Reviews of wild planet safari

Awesome three day safari

We are so happy of choosing this company to do a three day safari at Kruger. I think it is the best option because of the price and all the good experiences that Adriaan and Benji have given to us. A big thank you for them! We will repeat in some years for sure.

Sara and Javier

excellant

this was the best expeience of my life loved every day and new adventure and so much to see the animals were so awesome and all i could say was omg beautiful babies the food was great hope was an excellant cook and so friendly to visit with. Chris was great at finding the animals we wanted to see and we all had such a great time definetly want to come back again with them two. thank you for such a wonderful experience and all my baby animals i will cherish the memories for my lifetime.

Diane Williams

Wonderful days in South Africa!

It's a week now since I came back from South Africa, but most of the day I still think about the wonderful time there. 17 days of adventure, from we arrived in Johannesburg and were met by our guides Thale and Ryan and taken to our B & B to rest some hours before starting the tour through this beautiful country. 3 days in Kruger with exciting game-drives. Then we went on to Hluhluwe National Park(so beautiful! My favorite!) Next stop was Uhmlanga outside Durban. I still hear the roaring waves, sitting in a restaurant near the beach in the dark evening. We went on to Addo Elephant Park. Majestic male lions is a marvellous memory from there. Then Tsitsikamma - even the name sounds like an adventure. Suspension Bridge over roaring waves. An exciting place to stay. Knysna is a very beautiful town at the coast. We stayed there for 2 unforgettable days.On our way to Cape Town we also passed the most southern point of the African continent - Cape Agulhas. And then Cape Town - the last stop before going home. We stayed there for 2 days, using one of them to visit Robben Island to see "the home" for 18 years of their great leader Mandela. And we will never forget Table Mountain and the view around from the top. But nothing lasts for ever - we had to go home. I left Africa with my heart and head filled with love and respect for this country's fantastic animals and nature. During the whole stay I felt so safe in every way and everywhere, due to the long experience of our guides. I am so grateful for all the good service given by Wild Planet Safari. Thank you Thale and Ryan for showing me South Africa, with all that love and knowledge I can feel that you have for your country. I will be back to see more of it. With Wild Planet Safari.

Ragnhild

Best. Week. Evaaa

Me and a friend went on a six day, camping only, safari tour in Kruger national park with Ryan and his assistant Lungisani. As it is already pretty clear from the previous reviews, both Ryan and Lungisani were tremendous to hang out with and really know their stuff about every wildlife and flora you can possibly encounter at Kruger. Ryan is a fantastic guide and a great guy with storytelling abilities around the braai to die for and a pair of eagle eyes which can even spot the smallest bird a mile away. Pair that with some quite amazing cooking skills as well and it's safe to say we made the right decision of booking our safari trip with Wild Planet Safari. After three days his assistant Lungisani joined us and made the trip only better. He is a really fun guy and always happy to help with whatever, plus his spotting skills are not too bad either... Overall we had the best time with Ryan and Lungisani. We saw a bunch of different animals, had the best food imaginable, had some good laughs and we were able to do it with two great people. It really was the trip we were hoping it to be thanks to Ryan, Lungisani and Thale and we really recommend going on a safari with Wild Planet Safari.

Nicholas

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.

Andy and Angela, Southend, England.

A wonderful travel organised by Wild planet Safari

We were very lucky to have our short tour from May 18 to 20, 2019 in Hwange National Park and Matobo National Park organized by Wild Planet Safari. Lance did not only answered my request very quickly, but also adjusted the whole programm in accordance with our wishes. We appreciate his flexibility very much! Lance accompanied us personally during the whole tour and took great care for everything. The two restaurants booked by Lance for our dinners are located so beautifully with a real ambient, and we, of course, also enjoyed our food very much. The game drive in Hwange National Park was unforgettable. I made some of my best photos there. We are also very grateful to Lance for all the first-hand information not only about the parks and animals, but also about Zimbabwe. Our tour ended in the hotel in Bulawayo, but Lance offered us transfers from the hotel to the airport without any extra charge for this service.

J. Wang

An overwhelming Christmas- adventure

We had the best time of our life with Wild Planet Safari christmas 2014 We went on a 11 days tour from J.burg-Hazywiew- Merloth-Swaziland-St. Lucia- Durban- J.burg. And would do it all again tomorrow without any hesitation. The knowlegde of both Ryan and Thale made our trip complete, and with the patience for our four children (5,8,9,10) it was absolutely phenomenal. Travelling with Wild Planet Safari is highly recomendable, and you will get the best service, food and experiences of 'em all!:)

Marianne and family

Trip of a lifetime!

I first began speaking to Wild Planet Safari in 2017 - when we arranged our first trip to South Africa, a 10day north to south Kruger tour - March 2018 We were lucky enough to have the owners Ryan & Thale as part of this tour - which was an amazing first safari experience for my grandad & I I won't go into details, as ive already left a review for this but we decided we would like to return to SA for what will probably be my grandads last big trip abroad and Wild Planet Safari were at the top of our list to get in touch with Thale wasted no time at all in arranging another fantastic tour for us, this time experiencing the east side of Kruger that we didn't get to see previously. We began with the panorama route with a brilliant guide, who filled the long drive with humour & stories until we met with Ryan & Thale the next day to begin our drive to Kruger. We stayed at some of quieter camps this year, including Pafuri Border, Batleur and Tsenze, a rustik camp site - this added so much more to the experience. I've never experienced another tour company and if im honest, I don't need too - these guys are amazing; they have so much passion about what they do. Ryan's knowledge of everything about the bush, is something else - any question you have, he'll know the answer. As for his memory - thats on another level, he remembered the tiniest little details & places of particular sightings from our first visit 18months earlier! Im unsure when ill returning to SA again, but what I do know is that when I do Wild Planet Safari will be my first port of call. I cant thank you guys enough for the memories, experience, great food, many funs times and the friendship! I wish you both all the best for the future and hope to visit again sometime, if you come back to the UK anytime - I'd love to catch up.

Aaron Bannister

Time of my life!

We went on a 10 day safari with Ryan, Thale and their son Felix. We started in Johannesburg, and went to Kruger National Park, then Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, and ended up In Durban. The service level was great! Ryan is a very skilled guide, and knows everything about the nature and all the animals. He knows where to spot all the animals, and we got to see the big 5, and lots of other stuff. Ryan could tell facts and stories about everything we saw. He can answer any question regarding wildlife. He's a true expert. Thale and Ryan also did a great job taking care of us. They had full control of all the arrangements regarding accommodations, activities and logistics. They also provided good meals every night. Everything was well planned, accommodation, meals, drives around the parks. They took good care of us from the moment they picked us up at the airport in Johannesburg, until the drop off at Durban airport. And they are really nice crowd to travel with. The whole family are very friendly and professional! It was without a doubt the best 10 days I've had on holiday ever.Thank you so much, Thale and Ryan(and little Felix)! If you want a personal safari experience instead of a big group, Wild Planet Safari is definitively for you!

Erlend Hamre

No bad weather can spoil youir Safari if Chris, from Wild Planet Safari, guides you!

First Safari for the whole family, parents just around their 50s and kids of 12 and 15 years old. we were not lucky with the weather as it rained almost every day; yet the experience was unforgettable! Thales was super-helpful in organising the tour and, at the end, we can say her recommandations were spot-on! During the trip every effort was made to give us the chance to view as much as possible; the guide expertise proved so helpful to spot different species, even the rares ones (the big 5, 4 of the ungly 5v - only missing the crocodiles and many more..) and even when they were so far. He tought us so many things... and with a bit of luck, when we asked for Rhino on the last safari... we saw 18 of them!!! Camps are easy and clean; the chef always made something different and delicious.. even thought he couldn't cook under the stars as planned, due to the rain (hats off for how he managed). to cut a long story short, we would not hesitate to pick Wild Pülanet Safari again!

Stefano

Outstanding

Excellent communication when making arrangements. The operator did everything they could to provide us with outstanding service. We actually did a 4 day 3 night safari with Wild Planet, in Kruger National Park. It was amazing! Our driver Chris was great. His knowledge of the park was remarkable, and he went above and beyond to seek out specific animals that we hoped to see. He has an extensive background in animal behavior which gives him an edge. His assistant and our chef was Hope. He is also a skilled guide, but his craft is hospitality, he planned and executed amazing meals for us, making us feel at home. Together they are a formidable team that provided a perfect visit for us. One day, due to their diligence we actually saw the “Big Five”, in a single hour early one morning! Heartfelt tanks and appreciation go to Hope, Chris and Thale at Wild Planet, for an unforgettable safari in Kruger.

Jay Murter

Excellent and knowledgeable guides enabled perfect viewing of the Big 5

Communication and service were great, and overall enjoyed our experience. Ultimately everyone's goal is to see the big 5, and we saw them all and more thanks to the determination and expertise of our guides. They understood the tricks and necessities to navigate the park at the right time as well as the right places to see the different wildlife, while avoiding super crowded areas. Certain services, such as walk-about and night drive, are not allowed by private guides within Kruger - but Ryan arranged these tours on our behalf with the in-house park rangers. Accommodations were exactly as expected - however, we were completely blow away and happily surprised by the additional hospitality when our guides prepared our meals the entire time we were in the park. The overall logistics were convenient and helpful. They picked us up in Jo-burg, transporting us all the way to Kruger National Park. The drive and scenery and additional information along the journey were wonderful. They also drove us back to Jo-burg and dropped us off at the airport with plenty of time to catch our flight. One downside was being in an enclosed vehicle the whole time, rather than the perceived experience of "open vehicle safari"; however, the enclosed vehicle enabled them to provide the Jo-Burg pick up and drop off, so that was a trade-off we proactively chose. Ultimately, the enclosed vehicle did not prohibit our views nor the overall experience of the safari. We were very happy with our experience and would recommend to others looking for a great safari experience within the national park.

Joe

Fantastic once in a lifetime experience very professional

Wild Planet Safari gave us a once in a lifetime experience. Everyone was very professional and knowledgeable. We were treated extremely well and they were very accommodating. I have referred this company to several friends. I would not have changed a thing.

Jeff Ross

Good viewing - poor guiding

The booking process was easy and Thale was a pleasure to work with. Very accommodating. The accommodations were as advertised and decently comfortable. It was on overall good value for a private tour, with food included and in those accommodations. I enjoyed the food, great cooking by Lungisani! My problem and reason for 3/5 is the guides. I honestly don’t know if Isaac can see well enough to be guiding tours. He was knowledgeable when we spotted an animal, but he never saw them. Lungisani would spot all the animals and tell Isaac to stop (his driving wasn’t great either). On the 2 drives in which Lungisani didn’t come, Isaac didn’t even stop the vehicle once because he didn’t see anything (even though we did). Also he didn’t speak once to us. When they were both there, on the drives and at camp/during meals, they just spoke to each other in their own languages or were on their phones, which made it very awkward and uncomfortable for us. Very little conversation with us and getting to know each other. Although we saw lots of animals, and the park was incredible, the guides detracted from our experience a lot. Overall, would I go back to Kruger? Yes, 100%. Would I use Wild planet safari? Possibly, but it would totally depend on who the guides were. Service levels while spending 5+ full days with someone needs to improve drastically.

Bryan

Kruger Park Tour

A personal tour for my wife and I. The aim was a hard-core photo safari and Wild Planet provided exactly what we wanted with plenty of pleasant surprises on top. Thanks to it being a personal tour we were able to see more species, get closer and take better photos than we have in any previous trips. Both the food and service was excellent throughout but the highlight was probably the night we spent at Shipandane Hide, where we had Hippos fighting in the river, Lions close by and a night time visit from a Gennet - it was pure magic. We traveled in a customised VW Transporter Van so we had plenty of room to spread out and to take photos. The tents were surprisingly large (I could stand up in ours) which made camping easy. Because there was only the 2 of us we were able to take full advantage of our guide's encyclopaedic knowledge of Southern African wildlife so when we took a Park Service night drive it felt really "dumbed-down" compared to the wildlife masterclass we were used to. Overall we got exactly what we wanted and a whole load more for a very reasonable price. We have already made a provisional booking for next year as after 10 years of visitig Africa no other trip we have taken even remoteley compares.

Neil

Great communication and organization, excellent knowledge of the area, very friendly and fun.

Four of us (friends) travelled together and had an amazing time visiting three national parks in 11 days. I would recommend this family company without hesitation. If anyone would like to contact me for further details, it’s no problem.

Angela

Unforgettable Experience with an Amazing Team!

We were on a 3 night, 4 day tour to Kruger with Ryan and Lungisani. They are extremely professional and run a very smooth operation. My wife and I had an absolute fantastic time and are looking to book our next South Africa Kruger Tour with Wild Planet Safari. In addition to seeing all the Big 5, we had an amazing culinary experience. Along with their customer service and witty banter, this is what also stood out. I can't thank them enough for introducing us to all the wild animals, and in such a great knowledgeable and informative manner. These guys were awesome and I recommend that 1,000%!

Dan

A great honeymoon experience

We booked Wild Planet as the primary experience for our honeymoon. We searched around quite a bit for the right option, and found a place that gave a great experience without the need for overpriced lodges. The team was very responsive and flexible. They had a great itinerary for places to see in Kruger, and slightly adjusted it for preferences/circumstances (sometimes certain camps book up, but they knew where else to stay). They made sure we could go straight to Kruger for the safari as soon as we arrived. We experienced a week in an open air vehicle with a guide, served meals, and great stays in camps all over Kruger National Park. It was the trip of a lifetime! The guide, and Wild Planet's whole crew were super-friendly throughout the experience. I can't express how glad we were to have found Wild Planet and to have chosen to go with them for this trip. I already recommended them to family members and hope that others are as lucky as we were to go with this team.

Jeremy

An unforgettable journey of a lifetime, a "must do" for everybody

It was so easy to book our trip (for my daughter and myself) with Wild Planet Safari. Everything was done online with Thale whose service and communications were excellent. Our guides Chris and Lungisani were friendly and courteous and great "spotters" of the wildlife which we saw in abundance. We were so lucky to see a pack of 12 wild dogs together, in addition to a group of six cheetahs in one sighting. We saw the big five plus more and were rewarded during our bush walk with a sighting of a pride of lions with cubs. It's difficult to mention a highlight of the tour, there were so many! I'll be back!

Pamela