CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Best Travel Agent ever for a Trip of a lifetime!
We found Heidi online from all the great reviews. Indeed, Heidi at Pembury Tour was efficient, responsive, honest and priced fairly. We arrived Cape Town with a welcome package detailing the tours, the flights, the pick up times, maps, even a glossary of the animals that we would see!
We did a private tour for our family of six. We started off with 5 nights in Cape Town, staying at the beautiful Table Bay Hotel. Heidi arranged for private tours for us (wine tour, city tour, Whale watching etc). We then flew to Kruger National Park, staying at 2 different lodges (Naledi and Arathusa- both excellent) for different safari experiences (seeing different animals with different landscapes). We then flew to Victoria Falls for 3 more nights. We did an amazing dinner cruise on the Zambezi River, walked the trail along the Falls and crossed the border for a day tour at Chobe National Park.
Heidi arranged the tours, the domestic flights, the hotels and all the very prompt transfers. Everything was meticulous. We would highly recommend Heidi and Pembury Tour!
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
Lawrence is an amazing guide. He has lots of information to share and he is really open, easygoing, talkative and smiling person. He loves his job and you feel it.
Totally recommended!!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Overall an excellent experience. Falcon helped us feel comfortable during our first visit to Africa
The overall communication from the drivers was fantastic. There was a little delay in picking us from the Victoria Falls airport but there were no problems the rest of the trip. We would definitely use Falcon Safaris again!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Trip with an excellent Tour Operator
We booked our 15 nights safari for total of five of us including my four year grand daughter with Spirit of Kenya. Vanessa was fantastic from the start. All derails were taken care of properly. Our guide Sidney was knowledgeable in all aspect of wild life. We were able to ALL BIG Five. It was an amazing trip. Will surely consider them when we plan our next Kenya - Tanzania safari.
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience!!
I spent great days and experiences in the Serengeti with the help of this reliable company. It was a pleasure to meet Jacob and our Ranger (Amani) who is extremely polite, well run and has great vision to locate the animals. It is noteworthy that he has made our days much more peaceful and interesting. All the accommodations were very comfortable, clean, with good food and great staff. Company fully recommended, reliable and safe.
EE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant, precise and helpful.
We took the tour to Klimanjaro and 3-day safary afterwards. Everything was working with minute accuracy (which is not so common in Tanzania) and we got the best suggestions about the route and schedule. Also the driver/guide was really professional and knew exactly what he was doing (for example where the animals are active at certain moment) and told us colorful stories about local way of life so we understood more. Anyway it was priceless experience and thank you for this.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Easy to work with. Responsive to e-mails
Communication was easy. Service was good. We climbed Kili with them and had a great tour guide and team. They then helped coordinate our transfer for a safari in the Serengeti which was good. Guide was okay. Vehicle was a bit old but it was only my wife and I which was a great treat.
I'd recommend them and would travel with them again.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Terrific, customized service
My husband, adult son and I did a 10 day customized safari of the Western circuit. From the very first contact to the final drop off, everything was excellent with fine attention to detail. Kevin worked with us to ensure that all of our special interests were accommodated and made several suggestions that made our trip even more special. Our guide, Emma, was knowledgeable, attentive and personable. We couldn’t have asked for a better company!
CA
Etosha
Before there is any miscommunication caused by my title, I will simply say that my trip with Wild Cherry Safaris was outstanding. It was more than a dream come true; it was like a dream that was occurring in front of me.
Chad seemed to have the magic touch, because we managed to see all the animals we could have expected and some we didn't. He was patient, helpful and was a really good listener. He truly loves this country and this geography; as he said, Namibia makes sense to him, and that realization really enhanced the tour. He loved seeing these wonders unfold as much as we did.
Desmond was awesome. He remained in the camp, prepared the meals and the sleeping arrangements, and had wonderful localized advice. If there was a mysterious noise in the middle of the night, he would tell you exactly what it was in the morning. I really liked him, and was invaluable to our experience.
The park was both expansive and compact. I will explain. The permanent campground (Wild Cherry is the only tour company that offers this) is surrounded with everything one would need. A charging station for your camera batteries and electronics. A food vendor, bathroom facilities, a restaurant, and for the hotter afternoons a swimming pool. But for me what made the location incredible, were the vantage points at perimeter of the camp. Firstly, at the southwest corner of the camp is a hidden and unmarked observational gem. Basically you are standing in shaded bush, but you can watch very closely as all the animals pass only metres in front of you on their way to the water hole. If you are patient and quiet, they won't even notice you. Of course, the Water Hole is a sight too. At any given moment, 24 hours a day, you will see a parade of coexisting animals quenching their thirst. The elephants were the big showboats, and the rhinos seemed to be nocturnal.
So that is the element of the 'Etosha Dream' that is in your control. Once you get in the back of the truck, Chad had a pretty instinctual sense of where to go. A viewing platform above the truck sits nine people, and comes with comfortable seating and blankets for the cold mornings (we went in August). The roads wind endlessly through the massive park, and from your vantage point you can observe from higher up. This allows you to see giraffes poke their heads up curiously, and Gnus, Zebras, Impala, and Springboks weaving through the landscape.
With Wild Cherry's 3D/2N tour you get to have two morning and two evening game rides. We seemed to see more animals in the evening, but our rarer sightings (lions, hyenas, and leopards) were all in the morning. And in between, the water hole is always at your disposal in camp. Basically, if you really wanted to, you could be observing animals 24 hours a day. Just don't miss Desmond's meals. He has mastered hearty food on the barbeque.
Final Thoughts
My experience with Wild Cherry was wonderful. Things were done at a very comfortable pace and the itinerary was ideal. Etosha is a quiet and epic place, and the employees at this company embrace that spirit on the game rides. A little information is given, but there is a joy in the quiet wonder shared by everyone. Chad, Sydney, and Desmond really want you to enjoy your experience. And with Chad at the wheel you are going to find unbelievable moments.
TIPS
-Bring a tripod on the game rides. If you are using a phone or digital camera, bring a bean bag or a resting pad (a beanie works well too) to test your camera on for smoother shots
- To capture intimate moments of animals who are closer to the car, remember that you often have a better vantage point than Chad does at the wheel. Just knock on the roof and he will happily stop. Remember, it's your safari and it may be your only one.
- Don't try and take selfies with the animals behind you. You will be shaded and they will be in bright light and the image will be awkward and disjointed. Take the best photo possible of the animals in their habitat. That's what your friends and family will want to see.
- Start some conversations with strangers at the water hole. Too often, these camps become really independent; many of the people around you have rather amazing stories and backgrounds. Yet, you happen to be in the same spot at the same time. That is neat.
- I recommend bringing about 800-1000 Namibian currency.
- You have to pay for WiFi. But really, just put it away. It was so enjoyable to be away from it all, watching and hearing animals; also the sunrise, sunset, and night time sky is far more impressive than anything on your phone.
I had an unforgettable experience. I will be sure to recommend Wild Cherry if any friends or family end up in Namibia.
Once in a lifetime experience viewing African wildlife visiting Masai people
Safari is a wonderful experience especially with driver Benson from KWWS.
All the Kenyan & Masai people we met were friendly and Hospitable especially the Masai crew from Simba Lodge
Just outside Amboseli Game Park.
We saw the big 5 & had great wildlife experiences Not to be missed,,