Reviews of wild planet safari

Perfect Kruger Safari

My girlfriend and I recently went on a four-day/three night Kruger tour with Ryan and could not have asked for a better trip. Driving past other tours carrying nearly 20 people with only one guide made us keenly aware of how lucky we were to be able to ask Ryan questions whenever we had them. Ryan's knowledge of the park’s ecology is constantly on display, whether he was talking about animals, insects, birds, or plant life. Having our own private tour also gave us flexibility. We were able to customize our trip, allowing us to go out to see animals when, where and however often we wanted to. Whether we wanted to take an extra drive, go outside of the planned route to find a lion (success!), or drink Savannah Dry’s until passing out, Ryan was eager to do it. On our last day, Ryan drove all over known rhino routes because we hadn’t been lucky enough to see a rhino up close (which was literally the only animal in Kruger that didn’t practically approach our vehicle). When you are on larger group tours, that kind of personal touch just isn’t possible. Behind every man is a great woman, and Ryan and Thale are no exception. Before arriving in South Africa, we were in constant communication with Thale despite the fact that she was in her third trimester. We were initially apprehensive about not being able to pay by credit card (extremely high fees) or PayPal (only works with one bank in South Africa), but Thale made us feel completely at ease throughout the entire process. If all of that wasn’t enough, Ryan and Thale were kind enough to have us over for dinner the week after our tour for our last night in South Africa. We could not have asked for a nicer, more hospitable couple to show us around their beautiful country. They love what they do and it is evident from the moment you first contact them until they drop you off at the airport. We cannot recommend Wild Planet Safari highly enough. Thank you for making it an unforgettable trip!

Daniel Ricciardi

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!

Laurie

We had an amazing time - everything was wonderful.

I enjoyed the whole experience and would highly recommend Wild Planet Safaris. We saw loads of amazing animals and enjoyed the camps we visited in Kruger National Park. The accommodation was good and I loved having the meals included. The vehicle was very comfortable and clean. Everything was taken care of very well and made for a super experience. Many thanks to the staff of Wild Planet Safaris.

June

A wonderful safari and wildlife photography experience

The communications on arrangements for our five-day trip with Wild Planet Safari were timely and helpful. Our guide Darren and his assistant Lungi were very experienced, friendly and professional. We chose a camping trip and our tents were comfortable and meals were tasty. Darren and Lungi focused on our interest in finding and photographing birds, as well as the "big five" animals and other wildlife. They know the park well and places to maximize chances for interesting viewing. The open safari vehicle performed well and had excellent visibility. It was an amazing experience!

Richard

wonderful experience, with personalized service

My wife and I had a wonderful four day safari in Kruger National Park with Wild Planet Safari. All the pre - safari arrangements were easy to do. Ryan and Lungisani met us at our hotel at the Tambo airport and drove us to Kruger. We stayed in two camps and were well taken care of with excellent meals cooked by the team every night. Ryan's knowledge of wildlife, and Lungisani's eagle eye to spot wildlife really enhanced our experience. Highly recommended!

Doug and Paula Sinclair

8 nights in Kruger

This company was recommended to us by people who had been on over a dozen safaris. They said this was the best they had been on, so our expectations were high. Our expectations were in fact exceeded! Ryan and Thale are wonderful hosts, guides and now friends. It is an overused expression, but I can honestly say this was a holiday of a lifetime. Recommended.

Pete and Larissa

Perfect!

I got an offer for this Safari on safari bookings and booked in a few days. The service was fast. The brochure well written and communication clear. The safari vehicle was also very clean and Rafael and Hope were amazing guides. Hope cooked fantastic meals and Rafael knew how to make my teenager feel safe. He is also a walking encyclopedia of animal insight! I highly recommend and we saw all the big 5, plus lots lots more. It was fun, safe and exciting. Loved it.

Bena

Brilliant, all staff were friendly and knowledgable they really went above and beyond.

Most importantly Ryan was always spotting no matter what and named everything immediately, you could tell they had a lot of experience and always knew where to be and got their first meaning we always had the best of the viewing (we would often be moving on as multiple cars appeared either scaring the wildlife away or making viewing difficult). Not only was the spotting and positioning good you could tell that everyone really cared about seeing the wildlife, we saw wild dogs on our last evening while driving back to the campsite and Ryan's dancing by the wheel and they walked past was (nearly) as good as the sighting iself. In three days worth of game drives we not only saw the Big 5, also wild dogs, hyena pups and bird-life than you could shake a stick at, it really was a special few days. Away from the amazing wildlife the service provided was brilliant, the campsites were always good, the food was brilliant and the truck being used was well suited. Communications were always brilliant from first email through to saying goodbye. Emails were responded to quickly and always giving as much information as possible even when things weren't ideal (an issue arose with a vehicle they were going to purchase, I was notified immediately with a range of suitable options all of which were as good if not better than my original choice). Thale and Ryan were always trying to make the trip work for me and really helped organizing it hassle free. Wild Planet Safari really did provide an excellent service from start to finish, if I ever do make it back to Kruger I will definitely be using these guys.

David

Extremely Fun, Safe and Exciting ! Wild Planet Safari tour with Rafael was AMAZING !

Our recent safari experience with wild Planet Safari was absolutely incredible and deserves every one of these five stars. From start to finish, the trip exceeded all our expectations, and we owe much of that to our amazing guide Rafa ! Our guide was not only exceptionally friendly but also very knowledgeable about the local wildlife. His ability to spot animals from incredible distances was impressive. Rafa really had the eye of the tiger ! He was down-to-earth, funny, and even cooked delicious meals for us, making the whole experience feel both adventurous and homely. The vehicle provided for our safari was top-notch and superior to those used by other companies we encountered. It was comfortable, and the warm blankets provided were a much-appreciated touch, especially during the early morning. The fact that our trip was private made it even more special, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience without any distractions. We were fortunate enough to see the Big 5 of South Africa, a truly unforgettable experience. Each sighting was made even more exciting by our guide’s enthusiasm and in-depth explanations about the animals and their habitats. The food throughout the trip was delicious, adding to the overall enjoyment. The accommodations were spotless, comfortable, and provided a sense of safety and security that allowed us to fully relax and enjoy our time in the wilderness. Overall, Wild Planet Safari delivered a flawless safari experience that we will cherish forever. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for an unforgettable adventure in South Africa!

JP

One more off our bucket list and would do it again

The park is wonderful and we saw lots of every kind of animal there was except a leopard. (we think we saw 2 cubs at quite a distance away but not totally convinced it was leopards). The best part of our 4 days had to be the guide Mr Ker and Chef Mr Hope. They did everything they could to make this Safari memorable, comfortable (there was an unusual cold snap but blankets and rain gear were made available). The food that Hope made using outdoor grill was excellent and with myself being a vegetarian, I was impressed. The huts we stayed in were basic but comfortable with 2 bed, AC and a private bathroom/shower. I think there was good value for the cost ($1755 CDN each for 4 days). The only thing that could have been better was the initial transfer from Johannesburg. We were late getting to pickup spot at the airport because our prearranged pickup from our Airbnb was not give clear instructions as to where to meet the transfer van for Kruger. It worked out in the end as they waited for us. We real enjoyed this experience and would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Jim

Expert knowledge and attentive

We had an AMAZING experience. Rafael was an expert guide who made the trip extra enjoyable. Hope was an excellent chef who made us excited for every meal. We felt very well attended to and had a blast. We learned so much with every game drive and got to see many cool animals. This trip definitely convinced us that we have to come back to South Africa. We also greatly appreciated the efficient communication in preparation for the trip. All in all a great experience.

camila

A trip to remember

Thank you for a trip I will never forget. I have never seen so many exotic animals in my life. It was a truely amazing experience. We had lots og space in the van we where travelling in to move around and get the pictures we wanted and our guide's had an impressingly amount of knowledge about the wildlife surrounding us. The camping was also a good experience. The tent where more than big enough and easy to set up and take down. Visiting the South African wildlife is defenitely something I will recommend.

Unni

Fantastic safari with the greatest guides :-)

An absolute perfect safari. Wild Planet Safari guided us through Kruger in an entirely exemplary manner. Perfect service, always with a smile, good food and 100% professinal at all time. No doubt that they possess a vast knowledge about the animals, Kruger park, the country and the environment. They guided us to all "the big 5"and many many more animal.......missed the cheetah!

Bjørn Ole

Ryan and Thale were warm, extremely knowledgeable, accommodating, and simply amazing!

I found Wild Planet Safari in my attempt to surprise my wife for her birthday. I reached out to a number of places for quotes, but Wild Planet Safari wrote back in a very detailed and comforting way. They were patient with me as I tried to figure out the best experience for my family and I. I brought my wife and 4 children and we had the experience of a lifetime! Ryan and Thale were very accommodating. They went out of there way to accommodate our dietary restrictions. They made my wife's bday really special. They made sure to find activities that were family friendly, and the safari itself was just amazing. Ryan and Thale are experts and extremely knowledgeable about the environment, history, and wildlife. I'd highly recommend this company to any who are looking for a South African safari. As an added bonus, it was all VERY affordable. We'll be back for round 2!

Marcus

Experience of a lifetime!!!

I cannot rave about our safari with Wild Planet enough. Ryan and Thale were absolutely phenomenal. They were extremely knowlegeable and they did an excellent job locating and tracking the animals, and they were able to answer any question we had about each. Additionally, they were really friendly, laid back and flexible and made the entire experience very enjoyable. We were a little hesitant about wiring money to pay for the safari ahead of time, but it was a totally seamless process. We really could not have asked for a better safari experience from beginning to end. Go with wild planet, you will not regret it.

JocelynH

Lifetime experience

We did the 6-day Kruger Safari Tour with Wild Planet Safari and really enjoyed our time in Kruger National Park. Our guides Chris and Ben did their best so that we see as many animals as possible. Chris's eyes are extraordinary! He can really spot the smallest animals at long distances. Ben's cooking was also very good! Communication, booking, paying and transfers were excellent. We would recommend Wild Planet Safari to everyone!

Ioannis

Unforgettable trip!

My husband and I had a wonderful time during our 3 night stay in Kruger. Wild Planet Safari ensured a seamless pick up from a train station in Pretoria and made sure we arrived in the park before it closed. All accommodations and meals were as described. Our tour guide ensured we saw as many animals as possible and was available for any questions.

Rebecca Stewart

Top safari in the Krugerpark for a week, visiting 4 restcamps.

In the summer of 2024, we did a one-week safari in Kruger National Park with Wildlife Planet Safari. We chose the camping version and visited four different rest camps. Of course, we saw the Big Five. Our guide was Chris and our cook was Hobson—two fantastic guys. Chris always managed to get our jeep into the best viewing spot among all the vehicles, and Hobson consistently served up delicious meals. It was an amazing week and absolutely worth recommending. We were perfectly fine with camping—Chris and Hobson took care of everything. One small note: Chris and Hobson seemed quite exhausted during the first two days. We’re not sure why, but it might be something for Wildlife Planet Safari to keep an eye on, to ensure the staff gets enough rest. "The communication with Wildplanet Safari before the safari was excellent. Thale immediately understands your questions and responds quickly and efficiently

Taco

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