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Pilanesberg National Park
Testimonials on safaris in Pilanesberg National Park
March 2018 - I have had many more trips & thank you mails, I just haven't posted them.
It's a huge job maintaining this site, and I can't even seem to clear my inbox ! I will add when I get the time.

The nicest compliment I had re Pilanesberg was when a lady said to me in front of her other half : "thank you for the most wonderful day I have ever had"!(2003) It sure sounded nice! When I constantly get told things like this and like "it's like a dream come true" (Sep 2004), then I know that I 'm on the right track. The only thing I would like to change would be to go the night before so we don't have to get up so early! We have that option now!
All the people below trusted me enough to put their lives in my hands...... as that is what you do when you pick someone to go with!

In 2010 I had clients that came along 4 times in a year (Ruth, Aug 2009 - 2010), and 3 times a year(Kerry, Oct 2009- Aug 2010). Then clients like Sharon who after a brilliant weekend day worked her butt off till 10pm every night so she could come again on the next friday, and had an even more awesome day. And clients the last years returning for more, bringing their families along. So I must be doing something right!

---

elisabeth@doison.com
10/9/11

to me
Hello Jaco,

I just want to say a big MERCI.

I am just back in Paris, and before being back to the everyday life, I just take some minutes

This complete trip was great, a very good idea to be on site the night before, and be already in the atmosphere.

I was really a happy day. I have seen so many animals, even if some of them have decided to stay hidden to force me to return, that i am sure I would not have seen in an other context . And elephants were fantastics!

Thank you to have explained so many things and also to have discussed a lot, in spite of my poor english, it was very interesting. I didn't take the time to look my photo, but I hope that some of them are good.
I hope that you had a good day yesterday, and you have sold all the books.

Kind regards

Elisabeth

Be sure that if I come back, I will take the time to do this again.

---

from Debra Whistle <flirtcliniquedebeauty@gmail.com>
to wom@mweb.co.za
cc womsa@yahoo.com
date Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 7:19 PM
subject Testimonial
signed-by gmail.com
hide details 7:19 PM (14 hours ago)
Hi Jaco

Both Richard and I (Debra) would like to thank-you for our day out in Pilanesberg. It will remain in our memories for a long time. I would like to write a testimonial or write on your wall of fame to let others know what a great time we had and how we would strongly recommend your services.
I have passed on your card to more fellow Canadians who are planning to visit South Africa.

I have never been so up close and personal with so many animals before this, ( in the wild ) the experience has been most exciting along with your knowledge and expertise really made our day.

Cheers
Debra and Richard
If you make it to Canada give us a call

---

from info <info@primerose.pl>
to Jaco Rautenbach <travelinafrica@gmail.com>
date Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 1:01 PM
subject Re: Pilanesberg 15 Feb 2011 update
hide details 1:01 PM (2 minutes ago)
Jaco,

thank you again for the memorable trip you took us on in February... Next time I'm in SA you are for sure my first port of call.

Thanks again for everything

Kornelia

---

sylvia.rosso@moorestephens-mc.com
to Jaco Rautenbach <travelinafrica@gmail.com>
date Fri, Jan 7, 2011 at 3:46 PM

Hi Jaco,

I wish you and your loved one a very happy and prosperous 2011!! Thank you again for that wonderful tour of Pilanesberg. These will be memories I will keep all my life!

Best regards as well to Andrew.

Cheers
Sylvia

---

from deandra1@verizon.net

date Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 9:14 PM


Thanks for organizing Mom's trip. Her 73rd birthday was Friday, and she said that the trip was an experience of a lifetime.

Regards,
DeAndra

---

Joseph Suarez Oct 17 <joseph.suarez@gmail.com>
Hi Jaco,

Again thanks for everything - today was really one of the most incredible days I've had.
Give me me a heads up if you make it back to Europe anytime soon and I'll make sure to at least treat you to a few beers.

Thank you once more for an amazing trip and please do extend that thanks to the guys as well.

Best,
Joseph

---

Carey Ann Oct 17 <careyann2700@gmail.com>
Hi Jaco,

Thank you for so passionately hunting down and nailing all those incredible wildlife interactions and safari experiences for us yesterday! Your gifts for tracking and spotting animals is almost supernatural -- no wonder the other trackers in the park were constantly trying to follow you or ask you what you had spotted.

We were looking at our photos and just thrilled. I'll try to send the jackal puppy photos as soon as possible. You made Rich's day by asking to use one. : ) Later we'll upload our photos to a web site and send you a link in case there are any others you'd like to use.

We are packing this morning and found a khaki colored hat Rich must've accidentally taken because it looks like one of ours. We'll leave it for you at the desk at the City Lodge. Sorry about that!

Thanks truly, again for everything, Jaco!

Carey Ann

PS I don't know if you like to list testimonials from your guests on your web site. If you do, however, please feel free to use any part of this email as an endorsement on your web site -- also feel free to edit as you see fit. You can credit me as a TV producer for US documentary television (i.e. National Geographic television, TLC, PBS, Discovery Channel) if that'd be helpful to you.

---

to travelinafrica@gmail.com

Hi Jaco. Thanks again for a great trip and the Brown Hyena. I just landed in Paris. Flight was fine except for the glass of red wine I dropped on myself when I fell asleep while holding it!

Keep in touch

Jon
Jon Hall
* Jon is the world top mammal sighter, with the Brown Hyena that has always eluded him being mammal # 964 - his site http://www.mammalwatching.com is well worth visiting....Webmaster 25/8/2009

---

from sinan ozbek <sinanozbek@gmail.com>
toJaco Rautenbach <travelinafrica@gmail.com>

dateThu, Feb 5, 2009 at 11:13 AM
subjectRe: Pickup Pilanesberg Fr 30 Jan 09 3h30

Hi Jaco,

I like to write thank you letters when they are deserved and following my trip with Dries last friday it is mostly definitely deserved! First of all thanks for organising everything at the last minute for me, it was my first time to SA and your website was an excellent resource, no-nonsense guide to the area. Secondly thanks for finding such an amazing guide as Dries is!

If you can send this on to Dries I would appreciate it. I was humbled by his sheer amount of knowledge on EVERYTHING in SA, I almost felt guilty, the guy was stuck with me for 18 hours and boy did I use those 18 hours to learn, not only about the intricacies of safari, the animals, the environment, but also about your country's history which is fascinating. It was so clear that Dries respected nature and his enthusiasm for finding the animals was infectious.

Thanks to Dries my 1-day Safari felt like I had experienced a week in the Veld and has given me a hunger to come back to SA. Thank you!!

Sinan

---

fromStephanie Sluka Brauer <slukaus@yahoo.com>
toJaco Rautenbach <travelinafrica@gmail.com>
dateTue, Jan 6, 2009 at 10:36 PM

Jaco-

I feel like it's been ages since we were in Pilanesburg - we've kept busy since our trip and my couch is looking quite inviting.

Just wanted to say again how much we enjoyed ourselves. The boys invoked you throughout the rest of the trip. "Jaco would know"; "This would be funner if Jaco were here"; "Do you think an ostrich would eat a meercat?" "Which do you think is stronger?"

I am, however, disappointed to report that the prized serval pic came close, but no cigar. Clearly we are still warming up with our new camera and the focus just isn't there. Alas. Still thought you'd appreciate the almostness. I'm also tossing in a few more for good measure.

It was an absolute pleasure to spend our holidays in good company and to have seen so much in such a short amount of time.

I do hope our paths cross again. We'd love to take you to dinner next time you're hanging around Pretoria with nothing to do.

Cheers to the New Year,
Steph and Rich (and the rest of the extended family)
Stephanie Sluka Brauer

---

fromNørregaard-Laursen Søren <Soren.Norregaard-Laursen@carlsberg.dk>
toJaco Rautenbach <travelinafrica@gmail.com>
dateFri, Nov 28, 2008 at 11:08 AM

Hi Jaco
It was a fantastic trip you made for us. This coming Wednesday I will be showing some of the pictures to my department. That will be fun.
As soon as I have transferred the video clips to my PC I will send you the videos of the mating tortoises.

I will give you a call next time I am in Johannesburg, as I would love to go on some more trips with you.
Once again thanks for a fantastic trip.

Kind regards/venlig hilsen

Søren Nørregaard Laursen
Incident Manager, Europe
Carlsberg IT A/S

fromAhlstrand Kim <Kim.Ahlstrand@carlsberg.com>
totravelinafrica@gmail.com

dateTue, Nov 25, 2008 at 10:03 AM
subjectThank you for a most enjoyable trip
mailed-bycarlsberg.com
Dear Jaco,

Thank you for guiding us during our visit to Pilanesberg last week. It was a most enjoyable visit.
As promised, please find the picture of the King Fisher hitting water. Unfortunately not really that clear to see that in fact it is caused by a bird but here you go.

Med venlig hilsen / Kind regards
Kim Hornhawer Ahlstrand
Senior Service Manager
kim.ahlstrand@carlsberg.com

---

pernille.roungkvist@dk.abb.com to me show details Oct 27
Re: thanks for 2½ great days in the park
Hi Jaco

Søren and I had a great time in Pilanesberg with you. I saw more different animals than I had expected and you managed to show us some great things, like:
the elephant mom and her baby having a dust bath
or the elephants chasing the hippo away from the steam
or buffalo sighting 2 days running
or the giraffe kicking the wildebeest
or.....

I have been looking at my pictures and my video film and are still working on the film. I want to have it all on the DVD but I also know that it the film is to long chances are you will only see it once...

I have made at short clip of the giraffe kicking the wildebeests you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnqyByp0K_c This clip last 1:31 on the DVD I'm making it lasts nearly 4 minutes!

If you want, you can put the following code on your web site and the clip will then be on your site:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZnqyByp0K_c&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZnqyByp0K_c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

I will upload more small clips to youtube and send you the needed information so you can put them on your site. Also as promised I will send you the film when it has been made. Can you please send me your postal address?

BR
Pernille

---

fromBrown, Matthew (GE02) <matthew.j.brown@honeywell.com>
toJaco Rautenbach <travelinafrica@gmail.com>

dateTue, Aug 19, 2008 at 12:53 PM
subjectRE: Pickup Pilanesberg Th 24 July 2008 7pm
mailed-byhoneywell.com

Thanks Jaco. I've been meaning to send you a little testamonial on the
trip, as well as the day-tour with Jabu to Soweto - but it's been quite
busy. I have some time this week and will make a best effort to do so.
I hope you have a great trip to Germany with your partner. I still
can't believe all the things we saw in PB!!

Ciao,
Matt

---

fromCatherine Holden <cholden@blueyonder.co.uk>
toJaco Rautenbach <travelinafrica@gmail.com>

dateFri, Aug 8, 2008 at 3:16 PM
subjectRE: Pickup Tuesday night 7pm
mailed-byblueyonder.co.uk

Jaco

Many thanks for such a fantastic day out, it is definitely a once in a lifetime experience. I hope your photo's were too ruined by the hairs and thought you might appreciate the attached!

Kind regards

Catherine

---

Plant, Graham <Graham.Plant@bnhft.nhs.uk> Tue, Jul 8, 2008 at 6:10 PM
To: Jaco Rautenbach <travelinafrica@gmail.com>
Hi Jaco

Just a short note, I'll send you a proper one soon.

Thanks so much for making our trip to Pilanesberg so good. We really had a great time, and loved every minute in the Park.

I was absolutely delighted with how it all panned out and most of that was due to your help, skills & professionalism.

C is enjoying Mauritius, and I'm back in the rain in the UK, no wait, the suns come out for a while!

My flight home was good & on time. Since then I have spent most spare minutes selecting & editing photos, but am suffering my usual problems in trying to identify the really good ones. I'll be in touch when I've got something on the web, hopefully later in the week.

I hope all is well at home, and you had a good day on Saturday.

Thanks for looking after us, we had a ball! I'll be in touch.
Graham Plant
Consultant Radiologist
North Hampshire Hospital

---

From: "alesch" <alesch@aucegypt.edu>To: "wom" <wom@mweb.co.za>Cc: "alesch" <alesch@aucegypt.edu>
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 5:01 PM
Subject: thanks
Hi Jaco

Martina and I would like to thank you for the wonderful trip yesterday. We enjoyed talking to
you and learning so much from you. Your energy was infectious! We had a quiet day in the
cold today and head for Capetown this evening.

Best wishes,

Ann

---

On 7/15/07, jackie.m.jones@exxonmobil.com <jackie.m.jones@exxonmobil.com> wrote:
Jaco,
I wanted to tell you on behalf of myself, Jimmy and Jennifer that we had
"THE BEST TIME EVER!!!" on our Safari, and what made it so great was
YOU!!! You're website is absolutely true, and if some people read it and
think that you are just bragging well they are wrong. You are just stating
the FACTS! We saw 4 lions that NOBODY even took the time to stop and check
out. We were so close to them and you stayed for as long as we wanted and
got fantastic pictures.

Not to mention the other rare animals that we saw, and it was all because
of you. I knew from my last trip that my family would enjoy this, but you
exceeded our expectations and it will be a trip that we will talk about for
years to come! I hope to be able to come back again. Thanks for your
hospitality and your humor too! We wish you the very best!

When you are able to send us a CD of the trip we will be most grateful
since your camera is way better than ours, not to mention my "battery
problem".

Cheers.
Jackie, Jimmy and Jennifer Jones

---

from Roy Jacobse <royjacobse@hotmail.com> hide details Jun 11 (18 hours ago)
to travelinafrica@gmail.com
date Jun 11, 2007 6:35 PM

Thanks Jaco,

I was thrilled about the trip, enjoyed it enormous.
If you have some foto's made during our trip who are very good, I would be pleased to see them.
I hope to come back to South Africa in the future.

Best regards,
Roy

---

From: Kathryn Romanow [romanowster@gmail.com]
To: [travelinafrica@gmail.com]; [wom@mweb.co.za]
Cc: Subject: elephant sandwich picture!
Sent: 2007/05/31 04:32 PM

Hi Jaco,

Well, I have been home for two weeks, recovered from my jet lag and am starting to get my pictures sorted out! I am enclosing the pix of the elephant that "chased" us and hope that you can make an identification.

The day in Pilanesburg with you is definitely the highlight of my visit to South Africa and I can't thank you enough for such a memorable day - you are the best guide/spotter ever and I'm so glad I booked my "game park" day with you. I was blown away at how excited you got when we saw the honey badgers, the brown hyena and caught the fleeting glimpse of the caracal! Your enthusiasm for what you do is amazing and it was incredible to watch you enjoy the sightings as much as I did.

If and when you get to your pictures I would really appreciate it if you could send me the baboons, the black rhino, the birds, the elephant spraying water with his trunk or anything else that was really amazing. I did get some good pictures but I suspect you may have gotten some better ones simply because you have a much better camera than I do.

Some day when I manage to get through all my pictures if I find I am missing something important I will be in touch. I am surprised at how well some of the pictures came out, I got a couple of pretty good ones of the brown hyena (surprisingly), unfortunately my hippo pictures were not so good.

Anyhow, please feel free to use my comments on your testimonial page and if you want me to re-write or re-phrase it in the form of a "recommendaiton" please let me know as I would be happy to do so.

Thank you once again for the best day ever and if I get back (which I hope becomes a reality) you can be sure I'll be calling on you.

All the best and I hope you have many more wonderful days in the park.

With warm wishes and more,

Kathryn

---

From: Cherida Longley [mailto:cherida.longley@eng.monash.edu.au]
Sent: 02 March 2007 05:25 AM
To: wom@mweb.co.za
Subject: Thank You!

Hi Jaco

Dropping you a line to say thanks for a fantastic, unforgettable day at Pilanesburg. I'll forward a couple of my best pics one at a time (files too big for server). Below is a testimonial - feel free to add it to your website.

Cheers, Cherida

If you have limited time in Johannesburg but want to sample a safari experience, you can not do better than a day trip to Pilanesburg with Jaco Rautenbach. Jaco is a real enthusiast, not a jaded tour guide, and you'll see much more as a result. His energy is boundless. We spent 12 hours in the park which he knows like the back of his hand but I never felt we were retracing our steps or filling in time - there was something new around every corner. This was my first African experience and its going to be hard to top. Special note: if you are a woman travelling alone in scary Johannesburg - be assured Jaco is a perfect gentleman and you'll feel completely safe!

Me and my co spotter Sam on the day.... See, i've lost some serious weight!

1st 2 pics by Cherida. Biggest stick insect i've ever seen. 1st time Ii had multiple black rhino sightings in Pilanesberg. Also Cheetah, the same one twice. Beautiful rhino pics and unusual behaviour by a female that horned a male between the legs. The highlight of the day was 2 hamerkop and 1 green backed heron catching fish 3m from us for at least 30 min's - pics to follow. Another awesome day.

---

On 12/15/06, Suen, Mei <Mei.Suen@dtc.com> wrote:
Hi Jaco

We are back from our trip to SA, and finally able to sort out our hundreds and hundreds of photos to remind us of our trip! As promised here is the photo of all of us, including the Combi. Hope you like it.

Thank you so, so much for the Pilanesberg Safari. It was an incredible two days! Thanks to you we have some really great memories and photos. I have been recommending you to all my friends.

I hope you are having a lovely break now with your girlfriend.

Kind regards

Mei

---

From: Gretel Hallett [mailto:gretel.hallett@btinternet.com]
Sent: 21 November 2006 09:33 PM

Hello Jaco

I would like to thank you very much for organising an excellent safari at Pilansberg on Tuesday 14th November for me, Lucy Royle, Ben and Sam.

I'm sure you remember us (!).  I would like to say how impressed I was with your patience, expertise and flexibility - nothing was too much trouble and we enjoyed your relaxed company too.

I have been looking through the photos we took on that trip and they are fabulous - especially the caracal and the elephants. I hope to see some of your photos of the caracal on the website soon.

Thank you very much for a day to remember for the rest of my life.

Regards

Gretel Hallett

---

Pilanesberg Oct 27-29   Inbox
Lakshmi Arumugam Ratnam <lakshmi@doctors.org.uk>   Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 11:48 AM
To: Jaco Rautenbach <travelinafrica@gmail.com>

Dear Jaco,

How are you? We’ve been back in the UK and at work a couple of weeks now and really wish we were in Pilanesberg! Thank you so much for a fantastic time, exceeded all expectations as we really didn’t think we would be able to see/do much in 1 day and 3 hours! Very impressed by your unflagging energy and enthusiasm, not to
mention brilliant eyesight….still amazed by how you could spot animals at such a distance. Enclosing some pictures of the real close ups – the rhinos, the elephant and the lion shots, pity we didn’t get the leopard on camera. It was a truly wonderful experience- we are so glad we didn’t give in to the temptation of trying to go it ourselves with a hire car! We realised after our trip that with such limited time we would have seen a fraction of what we did with you-the best part was doing it with someone who is so passionate about the park and the animals. Good luck with it all, lakshmi & pete :)

---

From: Mariangela Vaz [mailto:mvvaz@ig.com.br]
Sent: 10 November 2006 04:11 AM
To: Jaco Rautenbach
Subject: Now I 'm addicted

Hi Jaco,

I've got the virus and so addicted to the safari that I did another one in Cape (Aquilla - beautiful, but  no comparison to the excitement I had at Pillanesberg) probably that's why I missed my plane. I really wanted to stay longer in Mamma Africa. I 'm planning to return. I 'll be back!!!

Thank you very much, I loved each minute. Thanks for all your efforts in taking me just to see the buffalos. That was touching. I saw some other guides, they were good but they were like doing a performance, different from you: a fanatic natural game lover.

Once again I do appreciate. Cheers.

I'm still fighting a bit with my camera, so as soon as I have the pics on my computer, I 'll send you some.

Oh, I 've learned this sentence "Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan...", then I complete: "probably everybody who goes to Pillanesberg wants to have a nest over there too".

Have a good time. See ya.

Your friend from Brazil

Mariängela V. Vaz

---

From: BRIAN SANKEY [mailto:bandaasankey@btinternet.com]
Sent: 15 September 2006 02:14 PM
To: Adventure Travel Africa
Subject: Package

Hi Jaco

We are just off to post your package. It is just a small thank you for the wonderful day we spent with you. It contains a CD and a folder of photographs and text which we hope will bring back the same happy memories to you as they do to us.

Kindest regards
Alma, Brian, David and Leah (leopard spotter!!)

---

From: G5813@aol.com [mailto:G5813@aol.com]
Sent: 28 August 2006 05:33 PM
To: wom@mweb.co.za
Subject: Pilanesberg

Jaco-

Thanks so much for the incredible safari.  You were wonderful dealing with our group of 12 and the age difference (11-40something!)  Organization was a plus.  Having the reference books for the plant and birdlife helped us to recognize other sighting as we continued on our holiday.  YOU have an amazing eye for spotting wildlife at any distance!! We all thank you for your wealth of knowledge, flexibilty and sense of humor.  Starting out our safari with you made us quickly realize having your background and experience is essential for getting the most of your time and enjoying all Pilanesberg has to offer.

An amazing experience from a truly amazing guide.  I certainly hope one day we will return to Africa and visit.

Cheri Gough

July 30, 2006

---

From: Christian_Meienberger@swissre.com [mailto:Christian_Meienberger@swissre.com]
Sent: 04 May 2006 04:51 PM
To: wom@mweb.co.za
Subject: Thanks for your effort

Hi Jaco
Just back from SA I would like to thank you for what you did to me to make
this trip splendid and I can state that every thing worked out perfectly.
I'm really impressed and I'll do some advertisement for you and your
service where ever possible.
Thanks again for your effort and maybe an other time pleasantly again.

Best regards
Christian

---

From: michael schoening [mailto:m.schoening@.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2005 10:05 PM
To: wom@mweb.co.za
Subject: AW: balloon safari 21st Nov

Hi Jacko,

we were very pleased to find the Lion´s picture on your website.
Hope you are doing fine. Thanks again for the outstanding service you have provided to us. You are such a great guy! We are sure you`ll make your way into the SA tourismn industry :)

And if you in need for investors, contact us first

Take care

Vanessa, Vivian, Marion and Michael
- from cold Germany-

---

From: Colin Gregoire [mailto:CGregoire@.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 9:47 PM Subject: Thanks!! - Pics attached Hi Jaco, Better late than never! Thanks again for showing us such an incredible time in South Africa. We still can't stop talking about it. I hope all is well and that business is busy! We've already recommended you to friends that are thinking about making the trip. Take care and enjoy the pictures. Colin & Friends

 

---

From:-- @bluewin.ch [mailto:--@bluewin.ch]
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 12:33 AM
To: Jaco Travel Africa
Subject: Hello from Switzerland
Dear Jaco,

"Howzit??" Well, we're sadly enough back home again after our unforgettable vacation in South Africa! We've talked about it so much in the last weeksI suppose we're getting on everyone's nerves, but never mind! That's
how it is when you "fall in love" as we certainly have with your country!

We enjoyed every aspect of our trip and it would be hard to pick a favorite place or experience. We totally flipped out over Cape Town, it's drop dead gorgeous!

But there is no doubt that an absolute high point was our trip to Pilanesberg with you. Thank you a million times over, Jaco! After this safari, there's no more doubt, we're hooked! It is so fun and exciting to see the animals in the wild, we couldn't think of anything that would even come close, let alone top it! The park was brilliant, it is unbelievable the variety of species we saw in such a short time, and we've got the photos to prove it!

We have to say, though, we wouldn't have seen near as much if we had gone on our own (your eyesight is phenominal) or had half as much fun. It was a total pleasure being with you, and we really mean it. Your enthusiasm for finding the animals is contagious! And we also thoroughly enjoyed all the general conversation, as we tried to sort through our own and the world?s problems!

We are now totally busy processing the thousands of pictures we took! Help!  We're drowning?! We will send some of our favorites to you soon.

We hope you enjoyed it with us, too, and won't forget us right away. We certainly won't you, and we will be looking in on your website from time to time to see what's up.

We would love to see you again the next time we're in South Africa, which we hope will be sooner than later - just have to save up again for it!

Love from new friends,
Hans, Darlene, and Kevin Röösli

---

From: Clemens M. Steinbock [mailto:@health.state.ny.us]
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 11:24 PM
To: wom@mweb.co.za
Subject: Thanks

I enjoyed your enthusiasm and joy in showing 'your' park to me. Your keen sense of finding the animals, small and large made the trip even more enjoyable.

Please send me your full contact info - I hope to be back....

Clemens

Clemens M. Steinböck, MBA
National Quality Center (NQC)

---

From: john bennett [mailto:@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 5:34 PM
To: wom@mweb.co.za
Subject: fantastic trip 20/21st October

Hello Jaco,

We're back in a wet and chilly England and have been looking at photos and telling friends about our wonderful 2 days with you in Pilanesberg. I just went back to your web site and read your update written after our trip- all those things you wrote about happened on OUR TRIP! It seemed to reinforce how lucky we were to have found you ! We had a fabulous holiday after we left you, but our time with you was the highlight. We felt as if we were leaving a real friend when you left us with Pat!

Thank you so much for such an amazing time. We have so many memories.

love Helen, John and Lawrence

---

          From: William Thro [mailto:___@cox.net]
         Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 5:27 PM
         Subject: Pilanesburg Trip on Saturday, 3 September 2005

Hello,

I went on a tour with Jacko from April 25 to 27, 2004.  We did Pilansburg, Lesadi, the Cheetah Center, and Pretoria  It was absolutely wonderful. One of the most memorable experiences of my life. I am returning to South Africa in early  September with my wife.  I would like to do another trip with your firm.

Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully to traveling with you in September.

---

From: Kelleher, Jacqueline [mailto:jacqueline.kelleher@]
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 12:55 PM
To: wom@mweb.co.za
Subject: RE: Pilanesberg July

Jaco -

Thank you again for a brilliant travel experience this past week...I am going to contact you again when I come back in October if that's okay with you. I want to go again since I am now an addict and will not be able to look at zoos ever again. I want to keep in touch, man! Let me know if you need any quotes for the website and please let me know if any of our afternoon pix will make it on your page. Also, make sure you let me know if you take a visit to Oregon - that would be fabulous!

Thank you, sir - you were an amazing guide.

Jacqui

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Subject:  Re: last trip
   Date:  Tue, 19 Apr 2005 04:35:42 -0500
   From: jackie.m.jones@

Jaco,
WOW!!!! That is so cool that you saw buffalo and the eagle eating it's prey!  See I told you that we would bring you luck and that  you would never forget your trip with us!! ha,ha

Diana and I had such a great time....in fact this was a trip of a lifetime. But what made it so great was YOU!!  You are so very good at what you do and we never felt rushed to move on and you were always constantly looking for animals.  Even if we had seen them the day before, you wanted to make sure that we saw as much as we possibly could.  Thank-you so much for that.

We have been showing our pictures to everyone and they just can't believe how close we were and everything that we saw.  We have been giving your website address to everyone and we hope this will bring you in other
business.

So when are you coming to Houston?????  We still mean it when we told you that we would treat you to dinner there!

Take care,
jack & di

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From :  Darcy Parker [aaaaaaaaa@yahoo.com]
Subject :  booking a small safari
Sent : Thursday, March 31, 2005 09:55
This message was sent with Normal Priority.

Hello

I have enjoyed reading your site and you were recommended to me by an operator at the Legacy Resort chain.

Tx to you @ Legacy. Nice to know I 'm noticed! Jaco

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From: janerogers2@
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 10:46 PM
Subject: Re: Pilanesberg

Hi Jaco,

Thanks for your email, sorry its taken a week to reply but we are all back in work mode!!

We had a fantastic holiday in South Africa and the hi-light was the day we spent with you.To say we all enjoyed it tremendously would still be a under statement. Dont worry about the girls they are fine, and are now taking great pleasure in telling the stories to their friends. It makes it particularly authentic when they can tell how scared they were by the close up sight of the elephants. We have some brilliant pictures to prove it.

We found south Africa a fantastic country with so much to see and do as well as good weather. We will definately be back in 2010 if not before. In the meantime I will ensure anyone I come across who is visiting there I will pass on your details with great recommendations.

Thanks again

Jane and Co

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Subject:  Hi to my favorite guide
   Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 01:09:58 -0700
   From: Nancy Stover-Smith" <@hotmail.com>

Jaco,
The safari was everything that I imagined. Spotting those elephants from the look out and then tracking them down was brilliant. I felt like we were truly “hunting” and it was thrilling to finally find them. Then to spend over an hour following them with no other vehicles was spectacular.  I am enclosing a picture of the “ellys”. Make sure you tell your clients that it was taken without a telephoto lens…(now that is CLOSE!)
Thanks again,
Nan- PCV Cameroon

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10 May 2004 trip:
Subject:         Re: Pilanesberg
   Date:         Thu, 20 May 2004 22:48:36 +1000 (EST)
   From:         Megan O'Shea <>
     To:         wom@mweb.co.za
Hi Jaco

Well I am back in the UK at the moment, fly over to Perth in about a weeks time. I just wanted to take the opportunity to say a very BIG BIG thank you for my day at Pilanesberg. It was one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life. I got my photos back and it still amazes me that I was actually there ... in that beautiful setting. I am really glad I choose to go with you, it made all the difference...I mean who else gets to see a leopard at 8:30 in the morning!!  Also wanted to let you know that I got to see some lions the day I left SA. In fact I played with a lion cub called Honey in a sanctuary in the Midrand!!

Thanks again Jaco for everything. All the best and I will certainly recommend you to anyone and everyone I can!

Megan

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31 March 2004 trip:
Subject:         Pics and thanks
   Date:         Thu, 15 Apr 2004 12:39:36 +0100
   From:         Simon Conant

Hi guys,

I wanted to thank you for a great experience. Honestly, if I was lucky enough to have a good mate who knew what he was doing take me on a Safari, I could not have wished for more.  A wonderful day, a lot of fun, and a great crew!

As promised, I have some pictures for you. High quality, full set on CD which I 'll mail - need your postal address please.

Here's one or two, made smaller and compressed, just to have an idea. Feel free to use them how you like (but put my name on 'em and tell me if you use them e.g. on the web!).

Thanks,

Simon Conant

and then for the next trip:
Simon Conant wrote:

Hi Hannelie,

 Could you please book:

2 ppl, Wed 27 Oct.  Pickup SC (don't have the hotel yet, will confirm
later), ** drop-off Jo'burg ** (Hilton Sandton).  Can you confirm Jaco's
driving again, please? The man's a legend (don't tell him though)!

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26 Sept 2003 trip:
Hi Jaco
Bet you thought I 'd forgotten all about my promise to send you a testimonial.  I just found your card, and it's reminded me so here's the promise fulfilled.  If you want to post on your website it's fine with me.Kind regardsDr Pip Bruce-Ferguson(New Zealand)
Hi Reader I wanted to share with you the delight a friend of mine and I experienced on our recent trip to South Africa, in journeying to Pilanesberg Game Park with Jaco Rautenbach.While we had to get up early in the morning to be at the park in time for its opening (and maximise our chances of seeing some animals who prefer to avoid the heat of the day) it was well worth while.  Jaco was very well prepared in every way - lots of icecold drinks available when we needed them, a good healthy lunch and tea were provided.  What I particularly enjoyed was Jaco's obvious ongoing delight in sharing his knowledge of the habits and life cycles of the animals we saw.  He is very knowledgeable about South African geology as well, helping us to understand the geological activity that has caused certain features of the game park. We saw many, many kinds of animals, often at very close quarters - I reckon I could have reached out and grabbed the tail of one elephant (well, perhaps a slight bit of Kiwi exaggeration there!)  I will not even try to list the animals we saw or I 'd miss some, but the trip was an unforgettable experience which I would warmly recommend to any readers wanting an excellent game park experience.Pilanesberg is within reasonable travelling distance of Johannesburg and Pretoria (the latter being our point of departure, and about two hours' distance).  In speaking with other friends later who had visited Kruger National Park, it would seem that we saw at least as many animals as they had done, and often from closer quarters.  I am happy to recommend Adventure Travel Africa and Jaco Rautenbach to anybody visiting the area.
Dr Pip Bruce-Ferguson
New Zealand

806 Unit 2, Mogwase, Pilanesberg, Office - Please mail only
PO Box 250 Sun City, 0316 - Updated March 2018
All Pilanesberg queries -  travelinafrica@gmail.com