The cost of a safari can vary quite a bit depending on where you go, when you travel, how long you stay, and the style of accommodation you choose. Some destinations, like Botswana, are naturally more expensive because of how exclusive and low-impact they are. Others, like South Africa or Namibia, can offer more flexibility across different budgets. 

As a very general guide, many well-planned safaris fall somewhere between £5,000 and £10,000 per person, including accommodation, guiding, internal flights, and most meals, but there are options below and above that range.

Seasonality, location, and how remote a camp is will all have a big impact on cost. Peak periods and exclusive areas naturally come with a higher price tag, while more flexible dates or different destinations can offer better value.

We’ll always be honest about what’s realistic and help you understand where there’s flexibility, and how to get the best possible experience for your budget.

There isn’t one simple answer, because “best” depends on where you want to go and what you want to experience. You can learn more by exploring our destination pages.

That’s exactly where we come in.

The “best” destination depends entirely on the kind of trip you want. For some people, it’s all about safari. For others, it’s a mix of wildlife, scenery, beaches, food, or family-friendly experiences. Some travellers want the iconic names, while others would rather avoid the crowds and do something a little more under the radar.

We’ll help you cut through the noise, steer clear of the overrated, and find the destination (or combination of destinations) that genuinely fits you.

Because the best trips to Africa are rarely a one-size-fits-all.

We don’t believe in asking you to choose from a handful of bland, fixed packages and hoping one happens to suit you. Instead, we start with a conversation about what you want to experience, who you’re travelling with, and what kind of budget you’re working with.

From there, we build something around you. That might mean a completely bespoke itinerary, or it might mean recommending one of the few small group tours we genuinely trust if that’s the right fit. Either way, the process is collaborative and designed to help you book with confidence.

It starts with you.

Once you get in touch, we’ll ask a few key questions about when you want to travel, who’s coming, what kind of experience you’re after, and what sort of budget you have in mind. From there, we’ll usually arrange a call so we can talk through ideas, share honest advice, and help narrow down what will suit you best.

We’ll then put together one or two carefully considered options and refine things with you until it feels exactly right, from destinations and routing to lodge choices and special experiences.

It’s a collaborative process, but without the stress. You don’t need to have it all figured out – that’s what we’re here for.

Yes, and these are some of the trips we love planning most because the best celebrations deserve more than a generic itinerary.

No, but we do focus on quality and getting the experience right.

That might mean a high-end honeymoon in Botswana, a beautifully balanced family trip through South Africa, or a well-chosen small group tour that offers excellent value without compromising on what matters.

We’re not about “cheap”, and we won’t pretend a destination can be done properly on an unrealistic budget. What we will do is help you spend wisely, prioritise what matters most, and create the best possible trip for what you want to invest.

Travel conditions can vary quite a lot from place to place, and in remote wildlife areas, roads are often unpaved and uneven. That can make for some fairly bumpy journeys, often affectionately known as a “bush massage” or a bit of African dancing. Safari vehicles are built for these conditions, but it’s worth knowing in advance that not every transfer will feel especially smooth, particularly on some of our road-based small group tours.

If you have any pre-existing health conditions that might be affected by rough roads or longer drives, do let us know before booking. We’ll always be honest about what’s likely to suit you best and guide you towards the right itinerary.

Yes, you can. 

Internal flights are often already included in all our trips where relevant, but we can also quote for your international flights and package them with your trip, where appropriate. That can mean the whole holiday is protected under ATOL, which is one of the reasons many people choose to book through us. 

That, and our sunny disposition.

As early as you can is always best, especially if you’re travelling in peak season or have your heart set on particular camps, lodges, or dates.

As a rule of thumb, we’d usually suggest booking 9–12 months in advance for popular travel periods or high-demand properties. That gives you the best choice and the greatest flexibility.

That said, if your trip is coming up sooner, do still get in touch. We can often work wonders at shorter notice too.

We handpick the small group tours featured on our website from trusted partners on the ground.

Most of these partners don’t sell directly to the public, and all are African-owned and operated. We’ve chosen to work with them because they know their destinations inside out and deliver experiences we genuinely trust. 

When you book through us, you should never pay more than you would booking direct, and in some cases, you may pay less, especially if we’re running a show offer or promotion. You’ll also benefit from ATOL protection where applicable, plus our support and a few extra perks along the way. 

We’ve designed our small group tours for travellers who enjoy a well-paced holiday with just enough adventure to keep things interesting. 

Most tours have a minimum age (often 12 or 16) depending on the itinerary. If you’re hoping for an adults-only feel, let us know, and we’ll guide you towards the right departure. 

The tours don’t have an upper age limit, but you do need to be able to climb into a safari vehicle unassisted and fully take part in the included activities. If you’re not sure whether a particular trip is right for you, just ask, and we’ll give you an honest opinion. 

We only choose tours with genuinely small groups. Most trips have between 7 and 12 guests, which keeps the experience personal and much more enjoyable than a large coach-style tour. Some departures are guaranteed from as few as 2 people, so it’s often possible to confirm quite quickly whether your chosen date is running. 

Because these trips have limited spaces, the best departures do fill up fast. 

All of our tours are led by qualified, experienced guides who know their destination inside out and bring real passion to what they do. We believe the best people to show you a place are often the people who know it first-hand, so we work with trusted local guides and activity providers wherever possible.

They’re there to keep your trip running smoothly, answer questions, handle any issues that crop up, and help you get the most out of the experience. In short, they take the pressure off so you can relax and enjoy the journey. 

Sometimes, yes. 

Some tours waive the solo supplement, while others apply one depending on the accommodation setup and availability. We’ve negotiated some good rates with our partners, and if there’s a trip you’ve got your heart set on, it’s always worth asking us what might be possible. 

We aim for stylish, comfortable accommodation that offers strong value without losing character. 

On our handpicked group tours, that usually means a mix of mid-range to luxury lodgings, often in the three to five-star range. Occasionally, a property may have a modest official rating but still be somewhere we know works beautifully in practice; Africa’s rating systems don’t always tell the full story. 

If a tour includes a tented safari camp, that can still absolutely mean comfort and luxury, just with canvas walls and a much better view. 

That depends on the itinerary, but across our small group tours you may travel by: 

• well-maintained minibuses, 4x4s, or cars for road transfers 
• internal flights where they save significant time 
• bush flights for longer distances in remote safari areas 
• open safari vehicles 
• closed game vehicles with pop-up roofs 
• mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) 
• or occasionally, your own two feet on walking safaris 

We’ll always be clear about how a trip runs before you book, so there are no surprises. 

Yes, of course. We can help you arrive early, stay longer, add hotel nights, change transfers, combine trips, add a beach extension, or turn part of your holiday into a self-drive adventure. In many cases, we can package it all together, so the whole trip is neatly protected. 

If you want to make a good trip even better, we’re all for it.

The deposit required is 30% for our tailor-made holidays and 20% for our small group tours. The remaining balance is due 60 days before travel. Please note that all flights are payable in full at the time of booking.

If you need to cancel your trip, the following cancellation charges apply:

• More than 60 days before departure: deposit only 
• Less than 60 days before departure: 100% of the total trip cost

If anything is unclear, just ask. We’ll always explain what applies to your specific booking.

Payment may be made by bank transfer or by credit or debit card via a secure payment link. Accepted cards are Visa, MasterCard, Delta, and Maestro. We do not accept American Express, and we do not retain your card details. 

International card payments incur a surcharge of 2.5% for credit cards and 2.0% for debit cards.

All flight-inclusive holidays we sell are protected by the ATOL scheme. If your booking includes ATOL protection, you’ll receive an ATOL Certificate, which confirms exactly what’s covered. If you don’t receive an ATOL Certificate, that part of your trip will not be ATOL protected.

For non-flight packages, your booking is still 100% financially protected at no extra cost to you, in line with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. This protection covers the money you’ve paid to us and includes repatriation if needed in the unlikely event of our insolvency.

This cover is arranged through Protected Trust Services. You can read more here:

https://www.protectedtrustservices.com/services/consumer-protection/ 

If you’d like us to talk you through exactly what protection applies to your trip, we’re always happy to do that.

Yes. Travel insurance is a requirement for booking any trip with us.

We strongly recommend buying the right policy as soon as you book, so you’re protected from the start in case anything unexpected happens before or during your trip. Make sure your cover is suitable for your destination, your activities, and any medical needs you may have.

We can help point you in the right direction, but medical advice should always come from a qualified professional with access to the latest guidance.

In general, you should make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date and speak to your doctor or travel clinic about malaria prevention (if needed) and any destination-specific requirements, such as yellow fever certificates, where applicable.

Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality and the countries you’re visiting, so it’s important to check the latest official advice yourself before you travel.

We can certainly guide you on what’s usually required for your destination, but because rules change regularly, we always recommend checking your own government travel advice site.

As a general rule, your passport should usually have at least six months’ validity remaining and at least two blank pages.

In general, lightweight, neutral-coloured clothing works best for game drives, along with a warm layer for early mornings and evenings, which can be cooler than expected. Comfortable shoes, sun protection, and a hat are all essentials.

If you have them, a good pair of binoculars and a camera are always worth bringing, along with any personal items or medication you may need, as shops can be limited in remote areas. If your trip includes light aircraft flights, note that luggage is usually restricted to soft-sided bags with a set weight limit, so packing light is important, but most lodges and camps offer laundry, so you won’t need as much as you think.

We’ll send you a more detailed packing guide before you travel, so you’ll know exactly what to bring.

Often, yes, especially if your trip includes light aircraft flights between camps or remote safari areas. These flights usually have a luggage limit of around 15–20kg per person including hand luggage, and soft-sided bags are normally required. Hard suitcases are rarely suitable for these routes.

If you’re travelling with extra luggage, it can often be stored at your arrival hotel or with a local ground handler while you’re on safari. We’ll always let you know the exact requirements for your itinerary well in advance.

We don’t recommend travellers’ cheques, but if you’d rather not carry too much cash, a multi-currency cash card can be a very handy option. These let you preload currencies like US dollars or South African rand and use them much like a debit card while you travel. Many have low fees for spending abroad and cash withdrawals too, just make sure you check the details with your provider. We’re big fans of Revolut for its low fees, great app, and ease of use.

In some countries, including Zimbabwe, we’d recommend carrying some small denomination US dollar cash, making sure the notes are clean and undamaged, as ATMs can sometimes be unreliable. Hotels and activity providers will often accept credit cards too, so you usually won’t need to carry large amounts.

As always, we’ll let you know our recommendations before you travel based on exactly where you’re going.

Africa can be a fantastic destination for families, and we regularly plan family-friendly safaris and multi-generational holidays.

That said, there are a few important considerations. Many safari camps, especially unfenced ones, are in wild areas where animals can move freely through camp, and some safari vehicles are open-sided, so children do need to be supervised closely at all times. Many properties also have minimum age restrictions unless booked on an exclusive-use basis.

If you’re travelling to Botswana, Namibia, or South Africa with children under 18, you may also be asked to show an original full birth certificate in English, in addition to a valid passport. We’ll guide you through any important requirements for your trip.

Most mornings start early, with tea or coffee before heading out on a game drive at first light, when the animals are often at their most active. You’ll usually return for a relaxed breakfast, followed by time to rest or take part in other activities depending on where you are.

In the afternoon, there’s usually another game drive, often stretching into the early evening. Then it’s back to camp for dinner, drinks, and time around the fire.

No two safari days are ever quite the same, though. Sightings, weather, location, and your own interests all help shape the experience.

With the right guidance and common sense, a safari is a safe and extraordinary experience.

Knowledgeable guides and lodge teams are there to keep you safe, and the most important thing you can do is follow their instructions at all times. On arrival, you’ll usually be given a safety briefing, and we always recommend listening carefully and asking questions if you’re unsure about anything.

Safety varies from country to country, so we always recommend checking official travel advice before you go. We follow guidance from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

While you’re travelling, it’s important to listen to local advice and familiarise yourself with the safety procedures at each property. As in any destination, opportunistic theft can happen, particularly in cities, but a few sensible precautions go a long way: keep valuables out of sight, carry only what you need, and store passports and important documents securely at your hotel or lodge.

One of the benefits of booking with us is that we’ll always guide you towards places and properties we trust.

If something doesn’t go to plan while you’re away, your first point of contact is usually the manager at the property where you’re staying, as they’re often best placed to resolve things quickly.

If the issue isn’t resolved, you’ll also have access to the 24/7 emergency contact for our trusted local partners on the ground. And of course, you can always contact us directly too; we’ll do everything we can to help.

If it’s an emergency or something that may lead to an insurance claim, you should also contact your insurer as soon as possible.