Team Wild Planet Safari
Wild Planet Safari
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- SATSA & FGASA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $410 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
CA
Email Bryan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good viewing - poor guiding
The booking process was easy and Thale was a pleasure to work with. Very accommodating.
The accommodations were as advertised and decently comfortable.
It was on overall good value for a private tour, with food included and in those accommodations. I enjoyed the food, great cooking by Lungisani!
My problem and reason for 3/5 is the guides. I honestly don’t know if Isaac can see well enough to be guiding tours. He was knowledgeable when we spotted an animal, but he never saw them. Lungisani would spot all the animals and tell Isaac to stop (his driving wasn’t great either). On the 2 drives in which Lungisani didn’t come, Isaac didn’t even stop the vehicle once because he didn’t see anything (even though we did). Also he didn’t speak once to us. When they were both there, on the drives and at camp/during meals, they just spoke to each other in their own languages or were on their phones, which made it very awkward and uncomfortable for us. Very little conversation with us and getting to know each other. Although we saw lots of animals, and the park was incredible, the guides detracted from our experience a lot.
Overall, would I go back to Kruger? Yes, 100%. Would I use Wild planet safari? Possibly, but it would totally depend on who the guides were. Service levels while spending 5+ full days with someone needs to improve drastically.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Basic safari billed as luxury, disappointing
Ryan is knowledgable and enthusiastic but customer service is not his strong point, it felt almost like we were following him around on his safari. Despite being billed as a luxury safari the food and accomodation were basic at best. For some reason he asked us in advance for our preferences for food, wines and spirits but then completely ignored what we had asked for. He only supplied one bottle of cheap wine which he shared with us so I ended up buying him more drinks than he provided. I would happily have paid more for the luxury touches I had specifically asked him for but he seemed not to have read my emails - he initially turned up at the wrong airport terminal.
Reply from Wild Planet Safari
Posted on Jun 9, 2015Hi Carl
I am really sorry to read of your disappointment on tour with us in April. However I would like to remind you that I was in correspondence with you throughout the booking of your tour and I explained very clearly about every aspect of the tour including accommodation. I have copied and pasted an email which you replied to before your booking in which I provide photos and video of your accommodation, I also very clearly explain that it is Not luxury accommodation. It is clear on our booking form, safari bookings and our website that alcohol is not included in the price. I ask you what drinks you prefer in case it is not available in the park and to provide you with a complimentary drink for the first night. I replied each and everyone of your emails and I know you had asked for `luxury touches` however as I explained April is one of the busiest months in the park and when you had done your booking in February the availability was limited. I did book you into a semi luxury bungalow in Kruger for your first night. I believe I put full effort into your tour and spent as much time with you as possible. I was there to meet you at the airport before you arrived. I am sorry you did not enjoy my cooking and I will try harder to improve this and my service in the future.
Regards
Ryan
Below is an email where accommodation is explained.
On 3 February 2015 at 10:18, <mail@wildplanetsafari.com> wrote:
Hi Carl
I completely understand the importance of making certain everything is perfect for you trip.
All of our tours are run as private tours. So it will only be the 2 of you on tour. I will be your guide, as I run each Wild Planet Tour personally to ensure it is perfect for you. My wife is on maternity leave so she will be unable to join. I use a 9 seat minibus. with custom designed windows.
On the tour you will go on one night drive in an open safari vehicle, this will not be private will have other guests and is run by a Kruger guide.
The accommodation inside Kruger is standard throughout the park, it is very simple 2 or 3 star, the park claims it is 3 I would say that it is 2 star. There are 2 single beds, no double bed option, the unit has air-conditioning, there is a shower,toilet and wash basin. It has a small patio which is usually closed to keep the monkey`s out, there is also a small fridge. I will attach some photo`s for you to see. We would stay at 2 different camps inside Kruger, one for one night and the other for 2. The exact camp I book will depend on availability once I have received your deposit. Usually we stay at Skukuza the main park camp for the first night and then Satara for 2 nights.
below is a link to a video inside one of the rooms.
http://bit.ly/1HuTOqP
Attached are photos of the accommodation, there are no upgrades it is standard. If you want to book luxury accommodation the only options are private reserves outside of Kruger.
April is a busy month in the park, if this tour does suit you we should move to book accommodation asap.
For cheaper flights to Victoria falls check flyafrica.com. I think they have daily flights.
Regards
Ryan
Email Priscilla | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Small operation with knowledgable guides and comfortable arrangements!
Chris, our guide from Zimbabwe, was very knowledgable and eager to show us the best that Kruger has to offer taking us to different parts of the park to try to catch a diversity of animals. He was patient and easy to connect with. Being a private tour, we were happy to be able to have the freedom to stop and continue on as our schedule allowed and it allowed us to find what we were most interested in. We saw 4 of the Big 5 on our 3-day tour which is really 2 days with the transfers from Joburg taking half a day each way.
We didn't realize that the driver and guide were one and the same person but this seemed to be the norm at Kruger. Our chef was lovely and made delicious foods but we would have appreciated being given different options beforehand to select our menu from.
Thale from the head office was not very responsive regarding the booking after the initial engagements were made. He doesn't seem to be on the ground with his guides and so may be a bit out of touch with the goings on.
Reply from Wild Planet Safari
Posted on Feb 5, 2024Hi Priscilla,
thank you for the review. I just want to clear up what might be a misunderstanding. I am in contact with my guides every step of the way as well as the transfer company. I made sure you were on the transfer and that my guides were there to pick up when you arrived. I provided them with all the guest info, booking info for the tour as well as a menu for all the meals, based upon the info you provided in the booking form. I know how important staying in contact before and during a safari is, and will always do my very best to stay on top of communication.
Email Andrew Turner | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly guides who helped us see lots of animals within Kruger
Friendly guides who helped us see lots of animals within Kruger
Email Darren | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A well thought and planned African experience
Our tour started in Johannesburg and went up through Kruger and Zimbabwe finishing at Victoria Falls
Our family 4 had a driver/spotter and chef/spotter throughout Kruger- with their expertise we saw everything and had great time. Zimbabwe we had one person doing both jobs - bar no electricity we had a ball. Highlights being walking with rhinos, matapo hills and close experiences with lion and leopard. Food better than expected.
US
Email Chelsea Curry | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A personalized experience with delicious food and comfortable accommodations.
My husband and I's experience with Wild Plant Safari was great! We had a personalized experience as it was just the two of us and our guide. Our guide Gibson really worked to make sure we saw as many animals as possible and we really appreciated his vast knowledge about the animals as well. He was a wizard at spotting the animals through the bush. The food was very good as well and accommodations were comfortable. We enjoyed our jam packed days and would recommend this a safari over a group safari any day.
QA
Email Laurie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Guide and Assistant Save the Safari Experience
The safari turned out to be a great experience despite a rocky start. Our guide, Chris and his assistant, Benjamin were absolutely wonderful and did their best to provide a good experience. The rocky beginning started with me having to contact the person I was booking with about pick up information which she had not provided. On the drive out Chris mentioned that we would be in Kruger National Park for 3 days, but unlike what the proposal that had not been modified in advance, we would not be staying at Skukuza for 2 nights. Instead we would be in a smaller camp for one night and have to move to Satara for the next two nights. This would have been fine, but we were prepared to be staying where we could get cash from a bank and get WiFi in the camp. Neither was available outside Skukuza so we struggled with that. The company should have informed us well in advance about the change. Also, Chris had not been told that we were supposed to go on the Panoramic Route on day 3 and 4. When he talked to the manager about this, we were given the option of going on this as planned. However, we would have had to pack and move again. Instead we agreed to have a quick Panoramic Route trip the last day only. The guides were great and flexible. Benjamin's food was absolutely fantastic. Chris is very knowledgeable and helped us see the Big 5 and so much more. These two men saved the trip!
Email Sand | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Informal and easy going
+ves:
- Wild Planet Safari responds promptly to all email communication. It is very easy to organise the tours.
- They demonstrate much flexibility and can adapt to your last minute request.
- They are a small team and seem to be passionate about wildlife. Ryan shows significant know-how of the wilderness.
- Polite with a true sense of caring.
-ves:
- The vehicle is quite humble, no land rovers here.
- no fancy food on the tours
Email Pamela | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable journey of a lifetime, a "must do" for everybody
It was so easy to book our trip (for my daughter and myself) with Wild Planet Safari. Everything was done online with Thale whose service and communications were excellent. Our guides Chris and Lungisani were friendly and courteous and great "spotters" of the wildlife which we saw in abundance. We were so lucky to see a pack of 12 wild dogs together, in addition to a group of six cheetahs in one sighting. We saw the big five plus more and were rewarded during our bush walk with a sighting of a pride of lions with cubs. It's difficult to mention a highlight of the tour, there were so many! I'll be back!
AR
Email jose dominguez | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excelente aventura. Guia muy experimentado. Viaje entre 20/05 y 27/05/2017
La atención de Ryan, Thale y sus ayudantes fue muy buena. El es un experimentado hombre de campamento. La familia nos ofreció su tienda para comer y nos hicieron probar en varias oportunidades el vino local, que es muy rico. El safari cubrió nuestras expectativas, aunque debo reconocer que no poder bajar del vehículo en ningún momento fue un poco cansador. No obstante ello, quiero mencionar algunos puntos que tienen que ver con la información y satisfacción del cliente, entendiendo que le puede servir a otros viajeros:
-Nosotros, probablemente por una cuestión de marketing, y de mirar los capítulos exitosos de Animal Planet o de NatGeo, no estábamos bien informados de la dinámica de Kruger, de que “no es un zoo” como nos manifestó Ryan, y que los felinos pueden aparecer… o no. Hay que estar preparado para ello.
-No somos asiduos viajeros de aventura, ni de safari, pero hemos recorrido bastantes lugares del Caribe y America del sur; y como turistas internacionales nos sorprendió un poco no poder decir cuántas veces quisiéramos que se detenga de tal o cual forma para sacar una fotografía… teníamos que aceptar el criterio de Ryan, como si estuviésemos haciendo su safari y no el nuestro…
-De acuerdo a lo manifestado en los correos previos mantenidos con Thale, en ningún momento se nos dijo que la bebida no estaba incluida en el precio… ni siquiera el agua. Se mencionó que la comida estaba cubierta, menos dos almuerzos y una cena, pero nada más. Tampoco el almuerzo del dia de salida estaba cubierto. Nosotros supusimos que la bebida si, porque se nos pidió indicar en formulario previo de adhesión nuestra preferencia por el tipo de bebida, y esto nos creó confusión…. De todos modos, reitero que Ryan nos invitó con vino en varias oportunidades. Para evitar la confusión sugerimos que quiten del formulario previo la mención a preferencia de bebidas y que agreguen, en cambio, una mención muy clara indicando que la bebida no está incluida en el precio.
-En una parada del camino de regreso, Ryan se enojó con nosotros por regatear el precio de algunas artesanías, manifestando que esa gente pobre tiene días y días de trabajo sobre cada artículo, y que no es moralmente aceptable ese regateo. Pues bien, luego de abonar una obra casi U$40, encontramos exactamente la misma en Johannesburgo por la mitad de precio. Asi que como le contesté, Ryan debe dejar a los turistas ser turistas y limitarse a opinar sobre su actividad de guía, que es lo que conoce.
-Tomen los servicios de Wild Planet Safari y al finalizar, recuerden solicitar el pen drive o la memoria prometida con las fotos tomadas por Ryan o por Lungisani. Se les olvidó entregarnos la nuestra.
The attention of Ryan, Thale and his assistants was very good. He is an experienced camp man. The family offered us their tent to eat and we did try the local wine several times which is very rich. The safari met our expectations, although I must admit that being unable to get off the vehicle at any time was a bit tiring. Nevertheless, I want to mention some points that have to do with information and customer satisfaction, understanding that this can serve other travelers:
We, probably because of a marketing issue, and looking at the successful chapters of Animal Planet TV or NatGeo TV, we were not well informed of Kruger's dynamics, that" it's not a zoo"as Ryan told us, and that felines may appear ... or not. You have to be prepared for it.
We are not very adventure travelers, nor safari, but we have visited many places in the Caribbean and South America; And as international tourists we were a little surprised not to be able to say how many times we wanted to stop in some way or another to take a picture ... we had to accept Ryan's criteria, as if we were doing his safari and not ours...
According to the previous emails maintained with Thale, at no time told us that the drink was not included in the price ... not even the water. It was mentioned that the food was covered, minus two lunches and one dinner, but nothing more. Also the lunch on the day of departure was not covered. We assumed that the drink would, because we were asked to indicate in our previous membership form our preference for the type of drink, and this created confusion... Anyway, I reiterate that Ryan invited us with wine on several occasions. To avoid confusion we suggest that you remove from the previous form the mention of beverage preference and instead add a very clear mention stating that the drink is not included in the price
At a stop on the way back, Ryan was angry with us for haggling over the price of some handicrafts, stating that these poor people have days and days of work on each item, and that bargaining is not morally acceptable. Well, after paying a work almost U$ 40, we find exactly the same in Johannesburg for half the price. So, as I said, Ryan must let tourists be tourists and just comment on his guide activity, which is what he knows.
Take the services of Wild Planet Safari and at the end, remember to request the pen drive or the promised memory with the photos taken by Ryan or Lungisani. They forgot to give us ours.