Specialists in tailor-made safari holidays to East and Southern Africa - established 1983. http://www.safari-consultants.co.uk
Is this the most exclusive walking destination in Africa? With pristine wilderness, superb guiding, exciting wildlife encounters, and just a couple of impeccably-run bushcamps, we think Zambia’s North Luangwa National Park is perfect for anyone looking for an immersive, raw safari adventure. Read our latest blog to find out more.
Photo Credit:
North Luangwa: The Most Exclusive Walking Destination In Africa?
Special sunsets and spectacular sightings – amazing photos from clients Martin and Diane who are just back from Botswana.
Our clients Phil and Mavis have recently returned from a trip Madagascar and have shared these wonderful photos with us.
Madagascar is an intriguing destination with amazing and varied wildlife, much of it endemic. The photogenic lemurs are one of the main attractions, but the small mammals, birdlife and chameleons can never be overlooked, even if at times they are hard to spot! Can you see the chameleon in the third picture?
Getting to and around Madagascar does require a bit of effort but the varied habitats, superb wildlife, and fascinating cultural heritage of the island more than make it worth your while.
Today is World Elephant Day – a day to celebrate the amazing conservation efforts taking place across safari Africa. If you’d like to experience the magic of elephants in the wild, while making a positive impact to their conservation, read our latest blog for the best places to see elephants on safari in Africa.
https://safari-consultants.com/the-best-places-to-see-elephants-on-safari-in-africa/
Where else in the world but Africa can you combine mountains, waterfalls, delta waterways, savannah plains, cosmopolitan cities, remote wilderness and epic wildlife all in one trip? Our clients have just returned from the most amazing family holiday taking in the Masai Mara, Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta and Cape Town to create a fabulous, variety-packed adventure. They’ve very kindly shared a few photos which capture the array of landscapes and activities experienced in this epic family trip – we hope you enjoy! Thank you Arabella Futcher Photography
We loved this excellent footage of an aardvark taken at Camp Hwange in Zimbabwe recently – not a sighting you get every day on safari! Wild Expeditions Africa
At a time when the world of safari wraps more and more luxury around the guest experience, removing us further and further from nature, Zambia’s Luangwa Valley remains reassuringly true to its origins. Authentic bush camp stays, superb guiding, incredible wildlife sightings, and of course some of Africa’s best walking safari experiences, are just a few of the reasons the Luangwa is a favourite safari destination for many of us here.
Read our latest blog where Mary gives a firsthand account of where to stay, what to do and how to choose between North or South Luangwa:
Exclusive Zambia Safaris: Why Travel To South And North Luangwa?
What is it exactly that makes Kenya such a standout safari destination? Lions galore, majestic big tusker elephants, stunning landscapes? Or is it the warm homestead experience that is so synonymous with the country? Or perhaps it’s world-leading conservation-led tourism that offers rewarding opportunities to make an amazing impact? We’ll let you decide.
Read more about Joe's latest visit where he encounters all that is magical about Kenya:
CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORIES, OWNER RUN LODGES AND AFRICA’S PREMIER WILDLIFE DESTINATION – KENYA HAS IT ALL
There is a rare privilege in being able to visit an area as remote as the North Luangwa National Park, which is where I spent the last two nights of my stay in the Luangwa Valley. A vast area of pristine wilderness this is an amazing place in which to immerse yourself in the bush and to explore on foot. I spent two nights with Safaris and truly loved the exhilaration of walking in the footsteps (pawprints) of elephants and lions whilst knowing that I was in the safest of hands with their expert guides. It takes a bit of effort to reach there, but the rewards are great. Mary
I have recently returned from a trip to Zambia, exploring the Luangwa Valley, during which I was quickly reminded why this is one of my favourite destinations in Africa. The first part of my trip was dedicated to the South Luangwa where contrasting landscapes and accommodation styles really lend themselves to a two centre safari within the park. Zambia suffered from poor rains this past year and the inland areas are already drying up, resulting in some fantastic game viewing as the animals move towards more permanent sources of water. Mary
Our clients Steve and Judith recently returned from a fantastic self-drive holiday around Namibia with fly-in add on to Safaris' Hoanib Valley Skeleton Coast Camp. They had a number of incredible sightings from desert elephants in the Huab and Hoanib Rivers to brown hyena and pangolin at Nature Reserve - Home of AfriCat which was a real highlight for them.
These fantastic pictures demonstrate the incredible landscapes and variety of wildlife species Namibia offers. Thank you Steve and Judith!
Clients Freya & James have just returned from a wonderful gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.
They enjoyed two treks, both with great reward!
The first trek was a long one, almost to the top of the mountain. However, the hard work was rewarded by spending an hour with five gorillas from the Katwe family. Two of the boys (one younger and one older) had great fun playing together just metres from them.
The second day was even more special, with a much easier trek (just ten minutes!). They met the Mubare family on the edge of the forest and spent time with a mother and her six day old baby.
'It really was magical, and beyond any expectations we had!'
Here are a few of their wonderful photos.
Credits James Inston & Freya Inston
Wonderful spending time with the giant Tuskers of the Chyulu Hills, Kenya 🇰🇪
Great Plains Conservation Ol Donyo Lodge is home to one of Africa’s most productive waterhole hides, giving guests the chance to observe these incredible bull elephants close up, as well as other wildlife too.
The waterhole is also live-streamed on YouTube so you can have a taste of Africa from thousands of miles away!
After 41 years of business, we are delighted to introduce you to our exciting new branding. With a simpler logo of an iconic giraffe and a more vibrant green colour, we wanted to bring a more modern edge to our branding, without moving away from our core ethos of being a grounded company with a focus on expert advice and personal service. Our main logo is shown below, complimented by our new online giraffe circle ‘badge’ - we hope you like the change as much as we do!
Without further ado…..Botswana part two! As I mentioned in my previous post, I spent my last few days in Botswana in the Makgadikgadi Pans. This was actually my first proper visit to the Pans (better late than never!), and I absolutely adored it. This area is the definition of unique, home to the largest salt pans in the worlds, which is all that remains of a huge inland lake that was estimated to be larger than Switzerland!
It’s a stark landscape in many respects, but I found the overwhelming feeling of space quite humbling. What’s so surprising is that there’s no shortage of life here, I saw zebra and wildebeest in droves, plenty of elephant, more bat eared foxes than I could count and a lot of evidence of lions (though sadly no actual lions).
The range of activities is also fantastic, I spent a morning playing with the areas habituated meerkats, an evening enthralled by the trance dancing of the local bushman and took a quad bike excursion across the pans. Game drives, horse riding, sundowners and sleepouts are all possible here too, in short, I cannot recommend this region highly enough, it’s a truly beautiful and fascinating place – Kelly
Read Kelly's Trip Report https://safari-consultants.com/kelly-explores-victoria-falls-and-botswanas-delta-and-pans/
Just back from the most fantastic trip to Botswana….and it was nothing short of stunning! Without fail, every time I visit Botswana I am struck by just how truly unique and beautiful this country is. I spent the first part of my safari in the Okavango Delta starting in the private concessions in the south. The flood waters are going to be low and late this year and hadn’t quite reached this area yet. This meant that water activities were not running, but on the flip side the game viewing was especially good. I was also lucky enough to take a scenic helicopter flight, which was phenomenal….you could actually see the flood waters slowly creeping in to the region!
I then headed into the Moremi Game Reserve in the centre of the Delta where my game viewing continued to be excellent, and I was able to enjoy some motorboat excursions on the permanent water channels. My next stop was the northern Okavango, which offered yet more amazing wildlife encounters, and also allowed me to take a wonderfully scenic Mokoro excursion. My final stop was the Makgadikgadi Pans……but more on this region later, as it definitely deserves its own post! – Kelly
Read Kelly's Trip Report https://safari-consultants.com/kelly-explores-victoria-falls-and-botswanas-delta-and-pans/
Suffolk Show – Wednesday 29th May and Thursday 30th May.
We are excited to be exhibiting another year at the Suffolk Show. We will be located again on Stand 570 on Main Avenue which is opposite the President’s Ring and next to the main entrance to the Collins Grand Ring Sponsors Area and Ringside Bar & Dining.
Our team will be on hand to provide safari inspiration and answer any questions. Mary and Kelly will be there on Wednesday 29th and Frances and Joe will be there on Thursday 30th, whilst Rob will be on the stand both mornings until lunchtime.
Please do come and say hello!
Suffolk Show (Official)
Long-standing clients Ken & Lyn have just returned from a wonderful safari of contrasts in Botswana (and Namibia), moving from the lush wetland paradise of the Chobe River ecosystem to the desolate wilderness of the Makgadikgadi Pans and the endless sandy bushveld of the Central Kalahari. Here are a few of their wonderful photos, taken from boats, vehicles and hides!
My latest trip took me to Namibia – a vast country with dramatic desert and rugged wilderness. Together with my partner Sarah, we chose the flexibility of exploring the country by car, but there are also options for accessing wilderness areas by air. Namibia is a stunningly beautiful country. It is a land of harsh yet mesmerizingly magnificent landscapes of arid desert; mind boggling sand dunes; wild coastline; unspoilt wilderness and wildlife that has adapted to survive in these challenging conditions. Roads are long and straight; they seem to disappear into infinity. The sky seems overwhelmingly big but everywhere you look there is a photo waiting to be taken. It is just so different to other traditional safari destinations across Africa and wonderful to explore. – Joe
Joe enjoys the desert scenery and culture of Namibia Trip report
www.safari-consultants.com/joe-enjoys-the-desert-scenery-and-culture-of-namibia/
During my recent Botswana trip, I spent a couple of nights with Beagle Expeditions, which I absolutely loved. There are two private mobile camps that you travel between by foot, mokoro or vehicle (depending on the season) located in a stunning private concession in the south west of the Okavango Delta, offering total exclusivity.
The camp is simple, authentic and brings you close to the pristine wilderness all around you. The food is delicious and matches some of the five star camps, and we were incredibly lucky with our wildlife experience - wild dog killing impala in front of camp, herd after herd of elephants from dawn until dusk, and a pride of 17 lion chasing a buffalo as we awoke the next morning.
After our first night, we set off on foot to walk between the sites, and enjoyed exploring the concession and noticing the smaller things. After roughly 7km it was time to lay out the roll mat we’ve carried in our backpacks and tuck into a delicious picnic lunch before a siesta under a shady tree - old school safari at its best.
There’s something really special about this style of safari - if you take away the bells and whistles of a luxury camp, your focus is truly on the safari experience happening all around you. They were among some of my most memorable nights in Africa! Frances
I have just got back from the Okavango Delta in Botswana and it really reminded me just how special the Delta is. It is one of the most beautiful places to safari, with such gorgeous scenery, good wildlife sightings, superb variety with the water activities (in the right concessions - water patterns are shifting in the Delta at the moment so this part is important), and perhaps most importantly the exclusivity. I had countless special sightings where we were the only vehicle, and I felt so privileged to be able to experience this. Frances.
Earth Day: Conserving and Reclaiming our World of Wonder
Today we join the world in celebrating Earth Day - a timely and poignant reminder of the fragility of our planet, the importance of protecting Africa’s critical and magnificent biodiversity and the incredible conservation efforts taking place in the areas our clients travel to.
Africa is one of the few destinations in the world where travellers can leave a wonderfully positive footprint, and in our latest blog we shine a light on just a handful of the world-leading sustainable tourism and community-led conservation initiatives that are happening in safari Africa.
Blog: www.safari-consultants.com/conserving-and-reclaiming-our-world-of-wonder/
I have just returned from the most amazing eight nights on safari in Tanzania’s Southern Serengeti – what an incredible place. The huge herds of the migration had already started to move by the time I arrived. However, there were still some big groups of ‘late departures’ in the area, and lots of baby wildebeest gallivanting around the plains. My general game viewing was good too, with some nice lion and cheetah encounters, and an incredible amount of giraffe….they were literally everywhere!
As well as game driving, I shared a superb morning walking with the Hadzabe, learning how they live in such a wild environment. Then spent the afternoon with the Datoga tribe where I was treated to some fantastic traditional dancing. Kelly
I have just returned from a fabulous ten days exploring the central Laikipia Plateau and northern Samburulands of Kenya.
Kenya always delivers with amazing wildlife and this trip was no different but what really struck me was the amazing cultural enrichment and epic landscapes that a stay in these areas can provide. The Samburu, known as the ‘butterfly people’ due to their brightly coloured attire are wonderfully engaging, funny and welcoming, something that they are very proud about.
A highlight of my stay was definitely visiting the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary which is entirely owned and run by the Samburu community, providing vital employment to the local people and of course a future to the orphaned elephants. I was also lucky enough to be invited to a local village where a warriors blessing was taking place, the first one in about ten years. There was a real air of excitement in the village as the young warriors sang and danced, gaggles of young girls gathered together giggling, and mamas tried to corral overexcited small children who were desperate to have their photos taken.
Mary
I have just spent an incredible few days visiting the Chyulu Hills in southern Kenya. The scenery here is breathtaking with dramatic rolling hills to vast open plains with views of the iconic Mt Kilimanjaro in the distance (when the clouds allowed!).
I explored the area by vehicle, mountain bike and an epic helicopter flight over the Chyulu’s enjoying spectacular views of the ancient volcanic craters and crossing over the plains to land on a rocky outcrop to soak up the scenery and enjoy a coffee.
Aside from the spectacular landscape and exclusivity, another highlight of the area is the opportunity to see ‘Big Tuskers’ for which I had the privilege of spending time with one whilst he kindly shared the waterhole with a tortoise (can you spot it!) Michele
We are incredibly proud to support Specs For Africa – an initiative started by clients Anne and Peter Corder with the aim of improving lives across East and Southern Africa with something as simple as pre-loved spectacles!
Please read our recent blog to find out more and learn how you can support the project 🤓
Specs for Africa: Improving sight and transforming lives
Just back from an epic week in Kenya's very green Rift Valley and Masai Mara. One highlight of my trip was an early morning spent with a female cheetah and her four cubs in the Naboisho Conservancy. Just magical. The cubs played and climbed and charged around, without a care in the world, while 'mum' kept watch and occasionally pulled them in line. Cheetahs are having a bit of a hard time in the Mara due to such strong lion and hyena populations, so the happy scene was a real priviledge to witness. Rob.
Proving how the Masai Mara is unbeatable for predator viewing, our clients Hugh and Aneta have just returned from the Mara North Conservancy and shared a wonderful collection of images with us. Again, in spite of the wet conditions, the wildlife was rich and the big cats were out in force, alongside hyena and birds of prey. Thank you Hugh and Aneta for sharing some Mara magic with us!
Fabulous images fresh from Kenya, showing that despite the wet conditions and long grass, the wildlife is as active as ever. Our clients Hugh and Aneta combined Lewa Conservancy with the Masai Mara, showcasing all that is special about a safari in Kenya. In addition to first class wildlife viewing, Lewa offers the opportunity to see rarer species such as Grevy's zebra, along with beautiful birdlife (particularly on song in these greener months), spectacular scenery and culture. Thank you Hugh and Aneta for sharing these photos with us! We’ll be sharing the Masai Mara images in the coming days.
Kenya’s Masai Mara region is currently receiving unseasonably heavy rain with swollen rivers and heavy ground conditions. Despite the wet weather, our clients Martin and Lin have just returned from a wonderful safari in the Mara where the wildlife is still as prolific as ever, offering amazing sightings and unique photographic opportunities. Indeed, it seems the extra water is proving an added attraction for some of the wildlife – thanks so much to Martin and Lin for sharing this great shot of lion cubs playing in the mud!
Africa House, 2 Cornard Mills, Mill Tye, Sudbury
Suffolk
CO100GW
| Monday | 9am - 5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5:30pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5:30pm |
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We loved this excellent footage of an aardvark taken at Camp Hwange in Zimbabwe recently – not a sighting you get every day on safari! Wild Expeditions Africa
Wonderful spending time with the giant Tuskers of the Chyulu Hills, Kenya 🇰🇪 Great Plains Conservation Ol Donyo Lodge is home to one of Africa’s most productive waterhole hides, giving guests the chance to observe these incredible bull elephants close up, as well as other wildlife too. The waterhole is also live-streamed on YouTube so you can have a taste of Africa from thousands of miles away! #elephant #elephants #tuskers #kenya #chyuluhills #safari #safariconsultants #oldonyo #greatplainsconservation #greatplains #travel #travelphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #africa #africansafari #oneton
On my recent trip to Nyerere and Ruaha National Parks in southern Tanzania, some of the most memorable parts of my experience were the incredible night drives that are now available in both parks. This short film showcases the highlights of my encounters after dark. Rob
#worldgiraffeday 🦒 This tower of giraffe was filmed in the western corridor of the Serengeti. Such beautiful, elegant animals and an unmistakably African scene!
To celebrate #worldwildlifeday today enjoy this beautiful footage from one of the best wildlife locations in the world from Kenya's Kicheche Camps and a message from Paul Goldstein.
