What is a Privately Guided African Safari

You have sat in front of the television and watched a wildlife documentary or gone on a live game drive by now. How amazing is it to have a narrator or a guide talk to you and not feel like another group member who is just being spoken at instead of to? A private safari is exactly that, the opportunity to enjoy your own, personalised safari and feel like you are part of the process of finding the animals.

Most tour companies cater for larger groups because that is how they make their money. We feel you deserve to go back in time to a safari era that put the experience and the guest first. You come all the way to Africa to experience it, so why not do exactly that? You would expect to have crowds on a city tour, but certainly not on a safari.

The benefits of a private safari are many, but the following are key:

1. Transport is not overcrowded as you and your family are the only people on the safari
2. Your routine is flexible. There are no time limits, your guide is there to make sure you experience what you feel is important to you, for as long as you need
3. Safari dates are flexible. You can tell us when you want to travel and we will run the safari for those exact dates.

There is a very big difference between a field guide at any old game lodge and a professional, private guide that is there, not only to guide you but to host you as well. These men and woman are at the top of their game, most times having to know the fauna and flora of at least 3-4 different countries and countless game reserves.

When you start your adventure, you soon will understand that there are so many unseen parts to a safari that can only be stitched together by a guide. Questions like, why that lion is just allowing the zebra to just walk past it or what that weird bird sound is… A private guide brings it all together with knowledge and a unique, individual charisma that is truly African.

Some benefits of having a private guide:

1. You can ask as many questions as you want. In a group, after the third or fourth question in a row, some people feel like they need to give others a turn. On a private safari, that is not a problem. Your guide is there for you.
2. You can hear everything your guide is saying. This may sound weird, but on large game vehicles with lots of people, some of whom are talking, you may miss what your guide is saying. It can ruin the experience, but on a private safari, your guide only has eyes and ears for you.
3. You may be a tree fanatic. Who knows, you may even find rocks absolutely fascinating. On a stock standard safari, your guide will give you a generalised experience based on the group’s interests. However, on a private safari you can go into a lot more detail about whatever you want, besides classical music, us guides are not good with that.

This is a big question! The good news is that a private safari does not have to cost an arm and a leg (we realise the “arm and a leg” statement is not good to use when you are on safari, but we will keep it in for the humour…)

Is a private safari more expensive than a group safari, absolutely. Are we talking about selling your house, no not at all. The truth is when it comes to safaris you get what you pay for.

Part of the customisation of all our safaris is to make the safari fit your budget. We have a range of private safaris ranging from Kruger National Park to Mana Pools.

Long story short, a private safari is only as expensive as the details you add in. We are experts in the private safari game and so let us know what your budget is, we will make something work for you. Some things to bear in mind when enquiring with us:

1. Six is a magic number. This makes most private safaris really affordable.
2. Our safaris are perfect for honeymoons, families with small children, big celebration safaris and groups of friends wanting to experience a safari on their own.