This Operator Reviews
21.
| Client: | Manfred and Sylvia - from Canada |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: |  rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | Our safari was the best experience ever. We saw every animal we could think of, the pride of lions was great. We loved to learn all about the different animals Behavior. Neil was very knowledgeable. If he didn’t know something we had inquired about he would find out and let us know. Everything from the Impala to the elephants was a wonder. Right from our trip from the gate upon entering we started with the impala and even saw a lion on our first day. We learned what a maulk charge and a rhino charge was all about. We always felt Neil knew what he was doing and kept us safe. Both him and Gord have a unique sense of humor which we both enjoyed. The weather was perfect as we came from 30 below to 30 above. We saw wild dogs, rhinos, hippos, hyenas, giraffes, kudos, buffalo, impala, lions, leopard, jackals, zebra, sable antelope, wart hog, elephant, so many birds I can’t mention. The bush was beautiful as well. Gord fed us like kings and queens. The food was great, and was served wine at super. It was great coming back from a game drive or walk and have a nice cold beer. Gord always made sure we were taken care of. Hats off to you both. There was so many animals I am sure I didn’t list some but that didn’t make them any less important in our eyes. It’s a beautiful country and I would like to return some day. Our memory of Neil telling a joke and the hippo laughing was priceless. Our accommodations were very nice as I was expecting to ruff it. Thanks again we will think of this trip often Manfred and Sylvia Edmonton ab Canada |
22.
| Client: | Allen lewis - from Puerto Rico (US) |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | My wife and I enjoyed a four day trip in Kruger. The booking details were handled expertly by Neil's wife, Tina, who also helped us arrange an initial overnight in Nelspruit at the lovely Jorn's Gastehaus with transportation to the park the next morning. Upon reaching Skukuza at noon Neil met us, showed us our room and gave us a quick orientation to the rest camp's facilities. After lunch he took us on our first safari drive in his comfortable open vehicle. We had indicated a special interest in birds which Neil was happy to accommodate. He knew many of the birds by sound and knew where we should be looking. After two nights at Skukuza we transferred to Berg en Dal. The trip was a success in every way. The pace was comfortable with time to appreciate every creature. By mutual agreement we were on the road by 5:30 AM each morning, exploring until early afternoon and then again after lunch with a night drive arranged for us on the last night. With limited time we chose to stay in the southern portion of the park where we saw the Big Five, most of the Small Five, and the Intermediate Twenty or So (this is meant to be humor; we saw a great diversity of mammals). We also saw over 150 species of birds from tiny cisticolas and crombecs to huge ground-hornbills and seven species of eagles. Throughout we benefited from Neil's deep love of Kruger, his knowledge of its wildlife, and his awareness of the broader issues of conservation. He was tireless in his efforts to make sure that we experienced the magic of the place. He was not just an excellent guide, but a gracious host. |
23.
| Client: | JP and Patricia Vanderschueren - from Belgium |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | well, what can we say... I have made Safari's in several countries over Africa and jungle treks in Central- and South America and in the Far East. Neil has a fantastic tailor made safari operation. the accommodations were excellent, and the fact that the group is limited to 6 people, gives it a very intimate character. Even tough we were only six, several of us had our little "interests" and "passions", and , being in the "customer service business" Myself, I was amazed how Neil and his right arm and cook, Gordon (this cook is a wizard - incredible what he can do in the bush), went out of their way to suit the (nutritious and interest) needs of everybody. As I said, I am not knew to having wildlife experiences, but the way that Neil "reads" the bush and animal behavior is beyond words. we can only recommend the safari operator to everybody who wants an "off the beaten tracks" experience in South Africa, in Kruger. We will definitely come back and book our stay in Kruger again with this tour operator. |
24.
| Client: | Don and Sue Zmarzty - from United Kingdom |
| Trip: | 15-Day North to South Adventure Kruger Safari |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | This is my wife and I's second trip sourced through Africa Guide and both have been excellent. Our trip was thoroughly enjoyable. We'd just enjoyed an amazing 5 days in Sabi Sands in a private lodge and had some fabulous experiences so were somewhat doubtful whether the Kruger Safari could come up to expectations. We needn't have worried! Neil is an excellent guide and great company on safari as well as having everything organised extremely well. We managed to see all that we had hoped for wildlife wise and all enhanced by Neil's experience and anecdotes following his many years in the bush. He and Gordon, his excellent assistant, even managed to cater for our vegetarian diet with a good variety of different meals. We would definitely like to travel with Neil again and would certainly use Africa Guide as a starting point for sourcing future Africa trips. |
25.
| Client: | Liz - from Australia |
| Trip: | Classic Kruger National Park Safari |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | Our Kruger Safari was a truly memorable experience and exceeded our expectation with the number of animal sightings and knowledge gained. We encountered a couple unusual happenings, one with a small group of Impala and another with some Baboons, which added to our experience. We found in Neil, a person with a vast knowledge of the Kruger, not only in the animal and bird life, but the environment as well. The service provided was excellent and would not hesitate in recommending this operator. |
26.
| Client: | Rebecca Churchill - from United Kingdom |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | The operator went out of their way to help me find an appropriate Safari to match the dates I was in South Africa for. I was booking this from another country, not my home and they made sure I only went with a company they trusted and they did a very good job. I had an excellent walking safari and saw some fanastic game. The guides went out of their way to make sure we saw the big 5 and we spent most of our time out on the reserves, which was fabulous. |
27.
| Client: | James Trickett - from Japan |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | We inquired about a safari through The Africa Guide website on short notice. The operator immediately tried to accommodate our itinerary and offered us a four-day safari in Kruger park. It would be the two of us and our guide, Neil, for the duration of the trip. They helped us arrange transportation from Nelspruit airport and that was fine. Neil met us at the gate, welcomed us and took us for our first game drive that afternoon, where we saw an adult lion resting at sunset. The following days were filled with sightings of beautiful animals out in their natural environment. In the mornings, we would be out as soon as possible when the park gates opened. Neil prepared flasks of coffee for our mid-morning break and offered us the best homemade rusks. During the game drives Neil spoke of the animals, their behaviors, and their habitat. He was incredibly knowledgeable and showed great respect for the animals and their environment. We saw and learned so much. We would most definitely go on safari again with them. |
28.
| Client: | Gorm, Laila and Niels - from Singapore |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | We liked very much what Neil was saying about The Kruger National Park and his own safari tours. No doubt that he knows what he is talking about. He is running not only a safari tour, but also as an educational experience as well. His knowledge and experience made us fell touched and we gained understanding about this fantastic environment. It was a very memorable tour, fantastic in every aspect, and we would do it all over again. |
29.
| Client: | Patty Seabock - from United States |
| Trip: | Cape + Kruger Safari |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | The tour operator was outstanding. Neil took every effort to make sure all our needs were met. We saw the big five including the elusive leopard (not once but twice). Our cook, Gordon was an excellent cook. Because they specializes in small groups, the safari becomes very personal. By the end of the trip, you are saying goodbye to good friends with fond memories. I highly recommended them. |
30.
| Client: | Kelly & Joe - from United States |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | Our safari exceeded our expectations in every way possible. From the start, Tina promptly address all our questions and concerns. She was in touch with us every step of the way. Neil, our guide, was fantastic. We could not have asked for a better man to teach us about the bush. His knowledge and understanding of the animals and their behavior was so impressive. He was also very in tune to our feelings and emotions. Nothing was too much trouble. Gordon, our cook, prepared a fabulous spread at every meal. Again, our every need was attended too. We would highly recommend this safari operator. We hope to make the trip again some day ourselves. |
31.
| Client: | Sue Hill - from Australia |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | We have just returned from South Africa. Neil and Tina provided exactly what my family and I were seeking in terms of a Kruger Park Safari. We were not sure how the trip would pan out given we had two young children with us but it couldn't have been easier. Neil's commentary during the drives really worked in keeping them interested - not an easy feat when you are out driving around for several hours at a time. During our trip I saw other larger groups on tour and thanked my lucky stars every time that I was not with them!! This operator is perfect for anyone wanting a personalised smaller group or family safari. I must say that from the first email contact I had, through all the planning stages e.g. what type of meals we would like, what did the children drink etc and throughout the trip their attention to detail was fantastic We have already recommended them to other people and by the way I found your site really useful too |
32.
| Client: | Norma Snipas - from United States |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | Booking this safari was very easy since the lines of communication were always open between me and the tour operator. The response time to my queries was immediate. It was the most fabulous safari imaginable!! Our guide, Neil, was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the Kruger. We learned much about the animals' life styles, their foot prints and how to track them, and about the predator/prey relationships. We were very fortunate to have seen very many animals- even some of the rarer ones like the wild dogs. Our drives were leisurely and very successful. We learned about the various species of trees and the multiple uses of each tree. Many birds were pointed out to us- they were beautiful. We booked the luxury safari and could not have asked for anything better. The accommodations were fantastic- gorgeous locations and very comfortable surroundings. Our chef, Marco, was excellent. We were catered to in every way- from being served refreshments in our vehicle to the many deluxe meals at the sites. The night at Blyde River Canyon was awesome. We enjoyed the ride from Kruger since the scenery was spectacular. Visiting the small towns and stops along the way was very interesting in that we were able to see the native tradespeople displaying and selling their wares. I would recommend this safari to everyone. It was the most remarkable holiday we ever enjoyed!!! |
33.
| Client: | Odile Bulten - from South Africa |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | The level of service that was provided by the safari operator was of the utmost professionalism. I contacted them to arrange a holiday for my friends who would be visiting from the Caribbean. Despite, a late request to arrange the safari, Tina, managed to secure accommodation, when everything was already fully booked in most lodges for the Easter holiday, and to organise a private safari for a short stay. Her advice regarding packing and health precautions that should be taken when travelling in a malaria-infected area, were most welcome. When I could not secure a flight for my friends from Cape Town to Nelspruit, because again all flights were fully booked for the Easter holiday, she even went the extra mile by facilitating plane bookings with a local travel agent to ensure that my friends would reach Nelspruit on time to drive to the Kruger Park. I was amazed at her flexibility, service-oriented mind and most of all her persistence in not giving up even when things seemed impossible to resolve. Unfortunately, my friends did not make it to South Africa, due to unexpected health problems of one of them, thus, she had to be disembarked from the plane before leaving from the Caribbean. When I informed the tour operator that I had to cancel all bookings, Tina suggested and offered all possible alternatives, including to hold the bookings until my friend would feel better to travel, so as to avoid a heavy financial loss to my friends due to cancellation. Since it was impossible to postpone the trip, and all bookings were cancelled in the end, Tina provided me with all the necessary administrative requirements for my friends to file a claim for reimbursement with their travel insurance. Now, I don't know many agents or companies who would be so concerned about their clients, and assist them until the end. Until today, Tina has repeatedly told me that she would remain available at any time, should my friends require additional documentations for their claim. So, definitely, I would give a big bunch of thumbs up to them for their professionalism, flexibility, service-oriented attitude, and most of all their friendly and caring service. I have personally expressed to Tina my full appreciation for the quality of service she has provided as well as her competence and professionalism. |
34.
| Client: | Bev Whitley - from United Kingdom |
| Trip: | Classic Kruger National Park Safari |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | I cannot possibly say enough about Neil & Doug to really portray what an amazing time we had with them. Neil spent a lot of time, even before we had committed to go with them, developing the perfect safari itinerary for us, based on his knowledge and our preferences. On the trip, they could not have done more. Every tiny detail was thought of, and we were thoroughly pampered from the minute we woke to the time we went to bed. Most importantly though, Neil's knowledge of everything that is Kruger was astounding, and he shares ths knowledge with such enthusiasm that it's contagious. The safari experience felt so unique, as rather than rushing round ticking off animals against a checklist, we spent many hours just sitting watching and observing the behaviour of the animals - we were never in a rush. And we saw just about every creature we could ever think of. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone that was even thinking about a safari. |
35.
| Client: | Dave Mayes - from South Africa |
| Trip: | Cape + Kruger Safari |
| Rating: |  rating 4.5/5 |
| Comment: | We did have a very fine holiday with Neil and his company. The accommodations were luxurious and the bush food was excellent – I even brought home some recipe ideas. We learned a lot about animal behavior and the ecology of the park from our guide (Neil) who worked very hard to help us experience the wild. We saw lots of animals, but my wife wasn’t too excited about the hyena kill we witnessed within 10 feet of our vehicle. In retrospect, we would have liked to have experienced one game walk; six days is a long time for us to go without exercise. I certainly can recommend the tour operator and their very professional services. |
36.
| Client: | Tricia Ho and Phil Couvrette - from Canada |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | South Africans should visit Kruger national park not only on vacation to see the animals, but regularly, to visit their heritage and learn their history, guide Neil says. He could have added that this applies to all visitors to the park, who can not only visit one of the world's richest ecosystems, but the soul of South Africa. His unique tours of the great park, offering 24-hour guidance and a five star chef, have provided us with a treasured range of emotions, a life-time of memories, and a stern resolve to return and visit the rest of the Kruger. It's one thing to see the animals, it's quite another to understand their attitude and behavior. He makes sure you miss nothing of the bush's continuous and extraordinary adventure. Just try to blink as little as possible on one of their tours. Tricia Ho and Phil Couvrette Montreal, Canada |
37.
| Client: | Suzanne and Aaron Thomas - from Canada |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | After much worrying over booking a trip from Canada to South Africa over the Internet, we booked with this operator and can honestly say, it was this booking that made our trip to Africa the wonderful experience it was. From the beginning, Tina and Neil were prompt, informative, and helpful in their correspondence with us. They not only arranged the perfect 14 day safari for us, but they also booked time in Zambia for us (as we wanted to see Victoria Falls) and set us up with an amazing tour guide in Cape Town as well. I cannot stress enough how lucky you are to have come across the operator and be looking into their reviews! My husband and I were looking for someone to take us into the wild of Africa and show us a few animals. We got so much more than we expected. We got Neil, an experienced, passionate, and knowledgeable tour guide and story-teller, with a wonderful sense of humour and incredible ability to read what we wanted and needed on our trip. With Neil came Doug, the talented “Safari Chef” who cooked up a storm, shared stories, was kind and funny, and cracked us up constantly with his quiet yet effective sense of humour and his hilarious interactions with Neil. Our accomodations were perfect and exactly what we would have chosen for ourselves. We spent our game drives in an open vehicle, in awe of the vast splendour of the Kruger National Park. We learned so much from Neil on these drives – not only fascinating information about animals and their habits, but also about respecting the Kruger and enjoying it for the spectacular place it is. Every day was different – we were never guaranteed any sightings but we got what we came for and we were truly amazed by what we saw. A self-drive would not have come close to the experience we had with Neil and we are so glad that we found them. |
38.
| Client: | Linda and Angela - from Sweden |
| Trip: | Classic Kruger National Park Safari |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | The safari with Neil and Doug was perfect from the beginning 'til the end. We were only two people and that's quite something that they specialise the safari just for you. Thank you so much, we'll recommend you to all our near and dear ones and others when chance given. |
39.
| Client: | Catherine - from United States |
| Trip: | Classic Kruger National Park Safari |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | Our safari was 1st class from the moment we were met by Doug at the airport until Neil safely returned us a week later. We were treated to a cosy night at the 5th Ave. Guesthouse before meeting up with Neil in the Kruger by lunch Saturday. Roadside elephant ettiquette, grounded hornbills and a couple of impala later we settle into our lodge. Lions basking in the early rays of dawn; rhino, buffalo and graceful giraffe by morning tea. Elephants bathing in the afternoon heat, zebras prancing, lilac-breasted rollers and a tree full of vultures. After a brief encounter with a leopard, we milk the purple African sunset all the way back to our lodge, to be greeted by Mr Doug, a pink G'N'T and a gourmet dinner ....... Just another day on our Safari. Already planning our next Adventure" |
40.
| Client: | Paula Hensley - from United States |
| Trip: | currently unavailable |
| Rating: | rating 5/5 |
| Comment: | I want to take this opportunity to express my wonder and complete satisfaction with this safari operator. I recently completed their "Circle of Life" curriculum which included a visit to the Cradle of Humankind and a thorough introduction to Kruger National Park. I was so impressed by the depth of knowledge and ease of communication of my guide, Neil, and his colleague Doug. They were both so personable, knowledgeable and attentive that I feel like I have gained two special friends for life. I was awed by their passion for the park. They have an astounding interest in all aspects of the Kruger. Not only did I get to see numerous animals but learned a lot about the interaction of all the species, including mankind. Neil showed me how to track, how to recognize constellations and how to listen and hear the symphony of sounds that South Africa offers. I can recommend their adventure without reservation - and, speaking of reservations - I wish I could book another trip with them this very moment! Please convey my heartfelt thanks and very best wishes to them. Thank you! |
