Madagascar April 2012 with SafariWise:
Please: I want more of it! 
We HAVE to go to Tsingy……..!
And up north and down south….

Thank you, Neil and Robbie, and Berdene and the staff at the office in Swakopmund!
It was an amazing adventure and a lifetime experience!

Bearing in mind that “Madagascar n´est pas une destination facile” – “Madagascar is not an easy destination” the trip was more something of an expedition, especially the first part of it…., but this makes it all so much more interesting and brings one together with the local folk with the possibility of making new friends and getting to know the country and the people.
Of course nature and wildlife is the biggest draw-card and it was sometimes overwhelming, especially the lemurs. It was eerie to hear them call in the rain forest and later, standing just below them when they called again. I think we all held our breath….. I will never forget those moments!
I had, almost my entire life, dreamed of standing on the “Avenue des Baobabs” in front of those age-old although beautiful and almost gracile giant baobab trees….. It was a dream come true – thank you Neil! Thank you Robbie, Berdene and the SafariWise team!

I´d join you again on any safari, would love to go back to Madagascar to explore more….. and having discussed the gorillas, I would join you tomorrow for a new adventure in Central Africa…!

Good reading (especially AFTER having been there): Mark Eveleigh, “Maverick in Madagascar”, published by Lonely PLanet Journeys (2001)

(Neil: Don´t buy, I have a copy for you!)

Thanks again for a wonderful trip and excellent planning!

Happy to be back in Namibia (after a 2 year stay in good old Germany), coming to see you soon at the coast!

Love, Cedi.

Berdene/Neil,

Both Gail and I congratulate SafariWise for the great programme you put together and the fabulous young man, Robbie, who transported us over hill and dale around Namibia, with great commentary and knowledge, he is an absolute asset to your team, do not let him go. I say that as an employer of young people of Robbie’s age, who now have collectively billions of dollars under their control today, Robbie exhibits those great qualities that make a great asset in your business.
The tour was very well planned and if there were any hiccups we did not see them and only for our decision to want to leave Roys (RUSTIC) camp, everything ran perfectly. I quote further on young Robbie:

• Driving, I love it I demand precision, not once did I flinch with Robbie, well driven, well considered all aspects of the long journey
• Polite, I almost had to restrain him for being so nice, steps here, bags there, you know.
• Always on time, never flustered, arrives at the site(s) on time every time
• Knowledge, what he didn’t have we read and updated all of us, we all learned a lot, with Robbie as the guide.
• His knowledge even tested the veteran guide at Africat where Robbie called two birds without Bino’s the Guide was ‘incorrect’.
• Great asset, look after him.

Back to the organisation of the tour, great, saw all the things we could imagine to see, the vehicle was of good quality, subject to the lack of an Aircon in Sossusvlei (42degC), but you can’t have everything. After Sossusvlei, no need for Aircon. Great accommodation and I shall rate them below;

• Okonjima Lodge – (Suite) very spectacular
• Emanye – Spectacular
• Camp Kipwe – Stunning
• Dolomite Camp – Good but needs attention by staff, transport, but lovely
• Sossusvlei Lodge – Lovely relaxed, well chosen
• Atlantic Villa – Tidy, spacious neat, good, a great restaurant next door
• Terra Africa – A nice way to finish the trip, nice staff, relaxed.
• Okaukuejo Resort – Tidy neat, lovely, I think we are spoiled
• Grootberg Lodge – Great asset to the conservancy, will change, as the management updated us
• River Crossing – Needs a severe update, nice staff, working with an old operation.
• Roy’s Camp – Well, if I was going pig hunting with “the boys” would be fine, drink, fall down, who Cares.

Best aspects of the journey for our interests;

• Himba and Bushmen – What a fantastic bunch of people, I can’t separate their contribution to the journey
• Twyfelfontein – Desert Elephants, great, fantastic to see them keep up the support of these animals.
• Etosha – Brilliant, congratulations Namibia
• Sossusvlei – A spectacle!!, by land and air.
• Walvis Dolphins – Skip the dolphins, amazing seals, amazing birds, value value
• Little Five – Chris Nel, dedicated, great value

I will be recommending SafariWise and have already promoted it to several parties and they will be looking to go to Namibia, hopefully with your company and do not forget, your people. Can I be more effusive about your man (Robbie), your plan and the venues you chose. I have asked Robbie to communicate with me on the Madagascar trip Neil and he are taking, I am very interested. I have also included Robbie on the mail as he deserves the accolades for his excellent performance, Robbie, use your congratulations wisely, remain the solid young man that you are.

Congratulations to Berdene, sorry Neil, she did the work, congratulations to Neil for having the business and shouting Gail and I to a lovely night in Swakopmund, sorry you could not be there Berdene.

Rex and Gail, Australia, Feb 2012

Dear Neil,

I can never thank you enough for the great safari you organised for us. It was fabulous and you and your organisational team are the best! I am in the process of taking about 1200 photos off my camera. We are having dinner with my oldest daughter and her daughter tonight – and they will be shown some pretty good photos – even though I say so myself! The leopards, the buffalo, the country side we were in, etc etc.Not professional like some, but pictures that will always remind me of a truly spectacular holiday. I can never thank you enough – it was great. I really hope that I shall be able to come over again with some of the family to show them what I love about your country and its people and wildlife. I feel really at home in Namibia and that is a fact! And those wild dogs – what a privilege.

Jill Damment, October 2011, England.

Dear Neil and Mark,

It has been an extraordinary time traveling with you through your very special country. I know that I will have amazing photos to share with my friends and students in the US. But even more, I will have memories of the awesome beauty of Namibia and the range of experiences that we had here. It will be fun to juxtapose the tiny desert agama lizards with the elephants of Etosha. You have both shown us kindness, patience, humor and great sensitivity to our countless requests. I can’t thank you enough for your generosity of time and spirit. You have made it very special and a memory forever. Hopefully, a memory that might live again. I shall try to make it happen!

My very best, Eliot (August 2011)

World Photo Adventures Namibia Photo tour – August 2011,

Just got home from a 2 week photo tour of Namibia with Darran Leal, facilitated by your company….had an amazing time….we saw many different kinds of vehicles and we were glad to be in yours…we thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the 4 man ground/cooking staff…very talented, friendly, hard working guys..terrific food! Our guides, Robbie and Ben….Robbie is obviously quite good at his job and a friendly, nice young man….We, my partner Keith McKavanagh and myself, want to especially comment on Ben…we were told (by Darran) he’d only been with your company as part time? for about 3 months… Ben greatly enriched our experience with his wealth of knowledge of everything Namibian. Where Robbie was happy to answer any questions (we had 8 people, 2 vehicles so swapped drivers/guides frequently) with ease…and accuracy I’m sure…they were mostly simple answers….Ben ‘filled out’ the picture with most of our questions by explaining each bird or animals life, impact and or needs…he explained how the people we saw lived, their needs, experiences and the interactions of them and the wildlife..he did all this in an easy to understand, succinct manner. We saw Ben first thing in the morning..working in camp…driving us all day..always with the trailer… frequently inquiring of us if we were quiet too long…to last thing at night helping with dinner before sitting down to his own..then helping more! He is an excellent driver as well and paid attention to all of us to quickly ‘suss’ out our individual interests in order to be the most helpful to us. We want you to know how very impressed and appreciative we were with/of him. You have many great employees and hope you will decide to keep Ben on permanently. Additionally,. we appreciated the special touches (hot water bottles), nicely set tables, etc…and the lovely welcome bag with gifts. While the tour was quite ‘full on’ physically, your staff made it as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Thank you very much.

Deb Elder & Keith McKavanagh

Hi Robbie,

Thanks again for the fantastic trip!

Regards,
Frank and Brigitte

just to let you know we got back home safe and sound after a long but smooth trip.

Dear Kurt and Robbie

A note from Wim Wolvenne.

I want to thank both of you for the time we spent together, Robbie thank you very much you did it very well and for Kurt I had a great time with you in the little bus. You worked very hard for us. I wish you all the best for now and in the future and for Kurt, take it easy don’t work to hard.

Greetings from Wim Wolvenne from the fotogroup of Wim Broekman.

Hello Robbie and Kurt,

We hope you both had a safe drive home last week.

We thank you for the splendid way you organized our trip. It really was a feast and did as forget the horrible trip from 10 years ago. We enjoyed it very!

A big thanks again for making we will not forget this famous holiday!

Gaby and Edgard

Beste Anja,

Groeten, namens Bep, Marijke, Jaap, Anton,Chris………..Jet  PASMAN

Eindelijk ben ik er aan toegekomen om je een reactie te sturen.
We hebben een fantastische vakantie gehad, samen met de allerbeste gids. Robbie paste goed OP ons en paste ook goed BIJ ons. Nooit één seconde te laat en een heel goede chauffeur.
We hebben leuke excursies gehad, De 2 in Swakopmund waren schitterend. Tommie, van Living Desert , was een attractie op zich. Maar ook de boottocht was heel leuk en goed verzorgd (mag je wel zeggen). De enige excursie die niet leuk was, was die bij de The White Lady Lodge. Hier hadden ze de houding van; “er is voor betaald, dus we doen het dan maar”. Iedereen (behalve wij) wist dat we geen olifanten zouden zien, want die waren niet in de buurt. Verder hebben ze ons 2 uur rondgereden, zonder aandacht voor de gasten.
In de Twyfelfontein hebben we de tocht overgedaan (nadat Robbie had uitgezocht of er ook werkelijk olifanten in de buurt waren). Wat een verschil; een leuke gids, die veel te vertellen had. En na 10 minuten kwamen we de olifanten al tegen. Deze gids wist waar hij wezen moest.

Namens ons alle 6, bedankt voor de verzorging van de reis. Er mankeerde helemaal niets aan. Alles was geregeld zoals het geregeld moest zijn.

PS: 2 foto’s in de bijlage. De Sossusvlei met water; dat was 15 jaar geleden voor het laatst is ons verteld.

Bert,

The trip was fantastic!  You are correct … Damaraland was greener than I have seen but it did allow us to see desert elephants which was a plus.  Even the Namib was green, even creeping up into the bases of the dunes.  Sue was reluctant to go on the trip, at first, saying that of all the places we have taken students, to her, Namibia was the least satisfying.   She is now raving about the Namibia adventure as the best of all of our trips!  It was a great combination of photographic safari and some plain old fun stuff, like sand boarding and riding the ferris wheel left over from the World Cup in Cape Town.  Safari Wise was a wonderful group to work with and the service was excellent.  Indeed, we are already talking about a trip to Botswana and Zambia in two years and hope that we can arrange to have Safari Wise host the trip (Robbie Bergh was a great guide).  Will send a few pictures in a couple of days (even the dunes from our hot air balloon ride [Sue and I paid for all of the students]… it was amazingly different than previous trips and I am so grateful to have seen the Pan with water and flamingoes as well as leopards and cheetahs (Sue’s wish-list) and both black and white rhinos at Etosha.  That was a little more interesting since there was so much water, there was little visitation at water holes so we had to do a little more travel and tracking to find the critters but we did.
As usual, thanks for all of your help.

Jim

Dear Robbie, Berdene & Neil,

After a 36 hour trip we arrived home in Michigan on Friday evening, 10 June, tired but happy.  After Robbie dropped me off the week before, I continued to bird at Omujeve with Jacob, my Tswana driver, in spite of the freezing mornings!  I was happy that I was able to recognize many birds again, having seen them earlier with Jacob and/or after Robbie showed them to me.  I added several new species, too.  I have finally finished counting and sorting out the new names.  Here are my final numbers:

Total species seen: 142 (Very good for late autumn and freezing temps)
Total lifers:   86* (*Apparently the Damara Hornbill has been lumped into the Red-billed Hornbill, so I can’t “count” it, but I’m noting it)
Total NE/E  9/15  (All of these with Robbie!!)
Total at Omujeve 80 (I’m proud of Jacob and me!)

Best memories:
Going for the Dune Lark!!
Tommy’s Dessert Tour.
Spitzkop!
Omaruru–the white-tailed & white-capped shrikes; the rockrunner early in the morning. Khan River–The Ruppel’s Parrot and the Hartlaub’s Francolin.

This has been my 4th trip to Africa, but my first trip with a real birding guide.  I cannot say enough good things about Robbie–he is thorough, smart, kind, introspective, well-organized and a very pleasant person with a good sense of humor.  I appreciate that Safariwise was able to customize a great birding experience to meet my time constraints.  My accommodations were lovely, and the vehicles great.
I definitely would like to come back and do your whole trip, hopefully in a year or two.  And I certainly will recommend you to others.  I am a VERY HAPPY BIRDER.

Warmly, Kaye Centers

Gidday!!!! Neil runs the finest safari in the world!!! He’s a top bloke.
Steve Irwin, Australia — Read His Recommendation
pppppp

Hi! Neil,

I should have written my thanks to you before this, but, what can I say, I’ve been busy. Hope you had a great time on the Skeleton Coast, I was quite envious. Wouldn’t mind doing that one day. I’m guessing you’re back at work now, and already off on some amazing tour. I’m sure every job has it’s draw backs, and I suppose yours would be that you’re away so much, but I think you have the most wonderful job.

People ask what were “the best” things about the tour and I’m lost for an answer! I grew up in the country, so I think things like the temperature, colour of the arid landscape, and the Southern Cross in the starry night sky, were all very comforting. It is very difficult to name just a few highlights and when I try, I find I’m literally walking my way through the whole trip.

So this is the best I can do: A Star rating system! out of 5.

Photographically (my only problems were my own, like I needed a heavier tripod etc)

Transport (getting us from A to B) (you’re an excellent driver) How’s the new Toyota you’ve ordered going?

Accommodation the tents were great, but a tiny bit small when you get the luggage in. Not a complaint – just an observation.

Meals I still can’t believe the consistently high standard of the menus and attention to detail.

I can tell you about the things that ‘blew me out of the water’!!!

Like:

• How much information is stored in your brain!
• Your 20/20 vision
• Your ability to stop on a penny at the sight of a minuscule lizard on a rock 15 feet from the edge of the road when we were traveling at around 60 kph!
• Your ability to name every feathered entity that enters your line of vision
• Your ability to be at the right waterhole at the right time – and – know exactly how much longer to wait!!

Actually now I’ve started, this could go on for a long time, so I’ll stop now and just say, you deliver a standard of adventure safari excellence I’ve not even heard of before.

Congratulations on having some great staff as well. Samuel, Simson and Melakia made camp life so very comfortable and welcoming. Their sense of fun and their ready smiles were a wonderful sight when we returned to camp.

Not everyone can say that they have lived a childhood dream. I can!

I look forward to catching up with you next year.

Kind Regards,
Wendy

Hi Neil / Berdene,

Just a quick note of thanks. We had a great time in Namibia and all out plans went smoothly.

I can really, really recommend Agama river camp. We had a wonderful time, the facilities were top notch and the hosts were friendly. Definitely worth a visit.

Thanks for organizing everything. We are coming back later in the year to visit Etosha and I will most definitely contact you again.

Regards,

Du Toit

“14 years ago I went to Namibia. It was so beautifull, that, in 2009, I wanted to show it to my childrens.

I found the same magic country.

Warmed colours, wild and quiet, lions and sea lions…

My children didn’t come back to FRANCE.

We ‘ll never forget this trip.

Thank you to Berdene and Neil

PS: what I don’t tell you, that in 1995 and in 2009, our guide was always the same : Neil Mac Leod.”

Pat (August 2009)

Dear Neil,  once again, another perfect African Experience! Thank you for making it so special.
Love from the Great Ormond Street Hospital Team, UK

What a fantastic trip! We have travelled to many countries, birded in many areas and have worked with many guides over the last ten years. By comparison to the above trips, our SafariWise Namibian experience far outshines the rest. Why? Well firstly the breathtaking landscapes, then the amazing bird life and then the mammals. However, what really made the trip was the company of our guide, Charles. As a guide, Charles has all the qualities that anyone can ask for. His knowledge of the birds and mammals was superb. Add to that his knowledge of the plant life, insects, reptiles and eco-systems of Namibia and you have a “complete package”!

But knowledge isn’t everything ….. a guide must be patient, concerned for his clients and have an awareness of when it is time to rest ……. again Charles surpassed all expectations. As a professional guide myself, his overall skill is what I aspire to.

Well done also to Neil for organising such a superb itinerary ……. great lodges, food and some good wine as well. He took in our requirements in full and met them all. The professionalism of SafariWise was superb and I would recommend SafariWise to anyone!

SafariWise sets the standard for personalised eco holidays!”
Eric Dempsey, Esther Murphy, Maura Gibliu

Thank you Neil! This great trip in your beautiful country will live forever in our memories and picture albums! The pre-planning and the execution were so well done …
Walter and Shirley Hausser

Dear Neil, thanks for the best week’s birding in my life, and I hope to meet you again on one of your tours in the not-too-distant future!!
Stephen Wood

Gifted, talented, observant, wonderful, flexible, dynamic, unique, great birders……That’s enough about us! What can we say about Johan and Neil….. Words Fail!!! Thanks for a great trip!
Naturetrek Group, UK

Finally, very many thanks for a great trip – thank you Neil.
Mark Barden

Neil – Thanks for the great time we’ve had with you!
Gary Player

To Neil,  although far too short(!!!!), it was probably the best trip we’ve ever had.
Gill and Neil Friswell

We would have truly missed a singular opportunity to see big game and entirely different geography and habitats had it not been for your excellent advice, planning and expert guiding service.
William Satterfield

Thanks for giving us all a truly splendid experience – we’ll be back
Gerald and Mandy Brook

Dag Robbie,

We zijn inderdaad goed thuis gekomen.  Bij aankomst in Frankfurt Duitsland werd de luchthaven een half uur later gesloten wegens de stofwolk.

We hebben goed genoten van Namibië en ik ben zeker dat Martine en Ik later bij leven en welzijn er nog zullen teruggaan.

Heb vandaag de dvd met de foto’s verzonden.  Ik hoop dat je er zal van genieten.

Stuur je me even een mailtje bij ontvangst dan weet ik dat de dvd goed is aangekomen.

Hopelijk kan je dit Nederlands lezen maar ik denk het wel.

Bedankt voor je goede zorgen tijdens de fijne reis.

De groeten van Martine en Jos en de rest van de groep.

Nog veel succes en misschien tot later

Martine en Jos

ps  Sinds onze thuiskomst is het laatste wat Martine en ik iedere dag zeggen: “lekker slaap”.  Toch een mooie taal het afrikaans !

Dear Neil and Berdene

Thank you so very much for the generous hospitality that you showed to Barry and me when we stayed with you last week. I had a wonderful introduction to Southern Africa and am already looking forward to coming back. But a country is made of more than landscape and birds, and the two of you contributed in very large part to the great impression that Namibia made on me. So, thank you.
With very best wishes,
Jonathan, February 2009

Dear Neil

Just a quick message to thank you and your team for a wonderful experience ( not calling it a holiday as I’m tired out !) Have had lots of lie-ins since my return and I’m still tired, but it was worth every waking moment.

Best regards to everyone especially Robbie and the three chefs S.,S. and M.Jo Gardner

Hallo Robbie

Met dat mailtje wil ik U bedanken voor het gidsen in uw zeer mooie land Namibia!!Ik kende uw land helemaal niet maar door uw hulp heb ik nu een beter idee hoe uw land in elkaar steekt!! Het was gewoon een super reis, vond Bart ook.

Bedankt U hebt goed werk geleverd.  Groetjes Daniel

To Neil
So very many thanks for another fabulous safari. If you look after all your clients as you did with us – you will be overrun with customers.
Take care of yourself and your family.
Love from us all, Jill. (February 2010)

Thanks again to Jill for organising everything so expertly!
Thanks too to Neil, Robbie, Malakia, Samuel, Simson, Berdene and Liezel for making it all possible.
Jackie Downey (February 2010)

It was great to meet the team behind the front men, and of course, the camping lot…..have sent away my photos to be done and really looking forward to getting them.
love Tina Jones (February 2010)

Greetings Everyone,

We would just like to say thanks to all of you for being such a great group of fellow travelers.  It was a wonderful time.

We are still enjoying the trip as we share our memories with friends and family and show them some of  our many photos.

Special thanks to Neil and Robbie for sharing all their knowledge and fun – first class guides.

Best wishes for a nice spring and summer ( or winter for those “down-under”).

Kathy and John

Dear Neil,

Thank you so very much for what was a most wonderful safari. Heloise, Saskia, Harry and I all immensely enjoyed the trip – partly because of the stunning wildlife and scenery and partly because of the perfect way in which you ran things. I cannot thank you enough for the huge effort and attention to detail that you put into every aspect of the trip.

It went way beyond our expectations and we saw so many diverse and wonderful sights that my head is still reeling!

It was also really good to see you again and I am sure that it will not be the last time that we meet.

Thank you also for the lovely cook book that you gave us on departure – we have a large collection of cookery books and I enjoy reading them in bed! Saskia is already planning to prepare some of the dishes and wants to write to let you know how they turn out!

One aspect of the trip that I did not expect was the effect that it had on Heloise – never would I have imagined her playing the Impala poo game! Yet she gave it a go. Also, seeing her eyes fill with tears at the airport when she said goodbye shows that she does have a soft side after all!

Anyway, thank you again for a most wonderful time, for our best family holiday and for your great good company.

With best wishes to you, Berdene and Neil Leslie.

Jonny
BARNARD FAMILY, JULY 2010

But now for the trip….thanks so much to you and Neil for putting it together for us. We had a wonderful time and all really enjoyed it.

Neil was marvellous throughout and took care of everything so well.A highlight of the trip were the early morning chasing around the waterholes at Etosha looking for a pride if lions that we found. The animals were a revelation – I did not think that we’d see so many; but we also greatly enjoyed the extra little detours to see the meteorite, dinosaur footprints and the sink hole.

Heloise and Saskia had never done this sort of holiday before – usually beach and pool – but both enjoyed it so much that they’d like to reutrn to Africa.

We had 3 nights in Johannesburg after the trip you set up for us, and so got home yesterday morning (Monday 9 August). EVERYTHING you had arranged
ran smoothly and exceeded not just expectations but hopes! We had many good sightings so have come back so that amongst the LARGE number of
photos there are ones of Pell’s Fishing Owl, mating lions, White-tailed shrike, leopard in tree, … well basically LOTS.

When I have sorted the photos I will send you a DVD with a selection and if we make a general trip report it will be saying good things about you
and the various lodges, Caprivi cars, and about Pride of Africa and through them Papadi Safaris, Grant Craig (and his cook!).

So THANK YOU everybody who has been involved in making this happen for us, and you will hear again when we have had time to sleep and sort out what to send you.

Arthur & Lucy Norman