Nick van de Wiel of Tailor Made Safaris
Tailor Made Safaris
- Located In:
-
Netherlands
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- FGASA, TKZN, MHCTO & EDTEA
- Tour Types:
- Self-drive mid-range & luxury tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $1,591 to $6,961 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most memorable experience with Tailor Made Safaris in South-Africa!
Our trip with Tailor Made Safaris was beyond memorable! Friends told us about their great experience and everything about that was true. We send Tailor Made Safaris an e-mail with our plans. They quickly responded with a few questions about our budget, dates of traveling and preferences (what kind of wild parks and accommodations). After we filled that in, we received a very detailed offer which fitted our desires perfectly. After a week in Cape-Town (own planning), our week with Tailor Made Safaris was what we hoped for. We stayed for 3 nights in Avalon Guesthouse in St. Lucia, with a couple of day trip safaris. After that, we stayed for 2 nights in Tembe Elephant Park and 2 nights in Rhino River Reserve. Al those parks and accommodations were pretty amazing. The game drives were so good and the guides had great knowledge of all the animals. Also the service at the accommodation was perfect. We didn't want a massive touristic experience, we were more looking for an African experience. And we did get the African experience!
Email Dan Baylie and Hope Weaver | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A well planned, well executed, thoroughly enjoyable and memorable holiday!
We visited South Africa as a large family group. The itinerary/activities were well planned and catered for all parties. We visited five places in total including St Lucia, Leopards Mountain, Ithala, Thonga and Tembe. We had amazing experiences and sightings at every destination; memories to treasure forever!
Nick/Freya were always helpful and nothing was ever too much trouble. We would strongly recommend 'Tailor made Safaris'. Overall, the holiday and 'Tailor made Safaris' surpassed all expectations and will use these guys for future holidays in SA.
NL
Email Roel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A fantastic experience with quality service
We (party of 6) decided to book our trip 'the best of the elephant coast & drakensbergen' with Tailormade Safaris and had a truly wonderful experience. Everything was well-planned and organised and the service was exceptional. Geert/Nick and Freya really delivered on their promise of giving us a one of a kind experience, combining amazing gamedrives, great food (Tailormade Safaris' Nicholaas really knows how to braai!) and secluded lodges with breathtaking views. We will without a doubt book another Tailormade Safari. Geert/Nick, Freya, Nicholaas; thank you for the best trip i've ever had!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had a wonderful experience using tailor made safaris they helped plan my amazing proposal!
The communications were simply and straight forward and all the trip was planned to perfection. would certainly use the services again. The safari tour itself was excellent considering the weather problems but they still went out of there way to cater for myself and my partner. highly recommended!!!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Namibian Photographic Workshop
Tailor Made Safaris make an incredible effort to ensure that from the moment we arrived at Windhoek airport until the time we all left to go home, we were to experience something really rather special. The organisation was exceptional. Having done a recce the year before, Nick & Emil had meticulously planned the itinerary. There was an element of tourism for those of us new to Namibia, but of course primarily it was a photographic workshop, an intense one at that! Dawn shoots, dusk shoots and star shoots all at the most amazing iconic venues. Quite exhausting but we all learned an awful lot thanks to Nick van de Wiel and our photographic expert Emil von Maltitz. Both of them had an in depth knowledge of photography and who gently and patiently nudged me up a very steep learning curve! We were a happy, cohesive group made so by the huge efforts of Nick, his wife Freya and of course Emil. They made every effort to ensure that everyone's needs were catered for and that we indeed got value for money. My heartfelt thanks to them and my fellow students for making this truly, a trip of a lifetime.
Email Mark Weaver | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An absolutely first rate Photographic Tour, a great group and we learnt so much.
Duration: 12 day Photographic workshop visiting the highlights of Namibia (+ one day either side of the tour and 4 nts in St Lucia, SA).
I should start by explaining that I have been on safari tours before with this company and knew the high levels of service that would be provided. Also, I have done a small amount of wildlife photography and although I am happy with it, there is significant room for improvement in all aspects of my photography knowledge. Landscape photography was however something completely new to me and 12 days of complete submersion in this subject was very daunting to say the least.
I should not have worried.
Tailor Made Safaris and their partner company Lime Photo were first rate. The level of tuition was outstanding with Nick and Emil making themselves available to us probably way more than they should have. One catered to the needs of those newer to digital photography like me and the associated software and one to the more proficient guests. "Classroom" theory dealt with Lightroom and Photoshop as well as composition, balance, interest, subject matter and much, much more.
The practical’s covered, star trails by different methods, astrophotography, sun rise, sun set, blue hour, dawn and dusk and obviously daylight shoots as well as covering the elements covered in the theory sessions.
At the start it has to be said that I was completely out of my depth (as perhaps were others) but we were all treated as individuals and it took no time at all for our hosts to gauge out ability levels. Noticing I was struggling without me having to ask for help showed an understanding of guests (my) shortcomings and I was given assistance when needed but was pushed to stretch myself too. My learning curve was vertical; there was no curve, which gives one a fantastic feeling of achievement when good shots are taken.
It has to be understood that this is a work shop; but this is NOT grinding, boring and tedious work. This is enlightening, broadening, exciting and exhilarating work. Yes there are some very early mornings and long days but the rewards can be seen in your photos… No pain, no gain!
The inclusion of the option to take a photography flight over the dunes was outstanding and for many, a once in a life time opportunity. This is a completely different type of shooting to that we had been learning to that point. This is a point and continuous shooting on auto focus style while looking for patterns, composition, balance etc…it definitely got the heart racing. Seeing Deadvlei, Dune 45 and wild Oryx on the dunes from the air was amazing!
Due to the scale of the country and the high number of Photographer Bucket List locations visited, there is quite a bit of traveling but due to the structure of the tour, the transport arrangements, the views and photo opportunities en-route the traveling is easily considered to be part of the experience rather than a chore. If you offer to assist with the driving as I did, it makes the journey even more of an experience.
Due to the traveling, the preferences of the guests, weather and the need to sometimes split the group to get the best from the locations, the tour; and so the timings need to be a little fluid, this requires one to go with the flow and it keeps things interesting. This type of tour can’t be run to the tick of a Swiss watch.
The accommodation ranges from basic but comfortable to Namibian 4 /5 star, the food ranged from marinated fillet steak sandwiches cooked by Nick and Freya under the stars in a stunning national park to good wholesome hotel and/or restaurant fair…I would go for the steak in that location any day!
A few words about my fellow guests, I had a good idea before I left the UK that this was going to be a great tour because of those running it, but without the ladies and gents that attended; their humour, their understanding of limitations in fellow guest’s abilities, their appreciation of the needs of others; their willingness to help when needed and their tolerance of seven other strangers in close proximity for 12 days, this would not have been the outstanding experience that it has been. My thanks to all of them.
All in all… A fan-bloody-tastic tour. Nick with his un-flappable attention to tour detail and logistics, his concern for guests comfort and enjoyment and his calm, always patient teaching method. Emil with his exuberant and ever present photographer’s admiration of every vista that this magnificent country presents to you, his un-ending enthusiasm (even at 02:00) and his phenomenal knowledge of photography. They make an ideal team.
In all my reviews ask “Would I go back?” But this applies to properties and sightseeing tours/safaris, so it’s not appropriate here. So I will ask "Would I book with Tailor Made Safaris for another Photography Workshop?"
Absolutely!
This was a tour of more shooting and more tuition, great coaching, low guest to instructor ratios and first rate sights all at a good value for money. Enjoyment level 10 out of 10.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A amazing experience
Well organized . Our wishes are realized. The book was incredibly convenient and a nice souvenir afterwards.
The team was always open to questions. The trip has met our expectations. It was a great experience which is partly made possible by Tailor Made Safaris.
NL
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An excellent tailor made safari holiday
Whenever you decide to book a safari in KZN, in Tailor Made Safaris you will find an excellent partner, who translates all your wishes into an adventurous and beautiful experience. You will feel at ease traveling in SA with a complete set of information and documentation and a TomTom and cellphone provided (for free) by TMS.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Super self drive trip with Tailor Made Safaris!!!
We 're just back from our 24-days self drive trip in South-Africa. We booked this trip with Tailor Made Safaris and that was a very good decision!!! From the start we had very good contact with them and everything you wish for is possible.
Our trip brought us to Drakenberg, St Lucia, Hluhluwe-IMfolozi,Kosy Bay, Ponta D'ouro. Tembe Elephant Park, Mlilwane and Kruger. Mountains, beaches and wild life. In one word FANTASTIC!!
Our accommodations where great. Most of the time we had self catering and our own braai.
So if you have plans for visiting South-Africa start with Tailor Made Safaris!!! They enraged everyhting for you included a persenal routebook, GPS and African phone. Go for it!!!
NL
Email Veroude family | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great family experience
This summer our family visited South Africa for a three weeks holiday booked with Tailor Made Safaris. Receiving our pre-departure travel book brought us already in the mood. The booking process was smooth, any question was answered quickly and adaptations were taken care of. We visited Mkuze, Kosi Bay, Tembe, St. Lucia, Ithala and Hluhluwe-Imfalozi. A close encounter with elephants in Tembe and snorkeling at Kosi Bay are still moments to remember. Guides Paul and Geert are experts in finding animals, birds , serving lunch at the beach and making a braai. A small glance or sound of a bird and Paul was able to give us all details. They both can tell great stories about any aspect of the environment and African life. We were pleased that also our kids (8, 13 en 15 years) were very comfortable with our guides, having the journey of their life. Everything was well organized and any occurrence of a “this is Africa”-moment, was quickly tackled.
We strongly recommend Tailor Made Safaris to families who seek the Africa–experience.