Neil de Jonge | Safari Travel Expert
Jewel of Africa Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Tour Types:
- Custom luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $359 to $994 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Lenny and Marcel Vranken | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mpumalanga and Soweto Tour
Kobus De Jonge from "Jewel of Africa Safaris" took us on a private and spectacular Panoramic Tour of Mpumalanga while telling us all about the history of South Africa which is so intensely connected to this region. Back in Johannesburg he took us on an extensive and amazing tour of Soweto including the Hector Pieterse Memorial and Museum and Vilakazi street were Nelson Mandela and Rev. Desmond Tutu lived. We ended with a fine a meal in Soweto. We were struck by the warmth and the friendliness of the inhabitants of this country. Kobus' planning, guiding and safe driving was just perfect, he gave us a memorable trip.
NL
Email Eric Janssen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beautiful South-Africa
We went to South-Africa and we met Kobus de Jonge, he was our host. The journey we had was good organised. Perfect hotels with good food and enough beverages. It was never a problem to organize a trip. He told us a lot about the country, the animals and the culture. Every day with Kobus was a lot of laugh and humor. We will never forget this special holiday. The price that we paid for the holiday was it more than worth. Value for money. We saw a lot of South-Africa. From Joburg till Capetown, from Krugerpark till Addo and from Table mountain till Robben Island. Kobus thanks a lot for this special holiday
CH
Email Caroline | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An unforgettable tailor-made safari
My boyfriend and I are regular travelers to the southern part of Africa and this time we booked a «tailor-made » trip with Jewel of Africa Safaris. Even if we had many experiences in taking safaris tours, this one was really special, as we were on our own with Kobus, a native south African, with a lot of humor and passionate about his amazing country !
First the advice in organizing our trip was perfect and we made probably the most of our ten days, there. The places, he chose for us were great, charming, always adapted to our request and needs and the food was yummy. When we first arrived, we stayed in a comfortable hotel close to Pretoria, before heading to Panzi Bush Camp, a nice, charming and simple place in the bush, closer to Kruger Park. From there, we visited the neighborhood (blyde river canyon…) and also had an elephant-back tour that was a lot of fun.
We then spent a few nights in the really beautiful camp of Skukuza, in one of the best rondavel close to the river side. During the day, Kobus took us to “extensive” safaris, looking for wildlife, as I never can get enough of it! We’ve been lucky to see a lot, amongst them lions, hyenas, rhinos, elephants, hippos, pythons, loads of various birds and of course, warthogs, impalas, giraffes, zebras… Kobus was always ready to tell us a good story or answer any question about culture, fauna or anything else! One evening we took a special “sunrise tour” during which we spotted a python eating an impala… Woaw, that was something.
At last we spent a few days in a private bushcamp of the Timbavati reserve, Umlani. A very beautiful eco-camp very comfortable and again with passionate people, which made it really interesting! Following Kobus advice we booked a night in the tree house. A hut in the trees overhanging a waterhole… This was truly unforgettable!
Therefore, and for a lot more reason I did not take time to write down here, we are highly recommending Jewel of Africa Safaris for your next holidays to South Africa! It worth the money spent…
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Email Karen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Neil is awesome
With our group of volunteers, we had a great time with Neil (the tour operator). Every day there was a splendid breakfast, perfect to start the (early) morning! At first safari seemed boring, because we were very unlucky in finding the big 5, but Neil knows so much about nature, about birds and of course about the big five. I would even go back, just for his hippo imitation, so funny! I would definitely recommend Jewel of Africa Safaris to all of my friends!
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Email Philippe DeRaeve | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fun mixed with professionalism
I was with Jewel of Africa Safaris in november 2013. The weather was hot but rain was coming. It would turn out to be the experience of a lifetime!
Our guide was Neil. What a standup guy that was! He really knows his stuff and is all about professional behaviour but mixed with a nice sauce of fun and laughs! He is fun and game but when it matters (eg. approaching dangerous wildlife) he turns into a really serious and caring guide who will make you feel safe at all times.
Because I speak dutch, which is related to South African, we could really have a laugh and if you meet him ask about "vrouw aan die stuur, bloed aan die muur" ;).
We did a Kruger tour and saw all big 5 in one day! What a lucky streak that was.
The icing on the cake however was the news that Nelson Mandela had passed away. Neil specially drove us to Soweto where we attended the ceremonies of the local people and joined them in their grief. It was a really nice gesture of Neil which made the trip all the more special. It characterizes his nature and the lenghts that he will go to, to make your journey unforgettable.
If you want a mix of professional guides, with tons of laughs, Jewels of Africa will be IT for you!
Email Shaun Taylor | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professionalism at it's best!
I run a small, private safari business called Moriti Private Safaris and have worked with Jewel of Africa on a few occasions. Kobus and his team are awesome to work with and it is so refreshing to have people like this in the industry!
The tours they provide, not only are they value for money, but my guests as well as myself when I travel with them are treated like royalty! The accommodation used and the food provided is always great and Kobus and Neil's knowledge of, not only customer service, but animals and history is just phenomenal... I could really listen to them for hours, and I'm a guide!
I love working with these guys and would recommend them to anyone looking for a value for money safari that is well planned, tailor-made and a lot of fun
TH
Email Becky | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
The safari tour was amazing, good variety and incredible service. It was beyond my expectations!
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Email M. Boonen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Kruger Park
I had the chance to visit the Kruger National Park with Jewel of Africa and I will never forget!
I think I had the best tour guide I have ever had in my whole life ! In only one day, we had the chance to see 4 of the 5 members of the very prestigious club of the Big Five!
It was extraordinary!
NL
Email Caroline | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari in Kruger Park!
I had an amazing weekend in Kruger Park with Jewel of Africa Safaris! We had an amazing stay in a beautiful lodge, and also the tour was really nice. Neil was very experienced, and showed us all kinds of animals with lots of extra information. We even saw the big five in one day. It was really nice and it would recommend it to everyone. I think it was even the best part of my 3 week trip to South Africa:-).
Planes, Trains & Automobile Chicks Tour of South Africa
Kobus and I met on a Safari many years ago and he just made me laugh. A couple of years later I asked him to help me organise a 2-week tour of South Africa. Wow, what a blast we managed a lot from driving through Swaziland to the grand finale a trip on the Blue Train from Cape Town to Pretoria. Kobus and team were fantastic they organised everything including car and train hire, all accommodations, etc. The best part was all the trips that he had organised for along the way. Kobus has a great love and understanding of his country and the surrounding countries and with his wicked sense of humour, I was in tears of laughter every time we had a catch-up meeting. I look forward to my next trip with Kobus and Jewel of Africa Safaris because they are the jewel of Africa.