Bellingham Safaris

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Bellingham Safaris

Bellingham Safaris Taking you on the world's finest safaris in support of conservation and restoration. Thank you for visiting our page. Simon and Jen Bellingham

Having started off as marine and safari guides before progressing into travel design and tour operations, we have over 30 years combined experience in the luxury wildlife safari business. Between us we have travelled to all 7 continents in search of ultimate wildlife experiences in the most remote and pristine areas on our planet. We pride ourselves in exceeding expectations and providing our gues

ts with life-changing wildlife experiences and exceptional service. We look forward to hosting you on the wildlife journey of your dreams.

24/02/2025

English below
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Hoje comemoramos o aniversário de Simon Bellingham, co-fundador do Onçafari! 🎂🥳

Simon Bellingham é natural do Zimbábue, onde, desde criança, desenvolveu uma paixão pela natureza. Começou como guia de vida selvagem profissional na África do Sul. Foi assim que conheceu Mario Haberfeld, em 2005, e a partir daí os dois viajaram por vários países juntos, conhecendo espécies emblemáticas e perceberam o potencial do ecoturismo como ferramenta de conservação.

Os dois traçaram um plano de como fomentar o ecoturismo no Brasil. Após várias visitas ao Pantanal, ficou claro que, para que qualquer plano desse certo, a onça-pintada teria que ser incluída. Juntos, fundaram o Onçafari em 2011!

Parabéns, , e muito obrigado por toda a parceria ao longo desses anos! 🐆

Today we celebrate the birthday of Simon Bellingham, co-founder of Onçafari! 🎂🥳

Simon Bellingham is originally from Zimbabwe, where, since childhood, he developed a passion for nature. He started as a professional wildlife guide in South Africa. That’s how he met Mario Haberfeld in 2005, and from then on, the two traveled to several countries together, encountering iconic species and realizing the potential of ecotourism as a conservation tool.

The two outlined a plan to promote ecotourism in Brazil. After several visits to the Pantanal, it became clear that for any plan to succeed, the jaguar would have to be included. Together, they founded Onçafari in 2011!

Congratulations, , and thank you so much for the partnership over the years! 🐆

20/02/2025

Lodges We Love: The Tanda Tula Difference

Nestled in the heart of the Greater Kruger, Tanda Tula is more than just a luxury safari destination—it’s a place of impact, conservation, and community upliftment. Founded by Don and Nina Scott, Tanda Tula is an owner-run company alongside the Jackson and Mathebula families. This family feeling is ever present throughout each and every staff member and it continues on to every guest that passes through their doors.

Why We Love Tanda Tula:
🔹 Empowering Communities – From funding scholarships to supporting local SMEs, to employing 60 local staff, Tanda Tula uplifts surrounding communities.
🔹 Conservation First – Protecting endangered species, restoring landscapes, and supporting pioneering research on elephant, leopard, and ground hornbill.
🔹 Sustainable Tourism – Every stay contributes to fire management, erosion prevention, and biodiversity preservation.

Your safari makes a difference. Every night at Tanda Tula supports real change in the Greater Kruger region.

Ready to experience ethical luxury?

FEATURED OFFER:

Stay Longer, Pay Less
Stay 3 nights and only pay for 2.
Valid: 9 Jan – 31 Mar 2025

Extend the adventure
Stay 4 nights and only pay for 3.
Valid: 1 Nov – 15 Dec 2025
tula .tula.foundation

17/02/2025

Looking back at an incredible 2024, we want to take a moment to thank YOU — our valued guests and fellow nature lovers — for your continued trust and support. Due to your thoughtful reviews - we are proud to have one of the highest Trustpilot ratings for any travel company - we have a total of 126 reviews, and 125 of them are ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - giving us a 4.9/5 rating overall.

Your words mean the world to us, and every review helps us refine, enhance, and continue delivering unforgettable, conservation-driven safari experiences across the planet.

Here’s to even more extraordinary safaris in 2025!

16/02/2025

SUNDAY REVIEW:
"Bellingham Safaris know the wildlife places to visit in great detail. They work closely with you to tailor your trip to your needs and then to make sure that every step of the trip goes smoothly. You always feel like you have support and they are extremely responsive to any concerns. Everything is attended to with care. I cannot recommend them highly enough!" ~ Trustpilot review by Sarah Thor (United States)

📍 Sustainable Lodge Partners:
Serian's Serengeti Lamai
Little Chem Chem
🌍 Tanzania
📷 Little Chem Chem

14/02/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Love is like a safari — unpredictable, adventurous, and full of wild beauty, where every moment is a discovery of the heart. One of the most incredible ways to celebrate love is with an unforgettable experience in nature, exploring wildlife while enjoying the comfort of beautiful lodges.

For newlyweds, many of our lodge partners offer fantastic specials to make your honeymoon even more special.

Here are a few of the most romantic, and be sure to explore more in the "Specials" section on our website!

📍 Sustainable Lodge Partners:
Ngala
Azura
Sandibe
Masoala
Chem Chem
Angama
Tanda Tula .tula
Zarafa
Kwandwe
Xigera

13/02/2025

NEW lodge by Gorongosa Safaris opening soon. We promise to let you know when!

Every stay at Gorongosa Safaris is more than just a journey - it’s a direct investment in conservation and community empowerment. As a not-for-profit safari company, they channel all revenue into protecting wildlife, restoring ecosystems, and supporting the people who call this landscape home.

12/02/2025

We are proud to be longstanding travel partners of the organisation, working in partnership with their lodge members. These lodge members of The Long Run are proving that conservation and sustainable tourism can work together to protect cheetah and their habitats.

🐆 What does it take to secure the future of the world’s fastest animal?

: Transformed farmland into a conservation sanctuary, reintroducing cheetah to the Great Karoo after 130 years. Sibella, a rescued cheetah, became a symbol of successful rewilding, raising 18 cubs in the wild.

: Located in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, this camp offers unparalleled cheetah sightings amidst one of Africa’s largest wildlife reserves.

: Known for exceptional cheetah encounters, Tswalu combines guided experiences with vital research on female cheetah and their cubs.

This species is racing against time, but these conservation efforts prove we can make a difference.

The Long Run members are creating a sustainable future for wildlife!

08/02/2025

A fellow member of - Lapa Rios stands up to the highest standards of the 4 Cs (conservation, community, commerce, community) and is one of our sustainable lodge partners 💚💙

These are thePremier Lapa Suites—where the rainforest meets the ocean. 🌿🌊

Enjoy breathtaking 240-degree views from a private wraparound deck. With spacious interiors, outdoor rain showers, and an Evening Breeze® canopy bed, relaxation is guaranteed.

This is Osa Peninsula at its finest! ✨

Ready to wake up in paradise?

🌎 Costa Rica
📍 Oso Peninsula

02/02/2025

Africa can be both beautiful and brutal. Life here is dictated by resilience and the will to survive. Nowhere is this more evident than when lions battle with buffaloes. The Enkoyanai pride in Kenya’s Maasai Mara recently set their sights on a formidable target, triggering a lengthy fight, watched over closely by a clan of hyenas looking to nab an easy snack. These scenes can be very difficult to watch, but they are a reminder that the line between life and death is tenuous even for Africa’s hardiest creatures⁣.
⁣
📍 Mara Plains Camp, Kenya⁣
📷 ⁣
⁣

01/02/2025

Hot news from our friends at Chiawa Safari Lodges 🐘🥂
“Welcome to your private oasis deep in the wilds of the South Luangwa National Park.

The feature rich Chichele Presidential blends in and connects with the landscape, featuring the most incredible views in Zambia.

The decor celebrates its historic ties with Zambia’s Presidents whilst the colour scheme gets its inspiration from its name - Chichele - which means “salt” in the local Chewa language.

When you do leave the sanctum of your safari suite, the lodge beckons with a world class spa, yoga deck, gym and infinity lap pool with a view to heaven and beyond.”

📸

31/01/2025

What makes Masoala Forest Lodge our favourite lodge in Madagascar (let us know your reasons in comments below!)

🦶 Barefoot, laid back vibe. Definitely a place to kick off your shoes and relax.

🚤 Accessible only by boat or foot, making this one of the more remote destinations on the island.

🏖️ Stunning coastline with dramatic backdrop of thickly forested mountains.

🌳 The largest remaining block of protected rainforest in Madagascar.

🐠The wildlife - several lemurs including Aye Aye, the fantastic Leaf-tailed Gecko and vibrant Panther Chameleon, whales, a host of tropical fish and so much more!

🤿 Swimming, snorkeling and kayaking in the warm Indian Ocean.

🌍Easily combined with a safari in Southern Africa.

03/01/2025

Happy FriYay 🍻This is where our guests are this weekend, at andBeyond Benguerra Island Lodge, a much-loved beach hideaway (with a recent refresh).

01/01/2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 🥂

Wishing you a fantastic year ahead on our beautiful planet. 🌍🐾✨

Peace and love

Jen, Simon and the Bellingham Safaris team

25/12/2024

Whether you're cozying up at home, or out on an adventure, we wish you WILDLY HAPPY HOLIDAYS. 🐾🎁🎄🦁🌿🐘

Thank you for being part of our safari family - cheers to cherished memories, and a year full of magic! 🥂

Wishing you a truly joyful season!

With love from Jen, Simon and the Bellingham Safaris team xx

📷 Jaguar by Simon Bellingham

24/12/2024

As they say in Brazil “Todo Carnaval Tem seu Fim (all carnivals must come to an end)”. We spent our final days in Brazil on the “black waters” of the Rio Negro which feeds directly into the Amazon River, the vein of the earth itself. Here we swam daily in the silky warm waters of the Anavilhanas archipelago, kayaked with pink and grey river dolphins, hiked the botanically rich rain-forest, spotted sloths, boas, caiman and other wildlife while boating along the river banks, and generally just enjoyed the warm Brazilian hospitality along with ice-cold Caipirinhas. Huge thanks to Ruy and the team for hosting us at your architectural masterpiece of a lodge (slide 4,5,6) as well as the lovely (slide 7,8,9) - both offering absolutely excellent accommodation on the river. Tchau, Brazil, until next time 💚💛💙

🌎 Brazil
📍Anavilhanas Archipelago

16/12/2024

Guianan Cock-of the rock and Harpy Eagle! We had a sensational time with these exquisite birds in the forests around Presidente Figueiredo (about 100km north of Manaus). Not only did we enjoy several male Cock-of-the-rock in spectacular orange plumage, but we also witnessed fascinating interactions with the (drabber brown) females. The males were each very protective of their display “patch” and became quite noisy and querulous with any competition. The next morning was spent staking out a Harpy Eagle nest! Huge thanks to our friend - photographer, economist, environmentalist and director of WCS Brazil - for this great suggestion and accompanying us with his old (and our new) friend Mario Cohn-Haft. Mario, the legendary Manaus ornithologist, kept us captivated by his deep knowledge of the birds in this enchanting biome while Marcos shared insights into exciting plans for protecting the Amazon Rainforest and its indigenous communities. We were gracefully hosted by the lovely Vanessa Marino at her nearby, delightfully authentic Amazon Emotions homestead set in 300 hectares of lush primary rainforest 🧡🧡🧡

🌎 Brazil
📍 Presidente Figueiredo
📷 Cock-of-the-Rock and Harpy Eagle pics by

12/12/2024

A clarion call to action!!! While the Amazon and Pantanal have long been “must-see” destinations for wildlife lovers visiting Brazil, the lesser known Cerrado needs our attention and support!!! Simply by visiting this incredibly beautiful and biodiverse savannah, you will help in its protection (severely threatened by vast soya monocultures). During our stay we experienced a host of faunal celebrities including maned wolf, tapir, jaguar, three-banded armadillo (tatu-bola) and the rarely seen grisson!!! is a gorgeous little lodge with outstanding guides, food and services. Be sure to book some time with the “wolf ladies” whose knowledge and passion of this highly sought after, endangered canid is world-class (Isabela and her team featured on BBC Planet Earth III)*. And for bird lovers a shout-out must go to both Vini and Alan!!!

* Sadly since BBC filming ended, the maned wolf mother and two puppies fell into irrigation ditches used for the crops of neighbouring farmland. Unable to escape, the wolves drowned.

🌎 Brazil
📍Cerrado
📷 Jen and Simon Bellingham

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Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 16:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 16:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 16:00
Thursday	08:00 - 16:00
Friday	08:00 - 16:00

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+27217834380

Website

http://www.bellinghamsafaris.com/contact-us

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Videos

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 🥂 Wishing you a fantastic year ahead on our beautiful planet. 🌍🐾✨ Peace and love Jen, Simon and the Bellingham Safaris team

Jaguar - watch till the end!!! @oncafari - an ambitious project to habituate Jaguars in the Brazilian Pantanal @caimanpantanal has undoubtedly resulted in one of the very best places to view big cats anywhere on earth, and the very best place for quality Jaguar sightings. When Simon started working with his friend, Mario Haberfeld, back in 2011, it was beyond his wildest dreams that he would one day share a sighting like this with his son, Marlin. To make it extra special, this incredible moment was shared with Simon’s wife Jen, and Mario and his family. 🌎 Brazil 📍Pantanal @caimanpantanal 📷 Jen Bellingham with @oncafari #jaguar #pantanal #caimamecologicalrefuge #dreamsdocometrue #brazil

10-Year Anniversary Celebration. A huge shout-out to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve for hosting our team in celebration of our 10-year anniversary. We were thoroughly spoilt, and Grootbos provided the perfect setting for our milestone event!!! We loved learning about their pristine fynbos on a botanical 4x4 tour (including sighting a caracal), walking barefoot through the ancient Milkwood forest, exploring coastal caves where our ancestors once lived, and glorious beaches. We indulged in absolutely scrumptious farm-to-table food, savoured excellent wine, and experienced warm and welcoming hospitality – in short it was “next level”. And we were completely captivated by Africa’s only contemporary florilegium - a breathtaking collection of botanical artworks showcasing some of our most treasured plants. To top it all off, Grootbos is the first lodge in South Africa to be certified as carbon-negative and is recognized as a Long Run certified Global Ecosphere Retreat. Thank you Michael, Sean, Jono and the entire Grootbos team. 🌍 South Africa 📍 Grootbos Private Nature Reserve @grootbos #grootbos #bellinghamsafaris #respectguideprotect #florilegium #initforthelongrun #10yearcelebration #fynbos #floralart #thisissouthafrica #gratitude

One of the joys of observing wildlife is how easy it is to be present, 100 percent immersed in the moment. 🌍 South Africa 📍 Londolozi 📸 Simon Bellingham #bellinghamsafaris #respectguideprotect #init4thelongrun #thisissouthafrica #leopard

GUEST GALLERY - Central African Republic

GUEST GALLERY from the Central African Republic. The CAR conjures up images of deepest, darkest Africa and indeed this destination is not for the first time African traveller but rather for the intrepid few. However the hard work of traveling here is well worth it as you will find yourself in a rainforest where few travellers have been before, with the opportunity to encounter Lowland Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Forest Elephant, Bongo, Sitatunga, Forest Hog and a host of endemic forest wildlife. A highlight for our recent guests was a night at the Dzanga Bai to view a variety of forest animals come in to feed on the rich mineral salts found in the soil (with WWF permission). This was particularly special as they had incredible sightings of Forest Elephant and Bongo, which is the largest forest African antelope but exceptionally difficult to see. 📸 Colin Mostert @cpomostert #GuestGallery #WildlifePhotography #DzangaSanghaReserve #CentralAfricanRepublic #Bongo #ForestElephant #MoustachedMonkey #DeBrazzasMonkey #BosmansPotto #EasternLongTailedHornbill #WhiteThroatedBeeEater #TreeFrog #Cymothoe #RespectGuideProtect #AfricanSafari #LuxurySafaris #BellinghamSafaris

Yesterday Bellingham Safaris turned 10, and nature served up a very special treat for Simon and his guests in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans!!! Vanessa, a talented animal spotter (earlier this week she spotted a Leopard), pointed out an Aardvark to Simon’s delight. Although the Aardvark is the first word in the English dictionary, this near-mythical creature is certainly not the first mammal you are likely to encounter on safari. And indeed this was Giles and Vanessa’s 4th trip to Africa. The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is widely distributed but rarely seen. Aardvarks locate ants and termites, their primary food source, by listening for subterranean activity. Their acute sense of hearing alerts them to your approach, making them one of the most challenging mammals to spot. This special sighting was a fitting highlight for Bellingham Safaris’ 10th anniversary. 📍San Camp @naturalselectiontravel 📸 Simon Bellingham #bellinghamsafaris #aardvark #respectguideprotect #init4thelongrun #sancamp #botswana

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