Reviews of wild planet safari

A great experience for a small group of six Aussie friends with Ryan and Thales' Wild Planet Safari

Our small group was fortunate to choose Wild Planet Safari to host our recent visit to South Africa and Kruger NP. Ryan and Thale met us in Johannesburg, took us to breakfast, helped organise our days sightseeing there and then collected us bright and early the next morning for the drive to Kruger. Ryan's knowledge of the birds, animals and topography is faultless and his obvious enthusiasm for locating likely spots for great viewing gave us up close photo opportunities. At one point we were surrounded by 17 lions..... (In total we spotted 29 different animals and 43 birds.) Not forgetting to mention Thales input and sharp eyes. Lungsani backstopping with preparation of meals etc made late morning breakfasts after (very) early safari welcome and dinners under the stars were great social times with Ryan and Thales extended family. We were made to feel very welcome and more than just paying customers. Thanks from all your Aussie friends. Regards Jim and Jan

Jim and Jan

Amazing + Ethical

This was an amazing experience - as someone who has been on multiple safaris across different countries in Africa, this experience stands out for the personalisation, ethical and eco nature of the viewings, wildlife sighting and overall a brilliant experience that was an enjoyment from start to finish. Rafel my guide was a true professional and Thale was great to work with during the planning phase. Kruger’s offering were only multiplied by the service offered by wild planet safari - definitely will be back and will work with them again.

Hameer

Did what it said on the tin.

A very enjoyable 4 days safari with Chris our guide and “Mr Fixit” his assistant. Chris was so knowledgable and informative about all the wildlife we encountered including the incredible variety of bird life in Kruger.

Eric and Simon

Fantastic safari, amazing animals, knowledgeable guide

Thale at Wild Planet Safari was super helpful answering all of our questions via email before the safari. We received our shuttle ticket in plenty of time, and our guide met us right at the shuttle drop-off. Coming from outside the country we really had no idea what to expect, so asked lots of questions. Our guide Ryan was very knowledgeable, really friendly, a great cook, and easy to be with for four days. We chose the enclosed vehicle, and it was great for both viewing and photography. Inside Kruger National Park we took the north route and stayed inside two different rest camps over three nights/four days. The huts we stayed inside the rest camps were clean and air-conditioned, as advertised. We highly recommend Wild Planet Safari company for Kruger Park. The animals are amazing!

Mandy

Knowledgeable and going that extra mile to make the experience exceptional!

My two kids (age 18 and 20) and I booked an 11-day Kruger Safari for 2020. Because of Covid, we were not able to complete the travel until July 2022. I would like to open my review by praising the flexibility and forthcoming way we have been treated. The planning and booking job was done and cancelled numerous times because of Covid and restrictions before we finally were able to go in 2022. All we have experienced from Thale, Ryan and the wonderful hosts at Wild Planet Safari, is a willingness and determination to solve everything with exceptional service and a smile. And when we entered the Kruger Park, they were always attentive and asked if there was anything we would like to see or do. If we wanted to see rhinos, they tracked and found rhinos. We actually spotted all Big 5 in one single day, which is exceptional. And the guides are very knowledgeable about the history and current status of the species; mammals, birds, reptiles, you name it. We were comfortably lodged in Park Lodge bungalows the whole trip, from Letaba Rest Camp, Satara, Skukuza and Lower Sabie. They also booked night game drive and bush walk for us with the local Park Rangers. I would highly recommend both. I would like to reflect on the value we got on our trip. It is possible to book a game drive with own car or with a bus, but the knowhow and service from the Wild Planet Safari team left me certain that it was worth every dollar. This should be on everyone's bucket list :-) Than you to Thale, Ryan, Chris, Adriaan and Cary for all the experiences and memories!

Roger Groenset

A REAL SAFARI

From the booking of the private “5 Day Kruger Express” safari with Thale everything was clear and reliable, we chose Wild Planet Safari because from the description of the safari we understood that we were going to be with animal experts really in love with nature, not tourist guides and so it was, the driving hours were as long as possible from 6 to 6 which not all companies do, time flied because everything was so fascinating, the animals behavior, the changing landscapes, the light, we never got tired of driving around, our jeep was new, extremely comfortable and high to provide us proper views, anyway we had coffee breaks to stretch out, and fortunately it was a good period without too many other jeeps around so we had a lot of sightings for ourself, Chris our welcoming and clever guide drove us extensively through the Kruger, spotting animals for us and we were a lucky team as we met animals difficult to see more than once, leopards, rhinos, painted dogs, and all “small” animals we are keen on the same, as well as birds zipping along all day, and it wasn’t the migratory season. We travelled towards north sleeping in different Kruger campsites, which I recommend, having the chance to see different areas of the park, the campsites have a historical taste, a visitors centre, some have lookouts and a shop, why not? ;) with books on wildlife. We were on a middle range safari and all lodges were in perfect state. One night we went on a collective park night safari during which we saw two baby elephants and different nocturnal animals. I wasn’t aware of the thousand of animals we would’ve seen, in this season many parts of the park are burnt to clear out animal viruses but it’s a good moment also because it’s the dry season and less leaves means you can see more animals. I can’t forget to mention Hopeson kindness that provided us wonderful cooked meals all the way, I wish I could taste again his Potjie, pancakes and steaks, every meal was delicious. We have such good memories from our trip that enlighted the rest of our year. At the end of the trip we had the chance to meet Ryan, Thale and their lovely family. Thank you so much guys!

Elena

A trip of a lifetime

I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Wild Planet Safari for an amazing trip this past October. We originally were supposed to visit in 2020 and Thale was amazing in helping us reschedule and work through any difficulties. Her kindness was truly appreciated. We were blessed to have Chris as our guide for the 5 days and we consider ourselves so lucky. He took good care of us and answered all our questions. We saw so much, thanks to him and we felt very much like we made a good friend. We loved having our private tour with also the opportunity to meet with our fellow travelers at breakfast or dinner on a few occasions. Thank you to Ryan, Thale and Chris for everything. I will be back!!

Susan

My family and I were blessed with an amazing experience because this company loves what they do!

Trying to find a company to book our safari through was a bit stressful as their are many to choose from. After speaking with Thale in our first email together she stood out from all the rest. She was timely in responding to all my questions and accomodated all my requests (travelling with 1year old son, vegan food, etc) Our guides Chris and Lumi were so amazing. They are full of information about all the animals and South Africa in general. My family and I felt so comfortable with them it was actually sad to say our goodbyes at the end of our safari. Kruger park is magical and we were able to see all the animals we had hoped for! This is a great company to book your tour with!

Jessicalina

Fantastic 10 Day Big 5, Bush and Beach Safari

We booked the 10 day bush and beach safari as our "once in a lifetime" family holiday and chose Wild Planet Safari based on all their positive reviews. We were not disappointed! Even before the trip they really looked after us with regular updates and messages. Our guide Ryan and his assistant Benjamin collected us from our hotel at exactly the appointed time and looked after us fantastically from then on. We spent four days touring Kruger Park, travelling from north to south and staying at Letaba, Orpen and Berg-en-Dal. En route we saw all the Big Five (Big Six if you count Black and White Rhino separately!) as well as many more birds and animals. Ryan guided us excellently throughout, telling us not only about the wildlife, but also the geology and history of Kruger. He really knows his stuff and answered all our questions patiently, as well as regaling us with many stories over a glass of beer in the evenings! As a birdwatcher, I was pleased to find that Ryan is one too and he really helped me increase my life list, even stopping for the "small brown jobs" from time to time! We recorded over 100 bird species in Kruger alone. Ryan certainly has eagle-eyes and some kind of special intuition for when and where to find the wildlife. He helped us connect with some of the more unusual creatures too, such as porcupines, honey badgers, and a rock python. From Kruger we travelled south through Swaziland and spent one night at Royal Hlane, where you get close-up views of White Rhino in particular at the waterhole there. We then continued south and spent two days in Hluhluwe, staying at Hilltop camp, where we saw plenty more rhino, as well as lots more other birds and animals. After seven days on tour we ended up at Greenfire Lodge on the beach front in Umdloti, near Durban, where we spent two days relaxing by the beach and unwinding. There is wildlife there too - vervet monkeys in the town, and whales and dolphins in the sea, which we watched from the balcony of our room - fantastic! We had an absolutely fantastic holiday - truly a "lifetime" event - thanks to Ryan and his team, and hope to repeat it again one day. We cannot recommend Wild Planet Safari enough - book your tour with them and like us, you will not be disappointed!

Alex Massey

3 nights, 4 days in Kruger

Ryan has been simply as good as a tour guide can be. He was punctual, extremely knowledgeable and willing to share his life experiences with us. His wide-ranging knowledge of animals and their ethology allowed us to learn quite a lot in such a short time. He answered all the umpteenth questions we asked him kindly and fully even at 5 o'clock in the morning while sipping coffee and nibbling some rusks before the gate opened and we could head into the wild. Unquestioningly, if in the future we have the chance to spend some more time in South Africa, he will be our guide. Thank you!

Lorenzo and Jessica

Perfection on Safari

This safari was amazing from the pick up at the airport to drop off. We saw the Big 5 the first day in the park. We were treated like royalty and became fast friends with our guide and chef. Highly recommended! 5 STARS!

Jim&Anna

Breathtaking

We enjoyed being on a private tour very much. We saw a wide variety of animals including lions up close! The camps we stayed at were clean and comfortable. The stores at the camps had a nice variety and were reasonably priced. Our guide Chris was fantastic he found a wide variety of wildlife. Hopson(hope I spelled his name correctly) did a fabulous job of cooking our meals. Over all the experience was pleasant and highly recommend doing the private tour allowing you to go at your pace!

Sandy

Extremely knowledgeable, professional, and friendly!

Our time with Wild Planet Safari was AMAZING! It was honestly, the trip of a lifetime. Our guide, Chris, was so awesome! He took care of all of our needs, showed us amazing wildlife, and gave us countless facts and tidbits about everything in the park. There was no question I had, that he didnt know the answer in detail. Breathtaking view, stunning close up encounters with incredible animals.. I would go back out with Wild Planet Safari RIGHT NOW if I could! It was worth every penny!

Casen

Brilliant

First class, fantastic value for money, great service

Gary

Wonderful days in South Africa!

It's a week now since I came back from South Africa, but most of the day I still think about the wonderful time there. 17 days of adventure, from we arrived in Johannesburg and were met by our guides Thale and Ryan and taken to our B & B to rest some hours before starting the tour through this beautiful country. 3 days in Kruger with exciting game-drives. Then we went on to Hluhluwe National Park(so beautiful! My favorite!) Next stop was Uhmlanga outside Durban. I still hear the roaring waves, sitting in a restaurant near the beach in the dark evening. We went on to Addo Elephant Park. Majestic male lions is a marvellous memory from there. Then Tsitsikamma - even the name sounds like an adventure. Suspension Bridge over roaring waves. An exciting place to stay. Knysna is a very beautiful town at the coast. We stayed there for 2 unforgettable days.On our way to Cape Town we also passed the most southern point of the African continent - Cape Agulhas. And then Cape Town - the last stop before going home. We stayed there for 2 days, using one of them to visit Robben Island to see "the home" for 18 years of their great leader Mandela. And we will never forget Table Mountain and the view around from the top. But nothing lasts for ever - we had to go home. I left Africa with my heart and head filled with love and respect for this country's fantastic animals and nature. During the whole stay I felt so safe in every way and everywhere, due to the long experience of our guides. I am so grateful for all the good service given by Wild Planet Safari. Thank you Thale and Ryan for showing me South Africa, with all that love and knowledge I can feel that you have for your country. I will be back to see more of it. With Wild Planet Safari.

Ragnhild

MARAVELLOUS

Everything goes fine from the beginning. Thale helped us in all the organisation, helping to decide the route and planing everything. Once we arrived Eric was the most amazing guide that I could imagine. Eric was a passionate bird lover, a very good driver, an amazing chef, an incredible storyteller in a summary the best guide we could imagine. I recommend without and doubt the safari we did. Wildplanet pick up us on the Tempo Airport in the early morning arriving to the Hoedspruit at mid-day entering the krugger park the same afternoon having our first game drive on the way to Satara rest camp, here we see many animals including one Leopard. We stay 2 nights in the satara rest camp. The only experince that we will not repeat is the nigh game. After the 2 nights we went to skukuza rest time for 1 night more. I recommend the safari and I will repeat in the future. Thanks to Thale and Eric

Xevi

10 Night Kruger Safari - North to South

We are a couple & went on the 10 night Kruger Safari with Ryan in May, which was the first part of our honeymoon. Starting from the North - Punda Maria and finishing up in the South - Berg an Dal. Firstly Ryan's passion and knowledge of the park and animals are amazing. There wasn't a question he couldn't answer and needless to say we learned a great deal about all the animals, the park and South Africa. We saw lots of animals including the big 5 and it was really nice to travel from North to South - a great journey that felt like an odyssey. We booked with Wild Planet late last year, and most of the communication was with Thale - the other half of Wild Planet. She was friendly and very helpful with all questions we had and we had built a great rapport with her. Unfortunately though she wasn't able to be on the tour as they are expecting in August, which left a tour that would normally be run by the both of them to just Ryan. Don't get us wrong, it was a great tour overall and we had a good time but it seemed a lot for one person to run on their own. From managing game drives, daily camp preparation and cooking every meal, Ryan seemed a bit overworked on one or two occasions. We would recommend Wild Planet to anyone, but feel it's a two person operation. Had Thale or a second helper been there as well the trip would have met the expectations we had when we booked it.

Dao & John

Trip of a lifetime!

I first began speaking to Wild Planet Safari in 2017 - when we arranged our first trip to South Africa, a 10day north to south Kruger tour - March 2018 We were lucky enough to have the owners Ryan & Thale as part of this tour - which was an amazing first safari experience for my grandad & I I won't go into details, as ive already left a review for this but we decided we would like to return to SA for what will probably be my grandads last big trip abroad and Wild Planet Safari were at the top of our list to get in touch with Thale wasted no time at all in arranging another fantastic tour for us, this time experiencing the east side of Kruger that we didn't get to see previously. We began with the panorama route with a brilliant guide, who filled the long drive with humour & stories until we met with Ryan & Thale the next day to begin our drive to Kruger. We stayed at some of quieter camps this year, including Pafuri Border, Batleur and Tsenze, a rustik camp site - this added so much more to the experience. I've never experienced another tour company and if im honest, I don't need too - these guys are amazing; they have so much passion about what they do. Ryan's knowledge of everything about the bush, is something else - any question you have, he'll know the answer. As for his memory - thats on another level, he remembered the tiniest little details & places of particular sightings from our first visit 18months earlier! Im unsure when ill returning to SA again, but what I do know is that when I do Wild Planet Safari will be my first port of call. I cant thank you guys enough for the memories, experience, great food, many funs times and the friendship! I wish you both all the best for the future and hope to visit again sometime, if you come back to the UK anytime - I'd love to catch up.

Aaron Bannister

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!

Pamela