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Laurie Malone
USA
January 2009
10-Day Adventure safari
Neil, Thanks so much for the amazing adventure, including hippo laughs and lion roars, and for sharing your love and knowledge of the Kruger.
I truly enjoyed the experiences and deep conversations we had together. Thanks for making us think. From the blades of grass to everything in between (eg. the hyena taking a bath, lions cubs, queela clouds, and all my herbivore friends), I loved it!
Gordon thanks for being the wonderful you and all the delicious food.
Please keep in touch. All the best to both of you and to Tina.
Happy trails Laurie :
Phil, Bernadette, and Nicola Burgess
Sydney, Australia (residing in United Arab Emirates)
February 2009
5-Day Small Group Kruger safari
This 'journey' was a wonderful experience and lesson on nature @ its greatest. I feel very privileged - extremely, to have met Neil and Gordon - expertise and passionate team that work so well together to give their guests the greatest experience in Africa. Both fun and informative plus!
Thank you doesn't seem enough - all your efforts and strategies so appreciated by us all! Your hospitality 100%.
Personally I feel very blessed that I've been given this experience,
- Bernadette.
This was one of the best holidays I have ever had! Neil and Gordon, you guys are very dedicated! I have had lots of fun. Thanks so much, Nicki.
Pat McKeon and Janet Wilson
Australia (residing in United Arab Emirates)
February 2009
5-Day Small Group Kruger safari
Fantastic experience conducted by an exceptionally skilled guide. The bonus being that both Neil and Gordon are really nice guys!
Unexpected sightings of the Big 5 in one day! A whole series of breathtaking moments interspersed with a wealth of knowledge about the land around us.
Dung beetles and footprints were as fascinating (almost!) as leopards and elephants. Will think of Gordon's cooking for quite a while
Tom Jakubowski
Canada
February 2009
8-Day Small Group Kruger safari
Neil and Gordon - thanks for the fantastic adventure. Your commitment and passion for the Kruger and conservation are inspiring.
We had a great time and learned a great deal. Negotiating with the elephants is a memory I will cherish for a long time.
The sightings were all we hoped for and your insights and explanations of the 'context' were a huge bonus.
Thank you for a wonderful experience. I will be sure to continue to follow your exploits on your website.
Iz Jakubowski
Canada
February 2009
8-Day Small Group Kruger safari
Dear Neil, to be shown the multi-faceted beauty of the Kruger by someone who has such a passion for its magnificent inhabitants is the ultimate safari experience (a first for me but hopefully not my last).
Thank you so much for sharing your wealth f knowledge and experience and for welcoming us into your world. Thanks too for your delightful playfulness and humour, your 'happy dance' (I hope life keeps you dancing), your thought-provoking philosophies on life (including "you are who you are.. who you want to be and who others perceive you to be..")
A special thanks to Tina for her support/ arranging on our behalf and to Gordon who fed us well (with food, his keen insights and sense of humour and fun).
It's been the greatest of pleasures spending time with you both.
Ania Jakubowski
Switzerland
February 2009
8-Day Small Group Kruger safari
Tina, Neil and Gordon
Heartfelt thanks for all the arranging, and re-arranging…, for introducing and engaging Iz and Tom into the bush - great to have watched and experienced this with them.
Of course, for "my dogs"!! every trip I take away the best of experiences and photos…our frog…in the snake in the ground hornbill's mouth will be on the list…as will our lion's yawn which is now etched into memory…seeing as I take with me the message of 'endangered spaces' and will encourage us all to play our role.
Neil..a special thanks for the care and passion…just the right touch for the Jakubowski sibling journey!
Until our paths cross again…
Gordon…here's to you for all your care too!
John and Libby Crossingham
USA
March 2009
7-Day Small Group Kruger safari
One amazing week of insight into Africa. Thanks for all the hospitality and education. We will be sure to tell our friends about the wonderful time we enjoyed with you.
I hope we will have the chance to repeat our visit and experience new adventures. They may equal the wild dogs failed to attack the waterbuck (croc 1 - dogs 0), the bull elephants or the nursing mothers. Did the hammerhead swallow the fish? Stay tuned!
Paul and Mary Lindquist
UK
March 2009
7-Day Small Group Kruger safari
I'm short of time and words this early morning to express the great time we had this week. Not knowing what to expect, it was more than we expected!
The hospitality, the food and wine, the consideration were all great - the Kruger did the rest. A very special place.
Jo and Leo, Warrick and Josh Corbett
West Australia
April 2009
8-Day Private Family Kruger safari
Neil, it has been a privilege to share YOUR Kruger with you. The bonus was your passion, unending knowledge and "know how".
This holiday was a family dream and it has certainly fulfilled all our wishes. We have seen and learnt so much in our time with you - thank you does not sound enough.
I hope you fulfill your dream and wish you, Tina and the boys all the best. Will keep in touch on email and follow up your side with interest.
(You can let the lions out now!)
Felicity Thomson, Damian, Olivia and Laura Kelly
Australia (residing in Cairo, Egypt)
April 2009
8-Day Private Family Kruger safari
Neil, we have all had a wonderful time in your beautiful, fascinating 'backyard'. Thank you for expert guiding, your wonderful stories and your extreme patience with the questions from the girls.
We have all learnt so much in the past week and we cherish this time spent in the Kruger.
We have been thoroughly spoilt by Gordon's fabulous meals and you just can't beat wining and dining under the beautiful starry, African sky. Our thanks to him for our contented tummies.
Also to Tina for her organization, keeping in touch, planning, etc, without her this fabulous trip wouldn't have been possible. You really know how to look after people and go the extra mile, that personal touch has made this holiday stress free and completely enjoyable.
The accommodation has been great, we even did an 11 hour safari - wow what an adventure we have all had. Keep up your fantastic work, all the best to your family. Your passion for your work is enviable. Thanks for going all out for us - much appreciated!!
Max and Margaret Thomson
Australia
April 2009
8-Day Private Family Kruger safari
To see everything from a millipede to an elephant in 8 days? Just travel with Bearded Heron Safaris!
The flexible planning form you all covered all of us with endless care - finding lost gear, fixing lights, loos and doors, meeting, greeting, feeding and watering, showing and teaching. We have yet another 'lifetime experience' to add to our collection - plus several fascinating dinner party stories.
We will have such fun telling all our friends about how we got up every morning at 5am, went out on safari, came back hungry and thirsty and actually loved it!
We wish you and yours all the very best, may your passion prosper. Peace and love.
Suresh, Kiran, Naia and Ela Kashyap and Granny Nathan
Singapore
June 2009
5-Day Family Kruger day drives
We've had the experience of a lifetime. The magnificent seven! The wild dogs hunting impala. Amazing!
Thank you, Tina, for all the arrangements. Thank you Neil for your patience and always maneuvering the jeep for the best angles. Your knowledge of the bush and the wildlife is very detailed and very interesting.
The kids aged 4 and 7.5 years loved the experience and will definitely be back. Enjoy the ginger!
Let this not be a farewell but a see you soon (very soon I hope).
Naia: wild dogs chasing impalas, cool a leopard on a tree. So many memories. Nice!
Manfred and Sylvia Kern
Edmonton,
Canada
January 2009
10-Day Adventure safari
Our safari was the best experience ever. We saw every animal we could think of, the pride of lions was great. We loved to learn all about the different animals.
Animal behaviour - Neil was very knowledgeable. If he didn’t know something we had inquired about he would find out and let us know. Everything from the Impala to the elephants was a wonder. Right from our trip from the gate upon entering we started with the impala and even saw a lion on our first day. We learned what a rhino charge was all about. We always felt Neil knew what he was doing and kept us safe.
Both he and Gordon have a unique sense of humour which we both enjoyed. The weather was perfect as we came from 30 below to 30 above. We saw wild dogs, rhinos, hippos, hyenas, giraffes, kudos, buffalo, impala, lions, leopard, jackals, zebra, sable antelope, wart hog, elephant, and so many birds I can’t mention. The bush was beautiful as well.
Gord fed us like kings and queens. The food was great and was served wine at supper. It was great coming back from a game drive or walk and have a nice cold beer. Gord always made sure we were taken care of. Hats off to you both.
There were so many animals I am sure I didn’t list some but that didn’t make them any less important in our eyes. It’s a beautiful country and I would like to return some day. Our memory of Neil telling a joke and the hippo laughing was priceless. Our accommodations were also very nice as I was expecting to rough it.
Thanks again we will think of this trip often,
Manfred and Sylvia
Don and Sue Zmarzty
UK
September 2008
10-Day Adventure safari
Our trip with Bearded Heron was thoroughly enjoyable. We'd just enjoyed an
amazing 5 days in Sabi Sands in a private lodge and had some fabulous
experiences so were somewhat doubtful whether the Kruger Safari could come up to expectations. We needn't have worried!
Neil is an excellent guide and great company on safari as well as having everything organised extremely well. We managed to see all that we had hoped for wildlife wise and all enhanced by Neil's experience and anecdotes following his many years in the bush.
He and Gordon, his excellent assistant, even managed to cater for our vegetarian diet with a good variety of different meals. We would definitely like to travel with Neil again.
Thanks and best wishes.
Don and Sue
JP and Patricia Vanderschueren
Mechelen, Belgium
September 2008
Small Group Kruger safari
Well, what can we say...
I have made safaris in several countries over Africa and jungle treks in
central- and South America and in the Far East.
Neil Heron has a fantastic tailor made safari operation. The accommodations were excellent, and the fact that the group is limited to 6 people, gives it a very intimate character.
Even though we were only six, several of us had our little ‘interests’ and ‘passions’, and being in the ‘customer service business’ myself, I was amazed how Neil Heron and his right arm and cook, Gordon (this cook is a wizard - incredible what he can do in the bush), went out of their way to suit the (nutritious and interest) needs of everybody.
As I said, I am not new to having wildlife experiences, but the way that
Neil ‘reads’ the bush and animal behavior is beyond words.We can only recommend Bearded Heron Safaris to everybody who
wants an ‘off the beaten track’ experience in South Africa, in Kruger.We will definitely come back and book our stay in Kruger again with Bearded Heron!
Best regards,
Pat & JP
Denise & Karl Shook
Australia
September 2008
5-Day Small Group safari
Hello Tina and Neil,
Firstly, I must thank you, Neil, for an absolutely awesome safari experience. It was such a thrill to see those beautiful animals (including the warthogs) and birds that exist in their natural habitat and the peace and quiet of the bush was so relaxing for Karl and me - all such a wonderful change from our busy lives in Doha. Thank you so much.
Thanks to Gordon too for his delicious meals from which both Karl and I have gained a few pounds. I do not think we have ever eaten so much in the few days we spent with you both. Yummy though.
Losing our camera was very upsetting and so kind of you, Neil, to take so many good photos for us.
Thanks for everything and we look forward to another adventure with you down the road.
Kindest regards,
Denise
Liz and Michael Reid
Australia
August 2008
Private 8-day safari
Our Kruger Safari was a truly memorable experience and exceeded our expectation with the number of animal sightings and knowledge gained.
We encountered a couple unusual happenings, one with a small group of Impala and another with some Baboons, which added to our experience.
We found in Neil Heron, a person with a vast knowledge of the Kruger, not only in the animal and bird life, but the environment as well.
The service provided was excellent.
Thank you Heron Team.
Kind regards to you both,
Liz & Michael
Cruz Family
USA
July 2008
5-day Family safari
Neil and Tina
I wanted to reiterate how much we enjoyed ourselves with Neil and Gordon. It was truly an amazing experience and one that we continue to share with friends and family here. Who knows maybe it will result in some more US visitors for you.
Thank you again Tina for being so flexible with us on our scheduling. It was greatly appreciated and really allowed us to have a stress free vacation.
Hope you are both well!
Please tell Gordon hello!
Cruz Family
Mark & Millie Ascerno
USA
July 2008
5-day Small Group safari
Neil, we did not know what a safari was until we met you. The "journey" you guided us through was amazing and life changing. Thank you for your knowledge, wisdom and hypotheses. Though they did not always match our hypotheses, yours were stimulating and forced us to expand on horizons, eg "The smell of money".
We hope we can join you again on another ethic-based safari. We also wish that you fulfil your dreams.
PS. I just loved it. Thanks for the wonderful...Best...memories
Mark and Millie (Bull Hippo)
Robin & Katie
USA
July 2008
5-day Small Group safari
Neil, thank you so much for this experience! I couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Thanks to you (and Gordon!!) for the special consideration that you showed my diet (and thanks Tina for the chickpea soup!)
We saw so many amazing animals. I’m so happy that we came. Your care and concern and expertise were top notch. The lionesses were a highlight for me (as a devout cat lover).
Also enjoyed elephants and warthogs and hyenas. The hippo crossing the road was an unexpected treat.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
-- Kathryn Cord
Neil…First of all – I’m so thankful you were our guide because I know deep down that your heart is in the right place! This place has made me completely rethink what I may want to do for a living. Perhaps I’ll move here and help you with your school and play a part in the conservation here @this amazing park.
I will definitely remember Tina, Gordon and your hospitality, care and knowledge! As I embark upon my environmental/conservation/ecological journey, its people like you who give me inspiration to do more and be able to help people and animals.
Much love, peace and RESPECT! – Robin Kurianski
The Mackay and Bashford Families
Australia
July 2008
Private Family safari
A journey such as this one is only possible with a guide that knows his wildlife. Neil, we had a fabulous time. Thank you for showing us your Kruger National Park.
We loved the tracks, scats, sounds, plants, wildlife and history.
Thank you, Gordon, for fulfilling the catering!
-- David, Caroline, Ellis and Hilary Mackay
Neil, we all thoroughly enjoyed this safari with you and hope it is the first of many.
Seeing the animals in their natural environment and hearing all your informative info was amazing. Count us in as your next YouTube watcher and look forward to contributing to the educating of South Africa’s youth in the near future (we’ll also tell our other friends to watch too!).
Best of luck in the future and thanks for putting up with our Aussie sense of humour.
- Tony, Margaret and Sophie Bashford
Mary Howes and Family
USA
July 2008
Private Family safari
Thanks for the great time, Neil!! I really liked the Kruger and the way you talked about it.
-- Matthew (aged 11).
Neil
This trip was wonderful with the fulfilling interpretations, birds, animals, geology. We learned so much and thanks to Tina and Gordon for their great work before the time and behind the scenes. We hope to be back for more.
-- Jonathan and Mary Howes
Neil
Thanks for partially answering all of my ‘little brown job, three metres behind the brown shrub’ requests without cursing out loud. I appreciate both the information you conveyed and the manner in which you present the material.
Your knowledge, respect and love of this park and its inhabitants are obvious and infectious.
-- Bo Howes
Rich Merritt and family
USA
July 2008
Private Family safari
Neil, thanks so much for all of the knowledge that you imparted upon us during the safari we took with you. Your knowledge of animal behaviour and biology was unbelievable and enlightening, and your willingness to accommodate us in trying to see as many animals as possible in the short time of the trip was greatly appreciated.
You went way beyond what was agreed upon. I could not have chosen a better guide for a safari and if I choose to do it again in a different part of the Kruger or elsewhere in South Africa, you would be the one I would choose to lead us.
Thanks for a life time experience and you owe something to Tina for all the work she does behind the lines, and to Gordon, who was a great addition to have along!!
Cheers, Rich Merritt, Professor of Entomology, Michigan State University
James and Val Borbone
June 2008
Australia
5-day Small Group safari
At last we get to have a honeymoon and take a dream holiday… but never imagined it would be this good. We have seen more than we ever imagined and felt we learnt so much about Africa, the Kruger and perspectives on life.
The intimacy of the tour was fantastic, the accommodation first rate, we couldn’t have wished for anything better. We must stay in touch and see developments come around that Neil speaks so passionately about.
We hope to be back, the sooner the better.
Ps Gordon is a legend as well!
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