk bij Duurstede
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
If you want a real South African experience, then you should really go with Tailer Made Safaris!
At Tailer Made Safaris you can compose your own South African safari trip. They know the best and most beautiful places and things to do. They offer a good variety of nature and culture. Very well organized for a reasonable price! We can recommend it. It is also very nice for kids. If you go to South Africa, don't miss Tembe National Park, Kosi Bay, Drakensbergen and Soweto!