African Safari Categories

Types and Characteristics of our Safaris

African Safari Categories
We have organized our African safaris into 3 categories to make things a bit simpler...

Custom African Safaris          (Call us to Plan a Custom Safari)
Custom African safaris are truly our specialty and make up the majority of African safaris that we assist our clients in planning.  A custom African safari simply focuses on a combination of a guest's interests or desired destinations, or both.  Typically, guests who are first-time travelers on an African safari are interested in seeing a wide sampling of the many different options possible.  Those guests who are returning visitors may want to tailor their current African safari to places they have not previously seen, or alternatively, they may wish to return to a favorite destination once again.

Whatever the case, the custom African safari is our specialty and we make certain that the African safari's itinerary is perfectly suited to each party's interests and time frame. With the variety of camps and the supporting infrastructure we have available through our various operators, we can organize just about any African safari anywhere in Southern Africa. No two African safaris are the same! Contact us with your needs and requirements and we will come up with an African safari to suit your specifications.

Scheduled African Safaris            Scheduled African Safaris
These African safaris focus on a specific geographic area or theme in Southern Africa. This does not mean they are all limited to a single country, and in fact, some visit several different countries. This affordable African safari selection is different from the next African safari travel category (Specialist Guide African Safaris) in that they have set departure dates and pricing.

Special Interest African Safaris          Special Interest African Safaris
Our Specialist Guide African safaris focus on studying or experiencing a theme or themes and are led by an expert guide who specializes in the safari's subject matter. Birding, Astronomy, Adventure and adrenalin, Predators... these are all what we categorize as Specialist categories. These African safari package tours usually include travel to several different locales in order to give guests exposure to the specific theme being investigated.

Top guides and experts in their particular field lead these affordable African safari travel adventures and guests are able to learn from these brilliant naturalists. Even though these African safaris have a particular topic of interest, guests will still savour the fauna and flora of the area to ensure that participants get a great all-round wildlife experience. These safaris are only by special request and do not have set departure dates.

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Characteristics of an African Safari
Fly In African Safaris
Some African safaris have daily, weekly or set departures all year round, and many of the itineraries are flexible and can be adjusted to suit a guest's particular interests and time frame. Most of these African safaris are hosted by a different guide in each new camp they visit. The key ingredient in all these African safaris is that they involve flying from one camp's airstrip to the next. This flying can become one of the highlights of the African safari as one can experience a bird's eye view of the entire area.

Cross Country, overland or canoeing African safaris
Another, more traditional style of African safari includes some travel by road or canoe, some accommodation in permanent and/or mobile tented camps, an experienced guide who accompanies the group from the start to the finish, and set departure dates. Individuals and small parties can book onto a particular departure and get the benefit of group pricing. These African safaris typically accommodate a maximum of eight guests.

Privately guided African safaris
For special interest trips, or for travelers who just wish to be accompanied by an expert, we also offer privately guided custom African safaris. To enhance their African safari, some guests request that we include the services of a naturalist, photographer or birder to guide and accompany their group for all or part of the African safari. The real benefit of this service is that the guide soon gets to know the group's interests and needs and can then tailor the experience to meet those requirements. The private guide can influence the experience at each camp and as the group moves from area to area.

A good guide or naturalist can turn a good African safari into a great African safari through their exceptional all-round skills. Depending upon the group size, a light aircraft may be chartered for the entire African safari and the guide travels with the group throughout. There are even a handful of superb guides who are pilots and can guide and fly your party throughout the African safari.

Private Vehicles
Most of the camps in Southern Africa use 4x4 Land Rovers or the equivalent for game drives.  The vehicles normally have three rows of seats, plus a front seat for the driver and front passenger, Each of the rows has three seats allowing a maximum of 11 seats including the driver. However, the number of guests on a vehicle is typically restricted to 6 or 7 guests plus the guide/driver.

For guests with a special interest such as photography or birding or whatever, or for those who simply wish to have a more private African safari experience a private vehicle can be arranged at extra cost.  The vehicle must be booked separately for each individual camp visited and its availability will depend on the number of vehicles in camp, the guest occupancy in the camp at that time, and whether or not a private vehicle has already been booked by another group at that time.

A private vehicle service can only be guaranteed if you book this in advance (when planning your African safari) as some camps have vehicle restrictions limiting them by law to a maximum number on their concession at any given time. We cannot guarantee that the camps will have a spare vehicle and guide/driver available if you wait until you arrive at the camp and try to book on site. If you wish to use a private vehicle, please let us know when we are booking your African safari.

Eyes on Africa was selected most knowledgeable Regional Expert for Southern Africa / Safaris by National Geographic Traveler Magazine, 20th Anniversary Special Issue, October 2004.

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