AITO: The Association of Independent Tour Operators
Wildlife Trails

Wildlife Trails Traveller Reviews

Reviews of Wildlife Trails

Overall Company Rating
99%
Excellent 159
Good 6
Average 0
Poor 0
Terrible 0
Reviews Submitted: 165
Reviews Accepted: 165
Reviews Rejected: 0
165 reviews
Sort by:
Wildlife Trails by Derek & Sandra, 15 Oct 2024
Holiday Rating:

Pantanal safari that exceeded expectations

This was our latest holiday organised by Wildlife Trails and again they delivered. All of these the vehicles provided were comfortable, of a good standard and had air conditioning which was definitely needed and also provided bottled water which was welcome. All of the transfers were on time and enabled us to make our flights. We had a range of accommodation from basic (Pousada Alegre) to luxurious (Hotel das Catarartas). The 'airport' ...

This was our latest holiday organised by Wildlife Trails and again they delivered. All of these the vehicles provided were comfortable, of a good standard and had air conditioning which was definitely needed and also provided bottled water which was welcome. All of the transfers were on time and enabled us to make our flights. We had a range of accommodation from basic (Pousada Alegre) to luxurious (Hotel das Catarartas). The 'airport' hotels were all satisfactory and more than adequate for an overnight stay. The accommodation at Pousada Alegre was adequate. We had a large room with comfortable bed, minimal furnishings and a working bathroom although the air-conditioning could have been more effective. Pousada Aguape was our favourite lodge, small and friendly plus the staff were lovely, always willing to help. The room was comfortable with storage shelves and clothes hangars available and good air-conditioning and ceiling fan. The bathroom was a good size and worked well. The food at this lodge was excellent, good quality and plenty of it. Hotel Pantanal Norte (Porto Jofre) had a very different feel to it. A much bigger concern with many more visitors on site. Again our accommodation was good and the air-conditioning was effective. As the temperature hit 42C this was essential The bathroom was okay nothing special. As we found here and everywhere we stayed the food provided was generally buffet style but plentiful and tasty. Hotel das Catartatas, well this was the icing on the cake. A fantastic luxury hotel with every amenity one could want and sitting on the top of the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls. What a way to finish our trip. The drivers who ferried us from A to B were all courteous and competent. The drivers taking us around the sites 'game viewing' were very aware of their environment and knew how to ensure we had good opportunities to see the birds and wildlife. A special mention here for Elison our driver at Pousada Aguape Our first guide/naturalist at Pousada Aguape was Rodrigo (AKA Uruguay) He was brilliant, very knowledgable about all the birds and animals we saw. He was able to answer all our questions and helped us to understand the Pantanal. Our guide from Pousada Alegre onward was Fininho. He was a lovely guy, very passionate about Brazil's wildlife and the countryside. He too was very knowledgable about the animals, birds and plants we saw and where to see them. Our success in having 33 Jaguar sightings at Porto Jofre we owe to Finn and his 'pilot' Wilson who was a master at getting our boat into a good position on the water. Finally George at Iguassu, he too was very passionate about Brazil and it's nature. He took us on tours of both sides of the falls pointing out all the special features and telling us the history of how the falls were made accessible all the while telling us funny stories and anecdotes. He was a joy, the only dud note was when we got soaked on a boat trip to the falls which we were not expecting. All three of our guides took responsibility for us and 'oiled the wheels' to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible and we'd have no hesitation in recommending them to other travellers.

Rating for tour operator:

Allan and the staff at Wildlife trails have consistently provided us with trips that have delivered everything we wanted and this was no exception, We were very happy with our trip, It provided us with the opportunity we wanted to see the varied wildlife and landscapes of Brazil. Our main objective was to see Jaguars in the wild in their natural environment and this we did many times over. We were lucky to have 33 jaguar sightings not forgetting giant anteaters, tapirs, crab eating foxes, racoons, tayra, peccaries, caiman, and the incredible hyacinth McCaws etc. This holiday typifies why Wildlife Trails are our first port of call for wildlife holidays.

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 16 Oct 2024:

So delighted that the Wildlife Trails tours we organise for you keep delivering a fantastic experience and 33 Jaguar sightings on the Cuiaba River must be a record! Thanks again for trusting us with your Brazil wildlife holiday, and we look forward to you travelling with us again.

Wildlife Trails by Ms M.D, 9 Oct 2024
Holiday Rating:

Brillant Sri Lanka

Allan recommended this destination and organised everything perfectly. He was confident I would really get on with the driver guide “Isuru”, and he was right… He is a gem, excellent driver, good guide and great company! We did a fairly big tour of the country in 2 weeks, visiting Wilpattu, Sirigiya, Horton’s Plains, Gal Oya and Yala. The accommodation was very good: I particularly liked Gal Oya Lodge and the night and morning walks with Anudara ...

Allan recommended this destination and organised everything perfectly. He was confident I would really get on with the driver guide “Isuru”, and he was right… He is a gem, excellent driver, good guide and great company! We did a fairly big tour of the country in 2 weeks, visiting Wilpattu, Sirigiya, Horton’s Plains, Gal Oya and Yala. The accommodation was very good: I particularly liked Gal Oya Lodge and the night and morning walks with Anudara where we saw so many species including to name a few: a mouse deer, a couple of frogmouth, jungle owlets, Red-backed flamebacks etc... I had an exceptional sighting of a leopard with her 2 cubs in Wilpattu, and we were the only vehicle around them for about 15 minutes, so I felt very lucky and privileged to observe them so close, playing, grooming, climbing trees etc.. The photo opportunities were amazing! I was very impressed by the slender lori walk - we had 3 sightings including one very close and very relaxed. Fantastic to witness this successful small conservation projects and the guide (Yeshitha) was excellent. There were plenty of other interesting sightings during the trip. Food was delicious overall.

Rating for tour operator:

I would highly recommend Wildlife Trails: they are knowledgeable, professional, quick to respond to any queries, all in a very pleasant manner.

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 10 Oct 2024:

We are so happy that your Sri Lanka wildlife holiday was such a success Marie-Aude and that our general in the field, Isuru, was a great driver and wildlife guide for you. We look forward to travelling with him ourselves in the near future, as there is always something special to discover in this beautiful country.

Wildlife Trails by Mr A M 24, 26 Sep 2024
Holiday Rating:

Pantanal Safari with Wildlife Trails

A two week safari in the Pantanal organised for us by Wildlife Trails. It was excellent in organization, in the standard of transport and guides and in the amount and nature of the wildlife we saw from very close range.

A two week safari in the Pantanal organised for us by Wildlife Trails. It was excellent in organization, in the standard of transport and guides and in the amount and nature of the wildlife we saw from very close range.

Rating for tour operator:

Wildlife Trails arrange everything from their office in the Uk, in close discussion with us. This was our fourth time of traveling with them. As always, everything we asked for was provided, it was extremely efficient and the wildlife sightings were wonderful.

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 27 Sep 2024:

We are so happy Adrian with this feedback, not only having you travelling with us again, but this time along with family members to the South and North Pantanal. We pride ourselves on our choice of wildlife guides around the world and believe that the ones in the Pantanal, like Rodrigo, are some of the best in the world. Seeing what you saw gives me the itch to get back to Brazil in the near future.

Wildlife Trails by SteveP, 22 Sep 2024
Holiday Rating:

Safari in Kenya

Visited several locations Lewa House, apparently where William proposed to Catherine. Lovely place to see, food and service excellent. Rhino were the main attraction and did not disappoint Also had Female Leopard and 2 cubs. Then on to Meru stayed in Elsa's Kopje think middle earth and Hobbits incredible place with lovely people, nothing too much trouble and excellent game viewing. On to Samburu and Ashnil camp. More of a hotel feel to the place, ...

Visited several locations Lewa House, apparently where William proposed to Catherine. Lovely place to see, food and service excellent. Rhino were the main attraction and did not disappoint Also had Female Leopard and 2 cubs. Then on to Meru stayed in Elsa's Kopje think middle earth and Hobbits incredible place with lovely people, nothing too much trouble and excellent game viewing. On to Samburu and Ashnil camp. More of a hotel feel to the place, Whilst the tents did get rather warm during the day, we were out most of the time so not really an issue for us. Again tremendous wildlife sightings with both Cheetah, and Lion on the list. Final stop was the Laikipia Conservancy where we looked for the Melanistic Leopard known locally as Giza - first morning success with her for 2 hours and got some amazing images,. Also saw her at night - tricky photography but pleased with the results. Camp staff looked after us well. Flew into our first camp and back to Wilson from our last camp, driver guide in between; pick-ups went well and everything ran smoothly. We've used Wildlife Trails now for about 15 years now and can thoroughly recommend them. Thanks again to Allan, Kirsty and Bee for a very well organised trip. Looking for to our next one with you to Columbia next year.

Rating for tour operator:

When you first call expect a reasonably long discussion with Allan. He takes the time and trouble to find out what you want from the trip, type of accommodation you expect, etc. But it's well worth it. Being a relatively small operator in terms of personnel we have always had a feeling that our trip matters and the attention to detail is far better. Having also travelled with larger operators we have sometimes been left disappointed by the lack of attention to detail; and the frustration that then goes with it.

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 23 Sep 2024:

That is one amazing Kenyan safari Steve, and since we are heading back there ourselves in January 2025, we can only hope that we are as lucky as you. We really appreciate the detailed feedback from you about both lodges and wildlife sightings and look forward to seeing you in Colombia next March.

Wildlife Trails by IMP, 20 Sep 2024
Holiday Rating:

Amazing

Trip to Kenya covering Lewa, Meru, Samburu and Laikipia, Wildlife was amazing. All camps / accommodations were great.. We flew to some camps and also had a driver / guide for others but all of our guides were excellent.

Trip to Kenya covering Lewa, Meru, Samburu and Laikipia, Wildlife was amazing. All camps / accommodations were great.. We flew to some camps and also had a driver / guide for others but all of our guides were excellent.

Rating for tour operator:

We have used Wildlife Trails for around 15 years. Personally consider them the best in the business. Allan takes time to understand your requirements and ensures you have the vacation and experience you want. Looking forward to our next trip with them next year.

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 22 Sep 2024:

Wow, that really means a lot to us, to receive such praise from the two of you considering how much you travel, and your amazing passion for wildlife photography. We look forward to seeing you in Colombia on our Andean Bear, Jaguar and Anteater small group tour. Thank you once again for trusting Wildlife Trails to organise such a fascinating private safari in Kenya.

Wildlife Trails by Bud and Kathe, 17 Sep 2024
Holiday Rating:

Trip to Kruger NP arranged by Wildlife Trails

Our first visit to Africa (arranged by Wildlfe Trails LTD,) will be a memeorable one. The transfers went seamless and the food, accommodations and staff at both lodges were fabulous. The game drives went by so fast and the sightings were many and in high quality. The Magnificent 7 were all seen with multiple great views. We also very much enjoyed the other mammals, birds and herps we saw. The things we liked the best was the ...

Our first visit to Africa (arranged by Wildlfe Trails LTD,) will be a memeorable one. The transfers went seamless and the food, accommodations and staff at both lodges were fabulous. The game drives went by so fast and the sightings were many and in high quality. The Magnificent 7 were all seen with multiple great views. We also very much enjoyed the other mammals, birds and herps we saw. The things we liked the best was the exclusivity and privacy we had as well as the viewing ethics practiced by the rangers and trackers. Our next vacay abroad will have Wildlife Trails in mind.

Rating for tour operator:

I sent out a couple of interests in using a tour operator as we had never visited Africa before. Allan Blanchard of Wildlife Trails kept in touch with me throughout the process and everything went according to the itinerary he sent me months before.

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 18 Sep 2024:

We feel proud and happy that you chose Wildlife Trails for your very first visit to this amazing continent, and delighted that you had such a wonderful safari experience in South Africa. I was lucky enough to visit both Kruger and Mozambique this March/April, and for sure both countries have amazing wildlife and some fantastic lodges and guides. We look forward to organising your next safari and wish you all the best for the rest of 2024.

Wildlife Trails by Happy Traveller, 10 Sep 2024
Holiday Rating:

magic masai mara

Flew with British Airways from Heathrow to Nairobi on 10th. August. Stayed overnight at the Ole Sereni Hotel there, then took an internal flight to our first stop, the Mara Intrepids safari lodge.We stayed there for seven nights. Our accommodation, the food, and the wildlife experience was superb, as was the type of vehicle and our driver/guide, Moses. I cannot praise the staff at Mara Intrepids enough. I have to thank Geoffrey and all his ...

Flew with British Airways from Heathrow to Nairobi on 10th. August. Stayed overnight at the Ole Sereni Hotel there, then took an internal flight to our first stop, the Mara Intrepids safari lodge.We stayed there for seven nights. Our accommodation, the food, and the wildlife experience was superb, as was the type of vehicle and our driver/guide, Moses. I cannot praise the staff at Mara Intrepids enough. I have to thank Geoffrey and all his team for making our stay so memorable. We even managed to see a wildebeest river crossing Thereafter we had a one and a half hours drive to our second resort, the Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, where we stayed a further five nights. As with our first safari camp, the accommodation food, and wildlife experience was amazing. Once again the type of vehicle we used, was perfect, and our driver/guide, Oscar had a fund of knowledge, especially in bird life.. Having been at Kichwa in 2023, the staff were even more wonderful, and made our stay one we will not easily forget.

Rating for tour operator:

Our Tour Operator was Wildlife Trails, from Cumbria, in England, managed by Alan Blanchard. Our itinerary involved a few changes in its making, but he was extremely patient, and in the end we had absolutely no complaint

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 10 Sep 2024:

So happy to receive this wonderful feedback, as you revisted Kenya with Wildlife Trails for a second time and added Mara Intrepids to your firm favourite, Kichwa. There is always luck involved in seeing a river crossing, but it sounds like Moses was dedicated in the pursuit, and excellent at finding you some amazing wildlife to see and photograph. Next stop, India for tigers :-)

Wildlife Trails by Bill & Gill, 3 Sep 2024
Holiday Rating:

Wild Camping Safari, with changeover breaks at lodges: very much photography focused.

Our Guide and spotter, Moses, was absolutely brilliant! As a photographer himself, he always tried to get into position re. the wildlife that would provide the best photo opportunities. Moses' support team, who maintained the camp and catered for our every need were a lovely group of people. The other 2 members of our group were great company and very generous with their extensive knowledge and expertise. The roads and tracks were tough, but ...

Our Guide and spotter, Moses, was absolutely brilliant! As a photographer himself, he always tried to get into position re. the wildlife that would provide the best photo opportunities. Moses' support team, who maintained the camp and catered for our every need were a lovely group of people. The other 2 members of our group were great company and very generous with their extensive knowledge and expertise. The roads and tracks were tough, but just added to the sense of adventure.. There were too many highlights to mention them all, but it was fantastic to be snuggled up in our tent and listen to the wildlife, such as lions, hyenas, honey badgers and elephants throughout the night. The whole trip was a thrillingly memorable experience, after which we took the opportunity to pop across the border into Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls.

Rating for tour operator:

Allan and his team were great at ensuring the trip was as enjoyable as possible; they were great at communicating with us and responding to all questions and requests, giving us the sense that the whole trip was very much a bespoke experience. We had previously been on one of their Indian tiger trips, which we would also recommend.

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 03 Sep 2024:

Thanks so much Gill for this beautiful and detailed feedback - much appreciated. We are also lucky to work with Moses and his team, and having done this exact same camping/lodge combo in 2022, I feel it is not only the best way to see this beautiful country, but also incredibly good value for money. Hope to see you both soon on another Wildlife Trails tailor-made trip.

Wildlife Trails by VB Traveler , 26 Aug 2024
Holiday Rating:

Epic Botswana Safari

Moses, our guide, is a fantastic spotter and amazing person. I am fortunate to have met and traveled with him. The small group of 4 was lovely as well, with great traveling companions. It was nice to always have room to move and photograph in the vehicle. We had very close views of wildlife and Moses knew where to position us for photographic opportunities. The roads are rough, so take care of your back, but if you can make the trip, you won't ...

Moses, our guide, is a fantastic spotter and amazing person. I am fortunate to have met and traveled with him. The small group of 4 was lovely as well, with great traveling companions. It was nice to always have room to move and photograph in the vehicle. We had very close views of wildlife and Moses knew where to position us for photographic opportunities. The roads are rough, so take care of your back, but if you can make the trip, you won't be disappointed.

Rating for tour operator:

Wildlife Trails designed a well planned and executed itinerary. The team at Unlimitied Safari worked hard to make our safari and camps a great experience.

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 26 Aug 2024:

Thank you so much Chrissy for this amazing feedback about our small group camping and lodge safari to Botswana in August 2024. It was lovely to meet you at Maun airport and you are right to say that Moses is a very special guide and person. So the group was incredibly lucky that he was available when the appointed guide sadly hurt his back before your trip. This combination of Moremi, Khwai, Savuti and finishing in Chobe is definitly a client favourite.

Wildlife Trails by Luca222, 25 Aug 2024
Holiday Rating:

Fine holiday but not for everyone

We had 2 objectives and both were achieved (Pallas' cats and snow leopard). To obtain them, however, you have to live with sacrifices and natural adversities We would do everything again but if you are looking for a comfortable holiday this is not your place

We had 2 objectives and both were achieved (Pallas' cats and snow leopard). To obtain them, however, you have to live with sacrifices and natural adversities We would do everything again but if you are looking for a comfortable holiday this is not your place

Rating for tour operator:

Good

Wildlife Trails responded to this review on 26 Aug 2024:

Thanks so much for your fair and balanced feedback Luca. We classify this Pallas Cat and Snow Leopard tour in Mongolia as an expedition style trip and try to be as transparant as possible about the accommodation and adventerous nature of the tour.Having said that, people rightly expect a certain level of comfort even when travelling in remote areas, and although this is improving in all areas for snow leopard viewing, there is still a level of discomfort and difficulty to be expected to achieve the 'dream' of viewing and photographing these two beautiful cats in the wild - next stop, the chance to see black panther in Kenya :-)