Join the rave reviews and book your safari adventure now!
Don’t miss out on the remarkable experiences that have left our customers in awe. SafariWise has garnered a loyal following of animal enthusiasts, nature lovers, and adventurous souls, all captivated by our exceptional service and passion for wildlife. Hear their resounding testimonials of unforgettable encounters, seamless planning, and expert guides that have made their dreams a reality. Immerse yourself in the wonders of the African bush, guided by our knowledgeable team who go above and beyond to ensure every moment exceeds expectations. With SafariWise, you’ll witness breathtaking wildlife sightings, enjoy luxury accommodations, and contribute to conservation efforts. Take a cue from our satisfied customers on platforms like Google, Trip Advisor, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, who attest to our dedication to creating truly extraordinary safaris. Their glowing testimonials speak volumes about our commitment to providing immersive and ethical experiences. But time is of the essence – don’t delay in securing your spot. Book now with SafariWise to embark on an adventure that will forever leave its mark on your soul. Join the ranks of those who have experienced the magic firsthand, and let the wild wonders of Africa become your reality. The call of the wild awaits!
Posted on Totte Malmström The best Posted on Whitney Garrah If I could give 10 stars I definitely would! Every detail from our pick-up to our final good-bye was first class! Thank-you for an amazing experience and a truly life-changing trip!
Posted on Sheila W A Thrilling Madagascar Adventure This was a superb wildlife viewing trip, expertly led by Neil MacLeod of Safariwise, with the assistance of knowledgeable local guide Fabrice. Although Madagascar has lost a lot of its forests, those that remain are packed with wildlife – and we saw no less than 24 species of lemur, including close views of the extraordinary Aye-aye. This endangered species taps on the trunks of rainforest trees and listens to the returning echoes to detects cavities within made by beetle larvae. It then chews holes into these with its large front teeth and inserts its elongated middle finger to extract the unfortunate grubs! Other lemurs we saw included the Indri with its strange wailing calls, Black and White Ruffed Lemurs, and tiny mouse lemurs of several species. We were also extremely fortunate to have an excellent sighting of a Fosa – a mongoose relative which has evolved to fill the niche of a medium-sized cat, as there are no true cats in Madagascar. We also saw many species of colourful chameleons and other reptiles, plus similarly colourful frogs, and insects – including the aptly-named Rainbow Locust and Giraffe Weevil. We stayed in some lovely lodges set in stunning surroundings, and the local people were incredibly friendly wherever we went. All in all, another wonderful adventure with the excellent Safariwise. Posted on CMAR2011 Driving from Namibia’s coast to the desert in a week visiting the main sites Berdene organized a great trip to Namibia and we got to visit the coast and the desert. Everything was as planned, the hotels, the car rental and the tours Posted on Jamie Buxton-Gould Magical Madagascar! What an exciting trip meeting the weird and wonderful wildlife of Madagascar! We visited the best places across the island to witness the unique biodiversity, all extremely well organised by our leader Neil and local guide Fabrice. It was thrilling to see such a variety of plants, insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals in some fascinating habitats, including the rainforest and spiny forest. I can't believe some of the close encounters we had with species such as Aye-aye, Indri, mouse lemurs and Fossa! It was enjoyable to meet friendly local people along the way and to see the importance of ecotourism that incentivises protection of the special habitats and species here. Hopefully supporting community-managed reserves and forests can continue to conserve the incredible endemic wildlife. An extraordinarily interesting trip of a lifetime! Posted on Simon J Fantastic three weeks My wife and I have just returned from a fantastic three weeks in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. We self drive and all the lodges chosen for us by Berdene and Neil were fantastic. A great mix of closeness to wildlife and a little bit of luxury just when we needed to draw breath. We managed to see the ‘big five’ during our stay which was a real treat, especially seeing the lions with just our vehicle watching and the leopard with only one other. I highly recommend using Safariwise to out together your holiday in Africa. They go out of their way to give the customer what they want and know the continent so very well. With luck we will be back and we would certainly be using them again. Posted on Sheila W Uganda JUne 2025 This was my second trip to Uganda with Safariwise, and did what I thought was impossible - by bettering my absolutely amazing first visit of two years ago! The as-always superb leadership of Neil MacLeod, combined with the excellent spotting skills of local leader Gerald, made for some once-in-a-lifetime wildlife viewing experiences.We saw no fewer than six very scarce Shoebills - including a pair of these huge prehistoric-looking waterbirds clapping their massive bills at each other during a courtship display. A wonderfully close encounter with a family of Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was followed later in the trip by one with a group of around 10 similarly close Chimps in Kibale National Park. We also watched members of a pride of Uganda's famous tree-climbing Lions amongst the branches of a tree adjacent to the road we were on in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and later saw cubs playing on top of a termite mound at Murchison Falls NP. A boat excursion on the White Nile rewarded us with a rare sighting of a threatened African Softshell Turtle – one of the largest species of freshwater turtles, with a shell up to a metre in diameter. Other sightings on the trip included a well-hidden Leopard in a tree, plus all the more frequently-seen mammals such as Giraffes, Buffalo and Hippos, and a plethora of brightly-coloured birds. The lodges we stayed at were without exception of excellent quality, too - and very well situated in close proximity to the wildlife. I can highly recommend Safariwise to anyone wishing for an amazing wildlife experience such as this - either in Uganda or elsewhere in Africa. In my experience - they really are the best! Posted on Pioneer27005623935 Uganda We have recently returned from an amazing trip to Uganda with SafariWise. The trip was brilliantly planned by Neil and his team. I was in awe of Neil’s, and our local guide, Gerald’s, brilliant eyesight and wildlife knowledge, I’m sure we didn’t miss a thing! We saw so many animals and birds it would take too long to list, but some of the highlights were the gorillas, chimpanzees, tree lions and the shoebills. The trip ran like clockwork and felt completely stress free. The lodges and food were all excellent. We are already planning our next trip with SafariWise. Posted on Richard W 15 day Uganda birding and wildlife tour with Safari Wise A fantastic 15 days of seamless organisation and planning by Neil and Safariwise ably assisted by Gerald our Ugandan guide and driver made this a holiday of a lifetime which included visiting 5 national parks. A great balance of water and game safaris which provided some exceptional experiences including Mountain Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking, Shoebills, Giraffe, Hippos, Nile Crocodiles and a plethora of bird life provided a photographic haven.Our carefully selected lodges enabled us to explore the beautiful pearl of Africa providing a wide variety of landscapes from mountains to lakes and rainforest . All the accommodation was of a high standard of comfort and safety.Our standout lodges were Mahogany Springs Lodge Bwindi National Park ,excellent accommodation, Mweya Safari Lodge Queen Elizabeth National Park for stunning views over Lake Edward , Turaco Treetops , ideal base for Chimp Trekking and Paraa Safari Lodge for boat trips to view the fantastic Murchison Falls and brilliant Shoebill sightings. The Karibu in Entebbe is 15 minutes from the airport and is ideal for starting and finishing a tour. Thank you Safari Wise for an unforgettable experience. Posted on Ian T A safari way beyond expections From first contact with Safariwise (after recommendation from another guide), the whole experience was excellent. Berdene tailormade our tour of Namibia, visiting several different lodges in different locations. She tailored everything to what we wanted, giving us helpful advice along the way. The communication was prompt and comprehensive all along, answering our many questions. The safari itself well exceeded our expections (which were actually quite high!). The accommodations were all of a very high standard and three (Camp Kipwe, Etosha Oberland and Onguma Tented Camp) were absolutely superb. Neil was our excellent guide for 14 days. His knowledge of Namibia and its wildlife were both extensive and detailed. His spotting skills were the best I've ever experienced (we have done many wildlife watching holidays). His enthusiasm and sense of humour were infectious, adding to the enjoyment of the experience. 41 mammal species (including cheetah, leopard, white rhino and desert adapted elephants), 22 reptile species and 175 bird species, not to mention amazing scenery. Ian, Lesley and Nicola Tooley Posted on lucy t A wonderful trip across Zambia, Botswana and Namibia This was a fantastic 2 week trip, in the hands of fantastic guides who worked tirelessly for us. Couldn't recommend more highly. Posted on Mark N Zambia, Botswana and Namibia March 2025 Could not recommend these guys highly enough. Neil and Hano were brilliant guides. Knowledgeable, passionate, well organised and, above all, fun!
Hello Berdene, Just to let you and Neil know that we enjoyed our trip to Namibia very much. Thank you for arranging it. Okaukuejo was slightly run down, as you had warned us, but OK. Halali was fine and we had the best night waterhole experience there. Mokuti was good and Erindi very good, particularly with its waterholes next to the dining area and our room, and the variety of mammals.. Thank you for adding it to our itinerary. The vehicle was just right for us, with good viewing on three sides, and quite comfortable. Dayne Braine is an excellent guide. He spotted the birds and mammals and identified them exceptionally well not only on the game drives, but also in walkabouts in the camps and lodges. He drove carefully, handled all the arrangements of the trip very satisfactorily, and was good company. All the best
Makis
We really enjoyed the holidays and are happy that everything went so well. We were very surprised by your welcome gift at the airport and of course we also used Neil's book on tour. The accommodations were nice.
Patrick Freitag
Dear Neil, Thank you for the photos. I thought you and Jakes were a great team and outstanding guides. On a personal level, I thank you for your support and kindness and excellent company. On a group level, I admired your tolerance and thank you for the many ‘extra surprises’ and experiences you made available to us. Nature was kind to us and there were many special events we managed to witness with your help and guidance.I hope that now, world wide, covid is controlled or, at least, less of a threat and that your business and Jakes’ job prospects will return to pre-pandemic levels and that you will both manage to lead happy, successful lives in your beautiful country with you families. I certainly will not forget the two of you and our amazing adventure!My love and best wishes
Sheila
Dear Neil & Jakes, My wife and I recently completed the NatureTrek journey from Windhoek to Livingstone with Neil and Jakes. I just wanted to thank everyone involved. I'm sure there must have been a lot of organisation and reorganising, with all the COVID related changes but we felt it went remarkably smoothly and we had the trip of a lifetime, this being our first time in Africa. Could you please pass on our thanks and congratulations to everyone, including Neil and Jakes who we didn't really get chance to personally thank at the end. I hope Jakes made the long journey home safely. He deserves special recognition, as it is clear he really goes above and beyond to make sure everyone is looked after. Please make sure he receives this thanks from us personally? We had a simple journey home and are currently shocked at the 1°C temperature and already miss African skies.
Mike and Peg Saul
Dear Neil, We would like to thank you again for a most amazing and memorable trip. You were a very inspiring guide and your knowledge of the wildlife is amazing. We enjoyed your and Jakes’s company very much.We have already planned to visit South Africa again and we hope to combine this with a visit to other parts of Namibia. Maybe we will meet again. We hope sincerely that the tourism will pick up again.Thank you again and we wish you and Jakes all the best for the future.
Charles and Marianne
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 return 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 and Lucy Norman
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 cookbook 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 & family
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
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
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
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
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 Danie
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
Dear Neil and BerdeneThank 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 Barnard
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 laterps Sinds onze thuiskomst is het laatste wat Martine en ik iedere dag zeggen: “lekker slaap”. Toch een mooie taal het afrikaans!
Martine en Jos
Thanks for giving us all a truly splendid experience – we’ll be back
Gerald and Mandy Brook
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
To Neil, although far too short(!!!!), it was probably the best trip we’ve ever had.
Gill and Neil Friswell
Neil – Thanks for the great time we’ve had with you!
Gary Player
Finally, very many thanks for a great trip – thank you Neil.
Mark Barden
Berdene I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for organising an amazing trip for us. Our family have never been to Africa and the amazing experiences we had we will never forget. All the places you recommended were incredible for their own reasons and we enjoyed the contrast of the dry areas to start with through to the Chobe river cruises. We saw an amazing array of animal life which ticked all of our boxes. I want to make special mention of Charl and Jakes who treated all of us to an amazing time and took care of everything. You could have mistaken them as the owners of your business they did such a great job, as they were passionate about all of us having the best possible time and making sure that we were well catered for. Meeting them both and spending time with them just makes us want to come back to African soon for another adventure. Thanks again and all the best.Regards(June 2023)
Justin Pettett
Hi NeilWell its been a while since we arrived home and while it took a while to readjust our clocks to be back on Pacific Time, we at least did not suffer in any other way.I know that I wrote a trip advisor report on the trip but I wanted to write to you specifically to thank you for your leadership during the Uganda tour. I know that I was a bit concerned with some of the aspects for the first couple of days, however you did an amazing job of listening to my concerns and acting positively to ensure that my experience was top notch. I really appreciate the little extras that you took the time to arrange – the private boats, the anniversary cake and wine, the wonderful catered breakfast at the delta and while we didn’t have to change our rooms for air conditioning at Mweya Safari Lodge, your concern and offer to have our room changed was thoughtful and considerate. While not quite a photo tour (I know my definition might not mesh with yours but based on my experience) I have no complaints. Michelle and I really had a great time and we can truly say that there were just far too many highlights to answer the question that we have been asked so many times since we got home – The question being; what was our favourite part of the trip.While we were clients of Safariwise, you treated us like friends. Again, thank you for everything and we hope to be able to join you, or perhaps Charl on a future trip.And not to forget, please pass my thanks on to Berdene for doing all the work that she did to ensure that this was a successful trip.
David and Michelle Axford
Hi Berdene and NeilThank you for the wonderful time we’ve all had in Namibia. You’d obviously worked hard to get everything in place for all 5 of us. We were overwhelmed with the warm welcome we received and we were delighted to meet you together with Hannah in Swakomund. What a lovely evening, excellent food and company . Also thank you for the Beanie hats you sent with Jakes the next morning and the replacement for the edition of your book I’ve lost.Jake was an excellent guide and host. He really put himself out to help us all. Florence’s difficulties didn’t prove to be a great problem and she became very fond of him. She certainly learnt a lot. Harry’s lifetime ambition now seems to return to the Skeleton coast to do some more fishing!!We’re all now looking forward to coming back again in the not too distant future. No doubt our son,Philip and his family will want to come with us next time when they hear all about our trip!Thank you
Carol and Paul (Aug 2023)
Please thank Neil and Jakes for a wonderful holiday, perfect for me. I loved the desert scenery and all the birds and animals and learnt so much from Neil and Jakes about all aspects of Namibia. Thank you so much,
Susan Howard November 2023
I wanted to thank you for everything you did to make our visit so enjoyable. The welcome packet with all the personalized items was appreciated. The map was especially helpful.Sorry we didn't have a chance to meet in Swakopmund, but thank you for helping to facilitate my reunion with Tas, it was a highlight for me, so many wonderful memories. It will take me a while to process my images because our spring is in full swing here with a lot of chores around the property. Our town is also in the path of a total solar eclipse, so on Monday in the middle of the afternoon the moon will block the sun and it will go completely dark for 4 minutes. Friends from outside the area are visiting to witness the event and I am trying to get camera filters and plan how to photograph it. Wishing you all the best,
Bill March 2024
Dear Berdene,We want to thank you ever so much for organising an amazing trip through Namibia for us. We enjoyed every minute. Every day brought something new and we learned and saw a lot about not only the wealth of animals but also the interesting geology and its traces. We thoroughly enjoyed being guided by Pierre. Not only has he a wealth of knowledge, but he is also very pleasant company. He was not only utterly professional in every way, but also helped us when our age and mobility problems needed an extra hand. He was amazing at spotting anything animal or plant wise on the way.We loved the accommodations. We also visited the Mesosaurus Fossil camp near the Quiver trees and Giant’s playground. Giel Steenkamp, who found the fossil on his farm, Spitzkop, has a little museum and he does a nice talk about the findings. It was, of course, also very nice to meet you in person and to see Neil again.With best wishes,
Marianne and Charles June 2024
Good afternoon Neil,We've just returned from a NatureTrek trip to Namibia, Zambia and Botswana where we were guided by Hano for most of the time.We had a great time with him, his knowledge, professionalism and experience were really impressive as was his enthusiasm. We were incredibly lucky to see the species we did, especially the double sightings of pangolin at Okonjima and the honey badgers in Etosha, no mean feat given how much grass there was after the rains. Jules, my husband had always wanted to see Cheetah, so that was a highlight for him, I had to wait until Moremi for mine, the Wild Dog. We had an impressive bird list by the end, considering there were only three of us, alas Sousa Shrike was the big dip.Please thank him for us, he's a credit to your company.
Debbie and Jules
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.