Planning a dream holiday and safari to Africa can be daunting – Africa is exotic and different and it is important to know that all aspects of your holiday will run smoothly at all times, that there will be no dramas and that all of your expectations will be met. We believe the only way to guarantee that you have a holiday that is both perfectly suited to your tastes & budget and hassle-free throughout, is to use the services of a specialist Africa tour operator like Pembury Tours.
Why is Pembury different? What sets Pembury apart?
We do not pretend that Pembury Tours is the only specialist Africa tour operator that offers great prices combined with world class professionalism. There are others out there doing what we do – and competition is good.
We have to make the point, however, that Pembury relies almost exclusively on it’s past clients for referrals and future business. We do not embark on glitsy marketing campaigns to lure customers in – we take the long-term view at all times and create holidays and itineraries for our clients that are 100% based on what is in their best interest. This reliance on word-of-mouth referrals from past clients, we believe, is one of the major differentiating factors between Pembury and others.
When we put together an itinerary for you, we place a lot of care and attention into ensuring that our proposal is perfectly suited to you. We do not run automated computer models that simply spit out itineraries and suggestions – we take our time to give you a good, honest, professional and well-priced proposal. In some ways, one could say we offer the best of the “old” combined with the best of the “new” – we run our business on old fashioned values using the best of modern technology!
What is the business model? How does Pembury make money?
Pembury does a large volume of business throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. Because of this volume, we have negotiated special reduced rates with all reputable hotels, safari lodges, car hire companies, transport providers etc throughout this region. The difference between what you would pay were you to book everything directly and what we would pay is our potential profit. However, we actually cut into our profit margin and will always charge you a rate that is less than what you would pay were you to book directly. The difference between what we charge you and what we pay our suppliers is our profit.
IT’S OFFICIAL! WE ARE NO. 1
WHY PEMBURY
- Best Price Guarantee
- Professionalism
- Financial Protection
- Tailor-made Tours
Meet the Team
+27 87 353 7873
[email protected]
I am one of the owners of Pembury Tours and set up the company in 1996 with my husband shortly after our return from a 6-year stay in the United Kingdom, during which time I worked in London and also did a Master’s Degree in Linguistics at Cambridge University.
My principal function at Pembury Tours is ensuring that we maintain a consistently high standard of work. This means I work very closely with my tour consultants as well as my administration staff. I do manage to spend about half my time tour consulting; however, something that I really enjoy! I love the challenge of compiling an itinerary for clients that meets all the criteria they have given me. My love of wildlife means that I especially enjoy working on safari itineraries, but I also like drawing up itineraries that include a “bit of everything” for first-time visitors – Cape Town, beaches, game viewing, African culture and historical insight. As a mother of young adults, I know the importance of looking for more adventurous activities that will keep them entertained and ensure a great family holiday. I am extremely well-travelled and particularly enjoy using my knowledge of travel to put together complex itineraries for discerning travellers.
My favourite safari is definitely the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It truly is one of Africa’s last wildernesses. And my favourite safari memory? It has to be my first time on a mokoro dugout canoe. The slow pace, the utter silence other than the gurgling of water under the canoe and the swish-splash of the guide’s pole, a giant Saddle-billed Stork taking off literally right over my head, the tiny brightly coloured Painted Reed Frog clinging to a papyrus reed, the fat carpenter bee collecting pollen from a water lily, the evocative call of the Fish Eagle, and then coming around a bend to see a family of elephants crossing the stream in front of me, with a tiny little calf being helped through the water by its mother and sisters. It was magical. And made me realise that slow and quiet is just as meaningful as fast and exciting.
I am so proud that Pembury Tours is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and even prouder of our consistent 5-star review status, something that makes us one of the top-rated tour operators in Africa. I could not pick a better team!
+27 87 353 7868
[email protected]
I first joined Pembury Tours as Personal Assistant to the MD back in November 2004, on a mornings-only basis — a role that quickly grew into a full-time position. That time gave me invaluable behind-the-scenes insight into how our tour consultants support clients every day.
After a short break in 2014, I couldn’t stay away for long and returned in 2016 as a consultant based at our offices in Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha.
I love the process of organising: researching destinations, building itineraries, and handling every detail of a client’s arrangements. But just as importantly, it’s about getting to know my clients from our very first conversation, so the holiday we create truly reflects what they’re looking for.
Alongside my administrative background, I’ve also studied tour guiding, which gave me a solid grounding in local history and key sights — knowledge I draw on regularly when planning tours. These days, I specialise in tailor-made journeys through Southern Africa & East Africa. And there’s nothing quite like hearing from clients after their trip, sharing the highlights that made it unforgettable.
My favourite African landscape? Namibia, hands down. Standing atop the burnt-orange dunes of Sossusvlei one day, then watching herds shimmer across the blinding white salt pans of Etosha the next — that contrast still gives me chills. It’s this kind of first-hand experience that shapes every itinerary I build for my clients.
+27 87 353 7872
[email protected]
My passion for travel began at a young age when I was fortunate enough to visit Mozambique at just 10 years old. That experience sparked a lifelong love for Africa and exploring the world. After leaving school, unsure of which career path to pursue, I travelled to Israel to work on a kibbutz. It was there that the travel bug truly took hold, leading me to spend the next decade living and working in various countries around the world.
With Africa always close to my heart, I returned home and began my career in the travel industry in 2005. Since then, I have had the privilege of sharing the beauty and diversity of Africa with travellers from across the globe. I joined Pembury Tours in 2016, where I continue to create unforgettable African journeys tailored to each client’s dreams and interests.
My favourite travel experiences include the breathtaking Victoria Falls, where the sheer magnitude and power of the Falls never fail to impress, and the unforgettable Kruger safari, offering incredible wildlife encounters in one of Africa’s most iconic game reserves. These destinations perfectly capture the beauty and adventure that make Southern Africa so special.
I am family-oriented, enjoy a good laugh, and genuinely love connecting with people. Combining my passion for travel with helping others experience the magic of Africa is both a joy and a privilege, and I take great pride in crafting memorable, once-in-a-lifetime holidays.
+27 87 353 7875
[email protected]
My journey with Pembury Tours began in late 2015 as an Administrative Assistant. My love for travel led me to study Tourism at school and later at college, where I knew I had found my calling. My long-term goal was to become a Tour Consultant, so supporting the consulting team and learning every aspect of the business gave me invaluable experience. I was proud to progress into the role of Tour Consultant, and it truly was a dream come true.
My passion for wildlife, nature, travel, and adventure began at a young age. Growing up, my parents regularly took me to game reserves across South Africa, where I developed a deep appreciation for our country’s incredible landscapes and wildlife. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong love for travel and exploration that continues to inspire me today.
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to experience many of Southern and East Africa’s most iconic destinations. From road-tripping through South Africa and enjoying unforgettable safaris in the Kruger National Park, Madikwe Game Reserve, the Lower Zambezi, Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater, to unwinding on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar and exploring the United Kingdom and Croatia, every journey has strengthened my passion for the travel industry.
There is nothing more rewarding than helping clients plan their dream holiday—whether it’s a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or a once-in-a-lifetime African safari. I love getting to know each client, understanding their unique travel aspirations, and creating tailor-made experiences that exceed expectations. For me, travel is about more than just visiting a destination—it’s about creating unforgettable memories, discovering new perspectives, and experiencing the magic that makes every journey unique. Being able to share my passion and knowledge with clients and help bring their travel dreams to life is what makes this career so fulfilling.
My favourite Safari Destination: Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.
+27 87 353 7869
[email protected]
20+ years with Pembury Tours and counting… and I still get excited about Africa!
I started my journey in the safari world more than two decades ago, and honestly? I never fell out of love with it. If anything, the more I travel, the more I appreciate just how special this part of the world is. There’s something about being out in the bush, surrounded by nature, watching animals in their natural environment and never quite knowing what you might see around the next corner.
These days, I’m a Tour Consultant at Pembury Tours, helping clients from all over the world plan their own African adventures. I love getting to know what makes each traveller tick and then putting together an itinerary that feels like their trip, rather than simply ticking off a list of places.
Outside of work, I’m a farmer’s wife and a mom to two daughters, so life is usually a happy mix of family, farm life, school runs and trying to keep everything running smoothly! Whenever I get the chance, though, my favourite escape is heading into the bush with my family and friends. It’s where I switch off, breathe a little deeper and remember just how lucky we are to call this incredible continent home.
And if you ask me about animals, be prepared… I can probably talk your ear off! Elephants have always been my absolute favourite. There’s something about their intelligence, family bonds and sheer presence that never gets old. I could happily spend hours watching a herd simply go about their day.
After so many years in the travel industry, I’ve learnt that the best trips aren’t necessarily about seeing everything — they’re about finding the right places, having those special experiences and giving yourself time to really enjoy them.
Whether you’re planning your very first safari, returning to Africa for the fifth time, or simply dreaming about your next adventure, I’m here to help make the planning easy, personal and stress-free. My goal is to share the Africa I love with you and create a journey filled with wonderful memories, incredible wildlife and those little moments you’ll still be talking about long after you’ve arrived home.
I’d love to help you discover it for yourself.
+27 87 353 7870
[email protected]
Twenty years ago, I joined Pembury Tours as a young, single travel consultant with a passion for Africa. Since then, life has taken me on an incredible journey of its own, and I am now happily married with two wonderful children. One thing that has never changed is my love for creating unforgettable travel experiences.
There is something incredibly rewarding about playing a small part in what is often a once-in-a-lifetime journey for our guests. I enjoy getting to know each traveller, understanding what makes their dream holiday unique, and carefully crafting an itinerary that is perfectly suited to them. My goal is always to ensure every detail is thoughtfully planned so that clients can simply relax and enjoy every moment of their adventure.
For me, a safari is the highlight of any trip. No matter how many I experience, the excitement never fades. Hippos and hyenas have always been among my favourite animals to spot, and every sighting feels special. More recently, I have found myself equally captivated by the smaller wonders of the bush. One particularly special moment on a recent safari was discovering hundreds of butterflies tucked away in the trees, quietly sleeping after sunset. It was a beautiful reminder that Africa’s magic is found not only in its iconic wildlife, but also in the extraordinary details that often go unnoticed.
+27 87 353 7871
[email protected]
Travel has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I have been incredibly fortunate to turn that passion into a career. I have been involved in the hotel and tourism industry since 1990, and have been part of the Pembury Tours family for 20 years! How awesome is that!
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work in some wonderful hotels and lodges across South Africa and beyond, and to experience many of the incredible destinations that Africa has to offer. I have also been lucky enough to live and work in different parts of the world, which has given me a wonderful appreciation for different cultures, people and ways of life.
Having spent many years living in game reserves, my love for the African bush and wildlife is something that has never left me. Safari remains a huge passion of mine, and there is still nothing quite like being out in the bush and sharing that experience with others.
What I love most about my work is the people. Building relationships, getting to know my clients and understanding what they are looking for means I can create journeys that are not just about seeing the sights, but about experiencing Africa in a really special and personal way.
After all these years, I still feel incredibly lucky to have turned my love of travel into a career. I get to work with wonderful people, explore incredible places and, best of all, help others experience the magic of Africa.
And after all these years in tourism, I’m still not tired of safari… although I’m pretty sure the bush has become slightly more addictive over the years! My favourite safari destination? I love the bush, but Sabi Sand and the Greater Kruger area are just fantastic for safari. The incredible wildlife, landscapes and truly special safari experiences keep drawing me back. And my favourite safari memory? Watching what started as one or two elephants walking over the top of a hill and then realising the herd was more than two, and the elephants just kept coming! Before long, there were around 60 elephants making their way over and down the hill. It was one of those magical safari moments, and I could have watched it forever.
Over the years we have developed what we call the “Pembury Promise” – a culture or business ethos that focuses 100% on:
Professionalism
- Intelligent, well-trained & experienced consultants – Our hand-picked consultants work hard at building up a rapport with their clients and will draw up an itinerary that is tailor-made for YOU. They are all well-seasoned travelers in their own right. They draw pride from the fact that they are your representatives and, as such, will always act in your best interests. They are not paid a commission, and so will offer impartial advice and will NOT automatically suggest the most expensive option. Your personal consultant will be with you throughout the whole process: from the planning stages right through to the end of your holiday.
- Years of Experience – Pembury Tours was established in 1996 and we have been arranging memorable tailor-made holidays for countless happy clients ever since. They say there is no substitute for experience. Not only do our tour consultants have a wealth of experience, they have been with Pembury for many years – our very first employee, when we first opened, is still with us. As we have grown over the years, our consultants have tended to stay with us. So, either the coffee is really good or Pembury is just a great place to work at – or both!
- Up-to-date knowledge – Being based here in Africa, we have our ears close to the ground and know what is happening here RIGHT NOW, not what was happening the last time we went on a fact-finding mission. We keep up to date with developments in the hospitality industry – we know which hotels have new owners, which restaurants have deteriorated recently, which game lodges have had a re-vamp, which guesthouses have won this year’s awards, etc. This “inside” knowledge is valuable and is something that we pass onto you when planning your trip. Reviews on sites like Tripadvisor can often give a false impression of a place due to staff, management or ownership changes.
- Expert product knowledge – We only offer destinations and accommodation options that have recently been personally tested by a Pembury Tours staff member. With our local knowledge, we will help you discover unique and charming places you might otherwise have missed. We invest in our consultants by regularly sending them on trips to see new properties and products as well as to ensure that standards at existing properties etc remain up to standard. This investment in our consultants is costly but, in our view, absolutely a “no-brainer”. We are also a SafariBookings.com destination expert.
- Perfectionism – At Pembury Tours we subscribe to the philosophy that the pass mark in tourism is 100% – anything less than getting everything absolutely right 100% of the time is just not good enough. Everything we do is obsessively checked, double-checked and then checked again to ensure that the programme runs smoothly once your holiday starts. We recognise that, in addition to price, your peace of mind that your holiday will be hassle-free is critical. Think of yourself and Pembury being a swan enjoying some time on a beautiful river…… You are the part of the swan that is above the water enjoying the sunshine and scenery – Pembury are the legs, unseen and paddling like crazy to ensure that all aspects of your holiday run smoothly. We call it “sliding uphill”!
- Passion for Africa – We are blessed to live here in Africa. We are absolutely passionate about this continent – this is our home and we genuinely can’t wait to share it with you!
Best Price Guarantee
- Best prices – Pembury are members of TravelSmartCrew (“TSC”), a group of independently-owned tour operators who pool our collective buying power together. Membership of TSC is confined to independent tour operators who comply with a strict code of business principles and ethics. One of the main focuses of TSC is to negotiate attractive rates within the industry – because of the volume of our combined businesses, we are able to negotiate the best rates with a range of tourism products, such as hotels, safari lodges, guesthouses and car hire companies. As a bulk buyer, Pembury Tours is able to pass some of these discounted rates on to you – we guarantee that you will not be able to book the same itinerary any cheaper by booking direct.
- No service fee – Whilst Pembury earns its living by charging you more than what we have to pay our suppliers (but less than what you would pay if you booked direct), we do NOT place any service fee on our time and expertise in organising your tailor-made holiday.
- No hidden costs – We believe in the long-term view and this means no nasty surprises – all of our pricing includes all taxes and tourism levies. All our itineraries will always have a detailed list of exactly what the tour price includes and excludes, so there are no nasty surprises.
Financial Protection
SATSA Membership – The Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) is the most representative tourism body in Southern Africa. Membership of SATSA is subject to compliance with a strict set of conditions based on credibility, integrity and stability. One of the important aspects of SATSA membership is the fact that SATSA members are bonded, providing a financial guarantee of deposits held and ensuring that your holiday and investment are protected.
Pembury Tours has been a member of SATSA since 1997 and our membership number is 868. Please feel free to verify our standing with SATSA by contacting them directly:
E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +27-11-886 9996
- Financial Cover – In addition to Pembury being bonded, booking with Pembury means you automatically have financial cover in the event that a property that you are booked into goes out of business or burns down etc. See our booking conditions for further information and a more detailed explanation of this issue.
- Secure payment options – In the modern world of e-commerce, our bank has sophisticated software that facilitates payments to be made to us via their secure online payment system. This means that we never get to see your credit card details so there is never any risk of your personal details being compromised. You can choose between making a credit card payment using this secure online payment system or making an international bank transfer. Either way, your private banking and/or credit card details are entirely secure throughout the payment process.
- Funds in Trust – In addition to being bonded members of SATSA, funds paid to us by our clients are held in Trust. All accommodation and other services are pre-paid by us prior to our clients’ arrival in Africa. Only after all accounts have been pre-paid are the balance of the funds (our profit) made available to Pembury.
- 24 hour Support – Africa is not Europe or North America – things do go wrong from time to time here. And when things go wrong, you need someone who not only knows Africa, but someone who is right here IN Africa to sort things out for you. Immediately! The last thing you need is to have to deal with a call center in your home country. Since we are based here, in the same timezone as you will be in, we can react fast in the event of any issue or emergency. We have a manager on duty 24 hours a day, every single day of the year. We give this number to you prior to your arrival in Africa and we encourage you to call us at any time during your visit should the need arise.
- Pembury is with you all the way! Lastly, unlike booking directly through internet portals or overseas consolidators, booking an itinerary through Pembury means that we are responsible for you throughout your stay here in Africa. So if there is an issue at any of the properties or service providers, if unforeseen things occur, we take the matter up on your behalf and we deal with the issue – our responsibility to you continues right till when you leave Africa for home! Due to our buying power, our experience is that properties and service providers prioritise our clients. You will not get this level of support if you book through a web-based booking engine or even if you book directly.
Tailor-made Tours
- Bespoke Itineraries – Everyone is different (thank goodness!) and we all have diverse ideas on what we want out of a holiday. All our itineraries are truly tailor-made according to the amount of time you have for your holiday, your budget, your interests, your likes and dislikes and your expectations. The itineraries on this website are a snapshot of what some of our past clients have experienced. These are useful in order to give you ideas of where to go and what prices are like. Any of them can be adapted to suit you or we can start an itinerary for you from scratch. We do not charge a fee for this work that we do in planning your itinerary – our fee/profit is only earned when you book an itinerary with us.