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Faran Travel

Faran Travel is a bespoke tour operator, focussing on wildlife holidays and sustainable travel to the world's wildest corners.

02/04/2025

The perfect safari wake-up... soft hues, strong coffee and toast over an open fire. Our idea of a 5-star breakfast.

20/03/2025

It is World Rewilding Day and we'd like to highlight the stunning Sapi Private Reserve in Zimbabwe.

Adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mana Pools National Park, in the north of Zimbabwe, is where you’ll find this 118,000 hectare reserve (for reference Greater London is around 159,000ha). Hunted since 1957, it is now protected by , who are restoring this essential ecosystem to form part of the wider Zambezi biosphere reserve.

Those who choose the Sapi Private Reserve will enjoy not only high-end hospitality at Tembo Plains Camp, but complete exclusivity on game drives, walking safaris, boat safaris, canoeing or perhaps a spot of cricket on the riverbank!

Beyond this, visit in the knowledge you have made a choice to eschew the more well-known areas in favour of the frontier, the wild and the meaningful.

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05/03/2025

🐆 We recently put together an itinerary where a key focus was on maximising the chance of seeing cheetahs, and it had us reflecting on sightings over the years and the best places to see these speedy cats.

🌿 With less than 7,000 individuals left across a range that is 90% of what it once was, any sighting is special. There is no better time to support camps that are doing their bit to maintain the wilderness areas where these cats thrive.

Here are our top picks of where to go to see wild cheetahs:

🌍 Masai Mara/Serengeti - take your pick of areas across this ecosystem, depending on the time of year and your other safari interests. The southern Serengeti in February, during the wildebeest calving, can be particularly exciting.

🇿🇦 Phinda Private Game Reserve - this private reserve in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, has the same number of cheetahs as the Masai Mara, but it is 1/6 of the size.

🇧🇼 Okavango Delta - the area to visit needs careful thought depending on the time of the year. The grasslands of the Moremi Game Reserve to the east are usually a good option, as well as the Chitabe, Splash and Khwai Concessions.

🏜 Kalahari - whether in the north in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve of Botswana or further south in the Kgalagadi of South Africa, the open spaces and lower density of competing predators provide the perfect habitat for cheetahs to stretch their legs.

🇿🇲 Kafue National Park - the largest national park in Zambia isn't on a lot of people's radar but through the tireless work of organisations like Panthera and the Zambian Carnivore Programme it is fast becoming a reliable location for predator sightings. The ephemeral grasslands of the Busanga Plains, in the north of the park, from July to October, is a particularly spectacular area and good habitat for cheetahs.

If you've made it this far, save for future travel inspo.

All pictures and videos taken by Faran Founder Josh in Botswana.

24/02/2025

💫Traveller Testimonial💫

Crafting unforgettable journeys is what we do best, and this was a special tailor-made adventure for a family of three, designed to maximise quality time together while exploring the sites of Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.

From thrilling safaris to cultural encounters and coastal bliss, this trip had it all.

Highlights included:
- wildlife sanctuaries in Nairobi
- witnessing a lion kill in the Masai Mara
- the Great Migration in the Serengeti
- stepping back in time at Olduvai Gorge
- the majesty of the Ngorongoro Crater
- a street food tour in Stone Town
- unwinding on Zanzibar’s golden beaches

"I can't recommend Josh and Faran Travel highly enough - from the first contact for our proposed East Africa safari and Zanzibar, through to the trip follow-up, he has been amazing to work with. He asked what we were looking for and our budget, and crafted a bespoke trip that fit every wish list item. Arrangements were flawless and smooth - and the lodgings were perfect for what we were looking for, a good blend of luxe and more budget friendly. Our guides were expert and provided a range of experiences both cultural and of course wildlife. It was so nice to have everything taken care of and no worries!!" Margo, USA.

📷 credit: .basecamp

08/02/2025

What to do for 9-nights in Botswana...

Our latest example itinerary, including three of the country's most exciting camps, has it all; helicopters, great wildlife, cultural insights, hikes, sleepouts and a range of safari activities to truly see, feel, smell and experience the wild.

Swipe for a crazy Kalahari sunset from our most recent visit.

Click the link in bio or dm for more information or to discuss what you want to do in the wilds of Botswana.

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29/01/2025

Counting down the days until we head back to Africa on our first hosted trip. Faran is taking a small group on a journey through parts of South Africa, Zambia and Botswana. The trip starts with a bang at Phinda Forest Lodge, a modern eco-lux camp in the KwaZulu-Natal region.

The glass-fronted suites sit in a rare dry sand forest, a type of subtropical forest that grows on ancient sand dunes. Just 2,000 hectares are under protection globally, a quarter of which sit within the Phinda Game Reserve!

Along with the sand forest, this diverse reserve has another six distinct habitats to explore and different ways to experience them; including walking safaris, e-bike adventures, rhino, elephant and pangolin conservation exepriences, sleep-outs, even ocean safaris and a chance to see nesting turtles (Nov-Feb).

Interested in finding out more or planning your own epic safari get in touch on [email protected]

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23/01/2025

Heads up! It looks like it could be a bumper flood year in the Okavango Delta if the current flow rates into the system are anything to go by.

As well as this, due to the recent rains, some camps have resumed their water activities much earlier than usual, meaning a classic Delta experience for low season visitors normally reserved for peak season later in the year.

All in all, it's a great year to visit Botswana, whichever month you choose.

04/01/2025

Did you know there is going to be a total lunar eclipse on the 7th of September? This is where the earth comes between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun's rays, dimming the moon and sometimes turning the lunar surface a striking red.

September also happens to be one of the best times of year to visit Namibia. Blood moon or not, the lodges have some of the clearest and most impressive skies around and are easily accessible on a self-drive or fly-in trip around Namibia.

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24/12/2024

What a year!

Taking a moment to focus on what really matters and reflect on 2024.

This holiday season, we're grateful for the simple beauty of nature and being able to create meaningful journeys that inspire and moments that matter.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with exciting travel and incredible memories 🌍🎄🎉

18/12/2024

Chilly winter morning hues and an 'obstinancy' of curious buffaloes in the Nkasa Rupara National Park in northern Namibia

Included in our Namibia, Chobe and Victoria Falls self-drive holiday (link in bio).

A little gem of a national park bordering Botswana and sharing many of the same characteristics of its more well-known safari neighbour, but for a fraction of the price.

Get in touch to find out more.

12/12/2024

Happy travellers back from Zambia with memories made and some great snaps taken on their Faran film camera.

Keep going for a tiny surprise 🐆.

"Amazing Zambia Safari Trip

Faran Travel provided a fully personalised experience. Josh designed our bespoke trip around our dates and timeframe, which fit together seamlessly. When we missed our connection and our luggage didn't make it to Lusaka, he was on the case to rebook an internal flight and help reunite us with our cases as soon as possible. It was a fantastic trip through the highlights of Zambia including incredible wildlife and Victoria Falls". Mike, Glasgow

05/12/2024

How cool is this! A brand new way to experience the magical Tsodilo Hills in Botswana with

Why is it exciting?

- One of the world's undiscovered UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it hasn't previously been possible to stay overnight here.
- The sleep-out now allows guests a deeper immersion into the "The Mountains of the Gods", home to over 4,500 rock paintings dating back to the Stone Age.
- Experience this sacred cultural landscape revered as a place of worship and home of ancestral spirits for over 100,000 years.
- The opportunity to climb one of Botswana's highest peaks for a sunrise to remember.

How do you stay here?

- Stay at Nxamaseri Island Lodge in the Okavango Panhandle for three nights or more, and the sleepout is included.
-Spice it up even further and add a helicopter transfer one or both ways for a remarkable birds-eye view of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Check out our latest example itinerary, the 9-night Okavango Delta and Kalahari Adventure, featuring this very special experience - link in bio.

27/11/2024

Not every leopard sighting has to be up-close.

Some destinations are famous for incredible opportunities to spot these beautiful cats just meters from your vehicle. The South Luangwa in Zambia, Sabi Sands in South Africa and certain areas of the Okavango Delta in Botswana all spring to mind.

But there's something equally captivating about a distance sighting of an individual that prefers to stick to the shadows. A silhouette in the bush. The flick of a tail. The quiet thrill of knowing you've entered their world, not the other way round. These moments remind us there is a wilderness still out there, free of safari vehicles and camera clicks, untamed, vast and free.

Ready to explore the wild on your terms? Let's design your next adventure.

Taken at Duba Explorers Camp.

21/11/2024

Beach with a chance of chimpanzees - it can only be the wild Rubondo Island Camp in Northern Tanzania.

Seek out something a little (a lot) different for some downtime after your safari on this island, which has surprises at every turn.

You could spend your time relaxing on the beach, by the pool, or on your private veranda, soaking up the views of the ocean-like Lake Victoria. But you may have other ideas, what with chimps (rescued from European zoos in the 60s) to be found swinging through the trees, hippos and crocs roaming the shores and giraffe and elephant flourishing in the lush forest interior.

We can promise it'll be a beach holiday to remember. We can't promise your traditional R&R.

📷 from us when we last visited as well as

12/11/2024

Wondering if the scars on this very long neck could have been a result of a close encounter with a particularly ambitious lion.

Always proponents of a slower safari, enabling our travellers to observe and ponder these sorts of questions, rather than just merely 'seeing'.

Swipe for increasingly funny faces.

All taken at a couple of years ago.

01/11/2024

The delights of the green season await our travellers heading to Botswana's Nxai Pan National Park over the coming months.

Clouds build, rain falls, flowers bloom, new life abounds, making this a truly dramatic time to visit.

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31/10/2024

These hands tell a story. Being able to spend time with some of our closest living relatives is more than an adventure; it's a privilege that reminds us of the profound connections we share. Watching their gestures, emotions and interactions, we see reflections of ourselves - a powerful reminder of how closely linked we are with the natural world.

23/10/2024

Sometimes, it isn't obvious how your visit to a certain area or lodge actually benefits the local communities or wildlife. Not so at the fantastic Virunga Lodge in Rwanda, one of the original bases from which to trek with gorillas.

Among many projects the lodge supports, the 'One Sheep per Family' project has seen hundreds of families in local villages receive a sheep to provide manure, milk and lambs for extra income.

Water tanks are also provided to local villages. At the last count, 261 tanks have been donated to provide water catchment and storage for drinking and growing crops. By the end of 2024 they hope to provide a further 84 families with water tanks.

Get in touch for adventures that make a difference!

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Delighted to be chosen as one of Condé Nast's Top Travel Specialists for 2025! This recognition reflects the care and attention we give to every tailor-made trip we design, together with our endeavours to promote wild, off-the-beaten-track, and authentic safari experiences. . . . . . #farantravel #condenasttraveller #travelspecialist #wanderlust #luxurytravel #adventuretravel @cartologytravel #cntraveler #safari #africatravel

A beautiful morning in the Ngorongoro Crater earlier this week for our travellers before they head to the Serengeti and then onwards to the Mahale Mountains. Heed this call to the wild and get in touch - [email protected]. . . . . . #farantravel #travelinspiration #lions #Tanzania #ngorongorocrater #luxurysafari #wanderlust #travelgoals #africatravel #gamedrive #bigcats

Morning traffic in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. As one of the most visited safari areas in Africa, it isn't always this sort of traffic that comes to mind when thinking about including the Ngorongoro Crater on a safari to northern Tanzania. It is certainly a popular area, but by working with experts who can guide you to pick the right accommodation and when to travel, it can still be an incredible destination. Most people will spend just two nights here to do one safari on the crater floor, but why not stay a little longer and enjoy a day hiking among this dramatic landscape. Cover picture and video by Faran's Founder, Josh . . . . . #farantravel #Tanzania #ngorongorocrater #ngorongoro #reels #wanderlust #travelinspiration #africa #safari

Combining Namibia with Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world, is now easier than ever with regular 1hr 40min flights from Namibia's capital, Windhoek. Add on a few days at the mighty waterfall or, to add further variety to your trip, use Vic Falls as a jumping-off point for epic safari areas in Botswana, Zimbabwe or Zambia. Thanks to @namibsky, @greatplainsconservation and @goldenafricasafaris for the lovely footage. . . . . . #farantravel #wanderlust #namibia #botswana #zimbabwe #sossusvlei #victoriafalls #okavangodelta #luxurytravel #travelinspiration #travelreels #explore #africa #luxurysafari @cartologytravel

Always trying to seek out the unusual and the remote, this isn't your usual trip to northern Tanzania. Our latest example itinerary - 'Human history hike, Ngorongoro and Serengeti Safari' (https://www.farantravel.com/human-history-hike-ngorongoro-and-serengeti) includes four nights under canvas on remote hiking routes, between the big-hitter safari destinations of the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. The hiking element isn't just for the extreme rambler or adept mountaineer as the routing, number of days, and fitness requirements can be tailored to suit individual preferences. This trip is for anyone who wants a glimpse of the real Tanzania, away from the usual tourist trail, to gain an insight into the lives of those who call it home now and have done in millenia gone by. 📷 credit: Lake Natron Camp - Rift Valley - Tanzania

Summer in Svalbard heralds the return of 24-hour daylight, retreating sea ice and more opportunities to explore its awe-inspring land-and sea-scapes, in search of mighty wildlife. A small ship expedition cruise is about as far away from the normal image of a 'cruise' as you can get. Faran Travel works with a range of operators to suit different budgets and interests, from relatively basic sharing cabins, to lavish suites with floor to ceiling windows and private balconies. Get in touch to dicuss a 2024 or 2025 summer adventure.

A snapshot of what Faran Travel is all about. Bespoke, immersive and always unforgettable. While our love is for the natural world, our passion is planning the right trip for you, or even the trip you didn't know was possible.