Team Wild Planet Safari
Wild Planet Safari
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- SATSA & FGASA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $410 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
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
8 nights in Kruger
This company was recommended to us by people who had been on over a dozen safaris. They said this was the best they had been on, so our expectations were high. Our expectations were in fact exceeded! Ryan and Thale are wonderful hosts, guides and now friends. It is an overused expression, but I can honestly say this was a holiday of a lifetime. Recommended.
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great 11-days Kruger safari tour!
Very well organized Kruger safari tour! We've had loads of game drives in different areas of the park, seeing a lot of different animals including the big 5. The very nice guide showed and explained to us all the things to be seen in Kruger national park, and at night we sat by the fire enjoying barbecue while listening to stories about the land and the park. The camping equipment is very nice and generous, and bungalow accomodation can be arranged individually.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
a perfect customized trip in a friendly ambience
Thales and Ryan proposed a safari tour which responded perfectly to my expectations. Everything was well organised although my request was at very short notice and with little flexibility from my side. They are very well organised, with new and safe material which made me feel relax. I appreciated their good knowledge of wildlife and birds of South Africa. Without them I would'nt have been able to discover all what I saw and it was a pleasure to travel with them. I warmly recommend!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely amazing, unbelievable experience!
Right from the beginning Thale and Ryan were always available to talk to and answer any question I had.
After we had booked our safari, I had let them know that I would be spending a night in Johannesburg by myself (my husband was meeting me 2 weeks later for our safari). Ryan graciously offered to pick me up from the airport and let me stay at his place and then take me back to the airport the next morning to catch my flight. This was absolutely above and beyond! So unbelievably generous and kind.
The actual safari itself was even better than my husband or I could have imagined. Ryan knew exactly where to take us to see the animals we wanted to see and even once we spotted them he knew the right spot to stop to get the good picture! The food was amazing, real home cooked meals on safari, which is much more than we were expecting (we expecting camping food). He even had some new meat for us to try (like ostrich and wild boar).
The whole experience was absolutely amazing and we would 110% book with Wild Planet Safari again and again!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
South Africa #SpringBreak
On a whim we decided to take a Spring Break. With less than 4 weeks to plan a group of 4 of us got on a flight to Johannesburg not knowing what exactly to expect when we landed. We couldn't have been more thrilled with our experience with Wild Planet Safari and our guide Ryan. Ryan picked us up right at the airport, drove us to Kruger Park while allowing us multiple stops along the drive to enjoy the country side. We did a 2 night 3 day Safari in Kruger. Over the course of 3 days Ryan enlightened us with so much information that we couldn't believe it. From how to track the animals to information about how they feed or interact with other animals Ryan knew it all. He was also extremely calm in all situations. For example one morning we had an elephant trying to charge the car. Ryan knew exactly what to do to keep us out of harms way. In just 3 days we saw 4 of the big 5! In addition to Ryan's knowledge of Kruger he is also quite the chef. He helped prepare three amazing meals a day even bringing veggies hand picked from his own garden. We got on a plane not knowing what to expect and we walked away with unforgettable memories.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything We'd Hoped For
We are so glad that we booked with Wild Planet Safari. First, my communications with Ryan and Thale over email were so quick and easy, that we got everything lined up in no time. Then the excursion itself was just perfect. Ryan was EXTREMELY friendly and knowledgeable - I know because I asked him a thousand questions! He was also great at showing us around Kruger - knowing the spots to see the most animal, readings traffic patterns to find more, and trying very hard to fill our every desire. And our general interactions with Ryan were great, as we talked about South African sports, culture, social issues. Ryan was a great guide not only for Kruger, but South Africa in general. I truly hope we can book another safari with Wild Planet, be it in Kruger, or wherever they schedule tours!
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Basic safari billed as luxury, disappointing
Ryan is knowledgable and enthusiastic but customer service is not his strong point, it felt almost like we were following him around on his safari. Despite being billed as a luxury safari the food and accomodation were basic at best. For some reason he asked us in advance for our preferences for food, wines and spirits but then completely ignored what we had asked for. He only supplied one bottle of cheap wine which he shared with us so I ended up buying him more drinks than he provided. I would happily have paid more for the luxury touches I had specifically asked him for but he seemed not to have read my emails - he initially turned up at the wrong airport terminal.
Reply from Wild Planet Safari
Posted on Jun 9, 2015Hi Carl
I am really sorry to read of your disappointment on tour with us in April. However I would like to remind you that I was in correspondence with you throughout the booking of your tour and I explained very clearly about every aspect of the tour including accommodation. I have copied and pasted an email which you replied to before your booking in which I provide photos and video of your accommodation, I also very clearly explain that it is Not luxury accommodation. It is clear on our booking form, safari bookings and our website that alcohol is not included in the price. I ask you what drinks you prefer in case it is not available in the park and to provide you with a complimentary drink for the first night. I replied each and everyone of your emails and I know you had asked for `luxury touches` however as I explained April is one of the busiest months in the park and when you had done your booking in February the availability was limited. I did book you into a semi luxury bungalow in Kruger for your first night. I believe I put full effort into your tour and spent as much time with you as possible. I was there to meet you at the airport before you arrived. I am sorry you did not enjoy my cooking and I will try harder to improve this and my service in the future.
Regards
Ryan
Below is an email where accommodation is explained.
On 3 February 2015 at 10:18, <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Carl
I completely understand the importance of making certain everything is perfect for you trip.
All of our tours are run as private tours. So it will only be the 2 of you on tour. I will be your guide, as I run each Wild Planet Tour personally to ensure it is perfect for you. My wife is on maternity leave so she will be unable to join. I use a 9 seat minibus. with custom designed windows.
On the tour you will go on one night drive in an open safari vehicle, this will not be private will have other guests and is run by a Kruger guide.
The accommodation inside Kruger is standard throughout the park, it is very simple 2 or 3 star, the park claims it is 3 I would say that it is 2 star. There are 2 single beds, no double bed option, the unit has air-conditioning, there is a shower,toilet and wash basin. It has a small patio which is usually closed to keep the monkey`s out, there is also a small fridge. I will attach some photo`s for you to see. We would stay at 2 different camps inside Kruger, one for one night and the other for 2. The exact camp I book will depend on availability once I have received your deposit. Usually we stay at Skukuza the main park camp for the first night and then Satara for 2 nights.
below is a link to a video inside one of the rooms.
http://bit.ly/1HuTOqP
Attached are photos of the accommodation, there are no upgrades it is standard. If you want to book luxury accommodation the only options are private reserves outside of Kruger.
April is a busy month in the park, if this tour does suit you we should move to book accommodation asap.
For cheaper flights to Victoria falls check flyafrica.com. I think they have daily flights.
Regards
Ryan
Experience level: first safari
10 Night Kruger Safari - North to South
We are a couple & went on the 10 night Kruger Safari with Ryan in May, which was the first part of our honeymoon. Starting from the North - Punda Maria and finishing up in the South - Berg an Dal. Firstly Ryan's passion and knowledge of the park and animals are amazing. There wasn't a question he couldn't answer and needless to say we learned a great deal about all the animals, the park and South Africa. We saw lots of animals including the big 5 and it was really nice to travel from North to South - a great journey that felt like an odyssey.
We booked with Wild Planet late last year, and most of the communication was with Thale - the other half of Wild Planet. She was friendly and very helpful with all questions we had and we had built a great rapport with her. Unfortunately though she wasn't able to be on the tour as they are expecting in August, which left a tour that would normally be run by the both of them to just Ryan. Don't get us wrong, it was a great tour overall and we had a good time but it seemed a lot for one person to run on their own. From managing game drives, daily camp preparation and cooking every meal, Ryan seemed a bit overworked on one or two occasions. We would recommend Wild Planet to anyone, but feel it's a two person operation. Had Thale or a second helper been there as well the trip would have met the expectations we had when we booked it.
SE
Email Johan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An extraordinary adventure, take us back!
Me and my wife Emma did a 15 day eastern circle tour in August with guide Ryan.
A word that runs like a thread through the entire trip is "exciting". All the way from Johannesburg through Kruger and back again. We thought it would be a transport route to the Kruger Park but Ryan is very well-read and tell stories about his own experiences, Rugby, landscape to South Africa's history all the way to Kruger. The trip would take 7 hours but it felt like 2 :-)
We never thought we 'd get so close to wild animals and untouched nature as we did when we booked this trip, Kruger is amazing! And what Ryan does not know about animals and nature is not worth knowing , he also tells us in a way that is easy to set.
The highlight of the trip was day 6 just outside the Satara camp . In one day we saw a herd of Wild Dogs , one leopard and two rhinos!
The food also exceeded our expectations , Ryan cooked everything from scratch and almost always over an open fire. So cozy!
We would warmly recommend others to book with Wild Planet Safari!
Have a nice trip! / Johan and Emma.
SE
Email Fredrik Tiverman | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wild safari
This was the second time I was on a safari with Wild Planet Safari and its guide Ryan but the first for my wife. We were on a 6 nights/7 days tour in Kruger Like last time we had a really adventurous time, we saw all the big 5 and a lot of other cool animals such as cheetah, wild dogs, large spotted genet, hyena and honey badger!
Ryan knows his way around Kruger and where to find all the animals you want to see!
All the meals we were served during our tour was excellent, he is a real braai-master!
Thanks to Ryan and Thale for this experience, it was awesome! We will be back, that's for sure!!!