I have been hunting with Herman for close to 15 years and for the past 10 years it became a family affair. Not everyone is a hunter but the experience stays awesome for everyone and we leave feeling like family. Herman has a excellent network of farms The will ensure you will probably get everything you are looking for. The knowledge that Herman and Annette shares makes the experience enjoyable for young and old
TLDR version; Hunting? Don't choose just anyone - it's a science, one Herman knows best & you don't want to get stuck spending every day & night w/someone you don't enjoy. Herman is your guy! Visiting Kruger? Kruger is 5.9mil acres. To get the best experience possible, you need Annette! Full review; Let me say that I'm not a hunter myself, but I grew up in a hunting family. Not being a hunter, I was skeptical about this part of our trip & whether or not I’d enjoy it fully. We split our trip to Lianga between the Lianga Lodge & Kruger. For the days we were at the lodge, Herman made the non-hunters of our group feel just as included as the hunter & brought us along w/them, taught us how to spot animals, taught us about the land, the animals, the culture of South Africa & anything we asked! Herman & his team are such a friendly group, they made everyone feel at home & were such good hosts. Beyond just genuinely enjoying Herman & his crew, my brother went to Africa w/a small list of animals he was hoping to get. Not only did he get EVERY animal on his list, but decided to go for others & got each one of those too 9 animals, 7 days! Herman networks w/other hunters & property owners to keep track of herds & know where he can take his hunters to have the best luck. The whole experience was surreal & for someone who isn't a hunter, I'd go back in a heartbeat! The other part of our experience was Kruger National Park. Annette goes there 17 times a year +/-, so she's intimately familiar w/the park. Without her, we would've rented a car & drove the park ourselves. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but we aren't from here & we're not as familiar w/the park or animals. As you drive through it, you realize how vastly different each area is & that different animals hang out in different terrain. That means we might not have been in the right area at the right time & would've seen a lot less animals or had to do a ton of research beforehand since there’s no internet. This isn't a driving zoo - animals are not waiting for you to drive by & posing for you to take their pic. She’s a pro at spotting animals - no matter the time of day, the terrain, etc. Her knowledge of everything Kruger - not just the animals, but the vegetation, the climate, the history, & even animals' behaviors is astounding & she knew every question we asked. I would've never considered how much value that could add to a trip. Our night & sunset safaris would've been a lot more boring w/out her because the staff relies on the driver & tourists to do the spotting. They don't even know how to hold a flashlight let alone spot game, but Annette found dozens of animals for us that everyone, including the guide, missed. She was able to customize our trip around the animals we most wanted to see. Out of dozens of animals on our list too many to expect to see in 3 days we saw every single one except rhino & not by lack of trying on her part. She kept us in the loop on everything - what route we were taking, what to expect, a timeline, etc. I appreciated this because I hate feeling like another tourist on a bus full of people that have no clue what's happening & just go along for the ride. Her communication was great & not just on the things I've said so far, but also just in casual conversation. I'm an introvert w/new people & the idea of committing to spending every moment w/someone I don't know at all for 9 days total had me worried. If we don't get along or I don't like the service provided, my trip could take a downturn fast & we're stuck w/it & out a bunch of $. This was so far from our experience, I genuinely left feeling like we were old friends. Because my experience was so amazing, I've spent a huge amount of time trying to get across the profound impact Herman & Annette had on our trip. I hope I've done them justice but I know words can never express the true impact they’ve had on my life & the experience you can have by going out there to see for yourself.
I have been all over the world but the best place for both a hunting safari and/or photo safari is Linaga Lodge. Herman is the best Professional Hunter I've ever hunted with and Annette puts together the best itineraries for tourist travel and photo safaris. I"ve now been on five trips with them and have never been disappointed!
My wife and I loved every minute at Lianga Safaris. Herman and Annette go out of their way to assure you are successful, whether it’s a photo safari in The Kruger Annette’s specialty or a big game hunt, they both do their best to make sure you are pleased with your experience. This was our third trip to Lianga Safaris, and they get better every time! Herman and Annette are the most down to earth people you’ll ever meet, and the lodge is welcoming and has a down home feel to it. This is a once in a lifetime experience that never seems to last quite long enough. Contact them, you won’t regret it!
Awesome atmosphere and amazing hosts. Annette and Herman go out of their way to make you feel at home. Can't wait to visit again...
I chose them for my first Africa hunt. It was amazing! They really went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect. As an example my wife and I don't drink so they stocked an entire fridge with a ton of different soft drinks and juices. The food was great, ask them about South African Vanilla Ice creme! The hunting was perfect. They had us on trails, going through beautiful African bush, hunting from sun up till sun down with a nap around noon. The trophies I got are easily the best in my collection bar none and I cannot wait to go with them again!
Great place to stay. Enjoy the silence and calm atmosphere. Great place to relax and clear your mind.
Awesome place! Awesome People! Awesome service. Just the best bushveld hospitality you could hope for!
What an awsome place to stay. Owners are such awsome individuals & the food & company was amaaazing.
Beautiful Lodge, majestic animals, awesome true people as hosts.
