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~ Feedback from our valued Clients (2016 and 2015) ~
Bart and Family: South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, Dec 2016My impression of our trip is that it was virtually faultless. Three of our guides, Samson in Cape Town; Owen at Dwyka; and OB at Vumbura were superb. Owen has intricate knowledge of the animals at Dwyka and is a terrific teacher who even took us on foot to within perhaps 25-30 feet of a female cheetah that he knew well. OB’s eloquent sharing of his vast knowledge of the Vumbura wildlife, his ability to find exciting situations (we followed a cheetah and her three cubs until she spotted her prey from a termite mound and then drove with/after her to her kill and to the subsequent feeding of her cubs where she dragged the impala into the bush) and his attention to the amusement of the youngest among us who were in the third seat with his exciting driving were in my experience beyond exceptional. Lucky, our guide at Savuti who guided Lori and I last year was very good again at finding the game, but is by his nature less talkative than the others. Our guide in Vic Falls, whose name escapes me at this writing, was totally knowledgable and always prompt and accommodating. Accommodations at Dwyka and Vumbura were fantastic. We very much appreciated the Vumbura upgrade (who wouldn’t!). I thought the food was good in all camps. The Vic Falls hotel and the Zambezi river cruise were fine as I suspect they always are. We had a wonderful dinner in the main dining room where we celebrated my 75th birthday and enjoyed excellent food and the hotel’s marvelous pianist. Lori and I enthusiastically recommend a trip to Africa, and especially with your guidance, to all who will listen. Thanks for all of your efforts on our behalf and please extend our appreciation to your colleagues at Wilderness Safaris. Best regards, Bart.
Diane: Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and Kenya, Nov/Dec 2016My trip was wonderful and I cannot thank you enough. The whole trip was fabulous but I fell in love with Kenya and want to return there and to Tanzania also. I especially appreciate the pick up (at the airplane!!!) when I arrived in Nairobi. The Nairobi airport is daunting if you are unfamiliar with it and Asilia guided me through the process quickly and easily. All of our accommodations were terrific. Every place had its strengths. For sure my favorites were Rekero, Xigera, and Toka Leya in that order - in large part because we saw the most wildlife in these three - and Rekero had by far the most. It also matched my expectations about Africa and the plains. I thought this was the very best holiday I have ever taken. So again, my thanks. Loved that a card was waiting for me upon my return. Class act in every way.
Drew amd Sara: Kenya, Dec 2016Naboisho Camp did not disappoint amd everything was excellent. Incredible accommodations and an exceptional staff. And we were able to see tons of animals on the game drives. This was the trip of a lifetime. Thanks for your help preparing it.
Wilson Family: South Africa and Zimbabwe, Oct 2016Words can not describe the fun and adventure we had in Africa!!! I have been sharing your contact with many people. You were absolutely the best ever in helping us with our amazing trip! We didn't skip a beat!!! I will be in touch. Thanks again for Everything!!!
Lily and David (honeymoon): Tanzania, Sep 2016We had an amazing time at the camps and saw much more than we even expected. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime -- all thanks to your help and patience with us :) From the plantation lodge (food was spectacular) to the camps (loved Namibi Plains and Sayari) to the attentive staff, we really loved our time there. We have yet to go through the thousands of photos that we took. We really appreciated the support and trip planning. We were not only prepared, but were delighted with the properties we stayed at. I think that's the best part, not only sighting the animals, but watching their behaviours in the wild. We waited for an hour for a massive herd of wildebeest to cross the river (which they did) and saw a pride of lions stalking a lone gazelle.
Val and Nicole: South Africa, Namibia and Rwanda, Sep 2016 The trip was wonderful. All of the lodges and staff were great. Once again, a great trip with memories for a lifetime.
Ron and Sandey: South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, Sep 2016We’ve had the most amazing journey!! Everything went beautifully, we loved the our time in Capetown, the Camps, the animals and the people!! I came home with a whole different prospective on life and I hope it makes some changes in how I look at things! It was almost surreal to be there….we’ve got the Africa “bug” and look forward to going back again…. We can’t thank you enough for the incredible job you did in planning our trip. Literally, other than the delayed SAA flight, everything went very smoothly. Would like to have had an extra night at both Chitabe and Duma Tau (new facilities are really great)…. We had wonderful guides in both places. We saw just about everything we could possibly see except an actual “kill”….very lucky wherever we went. And the River Club was a “grand” place to finish our trip and gradually return to the real life…they couldn’t have been nicer…even upgraded us to a room with a pool. We remained healthy, happy and stress free during our entire experience which is a big deal to us these days!! Thank you again!
Keith and Kay: South Africa and Zimbabwe, Sep 2016We can't thank you enough for planning such a wonderful trip. Everything worked like clockwork, no problems and we saw the big 5! Thanks again!
Steve and Sharron: Kenya and Tanzania, Aug 2016Hello Caroline! I can tell you that the trip was absolutely fabulous. The accommodations were fantastic and we enjoyed the variety of camps that you selected for us. On top of that, we were lucky enough to witness the migration of the wildebeest and zebras! That said, the thing that I admired most was the skill of the guides that we got to know. They are just phenomenol and so knowledgeable about the culture, the wildlife, the plants, etc. We really appreciated their willingness to ferry us around at will and to patiently help us spot young leopards in trees – quite a treat to watch them! Of course the food was quite delicious, as we knew it would be! The kitchen and wait staff were stellar at each camp. Steve introduced his homemade margarita to the one of the bartenders and in no time the staff had mastered the concoction – it was good fun. Thanks so much for another great adventure!!
Carothers Family: Botswana and Zimbabwe, Jun 2016We have just arrived at Victoria Falls this afternoon. Our 10 day trip in Botswana far exceeded expectations. It is truly an amazing opportunity. We saw so many spectacles that we couldn't have even hoped for. Wild dogs regurgitating a kill to their pups right in front of us, a male lion attacking a hippo, a whole pride trying to take down giraffe, and more. It was fantastic, and the vegetarian food was thoroughly delicious. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Ivan and Amelia: Botswana, May/Jun 2016It was an absolute dream. Everything was seamless, and we loved every minute of it. Each of the camps was so special in its own way, and the wildlife was spectacular. Too many lions and leopards (and cubs) to count! Having completed the trip, and knowing a bit more of the geography, it's clear that the itinerary you and Paul planned was very thoughtful. It allowed us to see three totally different landscapes and totally different camps. Already starting to look toward the next trip (always nice to have something to look forward to). I know things book up early! I have half a mind to just go back to Mombo and move in! :)
Terry and Judy: South Africa, Apr 2016Paul and Caroline- it was a great trip at a world class facility [Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge] with first class staff. Even the animals cooperated- except for the giraffes! This was our second safari having done the Serengeti and been to Rwanda to hike up and see the mountain gorillas. This environment was totally different and unique - no comparison which was good. Thanks for making this happen.
Jay and party: South Africa, Apr 2016Guys, I just wanted to let you know that we (all 8 of us) had an amazing experience at the Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge. Everything about it was phenomenal-- no other way to describe it! The staff, the hospitality, the food, the lodging, the game drives-- everything was amazing. And this is not coming from a group of inexperienced travelers. We have all traveled on virtually all continents, stayed in wonderful hotels and resorts, and 6 of us had previously been on safari in Africa. The Sabi Sabi adventure was absolutely the best. hanks again for all your work in putting this together. Best regards, Jay.
Robert and Dorothy: Botswana, Feb 2016We had a great trip! Wilderness, as usual, performed at a very high standard. The guides especially were terrific. Vumbura Plains was particularly good for wildlife: on day 1 we tracked a hunting leopard for 3 hours; on day 2 we saw a complete wild dog hunt and kill; on day 3 we tracked lions, had a great water excursion and saw a failed wild dog hunt. We also did a night drive and saw an aardwolf, giant eagle owl, etc. There was a bit of water at Xigera and much more at Vumbura, but overall things were very, very dry and extremely hot. Many thanks for all of your help.
Carty and family: South Africa and Namibia, Dec/Jan 2016Overall, the trip was magical. We recognize the coordination and logistics of these trips are difficult especially with 5 people. We had 7 flights, a lot of activities and everything was on time and flawless. For me, the highlights were spending time with the guides in Cape Town and the three camps; they were all exceptional. We liked all of the camps but Hoanib Skelton Coast Camp was very, very, very special. I think this was probably the highlight of trip for everyone; definitely best camp. I was skeptical that there would not be enough to see there. I was wrong. This is a magical, special, unique, natural place and environment. We saw a lot of game; big game in some great settings. Some of the most unique and diverse geography and ecosystems I’ve seen. The Cape Town Hotel was excellent. Great central location with a lot going on at the Waterfront during downtime. Staff, concierge; service first class. I would highly recommend this hotel especially for families. Rooms were first rate, facilities excellent. Shark Diving trip was excellent. We sighted 12 different great whites. We appreciate all you and Caroline did to assist especially on short notice. Trip reaffirmed my love of Africa, the people, Cape Town as the most complete city I’ve visited in terms of beauty, diversity, food, people and vibe. Hoanib is one of the top 5 places I’ve ever been in the world. The trip to Hoanib was worth going on the trip by itself. Can’t wait to go back. As soon as we landed, I was ready to return in spite of long flights. Thanks for all you did. Note sent to us in Dec 2015 from a previous client:Paul, as I read through your newsletter, I am overwhelmed at how priceless our experience was. You helped us every step of the way to put an incredible itinerary together with some very short notice. I am heartbroken to report that I lost my partner in September. In her last weeks, she was taking morphine for pain. She would wake up from vivid dreams (I believe transportive dreams), crying, saying that she had been with the elephants. I am so very glad we got to make that trip. We could not have done it without you. I am still not sure which end is up, but know I have to return to Africa. I have been reading some travel notes shared by friends who are now in the Norongoro crater. The descriptions of the wildlife populations in Kenya sound fantastic. My dream is to go to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Sanctuary. I cannot convey my sorrow in losing my spouse of 22 years, but so grateful that we got to spend a magnificent block of time in Africa, with only the animals and our guides. I thank you.
Heidi and friends: Zimbabwe, Dec 2015Paul, everything went very smoothly. We don’t have enough good things to say about how Wilderness Safaris treated us. We were thoroughly impressed with the accommodations, the staff, the game drives, attention to detail. Thank you for everything.
Sue Ellen and family: Zimbabwe and South Africa, Oct 2015Hello Paul and Caroline, I am sure you will not be surprised that we had a wonderful trip! All the arrangements you made worked perfectly. We were met and transported to wherever we needed to be without any delays or other glitches. Thank you so very much for all you did to make this adventure such a great success. Ilala Lodge was lovely and so was the location. Thanks for choosing the best river cruise we could imagine. We enjoyed all the food (crocodile tail was not too scary, actually pretty good) the drinks, and of course seeing hippos, elephants, crocs, and buffalo. It was the perfect introduction to our African trip and way for us all to unwind after so many hours of travel. The tour of Victoria Falls was amazing and then we had fun spending some time and a little money at the local bazaar. All of us had a good dinner and wonderful time beating our drums, singing, and dancing at the Boma dinner - 6 of 7 of us ate worms and have our certificates to prove it! It is hard to talk about our time at Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge because I do not have enough words to describe our fantastic experience. Selati was beautifully appointed, it has only 8 rooms so the common rooms have a very cosy feeling. The guest rooms are lovely, the meals delicious, and the staff could not have been kinder. This lodge has never had children as young as Kaitlin (10) and Allison (9) but they made sure that the girls felt welcome and had meals that they could enjoy. Terry and Taryn even looked after them as they swam one morning so that the rest of us could hike with our ranger. If ever we are fortunate to return to Sabi Sabi we would certainly choose to stay here. We are so glad that we did not miss a tour to the local village. The bus driver and the tour guide made the drive interesting with their singing and by sharing information about village life with us. We had local children greet us and sing to us, we visited a children's center, a traditional healer and fortune teller, and a group of ladies who had us all singing and dancing! We did not make a contribution to the village because we ended up tipping almost everyone we saw and buying some items in the village - the people were just all so interesting, kind and so ready to share with us. It was a very special way to spend a morning. The game drives, of course, were the highlight of our vacation. Kyle, our ranger, and Mike our tracker, have got to be the best team in all of Sabi Sabi! We still can't believe how Mike spotted the things that he did and how Kyle maneuvered the Land Cruiser into the places he did so that we could get the best views and pictures of everything. We saw each of the big five on more than one occasion but Kyle and Mike found so many other animals, birds, snakes, lizards, plants and trees that we all came away knowing something of the huge diversity of the wildlife in this part of South Africa. Kyle is very interested in photography. He helped us with our cameras and then even gave us a copy of the pictures he took during our game drives. His pictures are great! Everyone of us, especially the girls, was amazed by the opportunity to get so close to the animals. We could almost feel that we were living there on the plains or in the forest right along with them. We are so grateful for your help in making this wonderful trip happen. You put together a string of activities that were fun and appropriate for all of us - not always easy when the ages range from 9 to 72! I know that if any of us are ever lucky enough to be able to return to Africa "Natural Migrations" will be the first place we call for advice. Thank you once again, Sue Ellen.
Debbie: Botswana and South Africa, Sep 2015 Hi Caroline and Paul. Thank you so much for organizing the trip for us---it was truly the most wonderful vacation I have ever had. Everything went perfectly---all of the transfers, charter flights and so on. You did a splendid job of planning. The trip was the perfect blend of tent living and luxury. Your suggestions regarding what to pack and how much to tip were extremely helpful. The horseback riding safari was fantastic. The horses were so wonderful that Kathy wanted to take hers home---and you know what high quality horses she has! Our guide West was knowledgable and so charming and funny! Accommodations were comfortable and I loved sleeping out under the stars for two nights. The food was extraordinary---Grace and her sous-chef V.G. cooked everything on a metal grille over an open flame, and how they managed to produce hors d'oeuvres, fresh steamed vegetables, casseroles, roasts, and desserts like cheesecake, brownies, and panna cotta with passionfruit is beyond me. We took game drives every afternoon and saw elephants and lions up close and personal. I was certainly glad to see a bathtub when we got to Mala Mala! That is a beautiful place; so luxurious. The game viewing there was amazing. The accommodations were magnificent, the buffets were incredible, and the game viewing was superb. Elephant were walking around as plentiful as sheep and we saw a leopardess lounging in a tree about 20ft from us. I miss Africa! I would go back tomorrow. Thank you so much for the trip of a lifetime. All the best---Debbie.
Edwin and Peta: Botswana, Aug/Sep 2015Thank you for the excellent organization of the whole trip. We appreciate how carefully you put together the different components and made selections which we would never have known about otherwise: Even though we had ridden with Barney and PJ 20 years ago exactly we had never heard about Limpopo Valley Riding Safaris, nor about Duma Tau; both of which were stunning and the highlights. Finally, thank you for your patience with all my questions, even those where you had already give me the answer if I had only read your documentation thoroughly! Suffice to say that we will certainly be contacting you when we next wish to go back to Africa (which might not be that far away…).
Steve and Liz, Botswana, Aug/Sep 2015We're home safely and had a wonderful time. We appreciate everything you did in putting together a terrific itinerary for our group, and will certainly not hesitate to seek your assistance with future trips to Africa (and we believe others in our group feel the same).
Dan and Pat: Botswana, Aug/Sep 2015Thank you to Paul and you for organizing a delightful trip for us to Botswana. The lady from Menzies that escorted us through the airport yesterday is the sole reason we made our flight, arriving as the doors were closing! We had a very memorable experience and thoroughly enjoyed meeting Map Ives who is a remarkable guy. Thanks again for creating such a great trip for us.
Billy and Elin: Tanzania, Aug 2015 We are back and I have finally had a moment to get my life back to normal. We had a wonderful time, in short. It really was a top-trip and I would like to do something similar next year. The itinerary that you put together for us was excellent and smooth. Going to Asilia was such a treat and Ubuntu was better than I could dream. Great work, figuring out that it would be just what a photographer would want. Perhaps next time I can shift focus from the animals more towards landscapes when taking pics, though it was a great start! I'll be in touch about future trips. I am very much looking forward to getting back to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Kay and Sandy: Tanzania, Jun 2015It was the trip of a lifetime. As you may know the migration was a couple of weeks late so we did not see river crossings, but we were driven to the central plains from the mobile camp and to a different area from Sayari where we saw large herds milling around, rutting, and periodically traveling. We very much enjoyed the Serena accommodations, Gibb's Farm, and found every Asilia facility, their organization, and their guides outstanding. There were no hitches along the way.
Suzanne: Rwanda and Botswana, Apr 2015Thank you – this trip packed weeks into a day, created memories to last a lifetime, gave bragging rights over friends, and shared incredible moments as a family.
Bill and Melinda: Namibia, Apr 2015Paul - Everything went very smoothly. As we had previously experienced, Wilderness Safaris operations are first rate. The staffs at the camps were very engaging. We were enthralled with the topography of Namibia. Thanks for all your assistance.
Diane: Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and Kenya, Nov/Dec 2016My trip was wonderful and I cannot thank you enough. The whole trip was fabulous but I fell in love with Kenya and want to return there and to Tanzania also. I especially appreciate the pick up (at the airplane!!!) when I arrived in Nairobi. The Nairobi airport is daunting if you are unfamiliar with it and Asilia guided me through the process quickly and easily. All of our accommodations were terrific. Every place had its strengths. For sure my favorites were Rekero, Xigera, and Toka Leya in that order - in large part because we saw the most wildlife in these three - and Rekero had by far the most. It also matched my expectations about Africa and the plains. I thought this was the very best holiday I have ever taken. So again, my thanks. Loved that a card was waiting for me upon my return. Class act in every way.
Drew amd Sara: Kenya, Dec 2016Naboisho Camp did not disappoint amd everything was excellent. Incredible accommodations and an exceptional staff. And we were able to see tons of animals on the game drives. This was the trip of a lifetime. Thanks for your help preparing it.
Wilson Family: South Africa and Zimbabwe, Oct 2016Words can not describe the fun and adventure we had in Africa!!! I have been sharing your contact with many people. You were absolutely the best ever in helping us with our amazing trip! We didn't skip a beat!!! I will be in touch. Thanks again for Everything!!!
Lily and David (honeymoon): Tanzania, Sep 2016We had an amazing time at the camps and saw much more than we even expected. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime -- all thanks to your help and patience with us :) From the plantation lodge (food was spectacular) to the camps (loved Namibi Plains and Sayari) to the attentive staff, we really loved our time there. We have yet to go through the thousands of photos that we took. We really appreciated the support and trip planning. We were not only prepared, but were delighted with the properties we stayed at. I think that's the best part, not only sighting the animals, but watching their behaviours in the wild. We waited for an hour for a massive herd of wildebeest to cross the river (which they did) and saw a pride of lions stalking a lone gazelle.
Val and Nicole: South Africa, Namibia and Rwanda, Sep 2016 The trip was wonderful. All of the lodges and staff were great. Once again, a great trip with memories for a lifetime.
Ron and Sandey: South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, Sep 2016We’ve had the most amazing journey!! Everything went beautifully, we loved the our time in Capetown, the Camps, the animals and the people!! I came home with a whole different prospective on life and I hope it makes some changes in how I look at things! It was almost surreal to be there….we’ve got the Africa “bug” and look forward to going back again…. We can’t thank you enough for the incredible job you did in planning our trip. Literally, other than the delayed SAA flight, everything went very smoothly. Would like to have had an extra night at both Chitabe and Duma Tau (new facilities are really great)…. We had wonderful guides in both places. We saw just about everything we could possibly see except an actual “kill”….very lucky wherever we went. And the River Club was a “grand” place to finish our trip and gradually return to the real life…they couldn’t have been nicer…even upgraded us to a room with a pool. We remained healthy, happy and stress free during our entire experience which is a big deal to us these days!! Thank you again!
Keith and Kay: South Africa and Zimbabwe, Sep 2016We can't thank you enough for planning such a wonderful trip. Everything worked like clockwork, no problems and we saw the big 5! Thanks again!
Steve and Sharron: Kenya and Tanzania, Aug 2016Hello Caroline! I can tell you that the trip was absolutely fabulous. The accommodations were fantastic and we enjoyed the variety of camps that you selected for us. On top of that, we were lucky enough to witness the migration of the wildebeest and zebras! That said, the thing that I admired most was the skill of the guides that we got to know. They are just phenomenol and so knowledgeable about the culture, the wildlife, the plants, etc. We really appreciated their willingness to ferry us around at will and to patiently help us spot young leopards in trees – quite a treat to watch them! Of course the food was quite delicious, as we knew it would be! The kitchen and wait staff were stellar at each camp. Steve introduced his homemade margarita to the one of the bartenders and in no time the staff had mastered the concoction – it was good fun. Thanks so much for another great adventure!!
Carothers Family: Botswana and Zimbabwe, Jun 2016We have just arrived at Victoria Falls this afternoon. Our 10 day trip in Botswana far exceeded expectations. It is truly an amazing opportunity. We saw so many spectacles that we couldn't have even hoped for. Wild dogs regurgitating a kill to their pups right in front of us, a male lion attacking a hippo, a whole pride trying to take down giraffe, and more. It was fantastic, and the vegetarian food was thoroughly delicious. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Ivan and Amelia: Botswana, May/Jun 2016It was an absolute dream. Everything was seamless, and we loved every minute of it. Each of the camps was so special in its own way, and the wildlife was spectacular. Too many lions and leopards (and cubs) to count! Having completed the trip, and knowing a bit more of the geography, it's clear that the itinerary you and Paul planned was very thoughtful. It allowed us to see three totally different landscapes and totally different camps. Already starting to look toward the next trip (always nice to have something to look forward to). I know things book up early! I have half a mind to just go back to Mombo and move in! :)
Terry and Judy: South Africa, Apr 2016Paul and Caroline- it was a great trip at a world class facility [Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge] with first class staff. Even the animals cooperated- except for the giraffes! This was our second safari having done the Serengeti and been to Rwanda to hike up and see the mountain gorillas. This environment was totally different and unique - no comparison which was good. Thanks for making this happen.
Jay and party: South Africa, Apr 2016Guys, I just wanted to let you know that we (all 8 of us) had an amazing experience at the Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge. Everything about it was phenomenal-- no other way to describe it! The staff, the hospitality, the food, the lodging, the game drives-- everything was amazing. And this is not coming from a group of inexperienced travelers. We have all traveled on virtually all continents, stayed in wonderful hotels and resorts, and 6 of us had previously been on safari in Africa. The Sabi Sabi adventure was absolutely the best. hanks again for all your work in putting this together. Best regards, Jay.
Robert and Dorothy: Botswana, Feb 2016We had a great trip! Wilderness, as usual, performed at a very high standard. The guides especially were terrific. Vumbura Plains was particularly good for wildlife: on day 1 we tracked a hunting leopard for 3 hours; on day 2 we saw a complete wild dog hunt and kill; on day 3 we tracked lions, had a great water excursion and saw a failed wild dog hunt. We also did a night drive and saw an aardwolf, giant eagle owl, etc. There was a bit of water at Xigera and much more at Vumbura, but overall things were very, very dry and extremely hot. Many thanks for all of your help.
Carty and family: South Africa and Namibia, Dec/Jan 2016Overall, the trip was magical. We recognize the coordination and logistics of these trips are difficult especially with 5 people. We had 7 flights, a lot of activities and everything was on time and flawless. For me, the highlights were spending time with the guides in Cape Town and the three camps; they were all exceptional. We liked all of the camps but Hoanib Skelton Coast Camp was very, very, very special. I think this was probably the highlight of trip for everyone; definitely best camp. I was skeptical that there would not be enough to see there. I was wrong. This is a magical, special, unique, natural place and environment. We saw a lot of game; big game in some great settings. Some of the most unique and diverse geography and ecosystems I’ve seen. The Cape Town Hotel was excellent. Great central location with a lot going on at the Waterfront during downtime. Staff, concierge; service first class. I would highly recommend this hotel especially for families. Rooms were first rate, facilities excellent. Shark Diving trip was excellent. We sighted 12 different great whites. We appreciate all you and Caroline did to assist especially on short notice. Trip reaffirmed my love of Africa, the people, Cape Town as the most complete city I’ve visited in terms of beauty, diversity, food, people and vibe. Hoanib is one of the top 5 places I’ve ever been in the world. The trip to Hoanib was worth going on the trip by itself. Can’t wait to go back. As soon as we landed, I was ready to return in spite of long flights. Thanks for all you did. Note sent to us in Dec 2015 from a previous client:Paul, as I read through your newsletter, I am overwhelmed at how priceless our experience was. You helped us every step of the way to put an incredible itinerary together with some very short notice. I am heartbroken to report that I lost my partner in September. In her last weeks, she was taking morphine for pain. She would wake up from vivid dreams (I believe transportive dreams), crying, saying that she had been with the elephants. I am so very glad we got to make that trip. We could not have done it without you. I am still not sure which end is up, but know I have to return to Africa. I have been reading some travel notes shared by friends who are now in the Norongoro crater. The descriptions of the wildlife populations in Kenya sound fantastic. My dream is to go to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Sanctuary. I cannot convey my sorrow in losing my spouse of 22 years, but so grateful that we got to spend a magnificent block of time in Africa, with only the animals and our guides. I thank you.
Heidi and friends: Zimbabwe, Dec 2015Paul, everything went very smoothly. We don’t have enough good things to say about how Wilderness Safaris treated us. We were thoroughly impressed with the accommodations, the staff, the game drives, attention to detail. Thank you for everything.
Sue Ellen and family: Zimbabwe and South Africa, Oct 2015Hello Paul and Caroline, I am sure you will not be surprised that we had a wonderful trip! All the arrangements you made worked perfectly. We were met and transported to wherever we needed to be without any delays or other glitches. Thank you so very much for all you did to make this adventure such a great success. Ilala Lodge was lovely and so was the location. Thanks for choosing the best river cruise we could imagine. We enjoyed all the food (crocodile tail was not too scary, actually pretty good) the drinks, and of course seeing hippos, elephants, crocs, and buffalo. It was the perfect introduction to our African trip and way for us all to unwind after so many hours of travel. The tour of Victoria Falls was amazing and then we had fun spending some time and a little money at the local bazaar. All of us had a good dinner and wonderful time beating our drums, singing, and dancing at the Boma dinner - 6 of 7 of us ate worms and have our certificates to prove it! It is hard to talk about our time at Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge because I do not have enough words to describe our fantastic experience. Selati was beautifully appointed, it has only 8 rooms so the common rooms have a very cosy feeling. The guest rooms are lovely, the meals delicious, and the staff could not have been kinder. This lodge has never had children as young as Kaitlin (10) and Allison (9) but they made sure that the girls felt welcome and had meals that they could enjoy. Terry and Taryn even looked after them as they swam one morning so that the rest of us could hike with our ranger. If ever we are fortunate to return to Sabi Sabi we would certainly choose to stay here. We are so glad that we did not miss a tour to the local village. The bus driver and the tour guide made the drive interesting with their singing and by sharing information about village life with us. We had local children greet us and sing to us, we visited a children's center, a traditional healer and fortune teller, and a group of ladies who had us all singing and dancing! We did not make a contribution to the village because we ended up tipping almost everyone we saw and buying some items in the village - the people were just all so interesting, kind and so ready to share with us. It was a very special way to spend a morning. The game drives, of course, were the highlight of our vacation. Kyle, our ranger, and Mike our tracker, have got to be the best team in all of Sabi Sabi! We still can't believe how Mike spotted the things that he did and how Kyle maneuvered the Land Cruiser into the places he did so that we could get the best views and pictures of everything. We saw each of the big five on more than one occasion but Kyle and Mike found so many other animals, birds, snakes, lizards, plants and trees that we all came away knowing something of the huge diversity of the wildlife in this part of South Africa. Kyle is very interested in photography. He helped us with our cameras and then even gave us a copy of the pictures he took during our game drives. His pictures are great! Everyone of us, especially the girls, was amazed by the opportunity to get so close to the animals. We could almost feel that we were living there on the plains or in the forest right along with them. We are so grateful for your help in making this wonderful trip happen. You put together a string of activities that were fun and appropriate for all of us - not always easy when the ages range from 9 to 72! I know that if any of us are ever lucky enough to be able to return to Africa "Natural Migrations" will be the first place we call for advice. Thank you once again, Sue Ellen.
Debbie: Botswana and South Africa, Sep 2015 Hi Caroline and Paul. Thank you so much for organizing the trip for us---it was truly the most wonderful vacation I have ever had. Everything went perfectly---all of the transfers, charter flights and so on. You did a splendid job of planning. The trip was the perfect blend of tent living and luxury. Your suggestions regarding what to pack and how much to tip were extremely helpful. The horseback riding safari was fantastic. The horses were so wonderful that Kathy wanted to take hers home---and you know what high quality horses she has! Our guide West was knowledgable and so charming and funny! Accommodations were comfortable and I loved sleeping out under the stars for two nights. The food was extraordinary---Grace and her sous-chef V.G. cooked everything on a metal grille over an open flame, and how they managed to produce hors d'oeuvres, fresh steamed vegetables, casseroles, roasts, and desserts like cheesecake, brownies, and panna cotta with passionfruit is beyond me. We took game drives every afternoon and saw elephants and lions up close and personal. I was certainly glad to see a bathtub when we got to Mala Mala! That is a beautiful place; so luxurious. The game viewing there was amazing. The accommodations were magnificent, the buffets were incredible, and the game viewing was superb. Elephant were walking around as plentiful as sheep and we saw a leopardess lounging in a tree about 20ft from us. I miss Africa! I would go back tomorrow. Thank you so much for the trip of a lifetime. All the best---Debbie.
Edwin and Peta: Botswana, Aug/Sep 2015Thank you for the excellent organization of the whole trip. We appreciate how carefully you put together the different components and made selections which we would never have known about otherwise: Even though we had ridden with Barney and PJ 20 years ago exactly we had never heard about Limpopo Valley Riding Safaris, nor about Duma Tau; both of which were stunning and the highlights. Finally, thank you for your patience with all my questions, even those where you had already give me the answer if I had only read your documentation thoroughly! Suffice to say that we will certainly be contacting you when we next wish to go back to Africa (which might not be that far away…).
Steve and Liz, Botswana, Aug/Sep 2015We're home safely and had a wonderful time. We appreciate everything you did in putting together a terrific itinerary for our group, and will certainly not hesitate to seek your assistance with future trips to Africa (and we believe others in our group feel the same).
Dan and Pat: Botswana, Aug/Sep 2015Thank you to Paul and you for organizing a delightful trip for us to Botswana. The lady from Menzies that escorted us through the airport yesterday is the sole reason we made our flight, arriving as the doors were closing! We had a very memorable experience and thoroughly enjoyed meeting Map Ives who is a remarkable guy. Thanks again for creating such a great trip for us.
Billy and Elin: Tanzania, Aug 2015 We are back and I have finally had a moment to get my life back to normal. We had a wonderful time, in short. It really was a top-trip and I would like to do something similar next year. The itinerary that you put together for us was excellent and smooth. Going to Asilia was such a treat and Ubuntu was better than I could dream. Great work, figuring out that it would be just what a photographer would want. Perhaps next time I can shift focus from the animals more towards landscapes when taking pics, though it was a great start! I'll be in touch about future trips. I am very much looking forward to getting back to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Kay and Sandy: Tanzania, Jun 2015It was the trip of a lifetime. As you may know the migration was a couple of weeks late so we did not see river crossings, but we were driven to the central plains from the mobile camp and to a different area from Sayari where we saw large herds milling around, rutting, and periodically traveling. We very much enjoyed the Serena accommodations, Gibb's Farm, and found every Asilia facility, their organization, and their guides outstanding. There were no hitches along the way.
Suzanne: Rwanda and Botswana, Apr 2015Thank you – this trip packed weeks into a day, created memories to last a lifetime, gave bragging rights over friends, and shared incredible moments as a family.
Bill and Melinda: Namibia, Apr 2015Paul - Everything went very smoothly. As we had previously experienced, Wilderness Safaris operations are first rate. The staffs at the camps were very engaging. We were enthralled with the topography of Namibia. Thanks for all your assistance.