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
SG
Email Sue | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful holiday and stress free experience above all expectations
We rarely use travel agents as I usually research and make the bookings. While researching safari at Lalibela it was suggested I spoke to Penbury so sent an enquiry. I received an almost immediate reply that a travel consultant would contact us directly. Gail contacted us, working to develop a customised itinerary and arranged car hire, accomodation and safari bookings. We loved our trip to Lalibela. It was amazing and our guide was knowledgable and friendly. The game viewing was excellent and we couldn’t believe how close we got to the animals. Our safari definitely made our trip a memorable one! The directions and timings provided to get from one location to another made it easy for us.
Accommodation throughout was of an excellent standard.
We had contacted some other operators for similar quotes, but Gail's level of service was vastly superior to the others, so we went with Pembury and was very happy with their service all the way through. Gail was very knowledgable and happy to answer any questions we had during the planning process.
The level of detail included in the planning is exceptional, which resulted in the entire tour taking place without a hitch. Gail provided a detailed itinerary by email and we were met at the airport and taken to collect our car with a full travel package which incudes vouchers for the car hire, safari, hotel and pre-booked attractions.
Pembury encourage feedback to improve their level of service to future customers.
I would definitely use Pembury to book our next trip to Africa.
CA
Email Véronique | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Impressed beyond belief- by our agent Kerry and our customised tour!
For 8 months I was in regular contact with Kerry at Pembury Tours. I was looking at booking a trip to South Africa and to Victoria Falls. She was always very punctual in responding to my emails and answering every question. Her communication skills are great! Kerry asked me some great questions to make sure we were getting our trip of a lifetime. In fact, I told her about my passion for elephants and she recommended an orphanage we could visit, which was excellent. Kerry was always professional and shared my enthusiasm for this holiday throughout the months. I was impressed beyond belief at her attention to detail. She never missed a beat and took the stress out of our holiday. She organised all our transfers in Cape Town, to our private reserve in Sabi Sands and then again in Zambia. Everyone we met representing Pembury Tours along the way was wonderful. We were given a full itinerary upon arrival which included great information about all our stops along the way. Kerry even notified us about the low water level at Victoria Falls in Zambia before leaving for our holiday and this allowed us to be prepared to get the necessary visa to visit the Falls in Zimbabwe. She really thinks of everything! I would recommend Pembury Tours to anyone looking to have a stress free holiday that meets all their expectations. I have no doubt my husband and I will be doing another safari in the future and we will be sure to contact Kerry and tell all our friends about her and the wonderful company she works for. You are doing something right! Thank you for this amazing trip.
Kruger / Cape Town / Hermanus
Second time using Pembury Tours and Susan Pattison-Wait for our travel through SA. Very professional in our dealings and Susan's personal touch and suggestions was much appreciated. The agenda / recommendations and process all met and in many cases exceeded expectations. Would not hesitate to work with Susan again and have recommended friends to as well.
Very helpful and efficient in organising our itinerary.
Communications and service both excellent. The safari tour was at Lalibela, we had been before so it was as good as always.
Email Trisha | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic, customised trip of great value
We had a fantastic trip to Southern Africa and Kerry made it a seamless experience. Everything was well-planned and I liked the ability to customise the trip but was always given top notch options. Kerry responded quickly and did a great job with the overall itinerary and timing. We will definitely go through her for our next trip to Souther n Africa.
US
Email Matt | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Service that went above and beyond.
All I can say up front is WOW!!!
Our Booking Specialist (and there is no other word for her) Kerry was on top of everything, even with 8,000 miles between my house in California and South Africa. Emails were responded to with 24 hrs almost all the time (I thinks 3 days was the longest and that was only once). Every question was answered, every detail planned out.
Because this company is located in South Africa, they have the local knowledge lacking of a safari company based state-side.
Below is the trip report I sent to Kerry at the end of our trip. Note: She responded the next day.
I'll break it down by area:
Zambia - This was the one place we wished we had more time had the airline schedules allowed. The one suggestion we would have was to have the canoe trip later in the afternoon. It took 5 hours to do the walking safari and we had no time for lunch, so the canoe trip felt like a route march.
Other than that, the hotel was fantastic in every way. Seeing Victoria Falls from both sides was great. The sunset cruise was magical.
Simbavarti - One word sums this place up - perfect. The size was right on the mark. Our guide, Mike, was incredible. We met some South Africans from South of Jo'burg and became fast friends. I don't know how people can only stay 3 days. We could have stayed more and still have been wowed. The river location allowed us to see so much. The staff there cannot do enough for you. We were able to do a drive the day we left. How that place is not a 4 star property I don't know. It was hard to leave.
Also, you staff on the Emergency line helped get vouchers to us when we thought we lost them in Cape Town.
Cape Town - David, our guide, was great; very knowledgeable. Had a minor mix up at the airport, but easily sorted. The Lawhill Apartments were great. Just as you said, easy walking to everywhere. How we got so lucky with the weather we won't know. The first day not a cloud touched Table Mountain all day and we had a great view from the top. The city tour was brief, but educational, then off to Robben Island. We even whale watched on the way back.
David had great recommendations for dinner every night.
The wine tour was great. 6 bottles of South Africa's best are heading back to California. I'm going to look for South African wines more when I get home. Our tour of the Cape was probably the highlight of Cape Town. From the cape to the penguins to a sunset dinner at Couts Bay, we didn't want it to end.
But it has, and after doing some last minute shopping we're heading home.
Thank you so much for putting this together.
US
Email Elise | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highest level of service and expertise - so good!
About 8 months out from my intended trip date, I started reaching out to tour operators/travel agents to help plan my South Africa/Zimbabwe 2-week vacation. I had requested quotes/suggested itineraries from several different ones, and none of them seemed to "get it", until Gail from Pembury responded (in record time!).
What I so appreciated about working with Gail was her ability to listen to what we were looking for in a trip and pull it all together, within a more-than-reasonable price tag. I believe Gail booked us rates better than rack rates available to the general public. I also think Pembury being local in SA helps.
Some standouts points of service:
1. Gail's suggestions. For our safari, we stayed at Motswari Lodge in Timbavati. If you aren't sure where/what game reserve to visit, check out Motswari. It is the only one I want to go to for now on.
2. Responsiveness. One hotel booked (for just a single night on the way to the airport) did not live up to our expectations and we had some service issues at the hotel. I emailed and called Gail quite frantic, after work hours, and she responded extremely quickly and had squared the issues away with the hotel. And, in the months leading up to our trip, I received responses back in hours - even when the time difference meant it was very late or early in SA.
3. Price. As I said before, I can't believe how cheap our entire trip was, with domestic airfare, hotels, and airport transfers included.
If you're looking for someone to plan your trip, look no further. I know I'll be emailing Pembury again soon for another visit!
Email Andrew Morley | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastically Well Organised Trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Tammy,
I hope you are well and enjoying Summer.....its wet, cold and England here!?!?!
I have been out of action since our return, following a small Nose Op. But am back up and running now. (as is the nose!?!?!?!)
So, at long last, I have managed to get to the computer to say a Big Thank You for organising our trip to South Africa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helen and I enjoyed our adventure enormously despite the late arrival of the SA Summer and various days of petulant weather....hey we are British so used to the odd bit of rain....usually here in Britain though, not Durban and Stellenbosch, where we had some torrential storms!!
Sadly the Cage Diving was a victim of the weather, so I guess I will have to return again to sort that one!! The rest of MY diving was fab and I had an Amazing Encounter with a “lady” at Aliwal Shoal......she was a real Tiger!! (see the video about 2 & 1/2 minutes in:- watch-v=X1rzLd4Sh7M ctr & click). Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We found the information pack and all the details Most useful or rather essential and it really helped. The Guy who met us was most helpful too.
Our accommodation was all absolutely lovely and spot on!
Lalibela was fab and we had many great sightings, probably the most spectacular being a virtually complete Lion hunt and very nearly a successful Kill too....all in one go....I think “Mr Attenborough” would have been jealous!!!!
Once again thanks for your help and we look forward to a return visit maybe sometime sooner than another 25 years!!
Kind regards
Andrew & Helen (Morley)
HK
Email BAP | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
South Africa .... experience of a lifetime.
I loved my 14 days in South Africa. All transfers were smooth and well planned. The lodging was excellent and Kerry made sure that I was totally taken care of. I stayed at lovely lodging that was not only aesthetically inviting, but the people were stellar. The safari was better than my imagination. I stayed at Notten's Bush Camp and would go there again and again. Besides the camp being beautiful, the people and food were outstanding. I saw all of the "Big 5" more than once and the drives were great. With some very minor changes, I would do this trip again and recommend it to everyone! Thank you Kerry for such a lovely experience.
US
Email Edgar Family | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime - Thank you, Susan!
From our first communication with Susan we knew that we found the right place! I started planning this trip 18 months before we went and with every change we made (including a slide of the dates) Susan worked to find us our best options in Cape Town and for safari. The next time we travel to Africa we will certainly be contacting Susan again!