Self Drive & Guided Safari Holidays

We have had another fantastic tour organised by Your Safari.

Once again, Your Safari provided a great structure for our trip and then modified it to meet our needs, to make it “Our Safari”

The trip took in an extensive self-drive tour of the middle and north of Vancouver Island, including Tofino, Ucluelet, Cathedral Grove, Campbell River, Telegraph Cove and Port Hardy. The roads are of good quality and are quite empty in many parts making for a relaxing drive in our SUV, taking in the beautiful forests and coastline. And the accommodation arranged was very good, often with self-catering as an option which as great after a long day out wild-life watching, but also with the option of eating out as well. Water-side in Ucluelet was particularly good.

But of course what we had really come for was the wildlife and the wilderness. From day one we had great sightings of black bears fishing for salmon near Ucluelet, with great guidance from Wayne Duke a VI resident wildlife photographer. Wayne also showed us around the Tofino area and was hugely knowledgeable about the history as well as the natural history of the area.

Next major stop was Telegraph Cove, a fascinating place in its own right, where we met our local guide, Larry and spent two days out in the Johnstone Straight in his skiff. Outstanding encounters with many humpback whales, Steller’s sealions, harbour seals and some fabulous bald-eagle fishing sightings. But probably the highlight was getting close to a pod of 12 Orca, working the salmon around the islands and bays. Larry’s expert seamanship and knowledge of wildlife and knowing the needs of photographers meant that he was able to get into some great positions without interfering with the animals, just what we want from a top class safari.

Finally, the highlight of the trip, 3 nights at Great Bear Lodge far up the Smith Inlet on the main land and truly “off the grid” with no 4G or internet. This was truly a memorable experience, from flying there by sea-plane to the outstanding natural beauty to the high-light: fabulous sightings of grizzly bears, including mothers with cubs, fishing for salmon. Definitely one for all wild-life enthusiasts bucket lists!

Whether its Africa, India or British Columbia the Your Safari experience is simply first class. Thank you to Kathryn, Ian and all the team.

We have been customers of Your Safari before and enjoyed a fantastic experience in Namibia, so when the opportunity came to take a tour with them to India on the quest for wild tigers, we jumped at it. Again the experience was fantastic. In conjunction with local guides we had a fantastic two weeks, taking in the cultural melting pot of Delhi, the elegance of Jaipur – including the imposing Amer Palace and the breath-taking majesty of the Taj Mahal.

But of course the prime reason for the tour was the safari drives in the National Parks and this did not disappoint. We had excellent sightings of tigers in all three parks that we visited and took some great photographs. But there was so much more to see than tigers and we spent time in the forests observing the deer, the magnificent Gaur (largest bovines in the world), the fascinating behaviors of the Langur Monkeys and birds of all varieties, including eagles and vultures. As a special bonus, we also had sightings of the elusive Sloth Bear.

India is an incredible country and you have to embrace the organised chaos at times. But the people are fantastic and friendly and we felt very safe throughout. All in all, another wonderful experience from Your Safari. (and next stop for us a self drive tour of British Columbia, arranged of course by… Your Safari.

First of all, thank you so much for taking on board our requirements and bolting this trip together. Your detail investigating Okakambe and the golf course is greatly appreciated. We have had a truly memorable time. I can’t believe we started planning this trip over a year ago and now we have done it!
Cornerstone: David and Peter had a fun game of golf. A perfect start to the trip (and easy to find).
Okakambe: I know I mailed about this but Eddi, Kathrin, the horses and everyone who looked after me made a lasting impression.
Erongo: A perfect peaceful place for us to settle into the trip after my riding etc. The trails are a great way to explore.
Okaukuejo: Amazing! We did have some fantastic game sightings from here.
Namutoni: On the way here we had great sightings of a family of 13 elephants and much more. This end of the pan seemed greener and offered more opportunities for us.
Okonjima: This place is a haven and captivating. The enthusiasm of the guides and people are an inspiration. We watched a pangolin being tagged one night and saw three white rhino whilst hiding behind a bush on foot!
As newby Namibia drivers we were very impressed by our brand new Toyota Hilux (a cushion purchased in Swakopmund ensured I could see and do my share of the driving in comfort!). We did have a small problem when no one was around when we dropped the Hilux back on the 30th. Eventually it was established that their records indicated return on the 31st. We were dropped at the Trans Kalahari and the car hire guy kindly waited to make sure we were OK for our early transfer the next morning.
Trans Kalahari: Comfortable and ideal for our early start. Transfer spot on time.
Constance Lamuria Seychelles : David’s birthday treat! Very expensive but customer service second to none. The golf course is stunning.
Once again, huge thanks for making this experience possible. We were a little apprehensive about self driving but your detailed instructions and advice made it easily possible.
We hope to travel with you again sometime.
Very best wishes Veronica and David.

We wanted to thank you so much for an absolutely fabulous trip to Namibia. It seems very difficult to pick out a highlight because we were so impressed by just everywhere we stayed. You really took on board what we said about liking the birds, the wildlife, wanting somewhere quirky/ unusual to stay. Everywhere you selected was just perfect and we met some lovely people.

The vehicle was modern, well maintained and effortless to drive. We had every confidence in it and it came into its own when we slept in it, the night of the storm. (White Lady Lodge, Brandberg).

The sand dunes at Sossusvlei were awesome. FOOTNOTE: We climbed Big Daddy in the early morning, but the heat still melted the glue on my trainers and the soles fell off on the sand dune. Blind panic set in before I requisitioned Paul’s socks to reattach lost soles.
No harm done! I must be the only person who went down the canyon with flip flops ( which I bought at the entrance shop. Only two pairs left). How many times have I frowned at people walking in sandals on rugged terrain. But I wasn’t missing the canyon.

I know we got booked in to Flamingo Villas because you couldn’t get your usual booking in Swakopmund, but we just loved Walvis Bay, our room on the front and the flamingo’s was a magic location and the staff were outstanding. On our arrival they booked two tours for us and then came and found us on the prom, where we were antiquating ourselves with the flamingo’s, to inform us that trips were all arranged.

Would highly recommend Jeanne Meintjes Eco Marine Kayak Tours – collected us from hotel and took us to Pelican Point amongst all the seals, dolphins and flamingoes. Her enthusiasm was infectious. She provided all equipment, clothing and hot drinks and refreshments.

We wished we could have stayed longer at Sessfontain – the swimming pool was very welcome and we loved the setting in the fort. We had such a good visit to the Himba people with the lady who worked at the hotel – she spoke their language.

Etendeka Mountain Camp was out of this world and we had such good, knowledgeable guides and warm welcome from the newly arrived manager and his wife. Stories around the camp fire come to mind.

Etosha was everything we wanted it to be. Prolific wild life from the moment we entered the park. We saw so many lions, lionesses, cubs – two a penny. Watched a lioness eating a carcass, with her young nearby, then big male came along, told her who was boss, and took the food. Also saws female being stalked by male, then they performed right in front of our truck. Rhinos at night, by the pool.

Papa Falls Resort was outstanding – perfect chalet, with terrace, in amongst the trees. You didn’t have to go searching, the birds came to you. We did a lovely boat ride on the Kavango River with an expert guide – we saw so much wildlife as well as lots of sleepy hippos.

And as for Okanjima…….What a superb end to a superb adventure. I finally got to see a leopard – right out in the open. As well as doing two walking safaris and seeing three cheetahs. Afternoon tea and cakes weren’t bad either.

So THANK YOU again for a perfect holiday.

Hi We are back – all in one piece.
We had an absolutely wonderful time – so many many thanks for putting it all together.
Once more thank you for a fantastic experience

We just wanted to say thank you for such a great holiday. We had a tremendous time. I suspect you’ve already been told about Super Saturday,
but we had a great time every day; lots of variety and very busy viewing. The group got on well and I think we all enjoyed it. We had lots of fun with
Ian ensuring that he caught the front legs of lions in the correct  Kathryn position. The guide – Sam – was excellent. He really loved Super Saturday
and will spend for ever telling his mates about it. He was on a huge roll!

We have had a fantastic trip, saw tons of wildlife and just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help. The baby in the zebra pic had been born on the road less than five minutes before we got there and Bob took this as it got up for the first time. One and a half hours later we saw it running with its mum to catch up to the herd. Magic!
There were about 30 of these elephants at the water hole just as we arrived at Okaucuejo – they even came back for another show the next night – a bit before the two rhinos were squaring up for a tussle.
We have so many great memories and are just getting 360, (of the 1500+ total we took), printed to make up an album.
We absolutely loved walking at both Etendeka and Okonjima. We never thought you could get so close to a cheetah without being eaten alive!!! Bob got some lovely pictures of very relaxed cats!

We are saving our pennies so we can go and do it all again.

After a year and a half of planning and building excitement we finally had our safari this November. It was everything and more than what we expected. From the initial contact with Kathryn, through all the planning, to the safari itself, everything went very smoothly, the accommodations were above and beyond , each one unique and interesting. We couldn’t wait for the end of the day to see where we would be next! We toured Namibia plus did an animal safari which will be one of the highlights of our lives. To see wild beasts in their natural environment is truly something to treasure and appreciate. Our guides John and Jules Birch were so helpful from the minute they picked us up until they deposited us at our flight home . John’s help and hints with photos enabled us to get some really great shots , his knowledge of the animals and their habits was invaluable in sightings. He and Jules were very caring and we had a lot of fun and laughs, we left as life time friends. I purchased a pair of small binoculars before we left and so happy I did. If you don’t mind getting dirty, love adventure and fun and want a small group of people on your trip this is the company for you. When we return to Africa we will definitely be using Your Safari again

We Just wanted to say thank you again for a wonderful holiday, it truly was a holiday of a lifetime for Steven and I we have some wonderful memories and photos, you guys were just great and it was also lovely meeting you all and sharing the experience with yourselves and Chrissie and James, it is a holiday we will never forget, and we still can not believe all that we saw, I am sure a lot of it was due to your experience Kathryn, and we certainly learnt a great deal.

I think you may still be in Namibia but I just wanted to say a very big thank you for the most amazing visit to Namibia. Everything went like clockwork thanks to your brilliant organising. We were lucky not to have any breakdowns or punctures. Everywhere we stayed was of the best and all were so friendly and hospitable.

Nick and I both had a fantastic holiday both with you and afterwards on our self drive adventure. Being without a camera on a specialist photographic safari might sound crazy but you, John and Trish, all made me feel happy and comfortable.
Everywhere you booked us was exceptional in terms of location, comfort and experience – thank you so much! We will return!

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thank you for all your work providing us with an amazing holiday. We both fell in love with Namibia and will for sure be returning! I really appreciated the detail in the info packs and quality of the car and accommodation. The itinerary was perfect in every way for us as it happened and was a trip we will never forget. I think everyone who has seen our photos now has Namibia on their list.
Thank you so much.

As a solo traveller I wanted to feel absolutely confident about all the plans for my trip. I needn’t have worried. From our first contact and Kathryn’s initial ideas for my itinerary I knew that everything would be just perfect – and it was. She listened carefully to what I wanted and adjusted the arrangements to take in everything I wanted to see. My truck was mega and I had total faith in her ability to convey me safely around Namibia – which she did for 3,500 km. The accommodation was absolutely fabulous, with the final high spot being upgraded from Plains Camp to Bush Camp at Okonkjima – perfect luxury for the last couple of nights. Her tips on photography and the complimentary copy of her book with suggested driving routes, best light at each waterhole at particular times of the day and best parking spots were invaluable in gaining shots of fabulous moments, together with her advice – be quiet and still and let it come to you. And it did. It was everything I had dreamed of, from the dawn light at Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei to dune-buggying round Sandwich Harbour through wilderness Damaraland and into the wonderful wildlife in Etosha.
The beautiful booklet with vouchers put together for the trip was a treat in itself. The map was marked with every stay with a clear itinerary. Even I (Sat-Nav queen) couldn’t go wrong. Sunrise and sunset times, reliable journey times and type of road surface were detailed so immaculately that I knew exactly what I was doing each day. Kathryn’s attention to detail, to her clients’ wishes and careful planning are second to none. From the moment I got on the plane at Heathrow to the moment I landed back there again I was completely confident that everything would work out just fine – and it did. Thank you so much, Kathryn, for a truly wonderful and magical experience. I will never forget it and hope to do it again – very soon.

Having not long come back from my first trip to Namibia and my first trip with Kathryn, I have to say it surpassed all my expectations in every way.
The organisation, the lodges, and the company were brilliant.We had a lot of laughs.
And of course all the fantastic sightings we had. With Kathryn’s expertise and knowledge coming from spending many years out there we were always in the right place.
Staying in the waterhole chalet at Okaukuejo and being able to just walk out to the waterhole to see what was there was amazing, seeing a herd of elephants walking in out of the sunset to have a drink, also an awesome experience was to count twelve rhinos plus a baby there one evening just before I went to bed.
On the edge of the Etosha Pass seeing a lone lioness taking on a wildebeests and coming off worst and getting a sequence of photos of it was a highlight.
The trip was rounded off nicely on the way back to Windhoek with a night at the Africat Foundation and tracking collared cheetahs and leopards. Standing not very far at all from a pair of cheetahs on a kill with sun-downers was an experience not to be forgotten.
Thank you Kathryn I hope to travel with you again.

If your interest is to visit Africa and you want the opportunity to view both the wildlife and the scenery offered, then you need not look any further. My wife and I used ‘Your Safari’, and right from the start, until we said our goodbyes, we were totally pampered. I consider myself a wildlife photographer and the moments that I was able to capture were amazing. These opportunities were made possible by the understanding and knowledge of the Owner Operator and Guide, Kathryn Haylett. Her photographic skills and overall knowledge of the animals and territory made the experience so delightful and exhilarating. As Kathryn explained during our planning stages ‘it is your safari’ and thus your wants and needs are considered to the fullest. I could go on about why you should use this company for a holiday / experience of a lifetime or whatever your reasons are to visit Africa, but suffice to say that as I write this testimonial I am already in the planning stages to return and continue where we left off. Knowing what we experienced first time only excites me so much more to again come to Africa and continue to see, hear and smell all this it has to offer. If you are seriously looking to plan an adventure like the one that both my wife and I experienced then this is the company that can take care of your needs. I would even go as far as allowing ‘Your Safari’ to put you in personal contact with me for further reassurance about their professionalism.