Part of the happy Pembury team having a laugh!
Pembury Tours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 1996)
- Member Of:
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email DEB | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Helpful and efficient and spot on recommendation.
Recommendation by Susan of Lalibela Game Reserve excellent. Great communication and efficient service. Thanks very much.
Email Roy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A tour company that really understands its customers requirements and delivers a first class service
We asked for a tour that gave us a feel for South Africa and included the Rovos Cape Town to Victoria Falls train.The whole tour took 3 weeks and the planning and delivery were of the highest order.It was truly the classic 'trip of a lifetime'.The instruction we received were faultless and down to the smallest detail.We used 6 different hotels and all bookings worked like clockwork.The tour more than lived up to our expectations.
CA
Email Suzanne | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Heidi Bedford led us through an awesome adventure in beautiful Africa!
After trying to get info from several safari tour operators in Canada, we miracously found Pembury Tours and Heidi Bedford answered our email promptly. We gave her the desired outline of our trip: our budget, places we wanted to go to and our dates. She came back with a customized itinerary that we fine tuned and voilà!
After some 18 months or so of planning, we finally arrived in Johannesburg to start our journey and Heidi was our guardian angel for the four weeks of our African Odyssey...an email or phone call away if needed. Hotels gems and transfer vouchers, car rental, pick ups at airports...9 flights total, 4 safari lodges and 16 game drives...everything was clockwork and exhilarating ! She even met us in Port Elizabeth with our printed itinerary...a brick of information on every detail with maps and driving instructions how to get to our various destinations.
We had such a great relationship with Heidi that we shared our pictures and FB posts with her! We will always remember our experience in Africa passionately and be forever grateful to Heidi for sharing her knowledge and for her guidance!
US
Email William and Kathleen Campenni | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great company, outstanding client service and attention
When we were first planning our trip to South Africa from our home in the USA we did not know much about the attractions and accommodations, other than there were a lot of safari options and operators available. With our Internet searching we stumbled upon the highly rated Pembury Tours out of Port Elizabeth, and its representative, Laurette McKinnon.
Over numerous email exchanges from afar she was able to sort out our desires, budget, and concerns (e.g., Cape Town's drought) to arrange our itinerary to include 4 event-packed days in Cape Town and 5 days on safari at a game reserve in southeast South Africa, away from the crowds and commercialization in the northern Krueger areas most visited by tourists. Even with the 9 hour time zone differences, it seemed like her replies were immediate to our numerous queries.
They were wise choices on her part. We did almost everything we wanted to do in Cape Town and environs, given our short stay, and our safari out of the recommended Lalibela Game Reserve exceeded our expectations. The proximity to the game animals, the splendid accommodations at Lentaba Lodge, and the knowledgeable ranger guides made our visit all the more memorable. Every transportation option we needed was arranged by Laurette and there were no glitches - airport pickups, local area tours, internal SA flight connections, special requests, etc.
It is difficult to plan an extended trip like we had when you are doing it from 8,000 miles away with an agent you had never met. It takes a lot of trust and patience on both sides. We went through frequent changes and revisions to our travel plan. And it all had to fit in the budget constraints we had.
So we were very fortunate that our search took us to Pembury Tours and its representative, Laurette McKinnon. We highly recommend them to others, knowing they will make your trip as memorable as ours.
Email Sandy & Annette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Pembury Tours provided excellent service, value for money and a fabulous holiday.
We were recommended to Pembury Tours when we contacted Lalibela Game Reserve asking about a safari and planning a trip to South Africa. I looked at their website and reviews on Tripadvisor which were all positive.
I e-mailed Pembury Tours and was contacted by Tammy Harding.
What impressed us was the prompt response, the attention to detail and a real desire to get things exactly how we wanted.
Paying money these days over the internet is always a worry. However, the systems Pembury Tours have in place worked well and were reassuring.
All the accommodation was excellent. We had an unbelievable time at Lalibela, the staff were amazing, the food excellent and of course the animals and safari drives 1st class.
Having Tammy at the end of a phone was reassuring just in case we had an issue. But the trip ran like clock work and every need taken care of. Well done Tammy and everyone for making our holiday a trip to remember.
US
Email Judy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We had a wonderful experience in Zimbabwe and South Africa with Pembury Tours
Communication, lodging, transfers, tour guides, and safari were all exceptional. Melanie never failed to respond promptly, helped us expedite a late baggage delivery from the airline and worked with Lodge staff when road strikes in the area blocked our exit path. Our tour guides were knowledgeable and we felt we saw a great representation of many parts of South Africa. Overall, a memorable experience!
CH
Email Namibia / South Africa | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Still South Africa's best travel agency
No doubt - Pembury Tours is still South Africa's best travel agency!
Gail organized our tour in Namibia and South Africa as thoroughly as always. All our special requests were completely fulfilled. We even got her private phone number in case of any emergency. Many thanks! We will book again at Pembury Tours.
Werner and Ursula, Switzerland
CA
Email Joan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tammy helped me plan an amazing 3 week trip to South Africa for 9 travellers.
Tammy replied quickly and professionaly to all my enquiries from Canada as this complicated trip evolved. She gave excellent advice regarding choosing accommodations and safaris. There was not a single hitch and we all have had a trip of a lifetime. Thanks, Tammy
US
Email Doug Cecil | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
6 stars out of 5 stars to Pembury Tours
I would give 6 stars to Pembury Tours if I could.
Our agent, Tammy, was clearly working behind the scenes throughout our trip to ensure that we were safe and well. No matter how small the issue, one quick email and it was resolved in a matter of minutes/hours. We felt as if she worked solely for us! She organized perfect accommodations and safari properties for us. It was obvious that she took everything we told her during our planning stages and applied it to her trip framework, allowing us to get everything we were hoping for out of our trip to Africa, and MORE!
At every turn, we were met by thoughtful guides, prompt transportation, and the kind of first-class service that we've never experienced, and now can't seem to live without. In Cape Town and Johannesburg, we loved being linked up with private tour guides, both native to South Africa. The guides gave us extraordinary overviews of the history and culture of South Africa and personal accounts of the ongoing struggles present today (water crisis, political and racial issues, etc.) When an excursion issue arose on our trip to Victoria Falls, we seemingly exhausted all avenues dealing with the local groups and agents. All it took was one phone call to Tammy and we received a refund from the cancelled excursion and booked on another. That trip, swimming the Angel/Devil’s Pool in Zambia, was a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience.
But ultimately, the safaris were the pinnacle of our experience. The food, drinks and accommodations (oh, the accomodations!!!!) were all extraordinary. Our safari guides at both Sabi and Muchenji will be legends in our lives forever, as they both clearly took pleasure in showing every animal they could imagine, from the elusive leopards and cheetahs in Kruger, to herds and herds of zebras, elephants, and giraffes in Chobe. From surprise champagne night drives and walking safaris, to riverboat lunches on the hippo banks and a private romantic evening dinner (rose petals and private butler included!!!), we will genuinely remember forever as a highlight of our lives.
We have travelled to 6 continents and over 100 countries; this was the most spectacular service and experience we’ve ever had, period. Thank You Pembury!
US
Email Angie Dante | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well Thought Out Itinerary
Pembury Tours (thank you Kerry!) provided us a well thought out itinerary. From the time we landed in South Africa to when we left in Johanessburg - it was a smooth trip. The guides were knowledgeable. The accommodation picked up for us was great specially Nottens Bush Camp in Kruger. We didn't know what to expect on our first safari but it exceeded our expectation. Kerry was able to provide suggestions so we can fill in our days with activities without being hectic. The transfers were easy even if we have to go thru Passport control. Kerry was easy to work with and very prompt. She was patient answering our unending questions . I would highly recommend Pembury Tours to anyone.