CLIENT FEEDBACK :
Avian Leisure continues to get wonderful feedback from clients for whom we have created birding tours, wildlife safaris, photographic safaris and other memorable holidays. See below for a selection of client comments. Also, guests staying in our spacious accommodation regularly rate us as excellent!  Click here for feedback on Avian Leisure's accommodation
Birding Day Trips in Cape Town using Avian Leisure as base, July 2010: An instructive and entertaining experience with Patrick as field guide. Please reference us as appreciative relaxed birders. The accommodations were great. Thanks for the bird feeders and squash for the birds and porcupine views. Wish we could stay longer.
Sharon Center & Kirk Sapa, New York USA
Birding Trip Cape Town & Western Cape, Autumn April 2010: 'Touring with Patrick and Avian Leisure was a delight! – professional, easy to get on with, flexible to our needs and interpreted our brief precisely.Highly recommended! '.Timothy & Lynda Hyde, Australia
Birding Day Tour in Cape Town, February 2010: 'Want to say a huge thank you to Patrick for an amazing bird watching day. We both had a fabulous time & will definitely recommend you to any friends visiting SA' . Debra & Malcolm Higgs, UK
Birding Day Tour in Cape Town, February 2010: 'An excellent day to marvellous birding sites; if the bird is around you will see it with Patrick!' . Michael Smithson, UK
Fully guided short tour of the Coast of Namibia, January 2010, for Islands Holidays UK: 'A beautifully planned and executed itinerary with first class guiding'. Libby Weir-Breen, Island Holidays UK
June/July 2009: Self-drive mixed interest tour in South Africa, including rugby, birding and battlefields, for Gareth, Pat & Padraig Goodwin, Wales: 'We would like to thank you so much for your excellent organization and bookings for our recent trip, everything went very smoothly and all the accommodation fitted the bill. Thank you also for the directions that you included, it made life much simpler….You will come highly recommended to anyone who is planning a trip to your wonderfully varied country. With very best wishes and thanks for a great adventure.'
August 2009: Fly-in Honeymoon Safari to Kwazulu Natal for Natalie & Ben Shaw, UK: ‘Thank you for arranging such a fabulous time for Natalie and me. We enjoyed every moment. The country was so beautiful, the lodges really looked after us so well. Everything was perfect, right amount of time at each lodge, you did a great job. Best wishes and many thanks again for a perfect Honeymoon’
July-August 2009: Family Safari over a 4 week period in Kwazulu Natal, Kruger, Botswana and Cape Town for the Bell Family, USA: ‘Thanks again for all your work in making the family trip such a success. We all had a great experience, and very much enjoyed finally meeting you and Patrick. The combination of luxury and ‘camping’ was ideal. The ‘beach break’ at Thonga was also perfect. Excellent service, thanks’
August 2009: Mixed Birding, Wildlife and Horse-riding Self-drive Safari in Northern South Africa for Duncan Coates & Helen Elliott, UK: ‘The birding was great … Helen really enjoyed Horizon (Horse-riding lodge) and was happy that they selected horses according to ability and that they were all obviously well looked after. She even went swimming on a horse in the hippo filled lake. I was happy walking around the grounds.
All the accommodation was great and we liked the fact that each was very individual. I was a little concerned at the directions, thinking they were going to be too vague, but each one was easy to follow and we didn't come even close to getting lost once- thanks, all your documents were very helpful.
We missed the ability to walk for longer at Rhino, but did manage a few short strolls at Nottens and Kirkmans. The latter was a very up-market replacement for Rhino and we liked some of their smaller touches, especially the hot water bottles in the morning jeeps! We had great food everywhere.
We'd definitely come back, and use Avian Leisure again.
Thanks again for all the help organising the trip. We'd be happy to recommend you to anyone’
July 2009: Fully Guided Birding Tour, Karoo, for Ron & Carol Majors, North America: ‘We enjoyed our winter birding in the Karoo with our experienced guide, beautiful scenery and excellent sightings of birds'.
July 2009: Fully Guided Birding Tour, Namibia, for Kim Frost, Denmark: ‘This was my 4th trip with Patrick and as usual very few possible birds were missed despite leisurely birding. Highly recommended! I look forward to the next trip to Botswana and Zambia!’
June 2009: Combination of self-drive and guided Tour with birding as the focus, in Sani, Pafuri and the Western Cape, for Bev & David Crocker, Canada: ‘Our guides all exceeded our expectations – fountains of knowledge ... sensitive to needs and always a pleasure to be with. Marie-Louise’s planning was so thorough that we never once had a cause to worry, all transitions were seamless. She clearly did her homework! Bev and I had a wonderful introduction and stay in South Africa, thanks to the thoughtful and thorough planning of Marie-Louise and Patrick!!’
May 2009: Guided Birding and Winelands Tour in the Western Cape for Barbara & Jay Salzman, USA: ‘Patrick & Marie-Louise of Avian Leisure provided the ultimate birding & wine tasting experience in the Cape Peninsula. Patrick as our guide added hugely to the enjoyment of our trip – his interests and ours meshed beautifully. A 5 Star experience - it’s a ‘keeper’!
March 2009: Patrick did a guided birding tour in Kruger Park and surrounds on a free-lance basis for Tropical Birding, for Steve Smith, USA: 'His feedback to the tour company was : 'My leader (Patrick Cardwell) was excellent. I'd recommend him to any one any time. He knew his birds, animals and trees. He was always helpful to make sure I was on the bird and that I always got good looks. We saw 285 species and most of them were new birds for me' And direct feedback to Patrick: ‘ I had a great time finding birds & mammals with you, Patrick. Thank you for showing me such a great time and taking case of all my needs!'
March 2009: Short Guided Tour Cape of Cape Town & Winelands, for Leiha Macauley & Jim Palumbo, USA: ‘Patrick, you were the highlight of our trip - unparalleled service, from getting us the best tables to picking the vineyards we visited, to your specialized knowledge of absolutely everything! We are so appreciative.'
December - January 2009: Self-drive Tour - Birding/Nature/Cultural heritage – Cape Town & Western Cape for Liz & Paul Harvey, UK: ‘First Class Birding, Wildlife, Organisation, Accommodation & Food – Look no further: superb trip largely due to your enormous help!'
November 2008: Safari in South Africa – Madikwe, Kruger & Cape Town, for Lesley & Ian Patterson, Australia: ‘We've arrived home safely after an absolutely fantastic holiday. Thank you so much for organizing such a great itinerary.'
November 2008: Accommodation arrangements for self-drive trip in South Africa, for Mags & Les Veldman, USA: 'Just wanted to thank you so much for organizing 2 very excellent B&B's - both were a pleasure to stay in!'
November 2008: Self-drive Tour in Namibia, for Jeff & Maryann Williams, Wales, UK: 'If you are looking for an immaculately planned nature holiday you can do not better than booking with Avian Leisure.'
October 2008: Guided Birding Tour Cape to Kruger for Nestling Tours, USA: Bill Eden - 'Thank you for showing me the 'Bird's of South Africa'. Your friendly manner, leadership skills and incredible birding expertise made this trip special! You sure know how to find the Birds!
Tom Bush - ‘The trip met all expectations and certainly exceeded them. Not only the incredible number and quality of bird, flora and fauna sightings but Patrick's knowledge and expertise as our guide was exceptional. Additionally the accommodation, service and meals were delightful. Both Patrick & Marie Louise were the perfect hosts and did a fabulous job of representing SA and showing us the best both culturally and environmentally'
Frank & Pat Stermitz - ‘Thanks a million for one of our very best trips! Congenial and knowledgeable guide and Marie Louise's graciousness and competence in handling an unusual accident occurrence. I recommend Avian Leisure to any and all without reservation”
September - October 2008: Private Guided Birding Tour – Kwazulu Natal to Kruger including Sani Pass, Dr Kim & Mrs Sunneva Frost, Denmark: 'Despite the term ‘leisure' we cannot imagine a more skilled, energetic guided and indefatigable search. ‘ Leisure' should here be understood as responsibility and avoidance of any possible risky situation which makes one totally relaxed and comfortable from first to last minute. Accommodation was pleasant and peaceful making every day enjoyable and leisurely. Every effort is made to secure top birding experiences. All birds are seen well. All round knowledge, cautious driving and meticulous caretaking. I cannot imagine what could be done to improve on the service.'
September 2008: Classic Western Cape Spring Birding Tour, fully guided tour for Mark and Janice Hollingworth, Norfolk, UK: 'You gave us one of the best trips we have ever had!'
August 2008: Mega Safari to South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia! For Ross & Natalie Aitken, New Zealand: 'Marie-Louise & Patrick planned an itinerary of Southern African countries for us. The detail and delivery far exceeded our wildest dreams! Thank you both, there was absolutely nothing more we could have wished for.'
August 2008: A Short Guided Birding Tour in the Western Cape's Spring for Greg Balogh and Ken Morgan, USA & Canada: Greg Balogh - 'I was continually amazed at Patrick's grasp of all aspects of natural history. He was always pleasant company and was very sensitive to his client's needs and preferences.'
Ken Morgan - 'Patrick's approach - professional, yet casual and friendly. Can't see how you could make it any better. Excellent! If I could have stayed longer I would have'
November 2008: Self drive birding tour in Tanqua Karoo and Namibia for Jeff & Maryann Williams, Wales: ‘If you are looking for an immaculately planned nature holiday you can do no better than booking with Avian Leisure'
November 2008: Fly-in Wildlife Safari in South Africa for Ian & Lesley Patterson, Australia: 'Absolutely fantastic holiday. Thank you so much for organizing such a great itinerary'
Alan McTavish: Ontario, Canada: 1st class bird tour – it gets a 10.
Richard Hell: MA, USA: Wonderful accommodation and perfect birding directions. I will especially remember your detailed maps! Plus a dream come true pelagic seabird trip.
Arnoud van den Berg: Netherlands: Thanks to Pat's directions, we had some of our most memorable sightings on our last full day in South Africa.
Jim France & Brian Clasper, UK: Dear Marie-Louise and Patrick, many thanks again for an absolutely fantastic trip. The birding was amazing, the accommodation throughout incredible and the food out of this world. Add the awesome mammals and spectacular scenery and all in all this trip was probably the best either myself or Brian have been involved in. We really can’t thank Patrick enough for sharing his incredible knowledge of all things to do with the natural history of the area, and for being an incredible guide and jolly good company!!! BRILLIANT TRIP!
Susan Wilkinson, USA: We had a great day with super birds and spectacular scenery and lots of information on SA. Patrick was wonderful! What a marvelous country!
Dr Kim Frost, Denmark: Patrick was an exceptional guide, not only on account of his unique knowledge of birds, but especially because of his personality, friendliness and truly indefatigable endeavor to ensure his clients a holistic and optimum experience of the Cape nature and social conditions. In addition to pleasant and considerate driving, he provided us with the best accommodation, meals and wine! To the last minute we were taken care of including arrangement with shuttle to the Airport Terminal. Thus I give Avian Leisure my warmest recommendations!
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