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
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Email JocelynH | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a lifetime!!!
I cannot rave about our safari with Wild Planet enough. Ryan and Thale were absolutely phenomenal. They were extremely knowlegeable and they did an excellent job locating and tracking the animals, and they were able to answer any question we had about each. Additionally, they were really friendly, laid back and flexible and made the entire experience very enjoyable. We were a little hesitant about wiring money to pay for the safari ahead of time, but it was a totally seamless process. We really could not have asked for a better safari experience from beginning to end. Go with wild planet, you will not regret it.
Email Andy and Angela, Southend, England. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Two week round trip from joburg up to Limpopo, through Kruger, Durban, zululand, draakensburg,return
Undoubtably the most memorable two week journey we've experienced. Cute loved up guides, Ryan knows his subject, Thale great bush cook. Personally tailored service from guys who love the job, plenty communication prior to setting out. Mostly camping ( cos that's what we asked for) with a few nights in cosy accommodation. Dawn to dusk game drives, plenty game, astounding scenery. God's own country. Particularly enjoyed arriving and leaving at the home of Ryan's folks who made us feel like we'd known them for years. Loved the whole experience and would do it again tomorrow.
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50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An extremely satisfying safari
We found Wild Planet Safari on the internet, but got really interested when we read the reviews here on safaribookings.com. They sounded too good to be true. Should we dare take a chance on this? We did, and we were more than totally satisfied with the entire experience.
As we thought about it, we began to realize that a 3-4 day tour of Kruger Park was not going to be nearly enough, especially considering the cost of flying to South Africa; a long-enough tour was needed to make it worth the cost. Ten-day tours sounded interesting, and when we contacted Ryan and Thale about it, we worked together to custom-design a 13-day private tour for the two of us.
We can’t say enough about how easy Ryan and Thale were to work with. They helped us figure out what we were wanting in a safari experience, and then they designed the trip around that. Whenever we had questions, they were ready with straightforward answers that were proactive, answering our follow-up questions without us having to ask. They were always a step ahead of us in working everything out. They thoughtfully accommodated all of the special situations that accompanied us, and went out of their way to make everything work out just perfectly.
The safari itself was a dream come true. We had been planning to do something like this for many years, so we had plenty of imaginative ideas about how great a safari should be, but our experiences with Ryan and Thale far exceeded them all. Every detail of the safari was perfectly planned. Ryan and Thale work together extremely well and make everything happen just like it should. Our days were organized as efficiently as possible, to maximize the amount of time we could spend on game drives. It’s hard to imagine a bush guide that could be more knowledgeable than Ryan. He’s got an incredible knack for finding animals. He knows how they think and behave, and his explanations are both amazing and easy to understand. He understands how the “bush” works; how all of the plants, trees, insects, and animals are interrelated. We were spell-bound by everything he had to tell us. There was nothing we could ask him that he couldn’t explain to us perfectly well. You’d expect that the Kruger Park guides would be even more amazing, but that’s not the case; Ryan out-shined them all.
The accommodations were great. We spent some evenings in tents, one night in a bird hide, and some evenings in bungalows. The food was terrific. Thale’s cooking expertise really showed in the evening meals. Everything was cooked over an open fire, and we enjoyed long conversations over delicious suppers. Even though they were the tour operators and we were the guests, most of the time it just felt like we were camping together as friends.
Beyond the safari, Ryan and Thale helped us plan the extra time we had available in Johannesburg. They arranged for some extra tours, accompanied us at meals, and even had us to their own home for meals and to meet their family and friends.
If we ever go back to South Africa, it’s a slam dunk that we’ll be signing up for another tour with Ryan and Thale.
Email Noelene Cole | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An awesome, informative,wonderful experience. Best holiday ever.
Planning of the trip was excellent. Our expectations were more than met. The knowledge of wildlife, fauna and birds from Ryan is exceptional and we learnt and experienced so much.
Highly recommended tour operator and guide. Every detail was taken care of.
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Email Jim | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
One more off our bucket list and would do it again
The park is wonderful and we saw lots of every kind of animal there was except a leopard. (we think we saw 2 cubs at quite a distance away but not totally convinced it was leopards). The best part of our 4 days had to be the guide Mr Ker and Chef Mr Hope. They did everything they could to make this Safari memorable, comfortable (there was an unusual cold snap but blankets and rain gear were made available). The food that Hope made using outdoor grill was excellent and with myself being a vegetarian, I was impressed. The huts we stayed in were basic but comfortable with 2 bed, AC and a private bathroom/shower. I think there was good value for the cost ($1755 CDN each for 4 days). The only thing that could have been better was the initial transfer from Johannesburg. We were late getting to pickup spot at the airport because our prearranged pickup from our Airbnb was not give clear instructions as to where to meet the transfer van for Kruger. It worked out in the end as they waited for us. We real enjoyed this experience and would do it all again in a heartbeat.
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Email Laura | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding Safari Experience
I had been dreaming of an African safari for years, so when the opportunity arose, I had to jump on it. I have to say our guides, Chris and Goodwill, gave me the experience of a lifetime! They were extremely knowledgeable about all of the animals we came across, spouting out random facts throughout the game drives. We saw an abundance of animals throughout the 8 day safari. I still can't believe how Chris managed to spot our first leopard. These guys really do have hawk eyes!
Mealtimes were wonderful, taking into account our meal preferences and providing us with very well prepared dishes. The wine in the evenings was much appreciated. And I think I can speak for everyone in my group that the comradery provided during our meals was wonderful!
I highly recommend Wild Planet Safari for your Kruger National Park adventures.
Email Gary | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant
First class, fantastic value for money, great service
Email Joelle | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wild Planet Safari delivered a once in a lifetime experience
I opted for a private safari for the 3 of us. After some fumbling on my part with dates and pick up points, Wild Planet Safari arranged a great itinerary for us. They even deducted some money from the bill because we started at one of the Kruger's airports rather than from Johannesburg. Any email was replied to promptly. They provided information about the weather, what is advisable to wear and what to expect when on safari. They also arranged for a bush walk and a night drive for us in the 2 resorts we stayed on. Raphael - the safari guide (or is it spelt Raphaele?) - was a great guide, patient, attentive and really good at spotting all kinds of animals as well as being personable and fun to be with. He also knew an awful lot about the animals and birds in Kruger. We loved him and are really grateful to him for enhancing our experience!
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Email Wanda Stevens | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Education, excitement, and full-on exhilaration, all in one package.
Thale Kolhus put together a great lodging package. Each lodge was unique to the park's varied areas. She then matched us up with knowledgeable drivers who educated us on not only the wildlife and their habitat but also an inside on the people of South Africa and points of interest. Thale added the Moholoholo Rehab Center to help raise awareness of how endangered these animals are. I would not change a thing and would recommend Wild Planet Safari to anyone, and any family looking for a trip of a lifetime.
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Email Laura | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Better than we ever expected
Our guides Chris and Goodwill gave us the experience of a lifetime! We saw an amazing variety of animals in awe inspiring numbers thanks to their excellent spotting. Chris never seemed to run out of new information about what we were seeing. I have never eaten so much excellent food. I had high hopes for my dream trip to Africa, and this trip far exceeded my wildest dreams.
Extra points to Chis and Goodwill for treating our rowdy group of 6 women like queens all week long.
