35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Pembury created a trip of a lifetime. Far exceeded our expectations.
After researching more than 60 ‘safari’ planning companies, I selected Pembury. Pembury was the most apt to design a trip ‘just the way I wanted it’ and within my budget.
I worked with Gail in planning this ‘trip of a lifetime’ for my family and she far exceeded our expectations. Gail was thorough, knowledgeable, responsive, and flexible. She’s also a great negotiator as she negotiated upgraded rooms in several of our hotels.
Our lodging in Cape Town (Radisson Blu), Sabi Sands (Cheetah Plains), White Plains (Oliver’s), and Victoria Falls (Royal Livingstone) were all 5-star. The rooms were spacious, well appointed, and comfortable. The meals at the establishments were excellent too! The Radisson and Royal Livingstone offered impressive breakfast buffets. All the meals at Cheetah Plains were incredible and even though I’ve only been home for 3 days, I’m still dreaming of their meals and their amazing setting. I bring this up because the first night we were seated at a U-shaped table surrounding a fire overlooking the wildlife in the watering hole. Chef Paul and the entire staff were the finest we’ve ever experienced. We will definitely return to Cheetah Plains and the outdoor showers were great too.
Our tour guides (especially David with Paradise Tours in Cape Town) were on-time, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable about their areas. The transfers between airports and lodges were excellent too and were always on-time, easy to identify, and helpful. It made our trip easy.
We really enjoyed our Cape Peninsula tour in Cape Town, the Elephant Ride at Victoria Falls (one of my favorite experiences), and our day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana from the Royal Livingstone. If you have the opportunity, do all three as they are certainly must do’s for any traveler.
The highlights of our trip were the animals and the people. We weren’t sure how long it would take to see such wildlife but within minutes, and even within the Cheetah Plains compound, we were seeing the Big 5. At Cheetah Plains, we saw 11 separate lions within a 2-hour period of time plus we saw Elephants, Giraffes, Cheetahs, Leopards, Rhinos, Hippos, Zebras, Monkeys, Cape Buffalo, Hippos and so on. Too many animals to name and thousands by the end of our 12-day adventure! Then the watering hole situated by the swimming pool at Cheetah Plains was a great place to watch wildlife during the day as elephants, monkeys, deer, cape buffalo, warthogs, giraffes, and so on came in for a dip and sometimes a complete mud bath spa treatment! We were so close on safari, you really didn’t even need binoculars as you were only feet away from these majestic animals.
Now in Chobe, you spend the morning on a boat ride viewing hundreds of elephants grazing and swimming, hippos, cape buffalo, crocodiles, birds, etc. which was a great addition to our safari viewing. The afternoon game drive was good too as we saw hundreds more animals but were restricted to staying on the road.
The other highlight was the people of Africa. They were so welcoming, friendly, helpful, and had the largest smiles. They won our hearts over and we will definitely be back.
Pembury’s impeccable service and attention to detail will make us repeat customers. I am a seasoned travel and due to my experience with Pembury, I will always recommend Gail and the entire team as they work magic!
MX
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari adventure....
Well first the staff is very kind , the guy whom inget the safari mr michael was really helpful, eh explainde it all about how it would be the safari what it was included in the safari , told the route that we will be taking in the safari , really cool guy, then him send me a driver to pick me up to the place where i was staying and did the same once i finish my safari , the driver that we had knew everything about the masai mara , the best spots to see the animals and always has the right answer for al, the questions for all the grup, the place wher we were staying for two night it was clean and the staff from there as well very kind and the food ,was amazing , i higly recomen it this company to do your safary good price and they wont rape you off with the price
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
pega tours offers excellent services and is in the intenationa travel guide lonely planet.
we visited lake Nakuru,Masai Mara ,amboseli and Samburu national parks with pega tours and it was an unforgettable experience. Very professional and experienced drivers and guides
SG
Experience level: first safari
The Great Adventures With Kenya Bush Excursions
Kenya Bush Excursions is well organized with an incredible staff. Santos our Travel Consultant his experience is on top, he was attentive to our needs from Months before our trip and we got in touch till our final date. During the trip she was available at every moment and also help us resolve the issue that will come up. The campsite was good especially Amboseli i recommended Kibo Tented Camp its awesome. I really recommend Kenya Bush Excursions to anyone needs to explore Africa.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Climbing Kilimanjaro with Safarihub
We booked a Kilimanjaro Climb with Safarihub at the Manchaster destinations holiday show in February this year. Priti helped us decide with the right route up the mountain and briefed us with what to expect and equipment required. The climb itself was challenging mentally, physically and emotionally but with the help of expert guides we made it to the top – An accomplishment of a life time. Karsten was super helpful during his briefing and we wish to use Safarihub again when we have saved up for a Safari.
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tsavo East. Best experience ever with Ewamanns Safaris.
Very friendly and helpfull staff. They make to feel me like in home. They care to show as much as possible on safari. The price was negotiable and compare with others agency very good. Amazing hotel and view. I recomend Ewamanns Safaris for 100%.
If you have questions feel free to ask: [email protected]
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything was perfekt.
A very nice Trip with a perfect guide. The Safaritrip was the best ever.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional experience with an expert guide.
Lenny has a very big heart and he is doing this because he is one with the nature. Being in Masai Mara with a guy whom was born there and knows the area is great. This is a small personal company and direct contact with the “Boss” whom set everything up and knows what is in the deal. This is a 5 star experience from start to end. I am going to use Tayiai Safaris in the future and I can recommend this company to anyone who plans a safari tour.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kilimanjaro Brothers - Top notch service!
I started researching for a supplier for my trip to Kilimanjaro a year ago.
When you do this kind of search you naturally turn to known grounds, someone close to you. So did I.
I went to a local provided who offered a good package, but I couldn't help thinking that there was a lot of the money I would spend that would end up in Montreal office with little left to the Tanzanian company that would ultimately provide the service, since Tanzanian government enforces regulation to hire local companies to go up the mountain.
So I started looking the Internet for a Tanzanian company. When I found Kilimanjaro Brothers, I realized that the reviews where very good, so I asked them to provide me with a proposal for going up the mountain.
The immidiate thing that struck me was George (the director) quick and attentionate response.
The prices provided where in line with the other local comapnies I asked so we quickly came up to an agreement. One of my comments was that I was travelling alone and wanted to be paired with other tourists, since I felt it would be more fun to share the experience with other folks who were sharing the same feeling of discovery.
This was last January. Since that time I had numerous exchanges with George, upgraded my trip with a Safari and all the questions I asked always received quick and detailed responses.
This made me feel confident from the start, since I had neve been to Africa, I didn't know what to expect and needed that kind of confidence level.
A week before I left for my trip, I got a note from George explaining that the group I was paired with (3 people) had an accident and where no longer coming. I felt my trip was starting on the wrong foot, however George kept looking for alternatives, proposing to do the hike as a solo traveler at the same cost (going along required many people and typically costs more) but I still was hoping to go with other tourists. Ultimately George offered me to join a group of 10 people starting a couple of days later which worked fine for me.
We started our ascent on the Sunday, full of hope and exited. One of the main thing I have to say about Kili Bros is the details are all taken care of. The food was excellent all of the 7 days, varying meals, some of the local cuisine, our chef delighted our mouths :) The guides where fanstastic, led by Emmanuel who provided good advice all the time, but all of the other 4 guides where excellent.
We were monitoring our vital signs every night, paying attention if some of us could need to take altitude desease medication.
Accomodations where just great, although this is camping, this is luxury camping. We had a diner tent where we would sit the 11 of us together for our meals. Our tent where very good quality and we slept well every single night (except the one before summit because no one sleeps that night, we are all too exited :)
We all made it to the summit, thanks to the team and I give special thanks to Julius who helped me personnaly as I finally got hit by the altitude sickness.
When all was finished, we came back to the Parkview Inn Lodge (very nice hotel) and George had a ceremony all setup to deliver our ceritificates for climbing Kilimanjaro, we also received a Masai toga and bed linings with our names on, very nice touch.
After the climb we had 2 days already scheduled of Safari which was another great experience, with excellent driver guide. George also booked us at the Bougain Villa lodge ( the websit does not provide a good idea of how nice this place is) which was amazing for me and my companions.
I liked everything so much that after this amazing 9 days I still had some time to spend and asked George to help me plan 2 more days of Safari instead of taking my business elsewhere.
George, you and your team did a great job, thanks for these memorable moments.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Londolozi Game Reserve by Dennis Painting
I visited Londolozi many years ago, prior to it becoming well known, and it was a fantastic experience then, I believe it just got better over the years