THANK YOU TO OUR TOUR CONSULTANTS
We can’t believe that we are coming to the end of another year. As always, each year seems to go so much quicker than the last. Our tour consultants, as always, have had an extremely busy year putting together dream holidays for their clients.
So we thought, to round up our blogs for the year and to say thank you to our consultants for all their hard work (after all, without them, there is no Pembury Tours), we’d compile a blog on each consultant’s top TripAdvisor review for 2019.
1. Cape Town, Timbavati Reserve, Londolozi Reserve, Victoria Falls
We started planning our Africa trip in late 2018 for traveling in September 2019. With the expert help of Heidi of Pembury Tours, we were able to finalize exactly what we wanted out of our trip. Our trip went like clockwork and had no problems at all. We knew that Heidi was only a call or email away at all times. This is so important when planning a trip. Trying to deal with an issue using a USA travel company was a headache we didn’t want. The Simbavati and Londolozi camps were exceptional and the game drives were the most amazing things we have ever been involved with. Our last stop was in Victoria Falls which was also incredible. The Illala Lodge was the perfect location in VF. Thank you, Heidi, for an amazing trip. I would give a 6-star rating but there isn’t one.
Rod, USA
September 2019
2. Outstanding Organisation, that True Personal Touch
Last year I wanted to organise a trip with my family to South Africa and Botswana. I searched for the best reviews and PemburyTours came out extremely highly rated and Tammy Harding was mentioned in many people’s reviews. I wrote to Tammy to get advice and from the moment I wrote to organise the trip to returning home afterwards I can not express how impressed I was with Tammy. She was absolutely unbelievable in her attention to details and making sure we were absolutely satisfied with what we were planning. Nothing was ever too much and Tammy was so responsive in replying to my questions that I truly enjoyed organizing the trip through her. We visited South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. We did 2 safaris, some time in city’s and took the Rovos rail from Cape Town to Pretoria. Every second of the trip was perfect. We were met and transferred at every stage, our accommodation was fabulous, food unbelievable and all the people we met were so friendly. We were so impressed that before we even finished our holiday I re contacted Tammy to organise a return trip next year. Tammy was quite honestly the best person I have ever booked a trip with. Her communication skills are impeccable, her attention to detail outstanding and her obvious love of what she does and making peoples trip incredibly special was obvious. We are now all excited for next year. If you want the best trip ever, use Pembury tours and I would always ask for Tammy.
DocPaul68, Australia
October 2019
3. Experience of a Lifetime that was Action Packed but Leisurely Paced
The personalized trip put together by Gail was wonderful. We had concerns in doing all planning and booking via email from Australia, but Gail was prompt in replying to all our queries and had various itineraries for us to consider. She was very patient as we changed our minds and gave us cheaper accommodation options to keep within our budget. We travelled to Joburg, Cape Town, Sabi Sand reserve, Victoria Falls, Chobe Game park and Okavanga Delta. Accommodation was great and varied from mid-range to high-end (which we were so glad that we treated ourselves!) with excellent breakfasts, facilities, locations and game drives. We saw so many animals and ticked off the Big 5 on our first drive!
The info package given to us on arrival at the airport was very detailed with hotel, tour & transfer vouchers, tour times and local information. The personalized app was a great resource to have on the go. All aspects were expertly planned and went like clockwork. Drivers were always early, and we had to laugh when we had a 2 minute wait at one pick up!
It was a wonderful trip and on return we have inspired friends to plan their trip!
Carolyn, Australia
July 2019
4. Fantastic
We cannot give enough praise to Pembury, and in particular, Kerry, for arranging a spectacular, unforgettable tour package. We had started a few years back but had to put our plans on hold. When we were ready and able to commit, we gave a list of reserves and areas we wanted to visit.
We asked for the Okavango Delta, Chobe, Victoria Falls, Kruger and Cape Town to be the basic itinerary. We also asked for not the best accommodations, but levels where we would have good safari experiences. We had no experience as to what we wanted and left the details to Pembury.
With those minimum guidelines, Kerry put together a phenomenal itinerary that far exceeded our expectations way beyond what we could have suggested ourselves.
Overall, Kerry planned the internal flights, all hotels and lodgings, driving transportation between reserves. We were greeted at each airport with a Pembury representative who made sure we were taken to our next lodging, told us what the itinerary was and basically took care of us. She also coordinated the international flights with me, so I was able to make those reservations.
Maybe that was more cost effective than Pembury doing it, but I’m not sure. We were on our trip for 15 days, plus the main international flights. We did not have a concern for the entire time, and everything went like clockwork. Our tour representative or private driver was always there on time or earlier. When I say everything was prearranged, I’m not understating.
It was just perfect. Thank You Kerry and Pembury.
Chazcat99, US
October 2019
5. An Amazing Family Trip to South Africa
My husband and I had visited South Africa about 18 years ago, but wanted to share the experience with our two daughters aged 12 and 14.
I had a rough idea of what we wanted to do, and contacted Pembury after doing a bit of internet research. Melanie, our consultant was fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble and she came back with lots of different options and some great insights and advice and we ended up with our perfect itinerary, with plenty for both adults and teens to enjoy.
We spent a wonderful 4 nights in Cape Town, staying at an apartment in the V&A Waterfront, we visited Robben Island and Table Mountain as well as spending some time in Camps Bay. We then flew to Port Elizabeth, where Melanie surprised us and met us at the airport. Our Safari was 3 nights in Marks Camp at the Lalibela Game reserve, a fabulous recommendation from Melanie, and surpassed our expectations in terms of both service and the amount we saw on each game drive. We then flew back to Cape Town, picked up a hire car and headed for Hermanus for 2 nights where we saw both dolphins and whales on a boat trip, and then finally ended up at Spiers Wine Farm, where there were plenty of activities to keep us all occupied (the Segway tour of the vineyard being a favourite!)
Everything about the holiday was brilliantly organised, from the meet and greet and transfers to the carefully chosen accommodation. We would certainly recommend Pembury and Melanie to anyone thinking of a holiday in South Africa.
Jo Gaffney
October 2019
6. A-MAZE-ING!
I stumbled across Pembury Tours whilst searching about planning safaris on the internet. Oh my goodness… how lucky was I?!
From the initial email contact to just see what they could offer I was incredibly impressed with the efficiency and quality of service I received. Our advisor was Anya… she was 100% fantastic in all that she did. Her advice was spot on, her attention to detail fabulous, her knowledge and ability to match what our hopes were to the programme she prepared for us was just super.
I was so grateful of her patience too as I ummed and ahhhed, and wanted to check various things out and I genuinely got the feeling that she was honestly invested in wanting to make sure our trip was the best it could be.
Our visit to South Africa and our first taste of a safari was incredible. Everything ran like clockwork and Anya had thought of everything… including working out/supporting some unexpected touches to make our trip extra special. We commented a number of times throughout the trip on what a brilliant job she had done; noting that ‘yes’ this was ‘JUST” what we had wanted.
I have been lucky enough to travel all around the world, and experienced all sorts of adventure. I can hand on heart say though that this trip was one of the best I have ever been on, and that is very much down to the truly wonderful support, advice and work of Anya. She made the planning exciting (and easy), the trip itself a dream and I loved her passion and knowledge for her country. Anya advised me on a full holiday from days and trips in Cape Town, to visiting two safari lodges all in the time that we were there. I know that there is no way I would have been able to plan such a super holiday even if I had spent hours researching and thinking things through.
My thanks can’t go far enough to her, and the Pembury Tours team… you absolutely will be hearing from me again!
I’d urge anyone reading this who might be thinking about going on safari to DO IT! And, then to plan it with Anya… you will not be disappointed.
Nicky, UK
August 2019
