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 Maarten en Marianne | Experience level: first safari
A well planned and organized trip.
Our first trip in South-Africa was perfectly organized by Safari’s op Maat (Tailor Made Safaris). During the preparations of our trip this organization advised us not to travel great distances, but instead to stay in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. We have been really happy with their advice and although we stayed in one province, we still saw and experienced many different things during our trip.
Before we left they send us a beautiful bound book containing a day-to-day description of our journey, but it also contained great trips and fun facts. Next to this, we also received a navigation system and a mobile phone, which we really appreciated.
Sometimes we traveled with our own car through the safari parks and sometimes we went on a safari tour with a guide. We also spotted whales, went snorkeling and went with a guide to the beach during the low tide.
If you want to know more about our trip and everything we experienced, you are welcome to read the daily online blog of our trip, although it is written in Dutch. http://maartenenmarianne-zuid-afrika-2014.blogspot.nl/
Geert-Nick and Freya we want to thank you for making our first trip to Africa an amazing experience! We highly recommend you to anyone who wants to have a great experience in South-Africa.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Above our expectations!
We wanted our first trip to South-Africa to be perfect. You do not fly daily to the other side of the world. Thanks to Safari's Op Maat (Tailer made safaris) we've made our dream trip!
From the first moment of contact they offered advice. Not an e-mail was too much, and every time we got back quickly response. We finally choose a self drive combined with guided activities. We wanted to see the best of KwaZulu-Natal and close the trip with five days in Cape Town. That has certainly succeeded! Even above our expectations!
The accommodations were all very nice and we found ourselves again and again in a new world. A week before departure we received a book with our personal journey. We also received a TomTom, telephone and South African SIM at home. Our personal travel book contained clearly defining information, lots of tips and fun facts about the area.
In Cape Town we had a Dutch speaking guide. He made sure that we have seen and heard everything about the beautiful Cape.
We want everyone who wants to make a memorable journey through South Africa advise to book with Tailer Made Safaris. Thanks to Geert, Freya and Angela.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful, wel organized and magnificent trip with Tailor Made Safaris!
South Africa was on our to-do-list for a long time! Thanks to Tailor Made Safaris we had a super journey!
We had a good feeling from the first time we had contact with them. We spoke to people who also travelled with them. They were very enthousiastic and told us about their experiences. That helped us to make the decision to book our trip with Tailor Made Safaris.
We knew what we want to see and Geert advised us to limit the traveldistances and enjoy and feel the country. After all; we are on a holiday!! The combination of our wishes and their tips made a perfect journey!
We choose a selfdrive tour combined with some guided activities. Travel like this give us a feeling of freedom.
We have seen the best of Kwazulu Natal and ended our journey in Capetown. Walking in Drakensbergen, Whalewatch in St. Lucia, gamedrives in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Tembe Elephant park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Zululand Rhino Reserve, beach in Rocktail and Capetown for desert. What else can you wish for??
Unfortunately we only saw four out of five. So we have to come back to find the leopard and complete the Big Five.
We had a great journey thanks to Geert, Freya and Angela from Tailor Made Safaris!!!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service and knowledge
Because we travelled with our nearly 2 year old girl we contacted tailor made safaris to see if they had experience in creating tours that included a small kid. Although it didn’t happen often they tried to change the schedule and accommodation in every way we wanted, making proper suggestions along the way. They contacted the accommodation if it was possible to go on game drive and arranged what was within their limits. All the people contacted where helpful in creating our tour.
Because we did a self-drive we received a GPS, cell phone and a very nice tour book. Good service and useful. I don’t know what they could do more to provide excellent service.
Elephant Coast is an excellent destination for those wanting to keep travel distances between accommodations short and have a big diversity of activities as well as accommodation. The amount of game parks all different, kosi bay with its beaches and st lucia for a more touristy experience all within a few hours driving. If we go back we would definitely book with Tailor Made Safaris again.
US
Email Ellen & Barry Trencher | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible time in South Africa on trip organized by Tailor Made Safaris
This was probably the best vacation we ever had. We hate guided tours but wanted a trip where hotels/cars, etc. was pre-arranged. We couldn't have been more pleased with the accomodations, vehicle, food, safaris and personalized service of Tailor Made staff (thanks Nick, Freya & Claire). Claire met us in St. Lucia and Nick met us at Royal Natal Park.
South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland are great places to visit; people were so friendly, we felt very safe and the scenery is incredible. Favorite spots: Royal Natal Park (the view from our room was incredible), Sani Pass in Lesotho and the 3 days we spent in Little Bush Camp (we saw so many animals including lions, cheetahs & leopards).
NL
Email Jacobien en Wim de Bruine | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great safari tour in only 5 days
We heard about Tailor Made Safaris from our dutch friends who live in Kaapstad, they told us the had great experience with them, and so did we. Their name "Tailor Made", the every right to use it. We only had 5 days, but they made it possible for us to have a great time. From the time the picked us up at they airport until they the dropped us there again. We had the privilege to have a privat guide, which was perfect for a first time safari. We spent 2 nights in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park, which was unique and we spent 2 nights in St. Lucia, at a very nice guest house. I can recommend everybody to book their Safari with "Tailor made Safaris" because they do what they promise and wil make your stay unforgettable!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A fantastic holiday in South Africa!
In July 2014 we booked a tour with Tailor Made Safaris. The tour was well organised and went smooth, and we still had the freedom we were looking for.
We didn’t have a good start though; Our first flight was cancelled and our luggage was not there when we arrived in Johannesburg (it was still in Amsterdam). After lots of phone calls with the airline company and airport, Tailor Made Safaris came to the rescue and took over this hassle, even though we booked our flights ourselves. In times of need you get to know your travel agency: Tailor Made Safari’s did everything they could to make sure we had our luggage back as soon as possible!
After a day in Johannesburg we went to Thendele and Didima, both wonderful destinations at the Drakensberg Mountains. What a views and beautiful resorts! We did some great walks (in between the baboons). Make sure you lock your chalet, before the baboons are inside…
After visiting Kloof and Durban, with the Moses Mabhida Stadium which is worth visiting, we went to St Lucia. You can do lots of nice activities there. We did the hippo and crocs boatcruise and went on the Wetland Game Drive (where our guide also teached us some Zulu).
Rocktail Beach is a superb resort. They pamper their guests in a beautiful environment. We booked the Ocean Experience (with whales!), snorkeled and drove around on quad bikes.
If you want to have a close look at elephants, you must stay at Tembe Elephant Park!
After Tembe we went to Kosi Forest Lodge. A nice lodge where you can bath yourself under a sky full with stars. The manager has two African Wild Cats, which were just like our cats at home. We snorkeled and did some walks.
Our next destination was Ithala Game Reserve, where we had some guided game drives. Our car was too small to go for a drive on our own. We were told that the elephants in this park are bit unpredictable, so we kept our distance. Besides the game drives we also made a safari walk with an armed ranger.
After Ithala we went back to St Lucia. We saw lots of whales during our whale watch trip. We also booked the Cultural Village tour. Our tour was on a saturday, so the school was empty during our visit. But the Sangoma predicted our future and we took part at an impressive church service with lots of dancing and singing.
We would recommend The Elephant Interaction at Bayete and the Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre also!
Our last destination was Leopard Mountain, Zululand Rhino Reserve. Geert-Nick recommended this destination and it was definitely worth visiting! This resort has lovely chalets, faboulus views and the staff makes sure you have a great time.
We saw lots of animals at this stunning park: Lots of lions with their cubs, buffalo’s, elephants, white and black rhino’s, giraffes, zebra’s, etc
On our last morning in South Africa we saw an African Wild Dog. The chance of seeing one is rare, according to our guide you have more chance to see a leopard!
There was no better way to end our tour!
So, Geert, Freya and the Tailor Made Safari’s team, thank you for organising this fantastic trip!
DE
Email A. Faerber | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An intensive and awesome Landscape Photo Workshop in Namibia
I did have an absolutely great time in Namibia. For what reason? Here, I would like to refer to the reviews from my co-travellers Mark Weaver and Mick Rust. Their comments did hit the spot. Nothing more or less I could add.
Thank you very much for these wonderful days, Nick, Freya and Emil.
And thank you very much for my great companions: Mark, Marc, Mike, Selwyn, Sue and Tony!
NL
Email Sjors | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great tour of the elphant coast.
In september 2014 we made a 3 week self drive “tour of the elephant coast” witch was a great safari/ holiday
The journey was well organised, we received our book with the description and planning of our tour, a few weeks before we left, together with a South African phone and tomtom (navigation).
When we arrived we picked up our car, and our journey began. With the book as our tour guide. Our first destination was Mkuze game reserve, were we spent 2 days on self drive safari’s. we saw allot of wild life, with all the time we wanted to take pictures and enjoy the scenery.
We also visited Kosibay, then we went to Tembe elephant park. Tembe is great luxurious park with perfect service and staff, It had a little les variety of wild life in comparison to the other parks.
From st. Lucia we visited the wetland parks, especially the boat tour and the night drive are recommended. Also the roads in the parks are very well maintained, so self drive safari is very easy
Our last park was Hluhluwe. This a great park if you want to see rhino’s, it also has a lot of hills with some great views over the park.
We had a great Holiday, we saw al lot of animals up-close and made some great pictures.
If we visit Africa in the future, we wil certainly book with tailor made safari’s again
Thanks for the great holiday.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing
We were travelling to St Lucia with an 6 month old baby. I can recommend that to everyone of you. In the first place everything was perfectly arranged by Tailor Made Safaris. We really liked the book with the itinerary. The welcome package was nice, accommodations were great, the safaris were wonderful (as we saw a lot of different and beautiful animals) and the service of Tailor Made Safaris staff was excellent. Even if it was a quite short stay in South Africa, we really enjoyed it and would like to thank Tailor Made Safaris for their wonderful job!