Native Escapes
- Located In:
-
United Kingdom
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2007)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $187 to $999 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This was our first holiday with Native Escapes and we would recommend them. There was very prop
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The scenery in different parts of Namibia is very dramatic and beautiful, especially Sossusvlei and Damaraland. The lodges are well situated with no fences round the camps so you can just watch the wildlife from your room. We saw a male lion at the water hole just 20 yards away from our porch and while in a night hide saw two rhinos fighting and they were only about 5 yards away. It was also very special going out for the sundowners with our guide singing and playing the guitar while the sun went down - we have come back with some lovely memories
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be aware that the days are very long (the longest was from 5.30am, spent all day at Etosha National Park, had dinner, went to a night hide and got back to the lodge at midnight). There is a lot of travelling on very uneven, rocky roads. The weather was extremely hot and the vehicle not air-conditioned, which made all the travelling very tiring. I dont think this holiday would be suitable for anyone over about 70 years old
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All the lodges used employed local people and were all trying hard to reduce environmental impacts. All the people concerned supported conservation
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a brilliant holiday. The guide was great, very knowledgable, very professional and his enthusiasm and love for his country shone through everything he did. He made our time in Namibia very special. All the lodges used were comfortable and clean and the food great and the people there friendly and helpful.
Email Joy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip to Namibia was our best holiday ever!
Simon at Native Escapes recommended a fantastic itinerary for our trip to Jo'burg and Namibia. The trip exceeded all our expectations and we would highly recommend it to everyone. We had a one night stop over at the Africa Rock Hotel in Jo'burg which was so welcoming and friendly and when we returned from our trip to Namibia they couldn't do enough for us. Simon arranged a great 5h tour of Jo'burg which gave us a real overview of the city. Our trip to Namibia was very well organised and our guide, Will, was friendly, patient and very knowledgeable about the birds, wildlife and Namibia in general. All aspects of the trip were very well organised and the lodges very welcoming and friendly and all very different. Every day of the trip brought new and exciting adventures, from climbing up a huge sand dune at sunrise, walking through a deep canyon, seeing whales, penguins and dolphins on a boat trip in Walvis Bay, quad biking in the sand dunes near Swakopmund, seeing the rock paintings at Twyfelfontein, visiting a Himba village, seeing the desert adapted elephants, seeing the wildlife in Etosha National Park and finally visiting Afri Cat conservation project for big cats.
Email Bronwen & David | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Exceptional
My husband and I spent six days on safari in Tanzania covering Tarangire & Serengeti national parks plus Ngorongoro Crater, each lodge we stayed at was superb and very different from each other. Our safari guide Harry was a lovely man and certainly knew his job. We then moved on to Fundu Lagoon which is a very remote hideaway off Pemba Island near Zanzibar. This was the fourth trip that both Sharon & Simon have arranged for us over the past few years,their knowledge and service is over and above other safari companies we have used before. Their communications and attention to detail with suggested itinerary's are absolutely brilliant they never fail to amaze me. Using Native Escapes is a no brainier for me they delivery time and time again. Well done to you both.
First class trip
Our first time visit to SA we left everything in the safe hands of Simon and his team at Native Escapes. Communications were superb and the itinerary well planned to meet our needs. Organised accommodation throughout the trip was faultless and the driving notes provided between stops were extremely useful in judging travel times and linking with points of interest along our tour route. As our trip coincided with celebrating a big birthday and wedding anniversary all the hotels had been primed in advance and we were treated to bubbly, chocolates and birthday cakes along the way (nice touch and much appreciated). Hence the best thing of all about booking with Native Escapes is the personal touch, we really felt as if it was friends who had organised the trip for us not some sterile remote booking agent. We would highly recommend Native Escapes and consider using again if and possibly when we revisit South Africa again.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A superbly organised trip of a lifetime.
Firstly, I had an absolutely awesome time (in the true sense of the word). I don't think I am really back down to earth even now, it truly was the holiday of a lifetime, and thanks are due to Native Escapes for all they did to make it possible. Their prompt attention to detail and their understanding of my concerns as a woman travelling alone were typical of the professional service they gave me. I have already recommended Native Escapes to friends without any hesitation.
All the accommodation was of an extremely high standard. The bedrooms were luxurious, and the opportunity to shower in an open-air bathroom under the stars in my favourite lodge was truly special. All the lodge and guesthouse staff were a credit to their country: friendly, courteous and helpful.
Best of all though was our guide, Tarry. A truly remarkable young man, his knowledge of, and passion for his country and its wildlife shone through from day one and I learned an enormous amount from him during the safari. His knowledge of the animals and their behaviour ensured that we had amazing experiences every day, and his sense of humour and mimicry skills defied description!
At the end of our trip Tarry asked what was the highlight for me. I really couldn’t answer that as picking out only one thing was impossible, but what rests in my mind now I am home are the awesome dunes of the Namib desert, the wilderness of Damaraland, kayaking and playing with the seals in Walvis Bay, a very close encounter with a desert-adapted elephant, and seeing a leopard make a kill at Okonjima.
Add to that the privilege of meeting the Himba people and the huge variety of animals and birds we saw in Etosha. Finally, I cannot recommend highly enough the opportunity to spend time at the Africat Foundation and learn more about the vital work that they do there. Close encounters with leopard and cheetah are pretty well guaranteed, and are unforgettable.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very helpful, very efficient answering all queries and even booking our plane seats in advance.
We found Native Escapes professional and friendly and always ready when we needed advice. The holiday exceeded our expectations. Jason, our tour leader was great and the tour itself was varied and fascinating. We thought the vehicle with eight window seats, one for each in the group was well designed and comfortable. All the lodges we used were amazing and the friendliness of the staff everywhere made us feel very welcome. We were very impressed by Namibia and the attitude towards conservation. We learned so much thanks primarily to Jason. It was a superb holiday. Thank you Sharon and Native Escapes.
US
Email Debbie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime!
I don't have the words to describe how incredible this trip was thanks to the wonderful people of Native Escapes but I will try. Start to finish they FAR exceeded my expectations (and truthfully my expectations were probably abnormally high). Simon was so kind and patient with me, I put him thru the ringer with all my questions and dozens and dozens of emails / phone calls, etc. He happily helped me thru the entire process and completely tailored the entire vacation to my exact specifications and desires. His advice and expertise were invaluable as I was trying to navigate thru the many options one has when planning an extended stay in Africa. We started in Rwanda and hiked to see the mountain gorillas - unbelievable experience, cannot recommend this enough. We then went to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater - another life changing experience - highly recommend. We ended our trip with 4 nights in the Seychelles - no words to describe how beautiful and exotic it is there. The accommodations, food, service, etc. etc. at every location were outstanding! Every piece of the trip was arranged by Native Escapes, all transfers and logistics, literally all we had to do was show up. This is really key for Africa because it would be very difficult to arrange all of the intercontinental travel (flights, cars, etc.) on your own. With Native Escapes they handled it all and we got first-class service the entire way. We have traveled many parts of the world and all over Europe numerous times, and I have never felt so treated and pampered as I did during this trip. The vendors and resorts that Native Escapes partners with are truly world-class. I am currently researching our next adventure in Africa and will undoubtedly be using Native Escapes again. Thank you for giving me a once in a lifetime experience that I will always cherish!
Email Anne Kemp | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great attention to detail
From the very first enquiry to Simon regarding the possibility of a trip to Namibia I was impressed by his knowledge and the attention to detail he provided. Although we are used to visiting South Africa, Namibia was a country that we knew very little about. The planned itinerary was superb and I did things I'd never imagined possible, such as climbing a huge sand dune and scrambling down canyons. The best bit however had to be the game drives, where we saw a vast array of wild life, and the opportunity to track cheetahs and a huge hyena on foot. Accommodation overall was very good. I can really recommend the extension to Okonjima and the Africat Foundation; it was well worth the extra. You do have to have a certain amount of fitness but we are both over 60 and apart my husband suffering from a bad back the itinerary did not cause us problems. I can really recommend Native Escapes for its professionalism and great customer service. Thank you Simon.
FR
Email Simon Bridges | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simply the best
My wife and I have just returned from a tailor made three week tour of South Africa. The trip was organised in its entirety by Native Escapes and was way beyond our wildest expectations. We had input into the trip and each of our suggestions was taken into account and acted upon. The company was absolutely superb in its organisation and planning and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone contemplating such a holiday
Email Pauline Bullock | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nothing too much trouble in order to put together exactly the trip we wanted which was fantastic.
The communication between ourselves and Native Escapes was first class to every last detail.There was written confirmation of every stage of the planning of our trip to Namibia and much discussion to seek out what we really wanted.There are a lot of companies out there offering similar services whom I tried initially but due to Sharon appearing to understand the type of trip we wanted I stuck with Native Escapes..a very personalised service.The Safari Trip was absolutely fantastic from the incredible guide we had,the amazing landscapes,the wonderfully remote tented camps with their wonderful staff and the superb quality of accommodation and food.The heartfelt welcomes and farewells at the camps was truly special.Also it was a privilege to see the animals roaming free and to share their natural habitat with them.It was our first time to Africa and it had a huge impact on us both, in ways that are difficult to explain...so much so that there were quite a few group tears during and at the end of the trip.We will never forget Namibia.