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:
- $95 to $414 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
Email Debby | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We have had the most wonderfull South Africa trip thanks to Tailor Made Safaris
Memories for a lifetime!!
And we made so many of them during our 35-day trip through South Africa.
From the very first moment, we had great and friendly contact with Robin, who put together this fantastic journey for us! We travelled with two young kids, and Robin knew all the perfect places and activities for us, allowing us to have an AMAZING trip with plenty of time to relax as well.
From farm stays to safaris, from penguins to hippos, from Table Mountain to the breathtaking views at Makongo — we enjoyed every single moment!
We would truly recommend everyone to plan their own trip through wonderful South Africa with Tailor Made Safaris!
NL
Email Marian | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable
What an amazing trip I made with my daughter through Tailor Made Safaris.
At the Vakantiebeurs in Utrecht I was investigating if and how my daughter and I — two blonde women (59 and 32) — could safely travel on our own in South Africa, and that’s where I met Geert. His story, and especially the feeling I got from him as a Dutch person living there himself, immediately gave me a sense of trust. And that feeling only grew during the preparation and throughout the trip thanks to Angela, who also lives there with her family. She really knows what she’s talking about and reassured us when people back home questioned whether our trip was responsible.
Our trip of just over 2.5 weeks — a mix of hiking, wildlife, nature, culture, and moments of doing absolutely nothing — was summarised in a beautiful, handy little book that felt like unwrapping daily gifts over and over again. It guided us through each day, knowing that Angela was in the background if needed.
How wonderful it was to receive a South African phone at the airport, to have all the taxis arranged for us in Johannesburg, the transfers to and from the Apartheid Museum, the guided cycling tour in Soweto, and the transfer to our rental car. It felt good not having to explore those areas on our own. Everywhere we went they knew about our arrival and our arrangements — everything was organised incredibly well.
With our comfortable rental car we continued our journey to the beautiful Drakensberg, Ithala, Kosi Bay, Tembe, St Lucia, and as the grand finale, a stunning lodge in a truly spectacular spot in the Makongo Hills. Wow, what an experience — the animals, the beautiful accommodations (each one more beautiful than the next, and we knew that beforehand), the views, the game drives, the food, and not to forget the warm hospitality of the people. And if you get a flat tyre, you simply call Angela in your own language and she talks you through everything. And how special it was when she visited us during the trip with a cake for my birthday, sharing stories from her daily life in South Africa.
We didn’t always manage to reach our daily travel-times because of potholes, speed bumps, animals, and traffic, which unfortunately cut into our “relax-and-do-nothing” time here and there. So adding an extra day at beautiful spots is something we would definitely recommend. There’s still room for improvement when it comes to route marking for self-drive game drives or walks in the reserves compared to the Netherlands, and we experienced the helpfulness of the locals and lodge staff when we got stuck on a sandy road or didn’t dare to cross a flowing river. They truly help you solve it. Such kindness — and most importantly, we never once felt unsafe during the entire trip.
In short: we had an unforgettable journey with an exceptionally wonderful travel organisation.
A perfect way to feel free while everything important is well-arranged and prepared. If we go again, we will definitely book through them. Highly recommended!
Email Bev | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
In our experience, Tailor Made Safaris were friendly, helpful and well organised.
Our brief was a of mix of safaris and beach locations over Christmas and New Year. Candance provided us with a selection of game reserves and beach locations from which to choose. We found this extremely helpful given the huge number of options available to us. Candance went on to make the reservations for us and also arranged all our road transfers. We were in contact with Candance throughout our two week holiday, should we have needed anything. This just left us to sit back and enjoy. Which we did!
NL
Email Anke en Ron | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable e Family Safari in South Africa
We traveled with **Safaris op Maat** and had an absolutely amazing holiday. We first met **Geert and Robin** at the Travel Fair, where we were able to clearly share our wishes. We were looking for a trip suitable for **teenagers**, with a **varied program**, **limited driving distances**, the opportunity to see the **Big Five**, and a good balance between **relaxation and activities**.
Based on one of their “standard” itineraries, a proposal was made and then fine-tuned together with us through short and efficient lines of communication. Accommodations and travel details were discussed and adjusted where needed to perfectly match our preferences. It truly felt like a tailor-made journey.
During the trip itself, communication remained excellent. We had direct contact with **Geert and his local team**, with easy and quick WhatsApp communication whenever needed, for example when something was unclear in the detailed travel documents. Any questions were answered promptly and professionally.
Thanks to the outstanding organization and personal approach, we could fully relax and enjoy our journey. **We had a fantastic holiday and highly recommend Safaris op Maat!**
NL
Email Larry and Hanneke Rackwitz | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An excellent holiday with Tailor Made Safaris
If you decide to book a safari in KwaZulu-Natal, Tailor Made Safaris is the perfect partner to turn all your wishes into an adventurous and beautiful experience. You immediately feel at ease while travelling through South Africa, thanks to a complete package of information and documentation, a TomTom navigation system, and a mobile phone (provided free of charge) by Tailor Made Safaris.
Once again, we enjoyed a wonderful, adventurous, and intense journey through beautiful South Africa, in KwaZulu-Natal. Everything was impeccably organised by Geert and his team at Tailor Made Safaris. Our trip took us, among other places, to Kosi Bay Forest Lodge, located in the stunning iSimangaliso Wetland Park, close to the Mozambican border. From there we spent a few nights in Tembe Elephant Park, followed by St Lucia, where—after five years—we finally experienced a very special evening scene: several hippos, including baby hippos, emerging from the river that runs alongside St Lucia and walking straight through the main street!
To conclude this exceptional journey—made even more meaningful by the three books we had read about the remarkable origins of this reserve—we spent three nights at Thula Thula: peace and tranquillity in the heart of Zululand.
NL
Email Nathalie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic
This year, we got in touch with Tailor Made Safaris at the Vakantiebeurs. We first had a very pleasant conversation with a previous traveller who had booked through Tailor Made Safaris, followed by an inspiring presentation by Geert. After that, Robin took over the conversation with us.
The discussion went very well, and we truly felt heard in terms of our wishes. At that stage, we were still quite open and unsure about what we really wanted to do or where exactly we wanted to go.
We shared all our wishes and our budget, and Robin came up with great ideas and options for our trip. In the end, we were able to put together a beautiful tailor-made journey, made possible by the excellent and ongoing communication.
During our 3.5-week trip through South Africa, the contact with Robin and the other team members remained excellent. All accommodations and activities were perfectly arranged. It was truly a worry-free journey and 100% enjoyment.
Tailor Made Safaris is highly recommended!
NL
Email Sandra | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good en friendly tour operator!
We made a beautiful journey through South Africa and enjoyed it immensely. We saw and experienced so much, with Tailor Made Safaris supporting us every step of the way with advice and practical help.
The travel book you receive in advance is an excellent guide during the trip. Tailor Made Safaris truly lives up to its name: it is genuinely tailor-made.
NL
Email Molenbeek | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Super good and reliable...friendly. Easy to reach.
The five of us had a fantastic trip. We went with our children, ages 15, 17, and 18, and my wife and I. Before we left, we received a book with all the information we needed: departure times, routes, where to shop for groceries, or where to eat. Absolutely everything. This made the trip even more relaxing. Once we arrived in South Africa after a long flight, we picked up our rental car. This was also arranged by Safari Op Maat, as was an eSIM card since our phones weren't working. This was necessary because we wanted to drive the route accurately. We spent 12 days traveling in South Africa, covering approximately 1,300 kilometers. We saw the Big 5, the friendly people, the beautiful scenery, and the fantastic lodges, each more beautiful than the last. We ate delicious food. This was truly the best trip of our lives so far. We hope to experience many more trips like this. Since we've only seen a small part of Africa so far, we'd love to return. Thanks to SAFARI OP Maat on behalf of our entire family. Sincerely, Roy
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NL
Email Annemiek | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well cared for on an adventure.
We received a detailed itinerary that covered absolutely everything. We chose Tailor-Made Safaris because of the personalized guidance, and we weren't disappointed. It made us feel safe, and everything was perfectly organized. The trip was varied, encompassing mountains, the coast, and, of course, the safaris. We loved Tembe Elephant and the Wetland Park Drive with guide Johan at iSimangaliso's Eastern Shores. We wouldn't recommend the cultural tour to a Zulu village. The rainy weather made Kosi Bay less enjoyable, so we missed out on snorkeling and relaxing by the pool. Our stay at Makongo Hills was fantastic. We enjoyed the friendly people and beautiful South Africa.
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NL
Email Irene Hoekstra | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Robin was involved during the trip, wich made us feel very comfortable! Fantastic and varied package
Thanks for the very wonderful service and helpful information about our Holliday in South Africa, We truly had the time of our lives! Ar first, i was a bit anxious about traveling alone with my two children- especially driving ourselves through the various reserves. but thnx to good Robin’s excellent preparation and support, everything went smoothly. We felt safe, well informed and completely at ease throughout the journey. it was an unforgettable experience!
