Reviews of wild planet safari

Very Professional and really personable, Wild Safari exceeded expectations at every level.

We really felt well taken care of from initial email to final fond farewell. There was no detail too small and no request too large, that weren't dealt with cheerfully and easily. We had zero issues arise on tour, in large part due to careful planning and attention to detail from the staff. I feel confident that had any issues arose from circumstances beyond their control, these would have been dealt with swifly and effectively. Experience and knowledge shine through every interaction. We couldn't be happier with our choice and happily recommend Wild Safari to friends and family.

Ian

You Are In Expert Hands!

We recently finished the 11 Day Kruger North to South Private trip and had a great time. Ryan and Lungisani are absolutely expert guides and a real pleasure to spend time with. We enjoyed watching them compete with each other to see who could spot the most Big Five animals, and we were the beneficiaries! We were able to observe up close all of the animals we wished, with the only exception being a cheetah, which are very rare. Ryan is a birding expert and spotted an incredible number of birds for us to photograph. I cannot emphasize the value of their knowledge of animals, plants and birds. Later, during our African vacation we heard ridiculous statements from so-called guides who were spouting falsehoods. We confirmed Ryan's information via Google. You will have a great time with these fine guides!

Bob in Denver, Colorado

Extremely Enjoyable 3 day - 2 night Safari

The communication throughout the process from the initial enquiry right through to the day before we were collected was quick and detailed. We were given a number of options of which areas to explore and different accommodation types prior to booking and everything was organised for us by Ryan and Thale. We flew in from the UK and stayed overnight in a hotel close to the OR Tambo airport, Ryan then collected us from the hotel the following morning and we drove to Kruger (with a stop off halfway for 15 minutes), arriving at Skukuza just after 1pm. When we arrived at Kruger mid afternoon, Ryan sent us off to grab some lunch whilst he went and checked us into our accommodation. When we returned around 2.30pm our luggage was already in the room and we were then took on an afternoon safari, seeing a large number of animals and birds. Evening meal was BBQ steak and salad cooked outside the accommodation by Ryan and his assistant which was excellent and we sat chatting and drinking the local wines under the stars. Morning 2 consisted of an early start where we saw most of the Big 5 and Ryan cooked us bacon and eggs breakfast at a picnic area overlooking the river, watching the monkeys play. A good long day of exploring, seeing many of the animals and birds. We then returned to the camp mid afternoon where we were left to chill out and top up the stock of beers and wine. Again, a BBQ evening meal outside the accommodation where we were given ostrich sausages and a local veg dish which was good washed down with some local brew. We were then surprised to find out that Ryan had booked us on a night safari, a nice touch. We completed our Big 5 list on this night safari, seeing a leopard walking around the park, sadly we didn't take a camera. Day 3 we again took an early morning safari, checked out of the accommodation and took a drive back to OR Tambo airport ready for our flight down to Cape Town. The service we received from Ryan, Thale and the rest of the team was personal yet professional, and Ryan's knowledge of the animals and birds (mating habits/diets etc) was excellent and added to the experience we got from the trip. I would certainly contact Wild Planet Safaris next time I am looking at exploring southern Africa's wildlife regions and would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone looking to experience it.

Tony Bilbie

Our dream comes true and beyond!

We love Ryan and Thale, we're having a 10 days family tour with them right now. It's been amazing and super lucky. They went out of their way to arrange everything to make sure we're pampered。they even arranged our flight, resort stay and pickup/drop off before tour started. We've two kids 8 & 6 and they adore Ryan & Thale. They're not only super aknowlegable as guides, also a super cook, playmate for our kids. They made our dreams come true. Kids are convinced Ryan can talk to animals and he can make them to show up. We also got to meet their family and they're all very warm and fun. We've been traveling around the world, South Africa is definitely our highlight. Thank you Ryan and Thale!

Jingjing-RTW

Ultimate professional

We’d like to commend Chris for his excellent skills, knowledge & professionalism as he guided us on a full day visit to KNP. He arrived on time, made sure we were comfortable & kept us informed & updated throughout the tour. He was a wealth of knowledge about everything we encountered. Also with an eagle eye spotting animals in the distance we would never have seen. I’d happily do any tour again with Chris. A proper kind gentleman. Thank you Chris & hopefully our paths will cross again one day. Leanne & Tony.

Leanne awilson

Amazing 4 day at Kruger

Ryan was a great guide. He exceeded our expectation. We are a family of five, youngest 13 year old. He answered almost all our question and we had many. Wealth of information. Ryan was prompt and very attentive to our needs. Thale cooking was wonderful, second helping was the norm. We saw more than we could imaging, even a rare white lion. Highly recommended

Victor

Experience was beyond our expectations.

Upon conclusion of our African adventure, I was thankful we had chosen Wild Planet Safari as our tour company. Thale helped us plan our itinerary, explained benefits of different camps and types of transportation to maximize our opportunities to see as many types of animals and birds as possible. By staying at three camps within Kruger National Park, we were exposed to different types of bush and the animals that live there. We stayed in Rondawels which are thatched roof concrete buildings with private baths. The Safari guide, Chris was amazing. He has the eyes of an eagle and we didn't see an animal or bird he was not familiar with. We believe we would have missed many animals without Chris to point them out to us. His tour is an education. I even took notes! By making our Safari private, we had flexibility with location and timing. On our final day we traveled back by Blyde River Canyon. A beautiful way to complete our Safari. Thale also helped us with reservations in Victoria Falls. After staying in the park, we wanted something a little fancier for a couple of nights. Thale suggested Batonka Lodge which was perfect. I strongly recommend Wild Planet Safari for your African adventure.

Lindy

Fantastic experience!

Our safari was amazing! We were well looked after, there was constant communication leading up to the trip and we had so much fun!

Samantha

Amazing Experience!!

Our safari with Wild Planet Safari far exceeded our expectations. Our guides did an amazing job and have a wealth of information and experiences that make them great at what they do. We learned so much and had a blast doing it, and they knew just where to take us to see what we wanted to see. The food was great, and they were able to cater to a vegetarian diet which was highly appreciated. Wild Planet Safari clearly puts in a lot of work to make your experience incredible, and we can't say enough about our week at Krueger. We would highly recommend them!!

Siena

Comprehensive tour, amazing sightings, and wonderful people!

The service was great: we got to cook great food and told interesting stories, and also were able to get up by 5am and get out there to see the sunrise sightings! I thought we would be a little closer to the animals, however, most of them were pretty far away, even on the bush-walk. Also, more bathroom breaks needed! Overall it was so fantastic to go on this Safari.

Luke

Excellent Safari Experience

We had a really good guide, Holly, with us who was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and about the locations in general. The accommodation selection was good. The safari took us quite deep into the national parks and we saw a lot of wildlife including 3/5 of the big five.

Udipta

all expectations met

We went on a 5 day camping safari and had a great time looking for all kind of wild animals at litterly any time of the day (morning and night game drives). The 5 days in Kruger NP gave a great impression of the park and it's inhabitants. The experienced guide was also driving safely not only in the park, but also all the way from Johannesburg to the park and back. The Tents were in good shape and even had a cosy bed. The food was basic but tasty in regards to the circumstances in the bush. All in all a great experience.

Bruno

The safari experience of a lifetime!

This safari trip was the first taste of Africa for 2 NZ couples meeting up with SA friends for the first time in 33 years. A very special reunion and our 4 days on safari was a fabulous start to this trip. Ryan is such a friendly, knowledgeable person about all aspects of Africa. Nothing was too much trouble. We saw so many animals in their natural habitat. It was a photographers dream to get up to close to them and then quietly watch their interactions. No rush, no pressure. Ryan knew where to find the animals and tried his hardest to make sure we saw them all. I would thoroughly recommend Ryan's company to anyone wanting a personalised safari. You will not be disappointed.

Maree Woods

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.

Wanda Stevens

Amazing Experience in Kruger National Park

We spent 4 days with Chris and Lungi in Kruger National Park and in Blyde River Canyon. We will never forget these 4 days! They have been absolutely great: in observing the animals, in discovering them, explaining and sharing their big knowledge about bush and park. Chris was really perfect in planning the days, he made us feeling so confortable, with him and Lungi we felt like being in the right place at the right time. and least but not last, the mobile kitchen was great! Thank you very much!

Camilla C.

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.

Khiem

amazing experience

We went on our safari with Chris and Lungi as a family and all of us enjoyed it thoroughly. Both guys were amazing and very helpful. Chris knew all of the animals including birds and could answer any questions about them. On top of that, he could always spot animals, even if they were far, hidden or so. He was really excellent guide and we are very happy we had him. The only thing we would recommend for improvement is not to include the night game drive provided by Satara camp into the safari, as it was extremely unprofessional.

Michaela

The safari was simply amazing! We had a wonderful time and enjoyed an experience we will not forget!

Our 4 day safari to the Kruger Park was such a great highlight during our travelling in South Africa. The guides became like friends in no time and we liked the fact to be the only guests (the two of us). The dinners prepared on the fire were wonderful and we were so lucky to see that many animals. We would highly recommend the Wild Planet Safari to everyone!

Susanne and Larissa

Fantastic week in the Kruger National Park with the very knowledgeable Chris

We had a fantastic week in the central and northern parts of KNP with Chris determined that we would see as much as possible! We had been on many self drive trips to KNP before but having a very knowledgeable guide adds a further dimension to your holiday experience. Chris and his assistant Scumboso looked after us very well and nothing was too much trouble for them Our booking had been handled very well over e mail by Thale and all communication was swift and Thale patiently dealt with all our requests and answered all our questions. The whole week was very well organised from our transfer from Joburg airport to our drop off at Hoedspruit airport for our flight to Cape Town An unforgettable experience and I have recommended Wild Planet Safari to my friends and colleagues

Jane