Tailor made safarisWhether you are a couple, family or a small group you deserve a safari that is tailored just for you. After all, this may be a once in a lifetime experience. Of course, there are also a lot of choices to make – where to go, when to go, what to do and where to stay? The options can be a bit overwhelming and the advice confusing (and even contradictory). Tailor making safari itineraries is our speciality. We take great care to maintain an extensive database of safari camps, lodges and hotels so that we are always up to date with what is new on the ground. We also nuture our long standing relationships with a host of safari operators and maintain associate offices in nearly every country - thus ensuring that your safari experience is of the highest standard. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration when deciding on what will be a good safari for you - your budget, the time of year you are able to travel, how many in your party/group, your choice of safari style, the destinations or sights you are most interested in seeing...and so on. You can rely on our local knowledge and insights in the planning process. Only by getting the best advice and most sound recommendations can you make the correct choices from the many options available. But not only do we work with you to create the perfect safari itinerary, but you can leave it to us to arrange all your flights, accommodation, logistical arrangements and payments to operators. So where do you start? Simple. Just click on the Start Planning tab and give us some background on what you have in mind… |
Fly-in safaris
Private vehicle + guide
Start planning your tailor made safari today |
Fly-in safaris are by definition safaris which allow you the luxury of travelling between locations using light aircraft charters or scheduled flights that take you directly to your destination, whether that be a small airstrip near camp or the nearest airport. The obvious benefits being that it is fast and little time is wasted in moving from one location to the next. In many cases there are little or no formalities and security checks to slow your progess and having enjoyed a full game drive in the morning you can be at the next camp by lunch.
Fly-in safaris thus ensure that you do not spend countless hours travelling between the highlights of your safari - the game reserves and safari camps.
A good example of a suitable fly-in safari destination is the Okavango Delta in Botswana. With camps spread through the delta, and few roads to speak of, flying between camps is the obvious choice. But in areas like the Ngorongoro and Serengeti in northern Tanzania there exists the option to either fly-in or take a private vehicle + guide. The choice comes down more to personal preference (with logistical considerations being the deciding factor).
One aspect of fly-in safaris that should be borne in mind is that there will be a luggage limit - generally 12 to 15 kgs (30lbs). Some charter companies are so concerned about weight that you will be required to provide them with your own (body) weight prior to your safari!
Private vehicle + driver/guided safaris offer perhaps the most flexibility of all in terms of your day to day activities. It also has the added attraction of featuring your own private guide throughout your safari.
The private vehicle + driver/guide safari should not be confused with a mobile tented safari, where the group is generally made up of individuals and the itinerary has set departure dates.
But this style of safari is not available everywhere, and only works well where the distances between game reserves is not too great and the road not too awful. This style of safari has become most established in East Africa - Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and is sometimes combined with a final return flight to avoid the long drive back to your starting point.
Importantly, if there are more than two of you, then taking a private vehicle can be very effective in reducing the cost of the safari on a per person basis. Something to keep in mind.
Another positive in favour of the private vehicle safari is that you have no limitation (within reason!) on the amount of luggage you are allowed. The vehicles all have ample space to take luggage (and it is OK if your camera bag is bulging with photographic equipment!).
Family Safaris too should be tailor made to suit your needs. Each family's dynamics are different dependent on the ages of the children and style of safari sought.
Some considerations to keep in mind are malaria, the availability of a swimming pool, age restrictions on certain safari activities and the existence of children's programs or guides trained to cater for younger children's needs and interests.
Link through to our Family Safaris page for more information..
Group Safaris (where there are 8 or more people in the party/group) have their own set of considerations when it comes to itinerary planning and some finer points should be borne in mind:
- Booking a safari with a large group will require more advanced planning as availability will become an issue.
- Many of the lodges and camps have 12 beds or less - group size needs to be a consideration.
- Groups do not automatically get discounted rates.
- Arranging private air charters between camps or making use of a private vehicle can often bring substantial savings.
- Groups should consider using specialist African tour guide to travel with them and lend some consistency to the trip. It is comforting to know that there is someone at hand focused on ensuring that everything goes according to plan and that you are well looked after - plus of course sharing his/her expert knowledge and experience with the group.
For all your safari planning enquiries (or for more information on any of our safaris or destinations) please complete the Enquiry Form below. Please give as much information as you can on what you have in mind, where you would like to go, what you are interested in, and if possible, an idea of your budget. Thank you.
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