Part of the happy Pembury team having a laugh!
Pembury Tours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 1996)
- Member Of:
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Dan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Friendly, personalized, reliable, and prompt service: the way to arrange the trip(s) of a lifetime
We took a family trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana last October. As expats, living in Africa for a few years, this was not our first safari trip, but was the first to these countries. Initially, we tried to book through another agent at another company, but we got embroiled in a dispute over pricing and policies. The lodges we wanted to stay at were advertising multiple discounts that could be combined, yet our original travel agent was claiming that she could only get one discount, but that we had to book with her, even though we had not signed a contract or paid a deposit.
At that point I happened to contact Pembury Tours to arrange another trip, based on their excellent reviews online. Anya responded promptly and helped me out with the new reservation, but she also provided me advice and moral support for the dispute about the Zimbabwe and Botswana trip. Not only did she help me resolve the matter with the first agent, but she ended up arranging our trip, got our combined set of discounts, and she became a good friend in the process.
This review is about the trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana we took based on Anya’s arrangements. I mentioned the rocky start already, but that was followed by another round of troubles. One of the lodges Anya had booked for us was partly destroyed in a wildfire (after we booked it). That lodge had to close for repairs and would not be able to honor our reservations. As soon as she found out, Anya called us proactively with news of the fire damage. She offered suggestions, then took our preferences, negotiated with other lodges in the area, and managed to get us to stay in a more upscale lodge for no additional costs.
Once the alternative lodging was secured, Anya followed up with information about the trip logistics, offered advice about activities at each of the three lodges, the transfers between locations, tipping guidelines, packing checklists, and the visa and health requirements. We felt very confident that we were in good hands with Anya: she had the information we needed and was very prompt and reliable in providing it whenever we needed it.
The trip itself was amazing. Anya’s advice was invaluable, and her arrangements made for smooth and reliable handoffs from each lodge to the transfer and to the next lodge, whether the transfer was by car, air, or a combination of the two. We had selected the lodges ourselves, but Anya confirmed that they would offer quality accommodations and food, which they did. Because the lodges were in different types of environments, we saw a wide variety of wildlife, land-dwellers, water-dwellers, and an incredible variety of birds. Going from Victoria Falls to the Khwai Private Reserve to the Okavango Delta, we felt transported from one amazing environment to an even more amazing one. The guides provided by the lodges were immensely knowledgeable, friendly, and very generous in sharing their knowledge with us. We could not have asked for anything better.
Following this trip, we have reached out to Anya with additional requests for travel and we have recommended her and Pembury Tours to all of our friends. There was a time when I was thinking how nice it would be to have a close friend or relative working on the inside, in the travel industry. My wish has come true: Anya is that friend, and our African travels are so much more rewarding and effortless thanks to her.
US
Email Nicole | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrific experience!
We had the absolute pleasure of working with Kerry, and we can't recommend her highly enough! From start to finish, she was a joy to work with- attentive, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. Her recommendations were spot-on and tailored perfectly to my needs, making the entire experience seamless and enjoyable.
Kerry took the time to understand exactly what I was looking for and provided thoughtful, well-informed suggestions that truly elevated my experience. Her attention to detail and personalized approach made all the difference.
Thank you, Kerry, for making this such a wonderful and memorable experience. I look forward to working with you again in the future!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible attention to detail!
We had the most AMAZING time in South Africa - it is such a beautiful country and we'll definitely be returning one day!
We must say a huge thank you to Pembury Tours for our wonderful itinerary - we really felt like we saw a lot and got a true flavour for the country and the regions we visited. The handbook we were given became our bible throughout our stay and we'd have been so stuck without your directions.
All of our accommodation was lovely, we couldn't have asked for any more. The safari was the absolute highlight!
Email John H | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Pembury helped to make our South African holiday one of the best we have ever had.
My wife and I wanted to visit South Africa. We had a rough plan of the things we wanted to do and the places we wanted to see. We decided to centre our holiday around a 4 day visit to Lalibela Game Reserve. Having contacted them, they put us in touch with Kerry Ririe at Pembury Tours and she took over the arrangements from us. We planned to start in Cape Town, drive the Garden Route, stopping at Swellendam and Knysna en route to Lalibela, then returning to Cape Town inland, via Graaff Reinet, Oudtshoorn and Montagu. Kerry sorted out our hire car, all of our accommodation and a number of outings.
She dealt with the arrangements quickly and very efficiently. The places she suggested for us to stay were all excellent and she took on the whole burden of booking, leaving us to enjoy the anticipation of the holiday without any of the worries.
From the time of our arrival at Cape Town airport, where we were met by a Pembury representative, handed a comprehensive itinerary and ferried to our hire car, to the time we returned there and handed the car back three weeks later, every one of the arrangements Kerry had made for us worked like clockwork. We were particularly impressed by the paperwork, which had detailed driving directions and route maps, lots of brochures and ideas for things we might like to visit en route, a number of discount vouchers for various attractions and vouchers for free dinners at two of the places where we were to stay.
Our particular favourite places were Lalibela Game reserve and the little town of Montagu, but we enjoyed everywhere we went and were always greeted with friendship and kindness. Our time at Lalibela was particularly special. The highlights were, of course, the morning and evening game drives. We were able to get up close to 3 month old lion cubs, many different antelope, elephants, giraffes, and, in my case, warthogs! Our ranger, Cleo, was a mine of information about all of the wildlife, and added immeasurably to the experience.
Without the help of Pembury we should probably have still had a good holiday, but their assistance made it really special! We have used a number of large British travel agents over the years, but none of them provided as good a service as we experienced with Pembury.
Email Matt and Christine Neal | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding service from beginning to end
The itinerary Pembury Tours put together for us met our wishes perfectly. The itinerary was displayed in a document with descriptions and images so we could get excited long before we even travelled. All arrangements all went smoothly throughout our three week trip which was lovely long time to explore the Cape Province. We stayed in wonderful accommodation that all had that bit of a wow factor and in amazing settings and the recommendations on what to go and see along with our own research made sure that we could enjoy every day to the full. Nice feeling too that someone knows where you are when you are on the other side of the globe. Pembury Tours come highly recommended for their knowledge and service.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Expert, friendly and spot-on excursion planning through South Africa
We just wanted to express our sincere gratitude to Pembury Tours for its planning assistance, contacts and absolute gold-star service with our multi-city holiday through South Africa this April. We had one of the best trips of our lives, and we travel quite a bit.
I found Pembury Tours online while looking for that 'perfect' safari itinerary, and we were not disappointed. Our 10-night vacation was just perfect. Together, we worked to find various styles of 4-star and 5-star accommodation in Cape Town, Franschooek, Stellenbosch, Grahamstown and Johannesburg and all suited us, very well. Your recommendations and ideas were spot-on. Your responsive service and kindness was warmly appreciated, Tammy. Transfers and itinerary were flawless, too. Our highlight was the safari at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve - at one of the 9 villas at Great River Lodge. WONDERFUL experience at a reserve that is very conscientious toward conservation and customer service. Perfect.
Thank you so very much and it will be our pleasure in recommending you to our friends in London, UK.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Impeccable Service Resulted in a Rewarding African Safari & Adventure
We booked a ten day safari with Pembury Tours for September 2014 from which we have just returned. The managing director, Susan Pattison-Wait, was our tour coordinator from the start of our initial inquiry into an African safari, without passing services on to others. We very much appreciated the continuity of working with Susan for the duration of our planning, which commenced in August 2013. Susan worked diligently and enthusiastically to assist us in planning for what was most likely a once in a lifetime adventure to the country she so proudly represents. Throughout the planning process, Susan patiently listened to our concerns, answered innumerable questions and was responsive to our budgeting restraints. She responded promptly to all emails and messages; and provided informational support services whenever requested. Services were exceptional with impeccable attention to detail. Our African adventure to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Chobe National Park in Botswana, Notten’s Bush Camp in Sabi Sands Greater Kruger National Park, and Cape Town, including a Cape Town City Tour and Cape Peninsula Tour, was outstanding. All pre-booked accommodations met or exceeded our expectations and were as described by Susan in our communication exchanges. All coordinated transport services were prompt; and while there was potential for disconnect relating to numerous transfers, the agents were always courteous and on time. Our African adventure culminated with memories to last a lifetime and a desire to offer praise where well deserved. We would not hesitate to recommend Pembury Tours for anyone interested in planning a journey to the South Africa.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very high standard of service, friendly, attention to detail and very good advice.
My husband found Pembury Tours while planning a three centre holiday to Cape Town, Kruger and Zambia to see Victoria Falls. We approached other companies also but were impressed by the efforts that Susan went to in order to get us a great package within our budget. It was all quite last minute in the end but she was very patient and we had a wonderful time. It was most certainly a holiday to remember and the standard throughout with transport, etc. was high quality and we were treated so well. The hotels Susan recommended were just right for us as well. Highly recommended and definitely would use this company again. Thanks so much. Times as a family when young people are about to leave home are precious and this one will be hard to beat.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Logistics and timing handled perfectly
Kerry at Pembury was very helpful in making recommendations and we probably exchanged over 50 emails as we adjusted the itinerary to build the best possible experience on our 3-country stop in Africa. Having someone with local connections and first-hand knowledge of the area was invaluable, particularly in setting up the transfers to go from point A to point B. Our arrival and departure flights were also timed perfectly so that we were able to get to the lodge for the afternoon game drive, and depart after the morning drive and breakfast. Other guests didn't have that good fortune and missed out on the best part of being on safari! Overall, very happy with Pembury Tours and would highly recommend.
Email Steve | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Smooth as Silk - 3 lodges in 7 days - Kruger and SabiSands
Having once been ripped off by a tour company I always have reservations about booking through companies I don't know. Not having Pembury on TripAdvisor therefore worried me a little as I couldn't check out the reviews, good and bad.
I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Everything from selecting the accommodation to actually travelling around South Africa was just perfect. The freedom to select from a range of lodges makes you feel as if you're doing it all yourself, but without the hassle. Once in South Africa everything went like clockwork, pickup from the airport, internal flights, transfers between lodges, the lodges themselves..........everything was wonderful.
Thank you Kerry for all your hard work in putting this together and making it a most memorable experience.
p.s The wildlife sightings from all the lodges ( Simbavati, Nottens and Idube) were unbelievable! I've never seen better.