Nick van de Wiel of Tailor Made Safaris
Tailor Made Safaris
- Located In:
-
Netherlands
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- FGASA, TKZN, MHCTO & EDTEA
- Tour Types:
- Self-drive mid-range & luxury tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $86 to $377 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Mark Weaver | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An absolutely first rate Photographic Tour, a great group and we learnt so much.
Duration: 12 day Photographic workshop visiting the highlights of Namibia (+ one day either side of the tour and 4 nts in St Lucia, SA).
I should start by explaining that I have been on safari tours before with this company and knew the high levels of service that would be provided. Also, I have done a small amount of wildlife photography and although I am happy with it, there is significant room for improvement in all aspects of my photography knowledge. Landscape photography was however something completely new to me and 12 days of complete submersion in this subject was very daunting to say the least.
I should not have worried.
Tailor Made Safaris and their partner company Lime Photo were first rate. The level of tuition was outstanding with Nick and Emil making themselves available to us probably way more than they should have. One catered to the needs of those newer to digital photography like me and the associated software and one to the more proficient guests. "Classroom" theory dealt with Lightroom and Photoshop as well as composition, balance, interest, subject matter and much, much more.
The practical’s covered, star trails by different methods, astrophotography, sun rise, sun set, blue hour, dawn and dusk and obviously daylight shoots as well as covering the elements covered in the theory sessions.
At the start it has to be said that I was completely out of my depth (as perhaps were others) but we were all treated as individuals and it took no time at all for our hosts to gauge out ability levels. Noticing I was struggling without me having to ask for help showed an understanding of guests (my) shortcomings and I was given assistance when needed but was pushed to stretch myself too. My learning curve was vertical; there was no curve, which gives one a fantastic feeling of achievement when good shots are taken.
It has to be understood that this is a work shop; but this is NOT grinding, boring and tedious work. This is enlightening, broadening, exciting and exhilarating work. Yes there are some very early mornings and long days but the rewards can be seen in your photos… No pain, no gain!
The inclusion of the option to take a photography flight over the dunes was outstanding and for many, a once in a life time opportunity. This is a completely different type of shooting to that we had been learning to that point. This is a point and continuous shooting on auto focus style while looking for patterns, composition, balance etc…it definitely got the heart racing. Seeing Deadvlei, Dune 45 and wild Oryx on the dunes from the air was amazing!
Due to the scale of the country and the high number of Photographer Bucket List locations visited, there is quite a bit of traveling but due to the structure of the tour, the transport arrangements, the views and photo opportunities en-route the traveling is easily considered to be part of the experience rather than a chore. If you offer to assist with the driving as I did, it makes the journey even more of an experience.
Due to the traveling, the preferences of the guests, weather and the need to sometimes split the group to get the best from the locations, the tour; and so the timings need to be a little fluid, this requires one to go with the flow and it keeps things interesting. This type of tour can’t be run to the tick of a Swiss watch.
The accommodation ranges from basic but comfortable to Namibian 4 /5 star, the food ranged from marinated fillet steak sandwiches cooked by Nick and Freya under the stars in a stunning national park to good wholesome hotel and/or restaurant fair…I would go for the steak in that location any day!
A few words about my fellow guests, I had a good idea before I left the UK that this was going to be a great tour because of those running it, but without the ladies and gents that attended; their humour, their understanding of limitations in fellow guest’s abilities, their appreciation of the needs of others; their willingness to help when needed and their tolerance of seven other strangers in close proximity for 12 days, this would not have been the outstanding experience that it has been. My thanks to all of them.
All in all… A fan-bloody-tastic tour. Nick with his un-flappable attention to tour detail and logistics, his concern for guests comfort and enjoyment and his calm, always patient teaching method. Emil with his exuberant and ever present photographer’s admiration of every vista that this magnificent country presents to you, his un-ending enthusiasm (even at 02:00) and his phenomenal knowledge of photography. They make an ideal team.
In all my reviews ask “Would I go back?” But this applies to properties and sightseeing tours/safaris, so it’s not appropriate here. So I will ask "Would I book with Tailor Made Safaris for another Photography Workshop?"
Absolutely!
This was a tour of more shooting and more tuition, great coaching, low guest to instructor ratios and first rate sights all at a good value for money. Enjoyment level 10 out of 10.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Namibian Photographic Workshop
Tailor Made Safaris make an incredible effort to ensure that from the moment we arrived at Windhoek airport until the time we all left to go home, we were to experience something really rather special. The organisation was exceptional. Having done a recce the year before, Nick & Emil had meticulously planned the itinerary. There was an element of tourism for those of us new to Namibia, but of course primarily it was a photographic workshop, an intense one at that! Dawn shoots, dusk shoots and star shoots all at the most amazing iconic venues. Quite exhausting but we all learned an awful lot thanks to Nick van de Wiel and our photographic expert Emil von Maltitz. Both of them had an in depth knowledge of photography and who gently and patiently nudged me up a very steep learning curve! We were a happy, cohesive group made so by the huge efforts of Nick, his wife Freya and of course Emil. They made every effort to ensure that everyone's needs were catered for and that we indeed got value for money. My heartfelt thanks to them and my fellow students for making this truly, a trip of a lifetime.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had a wonderful experience using tailor made safaris they helped plan my amazing proposal!
The communications were simply and straight forward and all the trip was planned to perfection. would certainly use the services again. The safari tour itself was excellent considering the weather problems but they still went out of there way to cater for myself and my partner. highly recommended!!!
NL
Email Roel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A fantastic experience with quality service
We (party of 6) decided to book our trip 'the best of the elephant coast & drakensbergen' with Tailormade Safaris and had a truly wonderful experience. Everything was well-planned and organised and the service was exceptional. Geert/Nick and Freya really delivered on their promise of giving us a one of a kind experience, combining amazing gamedrives, great food (Tailormade Safaris' Nicholaas really knows how to braai!) and secluded lodges with breathtaking views. We will without a doubt book another Tailormade Safari. Geert/Nick, Freya, Nicholaas; thank you for the best trip i've ever had!
Email Dan Baylie and Hope Weaver | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A well planned, well executed, thoroughly enjoyable and memorable holiday!
We visited South Africa as a large family group. The itinerary/activities were well planned and catered for all parties. We visited five places in total including St Lucia, Leopards Mountain, Ithala, Thonga and Tembe. We had amazing experiences and sightings at every destination; memories to treasure forever!
Nick/Freya were always helpful and nothing was ever too much trouble. We would strongly recommend 'Tailor made Safaris'. Overall, the holiday and 'Tailor made Safaris' surpassed all expectations and will use these guys for future holidays in SA.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most memorable experience with Tailor Made Safaris in South-Africa!
Our trip with Tailor Made Safaris was beyond memorable! Friends told us about their great experience and everything about that was true. We send Tailor Made Safaris an e-mail with our plans. They quickly responded with a few questions about our budget, dates of traveling and preferences (what kind of wild parks and accommodations). After we filled that in, we received a very detailed offer which fitted our desires perfectly. After a week in Cape-Town (own planning), our week with Tailor Made Safaris was what we hoped for. We stayed for 3 nights in Avalon Guesthouse in St. Lucia, with a couple of day trip safaris. After that, we stayed for 2 nights in Tembe Elephant Park and 2 nights in Rhino River Reserve. Al those parks and accommodations were pretty amazing. The game drives were so good and the guides had great knowledge of all the animals. Also the service at the accommodation was perfect. We didn't want a massive touristic experience, we were more looking for an African experience. And we did get the African experience!
Email Mark Weaver | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding game viewing, first rate accommodation... A fantastic time to be repeated soon!
We are proud to have been the first to provide a review for this fantastic team and we are so please that every review since has been just as positive. Well here we are less than 12 months since our last trip with Tailor Made Safaris and again we have to congratulate them on providing another first rate vacation, now that has to be a good recommendation! This trip we thought we would pile on the pressure, so my wife and I brought our daughter, her partner, my Mum and Dad, we were to meet up with Ollie (our son) again and his girlfriend was to join us for a few days at the start of the trip! To add further interest, my parents would do a different tour after 6 days and then meet up with us again for the last day. I have to say that even with all these complications the Tailor Made Safari team just got stuck in and came up with absolutely fantastic tours for everyone. Mum & Dad did the more scenic/cultural side of things. Ours was much more of the wildlife direction with a little rest in the middle. I would consider this to be quite a complex pair of trips and jet the response to our many and probably sometimes annoying questions was always prompt, efficient and clear.
The accommodation recommendations were varied (B&Bs to 5* lodges, first class tents to hi quality beach hotel) but all were great. Little things are what often count in the customer care game. We mentioned in our pre-booking questionnaire that my wife likes Earl Grey Tea with skimmed milk. That was what was provided at every accommodation, great attention to detail!
To pick up the format of our last review we had more things to tick off our respective Bucket Lists; Cheetah in the wild…not one though but six…and on a kill!
Ollie saw an Aardvark which is extremely rare.
We saw Black Rhinos …with calves which were had not managed to see last year.
Memories – this time in addition to the cheetah, there was sitting in bed in a tent at Tembe while a wild elephant roamed in the camp just feet away.
Sitting in an open game viewer while two lioness, one adolescent male and four cubs pass just feet away.
Visiting the Zulu village and seeing and playing with the kids at the crèche.
Sitting in the deck at Ithala Lodge enjoying a fantastic fillet steak salad while laughing and joking with my family and Nick (now also part of our family weather hi likes it or not).
The whole trip was so full of new and fantastic experiences and many very happy memories that are far too numerous to list here.
Tailor Made Safaris again created a diverse, interesting trip with plenty to see and do, good quality accommodation and importantly fantastic game viewing. Ollie was kept engaged and learnt things that he otherwise may not have and the rest of us saw and learnt more than I could have imagined.
The mix of B&B, in park, luxury safari tent, reserve lodges and hotel accommodation was great.
Again, I will have to repeat myself from the last review, “With any holiday of this type there are two important questions
1) Would we pay good money to go again?
2) Would we recommend the guide company to friends and family?”
Our answer in both cases is again a resounding yes and while still in Africa, Mum & Dad had already started planning another trip with Tailor Made Safaris for 2015!
Thanks Nick for being a fantastic guide and for putting up with us, keep up the good work.
The Weaver family
United Kingdom
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable journey. In one word: Awesome!
It was memorable and we are confident that we will go back. We greatly enjoyed the Drakensberg , the many animals that we saw ( zebras , giraffes , antelopes , the " cats " including lions, elephants , wild dogs , whales , dolphins, turtles , etc. ) And the very friendly locals. Tailor Made Safaris planned a wonderful trip for us by listening to our needs and delivering what we asked for. The three and a half week trip provided a variety of activities and adventures and also a chance to relax. The Mozambique and Swaziland extensions, each for a few days were very nice. The accommodations was very good (luxury bed and breakfasts to beautiful luxury tents). We found it very helpful that Geert and Freya were continuously accessible and worked ceaselessly to please us. An unforgettable journey. In one word: Awesome! Thanks a lot for everything and see you soon!
NL
Email Manouk Goettsch | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best holiday ever!
We never been on a holiday outside of Europe and I am so happy that we booked our holiday with Tailor Made Safaris!
We booked a self-drive tour from Drakensbergen, via St. Lucia, to Mozambique, Tembe Elephant Park and we ended our fantastic journey in Swaziland.
Everything was perfectly arranged. The accomodations, the navigation, the excursions. We never booked a holiday that was so well-organized.
Also all the accomodations where beautiful, clean and of high quality.
We recommend Tailor Made Safaris to all our friends and we ensure you that you can't find a better operator for your dream journey to South Africa!!
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A perfect combination of wildlife, nature, photography, adventure and relaxation!
We have come back from our lovely trip through Kwazulu Natal (Mkhuze, Kosi Bay, Tembe Elephant Park, St. Lucia, Hluhluwe, Drakensberg) and it has taken us quite a while to work our way through the many beautiful photos and videos.
The trip was a perfect combination of wildlife, nature, photography, adventure and relaxation. Tailor Made Safaris has shown us this beautiful part of South Africa in a special way, with a highly skilled and attentive private guide and a sturdy 4x4 Land Cruiser. An unforgettable safari experience! As active travelers and ‘hobby’ photographers the many "up- close and personal” encounters with Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffes, Lions and Wild Dogs, and the beautiful nature was a real treat.
The trip was diverse and varied: forest, savanna, tropical forest, dune, beach, marsh and rugged mountains; various environments and wildlife parks came into our over three week trip.
We can also tick off 2 more UNESCO World Heritage sites from our wish list: Ukhahlamba in the Drakensberg and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Due to the good organization, the beautiful accommodations and personalized treatment of Tailor Made Safaris, we feel privileged to have been able to experience such a safari.
Darja and Sander (The Hague - The Netherlands )