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
CA
Email Ron | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional - punctual, efficient, helpful and well organized; exceeded our expectations.
We did a seven day private camping safari with Chris and Goodwill. They were extremely well organized and always punctual. During setup, knockdown and cooking we were generally on game drives or at a restaurant having lunch - very efficient. Chris was excellent at spotting animals and explaining their behavior. They both went out of their way to make this an amazing experience for us. We saw virtually all available animals including wild dogs and cheetahs. The food was good and plentiful.
We went to four different camps that allowed us to experience different habitats and a wide variety of animals. The booking process with Thale, including hints on where to stay before the safari and how to get to Kruger, was very helpful. Everything was as promised with no additional unexpected costs.
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Email Todd Stewart | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Thanks to Ryan Ker of Wild Planet Safari, we saw an amazing variety of animals in just three days.
We wanted to visit Kruger National Park before leaving South Africa, but we had limited time available. Scrolling through Safari Bookings, we selected Wild Planet Safari, who offered a three day (two night) private safari with transportation from Johannesburg. What a lucky choice! Ryan Ker and his associate met us just outside the park entrance and started pointed out animals right after we passed the gate. We had been on safari before, in Kenya and Tanzania, but with a single guide for multiple guests. A private guide, especially one as knowledgeable as Ryan, enabled us to see far more. The experience was intense, for we awakened before dawn to see animals active at that hour and take maximum advantage of our limited time. The highlight of our trip came on the second morning when Ryan found for us two male lions, certainly brothers, patrolling the edge of their territory, but there were too many encounters with too many other animals to recount. Our down time was spent in our bungalow at the park's Letaba Camp, where Ryan and his associate cooked tasty meals for the four of us. The bungalow itself was comfortable with an en-suite bathroom and air conditioning (although we didn't need it). In short, we packed as much as possible into our three days, thanks to Ryan's expertise and the excellent management of his firm.
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Email Anne West | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable and Professional Team.
We had a 3 day safari with a group of 7 family members---Mother in law who healthy mid 80s but slowing down/a bit of a falls risk, 14 year old, 11 year old, and 4 adults all in our 40s. Communication via email with Thale was excellent and professional. He was the most accommodating of our family's needs and itinerary but advised appropriately about how that would change costs and also how feasible the different options would be so we could make an informed decision. The 3 day tour, inclusive of most meals and transportation, was reasonable. Our guide always prompt and we were never kept waiting for him. He always communicated the schedule clearly. The accommodations at the camp were basic but adequate/comfortable. Goodwill is a great cook! I appreciated our guide Eric and his assistant Goodwill. They were professional always--- I love my mother in law but at times she can be somewhat trying when she is less comfortable than she is used to at home (which of course is expected when you travel :0)!) and he handled it with admirable professionalism and all of us were still thrilled she was able to make the trip with us and her grandchildren. Generally, the rest of us are a pretty low maintenance group so long as we keep the 11 year old fed. We saw some great wildlife and saw all of the big 5 except for the leopard who seemed ever elusive but of course that, I understand, is very common. We saw a huge pack of endangered wild dogs which thrilled everyone but especially our 11 year old. Eric was knowledgeable about the wildlife we saw and able to add a great deal of context/education/respect for the animals to everything we saw. I did notice that Eric uses tobacco products only because I work as a family medicine physician at home and admit I sometimes can't turn it off--hah hah. He was always discreet/respectful with this and it never affected our family or enjoyment of the tour though I hope he quits someday for his own well health. All in all, the trip was worth every penny and a highlight of our visit in South Africa.
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Email Nicolette | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari Experience All-Around
We traveled to South Africa in October '22, and immensely joined our time with the Wild Planet Safari crew. This trip was years in the making (we were meant to go in 2020), and Thale was beyond helpful in making it happen for us in 2022!
Our guide, Chris, was attentive, friendly, had a great sense of humor, and was incredibly knowledgeable! Chris could spot any animal, no matter the size, or time of day! We were so thankful to see so many beautiful animals - whether it was countless lions, giraffes, (baby) elephants, leopards, birds, or more. Every sighting is truly a privilege!
The vibe with the entire Wild Planet Safari crew felt very familial. We enjoyed a few family-style meals together with other safari goers, and the cooking felt even more special, being in the great outdoors. Every day, we loved the full safari experience starting before sunrise until sunset (with delicious meals in between).
Expect an unforgettable experience with lasting friendships thanks to the entire crew. I have a feeling we'll talk about this trip forever!
I'd highly recommend Wild Planet Safari, and would return to do another safari in a heartbeat!
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Email M & D | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic safari tour company and memorable trip!
This review is long in coming and the delay not a reflection of the service and time experienced!
My husband and I traveled to South Africa last October and had the great fortune of booking our 7-day safari trip with Wild Planet Safari.
From the very beginning, communications with Thale were prompt, very informative, professional and friendly.
At the start of our trip, we had some health issues that caused us to delay our trip by a couple of days. Thale was once again incredibly supportive and worked with us to coordinate alternative options while making sure we didn't miss out on our trip there.
Once at Kruger National Park, we met with our guide Chris who on a daily basis went out of his way to make sure that each outing was maximized and that we saw and experienced the wildlife as much as possible. Chris also catered to our every wish and humored us in taking the "not such traditional" perfect pictures, like of dead trees, rocks and whatever caught our eye in the moment! Not only was Chris a wealth of information about the wildlife, always providing interesting facts, but he is also an amazing cook! Every meal he prepared was amazing!
We had an excellent experience with Chris and Thale and look forward to the next opportunity when we can come back again with the rest of the family! Thank you Wild Planet Safari for the great vacation!!
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Email Susan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A trip of a lifetime
I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Wild Planet Safari for an amazing trip this past October. We originally were supposed to visit in 2020 and Thale was amazing in helping us reschedule and work through any difficulties. Her kindness was truly appreciated.
We were blessed to have Chris as our guide for the 5 days and we consider ourselves so lucky. He took good care of us and answered all our questions. We saw so much, thanks to him and we felt very much like we made a good friend.
We loved having our private tour with also the opportunity to meet with our fellow travelers at breakfast or dinner on a few occasions.
Thank you to Ryan, Thale and Chris for everything. I will be back!!
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Email Robin Johnson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ryan is a super nice guy who felt like family by the end of our safari!
From the moment I spoke with Thale I knew I had made the right choice! She was so sweet and so helpful in planning our safari. She helped me figure out how many days I would need for what I wanted to see and do, all while making it incredibly affordable! She also suggested the walking safari which Is a must do! We did a 6 day safari and I will never forget it, Ever! Ryan was incredible and so knowledgeable about every animal, and man could that guy spot them! He just seemed to know the park like the back of his hand, where the animals would be and when they would be there. We got up before sunrise and hit the park for a few hours, came back to breakfast ready to be served to us, then hit the park again, came back to lunch served to us, then hit the park till sunset! Eat,Sleep,Safari 3 times a day!!! Ryan spotted every animal you could think of! We saw lions eating their kill and even saw a leopard hunt a Dyka and carry it up a tree! I will cherish the memories for the rest of my life! Africa will always have a piece of my heart because of the experience Ryan provided for us! Don’t wait… Just book it, you won’t regret it
FR
Email Khiem | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This safari met all of my expectations and even more!
So happy I picked Wild Planet Safari! Chris was an excellent and knowledgeable guide, spotting so many animals I would never have seen and really going out of his way to show us as much wildlife as possible. Dylan was a great cook and cheerful co-guide. We saw so many animals up close: a pride of 18 lions trying to ambush wilderbeest, a leopard that came out of the bush and walked along our open-top car for 5 mn, a pack of wild dogs, hyenas, sable antelopes, and a cheetah that crossed the road in front of us! Had an amazing time.
Email Jean, Ian, Liz and Ted | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wild Planet Safari guide was Ryan, who was the most informative, knowledgeable, friendly person.
This was our first safari, and we went with no expectations. But if we had any, then they surely would have been exceeded ! Four of us booked the 11 day safari from north to south Kruger. We stayed at different camps during our trip. Ryan and Josh were the best ! Cooking our meals and clearing up afterwards ! They both worked so hard to make our safari one of the best things we have ever done ! Ryan’s knowledge of the animals and birds, and also the different areas that we travelled through, was amazing ! The four of us learnt so much and it is no exaggeration to say that we saw just about every animal species possible during our 11 days, from a roaring male lion (right next to the safari vehicle !), to a baby giraffe, just a few hours old and struggling to stand ! If we were to ever return to do another safari, then Wild Planet would be our first choice. We had the best time, and really cannot put into words how beyond amazing the whole experience was ! Thank you Ryan, for a truly perfect experience ! We are still watching our videos and looking at some wonderful photos, which I don’t think we will ever tire from looking at ! With regard to the cost of the safari, we think it was exceptional value for money. It was just us four, and included just about all of our meals, all the camps, and we also included a night drive, overnight in a hide, and a bush walk. And the personal touch was great, from collecting us at Johannesburg airport, to taking us back there at the end of our safari. All included in the price. Thank you Wild Planet !
CH
Email Thomas | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our first Safari Experience
This was our first safari experience and it was amazing.
After reading the various great reviews we selected Wild Planet Safari. To be honest, at the beginning we were a bit worried to pay all that money to a foreigner country but we took the risk and it was a good decision. From OR Tambo airport we were booked on a shared transfer service to Kruger park (5 hours drive). As soon as we reached Kruger we met Ryan and his assistent and the tour started. We were really exited as we spotted the first animals just about 1 hour after driving. Accomodation were very good, arrangments, meals and company was super. To be honest everything exided our expectation. Thank you everyone for this great experince.