Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

We just returned from an amazing trip and safari in South Africa planned by Daniel Saperstein. Daniel listened to our likes, dislikes, and goals for the trip and planned an outstanding vacation for us. The hotels in the Royal Portfolio collection are by far the best accommodations and customer service we have EVER experienced. The safari at the Royal Malanwane was exceptional with our incredible guide, Nigel, and tracker, Lawrence. The Royal Malanwane goes above and beyond from arrival to departure to create a memorable experience. We saw all of the Big 5 and then some! We can’t wait to return with our family. We had some changes during the trip due to flooding in the Franchook region, but with the help of Daniel we were able to successfully adjust and spend time in Hermanus enjoying the whale watching. Transfers were well planned and we were well taken care of for the entire time in South Africa. This trip was an experience of a lifetime. Cape Town is beautiful and Table Mountain affords views like no other. The Silo Hotel in Cape Town was amazing and they welcomed us back after we had to make another change to plans with a suite that was beyond our expectations. The complete trip was spectacular.

We recently returned from a truly amazing trip to Kenya and Rwanda, organized by Dan Saperstein. We began planning our trip over a year ago, initially interviewing two companies that were rated as being in “the top five” by respected travel publications. Disappointed that their representatives weren’t really listening and designing trips that met our criteria, we reached out to Wendy’s team and got connected with Dan.

Dan is a great listener, and promptly put together an itinerary for September that excited us and met our requirements. With his guidance, we selected two locations for safaris on private lands in Kenya, the Lewa Conservancy and the Mara North Conservancy. The safari experiences at the two locations complemented each other really well. In Lewa, we saw four of the Big Five upon arrival, just on our drive from the airstrip to camp! Home to countless unique species, there we also saw Grevys Zebra, white and black rhinos and even wild dogs. Fortunately, we also made it to the Masai Mara in time to see the migration and a drama-filled river crossing, as well as all the Big Five. Our last stop was Rwanda, where we went gorilla trekking for two days. It’s hard to explain the joy and wonder one experiences when face-to-face with a gorilla family, but it was extraordinary and we are forever changed.

For all of our adventures, Dan secured safe, plush accommodations and knowledgeable, helpful and attentive local guides who were great ambassadors for their countries. We were really impressed with their sincere commitment to conservation and their communities. We are so happy we entrusted Dan with our first trip to Africa, including our “bucket list” time with the gorillas; he delivered a truly awesome experience.

To celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, we decided we wanted to take our two daughters and their families on an African safari. The trip Daniel Saperstein planned for us was fantastic. Since we and our daughters live in 3 different U.S. cities, we met in Nairobi and stayed for 2 nights. The accommodations at the House of Waine were outstanding and the staff very accommodating, given two of our arrivals were very late and the 4 grandkids varied in age from 6 to 13. This gave us time to get over some jet lag and see some of Nairobi. We then flew via private charter for 4 nights to a Saruni camp in Samburu, followed by another private charter to a Saruni camp in Maasai Mara for 4 nights, before returning to Nairobi for our flights home. Daniel made all these arrangements.

The staff and guides at the camps were friendly and went out of their way to please us. The facilities were spacious and first-rate. The food was outstanding and the kitchen staff worked hard to accommodate the kids that were somewhat picky eaters. They had a special celebration for our anniversary at all three locations. They also celebrated one of our son-in-law’s birthdays while we were on the trip with a cake and singing at each location..

Samburu is semi-arid and Maasai Mara lush and green. It was great to see the two different areas and experience the different as well as similar animals in each. Daniel is the one that recommended the two different areas and we are quite happy he did. The pace of the trip which he planned was good; having 4 days at each camp gave us the time to truly experience and appreciate each area.

Our experience suggests that other travelers should pace their trip similar to ours. Two of our international flights were extremely late and having 2 nights in Nairobi before going to the safari camps allowed us to catch our breath. Also spending 4 nights at a camp allows you to settle in and appreciate the uniqueness of the location.

Seeing all the animals with our extended family at each location made this a special travel experience. Some of the most outstanding were seeing the 5 animals unique to the Samburu area, lions along with some cubs, leopards, cheetah, elephants, giraffes and hippos. The sundowners and meals in the bush also were very special times. Of these, the most memorable was having a bush dinner with an open bonfire and full moon celebrating our anniversary. Local folks came in their native dress, danced and sang. They encouraged the kids and adults to participate and we all had a grand time.

We would not have had all these wonderful experiences if it had not been for Daniel. After listening to what we wanted for the trip, he put it together recognizing our unique situation with 3 families and 4 children. When we had questions, he responded within a day and often sooner. He guided us through the procedures to get a Kenya visa as well as medical requirements and considerations, what to bring and packing limitations for the private small-plane air charters. When we go on safari again, Daniel will be our planner.

We just returned from a remarkable trip to Southern Africa, as planned Dan. Our guides (along with the animals, of course!) were incredible, with each day bringing a new, exciting adventure. We met artists, designers, and entrepreneurs in Johannesburg and Cape Town who we would not have met without our well-connected guides. And then we went on safari! The animals did not disappoint, and neither did the lodges. Our seasoned rangers taught us so much about the wildlife and helped us to feel more connected to the experience. Every driver and guide provided our family excellent service from beginning to end. We would love to visit again someday soon!

The WOW List: Best Local Travel Fixers Worldwide

by Wendy Perrin | January 22, 2023

How to Get an Extraordinary Trip: Wendy’s WOW Approach

by Wendy Perrin | January 1, 2023

Wendy Wants To Amp Up Your Trip!

by WendyPerrin.com | January 1, 2023

Where and When to Travel in 2024

by WendyPerrin.com | November 30, 2023

How to Get More For Your Miles and Points in 2023

by WendyPerrin.com | January 31, 2023

10 Top Dream Trips for 2023

by Brook Wilkinson | February 1, 2023