
Petru van Zyl
I started in the travel industry in August 1998 and have 21 years experience as a travel consultant. I am a senior consultant who specializes in FIT travel, group travel, VIP clients, luxury safaris and self-drive tours. I excel in handling complex itineraries in a professional and dedicated manner. I am passionate about travelling; has travelled extensively throughout South Africa, and visited Botswana, the Victoria Falls, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique and Madagascar. I live on a farm outside Clanwilliam in the Western Cape with my husband, two children and a variety of animals.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"I specialize in FIT travel, group travel, VIP clients, luxury safaris and self-drive tours and excel in handling complex itineraries in a professional and dedicated manner. "
How did you get involved in travel?
"Some would say, by chance. I choose to believe Travel has chosen me."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"There are too many to list, but if I have to choose a unique experience, it would be the interaction with elephants in Zambia - it left me in awe of the gentleness of those huge animals."
Featured trips & expertise

Best Time of Year to Visit Tanzania
Above all else, Tanzania's two distinct rainy seasons determine the best (and worst) time to visit the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar. Whether you want to witness the Great Migration while on safari, climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, or explore the spice-scented alleyways of Zanzibar, read on to find out more about the best time of year to visit Tanzania.

Namibia Self-Drive Adventure - 14 Days
Perfect for first-timers to Africa, this two-week road trip explores the wild, beautiful, and safe environs of Namibia. The adventure kicks off in Windhoek where you'll drive through two deserts (Kalahari and Namib) known for epic sand dunes, rivers, canyons, and gorges. From here, continue west towards the Atlantic coast before heading north to meet nomadic tribes. Finish with several days at Etosha National Park—as well as a private reserve—for the ultimate game-viewing experience.

Namibia Self-Drive Adventure - 8 Days
Often called 'Africa for Beginners', this 8-day road trip is a great introduction to the otherworldly landscapes, activities, and culture of Namibia. Kick off the trip in Windhoek, the modern capital, before delving into the Namib Desert for massive dunes, rivers, canyons, and gorges. From here, continue west towards the Atlantic coast for two nights of seaside splendor. Circle back to Windhoek by way of Spitzkoppe—the 'Matterhorn of Namibia'—for some hiking and rock art to finish the adventure.

Best Time of Year for a Safari in South Africa
With its expansive size, varied topography, and coastlines bordering the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, South Africa conjures diverse weather patterns. While summer sun shines on the cloudless Cape Provinces, rain deluges the safari parks of KwaZulu Natal and Greater Kruger. Consequently, with game reserves scattered throughout the country, choosing where and when to visit can leave you scratching your head. The following information will help you weigh your priorities and determine which season and destination is right for you in this country of many climates.
Recent trip reviews for Petru
Lovely Cape Town Excursion
South Africa
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Aug 16 - Aug 23, 2022
Petru did a great job organizing the trip for us. She was responsive and available throughout the entire booking process as well as when we were in country. The accommodations and tours she arranged certainly exceeded our expectations! She was also happy to answer questions we had about South Africa in general and expectations for travel.
Noel was our guide, and we really enjoyed having a dedicated private guide for our time in Cape Town. He was personable and knowledgeable, and really... read more

Hi Mike,
Thank you so much for taking the time to send us your feedback.
I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay at the accommodations and that you were looked after by your guide on tour.
Thank you again!
All the best, Petru
We had an amazing trip in Namibia.
Namibia
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Aug 2 - Aug 8, 2022

We had an amazing trip in Namibia. Everything was set up and scheduled perfectly. They went above and beyond in so many ways. A good example is scheduling dinner to be placed in our rooms when we were running too late to catch dinner at the restaurant.
We highly recommend them and Carlos was thorough, personable and incredibly responsive. I wish we had scheduled our trip longer, a week is not long enough to enjoy this gorgeous diverse country. read more

Hi Scott,
Thank you so much for your feedback.
I am delighted to hear that you had a great trip to Namibia and were looked after so well. Hope to see you back again in the near future and we will gladly assist.
Best wishes, Petru
Hooked on Safaris & South Africa
South Africa
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May 21 - May 31, 2021
Our honeymoon to South Africa was truly unforgettable, and we are already dreaming of our next safari trip. We wouldn’t change anything about the itinerary Petru helped us put together, other than adding more time! We can’t wait to be back and would use Petru again, especially with how communicative she is and how easily she helped us navigate having to delay our trip by 8 months due to Covid. Thanks for helping us create the best memories!

Claire, I am delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience.
To receive feedback like this makes such a huge difference, thank you very much!
Making memories is what it is all about and happy to assist you in the near future.
Keep well and until next time.
All the best,
Petru
The Perfect Mix of Adventure and Comfort
Namibia
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Apr 30 - May 10, 2021

As someone who usually prefers to make all of my own travel arrangements, I was hesitant to use Kimkim for my recent trip to Namibia. The Kimkim team and Petru in particular quickly proved that all of my biases against travel agencies were wrong. Petru was extremely knowledgeable about the lodges, parks and related travel information in Namibia, and was able to help me successfully navigate the difficulties of COVID-era travel. The lodgings and travel arrangements Petru selected were exactly... read more

Dear James
Thank you kindly for your positive feedback, very much appreciated.
I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Namibia.
Hope to hear from you again in the near future.
Keep well.
Best wishes, Petru van Zyl