The Wild Wings team - Loving Every Moment!
Wild Wings Safaris
- Offices In:
-
United Kingdom
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2005)
- Member Of:
- SATSA & ABTA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $232 to $1,988 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Jeanie - The Dog Lady | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wild Wings Safaris - Never ceases to amaze me
Being my Fifth booking through Wild Wings Safaris , I already knew that my adventure would be one to remember. Once again , Dianne from Wild Wings organised Everything , from internal flights,accomodation,transfers and everything in between. This time I opted for a 4 day stay in Balule with everything included ,including game drives and meals , from there I spent 4 days in the Kruger National Park on a spectacular Wild Wings Safari. Simon our guide was amazing , full of knowledge , a wonderful cook , great sense of humour ,he really knows how to make your stay a memorable one.The game viewing was incredible , Simon always doing his best to please everybody.
Dianne also organised my following few days in zimbabwe , spending time in Hwange NP and Mana Pools NP. I was totally blown away by my whole trip , Dianne , Simon and Wild wings Safaris never cease to amaze me , always living up to, and beyond, my expectations. Thankyou so much for once again giving me so many wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Your The Best.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a lifetime experience, saw the big 5, twice, Simon was an outstanding guide.
From the time I enquired Clare was efficient and booked our safari as we wanted, we did the Panaroma route wanting to see the countryside. We were picked up in Jo-Burg by Gap Transfers on time and driven through to Laughing Waters Guest Lodge which Clare had booked, it was a great overnight stay with Carole and Gavin making us feel the most important guests with delicious meals. Next morning we were collected by Simon who took us to Kruger for our first leg of our 3 day 2 night safari. As we are seniors Simon was patient and understanding of our requirements. He gave us the best opportunity to take the very best photos moving the truck around to get the best shots. We saw the Big 5 and after our safari we returned to beautiful meals prepared by Simon. After our 3 days we were off Elephant Plains Lodge, where we were greeted with a glass of champagne and taken to our luxury room overlooking beautiful grounds with animals grazing. This lodge also provided 3 meals daily with 2 game drives, the setting and staff were most friendly and efficient. We could not speak more highly of Wild Wings Safaris, they met all our needs and it will be a holiday to remember, we highly recommend this company to anyone wanting to see wild animals in their natural habitat.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wild Wings Safari Are Simply The Best In Business
Just returned from a big trip from Africa. We found Wild Wings Safari on the tripadviser. From the first contact we had with Madi about a year ago, Wild Wings' approach is the best level of personal and friendly service, meticulous attention to detail, and thorough preparation and follow-up. Me and my daughter had 25 days of travel, 5 days in Namibia, more than a week in Botswana, 3 days in Vistoria Falls and then rest of the trip in Kruger and Cape Town, Madi in Wild Wings planned everything and all was done with complete honesty and integrity. Such a company is truly a rare find these days!
We never expected our trip so smoothly &successfully, considering about so many places, so many transfers through land and air, expecially air, we could not do it without Madi's countless hours helping us create that perfect 25 day Safari that suited all our needs. We just really enjoyed our great trip and we even more appreciate Madi's hard work.
We will definitely use Wild Wings again for our future Africa trips!!!
CA
Email Amy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A dream come true!
We just returned from the most incredible trip to South Africa, thanks to Wild Wings Safaris. From first contact with our consultant, Madi, to our departure after 2.5 weeks in the beautiful country, everything was fantastic. Our trip included a couple of day tours near Johannesburg, 9 days in the Greater Kruger Area, and 5 days in Cape Town. I emailed back and forth with Madi for a year, and she helped me plan the perfect trip based on our budget, style, and needs. This was our first time travelling overseas, so we had many questions and concerns and Madi answered them all. The main focus of the trip was to fulfill my Dad's lifelong dream of going on safari, but we did and saw so much more.
Everything went so smoothly. All of the service we experienced was absolutely fantastic, everything exceeded our expectations. All of our accommodations were great, the food and the service outstanding. We would go back to any and all of them!
Of course I must mention our time in Kruger with Simon (co-owner of Wild Wings, and guide extraordinaire), what a character! We had such fun with him, and were so impressed with his knowledge of all things wild. We saw so much wildlife, and it was so great how we were able to learn so much about birds. We saw all of the big 5, and more, including leopards and cheetahs. He must be one of the best guides in the park! The food was also great - he was so well prepared and we enjoyed all of it. A huge huge thanks to shoeless Simon! We really got a kick out of him.
I highly recommend a safari trip to South Africa; the people are friendly, the scenery is stunning, and the wildlife is abundant and amazing. The service and advice we received from Wild Wings made this trip outstanding and truly worry-free. I can't say enough about this company. I will be using them again in the future, and recommending them to friends. Thank you, Wild Wings, our trip was truly a dream come true!
Email AdeleO | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing experience
Wild wings are exceptional. Communication with Gavin during the booking stage was excellent with prompt replies to any questions. The safari itself was beyond our expectations. Simon was our guide and it was a privilege to share his passion and knowledge of wildlife. He was no ordinary guide and went the extra miles and hours to ensure we had as many sightings as possible. Our feet literally didn't touch the ground as if Simon had news of a sighting we were on our way - siesta or no siesta - we weren't there to sleep! Simon is also a great cook and entertaining company. When looking for a safari company we think we found a jewel in wildwings and highly recommend them.
US
Email Robert Mason | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Exceptional Introduction To The African Continent
I had an absolutely fantastic time with Simon and my tour group both at Kruger National Park as well as en route. The service Simon and Wild Wings Safaris provides is exceptional. Thanks to Madi for recommending and acquiring great pre and post safari accommodation at Premier Hotel. Road transfers to and from Kruger were very comfortable and picturesque. Accommodation in Kruger National Park was also comfortable and very sufficient for our needs. The meals prepared by Simon were more than sufficient and of very good quality. It was a delight to be treated to something as exotic to my palate as ostrich! Simon and Robert are both exceptional guides whose knowledge of the park and the species indigenous therein are second to none. My (first) game viewing experience could not have been better! My main hope for the safari was to see the rhinoceros and I was treated to a rhino sighting almost daily including both white, and the more rare black, rhino. Simon informed me and my travel companions that we were very fortunate to see African wild dogs on only our second day of safari as they are very rare to see, especially in packs as large as that which we saw. Regretfully, the only animal we did not see this time around was the elusive cheetah. So, it looks like I will have to (gladly) return for another game viewing experience in the future.
US
Email Sandy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable first time safari experience with Wild Wings
We were referred to Wild Wings by a friend who went on safari with Simon three years ago and raved about her experience. From the first contact, we were thoroughly impressed by the efficiency with which everything was handled. Clare organized a 5 day Kruger Combo Safari for 3 (myself, husband, and 20 year old daughter). Clare prepared a detailed itinerary based on our time frame and budget. She cheerfully answered my multitude of questions! She also arranged for our hotel in J'burg the night before. Clare gives such personalized service, you feel as if you are her only client.
We stayed 2 nights each in two different areas --Kruger National Park (Skukusa Rest Camp) and Sabi Sand (Elephant Plains Game Lodge). At KNP, the bungalows are basic, but still comfortable. Frank was our guide/ranger, chef, and above-all, a wonderfully entertaining story teller. We learned so much about the flora and fauna, on and off the game drives. There were 5 in our group, and each day Frank made breakfasts and dinners --all at the "campsite." He made sure to prepare vegetarian meals for our daughter. Then after dinner, entertained us with "tales of the bush."
In Kruger, you can't go off road to track animals so we depended on Frank's experience and keen eye. We saw elephants, giraffes, impalas, hippos, wildebeests, warthogs, to name a few. The highlight was the black rhino who came menacingly close to our jeep and looked like he was going to charge! A rare sight indeed.
We then spent two nights at Elephant Plains Game Lodge. The lodge is small, but "luxurious." The meals were plentiful and good, and again, they did their best to accommodate someone who doesn't eat meat! We were able to go off road at the private reserve, and our first morning out, saw the big five! We witnessed lions eating a kill, and "tracked" a leopard carrying his kill into a tree. Without our ranger, Louis, and tracker, Thomas, we would never have seen any of the highlights that made our trip so memorable.
Wild Wings did a fantastic job of organizing the tour: from the transport to the accommodations to the wonderful passionate people they have in their service. If we are fortunate enough to go back, we would definitely choose Wild Wings again.
Email Millie & Chris Jones | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent planning; friendly, knowledgeable staff; experience AND enthusiasm - safari of a lifetime!
Wild Wings Safaris exceeded all our expectations. Our first contact was with Clare who listened to our ideas before creating a customised package for us that reflected our interests and matched our budget. Having never visited South Africa before, we had plenty of questions and queries, all of which were dealt with promptly and helpfully. The safari itself was an incredible experience and far beyond what we had anticipated. From the small details, like checking in to each camp for us and escorting us to pick up points for other activities, to making sure each day was packed with amazing sightings, Simon was the perfect guide (not to mention an excellent and accommodating chef!). His vast experience was only matched by the genuine enthusiasm he showed for the inhabitants of Kruger National Park. Thanks to Simon, we had frequent and close encounters with The Big Five and much more, such as wild dogs, hyenas, honey badgers and nearly 150 different birds over a five day winter trip. Wild Wings Safaris provided us with memories that will last a life time, and we recommend them to all without hesitation.
CH
Email Elise | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Experience - Top Organization
It was perfectly organized. All information was shared in advance and the support from the team in the office was perfect. They answered all questions and offered easy & fast solution to any problem.
Simon (the guide) was extremely nice with interesting stories to share and great knowledge of the wildlife. He was always on time, well organized and reliable. In addition, Simon was a great cook!! We really enjoyed our breakfast and diners ;-)
Last but not least: we saw the most amazing animals!!! For a 3 days safaris during a heat wave (37°C: animals tend to hide in such circumstances), it was really a gift to be able to see that much. Some people will say it is luck, but I think is also relates to the guide. He knew his stuff ;-)
Thanks you Simon and Wild Wings Safaris team! We really enjoyed ourselves!!
Elise & Jean-Baptiste
US
Email Donna P | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Choose ANY other company!
The guide Simon is a tourist who moved to South Africa to do tours and it shows in his arrogant, opinionated, disrespect of the South African people (he made fun of the way they talk), disrespect of the animals (he was gleeful at the thought of witnessing a kill in stark contrast to how the local guides respectfully handled the same situation and he even defended poaching saying "poachers are just people trying to feed their families") and his disrespectful comments about americans which he repeatedly made. Kruger National Park was amazing, the South African people were wonderful-- do the tour, just do it with ANY company but this one!
Reply from Wild Wings Safaris
Posted on Apr 5, 2016Hi Donna,
I take great pride in my job and in offering people the best safari experience possible. I am, therefore, greatly disappointed that you feel your safari didn’t live up to that standard. I am also sorry for the way that you feel about me as a person. I am passionate and enthusiastic about the Kruger and its wildlife. This shows up in the fact that I get excited about the animals and their behaviour. I always try and get close to the action and position the vehicle in the best possible way for the guests to see and photograph. If that is considered gleeful, then I’m guilty as charged. Most guests realise that this puts me in stark contrast to other guides, for whom guiding is merely a job. For me, this is my life, and I love seeing animals live and act in their natural environment, and showcasing that to the guests who come on my safaris.
Conversation around the dinner table often turns to relevant issues such as wildlife management, conservation, poaching, hunting and culling. I never condoned poaching and never will. It’s one of the more serious issues that we are currently struggling with. Perhaps you didn’t quite understand the context of my poaching statement. I mentioned that poachers are often killed in Kruger, to which you responded: ”Great, I hope they shoot more.” I continued saying that shooting poachers is not the real solution, many are merely doing it to feed their families. The fight of rhino poaching is much bigger than merely eradicating poachers. I’m not quite sure how you interpret this as me defending or condoning poaching.
I’m baffled by the fact that you think I’m a “tourist” when I have in fact been born and raised in South Africa and have lived my whole life here. I am also not quite sure what you are suggesting by saying that me being a “tourist” shows in me supposedly being arrogant, opinionated and disrespectful. What does that say about other tourists?
With regards to making fun of people, I do like to look at the lighter side of life. Most people refer to it as having a sense of humour. I guess it takes two people with a sense of humour for a joke to work. I can’t quite recall where I made fun of the way South Africans talk. After all, I am South African and I talk like them. I might talk funny, but I’ve learned to live with it. I have had many Americans on safari before, and most of them don’t take the things I say so literally or personally. I’ve made the same jokes before without anyone ever getting offended.
In the end, I still tried to make the safari a success, as far as possible. I went out of my way to cater to your vegetarian and gluten free requirements (unfortunately I was not told in advance that your husband also does not eat other things like onions or garlic). It appears my best efforts were perhaps not enough, or not appreciated by you.
We were lucky to have many great sightings including various predators such as lion (even the rare white lion), leopard, cheetah, wild dogs, etc. By sightings alone you were very fortunate, but it is a pity that normal and natural predator behaviour was disturbing to you. I also purposefully did not go to sightings that I knew would get you upset, like the lions feeding on a buffalo kill. For the sake of the other guests, I also tried to keep things light-hearted. I believe I had some success in giving them a great experience, despite the tension caused by your obvious displeasure, as can been seen in their review of the same safari (by Mary, dated 4 April 2016).
I leave you with the same words I said when I dropped you off, “I know this safari might not have been the best experience for you, but at least I hope that you can take some good memories home with you.” I always think one should hold on to the positives, rather than the negatives.
Personally, however, I do not think going with any other company would have made the experience any less miserable for you.
All the best for your future.
Regards,
Simon Vegter
Wild Wings Safaris