Reviews
This review section is intended to help promote confidence in booking with Tailormade Africa. All of the reviews below have come directly to us from our clients through an independent safari review website (Safari Bookings).
Tailormade Africa’s knowledge, expertise & personal touch made our dream vacation a reality.
Even though Taylormade Africa’s Clyde Beaty resided in a different country, England, his communication with us in the US on the “Whats App” platform proved to be much easier than expected. He made himself available during our choice of time frame. Clyde truly customized an epic 24 day experience in Africa for us. I left JFK airport in late July arriving in Johannesburg a day later due to the flight duration and time change. (Side note: If you can afford it, definitely travel Business class. You will feel so much better when you arrive at your destination)
After a short stay in South Africa, we made our way to Zimbabwe for 4 days. Victoria Falls, Devil’s Pool, (a must for thrill seekers in close by Zambia), and the Lion, Cheetah and Elephant experience were a great way to start our trip. You have to see the pictures to believe it. Next we went through Kenya to get to the northern Serengeti in Tanzania to do 4 days of unforgettable Safari. Yes we did see the wildebeest river crossing and too many animals to mention here. Next we made our way to Ngorongoro Crater for another day of Safari. Next on to Uganda to see the Chimps and Gorillas. These Primates were so special to see in their own environment. And to end our trip, a 4 day well deserved relaxation visit to the island of Zanzibar back in Tanzania.
Our trip included visiting over a half a dozen different countries by large and small aircraft. I can’t tell you how many things that COULD have gone wrong but DID NOT, all due to the meticulous planning and contacts “TaylorMade” Africa had with their ground operators. We were met by personal contacts at every location. In the airports, outside the airports at Air strips. Even personnel assisting us getting required visas. All knowledgeable people who spoke English very well. So to say the least, our Service from TaylorMade Africa was First Class all the way. Clyde ensured that we got to see what we wanted for the best possible price. The tour companies were hand picked by Clyde and none disappointed us. At all times on our 24 day excursion we could contact Clyde if there ever was a need. I also liked the personal touch of Clyde who checked in with us periodically during our trip to see how things were going. We shared so many photos and videos with family and friends while on our trip. Everyone was greatly impressed with them and how the details of our trip were all laid out at every location visited.
This was my first trip to Africa and the animals were fantastic but all the people we met were so unbelievably kind and genuinely happy to see us. I am so glad that we picked Taylor Made Africa to truly make this dream vacation come true!
Chris Cervellone & his cousin (United States)
Outstanding – highly reccomend!
From the planning stage Clyde was brilliant. He spent time getting to know us and then planning our ideal trip. We had a couple of FaceTime calls to discuss. He is clearly knowledgable and was able to offer some great ideas for our trip. We knew we had be listened to as when the iteanrry came back it covered everything we wanted. The choice of lodges for safari and all other accommodation was excellent. All internal flights were included and booked for us. Noting was a problem.
Communication before and during the holiday was excellent. We were able to download an App before we left which had our itinerary clearly laid out. The App was so useful and ensured we knew what to expect and the numbers of days at each destination. Some useful tips for travel eg luggage weight for the internal flights. We even got a message from Clyde on the day we left wishing us a safe flight. Some of these personal touches may the holiday very special. Both Clyde and Amy were great at answering any questions we had.
The holiday its self was just amazing! It was everything and more than we wanted. Everywhere we stayed was of a high standard. Staff were just amazing. Pick up times and travel was all well organised we felt very safe. Drivers met us of planes and picked us up from places. Everyone we met was just so accommodating nothing was too much!
The safaris and Victoria Falls were magnificent. We loved every minute.
I can’t recommend highly enough Tailor made Africa. I have already shared details with friends who saw all our photos and want to book a trip. When we visit Africa again we will definitely be booking with Clyde and team again! Thank you for making it all so special!
Rachel & her family (United Kingdom)
Unbelievable attention to client needs
This was our second trip with Tailormade Africa following an amazing experience last year.
Lots of travel agents have access to good quality accomodation but very few take the time to understand what the client really wants, and then match those needs to the right safari.
Clyde’s intro video calls are a great way to discuss what we are looking for and also to work out how to test our boundaries. He then comes back with a detailed intinary that demonstrates he has listened and reacted to our discussion. We trust him 100% with his recommendations and the detailed support infrastructure in country.
We visited Zambia – South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi. Both parks were outstanding in terms of landscape, quality of safari and the camp. They offered a complementary experience with amazing quality. Both delivered 100% on the brief. Clyde texted to see how things were….we replied with one word. “WOW!”
We had a few connections in/out of Lusaka airport. Each time we were met by a local agent who guided us through the airport. On our last connection we were early for the international checkin so had the opportunity of relaxing in the local agent’s lounge with drinks, snacks and air con. Very welcome!
Clyde keeps in touch when you are away via WhatsApp so you know that he’s able to sort any problems that may arise.
In summary, Clyde’s knowledge of African safari is immense and his ability to properly tailor a trip to suit your needs is second to none. There is no need to consider anyone else in my opinion.
Paul & his partner (United Kingdom)
Tailormade Africa planned a really fantastic and exciting trip for us and we are so grateful!
Clyde and team at Tailormade put together a perfect trip for our 10 year wedding anniversary. We went gorilla trekking in Uganda and had the best time at the Buhoma Lodge. We spent time with two gorilla families, had fantastic meals, and experienced the very best service from the staff at Buhoma. Our driver/guide for our time in Uganda was exceptional, too. The price of the National forest pass (to go on a trek) is steep – just like the mountain!! – but it was well worth it for a once in a lifetime opportunity. We were then off to the northern Serengeti where we stayed at a migration camp. I was a bit nervous about staying in a tent but I’m so glad we took Clyde’s advice because it was incredibly comfortable, the food was fantastic, the staff could not have been more attentive, and we lucked out with our own driver/guide for the full 3.5 days we were there. We saw several wildebeest crossings, and so many incredible animals. We ended our trip at the beach in Zanzibar at a beautiful resort. I can’t say enough about how grateful we are to Clyde and team for listening to our preferences and building us such a fantastic itinerary. It was the best trip, with every detail thought of. Many thanks to the Tailormade team!
Christina & her partner (United States)
AMAZING!!!
My trip to Africa was a life long dream and a total bucket list item. I vividly remember my first conversation with Clyde, who exuded a genuine passion for Africa and a commitment to crafting personalized experiences. Despite the time zone differences between the US and the UK, Clyde’s unwavering dedication shone through as he tirelessly worked to accommodate my schedule and bring my dream itinerary to life.
Throughout the planning process, Clyde’s expertise and creativity were evident as he effortlessly tailored the trip to my preferences while staying within my budget. His willingness to adapt and add new adventures to the itinerary further showcased his commitment to providing a seamless and unforgettable experience.
One of the standout moments was a pivotal decision to switch from Rwanda to Uganda to see the gorillas and chimps. Initially hesitant, I trusted Clyde’s recommendation, and it turned out to be one of the many highlights of the trip. His intimate knowledge of Africa and ability to create enriching experiences truly set Taylormade Africa apart.
During our time in Africa, Clyde’s attentiveness and constant check-ins via WhatsApp reassured us and demonstrated his unparalleled level of customer care. Everywhere we ventured, we were met with support, guidance, and genuine hospitality, making us feel truly valued throughout the journey. I felt like family and not just a client!
Clyde and Taylormade Africa, are a testament to unmatched expertise along with a deep-rooted love for Africa. If you’re contemplating an African adventure, look no further than Taylormade Africa for a transformative and unforgettable experience. Clyde doesn’t just plan trips, he crafts TRULY UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES in the HEART of AFRICA!!!
Lisa & her cousin (United States)
Tailormade Africa offers exceptional, individually customized tour experiences with 1-on-1 service.
Rob put together the most incredible itinerary for our honeymoon. When we first decided that we wanted to honeymoon in South Africa, we found ourselves overwhelmed with decisions. We reached out to Tailormade Africa and let them know that we both had never been to Africa and that we needed some serious guidance! We had a video call with Rob who took the time to get to know us – listening to our interests, expectations and wishes. From there, he presented us with an itinerary perfectly suited to our personalities and travel interests.
We spent time in Cape Town, Franschhoek and Hermanus – loving the diverse wildlife, wine and culinary scene each place offered. The highlight our of trip though would have to be our stays at Rhino Ridge Lodge and Thonga Beach Lodge. At both lodges the staff were friendly and provided a high level of service, the guides were knowledgeable, and the food exceeded our expectations. The lodges were intimate and offered us the perfect time to disconnect. There is nothing quite like the experience of being surrounded by giraffes, elephants, rhinos and many more living in their natural habitats!
We ended up renting a car to self drive from destination to destination. Though we had our reservations at first about driving, we ended up loving it. It gave us the freedom to set our own timetable and at no point did we ever feel unsafe. We were both grateful not to be in a stuffy tour bus with a bunch of other people.
Rob was always available on WhatsApp through our trip to check in and make sure everything was always to our liking. Though we didn’t run into any issues, it was comforting to know there was always support on hand. He even took the time to chat with us once we got back home to hear about our trip and any concerns, if we had any.
We chose Tailormade Africa in hopes that they would offer us a personalized experience that the big tour groups lack, and they did not disappoint. I wouldn’t hesitate to book with them again! Thank you again, Rob, and Tailormade Africa for the honeymoon of a lifetime.
Olivia & her husband (Canada)
Tailormade is exactly it.
After getting a few quotes and itineraries for our Safari & beach honeymoon from elsewhere, we stumbled across Rob and the team at Tailormade Africa. From the moment Rob started talking, we knew he was an absolute expert in his field. He was very open and honest about the value proposition offered by some of the other itineraries presented by other suppliers, but also had extremely valuable additional context on various locations that other operators hadn’t mentioned. For example, Rob informed us that one of the camps we were considering had just recently started a huge road construction project nearby, which had displaced a lot of the wildlife from the wider area. This wasn’t mentioned by other suppliers, and wasn’t readily discoverable from reviews or information online. Lo and behold, on our way back to the airstrip at the end of our fantastic trip, we drive down a very wide road, under construction, with no animals in sight… and then the camp we had considered with another supplier! That would have been a very disappointing mistake, and one that required an up-to-date expert on the area like Rob to identify. His knowledge of the various camps and areas is clearly extensive, as we mentioned each camp suggested in other itineraries by name he was able to immediately place them and comment on the various amenities – only possible when you’re truly familiar with the various camps and locations. He very carefully listened to what was important to us, and provided us with a number of options to help us identify what was most important to us, and what budget was needed to give us the best value for money and what we were looking for. And the trip we ended up with was perfectly tailormade for us – the exact experience we hoped for, excellently delivered. Throughout the whole planning, booking, traveling and returning process Rob was extremely communicative, providing support in advance of arriving with the camp and resort, and then assisting with the remaining admin on our return. An absolutely incredible service all round! We’ve already encouraged a friend to book with Rob, and will hopefully be doing so again ourselves very soon!