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Email Linda J Marquez | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memorable and Magical
Our trip started in Cape Town at a beautiful hotel on the waterfront. We spent a day in wine country which I would highly recommend. Although, next time, I think we would stay in the winelands for a couple of days as there is so much more there than just wine tastings. The scenery is peaceful and vast. We traveled with a small group tour to the Cape of Goid Hope along the scenic winding western Atlantic coast with a stop in Simon's Town for lunch and on to Boulders Beach to be entertained by the penguins. Our last day, Saturday, our morning was spent at the most amazing outdoor market, lunch and fabulous shopping at the waterfront and another fabulous dinner. The food and drinks in CPT are excellent and very reasonably priced. We were not able to do the Panoramic Route in White River because our plane was routed to Johannesburg due to rain and poor visibility at Neispruit airport. Staying at Oliver's was so relaxing and pampering it almost made up for what we missed. The last 4 days of our trip we will never forget. I cannot even begin to express how outstanding the game drives, knowledgeable skilled guides and trackers, luxury accommodations, 5-star dining at the Savanna Private Game Reserve was. The Big 5 were an everyday siting, plus leopards feasting and mating! Elephants of all sizes, many species of antelope and birds abound. We experienced a herd of cape buffalo that numbered over 1000. Out private waterhole was a constant afternoon parade of zebras, rhinos, a hippo, warthogs, kudu, buffalos, and birds. One night our dinner was a BBQ around a large fire, next in the open spaces surrounded by 100s of lanterns and another in the dining car of a historic train. You must book this place! It is worth every penny spent and we are not affluent an affluent couple. Splurge on this one. I've only touched on the service and luxury you will experience.
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Email Mary | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
This adventure exceeded our expectations
We booked with Wild Planet Safari to visited Kruger National Park for 9 days/8 nights. Thale was very responsive and helpful in setting up our four person private tour. Everything ran very smoothly. The minute we drove into the park we started seeing wild life and were blown away by the quantity, diversity and proximity of the wild life. We expected to have to use binoculars to see the wild life, but that was not true. The animals and birds were very near the road and very visible. We saw the "big 5" right away and saw them repeatedly throughout our stay.
We spent 2 nights each staying in Skukuza and Satara camps in the park and our Rondawell accommodations were much better and more comfortable than we expected. Our tour guide, Kim, was extremely knowledgeable and had great instincts about where to find animals. Our cook, Hope, was a delight and the food was great. We spend two more nights in the Milima Lodge Reserve next to Kruger. We saw many of the same animals we had seen in Kruger, but in fewer numbers. The reserve had a more relaxed pace, very enjoyable accommodations and was an enjoyable break from the hustle to see the animals in Kruger park. Our last two nights were at an estate in Hoedspruit staying in a bed and breakfast. This location was convenient for the Panorama Route and our visit to the HERD elephant reserve. However, I would have skipped the Panorama route and the HERD visit and gone back to Kruger and staying in the bush for the last two nights.
Overall we were thrilled with our South Africa safari and would recommend the experience and Wild Planet Safari wholeheartedly.
Great diversity
Capetown area and coast were lovely.
Kruger was terrific
MY
Email Andy Newland | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kruger adventure
We are on a one month trip of RSA ABIT of Zim & Zam. We wanted a Kruger safari & happened upon this company through the internet. We are budget travellers so wanted an experience that we could afford.
From the start Andre's communication was excellent, always quick to respond. Based on this we made our booking & we're not disappointed.
The pickup was on-time from our hotel near the airport, the driver was friendly & we reached Kruger in good time.
Accommodation was simple but comfortable. We had a 'glamping' tent which we thoroughly enjoyed. Very clean & comfortable.
We had an afternoon safari to see the animals & enjoy the sunset. Beautiful & everything we wanted.
Back for dinner which was surprising delicious. A small menu where you each have 3 courses. I had the Sirloin for main & it was excellent.
The next day up at 5 for the main safari & it was freezing. After 36 degrees the previous evening, the next day was 16 & felt so much colder with the wind across the bush. Luckily they gave us thick ponchos which became essential. We saw a wealth of animals, & Shadrag our driver kept us informed throughout, as well as telling a few jokes. Everything was extremely professional & we have no complaints.
I'd highly recommend this safari, we had an unforgettable experience at excellent value. Leker 👍👏💪
Email Gary | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Better than expected
Definitely a place I will revisit, the whole experience of terrific scenery, wild animals, good value for money, amazing trips.
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Email Brian Moody | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A land of stark inequities and stunning wildlife
We landed in Johannesburg and spent several days there. The highlight of our stay there was a tour of "The Best of Johannesburg". It included Constitution Hill, Mandela's house, an informal community in Soweto, and the Apartheid Museum. Learning about the history of South Africa brought up for me many similarities with the inequities in my own country.
We next traveled to Sabi Sand for a 5 day safari. It was excellent. Our guide and tracker were great. We saw the big five and more, including some amazing birds. We loved the bush walks, and we learned about a lot about the flora of the bush and the smaller animals. While the density of the wildlife cannot rival Botswana or the Serengeti, the variety was there. Also with strict guidelines about a maximum of three vehicles per sighting, there were no crowds. And with the ability to go off-road to track certain animals, we got some amazing sightings and pictures. All six of us thoroughly loved it.
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Email Gail Santarlasci | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing adventure
An African Safari is a once in a lifetime experience. If traveling from the US, be prepared for very long flights. We booked our own flights & even business class - these are Long flights. Ranger Buck Safaris arranged all the logistics of our trip within Africa. They did an excellent job. We were greeted at each new location, and escorted to our next destination. It would be very difficult to do on your own. The resorts (camps) were beautiful; the camp staff, guides, and trackers all spoke English. September is still the dry season which is perfect for viewing animals; cool mornings & evenings, warm mid day. We have amazing pictures, but you need to be there to get the true feeling of Africa.
Safe travels.
Email Eleanor Collinson | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything we hoped for and more
Timbavati was amazing. Really great. Saw big 5. Lovely staff lovely camp. Great guide.
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Email Brian Caulfield | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just amazing!
Just the most amazing experience ever, if you are thinking about going to do it ..... Book it! Wayne was a fantastic tour operator and everything was top notch!
Amazing. The trip of a lifetime.
We went to SA to check off an item on our "bucket list" and we were not disappointed. We chose an intimate lodge (Simbambili) in the Sabi Sands Reserve, contiguous with Kruger Park.
It was dream vacation. The staff and accomodations were comfortable and personable, but unpretentious. The big 5 and other large animals were of course, the focus, but we were also graced by majsetic giraffes, spectacular birds, curious monkeys and other wildlife of many varieties. Our very experienced guide supplemented the sightings with lively discussions and environmental context.
We are now planning to make it at least a "twice in a lifetime" experience.
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